TravelStream™ news feed for member jimtran on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jimtran en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 26 Feb 2006 05:01:08 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/berkeley/1140429300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/berkeley/1140429300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/berkeley/1140429300/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 05:01:08 -0500 Life of a graduate student...

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Lone Pine, United States

President's Day Weekend Excursion to Mt.Whitney
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/mt.waddington/1123231380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/mt.waddington/1123231380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/mt.waddington/1123231380/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:45:49 -0500 27-hr roadtrip from San Fran to British Columbia, 30min flight in 4-seater Cessna prop plane, followed by 2 weeks in the backcountry...

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Tatla Lake, British Columbia, Canada

Mountaineering expedition to Mt.Waddington Glacier.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china-winter_05/1109756460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china-winter_05/1109756460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china-winter_05/1109756460/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:42:34 -0500 Field research reconnaissance work.

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Beijing, China

Brrrrr.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083400680/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083400680/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083400680/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:40:03 -0500 Stopping in Yunan Province before heading to my ancestral hometown in Guangdong Province, China.

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Humen, China

Visiting extended family for first time!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1082769780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1082769780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1082769780/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:35:09 -0500 Stopping in Yunan Province before heading to my ancestral hometown in Guangdong Province, China.

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Kunming, China

This was the beginning of quite an adventure. I took an overnight train ride from Hanoi to the China border, crossed overland over the bridge, then proceeded with an overnight sleeper bus to Kunmning, China. Plenty of sketchy people along the way that scammed me out of a few US$, but what else do you expect in remote parts like this. Looking back I'm glad I didn't sweat it, they did what they told me they'd do and did it with a smile - deserving intrepid entrepreneurs. China was really much more difficult to travel in than I originally predicted. Very few people speak English here, especially in the rural parts of China that pervade Yunnan Province. I had no idea how the tranportation system worked either, whether train, bus, or private car was the predominant mode of transport. I eventually found that overnight busses suit a budget backpacker like me just fine. The ride from the border to Kunming took 15hours, a typical distance to travel for this part of the country. I got my own, though rather short and narrow, bunk in the bus (i'm short and narrow as it is... watchout you tall europeans!). The bus is really set up more like a caged in jungle gym than a Comfort Inn, but who can complain when you're only paying $10 to travel over 400miles. Cleanliness is not of top concern either. Smokers dominate sections of the bus and spit directly on the floor when their gummed up tobacco filled lungs can't take it anymore. This is no exaggeration! But it's all part of the adventure, eh?!Kunming has one hostel that beats out the rest, hands down. The Camellia is an affordable ($5/night) and very clean place, with satellite TV in the common room, separate sex bathroom and showers, kitchen, and laundry room where hand washes can be done. Really awesome. Downtown isn't far away either. I really got a chance to stretch my legs in this manageable town, visiting most parts of this econimically exploding town. I also bought tons of clothes here for dirt cheap (much cheaper than in eastern china!).
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/el_salvador/1117960200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/el_salvador/1117960200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/el_salvador/1117960200/tpod.html Sun, 26 Feb 2006 04:31:43 -0500 Peace Corp Country Tour

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San Salvador, El Salvador

***Under Construction***
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/thailand/1061708760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/thailand/1061708760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/thailand/1061708760/tpod.html Mon, 18 Oct 2004 08:28:01 -0400 Www.weather.com: Bangkok, Thailand- "85 degress F, Feels like 115 degrees F"... why am I going here again?

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Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, ThailandAugust 13th-18thSawat-dii khrap ("hello" in Thai)! After having spent an eye-opening week in Bangkok, I've finally made it to Hanoi, Vietnam. Sorry for the delay in getting this log posted, I've been on the move for the past 2 weeks since leaving Philadelphia, and am finally just getting settled. I've decided to start my logs out with a "first impressions"/introduction to the country or place I visited, then followed by what I actually did (i.e. For the impatient ones who'd prefer to just skip to the dessert, scroll down to the second paragraph). "Amazing Thailand" is definitely true to it's name. Though I set up basecamp in Bangkok and made only one excursion out of the city, I'm convinced that the Thai smile and hospitality extends throughout the country. This is one of the most polite and foreigner friendly places I've been to (not to mention the beautiful women!), I'll definitely be back for much more travel. Having just finished my first week here in Hanoi makes me appreciate my time in Bangkok even more (*read next travel log for details of first impressions of Vietnam). Since the embrace of free markets and capitalism in Thailand, the city seems to be flourishing. From the women waking up at 4am to sweep the city to keep the streets seemingly devoid of trash, to businessmen/women walking around in suits (in 90 degree weather!) on their way to 40-story buildings, and taxi's at every corner, you'd think you were in a virtual New York City. Ahh, but wait. Juxtapose this scene with food stalls (most of which are extremely unsanitary, but damm good food nonetheless) lined end-to-end in front of the 40-story buildings and on every other side-street, put the businessmen and their briefcases on motorbikes, women dressed professionally sitting in the middle of the sidewalk on a cheesy pink plastic stool 12-inches off the ground eating a bowl of noodles before going to work, and throw in a few 3-wheeled Tuk-tuks for good measure. It's just amazing to see this country in economic transition. However, I've come to learn that the Thai government, like many Asian countries, prefer to boast their power to create a façade of idealism. Corruption is rampant - you only have to take a short train ride out of the city to see the disparity between the "haves" and "have-nots." The streets are no longer spotless and the living conditions become cramped. With huge companies like Citybank and J.P. Morgan operating in the city, you come to wonder how the average daily wage has risen to only 160 bhat/day ($4). My average meal cost $.75 (large plate of rice with HOT/SPICY curry or grilled meat-mmmm!), and most expensive was $10 when I took my friend out to a "nice" Indian restaurant. Granted these are huge generalizations and a poor simplification of an issue that has many forces driving the current socio-economic climate. But hey, I'm just a privileged 23-year old tourist who wants to have fun in a little corner of the world. What gives me the right to come for 5-days and say this system is wrong just because it's not a Western system? We all know that the income gap between the very wealthy and poor is widening everywhere. Hmm, it's only 7am in the morning, I don't feel like thinking about all of this right now. Geopolitical views aside, the Bangkok I saw was beautiful, sassy, wild, religiously omnipresent, motley, and kind. The weather and smog, which I feared the most before arriving, turned out to bearable. The air is definitely hot and dirty, but you quickly become accustomed to the gallons of sweat you exude and noxious fumes spewing from cars/motorbikes/tuk-tuks. My first foray onto the infamous Thai roads was to my hotel from the airport. I was welcomed by my Expat friend Bill, who kindly came to the airport at midnight to guide me safely to my hotel room. Bill is an American who just recently got tenure as a professor of law at a Bangkok University. He was a first rate host, showing and guiding me to a complete smorgasbord of the city. Anyway, back to the traffic. Bill picked a random taxi... "b/c the man looked old, hence safe-"er" than the others," not quite. It's well known that the taxi drivers here often try to scam you, usually by inflating the price (no meter in car), or by taking you to a hotel that you Didn't ask for (some get commission from the hotels to bring customers). The taxi we chose was a dive, the old man almost senile, and his driving completely unpredictable. We made it back after about an hour, which was actually a good time. The 40 feet I walked to my room drenched my shirt in sweat - it's hot even at night. I stayed at 16 Soi Pipat House near Silom Rd. Wonderful place, though a little pricey (600 bhat/night = $15). You can get places here for around $5/night, but the fact that I was a 5 minute walk from Bill's place made it priceless. I didn't stay at Bill's b/c his place has only one bedroom (though it's an amazing apartment on th 15th floor that gives an almost 280-degree view of the city, beautiful). I also didn't feel comfortable crashing on his floor since he is the friend of my brother's partner Dave. And yes, Bill is gay. I tell you this b/c he showed me a side of Bangkok that I probably never would have seen. The first night I was there we went out to the Sphinx, a great restaurant on a gay strip off of Silom Rd. Since my host knew the owner well, the normal warm Thai hospitality was exceptionally nice. I think the green chicken curry was the best curry dish I've ever had, and it was "mild," aka HOT! Since the night was young, Bill decided to show me a seedier side of Bangkok. We first went to Patpong street, a bustling street full of vendors selling anything you could ever want. The funny thing is that this street is completely clear during the day until about 5pm, at which time dozens of workers come out to erect the tents and booths. As you can imagine, the night life here is unbelievable. Patpong has turned into quite a touristy area, yet still retains it's "ambience." What gives this street it's ambience? The go-go bars and strip clubs. That's right, Western families with their young kids are constantly berated by Thai men to "come-come, free look, sucky-sucky, you like?" Prostitution has long been part of the Thai culture, it's normal for married men to have concubines. Well, after being explained this by Bill, I reluctantly agreed to go check one out. We went to the Wildcat Pu#$y, or some ridiculous name like that. We left after the second show b/c the girls kept hassling us for money, and neither Bill or I were very amused (Bill for different reasons:). It turned out that in return, I was to sit through a gay bar. Well, it's been a month since I started writing this entry, so I'll be brief with the rest of my entry... I of course visited the Grand Palace and Chinatown, all must-see's for any tourist in Bangkok. Bill also took me on a one day excursion to Samut Sakon, then onto Samut Song Khrao via a local train that very few foreigners know about (hence, we didn't see one foreigner the whole day, even at the two towns we stopped at!). These towns are on the delta, southwest of Bangkok. It was amazing to be able to ride with local people to such obscure places. Bill tells me that most Thai expats don't even know about this train line (which runs twice a day). Well, the whole purpose of our trip was to reach the second town (Samut Song Khrao), which reveals the most interesting market I've ever seen. As we rode into the train station, we literally went through a food market. The train track WAS the walkway. Food sat inches away from the track, while some baskets of food weren't even removed from the track (we just went over them). More amazing, if you run to the back of the train before passing the market (about 200yards long), you can see tarps/tent flaps flipping back down over the tracks (like dominoes) as soon as the rear of the train passes, creating a covered walkway over the tracks. Incredible. Bill actually got footage of this with his digital camera/camcorder, hopefully I can get online one day. Well, I'm just going to finish by saying that I ended my trip with a 2-hour Thai massage given by a beautiful Thai girl... that cost $8.00! You haven't lived until you've gotten a Thai Massage...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/cambodia/1080270960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/cambodia/1080270960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/cambodia/1080270960/tpod.html Wed, 29 Sep 2004 14:21:36 -0400 Visiting my parent's homeland...

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Phnom Penh, Svaey Rieng, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Why Chinese people (more importantly, my grandparents)ended up in Cambodia in the early to mid 1900's... With the migration of both my grandparents from Guangdong Province, China to Cambodia in the 1930's, my family began writing its long history as refugees. It is estimated that from the early 19th to early 20th century around 2000 Chinese citizens immigrated to Cambodia per year. Some were merely private citizens speculating on a new investment frontier while others represented the Chinese government's feeble attempt at keeping a political foothold in Indochina. Little could stop the juggernaut of French colonization in Indochina at the time though, leaving Cambodia victim to another full fledged protectorate of France by the early 1920's. The overwhelming presence of French advisors in Cambodian state and local government meant that true exploitation of the countries resources could now occur. Money was poured into communication and transportation infrastructure, which in turn helped to develop the profit-making commercial sectors such as rice and rubber exports. These prospects lured many Chinese entrepreneurs, increasing the number of Chinese immigrants to a steady 5000 per year by the mid 1920's. The Chinese population in the Kingdom rose accordingly from 170,000 in 1905 to 300,000 at the beginning of WWI. The events leading up to WWII marked yet a new wave of Chinese immigrants arriving in Cambodia. The rather large and still growing Chinese population in Cambodia urged some victims of the Japanese bombings in China to flee to the Kingdom. My grandparents were a part of this new group of war refugees. The journey for those opting to reach Cambodia by sea was long and treacherous. The vast and unpredictable waters of the South China Sea prevented many from ever making it safely to a second country. My grandparents were one of the few lucky enough to be able to both afford and survive the journey. Their early life in Cambodia as illegal refugees was no less trying though. It was fraught with difficulties such as: a language barrier, nationwide unemployment hovering at 25%, poor social welfare system, animosity towards Chinese because of their financial successes, etc. With very few possessions in hand and a non-existent refugee support system in place, they found themselves drawn into one of the many Chinese enclaves in Cambodia. At that time the area encompassing the capital of Phnom Penh and the surrounding municipalities was split into three residential zones. The boundaries of these residential zones were mostly demarcated by ethnicity: The Vietnamese and Cham lived to the north, Khmers to the South and West, and the Chinese and French in the commercial center. The support network they found in the Chinese community helped them tremendously in terms of assimilating and establishing themselves economically. After working menial jobs as kitchen and wait staff for Chinese owned restaurants, my paternal grandfather eventually moved to Svaey Rieng and opened up his own restaurant. My maternal grandparents exported their knowledge of rice-wine making from China to begin a profitable spirits business.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1086142560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1086142560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1086142560/tpod.html Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:55:02 -0400 Stopping in Yunan Province before heading to my ancestral hometown in Guangdong Province, China.

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Qiaotou, China

This is really one of the most memorable times I've had during my entire year in SE Asia. Did a 5day hike down one of the world's deepest gorges, the "Tiger Leaping Gorge." The mighty Yangste River is pummeled through a narrow passage of rock walls that was created over centuries of erosion as it wound through the valleys of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain range. There are no official guide maps or ranger stations for you to check in to, you just follow the vague directions that include "100yards past the last restaurant until you reach the metal gates on the left, go through the gates and past the school until you reach the football pitch, the trail begins on the other side." I was really doubtful of the veracity of these directions, even after I found the trailhead! However, once I passed the first small village and got onto the single track there was no doubt that I was on the right path. I could see the snow capped summits of Snow Mountain, as well as the numerous spray painted red arrows on rocks that pointed me to the first of several guesthouses along the way. I saw very few people while hiking, and not many more once at the guesthouses I stayed at. I opted not to stay at the Lonely Planet recommendations in Walnut Grove or at the halfway point (such as the aptly named "halfway house") because of the rumors I heard of crowds here. If you adjust your hike just slightly you can stay at much quieter, more scenic guesthouses where the owners will treat you much more like family than smelly transient backpackers. I ended up staying 2 night at the tea horse, nazi family house, and another that I forget the name of. Really a spectacular hike with innumerable gorgeous unadulterated views.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083427500/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083427500/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jimtran/china/1083427500/tpod.html Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:31:12 -0400 Stopping in Yunan Province before heading to my ancestral hometown in Guangdong Province, China.

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Zhongdian, China

A mostly Tibetan town situated at 3200m (approx. 11,000ft), Zhongdian would be the closet I'd get to Tibet proper, only a 6-7hr bus ride further. You can't actually legally get to Tibet overland from China as a foreigner, rather one must apply for 7day passes and bow to state run tour companies who arrange for the state run airline to get you into Lhasa. Though steeply priced for an independent backpacker, it offers the opportunity to take a glimpse of a region that's been closed both geographically and politically to the world for quite some time. The cost of visiting Shangrila is bound to come down with time, though surely to be accompanied by some cultural loss. Hopefully I'll scrape enough money to do this trip soon.One gets a nominal sense of what Tibentan culture and society is like by visiting Zhongdian. The falt plateau landscape gives way to expansive sky views in all directions, truncated only at distant horizons by snowcapped mountains. What look to be like super-sized huts group together every so often to form villages on the plain. Hawks with 10foot wingspans speckle the sky above and land precariously on the many erected wooden grids outside the homes. Crops and animal skins are dried here throughout the season. I guess that's what really defines this cold, dry and arid landscape... the ability of it's inhabitants to adapt and really thrive in this seemingly imperturbable wilderness. The sheer remoteness has only recently been broken by the introduction of new communication infrastructure, such as improved paved roads leading to the city, satellite internet connections, and mobile phones. I only realized the significance of the latter when I befriended a young monk atop a lonely mountain. I found myself in the late afternoon climbing a lone hill in the hopes of catching a fleeting view of the sun setting over the mountaineous horizon. To my surprise there was a small buddhist temple at the top with a young monk fast asleep inside. Two young apprentice monks were assiduously reciting their assigned prayers outside the main doors to the temple. I was ready to turn around at that point because I really didn't think it proper for me to be there. But! A middle-aged man in tattered clothing suddently appeared out of nowhere and invited me to enter. Long story short, the middle-aged layman woke the sleeping monk to see me. Though he spoke absolutely no English, and my Chinese being none the better, we were able to communicate... for 3hours! I shared the digital pictures on my camera with him (*he'd never seen one before), and eventually had dinner with him! The meal started with a bowl of noodle soup, then progressed to two stirfried vegetable dishes, soup, and rice. We ended the evening with some delicious butter yak tea (black tea, salt, and yak butter), a staple in this cold environment. My time was running out in Zhongdian, so I thanked my new friend and bid him farewell. I had a long journey ahead of me, including a 18 hour overnight busride back to Kunming, then a 26hour train ride to Guangzhou in southeastern China. Distant family relatives and my great-grandparents hometown awaited me...
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