Hello! Hello there moblogger/travelblogger! I'm a graduate student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, USA. As part of my Master's Thesis, I am researching the concept of travelblogging and moblogging in the hopes of constructing a unique service geared toward the moblogger/travelblogger's distinct community. Of note, and maybe just to put us all at ease, this is not a money-making thing... nope, it's a crucial part of my graduate research that I hope you can participate in!
I've constructed an online survey that should only take about 2 minutes to complete. Any input that you could provide would be of great help!
You can take the survey at the following address:
www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=15302763533
Thanks so much for your help!
Blog on!
Sam
P.S. If you have any questions, comments, or difficulties with the survey, please feel free to send me an email at travelblog@sambot.com.
P.P.S. Oh... and I promise, any and all of the information that you provide will go directly toward my research. I will never, ever, ever share your information with anyone else. Again, thank you so much!
Misc Nic,
I continue to enjoy the account of your adventures thus far. Myspace blogs ain't got shit on your stories from afar. Should you turn this into a book at a later time, I request one of the first copies. I agree with Corey's comment from an earlier post of yours, we never hung out back in school (high school that is, I never made any significant inroads to college), but I sure wouldn't mind drinking a beer or two with you some time in Sedro.
Cheers from Texas
Where do we meet up? Lately, everywhere I go someone tells me they are reading your blog and that you are an awesome writer. These past few days without a post from you had made many quite thirsty!
Keep adventuring and writing.
"drank the infamous snake-whiskey (fermented from Snakes and Lizards and giant, venemous Insects)"
Sounds pretty kickass. So does babysitting the monkey of course.
Wedding part huh? you'll have to tell the story of how that one happened sometime.
food “Consequently, I've been having some serious cravings for bread/cheese combinations: stuff like pizza, cheesy bagels, and nachos.”
That candida. I used to crave such things a lot, but pretty much eat no grain foods nowadays and nor do I crave them.
Speaking of cheese, I’m looking forward to learning cheese making in Italy/France/Greece/Switzerland or some place sometime. I’m sure their cheeses kick U.S. cheeses ass.
Too bad? How calamitous that we never came to know each other as young adults. For all that time we lived in Seattle only a couple of miles apart we never hung out. It's amazing how things have changed since Boy Scouts. I want you to know that I found your blog randomly while looking for another friend. I have read every word of each entry and learned that you are a pretty amazing guy with a gift for sharing your talent of sharing an adventure. Your ideology inspires me. If we're ever geographically in close proximity to one another we should go get a beer. Travel safely, keep the posts coming and I’ll say cheers again in the future. -Corey (clindsayrun@yahoo.com)
WOW I'm living your dreams, while you are living mine.
PS. Remember the first time you got drunk at 2nd and virginia and you siad I have child-bearing hips.
<3 Mary
I read this journal three times. Each time more grossly astounded and disturbed than the previous.
You have just described my day-to-day-reality nearly verbatim. And, on top of it all I do work for Microsoft, heh. This is a sick awakening.
I hope you don't mind me living vicariously through you for the next few months, but after that... I'm doing what I have wanted to do for years. Thanks, Nic - you are amazing!!
Sending you a couple thousand mile away THANK YOU!
Rachelle
sounds like crazy fun- took me for a bit of a ride and I know this isn't nearly the full story.
Nice, I must get the full scoop on the organic farming (make sure and look at all the biodynamic techniques- the cover cropping, permaculture, composting, nitrogen fixing) if you go with that.
Camera Crew Great story! I'm thinking about hiring a local camera crew in Bangkok to get some video of your exploits. I would have liked to seen you doing somersaults down the center of Khao San road...you crazy nut.
Sweet, I'm glad you told me about this site. I'll sign up soon, glad I can read your's so you can be the guinea pig. So do you just go to internet cafes and write it all on the spot or do you write some down by hand first?
"all Americans are loud, rude war-mongers who eat at McDonald's."
Pretty much...I think it's that most americans have totally lost their connection the planet we're living on...the 'organism' Gaia, Earth, mother nature, whatever you may call it- most other cultures at least in some way respect the ways of nature through food or somehow.
I haven't traveled out of this country yet but I've been exploring ways how others view things differently lately.
very nice...kick some interpreted-typical-american ass.
Honestly though, I don't think I know anyone who fits that bill of typical american..though there are quite a few ignroant people who fit that bill who also happen to be under the employ of the big chemical companies here in Houston.
I really can't blame most of the world for hating america(ns). To use food again, we pretty much convinced tons of traditional groups of people that our new, abundant, industrialized food was best for them and they were doing themselves a disservice by putting forth the effort to keep their own herds of cattle and whatnot..then maybe people started to realize “wow, we let ourselves get fucked by these Americans.”
I saw that in the end of “The End Of The Spear”- except the traditional guy didn’t grasp he was being led into a ‘trap’ yet (but neither did the American, nor did he intend it, it’s just the way of ‘our society’-but not mine). Also, from what I’ve studied of Weston Price, a dentist who lived with traditional cultures back in the 30’s, the traditional people may have been leery of him at first, then they learned he was there to truly help them and they gave him their trust- so even then it seems the attitude was untrusting by default towards people of the US of A.
I can tell you that it’s a huge goal of mine to change the way these corporations behave.
Changing minds Very insightful thoughts on this one Nic. I'm sure you will encounter many varying attitudes towards our country in your travels. What people everywhere need to understand is that governments and media do not often represent what the people are like or want or think. Two pieces of advice - ignore the recommendation to "punch them in the face" (that doesn' teach anything except anger and hatred) and listen to your Mom!
Have fun on your trip You may or may not remember me, but our little brothers used to play army together (ironic). I've been living in Texas for over three years now and was down hear when I heard the terrible news of your brother. I know you don't like it brought up a lot, as you mentioned in this blog, but I feel that you do a good job reminding us who your brother was; never letting us forget.
The account of your night out in Sedro is incredibly consistant with what I find when I go up there for a visit every so often. Many things that were once thought as lame and boring about the valley... well let's just say that after living in West Texas for 3 years I miss them very much.
Enjoy your trip, enjoy getting to be yourself. If you find yourself in a tight spot just say you're from Canada, born in White Rock, British Columbia.
Take it easy,
Matt
energy There's a lot beyond the 5 senses. Actually, I have what might be called a 6th sense which has opened up the past year- a sort of energetic indicator. There's more to the equation, all to do with universal consciousness, most just can't quite put their finger on it.
"Perhaps there are certain kinds of energy emanating from the people and things around us, and perhaps there are parts of our brain that function to sense this energy. "
Definitely. Energy fields and what a friends grandfather calls "psychotronic energy" are definitely measurable factors.
you're right on target with your thoughts here.
"or when you know inexplicably that that girl or guy has got the hots for you"
psychotronic energy for sure.
Well, I can certainly tell you that I'm doing the reading in your stead.
"I discovered as well that there was an incredible pain in my stomach and bowels that could only be food-poisoning from the seafood and chili sauce I had eaten on the beach below. "
you know..I had a feeling this was coming.
Probiotics- an essential for thailand travel. if you could find some daikon radish and a local cow to get some milk from, I could help you out.
what's this pedialyte stuff anyway?
"I sat a bit and applied neosporin to all my cuts and bandaged myself up where it was needed." I'd go with the traditional route- tree resins.
did you talk all of this out with rendevous with friends before your trip?
"(turns out it was food poisoning as well), "
I think every person I've heard of who has visited Thailand has gotten food poisoning. I'm guessing the natives have some kind of higher resistance to bad bacteria..or maybe they just be sure and eat plenty of probiotic foods(good bacteria- protectant).
"A couple of hours of this and we were suddenly in Bangkok, an ancient and decrepit city that seems never to end."
Have you seen the movie "Ong Bok:Thai Warrior"? If so, does Bangkok resemble as portrayed in the movie?
Is meeting fellow travelers really that easy or would you say you just have an affinity for it?
lifestyle You've got so much stuff goin on here I'm amazed.
Your lifestyle is hugely different from anything I've ever known, but I gotta say, it's cool reading about it.
My name is Nic Nakis and I come from Sedro-Woolley, WA. I started this travel blog as "The Mad Greek's Travel Blog" when I left North America for the first time in 2006. I documented that first 6-month, around-the-world trip extensively. Then, I returned for a few updates around 2010. I revived the blog in 2022 in order to record my ongoing travels and fill in some of the gaps.
I am a filmmaker and a fitness coach.
Sign up for a complimentary FITNESS COACHING CONSULTATION
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=15410290&appointmentType=6418826
Watch REACH FOR THE RIN... full info
sambot
Samuel Cohen
Hello!
Hello there moblogger/travelblogger! I'm a graduate student at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut, USA. As part of my Master's Thesis, I am researching the concept of travelblogging and moblogging in the hopes of constructing a unique service geared toward the moblogger/travelblogger's distinct community. Of note, and maybe just to put us all at ease, this is not a money-making thing... nope, it's a crucial part of my graduate research that I hope you can participate in! I've constructed an online survey that should only take about 2 minutes to complete. Any input that you could provide would be of great help! You can take the survey at the following address: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=15302763533 Thanks so much for your help! Blog on! Sam P.S. If you have any questions, comments, or difficulties with the survey, please feel free to send me an email at travelblog@sambot.com. P.P.S. Oh... and I promise, any and all of the information that you provide will go directly toward my research. I will never, ever, ever share your information with anyone else. Again, thank you so much!