TravelStream™ news feed for member akbar on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/akbar en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:29 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1258020411/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1258020411/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1258020411/tpod.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:00:29 -0500 Break away visiting cool US & overseas people and places.

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Shanghai, China

After Tibet, we hit several spots in China & continue to be very impressed with the vast progress & modernization thoroughly under way.

Pretty darn mind-blowing: they've got many cities with populations around 10 million that we'd never heard of - & the cities are pretty close to looking like the 'developed' world. The work ethic and drive of the Chinese is.... (lets just say we could use some of it back in the red white & blue).

Our journey includes several very neat stops (See PICS for some cool shots):

Xian: Terra Cotta Warriors & a generally hip & well-educated city with friendly people.

Chonqging: Visit the PANDAS (very cool)

Yangtze River Cruise through the 3 Gorges Dam

Shanghai - China's version of NYC (except bigger & more polluted but with incredible energy & exploding wealth)

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256346470/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256346470/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256346470/tpod.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:55:32 -0400 Break away visiting cool US & overseas people and places.

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Lhasa, Xizang, China

Tibet - I came here largely to see Everest and the Himalayas. I leave having been blown away by a singularly unique country.

This is a place of superlatives: the blue-est skies I've ever seen, amongst the nicest most-humble people I've ever met, perhaps the tastiest meat (yak) I've ever tried, and - of course - the incomparable Himalayas - words nor fotos can do this fantastic mountain range justice.

Visiting Tibet is stepping back into history - things happen slower & people are nicer. Their devotion to Bhuddism & the Dalai Lama translates into a zest for living each day without the zealous pursuit of material goods that defines so much of the world. They never seem too busy or impatient - they're always willing to lend a hand or share a tale.

The only negativism I perceived was reserved for the 2 nations that have invaded them in the past 100 years: the British Empire (back in its hey-day) and China. Make no mistake about it - no matter what the regime in Beijing says - Tibetans to a man would prefer their independence (even if it means poverty) to being part of the economic freight train that is China....

Enjoy the pics!!! I've included a bunch since this land is soooo enchanting!!!

ALSO, A HUGE SHOUT OUT to my dear friends Oliver & Nandita Keswani-Koehler for their incredible travel tips and endless patience in guiding me on this trip. It ain't often I find someone who has traveled to region I haven't, and their knowledge & attitude were a gift.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256286328/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256286328/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1256286328/tpod.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:23:13 -0400 Break away visiting cool US & overseas people and places.

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Beijing, China

Beijing is just the 1st stop in a 3+ week journey through China along with Ohad Jehassi, a great friend from B-School.

A few short days leaves an unmistakable and unique impression. Some countries leave me saying the people are so nice (New Zealand) or the historical sights are spectacular (Jordan) or the women are gorgeous (Argentina).

China offers none of these - the people aren't particularly friendly nor the ladies particularly attractive, but quite simply this is a nation whose time is now.

Driven, hard working, smart, efficient, ambitious, confident -- wow this country and its people have their shit together. While this is a very hackneyed and over-reported story, witnessing it first-hand drives home the point leaving zero room for doubt.

I don't know if it'll take 10 or 50 years, but these guys are gonna dominate the future!!!

Beijing sights are PICTURED here.....

-Tienamen Square (cool place)
-Forbidden City (living history)
-Great Wall (SPECTACULAR - must see before you die)
-Random pics

Good Stuff....
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Tahoe City, California, United States

Fantastic trip to the Golden State.... Truly a beautiful place with incredible weather. Was lucky enough to visit with some great friends!!!

-Visited Jason Kilar at Hulu and hung w/his lovely wife Jamie & the kids (fotos below)

-Reconnected with my AOL buddy Mike Flecker & his wife Beth (pictured below with son Cole)

-Hit Yosemite with Fairfield and Tahoe with the boyz.... (HiLite was Fairfield & I making it to the top of half-dome --> 12 hour hike covering 15 miles and 4800 feet of elevation gain - easily the most difficult day hike I've ever done).... (Video link to the Left)

-Saw my dear buddies Eric & Adit (responsible successful guys who, unlike me, have fully embraced adulthood!!!)

-Great days of relaxing in Tahoe with Jarred Pauwels, Bennett Kim, Ken El-Sherif, Brian Kane, & Fairfield... (fotos below)

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Jackson, Wyoming, United States

Great 2-part trip:

1st - Dallas Wedding of Peace Corps buddy David Hennekes (re-uniting Kilimanjaro companions (me, David, and Glenn Kosse). See first 3 Fotos Below.

2nd - Long hiking trip to Wyoming (Tetons & Yellowstone) with 3 great Bschool friends - Kevin Walbrick, Olivier Koehler, & Peter Howley.

Wyoming spectacular. We got snowed on (which made me sad) but scenery was gorgeous!

SEE 30 FOTOS BELOW. For best viewing, click the slide show button. Sorry for volume - just too darm pretty of a place!
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HIKER's NOTE:
Day 1 - Snow hike - Elephant Back (4 miles 800 feet elevation gain) in Ystone

Day 2 - 11 mile 2900 ft - canyon hike along 7 mile hole trail in Ystone.

Day 3 - rained out...

Day 4 - Lone Star Geiser - 5.5 miles to 2nd largest geiser in yllwstome

Day 5 - 15 miles 2200 ft - cascade canyon at Lake Jenny

Day 6 - signal mntn 4 miles 850 ft lite day

Day 7 - Death Canyon at Phelps Lake 7.6 miles 2100 ft gorgeous


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1241740500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1241740500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1241740500/tpod.html Thu, 07 May 2009 19:59:18 -0400 Break away visiting cool US & overseas people and places.

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Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States

My brother, cousin, and I escaped for a week-long trip to the Smokey Mountains. Weather limited hiking opportunities but I did squeeze in a couple of nice ones. Hi-lites include encountering a family of 4 black bear at our cabin AND hiking upto the summit of LeConte Mountain via the Alum Cave Trail (superb hike covering 11 miles roundtrip w/2800 feet of elevation gain).

Pics & Videos above!!!
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Detroit, Michigan, United States

WHAT A WAY TO WRAP UP A SABATTICAL...

Of all the exotic countries visited & amazing people encoutered, the most outstanding memory comes from the very glim city of Detroit, Michigan - where magic happened as my beloved Tarheels won the National Championship.

UNC roommate Jason Kilar & I were in amazing 17th row seats to witness what we love most (excepting family of course) - the Tarheels standing proud and cutting down the nets. (note: I'm lucky enough to have been in the stadium for our last 2 national championship games as well as last year's Final 4 debacle vs. Kansas. Jason & I have a standing agreement to attend every Final 4 Carolina is in (& his amazing wife Jamie has yet to exercise her veto).

The journey started in Atlanta, where I attended the ACC tournament & concluded on a magical Monday nite in Detroit!!!! Some cool pics & a video clip (of Danny Green in warm-ups) below.... Such a phenomenal event that I've included a ton of fotos (hoops fans will love; non-fans will not)
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1231702620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1231702620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/akbar/akbar_-_escape/1231702620/tpod.html Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:18:04 -0500 Break away visiting cool US & overseas people and places.

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Bocas Town, Bocas del Toro, Panama

Panama is very similar to its famous neighbor, Costa Rica.

(click "Show all thumbnails" above to see the fotos)

Incredibly pretty nature - awesome tripical islands and pretty mountains/volcanoes.
Lackluster culture - a rich history overwhelmed by westernization due to unbridled tourism.

My good buddy from Peace Corps (Tim Jones) & I spent 2 weeks visiting Panama City, Penonome, Boquete, Bocas del Toro & the San Blas Islands.

The HI-LITE of Panama and one of the coolest things I've ever done was spending a week aboard a 44 foot sail boat crusing thru the pristine San Blas Islands in the Caribbean just off Panama's north coast. We snorkeled daily for hours and didn't see any signs of modern life except for the cool sail boats checkin out the clear waters. Cool cool stuff.... (indeed, any of you who love being in the water and relish the tranquility of being on a sail boat should consider this....)

I can only recommend Panama to hard-core nature lovers. Unfortunately the cities and 'culture' are disappointing (decades of ill-management & heavy canal usage render the urban areas unappealing).

(click "Show all thumbnails" above to see the fotos)
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Cartagena, Colombia

CARTAGENA: Colombia continues to amaze.... (click "Show all 20 thumbnails" above to see the fotos)

Cartagena is a spectacular beach city preserved with colonial Spanish architecture. My brother Asif & I spent a fabulous 5 days here getting to the know the city and its magnificently friendly people.

In sum, Colombia has firmly established itself as one of (if not my) favorite country (up there with Syria, Greece, and Zimbabue)... I cannot wait to go back....

For those of you who consider yourself adventurous travelers (Jaroch, Knecht, Bobowski), get to Colombia asap because the unspoilt nature of this magestic place cannot last....

(click "Show all 20 thumbnails" above to see the fotos)
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Medellin, Colombia

Medellin: (click "Show all 25 thumbnails" above to see the fotos)

Bschool buddy Eric Mersh and I visited Medellin, Colombia for about a week and both fell in love with this city!

Only a 3 hour flite from Miami, Medellin is a marvelous gem hidden (though not for long) from the traveling masses. Perhaps the most livable city I´ve ever visited, it is one of (if not the top of) my favorite places in the world.

The city is set in a valley crested by pretty green mountains and boasts great weather, a tight 60-75 degree range explaining its nick-name as the City of Eternal Spring. Natural beauty, weather, food/lifestyle, friendly people, and gorgeous women - all are in abundant supply.

Medellin & Colombia are still refreshingly non-touristy - largely in part to the ill-reputation earned in the peak of drug trafficking in decades past. The violent past is largely solved and the country is now very safe. Eric & I did pay a visit to Pablo Escobar´s grave here in his hometown.

Escobar was a ruthless tyrant who ran the world´s biggest cocaine ring - he alluded US and Colombian troops for years while violently dealing with competition and customers. He also poured a lot of money into poor neighborhoods in Medellin. In a surprise, Eric & I learned that the local populace view him as a hero who supported the poor when the gov´t turned a blind eye to them. Everyone we met spoke glowingly of Escobar as a Robin-Hood type figure who was beloved by the masses.

HERE are some fotos from Medellin (BUT YOU MUST VISIT TO EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF):

(click "Show all 25 thumbnails" above to see the fotos)
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