tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23448423477803409872024-03-13T22:21:33.551-07:00David, Robyn, and Jevin's Asian Travel AdventuresDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-1070512331315263322011-04-30T14:16:00.000-07:002011-04-30T14:16:34.739-07:00Home, Safe and SoundWe made it! 3 1/2 months of adventure brings us back to our doorstep and the crisp cool air of a new Saskatoon spring. Getting back into home-mode has been simpler than we expected. The biggest adjustment is our sleeping patterns. Yesterday, I slept from 3 pm to 9 pm and napped from 4 am to 8 am. <br />
<br />
I'm happy happy happy to be back. We can walk across the street without getting run down by scooters, breathe fresh air, run into friends and acquaintances at every turn, talk endlessly about our adventures. <br />
<br />
So that's that.<br />
<br />
The EndDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-82755957354613480242011-04-25T21:59:00.000-07:002011-04-25T21:59:22.614-07:00Is this the end?In less than 24 hours we'll have left the now-familiar realm of street noodles and tuk-tuk drivers for the skyway. We'll be sleeping uncomfortably on a plane with our mouths open, making faintly audible gurgling noises while we are shuttled effortlessly at incredible speeds through the troposphere. <br />
<br />
The whole trip already seems so far behind us. I seldom recall the thrilling and terrifying bus rides around Laos mountains, trekking ever upwards to a Thai hill-tribe village, spending 2 days navigating the mighty Mekong River, kayaking in the midst of towering karst in Halong Bay, dining on sea bass in the tourist town of Hoi An, discovering the thick and delightful Vietnamese coffee in Saigon, walking through the killing fields and torture centers in Cambodia, climbing over millennium-old Angkorian ruins, studying sustainability and spirituality on Koh Phangan, discovering the richness of culture and diversity of cuisine in Malaysia, relaxing on the postcard perfect beaches in Krabi, or eating at the countless street stalls serving decadent banana pancakes every step of the way. <br />
<br />
I've made a list of images I want to remember. The one that comes first to my mind is from Hanoi. We spent our afternoons exploring, trying to avoid crossing the street (which required the near suicidal act of throwing yourself in front of 18 lanes of motorcycle traffic which never slowed down but <u>usually</u> swerved around pedestrians). As we walked along the sidewalk, we came upon a mother and her infant son. She was holding him up by his naked legs which spread wide apart. Underneath him was a sheet of newspaper. He was pooping, spread eagle, facing the street on a busy sidewalk. An unbroken brown sludge was hanging from his bottom. He could have been pushing out chocolate-flavor soft serve ice cream. Small circles, swirl on top. Perfect.<br />
<br />
The second image isn't that clear to me, because I didn't see it. Jevin and Robyn did and I can put the scene together in my mind. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Local fish market. Tables and tables of fresh, whole, raw fish pile up. Some buckets are filled completely with live eels or frogs, writhing, climbing all over each other, trying to make their escape. It is so hot, even in the shade. It can't be good for the meat to sit out like that. Even the locals are overcome in the oppressive humidity. One lady succumbs, crawling onto her market stall table, pushing aside one of the smaller piles of fish which spill over onto another. She makes room for herself and lies on her back, closes her eyes and starts dreaming, a big pile of woman sleeping on an even bigger pile of dead, stinky fish.<br />
<br />
There's an image, or two, or three, from every day. No photo could do them justice, although I've wasted a lot of time trying. Most of my favorite scenes have been of daily life and its peculiarities: men having coffee, janitors squeegeeing entranceways, locals unaware of how bizarre their lives seem to me.<br />
<br />
I can't say that the entirety of this trip has been amazing experience after amazing experience, although I'm sure it will seem that way as I recall the scenes I've stored in my mind. A lot of the time I've felt lost, or misplaced. Two months into the trip I would have gladly accepted a ticket home and never had another urge to travel. But now, although I'm very excited to be heading home, I don't feel like it's been too long or time ill-spent. I've simplified my expectations and settled into the relaxed pace of life without work, school, or rituals of any kind. Now, I'm bracing for the shock of Saskatoon stimuli: job hunting, picking classes, doing taxes, seeing people I know everything about, sorting out 1600 travel photos, attempting a garden, and a whole list of other things that I can't even anticipate. <br />
<br />
I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HOME!!!! Saskatoon in the summer is so beautiful and so are the people. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityn2neNS_ML6fGll_wjjqwCt59yzqrxS26SBZZ2FLE-qRLMFu62zrfwjL6peT6OFcW5-2Hc0AKN2ERSvKq0q2uEfvivG5VpLvuWULmKqD8nxNHao3FwBvVtPYx_bSfPq399nos7nyaNWW/s1600/IMG_2993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityn2neNS_ML6fGll_wjjqwCt59yzqrxS26SBZZ2FLE-qRLMFu62zrfwjL6peT6OFcW5-2Hc0AKN2ERSvKq0q2uEfvivG5VpLvuWULmKqD8nxNHao3FwBvVtPYx_bSfPq399nos7nyaNWW/s400/IMG_2993.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0Bangkok, Thailand13.7234186 100.4762319000000213.492911600000001 100.17089640000002 13.9539256 100.78156740000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-50282295961945133542011-04-17T08:25:00.000-07:002011-04-17T08:27:39.176-07:00Exit MalaysiaThe last Malaysia experience I may ever have has been stumbling awkwardly through a food market in Butterworth. There's such a strong mix of ethnicities that sometimes I forget that the people I see might not be Indian, Chinese, or Siamese, but Malay.<br />
<br />
A tall man of Indian heritage with a white embroidered hat beckons me to sit at his food stall. I hadn't expected to be engaged and, off my guard, smiled slightly and continued my round, head down. Pressed to make a decision, I decided that the easiest route would be to go with a buffet-style lunch. I stood out front of one such stand and surveyed my options: Red sauce, chicken? Brown, definitely fish. Fish. Fish. Fried fish heads. Miscellaneous vegetables. I was getting nowhere on my own but I'd learned in 3 months of travel that if you look pathetic enough, someone usually comes to your rescue. Unfortunately that's not the case today. I'm not sure if I'm to wait for service, grab a plate and dish up, or take being ignored as a hint to leave.<br />
<br />
I begin to look around and a man across the way smiles and nods in my direction. I look away, unsure how to approach the new scenario. Gathering courage I return his gaze. Still smiling, he nods again. I notice that his stall has pictures, names, and prices. I'm saved! I walk over and point, weakly attempting to read the name of the dish aloud, "Nasi Goreng". It sounds vaguely familiar and I am relieved to see the man nod again and exit to the preparation area. My sense of elation is short lived as I see him fondling fish balls with his bare fingers. I resign to my fate. I've taken a risk and I'll suffer the consequences.<br />
<br />
Another man approaches me as soon as I'm settled, "Something to drink?" Again, I'm at a loss while he lists off beverages. I request the only drink I know, Teh Tarek, lazy man's tea. When it comes, I know I'll at least be satisfied by the taste although it isn't exactly prudent to order hot tea in the oppressive +33 heat and humidity. <br />
<br />
My meal comes. Fried rice !? It's fried rice?! I'm so happy! I mean, it's not going to blow my mind but at this point I just want to eat without fear and that's exactly the reprieve I've been granted.<br />
<br />
I'm going to miss Malaysia. It was never in the plan. The thing that brought us here was the desire to escape the flooding in Southern Thailand, but now experienced, I am so grateful for the brilliant foray into diverse and pronounced culture in this developed country. From the metropolitan buzz of Kuala Lumpur to the cool green of the Cameron Highlands and the cultural fusion of Georgetown, it has been an experience unlike any in our journey so far.<br />
<br />
Here are some scenes from the Malaysian chapter of our adventure:<br />
<br />
In the Cameron Highlands, Robyn and I decided we were brave enough to venture into the jungle along some 'well-marked' trails. Here are the three signs we say in our 3 km hike.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YQl88IFLfA/Tar_S0iJDlI/AAAAAAAAARE/5l0WHrmxlcQ/s1600/IMG_4151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YQl88IFLfA/Tar_S0iJDlI/AAAAAAAAARE/5l0WHrmxlcQ/s400/IMG_4151.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At some point in history this must've been a trail. No sign of human life yet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DisR8ulqKs4/TasAHLG33OI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oo2tNhNutl4/s1600/IMG_4166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DisR8ulqKs4/TasAHLG33OI/AAAAAAAAARQ/oo2tNhNutl4/s400/IMG_4166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After wandering for an hour or so and being almost sure that we were lost, we found this sign. It's information pertained only to trails we wanted to avoid. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCVu9KNcuZU/Tar_8G_iNKI/AAAAAAAAARM/5ArNo2vq2qY/s1600/IMG_4167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCVu9KNcuZU/Tar_8G_iNKI/AAAAAAAAARM/5ArNo2vq2qY/s400/IMG_4167.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the day's light waned, we searched for a sign... and found one face down on the ground. We couldn't be sure what was where. Jungle hike is less fun, more scary than I thought.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSr9WiS-SgM/Tar_IIoWaRI/AAAAAAAAARA/9vEZFr10iHM/s1600/IMG_4156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSr9WiS-SgM/Tar_IIoWaRI/AAAAAAAAARA/9vEZFr10iHM/s640/IMG_4156.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But we found a nice spot. Robyn is pure zen in the lower right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>In my previous post, I talked about the atmosphere of Georgetown. If you haven't yet, read it before you look at the photos. Here are some images to give it context:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TnYmHef2YA/TasAdpNMPRI/AAAAAAAAARY/vtnUfw9qyZc/s1600/IMG_4174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3TnYmHef2YA/TasAdpNMPRI/AAAAAAAAARY/vtnUfw9qyZc/s400/IMG_4174.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ahq8KVSVj8/TasAxfhN7BI/AAAAAAAAARc/L5gWjH2U-rk/s1600/IMG_4239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ahq8KVSVj8/TasAxfhN7BI/AAAAAAAAARc/L5gWjH2U-rk/s400/IMG_4239.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temples everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooOJmo2ocEw/TasA8w6faFI/AAAAAAAAARg/HXiyAl1k48o/s1600/IMG_4227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooOJmo2ocEw/TasA8w6faFI/AAAAAAAAARg/HXiyAl1k48o/s400/IMG_4227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crumbling walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwrmNVx-FE8/TasBQ-fqS6I/AAAAAAAAARs/EcP-bPaVO2I/s1600/IMG_4293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AwrmNVx-FE8/TasBQ-fqS6I/AAAAAAAAARs/EcP-bPaVO2I/s400/IMG_4293.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disintegrating shudders and doorways</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm_NOX6Y8Cg/TasA_Fep4II/AAAAAAAAARk/8ue_CwCr-wI/s1600/IMG_4289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm_NOX6Y8Cg/TasA_Fep4II/AAAAAAAAARk/8ue_CwCr-wI/s400/IMG_4289.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And transportation in need of an upgrade.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> David J Parker<br />
<br />
<br />
P.S. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcYlKeBqvo0/TasBHuH2CrI/AAAAAAAAARo/qzYgr2hv6EQ/s1600/IMG_4290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jcYlKeBqvo0/TasBHuH2CrI/AAAAAAAAARo/qzYgr2hv6EQ/s400/IMG_4290.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye Malaysia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1George Town, Penang, Malaysia5.4054377886776326 100.31158803203135.3566567886776326 100.2744055320313 5.4542187886776325 100.3487705320313tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-33620646548422188682011-04-16T03:29:00.000-07:002011-04-16T03:29:22.910-07:00Georgetown, MalaysiaIf it's anything, Georgetown is atmospheric. But to get there, I must walk down the narrow unlit hallway of 75 Traveler's Lodge, past the open doorway of a skinny old Caucasian whose head is fringed with wiry gray hair down to his shoulders. He sits in the dark against the far wall of his room and lightly strums a guitar, peering into the hall. <br />
<br />
Beyond that, the lobby opens up to the street. The glare of the Malaysian afternoon sun makes it impossible to discern the details of what's outside until I step out, allowing my eyes to adjust. The road is wide enough, perhaps, for a car and motorcycle to pass each other and is lined with wall-to-wall lime washed brick buildings; shop on the bottom, living space on top. <br />
<br />
This has been declared a UNESCO heritage site for just over a decade. What this means is that all of the buildings that might have been earmarked for demolition have suddenly become valuable and are required to remain, but not necessarily to be restored. Most outside walls are stained in black from years of exposure while wooden shudders and doors have deteriorated to the point of failure.<br />
<br />
There is a great diversity of architecture, however, which is owed to the economic history of the region. At the end of the 18th century, Georgetown became an important hub for the East India Trading Company and countless other organizations. Entrepreneurs from the west as well as India, China, Japan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and, of course, Malaysia gathered to do business. As a result, the place became a mosaic of world cultures and, owing to the affluence of the peoples, was graced by the finest architecture of each nation. Elaborate religious structures representing the various faiths were erected and Chinese temples, Christian churches, Muslim mosques, and Buddhist Wats now appear on every street.<br />
<br />
I entered one such temple after passing through a mansion-turned-museum. It's patrons had, however, gone under a fairly dramatic transformation. Dozens of bats inhabited the highest and darkest corners, clinging to the brick walls and wooden pillars. Robyn's suspicion is that the creatures are the vampire caretakers of the aforementioned museum although I think that the large open courtyard located in the building would be an ill-suited feature for such terrors of the night. <br />
<br />
The end of our time in Malaysia marks the 10-day countdown to the end of our trip and the pile of responsibilities waiting there after 4 months of neglect.<br />
<br />
10 days in which to...<br />
<br />
Revisit the nicest beaches we've ever seen, spend hours in transit, order noodle soup from street vendors in Bangkok...<br />
<br />
and that's about as far as the plan's gotten.<br />
<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0George Town, Penang, Malaysia5.4198571358985888 100.335556251788385.3710761358985888 100.29837375178838 5.4686381358985887 100.37273875178838tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-71970217158779468412011-04-12T07:55:00.000-07:002011-04-12T08:06:56.178-07:00Cameron HighlandsOn Monday, we took a bus from the sweltering streets of Kuala Lumpur into the cool Cameron Highlands. Upon entering the town, Robyn and I both sensed a certain familiarity. Low clouds hugged the alpine mountains in the background of a bustling tourist town. It's like the Malaysian Canmore! We were more than happy to put on a light sweater and enjoy the fresh air and easy vibe.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_LbvUgyPcc/TaRfqWq5bOI/AAAAAAAAAPA/7VV22x7usQo/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F_LbvUgyPcc/TaRfqWq5bOI/AAAAAAAAAPA/7VV22x7usQo/s400/IMG_3949.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Father's Guesthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oy8LtDv5KqM/TaRf8WKTF6I/AAAAAAAAAPU/rMqnvoHUY0s/s1600/IMG_3951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oy8LtDv5KqM/TaRf8WKTF6I/AAAAAAAAAPU/rMqnvoHUY0s/s400/IMG_3951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stairs to our place</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
For Tuesday, sticking with our do something every day plan, we booked a full day tour of all the major sights. The area is famous for its tea plantations and every rolling hill is covered in the uniformly trimmed trees. Our first stop was the most famous estate in the area, operated by BOH tea company (BTW All of the tea companies are owned by western foreigners and all of the workers are eastern foreigners). It's a beautiful sprawling estate in the midst of which we were told all about the planting, selecting, and harvesting processes of the area and given an overview the evolution of tea. It was much like touring a vineyard and, as we are after a wine tour, Robyn and I are now temporarily passionate about teas and tea culture.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-laks5I64RPs/TaRf8C7qVBI/AAAAAAAAAPc/BTO5GRe1UqY/s1600/IMG_3964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-laks5I64RPs/TaRf8C7qVBI/AAAAAAAAAPc/BTO5GRe1UqY/s400/IMG_3964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea fields</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S_67GFp1JE/TaRf7kjw7_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/ldwbHOk8ZHk/s1600/IMG_3975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S_67GFp1JE/TaRf7kjw7_I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/ldwbHOk8ZHk/s400/IMG_3975.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trimmed tea plants aren't allowed to flower. This one's breaking the rules.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
We left the plantation in a Land Rover and continued up the mountain where we had the pleasure to enter a cloud rain forest (so excited, you have no idea). This is an amazing place at around 2000m elevation where clouds like to hang out. The high humidity creates a niche environment for some novel species. There are panthers, monkeys, rare leopards, and zillions of interesting insects. As far as vegetation goes, every tree is actually home to hundreds of plants. Moss covers every surface, actively extracting moisture from the clouds, condensing it, and delivering it to its host. Leaves fall from higher trees onto lower branches and decompose there forming micro-environments that host other smaller plants and myriad insects. Then there's the carnivorous pitcher plant which anyone who's watched the entire <u>Planet Earth</u> series will no doubt recognize. It lures insects onto its rim with the promise of sweet nectar and they fall into it, being digested alive in a mixture of water and digestive enzymes. Crafty plant! Walking through the forest was like trekking over a giant sponge. Water oozed out of the ground all around our feet and as soon as we released the pressure, the earth would spring back to its former position.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgP5NW6R1bE/TaRgG7OuRlI/AAAAAAAAAPo/kupF5OlIHE4/s1600/IMG_4021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lgP5NW6R1bE/TaRgG7OuRlI/AAAAAAAAAPo/kupF5OlIHE4/s400/IMG_4021.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle ferns</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGzxRJD1NjI/TaRgPGbyFYI/AAAAAAAAAP0/G3k0Em0Yebs/s1600/IMG_4031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nGzxRJD1NjI/TaRgPGbyFYI/AAAAAAAAAP0/G3k0Em0Yebs/s400/IMG_4031.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss captures moisture right out of the clouds and delivers it to the forests co-inhabitants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzdpUwnbSek/TaRgYg3dKEI/AAAAAAAAAQA/xY3xSOZuvBo/s1600/IMG_4033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nzdpUwnbSek/TaRgYg3dKEI/AAAAAAAAAQA/xY3xSOZuvBo/s400/IMG_4033.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The diabolical pitcher plant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hsmutsLJhd4/TaRhzDZE85I/AAAAAAAAAQk/Uziv5q7YtjQ/s1600/IMG_4022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hsmutsLJhd4/TaRhzDZE85I/AAAAAAAAAQk/Uziv5q7YtjQ/s400/IMG_4022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinosaur era mega-ferns grow to tree height in the cloud rain-forest. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Halfway down the mountain brought us to the tea factory where we watched tea leaves be rolled, oxidized, dried, and graded. At the end, we tried out a couple of the high end white teas on offer in the tasting room (accompaniment by apple and strawberry desserts).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYvPFM8pFLU/TaRgTvJfQ_I/AAAAAAAAAP8/eZdOZOgG50s/s1600/IMG_4063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xYvPFM8pFLU/TaRgTvJfQ_I/AAAAAAAAAP8/eZdOZOgG50s/s400/IMG_4063.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The last stop of the morning was the butterfly/insect/other scary things garden where we saw a toad as big as my head, some scary snakes,and had a gecko walk all over me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybPe-0Jn8p4/TaRgdnZ1RXI/AAAAAAAAAQc/7oiwzvOCSA0/s1600/IMG_4100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ybPe-0Jn8p4/TaRgdnZ1RXI/AAAAAAAAAQc/7oiwzvOCSA0/s400/IMG_4100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only non-scary thing in the butterfly garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDe6YItlOiU/TaRgfMxNWGI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ctPiegM0_H0/s1600/IMG_4083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QDe6YItlOiU/TaRgfMxNWGI/AAAAAAAAAQM/ctPiegM0_H0/s400/IMG_4083.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snake orgy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85N4w-jACR8/TaRfa-FPwRI/AAAAAAAAAOs/zmhrpaf2BWw/s1600/IMG_4121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85N4w-jACR8/TaRfa-FPwRI/AAAAAAAAAOs/zmhrpaf2BWw/s400/IMG_4121.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two flower pedals picked from an overhanging vine</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XQ_tvmuzB0/TaRgf9d5haI/AAAAAAAAAQU/NHMwNECsseI/s1600/IMG_4107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XQ_tvmuzB0/TaRgf9d5haI/AAAAAAAAAQU/NHMwNECsseI/s400/IMG_4107.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandma could tell me all about this thing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our guide for the tour was amazing. He had interesting and relevant information on the geology and ecology of the area as well as the hill people that still live in the jungle. He showed us all sorts of wild edible species such as citronella, wild ginger, spearmint, and cinnamon. I found out later that he had studied forestry at university and got his masters in something related to insects. He spent time in Kuala Lumpur as a soft-skill consultant which explained how seamlessly he incorporated humor with his informative lectures, and after all of this experience he had chosen to be a guide for interest-sake and to serve his love of nature.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efxuEXY_EHQ/TaRgKUEj4YI/AAAAAAAAAPs/4SQGidsNnaI/s1600/IMG_3993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efxuEXY_EHQ/TaRgKUEj4YI/AAAAAAAAAPs/4SQGidsNnaI/s400/IMG_3993.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the low-down on all things tea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>What a great day. The more time I spend in Malaysia the more glad I am that I came.<br />
<br />
David J Parker<br />
<br />
P.S. Check out the previous post, Meditations II. I added pictures!David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Cameron Highlands, Malaysia4.56547398896504 101.430025194531254.41674098896504 101.29212869453126 4.71420698896504 101.56792169453125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-6559578290594480522011-04-11T04:31:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:31:50.694-07:00Meditations III don't think that I began to uniformly enjoy our trip until we got into Cambodia. For the two months previous, I had difficulty reconciling my vision of what the trip should be with our actual experience. I expected a golden road to self-discovery paved by experiencing myself in novel situations and pushing myself to physical, cultural, and culinary extremes. I had adventure on my mind and, after two months of travel, most of what I had experienced was simply a vacation following the mirage of adventure.<br />
<br />
To illustrate, my vision of trekking through the jungle, sleeping in the canopy, eventually finding a secluded village and learning their culture first-hand materialised as a 2 1/2 hour hike up a mountain with an Australian family and an overnight in a village that saw a new tourist group every day. To attend to my desire for extremes was no doubt possible, but I lacked the knowledge, experience, and courage to pursue them. <br />
<br />
Fortunately, things have changed both internally and externally. My expectations have shifted and, with a few months experience behind us, we are better able to identify activities that we enjoy and pursue them. <br />
<br />
Kuala Lumpur provided an excellent avenue for these expressions and perfectly reconciled our desire to be immersed in the local culture, to feel safe, and to be relatively confident about how to conduct ourselves. It is developed enough to eliminate the need for separate local and tourist infrastructure so every bus, LRT, restaurant, sidewalk, and market is teeming with cultural diversity. Simply wandering the streets is enough to awaken and enliven the senses.<br />
<br />
We spent our Sunday just so. From Chinatown we headed south where we found impressive municipal structures designed with heavy Islamic influence: magnificent archways, spectacular geometry, and large domed ceilings. <br />
<br />
In the heat of the day, we were drawn to a fountain at the end of a soccer pitch. It was encircled by wide white pillars and a trellis upon which a hardy flowering vine grew, providing shade for the seating area around the fountain while sunlight was admitted directly into the water making it shimmer. <br />
<br />
A group gathered around the water to meditate. They encircled the fountain cross-legged and transitioned through mudras (hand gestures) slowly and synchronously. Meanwhile, two children ran about, noisily playing in and around the devotees. Their behaviour drew little attention until the older boy fell into the fountain getting completely soaked. I enjoyed studying the reactions of the meditators as their awareness was diverted towards the children.<br />
<br />
I am sure that if the same thing occurred in a western Christian church, the children would have been the subject of many angry glares and be taken away by their parents to be scolded. Here, the reactions were varied. Some smiled or laughed out-loud while others remained in meditation. I didn't see one nasty look. What's more, it was impossible to tell who the parents were. One man helped the boy out of the water, another got him out of his wet clothes, and yet another supplied him with something to drink. There seems to be an understanding that kids will be kids, not little adults.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xOJpj4oPshQ/TaRfezK8NUI/AAAAAAAAAOw/FbUj4MEpOrM/s1600/IMG_3879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xOJpj4oPshQ/TaRfezK8NUI/AAAAAAAAAOw/FbUj4MEpOrM/s400/IMG_3879.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beloved fountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The second highlight to our day was visiting the National Islamic Art Museum. We saw literally hundreds of Qur'ans, each an amazing piece of historical artwork with intricate patterning, delicate calligraphy, and expert binding. Furthermore, we saw beautiful examples of textiles, household items, military equipment, and scale models of holy sites.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEZ3QY3kogQ/TaRfga7PYBI/AAAAAAAAAO0/xHs1yL155qk/s1600/IMG_3916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEZ3QY3kogQ/TaRfga7PYBI/AAAAAAAAAO0/xHs1yL155qk/s400/IMG_3916.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qur'an #472</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQnLfoogsdE/TaRfo8uv1BI/AAAAAAAAAO8/lfTXTFGOlu0/s1600/IMG_3927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lQnLfoogsdE/TaRfo8uv1BI/AAAAAAAAAO8/lfTXTFGOlu0/s400/IMG_3927.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Qur'an $ 547</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaWYqDYXj8s/TaRfvcYVPaI/AAAAAAAAAPE/Sm39i8ccMMw/s1600/IMG_3932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HaWYqDYXj8s/TaRfvcYVPaI/AAAAAAAAAPE/Sm39i8ccMMw/s400/IMG_3932.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling of Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
We admit to being quite ignorant about Islam and the trip to the museum was a welcome initiation. That said, I see the knowledge as a means of engaging Muslims rather than as a basis from which to adopt it into our own lives.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3.139003 101.686854999999923.032754 101.61520149999993 3.2452520000000002 101.75850849999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-47346165771402834112011-04-09T10:22:00.000-07:002011-04-09T10:22:48.942-07:00Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Robyn and my last day in Thailand passed, for the most part, in the Phuket airport. We decided that with 7 hours to wait for the plane, we could probably solve some of the world's more pressing issues if we really talked them over enough. We made a list of possible issues: world hunger, increasing disparity between rich and poor, things like that. In the end, we decided to narrow our scope to personal goals for the coming year and found that we basically want to eat more carrots and go for long walks by the beach. Looks like 2012 is going to be an easy year!<br />
<br />
Fearing that the world would be a rather boring place if we solved all of its problems, the aiport staff shuttled us onto a plane and into another country in an attempt to divert our discourse towards more mundane subjects such as how to cross the street without getting hit by a bus and the likelihood of getting abysmally ill by drinking Malaysian tap water. <br />
<br />
Their plan worked. We got into Kuala Lumpur and jumped onto a bus, arriving finally at our guesthouse by 2 am. <br />
<br />
It seems like the end of our trip is just on the horizon so we decided to really get our act together when it comes to seeing new places. By the next morning, we had already resolved to pack our day with adventure. <br />
<br />
We started off at a big outdoor/indoor Central Market where I had my work cut out for me convincing Robyn not to buy a 17th scarf. From there we headed into China Town, wandering up and down the streets. The smells of curry and incense were everywhere and, more amazingly, the smell of sewage was nowhere. Merchants came out of their shops as we passed, attempting to sell us bootleg videos or trying to get us to get a tattoo. I wonder how often that works. Who is convinced by a stranger on the street that they should get a tattoo?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXaNfli3HlG8-2BhHSPklTOpO00WpH9idbHt6P_U0xsX-XFVLXJyff1PXCkpE7SqajJb8GAvwWcJ3g4jhvvha8B1c5Ew5Q97TNwSae5WTe773iq9Kw_S7a7KqSqbN0Zyv7RT01hyR0wv3/s1600/IMG_3772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXaNfli3HlG8-2BhHSPklTOpO00WpH9idbHt6P_U0xsX-XFVLXJyff1PXCkpE7SqajJb8GAvwWcJ3g4jhvvha8B1c5Ew5Q97TNwSae5WTe773iq9Kw_S7a7KqSqbN0Zyv7RT01hyR0wv3/s400/IMG_3772.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China Town, Kuala Lumpur</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGqcIPX0N-5mhENAbbrXeB1MjTsZ7Kxx0bNnchKt3zENmuQ7p-B5Pej5xxymUOeaMIph0EXjRXRyihC7QGuisRR1c8nNV3LccD3pV0nxWMgqvV7fQNHlrCZMfoW_I9Cxket4thsDK0cOf/s1600/IMG_3765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGqcIPX0N-5mhENAbbrXeB1MjTsZ7Kxx0bNnchKt3zENmuQ7p-B5Pej5xxymUOeaMIph0EXjRXRyihC7QGuisRR1c8nNV3LccD3pV0nxWMgqvV7fQNHlrCZMfoW_I9Cxket4thsDK0cOf/s400/IMG_3765.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x0jGwYY5_QA6489iMFMvJFPn7VWX7hdxVOaoM70lIRF6wejmw5izvfxp0b5Yz3FzmX7GVyBjJMbH2BJ3Jkf056WPIATC11FKKyKmcK7DXpdRQQdP74Gfn42hf_Img7m2bMO19hAvdJSu/s1600/IMG_3781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x0jGwYY5_QA6489iMFMvJFPn7VWX7hdxVOaoM70lIRF6wejmw5izvfxp0b5Yz3FzmX7GVyBjJMbH2BJ3Jkf056WPIATC11FKKyKmcK7DXpdRQQdP74Gfn42hf_Img7m2bMO19hAvdJSu/s400/IMG_3781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI6qWitHyLG7-b_GSdFAIffqnTHWxj7dG1TmDe35R6pBBYpgTa0XWOWvvZnmd2OQyN3hAzhKXXRdA7TwLnoBWnLiDb8wZ2XL2uqjOpu-ot7yPzixUjCTMvDMzqaoRrqql7hMMYvje_1G4/s1600/IMG_3775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI6qWitHyLG7-b_GSdFAIffqnTHWxj7dG1TmDe35R6pBBYpgTa0XWOWvvZnmd2OQyN3hAzhKXXRdA7TwLnoBWnLiDb8wZ2XL2uqjOpu-ot7yPzixUjCTMvDMzqaoRrqql7hMMYvje_1G4/s400/IMG_3775.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China Town fruit stand</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We popped in and out of temples and, when we saw its distinct pinnacles in the distance, we settled on a walk to the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world. On our walk, we became more and more blissfully aware at how different this city was from Bangkok, Hanoi, or Saigon. People could walk on the sidewalks as they were devoid of scooters. The streets were clean and traffic obeyed street lights. The architecture was very modern in places with a distinct Muslim influence, and it seems like most of the population holds strongly to its cultural heritage instead of discarding it in favor of westernity. There is a large Indian population and the flavors of Indian life proliferate.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqs7pTMucrdreUHuoAkVUMYYIYZ3J7lRNR2Jl3zRMmbYqBzVPLBmEoqwr0GRCLlJxZi5VO5xnXa9XQEbpSu42LA8X8CU-Hsel4NlEIHJ8dRDGBrpAhcMF1M_7QhyphenhyphenYd1L-PnjZ8Ox4vVaT/s1600/IMG_3808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqs7pTMucrdreUHuoAkVUMYYIYZ3J7lRNR2Jl3zRMmbYqBzVPLBmEoqwr0GRCLlJxZi5VO5xnXa9XQEbpSu42LA8X8CU-Hsel4NlEIHJ8dRDGBrpAhcMF1M_7QhyphenhyphenYd1L-PnjZ8Ox4vVaT/s400/IMG_3808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Petronas Towers poke their little heads out</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUgtQW6P-Y9p_08vZvpbi0IaE12BPREF0WxQjg96dpo5XG_p6LaISt9xt6WN5AzptTV7jgxQQzwd1fMJ6vrgmUtUwsrAYWJT_eGP4UMbSaapOZsDstYcB7TmvmzJYowT3eJoAXdYZ6hFP/s1600/IMG_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIUgtQW6P-Y9p_08vZvpbi0IaE12BPREF0WxQjg96dpo5XG_p6LaISt9xt6WN5AzptTV7jgxQQzwd1fMJ6vrgmUtUwsrAYWJT_eGP4UMbSaapOZsDstYcB7TmvmzJYowT3eJoAXdYZ6hFP/s400/IMG_3815.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8TfRbcBRljVZ3-MtwSnrqRATokWvsVHFMTwCQ0oedXCMrX0rQilgcj-YIdwkqAhFpft8Bu7s5s5JMaOMIKN8vGqjZiMOkcLCmS2IV1Hu25LeBuuoW1j8yGnyB_BKxkmVaqS6mH5YblIl/s1600/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8TfRbcBRljVZ3-MtwSnrqRATokWvsVHFMTwCQ0oedXCMrX0rQilgcj-YIdwkqAhFpft8Bu7s5s5JMaOMIKN8vGqjZiMOkcLCmS2IV1Hu25LeBuuoW1j8yGnyB_BKxkmVaqS6mH5YblIl/s400/IMG_3820.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We reached the Petronas Towers after a long and winding walk, spent some time wandering the very modern shopping center inside, and then headed to Little India for dinner. I tried to be adventurous with my order, choosing things that were foreign to me with no regard to spiciness. It paid off in a deliciously heated spread. Robyn was a little nervous about her food which exhibited some strange colors and a tendency to ooze blood. I think she'll be alright.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhwycl2FIYaAOv-ZwsRN-dPTZGMjDr9Ng4MYRjRCMHKM0fLFDEyomApd4Mtln_QOszwTUMPozMRxTEuKo8EPsYxjqfeMHSlW607dbTHuAhmNfWQWx2uVVS2orSM3sZizaKil2d-ctvKwO/s1600/IMG_3839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPhwycl2FIYaAOv-ZwsRN-dPTZGMjDr9Ng4MYRjRCMHKM0fLFDEyomApd4Mtln_QOszwTUMPozMRxTEuKo8EPsYxjqfeMHSlW607dbTHuAhmNfWQWx2uVVS2orSM3sZizaKil2d-ctvKwO/s400/IMG_3839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After dinner, we headed back to the towers to watch a free concert which ended up being 15 minutes of hand-drum jams and then an hour of handing out free plastic clappers, 15 minutes of drums, free t-shirts, etc. We ditched out and went to a movie, Rio, which was a nice treat after walking all day. We'd been dreaming of going to a movie theatre for some time and it definitely lived up to the anticipation. <br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia3.139003 101.686854999999923.032754 101.61520149999993 3.2452520000000002 101.75850849999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-26711927810462853352011-04-08T04:31:00.000-07:002011-04-08T20:14:44.176-07:00Krabi, ThailandBest... shower... ever.<br />
This place is pure luxury. Why? I think the luxury is due more to what it lacks than what it has.<br />
Two days ago our shower was a leaky hose over the toilet with one tap, "cold water". You had to watch your feet to avoid being attacked by our two resident cockroaches and at the end of it all, you often felt more dirty than when you'd begun.<br />
And this, for some reason, hardly phased us. We had prepared ourselves for bathrooms like this whose sinks drained right onto the concrete floor. Most of the water would flow towards a whole near the toilet, the rest sat in stagnant stinking pools on the floor, no doubt harbouring novel and dangerous life forms.<br />
But this place... this place has an amazing shower, and the shower is just the beginning of all things nice in Krabi. It's a relatively small town with nothing particular to do if you're not hungry, but that's all part of the appeal. Krabi provides a unique opportunity to be in amongst the locals while maintaining jumping distances to the most amazing beach landscapes I've ever seen. <br />
<br />
The patrons of the food markets are 3 part Thai to 1 part farang ( foreigner) which means authentic food and low prices. Wednesday's menu was green curry, crab-meat omelet with chili sauce, stir-fried morning glory with garlic, rice, and coconut-lemon shakes. The set was inspired by the people eating next to us and we finished it off with with mini pancake rolls filled with a sweet coconut-bean paste. It may not be guaranteed amazing, but it's guaranteed interesting.<br />
As for the beaches, you'd be hard pressed to find more stunning views. Long stretches of white sand are walled in by limestone towers. Over the centuries, stalactites have formed around the perimeters making each formation look like a Pheylonian candle, a cave inside-out. Up close, the stalactites reveal their size. Huge rough cones hang over the ocean, dripping water from their tips... a steady slow rain in scattered pockets. Towers such as these jut out from the aqua-marine waters at random over the horizon.<br />
<br />
If it sounds like paradise, that's because it is. Phranang Beach may be the most beautiful macro-scene that I've ever been a part of.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AoWjiLzdFKMTvEwKE3zCJ7mWWPIQn42RVFbBAt12-pnQoXjFvqjwDUlMUotyRGn5AXR_Ihr9mVLwSK52HVarQP0wzdEwDY8HNzo-vgivpomCtywZwUNP81SOMt_5nXc3oQcdJm9uHLTr/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AoWjiLzdFKMTvEwKE3zCJ7mWWPIQn42RVFbBAt12-pnQoXjFvqjwDUlMUotyRGn5AXR_Ihr9mVLwSK52HVarQP0wzdEwDY8HNzo-vgivpomCtywZwUNP81SOMt_5nXc3oQcdJm9uHLTr/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railey Beach, Thailand</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrDGtC8cQnceDiXaPVwlYeCF-vMhet23oWcZtHjsDkLFcS46gaCzH0BBfNAQ57w9ioU99ud6J9ALD9DrPsyxz1B7c5Yt-0Sp2rleMMenwdXIB5IjoM5xKi1xtgtLb9i8_IMj_tYBemnm/s1600/IMG_3634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRrDGtC8cQnceDiXaPVwlYeCF-vMhet23oWcZtHjsDkLFcS46gaCzH0BBfNAQ57w9ioU99ud6J9ALD9DrPsyxz1B7c5Yt-0Sp2rleMMenwdXIB5IjoM5xKi1xtgtLb9i8_IMj_tYBemnm/s400/IMG_3634.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pathway from Railay Beach to Phranang Beach. Adventure!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkyMdxn6Dh8skIaWGzYRVbwXNTyMl3dUZNhs-Byw_uelkAxvFN_Va9ne0OR4lnOgM3eQU8goBKmeF5NcZZe6ZGRt7GeIzJdhMnm5tIVhhlAbcM8e7F1o2ApfA_by8mHO9MbDSJIvuvAKA/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkyMdxn6Dh8skIaWGzYRVbwXNTyMl3dUZNhs-Byw_uelkAxvFN_Va9ne0OR4lnOgM3eQU8goBKmeF5NcZZe6ZGRt7GeIzJdhMnm5tIVhhlAbcM8e7F1o2ApfA_by8mHO9MbDSJIvuvAKA/s400/IMG_3646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Phranang</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ocSpwJiDTOc11KrvtBFlOxTrkfPg-3nY9KefjvrLkVQXT6pd4BUSynE2UYaR7FrR1EcWGpC-32U_adq3Hwv6yWsMmyag4dLBlVR7c2PX5wtVRq6hmH32cH2D6UdlovH-jyU4piz-go_v/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ocSpwJiDTOc11KrvtBFlOxTrkfPg-3nY9KefjvrLkVQXT6pd4BUSynE2UYaR7FrR1EcWGpC-32U_adq3Hwv6yWsMmyag4dLBlVR7c2PX5wtVRq6hmH32cH2D6UdlovH-jyU4piz-go_v/s400/IMG_3661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This last beach had a host of monkeys that were causing a ruckus. When Robyn opened my backpack, a whole gang of them swarmed her and stole peanuts right from the bag and then ran up a tree. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
On Thursday, we joined a boat tour that explored several of the nearby islands. The first stop was an beautiful, if temporary, stretch of sand that linked two islands. The waters were clear turquoise and the sand was uniformly white. We splashed about, did some snorkeling, and found some big rainbow-colored fish that hung around the sea floor sucking on rocks. When we were ready to get out of the water, however, we found that the beach was gone! Only in low tide does the white stretch link two islands. For the rest of the day it merely lends its light color to the clear, shallow waters.<br />
<br />
The day continued like this, boarding our longtail boat and hopping from island to island. Robyn got a little sea sick on our first stop. We were about 20 meters from the beach when she turned around and hurled over the side of the boat. I tried to be sympathetic but it was funny that we were so close to our destination when she finally lost her muesli. <br />
<br />
As we visited more islands, I was able to pick out things about each that I remembered. My dad and I went to Southeast Asia about 7 years ago and the furthest north we got to was Krabi. It was my favorite place then and I think it's my favorite place on this trip as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
 <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiz2N-oWU5Ena70ohkzFjj6dsrQ7hq0xsgi-0KtvmTUpTZ1uFso24G38PRvY54DNvRUiEuxELaWfjY3SbgewYcXKzx4dgKfvvI02rU43RcXin3-rn_dAzUBGJelbCSgG7ND8CAqWe6Y-n/s1600/IMG_3723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiz2N-oWU5Ena70ohkzFjj6dsrQ7hq0xsgi-0KtvmTUpTZ1uFso24G38PRvY54DNvRUiEuxELaWfjY3SbgewYcXKzx4dgKfvvI02rU43RcXin3-rn_dAzUBGJelbCSgG7ND8CAqWe6Y-n/s400/IMG_3723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our transporation and our destination. Paradise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjY-IJElcKZfK1uJECZJe-ewwfaVHLa-2itdJ49PJOqG4N86Dw2L-dJddHp_phHxnssrLDy72UU5Ky2-ksQ_aqNa_40lRfehMwoW9ziCvrO3ix822GgOuiGs8iMKicVeLd4-dJmL8_Dhe/s1600/IMG_3707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjY-IJElcKZfK1uJECZJe-ewwfaVHLa-2itdJ49PJOqG4N86Dw2L-dJddHp_phHxnssrLDy72UU5Ky2-ksQ_aqNa_40lRfehMwoW9ziCvrO3ix822GgOuiGs8iMKicVeLd4-dJmL8_Dhe/s400/IMG_3707.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not a brochure, it's all around us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Our last stop of the day was the now familiar Phranang Beach. Instead of swimming, we decided to explore the inside out caves around the beach.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtAn3GlRXsHhdFL8OzWA5kAZwNUcLQa4YpuDPPKYi1JIVb7GnbMx4CJF-L6hEw2WWD0IsdKiTvlWVpdI9EblXbZ-magxsan4eQm-Oi4NnK6Gzt2fEgrarw6z4eNz3DLi66_AVneNsrCfe/s1600/IMG_3735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwtAn3GlRXsHhdFL8OzWA5kAZwNUcLQa4YpuDPPKYi1JIVb7GnbMx4CJF-L6hEw2WWD0IsdKiTvlWVpdI9EblXbZ-magxsan4eQm-Oi4NnK6Gzt2fEgrarw6z4eNz3DLi66_AVneNsrCfe/s400/IMG_3735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melty candle tower. Phranang Beach, Thailand</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO4B6K1IcFofdgdQukiqmbjwvnMzan25cyz_oiQhyphenhyphen52cgwcgxXBJc1ON4dXTQhajXa8R2WlJfVSvXbBT4HiUxWHROshCT-lVMjNE6bDZ4nXr88iQo2KlK_hQfk1ulwFRYozHYfNom_erp/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO4B6K1IcFofdgdQukiqmbjwvnMzan25cyz_oiQhyphenhyphen52cgwcgxXBJc1ON4dXTQhajXa8R2WlJfVSvXbBT4HiUxWHROshCT-lVMjNE6bDZ4nXr88iQo2KlK_hQfk1ulwFRYozHYfNom_erp/s400/IMG_3673.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn, blissfully unaware of the encroaching sunburn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iVXqjoZrFMF9ZEmgEfdPBXzkLGhYC-zgawTMvueLqICBv22xwU5nhaAOLKCXIb-w-RhiZMTGnq9ubowKEB7HnM2d6r-TqEHtX5bZ2c19b64X_eue4ChxcW13uamxqrZTmFeVg6DVbzQU/s1600/IMG_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iVXqjoZrFMF9ZEmgEfdPBXzkLGhYC-zgawTMvueLqICBv22xwU5nhaAOLKCXIb-w-RhiZMTGnq9ubowKEB7HnM2d6r-TqEHtX5bZ2c19b64X_eue4ChxcW13uamxqrZTmFeVg6DVbzQU/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the caverns in and around Phranang Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
At the end of our day, we struck up a conversation with some of the other people on the boat, a duo from Indonesia, Harry and Sarah. We had tons of fun talking about our own countries. They thought is was so crazy to live anywhere as cold as Canada and even crazier that people like me bundle up and go biking around in -40. On the other hand, it wasn't such a big deal to them to live in an earthquake zone underneath an active volcano in an amongst giant pythons and poisonous spiders as big as your face.<br />
<br />
We ended up wandering around the night market with them later and I was inspired by Harry to expand my epicurean horizon. I started with some spicy mystery meat on a stick and graduated to grilled grasshoppers, beetles, and larvae (not as good as it sounds and it sounds horrible). Bu the end of the night, the four us were hanging out eating giant pancakes filled with different colored goos and chatting about living in Canada, Indonesia, and America (we found another friend).<br />
<br />
Today, it's off to Malaysia and then we'll work our way North from there. Back home in no time!<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Krabi, Thailand8.1191811 99.101349799999987.5119686 98.706951799999985 8.7263936 99.495747799999975tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-52189422485237356092011-04-07T03:55:00.000-07:002011-04-07T03:55:14.472-07:00Too busy livin' it up to postRobyn and I have been hitting the beach for the last couple days and, in the middle of all that relaxing, it's been hard to get to a computer and make a post. This message is just to assure those who are watching the news and assuming that every disaster in Southeast Asia is directly endangering us that we are happy and safe. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow we'll be spending about 7 hours in an airport waiting for a plane so, with luck, I'll find a computer and write about our adventures in the past few days.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-60930367864536735912011-04-04T06:56:00.000-07:002011-04-04T06:56:37.474-07:00Island Life"Enough with Ko Phangan, we need a change of scene!" we cried as we huddled onto the southbound ferry. "Ko Samui will surely supply the refuge we seek!"<br />
<br />
Here we are on another island and I have to say that you'd be hardpressed to find Thai culture within striking distance of a beach in Thailand. In fact, a Thai beach is probably the best place you could be if you don't care much for any Thai who isn't serving you a cocunut with a straw and especially if you enjoy the company of overweight balding men in speedos. <br />
<br />
Why are there no Thais splashing about in the pristine waters of Ko Samui's legendary beaches? There are a few reason, I think, the least of which is contemporary vanity. The peoples of Southeast Asia see beauty in the pale faces of western culture and take aim to protect themselves from being darker than they have to. When the sun is out, they are covered from head to toe in loose clothing and layers of scarves. Every hygiene product on the shelves has skin whitening cream in it. For this reason, you'd never see a Thai, Laos, or Vietnamese sunbathing. Historically, most people here lived in small villages and were farmers. If a family owned a bit of land, the black sheep of the children would be given the beach area to farm. It's impossible to grow much apart from peanuts and cocunuts on a stretch of sand so being on the beach meant a sentence of poverty. You'd think that those peanut farmers would be laughing now as they could've shut down the farm in favor of a beach resort but the fact is that, for the most part, they were only too happy to sell the land at a low cost to foriegn developers who are now making a fortune in paradise. Now that there's value beach property, there's no room left for the Thais who used to own it.<br />
<br />
I don't have much else to say since it's only been a day since the last post. Make sure to go back and read that one. It speaks of the traveling experience in an entirely different way. In the meantime, here's some shots of the nice beach we found (served corn on a stick by a friendly Thai man, we'd had coconuts earlier).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6hf_rFF2a-MwrwflIukq3skU0T3lhhcPD6njbR5kPNQ7c1AHTpw7JJPIG4Mb2Y7iSNFL7b7CG8EYO-Tdj-idYGIcNlzwZmsg-SNcp_U2GDLjZs6-LEp5ORhTfT2swrZQyHiQ7Hc2B3mn/s1600/IMG_3552%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6hf_rFF2a-MwrwflIukq3skU0T3lhhcPD6njbR5kPNQ7c1AHTpw7JJPIG4Mb2Y7iSNFL7b7CG8EYO-Tdj-idYGIcNlzwZmsg-SNcp_U2GDLjZs6-LEp5ORhTfT2swrZQyHiQ7Hc2B3mn/s400/IMG_3552%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to get a sunburn</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrVh5r3P-2t-MQUmIFxmw68gl0sjkVDCDkNKmbjgvGdCHX7FYXzJcspsVGwz8Y-HQl9Qu8uxCEFfldFbPizuZHv9PXSvGUR4PlgV4gu7U77I2hy5encivWdL80cjFOwwQRPMmgm44xLus/s1600/IMG_3579%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrVh5r3P-2t-MQUmIFxmw68gl0sjkVDCDkNKmbjgvGdCHX7FYXzJcspsVGwz8Y-HQl9Qu8uxCEFfldFbPizuZHv9PXSvGUR4PlgV4gu7U77I2hy5encivWdL80cjFOwwQRPMmgm44xLus/s400/IMG_3579%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely one of the nicest beaches I've been to</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmIWurAkruNg7vKvTR_y7qLfzt416CNND4EL_10neWGpCNJmNJdDutjDGBTmmq0Xpn2U-Tzi5nrV7vOwI4JpvLK4H6jwtDQa82FjU4p7FIEyTxAaD7NeLu296_cYrKgrZijDrHW2HC8Ld/s1600/IMG_3580%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmIWurAkruNg7vKvTR_y7qLfzt416CNND4EL_10neWGpCNJmNJdDutjDGBTmmq0Xpn2U-Tzi5nrV7vOwI4JpvLK4H6jwtDQa82FjU4p7FIEyTxAaD7NeLu296_cYrKgrZijDrHW2HC8Ld/s400/IMG_3580%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salted corn...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPCJ0guZ9Lrg5v8-h1ttolIFFiTiKVRJPprNAM8dR_xIwJq4mEpzleJ02A16FZxh7d0nT4FfP110Xk8CHqDfW-PWlH7LJACBt0Ks54-x6M_QBvAnPTtqKyI5e9HoBaIF6ItP0qIVDWcnl/s1600/IMG_3582%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPCJ0guZ9Lrg5v8-h1ttolIFFiTiKVRJPprNAM8dR_xIwJq4mEpzleJ02A16FZxh7d0nT4FfP110Xk8CHqDfW-PWlH7LJACBt0Ks54-x6M_QBvAnPTtqKyI5e9HoBaIF6ItP0qIVDWcnl/s400/IMG_3582%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... on a stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yYgImK__-uG9Mip8r-ETj0bct5rsJGucHurRvUiNtJZEG1Nd-lvnSHo2lNvqbOEJx5L4MGX9TcbqezJCVLLyoKfUf9vBiSUtOa6ri2n7fl3P0Vo_B-r-6v3eDC8TTpSyke7wWR0lP-pi/s1600/IMG_3584%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yYgImK__-uG9Mip8r-ETj0bct5rsJGucHurRvUiNtJZEG1Nd-lvnSHo2lNvqbOEJx5L4MGX9TcbqezJCVLLyoKfUf9vBiSUtOa6ri2n7fl3P0Vo_B-r-6v3eDC8TTpSyke7wWR0lP-pi/s400/IMG_3584%255B1%255D.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">becomes art in the sand</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKgxWf62rXTceqWOTxfmFKGYEAc0jRhMihwydzWvCysNvIJ6IkRg1fEIpn7OD44H58AtxzIv1QufE3Z_Lc8cy-WqohSUopdsMl-ZmUkhXvs1qI51cI8bVYE2hPaxvFKtTEp9SL0xzafe/s1600/IMG_3492%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKgxWf62rXTceqWOTxfmFKGYEAc0jRhMihwydzWvCysNvIJ6IkRg1fEIpn7OD44H58AtxzIv1QufE3Z_Lc8cy-WqohSUopdsMl-ZmUkhXvs1qI51cI8bVYE2hPaxvFKtTEp9SL0xzafe/s400/IMG_3492%255B1%255D.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A guest in our beach bungalow, Mr. Millipede</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeSh-dh4wY_uQEyC94bXoWry5GQethTbuVsO9wu12colEksowM3BzgW42bZOsNwt0aPxe_rQhahyRGeYEF4Ag8u-S7FYkEksAp6jhY6cOGbRcQIc_j2XTFA2_M-R6BhEkzuSNP1ZVjr1I/s1600/IMG_3502%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeSh-dh4wY_uQEyC94bXoWry5GQethTbuVsO9wu12colEksowM3BzgW42bZOsNwt0aPxe_rQhahyRGeYEF4Ag8u-S7FYkEksAp6jhY6cOGbRcQIc_j2XTFA2_M-R6BhEkzuSNP1ZVjr1I/s400/IMG_3502%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ants joined us for breakfast and made short work of this tiny drop of honey.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>David J Parker</div>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand9.5120168 100.013592900000059.4196343 99.924430400000048 9.604399299999999 100.10275540000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-45365772113661441772011-04-03T02:34:00.000-07:002011-04-03T02:34:09.135-07:00Integrating my PsychologyOur experience of Ko Phangan is, I think, much different than what is typical. The island is famous for its full moon parties (half-moon, black-moon parties) and every month the southern beaches are flooded with party people from across the world. Conversely, the area we stayed in was filled with people who were scarcely aware of the approaching full moon until they saw the truckloads of painted, screaming tourists passing by on the road. <br />
<br />
The focus here seems to be inward. If you chose, you could attend yoga classes, raw food preparation classes, permaculture courses, and psycho-spiritual lectures daily. It is a spiritual breeding ground due in part to the area's history as a Buddhist holy place and in part to the receptivity of the travelers. <br />
<br />
There is a weekly lecture series given by an American psychology student and yoga aficionado held at the Art Cafe (our favorite) every Saturday night and it was at one of these lectures where I heard the most compelling perspective on psychology and spirituality that I have ever been exposed to. <br />
<br />
The topic was 'An Introduction to the Integral Psychology of Ken Wilbur' and discussed the evolution of individuals and cultures using what is known about developmental psychology and expanding on it by looking at the experience of advanced spiritual practitioners such as yogis, buddhists, christian mystics, and others. It would be pointless for me to try and explain the theory in this post because I would undoubtedly miss all of the important points and because the scope of it is beyond simplification. Instead, I'll just try and relate some of the simpler concepts that may, in themselves, be enough food for thought.<br />
<br />
The fundamental basis of the theory is that every thing that you can identify in existence, be they cells, planets, ecosystems, thoughts, symbols, can be understood both as a whole thing in themselves and part of a larger system. Example: a cell is an autonomous unit but also functions as part of an organ which is a complete entity but also needs exist as part of a body. Everything is a whole/part all the way up and all the way down including intangibles like language and culture. Example: A word has its own meaning. It is a whole made up of letters but exists in the context of a sentence. And when the parts come together to make the whole, the new entity has a greater significance than the sum of its parts would suggest. Example: You could never predict that by putting together a bunch of human cells, you would be able to experience that individual's unique creativity. <br />
<br />
I'm reading one of Ken Wilbur's books right now and find it quite compelling. The Art Cafe also functions as a library which Robyn and I would spend hours at every day. I would read Ken Wilbur and, every few pages, try to explain the concepts to Robyn. As I read, they all seem so clear, but when I try to explain them, the meaning seems to be lost. It ends up sounding like a bunch of simple, disjointed concepts that are just common sense and have no practical application. <br />
<br />
What I say is: "People are made of cells and then make up society. Isn't it amazing!!!" When what I am reading is explaining how humans have and continue to evolve, how to understand the human-environment relationship, how to transcend the limiting worldview that I grew up with, the value of feminism, how to understand the different paths of religion and spirituality and their inherent value and limitations, and what's going on in contemporary politics. <br />
<br />
It's a loaded philosophy and I am doing a terrible job of explaining it but I highly recommend finding a good youtube video on the introduction to Integral Psychology or reading the wikipedia article about Ken Wilbur. As I said, I find it very compelling and think that it has practical significance. <br />
<br />
I am grateful to have been on this island for this long where I've had the opportunity to intellectually explore progressive ecology and spirituality. <br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-18370561388719602242011-04-03T01:56:00.000-07:002011-04-03T01:56:01.724-07:00Cards stacked against usWill we ever get off of this island? It's beginning to look like some supernatural force is holding us here. The first day that we would have been able to leave marked the start of the typhoon which halted boat travel and essentially paralyzed travel all over southern Thailand. As soon as the wind and rain died down, a few overloaded ferries made the journey without us. It wasn't more than a day after the sun came out that a major dam broke on the mainland. So, now that the boats are running, passage through the mainland is obstructed. We can get on a boat, but the boat can't take us anywhere. <br />
<br />
Since we've been here for three weeks already, Robyn and I decided that any change of scene will do, so we decided to hop onto the nearest major island, Koh Samui, a stop on the way to anywhere. We booked our ticket, showed up to the pier, and the boat has been canceled. Why? The language barrier makes it hard to know the reasons, but it sounds like the boat has been somehow broken. We wandered away from the pier after hearing this and, off in the distance, saw a ferry on the water with black smoke billowing out of it. That might've been our boat. Then again, that might just have been exhaust. It's hard to know. <br />
<br />
We haven't given up yet. Another boat (also delayed) is to pick us up in an hour. <br />
<br />
Why don't we just stay put you ask? Well, when things calmed down a bit, we knew that we wanted to move on and thought about heading to Malaysia. We heard that the roads had been washed out and thought that flying would be a better option. That way, we can skip all of the devastation and get into a big city that can handle these kind of situations better. Sounds like a plan. We booked our ticket and the next day, that dam broke. We can't get to the airport on time. We rescheduled our flight and decided to get to an island that has its own airport so we can fly to make our flight if it is necessary. It's all gotten very complicated and quite expensive quite quickly but, if we have any luck whatsoever, we'll be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia around midnight on Friday. <br />
<br />
I'm looking forward to seeing the city for the second time. My father and I traveled through the region seven years ago and we were both such novices when it came to adventure that we mostly just wandered around with our eyes wide open. That isn't to say that I'm an old hand at it now, but I hope that I can see the place in a deeper way. <br />
<br />
For the meantime, Robyn and I will be hopping around in an attempt to get closer to the airport while the much wiser and more studious Jevin will remain on Ko Phangan studying yoga until travel once again become simple and inexpensive.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.013592900000059.6630233 99.954670900000053 9.8007273 100.07251490000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-38752401066833926502011-03-30T05:27:00.000-07:002011-03-30T05:27:56.609-07:00From Monsoon to TyphoonWhat started out as continuous rain has turned into something of a typhoon. Even the locals are blown away by the weather. The rain hasn't stopped in four days and the whole place is getting flooded. Streams that were just a trickle a week ago are now raging torrents. Boats to and from the island have been cancelled which means that food isn't making it to the island right now. The shelves of 7-11 are getting pretty bare.<br />
<br />
Our trio stocked up on munchies to help us weather the storm. So far, the rain hasn't been much more than an inconvenience for us and, as long as we don't get hit by a falling coconut, we should be pretty safe. Our main challenge is staying entertained. Flooding has made travel outside of our village difficult and the electricity to our area has been down for two days. Basically, we've been playing cards and eating three meals a day at 'Good Time Restaurant'. Fortunately, the kitchen uses gas to cook so they can still serve most of their menu. There is one light which is attached by a long cable to the owner's motorbike battery. Apart from that, every meal is candlelit.<br />
<br />
To send this message, we had to rent a scooter and drive to the main town. It doesn't seem like the outage has affected this area too badly as people are merrily eating, drinking, and internetting in every shop. <br />
<br />
Today, the navy has begun to service the island with their robust boats, bringing supplies and ferrying travelers who are sick or have planes to catch. Robyn and I are going to avoid boat travel until the wind subsides. We had enough issues with sea sickness on the way here and the water at that time was incredibly calm compared to how it is now. We've heard that there have been 4 to 5 meter waves out on the sea. <br />
<br />
I'm very sorry to all of the momma's and poppa's out there who are reading this and feeling nervous about our travels. We do feel pretty safe and are going to wait until it's absolutely safe to head out on the sea. This island is quite sheltered and is not prone to hurricanes, tsunamis, or any other storms that can make it unsafe to be on land.<br />
<br />
That being said, here are some pictures of the flooding and a little video showing one of our favorite restaurants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HPwv5-5Jjsw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxugnJaIa0GBdRQsX9pMW9FEEmpItcq0ctyJbxS6VRFZVoACedrmia_nAKJky4H2bPJ0qN0l37z041KbhO4A_LKfgp3FnIxYvtDM8jYMJj4QMpzJFsk3LumhlS5caoziHYwLze785FghX/s1600/IMG_3472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxugnJaIa0GBdRQsX9pMW9FEEmpItcq0ctyJbxS6VRFZVoACedrmia_nAKJky4H2bPJ0qN0l37z041KbhO4A_LKfgp3FnIxYvtDM8jYMJj4QMpzJFsk3LumhlS5caoziHYwLze785FghX/s400/IMG_3472.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mama Pooh's Restaurant... or what's left of it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZr4AOvZ8YUcPgH3YWL6vdL30lQwLg942gMFPOkrWz_P_Fqsr6Y4U9w_yDtmdi9LFrs_lVESHD_EZIVnXuvqrHQAVymnzsPghwci1B2R7VCnm9Ni6-B0hbfJ6ycfV4_QWNu50HYt5_LSi/s1600/IMG_3468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZr4AOvZ8YUcPgH3YWL6vdL30lQwLg942gMFPOkrWz_P_Fqsr6Y4U9w_yDtmdi9LFrs_lVESHD_EZIVnXuvqrHQAVymnzsPghwci1B2R7VCnm9Ni6-B0hbfJ6ycfV4_QWNu50HYt5_LSi/s400/IMG_3468.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The owners are living here and can often be seen sitting on the tables as the water runs by their feet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRipJri1SwwYv-p7QH6TykMO8mJcEm0xhcLaC5hcD2u1H-tOaQrWfGuNBAs5T8G-LkyXNj-C9Q49WRIuU0aaJV36uMPVXwWTFgXjHofxyUvgM1kMtRZuSvEY72nPtE9j7A0BD8cRRUXWq9/s1600/IMG_3476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRipJri1SwwYv-p7QH6TykMO8mJcEm0xhcLaC5hcD2u1H-tOaQrWfGuNBAs5T8G-LkyXNj-C9Q49WRIuU0aaJV36uMPVXwWTFgXjHofxyUvgM1kMtRZuSvEY72nPtE9j7A0BD8cRRUXWq9/s400/IMG_3476.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the beach in front of our bungalow. It is incredibly well-drained sand so the fact that water is pooling is testament to the intensity of the rainfall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xYA6UuZea5DYVvG4V3-J_OsW7JwyF9Pk-jReSU-GtC-FfYxXgGJcH3J5oPvBwWDaisqGUgv8zrK8RI53qVbD5bXvfR42If5Q_7qEZdmM0IvrXw2232CawHh9CC-ON7OUf2ftWu772i-0/s1600/IMG_3482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xYA6UuZea5DYVvG4V3-J_OsW7JwyF9Pk-jReSU-GtC-FfYxXgGJcH3J5oPvBwWDaisqGUgv8zrK8RI53qVbD5bXvfR42If5Q_7qEZdmM0IvrXw2232CawHh9CC-ON7OUf2ftWu772i-0/s400/IMG_3482.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from our balcony.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6zPznB0OzgqxrGtAF9oRCLu12u-ycDL8cgHthdtuiILBjQpi2gXAQr57vdkh9X3gfDclqQf8T_suuk_8u6NuoXWAS1uDmQuP5qz-jfx859wHKfvkxP3f2zywon2NrAquz7gJYKyzPwgt/s1600/IMG_3458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6zPznB0OzgqxrGtAF9oRCLu12u-ycDL8cgHthdtuiILBjQpi2gXAQr57vdkh9X3gfDclqQf8T_suuk_8u6NuoXWAS1uDmQuP5qz-jfx859wHKfvkxP3f2zywon2NrAquz7gJYKyzPwgt/s400/IMG_3458.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main road down from out of our village heading north.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3tlFLXqUsrb3rdHlF7KKyt87JvnamFyeBxlox9K6qFotQr1hHkOIZchIKttLdeJ5uSUCqmVXvFay-qSaNyKaol0nO2fPQSRUUTfc3JGs1AyaMYWRkdheyN4BtWBK9uk9EiOPlPoYg_22/s1600/IMG_3460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3tlFLXqUsrb3rdHlF7KKyt87JvnamFyeBxlox9K6qFotQr1hHkOIZchIKttLdeJ5uSUCqmVXvFay-qSaNyKaol0nO2fPQSRUUTfc3JGs1AyaMYWRkdheyN4BtWBK9uk9EiOPlPoYg_22/s400/IMG_3460.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn getting cholera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We've been stuck in our little area for days but haven't succumbed to cabin fever yet. We'll see how it goes though. We might not get off the island for another five days or so. <br />
<br />
So that's that. Like I said, we have to electricity so I might not be able to update this for a little while. We'll see how things go.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com3Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.013592900000059.6630233 99.954670900000053 9.8007273 100.07251490000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-45169046227727979072011-03-27T22:11:00.000-07:002011-03-27T22:11:35.539-07:00Life in the MonsoonI wrote yesterday that we were in the middle of a monsoon and, at that time, I thought I was exaggerating. Apparently I wasn't. <br />
<br />
In the past week, scattered downpours have turned into unyielding torrents. The past 48 hours hasn't seen more than 5 minutes of continuous sun or moon and, while it's interesting to experience different sorts of weather, the humidity is taking its toll. Dry clothes are becoming more difficult to come by so I end up wearing my least damp shirt under my totally drenched not-so-waterproof rainjacket. Since it never dries, it's all starting to smell of mildew. On Saturday I made the mistake of wearing shoes, jumping over puddles, walking the winding paths of high ground. I was doing a pretty good job of staying dry until my scooter stalled out right in the middle of a big puddle. I let out a girlish yelp as I sunk ankle deep into the stagnant pool. I set my shoes out to dry on the deck overnight. During the night, it seems, the wind blew at the specific velocity and direction required to completely saturate them with rainwater. Alright, stinky wet shoes. I guess that means sandals from now on.<br />
<br />
To add to the chaos, the wind has picked up dramatically. You may be surprised to hear that falling coconuts and palm branches are actually really dangerous. We didn't notice until now just how many ripe coconuts and dead branches there were on the kazillion or so palm trees of Ko Phangan.<br />
<br />
The view from our beach hut has changed from clean sand and calm blue waters to grey white-capped seas backing a debris-strewn shore and the soundtrack every night is the beating of rain and the thud of falling branches. <br />
<br />
There's a little pond by our bungalow that used to be nearly empty and is now overflowing. Somehow, there's still life in there because an ugly catfish-eel hybrid flopped out of it just in front of our steps. Robyn implored me to save it and I, being the epitome of masculinity, decided to pick it up with my hands. I had barley touched it when it started to wriggle around. I jumped up with a screech waving my hands in the air. It was the most pathetic attempt at machoism you've ever seen. Naturally, Robyn found it very amusing. <br />
<br />
The strangest thing about the weather is that even the locals are confused by it. Monsoon season occurs from June to October and this wet spell has been ongoing from December to now. It's usually a tropical paradise but now ferries have been cancelled, the power has been spotty, and people are just hanging out, waiting for a sun that may never come (Too dramatic?).<br />
<br />
First sunny day, we're getting outta here. I'm actually supposed to be researching our next destination now so maybe I'll get back to it... maybe<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com2Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.013592900000059.6630233 99.954670900000053 9.8007273 100.07251490000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-58749052908057093402011-03-27T07:01:00.000-07:002011-03-27T07:01:12.991-07:00Permaculture FinaleLast day of class. So sad to see it all go.<br />
<br />
Two weeks have passed in which we've been challenged to change the way we see the world and to organize our fragments of understanding about the natural world into cohesion. In the last three days, we split into groups, touring the site trying to reconcile the tenants' needs with the land's potential. In the end, each team came up with a rudimentary design and presented it to the class. It was a fun little exercise and made it abundantly clear that we have a lot of work to do before we start telling people what to do with their property.<br />
<br />
The focus of the final lecture shifted from physical structures to invisible ones: personal connections, communities, governments, businesses, etc. It is important to remember that we're aren't starting with blank minds and social structures waiting to happen. We operate within existing structures and have to understand them in order to be successful. More importantly, the only way we can be successful is by building communities based on sustainable principles and that remember that life can be, should be joy.<br />
<br />
Joy is what I am most impressed by. That evening we had our certificate ceremony and windup party. Joy was the word. Everyone turned into such a bunch of hippies. The certificates were handed out with hugs instead of handshakes and the word love was used without restraint. <br />
<br />
And then, the party! On the first day of the course, each attendant was told that they would be required to perform at the party and everyone answered the call splendidly. Because we were given no guidance as to what should be performed, the show varied widely. On the more ridiculous side, Robyn sang a song about a cow being impregnated by a rooster, Jevin hosted a failed social experiment in which he laughed like a fool in front of everyone (he hoped people would join in but they just stared awkwardly), Ikut predicted what the world would look like in 100 years if Permaculture was widely adopted (it involved several short-lived cults who confused the observation of passionfruit with the path to enlightenment), and Adam sang Candy Mountain reworked with Permaculture-inspired lyrics. Alternatively, we were guided through a meditation by Natalie, read a spiritual poem regarding awareness by Louis, and Nathan composed a somber reflective poem using key phrases from the lectures. I left Permaculture entirely out of the mix and read some descriptive prose about some of our travels.<br />
<br />
After the performances, the party was officially wrapped up. But instead of leaving we all turned into a bunch of hippies. A few people had brought hand drums and starting playing some simple rhythms. It wasn't long before it escalated to the whole group banging away at anything they could get their hands on: pots and pans, stools, cushions, the broom, didgeredoo, empty skulls. People (Jevins) were literally swinging from the ceiling and making all sorts of strange noises, all adding to the miraculous and spontaneous cacophony. There were about two people in the group who had rhythm so the whole thing sounded dreadful but, in a different way, it was the greatest thing I'd heard all day. Everyone was losing their inhibitions, swallowing their ego to serve the community. In other words, it was all a lot of good fun and it was enhanced by the state of mind we shared. No drugs, no alcohol. Just us like we are everyday.<br />
<br />
That's it. Done Permaculture. Time for the real world.<br />
<br />
But wait! That's not it. Today is another day and we learned something today as well. Hooray!!!<br />
<br />
Today we went to a lady's house to learn all about the whys and hows of raw food. We made a coconut milk soup, vegan mayo sushi, and a host of other dishes that don't have names because they were improvised. <br />
<br />
Tomorrow, Jevin and I are attending a yoga class that may prove to be very dangerous. Everyone and their dog is a yogi in this village and most of them have studied in this school. A common phrase is "I was on my way to go diving in Koh Tao when I decided to attend the free day of yoga. That was five years ago and I've yet to go diving." I truly am only planning to go to the free day but we'll have to see how effective the brainwashing is.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com2Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.013592900000059.6630233 99.954670900000053 9.8007273 100.07251490000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-23959529323106479662011-03-25T08:09:00.000-07:002011-03-25T08:09:39.098-07:00Greetings from the world's newest Permaculture expertsFor the past two weeks we've been hiding under the thatched roof of a mountainside bamboo hut trying to focus on the future of our planet and all its residents. It's a lot of work! So many angles!<br />
<br />
Since tomorrow is the last day of our Permaculture Design Course (PDC), now seems like a good time to reflect on our experience in the classroom and on the island.<br />
<br />
When we signed up for the course way back in the fall we didn't know what we were getting into. We went to the bank, deposited a large sum of money into a Thai account, and hoped for the best. Would we show up to an empty lot on a Thai island? Would we get there and be forced to dig trenches and haul rocks in name of practical experience? I feared the former and expected the latter. Reality, of course, was neither.<br />
<br />
Instead of explaining the best way to hold a shovel when you dig a ditch, Permaculture instructs you to put down the shovel, open your eyes, and think about the big picture. It's about design. <br />
<br />
Conventional wisdom would tell us to look at the newest technology, what others in the field are doing, and then to put our heads down and get to work. Pull out the weeds. Plant one crop. Apply the fertilizers. Smile every time you see soil between your rows of veggies/cereals/trees/whatever. Instead, we now ask why the weeds are there? What is their role in nature? Instead of using energy to get rid of them, can we use them to our advantage? As we have learned, weeds are often pioneering species that help rehabilitate the soil after it's been damaged. They can replace missing nutrients and break up compacted earth among other things. We don't have to use that plant though. We can identify other species that perform similar functions but have additional uses and are easier to control. I imagine that it will be difficult to convince any Saskatchewan gardener or farmer to befriend weeds. I risk being labelled a starry-eyed hippy whose lost his sense while away from reality.<br />
<br />
The process is the same in the case of monocrops, synthetic fertilizer, and barren soil. These things are never observed in nature and nature has perpetuated itself since the dawn of time, feeding all of Earth's species with no intensive cultivation or petroleum inputs. The key is to look at how nature does what it does and mimic it for our benefit. I don't want to eat every tree in a Saskatchewan forest, but I can increase the instances of Saskatoon berries, raspberries, strawberries, root vegetables, herbs, nuts, and all sorts of wonderful foods that you can find once you start looking. <br />
<br />
This talk is all well and good, but it doesn't seem like we can change our worlds when you get back to 'reality' at the end of next month. Well... we're working on that. We're hatching up schemes for our yard and garden. I'm thinking of ways to integrate permaculture with environmental engineering which shouldn't been too difficult. Jevin's got a property out of town he can play with. And we would all relish the opportunity to visit friends' properties outside of town just to discuss possibilities and share our enthusiasm and knowledge. <br />
<br />
Good good.<br />
<br />
So, I haven't said too much about basking in the sun or drinking coconut milk but the truth is that we've been stuck in a monsoon for the past week. It's just as well though since it would be very difficult to pay attention in class with a nice cool beach staring back at us on a sunny day. <br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com3Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.01359299.3934938 99.5466739 10.070256800000001 100.48051190000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-47875520759044943042011-03-20T06:45:00.000-07:002011-03-20T06:45:27.721-07:00Images from the IslandI wanted to post some proof of how idyllic our current setting is so I decided to post some photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx-tCXeeEm8ZRjDhyg-DC6ofQLuVliHTsMMRzNF4g_fW38VJ46vzGlmvpxFjUcjASHSzhYkBF5smY5cFi1Hr3at102iqwFWEvddZeQjjTAF91BZ13BviyKUu-zhj9PGHel2Ha96KKsYsB/s1600/IMG_3386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx-tCXeeEm8ZRjDhyg-DC6ofQLuVliHTsMMRzNF4g_fW38VJ46vzGlmvpxFjUcjASHSzhYkBF5smY5cFi1Hr3at102iqwFWEvddZeQjjTAF91BZ13BviyKUu-zhj9PGHel2Ha96KKsYsB/s400/IMG_3386.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Permaculturalists never rest. Everyone is busy reading on our tea break. This is Hubert's house and our classroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcNHR8MzltgLpBoTxatozips00cBGdaapCmBvnIeQkXuKjkQkoZ6wfcKfflJevlTRqje3UCbpcnf2nHOMgAoLTjLwJaTw7kN_9xeL9wNOBiK3efbb2LIj5-WaLtyXEzDwEGvi05Cgrvi8/s1600/IMG_3375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcNHR8MzltgLpBoTxatozips00cBGdaapCmBvnIeQkXuKjkQkoZ6wfcKfflJevlTRqje3UCbpcnf2nHOMgAoLTjLwJaTw7kN_9xeL9wNOBiK3efbb2LIj5-WaLtyXEzDwEGvi05Cgrvi8/s400/IMG_3375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone is paying attention except for Robyn who appears to be sleeping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ze4LhTvnmLlBkImAIqp-nXZt1VMjmGmxETw0U3jW_oX7zKdSMqyrH_5C4ZLMX8A_LRvOOHoCgOSx_h9mqXkwCybstzpS5tb09lpGQ4OU1viDbOBMdt5ypHoU6i4OKhvnl3jB0sr0Rv7p/s1600/IMG_3383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ze4LhTvnmLlBkImAIqp-nXZt1VMjmGmxETw0U3jW_oX7zKdSMqyrH_5C4ZLMX8A_LRvOOHoCgOSx_h9mqXkwCybstzpS5tb09lpGQ4OU1viDbOBMdt5ypHoU6i4OKhvnl3jB0sr0Rv7p/s400/IMG_3383.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubert's place is an open-air loft on the side of a mountain with a view of the Gulf of Thailand. Pretty sweet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ0MC3ekiYUvecfH4ZPCQQ8cdPWx5Wvl-mYODRC-ScsA5QwgGYzJKLfWd_bzPDbqfpzLiMqB_dG8k8UJy_JHFG1SvVFCnHL0sgmo9JcFz_OPUBA9ue0aqbvHBneA7avhnTq9mFb2bY_LG/s1600/IMG_3368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJ0MC3ekiYUvecfH4ZPCQQ8cdPWx5Wvl-mYODRC-ScsA5QwgGYzJKLfWd_bzPDbqfpzLiMqB_dG8k8UJy_JHFG1SvVFCnHL0sgmo9JcFz_OPUBA9ue0aqbvHBneA7avhnTq9mFb2bY_LG/s400/IMG_3368.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view. It's hard to see, but there are islands sticking out of the water in a few directions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's been raining every day here monsoon-style. To prove that we haven't left the winter wasteland for the totally ideal beach life I have to include a picture of what we are biking through every day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5hBNYLzO7i2FxHR15NGepGquOAgtkR877Y6SMVHBoec2XvbTr4MqP6xMdV9jUk_tgikdpiZz5R-jzcjselc4djQVtz7WoHcbWNFxerStW14a0PjpdOMXnAdKxQQOdIp78Wj1PdOu6dc/s1600/IMG_3379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5hBNYLzO7i2FxHR15NGepGquOAgtkR877Y6SMVHBoec2XvbTr4MqP6xMdV9jUk_tgikdpiZz5R-jzcjselc4djQVtz7WoHcbWNFxerStW14a0PjpdOMXnAdKxQQOdIp78Wj1PdOu6dc/s400/IMG_3379.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain is a good excuse to cuddle up with a coffee and the interweb.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL9FD7pyZIpl8wrrKQHGOX0yWYtdAH089HUkozMwAZ9OsijDl9rih3wSBI_lQzGNGEG-ONMPVvHn36uUSyrMxuVyQBPbsuuiABnrfmoqxhUI7Nw9802tg6ZRtVThyphenhyphen2uBCpqgfNdPgqQjP/s1600/IMG_3378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL9FD7pyZIpl8wrrKQHGOX0yWYtdAH089HUkozMwAZ9OsijDl9rih3wSBI_lQzGNGEG-ONMPVvHn36uUSyrMxuVyQBPbsuuiABnrfmoqxhUI7Nw9802tg6ZRtVThyphenhyphen2uBCpqgfNdPgqQjP/s400/IMG_3378.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But sometimes the rain can't be avoided and we have limited ways of keeping our clothes dry. Don't worry. Robyn and I are more likely to get wet than get naked. Jevin's a wild animal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Today was our one and only day off and we spent it scootering up and down the island only to find that we've got the best patch of land around. This is hippy-central. Walk in any direction and you'll end up at either a yoga studio or a health-food cafe. <br />
<br />
Last night was the full moon which means that the infamous full moon party was in full swing with two beaches full of intoxicated youth using the ocean as their urinal. Even though the event is one of the most famous monthly goings-on in the country, we opted instead for an enlightened discussion on the Integral Psychology theories proposed by Ken Wilbur. It was a very good choice and I feel that the path towards enlightenment is beginning to unfold in front of me. Really, I do.<br />
<br />
We spent the rest of our day swimming on the beach by our bungalow, narrowly avoiding terrifying interactions with seaweed and tiny crabs. We had lots of fun splashing around and soaking up the sun.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com2Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.01359299.3934938 99.5466739 10.070256800000001 100.48051190000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-52530869848127588942011-03-17T07:26:00.000-07:002011-03-17T07:30:34.766-07:00Permaculture Design Course on Ko PhanganFrom the early days of planning this trip, we knew that we wanted it to be more than a sightseeing tour through some novel landscapes. Along the way, we've tried to soak in as much of the culture and history of the regions we've visited, exploring ways to make our trip practical and relevant to our lives back home. The connections weren't always obvious, but we had one plan that was sure to help us grow as we traveled. We signed up for a Permaculture Design Course (PDC).<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Permaculture is a difficult concept to get across in a short time so I've asked Wikipedia to help me describe it. It speaks of an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that are modeled on the relationships found in natural ecologies. It is an ethical, practical, and sustainable design science.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Perhaps I can give some examples of Permaculture in action. If we applied the concepts to our yard, we would in time replace our lawn with food trees and shrubs, herbs and berries, and vegetable gardens. We'd have a living plant and animal system that helped maximize the capture of solar energy on the site, retain water, and largely maintain itself. The idea is to combine human ingenuity with the best practices of traditional systems and nature to replace the current system which is bound to collapse as fossil fuels and mineral resources diminish. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The whole thing seems very common sense but when you look at what is being done by the mainstream it is obvious that there needs to be a revolution. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Don't worry mom, I'm not a revolutionary yet. I just want to plant a good garden. I want to be able to pick fresh herbs for my morning tea without getting out of my pajamas and be able to make raspberry jam from the fruits in my yard. I want the knowledge of a thousand grandmas! </div><div><br />
</div><div>We've only been on this island for a few days. It looks like it would have been a real paradise before it was demolished by the influx of tourist infrastructure and we managed to find a spot that still has most of its charm. Our little chunk of tourist infrastructure is a bungalow on the beach where Robyn swings back and forth on our deck hammock while I chase my tail inside. Sometimes I settle down enough to read <i>The Beach</i> aloud to her and any of our neighbors who care to listen. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The PDC course is inland, up a mountain on a piece of ground owned by some idealistic young travelers-turned-locals. The whole thing is covered in jungle except for some small areas that have been cleared by the aforementioned occupants. There are three of them who each built living spaces around the site. The most impressive is Julian's house. It is on the side of a rocky hill and each wall is actually made of massive boulders covered in by a grass and bamboo roof. It's part hobbit-hole, part 5-star resort loft. I should sneak a picture of it when Julian isn't looking because it seems like the perfect home. Everything that can be outside is: kitchen, shower, bathroom, stairways. It's always warm so the well-designed houses always have a cool breeze blowing through them. Because the house follows the natural contours of the land, there are interesting shapes and spaces throughout. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The 'classroom' is Hubert's loft. It is a wood-floor bungalow with only two walls. To the west we can see over the jungle canopy all the way to the Gulf of Thailand. Three points of a neighboring island point up from the water, perfectly in view while we discuss concepts of design that glorify natural patterns. </div><div><br />
</div><div>It all seems pretty ideal and it really is. We're at the point where the weather, food, culture, and even the toilets are familiar and are beginning to see more deeply into the spaces we inhabit. Hooray for adventure!</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you are intrigued by the concepts of Permaculture, check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permaculture</a> to find out more. There are many resources and courses in Canada and would love to have good company on our journey to reclaim the earth!</div><div><br />
</div><div>David J Parker</div>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.01359299.3934938 99.5466739 10.070256800000001 100.48051190000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-18525286836466319052011-03-14T08:17:00.000-07:002011-03-14T08:19:10.215-07:00Dusty Smiles at Angkor WatPlastered in a mixture of red dust and sweat with my attention temporarily drawn to the gritty crunch of the foot pedal. Its rotation impeded by years of neglect and bearings worn flat by explorers seeking to reveal for themselves an ancient wonder. Clickety-clang-clang, clickety-clang-clang, I ride between Wats on a rickety old single geared bike rented for a dollar from the guesthouse. Every subtle nuance of the scoured and pitted road reverberates through the twanging metal frame into my spine. My ass is sore and feels bruised by day three as I shift from left cheek to right. Driven by curiosity and the marvel of the Khmer empire I move onward with the sense of discomfort subsiding as I make my way to a new eastern entrance. <br /><br />Images of Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, Buddha, Hunuman, Rama, and a myriad assortment of dancers, demons, warriors, animals and beasts of all sorts are preserved in fine detail as eternal carvings along long corridors, pillars and thresholds. Stories of epic battles and great victories are vividly depicted by skillful craftsmanship in stone.<br /><br />Indulging in childlike delight I climbed block after block tooled by long forgotten hands. A sense of wonder overtakes me as I spring from step to step, darting over piles of crumbled rock and climbing clambering bricks of sandstone that are hot to the touch from the baking afternoon sun.<br /> <br />At a remote temple, free of tourists and hawkers, a young girl approaches me while humming a childish tune. She is carrying a few coconut bowls but does not seem all that interested in trying to force a sales pitch on me. Instead, I say hello and we have a few soft spoken words. She follows me humming as I climb through bamboo scaffolding to a central tower. Smei, her name, I ask for assistance. I brought some paper and charcoal and want to capture an image of the carved Sanskrit text. I hold the sheet against the threshold wall and rub some charcoal onto its blank page. Here, I instruct Smei how to rub a crumpled piece of paper over the sheet as phantom symbols make their ghostly appearance. She is amazed and delighted and thoroughly pushes the soft dusty charcoal over the entire sheet. I thank her and take a photo as she proudly holds the sheet for me. Paying Smei 2000 reil for her efforts and leaving her with a charcoal rubbing of her own with a few additional sheets of paper and a chunk of charcoal I smile and say goodbye. Departing down the dusty road on my bicycle, Smei calls out Goodbye one last time while skipping, humming and grinning a broad smile. Elated by the encounter I wave and round a bend in the road.JevBoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13769097469216518781noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-61902393014804153632011-03-13T06:42:00.000-07:002011-03-13T06:42:23.990-07:00On the Road to Sustainability, Koh PhanganThe three of us have covered a lot of ground in the last 24 hours. Last night we boarded a plane for Bangkok and felt spoiled rotten as we watched the tuk-tuks and moto drivers turn into ants below us. After a short hour in the air, we grabbed another set of wheels: a taxi to the bus station. <br />
<br />
Yesterday was our first experience revisiting a country and it kind of came as a shock how familiar it was. In our few spare hours we headed towards the street vendors who had, as we remembered, done a very fine job of filling our bellies in the past. I rejoiced at the no-longer-mystery-meat on a stick and Robyn ordered the noodle soup she'd been missing for so long. It was exhilarating to be able to order food properly and actually end up with what we wanted. <br />
<br />
The return to Thailand heralded an even greater return to normalcy: 7-11. We hadn't seen one in over a month and we were only too glad cross the green and red threshold into a world of plastic wrap, air conditioning, and posted prices. It's one of the few places you can buy things at a fair price without a great deal of effort. <br />
<br />
Our time in Bangkok was to be shortlived. We only had two hours to spare before our Koh Phangan-bound bus came to pick us up. The vehicle approached and things looked promising: double decker, toilet on board, no locals sleeping in the aisle. We climbed aboard and at once realized that this night bus had no beds. Shucks. That's ok, I bet the seats recline fairly low. Ahh, they do, excellent. Wait... no, mine doesn't. It's going to be a long night. I spent 9 hours in the most bizarre positions trying to get a moment's rest. Failure!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_HGA2K7LHzNe3mDxSo8Kq12E_TDCROXf44W4-BUpUtF4ihnMVYM4urEKuuhYQ2l_rmNC_Qb32o3qwlike65vEhvzJXTtvbJGmnmSFawhD6EloylYwRWyG0d_9MpioADsfUeNusXWZ4mw/s1600/IMG_3342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_HGA2K7LHzNe3mDxSo8Kq12E_TDCROXf44W4-BUpUtF4ihnMVYM4urEKuuhYQ2l_rmNC_Qb32o3qwlike65vEhvzJXTtvbJGmnmSFawhD6EloylYwRWyG0d_9MpioADsfUeNusXWZ4mw/s400/IMG_3342.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've been told that I've been looking a little crazy lately. I don't suppose the distinctive bus lighting helped any. The color of my face in this picture is an omen of things to come.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The bus dropped us off at a ferry port with about 3 hours to spare. Everyone on the bus was exhausted. We laid a thin airport blanket on the concrete floor and crashed out, awoken at 6:30 am by the boat captain who wanted to get us on the boat and get moving.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ2c7L4U8xAd4qx7guDDv6h3NDB5_T8HuNnWXYCiy3F_EvrlCru4LlJGwaw_eXYS3Brr1D6y75cl3Jr_WDbroO1B2iX6KME-UulC904RM5Wk2YATXYCFqxna2IQMaa_4Y7pvAqFURjpxA/s1600/IMG_3347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ2c7L4U8xAd4qx7guDDv6h3NDB5_T8HuNnWXYCiy3F_EvrlCru4LlJGwaw_eXYS3Brr1D6y75cl3Jr_WDbroO1B2iX6KME-UulC904RM5Wk2YATXYCFqxna2IQMaa_4Y7pvAqFURjpxA/s400/IMG_3347.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun rises just as we climb aboard the boat to Ko Phangan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We weren't on the water long before Robyn, Jevin, and I all started turning a little green. Sleep-deprived and sea-sick, we made our way to the upper deck over the sprawling bodies of our fellow travelers. Maybe a cool breeze and some fresh air would do the trick. It seemed that we weren't the only one with the same idea. The top deck was littered with bodies, some sleeping, some too tired to sleep. Squeezing into a space between bodies and bags, Robyn and I released our bodies and minds to the will of the elements, mouths gaping open towards the sun. The sun, that wretched sun. It turned our tired faces from golden brown to lobster red while we were helpless to defend ourselves. <br />
<br />
After almost 24 hours in transit, we finally arrived on Ko Phangan. This island and those surrounding it are the setting for Alex Garland's book <em>The Beach</em> which I have just started reading. If you have or plan on reading the book, it makes a pretty good sketch of the region. <br />
<br />
We found a dingy little beach bungalow and rented some scooters. Tomorrow morning we start our Permaculture Course. Work!?! I don't know if I'm ready to start learning at this point in the trip. I was just getting used to not doing anything. <br />
<br />
David J Parker<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3aUZVtTNfEKGfkjzwqnCOXz8yVuHs80z4oFlboynn2aVzM8gwi21rrNQA9ne6WRsp4jn13-nWfrcbl4R_G-wtg80DKP9ZMYnk4_CmCdavpBHcQjbHSSM8qLCUouSs5A5ehOXQ1EQHMAc/s1600/IMG_3351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3aUZVtTNfEKGfkjzwqnCOXz8yVuHs80z4oFlboynn2aVzM8gwi21rrNQA9ne6WRsp4jn13-nWfrcbl4R_G-wtg80DKP9ZMYnk4_CmCdavpBHcQjbHSSM8qLCUouSs5A5ehOXQ1EQHMAc/s400/IMG_3351.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every bungalow has a hammock. Major perk!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32m-6E-1_zaciROIl3eX1nEtzEegGCn7tPfBFrxJWsc_m4k9LkXVX2hnnuxmkiFV6XIWxySiUyIw05Ne8iKzj84eulU0Bo8zDxgKprY9e7v9GOj_8CnqQ3t8hefV_-J_j7qlesPDwlXtF/s1600/IMG_3357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32m-6E-1_zaciROIl3eX1nEtzEegGCn7tPfBFrxJWsc_m4k9LkXVX2hnnuxmkiFV6XIWxySiUyIw05Ne8iKzj84eulU0Bo8zDxgKprY9e7v9GOj_8CnqQ3t8hefV_-J_j7qlesPDwlXtF/s400/IMG_3357.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach out front of our bungalow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com2Ko Phangan, Thailand9.7318753 100.01359299.3934938 99.5466739 10.070256800000001 100.48051190000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-91771480348035558562011-03-11T20:42:00.001-08:002011-03-11T20:42:27.774-08:00Japan EarthquakeThe earthquake and tsunamis in the Pacific have not affected us and we don't anticipate them to.David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-22606697757855094912011-03-11T07:24:00.000-08:002011-03-11T20:41:52.322-08:00Lunch StopThe heat is dramatic.<br />
<br />
Two hours on a bus where the A/C serves only to push around clouds of recently evaporated sweat brings us to our lunch stop.<br />
<br />
The long blue and white bus is left running, engine panel removed, blasting noise, smoke, and waves of thermal energy into the parking lot. It is the only vehicle on a wide stretch of dry red earth dotted with plastic bags and empty beverage containers.<br />
<br />
The W.C. (water closet, toilet) is a short walk across this desert. By the time I reach it, my sweat-soaked shirt has dried everywhere except the crevices where new batches of the salty liquid are constantly replenished. <br />
<br />
From a photo, the place might not look like it feels, palm and mango trees dotting the horizon. But closer inspection reveals starved saplings, their stocky trunks valiantly supporting a few wilted leaves.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-34544362285532548212011-03-10T00:30:00.000-08:002011-03-10T00:30:06.574-08:00Battambang, CambodiaWe pulled into Battambang yesterday afternoon, escaping the worst of the heat in our air-conditioned bus. It was a short ride from Siem Reap and mostly uneventful. We've hit some of the most touristy spots in Cambodia but, unlike many places we've been, the locals still vastly outnumber the tourists almost everywhere. The bus ride was no exception. There were about 10 white faces and the rest of the travelers were Cambodians. The bus was packed with the most beautiful children and their mothers, some sleeping, some playing. No one on that bus was afraid to make noise.<br />
<br />
Our lunch stop was a stinky and sweltering dirt field in some nowhere town. The women lined up for the toilet while the men went anywhere in the back corner of the lot to relieve themselves. I found found myself standing on a stinking pile of rotting meat and peeing into a decomposed coconut. Too much detail? Robyn was saved by having a bladder of steel. She can always pass on the nasty bathrooms. <br />
<br />
The menu was about as attractive as the toilets. Included were battered and deep fried whole snakes. Entire young chickens had been simply defeathered, battered, and fried. Beaks, feet, everything. <br />
<br />
We skipped lunch. I decided to drown out the bus chatter by listening to the iPod we brought along. This is the first time in over two months that I've had headphones in and it felt a bit weird. The music I was listening to was so polished, so clean. It spoke of things that seemed so far away from where I am now. In this place, everything has rough edges. I turned off the music, instead opting for a recorded lecture given by philosopher Alan Watts. He was an American that studied Easter philosophy. He came back to the west in an attempt to describe it all to us in a way that we could understand and I think that he's done a fine job. By the end of the lecture I had nearly attained satori and had come to terms with my own mortality. A fairly productive bus ride I must say!<br />
<br />
So we drove into Battambang and wandered around, trying to decide what to spend our one day in town doing. We found a nice coffee shop on street 1 1/2 that was run by a bunch of foreigners who split their time between making lattes and working for NGOs. They they ran bike tours in the morning that took travelers out to the countryside and into various home-scale industries. Sounds sweet, sign us up.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-zYSjZMzBn7yiWVYlpuW6QBK3mMgrup2Mu_wcBqNdLOkAcu3xZ3i1CTVvjviZT1lsQS6JOGc4MSATJ5nqL7UmMHiJFJ2rxy7jPdLnzH74AIEU7EQJwsOtmA1qroDafPUINPaIww10DhK/s1600/IMG_3275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-zYSjZMzBn7yiWVYlpuW6QBK3mMgrup2Mu_wcBqNdLOkAcu3xZ3i1CTVvjviZT1lsQS6JOGc4MSATJ5nqL7UmMHiJFJ2rxy7jPdLnzH74AIEU7EQJwsOtmA1qroDafPUINPaIww10DhK/s400/IMG_3275.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If this person was riding down the street in Saskatoon, I'd be worried. Here, this outfit is just a way to avoid the sun and the bike is just a way to bring your wares from place to place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk03Dv56zd5HysPpXuDn0gsBpIQBPqd54MMfQyI6CKkUdQfpuZOmk2zI3WpjXH-6wcC_VfGkMZ9MFSP1VpYl9bIdL-Va-Tzy52GM3xwL9B9z0WDzT6MGPlXIqdvAjIVC1__iriFINVb2D/s1600/IMG_3276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUk03Dv56zd5HysPpXuDn0gsBpIQBPqd54MMfQyI6CKkUdQfpuZOmk2zI3WpjXH-6wcC_VfGkMZ9MFSP1VpYl9bIdL-Va-Tzy52GM3xwL9B9z0WDzT6MGPlXIqdvAjIVC1__iriFINVb2D/s400/IMG_3276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These things are like the front halves of tractors that can be hooked up to a cart. They haul anything you can imagine from concrete cylinders to multiple families.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
We got up at 6:30 am the next morning and hopped on our bikes. It was a very nice morning, the perfect temperature and humidity. First stop, a rice paper shop. One family runs this business and sells a day's production for around $5.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS_LFg3cgWzPibr3Zb9nlyWuA8yDMtY5kJTNMhEbBaSYBnbwuXrdJ8Ca1KndlyBe1Ods_ebnUeorq5YtkJMyMNbMw-uqzSjGSwZfppVWZ2MZoIVsy5tLZ7HZS1Lk4uzEcIAbDw9KgzH1O/s1600/IMG_3287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaS_LFg3cgWzPibr3Zb9nlyWuA8yDMtY5kJTNMhEbBaSYBnbwuXrdJ8Ca1KndlyBe1Ods_ebnUeorq5YtkJMyMNbMw-uqzSjGSwZfppVWZ2MZoIVsy5tLZ7HZS1Lk4uzEcIAbDw9KgzH1O/s400/IMG_3287.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thin circles of rice paste are put on bamboo sheets to dry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyN7eodt0NzHXB_swMqAz81a38VkwYaZpbUHNo6nPwF1ii0RgbTZCTsknY4sPd5Ivu23rm5GOV2jTjh3aQbixtFIwW0utW_biH0d3P5CKdlC9DvB0DHPFTcWsSJHL-Sb9fC4J86rTKJ3z/s1600/IMG_3289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyN7eodt0NzHXB_swMqAz81a38VkwYaZpbUHNo6nPwF1ii0RgbTZCTsknY4sPd5Ivu23rm5GOV2jTjh3aQbixtFIwW0utW_biH0d3P5CKdlC9DvB0DHPFTcWsSJHL-Sb9fC4J86rTKJ3z/s400/IMG_3289.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tried my hand at making rice paper and the results are predictable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> We kept biking down to a rice field where we learned the process of planting, transplanting, and harvesting rice. It seems like a lot of work but the country is built on the rice industry.<br />
<br />
A bit down the road, we got to a fish paste factory. I don't know who could eat this stuff. It is made by letting fish rot for four months with flies all over it. The farmers love it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpv7p71Bybsd-p0o58xaJ-lepY8UZGkDprk4V5fmMMuXhNdQUjc6Ce5xu4rv40ckQqE80clA6uel3EJYxUjgBbegoYIrh1tJPHkuGQPS-lrbUMCpMC3ckrE5nllSuBRuIqy383ODgM6YN/s1600/IMG_3320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpv7p71Bybsd-p0o58xaJ-lepY8UZGkDprk4V5fmMMuXhNdQUjc6Ce5xu4rv40ckQqE80clA6uel3EJYxUjgBbegoYIrh1tJPHkuGQPS-lrbUMCpMC3ckrE5nllSuBRuIqy383ODgM6YN/s400/IMG_3320.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pile of fish bits on the floor of the fish paste factory. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzzbmEbXusaCxxqqfBQYvCt1EJYScqkTghb7IN4SZyzH6qV-5pwj212liR_YRnNUjwDY7jsNRyx7fItBxmADpqxyVWNVUcQgS9lcnxv5do7QaZc2mmRFNfTNTpUVKwZduBnJV3QcdMq6x/s1600/IMG_3322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzzbmEbXusaCxxqqfBQYvCt1EJYScqkTghb7IN4SZyzH6qV-5pwj212liR_YRnNUjwDY7jsNRyx7fItBxmADpqxyVWNVUcQgS9lcnxv5do7QaZc2mmRFNfTNTpUVKwZduBnJV3QcdMq6x/s400/IMG_3322.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This vat of fish bits will sit for months with flies all over it and then be sold at market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Here's a video of some fish guts with maggots crawling all over them. Yummy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7NsB8TrFQBU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
The last thing we saw was a big monument to the victims of the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. It was filled with human bones that had been collected from all over the region. Their skulls were visible through the windows and on the outside of the building, there were bas releifs telling stories of that period.<br />
<br />
We've heard a lot about the history of Cambodia and everything is starting to cement itself in our minds. I thought that I had enough pictures of torture instruments and human skulls so I opted instead to take a picture of a very skinny cow that was grazing nearby. You'll never find a steak in this country and it's probably because all the cows look like this:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmio7G9AJtjlvhn91TUrbgiBcOeJTjl9XYMLcBw110URCwKpgh-OPWt-lEnipkxBBLkfibXJjogDCBwm_2EiBd6PC8OS-FJDhcT1PgfpjF0V2I5WIJULkov-pcjxZSfFQ-G6f3QIP73Buw/s1600/IMG_3335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmio7G9AJtjlvhn91TUrbgiBcOeJTjl9XYMLcBw110URCwKpgh-OPWt-lEnipkxBBLkfibXJjogDCBwm_2EiBd6PC8OS-FJDhcT1PgfpjF0V2I5WIJULkov-pcjxZSfFQ-G6f3QIP73Buw/s400/IMG_3335.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where low-fat ice cream comes from. Wha wha.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tomorrow we're heading back to Phnom Penh for a day and then we're flying into Bangkok and jumping right on a bus for the south of the country to start our permaculture course. It may be a busy couple of days and we might not have much to say so if you don't hear from us we're not dead, we're just very boring.<br />
<br />
David J ParkerDavid J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Battambang, Cambodia13.1190499 103.208644213.0354594 103.09191469999999 13.2026404 103.3253737tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-22017059958060991482011-03-09T05:07:00.000-08:002011-03-09T05:09:34.489-08:00Goodbye Vietnam**<br />
<br />
Some people said they couldn't find Robyn's post and since it's such a special even, I decided to repost it at the top of the pile. I've also added some pictures of Cambodia at the bottom. We've done a lot of posting in the last couple of days so scroll down and see them all!<br />
<br />
David<br />
<br />
**<br />
<br />
My first thoughts when crossing the border from Laos to Vietnam were 'Why did we leave Laos? and why did we leave Laos for this?' For a long time after that, nothing I saw could change my opinion of Vietnam. To sum it up, it was smelly, dirty and polluted, the people were mean, and the weather was bad. If I were to give out a couple lessons for those planning on traveling to north vietnam, they would be:<br />
<br />
<br />
1. Nobody likes you. It's probably better that you know this going in.<br />
<br />
2. Everybody is after your money, all of it. This could be through crime, or overcharging. It is expected in North Vietnam that tourists pay 4-10 times as much as locals for transportation (this stat from our guide book)<br />
<br />
3. Ho Chi Minh is god. If you would like to see his dead body, go early, there is a big line up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ok..so this was the north, but to give Vietnam some credit, the more south we got, the nicer the people were, the sun came out, and the food even became edible. Jevin heard someone describe North and South Vietnam as the North being like the States and the south being like Canada, they're alot alike, but one is waaay nicer.<br />
<br />
We spent most of Feb in Vietnam, and when we made it to our last destination, Saigon, I was sad to see Vietnam go. <br />
<br />
I was afriad to cross into Cambodia. I had heard that touring through Cambodia, people cry everyday, the poverty is intense and there are landmines everywhere. Maybe thats why I was sad to see Vietnam go...they may be assholes, but there's no landmines!<br />
<br />
Our bus taking us to Phnom Penh (our first stop in Cambodia) was the most comforatible yet. An easy 6 our trip later, and we find our self and the most helpful and friendly guesthouse yet. I was waiting for Cambodia to get scary...thinking just around the corner would be something that would make me cry. But after a full day of touring around the next day, with a super nice tuk tuk driver, I decided that I love Cambodia!<br />
<br />
I know its early to say, but I think we have a winner!! <br />
<br />
Reasons why I love Cambodia:<br />
<br />
1. a very big #1, the people. The people are amazing. they're like the people in Laos, but with way more awesome. The english is really good here too, so it's easy to talk to the local people and feel a bit more connected.<br />
<br />
2. The food. So far, everything has been awesome. It's so hard to get used to, because in Vietnam you had to mentally prepare yourself before eating. <br />
<br />
3. The history and culture. If you have time, research the last 40 years or so in Cambodia. These people have been dragged through hell and back over and over again, but somehow are still the most amazing people around. The tragedies here are recent, so the people you talk to share stories of genocide and war, but in the next breath smile and talk about how proud they are of their big strong son and daughter who is going to university. Beyond the tragic history here, Cambodia also holds the oldest most amazing temples around, including Ankor wat. Google some pictures. amazing<br />
<br />
4. The tourists. I've noticed that people get stuck here. They come, maybe for a short work exchange, or to see Ankor wat, and they never leave. They set up hospitals, charities, and guest houses. They all love this country as much as the locals.<br />
<br />
<br />
There's more..but thats enough for now. <br />
<br />
Story time!<br />
<br />
Today we were totally exhausted from touring temples in plus 10000 heat, with humidity of 1000%, so we stoped for lunch. We were on our bikes when a lady chased me down to go to her restaurant. She promised to give us discounted food and free fruit. deal! As we were sitting in her ourdoor resaurant, with flee ridden dogs by my feet, and a monkey eating a bag of peanuts over my head, a little girl, 10 yrs old, pulled up a chair. She was selling post cards. 10 for $2 (a little steep I thought). People are always trying to sell you things, so you get used to just saying 'no,no,no,no', which is what we did. They she says 'where you from?'. Cute... 'Canada' we all say, in our little kid voices. 'what province?' she asks, we tell her, laughing. For anyone who has travelled (even to the states), when someone asks you where your from, you stop at Canada, no one knows what or where Saskatchewan is. We have not met one adult who has heard of Saskatchewan in two months of travelling. 'ok' she says, 'If I can tell you the population of Canada, your prime ministers name, the capitol of Canada, and the capitol of Saskatchewan..then you buy my post cards' Alright...I thought...its on! I dont even know the answers to all those questions. So, with two bucks on the table, I told her to give it a shot. And sure enough, this ten year old Cambodian girl, working at her mothers restuarant, says with confidence 'The population of Canada is 34 million, your prime minister is Steven Harper, the Capitol of Canada is Ottowa and the capitol of Saskatchewan is Regina.'<br />
<br />
Bam! Smartest girl alive! and now, I am the proud owner of 10 new post cards. Who wants one?<br />
<br />
When Jevin asked her if she will ever go to Canada, she said 'Maybe, but I don't have enough money yet'<br />
<br />
hahaha, see?? awesome. I love this place. <br />
<br />
Sitting on the top of a 1000 year old temple watching the sun set and listening to Cambodian children sing, I realized that I have found my reason for travelling. This is why I left on this adventure. I might just have to come back!<br />
<br />
<br />
Love love love,<br />
<br />
Robyn.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__uZyrrCa4JMAFJ-44zxR7XCA8otvWIRP3svgXY1YoUgTg-_FCR9Ko4aves2AuynUnTRSKmiaUZ9_oUtfqSCR6GzdRhtWmAu0tQf06H6Ej8vi3SmQw2sNHhyphenhyphenDljVG85KjXRQGyXYtxsIz/s1600/IMG_3146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__uZyrrCa4JMAFJ-44zxR7XCA8otvWIRP3svgXY1YoUgTg-_FCR9Ko4aves2AuynUnTRSKmiaUZ9_oUtfqSCR6GzdRhtWmAu0tQf06H6Ej8vi3SmQw2sNHhyphenhyphenDljVG85KjXRQGyXYtxsIz/s400/IMG_3146.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn's sharing some of her pumpkin seeds with the local children</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuI8g8vixcxEOQli98043bzyXGTKtXIyL5tPiNQuettNe06JlS4yJXPcfE9GzYHYpuBckMlJtOLYEOgJlsPrycrOQf6KC-HHxPjCYhqBaAAJORr7U8bQ__v4tcb96zxum4C5MV99ZtYJL/s1600/IMG_3035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuI8g8vixcxEOQli98043bzyXGTKtXIyL5tPiNQuettNe06JlS4yJXPcfE9GzYHYpuBckMlJtOLYEOgJlsPrycrOQf6KC-HHxPjCYhqBaAAJORr7U8bQ__v4tcb96zxum4C5MV99ZtYJL/s400/IMG_3035.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are Tomb Raiders!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVINee7W_Epzu-wTY6AHx4OkIh37xzVVKW4eY6qT7a56goWjlmTP88K9v6zZk0HR8WwW-zwrSGy_VswByJMKtCTifISAD1QxpMmCngjzSRkps9U2ZWxjtcDazNYrSAnd03-Zjmvx_7x1c/s1600/IMG_2849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVINee7W_Epzu-wTY6AHx4OkIh37xzVVKW4eY6qT7a56goWjlmTP88K9v6zZk0HR8WwW-zwrSGy_VswByJMKtCTifISAD1QxpMmCngjzSRkps9U2ZWxjtcDazNYrSAnd03-Zjmvx_7x1c/s400/IMG_2849.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomb Raiding is hard work and nothing is as refreshing as a giant coconut!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC_Iox6E76ZVaw-xYPS5NHrfyjbpPQYSmQGfsFNIlv3rA-ajSc082ozDwQQY_scXkwzRGR91usw2O9cAFXLe-WvjYGGb5PgLlRthix-moaxYCj9495tyhte9QN73YNmkp9XLL3O1aNAmY/s1600/IMG_2695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC_Iox6E76ZVaw-xYPS5NHrfyjbpPQYSmQGfsFNIlv3rA-ajSc082ozDwQQY_scXkwzRGR91usw2O9cAFXLe-WvjYGGb5PgLlRthix-moaxYCj9495tyhte9QN73YNmkp9XLL3O1aNAmY/s400/IMG_2695.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jevin and myself messing up the view of Angkor Wat's bas relief walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qKCzwaX6OmgaX5Jl6Ztw7mRX2uRAsH2ua3T39ZaSbBTwEW_nRro6awsWL4rXIOwFwdJudhVAatvWJg3FcNaHhOszy5yjxAS0PKhGAzgdQPIM9X6rX-39-aeFCJz6w0kCZZji2IArZY0C/s1600/IMG_2611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qKCzwaX6OmgaX5Jl6Ztw7mRX2uRAsH2ua3T39ZaSbBTwEW_nRro6awsWL4rXIOwFwdJudhVAatvWJg3FcNaHhOszy5yjxAS0PKhGAzgdQPIM9X6rX-39-aeFCJz6w0kCZZji2IArZY0C/s400/IMG_2611.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn's new favorite treat, sugarcane!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2344842347780340987.post-13041816627569331112011-03-08T06:06:00.000-08:002011-03-08T06:06:01.596-08:00Last day of TemplingIt's our last day in Siem Reap, home of the amazing Angkor temples and, believe it or not, we still enjoy looking at temples. I don't imagine that any of the other religious structures we'll see in the next two months will be very exciting after trekking through the jungle over top of ancient ruins. <br />
<br />
Today has been similar to the last two days: get up, eat, hop in a tuk-tuk, and tour the sites. The difference has been that we have spent less time looking at the structures, and more time on top of them looking out at the beautiful stretches of forest, rice fields, and wetlands. <br />
<br />
For the first time in weeks we've felt rain and, unlike in North Vietnam, is was a welcome relief from the heat. The soft sprinkling really added to the atmosphere as we walked down long wide paths between sites. The air was thick and full of ever-changing smells, all good ones too (In the big cities we're always afraid to breathe deep. Even if something smells great, the next whiff could be so terrible).<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we're off to Battambang which I know basically nothing about except that it is surrounded in more landmines than anywhere else in Cambodia. Don't worry moms and Megans, we'll won't stray from the path.<br />
<br />
David J Parker<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYLMtoOAcwgbJ368eKDJLKSq6Dv8N24M7GyBkKhOjTTwsgCRoHXqfEx0SAezS3fWUf9m40UrYL2tgJlgcS-cgXbr-hF9Epky8nrXijTlso_Bd1RgQ3gMJPNktA3ao7Eyl_KJPa2MDllCW/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYLMtoOAcwgbJ368eKDJLKSq6Dv8N24M7GyBkKhOjTTwsgCRoHXqfEx0SAezS3fWUf9m40UrYL2tgJlgcS-cgXbr-hF9Epky8nrXijTlso_Bd1RgQ3gMJPNktA3ao7Eyl_KJPa2MDllCW/s320/IMG_3156.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute couple</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOBFtySaSBt48VjOWuT7RwG0GDwrV34P7FauGi8V8Jj8FxY3i8cBZEiMfIXEesmXLXbdLfAOxndAsHiIUusLk-oSkK8JcjtlVjyPa7CSyGRJKej0Xv9nZ8CnKsc86r0tLsLSCHNUEsCT/s1600/IMG_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovOBFtySaSBt48VjOWuT7RwG0GDwrV34P7FauGi8V8Jj8FxY3i8cBZEiMfIXEesmXLXbdLfAOxndAsHiIUusLk-oSkK8JcjtlVjyPa7CSyGRJKej0Xv9nZ8CnKsc86r0tLsLSCHNUEsCT/s320/IMG_3214.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Danger"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DkcGivAK1zGFgJzhVKhvI0kf1Bk_ycg0h48MqBQbORLUucpZPxalOCZVd4fZgrKmRgBZkd1hbQIXB2yh-a0otApBXL9o5OUswa4kku5DEhkAtZ25Ij1W0Xf2zP6Uu-ClpwmsYF9Z0Vqz/s1600/IMG_3111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DkcGivAK1zGFgJzhVKhvI0kf1Bk_ycg0h48MqBQbORLUucpZPxalOCZVd4fZgrKmRgBZkd1hbQIXB2yh-a0otApBXL9o5OUswa4kku5DEhkAtZ25Ij1W0Xf2zP6Uu-ClpwmsYF9Z0Vqz/s400/IMG_3111.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carvings above a doorway. Every inch of every temple is covered in bas reliefs like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ3iGcVVLiFZRQrotADGiUmWSRbVF-XoBhUIu0M_rrAJ3bzWbHqGtRI1t4lJD4MapU76yTihygYv8n9TcvV49eVXR5Jd9wXT2iohMDOgUP8QI5NEei2QCa5EGrvzB_XAahqVJXr-Gieeo/s1600/IMG_3143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ3iGcVVLiFZRQrotADGiUmWSRbVF-XoBhUIu0M_rrAJ3bzWbHqGtRI1t4lJD4MapU76yTihygYv8n9TcvV49eVXR5Jd9wXT2iohMDOgUP8QI5NEei2QCa5EGrvzB_XAahqVJXr-Gieeo/s400/IMG_3143.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice place for reflections</td></tr>
</tbody></table>David J Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17231452748538778879noreply@blogger.com1Angkor Wat, Cambodia13.4256 103.8613.4047285 103.8308175 13.4464715 103.8891825