TravelStream™ news feed for member hilivin on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/hilivin en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:05:38 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221392820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221392820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221392820/tpod.html Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:05:38 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

Hello everyone! I'm alive and well, pretty well anyways. My time hasn't really been so great since ingrid and i departed, but that was to be expected. I was running mad in Thailand, trying to find vendors and cargo reps, visiting permaculture sites, etc all over about four days time. The unknowns that added to the stress included two 12hr nighttime bus rides and a 15hr 3 flight combo day to Bali, Getting $500 stolen on the second bus trip, almost a complete disaster with paying my vendors and cargo rep, so it would have destroyed everyting i worked on and probably lost my deposits, a moped adventure/nightmare trying to find the permaculture farm while in a downpour at night (shoulda took 30min, took 3hrs) almost ran outa gas and kept having to find more change for a phone booth, which one coin lasted about 30 seconds, so it took about a dozen call backs to get the farmer, Jeff, to understand where i was and come get me), a 13 match 5hr Muay Thai Boxing match where i almost saw my first "man killed right before my eyes" - i really thought he was dead-it took about 3 full minutes to wake him, even after they quickly pulled his limp body from the ring. Now you know why i haven't felt quite ready to blog. Since i've come to Bali, it's been a little better. I went to get my moped from Lars and we have some beers over the stories about "grandma" as they amusingly call it. Most are afraid to ride it. The suspension is like an old caddy's, unresponsive with a nice slow bobbing as you hit bumps and the brakes are similar, with the front one being a squealer and the back needing a good slam down from your heel to stop in a timely manner. It's all rusty in all the metal parts, so it's a real eye sore. Lars father visitiing drove it one day, and then asked Lars why all the Balianese stared at him when he was at traffic lights? Balianese love and treat their motorbikes better than they do their own family. They LOVE their family.  He rented a bike the next day. I wish i could ship her back to the states cause she's like a beautiful old dog to me. We went through so much together. oh well. I also finally got the full ExPat experience the last two nights in Bali. My friend from Maimi, Steffen came into town from Jakarta. He had some clients and friends in town as well. They were older businessmen who come for what most older men come for all over asia...young women. Not my scene, but they were all nice, i didn't pay for a drink or even dinner the whole night.. I had to bail after a while once the hunting really started. I hadn't really been to clubs since my Miami days. I don't miss them. I walked home on the beach to an almost full moon. Absolutely gorgeous. The previous night we went to the most popular one on the beach front road, and ended up meeting up with his real estate agent who was going to show him some property the following day. She had a friend who was having a birthday celebration. They and another guy were drunk and maybe on some thing else. She was a good connection for Steffen, and it was my first time to see him in 9 years. If not i would have bailed on him after about two minutes of those two. The birthday girl said about two sentences to me the whole time, which would have been nice, but she said them alternately about twenty times in a row. "You're so American!", and believe it or not, I don't remember the other one. I was at my maximum capacity for tuning out without being completely rude. It must have been me, cause it looked like Steffen was having normal conversation with the other one, but when birthday left, after crying for about 10 minutes to her friends...maybe i accidently broke the "tuning out without being completely rude" barrier. I don't know. But when she did finally leave, i thought, " Now things will be a little more fun and interesting", but noooooo.  This other gal says to me, " I love your nose." in a starring i want to eat you for dessert kinda way. The compliment was very nice, but also made me a bit uncomfortable. But I said "Thanks", and meant it.Then like the other gal, she kept saying it. And i kept saying, Ahhh, thanks. and other "I'm embarrassed" kind of gestures. But she didn't get the hints I think they both had drug induced Alzhiemers or something. After a while i just looked at her when she said it, but she would just stare back her attempt at a sensual gaze. After about the twentieth time, i finally said to Steffen, " We gotta go!" He asked me to go look at property with him the next day, but i just gave him that look of "Are you kiddin' me?" I guess it does make for good stories though.Recovering from two pretty late nights with Steffen, I'm looking forward to doing my two favorite activities the rest of my time here, surfing and beach volleyball. I haven't surfed yet and finally played some ball this evening. It's getting pretty exciting thinking about coming home. I can't wait to see you all. It will be very strange without Ingird. Sometimes the best things in life, you must wait for. That is definitely the case here.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221047520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221047520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1221047520/tpod.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:18:14 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I of HI:I wasn't really planning to come to Cambodia!  But I needed to make a border run to sort out my passport (after it lost the ink in the flood) and enter back into Thailand on my American, fully inked one.So I'm going to spend a little time in Phnom Penh and then a few days at the most stunning Ankor Wat.  I didn't realize how massive a temple complex it is - about 27km to ride a bike around!  So I am really looking forward to this detour.Cambodia is definitely a little rougher than anywhere I have been yet, so I am happy to be travelling with Natalie, and also 2 German girls that we met at the beach.  There is so much color to this land and it's history, from the extremes of Rouge and dark, desparate times, to the spirit of a kingdom that created the phenomenom of Ankor Wat.   It's going to be quite a journey.I would like some advice on something ...  I am pondering the value of visiting the Killing fields (mass graves from the murder of thousands of people during the 70's when the Khmer Rouge took power) - I kind of see it on the level of visiting a WWII concentration camp - For me, I know that putting a real life visual to that kind of horror may realloy hurt me, and not necessarily grow me the way I want to grow.  I don't feel like that choice is ignoring reality or hiding my head in the sand, because I am reading and learnign about it from books etc and I do not pretend that this kind of think did not or cannot exist.  But I feel having those visuals is not productive for me.   Any thoughts on that?   Maybe call me a Wuss?  We crossed the border at night after the border guard "extorted" an additional $10US from me for my questionable passport.  A young guy from the company that we booked thru to Phnom Pen with picked us upon the other side and escorted us to our ride.  With a dvd of Khmer Hip Hop Karaoke videos playing, and the driver singing along, we munched cashew cookies and rolled thru the darnkess into Cambodia. Today we got to a gorgeous little lakefront guesthouse in Phnom Penh, and have been enjoying Amok, the local dish of fish cooked in coconut and lemongrass, and Veitnamese sammiches in that chewy yummy unsweet french bagette, Freaking awesome, and Angkor beer cheaper than water.   This city feels nice, very chill and the french influence along with the tropical trees and climate is a nice mix.  The people are and kind and joke around with us a lot in a friendly way.  The currency is the Riel but they accept US dollars (?) and we are slathered up in mosquito repellant.   Ings
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220354760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220354760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220354760/tpod.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:48:34 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Koh Chang, Thailand

I of HI:Koh Chang - like every island paradise, days are spent like a waterbaby, swimming and playing in the sand, volleyball and soccer with the locals, reading sessions in the hammock, snorkelling and sun worshipping and sunset guitar sesh with cold cold beer and singalongs in Thai. Besides all that, I am making time to do pilates, work on building back my running base in a slow, healthy manner, practice guitar and singing, and reading for my CELTA course prep that starts in October, and learn to speak Thai.  I met a girl on the bus out of Bangkok...and now we are travelling together to Koh Chang and on to Cambodia.  Sounds a little like the story of my first "solo" trip, when I spent about half a day by myself, then found a new travel buddy on the bus on the way to Bali:)  But it's all part of da flow, and it feels really good.   Natalie is me English mate, and we like to talk in Scottish accents together - it's kind of our middle ground between American and British.  As for English, I am learning a whole new language, for instance, TP is Loo Roll, and when we go to happy hour on the beach, it is Going Out on the Piss. Bloody brilliant.  She is also the only traveller I have met so far that quotes all of my favorite movies starring Scottish men - So I married an Axe Murderer "HUGE CRANIUM" and Austin Powers.   The beach was a good choice for me - life is easy here, and a good way to ease into a lifestyle change.  I think of Heath and all our sweet beach memories, and it brings me comfort.   I miss him in a calm, beautiful way - clean of fear and anxiety and all the negative boosh.   Love and Pina Colada's,Ings 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220179380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220179380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1220179380/tpod.html Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:24:30 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Bangkok, Thailand

I of HI:Back to Bangkok, for our last week together before we launch ourselves in physically different directions, but towards the same goal  - Action towards our newfound purposes. The city is an old haunt, but a new phase in our travels and our lives both together and separate.  The mood this time is emotional calm, pierced with excitement - not the heavy fear and insecurity that squeezed me last time, when I was preparing for my time alone.  The little shadow of loneliness that snuck around with me has disappeared.The city itself is familiar, a little bit like home already.  The 3 months that we passed hopping islands and mountains in the Philippines and stretching our minds and our hearts in China have done wonders for my comfort and curiosity - I am not so timid to run around and explore a big city I don't know, in a language I have not yet mastered.  Instead I feel a constant buzz of energy, propelling me around to meet and greet these streets that will be my land of smiles for the next few months.  I walk and I walk, I find alleys and nooks and crannies and cafes and markets and friends and connections.   I feel this power in everything I'm doing, and finally, I am no longer wondering and wishing and thinking and analyzing- I'm acting, and crafting my days towards a purpose that is now so clear.  FREAKING AWESOME!Heath and I had a sweet sweet goodbye, and went our own ways, him North to the mountains of Chiang Mai, and I, south to the beaches of Koh Chang.  Months and miles will grow us, into better people with more room for good things - lovn' and livin' by our own strength.  And when we come back together in the spring, OOH BABY, LOOK OUT!Love,Ings
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219905060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219905060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219905060/tpod.html Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:32:25 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Beijing, China

added some more pics...Knee How, that is Chinese for Hello, Ni Hao!Beijing Highlights:Olympic Games:We kicked it off with Track & Field in the Birdsnest.  We scalped our tickets at the subway station - all our training in Southeast Asia paid off and we scored some steal deals on all our tickets, including gold-medal matches.  Got to see Usain Bolt qualify for the 200m, he looked like he was just taking it easy, lazing his way through it!  We watched him break the record the next night peeking thru the window of a bar, which was almost as exciting as being there.  Also got to see CU Boulder grad Kara Goucher qualify in the 5000m, WOO HOO!  She married the Adam Goucher that won state cross country the year Ing got 3rd (he had a sprained ankle and ran a 14:30, supreme!).Here is a list of the menu at the Birdsnest, and all other Olympic venues:  Sausage. Cake. Bread. Tea. Chips.  The sausage came on a stick, and the Bread was a bag of 5 white bread lumps.  I don't know if we expected a healthier selection of Olympic cuisine in the spirit of athleticism, or maybe a little more of a culinary show-off for the world, since that's how Beijing has approached everything else Olympic, but I guess something had to win the gold medal in Crap.  And make us laugh:)  However, the beers were cheaper than at any sporting event or bar we have ever attended, and you could buy them unlimited by the cratefull.  That scored a big high five. Also, outside of the stadium, you could buy the standard giant noodle soup bucket, but we opted for the Self Heating meal.  It was a box of rice and stirfry something, and it was a science experiment - you put the bag of white powder over the little baggie of water, then you open the rice, close the box, pull the string and it starts steaming like a teakettle!  Pretty ingenious, but pretty not yum. USA vs. Brazil gold medal match in women's soccer, we got one ticket for free and paid 100Yuan for the other.  Face value was 800 yuan a piece and it included the Bronze medal match! After our paparazzi press time outstide the stadium, we watched the ladies win in the rain, surrounded by 10,000 Chinese in yellow poncho's yelling Jai Yo!USA vs. Brazil gold medal match in men's beach volleyball - this was unlike any other Olympic event, it had the air of a pool party, with Brazillians cheerleaders in cowboy hats, rock music, misting machines, pijou (beer) and a dude in an American flag Evil Kanevil suitIn general, Chinese people do not clap at events to show their appreciation, they shake and wave things. We first learned this on our 12 hour ride on the sleeper bus making our way through Southern China - to keep you distracted from the fear of the insane driving on the narrow mountain roads, or from your iminent death by second hand smoke, they would show some DVD movies etc.  The first one was pretty risque - slighlty dressed ladies in high boots dancing to pop songs.  There was also a pole envolved.  A little shocking for the public bus!  Then they showed some traditional Chinese Opera, does anyone know what i'm talkin about?  Then they showed a concert video of a pretty famous Chinese pop star, and when he would finish each song, after singing his heart out, the camera would pan to the audience who were sitting there in a silent frenzy, waving their little light up toys and fans and things.  So that being said, the no clapping thing was addressed for the Olympics, some public relations people on the organizing committees for the games came up with some tips and cheers to help them get in the spirit, which were published in city magazines/papers etc.  This is one that we read:  Clap twice, extend each arm with thumbs us, chanting Jai Yo (which literally means "I Am" )  At least they all do it and with massive enthusiasm - we have decided that the USA cheer of "U...S...A" has got to go and we will make it our mission before London 2002 to create and spread some good cheers that do not suck. Holland House!  Each country supposedly has a "House" where fans, athletes, etc go to celebrate in communal olympic spirit.  The Canada house has an ice rink inside.  The Irish house is really just any bar that has beer.  The USA house is hidden and exclusive, an invite only policy, LAME.  Where's the spirit in that?! Another mission for us before 2012, start the real USA house!  The Holland House, or as it is really called the Heinaken House, was the best celebration in all of China.  The beer is flowing, they have Brown Bread sandwiches, bands and DJ's, and they have their own Medal ceremony, after which they crowdsurf the Dutch athletes all over the giant hall.  We accidentally found our way there with some friends who said you can buy cheap tickets there.  We ended up hanging with some Dutch boys from early afternoon until early morning, and got to celebrate the Dutch ladies winning the field hockey gold.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218002040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218002040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218002040/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:27:10 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Fenghuang, Hunan, China

We spent 3 nights in Fenghuang, an ancient village on the river complete with bridges and lanterns and stepping stones.  It had a very remote and villagey feel - until we hiked to the top of a nearby hill and looked over the top of the old buildings to discover - it was smack in the middle of a big city!  We also watched the Opening Ceremony, how cool was that?!   The streets of the village were empty, absolutely everyone closed up shop to watch the ceremony.  They also had local fireworks that exploded, it seemed, exactly in time with the giant footprint fireworks we were seeing on the tv in Beijing!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217828820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217828820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217828820/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:22:31 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Yangshuo, Guangxi Zhuang, China

IAfter 3 days we said goodbye to our Polish saviour and ventured out on our own into big China!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217649000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217649000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1217649000/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:19:14 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Hi Guys:) It's Ings!China is breathtaking.  In all it's magnificence and mystery and beauty, and also in the sense of I cannot breathe in this filthy bus station bathroom, why do all my memories smell like pee?  For the past 2 weeks we have been on the road, on the tracks, on the river, and on the run, winding our way across this great land.  I think it's appropriate that we we spend our days in China in constant motion, as a tribute to a nation that is massively on the move, building and changing and moderninzing, and taking huge steps into the world's attention.  How cool to be in this country for the Olympics, the coming out party!   This is the first time we have entered a country and felt - lost!  That true sense of feeling like we have no idea how to communicate or to find a place to stay or find the bus.  But now with a combination of pointing to characters in the lonely planet, some hand gestures, some miming and dancing, and a few words of Mandarin and chinglish, we are getting it down!  I will never forget the first time we looked at a menu with a sea of chinese characters and the potential for some unsettling choices (dog, frog, snake, chickens feet, or a variety of internal organs) and I think we ended up with some good old rice!  Hee hee:) Even in the bigger cities, most people are not used to seeing travellers, and we are frequently looked at with big eyes of amazement and excitement, and friendly "Hello's" in chinese british accents, and often hear the cry of "laowaii" (white ghost!)  We are featured in many a chinese family photo album.   We have found such good friends and caretakers here - they see us looking lost or flipping pages of our book and stop to say "I can help you?"  We have been adopted by our new friends Pu and Cookie and Barrie the Scottish man and many others.   Despite the fact that there are so very many people here, I have never felt overwhelmed or crowded or uncomfortable.  There always seems to be a happy chatter floating on the breeze, you wake up to it and go to sleep with it, it's surprisingly soothing. Little catch up on our epic journey through China - Our first night in China was spent with our Polish couch surfer, who took us to the Irish bar where we hung out with more Polish people and ate cheeseburgers.  At least we drank Chinese beer, Gunbei! (cheers!)  He has lived here for 3 years and let us in on a few secrets - there are about 40,000 characters in Mandarin.  Holy moly.  I have so far learned to recognize about 4, 2 of which involve the restroom classification (after many wrong choices, sorry boys!)We went to Asia's largest water park!  If you can imagine, it was some incredible people watching (and some loooong lines, holy moly).  You can really fit a lot of people into a swimming pool!  Soup!  Heath found the lone budweiser stand (no Tsing Tao Chinese beer, because they knew that only Laowaii's mix their waterpark with beer) and shot water cannons at innocent people floating by on the lazy river. Lucasz told us to go early to buy our train ticket to Yangshou, but we didn't believe him, so we just showed up at the station to a massive sea of people and they told us they were sold out. OOPS!   I of HI 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219031160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219031160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1219031160/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:07:24 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Shanghai, Shanghai, China

We're staying with my friend Holly's Uncle David!!  And he's been showing us the good life and good times in Shanghai.  After a 20km hike and 8 hours on the bus/train/taxi, Heath and I and our backpacks and all our travelling glory met David at the German bar and hung out with him and his friends from India and Sri-Lanka.  We did not drink Chinese beer this night, but I did join the Chinese on the dancefloor.  I had to teach them the Irish jig.David is a great man, with a great laugh.  We have had such good times here with him and his buddies.  He took us out to experience Shanghai's finest beer and blues clubs, cooked us some delicious western food (i can't quite get used to rice 3 times a day:( or the instant noodle soup bowl! ) and watched olympics in Chinese with us.  We also watched some on the Japanese channel.   Tonite, we hop the night train to Beijing to get gold fever!!  We have our facepaints and olympic spirit outfits ready, and are hoping that they are received with a sense of humor!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218524760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218524760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hilivin/hi_livin~/1218524760/tpod.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:55:37 -0400 Heath & Ingrid (HI for short) would like to invite you on a vicarious journey to see what LIVIN' is all about. LIVIN' will be at the forefront of our minds as we travel around the world for 2 years.

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Huangshan, Anhui, China

On the bus to Jiushao Shan we met Cookie and his travel group, who couldn't get their heads around how we could travel in a country where we didn't know the language.  We said, it's because we meet the Cookies!! He adopted us and helped us to navigate tickets, hotels, lunches and dinners:)  So Jiushao Shan is the most important Buddhist peak, and is named 99 Peaks mountain.  There are over 1000 temples and nunneries on the mountain.  I would actually prefer to call this a big hill, because it absolutely pales in comparison to Mount Huang Shan, China's most famous and striking mountain.  It has moved Taoists and tourists and poets to tears.  It moved us to an elevation of 1700 meters!  This was our most incredible China experience.  We hiked 7.5 meters up the spectacular Eastern Steps, spent the night in a tent village, woke up at 5am for sunrise...we avoided all the hundreds of people who were also waiting for the sun, and found a secret spot on a peak under the umbrella pines, where we set up our double-wide hammock and watched the blood-red sun rise through the sea of clouds and peaks.  It glowed fire for about 10 minutes then disappeared, and we became enveloped in clouds.  Then we hiked about 20km in a circle of serious ups and downs around the mountain range and then down the maybe 6000 steps to the base.  Then we hopped a bus to Shanghai!
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