You Don’t just quit a great job and leave it all behind to lie on a beach. This had been a reoccurring thought of mine for the past 8 months and was once again in my head as I flew from Makassar to Jayapura, the capital of Papua.
Lessons on Life and Death in Toraja
July 2, 2010 By 3 Comments
*ANIMAL LOVERS BEWARE. THIS POST CONTAINS GORY IMAGES.
“Of course death is better than life” my guide Budi stated after we just watched the sacrifice of two large buffalo for a funeral ceremony. In my time in Toraja, I could not think of a better summary of their unique cultural beliefs.
It was in the slow hours of the morning in my first few months in Fort Albany I caught a short clip showcasing the elaborate funerals and death rituals of the Torajan’s in Sulawesi. I was captivated, having seen nor heard nothing of it before, I couldn’t believe traditions like these were still being played out in our modern world. It was Tana Toraja which kicked off my desire to visit Indonesia and it was Indonesia which started the idea for the whole 9 month trip that is now coming to a close.
Temple to Temple at Angkor Part Two
June 28, 2010 By 1 Comment
Having visited the “Big Hitters” the first day I was unsure of what to expect for my second day of temple hopping.
Temple to Temple at Angkor Part One
April 22, 2010 By 4 Comments
A few years ago when the topic of travel came up in conversation with a friend he spoke of his goal to see “the 7 wonders” of the world. In my personal experience, these, the best known sites in the world have never lived up to the hype surrounding them and are always crawling with massive tour groups making the chances for a unique individual experience quite difficult. Local populations living around these places, more often than not, are so used to dealing with tourists and taking their money that it creates a lot of hassel for the budget traveler who does not care about tacky souvenirs and amusement park like attractions such as camel riding to the Taj Mahal.When I think back to some of the most amazing places and people i’ve met thy very rarely include a countries top tourist destination. Having heard the praise for Angkor a thousands times before, I was pessimistic to say the least as to what the next few days would hold.
Thingyan – Wet and Wild Days
April 17, 2010 By 3 Comments
The Buddhists have a strange way of bringing in their new year. While back home we might get dressed up and spend an evening overdosing on champagne or another booze of choice, this part of Asia prefers to dump buckets of ice cold water on anyone brave enough to enter the streets. Of course one day isn’t enough and the giant water fight lasts a total of 3 crazy days.
Lakeside Living
April 14, 2010 By 8 Comments
Yet another recommendation from a traveler brought me to Mingalar Inn which upon first inspection, blew me away. After 3 days of hot dusty trekking, not to mention being covered in mice shit, Mingalar became my oasis. The lovely owners greeted me with fresh lime juice and watermelon at the entrance and when I checked the room, decorated in bamboo stalks and traditional Intha hats, I knew i would stay for awhile.
Over the Hills and Far Away – Trek Kalaw to Inle Lake
April 11, 2010 By 4 Comments
* Again Im sorry to this blog for the neglect ive shown it this past while. Actually I tried to upload some photos in a few different places and it seems its just not going to work. Ill add more later cause this post is a little text heavy. Thanks for reading!
I chose to stay at the ever popular, Golden Lilly guesthouse and was extremely happy with my rustic chalet style room for only 5 dollars a night, WITH a private bathroom!
Since I arrived so late in the night, I spent the next day catching up on lost sleep and from the body bashing Myanmar buses give out. The staff at Golden Lilly were friendly and offered me a spot to go trekking with a group of 4 other tourists the next day. Since I had already had another guide recommendation and wanting a more individual experience I politely declined the offer and set out to find Sam’s Trekking office.
Around the World On A Toilet – Hsipaw
April 7, 2010 By 4 Comments
After almost 4 days in the big city, I began to feel that unshakable feeling one gets when its time to leave the urban centers behind for some fresh air.
