The National Anthropology Museum is considered one of the best in the world and for good reason. The gigantic museum is located within the grounds of Chapultepec Park and is housed in a large compound. You can begin with the basics of evolutionary biology and early primate migration. Then you can wander through various regions of Mexico to see ancient findings and more recent incarnations of the inhabitants. There seems to be a remarkable balance in Mexico between the overwhelming Spanish influence and a respect for the various indigenous cultures that preceded the Spanish. At any rate, this is coolest museum I have ever been to.... read more

I explored the Coyoacán neighborhood with an Australian guy from the hostel. This was an independent neigborhood surrounded by farm land south of Mexico City for a long time but has since been absorbed by the massive metropolis. This was the neighborhood Frida Kahlo lived in. Her house is now a museum. We also went to Leon Trotsky's home where he was stabbed with an ice pick by a guy working for Stalin. Everything has been left as it was at the time in his home. It was a great museum. The two parks by the cathedral were filled with people and the cathedral itself was very impressive. Lunch in a great mercado. nice.... read more

I spent 10 days in Springdale, Utah with James and Christine. Springdale is the little town just outside of Zion National Park. It is very beautiful and unlike any landscape I have seen.... read more

I traveled from St. Louis to Fort Benning, Georgia on a bus with members of the Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America and some local catholic school students to protest outside the School of the Americas. This is a school that has trained paramilitary officers from various Latin American countries, many of whom are responsible for the worst human rights violations of the last few decades. Graduates include Manuel Noriega of Panama, Hugo Banzer Bolivia's two time dictator, several of Augusto Pinochet's senior officers, members of El Salvador's death squads, Colombia's paramiltary troops notorious for human rights abuses. The problem continues today in Honduras where a recent military coup took place led by several SOA graduates. It was amazing to see the turnout in Georgia. I was very surprised by the number of younger and older participants. ... read more

Returning to Bangkok felt like coming home. I spent a few days wandering around the city with my ipod, trying to take it all in and come to terms with the fact that my six months in Asia was ending. I felt very sad and very fortunate. I know I will return.... read more