Travelogue: August 25th

We're finally in Mandalay. (Although, when we left Yangon we thought we were going to end up in Bagan.) We spent a couple of days traveling up here from Yangon. It's not the easiest country to travel in, especially when avoiding the gov-run trains. We had to take a 12-hour bus the first day, arriving at 3:30am at a small ( Read more... )

Travelogue: August 22nd

So, yes, this is our third day in Myanmar (Burma) and I have to say that Yangon (Rangoon) has got to be the most interesting city I've ever visited. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it's beat all possible expectations. The people are so genuine and have the warmest smiles of anyone I've ever met. They are friendly and ( Read more... )

Checked email/facebook, etc. a total of about 60 minutes over the 9 day period ( Read more... )

Summer weather has arrived already
It's only April but the 30C+/90F+ temperatures have already arrived. It'll stay like this now for a good five months. (Could be worse Saigon has this weather year-round.) But I've been having trouble finding clothes in my wardrobe that's both professional and summer-ready. I know it was hot for the first couple of ( Read more... )

We lost hot water any times while we lived in Kazakhstan and a few times in Lithuania and Slovakia. But this is the second time we've lost all our water here. Going without hot water is rough. It means having to take extra time in the morning to fill all the pots and pans in the house with water and boil it before you have enough to take a sponge ( Read more... )

Glorious, beautiful...Tam Coc!


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Photos from our day in Hoa Lu, Vietnam are posted now. Will post photos from our day in Tam Coc over the next day or two.


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Darren enjoys local transportation.


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I feel like I've finally discovered the 'real' Vietnam.


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I know I've been away a while, but when did Caesar Chavez Day get going? (Not that his life and accomplishments don't deserve a special day of remembrance.) I just don't remember this when I lived there. Does anyone know when this started in California?