TravelStream™ news feed for member tigo2 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/tigo2 en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:52:59 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1215042120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1215042120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1215042120/tpod.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:52:59 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Manhattan Beach, California, United States

Well it's finally over. I've done it. It's finished. Here is the breakdown.

22 Countries
21 Airplane Flights
16 Ferry Crossings
13 Train Rides
8 Subway Systems
Countless buses, mopeds, tuk tuks, and miles on my trainers!

The last 6 months have brought so many emotions that it is very hard for me to describe the experience as a whole. At times I felt completely at home...halfway across the world, at other times I was horribly home sick. Overall, the trip could not have gone better. I had no major problems, kept to my budget and have and endless new email list of people around the world!

The food, the friends, the kiteboarding, the surfing, the FOOD...all incredible and I hope to share my stories with all of you as I get to see everyone. You'll probably have to shut me up with the way I babble on and on. Thanks for sticking with me throughout this...I couldn't have done it without everyones constant encouragment. I hope everyone was able to learn a little something about a different part of the world!

Now get off your butt and go out and travel!

Oh, and when everyone asks me where is the best place I visited, I'd have to say...Manhattan Beach...California Rocks!

This is Mike signing out.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214665980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214665980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214665980/tpod.html Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:16:12 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

So I finally made it to my last destination. Dublin Ireland. After 8 hours on another (I thought I was done with these) overnight ferry we arrived and slept. 2 hours later we were drinking the real Guinness in a pub and then another in the Guinness brewery itself. Off to the Jamison Whiskey Distillery and my journey will be complete...oh yeah and we saw some cool churches too.

Hope to see all of you very soon as I am coming HOME tomorrow. I can't believe it. Also some pics to come, sorry for the short posts. Make sure you read my last blog...I promise it will be epic.
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St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

Well we made it. To the oldest course on earth, and we played. Well, when I say we played I mean HE played, but it was an experience for the both of us.

Dad and I made our way up from London to York and then to North Berwick. We played a links course one day then drove to St. Andrews the next with a possible spot in the daily lottery. Well we won the lottery, but I didn't meet the handicap standards...go figure.

So I caddied for dad while he played, well a round of his life. it didn't show in the scorecard but he did hit an eagle which was beyond amazing. I was quite a good caddie and might pick up a part time job when I get back.

The kicker of it all was we played 2 groups behind the whole Manning family...yep, the last two superbowl winners, the dad and the unfamous son. Incredible.

We have made our way down to Liverpool and we are playing another course tomorrow before leaving for Dublin. Coming home in a few days...can't wait to see everyone!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214035440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214035440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1214035440/tpod.html Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:05:48 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

Met my friend Carys from Sri Lanka in her hometown and Oly headed down from Pembrokshire as well. Wales is beautiful!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213736640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213736640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213736640/tpod.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:10:31 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Aarhus, Denmark

It's been a long time coming but I finally made it to the beautiful city of Aarhus and into the waiting arms of my friends Rasmus and Stine who I met in Brazil 5 months ago.

Rasmus has been a wonderful tour guide and making sure I sample many of the local brews and food.

My first night we went to a BBQ and I sang with Rasmuss choir group and had a merry time.

Still watching lots of football\soccer and I made some great pizza tonight, my first since my terrible experience in Argentina! I'm back on my game.

Going to Wales tomorrow to meet some people I met in Sri lanka, then over to London to start my trip with my pops to Scotland and over to my last port of call...Dublin. Only 12 days left!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213536660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213536660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213536660/tpod.html Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:42:06 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Copenhagen, Zealand, Denmark

So how do you get from Berlin to Copenhagen you ask?

Take the U_Baun to the S_Baun to the Train Station
Take the Train to Rostock
Take another train to Rostock SeeNord Ferry Port
Walk a mile to the ferry terminal
Take a ferry to Gedser, Denmark
Walk a half a mile to the bus stop
Take a bus to Nyrbing
Take a train to Copenhagen H

How long should this all take...12 hours if you are a seasoned traveler like myself, 8 hours if you are a newbie and rush to trains instead of take your time and miss the regional train in Rostock...

Got to Copenhagen about 8 PM just as my buddy Nick was about to give up on me. Saw tons of Copenhagen by bike in the two days I was there. The sun hardly goes down this far north. Nick almost managed to get me lost, killed and drunk by bike through this bustlling, gorgeous town but he only succeeded in the later.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213275480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213275480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213275480/tpod.html Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:03:36 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Berlin, Germany

The days keep getting longer and the nights shorter. I've gotten very good at sleeping in a bright room with lots of guys snoring.

Berlin is such a cool town and I wish I had more time to spend here. Probably the most American of everywhere I've been (basically because they actually weigh the fruit for you at checkout rather than you doing it yourself).

I took a great tour of the city today with the New Euro company. The tours are free and you are obliged to tip as you like. Our guide was very entertaining and made the 4 hour walking tour fly by.

Berlin is completely flat and lots of people bike. This is the first place I've been where I've been more scared of being hit by a bike than by a car...Denmark promises to be even worse.

Heading further north tomorrow to meet up with my buddy Nick. I hope Copenhagen is ready for me! Watch out!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213111380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213111380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1213111380/tpod.html Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:26:26 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic

Made it to Prague and man I am I exhausted, stupendously exhasted or culture I guess you would say. I'm on culture overload and language overload as well. I think I may forget how to speak English.

Prague is wonderful but I don't have much time here. Hit the pavement, or cobblestones for about 8 hours today before I sucame??? to a soft couch, cold beer and more Euro League Soccer. Berlin Next....
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212960900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212960900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212960900/tpod.html Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:42:45 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Vienna, Austria

I have to thank my friend Marcus for a great time in Vienna. I met Marcus through a girl Marion who I met in Sri Lanka and he was a most gracious host. he told me about the best Weiner Schnitzl and took me to watch some great football (Euro League Soccer that is). He let me stay in his apartment and everything!

The Schnitzl was accompanied with the most amazing potatoe salad I have ever had and the football was served up with lots of Austrian beer, just the way I like it because I have no idea what is going on anyway.

We also visited the summer palace of the Austrian Monarch (Strobstrause or something like that) which is a lot like the Versaille palace but with a great view of vienna.

It started pouring rain at the end of the Poland-Germany game so we went for a Kasekreiger - a cheese filled hot dog in a delicious bun and I burnt the top of my mouth pretty badly...cheese is a hell of an insulator in case you didn't know. My million dollar idea when I get back is to make house insulation out of mozzarella...shhhhhhhh!

Tomorrow I leave for Prague and the original budweiser brewery.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212831660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212831660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/tigo2/2008_sabbatical/1212831660/tpod.html Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:48:00 -0400 Going where my kite takes me...

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Vienna, Vienna, Austria

So how does one spend 12 hours on a bus ride from Sarajevo to (oh my god I just had the most intense deja vu about writting this email from some strangers flat in Vienna) Vienna...

1.2 hours at Boarder Crossings (Croatia, Slovenia, Austria)
4.5 hours reading "The Omnivores Dilemma"
.8 hours eating peanuts
3.5 hours sleeping
1 hour enjoying the insanely lush scenery
1 hour listening to my ipod

What a trip! Arrived in Vienna at 1 AM and didn't want to wake up my host so I slept 4 hours at the station, outside, strewn out on three chairs with my head resting on my backpack (well the guy across from me made it look comfortable..)

The towns going crazy getting ready for Euro League soccer so I am joining in. My new friend Marcus is letting me stay at his house and attend some of his friends futbol parties...I can't wait!

Going for some Schnitzel...
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