Welcome Home

After a long day of over 17 hours of travel we are finally back to my parent's house in Pittsburgh.  It was exhausting but totally worth it, seeing my wonderful family and a my super excited dog.

Our day started out early.  Very early.  Neither of us slept well and we were weighted down with bags as we stumbled our way down the rainy alleyways to hail a cab to the airport.  We left from Barcelona at around 4 am EST time, arriving to NYC eight hours later at noon.  We flew on American Airlines and it actually was a pleasant flight.  Long but pleasant.  We watched two movies, Life of Pi and In Time, ate, watched some episodes of a few NBC sitcoms, ate again and then we only had 4 hours left.

When we finally got to New York we were nervous to have to pass through customs and immigration.  Fearful of the hassle of being out of the US for so long and how long the process would take, we picked up our bags, had our passport glanced at and stamped and were on our way within minutes. 

A short flight to Pittsburgh and we were almost home.  Just a short drive.  Oh yeah, rush hour in Pittsburgh.  The 20 miles turned into almost an hour and a half.  It took longer to drive from the airport than it did to fly from NYC.  But no worries because we were greeted by one happy puppy who bounced around us and tried to kiss every inch of my face. 

It was good to be home.  Now to adjust from the jet-lag and relax before our 500 mile drive back to NC this weekend. 

Snack Attack

A few months ago I blogged all about the various snacks we had eaten on our voyage.  Kelly and I are snackers that is for sure.  Since then we have been spending the last of our remaining currency from whatever port we are in on snacks for our cabin or treats during our day excursions.

Here is what we have come across since our wasabi seaweed wraps in China.

My delicious sundae and Kelly's Vietnamese coffee from the Cafe Blue in Saigon.  We had gone there back in 2006 and were hoping to have lunch but settled for these instead to escape the heat.

We picked up a large bag of these prawn crackers in a shop in the Little India section of Singapore.  They did taste fishy but, since there were 15 little bags, we ate them all to keep us going on our day trips.  I would pick something different next time.

We found these in the Scott Market in Yangon.  There were three buns in the package filled with pudding inside.  It seemed weird but we needed a snack and it was cheap.  They were actually pretty good.

Seeing Is Believing

I can take all the photos and videos I possibly can but nothing compares to actually being here.  Last night I watched as the sun set just above the horizon sandwiched in between a layers of clouds.  It appeared to just disappear before it reached the water like it was being tucked to sleep.  It was an amazing sight and the picture I took doesn't do justice to the sight.

There are other moments I know I can only take a mental picture of because no camera can capture the beauty of the moon's glow shimmering off the dark ocean with the ship rocking back and forth.  Or the plethora of stars when the ship shuts off the deck lights and we all gaze at the twinkling lights that fill the sky.  It looked as if someone spilled a bag full of diamonds on a black canvas. 

And then there are the smells.  How has nobody invented a smell-o-vision camera?  I can't come close to describing the impact that a hot market in Mauritius has on a person's nose .  Hot temperatures and fresh fish create a powerful smell.  It hits you like a punch in the face. Although in a weird way, I really was looking forward to experiencing it again.  It's one of those moments that create a lasting impression in your mind that no camera can ever record.  It makes you feel alive.  It's what traveling is all about.

Beers Around The World

I love travel.  I also love beer.  So getting to combine my two loves together and sample different beers from all the places we are visiting is an absolute joy.  And of course I only do so responsibly.

The beers I have had so far have been pretty good but I’m really craving a good pale ale like a Sierra Nevada.  Most of the beers in Asia are light and crisp.  Although with the heat we’ve been experiencing I couldn’t imagine anything else. 

So here is my sampling of beers from Hawaii to India…

Primo Island Lager – “Hawaii’s Original Beer” It wasn't too special but I had one while hanging out in a small dive bar across the street from the port we were docked in.  Craig, Nicole, Kelly and I were escaping the rain and talking to a crazy local guy.  I think Kona Brewery is the better of the Hawaii beer companies, especially the Longboard style.

Kirin Beer - A light beer that I sipped on while watching the sumo match in Tokyo.  The flavor was decent but somewhat lacking.  I'd compare it to a Miller Lite.  A good sporting event beer.

Snack Time

Kelly with a pea snack that was covered with a breading we got in China.

One of the best things about traveling around the world is getting to eat different food that we don't get back home.  We had some really good meals in Japan.  China was hit or miss but though we did get some dumpling type food at the Big Buddha that was tasty.

In addition to actual meals, one of my favorite things to do is go to the local grocery or convenience store and stock up on exotic snack foods.  We like to keep some for our cabin during the days we are at sea but we often eat them right there on the streets.  Here are a few tasty treats we have had in Hawaii, Japan and China. 

Cola flavored Mentos we picked up at the airport in Shanghai.  They tasted just like a fountain drink.

We still aren't sure what these deep-fried sticks were but they were salty and pretty good.  We got them while we walked around Japan.

These are turnovers we bought at the Hilo Farmer's Market.  One is curry beef and the other is taro pork.  They were like a Hot Pocket only really, really good.

I found these pieces of seaweed flavored with Wasabi at a grocery store in Hong Kong.  They are individually wrapped packages and have a bit of a kick to them.  It reminds me of eating a piece of sushi only without the rice and fish inside.  I like them.  

Walking and Busing Japan

Kelly and I spent most of our third day in Japan exploring the area of Shinagawa where our hostel was located.  We were trying to save the last of our Yen for eating and to get some snacks for our overnight bus ride to Kobe later that evening. 

We picked up a walking map of the area from our hostel and took to the backstreets to get some culture of everyday life in Japan.  We saw a bunch of beautiful shinto shrines and a lot of historical spots, including a park where they buried a 59 foot whale's bones that washed ashore around 1800s.  It was a fun and cheap day that left our dogs barking by the time we were ready to head back to Yokohama to catch our overnight bus. 

Speaking of dogs, we had a great interaction with a couple of Japanese woman who were walking a pack of poodles.  She let us pet them and they climbed all over us.  It really made me happy because we both miss our dog, Libby, so much.  It was probably the last time we can safely interact with dogs on the street too.

The bus ride to Kobe wasn’t too bad.  We left around 11:30PM and got in at about 8 AM.  The bus windows were covered with curtains and they had these beekeeper looking head covers that blocked out most of the light.  I put my Ipod on to block the snorers which worked well but gave me some weird dreams.  Kelly didn’t do so well and was really exhausted when we arrived back to the ship.

Our two days in Kobe were pretty chill.  Since we had spent five days there back in 2006 we didn’t feel pressured to do everything.  At the last minute on Wednesday I got the opportunity to lead a field trip of about 12 people to Kyoto to a Samurai sword fighting lesson.   It was a fun trip and our tour guide was incredible.  She gave me all kinds of interesting information like how in Tokyo people stood on the right side of the escalators but in Kobe they stood on the left.  It turns out that Japan is split down the middle geographically on how which side is the proper side to stand on.

When we left Kobe on Thursday night they had a marching band on the port terminal to play us off.  They waved giant hands on sticks and we bid them a big sayonara.  It was a great country. 

Kon Nichi Wa from Japan

Greetings from the Land of the Rising Sun.   It is nice to be able to connect with the outside world again.  As we arrived in Japan the government forced our ship to disable our internet satellite so I have been dependent on spotty WiFi connections I was able to pick up on my phone.

Today is our fifth day in Japan, second in Kobe, however I am on call today and will be stuck on the ship until we sail tonight at 2000.  I guess technically I’m forced to stay on the ship after that too unless I’d like to swim to China.  I plan on catching up on blogging and organizing my hundreds of pictures in between calls about lost students and missing Ipads.

Overall I really enjoyed my second time visiting Japan.  It’s a beautiful, peaceful country but one of many interesting contrasts.  It’s very common to find a small Shinto shrine situated among sky-rise apartment buildings in a bustling neighborhood.  Japan is also one of the cleanest countries I have ever visited but finding a trashcan seems next to impossible.  

I will recap our trip from Yokohama, Tokyo and Kobe in smaller post to come.  In the meantime, arigatoo for reading.

Poseidon is Peeved

The seas are angry my friends.  Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.  Today we are experiencing swells between 3-4 meters (about 10-13 feet).  Sadly we are expecting it to get worse before we reach Japan.  The crew has even closed the portholes of the cabins on the second deck.  The entertaining rumor on the ship is that each time we hit a big wave and the ship shutters we just hit a whale.  The next 24 hours should be fun.

Yesterday was a study day for the students but all of us aboard spent a few hours filling out immigration paperwork for some of our upcoming ports.  If you thought filling out the paperwork to get your passport was a pain, wait till you have to do forms for other countries.  Some places like India are extremely strict about staying within the boxes and not making any mistakes and will reject any forms that are messy. The forms are a major pain but at least they are complete.

Today we are finishing up plans for Japan and looking ahead to some other ports. We booked an overnight bus from Yokohama to Kobe to avoid sailing with the ship and to get an extra day in Japan. We still need to make some hotel arrangements but it’s starting to come together!

Away We Go

Today is finally here.  The day I've been anticipating for over 200 days.  Today Kelly and I board the M.V. Explorer to travel around the world for the second time. Just typing that still gives me goosebumps. 

It's an amazing opportunity, 12 countries, 17 cities over the next 112 days.  We traveled over 3000 miles yesterday alone.  We left RDU for our connecting flight in Chicago around 10 am EST.  We had an awesome gyro in the airport and got to see the Blues Brothers statue, a picture that my Dad will love probably more than any other I take on this journey.  Our flight to San Diego was long but everything went perfect.

This was our first experience flying Southwest airlines and, while it's strange at first, once you understand how it works, it's a cool airline.  The most important thing is that the earlier you check in online, the earlier you get to get on the plane and pick your own seat.   Plus you get two checked bags free and when you're packing for a four month trip, that is really important.  

After we arrived and were dropped off at the Hampton Inn, which is serving as SAS headquarters for the next day, we headed to the faculty/staff welcome reception.  I can already tell this is going to be an amazing group and it made me even more excited for this journey.  My RD staff is filled with very friendly and wonderful people.  After the reception our group headed over to In & Out burger for some animal style deliciousness.  It was on my bucket list of things to do for this trip and it totally lived up to it.

Today I have been up since 3am PST.  My body is stuck on in the Eastern time zone apparently.  I've spent the last few hours in the Hampton lobby cherishing the last of my reliable internet availability.  I guess the Warren Zevon biography that I picked to read while on the trip is rather appropriate today,
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

Dollar Dollar Bills Ya'll

It's odd asking a bank teller for $300 in one dollar bills.  They tend to give you an odd look.  It especially doesn't help when the local nudie bar is only a few blocks away.

Of course my reason is far less nefarious; A few of the countries on our itinerary don't require us to exchange currency and actually prefer US dollar bills.  They tend to want crisp, clean bills however those seem harder to come by.  I believe they accept dollars because US currency tends to be more stable than other currencies and there is more security holding on to it.  All I know is that when we get to Vietnam it's like the world's largest dollar store and I can't wait.

I may have to take advantage of having all these bills by throwing them on my bed and swimming in them à la Scrooge McDuck.

Moving Right Along

It's starting to sink in that we are leaving the country in less than a week.  I still haven't started packing yet but we are getting the house all prepped and making the necessary arrangements.  We left our beloved dog, Libby, with my parents in Pittsburgh after Christmas.  It was hard to leave her but I look forward to seeing how excited she is to see us when we return at the end of April.

I've been telling more people about our upcoming voyage in the past few days and the reaction is always the same.  "Wow."  I still have the same reaction when I think about how lucky we are to be traveling to 12 different countries over the next four months.  It's a once-in-a-lifetime trip that my wife and I are lucky enough to do twice.

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.

It's a Big, Big World... Go Explore It

San Diego here we come.  Last night I bought our plane tickets for January 6th, a mere 122 days until Kelly and I are set to travel around the world for our second time.  Needless to say we are very excited.

The Parliament building in Budapest

Getting lucky enough to do Semester at Sea twice is amazing.  I did my first voyage six years ago at the age of 26 but it wasn't my first trip overseas.  When I was 15 I spent a month in Europe with the People to People student ambassador program and I've been in love with traveling ever since.  I can't thank my parents enough for allowing me to take advantage of that opportunity.  Those twenty-four days our group spent exploring Austria, Hungary and Italy shaped me into the person I am today.  I climbed a million steps on that trip and I saw enough churches to last a lifetime,  but it was the experience of staying with a local family in Budapest, Hungary and Vienna, Austria that really had the most impact.  Getting to spend a few days living with them and seeing how despite the world being so big and so different, we are all just people who love our family, to laugh and have fun and eat delicious food.

I think it's sad that so few Americans travel outside of the States.  According to a 2011 CNN article, only 30% of Americans have passports.  I'm sure many that do only have one to go to party-stops like Cancun or the Bahamas, never getting into the heart of the country where the flavor of the people lives.  I feel like if more people explored the world it wouldn't seem so scary and people wouldn't be so willing to blow up other people because they would feel a connection to them.

The top of Table Mountain

Fortunately Semester at Sea allows us to go off and explore each port on our voyage.  Staying in local hotels and meeting people on the street is a great way to make the world a smaller place.  SAS provides us with some great opportunities too, like when I got to climb Table Mountain in South Africa with the former mayor of Cape Town, Frank van der Velde.  Getting the chance to have a conversation with people like him is knowledge you just can't get by reading a book.  Same is true for the local band, Eat This, Horse, that we met in a Cape Town bar.  We discussed what Apartheid was like and the effects it was still having on the country all while having a pint and shooting some pool.  That is why I travel. 

Welcome Aboard

Five months from today I will be embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime experience... for the second time.  Now that may be a bit confusing so let me explain.

The M.V. Explore docked in Nassau.

I have once again been hired by Semester at Sea to serve as a Resident Director for the Spring 2013 voyage.  This will be my second voyage with SAS.  I previously sailed during the Spring 2006 voyage, sailing around the world for almost 4 months while visiting 10 different countries.  It was also where I first met my wife, Kelly.  Together we will be setting sail  around the world aboard the M.V. Explorer.  Needless to say we are both very excited.

 I really can't wait to see what this adventure brings.  During my last voyage I not only met my wife, I went hang gliding over the beaches of Rio, walked on the Great Wall of China and saw the beauty of the Taj Mahal.  I recall those memories every day and I can't wait to make more next year.  It will be a different group of students and staff, although a few of the staff from my last voyage will also be sailing again on this voyage.  It will be great to see a few familiar faces but I'm also excited to make new friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

In the coming weeks and months I'm going to be blogging about all kinds of things.  I'm eager to get back to writing, something I had all but given up on since my last blog.  I'm the harshest critic of my writing but I'm working on overcoming the self-doubt that has held me back.   

I'm not really sure who my audience will be for this blog so feel free to ask any questions or just give me some feedback in the comments.