Latest stories
Here are some of the latest stories from the Travelers Circle (tc):
Lis (College Park, Maryland) writes,"When we left Varanasi, it was 120 f. outside and 115 f. inside our apartment. A couple of months before leaving, we invested in a desert cooler, a monstrous size metal hybrid fan/AC unit that sits outside a window filled with water. If we sat directly in front of the window, it sort of cooled us until everyone in Varanasi began using their desert coolers, fans and ACs, and the power was off more than it was on. In the middle of many nights, I found myself crawling back into bed after a cold shower without even toweling off for a little respite from the heat. "We spent our last weeks in India around Darjeeling at the foothills of the Himalayas. When the British colonized, they created 'hill stations' in the mountainous areas to retreat from the heat. Darjeeling is one such hill station and has retained its European resorty feel. From Darjeeling, we trekked in the mountains, walking 13 kilometers a day, staying in simple trekker lodges along the way. Leo was a champ splitting his time between his Daddy's shoulders and toting a bamboo walking stick. There were chickens, buffalo, yaks, and mountain goats along the way. We saw an escaped calf right out of a children's book with her bell jingling and her leash still attached to a wayward stake. We returned to the most beautiful place on earth, Cauldron Hill, sharing with Leo the spot we found in 1999 that Eric sings about in the song, 'Jack and Jill' on his first CD, Birdsong. "We are grateful for the family Fulbright experience in India. It was truly wonderful even though life in Varanasi is not exactly easy. You try to maintain your humility because there are millions of people who live their lives daily and call Varanasi home. Each day we saw the same street vendors--frying samosas in hot oil under a tarp on the side of the street, selling flowers to garland the gods in the temple, peddling fruit-in-season on a cart (when we left, it was litchi, watermelon, and mangoes). Each day we rode cycle and auto rickshaws. We got used to the constant horns, the smell of burning trash and the lack of personal space. We miss our friends, the professors and students we met during our 8 months who continue to ride their motorbikes in Varanasi through the hot summer, through the monsoon rains, year after year after year. "Upon our return home, Leo was dubious when I didn't peel his apple and shocked when I said he could brush his teeth with the water in the bathroom sink. He misses the animals we passed on our daily adventures: the monkeys, pigs, goats, buffalo, cows. And 8 months of living with potentially malarial mosquitoes, taking medication and sleeping under nets provided a great homecoming. The mosquitoes in College Park are vicious after a good rain, and they find Leo delicious. Of course I don't like to see his legs polka-dotted with bites, but I take nothing for granted. We are fortunate to have our health and an experience of a lifetime within us. Thanks for reading along and sharing the adventure with us."Lis' story--and more--will be told this Wednesday night, September 5th, at the DC Traveler's Circle (tc). tc meets 6:30-10pm (show up/leave whenever), at the sort-of-cooled Kabab House at 1108 K Street, NW, between 11th and 12th, 3 blocks north of Metro Center. This month's tc will be run by Mark, just back from adventures in England, Montreal, and the backwoods of northern Vermont. Ray writes: I read something at the tc the month before from a friend who is in Madagascar. An email from her advised me of a guy she met who has a travel videoblog with a daily clip. They are all on his website and a few are really great (I've seen him mentioned on the news). Please allow me to suggest http://www.Mynameisbill.com and my strong recommendation to check it out. I wouldn't be saying this if I weren't so moved by them...three of my favorites are: http://www.mynameisbill.com/20070706.html http://www.mynameisbill.com/20070531.html http://www.mynameisbill.com/20070803.html Mark writes: Do you know a data professional with Oracle experience who is looking for work in Washington, DC? For details write me at chimp@radix.net [distrib 523] From last month's tc:
Tom (China) writes,
"Well it has been eventful. Delayed out of London, redirected via Shanghai and now in Beijing. My luggage however never left Munich. It would be an understatement to say that I was upset about this fact. Great Chinese practice but if another person had said 'mei you' (no have) or 'wo bu zhidao' (I don't know) I would have throttled them. Under my cool zen like exterior was a wild animal, angered and ready to kill.
"Happy days, I have now been reunited with my luggage and am about to leave for Xinjiang by plane. I thought the silk road would be the difficult bit, little did I know that the real enemy was Lufthansa. Tomorrrow I will be on the southern silk route. The plan is to move from Wumuluqi off to Kuqi, then Minfeng, then Yar and end up in Kashgar. I have my linen trousers, Essax cricket hat and Arab head dress so I'm fully kitted out for the desert.
"This evening I have had my first Chinese food adventure. I went to dinner this evening and allowed Fiona my fellow travel companion to order the food. It was a picture menu = what could go wrong? Well against my better jugement and that of the waitress she ordered 'mao xue wang' or 'hairy blood pot'. As I picked my way through the ducks blood toufu (the best bit), the cows intestine, eel and tongue it was decided that Fiona was no longer allowed input into food related decisions. At least there was no hair in it, but most other things seem to have made it into this pot of doom.
"Well the Chinese is flowing back and I am back to the old banter levels. Just so excited about the desert. It is seriously baking in Beijing and I am the sweaty man. I am also getting the usual Chinese talk as they walk by me and think I do not understand. So far my large nose has been pointed out to the the rest of the family members and my chest hair has once again become a focal point of conversation for the Chinese around me. There have been no stroking incidents of the chest hair yet but an old man has given me the thumbs up on Tiananmen square and pointed at the chest hair. I think I should just stand in the square take off my top and charge people for a stroke... Fiona on the other hand is told how beautiful she is and asked to pose in photos. She has had 3 marriage proposals so far. No one seems interested in the oversized monkey that is accompanying her."
Tom's story--and more--will be told this Wednesday night, August 1st, at the DC Traveler's Circle (tc). tc meets 6:30-10pm (show up/leave whenever), at the delectable Kabab House at 1108 K Street, NW, between 11th and 12th, 3 blocks north of Metro Center. This month's tc will be run by adventuresome Andrew and Brian, and suggested themes include travel and culinary adventure in China. Brian will be setting up for the tc at 6:30pm--please show up early and help him with the tables, as his arms are a bit damaged due to a recent bicycle adventure...
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