A Travel Blog

Following the sun around the world
Merhaba from Cappadocia!

Merhaba from Cappadocia!

Chilaquiles I’ve never seen so many restaurants offer chilaquiles like they do in Chicago. Found more chilaquiles on Chicago menus than in Los Angeles.

Chilaquiles

I’ve never seen so many restaurants offer chilaquiles like they do in Chicago. Found more chilaquiles on Chicago menus than in Los Angeles.

7107photos: 444. Sigay sa butas Sungka is a Filipino game for two. The objective of the game is to get the most number of shells (sigay in Filipino) in your “house.” You deposit one shell in each of the smaller holes and your house, going in a clockwise direction, until you end up in an empty hole. It’s a game of strategy and estimation because you have to make sure that when you drop the last shell in your hand, it’s either in your house (which allows you to have another go) or in an empty hole in your area with a number of shells opposite your opponent’s area (which allows you to get your opponent’s shells).

7107photos:

444. Sigay sa butas

Sungka is a Filipino game for two. The objective of the game is to get the most number of shells (sigay in Filipino) in your “house.” You deposit one shell in each of the smaller holes and your house, going in a clockwise direction, until you end up in an empty hole.

It’s a game of strategy and estimation because you have to make sure that when you drop the last shell in your hand, it’s either in your house (which allows you to have another go) or in an empty hole in your area with a number of shells opposite your opponent’s area (which allows you to get your opponent’s shells).

Siddhartha Currently re-reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Already he knew how to pronounce the Om silently—this word of words, to say it inwardly with the intake of breath, when breathing out with all his soul, his brow radiating the glow of pure spirit. Already he knew how to recognize Atman within the depth of his being, indestructible, at one with the universe.

Siddhartha

Currently re-reading Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.

Already he knew how to pronounce the Om silently—this word of words, to say it inwardly with the intake of breath, when breathing out with all his soul, his brow radiating the glow of pure spirit. Already he knew how to recognize Atman within the depth of his being, indestructible, at one with the universe.

Ordering Coffee in Khmer It’s been almost three years since I left Phnom Penh and sadly I’ve forgotten some of the Khmer words and phrases I learned while living there. One thing I haven’t forgotten how to say: Iced coffee with milk Ga-fay toek doh koh toek gok In cafes such as T&C where I’d find myself some mornings, I liked to call the cafe barista, “bong” which is like older brother or sister, when ordering my iced coffee with milk. Bong, ga-fay toek doh koh toek gok.

Ordering Coffee in Khmer

It’s been almost three years since I left Phnom Penh and sadly I’ve forgotten some of the Khmer words and phrases I learned while living there.

One thing I haven’t forgotten how to say:

Iced coffee with milk

Ga-fay toek doh koh toek gok

In cafes such as T&C where I’d find myself some mornings, I liked to call the cafe barista, “bong” which is like older brother or sister, when ordering my iced coffee with milk.

Bong, ga-fay toek doh koh toek gok.

The Lady Democracy is a Western word but the idea of freedom and security, dutifully balanced, is a concept that is acceptable to human beings across the globe. -Aung San Suu Kyi

The Lady

Democracy is a Western word but the idea of freedom and security, dutifully balanced, is a concept that is acceptable to human beings across the globe.

-Aung San Suu Kyi

Gloria Jeans in Istanbul

Located just outside of Customs inside the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Gloria Jeans Cafe made for a familiar meeting place with my sister when she arrived from Los Angeles. I sent her a text as I waited: When you exit Customs, turn right. Meet me at Gloria Jeans, past the atms. Her reaction: Gloria Jeans. Hahaha!

Also located at the airport, I learned that the Post Office here has a competitive exchange rate. Always inquire about the commission fee since lots of places post the exchange rate which usually doesn’t include this fee. Upon exiting Customs, turn right, pass Gloria Jeans and the Post Office will be at the end of the terminal. You can’t miss its bright yellow exterior.

From California to the New York Island

One of many travel lists, I’d like to visit all 50 states before I’m 50.

I have 12 more to go!

Alabama
Alaska
Arkansas 
Kansas
Maine
Mississippi 
Missouri
Nebraska 
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma

These photos were taken on a road trip in the Fall of 1996 from Virginia to Vermont. Photos courtesy of May.

The beautiful Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) in
Istanbul has served as both an Orthodox church and mosque in her glorious past.

No Reservations

Taken from my travel journal dated August 11, 2003.

We drove to South Dakota and back to California in 9 days. After renting a Ford Escape mini suv, we packed our sleeping bags, tents, food supplies, and drove through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. We didn’t make any reservations and decided to drive wherever the day would take us. Everyday we camped under a million stars and explored the national parks and monuments: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Little Bighorn, Devil’s Tower, Mt. Rushmore, and Arches National Park. The highlight of the trip was the wildlife roaming in Yellowstone: buffalo, deer, elk, moose and pronghorn. Other memorable moments: A highway with no one on it (U2). Dodging birds that might fly into the truck’s grill on the drive from Montana to South Dakota. Rolling hills and endless dusty roads leading to no where. A word of advice: You should never plan a road trip around the time of the Sturgis Bike Rally if you don’t have reservations two years in advance. The town of Sturgis in South Dakota has a population of about 5,000. I’d never heard of this rally which is held once a year and draws about 25,000 motorcycle bikers! Sturgis was the only town where we couldn’t find a place to stay. After driving for two hours in Sturgis, we crossed back into Wyoming and still couldn’t find a place. Around midnight we finally found a motel on the main highway that was willing to let us stay in their dining hall in fold-out cots. Except for Sturgis, camping in the National Parks without a reservation was fairly easy and inexpensive.

I have a twin in Tokyo. Kiyomi and I met in Cambodia when we shared a six-hour bus ride to Siem Reap. My friends Nam, Len and I were staying for one day while Kiyomi was planning to stay two before flying home to Japan. On the bus she was sitting directly behind me and we talked about how we were both going to Angkor Wat for the weekend to celebrate our birthdays, which we also shared. I couldn’t believe the odds of our meeting. She was traveling on her own from Tokyo and had no plans for dinner so I invited her to join us on our first night. We exchanged phone numbers and I agreed to contact her after we decided on a place to eat. Here we are at FCC having pizza. We’ve written a few times since and we always sign our letters, “Your twin.” Until we meet again, from your twin. Left to Right: Nam’s friend (partially pictured), Kiyomi, me, Nam and Len.

I have a twin in Tokyo. Kiyomi and I met in Cambodia when we shared a six-hour bus ride to Siem Reap. My friends Nam, Len and I were staying for one day while Kiyomi was planning to stay two before flying home to Japan. On the bus she was sitting directly behind me and we talked about how we were both going to Angkor Wat for the weekend to celebrate our birthdays, which we also shared. I couldn’t believe the odds of our meeting. She was traveling on her own from Tokyo and had no plans for dinner so I invited her to join us on our first night. We exchanged phone numbers and I agreed to contact her after we decided on a place to eat. Here we are at FCC having pizza.

We’ve written a few times since and we always sign our letters, “Your twin.” Until we meet again, from your twin.

Left to Right: Nam’s friend (partially pictured), Kiyomi, me, Nam and Len.

Independent Travel

Reading my last post made me reflect on how vulnerable women can be traveling independently. Whether being followed in Rome eleven years ago by a guy who I’m sure preyed on tourists on the Spanish Steps to the guy in Istanbul who brazenly asked me for sex while I was walking back to my hotel. I understand why on a recent trip to Cairo the women rode separately in subway cars since the trains are so crowded that everyone is pressed together. While I’ve never been groped, it’s a reality that happens. I’ve witnessed this even at my local shopping center.

Being harassed in a foreign land is no longer disconcerting to me since I’ve been traveling independently for over ten years. It doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.

Sexual harassment while traveling is not common but both men and women should always take caution.

That being said, where are we going next?