Relatives in high places My mother-in-law's folks hail from Dartlo. Their last name is Darchiaswchili. I didn't manage to get up there in 2004 but I did spend a month at my father in-laws village of Vestmo. Much smaller, without towers but eqaully tranquil.
Strange you should say that Mr Liam... ...I've just rolled into Phnom Penh... Anyway, in 1981, President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, said: "I encouraged the Chinese to support Pol Pot." The US, he added, "winked publicly" as China sent arms to the Khmer Rouge. (And I think you are right; we do see the world differently)
pacifism Fair enough, you see the world differently to me. But you forgot to mention what happened with a Chinese backed regime that America didn't interfere with - the Khmer Rouge. Liam.
Nomad on the road again Hi, good to see you're back travelling, but where's your video of the England-Portugal match? ;) Look forward to the next one....
Thanking the ghost of McCarthy? Not Likely. But you do raise a very interesting hypothetical question liam. If America hadn't ''interfered'' in Korea to halt ‘the spread of communism in Asia’, the country hadn't been devastated, and the millions hadn't been killed, what kind of country would a unified Korea be today?
Would it resemble China, East Germany or the Czech Republic (All these countries, for the record, offer attractive teaching opportunities if you are interested?). Or if the US hadn't dropped 700 million tonnes of bombs on Vietnam (where I’m currently traveling), and killed more than three million civilians there (a vain effort) - what would Vietnam be like Today? Though of course that is also hypothetical, because if the US had allowed the Korea ‘domino’ to fall we'd all be running around in Mao jackets calling each other ‘comrade’ now right?
A just cause is not necessarily corrected by the revulsion of war.
Wow, for an intelligent guy, you sure know how to miss the point. Actually, it's funny reading about an English guy working as a teacher and making money in South Korea, while blaming all the North's problems on America, with not one mention of the real villain in this piece - China. Realise this - if America had not interfered in Korea in the 50's, the entire peninsula would currently be under communist control. And you would not have just spent 6 months making money to travel.
Great Blog ! Enjoyed your blog, esp. the photos and the adorable Korean kids on the video....(nice accent by the way). Have you considered freelancing in journalism ? It will be a great addition to your "Slush" fund. Cheers !......JC
kimchi land hi aspiringnomad. i've been reading some of your blogs and i must say, you are a talented writer. your blog about korea was very informative, 'coz i have been wondering a lot about how much they pay English tutors there. i feel your sentiment about leaving your 'kids'. i once tutored koreans for 2 years in the philippines (man, it's practically kimchi land over there!), and the greatest thing i missed was losing a student heading back to the homeland after a 3 or 6-month english course. i taught students from practically all levels and ages. the kids are quite more westernized than the adults, and yes, speak better English. i became close to many of my students and did see some of them shed a tear or two when our classes had to come to an end. they do appreciate a kind and lenient teacher, although my employer strongly suggested i exercise strict discipline at all times. some koreans can be so rigid when it comes to education (they are obsessed with education!). anyway, i've learned a lot about korean culture from my students but your blog definitely gave me more perspective. looking forward to reading more. cheers!
Hey aspiringnomad! I definitely didn't see a Teaching English in South Korea blog coming but it looks like a very cool experience and your chillens are adorable. I miss my Seoul friend (and the resulting kimchi) so I'm thinking about giving this a try myself
Hello Mr Kim Sheen Thank you very much for your appreciation of my blogs. But alas, I regret to inform you that sending you even a single strand of nose hair may result in a deluge of similar requests, the likes of which even my hairy nostrils cannot bear and thus could lead to overly smooth nostril syndrome. Though as a compromise. I have just purchased a new camera, complete with tripod, so I may be able to rig them up in such a way as to take a 'macro' picture of one of my nostrils, along with said nose hair to fulfill your very understandable and seemingly insatiable desire.
I LOVE MALLING It's an actual song. I heard it with my own two ears :) If you go watch a movie at one of the malls, you might have the pleasure of hearing it too! It's a great way to escape the oppressive heat and the city smog...and of course, one must experience malling. I've enjoyed your travels! Such fantastic pictures and imagery! Makes me want to chuck it all and go out again! Best wishes to you in Korea. It's a great place for travelers to relax and make good money teaching engerlish :)
salamat ! Despite of the catastrophe that you've experiece in our country, I'm nonetheless pleased to read the nice things you wrote about the Philipppines...so thanks ! I also started reading your other blogs. You saw what was wrong in world. If you envision and hoped human compassion will someday cascade among nations to make the world a beter place.....then Godspeed I'm with you.
cheers,
JC
P.S A friend of mine from work is from Korea. I can't wait to tell her what you have to blog about her country.
Great Pics! Mr Nomad,
I'm a keen reader of your blogs and this one didn't disappoint, although the first picture is remarkably similar to one of your other "clickches." Anyway I just wanted to send my regards, I think you're really great, so great in fact that if it's possible I would like you to send me a snipping of your nose hairs so as I can place them in my grandmothers locket that I hang around my hairy neck. If your nose hairs are sparse at the moment then one of your golden strands of nip hair would be dreamy.
Keep up the good work,
Kim
Freedom to Macedonia Macedonians from all corners of the world are and always will be proud to be called Macedonians. Many people around the world who aren't macedonian are misguided from the true history of the region (Balkans) by Governments and politicians envoking by propaganda eg. Greeks..why are they claiming that macedonians are greeks or the Bulgurians call us Bulgrians, Why? otherwise if they don't then macedonia will have the rights of there own land back that was taken away from them. It's funny how not too long ago the greeks stated that macedonia didn't exist and now they are saying it differently. Only now slowly the world are listening to the truth and more evidence is coming out. Unfortunately many artifacts have been destroyed by greeks ie, our written language. but the truth will come..
... DA ZIVI MAKEDONIJA
I am macedonian and nobody can change my mind because my grand father told my that everybody shoud be proud to be a MACEDONIAN.AND THAT IS HOLY THING.GOOD BLESS MACEDONIA
macedonian truth i just wanted to say that macedonia is one damn' lucky country, in the sense that it has such a fantastically massive history. i am macedonian, and i respect all nations world wide, acknowledging their own greatness, such as greece and italy. however, this is where we macedonians differ from the rest. we are not as racist as some other people are. greeks, serbs and other countries for some stupid reason don't acknowledge our greatness at all. but that, my friends, is the greatest downside somebody can have - total ignorance. everybody should thank heavens for macedonia, for it was this small country which first opened the doors between east and west, and it was this small country which God first established his church on european soil. now that, my friends, is greatness. for the smallest among you, is always the greatest...
Party Place? Interesting and well written blog! BTW, you mentioned about looking for a party island? Have you been to Boracay? That is the best! a long stretch of white sand beach with bars, restos, lounge alongside... During the Philippine Summer MOnths (March-May).. This is the place to be! To be seen and to party!
thanks, Thanks for taking nice photograph of my country and people. I love the one, a little boy taking crab for walk. That is soooo sweet picture. Thanks a lot.
educatingfire
Donovan Driver
Relatives in high places
My mother-in-law's folks hail from Dartlo. Their last name is Darchiaswchili. I didn't manage to get up there in 2004 but I did spend a month at my father in-laws village of Vestmo. Much smaller, without towers but eqaully tranquil.