Hello folks. Sorry to be gone for so long, but the ol' private life has been a little hectic as of late. I'm in the middle of test prep at work and finishing up two classes in grad school. On top of all that I'm also attempting to marry (there's a lot of work to that).
However, the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. Christmas vacation is approaching and that means: trips! The fiance and I are intending to use our two week holiday to do some traveling. We'll go up to my brother's house in Northern Ohio and while there we will hop over to Pittsburgh and possibly Niagra Falls. I haven't done a lot of exploring in the Northern States, so I'm pretty excited and the fiance has only seen Tennessee so she's also excited.
We'll probably muck around my brother's small town and may enjoy the water park in nearby Sandusky. I'm not sure, but we shall see. The main purpose of the trip is to spend time with relatives, but we also want to see some new stuff. I really want to try Primanti Brothers' sandwiches. Hopefully I'll finally get a chance to.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Meeman-Shelby State Park
I've lived in Memphis since 2001 for a total of 5 years (I spent 5 years in Japan) and I have never until yesterday visited this nice state park. It's located roughly 17 miles north of Memphis but seems much further.
Since I am planning to climb Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2016 I need to get in shape as such I've decided to start regular hiking. Unfortunately there is little in the way of hiking in the Memphis area, except for Meeman-Shelby Park. It has 5 trails, only three of which are for hiking though. I chose the Woodland Trail as it is the shortest at 3 miles.
For most of the initial hike you are on top of a ridge overlooking a heavily wooded valley. The trail is mostly flat, but you go up and down a few steep hills. It's nothing too rigorous however. It's a pleasant and relatively easy hike. It took my buddy and I less than two hours to complete it (the map claims it takes 3 hours to hike the path). We even stopped for lunch.
The only bad thing about the trail was that it is poorly kept. We found at least 4 trees that had fallen onto the trail. One tree demolished a bridge. We had to climb the ruined bridge and over the tree to continue or take a bit of a dip. It's truly sad to see such a nice park with tons of potential fall into disrepair.
Overall the park is pretty nice. It makes for an easy and quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. I look forward to hitting the Woodland Trail again and to exploring some of the other trails that the park has to offer.
Since I am planning to climb Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2016 I need to get in shape as such I've decided to start regular hiking. Unfortunately there is little in the way of hiking in the Memphis area, except for Meeman-Shelby Park. It has 5 trails, only three of which are for hiking though. I chose the Woodland Trail as it is the shortest at 3 miles.
For most of the initial hike you are on top of a ridge overlooking a heavily wooded valley. The trail is mostly flat, but you go up and down a few steep hills. It's nothing too rigorous however. It's a pleasant and relatively easy hike. It took my buddy and I less than two hours to complete it (the map claims it takes 3 hours to hike the path). We even stopped for lunch.
The only bad thing about the trail was that it is poorly kept. We found at least 4 trees that had fallen onto the trail. One tree demolished a bridge. We had to climb the ruined bridge and over the tree to continue or take a bit of a dip. It's truly sad to see such a nice park with tons of potential fall into disrepair.
Overall the park is pretty nice. It makes for an easy and quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. I look forward to hitting the Woodland Trail again and to exploring some of the other trails that the park has to offer.
Friday, July 8, 2011
On being prepared while traveling
Great, I thought, the damned water isn't working. I had stepped into the only working bathroom on the tiny American Airlines jet, which was taking me to final destination in Tennessee, only to do my business and discover, much to my displeasure, that the water did not work. I eyed the disheveled pile of towelettes that lined the counter next to the sink.
I wasn't going to touch them. They looked like used condom wrappers and several were indeed open. It did not give me much confidence that those were on the level.
Going back to my seat with unwashed hands bothered me. I hate not washing my hands after a piss. And this was starting to wear on me. So, I pulled out some Wet Wipes from my bag and quickly cleaned my hands. Without those I would have had to spend the entire flight with "dirty" hands.
Situations like this happen all the time while traveling. It is best to always have alternatives in your luggage or gear. I can't tell you how many times having a pack of Wet Wipes or a flash light have saved my butt while on a trip. I also can't tell you how many times my friends have lamented not being prepared for the unexpected while out on an adventure.
When I travel I almost always bring my back pack. It goes everywhere I go. As such, I tend to keep a flash light, a first aid kit, a poncho, and some other stuff in a pocket of the pack at all times. There have been times when I'm staying at a friend or family member's house and have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Being in an unfamiliar house with no lights can cause accidents and injuries. My flashlight comes in handy for this. I merely whip out the light from my bag and trot down to the bathroom. I actually got this from my grandmother who also always carried a flashlight with her on her trips.
Traveling is often fun and exciting. It opens you up to new places and new experiences. It is great. However, not being properly prepared can have detrimental effects on your trip.
When I travel I generally take with me one large piece of luggage and one smaller one, usually a backpack. In my backpack I carry with me the things I think I will need on day trips, away from my base of operations. This ranges from guidebooks to a light jacket to an emergency pair of glasses. I also carry some things that I may not need, but is better to have and not need than need it and not have it. I keep a small first aid kit and a disposable poncho in one pocket of my pack. I also have a flashlight and some wet wipes. You never know when stuff like that will come in handy.
When I do road trips I always pack more than I need, especially if I'm traveling in bad weather or to an area prone to natural disaster or have features which may cause problems. I know I will mostly not like some of the equipment I bring, but I rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. An example of this is when I went to my brother's house in Northwestern Ohio last December. I packed several bottles of water and easy to prepare food just in case I became stranded on my journey. I also had a pair of hiking boots and some gear in preparation of ditching my car. I didn't need any of this, but had I, I would've been okay.
I've heard stories of people who go on trips and become stranded or lost and must camp in their cars. They usually end up miserable. My uncle told me of a time that he got his car stuck in a rural area of California and ended up having to make camp. He had luckily kept camping gear in his trunk and was able to be rather comfortable. He got his car out the next morning and everything was good.
This is what I recommend you take with you when you travel:
A sturdy back pack or similar bag
A flashlight (a small maglite is excellent for this purpose)
Some wet wipes
First Aid Kit
Multi-tool or small knife
I wasn't going to touch them. They looked like used condom wrappers and several were indeed open. It did not give me much confidence that those were on the level.
Going back to my seat with unwashed hands bothered me. I hate not washing my hands after a piss. And this was starting to wear on me. So, I pulled out some Wet Wipes from my bag and quickly cleaned my hands. Without those I would have had to spend the entire flight with "dirty" hands.
Situations like this happen all the time while traveling. It is best to always have alternatives in your luggage or gear. I can't tell you how many times having a pack of Wet Wipes or a flash light have saved my butt while on a trip. I also can't tell you how many times my friends have lamented not being prepared for the unexpected while out on an adventure.
When I travel I almost always bring my back pack. It goes everywhere I go. As such, I tend to keep a flash light, a first aid kit, a poncho, and some other stuff in a pocket of the pack at all times. There have been times when I'm staying at a friend or family member's house and have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Being in an unfamiliar house with no lights can cause accidents and injuries. My flashlight comes in handy for this. I merely whip out the light from my bag and trot down to the bathroom. I actually got this from my grandmother who also always carried a flashlight with her on her trips.
Traveling is often fun and exciting. It opens you up to new places and new experiences. It is great. However, not being properly prepared can have detrimental effects on your trip.
When I travel I generally take with me one large piece of luggage and one smaller one, usually a backpack. In my backpack I carry with me the things I think I will need on day trips, away from my base of operations. This ranges from guidebooks to a light jacket to an emergency pair of glasses. I also carry some things that I may not need, but is better to have and not need than need it and not have it. I keep a small first aid kit and a disposable poncho in one pocket of my pack. I also have a flashlight and some wet wipes. You never know when stuff like that will come in handy.
When I do road trips I always pack more than I need, especially if I'm traveling in bad weather or to an area prone to natural disaster or have features which may cause problems. I know I will mostly not like some of the equipment I bring, but I rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. An example of this is when I went to my brother's house in Northwestern Ohio last December. I packed several bottles of water and easy to prepare food just in case I became stranded on my journey. I also had a pair of hiking boots and some gear in preparation of ditching my car. I didn't need any of this, but had I, I would've been okay.
I've heard stories of people who go on trips and become stranded or lost and must camp in their cars. They usually end up miserable. My uncle told me of a time that he got his car stuck in a rural area of California and ended up having to make camp. He had luckily kept camping gear in his trunk and was able to be rather comfortable. He got his car out the next morning and everything was good.
This is what I recommend you take with you when you travel:
A sturdy back pack or similar bag
A flashlight (a small maglite is excellent for this purpose)
Some wet wipes
First Aid Kit
Multi-tool or small knife
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
A stroll through Hell
The air was heavy with the rotten egg stench of sulfur. The steam from the bubbling cracks in the ground shrouded the area in an eerie, ghostly white. An occasional gurgle also escaped from the yellow earth, almost in a vain attempt to beg forgiveness and a respite from this desolate place.
The path wound through cracked and jagged terrain. With each gust of wind I was assaulted with more of the old, rubbery egg stench. Yellow stained rocks comprised the walkway through these "hells". After I rounded a bend I saw a sign naming one particular hell for a woman who murdered her husband and was later executed. The spring apparently erupted shortly afterwards.
The area was laden with pine trees, bending and twisting like the souls of the condemned. which secluded the area even more, giving it an even more of a dark and scary hell-like quality. I certainly felt an uncomfortable sensation of dread and the lack of desire to spend much time there.
Approaching the top of a hill I could begin to hear a horrid, high pitched yell. A churning, choking, gasping sound that gave the area an even more awful character. That particular hell was aptly named the "Screaming Hell". A violent torrent of steam shoots from a vent in the earth causing a very convincing screaming sound. Perhaps those fated to hell did in fact reside here. Again the ambiance of this place was very dark. A scream of a crow briefly cut through the howling of the damned and another gust of foul air hit me.
As I walked through the hot spring hell I could feel a sense of isolation even though this place was in the midst of a small town. The place was hot and was drenched in the terrible odor of sulfur. The white, sharp, jagged rocks and the turmoil of the steaming water lent itself perfectly to the image of hell and it is certainly a place I would not want to be condemned to for eternity.
This area, although being called Hell, and definitely deserving of the name, is actually a hot springs resort near Nagasaki city. They are so named "Hell" because of the stark and forbidding landscape and of the intensity of the hot springs themselves. It is harsh and forbidding, a perfect picture of the stereotypical Hell.
After a about thirty minutes, my stomach could take no more of the heat and stench. I turned back towards the area I had come from and plunged into the white plumes of steam, returning again to the land of the living.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Kaisho no mori
Never listen to weather reports without observing the weather yourself. Building your plans around them can be frustrating and potentially disasterous. I found this out in part today.
Yesterday the forcast was for thunderstorms all day today in the Seto area. As such, my fiance and I decided to hunker down and spend the day inside and to not heed our normal bed time. This morning when we woke up at the nice hour of 9, we couldn't help but notice the bright sunshine streaming into our bedroom window.
While eating breakfast we decided to scrap our plans and revert to Plan B. Plan B entailed going on a hike somewhere in our immediate area. We thought about Inuyama or the EXPO park, but we eventually decided on Kaisho no mori, a wooded area rather near to my fiance's mother's house. We hastily packed our bags and set out, on foot, for our destination.
The sun beat down on our necks as we navigated city streets drawing ever closer to Kaisho no mori. We consumed quite a bit of our water before we even set food in the woods. To rectify this we stopped at the last convenience store on our path for some supplies.
Resupplied we continued toward our goal.
It was surprising how suddenly and completely the transition from city to backwoods happened. One minute we were in the middle of a nice suburban community and with the turn of a corner we were in a deep, rather dark forest. This area was pretty nice. It was originally a small farming village until the early 20th century when its residents began to head to the city for work and a new lifestyle. Now it is a protected forest and leisure hiking site for local people.
I thought it looked like a setting for a horror movie. All it lacked were scary residents, staring you down. There were times that if felt eerily like someone or something was about to reveal itself to us and then hunt us down and eat us. The fiance, more than a couple times, wimpered and muttered that the area looked as if ghosts should populate it. I didn't disagree.
Other than its supernatural aura, it was a great hike. The scenery was great and offered itself to the imagination. At one point the air was thick with the scent of cedar. It was truly a nice hike.
It wasn't hard like Gozaisho was either. There were a few inclines and some uneven parts, but most people could handle it. However, there were times that the path was less than ambiguous and it really looked like we were about be kidnapped to be part of some mountain person's dinner. Also, you must be a little adventurous and very observant. Most places have signs indicating where to go, but some do not. The path for pond (one of the main attractions of this area) is not marked well at all. In fact, if someone had not written on a "Fires Prohibited" sign and indicated the way, we would have missed it altogether.
I did the hike in shorts, but there were some areas that pants would have been preferable. Tall grasses and weeds often line the path and my legs are full of red marks from those obstacles. As with most forest paths, hiking boots are recommended. Kaisho no mori can be done in shoes, but as mentioned above, some places are a bit tricky and the added support and traction of boots came in handy.
Overall it was a great hike and it was a great way to get out of the house and enjoy some sunshine. If you do choose this place, please be aware that Japanese adders call this place home, so exercise caution.
Yesterday the forcast was for thunderstorms all day today in the Seto area. As such, my fiance and I decided to hunker down and spend the day inside and to not heed our normal bed time. This morning when we woke up at the nice hour of 9, we couldn't help but notice the bright sunshine streaming into our bedroom window.
While eating breakfast we decided to scrap our plans and revert to Plan B. Plan B entailed going on a hike somewhere in our immediate area. We thought about Inuyama or the EXPO park, but we eventually decided on Kaisho no mori, a wooded area rather near to my fiance's mother's house. We hastily packed our bags and set out, on foot, for our destination.
The sun beat down on our necks as we navigated city streets drawing ever closer to Kaisho no mori. We consumed quite a bit of our water before we even set food in the woods. To rectify this we stopped at the last convenience store on our path for some supplies.
Resupplied we continued toward our goal.
It was surprising how suddenly and completely the transition from city to backwoods happened. One minute we were in the middle of a nice suburban community and with the turn of a corner we were in a deep, rather dark forest. This area was pretty nice. It was originally a small farming village until the early 20th century when its residents began to head to the city for work and a new lifestyle. Now it is a protected forest and leisure hiking site for local people.
I thought it looked like a setting for a horror movie. All it lacked were scary residents, staring you down. There were times that if felt eerily like someone or something was about to reveal itself to us and then hunt us down and eat us. The fiance, more than a couple times, wimpered and muttered that the area looked as if ghosts should populate it. I didn't disagree.
Other than its supernatural aura, it was a great hike. The scenery was great and offered itself to the imagination. At one point the air was thick with the scent of cedar. It was truly a nice hike.
It wasn't hard like Gozaisho was either. There were a few inclines and some uneven parts, but most people could handle it. However, there were times that the path was less than ambiguous and it really looked like we were about be kidnapped to be part of some mountain person's dinner. Also, you must be a little adventurous and very observant. Most places have signs indicating where to go, but some do not. The path for pond (one of the main attractions of this area) is not marked well at all. In fact, if someone had not written on a "Fires Prohibited" sign and indicated the way, we would have missed it altogether.
I did the hike in shorts, but there were some areas that pants would have been preferable. Tall grasses and weeds often line the path and my legs are full of red marks from those obstacles. As with most forest paths, hiking boots are recommended. Kaisho no mori can be done in shoes, but as mentioned above, some places are a bit tricky and the added support and traction of boots came in handy.
Overall it was a great hike and it was a great way to get out of the house and enjoy some sunshine. If you do choose this place, please be aware that Japanese adders call this place home, so exercise caution.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Mt. Gozaisho
I like hiking. I've been doing it since I was a kid. I love being outdoors and being in touch with nature. It's just peaceful and calming.
When I returned to Japan 10 days ago, my buddy Patrick almost immediately sent me an invite to climb a mountain with him and our friend Paul. I was a bit jet lagged still and didn't really want to go, but the promise of hanging out with two of my good friends changed my mind.
The mountain in mind was Gozaisho in the Suzuka Range. It sits basically on the border of Mie and Shiga prefectures. The best way to get there is by car, but it is also on the Kintetsu Yunoyama line. Yunoyama station is the terminus for the line and the closest station the the mountain.
My fiance packed me a nice lunch (full of energy promoting goodness) and I packed my bag. I was up early the next morning (partially in thanks to the jet lag) and was actually 15 minutes or so early. Patrick grabbed Paul and I at the 7-11 in Komaki city and we were off.
The initial parts of the mountain were pretty easy. Things started off in a nice little forest and the weather was dry and cool. Very quickly, however, it became much more challenging. The path began going up steep embankments and would at times disappear entirely. Still the weather was on our side and it was enjoyable talking with my friends.
The path continued with it's unpredictability. We would be on somewhat level terrain and suddenly the path would veer right and we'd be climbing a steep wall of rock or muddy forest. Sometimes we needed the small trees that lined the path to help pull us up. It was pretty fun actually.
Though the weather was cool we still took frequent water breaks and other rest breaks (I'm not in the best of shape right now). This was probably the hardest mountain I've climbed to date. Fuji was taller, but the terrain was not as crazy and the slope was more moderate. Ibukiyama was tough, but due to the uneven terrain of Gozaisho, it wins the hardest mountain award.
It was funny seeing the people at the top of the mountain who took the cable car. They gave us odd stares as we came stumbling up the path all dirty and sweaty. We gave them the stares of "you didn't earn this". I definitely felt accomplished after reaching the top, pushing myself through areas I didn't think I'd make it and then seeing everyone else who cheated. I felt like I had done something worthwhile. I climbed a mountain.
Though the mountain is tough, you don't need much in the terms of equipment. We had no ropes or crampons and didn't need them. Basically all you need is a pair of good hiking boots and a pack. I did not have a camelback, but I highly recommend one. They are a great item to have while hiking. Another item which I found invaluable was bug spray. That stuff was a life saver. The mosquitoes were pretty bad on the mountain and could really ruin an otherwise great day. Another essential item is head gear. I actually forgot my cap in the States, but had my backup bandana ready. Just one thing, make sure the bandana is color fast. Mine was supposed to be, but after a couple hours of hiking my forehead was blue.
If you choose to climb Gozaisho, make sure you are prepared. And don't give up. It seems tough, but as Paul said "The easisest way down a mountain is getting to the top".
When I returned to Japan 10 days ago, my buddy Patrick almost immediately sent me an invite to climb a mountain with him and our friend Paul. I was a bit jet lagged still and didn't really want to go, but the promise of hanging out with two of my good friends changed my mind.
The mountain in mind was Gozaisho in the Suzuka Range. It sits basically on the border of Mie and Shiga prefectures. The best way to get there is by car, but it is also on the Kintetsu Yunoyama line. Yunoyama station is the terminus for the line and the closest station the the mountain.
My fiance packed me a nice lunch (full of energy promoting goodness) and I packed my bag. I was up early the next morning (partially in thanks to the jet lag) and was actually 15 minutes or so early. Patrick grabbed Paul and I at the 7-11 in Komaki city and we were off.
The initial parts of the mountain were pretty easy. Things started off in a nice little forest and the weather was dry and cool. Very quickly, however, it became much more challenging. The path began going up steep embankments and would at times disappear entirely. Still the weather was on our side and it was enjoyable talking with my friends.
The path continued with it's unpredictability. We would be on somewhat level terrain and suddenly the path would veer right and we'd be climbing a steep wall of rock or muddy forest. Sometimes we needed the small trees that lined the path to help pull us up. It was pretty fun actually.
Though the weather was cool we still took frequent water breaks and other rest breaks (I'm not in the best of shape right now). This was probably the hardest mountain I've climbed to date. Fuji was taller, but the terrain was not as crazy and the slope was more moderate. Ibukiyama was tough, but due to the uneven terrain of Gozaisho, it wins the hardest mountain award.
It was funny seeing the people at the top of the mountain who took the cable car. They gave us odd stares as we came stumbling up the path all dirty and sweaty. We gave them the stares of "you didn't earn this". I definitely felt accomplished after reaching the top, pushing myself through areas I didn't think I'd make it and then seeing everyone else who cheated. I felt like I had done something worthwhile. I climbed a mountain.
Though the mountain is tough, you don't need much in the terms of equipment. We had no ropes or crampons and didn't need them. Basically all you need is a pair of good hiking boots and a pack. I did not have a camelback, but I highly recommend one. They are a great item to have while hiking. Another item which I found invaluable was bug spray. That stuff was a life saver. The mosquitoes were pretty bad on the mountain and could really ruin an otherwise great day. Another essential item is head gear. I actually forgot my cap in the States, but had my backup bandana ready. Just one thing, make sure the bandana is color fast. Mine was supposed to be, but after a couple hours of hiking my forehead was blue.
If you choose to climb Gozaisho, make sure you are prepared. And don't give up. It seems tough, but as Paul said "The easisest way down a mountain is getting to the top".
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
JAL
So I'm back in Japan. This time I'm visiting my soon to be in laws and the soon to be missus. So far it's been a pretty nice trip. This post is mostly about my initial journey to the country.
As is often the case with traveling to Japan (or other East Asian countries) I left in the early morning hours from Nashville. My first layover was in Chicago. I've been to Chicago's airport a couple times before. In the past, I always felt that it was confusing and overly huge. This time I felt a bit different. I didn't need to take a tram to my departure area and the signs and staff were very helpful in finding my gate. However, make sure you double check where you are departing from because I and a couple others were told by the gate agent to leave the security area and to go to a completely different terminal. I, thinking that I had heard something different on the plane to Chicago, decided to ask a security agent. Good thing I did. Turns out that international flights used to leave from a different terminal. Now, however, they leave from the same terminal (depends on destination and carrier).
After finding my gate, something I always do before doing anything else, I went about finding some food. I ended up at the greasy chopstick in the food court. I learned a long time ago that it's always best to have something in your stomach before boarding your interenational flight just in case their in flight meal doesn't sit well with you. Unfortunately I had passed all the nice places a while back and did not want to wander too far from my gate.
This was the first time for me to fly JAL (Japan Air Lines) from the States to Japan. I must say this experience was awesome! From the moment I checked in to the moment I stepped off the plane in Nagoya, everything was great.
The first bit of sunshine was when I checked in. The gate agent informed me that I had an inner seat (something that I already requested against) and asked if I wanted an aisle. I did. He also said that he could give me a special seating assignment. I could have a business seat, but with economy service. Cool I thought, big seat.
The seat was the greatest I had ever seen. I was huge. I had left over room when I sat down. Also, you could recline the seat back to a laying down position. It was awesome! So comfortable and I was able to relax quite a bit. I still wasn't able to sleep much, but was comfortable nonetheless.
Arriving in Narita was nothing special, however, my experience there has emphasized my dislike for that airport. Everytime I go through Narita I have a different and irritating experience. It also seems that the airport changes configuration each time I go. It looked really different from only a year ago. Nothing really looked the same as when I came back from the Philippines last year. Another frustrating thing was that everyone was telling me a different place to go.
I left customs and was pointed to the left in order to make my connecting flight. Then when I was stopped by airport police the first time for a passport check I was told to go upstairs. Then when I was stopped a second time for a passport check, I was told yet another place. Finally someone pointed me to the "correct" area. However, I had to recheck my bags... Most other airports merely have you load up your bags right after customs. Not in Narita. You have to go to another ticket counter and recheck your stuff. Finally with under an hour left I made it to my gate.
Though I had a few irritations in Tokyo, my trip was great. I also want to say that I was not mad or irritated at getting my passport checked twice. It was just that they took several minutes each time and I was worried about missing my flight. I know the cops were just doing their jobs. So if it happens to you, just go with the flow and cooperate. Use Japanese if you can and be nice.
As is often the case with traveling to Japan (or other East Asian countries) I left in the early morning hours from Nashville. My first layover was in Chicago. I've been to Chicago's airport a couple times before. In the past, I always felt that it was confusing and overly huge. This time I felt a bit different. I didn't need to take a tram to my departure area and the signs and staff were very helpful in finding my gate. However, make sure you double check where you are departing from because I and a couple others were told by the gate agent to leave the security area and to go to a completely different terminal. I, thinking that I had heard something different on the plane to Chicago, decided to ask a security agent. Good thing I did. Turns out that international flights used to leave from a different terminal. Now, however, they leave from the same terminal (depends on destination and carrier).
After finding my gate, something I always do before doing anything else, I went about finding some food. I ended up at the greasy chopstick in the food court. I learned a long time ago that it's always best to have something in your stomach before boarding your interenational flight just in case their in flight meal doesn't sit well with you. Unfortunately I had passed all the nice places a while back and did not want to wander too far from my gate.
This was the first time for me to fly JAL (Japan Air Lines) from the States to Japan. I must say this experience was awesome! From the moment I checked in to the moment I stepped off the plane in Nagoya, everything was great.
The first bit of sunshine was when I checked in. The gate agent informed me that I had an inner seat (something that I already requested against) and asked if I wanted an aisle. I did. He also said that he could give me a special seating assignment. I could have a business seat, but with economy service. Cool I thought, big seat.
The seat was the greatest I had ever seen. I was huge. I had left over room when I sat down. Also, you could recline the seat back to a laying down position. It was awesome! So comfortable and I was able to relax quite a bit. I still wasn't able to sleep much, but was comfortable nonetheless.
Arriving in Narita was nothing special, however, my experience there has emphasized my dislike for that airport. Everytime I go through Narita I have a different and irritating experience. It also seems that the airport changes configuration each time I go. It looked really different from only a year ago. Nothing really looked the same as when I came back from the Philippines last year. Another frustrating thing was that everyone was telling me a different place to go.
I left customs and was pointed to the left in order to make my connecting flight. Then when I was stopped by airport police the first time for a passport check I was told to go upstairs. Then when I was stopped a second time for a passport check, I was told yet another place. Finally someone pointed me to the "correct" area. However, I had to recheck my bags... Most other airports merely have you load up your bags right after customs. Not in Narita. You have to go to another ticket counter and recheck your stuff. Finally with under an hour left I made it to my gate.
Though I had a few irritations in Tokyo, my trip was great. I also want to say that I was not mad or irritated at getting my passport checked twice. It was just that they took several minutes each time and I was worried about missing my flight. I know the cops were just doing their jobs. So if it happens to you, just go with the flow and cooperate. Use Japanese if you can and be nice.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Dry Spell
Recently I haven't gone anywhere. I've made the trip to Nashville and back a few times, but other than that no adventures or other travel. It's okay. I've been planning and scheming. I go to Japan in about 3 weeks. I'm pretty stoked about that. Not sure how much traveling in country I'll do, but hopefully I'll get to see something new or exciting.
I'm really focusing my thoughts to my grand road trip for next year. I'm going to be taking my wife on her first American road trip. We're going to see 12 states and as much as we can in each. We're mostly going to hit up National Parks, beer breweries and famous restaurants. It should be great fun. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.
Here's what I have planned thus far:
Garden of the Gods - Colorado
Pike's Peak - Colorado
Kansas City BBQ - Kansas
New Belgium Brewery - Colorado
Coors Brewery - Colorado
Salt Lake City - Utah
Salt Lake - Utah
San Francisco - California
Yosemite - California
Devil's Post Pile - California
Death Valley - California
Grand Canyon - Arizona
I'm really focusing my thoughts to my grand road trip for next year. I'm going to be taking my wife on her first American road trip. We're going to see 12 states and as much as we can in each. We're mostly going to hit up National Parks, beer breweries and famous restaurants. It should be great fun. If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know.
Here's what I have planned thus far:
Garden of the Gods - Colorado
Pike's Peak - Colorado
Kansas City BBQ - Kansas
New Belgium Brewery - Colorado
Coors Brewery - Colorado
Salt Lake City - Utah
Salt Lake - Utah
San Francisco - California
Yosemite - California
Devil's Post Pile - California
Death Valley - California
Grand Canyon - Arizona
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Shiloh
One hundred and forty-nine years ago the bloodiest battle in American history took place in a little area in south Tennessee called Shiloh. This battle saw high casualties on both sides and greatly affected the war.
Today, however, it is a very nice National Park with several hiking trails wandering about. The trails usually lead to significant battle sites or other noteworthy events. There are many different types of trail to choose from. This time we chose the compass course. It's about 10 miles and you do the majority of it using a compass at each site marker in order to find the next one. A pitfall I encountered was that there are trails leading away from many sites, but that does not mean that is the correct way to go. More than once my party got lost because we did not follow the compass, but went the way of the trail. Other instances saw a start of a path which would disappear forcing you to take multiple readings on your compass. As trying as this sounds it's actually very fun and a good skill to practice.
One thing you need to be aware of is the presence of ticks. These little creatures are all over Shiloh. One member of my group found 15 on him. So check throughout the day and once home or at camp, check again. Remember, ticks like warmer areas so check arm pits, waist bands, behind the knees and nether regions.
One unique aspect of this trip was the ongoing re-enactments being held that weekend. Actually it was the filming of a new visitor center film (the current one was filmed in the 50s). We got to witness some of the cannons firing and a few maneuvers of troops. It was interesting and very fun.
For those who are not interested in hiking long distances, Shiloh is full of shorter, less strenuous hikes. These wind around the park and visit many of the battle's sites. It's definitely worth the time to see this part of American history.
Today, however, it is a very nice National Park with several hiking trails wandering about. The trails usually lead to significant battle sites or other noteworthy events. There are many different types of trail to choose from. This time we chose the compass course. It's about 10 miles and you do the majority of it using a compass at each site marker in order to find the next one. A pitfall I encountered was that there are trails leading away from many sites, but that does not mean that is the correct way to go. More than once my party got lost because we did not follow the compass, but went the way of the trail. Other instances saw a start of a path which would disappear forcing you to take multiple readings on your compass. As trying as this sounds it's actually very fun and a good skill to practice.
One thing you need to be aware of is the presence of ticks. These little creatures are all over Shiloh. One member of my group found 15 on him. So check throughout the day and once home or at camp, check again. Remember, ticks like warmer areas so check arm pits, waist bands, behind the knees and nether regions.
One unique aspect of this trip was the ongoing re-enactments being held that weekend. Actually it was the filming of a new visitor center film (the current one was filmed in the 50s). We got to witness some of the cannons firing and a few maneuvers of troops. It was interesting and very fun.
For those who are not interested in hiking long distances, Shiloh is full of shorter, less strenuous hikes. These wind around the park and visit many of the battle's sites. It's definitely worth the time to see this part of American history.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Washington DC Day: 5
This was to be my last day going into Washington DC. I still had a few things on my list to see. I wanted to kill time at the American History Museum, but that got scrapped on the fly.
I was walking about trying to decide what to do when I realized that I was in DC and hadn't gone into the Capitol Building yet. So I changed course and headed to the hill.
It's very much like going through airport security. You had to take everything metallic off and run it through an x-ray machine. Once in, you could feel the tightness of security. I was directed to the tour desk and quickly got a spot on the next tour. It's pretty neat. You get a head set which allows you to easily hear the tour guide.
The tour was pretty short, I think only about 30 or 45 minutes. We got to see the rotunda and the old area where the House used to sit. The amount of art was amazing. Apparently each state is allowed to send one sculpture of a famous resident. There were many I knew and many I did not.
After Congress I headed back to the American Portrait Museum. It was actually still closed when I got there so I wandered Chinatown looking for lunch. I settled at a small place which had an odd odor. I ordered some chicken and rice and was feeling a bit uneasy about it. But then more customers showed up and allowed me to relax a bit.
The Portrait Museum was awesome. There are portraits of all sorts of people. The Hall of Presidents was the one I knew most about. I spent the most time there. There was so much to see there that I ended up only seeing about half.
I still had some time before I had to meet my friend, so I went to Ford's Theatre. The actual theatre was closed, but I went to the museum. It was interesting but honestly I was a bit museumed out by that time.
I had one more drink at the Hawk n' Dove and headed back to Virginia.
Washington DC has so much to offer and I feel that people tend to over look it. I wish that I had gone years ago as a child. When I have kids I will definitely take them to this gem of a city.
I was walking about trying to decide what to do when I realized that I was in DC and hadn't gone into the Capitol Building yet. So I changed course and headed to the hill.
It's very much like going through airport security. You had to take everything metallic off and run it through an x-ray machine. Once in, you could feel the tightness of security. I was directed to the tour desk and quickly got a spot on the next tour. It's pretty neat. You get a head set which allows you to easily hear the tour guide.
The tour was pretty short, I think only about 30 or 45 minutes. We got to see the rotunda and the old area where the House used to sit. The amount of art was amazing. Apparently each state is allowed to send one sculpture of a famous resident. There were many I knew and many I did not.
After Congress I headed back to the American Portrait Museum. It was actually still closed when I got there so I wandered Chinatown looking for lunch. I settled at a small place which had an odd odor. I ordered some chicken and rice and was feeling a bit uneasy about it. But then more customers showed up and allowed me to relax a bit.
The Portrait Museum was awesome. There are portraits of all sorts of people. The Hall of Presidents was the one I knew most about. I spent the most time there. There was so much to see there that I ended up only seeing about half.
I still had some time before I had to meet my friend, so I went to Ford's Theatre. The actual theatre was closed, but I went to the museum. It was interesting but honestly I was a bit museumed out by that time.
I had one more drink at the Hawk n' Dove and headed back to Virginia.
Washington DC has so much to offer and I feel that people tend to over look it. I wish that I had gone years ago as a child. When I have kids I will definitely take them to this gem of a city.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Washington DC: Day 4
Having seen the memorials on the mall I decided to try to take some pictures of the White House. I had been able to see it the previous morning while between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
I wandered down to the White House and indeed got some nice pictures. I was a bit surprised at how close tourists were allowed to get. After the white house I went back to the Natural History Museum.
Again, that place is huge. I got to look more in depth at the exhibits I thought were interesting, but did not have the time to the previous day: ancient life, aquatic life, rocks and minerals, and much more.
The rocks and minerals area was very cool and if I had seen it as a kid I would've been in heaven (I loved rocks and such as a kid). If you go there DO NOT miss the crystal exhibits! It is absolutely awesome! I got a lot of ideas for short stories by wandering those halls.
I took the opportunity of being at the museum to learn a bit more about a culture. I decided to watch a movie about Arabia. It was interesting, but not very in depth. Also, the 3-D glasses made my head and face hurt. After the film I wandered about a bit more and decided to get some food.
I was on the way back to my favorite haunt (the Eastern side of Pennsylvania Ave) when I noticed a lot of cops and several people standing on the sidewalks. Come to find out a motorcade was about to start and we had to remain where we were for it. Some of the other people there said it was President Obama. I couldn't tell, but maybe it was.
After that 45 minute hold up I rushed off in search of food. I chose to get pizza. We the Pizza is a nice pizza joint with such interesting pizzas as buffalo chicken and greek pizza. I went for the buffalo chicken and sausage and peppers. Both were great. I had a beer there, a Fireside nut brown ale. I wasn't too fond of it. It tasted really awful, almost like it was skunked. The after taste was the worst. On the up side the slices were big and filling.
I then ended up at the Capitol Lounge, a pub very close to We the Pizza. It has a nice locals feel to it. I had a few pints in anticipation of St. Patty's day and started wandering again.
I made it to the American Portraits museum, but ended up having to go back to my friend's place for our St. Paddy's Day fun.
I wandered down to the White House and indeed got some nice pictures. I was a bit surprised at how close tourists were allowed to get. After the white house I went back to the Natural History Museum.
Again, that place is huge. I got to look more in depth at the exhibits I thought were interesting, but did not have the time to the previous day: ancient life, aquatic life, rocks and minerals, and much more.
The rocks and minerals area was very cool and if I had seen it as a kid I would've been in heaven (I loved rocks and such as a kid). If you go there DO NOT miss the crystal exhibits! It is absolutely awesome! I got a lot of ideas for short stories by wandering those halls.
I took the opportunity of being at the museum to learn a bit more about a culture. I decided to watch a movie about Arabia. It was interesting, but not very in depth. Also, the 3-D glasses made my head and face hurt. After the film I wandered about a bit more and decided to get some food.
I was on the way back to my favorite haunt (the Eastern side of Pennsylvania Ave) when I noticed a lot of cops and several people standing on the sidewalks. Come to find out a motorcade was about to start and we had to remain where we were for it. Some of the other people there said it was President Obama. I couldn't tell, but maybe it was.
After that 45 minute hold up I rushed off in search of food. I chose to get pizza. We the Pizza is a nice pizza joint with such interesting pizzas as buffalo chicken and greek pizza. I went for the buffalo chicken and sausage and peppers. Both were great. I had a beer there, a Fireside nut brown ale. I wasn't too fond of it. It tasted really awful, almost like it was skunked. The after taste was the worst. On the up side the slices were big and filling.
I then ended up at the Capitol Lounge, a pub very close to We the Pizza. It has a nice locals feel to it. I had a few pints in anticipation of St. Patty's day and started wandering again.
I made it to the American Portraits museum, but ended up having to go back to my friend's place for our St. Paddy's Day fun.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Washington DC: Day 3
I noticed something while riding the train into DC this morning: people have different train manners here than in Japan. I'm used to riding a train where people don't sit next to you and where most people don't talk on their cell phones while on the train (though sometimes people do). I was pretty surprised when people sat down next to me without a problem and just sat. In Japan, that would have been rare. People there don't like sitting next to people they don't know, especially foreigners. I would make space for people and more often than not I would be ignored. It's funny. But here, people have no problem whatsoever to sitting down next to total strangers.
Another thing that shocked me was the lady sitting behind me was talking loudly on her phone. I wasn't used to this and thought it to be rather rude. Funny how you become accustomed to something.
A somewhat funny thing I noticed on the trains here are the handicapped sitting areas. They are benches near the door, but are blocked by vertical hand rails in the middle of walk way. I honestly think this is a major design flaw. There is no way a person in a wheel chair can get into that "handicapped" section. In Japan the area in the front of the train car is large and wheel chairs can get in easily. I think DC needs to reevaluate their subway car designs.
Again I arrived into town around 8:30 and had to thus kill time before the museum open. I walked around the Mall and wandered over to the Washington memorial. There was a line to get tickets so I hopped in. I met a nice elderly couple whom I chatted with until I got the tickets. The tickets are free, but they are timed, so you need to get there early so you can plan your day around your tickets. Mine were for 2:30.
Still having quite a bit of time on my hands, I decided to head over to the Lincoln Memorial. This memorial is also free and does not require any tickets. I did notice, however, that there were a lot more tourists out this morning. This didn't affect me much, but definitely detracted to the serenity of the previous morning.
The walk to Lincoln's Memorial would have been nicer if the reflection pool was open. There were large fences surrounding the pool which was completely drained with several construction vehicles in it. Apparently they are renovating it so as to add to the beauty and to keep it in good repair. I was disappointed though.
After looking through the Lincoln Memorial I went to the Vietnam War Memorial. That is something I wanted to see for a long time. I was hoping for a quiet viewing, but unfortunately there were scores of tourists there and most of them were noisy. A few were talking quietly and respectively to a veteran. Others (the majority) were loud, rude, and making a joke of the whole memorial. Some were even stepping on areas they were not supposed to. The parents of these idiots were even contributing to this behavior, encouraging even. It really screwed up my time there.
The Korean War Memorial was better. It was quiet and somber. I really felt that the memorial caught the essence of the War. The looks on the statues' faces reflected fear, anxiety, confusion and apprehension. It was a very sobering place.
After my jaunt around the memorials the museums were open so I headed over. Today was the American History Museum. This place was also huge. The centerpiece of this museum is the original star spangled banner. They also have pop culture artifacts such as Archie Bunker's chair and Kermit the Frog and many many others. It was so awesome. I wandered the halls for 3 hours and didn't see a quarter of the stuff there.
I needed food. My ticket for the Washington Memorial was for 2:30. I was not going to spend a small fortune at the food court (I'm not sure if there was one or not, but I assumed there was) so I went on the hunt for food. There were plenty of food carts lining the streets, but they were also highly overpriced. I ended up at the Ronald Regan International Center where on the basement floor is a food court. Think of a typical mall food court and you'll have the food court at the center. The only thing is that you have to go through a metal detector to get in.
I hurried through a lunch of Chinese and then went back to the Washington Memorial. It was actually pretty cool. When you look out the top windows you can also see pictures of Washington as it was long ago. It was very interesting to see the changes. Another highlight of the memorial is the elevator ride back to the bottom. While going down, you can see several of the stones sent by states and other countries. There are many different kinds of stones ranging from coral to jade. It was pretty neat, I just wish you could walk down the steps and leisurely look at the stones. But oh well.
Still having a little bit of time on my hands I went off to the Natural History Museum. Again, tons of stuff. They have so much. I can't believe how much they have, but they do. I didn't get to do much because I had to go to meet my friend, but it was neat. I actually got a little lost. That's how big the place is, I got lost.
Another thing that shocked me was the lady sitting behind me was talking loudly on her phone. I wasn't used to this and thought it to be rather rude. Funny how you become accustomed to something.
A somewhat funny thing I noticed on the trains here are the handicapped sitting areas. They are benches near the door, but are blocked by vertical hand rails in the middle of walk way. I honestly think this is a major design flaw. There is no way a person in a wheel chair can get into that "handicapped" section. In Japan the area in the front of the train car is large and wheel chairs can get in easily. I think DC needs to reevaluate their subway car designs.
Again I arrived into town around 8:30 and had to thus kill time before the museum open. I walked around the Mall and wandered over to the Washington memorial. There was a line to get tickets so I hopped in. I met a nice elderly couple whom I chatted with until I got the tickets. The tickets are free, but they are timed, so you need to get there early so you can plan your day around your tickets. Mine were for 2:30.
Still having quite a bit of time on my hands, I decided to head over to the Lincoln Memorial. This memorial is also free and does not require any tickets. I did notice, however, that there were a lot more tourists out this morning. This didn't affect me much, but definitely detracted to the serenity of the previous morning.
The walk to Lincoln's Memorial would have been nicer if the reflection pool was open. There were large fences surrounding the pool which was completely drained with several construction vehicles in it. Apparently they are renovating it so as to add to the beauty and to keep it in good repair. I was disappointed though.
After looking through the Lincoln Memorial I went to the Vietnam War Memorial. That is something I wanted to see for a long time. I was hoping for a quiet viewing, but unfortunately there were scores of tourists there and most of them were noisy. A few were talking quietly and respectively to a veteran. Others (the majority) were loud, rude, and making a joke of the whole memorial. Some were even stepping on areas they were not supposed to. The parents of these idiots were even contributing to this behavior, encouraging even. It really screwed up my time there.
The Korean War Memorial was better. It was quiet and somber. I really felt that the memorial caught the essence of the War. The looks on the statues' faces reflected fear, anxiety, confusion and apprehension. It was a very sobering place.
After my jaunt around the memorials the museums were open so I headed over. Today was the American History Museum. This place was also huge. The centerpiece of this museum is the original star spangled banner. They also have pop culture artifacts such as Archie Bunker's chair and Kermit the Frog and many many others. It was so awesome. I wandered the halls for 3 hours and didn't see a quarter of the stuff there.
I needed food. My ticket for the Washington Memorial was for 2:30. I was not going to spend a small fortune at the food court (I'm not sure if there was one or not, but I assumed there was) so I went on the hunt for food. There were plenty of food carts lining the streets, but they were also highly overpriced. I ended up at the Ronald Regan International Center where on the basement floor is a food court. Think of a typical mall food court and you'll have the food court at the center. The only thing is that you have to go through a metal detector to get in.
I hurried through a lunch of Chinese and then went back to the Washington Memorial. It was actually pretty cool. When you look out the top windows you can also see pictures of Washington as it was long ago. It was very interesting to see the changes. Another highlight of the memorial is the elevator ride back to the bottom. While going down, you can see several of the stones sent by states and other countries. There are many different kinds of stones ranging from coral to jade. It was pretty neat, I just wish you could walk down the steps and leisurely look at the stones. But oh well.
Still having a little bit of time on my hands I went off to the Natural History Museum. Again, tons of stuff. They have so much. I can't believe how much they have, but they do. I didn't get to do much because I had to go to meet my friend, but it was neat. I actually got a little lost. That's how big the place is, I got lost.
Washington DC: Day 2
My friend was kind enough to let me ride with him into Fairfax (the closest place to get onto a train). My friend had to go to work by 8 am so I was in DC by 8:30. It was amazingly quiet. There were not many people out and it was just a nice peaceful morning.
I started out by wandering over to the Smithsonian Castle. The castle is actually just the visitor center. There's an introduction video that tells about the museum and what highlights are where. It's definitely a good place to start seeing the museum.
Something I did not realize was that the Smithsonian opens at 10 am. However, the castle opens at 8:30. Since I was there so early I walked around the capitol building and took pictures. It was a very nice morning.
My first museum of the day was the Museum of the American Indian. It was really interesting and informative. The only problem was that it was huge! I wandered the halls and saw the little movie on the third floor and continued to wander. I was there for about 3 hours and maybe saw half of the place. Honestly, I don't think I saw half.
Next on the agenda was lunch. By this time I was starving. I went to check out the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. It was way overpriced. They were wanting upwards of 15 bucks for an entree. I had to decline. Besides I wanted to get some food from a local place.
Like most animals I decided to return to proven hunting grounds. I went back to the area of Pennsylvania Ave where I ate the previous night. I continued past Good Stuff and went to where the restaurants phased away. I was torn between pizza or burritos. As I was debating I noticed a pub. I like local pubs. I've always had good luck with them, so I decided to go for it.
The Hawk 'n' Dove is a nice and friendly bar. I liked it and will go back when I have the chance to visit DC again. I walked in and was greeted by the bartender. I sat at the bar and asked the bartender what he recommended. I ended up getting a Bell's Two Hearted Ale. It's a hoppy beer and though I don't usually dig hoppy beers, I had three. Lunch consisted of an open faced turkey sandwich. It was good. I definitely needed the fuel to continue on my touring.
After lunch and the beer I headed over to the National Air and Space Museum. This place was huge. I saw the highlights: the Wright Flyer, the Apollo Command Module, and lots of other attractions. They have so much information on flight it's crazy. If you want to see everything, you need at least two or three days to do it. Another highlight was the planetarium. For 9 bucks I got to see their show on black holes. It was interesting, but in my opinion a bit high for what it was.
It was a really good day and a nice introduction to Washington DC. The following day was even more fun.
I started out by wandering over to the Smithsonian Castle. The castle is actually just the visitor center. There's an introduction video that tells about the museum and what highlights are where. It's definitely a good place to start seeing the museum.
Something I did not realize was that the Smithsonian opens at 10 am. However, the castle opens at 8:30. Since I was there so early I walked around the capitol building and took pictures. It was a very nice morning.
My first museum of the day was the Museum of the American Indian. It was really interesting and informative. The only problem was that it was huge! I wandered the halls and saw the little movie on the third floor and continued to wander. I was there for about 3 hours and maybe saw half of the place. Honestly, I don't think I saw half.
Next on the agenda was lunch. By this time I was starving. I went to check out the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. It was way overpriced. They were wanting upwards of 15 bucks for an entree. I had to decline. Besides I wanted to get some food from a local place.
Like most animals I decided to return to proven hunting grounds. I went back to the area of Pennsylvania Ave where I ate the previous night. I continued past Good Stuff and went to where the restaurants phased away. I was torn between pizza or burritos. As I was debating I noticed a pub. I like local pubs. I've always had good luck with them, so I decided to go for it.
The Hawk 'n' Dove is a nice and friendly bar. I liked it and will go back when I have the chance to visit DC again. I walked in and was greeted by the bartender. I sat at the bar and asked the bartender what he recommended. I ended up getting a Bell's Two Hearted Ale. It's a hoppy beer and though I don't usually dig hoppy beers, I had three. Lunch consisted of an open faced turkey sandwich. It was good. I definitely needed the fuel to continue on my touring.
After lunch and the beer I headed over to the National Air and Space Museum. This place was huge. I saw the highlights: the Wright Flyer, the Apollo Command Module, and lots of other attractions. They have so much information on flight it's crazy. If you want to see everything, you need at least two or three days to do it. Another highlight was the planetarium. For 9 bucks I got to see their show on black holes. It was interesting, but in my opinion a bit high for what it was.
It was a really good day and a nice introduction to Washington DC. The following day was even more fun.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Washington DC: Day 1
So Monday started off as any other day. I had breakfast with my mom and grandmother. But after a little while I was off to the airport.
I was a bit shocked at that Delta now makes you pay $25 to check a bag in. I think that's complete bullshit. I almost never fly within the US, so I never knew about this fee. The airlines need to cool it on the nickel and diming crap. I feel that they are shooting themselves in the foot and just screwing travelers over.
So I flew from Nashville to Cincinnati and on to Baltimore. Delta in its infinite wisdom decided to give me 0 minutes to get from plane A to plane B. Fortunately Delta is also extremely punctual so I was able to make it no problem.
Baltimore airport (BWI) is a nice airport and the support staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I asked the information desk worker for directions and not only did he respond quickly, he was nice about it. It was a great introduction to this area.
To get from BWI to DC you need to take the B17 bus from exit 17 to the Greenbelt station. From Greenbelt you can easily get into the city. The overall trip was about an hour or so.
I met up with my friend Andrew at L'Enfant Plaza. We headed over to Good Stuff, a local burger restaurant. This place is awesome! The food although expensive is freaking great! I paid about $18 for a bacon burger, fries and a beer. Expensive, but you get what you paid for. Everything is fresh there. The french fries were probably the best thing. Basil and a couple other spices were sprinkled on the fries giving them a unique flavor.
Good Stuff is located on Pennsylvania Avenue SE. It is on the opposite end from the White House (behind Capitol Hill). If you're in DC, you should definitely check this place out.
I was a bit shocked at that Delta now makes you pay $25 to check a bag in. I think that's complete bullshit. I almost never fly within the US, so I never knew about this fee. The airlines need to cool it on the nickel and diming crap. I feel that they are shooting themselves in the foot and just screwing travelers over.
So I flew from Nashville to Cincinnati and on to Baltimore. Delta in its infinite wisdom decided to give me 0 minutes to get from plane A to plane B. Fortunately Delta is also extremely punctual so I was able to make it no problem.
Baltimore airport (BWI) is a nice airport and the support staff are extremely friendly and helpful. I asked the information desk worker for directions and not only did he respond quickly, he was nice about it. It was a great introduction to this area.
To get from BWI to DC you need to take the B17 bus from exit 17 to the Greenbelt station. From Greenbelt you can easily get into the city. The overall trip was about an hour or so.
I met up with my friend Andrew at L'Enfant Plaza. We headed over to Good Stuff, a local burger restaurant. This place is awesome! The food although expensive is freaking great! I paid about $18 for a bacon burger, fries and a beer. Expensive, but you get what you paid for. Everything is fresh there. The french fries were probably the best thing. Basil and a couple other spices were sprinkled on the fries giving them a unique flavor.
Good Stuff is located on Pennsylvania Avenue SE. It is on the opposite end from the White House (behind Capitol Hill). If you're in DC, you should definitely check this place out.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Shoes
One of the things I want to do in this blog is to give advice on travel accessories. So often I hear people say that a trip was ruined due to having bad shoes or a coat that did not insulate as well as they thought. Since I have quite a bit of experience in traveling I thought that my input may be valuable. So for this first "Travel accessories" article I have chosen shoes.
Shoes are perhaps the first and most important item a traveler has. I've had some rotten shoes on a trip or two. Or I've had the wrong shoe for what I was doing. A prime example of this is when I climbed Mt. Fuji back in 04. I went up and back down while wearing Dr. Marten's low cut street shoes. They were well worn in so I didn't have to contend with blisters, but I had no traction and the sole gave me little protection from the millions of sharp, tiny stones littering the path of the mountain. I was not a very happy camper. Another time I went on a hike and got drenched in a heavy, 5 hour rain. My feet were not happy.
The most important thing is comfort. If you're shoes give you trouble normally, traveling with them won't be any more pleasant. Actually it'll be worse since you'll be walking around more and being more active than usual. The bad thing is that comfort usually comes with a price. I have found that the more expensive the shoe, the better they feel on my foot. I now have a pair of Ecco loafers. They are great, some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I walk in them. I work in them. I can do just about anything with them. They ran me about $150, but it was worth it. My other pair of shoes that I use often are my hiking boots. I use Vasque. Again they were expensive, but damn they are comfortable. These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Hands down they are worth every penny of the $200 I dropped on them. I can walk miles and miles in them without feeling much in the way of discomfort.
Quality is another major factor in traveling shoes. Again this is related to price. If a shoe is cheap it will most likely fall apart on you mid trip. That would suck. I very nearly had that happen to me. Actually it did. I was in Japan last year and I wore a pair of sandals. These things had been all over with me. They were great. But time and use won out and they fell apart one afternoon, a week before I went to the Philippines. Now the quality of those sandals (Rainbow sandals) was not bad. Actually they were quite good and sturdy, but you must make sure your equipment is in a usable condition before traveling. If you have a pair of shoes with a questionable soft spot in the sole, you should probably buy a new pair.
You also have to think about how you're going to use your shoes. Are you going to be just walking around a city? Are you going hiking? You need to bring the right shoe for the right occasion. That's one reason why I buy hiking boots so often. They are pretty versatile and can be used for just about any occasion. My Vasques are such that I can walk around any city and be fine or go climbing around hills and forests.
The last thing I'm going to write about is waterproofing. Waterproofing can save an entire trip. For example, Japan is pretty raining during the summer months. Your shoes can get pretty soaked pretty easily. Having a waterproofed set of boots can definitely make a trip during the Japanese summer better.
Basically what I'm saying is "go for the hiking boot". It has all you need and will get you around feeling like you're walking on clouds. You just have to dish out the cash.
Shoes are perhaps the first and most important item a traveler has. I've had some rotten shoes on a trip or two. Or I've had the wrong shoe for what I was doing. A prime example of this is when I climbed Mt. Fuji back in 04. I went up and back down while wearing Dr. Marten's low cut street shoes. They were well worn in so I didn't have to contend with blisters, but I had no traction and the sole gave me little protection from the millions of sharp, tiny stones littering the path of the mountain. I was not a very happy camper. Another time I went on a hike and got drenched in a heavy, 5 hour rain. My feet were not happy.
The most important thing is comfort. If you're shoes give you trouble normally, traveling with them won't be any more pleasant. Actually it'll be worse since you'll be walking around more and being more active than usual. The bad thing is that comfort usually comes with a price. I have found that the more expensive the shoe, the better they feel on my foot. I now have a pair of Ecco loafers. They are great, some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. I walk in them. I work in them. I can do just about anything with them. They ran me about $150, but it was worth it. My other pair of shoes that I use often are my hiking boots. I use Vasque. Again they were expensive, but damn they are comfortable. These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. Hands down they are worth every penny of the $200 I dropped on them. I can walk miles and miles in them without feeling much in the way of discomfort.
Quality is another major factor in traveling shoes. Again this is related to price. If a shoe is cheap it will most likely fall apart on you mid trip. That would suck. I very nearly had that happen to me. Actually it did. I was in Japan last year and I wore a pair of sandals. These things had been all over with me. They were great. But time and use won out and they fell apart one afternoon, a week before I went to the Philippines. Now the quality of those sandals (Rainbow sandals) was not bad. Actually they were quite good and sturdy, but you must make sure your equipment is in a usable condition before traveling. If you have a pair of shoes with a questionable soft spot in the sole, you should probably buy a new pair.
You also have to think about how you're going to use your shoes. Are you going to be just walking around a city? Are you going hiking? You need to bring the right shoe for the right occasion. That's one reason why I buy hiking boots so often. They are pretty versatile and can be used for just about any occasion. My Vasques are such that I can walk around any city and be fine or go climbing around hills and forests.
The last thing I'm going to write about is waterproofing. Waterproofing can save an entire trip. For example, Japan is pretty raining during the summer months. Your shoes can get pretty soaked pretty easily. Having a waterproofed set of boots can definitely make a trip during the Japanese summer better.
Basically what I'm saying is "go for the hiking boot". It has all you need and will get you around feeling like you're walking on clouds. You just have to dish out the cash.
11 March, 2011 Japan
The craziness in Japan just isn't stopping. So far all of my friends are okay. Thankfully.
Something I saw on facebook that I thought was a good idea was to encourage people to help each other out. Foreigners and travelers are going to be really affected by the disaster, so please help them out. Others who may have lost homes or may be stuck somewhere, help them out too. Everyone has to pull together to make sure everyone makes it through in one piece.
Good luck everyone! I wish I was there to help!
Something I saw on facebook that I thought was a good idea was to encourage people to help each other out. Foreigners and travelers are going to be really affected by the disaster, so please help them out. Others who may have lost homes or may be stuck somewhere, help them out too. Everyone has to pull together to make sure everyone makes it through in one piece.
Good luck everyone! I wish I was there to help!
Japan earthquake and tsunami
I guess everyone's heard about the events of today. It sucks that it happened and I feel for the victims. I hope the Sendai area recovers quickly and those travelers who are stranded can get home safely and soon.
I have been fortunate to have never been in a disaster like this.
Good luck everyone! I hope everyone the best.
I have been fortunate to have never been in a disaster like this.
Good luck everyone! I hope everyone the best.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Going to Washington DC
Well spring break is nearly on us and as such I'm traveling. I was considering doing some hiking in Tennessee or visiting East Tennessee (a place I haven't stopped in for over a decade) or going to Oklahoma or something like that. Originally I was going to drive, but as a lark I started looking at plane tickets on kayak.com. I found several tickets to places all over the States for as cheap as $230. I looked at Washington because I have a buddy who lives near there and I've been meaning to go and see him for some time now. I checked with him and everything matched up so I'll be hanging out with him and seeing the many sights of our capital city.
Expect more on my Washington trip soon.
Expect more on my Washington trip soon.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Make friends
One of the most important things I've learned about traveling is to talk to people and to make friends. I can't tell you how many times my trip has been saved or started due to the fact that I knew someone in the area.
The first example is when I was 16. My mother and I took a trip to the UK. I had been there once before, but my mom was new to it. We planned a crazy, whirlwind trip from London to Scotland, ending up in Ireland.
We were in Aberdeen Scotland (a great city) and we were trying to figure out how to get from Aberdeen to Holyhead England so that we could get a ferry to Ireland. While we were studying our maps and tour books, a nice English lady struck up a conversation with my mom. When the woman found out about our predicament she offered for us to stay at their house. My mom accepted her offer.
I was mortified. I couldn't believe that my mom would jeopardize her son's safety by staying at a stranger's house. I continued to freak all the way down to Birmingham, England. I was convinced that the elderly couple were going to either kill us or sell us into slavery or something. Needless to say, I was not comfortable.
Of course all my concerns were for naught. Nothing bad happened. Only the opposite actually. I was taught a lot about England (especially during the War) and my eyes were beginning to open to new points of view. It was a great and rewarding experience.
If it hadn't been for that elderly couple, we would probably never had made it to Holyhead, or at least we wouldn't have made our ferry. It just goes to show you the importance of making connections.
Several of my trips owe their awesomeness to the people of the place I was visiting. Another example is of my friend Kenny. He allowed me to crash at his place in Montreal, drove me around to all the cool places in the city and even took me out to steak on my birthday. I had a blast in Montreal. I doubt I would have had half as fun of a time if I had gone around the city by myself. I hadn't intended on staying with him, but he offered and I knew that if I hung out with him I would have a far better time than if I went alone.
I make friends rather easily and I can say that I have friends all over the world. Having this network is great. Not only might I get a place to crash or some great insider tips of a particular city, but I get motivation to go to different places. If I hadn't known my friend Tiffany, I probably would never have gone to the Philippines. But I did meet her and I'm glad I did. Not only is she a great friend, but she inspired me to visit her country and I'm better for having done so. I learned a lot about a place I knew little of previous to my venture there and on top of that, my perspective on life changed just a little bit more. Also, I got to eat so much good food with her and her family. I still crave this one dish her dad made. Man was it good.
What I'm trying to say is: make friends! Network network network! A friend may not be able to give you a place to stay, but they could tell you where to go and what to do, or give you good places to eat and where to avoid. They could merely tell you about their city or country and thus inspire you to travel there. They could forever alter your life by merely telling you about their native lands. So get out there and make friends. There's no such thing as having "too many friends".
Also, turn it around. Open your place up to your friends you meet. Offer them the chance to visit your hometown. If you can't do that, give them info and inspiration. I always tell my friends "You have a couch in Memphis." And I mean that. If they ever come to where I'm living, they can crash with me. I will always open my door to friends. It's hard sometimes, but I know that they may very well help me out someday in the future.
Use common sense of course. If you get a weird vibe or don't know the person very well go to a hostel. I seem to have a pretty decent gut feeling and I do well when I follow it.
Now, I'm not saying just make friends so that you can crash somewhere for free. Sure it's an added bonus, but it's not the primary objective. For me, I want to learn as much as I can about the world and the many cultures found throughout its diverse landscape. I make friends and that makes me want to visit them and to see their country (or state). If they offer to put me up, I go for it, but I always try to not overstay my welcome. That's an important thing, not overstaying your welcome. I try to keep my trips limited to a week, no more than that or my friends will start getting tired of me (it's hard with my winning personality though).
To my friends; thanks for everything. You have all enriched my life and got me to experience really cool things. I hope I can do for you or others in the future.
My last bit of advice is to pay it forward. If someone opened up their place for you while you explored their city, do the same for them. Or if they don't come to see you, open your place up to another friend. Keep in mind "Whatever goes around comes around.
The first example is when I was 16. My mother and I took a trip to the UK. I had been there once before, but my mom was new to it. We planned a crazy, whirlwind trip from London to Scotland, ending up in Ireland.
We were in Aberdeen Scotland (a great city) and we were trying to figure out how to get from Aberdeen to Holyhead England so that we could get a ferry to Ireland. While we were studying our maps and tour books, a nice English lady struck up a conversation with my mom. When the woman found out about our predicament she offered for us to stay at their house. My mom accepted her offer.
I was mortified. I couldn't believe that my mom would jeopardize her son's safety by staying at a stranger's house. I continued to freak all the way down to Birmingham, England. I was convinced that the elderly couple were going to either kill us or sell us into slavery or something. Needless to say, I was not comfortable.
Of course all my concerns were for naught. Nothing bad happened. Only the opposite actually. I was taught a lot about England (especially during the War) and my eyes were beginning to open to new points of view. It was a great and rewarding experience.
If it hadn't been for that elderly couple, we would probably never had made it to Holyhead, or at least we wouldn't have made our ferry. It just goes to show you the importance of making connections.
Several of my trips owe their awesomeness to the people of the place I was visiting. Another example is of my friend Kenny. He allowed me to crash at his place in Montreal, drove me around to all the cool places in the city and even took me out to steak on my birthday. I had a blast in Montreal. I doubt I would have had half as fun of a time if I had gone around the city by myself. I hadn't intended on staying with him, but he offered and I knew that if I hung out with him I would have a far better time than if I went alone.
I make friends rather easily and I can say that I have friends all over the world. Having this network is great. Not only might I get a place to crash or some great insider tips of a particular city, but I get motivation to go to different places. If I hadn't known my friend Tiffany, I probably would never have gone to the Philippines. But I did meet her and I'm glad I did. Not only is she a great friend, but she inspired me to visit her country and I'm better for having done so. I learned a lot about a place I knew little of previous to my venture there and on top of that, my perspective on life changed just a little bit more. Also, I got to eat so much good food with her and her family. I still crave this one dish her dad made. Man was it good.
What I'm trying to say is: make friends! Network network network! A friend may not be able to give you a place to stay, but they could tell you where to go and what to do, or give you good places to eat and where to avoid. They could merely tell you about their city or country and thus inspire you to travel there. They could forever alter your life by merely telling you about their native lands. So get out there and make friends. There's no such thing as having "too many friends".
Also, turn it around. Open your place up to your friends you meet. Offer them the chance to visit your hometown. If you can't do that, give them info and inspiration. I always tell my friends "You have a couch in Memphis." And I mean that. If they ever come to where I'm living, they can crash with me. I will always open my door to friends. It's hard sometimes, but I know that they may very well help me out someday in the future.
Use common sense of course. If you get a weird vibe or don't know the person very well go to a hostel. I seem to have a pretty decent gut feeling and I do well when I follow it.
Now, I'm not saying just make friends so that you can crash somewhere for free. Sure it's an added bonus, but it's not the primary objective. For me, I want to learn as much as I can about the world and the many cultures found throughout its diverse landscape. I make friends and that makes me want to visit them and to see their country (or state). If they offer to put me up, I go for it, but I always try to not overstay my welcome. That's an important thing, not overstaying your welcome. I try to keep my trips limited to a week, no more than that or my friends will start getting tired of me (it's hard with my winning personality though).
To my friends; thanks for everything. You have all enriched my life and got me to experience really cool things. I hope I can do for you or others in the future.
My last bit of advice is to pay it forward. If someone opened up their place for you while you explored their city, do the same for them. Or if they don't come to see you, open your place up to another friend. Keep in mind "Whatever goes around comes around.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Mark's Menus
A couple weeks ago I went to a friend's birthday party. While there I met a guy who started up a food menu and recommendation site. I checked it out. It's awesome. Not only does it give you the menu of almost any restaurant in a city, but it also gives reviews and recommendations.
This site will definitely be a good tool while traveling in the United States. I'm going to use this site when I travel from now on. I'm glad to have this great resource.
So if you are a traveler and love food, use this site. Expand this site. If you know a good place in your home town, and it's not on here, you should add it.
Here's a link:
http://marksmenus.com/
This site will definitely be a good tool while traveling in the United States. I'm going to use this site when I travel from now on. I'm glad to have this great resource.
So if you are a traveler and love food, use this site. Expand this site. If you know a good place in your home town, and it's not on here, you should add it.
Here's a link:
http://marksmenus.com/
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Travel Websites
Traveling can be super expensive, especially in these days of high priced oil and airlines nickel and diming for everything. Travel websites do a lot to relieve some of the high prices.
I've had pretty good luck with travel websites. I've found round trip tickets to Japan for roughly $600. That is a phenomenal deal. You don't always get that good of prices, but still you usually get cheaper deals than if you go through an airline's website.
Cheaptickets is a pretty good place to find tickets. They generally give prices that are about 100-200 bucks cheaper than normal.
If you're going to Japan the best site is JTBUSA. This is where I've found tickets to and from Japan for about $600. Once you order tickets you'll be contacted by someone from their office in New York. They are very helpful and will help you plan your trip. I've always had really good luck with this site.
I haven't had the opportunity to use cheapoair yet, but I've had a few friends who swear by it. One guy got a flight from Japan to London for roughly $500.
When using these sites you can greatly change your ticket price by altering your travel dates. It's been my experience that if you are traveling you should try to have your trip span over a weekend. For some reason if you depart on Thursday and return on Monday your price is greatly less than if you went on a Friday and came back on Sunday. The most important thing is to play with your dates. One day can take your ticket from $1000+ to about 500. I know it sounds amazing, but try it for yourself and see.
Here are a few links to some good sites.
http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.kayak.com/
http://www.jtbusa.com/
http://www.cheapoair.com/
http://www.travelocity.com/
I've had pretty good luck with travel websites. I've found round trip tickets to Japan for roughly $600. That is a phenomenal deal. You don't always get that good of prices, but still you usually get cheaper deals than if you go through an airline's website.
Cheaptickets is a pretty good place to find tickets. They generally give prices that are about 100-200 bucks cheaper than normal.
If you're going to Japan the best site is JTBUSA. This is where I've found tickets to and from Japan for about $600. Once you order tickets you'll be contacted by someone from their office in New York. They are very helpful and will help you plan your trip. I've always had really good luck with this site.
I haven't had the opportunity to use cheapoair yet, but I've had a few friends who swear by it. One guy got a flight from Japan to London for roughly $500.
When using these sites you can greatly change your ticket price by altering your travel dates. It's been my experience that if you are traveling you should try to have your trip span over a weekend. For some reason if you depart on Thursday and return on Monday your price is greatly less than if you went on a Friday and came back on Sunday. The most important thing is to play with your dates. One day can take your ticket from $1000+ to about 500. I know it sounds amazing, but try it for yourself and see.
Here are a few links to some good sites.
http://www.cheaptickets.com/
http://www.kayak.com/
http://www.jtbusa.com/
http://www.cheapoair.com/
http://www.travelocity.com/
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