Tuesday, September 30, 2008
in this installment, james freaks out.
Unlucky for me, the only English-speaking TV station is CNN.
To everyone in the States, we're praying. I hope everyone is thus far unaffected, but I'm sure the real repercussions won't show up immediately.
I wrote a whole blog about living in a commune on the Burnson's property, but erased it because it was more scary than funny.
Who knows, this could all be smoke, and likely overblown in our minds. But I'm sure there was a similar reaction in 1929.
God bless all of you, and to a lot of the folks that read this blog who all are friends and see each other semi-regularly, I'd like to say that in the very near future you all may be called to depend on each other in ways we're not used to. Assuming things get as bad as the media seems to think they can. If anyone needs anything, let's not be afraid to ask. I'm not sure what I can or could do, but I include myself in there as well.
Here's to hoping I'll look back at this blog post and laugh.
To everyone in the States, we're praying. I hope everyone is thus far unaffected, but I'm sure the real repercussions won't show up immediately.
I wrote a whole blog about living in a commune on the Burnson's property, but erased it because it was more scary than funny.
Who knows, this could all be smoke, and likely overblown in our minds. But I'm sure there was a similar reaction in 1929.
God bless all of you, and to a lot of the folks that read this blog who all are friends and see each other semi-regularly, I'd like to say that in the very near future you all may be called to depend on each other in ways we're not used to. Assuming things get as bad as the media seems to think they can. If anyone needs anything, let's not be afraid to ask. I'm not sure what I can or could do, but I include myself in there as well.
Here's to hoping I'll look back at this blog post and laugh.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
in this installment, james gets an offer he can refuse
SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Right off the plane you're handed a pamphlet that reads SEX WITH A CHILD IS A CRIME.
It makes me wonder, if someone needs reminded, is this really going to stop them?
The streets are third world-glorious, rotting garbage in random corners, parked motorbikes spill into the street and force you to walk in traffic, and most corners are dotted with beggars and peddlers ... of which, one make offered me a blow job.
Now, I find this disconcerting. Not that I was offered sex on the most infamously sexual land mass on the plant, but that I was only offered once. By a dude.
Is it simply neurosis to wonder why this is the case? Cause it sucks, for ego alone.
So far the heat has gone from unbearable to strangely lovable. I think it's like an abusive spouse: it pounds you into submission until you believe you love it. On my first day I took three cold showers ... today I took two, so that's an improvement.
I also got a look at the parts of Siem Reap that are NOT on the main drag ... shanties on rickety poles above the river, peddling strange meats and jewelry. It was here that Matthew promptly turned towards the side of the street and vomited water ... scared us for a bit, but seems it wasn't food, just didn't drink enough water to prepare for the heat. It really is impossible to describe unless you've been here.
Anyway, he's fine now. We ate and drank (enormous entrees $2, a half liter of beer $2, so I eat for about $10!) and feel much better. We also slept away the heat of the afternoon, so God help us on the temple climbs tomorrow!
Miss you all - the strangest part of all this (the Thailand stretch, anyway) will be not sharing it with anyone. If anyone wants to go, I'll be glad to come back here, so far it's pure, filthy magic!
Right off the plane you're handed a pamphlet that reads SEX WITH A CHILD IS A CRIME.
It makes me wonder, if someone needs reminded, is this really going to stop them?
The streets are third world-glorious, rotting garbage in random corners, parked motorbikes spill into the street and force you to walk in traffic, and most corners are dotted with beggars and peddlers ... of which, one make offered me a blow job.
Now, I find this disconcerting. Not that I was offered sex on the most infamously sexual land mass on the plant, but that I was only offered once. By a dude.
Is it simply neurosis to wonder why this is the case? Cause it sucks, for ego alone.
So far the heat has gone from unbearable to strangely lovable. I think it's like an abusive spouse: it pounds you into submission until you believe you love it. On my first day I took three cold showers ... today I took two, so that's an improvement.
I also got a look at the parts of Siem Reap that are NOT on the main drag ... shanties on rickety poles above the river, peddling strange meats and jewelry. It was here that Matthew promptly turned towards the side of the street and vomited water ... scared us for a bit, but seems it wasn't food, just didn't drink enough water to prepare for the heat. It really is impossible to describe unless you've been here.
Anyway, he's fine now. We ate and drank (enormous entrees $2, a half liter of beer $2, so I eat for about $10!) and feel much better. We also slept away the heat of the afternoon, so God help us on the temple climbs tomorrow!
Miss you all - the strangest part of all this (the Thailand stretch, anyway) will be not sharing it with anyone. If anyone wants to go, I'll be glad to come back here, so far it's pure, filthy magic!
Friday, September 26, 2008
in this installment, james finds almost free internet, in cambodia
Well, I'm in Cambodia ... safe and sound, relatively speaking.
Matthew will be here in a few hours and I'm a bit worried he'll find me, the guest house we agreed to meet at has changed its name from Green Park to Green House ... my driver seemed to know the name had chaged recently, so let's hope Matt's driver does as well.
My driver also wanted 20/day to drive me to the temples, regardless of me telling him over and over that we couldn't fit two of his on his bike, and that MY friends had gotten a car for $7/day, and he balked. Dammit, I hope prices havn't risen that much in a year. I doubt it.
The country is beautiful ... absolutely stunning. The energy is unlike anything I've ever experienced ... I hopped on the back of a Moped right out of the airport and we jetted down the main highway during rush hour ... mororbikes EVERYWHERE.
I
MEAN
EVERYWHERE.
It impossible to describe, really. No helmet, no jeans, just bare legs and bare head clinging to a mike that weighs less than me, swerving around buses, pedestrians, bicycles, and a hot Cambodian girl in high heels driving a Vespa.
Awesome.
I can already tell this will be a challenge for me. I hate, hate, hate bartering and sleazy dealing with money. To the very core of me I've never understood why anything, even poverty, needs to lead to shady dealing. Easy for me to say? Maybe ... my family's been on pretty hard times ... not third world hard times, but pretty damn hard. And I hear so many stories about poor folks across the world that are generous. The church I staid with in Mexico was incredibly poor, but they were kind and trustworthy.
Ugh. I hate it.
One woman begged me for money and I refused, so she followed me down the street, demanding her toddler scream and shout and beg to make me feel bad. They followed me for a block and I could have socked her in the mouth. What kind of mother does that to her child? Ever. Ever. And at the same time, my heart broke to hear that from a child, even a child that was obviously well fed.
*sight*
Well, off to wait for Matthew. And a geckoo just climbed down the wall to stare at me, so I think it's time to go!
Matthew will be here in a few hours and I'm a bit worried he'll find me, the guest house we agreed to meet at has changed its name from Green Park to Green House ... my driver seemed to know the name had chaged recently, so let's hope Matt's driver does as well.
My driver also wanted 20/day to drive me to the temples, regardless of me telling him over and over that we couldn't fit two of his on his bike, and that MY friends had gotten a car for $7/day, and he balked. Dammit, I hope prices havn't risen that much in a year. I doubt it.
The country is beautiful ... absolutely stunning. The energy is unlike anything I've ever experienced ... I hopped on the back of a Moped right out of the airport and we jetted down the main highway during rush hour ... mororbikes EVERYWHERE.
I
MEAN
EVERYWHERE.
It impossible to describe, really. No helmet, no jeans, just bare legs and bare head clinging to a mike that weighs less than me, swerving around buses, pedestrians, bicycles, and a hot Cambodian girl in high heels driving a Vespa.
Awesome.
I can already tell this will be a challenge for me. I hate, hate, hate bartering and sleazy dealing with money. To the very core of me I've never understood why anything, even poverty, needs to lead to shady dealing. Easy for me to say? Maybe ... my family's been on pretty hard times ... not third world hard times, but pretty damn hard. And I hear so many stories about poor folks across the world that are generous. The church I staid with in Mexico was incredibly poor, but they were kind and trustworthy.
Ugh. I hate it.
One woman begged me for money and I refused, so she followed me down the street, demanding her toddler scream and shout and beg to make me feel bad. They followed me for a block and I could have socked her in the mouth. What kind of mother does that to her child? Ever. Ever. And at the same time, my heart broke to hear that from a child, even a child that was obviously well fed.
*sight*
Well, off to wait for Matthew. And a geckoo just climbed down the wall to stare at me, so I think it's time to go!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
in this installment, james finds free internet
Hooray for free wireless lounges at Inchion Airport, and for free computers (for 30 minutes at least).
Inchion is, so far, the largest airport I've had to navigate. I'm sure Narita was bigger, but I just popped from gate to gate so it wasn't so bad.
When you walk into Inchion, there are giant islands marked with letters, and there are about 2-4 different airlines in each island ... and you have to walk around them to find which ones. It's really quite intimidating, there are about 8 of them, stretching through the "great hall".
I made it through security ok, it turns out there was a nail file in the shaving kit I bought ... right next to a pair of sharp scissors I also failed to notice.
They took the nail fail and left the scissors. You know, terrorists DESERVE to win.
Oh, and for all of those planning on visiting Korea, it's notorious for being the hardest Asian country in which to use a foreign debit card. Found that out the day before my trip. *sigh*
Luckily all the ATMs in the airport are global.
That's it for now, I'll try and post in Cambodia!
Inchion is, so far, the largest airport I've had to navigate. I'm sure Narita was bigger, but I just popped from gate to gate so it wasn't so bad.
When you walk into Inchion, there are giant islands marked with letters, and there are about 2-4 different airlines in each island ... and you have to walk around them to find which ones. It's really quite intimidating, there are about 8 of them, stretching through the "great hall".
I made it through security ok, it turns out there was a nail file in the shaving kit I bought ... right next to a pair of sharp scissors I also failed to notice.
They took the nail fail and left the scissors. You know, terrorists DESERVE to win.
Oh, and for all of those planning on visiting Korea, it's notorious for being the hardest Asian country in which to use a foreign debit card. Found that out the day before my trip. *sigh*
Luckily all the ATMs in the airport are global.
That's it for now, I'll try and post in Cambodia!
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