 Isaiah Harp - Isaiah | All Comments |
« back 1 next »
Comments | |
| 28th August 2009 Stephen | Such Intrepidness and Bravery - From: In Which Our Hero Ends Up Drunk and Penniless, Passed out on a Park Bench in Laos Oh great traveller, you displayed great bravery and the wiliness of Coyote. |
| 26th March 2009 Isaiah | - From: Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, Part III: To Everest As you can see, it's perfectly possible to go at it alone. That said, I would feel negligent advising someone to do it solo, because anything can go wrong in a place like that, and I don't know you or how you deal with difficulties. For example, you are correct, the altitude will be painful, and some people don't have the know-how to pace themselves. As for myself, I never had any question about whether I would use a porter-guide or go alone. A guide simply was never an option. But that's just my personality. I'm also extremely fit, and a careful and competent outdoorsman. You know yourself better than I do, but I would say if you are worried about going alone, it probably isn't the best idea. You will enjoy it either way, and with a guide you will have much more access to the culture and people that I had to sacrifice. |
| 2nd March 2009 ashutosh | - From: Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, Part III: To Everest hey! I'm doing the trek in April sometime and was doing some research on the net when i came across your post. I thought it was really well written. Your account made me forget about all the things that were making me question going for the trek! DO you recommend a solo trek? Or should i take a porter-guide. I like travelling alone but I have some experience with altitude > 5000m and know that it can get very unpleasant very soon. So, it might be nice to have some one saving your ass if things go awry. |
| 3rd February 2009 liliram | Impressive writing! - From: In Which Our Hero Ends Up Drunk and Penniless, Passed out on a Park Bench in Laos Truly enjoyed this blog..........so different,so interesting. Your style is rare, and I mean that in a most positive way. |
| 4th December 2008 Russ | That is the bird's nest, not the egg - From: Beijing, the Backpacker, and the Olympic Bid That is actually the Bird's Nest. Sorry you had a bad time in Beijing. Think that the air is fog - perhaps smog, rather than only pollution. Plenty of blue skies to be seen in Beijing. I am in Beijing at least 3 times a year for the past three years. Really find your comparison of Beijing's air to Kathmandu's air to be bizarre. Kathmandu was found to be the most polluted city in Asia. Beijing is not even close to K'du. Anyway, thanks for sharing your travels! |
| 24th September 2008 yaron and hagit | excellent writing - From: In Which Our Hero Ends Up Drunk and Penniless, Passed out on a Park Bench in Laos good adventure |
| 24th September 2008 Isaiah | - From: In Which Our Hero Ends Up Drunk and Penniless, Passed out on a Park Bench in Laos I sure appreciate it |
| 23rd September 2008 Trenty | brilliant - From: In Which Our Hero Ends Up Drunk and Penniless, Passed out on a Park Bench in Laos brilliant, one of your finest :) |
| 14th August 2008 see-roos | werd - From: Beijing, the Backpacker, and the Olympic Bid thats crazy man and you write wel |
| 18th June 2008 katherine | - From: Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp, Part II: Solo Khumbu you look so happy in your route planning picture. i like it. ps when you met the yak, i hope you start singing, "yakety yak, don't talk back," as that's the obvious thing to do when meeting a yak. |
| 19th May 2008 vnano | Writing - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles I love your writing. Really special and entertaining. Keep up the good work! |
| 1st April 2008 K J | Your "medicine" bottle - From: The Western Sahara Route; Onward Hi Isaiah -- Your photo of the lonely tree was the picture on the travel blog web site home page and I really liked the composition so I followed it to your blog. I noticed that your Coke bottle matches the Coke can in my profile picture. Coke looks so much prettier in Arabic, doesn't it? I really enjoyed reading this blog! Keep traveling and keep writing! You're a natural! --KJ |
| 3rd February 2008 elena | students travelling to tinduff - From: The Western Sahara Route; Onward hi! this is elena ,a high school teacher from the basque country . A group of 3o students from Gabriel Aresti high school are leaving to tinduff next eastern. Could you please allow us to enter your blog for information? thanks many! elena |
| 11th February 2007 Isaiah | - From: The Western Sahara Route; Onward Hello, I just got your message from last December ("info halo isaiah i need to know whem you have maded this travel .because im going now in march and i could like to have more info from you . my email is banikabo@gmail.com mercyyyyyyyyyyy") Sorry I didn't get it sooner. Do you still need information? You can reach me at DIHman15@yahoo.com Isaiah |
| 12th December 2006 bani silva | info - From: The Western Sahara Route; Onward halo isaiah i need to know whem you have maded this travel .because im going now in march and i could like to have more info from you . my email is banikabo@gmail.com mercyyyyyyyyyyy |
| 24th July 2006 Renieri Segovia | Isaiah - From: La Fiesta de San Fermin; El Encierro Isaiah your the man! I felt like I participated after reading your narrative which was well written. Cuidate tio, un abrazo fuerte. |
| 17th July 2006 anonymous | - From: Madrid, Final Impressions Baptism by fire, indeed. 14 hours of Science earned, 17 hours of advanced Spanish to enrich the rest of your life. Nothing lost, all a gain. May God bless you in your well deserved travels. Be safe and alert. love no matter what, mom |
| 7th April 2006 CarahBeth | pictures - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles hello. there are pictures of ireland on my facebook, you could probably update your pictures on here with those. yes? if not, we'll find another way. I hope that you are doing ok. are you ready to come back home yet, cause that is coming up fast! I am really glad that i get to watch your internet debating about things that i would normally try to comment upon. but since i have resigned to the fact that you, and i, are both hopelessy stubborn and looking through the world with a completely different lens, i will let this oppertunity for judgment slide. ok, enough. i can't wait to play volleyball this summer--and barton springs during free time. yessssssss. we have the spicy stuff here, too. Mexican food, delicious. and peanut butter. and friends. i will talk to you soon. CarahBeth |
| 5th April 2006 Isaiah | Again - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles It may seem strange that I decided to think more seriously about this second comment than the first, being that the two essentially say the same thing. But, as Armchair Traveler no doubt knows, tone is everything and the tone of the first raised my hackles unnecessarily. But having said that, and after some thought, I continue to disagree; though not for the reasons which may be assumed (raised hackles, for example). Armchair Traveler's comments make sense. Let's be honest, they are the same comments I have been hearing about my writing since I was a wee laddie. The problem is, they fail to have relevance in this context. What is being produced here is simply not polished narrative. It's not even expository, beyond the most essential of correlations with things that actually happened to me, or were experienced by me psychologically. And "psychologically" is the key here. Let me explain the context more clearly: I am not at this point engaged in what I would call "travelling." I am living in a foreign country and taking occasional weekend trips, and not "traveling" (as I conceive it) that country. My "Travel" Blog, thus, has changed from how it was (one might deign to notice that old entries are narrative, more clearly written) and become a manner in which I portray the psychology of my state. This is, by definition, cerebral; and in such a way is my stylism already determined for me. The only second impetus being followed here is to have fun with how I write. I have little amusement beyond this, really. So when A.T. says, "Words are fun, to be sure," I say, well, that's it. There is no more to discuss. "Nothing beats a crisp, clear, sentence" IN polished narrative. But nothing beats having fun in having fun. So, for the criticism to be valid here, we're going to have to leave the context of my recent entries. Especially, I should emphasize, "Guinnes Builds Strong Bones," because I'm sorry to say I consider that entry to be just about perfect FOR what I was trying to do. That is, it was completely successful within my personal wishes. On the other hand "Run" was meant to be narrative (though it have its psychological elements). Criticisms on it shall be much more graciously received. (Except the last two sentences of paragraph one... yeah I think they're gross too.) Cheers. |
| 30th March 2006 Isaiah | Hmm - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles Somehow this criticism turned out much more reasonable than the last. In fact, I will even think about it before vomiting out a defense. Response pending. |
| 30th March 2006 Armchair Traveler | Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah... - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles What am I going to do with you at all, at all? You were in Ireland where every second person could be a writer if they so wanted. You breathed the air. You drank the water. Far be it for me to correct your grammar! (What is a dangling modifier?) May I suggest that you locate your own voice. It's in there somewhere. I've seen it in your piece. As the irish would say, forget the highfalutin’ language. Forget the big words. Words are fun, to be sure; but nothing beats a crisp, clear sentence. You don't have to resort to cliches and the like, but let's hear Isaiah's true voice! I'm throwing down the gauntlet! A.T. |
| 30th March 2006 Isaiah | Reply - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles I didn't know whether to accept this comment or not. Immediately upon doubting said acceptance... I realized I should never delete a comment just because I didn't agree with what it said; furthermore, this gives me an opportunity to make a quick point: I write only for myself. I consider the difference between my travel blog and my private journal to be only that one is public; and only in the rarest cases does this affect content or stylistic concerns. What this means is that my writing (obviously, if you've read any of it) has recently strayed from straightforward exposition or narrative to elaborate ideas with words themselves. Or at least such is the intent with which I have undertaken my most recent entries. To rearticulate, the writing which here appears is not meant to be final-product narrative for the entertainment of an armchair traveler. It is as much an exercise in the personal evolution of my stylism as a medium for the conveyance of ideas. For example, the first of the "Guinness Builds Strong Bones" entry (that is, before "Run") was an experiment I quite consciously undertook to mimic the Joycian style. I didn't take it as far as I could to make it obvious -- I was really just having fun. Having fun with words, that is fundamental to my impetus. For it is lexical play which eventually polishes technique. I most emphatically do not consider as relevant the idea that the rhetorical fundaments of even Creative Writing 316 -- directed at the churning out of John Grishams and Dan Browns -- should be heeded in the context which I just specified. If this conscious disregard produces a writing which is unenjoyable, laborious, thick, dry, then I encourage you not to read it. After all, I strictly abstain from reading authors I don't like. Which is not to say I do not appreciate all such comments concerning my writing. I really do. However, if I disagree I will make my point emphatically. And I emphatically disagree that "Immediately upon exiting the bus station" should be changed to "After leaving the bus station." That would, I fear, rupture the rhythm of the first sentence. Plus I just don't like it. (But I recognize that "Armchair Traveler" meant it only as exemplary with a larger point in mind.) It will, though, be changed to "Immediately upon my exiting of the bus station," convoluting the sentence even more, I dearly hope, but saving me from the dangling modifier which went apparently unseen. |
| 29th March 2006 Armchair Traveler | Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah... - From: Guinness Builds Strong Muscles In Writing 101, they tell us to write in our own words, to forget the forced language, to write the truth... I just happened upon your blog and I began to read your Dublin entry. I couldn't get past the first paragraph, I'm sorry to say. Instead of "Immediately upon exiting the bus station.." would you consider "After I left the bus station.."? Plain old words work well, don't you think? I don't mean to hurt your feelings but someone has to tell you this stuff. Please continue to write. I'll keep an eye out for you. A.T. |
| 31st January 2006 amber | españa - From: El Puente, Days 6-9 hola... lo siento que no te llamaba cuando yo estuve en madrid... pero estoy en granada ahora y me encanta. sus ¨blogs¨ son fantásticos.. me gustan muchíssimo. bueno, tengo que irme. ¿cuando vas a regresar a EEUU? amber |
| 21st December 2005 amber | que bueno! - From: Madrid First Impressions - part II really enjoying your blogs...voy a espana en dos semanas... ¡estaré estudiando en granada por cinco meses. debemos tomar un cafe en madrid alguna vez! cuidate! |
| 15th December 2005 Carah-Beth | - From: Madrid First Impressions - part II Your spanish is very good...i wish mine was better so i could understand all of it. I'm glad that you are finally meeting people and having a great time. Sounds like a great night. |
| 2nd December 2005 Gus | ...por cierto, muy bien el subjuntivo. - From: Madrid First Impressions - part II The use of subjunctive always adds a nice familiar touch to any sentence ;) |
| 2nd December 2005 Gus | Enhorabuena - From: Madrid First Impressions - part II Congratulations, your spanish is by far the best I've read in these blogs so far. Very natural. Good luck |
| 1st December 2005 seth | - From: Madrid First Impressions, part I You slut! |
| 5th September 2005 trainrider | holy crap - From: La Tomatina! isiah you write a lot. do you expect us to pay that much attention to what you say? seriously... |
| 5th September 2005 DD | I looks like you are having a blast - From: Reims update I loved your photos. I am going to Paris in a month and I can hardly wait. |
| 5th September 2005 Gus_Granada_Spain | Tomatina info - From: La Tomatina! Check out this site: http://www.lahoya.net/tomatina/ You may find some interesting things about it. |
| 4th September 2005 corrijene | mullet fever - From: Reporting from Barcelona I heard the mullet was in. Have any pics of a good one? I'm coming to Spain in a month and am really excited to see this lost art. Don't know you, but thanks for the report! |
| 31st August 2005 anonymous | - From: Reporting from Barcelona Thought you might be curious to know that it is Itzhak's birthday today. (8/31) |
| 24th August 2005 e | Good grief! - From: Reims update I think I know that guy. He was in our hostel in Paris and he owes me money! Cheers, e. |
| 24th August 2005 e | Good grief! - From: Reims update Good grief, I think I know that guy. He was in my hostel in Paris and he owes me money! Cheers, e. |
| 21st August 2005 Laurel | - From: Chamonix you are such a dork haha |
| 19th August 2005 a girl | disgusted - From: Reims update i'm thoroughly disgusted |
| 15th August 2005 Kaley LaRose | HA - From: Champagne ha! Katie, dont take any advice from that kid. you'll end up dead or starring in a porn flick. |
| 13th August 2005 Katie | Hi - From: Champagne Hey Isaiah, i stumbled across your journal whilst looking for travel inspiration, and was hooked! You're a great writer, and sound a great traveller who knows how to make the most of your experiences ... I am having a backpacking drought at the moment as I have been working in France to save up, but just wanted to say you've inspired me and made me really excited to get back to my slumming it ways. I gather you've done a bit of travel before this trip, if you have any tips or reccommendations on where to go (now that you've ruined my dreams of New York City bliss) i'd love to hear from you. Katie katiesteele_@hotmail.com |
| 11th August 2005 Che Seth | aww - From: Arrived Sounds like the big bad ol' city made Isaiah's vagina hurt... Let's all hope he feels better soon... |
« back 1 next »