First impressions are supposed to be very important, so I wanted to share with you my first impression of Asia, which has been limited so far to an evening ride through Hong Kong from the airport to my friend's apartment. I stepped off the high-speed Airport Express train and into a sultry humid night, where through that surreal haze of jet-lag I saw a taxi door magically open itself for me without driver intervention (I actually had to look a couple of times because I thought I had imagined it). We sped through town, which was a jungle of lights that went up up up, and as we climbed around the Peak I could catch glimpses of red-and-gold fireworks jumping from the water nearby. We passed 7-Eleven and McDonald's and KFC, but we also passed the ... read more

Ok, readers, it's time to get a little more involved. I am giving you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send me on wild-goose-chases and/or have me do something just for you; and all for a very reasonable price. And you will get to read about it here. Your Homework: Give Me Assignments Post your assignments as comments on my blog pages. Let your imagination guide you: I've already had three requests: to get a picture of me at Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, to get a picture of an elephant, and to shut down any child sex establishments that I see. The below are just suggestions, you can dream up whatever you want. Is there something you think I ought to do while I'm traveling? Take an elephant ride? Learn how to make dim sum? Cruise the Mekong? ... read more

Some of the most frequent comments I get when I tell people about my upcoming trip are: "Wow, it must be nice to be able to afford to go on vacation for five months." "I wish I had that kind of money!" "You must be rich." Now, I am most definitely not rich; I am in fact unemployed and living off of savings. But the truth is, anyone can afford to travel as long as they are willing to budget travel. What is budget travel, exactly? I should clear up that I'm not going on a five-month-long "vacation," or guided tour, or cruise. I am making serious sacrifices in the realm of comfort and self-indulgence so that I can live out a long-cherished dream. For most people this is all very do-able, and unless you're out ... read more

After months of planning (years, really - but most of that was just daydreaming), I think I have finally started to narrow down on a kind of itinerary. So for those of you who are interested in trying to meet up with me; for those of you who are worried about me; for those of you who are just curious, and for those of you who don't really care but are reading this anyway, here's the lowdown: I set out on June 8, 2009 (only 12 days from now!) Hong Kong - June 9 - June 17 My good friend Travis has agreed to let me crash at his super-posh apartment somewhere on Hong Kong Island, where I can recuperate from jet lag and gently ease into Asia Vietnam - June 17 - July 17 I'll ... read more

Move Over Ultimate Fighting Championships - this is real work! I am giving you the benefit of much trial and error, much research, and much improvisation! Clothing - (see ) _____1 pair lightweight hiking boots _____1 pair sport sandals _____3 pairs of socks _____4 pairs of underwear _____3 sport bras _____1 pair zip-off convertible pants/shorts _____1 pair convertible pants/capris _____1 pair sport shorts (to sleep in) _____1 bikini with dual-use top _____1 nice-ish tank top _____1 t-shirt _____1 convertible short-sleeve/long-sleeve shirt _____1 short-sleeve button-up travel shirt _____1 rainjacket _____1 bandanna (for use as headscarf, napkin, neck-cooling device, etc) _____1 sunhat _____1 sarong (to be purchased when I get there) The Beauty Stuff _____Brush _____Travel toothbrush that fits in its own case _____Small deodorant... read more