Bound For Other Ports

I've moved!

2008-12-27T11:21:00.003-05:00

I'm no longer here, but you can find me at:

www.boundforotherports.com

I've decided against the whole redirect thingy, so just click the link above for my new page!

Thanks, and thanks for reading!

New Site!

2008-12-26T03:53:00.003-05:00

My new website is up and running! Check it out at:

www.boundforotherports.com

Starting tomorrow I'll have this page redirect you automatically to the new one. So when you come to my blog you'll see this page:

Just click "Yes" and it will take you to my new site! Its that easy.

So please change your bookmarks, RSS feeds, or whatever you have to do!

Thanks for reading!

So this is Christmas...

2008-12-25T00:00:00.001-05:00

Its Christmas morning here. I just finished talking with my family who was celebrating Christmas Eve. I'll talk to them again tomorrow morning when they celebrate Christmas with my sister's family.
And to be honest, I'm not very excited or happy right now. I read my friend's blog posts of Merry Christmas wishes and pictures under the tree. I read Facebook updates of "Merry Christmas" and "Have yourself a very merry Christmas." All of this does not put me in the Christmas spirit, but instead crushes my spirit. Today is gonna be rough. I want to be curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate, a fire, and most importantly my family. I want to see my niece and nephew open their presents and play with them. I want to open presents. But not today. Next year, I guess.
Right now I would be at the Christmas Eve service sitting next to my family, holding a candle, and singing "O Come, O Come, Immanuel." Its one of my favorites. The lights would be dim as the reflection from the candles gently dance across the people's faces. There is a calm sense of peace, as people realize that Christ has come. When the candles are extinguished, the children will suddenly not be able to wait for tomorrow morning, or to get home to listen for Santa. The adults can't wait to get home to finish their last minute wrapping. But for those few minutes when the candles are lit, all that disappears, and their is peace. But for me, not today. Next year, I guess.
I miss the joy that comes with the Christmas season. Sure, there is the hectic and unfortunately now deadly shopping, but overall there is a joy. Conversations are lighter, people's spirits are higher. Strangers don't seem so strange and friends become family. I miss that. I won't get that this year. Next year, I guess.

So, my friend, please cherish today. Reach out to someone that has no one for Christmas. Its the loneliest day of the year for those without family. I'm certainly not going to go into the "remember the true spirit of Christmas" spiel we hear every year, but please remember that everyone in this world needs someone. Are you willing to be that someone? Are you willing to be the person that brings God's peace, turns a stranger into a friend, and then into family?

There is no snow here, no Christmas trees in stores where Christmas music is being played. There are no greeting of "Merry Christmas" as you walk down the street and greet friends and neighbors. No Christmas parties. In fact, for most people here, life goes on as usual. I can go to any store today because they are all open. Its just any other ordinary day for them.
If only they knew that today is anything but ordinary. Today is the day that Christ came and promises to return again for them. If only they knew. This year the people won't know it Christmas. Not today. Next, most definitely.

I'm not writing this to make you all feel down. On the contrary, I want you all to realize God's blessings. And once you realize them, share them. There is no danger in sharing our blessings. I assure, there is no danger. So do it. Share your blessings. And in return, you will gain more blessings. Its a pretty good deal if you ask me.

And one more thing...

2008-12-24T13:50:00.002-05:00

I just found this article I wanted to share with you all. Its about the spread of Christianity in Nepal. Read it, pray about it. And praise God for it.

Christianity in Nepal

Christmas Eve (Or Friends for a Day)

2008-12-24T12:12:00.011-05:00

For the past 28 Christmas Eves (this being my 29th) I have gone over to my Grandparents (Mom's side). I'm sure there have been a few years we were not there, but as far as I can remember we've been there. This year, however, I will not be there. My family will still get together, have dinner, and then open presents. My grandma and grandpa give all of us cousins gifts and then we do a White Elephant gift, or something of the sort.
For me, this year was something entirely different. And I can honestly say, it was the most nontraditional Christmas Eve I have ever had and probably will ever have. I spent my Christmas Eve visiting Hindu and Buddhist temples with a brother and sister from Czech Republic (Kristina and Michael) and Subina, a member of the family I am staying with.

We visited Durbar Square (Royal Square) in Patan (the actual city where I live). I wasn't able to thoroughly see everything here, and I definitely plan to visit again and get some more pictures. Some of the temples and stupas are centuries old. Before Nepal was unified, Patan was the original city in the Kathmandu valley. The Newari were the original people in the valley, and all of the temples and stupas here were built by them.

After our visit I said goodbye to the siblings and headed to church for the Christmas Eve service. Its amazing I can spend the day with two complete strangers and then most likely will never see again. Sure, we exchanged email addresses, and I hope to keep in touch, but I will probably never actually see them again. Yet I spent my entire day with them, learned about them, who they are, and what they do (and what are they chances that they were landscape architects in Czech Republic???). And tomorrow at 630 am they will be on a bus on their way out of Kathmandu and out of my life. Just something to think about.
So off to church for the service. Up until this point it had not felt like Christmas. Its hard to get in the Holiday spirit when you live in a Hindu country. But as I was walking to the service, the sidewalk leading to the door was lined with candles. Suddenly a little boy with an English accent ran by and excitedly said, "Follow the candles, everyone! Follow the candles!" If that doesn't throw you into a Dickens Christmas, I don't know what will.
After the service, I went back to Stan and Rhonda's (who I spent Thanksgiving with) for some cookies and hot chocolate! I haven't had hot chocolate since I've been here and it has never tasted so good. And to top it off...Stan said, "We should teach Paul how to play Nerts." Teach me? No, no my friends. Let me school you in Nerts.

A Few Things I Want to Share

2008-12-23T10:25:00.003-05:00

1. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Its only three hours away for me. I hope everyone has a very very enjoyable day with family and friends. Hopefully you won't all freeze on your way to visit them. I hear its COLD over there!

2. I will have lunch tomorrow with some people from the Czech Republic. Its a long story, but the family I am living with met them at the airport and they are coming over for lunch. It should be fun! Hopefully they'll come to the English Christmas Eve service with me.

3. I am in the process of teaching myself HTML code. So far, so good.

4. I am also in the process of setting up www.Boundforotherports.com. My own domain! It will still be awhile before its completely active, but I'll keep you updated. Thanks to Puddleboy for the help!

5. After Christmas I hope to finish telling you all about my trip to India. There is still more!

That's it for now. Time to get some reading done since the power is out again. I've taken a break from War and Peace for a book called Silent Night that my parents sent me for my birthday. Its about an impromptu cease fire during WWI in 1914. If you do not know anything about this story I'd suggest checking it out; its incredibly interesting. On Christmas Day the enemies shook hands in the middle of No Man's Land to celebrate Christmas together, and the next day they were back to shelling and shooting each other. That gives you something to think about.

So...

Merry Christmas, everyone! My God bless you as we celebrate the day He sent our Savior.

Pollution.

2008-12-22T10:46:00.005-05:00

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27

I saw something today I have never witnessed before. I knew it existed, but never saw it. I was out running an errand when I saw a homeless child. Child. He could not have been more than 7 or 8 years old. He was incredibly dirty, had no shoes. He had no one to take care of him. No one to give him food. No one to tell him they love him. Its getting colder here, dropping down into the lower 40s at night and will continue to get colder and colder. And he has no shoes and no where to go.
In the part of town I live in, you don't see this much. There are a few beggars around, but not in great numbers here, and not children. This came as a shock to my system. In the States there are places where children like this can go. And normally if they are homeless they are at least homeless with their parent(s). Here, this kid was on his own. Alone in an unforgiving, cold world.

I miss the food from home, he has no food.
I complain that they shut off the electricity for 10 hours a day, he doesn't even have a home to have electricity.
I complain that I don't always have hot water for a shower, he hasn't had a shower in who knows how long.
I miss my family, he has no family.

And what is most ironic, is that this sort of thing happens because we have let ourselves become polluted by the world.

Update: Happy Birthday

2008-12-21T10:54:00.005-05:00

Here in Nepal my birthday is coming to a close. However, I was born at 11 pm on December 21st, 1980 in Cincinnati. So really, I will not be 28 until 945 am December 22 here in Nepal. I figured I get two days to celebrate my birthday this way. Not a bad deal.
I wanted to update you all on how my birthday went. So here goes...
I woke up at 7 am after going to bed at 2am to talk with my family. They all wished me a happy birthday and sang Happy Birthday to me. Then the three young girls of the family I am living with all gave me birthday cards they had made me. It definitely made me feel special. Then I was off to church and a potluck lunch afterward. The Shepherd's Pie was amazing, especially since it was made by somebody probably from England or Scotland. I came back and played with the girls as they taught me to count to ten in Nepali (although one would think I would already know this having been here for a month and a half).

Then we had pizza and cake for dinner and they sang to me.

They bought me some socks (a universal truth I've realized), some really nice Adidas socks.

(please note the sexy legs)

It was an incredible gesture on there part to give me such a birthday. They know how much I miss home and wanted me to have a good birthday regardless. And they succeeded. And for that I thank God, and I am grateful.

Happy Birthday

2008-12-21T02:59:00.005-05:00

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday, dear Paul,
Happy Birthday to me.

Ah, the 21st of December. Next to the 25th of December, its my favorite. Not only is it my birthday, but it also has a few other distinctions:

1. Its the first day of winter.
2. Its the shortest day of the year.
3. Its a palindrome, such as racecar, mom, malayalam, and saippuakivikauppias (Finnish for soap-stone vendor, no lie).
4. Its also the birthday of Thomas Becket (1118), Stalin (1879), and Ray Romano (1957).
5. William Bradford aboard the Mayflower first landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
6. The first cross-word was published on this date in 1913 in the New York World.
7. The crew of Apollo 8 become the first humans to leave the Earth's gravity in 1968.

What's your favorite day of the year?

War and Peace

2008-12-20T13:23:00.005-05:00

I consider myself a reader. I love to read. But I have a problem finishing books; sometimes I think I enjoy reading just for reading's sake. I usually have a large stack(s) of books next to my bed. I read a quarter to a half of a book and then get a craving for a new book and forget the old one. I have finished many books, but I've started and never completed many many more. Some think this is crazy, but my mood constantly changes with respect to books. Some books are better read in the summer, some in the winter, some when its raining, and some when its sunny.
But not so in Kathmandu! There are a few books that I have always wanted to read, but in the back of my mind I knew I never would because they are loooong (at least I think so). Two of those books I brought with me. East of Eden by John Steinbeck and War and Peace by Count Leo Tolstoy. I've always had a "thing" for Russian literature. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekov, and Gogol to name a few. I highly recommend "Dead Souls" by Gogol because its my kind of book. Nobody has ever finished it because Gogol never finished it!
Steinbeck has also always been one of my favorites. For those that have never read anything by him, read something! Anything! You won't regret it.
I finished East of Eden not long after arriving in KTM. It was excellent. It was a retelling of the story and Adam and Even and Cain and Abel. Good stuff.
War and Peace, however, will take me considerably longer to finish. Nearly 1200 pages and its not exactly a "fast read." On the contrary. With over 500 characters, half the time is spent looking back to remember who is who. Most people would find this annoying, but somehow I enjoy it. The character development is amazing, you can truly identify with the character, feel for them, and hope for them. I think that is rare in modern literature. I'm going to begin my War and Peace watch...currently I'm on page 233/1136. And I figured if I can finish War and Peace I never have an excuse not to finish a book again. So enough rambling...

What are you reading right now?

Questions no one asked

2008-12-19T13:52:00.003-05:00

In response to This is Reverb I am posting my answers to questions that no one has asked. So here goes nothing...

Q: When is your birthday?
A: Sunday, actually, the 21st.

Q: What do you want for Christmas?
A: I know this seems weird that no one has asked me what I want for Christmas. But please remember I am on the other side of the world from the people who would ask me this question. So I won't be getting anything for Christmas. At least not on Christmas. But to answer the question...a new camera.

Q: What do you want for dinner?
A: Anything but rice and cauliflower. Please, for the love of God, no cauliflower.

Q: How much do you miss your family?
A: I can't even begin to answer this question. It goes beyond words.

Q: Are you happy?
A: Yes.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (This one's for you, Dad)

2008-12-19T01:14:00.006-05:00

'Tis the season for trains! Many people back home have been visiting the trains in downtown Cincinnati (a tradition for my family, I even called in sick to work last year to go with my family!). Still others (also my family) have been setting up their trains around the Christmas tree. Anyone know where this tradition comes from? Let me know if you do.
So being the season, I did my part to carry on the tradition by actually riding a train. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (click it to learn more). I rode the train from Kurseong to Sonada. It wasn't a long trip length wise, but it is a slow train so it took a couple hours. Its not easy for a train to climb those mountains.

Its is referred to as the "Toy Train" because of its small size. As you can see below, its not much taller than I am. It is a class "B" engine (for those in the know). It is a two-foot gauge, meaning that the tracks are only two feet apart (compared to the standard gauge of 4' 8.5").

(Here's me in my fat pants again. Ha! And in case you're wondering why I'm wearing the same clothes in all the pictures I've posted thus far...its not because all the pictures were taken the same day. Its because in the two weeks I was in India I only wore three different pairs of pants and four different shirts. Don't judge me, you would have done the same.)

The railway was completed in 1881 and designed by the British (no surprise there). It has been running ever since and its one of the last regularly scheduled steam engines in the world. Its been declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site which is the reason for its continued existence. It costs more to run than it makes, but for now its still around. Who knows in a few years. So it was a privilege (it took me forever to figure out how to spell that dang word) to be apart of a piece of history like this.

As I mentioned, the train is slow. People are constantly running and jumping on and then jumping off again when they reach their destination. I was half tempted to jump off and jump back on just to say I did it. But I didn't. Oh well.

Here we are at our last stop in Sonada. It was a fun trip, something I'll remember for a long long while.

And I even took a video for you. Make sure you watch it. Its not very long, but with the internet here (not sure exactly how long cause I went to bed) it took around 3 hours to upload!

Oh Joyous...

2008-12-18T04:03:00.006-05:00

Here's a quick little news flash...

The Nepal Electricity Authority has decided on a heavier load-shedding schedule. Load-shedding is a foreign idea to the States. We have enough electricity (amazingly enough). Here, however, the electricity is hydro. No rain in winter = less electricity production = shutting down the power for hours a day (called load-shedding). It was only 6 hours a day, three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. Now they have raised it to 10 hours a day. What's on my Christmas list? A battery back-up.

You can read the article for yourself HERE.

Kurseong (pronounced 'cushion' with an 'r')

2008-12-17T12:50:00.008-05:00

Visit Kurseong. That's all I have to say. Well, I have a lot more to say, but you know what I mean. Its a town worth visiting. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, its a quiet town filled with friendly people, history, and of course tea (like all the towns of Darjeeling), but especially friendly people. I began my trip to India in Kurseong and ended it in Kurseong. It was a lovely set of bookends.

December is a very cloudy time of year in Darjeeling. (Just in case your confused, there is the Darjeeling District in which Kurseong is a town. And there is also a Darjeeling Town in the Darjeeling District. Most of the pics in my last entry were of Darjeeling Town.) Its a jungle on the side of the mountain, and the clouds roll in and you can't see anything at times. Its a white out. It makes for some beautiful scenes, but it also makes for a depressed feeling after awhile.

On a clear day you could see miles and miles down the mountain and out to the plains from where I'm standing. On this day though, you could see nothing. Literally nothing.

The British also settled Kurseong and built schools like the ones below. Some of the buildings are just beautiful, but in desperate need of repair. (I couldn't help thinking of Harry Potter when I saw these schools. I think there was even a Quidditch pitch somewhere around...)

The British children would go to the schools above, but the native children would go to the school below. Sound familiar? 1950s?

The Scottish came in and built churches. This church was on the grounds of one of the schools and has now been transitioned into the gym. Its a shame. The stained-glass was imported from Italy. I couldn't get in the church, but I could see enough. It was beautiful.

This is the church I attended on the Sunday I was there. It was built around 150 years ago and is still obviously in use. It was a neat thing to be a part of.

The town even had a movie theater. One would think it closed down years and years ago, but no, only around 5 years ago. It had a post-apocalyptic feeling to it.

And of course, the people. When I first raised my camera to capture these kids they all three turned away simultaneously! But a smile says a lot, and they let me snap the picture.

These men are carrying milk on their backs. Their life (by our standards) is rough. They rise early in the morning to collect vegetation and then bring it back to feed their cows. Then they milk the cows and deliver the milk. They go to bed, get up and do the same thing the next day. And the roads aren't easy here. The only thing flat are the house floors.

There is a small Christian presence in Kurseong, but only around 2% are Christian. We went to a small village that was completely Catholic. They had built a grotto in 1958 replicated from one in Italy.

These trees were everywhere there wasn't tea. They are Cryptomeria japonica. You can find them in the States (click here), but they only grow around 15 feet. These were at least 60 feet. They were sweet!

I love pigs. Every time I see a pig I take a picture. I have pictures of pigs from Honduras, Guatemala, India, Nepal, and Thailand. No joke. These were the Christmas pigs. Poor guys. But I'm sure they will be tasty!

And here I am among the tea shrubs. Do the shrubs make me look fat? I really think they do!

2,000,000 Words

2008-12-16T06:27:00.026-05:00

My family from my mother's side has been cursed. We have a curse that is in some respects good, and in others very bad. My mother is a picture-taking-aholic. Sometimes I think she needs a 12-step program to relieve her dependence from the shutter button. Now I'm pretty sure I'll appreciate all those pictures when I'm older (ok, I appreciate them now), but its a lot of pictures; sometimes dead batteries are my family's saving grace. (You know I love you, Mom) And now this curse has been passed down to me. From my grandfather (don't bring up the topic of their world trip slides unless you want a long family discussion in which a lot is said but nothing is ever done) through my mom, and now to me.
I took nearly 2,000 photos on my 12 day journey to India. That's around 170 photos a day. I've gone through them all and deleted around 800 of the little suckers. The camera will never capture what the human eye can, hence a full Recycle Bin.
Here are a few photos of Darjeeling. It's a pretty incredible place. It was started, more or less, by the British as a sanatorium for British soldiers, and a summer vacation spot for the British living in India. The plains can be unbearably hot, so they would come to the cool mountain sides for respite. They brought the Nepali people in to do the construction, so to this day they speak Neapli and English and not Hindi. It is an area very different from the rest of India, although India is massive and everywhere is something new. This time of year is very cloudy, as in clouds roll in through the windows of the houses, literally. It's quite a sight to see. Click Here for more information on Darjeeling.

And of course tea. The hillside below is full of tea shrubs that have been cut back for winter.

This area is heavy in Buddhism. Below is a monastery and there are Buddhist prayer flags everywhere you look.

I would hate to have the corner room at this hotel.

The Scottish came in and built churches and schools. Darjeeling was once known as a center for education, and Christianity is still big in this are, although Buddhism still has the stronghold. Some of the buildings are quite the imposing edifices.

Currently, Darjeeling is part of the West Bengal state of India. They are fighting for their own state however, Gorkhaland. They are a Nepali people who are Indian citizens, but are not given the credit due to them as Indian citizens. They simply want their recognition.
This is there flag below. The knives on the bottom are called kukuris. They are used for everything from fighting to eating and are a trademark for the Gorkhas.

Paths through the tea estates.

On the clear days (rare this time of year) you can see the Himals. This peak is Kanchenjunga and is the third highest peak in the world.

This is the ropeway. It was used to bring the tea leaves up to the factory. It was still in use through the 1980s but is now just something to look at.

And of course, more tea.

And I'm back...

2008-12-15T11:16:00.006-05:00

So I've returned to Kathmandu from Darjeeling and Sikkim in India. It was an interesting trip in many different ways, and I have a lot to talk about. Too much to fit into one entry. So first I'll just post a few pics, a teaser if you will, as to what is to come in future entries.

Makaibari Tea

Darjeeling Himalayan Railroad

Top of the World

I had some experiences that I will tell my grandchildren one day. I can't wait to share them with you.

Darjeeling

2008-12-08T08:04:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I have been in Darjeeling district, India for the past few days. If you know nothing about Darjeeling, I highly suggest searching out information about it. It has beautiful views, a unique history, and is world famous for tea. Its EVERYWHERE here. I don't have much time because am currently at an internet cafe in Darjeeling Town, but check it out. Do a search and do some reading. It will be interesting, I promise!

My God Doesn't Fit In My Pocket.

2008-12-03T23:02:00.003-05:00

I was eating my breakfast of chai and banana bread this morning when I noticed a man praying out the window. He bowed his head, put his hand together in front of his face, and said a short prayer. He then reached in front of him, picked up his small gold idol and went back inside. He was praying to the idol. It was probably Buddha, but I'm not sure.
I immediately thought, "My God doesn't fit in my pocket."
Think about that statement for awhile. Pretty awesome. I'm glad God doesn't fit in my pocket.

Thamel: Times Square of Kathmandu

2008-12-03T10:50:00.015-05:00

I had to purchase a few things for my trip tomorrow. Thamel was the place to go. Thamel is the epicenter for the trekking world. Its where they all stay, eat, and shop for gear. I had to get a warmer hat and a sleeping bag. The equipment isn't the same quality as the real gear of the name it bears, but its not bad knock-off quality either.

Thamel is busy, congested, and loud. And a lot of white people. I was happy to get back home to the peace and quiet of Lalitpur! People are constantly bugging you to buy stuff, give them money, hire them as guides. They don't leave you alone.

"Double bed, hot shower, my friend. 300 rupees."
"Trekking? Come see my office! Good company! Come, sir."
"Hash? You smoke hash?"
"Where you going? Rickshaw?"

(notice the guy on the far right bugging the trekkers)
(notice the trekkers successfully ignoring him)

Its just like Times Square without all the lights. Or I should say like Gatlinburg. Tourist traps. But there is some good stuff too.

I debated on how to get there, and decided I was too cheap to spend the $10 taxi fare, and I didn't know where to get on the $0.50 minibus. So I walked. Seven and a half miles round trip. I walk pretty fast so it only took me 2.5 hours total. I saw some cool stuff as usual though.
I ate at Helena's for lunch. Pretty popular spot. I ate on the roof (8 stories up) and had a great view of Kathmandu. It was low 70s with a slight breeze and a warm sun. It was a great lunch. Pizza, water, and 5 bucks later I was out shopping. And FYI, "cheese pizza" in Kathmandu means tomoatoes, onions, shallots, and green peppers. Quite tasty.

I purchased this sleeping bag and hat for 1500 rupees (just under $20). Sweet!

I had read about the Garden of Dreams (click here to read about it) in my guide book as I was mapping out my route. I decided to stop in. I'm so glad I did! For a measly $2 admission I entered tranquility in the middle of chaos. The garden was beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing. I stayed for awhile, and definitely plan to head back sometime.

Relaxing under the Honeysuckle. I can like honeysuckle here. Its not invasive :)

I then walked the hour and fifteen minutes back home, and was in desperate need of a shower.

By this time it was dinner time. Momos! Gotta love the momos. They made around 300 of these tasty little puppies. I only took out 12 of 'em.

Parting Shot:

I was talking with my dad on the phone one night as the sun was going down here in Kathmandu. He said he was watching it rise there in Cincinnati. That, my friend, is something pretty cool to think about.
So here is a picture of Venus, Jupiter and the moon as I saw it tonight. What I already saw, you are about to see. Crazy.

A Few Somethings

2008-12-02T10:59:00.020-05:00

I'm leaving on Thursday for Darjeeling and Sikkim in India. Darjeeling, they say, is where the best tea in the world is grown. (And after drinking it for three weeks, I have to say its pretty darn good.) I will not return for another two weeks, so I most likely won't be able to post anything until I return near Christmas. I hope to be able to as I travel, but only time will tell. So if I'm not on for two weeks, don't worry! I shall return. And hopefully with some good stories!

I managed today with no cauliflower. Not that they didn't serve it.

I went out for another adventure yesterday. I saw a group of people and heard a voice over a loudspeaker. Normally I would stay away from something like that. It can be dangerous in these parts. But something about it said it was safe, so I ventured over to investigate. My instincts were correct and I was entreated to a Taekwando match. And again, I watched through the fence. I've come to enjoy being outside the fence looking in. Out with the common man.

These kids could not have been older than 6! But they were going at it.

These girls were a bit older and pretty tough.

Hmmm...if I see that face in a dark alley, I'm runnin'.

Ping-pong is also popular. Gotta love the ingenuity of using bricks for a net. There seem to be bricks everywhere around here.

As I traveled around town, I had noticed people with backpacks that said "Faith Works" on them. I inquired about them and found that there was a christian family that had started the business. They sold many different styles of backpacks and also repaired damaged backpacks. I found the shop and bought this one:

For only 650 nepali rupees, I almost felt guilty. But that was their price. $8.25. And its perfect for me to run around town with. It holds my camera, guide books, flashlight, and pollution mask!

Here are two parting shots.

I just enjoyed this one. I'm sure you can come up with a great caption, so leave it in the comments!

As for the last picture, you can't quite read it in the picture, but across the top of the mural is written this message:

"All animals are created equal. Some animals are more equal than others."

If you've read George Orwell's Animal Farm you should immediately recognize the quote. I'm still not sure why its here though. Kinda scary. It would be a strange homage to Orwell and his book. Especially here.

UPDATE: Lunch Time

2008-12-01T06:01:00.004-05:00

I have found that China and India are the top two producers of Cauliflower in the world. Go figure. The US is number three, but is still blown out of the water with respect to production by the other two. Click Here to see the stats.

Lunch Time

2008-12-01T01:54:00.006-05:00

A few have been asking about the food here in Nepal. I've decided to answer.
To be honest, I've been a bit disappointed with the food. I am a huge fan of Thai food, and Indian food. I assumed (incorrectly) that the food here would be similar. But its rather bland, and I'm not a fan of vegetables. Being a Hindu country meat isn't eaten as much. They don't use hot sauce, but they do use ketchup. I like ketchup, but not on this stuff. I do use hot sauce at home, especially on Mexican and Thai food and on oyster bombs at the original Colerain Skyline. Speaking of which, I think I left my heart there. Next time you stop in for a 3-way can you look for it, please? But here I just gotta eat it plain.

This was today's lunch. I was suprised to see chicken (kukhurahko mahsu). Not that its rare, but just not normal for lunch. I guess they treated me. There is also rice (bhaht), beans, a salad (the first one I've had since I've been here) and cauliflower.
If you will permit me, I'd like to talk about cauliflower. I dislike cauliflower. I feel that no taste is almost worse than bad taste and Cauliflower has no taste. And yet, because it has no taste, it really gives no reason to be disliked. You can't dislike something that isn't there. However, you begin to despise it. You don't know why you dislike it and it only creates a greater hatred to the point of despising it. It leaves you with a cold apprehension. You tend to hate things more and more when you realize that you don't know why you hate it. You don't understand it. You begin to fear it, and out of that fear comes hate. Cauliflower, I hate you and you give me no reason to hate you so I hate you even more for not giving me a reason!
Yet I eat it everyday.

Here is the aftermath of lunch. I topped it off with a banana. It all still left me dissatisfied. So I came back to my room, close the door and headed for my stash.

Mmmmm Donut Sticks. A 270 calorie gift from God. Thank you, God!

What's Going On?

2008-11-30T12:45:00.006-05:00

In case you missed it, here's whats going on.

1. Mumbai

2. Thailand

3. Nigeria

4. Congo

5. Somalia

6. Nepal

Some of these stories are fresher than others, but they all need prayer. There is a lot going on in the world. The more we stay informed, the more we can lift up prayers to God. And the more we lift up prayers, the quicker things such as these will stop.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

2008-11-29T07:12:00.033-05:00

I was sitting in my room this afternoon when I faintly heard what I thought to be live music. Like a child holding his breath listening for the patter or reindeer hoofs on the roof, I held my breath and listened to see if my ears were playing tricks on me. They weren't. I heard it. "Baby, here I am, I'm a man on the scene." A tune by Otis Redding, made popular by The Grateful Dead and The Black Crowes. I had to investigate. Here is the story of what followed. As I've said before, if you keep your eyes open, you'll see some very interesting things here in Kathmandu, even the down-right bizarre.

DISCLAIMER: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, SQUEAMISH, OR MEMBERS OF PETA.

I began my trek down the alley and out to the street. There was live music at the Jawlakhel Grounds by where I live. This is an open field where there are normally soccer matches. Today it was set up as a festival with live music. They placed tarps all around the fence so you could not see in. I decided to look around. I ended up taking over 150 pictures. Here are a few of them.

Wish I knew what kind of tree this is.

Krishna and one of his wives. He had over a thousand of 'em.

Bath, anyone?

As you can see, there were many people at the festival. There were vendors, games, and all the usual fixin's of a festival. And valet parking to boot.

I'm not sure what this came from, but I can assure you it was not from a cow. We have the Hindus to thank for the expression "Holy Cow!"

Hmmm...sounds like something from a Dr. Suess book:

They attended the banquet, all of the Yaks.
They ate so much, they emptied the sacks!
What shall we do? cried each and every one.
Lets dance! Lets dance! until the night is done.

(Can't you see the blue and yellow yaks dancing?)

The bumper sticker reads: This car is blessed.

Ganesh.

Krishna. This guy is everywhere.

Yes, this is a common sight around here. The use the head for soup and Pickled Goat Brains. Pickled Pigs Feet suddenly sounds delicious.

Saturday is a "holiday" for everyone. There are people everywhere every Saturday.

Perhaps they can't all read English like I thought. The owner of the store saw me take the picture. I shrugged and smiled at him and he laughed and shrugged back.

Newari architecture. They were the original tribe in the Kathmandu Valley. Some of their buildings are 300 years old or more.

A child's smile always makes for a great picture.

Can you see me? If you can't, click on the picture.

Buddhist prayer wheels. They spin them to send prayers up. Up where, I'm not sure.

They asked for me to take their photo. They really enjoy being able to see it after I take it.

The mullet is alive in Nepal!

My throat was getting dry (dust and diesel fumes), so I decided to treat myself to a Fanta and Peanut M&M's. They were delicious. I also bought a Snickers, but was saving it for later.

Finally after a few hours of walking I returned to the festival. The band announced they were going to play one more song. It was a Nepali band, but when they struck the first note of the song, I recognized it instantly. Pink Floyd. And then came the words, "If you don't eat your meat, how can you have any pudding?" I guess most of them won't get their pudding since most Hindus are vegetarians. I stayed to watch and listen. They were jammin' on Pink Floyd when they ever so slightly transitioned. I recognized (as any good American would) the next tune as well. Eye of the Tiger. A Pink Floyd purist in America would never allow this. Transitioning into Eye of the Tiger from Another Brick in the Wall Part 2? But a Pink Floyd purist in Nepal will make some allowances.
Ticket prices were 100 nepali rupees ($1.25). Too rich for my blood. I watched with the commoners, sneaking peaks from behind the fence where they had pulled the tarp down.

I moved to the back of the fence to get a better view where there weren't any people. As I watched and listened, I put my snickers bar in my pocket and threw the rest of my trash away. A little boy suddenly appeared speaking Nepali. He kept pointing to my pocket. At first I thought he wanted money. Then I realized he wanted my Snickers. I pulled it out of my pocket and gave it to him. He took it and ran. Then he stopped, turned and said "dhanyabad" (thank you). He smiled and was gone.

The Wonderful Tradition of Thanksgiving Celebrated on the Other Side of the World

2008-11-27T13:36:00.007-05:00

When you think about it, Thanksgiving is a pretty amazing holiday. Its a pretty safe bet that 99.99% or America sits down to Thanksgiving dinner with their family. My family got together. My Mom and Dad, brother and sister and their families, and my Mom's parents. I was not there of course as I am literally on the other side of the world. I cannot describe how much I want to be there. But at the same time, I cannot describe the satisfaction I feel from being here in Nepal. Everyday is getting better as I adjust to the culture and build relationships.
My Thanksgiving dinner was shared with two other American families who are working in Kathmandu. It was for all of us our first Thanksgiving in Nepal. We ate the traditional foods: mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie with whip cream. We even had spiced cider. Now I don't care much for spiced cider, but today it tasted amazing.
We did not, however, have cranberry sauce. Which is really fine with me, I don't like it. But we also did not have TURKEY. There was no turkey to be had in Kathmandu. We had chicken instead. There wasn't a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. No Cowboys football (and thank God there wasn't a Bengals game). There was no tryptophan-induced nap after lunch and cold turkey sandwiches for dinner (or for the week after for that matter). I can let that all pass though, because I am extremely grateful for what we did have.
Its an interesting thing to share something as sacred and family-oriented as Thanksgiving with people I only met two weeks ago. But it is because of the spirit of Thanksgiving that this can be accomplished, because we are thankful for each other. Thankful that we can support each other as we all adjust to Nepal. So this Thanksgiving I am thankful for new friends and new relationships being formed in the hands of God.
On the side note, I did do something today that I have never done on Thanksgiving, or ever to be honest. I attended a Badminton match. I had to keep my chuckles to myself. To us, badminton is a game children play on summer days in the back yard. And that is if they get bored of croquet. Here, however, its an entirely different game. They take it seriously. In Latin America, everywhere you turn there are people playing soccer. In Nepal, everywhere you turn there are people playing badminton. Everyday I walk past a sports club with grown men playing badminton. We laughed at the sport being in the Olympics. But Nepalis don't laugh. They cheer.

A Day in the Life, or Traffic (And not of the Dear Mr. Fantasy variety. Or the Beatles variety for that matter).

2008-11-26T03:50:00.039-05:00

Not entirely a day in the life, but at least a trip in the day. If you have never taken pictures while riding on the back of a motorcycle, you should try it. Its fun. You would probably get pulled over doing this in the States, but I doubt they even have a term for "pulled over" here in Nepal.
I had to visit the school where I will be taking my language classes. Vishwa Bhasha Campus of Tribhuvan University. (Just a hint, the 'h' is not pronounced. Like in Buddha, no 'h' just 'd'.) I will be taking a six month course in Nepali starting February 1st. So here are some pics of the journey today. Enjoy!

Traffic is insane here. Simply put, if you can go, you go.

Intersections are always a treat.

And there are always a few obstacles.

But if you keep your eyes open, you can see some pretty interesting stuff.

This just makes you scratch your head.

The Bagmati River. It separates Kathmandu from Patan (or Lalitpur) where I am living.

A Buddhist Stupa.

And finally on the way home we bought some oranges. The man was very nice and he gave me a couple of bananas for free. I'll be doing my fruit shopping there from now on.

And where do you keep oranges while riding a motorcycle? Right there, of course!

Finally!

2008-11-25T02:42:00.003-05:00

I finally have internet where I am staying. It was a process and a pain, but I finally have it. The problem is that the electricity is out (it goes out twice a day for about three hours each time) so I cannot set up the wireless router yet, but at least I can still connect to the cable with the power out! I can finally use Skype and connect back home. Oh happy day.

Irony

2008-11-24T06:37:00.004-05:00

I promise you I did not set this picture up. I looked down and there it was:

Both of these symbols are everywhere here. But this is the first time I have seen them right next to each other. It certainly caught me off guard.
The swastika is a Hindu symbol of peace and has been for centuries. Hitler took it and made it a symbol of the Nazi party and hate. The Star of David (as we call it) is a symbol for Nepal. Here in Nepal, the two images are good images. They are images representing their religion, beliefs, and culture. For the Western world, however, they are symbols of one hating another. They are symbols of murder and such atrocities we cannot imagine. When one puts these two images together one has quite the irony, to say the least.
It is truly amazing how symbols can change. What once stood for peace now stands for hate. Hitler did not intend it to mean hate. He used it to mean peace. But in his deranged mind, what he thought was peace was carried out through hate.
I'm sure if we all take a step back we can think of a time where we took something good and pure and turned it into something hateful. Certainly not to the extent of Hitler (at least I hope not!), but I'm sure at some point we've taken good and made it bad. And I think not using the good we have is almost as wrong as using it for bad. See where I'm going with this?
We have God's love. Let's use it.

A Few Thoughts

2008-11-23T07:50:00.005-05:00

Haven't had the internet the past few days, so here are some updates and notes.
The past couple of days have been ok. The mornings have been a bit rough as usual, but they are getting better. I still do not have internet at the house, but it should come shortly and that will help with the mornings.
Yesterday I met the American family that lives two doors down. He is a doctor and they both are extremely nice and helpful. She asked me where I was from and I said Cincinnati. She was from the Canton/Akron area. And then she said it; the eight most beautiful words I have heard since coming to Kathmandu. "I'll have to make you come Cincinnati chili." I promise you I heard a chorus of angels suddenly cry out in joy. There were even a firework or two. And I'm not certain, but I think I heard the Hallelujah Chorus somewhere off in the distance.
I also have an invitation for Thanksgiving. An invitation for Thanksgiving is a wonderful thing. Take advantage of this Thanksgiving, and give thanks for your family. Family is a wonderful thing. Use this Thanksgiving to get better connected, rebuild burnt bridges, and just enjoy their company. Family is an amazing gift from God. Use it wisely, graciously, and generously.
I attended two church services this weekend. One was a Nepali speaking service on Saturday and another was an English speaking service on Sunday. I wore headphones for the first one so I could hear a translator. She had a great accent, but didn't translate much. The minister would speak for five minutes, and then the translator would say a sentence. It's a bit uncomfortable when everyone else is laughing after the minister says a joke and you are not. They look at you because you are not laughing. You can see it in their eyes; they are questioning you, "Why are you not laughing?" But how can I laugh when the translator never translated the joke? All I heard was the hum of the electricity flowing through the cable to my brain while the translator sat laughing at the joke, never translating it for my Nepal-deaf ears. I got the idea of the message though. It was on the importance of prayer. I was glad to hear it.
The English service was another great experience. The minster was from Scotland. I've never heard a sermon given with a Scottish accent before, but I must say I enjoyed it. And for the record, no, he was not wearing a kilt. He did have a fanny pack though, but no knife. I guess you can't get rid of all your traditions. Attending the service were people from all over the world. Americans, Germans, Aussies, British, and others. I sat next to an older Aussie who sang with a mighty, bass voice. I thouroughly enjoyed it. The sermon was once again on the importance of prayer, but given in a different manner. And once again, I was glad to hear it. And then to end the service we sang "Be Thou My Vision". This is my most favoritest hymn ever. The melody brings a lightness upon my sould, and the words are words we should hold dearly to our hearts as we go about our days. I have posted the lyrics for the first verse at the bottom of this entry. I encourage you to find the rest of the lyrics.
And oh yes, I had a hot shower yesterday. Hot, not lukewarm, but hot. It's my first hot shower since leaving home nearly two weeks ago.
A hot shower, Cincinnati chili, and an invitation for Thanksgiving. Things are starting to look up.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;
Be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
Both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Close.

2008-11-21T04:08:00.004-05:00

Yesterday there was a bhand. It literally translates to close. Like you close the door. It shut down the city. It was essentially a strike. There was no traffic, no stores, restaurants, or businesses open. They were protesting the killing of two young Nepali men whose bodies were found a few days ago. They were killed a month ago. They shut down the streets in hopes that someone will listen to them and investigate the murders. They are thought to be political murders. I watched them march through the streets from an upstairs restaurant. One that did stay open. When they saw the white faces looking through the windows, they didn't bother us. Its a weird feeling. I don't feel unsafe because I am a tourist. They respect us and depend on us. They like us. But its still a weird feeling.

First Impressions

2008-11-18T07:54:00.003-05:00

So here are some of my first impressions. Not in any particular order. Its the good, the bad, and the ugly. And there's a lot of both.

1. Its dirty here. Its the first thing you notice. Trash and dirt. And its hard to overcome, but I will.
2. On the flip-side, the people are very nice and extremely helpful. It took forever to buy a SIM card for my phone (which calls the states cheap!) but everyone was very helpful in pointing out where to get one. Even though 99% of them were wrong.
3. The mountains are amazing. The Rockies look like Indiana compared to these. At least when you can see them through the smog.
4. Riding on the back of a motorcycle is fun. Riding on the back of a motorcycle on the wrong side of the road, not so much fun. (It was a rare occurence, Mom, I promise)
5. Traffic is crazy. If there is space, one honks his horn and moves in. Who cares if its on the other side of the road?
6. Their culture does not understand privacy. No, really, they don't. 7 a.m. they walk in your room. No knock, don't care if you're sleeping. This will change, though. I gave them a lesson in my culture. American Culture 101.
7. Its not uncommon to see a man urinating on the side of the road.
8. There are a lot of Europeans here.
9. The food is good here. Sometimes scary, but good.
10. The chai here is very good. And it flows like water. And thankfully it is safer to drink than the water.
11. Did I mention the traffic is CRAZY?
12. The idea of a comfortable bed is lost on the people here. A four inch (if you're lucky) mattress on plywood is good livin' here.
13. We rented a hotel room for $3 a night. We stayed two nights. I slept in my clothes, didn't even use the blanket, froze so I put my coat over me and I didn't shower the whole time I was there. But it was only $3. This was in Nepalganj, a city in Mid-West Nepal. The food, on the other hand, was great. Amazing spring rolls! For three of us to eat (and it was a lot of food) it only cost around $5.
14. There are thousands of smells here. Mostly good, some not so good.
15. I shook the hand of a Sherpa!!!
16. I will buy a mask. For the pollution. Crazy, no?
17. I can buy PSP games (illegal, maybe, I don't know. Ok, I do know, but I doubt you can get them here legally anyways) for a little over a dollar each. Ha!
18. I miss my friends and family greatly.
१९. थिस इसं'टी नेपाली, बुत यू दोन'टी क्नोव थे डिफरेंस. एंड नेइठेर दो इ!
20. I would post some photos, but it takes forever here. I will later when I have more time.

Mumbai

2008-11-12T13:14:00.004-05:00

Don't have much time, but wanted to say I'm in Mumbai! And tomorrow Kathmandu! And I flew first class. Wow. But more on that later...
My emotions are a mixed bag. I miss home already since I know I won't be going back for awhile, but I'm also excited to get to Kathmandu and get settled. And on top of that I'm in a strange hotel and exhausted. I just need to sleep. With sleep comes better times.

Home Sweet Home

2008-11-06T18:49:00.004-05:00

I received some pictures of where I'll be living in Kathmandu. I'll post some more when I get there and take them for myself. But for now, here is a preview. Can't wait to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas on one of the balconies.

Things I Will Miss, Episode 2

2008-11-02T21:59:00.005-05:00

Who wouldn't miss these guys???

Learning to read all over again.

2008-10-21T20:04:00.005-04:00

The Latin alphabet is a wonderful thing. 26 recognizable characters consisting of 5 vowels and 21 consonants. Easy-peasy. The Nepali alphabet, however, consists of seemingly meaningless symbols consisting of 11 vowels and 33 consonants. Not so easy-peasy. But, alas, I must learn it. Seemingly meaningless must become apparently meaningful.

As a kid, my mom used to read me the story The Old Man Who Could Not Read by Irma Simonton Black. The story is about a man who could not read, but was sent to the market anyways. He bought everything by looking at the shapes and colors of the boxes. When he got home, however, he realized everything was wrong. The spaghetti was not spaghetti, it was wax paper. He exclaimed, "Wife, please teach me to read!"

Lord, please teach me Nepali!

So, are you excited???

2008-10-14T00:14:00.005-04:00

Many people have been asking me if I'm excited to be moving to Nepal. To be honest, I'm getting tired of answering this question. But, of course, I oblige the people. I'm the kind of person who wears his emotions on his sleeve, I can't fake it, never could. So I just shrug my shoulders and say, "Yeah, just got a lot to do yet." I'm not leaving for another three weeks, and I still do have a lot to finish up here with packing, tying up loose ends, and what not.
And I am excited, but there is so much more to it. If I was going on a few weeks vacation, I'd be very excited, and I would let everyone know it. But there is more to consider when comparing a year to a three week stay. There is family and friends I will miss and the "comforts" of home. Not seeing my nephew turn two or my niece turn one (my poor sister, her hands are full). The feeling that life will pass me by and I will have to play catch-up when I return. I am giving up a lot for the next year. And honestly, there is not a lot of excitement in that. Will this change my wanting to go? Definitely not. But sometimes there is more to think about than what's on the surface. But it goes both ways. For the prize at the end is so much greater than the missed events of a mere year of my life.

When Reality Sets In

2008-10-05T21:11:00.004-04:00

Trying to pack for a place in which 1) you've never been to and 2) you will be staying in for a year can be difficult. I began looking through my guide books tonight to gain some insight into the weather in Kathmandu and around Nepal. I looked through the colorful pictures of temples and stupas, children and trekkers, crowded cities and barren landscapes. I read through names I could only pronounce through agonizing minutes of concentration. And I came to a realization. I realized that these places and people do not only exist in books and pictures. Theses are real places with people breathing the same air as me, with real lives and real personalities. And I will soon meet these people and see these places. It is tough to imagine yourself in a place where you have never been. It is at times surreal. But just for a moment, if you think hard enough, you can see yourself there.

Things I Will Miss, Episode 1

2008-10-02T23:43:00.005-04:00

I will miss friends, and great trips to the zoo.

If you were leaving what would you miss?

Hindu God of the Week

2008-09-30T00:50:00.004-04:00

I added "Hindu God of the Week" on the sidebar. Now we all can learn a new god every week! So lets do the math...at one god a week, it would still take us 6000 years to learn them all. And that's a conservative estimate. Interesting.

What I've been up to.

2008-09-27T22:29:00.003-04:00

Thisisreverb has once again issued a challenge. But its an easy one. All I have to do is tell what I've been up to. Well, here's what I've been up to.
I have been preparing for Nepal. I have been ordered to clean out my room (yes, I still live with my parents. Don't laugh, its cheap!). Just tonight my mother came in to begin constructing her vision for the future with respect to my room. I have so much junk, books, clothes, and guitars strung about that its going to take awhile. And when I'm finished with my room, its on to the basement. I have kept so much crap thinking one day I'd be happy I kept it. Well, I'm not happy I kept it.
On the upside, I did get some new toys! I bought a new laptop and a waterproof backpack. Commuting by bike can get a bit wet. Water and laptops don't mix. The answer? A waterproof backpack, of course! And it was 40% off. Some days, things just go right.

Waiting

2008-09-24T00:56:00.003-04:00

Ho hum. I'm still here. I'm ready to go.
So for now, here is a taste of where I'll be.

I'm Immunized

2008-09-10T20:06:00.005-04:00

I am now one-third immunized against Japanese Encephalitis. Ever heard of it before? I haven't. Maybe they're making it up to make a buck, cause its costing me a fortune. And who's to question them? I feel safe, and they make money. Its a win-win situation. But seriously, all joking aside, its still costing me a fortune. I am now more disease resistant than a corpse.

So in honor of thisisreverb.com here are my top seven favorite immunizations:

1. Japanese Encephalitis - can eventually lead to a coma, paralysis, and death
2. Meningococcal Meningitis - 1 in 10 death rate, go to bed with fever, never wake up
3. Hepatitis A - spread by feces, that's enough to know I don't want it
4. Polio - President Roosevelt, anyone?
5. Typhoid - fever, weakness, stomach pains, rash, and all around bad time
6. Malaria - mosquito born, symptoms same as above
7. Tetanus - Lockjaw, not to be confused with "Lockbox"

Enjoy

2008-09-08T12:41:00.004-04:00

Alright, so I haven't posted anything in quite awhile. Although, I don't think anyone is actually reading this. But here it goes anyways...

Its funny how as you get closer to your departure date, things at home seem to come more alive. You begin to see the things you'll miss even though from day to day you normally don't pay attention to them. The great ease with which you can call a friend and meet for dinner an hour later. The company of your neighbors on a summer day sitting on your porch conversing. The ability to relax with your family in front of the TV. All these things will soon disappear. I will be thrust into a culture I know next to nothing about. Its ironic, but in those situations you crave what you never even realized you had; the comforts of home and those close to you. Guess I need to get started enjoying the things I didn't know I was already enjoying.

It is Time

2008-07-29T22:47:00.004-04:00

It is time for me to begin. My life will encounter a new adventure come October. I will journey to Kathmandu, Nepal and began a new chapter as I have committed to living there for one year. No, I have not been there before, to answer the question on many tongues. And no, I will not be climbing Mt. Everest, to answer the question on the tongues of the rest of you. But I will be living amongst the people, learning their language, their culture, their beliefs. I will be tasting their food, walking their streets, all the while making an attempt to see the world through their eyes.
So it is time for me to begin. Bound For Other Ports will become your ticket to joining me in my grand adventure as I interact with the people of Nepal and learn the Nepali culture. Until my time in the States comes to an end, I will entreat you to my thoughts, fears, and excitement as I prepare for my journey. After that, it will be a journey into the hearts and souls of the Nepali people. A first-hand account of a country most people do not know exists, and certainly do not know where it is. So now I begin.

The Upside of the Downside

2008-07-13T23:02:00.004-04:00

Its amazing what happens when people share their stories; simply enough, lives are changed. But too often we are afraid to share our stories. We feel that nobody wants to hear it, or that we will be scorned for our past failures and pains. We need to realize, however, that it prepares the way for others to change, for others to learn from their own past. The upside to the downside of our past is a changed life and a new beginning.

The House That Ruth Built

2008-07-10T01:23:00.007-04:00

Its the last season for baseball at Yankee Stadium, so I made the hajj to the (other) Mecca of baseball. The list of names that have played there is a Who's Who of the Hall of Fame. Ruth, DiMaggio, Gehrig, Mantle, Berra, and I could go on. Now its the end of an era in a stadium chock full of history, great players, great games, and 26 World Championships (and they make sure you know it). Certainly the team will undoubtedly not falter with a new stadium, but it still will not be the same. I'm sure the voices of Bob Sheppard and Jim Hall will not even sound the same.

I expected Yankee Stadium to be a great, grand, and elegant stadium. The pictures give it a feel of grandeur with the lights surrounding home plate. Each individual light could be a spotlight for each great ball player of the past who has played at Yankee Stadium. The grass greener than a fertile valley. The field gracefully stretching 408 feet to dead center, guarded by the Bleacher Creatures in section 39.

My expectations, however, were not met. It was old. It was dirty. Eighty-five years of existence has taken its toll. The seats were tight, the Yankee blue faded through the years in the Bronx sun. The tunnels surrounding the stadium were even tighter. The concrete walkways painted with black gum spots. The pictures of the past World Championship teams faded hanging over the tunnel entrances. But I realized that is how I wanted it. Yankee Stadium couldn't be any other way. You could still see Babe Ruth hitting the first home run in Yankee Stadium against the demonized Boston Red Sox; Lou Gehrig announcing "Today I consider myself the luckiest man of the face of the planet"; Roger Maris hitting 61 in '61 (again against the Sox).

So the Bronx Bombers are getting a new playground next year. But I got to tell ya, it was a great day of baseball at their old one.

Death of a blogger...

2008-07-02T14:47:00.003-04:00

So I realized that the last entry, well, it sucked. I will try harder next time. A fellow blogger buddy told me, however, that its the death of any blog to try to make it great. I just need to write. So I guess I won't try too hard.

Stones and Seeds

2008-06-27T18:48:00.003-04:00

I have come to the realization that our words are powerful. Of course, I have known this, as we all have, for some time. But lately, the bare reality of it has hit me hard. Just as there are always two ways to look at things, there are also two ways of saying things. One can focus on the bad, or one can focus on the good. And in doing so, one can either use words of love, or words of hate. Now certainly I do not want to split words into two opposite categories. There are gray areas. But for the sake of argument...
Will I choose to use words of hate? Words that fall upon the ears as stones, leaving behind cuts and bruises. Or will I choose to use words of love? Words that will fall upon the ears as seeds fall upon fertile ground. I, for one, choose the words of love. Which will you choose?

and so we begin...

2008-06-09T00:51:00.001-04:00

And here begins the beginning.