Feel It All Around

Here’s a video I took while eating dinner in...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:00:32 -0700

Here’s a video I took while eating dinner in Vietnam… I should have flipped my phone around for a better picture but it’s a good example of how traffic works around there.

Old Quarter traffic in Hanoi (by eyebdavis)

Hello from Vietnam! (and job news!)

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:38:16 -0700

Well it’s been awhile since the last time I wrote one of these, so I thought I’d send out an update…

I’m currently enjoying my second day in Hue, old imperial capital of the Nguyen dynasty. There are many great sights to see here, and I scored a cheap room with A/C and a TV (a first for the trip) so am enjoying all the creature comforts of home.

While Hue is very impressive, my favorite part of this leg of the trip so far is the bus ride to get here. It was the longest one to date, reaching about eighteen hours by the end. Unlike the train ride I had taken to Sapa, on this trip I was the only Westerner… not even the staff of the bus company spoke English. But I had a number of great interactions with the people on the bus which made it all worth while - simple things like a smiley woman helping me figure out which seat was mine, or sharing a meal with five guys who not only helped serve me food but asked the waitress to give me a spoon (I told them I was fine with chopsticks but they must have known better…). On a trip like this there are plenty of sights to see, but the human interactions with everyday people make it.

Previous to this I was in Hanoi and Sapa, both of which I loved. I read a description of Hanoi once describing it as having “Asian pace and Parisian grace” and while that’s a little oversimplified it’s a little true. Hanoi has the worst traffic I’ve ever seen: millions of motorbikes following absolutely no traffic rules. On top of that everything in Hanoi is done on the street, meaning restaurants, shops, bia hoi joints and the like all sprawl onto the sidewalk. So not only is traffic bad but pedestrians have to wade out onto the streets as well… somehow it all works.

After Hanoi, Sapa (a hilltop village on the Chinese border) was exactly what the doctor ordered. I was able to take a motorbike from the train station in Lao Cai to a nearby village called Bac Ha where they have an enormous sunday market. My bike ended up breaking down when I returned to Lao Cai, so from there I took a bus to Sapa, where I spent the next two days.

I’ve already posted some pictures of these places so I won’t go over them in too much detail. Also, I don’t think I’ll be able to get my pictures from my real camera up until I get home so I apologize if anyone’s getting sick of the Instagram pictures!

And in other news….

I found myself a job after my trip! Well, a three-month internship but whatever. I will be working with the Communications Specialist for Columbia’s Center for Eastern and Southern Africa, which supports the Millenium Villages Project in that region. This means I’ll be heading off to Nairobi in January! I will have covered a lot of ground when these six months or so are over.

That’s all I have for now. I still have Hoi An, Nha Trang, Dalat and Saigon to visit before I’m done with Vietnam. I might also do a homestay in the Mekong Delta - I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Then on to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat!

I miss you all and look forward to some great time spent back home come December.

Oh yeah I said I would write a blog...

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:48:18 -0700

Well so far I’m not doing well with this, but here’s a quick update.

I’m on a bus back to Manila after spending the last four days in the mountains of Cordillera in North Luzon. The Cordillera is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been - very green and very remote. I was able to visit Banaue and Batad which house the famous rice terraces (although the whole region has them). Also got to spend some time in Sagada, which is a backpackers haven but with it being off season was mostly deserted.

I have had the good fortune to travel with an Israeli couple through most of the trip so far. It is definitely nice to have travel companions!

I am now heading to Manila to catch a flight to Puerto Princesa in Palawan. I will spend the next week in Palawan, stopping briefly in Puerto but mostly heading to El Nido and it’s magnificent beach. After a few days of hiking and enduring jolting mountain bus rides, I am looking forward to some R&R (and maybe scuba diving) at the beach.

That’s it for now. Maybe I will write again when I get to El Nido…

Day 1: Manila

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:03:14 -0700

I made it! Arrived last night in Manila. Got up early today to tour the city. It’s pretty great so far. I’m hoping to catch a bus out of town tonight to find my way to the rice terraces in Banaue. And so it begins…

Photo

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:19:26 -0700

Testing... 1, 2, 3...

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 00:07:34 -0700

I’m revamping the ol’ blog in preparation for my upcoming trip. Pay no attention to this post - I’m just getting a feel for the new layout. But do look forward to some I’m-sure-will-be fascinating updates about my trips over the upcoming months…

Video

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:35:06 -0700

Cornel West @ #OccupyWallStreet.

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:30:50 -0700

Cornel West @ #OccupyWallStreet.

Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (by ZEITjUNGzeigt)

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:15:19 -0700

Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane (by ZEITjUNGzeigt)

Video

Thu, 19 May 2011 22:19:52 -0700

Beach House - Real Love

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:46:54 -0800

Beach House - Real Love

Oh Canada!

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 13:34:21 -0700

Highlights from the trip to Victoria yesterday:

All star cast (that means you Matt, Beth, & Nelly)
EARLY morning
Sassy McDonald’s workers
Barely catching the ferry
Seeing eye dogs
Embodying the American tourist
Sugar fries
Bars filled with zombies
Surviving a 300 mile drive, international vacation, and an unhealthy amount of incidental comedy, all on less than an hour’s worth of sleep the night before.

I love college (hey!). C’est la vie :)

Video

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:42:37 -0700

Matt & Kim!!!

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:51:27 -0700

Matt & Kim!!!

Winding Down

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:32:02 -0700

Wednesday’s almost over, which leaves only two more days in my trip. Had the last day in the office today, and it seemed like I was just getting started.

There have been so many memories from this trip and the final week has not disappointed. A long weekend getaway at a little beachouse on Long Island for starters. Monday included work and attending a panel discussion about a new initiative targeted at pastoralist populations in dryland areas in E. Africa. Speakers included the first lady of Uganda, the special envoy to the UN from Somalia, and the UN ambassador from Djibouti. Things learned: 20 million people live in extreme poverty in these areas, nomads who follow the sparse rainfall and have been largely neglected in terms of development and aid; surprisingly, Somalia has at least enough political stability to send a dynamic person to the UN; there’s no getting around the hilarity of Djibouti’s name, even when spoken by their ambassador.

Tuesday was a whirlwind of important people and functions. First up was Millennium Promise’s directors meeting. It took place in a swanky corner of the 10th floor of the Time Warner building (on Time Warner’s dime no less!). Safe to say it was the easiest three-hour meeting I’ve ever sat through. But when the speakers are the likes of the director of the World Food Program, the CEO of Ericsson (who is a revolutionary in mobile phone technology in the developing world), CEO of an Asian chemical company providing tens of millions of mosquito nets to help stifle malaria, Jeff Sachs, and Youssou N’Dour, it’s not too tough. Out of the hundred people or so there, I’m pretty sure I was the lowest ranked one, but I had an Earth Institute badge so I blended in okay. From there I walked over to Grand Central Station, where much of the same crowd, plus others, gathered to launch the Connect to Learn Campaign, a women’s education initiative spearheaded by Ericsson, Millennium Promise, the Earth Institute, and Madonna (everyone needs a spokesperson right?). The whole day was a little surreal. But it was all about the best and brightest coming together to tackle issues of world poverty, so it was pretty inspiring!

Today was spent both at work and at the incredible Metropolitan Museum of Art. I spent at least an hour and a half there before the place closed, and I still missed probably 75% of the museum. Still, some highlights: really liked the Paul Cezanne pieces they had - had no clue who he was coming in but was impressed; Dali’s Crucifixion; the entire exhibit of art from Oceania; the Big Bambu piece on the roof. There was plenty more, from Van Gogh’s to Warhol’s to Roman-era stuff. What’s cool about the MET is that you get an eclectic taste of art, a little something from every civilization, and it’s interesting to see how different cultures and societies interpret and create, and how that weaves together into the greater story of humanity.

So, with only two days to go, there’s no time to let up. Up for tomorrow, a trip to the Bronx to check out Fordham (always thinking ahead!) and sitting in on a talk by the President of Timor-Leste. Friday I’ll be spending the day helping at an event about climate engineering, and then it’s off to SEA-town Saturday morning! Apparently we have to start school or something, and I’m already receiving assignments and starting to worry about my ability to handle my intermediate french class…

All in all, life is good! I’d say this trip has been more than successful on all fronts. Now it’s time to head back and have an unforgettable last year of college with the greatest people in the world. Can’t wait!

My friend from the MET.

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:17:00 -0700

My friend from the MET.

Excited about going home on Saturday! I’m ready to be...

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:14:00 -0700

Excited about going home on Saturday! I’m ready to be back on the West coast :)

World Leaders Forum at Columbia. Listened to the 1st Lady of...

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 13:20:00 -0700

World Leaders Forum at Columbia. Listened to the 1st Lady of Uganda, Special Envoy to the UN from Somalia, and UN Ambassador from Djibouti (“jah-booty”).

It’s a must-read.

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:26:00 -0700

It’s a must-read.

Photo

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:15:03 -0700