The Peaceful Warrior

Whopee Were All Gunna Die..country joe mccdonald

2006-08-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Frankfort, Kentucky...August 12, 2006. The quiet of the house as we reorganize, clean, mow and all the normal things people do...this time however people are in their own heads pondering whatever people ponder when the storm and emotion of a funeral for a person to young to die is over. What is the age where death is considered just a normal part of lifes rhythum? For me I think the normal age to die is al least one year older than I am.

Tribes in America

2006-08-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

I continue to write, my thoughts now belong to more than just me. If nobody but my children read this I will be fulfilled. I often wonder how different we humans percieve the same event....with all the polarization between the right and left, jews and muslims, east and west I am reminded of the story of the blind men and the elephant...perception becomes reality. We base what is normal on ourselves, we know what we have been taught, ethics are relative to the culture or what has become the many sub-cultures. Who do we believe? Who do we trust? Who do we emulate? We are no longer a nation but a land of tribes. Tell me, to which tribe do you belong?

Jesus was a capricorn who ate organic food
He believed in love and peace and never wore no shoes
Long hair, beard and sandals and a funky bunch of friends
Reckon we'ed just nail him up if he came back again... Kris Kristopherson

Would todays fundamental christians want Jesus as a neighbor? What would they think when the imfirmed and prostitutes stopped by for a visit? Would they think he drank to much wine? Would they invite him over for a cook out and a swim? This tribe may be the most powerful tribe in America...

I guess I am still searching for a tribe, I used to think I needed to be the chief, simple membership is okay with me now.....

Recycled Ideas

2006-08-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking....Plastic - who developed this stuff? When I was a kid the only thing plastic were my toy weapons and stuff from Japan. Does it grow somewhere in South America or in one of those states who have lots of land and only a few people? Remember when you didn't have to decide between paper and plastic at the market....I still opt for paper especially if they have the little handles....I tried plastic but they gave me too many bags, I mean, one gallon of milk in its own bag? Come on, the one gallon milk jug is also made of plastic and it has its own handle...could we possibly be more wastful than to wrap a plastic container with handles inside another plastic container with handles that are not even as reliable as the milk jugs.....

Anyway, back to plastic. I visualized strolling through one of those "nothing over a dollar" type stores....I'll bet 50% of what the store sells is plastic merchandise (not even counting the plastic bags, no paper here) with 98% of it made in China. Now, how do you secure the raw material (has anyone ever really seen plastic in it's natural form?), make something with it, pay the person who makes it, package it in plastic, ship it across the ocean, wearhouse it, truck it to the store, pay someone to put it on the shelf and later collect the 99 cents or $1 and make a profit?

I know the manufacturer is making a profit (paying your worker $3/week helps, don't look for the union lable), the shipping and trucking company's are making a profit, the wearhouse is making money and the person that owns the $1 store is at least making payroll (minimum wage) and paying rent...... There is only one logical conclusion.....plastic is free.

I also read and heard that plastic does not degrade like other natural materials in the landfills. Does this mean I am doing my part for the enviornment by using paper bags? I like to think so...... I know, I should be recycling our aluminum cans..... my ability to rationalize has led me to the conclusion that I would be taking needed revenue from the people who do sort our trash...do they sort it? Does putting cardboard into the "cardboard only" bins really help or do they just mix it all together at the end...someone research this and make sure it's getting done right...

Now, let me address the next issue (isn't amazing what we think about in those precious moments waiting to fall asleep?), what will archaeologists conclude about who we were based on what they find in the landfills? Now, I am hopeful that all those millions of water bottles and plastic containers are recycled somehow to make new ones.....but what about on the diapers (especially the type made with gelatin to absorb all the pee)?? Number one, I kind of hope they are not recycling them, especially into water bottles....but the amount of plastic diapers we use.....(yes, we used them for all three of my kids) it must be millions every day around the world! Forget NASA getting us to the moon, how about figuring out how to make these things disappear differently....

Finally, what is the deal with the thick clear plastic that seems to be the container for everything that possibly could be shoplifted or given to a child as a gift? Ever try to open up one of those things? I think we need the guy with the pocket fisherman, colored hair spray for men and the fruit dehydrator to work on the new "Popiel Plastic Melter/Sealer Back Upper". I don't know, are you supposed to cut the plastic with scissors or rip it open at the seams.....neither way really works... the resealing feature makes it easier to return if not 100% happy.... "Be one of the first 50 callers and we will include nine AA batteries"

My son said that at birth every person should be assigned a cup, plate, bowl and utensils...works for me.... "I'll do the dishes, honey".

Off to Kentucky in the a.m. for the funeral....

Rest In Peace, Dear Janet

2006-08-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

Janet Baker Rogers died today. She was Pam's only sister and Sara's other daughter. She was Don's bonus daughter and the sister to his kids. She was the one person Kemper included in her prayers everyday. She loved and asked about my kids everytime she called. I didn't really know her that well, we never found the right time to connect and talk, I also didn't give her the time she deserved. I know we had many things in common, we both really love the aformentioned people.....we both have struggled in the meaning of life.

Janet was a hard worker, when it was time to clean something you could be sure whatever it was could be used in surgery. She never had the glamourous job, it was usually the work others didn't want. She normally worked with the public...you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat a retail clerk or waitress....

Janet was always smiling. She had way too many aches, pains, chronic illness and reasons not to smile.....but Janet was always smiling, at least at those times I saw her.

Janet had no children, but was the mother to every stray animal that crossed her path.... According to Pam they lived with not only the normal dogs and cats, but with reptiles, amphibans, wild mammals and an ocassional insect. She would have been well suited with a career in veternairy medicine...

Janet never had much money, she rarely had anything tangible that was worth much, she didn't get to eat in the fine restaruants or travel to exotic destinations. I don't know if she ever even got to fly in an airplane. Janet didn't have any designer jeans or fancy shoes. She never owned a home. She never got to smell that new car smell in a one that belonged to her. When she shopped it was always with how much she could afford, not with what she wanted. I find one of the real puzzles in life is that people like Janet would give what little they did have to you if you asked..... all you had to do was ask....

Janet loved writing poetry, it was always gramatically incorrect (much like my writing) but always positive. She never sent a letter without some type of a poem or saying, usually written with crayons and in several colors....people like Janet could only afford to give you their time... and I know she put time in on these things.

Janet liked crafts. She got that from her mother. When we would get a letter in the mail, it would always include some small handmade object, one for each kid....she never left anyone out. There was usually a note attached with "I love you Courtney"....people like Janet don't have the resources to go by Macy's, charge it, have it wrapped and shipped. Instead, she used her hands and her heart to make these tiny gifts.

Janet loved her neices and nephews. Everytime she would call, it was with inquiry about the kids. She never wanted to disappoint the kids.... The few times she was able to attend family holiday gatherings, I was amazed at how the children loved and related to her....They were drawn to her by some magic spell....I guess she just never lost the little girl inside of her....kids can sense that in a person.

Janet loved motorcycles. I think she must have felt the freedom associated with having your hair whipping in the wind while riding down a country road. You never need to roll the window down on a motorcycle to feel life around you. I think she traveled with Bobby McGee...you know........freedom is just another word for, nothing left to lose...

I have learned alot by Janets transistion to the next adventure. I learned that regardless of our social status, our economic status, our athletic ability, our gender or our race; we will all die. Nothing we can do about it.....we can postpone with medical intervention, but we can't aviod it. My friend Dick tells the story about the people in the first class cabin of an airliner bound for Hawaii.....the side of the plane just opened up and out they went....when it's our time, it's our time.

I also learned that my judgemental nature is one of my truely sad character traits. I always had an opinion about what she should be doing differently....what is the saying about someone elses moccassins? I used to totally take for granted the little macrame trinkets she made for my children...I will never look at a gift the same way.

I also learned that not only should we not go to bed mad with someone, we should not leave the house without an "I love you". I used to think Pam told me she loved me to often....I don't think I could hear it enough now.

I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better Janet...I'm sorry I judged you. I do thank you for how you loved the people I love. I also thank you for peeling off another layer of the onion that helps me continue on my path.

Janet loved God. She had a connection to her higher power. We all know there is one God but many paths to that God. I'm happy tonight knowing that Janets path has lead to a peace she was never able to attain in this physical world and that heaven is a better place with her spirit continuing it's life. You made it home for the holidays Girl.

By the way....how come I never got one of those key chains you made?

Tis Better to Give......

2006-08-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

I know I have been rather tough on our current American lifestyles, ethics and way of life. I wanted to spend some time on what I see as our good qualities. You know, I tend to be a pessimest.... Okay, at least I admit it.... When asked if they see the glass half full or half empty, have you ever heard someone say "half empty"? Let me be the first. I would obviously prefer to see the half full glass, but , because I see it half empty, it doesn't mean I don't see and appreciate all the wonderful blessings I have..... seeing the half empty glass makes me want to do things and support a direction of our country that fills the glass to at least where it was when my generation started. I want this for our great-grandchildren.....

The American way of life is philanthropic. We give away more on a weekend than the average European or Asian gives away in a year.... Go to any European or Japanese community (I am not putting the poor emerging nations in this diatribe) and see how many non-profit centers have been set up for children, seniors or the disadvantaged.... I was in Europe in 2004 and looked. While in Japan I even spoke with my tomodachi (friend) at the inn, I asked about Boys and Girls Club/YMCA type places for kids and only got a blank stare. The education system in Japan excludes the children with special needs, they are dealt with like it was when I was a kid.....segregation, I never heard of "special education" until I was an adult. I must say however, I never saw any homeless or beggers in Japan.

I'm sure our foreign aid is more annually than the rest of the world combined... No matter where in the world the disaster occurs, we are the first country to step up....always have, always will. Nobody does it better than America, we compare and can compete with anyone, if we put our mind to it. Even though we are currently so divided, it's kind of like our kids.....we can fight amongst ourselves and talk badly about each other.....but if an outsuder tries it, watch out...we are bonded by liberty and the pursuit of happiness......

The American way of life is still the model, we so need to keep the memories of our forefathers (and mothers...) alive so the world we will pass to future generations is intact....

The Land of Opportunity

2006-08-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

I am proud to report that I took no nap today, nada, zip.... I got up at 9:00 (hey, I'm still on vacation) and it is now past midnight. I am thankful that the test for Denge Fever came back negative and the poison Pam administered was for offing bad children so I didn't get the full dose...

I am swimming in emotions. Went to my Tuesday men's meeting...reconnected. I have nothing I care more about than meeting with these guys, I always leave a better man.... Finally got on the phone to family, more calls to make, but there is time for everything.....

Pam, Kemper and I went to the mall today, Kemper needed some soccer stuff. I had such mixed feelings. I saw the Hummers and Escalades instead of the tiny cars and tuk-tuks. Harley Davidsons have replaced Honda 60's. The food court with it's huge portions of food replace the quiet murmers of the noodle vendors as their patrons sit on tiny stools with them on the sidewalk. The sheer size and glitz of the mall have replaced the temporary plastic ceilings and tables covered with $19 Rolex watches. The technology of cash registers and credit cards have replaced the wad of dong/baht in the vendors pocket. The excesses have replaced the hungry faces of the children. I saw women wearing outfits with shoes and a purse that cost more than a third world worker makes in a year. I became ashamed by my own consumption. Do we just not know any better as a nation? Have we become so isolated that we have lost touch with the rest of the world? The world is watching us even though we don't watch them. Do we care about the opinions of others? Has our "super-power" status made us believe we can do anything without consequence? Dear friends, they used to look to us as the nation of hope, a nation of optomism, a nation that came to another countries aid without an expectation of return. We have detoured from the America our parents and grandparents built and sacraficed for..... I think what speaks loudest is under 6% of Americans have passports..... The main travel we have when we are young is via a duty station in a foreign country or as a fighter in yet another war. Whew, sorry, sometimes I just go on a rant... Did you know that Jack Kerouac wrote On The Road on one continous roll of paper, now that's a rant.... Bye until tomorrow....

Denge Fever

2006-07-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening..... I slept fitfully with weird dreams last night, the kind of sleep where you are dreaming but wake up frequently and wonder where the dreams came from... Woke up at 10:00 am (eyes burning and blurry)to a beautiful breakfast and off to church by 11:00.... Home from church and in need of a nap, bit of a headache. I just woke up, 8:30 pm... exhausted...

I have come to the conclusion that I have either have a strange tropical diease or that Pam has poisoned me for the life insurance money.... I can't wake up and every part of me hurts....Is this the end of the peaceful warrior? Can I sleep tonight? Will I ever have the ability to get back on Pacific time? Will I have the only wealth management practice that opens at 10:00 pm and has appointments with clients at 4:00 am? I can't think to really write... will try tomorrow.

Home Sweet Home

2006-07-30T20:52:00.000-07:00

I arrived in San Francisco, I am so happy to be back... I was in packed airplanes from both Bangkok to Tokyo and again from Tokyo to San Francisco, I had the window seat with a female sumo wrestler in the middle seatnext to me. She won the armrest. They had the same movies on JAL from my trip earlier in the month, they give you headsets and the screen is in the back of the seat in front of you.... I was watching Japanese movies with French subtitles by the end of the journey.

US Customs, when you have a backpack, beard, guitar and long hair; expect line A..... I told them they were 35 years late.... Found Pam and after a long embrace we headed for Scoma's on the wharf for lunch, $65 USD for lunch, take me back Mr. Wizard.... We forgot it was Friday and it took us four hours to get home. Unpacked and ate again, Kemper became my shadow (isn't love grand?) made it until 11:00 pm... Wow, I made it, I beat jetlag! Woke up on Saturday and headed to my men's group. Beating jet-lag was so easy this time...

Bye Bye Bangkok Bye Bye...

2006-07-27T04:33:00.000-07:00

Well, final night in Asia. Wanted to get a posting in before I take off for the 21 hours of travel tomorrow. I leave for the airport at 2:00 pm Thursday, California time. Put me into San Francisco at 11:00 am Friday. What a trip....I'm glad I have lots of pictures and a journal, this is a trip I will share with my grandchildren someday.... Thanks again Pam and the kids for allowing me this time....

I will post once or twice more after I get home. I think writing my "Peaceful Warrior" chronicles has allowed me a catharsis and a loving audience that has made me feel like I have been traveling with all of you.... Your comments and emails always brightened my day. Thank you.....

Okay, top 10 experiencesnot in order:

10. Train ride and hike to Itsu Kaichi waterfalls. Jonny's Garden.
9. Talking with Pam on the phone.
8. Riding around Ha Noi with Ton on his motorcycle.
7. Dinner with Paul, Suzy, Turid and Bjorn.
6. The peaceful experience on Ko Samet Island.
5. The room and bath at the Japanese Ryokan.
4. Meeting David and Pan on Ko Si Chang Island.
3. Writing my blog.
2. Getting a better understanding of cultures in Asia and how different we all are, and how much the same.
1. Realizing that it is possible to live in the now with no plans for the next day and be okay.

I also realize that the ownership of a Honda 100 or it's equilivant is a sign of affluence in emerging Asia. I would say their are at least as many cell phones here as in America and the kids text message just like ours. Emerging Asia vs Japan, the entrapenure vs to company employee. Also in emerging Asia, anyone who has money does not flaunt it, nobody puts on any aires. I also better understand the investment arena with global equities (but am not able to discuss that on this blog) so I am going to write off this trip.... I now can reaffirm that America is the best country, Auburn is it's greatest city and that I have wonderful friends. Yo Earley's, kids, sis, Sac-Men and Bills Buddies.....

I have accomplished my mission. I talked with so many people, from so many countries. I always smiled. I found that even attempting a few words in anothers native tongue will lead to kindness and their speaking english. I learned not to ask directions from well meaning people. I also now smell the breath of cab drivers and never seem to be in a hurry. I learned that I am getting older and have a much better appreciation for things I so took for granted. I learned that 24 days is the maximum amount of time I can be away from Pam and the kids.

A Smattering of Thoughts while Chillin'

2006-07-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Had to take a break from the streets.. you know me, air conditioning and a keyboard. Here I am on Wednesday at 9:45 pm thinking about my California friends just waking up to a Wednesday.. I wonder who figured out this time thing, I mean how did they do it when the world was flat.... Pam and Kemper fly home tonight, call ahead and make sure the air is on....

Bangkok... close your eyes and imagine this, wait, if you close your eyes you won't be able to read in order to imagine.. anyway picture what a pack of ants look like on a lollypop melting on the sidewalk. As I walk down the streets, the bars are filled with Thai girls in bikinis and numbers between their breasts (I guess thats how you order, "I'll have a scotch and soda and number 30") all the while my iPod blasts "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Three Dog Night.... Bizarre...

Remember my committment to not bargaining.... I was forced to regress...the process goes like this; me: "how much for this?" them: type number on a calculator. me: raise eyebrows and shake head from side to side. them: "how much?" handing me the calculator.
me: type in 50% of the number. them: "oh no, I lose money" me: walk away. them: chase me and type in 70%. me: pay. them: smile.

Okay, there is another McDonalds here in Bangkok. Out front is Ronald McDonald in the Thai pose with both his hands together in the prayer mode at his lips. Who say's good old western marketing doesn't work here. Had a "Big Mac", the only difference is they use old Australian dairy cows that can no longer produce milk instead of American ones. Me: "How much for the combo?" them: "95 bhat". me: I'll give you 50".......

This must be the knock off capital of the free world.... I'm really surprised the government doesn't step in... oh, but wait, they won't because how else to get tourist dollars/euros/yen and the tourist going home with Guess shirts, Polo belts and Tag Hauer Watches so they can pretend they are rich....

What is it about countries with Kings and Queens? They all drive on the left side of the street... Great Britan (maybe they need to rethink their name), Japan and Thailand. Who made this rule? Maybe they should get together with the time guy and decide once and for all it makes little sense in our global economy to make cars with steering wheels on both sides. When traveling between countries it makes it more difficult to look both ways... Okay, I've cooled off again. I'm going to look for a taxi back to the hotel, I'm lost again...

Crossing the Bay with my Eyes Closed..

2006-07-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Arrived at the pier at 9:30 via Tuk Tuk with David after eating an absolutely delicous dinner with he, Pan and their niece. We waited just a few minutes for the boat, turned out to be about 18' long with a Yamaha 115 hp outboard. The seas were rough and the tide was high but managed to get onto the boat. Stowed the bag and we were off. Now, as you will see in the pictures, the bay is full of freighters, barges and fishing boats..... I must say there is a certain thrill in weaving in and out of them (praying all lights work) with waves 2-3 feet and the rpms at 4,000....I think flying in a boat with no moon seems faster than it really is...okay, green bouy on the left and red on the right...or is it red on the left.... I live in trust, not in fear....make it to the dock, by now the boat is rising 3-4 feet with the waves, it's all timing whether I make it with backpack and bag... Phew!, no taxi or Tuk Tuks as the pier is closed, no problem, I'll walk the mile to where I can get a cab... picked up by a young girl on a motorbike and 50 bhat later I had arrived at my doorstep.... I must say, a shower, bottle of water and bed have never felt nicer..

Bangkok, the Name Fits

2006-07-26T03:51:00.000-07:00

Right smack in the middle of the "red light" district....Or is this city all red lights? Left the comfort of the City Hotel in Sri Rancha and took a taxi to stay at the ChinaTown Hotel, the book showed three stars and it was only $30/night.... I guess I also fit the traveler who expects something for nothing. The hotels here require your room key to turn on the electricity, so when you leave, the AC shuts off.. If I seem a bit preoccupied with air conditioning...

Read it is cooking in California, I am anxious to get back there and sit by the pool with an iced tea and my family...

Bangkok is like every other big city, I have certainly discovered I prefer the quiet and laid back destinations. You can shut down your adrenal systems when you sit quietly at the ocean.. I am in the part of the city that says outdoor shopping until midnight... whistles, horns, exhaust fumes (where's the EPA when you need them?), people approaching every 15 feet asking about a massage, smells of fried food and fish, every now and then a smell that knocks you over and kills your appitite, perfume and tiger balm, Rolex watches for $10, Gucci purses for $5, every other shop a bar, lots of beer being poured, pool tables, vendors benches six wide across a blocked off street, think of Denio's Market in Roseville with the same people on a parcel 25% the size, neon lights, christmas lights around the windows blinking in the heat of July, stray dogs begging for food, crippled and maimed asking for money (a real delima, gave 20 bhat and was quickly surrounded by others wanting the same), traffic so thick you can't walk across the street, riding in Tuk Tuks to take a break, iPod on full blast and I still can't hear the music (yes, someone showed me how to recharge, sorry Mr. Jobs), gold chains, but are they real? Ah, finally the quiet of the internet cafe, refreshment and repose...

Only a few more gifts, only a few bucks remain. I have always had an uncanny ability to arrive at my destination at almost the exact time predicted...Looks like I will run out of my alloted money with just enough to have an excellent lunch at Tarintinos with Pam in SF. Okay angel, just a few more days...

Umbrella Karma and Perfect Timing

2006-07-25T04:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, just when you think it's winding down... I took a taxi from the port town of Bhan Phe to Si Racha, the port back to my original island Ko Si Chang. I had left my souveniour bag and small backpack in the care of David so I had less to tote on my short trip. My objective was to get to the port and catch the 3:00 boat back to David's, catch a quick massage at the "Healing House", grab dinner with David and Pan and be back on the final 8:00 pm boat out and back to my hotel in Si Rancha (I spent $40 USD for a soft bed and hot shower). Things were going just as planned, great massage and at the very end...monsoon. Thunder and lightening, buckets of rain, toads from outside finding shelter in the dry.. The lady who owns the health center gave me an umbrella and instructions in Thai how to get to David's. Now, I have walked in rain before but with this stuff I was wet to my waist in seconds... the umbrella was working well but my thoughts went to the lightening....I'm a California boy but know when playing golf in the south, they stop play so your golf club doesn't attract the lightening... okay, umbrella/golf club... what would my family think when they were notified of my passing from a rain storm? Do I fold the umbrella and get drenched or play chicken with God?..... Needless to say I am witholding that bit of information but am happy to report I am typing at Davids computer while he showers for dinner. Oh yea, the last boat comes to Ko Si Chang at 8:00, the last boat out was at 6:00..... No worries, David's fluency in Thai (defense language school in Monterey) will have a water taxi ready for me to cross back at 9:30... What a guy will do for a soft bed..

Ko Semet Island -

2006-07-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

Did I tell you I never met one American on this island? None, zippo. Lots of Europeans and other Asians. When I said this island was like Hawaii 70 years ago, to get to the beach you had to wade from the boat.. No piers, now that is cool..... I was sad to see about half the island vacationers were angelo men my age with Thai women that looked as if they were in their teens... What are they thinking? So far, every taxi driver has asked me if I wanted a lady... They understand quickly when I point to my wedding band. How can a population so enlightened and into Buddism allow their kids to be procured by old men? Money is everything to some I guess... Again, God Bless America....

This was a beautiful island, the water was clear and warm. The food was supurb. Next time with Pam, this was not an island to be alone on....

International Monopoly / English as a Second Language

2006-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

Yes; yen, bhat and dong are play money. My mental conversion skills are excellent but why? It costs what it costs. I found a wad of dong I didn't use in a bathing suit, I think it totaled around 67 cents. Are they still using pennies there? I'll take Boardwalk for one billion dong..

Have you ever thought how fortunate we are to have been raised speaking the recognized "global language"? It is very interesting listening to a Vietnamese speak english with a German, even more fun is a Thai trying to communicate with a Russian.... It doesn't really matter what second language we learn, we won't use it unless we visit that country, in addition, they probably speak english better than we could their language.... Maybe our schools should teach basic courtesies, directions to the toilet and finding food/transportation in eight to ten other languages.....Or at least teach the proper use of a translation dictionary...

So You want to be a Rock and Roll Star...

2006-07-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it finally happened. I have been playing my guitar whenever I have a moment. For the most part, people just smile and keep going.... On the ferry from Ko Samet this morning, I was actually asked for my autograph by a group of girls 12-15. Just let your hair grow, be American, sing badly and this could also be you! Candidly, I was a bit flabbergasted but kept my composure, would have made Mick proud..... I wanted to take their picture but that would have exposed me as just a normal guy.... Don't worry, I'm keeping my day job....

Yin / Yang of My Life

2006-07-24T23:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, where to start. Well, I'm back on the mainland and in a real internet cafe so I can catch up. When I am unable to write I feel disconnected to you all. I was finally able to look at the comments, thank you all for your kind words....

I feel a need to purge. I think it is time for honesty about what I have found as my sense of adventure has certainly changed over the years. 1. I ate at McDonalds in Japan. 2. I have learned only to say please and thank you in Thai, I am sure my pronunciation is incorrect but I have the two hands in a praying posture down pat. 3. I need air conditioning to sleep when it's humid. 4. I never ate from a street vendor, paranoid about my liver. 5. I don't really care for hot tea. 6. I have only exchanged money in a bank. 7. I have avoided dark alleys late at night. 8. I can't stay up past 10:00.

I still have several things that are part of who I am. 1. I would rather walk than pay for transportation, think I have logged a minimum of 3-4 miles per day. 2. I will approach and communicate with anyone. 3. Bugs in a hotel room do not bother me. 4. I have no fear of getting lost. 5. I like local food (for the most part). 6. I have no sense of urgency. 7. I don't mind standing out in a crowd. 8. I more than ever understand what blessings we enjoy as Americans. More to write, I will break it up....

Touching Others

2006-07-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a list and description of some of the people who have touched my life so far on this trip

Paul and Suzy - The Aussies I mentioned before that work for Quantas. We first saw each other at the airport during our arrival into Da Nang from Ha Noi. I saw Paul admiring my guitar, we talked for just a moment as their van to the hotel was ready and my driver was still putting down a few... The next day we ran into each other again at the tailors (those two left a lot of dong with Yalys) where we were getting fitted. I let him borrow my guitar for an afternoon and we wento out to dinner that night at the "Mango", a French expat was the chef. After the meal, we talked until way past my bedtime and basically spent the entire next day together. The Australians are the the people I feel closest to as an American... I could listen to them talk forever. Having worked for Quantas, they had explored much of the world, I only hope they keep their promise to come to San Francisco to spend some time with Pam and our family.

Turid and Bjorn - I met Turid in the spa at the hotel in Hoi An while the lady giving me a pedicure was attempting to stop the blood flowing from my big toe from her "go for broke" attitude. She is from Norway, her english was better than mine.... She actually sounded British. I found out later her job was to subtitle the news into her native language. Anyway I invited her and her companion Bjorn to meet the Aussies and I for dinner. Five of us had dinner (really missed to honey) and beverages and talked until closing. Turid (a popular name in Norway in the 70's) was between jobs and traveling all over the world, she also had booked with a different angle, eeerywhere she went she had a guide from that country taking her everywhere. She is going into the civilian army..... Bjorn was a very outspoken fellow. Great stories with most about partying, remember, Norway is one of those always light or always dark countries.. Must have just been dark there because these two loved the sun. Wonderful people.

Jim and Pawn - I met these folks at Pan and David's restruant on Ko Sichang. They were old friends of David. Both these guys are ex pats. Both have wonderful Thai wives. Jim is, you guessed it, an Aussie. They live in Bangkok and Jim is in the logistics side of getting the guns, wardrobe, lights and everything else need for films to be shot in all of Southesat Asia. Had great conversations and at times must admit it was difficult determing where the exaggerated part of the story began.... They were on the boat with us to the little private island. Thourghly enjoyed them both and Kemper would have loved their dog, Buddy. You know, all the male dogs still had them hanging......

Other's for moments, will save David and Pan for another posting, I'm going back there to stay one more night prior to flying out of Bangkok. I also want to thank my wife.... How many spouses would give you a kiss and say "have fun and I'll see you soon" and be happy about me going alone. Thanks Pam, I owe you one....

Ko Semet Island, Thailand

2006-07-23T03:22:00.000-07:00

Now you all know me better than to really think I would just relax on Ko Sichang Island... Sitting around eating Pan and David's delicious food, reading books, playing my music and generally gathering moss is not what I do... A couple from Holland and their two children allowed me to break bread with them last night and told me they were going 100 km south to the next island. Up early, pack, and split transportation cost; everybody wins.

I am now on Maui in around 1938.... Took a ferry ride of 45 minutes, got a nice little bungalow (the toilet flushes when you pour a small bucket of water in it) with a very hard bed that seems to be popular here and air conditioning. Oh, with a view of the ocean..... about$23 USD... Messages for an hour on the beach for $7 .... I'll write more later on this adventure.

Vietnam Retrospective

2006-07-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

Road Rage - No such thing. Horns are used so often they are just part of the auditory experience in Vietnam. No lanes, no stop signs, no crosswalks, no police and no normal pattern of direction. I did not once see any person yell or display single digits at each other.

Airports - Well organized, customs simple, domestic air fare very inexpensive. I flew from Ha Noi to Da Nang and then from Da Nang to Saigon for a total of $115 USD and that was business class. Luggage arrived much quicker than in the states. The lounges had couches and beverages available as well. The actual traveling was very stress free.

Ho Chi Minh - Uncle Ho. This guy was on every form of currency, and I mean every bill. When the north invaded the south in 1975 they renamed Saigon after him. Most shops have a picture of him somewhere in the store. He was a leader with tremendous principals, lived very simply and never sold out for the dough. "Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio".

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - This will give you a good idea of the governments ability to keep track of it's people, they say the population of Saigon is somewhere between 8 and 13 million people.... Close enough for the government... This city still burns a bit about being taked over by the north, I guess those left were sent to reprogramming camps and most had their property taken. That would tweek me as well....

I'm sure more will come up for me. Vietnam has an average income of under $600 per capita.... I had a great idea and I need one of you to call Barbara Boxer. Vietnam has a population of about 80,000,000... If you say their are an average of four/family that is twenty million... If we gave each family $100 that would cost us two billion smackers... We could give it with the stipulation that they must buy US made goods with the money, they get stuff and we get the two billion back in GDP. Now what could they buy?? Well, fast food, candy, cigarettes and coke come to mind... What else do we make? So much for my economic excercise..

I am loving Ko Si Chang, slow pace and no horns. We write more tonight while you are all sleeping. I have taken so many pictures I have now filled up my card three times and had to make CD's to store it all, can't wait to share with you all. Later.

What, Me Worry?

2006-07-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

Dear One's,

I have missed you these last few days... I figured out this afternoon that the room I will habitate tonight is the fifth room in that many nights. As I sit here at the keyboard I have nothing but gratitude for Great Spirit who it seems rides with me as I travel.

Once I determined that the true path is one that just enjoys the current moment and attempts to use all five senses simultanesly, the craziness of the last few days took on a whole new perspective.

I am on the island of Ko Si Chang about 75 miles south of Bangkok. The time is about 10:30 pm, I am in the restraunt directly in front of my bungalow on the bay, I just consumed a delicious gorganzola bacon cheeseburger with french fries and a coke followed by homemade carrot cake and strawberry ice cream.... I consumed this feast with the owner of the restruant David and another Aussie named Jim. Last night I met these two and they were kind enough to invite me on a boat trip today. We spent the day out in a boat and on a private island swimming and fishing with their wonderful wives who were born on this tiny enclave.

I have decided to stay put until my flight next week from Bangkok thru Tokyo and back home.. Why in the world would I want to go?? The Thai people, as my friend Ron advised are a warm and loving people. I am blessed to have found this place and can't wait to write more (I am keeping the computer owner up, love to you all.

Saigon - Me Sai Gone!!

2006-07-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Out of Saigon in twenty minutes. Thank God... If Hanoi is Detroit and Hoi An is San Diego, Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now referred to is a combination of East 17th St, in Oakland and the Bronx in New York. Twenty for hours. Got ripped off by everyone I came in contact with, so much for good timing and perfect karma. I can't describe it other than the place just closed in on me. I have never been so happy to leave a place. Change planes here if you have to but other than that, get out of town... The big thing is going to the tunnels and getting to shoot an AK-47, no frigging thanks. The war museum, nope. Mekong Delta trip, six hours on a luxury bus (see Ha Long Bay) each way, nah. Floating markets? Same fruit and wood carvings only the stuff is on boats, nah. Today is the first time I have freaked out, glad I'm gone, I would rather write about the funny, bizzare and my observations. I am sure you would rather read that as well, Sorry...

I intend to write much more about my excellent experiences in Hoi An, I met some wonderful people there, ate some great food and bought some real cool goodies.

To Haggle or Not to Haggle, that is the Question..

2006-07-17T04:12:00.000-07:00

On a previous post I made an error. I stated that one U.S. dollar was worth 1,581 dong.. It's actually it's 15,810... When a taxi ride of 10 kilometers (don't ask me to change to miles) is 40,000 dong a tad over two bucks, when a cold bottle of water is 10,000 dong about 75 cents and when you can get a full blown meal at the best restruant in town for 100,000 dong or around seven clams.... Why haggle? I have listened to so many tourists that think if you don't haggle your missing the boat. I listened to a Aussie woman haggling with a tiny little women over 5,000 dong.... 33 pennies? Give me a break. Do we westerners (anyone white) really think the power shift will occur over a few coins?

I have made a resolution. Whatever they ask for it, if I really want it, I will pay. Call me a big spender, a man who like to throw money around but isn't money relative anyway? If my few extra dong help feed a family vs me getting five shirts for $10 instead of six, isn't that a good thing. Those T-shirts will end up a paint rag someday anyway. Enough of my pontification...

Hoi An is a must for everyone reading this, will write more later.. I am meeting the Aussies for dinner tonight just about the time you are having that first cup of coffee... By the way, whatever you have to do when you come here, bring your Starbucks, the coffee here is awful. Vietnam is the second largest coffee grower in the world, who's drinking this stuff? Check in later. If you are making comments, thanks but for some reason I can post but not look at my own blog from this hotel computer... G'day...

Random Scattered Miscellaneous Clouded Thoughts

2006-07-16T03:06:00.000-07:00

Bongs - You don't need to admit it, but you know what a bong is... Nearly every vendors stand has a bong in it. When you see the men hitting that bong (unknown material) it sure seems like they should be locked and hiding in their room with a towel blocking the bottom of the door so the smell doesn't come out when the First Sargent is walking the halls...

Women Don't Smoke - I have only seen men smoking. Never a woman. Maybe they are in the room I just described... I have been told that men control all the $... Now that would take some getting used to..

Tiger Balm - We have all bought this stuff, you know, you put a small dab on each temple when you buy it and then store it in the medicine cabnit and never use it again... Tiger balm sales are done by ladies who apparently use the money to feed the hungry children at home, at least that is what they each one has told me... With the amount of the balm I bought I am sure 10% of the Hoi An children will be full tonight. Please don't be offended if the gift you receive from me is Tiger Balm...

Seafood - Last nights dinner: Prawns sautied in tamarine, french fries, club soda, dinner salad and a scoop of chocolate gellatto -- $7.00 USD

Aussies - Vietnam is the new Bali for the Aussies. They won't go to Bali because of the terrorist attack at that night club a few years ago. I still have a difficult time thinking that someone would come to Vietnam because it is safe...

Tailor - The guide book said that even the stingiest would at least get a few shirts made here. I visited a tailor (the top one in the guide book "Yali") and had 10 beautiful, bright cotton shirts made. These shirts are very dressy but are collarless so won't take a tie. My days of ties are over. Pam is correct however, my greeting you at my office door in sandles and a T-shirt is also inappropriate. I love compromise... Oh, the price is $15 USD per shirt (extra because I had my initials sewn onto the pocket).

Suitcase - Officially ran out of room with existing backpacks. Had to pay $7 USD for a large North Face bag to bring home all the goodies.

Scuba diving - Going in Nha Trang, I will miss you son...

Face Masks and Fingernails - All women on motor bikes wear face masks and hats along with gloves that go halfway up their bicep. Apparently white skin is in. I was told Vietnamese sunblock actually has bleach in it to help the whitening. I have also noticed all the shopkeepers that are male have fingernails as long as a full set women back home would buy. I assume it shows they don't have to do manual labor.. A socialism with casts?

Message - I am staying in a nice hotel so I was forced to pay a premium for a full hour message.. $15 USD.. Don't worry babe, she made me keep my shorts on. I found the true use for Tiger Balm however, she put it everywhere and then proceeded to karate chop my entire body. I think this lady must have had at least a brown belt... I was wondering though if the men who get the message with the "happy ending" are subject to the same Tiger Balm application...

Dinner tonight with a nice Aussie husband and wife who work for Quantas Airlines... I must say, I really miss Pam. Watching couples at dinner makes me a wee bit melancoly. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I love you Pamela!!! Chou'

Drunkin' Taxi Drivers...

2006-07-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

God was again beside me on my journey. I arrived in Da Nang at sunset, I recognized nothing but the shape of the little islands off the coast.... Thirty five years as I have discovered is a very long time. If I wait that long again I will be 90...

I was able to quickly gather my two backpacks and guitar and secure a taxi to my hotel for a pre arranged price of $15 USD. Once my luggage was in the trunk and my driver had secured the lid with a bungee cord, I jumped into the backseat (but wait, the backseat is a board with cushions) for my trip to the Hoi An Beach Hotel. It wasn't until moments later that I realized my driver smelled alot like a guy who had been drinking beer all day in the hot sun..... Lesson one, when your driver is under the influence of alcohol, it is better to be on a meter that to have agreed on a price. When you agree on a price in advance, time is money and he will risk life and limb to get you there quickly.... I am not a man who freightens easily, but I was terrified and my english cursing got me nowhere. He dropped me at the wrong hotel, but that was okay with me. Well, another of my lives used up.

I finally arrived in one piece at a hotel that is a palace in comparison to where I have been. Soft bed, real air conditioning, fresh cold water in the fridge, cable tv with Asia HBO (asian subtitles with english sound) and yes dear friends, a real shower with all the wonderful little bottles of shampoo, bath soap, q-tips and sewing kits...... Why I may even use one of those fancy plastic shower caps in a box... Heaven. Yes, I now also realize that given the choice, I prefer to be comfortable vs the new, strange and bizzare. Off to bed... I'm exhausted.

Discover Ha Long Bay...............

2006-07-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

Come and visit Ha Long Bay, one of the United Nations top spots in Southeast Asia. Take a luxury bus directly from your hotel on a scenic drive to beautiful Ha Long Bay. Stay overnight on a real junk. Fully air conditioned with rooms that are decorated nicely and are very clean. Swim in a lagoon, visit "Magic Cave" and see Vietnam from a different view. All meals carefully prepared and included in package. Come witness the karst formations that dot the bay with their caves and vegetation. Come see where the dragons footprints have been left for history.

Okay, I wrote about this trip last night and was so close to publishing when CLICK, the power in the hotel goes off. I believe this is the third time and it will be a charm.

The above itacialicized script was taken from the book that these tours are booked with. The nice lady at my hotel, Rose was very helpful in convincing me I should stay an extra day in Ha Noi so I could take this tour. Remember fair reader, this also had a picture at sunset with a junk in full sail, alone on the bay. Ahhh, paradise.. $70, a fortune in Vietnam was paid and I happily moved on with my ticket.... "Be in the lobby at 7:00, the bus will pick you up" said my new friend Rose.

Up and in the lobby precisely by 7:00 am. Bus arrives, 8:00 am. Walked 800 meters to bus stop. Met a nice couple from Australia, two newlyweds from Switzerland, a Spanish photographer and his girlfriend, a French family of six and a delightful couple from New Zealand who were 75+ celebrating their 48th anniversary. Our tour guide came next, Thguyn but you can call me Gwen and our driver, complete with driving gloves with the fingers cut out of the ends. The bus he was driving turned out to look like one of those big GMC vans, it was designed to carry12 but we were about to prove it could carry 17. With luggage. Well, if those little Honda 60's can carry a fifty five gallon plastic drum and a family of four I know the guy with the gloves can do it. This would not be a problem for me, I had my Apple Nano iPod with over 250 songs that I had so carefully selected for my travels.. but wait, the Apple Nano iPod requires recharging of the power via a computer, just a moment, their computers run on a different power supply and I can't recharge my Apple Nano iPod... Please, somebody quickly call Steve Jobs and tell him of the simple beauty of AA batteries...

Once in the van and underway, we found the van had a very old type of air-conditioning system called the 455; roll down four windows and drive 55 mph. Now, with no offense meant to my European friends (who I know will be reading this) you must admit you have a different sense of the need for deodorant.... Three hours later we to arrive at Ha Long Bay. In addition to our place in the van (I secured the back corner) our driver it turned out was able to shift into fourth gear before he got to 15 mph! He also had the rhythm down in honking his horn, every 7-9 seconds (I timed him). At last we arrived at Ha Non Bay.

Our little band of international travelers now joined 2,000+ in getting on to one of 150 junks at the pier, all at the same time. I must say, Gwen was a master at getting us thru the crowd, over four different junks and was able to quickly find our home for the next 24 hours... We decided to stay in the harbor and wait for all the other junks so we could all leave the harbor at the same time. By the way, the weather was overcast and about 90 + 90. Once inside of the junk which was about 50' long and 20' wide, three stories tall and all done in beautiful wood we discovered the junk used the same air-conditioning system they had on the "bus", only this one had small fans at each table. The fans were there because the captain said getting a junk up to 55 mph was very difficult....

Once on the bay, I must tell you, the karst formations were spectacular. The caves we visited were exactly 200 steps up (Teresa, the New Zealander counted) and were indeed unique, my best description would be it reminded me of and Indian Jones movie. Back to the junk, time for a swim. You could leap from the top of the junk into the water, I chose the more conventional method of jumping off the lowest possible point I could find on the boat. You know, I was thinking, (I do a lot of that traveling alone) how much more cautious I am now as a guy over 50, I remember when I would do, consume or be goaded into anything. Oh well, the journey...

Lunch was served. I sat with the young newlyweds at the vegetarian table with the New Zealanders who were willing to consume our portions of the meat in addition to theirs. The food was good, lots of rice and tofu. Vegetables were great and the fruit was excellent, I believe I will write a piece about the fruit alone.

I sprung the extra $8 USD for a deluxe and private berth. Much the size and feel of a nice sauna as the air conditioning could only be on for a short time and they had selected 9:00 pm as zero hour. Slept well (am reading Power of One, great book Pam and finished Season of Life Pete, thanks) as reading usually relaxes me enough to fall asleep, haven't really used the Ambien much. My walking and other activities along with the purification process of consuming copious amounts of water and sweating makes me tired by dark.

The next morning it was time for kayaking. The tide was to low, no lagoons or caves today. Life jackets required, double sized boat, hot and humid, I'll pass. I have a kayak at home covered with ivy that I can use anytime I wish, thank you....

Back to the pier, jump in the bus only the opposite direction of getting there with only one exception..... We need to stop for the driver to take a break three times. It was such a coincidence that there were curio shops at every stop. "Wow look, other drivers need a rest at the same place we do". Back home, I was the last dropped off. Good thing I was, I met the young guide who wanted the books... Always a happy ending..... If you look for it.

Honestly, it was a great adventure and I would do it again. I met some very nice people and was able to listen more than talk. That is very different for me.....I saw a place that I can now check off my life list and , it was out of the ordinary.

Farewell Hanoi - Hello Hoi An

2006-07-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

Get me to the Ocean! Five days in the north has been great but I need the beach. The air pollution has actually caused my lungs to burn. What a place, totally entrapenural as there are no stores, franchises or chains. The food has been either inedible or magnificant. I wrote a completly different article this morning that was my longest posting to date, lost it in cyber land.

I have had several opportunities to speak with the local university students, the primary major is "Tourism" with most of these kids speaking both english and french. The nature of "third world" countries economies seem to be based almost totally on tourism. As our world flattens, it seems that we have the countries who cater to the wealthy countries and people with recreation and tourism, but who will never be able to afford to travel themselves. These young people have such a desire to come to America, they seem resigned however to the chances of that happening to be nil. I spoke with one young man yesterday on my return from Ha Long Bay (that trip I will write about tonight) who was so proud that he owned an American dictionary. When I told him about a Theasaurus he was beside himself. These kids have no books. I intend to begin sending books over here and will devote some time to this project when I return.

For all my teacher friends, can you imagine a 18-21 year old who has such a desire to learn but no opportunity? We take such simple things as public education for granted when it is so coveted abroad. When you go into a internet cafe, it is full of kids 10-20 surfing the web and what looks like school.

Oops, call for the taxi to the airport. Will check in later. Loving your email and comments. By the way, MY KINGDOM FOR A CHEESBURGER AND FRIES!!

Save Your Work!!!

2006-07-14T19:56:00.000-07:00

Have you ever spent over an hour writing something on a computer only to lose your connection and in turn lose all your thoughts and words? As you know, to sit down and do it all over again requires that it be done later, perhaps from an internet cafe with air conditioning... I am well and traveling to Da Namg and Hoi An tonight. Will check in and put my thoughts back on the blog. I love and miss you all.

"Born to be Wild" with a Communist

2006-07-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

Good Day Dear Readers,

Wow, where to begin. First I think it is important to point out that those small paper decorative fans that you can buy in Chinatown are not toys nor are they decorations. It is over 40 degrees celcius and as a product of public education in the 60's I don't have a clue how hot that is.. All I can share is that I have consumed over 4 liters of water, two cokes, several cups of green tea and two cups of coffee this morning and have yet to pee. My sweat is no longer salty. This weather and the humidity you can cut with a knife along with the smells that seem to get caught in the dampness is definitely triggering my memory banks. Enough about weather and body fluids...

I was up at 5:00 am, that's 2:00 pm the day before for you statistics folks. Took that special shower I mentioned earlier and packed my valise for the day's trekking. Got my site working, had a few cups of joe and headed out for the walking tour of the old quarter. When I arrived at the starting point with my Frommer's Guide in hand, I was approached by a man who was maybe 5' 3" tall who had a marvelous command of english (I later found he spoke russian, german, french and a touch of japanese) and who invited me to jump on the back of his Honda 60 and to "head out on the highway, looking for adventure". Now, I read about these guys in my travelers guide and they said two things, 1. They will ask for $20 but you can bargain them down to $15 and 2. You are taking your life in your hands when you go. Well, I decided to give him the full $20 (after all, he could speak five languages and that should be worth the extra five) and jumped on board. Activities that put your life in another's hand have always appealed to me for some reason. Nothing could begin to describe the amazing techniques people devise when there are no signals and no police, my friend "Ton" was a master. Not only could he navigate thru the caos,, he could talk to me as well.

Our first stop, the tomb and museum of Ho Chi Min. For you younger folks, he was the president of Vietnam who declared independence from the French and beat both they and America in those "conflicts". To make a long story short, he is their George Washington and Abe Lincoln combined. We got in a line that had more security than the airport along with several thousand others so we could view his remains (yes, they actually preserved the guy) which looked a lot like Ripley's Believe it or Not in San Francisco. I must admit, my first thought was "is it to soon to stuff and put George on display? Maybe at his ranch in Texas....

We also visited the oldest university in Vietnam, founded in 1016 by the Chineese. Guess that puts those Ivy League schools to shame as far as longevity. Anyway, this is when Ton begins to loosen up with me and begins to tell me about living under the communists. Folks, Karl Marx was a good writer, a great economist with some good idea's conceptually; but it just doesn't work. Ton shared with me that his wife works in a textile mill (probably making the garments we buy at WalMart) and he is a tour guide, they make less than $2,500 a year and have to pay for their two kids to go to public school. He also said, if you get sick and you are poor, you die. He told me the government leaders are so corrupt, they live in beautiful homes and drive the best cars and nepotism is rampant. I wonder if Karl Marx was still around when George Orwell wrote "Animal Farm"? I hope things get better for Ton's kids...

We then went into the backroads outside of Ha Noi (I actually believed for a moment I was to be rolled for my money and left in the middle of nowhere) and visited a small business that had a silk loom going full blast making beautiful scarves (okay, I guess you know one of your gifts Pam) and we had tea and bargained for some material. I'm sure Ton gets a little kick back but that was okay with me, we all parted happy.. Having had my life spared again on the ride back to the hotel I said good-bye to Ton and even gave him a few more bucks.

Spent the afternoon hydrating and being pushed around in a rickshaw by a fourth year university student in economics for $3/hour. Makes delivering pizza sound like a pretty good gig huh Casey? Stopped in many shops, decided that bargaining was embarrassing as everything is all so inexpensive. Life is so relative....

After seeing the treatment of meat on the sidewalk, I have decided to become a vegetarian until Thailand. I will risk scrape and break on a motorbike but the thought of getting sick from bad food turns me into a coward. Tomorrow I head to Ha Long Bay and will spend the night on a junk out on the water, my no expectations mantra has served me well and I will continue with that approach... More to write but I am tired and you probably have more important things to do, that is if you got this far... I will check in in a few days, unless there is a laptop on the junk. Bye.

Where's the Shower?

2006-07-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I found the shower. It was the faucet with a hose behind the toilet. I feel so stupid, I don"t know why that wasn't the first place I looked... Actually it is very logical, you have a place to sit while you shower and can mulit-task if need be.... As opposed to Japan, everyone here is smiling. Why do the people in the wealthiest countries seem so serious and dire and the people with nothing seem so happy? I went to an ATM and made a withdrawal, the currency in Vietnam is called "Dong" (okay, no smirks) and there are 1,580 dong to the dollar. I must admit it felt very strange asking the ATM machine for 3,000,000 dong with a 20,000 service fee...

I spent last evening just walking the streets and trying to take in this place, candidly I kept expecting Rod Serling to pop out from behind a building and welcome me to the "twilight zone". The population seems very young, the 55+ population is sparse, I will let you draw your own conclusion to that. The streets are narrow and there must be one motor scooter/three people. I don't know how they don't crash into each other, the only thing I would change is eliminating horns. Last night I saw and old man sitting on the sidewalk and simpley sat down next to him. He spoke no english and all we did was smile at each other and watch life go on around us. Pam, this is the people watching capital of the world..

Today my objective is to take a walking tour of the old quarter and take pictures. Hanoi is divided into four quarters, the old quarter is filled with French colonial structures that somehow remind me of Locke down in the delta. It seems that people essentially live, eat and work on the sidewalks. I am approached frequently by ladies carrying a bamboo stick on their shoulder with baskets of bananas on each end, I need to learn how to say "I don"t like bananas" in Vietnamese.

What did we ever do before digital cameras? I will check in tonight. Love to you all and now would be a good time for you to take a big breath and thank God for the abundance we have in the states.

Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

2006-07-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

In Hanoi. My mind is blown. My head is spinning. Everything seems surealistic. Will write more tomorrow. Hope I can get my Japanese postings working.

Final Reflections From Tokyo

2006-07-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I`m beginning to feel like I am writing to myself. The computer screen is in Japanese and I can`t figure out how to republish... I can only imagine what will happen when I switch tomorrow to Vietnamese!

I once said I did not want to come back to Japan but instead choose to remember it how it was. I don`t know if I changed or it changed here (obviuosly both) but four days have been enough and I am ready to move to my next destination. I guess it`s true that you can never go home again.. I fly to Hanoi tomorrow morning.

Some final observations on Japan and the Japanese:

1. They have taken capitalism to it`s next level, the whole society is precise in every aspect of doing business and the food chain is very evident.
2. When you pay for something or receive something back, there is no contact. You put your money on a little tray and you get your change back on the same tray. It`s just like restaruants in America.
3. Bowing is another non-contact exercise. I was in a bank this morning trading little trays with the teller when two older businessmen arrived to meet with the bankers. I am not exagerating when I tell you they bowed back and forth for nearly 30 seconds.
4. If you work in an office, you wear a suit. The females wear suits that consist of white shirts, wide ties (red only), skirts and vests that match the skirt.
5. There is virtually no obesity. With the number of stairs required to climb daily to and from the subway, with the number of bikes used (1 bike/4 pedistrians), no flour or lard, and good old fashioned genetics they seem pretty healthy.
6. Unhealthy side is the cigarettes. Hard to avoid, especially when eating.
7. There are no Orthodontists in Japan. I never saw anyone in braces.
8. Only one out of three people that look at you smile back.
9. To find someone who speaks english, ask a girl under 20.
10. They have special shoes to wear not only when you enter the inn, you change shoes to ones marked "toilet" when you go there.
11. American Japanese food is much better than it is here. Kind of like Mexican food.
12. Don`t experiment with unknown beverages out of the vending machines.
13. The greatest oxymoron - There are no trash cans on the street nor is there any litter...
14. I have seen two African-Americans, no Indians, no Hispanic, fewer than 20 caucasions, and no other races here.
15. It`s either Japanese food or American fast food. I saw one Indian restaruant.
16. There are lots of Starbucks that seem to be empty.
17. There are very few places where things are written in any language but Japanese.
18. It is easy to control immigration when your country is an island.
19. One on one they are extreamly kind.
20. Don`t ask directions from people over 50, they will tell you the wrong way to avoid telling you they don`t know.
21. No matter which train ticket you buy, it will be wrong. The subway system now has a picture of me at each station so the attendent knows me when I approach.
22. The only thing mechanical I have seen that is not Japanese is this HP computer, they don`t buy American (but then again, what do we make?).
23. Nobody dresses like me.
24. They wear masks when they are sick.

I`ll think of more but need to go get my laundry and start packing. I think everyone needs to leave our country every now and then to appreciate what we have.... I know I do.

Barbarians at the Gate, Service with a Smile

2006-07-09T02:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Ones,

The rain has kept me from climbing Mt. Fuji tonight, go ahead and call me a wuss, I can take the verbal abuse. I have hit an age and physical ability where pain and discomfort for the sake of machismo no longer interest me. I decided to go downtown to buy a futon instead.

I went to a store (the Japanese equilivant of J.C. Penneys) on the recommendation of the inn keeper as I didn`t want to spend to much. Yes Pam, I know I`m frugal. When I went into the store I was greeted with a smile and a bow from the young lady in a uniform (looked like a girl from a Catholic school) who directed me to the second floor. Upon my arrival I was assigned to another young lady who spoke english about as well as I spoke japanese. She guided me to every item required for the proper japanese futon set and even opened each package and spread it on a special table for bedding. After I had made my selection, I was seated at a table and offered a cup of tea while she completed the paperwork. When I was told the shipping of the parcel via DHL would be 150,000 yen (about $1,300) needless to say I had to rescind my purchase. They understood, smiled and apologized to me. Never one to give up, I went to the post office (yes, they are open on Sunday) and found I could ship it for 8,100 yen. I go back to the store and ask them to get everythingthey had by now repackaged, and to prepare it for purchase and shipping. By now the floor manager and the store manager were there to see the crazy American and his futon. They packaged everything right in front of me, boxed it and then put it in the back of the store truck and transported it and yours truly to the post office. After many bows and thank yous I am now at the postoffice where after measuring the parcel I am notified it is to large for shipping. Remember, the post office is run by the government. The manager of the post office volunteers to take the package apart and to repackage it into several boxes that will allow it to be mailed, I will go back in the morning and pay them for shipping but they will not accept any monetary reward for the extra work.

Nordstroms, you better watch out if a Japanese retailer ever decides to come to America. Post office, I won`t even comment. When I read the book Shogun by James Clavell many years ago, Lord Toranoga described the caucasions as barbarians. I need to tell you that compared to the staffs I have experienced recently working in our retail stores, he wasn`t to far off.

I can also say that in three days now I have seen exactly ONE american car. Lot`s of german cars. 35 years ago, it was the dream of every japanese to own an american car. How many japanese cars are owned by americans? General Motors and Ford, you may as well pack your global bags and go home. It`s a good thing you are merging and joint venturing because the rest of the world doesn`t want a cadallic anymore.... Heading to the bath and then to bed. Later

Jonny`s Garden

2006-07-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello Again Tomodachies (Friends),

Why do we choose to visit places we have been before when there is so much of the world we will never see? On my first day here I decided to visit three places; the base I was stationed at (Tachikawa), the place I lived (Nishi Tachikawa) and Jonny`s Garden (Itsui Kaichi). I am happy to report I was successful in this endeavor.

Tachikawa has been turned into a Japanese military base, I could enter. I did see however that the Japanese Army was training with sticks instead of guns... There`s a novel concept, isn`t it a pity that all wars aren`t fought with sticks? Somehow I believe that after we beat the crap out of each other we would be less inclined to continue...

Nishi Tachikawa had changed so much I couldn`t even get my bearings. After 35 years should I have been surprised? The little restruant where I ate my favorite dish katsu-curri (pork and curry over rice) was also gone, it made me reflect on the reality that the older couple who were so kind to me have probably passed into the next realm...

Itsui Kaichi was the last train stop after changing trains, subways and buses no less that eight times. Let me give you some history of Itsui Kaichi. It is up in the mountains (we would call them big hills) and is a hidden waterfall that drops into a beautiful clear pool and that has four or five smaller falls below. There was a song by Steven Stills that became my anthum while I was there, let me give you the verse that has stayed with me forever:

And I`ll do anything I got to do
Cut my hair and shine my shoes
and keep on singin the blues
if I can stay here
in Jonny`s Garden

This tranquile place became my refuge. A sanctuary. I went there at least every two weeks. Very few people knew about it or visited. It did not matter the season. In the heat of summer the cool air would come up from the pool and give such relief from the humidity. In the winter you could hear the water drop but the outside of the waterfall was actually frozen (there really is no prettier site) and in spring and fall the new leaves and color would match anyplace in the world. I only wish the people in Iraq could have a Jonny`s Garden...

On another note, when I was riding the trains 35 years ago my memory was how thankful I was to be tall. When the people were stuffed inside, I had my own layer of air and great visibility. I surmise that western food (Big Mac-O) and similac have changed the next generation and they are now much larger... My view was encumbered by many 6` tall twenty-thirty somethings...

The end of the day allowed me to find a restaruant that made katsu currie and to again soak in the ryokans ofuro... a fitting end.

Deja Vu Alｌ　Over Again

2006-07-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ｏｈａｙｏ　Ｇｏｚａｍａｓｉ　Ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ，

Ｗｅｌｌ　ａｓ　Ｉ　ｓｉｔ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｏｎ　ａ　Ｓａｔｕｒｄａｙ　ｍｏｒｎｉｎｇ，　ｙｏｕ　ａｒｅ　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　ｅｎｊｏｙｉｎｇ　ａ　Ｆｒｉｄａｙ　afternoon. It is certainly different typing on a blog page that is in Japanese... My flight, train ride and taxi were nothing write about. The ryokan (guesthouse) that I am staying in is absolutely perfect. Tiny room with a futon, small table, refrigerator (filled to capacity with beer, I didn`t have the heart to tell them I don`t drink) and decorated so simpley it`s elegent. I quickly found there is no reading the sports page on a Japanese toilet... The ofuro (bath) is in the basement and is just how I remembered it, you get clean outside the bath and then emerse yourself in the clean healing fresh water. Last night, after the bath I forced myself into walking the streets to avoid going to sleep to early, still woke up at 4:30 am.

You can buy anything from a vending machine; whiskey, coffee, clothes, beer, soda, cigarettes (I have found where Lucky Strikes, Phillip Morris, Lark and Parliment have ended up), lotto or almost anything. These things are everywhere! I have also discovered that peoples cars are stacked on racks instead of parking lots, amazing what we can do when there is little room. I did find a Starbucks this morning, no lines but $3.60 for a cup...

It is very difficult to get a person on the street to look you in the eye or smile. This culture seems very serious and unhappy. It was amazing for me to see men my age in suits and ties at 5:00 am on a Saturday (don`t know if they were going or coming). Workacholism is rampant.

I will sign off, going exploring and will report later on my day.. I can`t seem to locate the spell check, I guess you will now see my weakness, but I also believe that anyone who spells the same words the same way everytime lacks creativity.. Sayonara

Plastic Fantastic Journey

2006-07-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

As I prepare to leave I remember words of wisdom from a friend.."The core of peace lives not in thoughts, nor in the deeds I do. It lives inside my heart, in how I feel about me. When I have learned to be at peace within myself, then shall I radiate that peace to all."

I am trying to go from head to heart. My business requires me to live in the analytic world of numbers and concepts. My experience as a man has taught me to be a problem solver, to remain emotionally unattached to my decisions. Descartes said "I think, therefore I am" not "I feel, therefore I am". I thank Pam for helping me learn to feel.

I know for me to become a peaceful warrior and to accomplish my objectives, I must live in my heart on this "plastic fantastic journey".

Passports, immunization and butterflies

2006-06-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

I've got my visas, I'm healthy, I'm packed and I'm excited. New adventurers await. I have read all the travel books, surfed the web, talked to friends and am prepared.

I go with no expectations, ensuring whatever happens is just as my kids say "all good". Japan, Vietnam, Loas, Cambodia and Thailand. Staying as close to the coast as possible. Will post from Tokyo on the 7th.

I will be physically alone. Spiritually I will carry a bit from each of you.

Bye for now............