The tiny flame flickered furiously as it bent to resist external control. Its un-rhythmic dance served to tease its master as the glow swooped and swayed, paying homage to the wind. Rising swiftly upward then all but ceasing to exist, the fire defiantly demanded its audience take heed. In response, two burly hands encircled the performer to which it slowed in tentative obedience. The master was in control now. His breath drew the flame into complete submission, enticed into a thin strand of light, which crackled at its success. And then, without warning, the fire was extinguished and the master exhaled [View Full Entry]

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Its taken a year to post this unfortunately but here is ROME! [View Full Entry]

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Oxford Europe » United Kingdom » England » Oxfordshire » Oxford By thisisjoy March 31st 2007The blogs are back and it’s a relief to me that despite working full time in London, I am still managing to get away. Oxford was a welcome break to the city bustle and I don't think I'd quite realised how much I was missing a bit of nature and open spaces! An added bonus was the chance to catch up with some friends from many years ago and to revive some of the old school memories. A big thanks to Anna, Fran & Rachel for their hospitality and tour guiding [View Full Entry]

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As my travels though SE Asia have drawn to a close, I've been thinking back over the months and many places I have had the chance to visit. On one of my last days in Burma, I set my IPOD to shuffle and was excited to hear one of my old favorite songs. The words fit how I felt and still do feel in a poetic way about the world and the people in it. Here are those lyrics and some faces of those I've met along the way... Different People - Lyrics by No Doubt Things can be broken down [View Full Entry]

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This blog has remained unpublished for nearly 5 months. Although the photos have long been arranged and captions created, at each attempt to consider the story it represents, I am faced with a delicate and difficult task: To tell a tale that will perhaps be cryptic to most, but is in fact the only way I know how. I left Thailand in January 2007. In the days leading up to departure there was a massive flurry of photos - some to document the passing moments that would forever be fondly remembered, and others unearthed to connect more than a decade worth [View Full Entry]

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> Hours from Inle to Bagan: 12 > Number of arses that can fit on bus seat for two from Inle to Bagan: 1 & 1/2 > Number of people permitted on the bus: unlimited > Tourist entry fee into Bagan: $10 USD. > Local Burmese food along the way: $0.70 USD > Mandalay beer for Bindal on arrival: $1.50 USD > Chinese tea for me: complementary > Dirty double room per night: $4 USD > Horse & cart temple tour: $3 USD > Burmese souvenir: $7 USD > Discovering just before boarding the 16 hour bus from Bagan to Yangon [View Full Entry]

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I had no idea what to expect from Burma. Out of all the travelers I have met along the way, only two had actually been there before. Everyone else had stories of people they knew who knew other people who had dared to risk traveling within Myanmar's untouched territory. I couldn't seem to get 'the bus ride from hell' story out of my head no matter how hard I tried. A guy I met knew another guy who had taken the bus from Yangon to Inle. It was a long journey and very uncomfortable. After some time the bus began to [View Full Entry]

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Last night I was reminded that people are actually good - that human nature is not completely devoid of kindness as it has so often appeared to me of late. Through the following story, I would like to pay tribute to three strangers whose selfless generocity has both impressed and challenged me. Back in June I was in China with a friend. We stayed several days in Hong Kong, the last of which was spent in Kowloon. As we were headed to mainland China, we were reluctant to withdraw any more Hong Kong dollars and so pooled our remaining change for [View Full Entry]

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