So this is my first ever Blog entry. My goal for the day was to create a Blog spot for my travels to Asia. HERE IT IS!! I thought I would start by announcing my basic intinerary. It would give me a chance to figure out the site, and others a chance to do the same. I leave in ONE WEEK! July 19th-July 29th... JAPAN July 29th-August 11th...VIETNAM August 11th-August 19th...CAMBODIA August 20th-August 23rd...SOUTH KOREA EXPECT MY NEXT BLOG TO BE FROM TOKYO!!! ... read more

8/3/07-8/6/07 Amsterdam has a variety of flavors, depending on the tastes of the traveler. Most of Amsterdam is peaceful, compact, and comfortable. The buildings are a lot like San Francisco--tall and close together, but located on dutch canals. It is possible to travel from one end of the city to the other in less than one-hour. We had visions of our hotel in the midst of all this charm, perhaps close to an outdoor cafe overlooking a canal or plaza...Instead, we found our lodging smack dab in the middle of the red light district, unable to escape the sex shops, prostitutes, pickpockets or space cake cafes. It is a place I generally feel unsafe and would prefer to sightsee in minimal moderation. Nonetheless, we adjusted, added extra luggage locks to our bags and ventured into the ... read more

7/26 to 8/02/07 Barcelona (7/26 to 7/28/07) A mediocre day in Spain is better than a great day at work. That being said, Spain doesn't create fireworks in my heart. Maybe my vision is cloudy after the perfection of Cinque Terra, or perhaps it is because I was just here a year-and-a-half ago or am anxious to see Billy in two days. Nonetheless, Barcelona seems mediocre to me. It is overly crowded, like a summer Saturday at Disneyland. The food is bland when it should be, at least in my mind, filled with flavor and spice. The main sight is a church, La Familia Sagrada, that has been under construction since 1883...FINISH IT ALREADY! Cranes are not my idea of a good photograph! Las Ramblas, the lively street full of shopping and living statues is too ... read more

7/18/07 to 7/21/07 "The buzz of the city is gone and this is so peaceful."--Dan Parks on the scenic train ride from Rome to Florence. We almost have four days in Florence, which is quite a long time to see two museums and a big checkered church. So upon arrival, I investigated tour options to maximize our experience. On my previous visit to Florence, I recall seeing the paintings and sculptures, but have more vivid memories of meeting up with college friends and having wine, cheese and bread picnics in the piazzas. Therefore, exploration of Tuscany, the region encompassing and surrounding Florence, is a brand new experience for me. As for new experiences...I started my time in Florence at the laundromat. I had laundry done in Burma and Bangkok, but the heat of Rome called for ... read more

7/13/07 When we first deplaned at 4:30 in the morning at Dubai international airport, Dan and I groaned at the lengthy transportation, immigration, and baggage process, wondering if this one-day stopover was a bad idea. Twenty-four hours later, we were laughing at how quickly we jumped to such an incorrect judgment. Dubai is in the United Arab Emurates and sits on the Arabian Sea. It is a wealthy nation containing only 1.3 million people, most of whom are Indian (dot, not feather), Filipino and Pakistani. Less than 20% are Arab. From what I read, it has transformed itself into an oasis of technology and western-style capitalism in less than a decade. Construction of high rise offices and living spaces, as well as architectual innovations are everywhere. I was told that 70% of the world's cranes are ... read more