Jay and Carolee
Having recently joined the unemployed set, we're forced to flee the NY rents and lifestyle for dollar dumplings and tsingtao. We start out in China and muddle our way through to Turkey with stops in Mongolia, India and Egypt among others. Carolee and Jay
Travel Blog Posts
March 29th 2006
Not really an entry but just wanted to post something while in Myanmar so we can color in more of that little world map on the title page. Though I just went across the border to get my stay extended in Thailand it still counts as being in another country. As an American, you dont really need a visa for Thailand-- they'll let you in on goodwill for a period of up to 30 days. If you want to stay longer, you just have to leave the country and come back- you can literally walk across a land border and turn around- and do that as many times as you like. Did that at Mae Sot and now I'm good for another month. But this is probably the last blog to be entered in this diary ... read more
March 20th 2006
Finally in Thailand. Our last country. I don't consider it much a tourist destination anymore as the family roots dig deep in Siam and I've spent enough hot summers in Bangkok and various off-radar towns in middle country to feel a little underwhelmed whenever I come back. But all those times, I had been escorted around safe in the custody of relatives. Though I've been to places like Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Samui- I couldn't tell you where they were on a map. I think the only way you can get a feel for a place is to work at it yourself- get lost on a back street, stumble while ordering at a restaurant, argue over prices in the street bazaars. So now coming here as independents it's kinda exciting again. Our first week we stayed around ... read more
March 10th 2006
Singapore is only 100 miles north of the equator which is kinda cool cuz it makes the climate stable. If you take a look at one of those annual climate charts, each month shows the same bar. What sucks is that it's stabled around hot. When you get off the plane it feels like someone just dumped a bucket of pudding on you with which you're forced to walk around the rest of your stay. But it's a cool place. I really liked it as it's very clean (I think Michael Fay's swollen caned ass can vouch for that) and very chill. I got a rise after seeing Taco Bell for the first time in half a year but then scanning the menu I noticed there's no beef. The populaton is highly diverse- 77% Chinese, 14% ... read more
March 4th 2006
Saw the Taj Mahal- absolutely amazing. It's rare that you can come upon a site that lives up to its hype but the Taj is one of those rare breeds. The photo's obligatory but really it can't produce the leveling you get when you see it in person. Magnificent. I heard one praise that calls it the greatest monument to love. If it were a monument to kicking puppies it would still drop you on your ass. That was our last highlight in India. It goes to hell from there. Our last train ride we were threatened with jail time and our last taxi ride, forced to get the police involved. The train from Delhi to Agra is only 2 1/2 hrs so we didn't think it necessary to pay extra for the more comfortable assigned-seating ... read more
February 28th 2006
Hadn't updated the blog in a while cuz well it turned out to feel like work and hell I'm on vacation. But seeing as how one of you has taken the time to express concern over our whereabouts (charmed, Joanna) will try to dredge up some of our last encounters. So now in Rajasthan, the State of Kings. Before Britain arrived and put the leather submission outfit on India, the natives thrived in an era of opulent dynasties and kingdoms. The most notable clan of these times were the Mughals and Rajputs who at their peak built grandiose palaces and forts in the north. The "Golden Triangle" located in Rajasthan is the most travelled region in India as it offers some fine examples of royal wealth and architecture. I commented back in China how sometimes you ... read more
February 25th 2006
Reentered India via Bombay, a good place to make a return. As the country's economic capital, it's a good place to see today's modern India. It's a busy metropolis (16 mil), but beyond paying too much on fancy meals and nicer hotels (they provided towels) there really isn't much else to remark on. Besides the fact that it was the first place we've seen in India to house the Golden Arches. We've been without it for so long we no longer had a craving for a hit on the McCrack pipe but we were still curious to see how they could go about bastardizing the local cuisine. There aren't any burger items on the menu-- no Baba, not in Hindu country. So we tried the Chicken Maharashtra burger, the McAloo Tikki, and the Paneer Curry Puff. ... read more
February 17th 2006
Traveling in Egypt is a game of patience and humility. When riding the overnight bus from Hurghada to Aswan remember to hold on to all 14 ticket stubs that they give you so that you can show the fare collector who comes back to check by waking you up at 1am and every 45 mins thereafter. Show them only 13 slips and you got some 'splaining to do. When riding the train from Aswan to Luxor remember to sit away from the window to avoid the shattering of glass when you pass by small villages and the children start hurling stones at the carriage. And if you plan on taking a charter bus to Abu Simbel get to bed by 6pm the night before so you can wake up at the fixed 3am departure time to ... read more
And the Tour Leader Said Unto His People, I Shall Lead Thee Into the Promised Bus with Air Conditioning
Published: March 2nd 2006Africa » Egypt » Sinai
February 12th 2006
You ever have one of those days that you look back on and feel guilty for the time you just wasted? (back in Brooklyn, I used to call those "Sundays"). You count all the times that you were productive and come up with a negative number (you were asleep more than you were awake). That's the vibe we're getting in Dahab, one of Egypt's premiere resort towns on the East coast of the Sinai Peninsula. It's extremely slow paced and very quiet so to enjoy it you have to come with the right motivation-- that is, none. It's well done up, primarily for tourism. A well-maintained, paved boardwalk ("Corniche") runs for 2 miles along the beach lined with 30+ hotels, 50+ restaurants and innumerable souvenir shops and tour-booking agencies. Saudi Arabia is just across the Gulf ... read more
February 9th 2006
Had a hellish time at the Indian Consulate today. Long story short, they weren't able to process our visas within the standard 4-day period and weren't the least bit apologetic for it. We only have 2 weeks in Egypt so don't have the luxury of time to play lapdog to a soul-less, lumbering government official. We sought an explanation to which they took offense and immediately became uncooperative. On the rare occasion, I can be a right bastard when tickled the wrong way-- in this case, getting shafted by a government agent and STILL receiving a frosty attitude. Un-niceties were exchanged, squinty cold stares were traded (for me the squinty part was easy) and they even resorted to name-calling ("this man, he is arrogant"). So in the end, despite paying the full $65 US for the ... read more
$25 Pyramid (or It's Gettin' Hot In Here...)
Published: March 2nd 2006Africa » Egypt » Mediterranean » Alexandria
February 5th 2006
Usually when I hear about an activity involving long shafts, getting down on your knees, and entering in through the back tunnel, I'm not so eager to participate. However, if you're talking about Giza and crawling through the Great Pyramids, well than I say "Grrrrease me up, laddie!" I've been wanting to come to Egypt ever since I first played the game Tutankhamun on Atari 64 (yeah, most people would reflect perhaps on more scholarly passions, but I deren't dut smart.) There's loads of history here but even if you're a flunkie like myself you'll still be amazed by the surroundings. We came into Cairo by bus from Alexandria and I'm telling you when you crest that hill to get your first view of the city, and there laid out in front is the first pyramid, ... read more
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