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crowman - Pete Crow

I am a 24 year old Hungarian-American (hold both passports). I started blogging during the start of my semester in Lithuania, Spring 2004. I have continued since, drawing mostly on travel undertaken as part of my education. I had always wanted to travel, and due to a loophole in my University’s student handbook, (Trinity Western University, Canada) I was able to do 4 travel study programs during my B.A. Since then, I completed a double M.A. in the U.K. and The Netherlands, traveled to Asia for the winter and have now joined the working world doing chemical sales with a company in the Seattle area.

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Joined on: December 23rd 2004
Last Login: May 17th 2008

Blog Entries: 80
Photos: 951

TB Code: [blogger=1327]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by crowman, order by Date newest first.

By crowman
February 18th 2007

Not all is well in paradise

Asia » Philippines » Malapascua Island

Seaside Dining
Does it get better than this?

Hard to believe, but this Island marked the last stop before Hong Kong, and the end of the 13 country journey. It was to be vacation. Not to delve too deep into semantics, but i do not consider the rest of the trip a vacation. The journey was at many times difficult, its goal was not 'pleasure' or relaxation but rather life experiences, personal growth and my inner need to see the world. this last aspect has only been reinforced and confirmed throughout the trip. There is something inside me that goes far beyond personal desire for travel. It is simply [View Full Entry]

By crowman
February 9th 2007

I still don't know what to make of this place

Asia » Brunei » Bandar Seri Begawan

Omar Mosque at night

Ok, so the trip over to Borneo didn’t start out the smoothest. I left Singapore with lots of time to get over to Johor Baru in order to catch my flight to Miri. But…I got stuck in traffic leaving Singapore, stuck at the border when the Malaysian authorities ran out of immigration forms, and then once I got through, I couldn’t find the bus station that would get me to the airport. Lonely Planet gave this great little piece of travel advice on saving money by taking the bus, but the departing location was not on the map. Go figure. So, [View Full Entry]

By crowman
February 6th 2007

Ok, so you can spit here, but you just don't want to

Asia » Singapore

Downtown

ok, boring blog. My two night day and a half stay in Singapore was fun, but not that eventful. I mostly walked around a whole bunch, saw all the must see districts, and then went on to Miri in Malaysia. I stayed at the backpackers cozy corner guesthouse, and, well, it was cozy! bunk beds in a hallway right off the balcony. open air etc. but, it had a hot shower, a free breakfast, and its location was superb at $10 a night, it was 1/3 of everything else. However, everything else includes some decor hostels that have amazing features like [View Full Entry]

By crowman
February 4th 2007

Malaysia is truly Asia

Asia » Malaysia » Selangor » Kuala Lumpur

Air Asia

This is a truly amazing city. The busride from Penang to KL was a testament to how developed this country is compared to most of its neighbors. One great thing about the city is that it is nowhere near the tourist trap that Bangkok has become, thereby allowing me to find a bunk in a well priced dorm on my second attempt (booked my first choice for the next night). While the dorms in KL where a little pricier than other places (between $7-8.50) there were the best places I stayed the entire trip. Free breakfast, free coffee and tea throughout [View Full Entry]

By crowman
February 2nd 2007

Pekan Baru = "Hello Mister"

Asia » Indonesia » Sumatra

Dinner with the English Teachers

Flying into PekanBaru is like stepping off of a plane, realizing that this city has next to no tourism, and then realizing that once the frustrations are set aside, this is the real Indonesia. The city is a business hub for the local oil industry, so prices are high and budget options are limited, but the local flavor lives on. It is one of the closest and cheapest cities in Indonesia to fly into from Malaysia, and also happened to be the city where Joann, a semester mate from Lithuania, was teaching English. I swung into town for one night before [View Full Entry]

By crowman
February 1st 2007

I nice cool spot in Indonesia

Asia » Indonesia » Sumatra » Bukittinggi

Most Heart Wrenching site of the trip
Elephant tied to a 10ft chain, just standing there leaning against the tie down

For my taste of Sumatra, I followed a friends recommendation and took the bus down to Bukitingi before returning to PKU. I met Dominic at the guesthouse in PKU, and due to the fact that I had two beds in my room, the guesthouse was full, and the town had no other budget accommodation, his arrival late at night kind of lended itself well to our sharing a room. He was going down to Bukitingi as well, so I not only had a roommate for the night, but a traveling companion for most of my visit. Our arrival to Btingi demonstrated [View Full Entry]

By crowman
January 30th 2007

The Jungle, Village and Rice Paddies!

Asia » Indonesia » Sumatra » Bukittinggi

Water Buffalo

Not much to say for this blog, Dominic wanted to check out this village close to Btingi, and we trekked through about 2k of jungle to get there, and then explored the village and rice paddies. Had a blast. Went back to Btingi. End of Story! [View Full Entry]

By crowman
January 25th 2007

Colonial Georgetown is a big change from the Southern Thai beach

Asia » Malaysia » Penang » George Town

Colonial Georgetown

The minibus service to Penang was uneventful, with the possible exception of the driver who was smuggling something across the border. Nothing like being used as part of the drug trade, or whatever it actually was. It went something like this. Right before the border crossing, liaison with women in car. Right after the border crossing, liaison with women in car, load a few crates of dogs into minibus, arrange something under the floor of the crates. Drive past checkpoints (being waived through because we were 'tourists', pull into a rest stop about halfway between the border and Penang, and th [View Full Entry]

By crowman
January 24th 2007

So this is what its like to be Indiana Jones

Asia » Burma » Bagan

Temples, Temples, Temples

Somehow, I arrived in Bagan still able to function. It had been a 15 hour bus ride, with seats designed for midgets. I was locked into place, just barely able to fit into my seat, and my headrest was lodged between my shoulder blades. I didn't think it was possible for a 6' guy to have this kind of problem. Live and learn. The bus had almost all locals on it, with the exception of David, an American who had moved to Northwestern Australia about 10 years ago. I was starting to doubt how much I was going to like this [View Full Entry]

By crowman
January 24th 2007

4 hours of the Southern Thai Beach Scene

Asia » Thailand » South » Ao Nang

Air Asia
Professional, Cheap, Comfy. The nice black leather seats here are the best 'economy seats I have ever experianced

I flew into the brand new but quaintly small airport in Krabi, and yet again, the Thai's somehow managed to screw up something as simple as airport signage. The design was fine, but all of the passengers went out to the airport drive only to find out that ground transport had to be reserved from inside the terminal, which required one to go back through security. No signs stating this, just one taxi company with a booth inside the terminal, and a plane full of people making a revolving door trip out to the airport drive. It was good and comical. [View Full Entry]

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