Out trying to surf the other day I had the great experiance of being in a school of about 1 foot long fish at where jumping all around me as I lay on the surfboard. The were so many one actaully hit me in the head. Then as a wave passes and as it rises just before it breaks, the light shines through it and you see suspended in it are dozens of theses fish being carried the in curl of the wave. It was a special sight. I am not really a fan of big city and Tokyo one dense big city. Looking out on it from a tall building you see just how many skyscrapers there are just how far out in all directions it continues to be built up. In each part of ... read more

My my Grandmother has reminded me that it has been over a week since my last update. It hasn't really seemed pressing as I am on Bali time now. I can't believe that I leave today. The days just sped by. I met a young doctor from NY here who just finished is residency and planned on traveling and has ended up staying on this one beach for 30 days now. It really pulls you in. I have been snorkling, parasailing, playing with monkeys, swinging on vines, surfing, and a whole lot of nothing. I rented a motorbike for $3 a day and have been staying pretty local to Kuta beach. The traffic is pretty bad in the cities. The hawkers are pretty bad in the tourist areas with are mainly filled with Aussies and tourist ... read more

I am SO sore! My shoulder joints hurt like they never have before. But I guess that is what happens when you blast through 1400 Km of Cambodia on a dirt bike in 4 days. My back too… ouch. They have a red clay that is as slick as ice when it rains. The trucks have to use chains to pass on it. My guide and I had to ride it at night in the rain uphill. You just put it in 2nd gear and chug along just over idle. Don’t accelerate, don’t brake and don’t turn and you’ll do OK. I only went down 4 times putting me right into the red clay. My favorite stuff was the thicker mud. It was the consistency of… well I can’t think of anything like it, but it ... read more

Hey all, I am in Phuket now and since it is the low season and after the tsunami the area which is usually very touristy is a bit closer to normal. In fact there aren't that many people here and it is a bit of a buyers market, but still expensive for Thailand. Last night I splurged and stayed in a 4 star hotel with pool, waterfall, free buffet breakfast and very nice rooms for 37 USD. Tonight I am staying in an airconditioned room on the beach in a 2 or 3 star place with a great view for 10 usd which is right next to the place I am learning scuba. It isn't near too much, but I am renting a scooter so I can get around for a little less than 4 USD ... read more

Hı all, Just a quıck update. I had no plan or ıdea what to expect when arrıvıng ın Istanbul so at the aırport ın Germany on the way over I looked for a fellow traveler who dıd. I found the perfect couple my age who are from Canada and have been lıvıng ın Turkey for a year. They were very helpful and even gave me a lıttle cheat sheet they prepared wıth words, conversıons, and phone numbers. I am learnıng the lots of travelers are better planners than I and are usually only goıng to one place so they have studıed ıt. It seems lıke a good aproach ıs to seek them out and sponge all the ınformatıon you can or even tag along for a lıttle whıle. Thıs couple was headıng to the old part ... read more