tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68963726471979907242024-02-20T19:37:25.368-05:00travelmonkeysbrief posts detailing our life on the roadJMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-25562910518438565972010-12-11T12:33:00.010-05:002010-12-11T16:19:09.660-05:00The Year in Lit: Four Favorite Books of 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1zd8qhWUrvJ2OT8bx_MJjWurOnC6Y2CJKreOneiZ83LuZobvqQDw__vitbTc1ssbSolSAaoqCuOPkoSbdHbtreNwpE_0ppFYLHBUtbQn1Xc-rGnzA9YDPUTTa1cflsYJqrEbastDR3U/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1zd8qhWUrvJ2OT8bx_MJjWurOnC6Y2CJKreOneiZ83LuZobvqQDw__vitbTc1ssbSolSAaoqCuOPkoSbdHbtreNwpE_0ppFYLHBUtbQn1Xc-rGnzA9YDPUTTa1cflsYJqrEbastDR3U/s400/IMG_0914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549506421610770146" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No doubt about it, 2010 was a wonderful year for travel. We MONKEYS got to go to Australia, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, and India, as well as the less exotic locales of Atlanta, Vancouver B.C., Austin, Portland (Oregon), Tallahassee, D.C., Seattle, Dallas, Chicago . . . and let's not forget New Jersey.</div><div><br /></div><div>As I was reflecting on the year, I thought about the extraordinary number of fantastic reading experiences I had, most of which were derived not just from the content but from the situation of reading about a foreign land while <i>in </i>a foreign land. I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you.</div><div><br /></div><div>I should point out--you needn't actually go to any of these places to enjoy any of these gems. So should you find yourself longing for escape in the coming year, but not the means or the time to actually get away, consider picking up one of these volumes. </div><div><br /></div><div>And count yourself lucky that being homebound means you can still experience it in the form of a physical book--with our touring schedule and the need to travel light, more and more of my books are coming to me via e-reader.</div><div><br /></div><div>Though it's interesting to note: Every single one of these most memorable reads of 2010 were with physical books. Coincidence?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KCnczKqQDxdp4P8l7kPs2bW8IEZ5dPjEz4r7m7vHpTNPjFs4Liug1NG_vF0C9GCwVP10Hw-cJNSjiU5A1gHPEerbCfeEI4GBy5JK7iSXaYchOUF1WGv-vnmDV06cD_wBOv5YJ-L3OrA/s400/shipwrecked-sailor-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549485642903635266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>"The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor"</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b>Gabriel Garcia Marquez</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This book was actually read at the tail end of 2009, but I'm going to include it because it was such a highlight.</div><div><br /></div><div>The book had been sent to my brother by our bio-dad when we were kids, and I'd always wanted to read it. When I moved out of my parents' home, I brought it with me to all the shared housing of college, to the three apartments I shared with M, then into a box and shipped across the country with all our other necessities when we moved from Seattle to New York. Once nestled onto our Brooklyn book shelf, it remained there, unperturbed, for almost a decade, though I glanced at it often and wondered when I would finally read it.</div><div><br /></div><div>We booked a trip to Mexico right after finishing our show at the Public last December and I thought, Aha! Perfect! (I'm always drawn to the slim volumes when packing.)</div><div><br /></div><div>We were staying on a hut on stilts, right beside the ocean on the Yucatan Peninsula. The walls were all slatted, as though the hut had gills, and a storm began to rage almost as soon as we'd arrived, which filled the hut with wind no matter how we tried to manipulate the louvers. It wasn't entirely unpleasant; I had the sensation of being super-oxygenated. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was an eco-hut: as soon as the sun went down, we had no light. So by the glow of the cheap candle I'd purchased at the store--one of those tall glass cylinders with a religious decal slapped on the glass's exterior--and sitting on the bed with mosquito netting whipping around me like an anxious bride's tulle, my husband snoring beside me, I at last read Gabriel Garcia Marquez's record of a young Colombian sailor's account of being shipwrecked and surviving on the open sea for ten days.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a simple tale, simply told, and absolutely gripping. Man versus nature at its most basic: circling sharks, relentless sun, dehydration, hunger . . . and one very memorable encounter with a sea gull.</div><div><br /></div><div>If this were Hollywood, we'd flash back and forth between this man on the raft struggling to survive and the story of the girl at home, the one who'd betrayed him, the one he was surviving <i>for . . . </i>something daring would happen at the end, some feat of strength or cunning that would cause us in the audience to gasp with either envy (<i>I wish I could do that) </i>or disbelief <i>(No one could do that</i>). Not this story. </div><div><br /></div><div>Towards the end he writes, "It never occurred to me that a man could become a hero for being on a raft for ten days and enduring hunger and thirst." That's all this story is, and because of that, it's great.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOEW5o9Oi8jx-_Ev9mZ2jsMXijCq3y6PD7yzxwZD9uqFdSKovewU5TK4HbljsiTE06O2UQf2egnRJnju4PQgnN1XZ9WQooFhtm6OuXTWxabcx3JjdDWUih7YearDsrlu_n0LcVrmNPMw/s400/revenge-mooncake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549485630123278162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><b>"Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen"</b></div><div><b>Marilyn Chin</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I picked this up at a bookstore in Hong Kong. It's the tale of two Southern California Chinese-American girls who deliver Chinese food from their family's "Double Happiness" restaurant. Their axe-wielding grandmother is an awesome matriarch, and the whole story is told in a loose, vivid, fantastical way. It's crude and violent, poetic in the most super-sized, essential sense of that word. The whole thing is sharp angles and pokes and absurdity that captures the bigger truths. It feels almost like a cartoon. And the author, Marilyn Chin, isn't afraid to change the voices or storytelling techniques frequently, so you can never get too comfortable. The ground is always shifting beneath you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite chapters, a monologue written in the voice of Grandmother Wong:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">"They good girls, do homework, get straight As. But I have to teach respect. Only I do, because their mother and father too busy make money. They open restaurant at 4 a.m. Go to sleep at one. They get three-hour sleep. All my son do is swear . . . fuck this, fuck that . . . and Mei Ling mother, all she do is cry . . . She say, I go back to Hong Kong! I go back to Hong Kong! In Hong Kong she used to ride rickshaw to teahouse. Now, in America, she work like slave. her hand use to be white and soft. Now rough like sea cucumber. I say, don't you know? This what you suppose to do in America? Work day and night. You think Jesus or Buddha give you free money? All they do work for money then fight fight about money. Money never enough. They always keep big eyes on cash register. I say, your daughters grow breasts! You can't see? You don't care, grow breasts or snakes!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Little peapods, I say, you don't want to be like that. You get straight As, go work high in glass building, be king of office. Lawyer, doctor, president, I don't care, close restaurant if you want, just don't dance at Pink Pussycat. I don't want you cook if you don't want cook. My Moonie hates to cook. And I say that's okay. She won't get husband, but who need husband, end up like my son, useless, spit in wok, hate this, hate that."</span></span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOcJ1zOrFDCBPKDFJtcnPQk_8bqAZw39S04NuiQ5IlXw3xDiwVBPLcCOiEwqG7JfrYG2hDoMdpxJBbvHeD0BhfUMogqUBmWw2myBG08Bcvdr7vjytAerU9dNMQBD2Vd0L0jty_X7BJog/s400/star-called-henry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549485652894167138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><b>"A Star Called Henry"</b></div><div><b>Roddy Doyle</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I purchased this in Cork, Ireland, and then read most of it while in a bathtub in Dingle on a day in June when the rain was coming down so thick and cold that we decided to cancel our planned drive around the peninsula. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's the story of a fellow named Henry Smart, born in 1901 in a Dublin slum, and he lives through some of the most pivotal events in Ireland's history, including the Easter Rising in 1916</div><div>and the War of Independence that followed.</div><div><br /></div><div>If that sounds like a history lesson, fear not! It's such a beautiful read, pulling you right into the life of this boy, son of a one-legged whorehouse bouncer, a clever child who grows into a man as we follow along. Doyle's voice is so compelling, you'd follow it anywhere. Here's how he describes Henry's grandmother, right on page two: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">"Wrapped in her sweating black shawl, she could have crept out of any century. She might have walked from Roscommon or Clare, pushed on by the stench of the blight, walked across the county till she saw the stone-eating smoke that lay over the piled, sagging fever-nests that made our beautiful city, walked in along the river, deeper and deeper, into the filth and shit, the noise and the money. A young country girl, never kissed, never touched, she was scared, she was thrilled. She turned around and back around and saw the four corners of hell. Her heart cried for Leitrem but her tits sang for Dublin. She got down on her back and yelled at the sailors to form a queue."</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I loved this book so much, I secretly resented the sun for coming out and forcing me out of the tub and back onto the road.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3s2OJedW_9iDSz40as2uUExhsK1vhbAn7eY8AkhQt1sELZ0snrROaoqR7MtTNlt1v01Kkwc7n_HPICly_p3ZdIUlsAGkJYfiTK8Fsy28HSKGSDhda0qb5N55XwOawBMG3p2hVMlKVCo/s400/whitetiger2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549485647545563074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><b>"The White Tiger"</b></div><div><b>Aravind Adiga</b></div><div><br /></div><div>We were on a five-city tour of India in August, and I picked up this book at an airport in Hyderabad on the advice of my friend Maureen.</div><div><br /></div><div>I could not put it down.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's written as a series of seven letters over seven nights from a young Indian entrepreneur to the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, and in his first letter he says this:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"> "Only three nations have never let themselves be ruled by foreigners: China, Afghanistan, and Abyssinia. These are the only three nations I admire.</span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Out of respect for the love of liberty shown by the Chinese people, and also in the belief that the future of the world lies with the yellow man and the brown man now that our erstwhile master, the white-skinned man, has wasted himself through buggery, cell phone usage, and drug abuse, I offer to tell you, free of charge, the truth about Bangalore." </span></span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>You may not always agree with him, but you always want to hear more about his take on the world, and the plot thickens most rivetingly. It would make for an excellent monologue, the voice is so great. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Tiger-Novel-Booker-Prize/dp/1416562605">Go to Amazon and read the first few pages to see more.</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Having just traveled in China researching manufacturing there and conditions of workers, then being in India performing a show about technology and being very aware of the competition between the two countries--and what that competition has done to the lives of the workers in both places--I couldn't have asked for a more perfect book. It's hilarious and heartbreaking and smart and touching, and really, just so, so funny.</div><div><br /></div><div>But listen! Even if you don't know Wen Jibao from Chairman Mao, even if you've never been to India, pick up this book! It's extraordinary! It sucks you in from page one and you'll be sorry to turn the final page.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-6216412500199576902010-10-24T10:04:00.002-04:002010-10-24T10:06:21.490-04:00What I Want Right Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHp5xMd47UFLgdh6aA93kdOSivShAohAHFopK32QHaNpR46ldtrrbpxjT4Kw032PbIMy7e-FvpOMePs1MAB3r5rKpDU56Zeu2mGqCuRrLant955_GwEFbJR73NJDzXXGn4npQA7smZE7I/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHp5xMd47UFLgdh6aA93kdOSivShAohAHFopK32QHaNpR46ldtrrbpxjT4Kw032PbIMy7e-FvpOMePs1MAB3r5rKpDU56Zeu2mGqCuRrLant955_GwEFbJR73NJDzXXGn4npQA7smZE7I/s400/IMG_3159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531613334775235506" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmm. Irish breakfast. Would you believe I ate this every single morning I was in Ireland?<br /><br />Love me that white pudding.<br /><br />Sheila and Soph, come back to Brooklyn soon so we can all go get some Irish breakfast, please.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-38477034688097469662010-10-16T01:04:00.002-04:002010-10-16T01:05:21.347-04:00My Mood, Captured in a Photograph<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__NmSUHXbj-61tTNjslIoiTANcgMh71ze5Mzu1TBcPE6RMPlBgOmo9hKxPAdxiDrP7l_73hl89Mkw3iOBcsi5qCVPO2UmtioXhqnj3l6f0wpEB4vYMNLJ0BTPKPFl5L9YUfiMFsOhcd0/s1600/2010-10-15_104446.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj__NmSUHXbj-61tTNjslIoiTANcgMh71ze5Mzu1TBcPE6RMPlBgOmo9hKxPAdxiDrP7l_73hl89Mkw3iOBcsi5qCVPO2UmtioXhqnj3l6f0wpEB4vYMNLJ0BTPKPFl5L9YUfiMFsOhcd0/s400/2010-10-15_104446.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528505546684342258" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-20395822295533661422010-10-15T12:58:00.001-04:002010-10-15T13:01:17.403-04:00Taj Ma-Kiss<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKM7fIa_h210ymW8EcsSo3dTUDFnjj1oa4Pr7ItUUIJKjE1B7NlHx3fLHyRqKZ8gJptIU8x3y27WPtcKzXwokdbuxVQNHIQLgtWEV2rCx7X8t7yoTk5OyaTiTGzArpofzPOEN0uCaxjg/s1600/IMG_4011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKM7fIa_h210ymW8EcsSo3dTUDFnjj1oa4Pr7ItUUIJKjE1B7NlHx3fLHyRqKZ8gJptIU8x3y27WPtcKzXwokdbuxVQNHIQLgtWEV2rCx7X8t7yoTk5OyaTiTGzArpofzPOEN0uCaxjg/s400/IMG_4011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528318554858268194" border="0" /></a><br />Boy, I sure do love this guy.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-57275746844730203522010-09-14T17:07:00.002-04:002010-09-14T17:14:04.585-04:00PDX<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg4qqat_qYvYLynsdjJtnWjAQpxd-jcwGId3hKGDRO2ZUQOnFkfg3-l1I8RtcY6OFElGTLU2ItczYjc5VVwv2crl87phCBM2Zv8V7Z6Zov_39bXkKhB1QyggjgWq1etQLJszBQW6rvG4/s1600/orange.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg4qqat_qYvYLynsdjJtnWjAQpxd-jcwGId3hKGDRO2ZUQOnFkfg3-l1I8RtcY6OFElGTLU2ItczYjc5VVwv2crl87phCBM2Zv8V7Z6Zov_39bXkKhB1QyggjgWq1etQLJszBQW6rvG4/s400/orange.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516879028325277842" border="0" /></a><br />Many more posts from India yet to come! But life! She keeps me busy!<br /><br />We're in Portland, Oregon now, as part of the TBA Festival, an annual explosion of weird and wonderful that we're extremely fond of.<br /><br />In addition to the monologue(s) we brought to the festival, we got asked to participate in this year's "Ten Tiny Dances," and participate we did! Above is a still from our dance, which involved an orange, an art appreciator, and a statue that comes to life in a very juicy way.<br /><br />Performed for 700 people in the round, it was great fun.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-54554729200904437872010-08-28T08:00:00.000-04:002010-08-28T08:00:03.885-04:00Quote<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZncOjHDWRwGn8QqlVTuVkFIMdnk-wc9q4-T0kG5klVF5fCnZ46BgiK5h6fEVq7CWknlbnu8-j5ygOxLcu3R3PCRqkjJyUlPDao9NtluuaQ8sfmw-zPtEl72-E-lxpz95dQ71870bqqQ/s1600/IMG_4001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZncOjHDWRwGn8QqlVTuVkFIMdnk-wc9q4-T0kG5klVF5fCnZ46BgiK5h6fEVq7CWknlbnu8-j5ygOxLcu3R3PCRqkjJyUlPDao9NtluuaQ8sfmw-zPtEl72-E-lxpz95dQ71870bqqQ/s400/IMG_4001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510104200089052162" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-76881555902112579552010-08-27T09:23:00.002-04:002010-08-27T12:10:32.426-04:00Delhi (No Belly)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLeo59zPUsWEqFIfWCPUyq4QO42zsmZcL9boQptcdFFmCgrPgFeJaihjIdcIO0Kg8AHpdjqPbSRaB_nk8tKmyHRvzmUbdgJ1DEec9VFWtLhbCekx8GmE6zOpQg20Ec6o9Ic9B59hib9M/s1600/delhi11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLeo59zPUsWEqFIfWCPUyq4QO42zsmZcL9boQptcdFFmCgrPgFeJaihjIdcIO0Kg8AHpdjqPbSRaB_nk8tKmyHRvzmUbdgJ1DEec9VFWtLhbCekx8GmE6zOpQg20Ec6o9Ic9B59hib9M/s400/delhi11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558838069100866" border="0" /></a><br />As soon as we learned we'd be going to India, we wrote to our dear friend Rishi, a former student of ours who hails from outside of Mumbai. He immediately wrote back with wonderfully detailed advice about each of the cities we'd be visiting, and told us some good news: He'd actually be in Delhi at the same time we were there, so we'd get to meet up!<br /><br />That was the good news. But here was his unvarnished take on the city:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Delhi</span> - Hot and really really disgusting, in almost every way. I'm actually sad that I'll be seeing you in this truly terrible place. The Commonwealth Games - the Olympics for the "we used to be part of the empire" world, are beginning in October in Delhi. The city is scrambling to make all sorts of deadlines, including construction of a whole lot of crap. The Delhi Metro (which everyone will tell you about) is also under construction, and it means that the shortest driving distance will take hours.</span><br /><br />Now, Rishi is a champion complainer. He has the comic's gift for complaining about everything, big and small, but being so entertaining about it that you would never ever say he has a bad attitude.<br /><br />So we took his condemnation of the city with a grain of salt. And thus, with our expectations properly in check, we arrived in Delhi late one hot and rainy afternoon, and met up with Rishi, who whisked us around the city on a whirlwind tour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH7NxbCODF5fpvtcCQQ6c5-1sH6GNF2VXCwkxfWpyb7Kw0bfai3KeiEws_TBy8ToeULJxHsItGZxVJ5c_zqjPLebpnMCEYBj66zfIgu7GaZX6sUfCX0Gnq1kai8xrtcTc_77TRuPQupA/s1600/delhi6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQH7NxbCODF5fpvtcCQQ6c5-1sH6GNF2VXCwkxfWpyb7Kw0bfai3KeiEws_TBy8ToeULJxHsItGZxVJ5c_zqjPLebpnMCEYBj66zfIgu7GaZX6sUfCX0Gnq1kai8xrtcTc_77TRuPQupA/s400/delhi6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558794776721682" border="0" /></a><br />Aside from the day we landed, our duties with the Consulate had us scheduled to within an inch of our life, so we really didn't get a chance to see many of the monuments the city is famous for.<br /><br />But on that first evening, Rishi ushered us into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jantar_Mantar_%28Delhi%29">Jantar Mantar</a> ten minutes before closing. It's a huge astronomical observatory built in the early 1700s that today feels like it was made for amazing photo ops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTNurJ683cXlOVHdB2L8g_qU9lYmyk6-nRo1y0zsw0buOTOVw4HtF9Ei4PF0yyiudY4_6qgStTyDhs_Jog9VcSjVONiLe4jDbA2dofZun1eskY-R3SVzVTLcBi_lXOt5yKwUdLG5RjtA/s1600/delhi1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTNurJ683cXlOVHdB2L8g_qU9lYmyk6-nRo1y0zsw0buOTOVw4HtF9Ei4PF0yyiudY4_6qgStTyDhs_Jog9VcSjVONiLe4jDbA2dofZun1eskY-R3SVzVTLcBi_lXOt5yKwUdLG5RjtA/s400/delhi1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558491943176642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv2XZ3QzTEsXJmS7QLDc0R5JKCxMioK0cx1kQrmvX4EGFHQytwkX5GRVelagZFKQmaGhfzue4A_kPngtbJDRCqva3nY8CokiCf8B95hMOEsS7di3nviagRbAtuRYmwQdc0B6w0-doeHA/s1600/delhi3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIv2XZ3QzTEsXJmS7QLDc0R5JKCxMioK0cx1kQrmvX4EGFHQytwkX5GRVelagZFKQmaGhfzue4A_kPngtbJDRCqva3nY8CokiCf8B95hMOEsS7di3nviagRbAtuRYmwQdc0B6w0-doeHA/s400/delhi3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558505436296578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkfrZOaFWpNk3sKVHuE-CKkaPijMkWZuvUC7FwNuAB4nxbrgj0_TBkSkAH0g7xptEsIrysgbZ7Zvc6CLigxAHu-3cYPROTh6i5MM2Bxz0VOTKd1QdHOUf2CfMDR4cnaXnnXhVq4o7HZo/s1600/delhi2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBkfrZOaFWpNk3sKVHuE-CKkaPijMkWZuvUC7FwNuAB4nxbrgj0_TBkSkAH0g7xptEsIrysgbZ7Zvc6CLigxAHu-3cYPROTh6i5MM2Bxz0VOTKd1QdHOUf2CfMDR4cnaXnnXhVq4o7HZo/s400/delhi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558499711676626" border="0" /></a><br />And then we saw the Gate of India, both a memorial to Indians who died fighting for the British in both World War I and Afghanistan, and a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUpUhO3OXRUX98OnSYVI2GkS2yj8lf7uA6ovDozQlnKGw3_GhUvGLtrGnNv71CeRgYSKEzywX3prFsQfFxR_Q4zBCi-60rK7B7JJlH3aCe3rQvI0HpKmxIuENsESJGZyVpHAl01_YGAs/s1600/delhi4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUpUhO3OXRUX98OnSYVI2GkS2yj8lf7uA6ovDozQlnKGw3_GhUvGLtrGnNv71CeRgYSKEzywX3prFsQfFxR_Q4zBCi-60rK7B7JJlH3aCe3rQvI0HpKmxIuENsESJGZyVpHAl01_YGAs/s400/delhi4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558513597477794" border="0" /></a><br />Turns out it's also not a bad place to buy postcards.<br /><br />We concluded the night with a leisurely meal at Veda, a very hip, newish restaurant from the fashion designer Rohit Bal. It feels like a hangout for sexy Indian vampires, as envisioned by Moghuls who dabble in time travel and have a penchant for perfectly cooked kebabs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRWHGTz4tiZgNWXVW1axkGg9gLLcBsxsSvzjE0HNpfZfmQVB9uxLOKyQy3IDpFjw54OLB7At8qyf9Lur3VxZ6GO8QEcB_sI5w7WkBQHQlJjBpaDizTWDetPlWNQFMwQR2siWyYLlAQT0/s1600/delhi5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRWHGTz4tiZgNWXVW1axkGg9gLLcBsxsSvzjE0HNpfZfmQVB9uxLOKyQy3IDpFjw54OLB7At8qyf9Lur3VxZ6GO8QEcB_sI5w7WkBQHQlJjBpaDizTWDetPlWNQFMwQR2siWyYLlAQT0/s400/delhi5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558521777546306" border="0" /></a><br />We would have liked to see the Red Fort, but alas, time did not permit. Rishi described it so vividly, I'm going to share his description with you anyhow:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I would really recommend seeing the Red Fort, it was built by the same emperor who built the Taj Mahal, and it is absolutely beautiful. The ceilings in some of the outdoor rooms were once studded with gold, diamonds and rubies - incomparable. Its also deeply depressing as, when the British invaded, they built their barracks in front of the fort, ousting the emperor. The gold and diamonds essentially became their personal piggy bank in the backyard, and they plundered like it was their job (which it was).</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NZQCqcUTpSsGuWaLOGoVv3CRBhD-Bhg1YZ8eQfPpsBhi0DcX_b6XABKq5aNwEC2Bi3gi3fNC38ELT-4YnmglE9yYwF8tJ4x4CHz3bK1VkxG1Kh4sjyRuRVB73HCEOtEbpuOmybv0CQE/s1600/redfort.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NZQCqcUTpSsGuWaLOGoVv3CRBhD-Bhg1YZ8eQfPpsBhi0DcX_b6XABKq5aNwEC2Bi3gi3fNC38ELT-4YnmglE9yYwF8tJ4x4CHz3bK1VkxG1Kh4sjyRuRVB73HCEOtEbpuOmybv0CQE/s400/redfort.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510081212996999954" border="0" /></a><br />We got to see Rishi once more, following our performance. He and Prabh (another Colby alum, though not one of our students) took us out to a private club that Prabh is a fourth-generation member of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFeg9FVNho3VU6VUh-VRtx76PO2ArSvVFFz-6cRs9szEydSiScK4rY8uXLabycjUo_vq026yx4iTNvanO41W-vjhKRB13us-42ctUzDt-hAk02R97w30a4UDq8HoCk-NZ_mZNky64LDY/s1600/delhi8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxFeg9FVNho3VU6VUh-VRtx76PO2ArSvVFFz-6cRs9szEydSiScK4rY8uXLabycjUo_vq026yx4iTNvanO41W-vjhKRB13us-42ctUzDt-hAk02R97w30a4UDq8HoCk-NZ_mZNky64LDY/s400/delhi8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558815234966706" border="0" /></a><br />These clubs are a big deal in India. In no small part because alcohol is heavily taxed all over India, <span style="font-style: italic;">except</span> at these private clubs, which the government treats as non-profits. It's quite a loophole. Prabh's parents put him on the waiting list the day he was born. (Ok, maybe the day after.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKC2dg6R7B_RYr8jIog7T-qLB2c6I5QXJYMWUKzVZoT66iOAv0lyeu3buMKvT78EtEyeL6v5lqw3EwE3q7J0lS3phprKSRek6jkfg7PU8vtQN4jZGf-C1qUR66JYPExytXaZbh9eBFU3A/s1600/delhi7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKC2dg6R7B_RYr8jIog7T-qLB2c6I5QXJYMWUKzVZoT66iOAv0lyeu3buMKvT78EtEyeL6v5lqw3EwE3q7J0lS3phprKSRek6jkfg7PU8vtQN4jZGf-C1qUR66JYPExytXaZbh9eBFU3A/s400/delhi7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558804998087122" border="0" /></a><br />Afterwards, Prabh gave us a ride back to our hotel. He was driving his mother's car, and the amusing thing about this car was that it had both a Colby sticker on the back, and a stuffed lobster within, which Prabh say have been there ever since he was accepted into Colby.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6AmfWyJSV6YMedntDcSfIhCA4_S0DwNvvbEoAYV-tCwm3Z07DVtLFIk-1YYzx05Jgv3JHOaZ6FFNRBKX1Fsa8du23EG662ubKc52HOAHF4C3j6o5xsVMq1Iz4S_dJpWa2x3VkCHkqH0/s1600/delhi9.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6AmfWyJSV6YMedntDcSfIhCA4_S0DwNvvbEoAYV-tCwm3Z07DVtLFIk-1YYzx05Jgv3JHOaZ6FFNRBKX1Fsa8du23EG662ubKc52HOAHF4C3j6o5xsVMq1Iz4S_dJpWa2x3VkCHkqH0/s400/delhi9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509558830819340322" border="0" /></a><br />So though we didn't get to see too much of India's capital city, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Rishi and Prabh, who gave a very human and personal touch to our time in Delhi.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-47572784590564536422010-08-24T06:15:00.001-04:002010-08-24T08:58:25.992-04:00Hyderabad? Hyderagood!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bLOzE9u4rX_pyKPRAuL_JVTXWVzb1Di2gZCc6MSZbwiSN4p_MPPXqZ9CDbdRUAWN4wBIhV7vr8Z2Bn8DE6cFw0vUHhK-QGDhLnvPAdFejqO8fFGzWaUfuWJAvWwOjccv8whiUz2Dufk/s1600/isb1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bLOzE9u4rX_pyKPRAuL_JVTXWVzb1Di2gZCc6MSZbwiSN4p_MPPXqZ9CDbdRUAWN4wBIhV7vr8Z2Bn8DE6cFw0vUHhK-QGDhLnvPAdFejqO8fFGzWaUfuWJAvWwOjccv8whiUz2Dufk/s400/isb1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508636478858316658" border="0" /></a><br />This lush, fascinating city was a wonderful surprise, a real high point in our time in India thus far. Of the five cities we are visiting on this tour, it was the only one neither of us had heard of prior to the invitation, but now that we've visited, we can't wait to go back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1t69B0tE83XCSP7MVqoOVQySC4qlyYQQjq53-QUUHKibiK3EGMhTvTKoczWKuqK72UUcDuXBEPGomns4XWA6dIBx9XHl6JS4ReRnNL34rAa-q-x8O0Y3hXEgI43OCWM0PSMkQtOeSeg/s1600/hbad7.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1t69B0tE83XCSP7MVqoOVQySC4qlyYQQjq53-QUUHKibiK3EGMhTvTKoczWKuqK72UUcDuXBEPGomns4XWA6dIBx9XHl6JS4ReRnNL34rAa-q-x8O0Y3hXEgI43OCWM0PSMkQtOeSeg/s400/hbad7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508494407651149650" border="0" /></a><br />Here are four highlights of our time in Hyderabad:<br /><br /><span><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Attending the Night Markets around Charminar during Ramadan</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl4Mc_uFTUKl5C_N5XGH79tRFhXJ-5WJdRR4KwtNnt84YwgZcocp6P3Vh0l0H7Zw1w8KC40tmPLxIPtqgNggXoKhtmZ3_8WG5b5QHjRIGgbYP5L0x8ELpgHef3YOUv1vjEK0r-QrqGj8/s1600/hyderabad01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl4Mc_uFTUKl5C_N5XGH79tRFhXJ-5WJdRR4KwtNnt84YwgZcocp6P3Vh0l0H7Zw1w8KC40tmPLxIPtqgNggXoKhtmZ3_8WG5b5QHjRIGgbYP5L0x8ELpgHef3YOUv1vjEK0r-QrqGj8/s400/hyderabad01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508492608514936674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGglGKTJ99TUV-J4aIuoXCHGXXtY9rnPzrA48GZLE_sU2yT-IxBMHnCJuhJnpyLzzqxQm9QYfTY7BWUwRbT2o7ZK4pxM6NoQxYm_5QJKOF4qna247AEO9m6vkiREwMdBSqcpw2nza44s/s1600/hyderabad05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGglGKTJ99TUV-J4aIuoXCHGXXtY9rnPzrA48GZLE_sU2yT-IxBMHnCJuhJnpyLzzqxQm9QYfTY7BWUwRbT2o7ZK4pxM6NoQxYm_5QJKOF4qna247AEO9m6vkiREwMdBSqcpw2nza44s/s400/hyderabad05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508492593610731906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAIcjUPZhUgowSAuNof4pCioxbBT3FY50aD5bXt93VVp8-_wEdxC4ItVVyJctqeTNTxRLLwNVSGG6RNf040Gz8m-GN2_zQw1xF_Z4PJOgOSm4878tfYABG6P2xb7PeqCvVXDRgL-9qlU/s1600/hyderabad09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAIcjUPZhUgowSAuNof4pCioxbBT3FY50aD5bXt93VVp8-_wEdxC4ItVVyJctqeTNTxRLLwNVSGG6RNf040Gz8m-GN2_zQw1xF_Z4PJOgOSm4878tfYABG6P2xb7PeqCvVXDRgL-9qlU/s400/hyderabad09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508492618125917890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFvsHc8KmWwCrtwwMhUNiJvntcURfabGBnI0glGnr4nLKYpUrYLIFWZqHhydNQll5tsFyqVmc_EgcBXEtgvNFhfXBq4_s05n8F9ybLpF3Cmm7Vg7LTR1POOsrOLD-oYgnrhQrsY4x3gE/s1600/hyderabad03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFvsHc8KmWwCrtwwMhUNiJvntcURfabGBnI0glGnr4nLKYpUrYLIFWZqHhydNQll5tsFyqVmc_EgcBXEtgvNFhfXBq4_s05n8F9ybLpF3Cmm7Vg7LTR1POOsrOLD-oYgnrhQrsY4x3gE/s400/hyderabad03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508492614413231586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBKCBK674LYL-E1Y5OwqL0C_5AwQ7xu4PuyVdUo0Rpe1fIjd-bU-eVvoL1D7P_4qls1nkn3k0mJLCX2R2q8MRJqllZcuS2xKFGhGUOdpV0aj8i6eqYI3Y9vFAbOIzx4wHm0Hvsi6Lhcg/s1600/hyderabad08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBKCBK674LYL-E1Y5OwqL0C_5AwQ7xu4PuyVdUo0Rpe1fIjd-bU-eVvoL1D7P_4qls1nkn3k0mJLCX2R2q8MRJqllZcuS2xKFGhGUOdpV0aj8i6eqYI3Y9vFAbOIzx4wHm0Hvsi6Lhcg/s400/hyderabad08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508492605037465618" border="0" /></a>...and then going to the famous Irani hotel, Medina, and ordering <span style="font-style: italic;">haleem</span>, a dish they only make during Ramadan. It's made of mutton and wheat and ghee, and lots of spices, and it's all boiled together for at least 12 hours.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYHzd0nYTb3mByyAoHjnLtJxQdJcVeFdOISYhbOqyvZSi3MbYlnMhDnJrH6WwoEzwsOe_ncBh5BxX1X1kBsH2rRyMjSRFq7Zhy3cPmfypWfRp7AGCy9WFRx5a4rHHfffShyF9PU0Dhfo/s1600/hyderabad15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYHzd0nYTb3mByyAoHjnLtJxQdJcVeFdOISYhbOqyvZSi3MbYlnMhDnJrH6WwoEzwsOe_ncBh5BxX1X1kBsH2rRyMjSRFq7Zhy3cPmfypWfRp7AGCy9WFRx5a4rHHfffShyF9PU0Dhfo/s400/hyderabad15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508495844211427906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKH69jNLSedP8_u4iSncYwm4m7H1FoyLHyduyxryo_zHWRmMEH8LUmw6bJNuZrqsY6mBLlE-BRFhdkjvA9L1wv60QIXMPsiQlcHYrCzQ6-yw4B1aDIWOuhA88weT-aTEgshKW95EdlZQ/s1600/hyderabad11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKH69jNLSedP8_u4iSncYwm4m7H1FoyLHyduyxryo_zHWRmMEH8LUmw6bJNuZrqsY6mBLlE-BRFhdkjvA9L1wv60QIXMPsiQlcHYrCzQ6-yw4B1aDIWOuhA88weT-aTEgshKW95EdlZQ/s400/hyderabad11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508495844889959170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs_2H7r1bC-6fcyyP1FuBnIfwK9otcrPN9DvEWIdji9-GHlJUriK_jT0mjcKM4uvMtyliQYZG1xitRFeXwWrKRUhMAsJWP5pNvx9hwCMNB_R1xMgtdFMNThkN8r82NqbHknnQ9qgvn7w/s1600/hyderabad12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs_2H7r1bC-6fcyyP1FuBnIfwK9otcrPN9DvEWIdji9-GHlJUriK_jT0mjcKM4uvMtyliQYZG1xitRFeXwWrKRUhMAsJWP5pNvx9hwCMNB_R1xMgtdFMNThkN8r82NqbHknnQ9qgvn7w/s400/hyderabad12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508495851783371346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpzt4Z5eiHXjjCjGUucDbtlZD40z5FNdbmlLYQ2PJTZ-AmTwAmp0horYwLE95dnsUBKEOZy6vGXa5K2SPKhgt-qy7wzupZ7bfOD6HSwXwOAzDvRqLypSJM0ResJcP0lNn-pOJyHk8Gow/s1600/hyderabad14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpzt4Z5eiHXjjCjGUucDbtlZD40z5FNdbmlLYQ2PJTZ-AmTwAmp0horYwLE95dnsUBKEOZy6vGXa5K2SPKhgt-qy7wzupZ7bfOD6HSwXwOAzDvRqLypSJM0ResJcP0lNn-pOJyHk8Gow/s400/hyderabad14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508495859479782274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0yHsTcOhGC6DAwchFbUpA87PXrMR2aXnIJov3uSTnT-rlTtX8xo5Z1b4aIAZRe_EOWtY0bIiceDjWV8W82wSku0sGTzA0AZg26qPkEma90h0I2rohvlQr9OrbCtzkfZt4uc4TBpWfMU/s1600/hyderabad13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0yHsTcOhGC6DAwchFbUpA87PXrMR2aXnIJov3uSTnT-rlTtX8xo5Z1b4aIAZRe_EOWtY0bIiceDjWV8W82wSku0sGTzA0AZg26qPkEma90h0I2rohvlQr9OrbCtzkfZt4uc4TBpWfMU/s400/hyderabad13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508495856012168434" border="0" /></a><br />And how was it? Well, both Mike and I really liked the flavor, but the texture takes some getting used to. Basically, the meat is boiled until it disintegrates into long stringy pieces, so you can't tell the meat apart from anything else. A kind of meaty pudding, if you will.<br /><br />It reminded me of the recent season of Top Chef Masters, in which Marcus Samuelsson showed off his African cooking skills, and the judges were like, "These flavors rock, but, um, is the texture supposed to be this way?"<br /><br />And he was like, "Yeah. Totally."<br /><br />And they were like, "Oh. Ok. You win."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Conducting a workshop with up-and-coming young theater artists</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlanjxCLESCFthHi21-uHGkk849t6WNQTAc_BRFgFM73FDRsBNfGF3Yv1_UVTlg3uQj5Steq1c851NlsgKUsS3An7BmWEle4RCUVfwxwMfXdIfp0FK1XaZshk65d4tyoggv9IDYsI2-Y/s1600/hbad3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlanjxCLESCFthHi21-uHGkk849t6WNQTAc_BRFgFM73FDRsBNfGF3Yv1_UVTlg3uQj5Steq1c851NlsgKUsS3An7BmWEle4RCUVfwxwMfXdIfp0FK1XaZshk65d4tyoggv9IDYsI2-Y/s400/hbad3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508945727490239282" border="0" /></a><br />These are some of the participants, having coffee and cookies with us in the courtyard of one of the buildings of the famous Nizam who once ruled all of Hyderabad, and whom Time magazine put on their cover in 1937 as being the richest man in the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxdZB_wx0WN3jhxer18IEyMLuBmXAPNJfuILCQToL2OzVRBxnmEVDkmpANICzLyNjj8PO5WJ4b5Uh9QHjAZJ_rky4Bs1bjf20Vt7OfNNIow1I4GYiloGinqOOiN5hcP7otNlcSWRgRi0/s1600/Nizam.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxdZB_wx0WN3jhxer18IEyMLuBmXAPNJfuILCQToL2OzVRBxnmEVDkmpANICzLyNjj8PO5WJ4b5Uh9QHjAZJ_rky4Bs1bjf20Vt7OfNNIow1I4GYiloGinqOOiN5hcP7otNlcSWRgRi0/s400/Nizam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508947451948547266" border="0" /></a><br />Also there was one of those incredibly sharp Indian mutts, whom Mike and I have taken to calling "The Great Indian Street Dog." Smart little guys, navigating busy streets at just a few weeks old when I can barely do the same at 33. This one was particularly charismatic, and managed to cajole at least a dozen cookies out of the participants (and none from us, the dog-worshiping Americans!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq8dOQl-TTXmvKZWcm-D08PyEYL7WxlxT01NdbIBHbxynadJLmLXv8dxrRvaSb9C2Aqa-xVyllMFcO2zxAYgvEBH9KfbyIxjjxvHXy6GdF5hzMgfmSrE-uQxqsOjtrTUkmJQVBlwwAYQ/s1600/hbad2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq8dOQl-TTXmvKZWcm-D08PyEYL7WxlxT01NdbIBHbxynadJLmLXv8dxrRvaSb9C2Aqa-xVyllMFcO2zxAYgvEBH9KfbyIxjjxvHXy6GdF5hzMgfmSrE-uQxqsOjtrTUkmJQVBlwwAYQ/s400/hbad2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508947469111794066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-wAsXtzMHjV77_csgT3JxyIgigJeHze-bH6xKQUL3U2aAac3W4o8i1kDKbdwo7Ai5Tl5UQTAk4FmXQgKnM8i2MJx2eVVbmAk0Id3xPDQwqb2DVLUSlC8K67Nhf0hrrBJyThJaP4DRnc/s1600/hbad5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-wAsXtzMHjV77_csgT3JxyIgigJeHze-bH6xKQUL3U2aAac3W4o8i1kDKbdwo7Ai5Tl5UQTAk4FmXQgKnM8i2MJx2eVVbmAk0Id3xPDQwqb2DVLUSlC8K67Nhf0hrrBJyThJaP4DRnc/s400/hbad5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508948596090291842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Walking barefoot across the white marble of a Hindu temple</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8J2a2OJjHQEEFIZnZTiQ32VLafCZngrwgSnepAAinJLQUwdJUWX8WnNeu5pfdomQKIHcFjs-a1Hk0U527j5yqGejiLBeCItNwiDqIF6IIvgIf_2QsRm7IfvbMda8secp117n_Lnetbg/s1600/hbad4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8J2a2OJjHQEEFIZnZTiQ32VLafCZngrwgSnepAAinJLQUwdJUWX8WnNeu5pfdomQKIHcFjs-a1Hk0U527j5yqGejiLBeCItNwiDqIF6IIvgIf_2QsRm7IfvbMda8secp117n_Lnetbg/s400/hbad4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508948591325255362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-wAsXtzMHjV77_csgT3JxyIgigJeHze-bH6xKQUL3U2aAac3W4o8i1kDKbdwo7Ai5Tl5UQTAk4FmXQgKnM8i2MJx2eVVbmAk0Id3xPDQwqb2DVLUSlC8K67Nhf0hrrBJyThJaP4DRnc/s1600/hbad5.jpg"><br /></a>After Mike launched the workshop, I walked up the hill to this all-white, glowing marble temple, one of many throughout India built by the wealthy Birla family.<br /><br />Sadly for this post, no cameras were allowed inside, but I can tell you that it made the whole experience like a peaceful dream.<br /><br />We checked our shoes at the door, and it's true that there's a connection you feel with the ground when barefoot. You become so much more aware of your every step.<br /><br />The path through the temple wound us round and round the marble edifice, until it led us to its heart, where holy men laid their hands on people.<br /><br />I had no clue what the customs were; I just watched everyone else and they were tolerant of me, the only white face in the bunch. As people left they marked each other's foreheads and laid pieces of rock sugar on their tongues.<br /><br />I noticed that some of the mothers holding young children also had markings on the side of their necks and cheeks--from where the foreheads of their little ones had rubbed against them, I realized.<br /><br />The whole temple sits at the top of a hill, so a welcome cool breeze blows throughout. Overhead, falcons circled, and incense seemed to be wafting from the surrounding green treetops.<br /><br />It was absolutely wonderful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Performing our show about technology and lust and consequences for a packed house of IT workers and business students</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRXMgyI1zoJuyCG6z_mR0pGhIxisIZVEHZ_ZPrsxnflHSpOuvmzfborfMxjo5nEdVVTUeeavWit2a3IgOSeUR_ViRyUwcS1Z-XS2WE2i6vSytlwa2w-etH5I0m6rHWhms9fZFldJJ24k/s1600/isb4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRXMgyI1zoJuyCG6z_mR0pGhIxisIZVEHZ_ZPrsxnflHSpOuvmzfborfMxjo5nEdVVTUeeavWit2a3IgOSeUR_ViRyUwcS1Z-XS2WE2i6vSytlwa2w-etH5I0m6rHWhms9fZFldJJ24k/s400/isb4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508636490304087986" border="0" /></a><br />The thing about theater is that you can't distribute it as easily as you can a movie or even a book. Mike has to be there each and every time the thing is shown, and he's only got 365 days in his year, just like the rest of us.<br /><br />So it really was an awesome treat to get to perform <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> show for a crowd of young IT workers and future business leaders. It was probably worth the whole trip to India, just having this time with these people, for whom China is not a far-away place, and for whom the implications of the shifting market are very, very real. It was a gift.<br /><br />Hyderabad is a huge IT hub, rivaling Bangalore, and the hall where we performed was just down the street from a huge Microsoft campus--the first one built outside of my home state.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV_2tOkcpmz4YwLMo2r5mV-SyZCWGpIdF7MUixIyzfOeracpk127dflVlbU08DGhQ7SCuOdpFcMeMYBfr0ec5155T2fYLjJTikWfuoGrH7i7T7TNs3HFgEERtRwvc-jXs9hjrZ8UOurw/s1600/isb2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV_2tOkcpmz4YwLMo2r5mV-SyZCWGpIdF7MUixIyzfOeracpk127dflVlbU08DGhQ7SCuOdpFcMeMYBfr0ec5155T2fYLjJTikWfuoGrH7i7T7TNs3HFgEERtRwvc-jXs9hjrZ8UOurw/s400/isb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508954362696083954" border="0" /></a><br />And sure enough, we had lots of Microsoft employees there, iPhones in hand, eager to discuss the piece afterward.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnYQqKbp_h1bcS76uS5eH7jRJ73TMbWNxIStsk8pt9eCLAhfuPzTsG9y3PXsi6KOZUnAzPfWFPZyEnJf2G1u-d3l8gb6RM66gq_JdO8jt0GjnRzF3iecWHIy9za_atKGJNe7xYM5yOCY/s1600/hbad1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnYQqKbp_h1bcS76uS5eH7jRJ73TMbWNxIStsk8pt9eCLAhfuPzTsG9y3PXsi6KOZUnAzPfWFPZyEnJf2G1u-d3l8gb6RM66gq_JdO8jt0GjnRzF3iecWHIy9za_atKGJNe7xYM5yOCY/s400/hbad1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508947462323646818" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-78146152921724467692010-08-23T14:42:00.004-04:002010-08-24T08:59:10.581-04:00News From Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqioZ2Xjd3bjHOUxgOWlp3CY3kkfTayaGkIYPr6vPYMqL35VAVHVgswlu2UlELTLV1HsgeBOD2wlJNtTNQ3iNtsjJr34ykzCD0r4N-t2RrfCELBjboyVJM8Sk9OlfDS72m5wGJhco2As/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqioZ2Xjd3bjHOUxgOWlp3CY3kkfTayaGkIYPr6vPYMqL35VAVHVgswlu2UlELTLV1HsgeBOD2wlJNtTNQ3iNtsjJr34ykzCD0r4N-t2RrfCELBjboyVJM8Sk9OlfDS72m5wGJhco2As/s400/IMG_3414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508677931807520354" border="0" /></a><br />Awesome email from my mom, who's taking care of this dude while we're in India:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hello Gigi:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Baci is very disappointed because the squirrels took the ripe plums and peaches leaving nothing to pick or drop to his level. He is a perfect gentleman. Andy took his chew toy and went to work on it--he gently tried to get her attention, gently squeaked, circled her a few times, finally licked her, then lay down in front of her so she wouldn't forget that it really was his toy. She continued to chew and ignore him until she finally went to bed and he got his chance to enjoy the chewy. I have never seen such a gentle patient dog. </span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br />You should be proud of him.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Love, Mom</span><br /><br /><br />And here they are, Baci and Andy together. I call them "Salt & Pepper."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DYhpLYtss0g6cIwJfdK7x2SmDWxei-juz4Z42HPq02e9934aKRcrKIeo8n_A7EWB61BEm5Plq-DsoBAfMBaIjEI5KIT0FcmDxm4DJFBe2nXei3jIGim9NMC_CBT1cSNWYa6iTwKzk7c/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DYhpLYtss0g6cIwJfdK7x2SmDWxei-juz4Z42HPq02e9934aKRcrKIeo8n_A7EWB61BEm5Plq-DsoBAfMBaIjEI5KIT0FcmDxm4DJFBe2nXei3jIGim9NMC_CBT1cSNWYa6iTwKzk7c/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508679035634270242" border="0" /></a><br />(What's that you say? This is much less interesting than India? You want pictures of the Taj Mahal and sadhus and IT workers and night markets and bangles? Ok, ok, jeez...back to work.)JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-2471206315510230062010-08-15T02:08:00.007-04:002010-08-17T01:57:03.273-04:00Chennai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlQiA6-FSk4BZ9RXmgEJGyEnNH2fTW-jdALZr_Zut9Qu4pUBv_MONlkgYur2K2pbcQa541_eU7hQgNuX-CeauvbOspJAHkgvZv_4qKpMaODbQdD_WCmdMVvaSbSm4Brb6DvhImDd9skE/s1600/map-chennai.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmlQiA6-FSk4BZ9RXmgEJGyEnNH2fTW-jdALZr_Zut9Qu4pUBv_MONlkgYur2K2pbcQa541_eU7hQgNuX-CeauvbOspJAHkgvZv_4qKpMaODbQdD_WCmdMVvaSbSm4Brb6DvhImDd9skE/s400/map-chennai.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505515548566848514" border="0" /></a><br />Chennai was our very first stop in India, and I thought I'd take a moment to list some quick impressions and surprises. Also, there will be some photos, because Tarina has asked for them.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">ornamentation</span>: On cars, on humans, on doorways, folks here are really good at adding color and character to the everyday. I particularly like the designs made of flour that are drawn out on the sidewalk in front of a home to protect it through the day. I think someone told me they are called <span style="font-style: italic;">kolom</span>, but I have no idea if I've remembered that right.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">jasmine: </span>Many women wear jasmine garlands in their hair, and drivers sometimes hang jasmine garlands from their windshield. Pushed up against someone on the bus yesterday, I found it a welcome scent.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">dress</span>: Before I got here I thought that saris would be more for dress-up rather than everyday. Not so! Almost every woman I see is dressed in a sari, and a few in salwar kameez, and all in very bright, vivid colors. I am struck by how plain and colorless my garb is by contrast. Even the women cleaning the theater and sweeping the floors with long twig brooms were wearing beautiful saris.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">hair: </span>I also feel like the only woman in all of India with short hair. Will this change when I get to Mumbai and Delhi?<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">markings: </span>I expected bindhis and red dots on the foreheads of married women, but I didn't expect the metallic markings some men wear, including a man I saw on the street with three lines radiating out from his third eye, or the gold smudge that glowed from the forehead of the man in charge of lighting at our theater.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">bobble heads: </span>It took me a while to get used to this very Indian head movement, a kind of side-to-side wobble of the head that indicates the listener is hearing you, but that I first took as a kind of annoyance or signifier that what I was asking for was impossible.<br /><br />--<span style="font-style: italic;">language: </span>My ignorance of the diversity of India was pretty astounding. (I still know very little, but I'm learning.) There are so many languages here! In Chennai the theater technicians all spoke Tamil, with someone there to help translate for me, and here in Hyderabad it's Telugu and Urdu. But even that makes it sound more streamlined than it actually is. Most Indians speak two or three tongues in addition to Hindi or English.<br /><br />And now, some pictures, accompanied by <span style="font-style: italic;">guest commentary from Mike</span>!:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nxFVI2EvHclAW50_1hLfViYLnjZD5Vmh6bQj65OR8XYkfTIUKfEBq4yBDfnMd8g9faN9nwfN2vQfy7JQDkB0QGBq5jYwmD2Z6xcwF0AqGEf66iNczs9_7e13hbOFKcSpCy3LNZ7SCi4/s1600/india4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nxFVI2EvHclAW50_1hLfViYLnjZD5Vmh6bQj65OR8XYkfTIUKfEBq4yBDfnMd8g9faN9nwfN2vQfy7JQDkB0QGBq5jYwmD2Z6xcwF0AqGEf66iNczs9_7e13hbOFKcSpCy3LNZ7SCi4/s400/india4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505524370847153362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">View from our hotel room. I feel like this illustrates the nature of luxury in India--when it exists, it exists in islands, and the state of one's surroundings makes it clear the vast differences that exist right next to each other. Perhaps this is why the hotels try to be more like fortresses, locking the luxury in and the squalor out.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1op6Xg1X97w6SJ3YO48onOOI6K9i5FTHseDZusLtEevmhvoirqgpVMmYNyJg1a2lnuab8UHc_UVeU1nF7zlIWTyIk2-AtUHD3fmrCLaJRp2dSXl5XJOeHdn-3oaecTMOlOmzPN5dJ8aY/s1600/india5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1op6Xg1X97w6SJ3YO48onOOI6K9i5FTHseDZusLtEevmhvoirqgpVMmYNyJg1a2lnuab8UHc_UVeU1nF7zlIWTyIk2-AtUHD3fmrCLaJRp2dSXl5XJOeHdn-3oaecTMOlOmzPN5dJ8aY/s400/india5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505524359279376770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A roadside shrine. These are everywhere, and the colors are intense--the ones with huge Ganeshes are my favorites.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_O4P6bXU83PDJqUPrnnhAvaeS3TIXHzyTLXsOW9gj9PdrqNyRFfpQnT9lAyXRTgTqpuNJvOA6dOXhCoBdheGL5pzoouSR3wIcDc05f1XzxIaV4Lda9vJEnd-IHOndqp3RL33tAMt3o4/s1600/india1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_O4P6bXU83PDJqUPrnnhAvaeS3TIXHzyTLXsOW9gj9PdrqNyRFfpQnT9lAyXRTgTqpuNJvOA6dOXhCoBdheGL5pzoouSR3wIcDc05f1XzxIaV4Lda9vJEnd-IHOndqp3RL33tAMt3o4/s400/india1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505524366859879858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A comparatively calm street scene in Chennai. I love the retro seventies filter on this, achieved accidentally by the polarization on the US Consulate vehicles we were riding in.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVCV_aAyIuJR-VQrYlvLtN5JGfnVh7XNIHbyCFkM8yTJQgc6PgSm5BRj6hJrGKOfn_IrtBaEmDygOk_3aS9OBoNlzeM66cNdgdj4MuaX7roRlwRMK9vzmGcGd-iM5DCIofD60bK1Rj78/s1600/india-bose.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidVCV_aAyIuJR-VQrYlvLtN5JGfnVh7XNIHbyCFkM8yTJQgc6PgSm5BRj6hJrGKOfn_IrtBaEmDygOk_3aS9OBoNlzeM66cNdgdj4MuaX7roRlwRMK9vzmGcGd-iM5DCIofD60bK1Rj78/s400/india-bose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505529580715234626" border="0" /></a><new image="" here=""><span style="font-style: italic;">The 1200 seat venue is fascinating. Filled with mosquitoes during the performance, it was a great space nonetheless. The outside is dominated by corporate sponsors and food stalls that makes the event of the show have some of the feel of a street fair and a car show combined.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QifRl1hBzSLHQoXrnbBQ38qZ_-sqqpbFpSuc0lwIOsZSWXEgwcLiY0gK9JzJQ6MIYS6NFLd5211nApCZgBZh3dEGT-sh7cqpxKX19AtYPr3tDtWoBr9Z9pvNawsSFCL5E9LVJhs9ysU/s1600/india3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QifRl1hBzSLHQoXrnbBQ38qZ_-sqqpbFpSuc0lwIOsZSWXEgwcLiY0gK9JzJQ6MIYS6NFLd5211nApCZgBZh3dEGT-sh7cqpxKX19AtYPr3tDtWoBr9Z9pvNawsSFCL5E9LVJhs9ysU/s400/india3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505524382199139330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Me posing next to an image of myself. This started a furious round of picture-taking.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOgRpEi_s11Q4ivxe8rYTglbEkqVSC1oQvSWjF0Gs32MFnisQZ6cU0iDywytlWYxfBYqhfpSIueGYeXzNhzhVLOxfN-iXHC80Z508aMeZ_1Vr89nJY3yAd3MrR53YMN4Wo4A4WKrahgI/s1600/india2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOgRpEi_s11Q4ivxe8rYTglbEkqVSC1oQvSWjF0Gs32MFnisQZ6cU0iDywytlWYxfBYqhfpSIueGYeXzNhzhVLOxfN-iXHC80Z508aMeZ_1Vr89nJY3yAd3MrR53YMN4Wo4A4WKrahgI/s400/india2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505524388043128722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Talking with folks after the show. The performance was extremely well received--Indians, it turns out, love to hear someone who knows very little about their culture provide insights into their fundamental natures. The fact that Foxconn has factories in Chennai doesn't hurt, either--it really makes globalism feel like a real presence, instead of just a dry business concept.</span><br /><br /></new>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-4737496151786003782010-08-15T01:56:00.003-04:002010-08-15T02:07:08.024-04:00Passed-Out Pug<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LxbV8aGe6L8_ZAAdQlzPYWHDMMBbMnEZdzsNcI9spcz5foDA54XNmELkO5vfbf9Jf0afyDLqm3Cj7zc_LVV0Cfb9wapRXs2i6Mh9hzOnl1AytHsoepu4_s4JIRx48st_pGfpIbgEFz4/s1600/IMG_3466.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LxbV8aGe6L8_ZAAdQlzPYWHDMMBbMnEZdzsNcI9spcz5foDA54XNmELkO5vfbf9Jf0afyDLqm3Cj7zc_LVV0Cfb9wapRXs2i6Mh9hzOnl1AytHsoepu4_s4JIRx48st_pGfpIbgEFz4/s400/IMG_3466.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505511583235637314" border="0" /></a><br />The day before we left for India, we had a huge party to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. At this party, our dog helped himself to not one but two gin and tonics that a guest graciously left on the floor for him. This was in addition to all the human food he managed to cadge.<br /><br />By the time the guests had left and it was time for Mike and me to pack, Baci had passed out on the middle of the bed, drunk and stuffed. He was snoring, with the tip of his pink tongue hanging out. He remained passed out like this, completely immobile, until it was morning and we shook him awake to say our goodbyes.<br /><br />While in India, my mom and dad are taking care of him. Lucky pug.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-73580229070573911892010-08-12T21:26:00.006-04:002010-08-24T09:00:39.702-04:00Woah. We're in India.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf0cphuP_s-FX_mLse3Fg4FR-OEDphj1vsWeTvW94hOgPChiF1zugc8EYXj9HLixx3r-7L7N52b8ELxwbGOBigOyCVY_60YbEQKI6C5ExwusrNCf_cc4XFMvnYXKq5ZK5su_IOUGMb_Y/s1600/surpanakha.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzf0cphuP_s-FX_mLse3Fg4FR-OEDphj1vsWeTvW94hOgPChiF1zugc8EYXj9HLixx3r-7L7N52b8ELxwbGOBigOyCVY_60YbEQKI6C5ExwusrNCf_cc4XFMvnYXKq5ZK5su_IOUGMb_Y/s400/surpanakha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700273541459506" border="0" /></a><br />I have always wanted to go to India.<br /><br />As a child, I was immersed in Indian folk tales and mesmerized by Indian fashions. I read the Ramayana three times over the course of my public school education in Seattle; in the fourth grade, I played Ravanna’s evil sister, Surpanakha, who tries to seduce Rama and steal him away from Sita.<br /><br />(Other favorite stage roles from that era include the Native American wicked witch Swayook, the vain and imperious goddess Hera, and the baby-stealing, hard-bitten Imogene from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. By twelve years old I’d discovered that playing the villain is always more fun than playing the ingénue, even if they do get to wear a prettier costume. At thirteen I got cast as a girl who kept accidentally beating up boys; we did eleven shows a week, which meant I only had to go to school on Mondays, and the money I made eventually went to paying for the first show I directed and produced my senior year of high school.)<br /><br />(But I digress.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib70s_4HzAfhjV7foqB23ZdGvkUWwn3Ey5_ff2Xa_I_8xY-_lwUr1mZsrFQnbTgltpbxPD6wM4r3x-zeiUfzPXZv20yC1zcUgUj17Vxxlex4TFACNbXRwVP492osI0Em1e6m-PvDJ4Xvc/s1600/mother-teresa.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib70s_4HzAfhjV7foqB23ZdGvkUWwn3Ey5_ff2Xa_I_8xY-_lwUr1mZsrFQnbTgltpbxPD6wM4r3x-zeiUfzPXZv20yC1zcUgUj17Vxxlex4TFACNbXRwVP492osI0Em1e6m-PvDJ4Xvc/s400/mother-teresa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504700913158070274" border="0" /></a><br />In the neighborhood I grew up in there was an older couple who lived a few doors down from us who went to India to do Peace Corps. When they came back they told us stories of their time there, including time spent working with Mother Teresa. I was in awe. And when I said, rather wistfully, “I want to go to India,” the woman punctured my wist with a very matter-of-fact, “Well then you will. If you really want to, then you will.”<br /><br />And now, here I am.<br /><br />But it’s a funny thing. I have many friends who have come here. They saved up and planned for this trip for months, sometimes years. One followed her guru here. All of them came as backpackers, staying in humble accommodations, traveling like locals, making their money streeeeetch over the months they had to spend here.<br /><br />Me? I’m in a funny place. Because I didn’t spend months/years planning and scheming. It fell into my lap. I looked at it and said, Really? But I'm tired. Despite this, it was still in my lap. So I said, Ok. Let's go.<br /><br />Now, we’ve been running hard this year. In 2010 we’ve been in our Brooklyn home a total of maybe 21 days. That’s it. The rest of the year we’ve been in DC, Tallahassee, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Sydney, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, New Jersey, Cape Cod…everywhere but home. So we were looking forward to a very quiet August. Lots of rest. Lots of not going anywhere.<br /><br />But then in May we got an email from the US Consulate’s office asking us if we wanted to go to India in August. Five cities, with one workshop and one performance in each, and the monologue of our choice. How could we say no?<br /><br />We couldn’t, so we said yes, and then we kept running, busy with all our other engagements up until the moment we left, pausing only to pick up a guide book which we didn’t even have time to open until we were on the 24-hour plane over.<br /><br />And now, here we are.<br /><br /><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdx2llY0wskaPsSM40eBvDdo8vSn4_0NgDpdZsapVQAR37ha1OybAtSROJGp3gkrv-2nxmeygAazNx5ofbjB64Jg2aplFGRT5awrXdo6TSjXKQdVDPahqd_Ub1lk4Pu_BNk0TxnHY9eI/s400/dancing-ganesha.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504702344741889106" border="0" /><br />A well-traveled friend of mine wrote me today with these words:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“And India, man.... It took me two solid weeks before I could even begin to relax just a little bit. But when you do, it's all the sweeter for realizing that in so doing you have accomplished something. You realize that you're still alive. And what's more, that you were ALWAYS okay. And that you're stronger than you'd given yourself credit for being.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">You're going to be a-okay!”</span><br /><br />That’s how everyone I know who’s come here talks about India. As the most intense experience of their lives ever. Like love, like war.<br /><br />I keep telling myself that our experience isn’t going to be that way. Thanks to coming through the State Department, we’ll be staying at fancy hotels. We’ll have drivers to whisk us from the airport to the classroom to the theater. We’ve given ourselves advance permission to relax, to take it easy, to not cram every moment we’re not working with essential India moments. We are willing to exchange stories like<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">sitting on the edge of an open train whisking through the countryside while drinking chai out of a clay cup</span><br /><br />for<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">sitting on the edge of a rooftop pool while happily surrounded by wifi.</span><br /><br />But I have to report that even as I write this from our HOTEL FORTRESS, I am already overwhelmed. This place has armed guards out front, mirrors to check the undercarriage of cars for bombs, $25 lunch buffets...<br /><br />Feeling like a caged bird, on the first day I tried to go for a walk.<br /><br />Took me about twenty minutes just to cross the street. Traffic is intense! Everyone beeping! No crosswalks! I made it across to the meridian, hung out there with a leper before I worked up the nerve to cross the rest of the way. Very Frogger-like.<br /><br />Then yesterday we went to the theater for a site visit and found out that everything that could be misunderstood about our tech has been. I mean, we decided to make this thing as easy as possible: it's basically lights up, lights down. And yet! Everything becomes complicated! Meetings that were scheduled to take 30 minutes take two hours! During which time...nothing was actually accomplished!<br /><br />But today is the real test, because tonight’s our first show. And I'm just so curious as to how the audience will receive Mike. They don't have any tradition of this kind of performance; not even stand-up. The interview I heard Mike give over the phone this morning was hilarious in how clearly the interviewer had no idea who Mike was or what he did.<div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MIKE:</span> No, there's no music. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> No, I don't sing. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> No, no, no poetry. I just sit there and tell a story. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> 58? No, no, I'm 37. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> Self-taught. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause) </span>No, I will not recite a line for you. That's not how it works. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> Well, just because it's not written doesn't mean it's not composed. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause) (pause) (pause)</span> Well if you don't understand why Indians would care about what's happening in China--when you're both competing for the same markets, when corporations are moving their operations from China to India because they want to use your people in the same way they've used the Chinese--if you can't see why that would pertain to you, then you're just blind or have no imagination. <span style="font-style: italic;">(pause)</span> Yes, thank you for your time. Goodbye.<br /><br />I’ll keep you posted.<br /><br /></div>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-56618864184979583792010-07-29T16:56:00.012-04:002010-07-29T17:29:44.721-04:00July 29, 2000<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFaX_Seq0Ot5dAuI2y20llLrLz5GP1m0dbOFBiHNpFP7kQ4PahqjcjKq1iedt383IJGDHhJELENjQJRHtkCURZTWY9EzHW1s8j4i4doR5psexChNR2YLU0Hv-PaTfh41BheE2K6wdhzU/s1600/IMG_5947.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFaX_Seq0Ot5dAuI2y20llLrLz5GP1m0dbOFBiHNpFP7kQ4PahqjcjKq1iedt383IJGDHhJELENjQJRHtkCURZTWY9EzHW1s8j4i4doR5psexChNR2YLU0Hv-PaTfh41BheE2K6wdhzU/s400/IMG_5947.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499440492213142018" border="0" /></a><br />Ten years ago today, Mike and I got married.<br /><br />Mike was 27; I had turned 23 one month before. By day, I worked at Swedish Hospital in Human Resources. Mike was mostly unemployed, though he sometimes balanced the accounts at the Century Ballroom. At night we performed and produced our own work. We were in a sketch comedy group together, we both wrote and performed for a local televised comedy show, and we’d worked together to produce Mike’s first two monologues, both of them at little theaters on Capitol Hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNoZ_reqJyVton2ljd_lORAtobreP_ft5kN7Y73V_CNvZHEH_wpxOYzPsKhjuO0qc-AlHm5CYz-i2oyu7IUETdtmOOJe1LF69FuaYO25oSlcy6mBZ7BTA2H4gHx8FgaKl3F-K2DpXK4I/s1600/wedding10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 342px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCNoZ_reqJyVton2ljd_lORAtobreP_ft5kN7Y73V_CNvZHEH_wpxOYzPsKhjuO0qc-AlHm5CYz-i2oyu7IUETdtmOOJe1LF69FuaYO25oSlcy6mBZ7BTA2H4gHx8FgaKl3F-K2DpXK4I/s400/wedding10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499435631080840770" border="0" /></a><br />Money was always tight back then, and we spent the last of our savings on our homemade wedding invitations. Our friend James was the DJ. Rhonda and Carrie made the programs. Sophie and Heidi and Libby and Maureen wrangled our flowers into shape. Many others helped in ways large and small.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uhkakGhwhHzrkTuRbtIGjihGvDW3UifVtGzY95__iRFJlOt3sOXjtFclHdbLg6sbf_5TesvSjozCySZmWUTl4bmL7TJJf079nfiL8AwTyCIjFwsF8IukCehlUTNc3QabhL-71W-pHk4/s1600/wedding02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uhkakGhwhHzrkTuRbtIGjihGvDW3UifVtGzY95__iRFJlOt3sOXjtFclHdbLg6sbf_5TesvSjozCySZmWUTl4bmL7TJJf079nfiL8AwTyCIjFwsF8IukCehlUTNc3QabhL-71W-pHk4/s400/wedding02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499437440702606258" border="0" /></a><br />We got married at St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill. Our priest was a bad-ass Jesuit who took it as his mission to be inclusive and welcoming. My bio-dad read from the Old Testament and Mike’s dad from the New. During communion, Mike and I stood on either side of the aisle, administering the wine. My step-father, who raised me, walked me down the aisle and danced the first dance with me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWiWJLVLEcnp69qCJRPONFQ27ovfjEn8A1C_duyFMmVpUMOZzIDN13PjrP4Cy9hKzxPTseCIiDWXUzC0p5kfYyDZaqexlVv2sGVvUlTWCPe2II_XZ34r47uf6yhU9VzZlfCfypOOP5AQ/s1600/Jean&Father.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWiWJLVLEcnp69qCJRPONFQ27ovfjEn8A1C_duyFMmVpUMOZzIDN13PjrP4Cy9hKzxPTseCIiDWXUzC0p5kfYyDZaqexlVv2sGVvUlTWCPe2II_XZ34r47uf6yhU9VzZlfCfypOOP5AQ/s400/Jean&Father.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499436930381880354" border="0" /></a><br />I’ll never forget the feeling of walking down that aisle and seeing so many people I loved, from so many different aspects of my life, all in one room together. I hadn’t realized how overwhelming that would be, and promptly burst into tears.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KvY5OStbKoQFgYCzoZx_Cc7pfjjiRcacGtdeBHrXLwcXWBoe4Ntj0i9jwm3MLRpioYXSigob03fYIAp7PtmvYiu92qJZ2_iuauIid_M-fqyOddsJbcXZM1SH3Z0BTawpdPo1d8ehRGI/s1600/wedding07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KvY5OStbKoQFgYCzoZx_Cc7pfjjiRcacGtdeBHrXLwcXWBoe4Ntj0i9jwm3MLRpioYXSigob03fYIAp7PtmvYiu92qJZ2_iuauIid_M-fqyOddsJbcXZM1SH3Z0BTawpdPo1d8ehRGI/s400/wedding07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499435450673125026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWiWJLVLEcnp69qCJRPONFQ27ovfjEn8A1C_duyFMmVpUMOZzIDN13PjrP4Cy9hKzxPTseCIiDWXUzC0p5kfYyDZaqexlVv2sGVvUlTWCPe2II_XZ34r47uf6yhU9VzZlfCfypOOP5AQ/s1600/Jean&Father.jpg"><br /></a>My mom and dad footed the bill for our enormous wedding, at which 250 of our closest friends and family members danced and ate and drank liberally. Our careful budget allowed for an enormous white dress and an open bar, but not a photographer. My Aunt Ann took photos, and we stocked the reception hall tables with disposable cameras so we could see what the guests saw.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5lMfDSXsNe4BdzKGvqCmPotKuVwJDu3WLrLV55b3xdn4Pa70oHDjxmDhDMISaqSMrSk7JfDNXetoEzorD1xIZve0QzgOfVKpDndaqXvLtojELSOD_p-FUjcWQo1ELwCdN74Uj2Eoogg/s1600/Dance02BW.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5lMfDSXsNe4BdzKGvqCmPotKuVwJDu3WLrLV55b3xdn4Pa70oHDjxmDhDMISaqSMrSk7JfDNXetoEzorD1xIZve0QzgOfVKpDndaqXvLtojELSOD_p-FUjcWQo1ELwCdN74Uj2Eoogg/s400/Dance02BW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499440488928623058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPkJlE0743EwgmN2kGKQNnBfMH94ncdJ0jznMuido9kLqX9vNVr6SPW3tr8k99OvuK-yvpz2lcFhSD206r86NvjOn5stRshb1C3RDSd0ABRihXeOW_s1z3LGSP-yNkrp3mRZq7XRq2SU/s1600/Mary_oths.jpg"><br /></a>There were many, many toasts. We had cream puffs from Than Brothers instead of a cake. We rocked the Polish Home until Mike and I were the last two people standing in that big, moonlit room. It was an excellent party.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPkJlE0743EwgmN2kGKQNnBfMH94ncdJ0jznMuido9kLqX9vNVr6SPW3tr8k99OvuK-yvpz2lcFhSD206r86NvjOn5stRshb1C3RDSd0ABRihXeOW_s1z3LGSP-yNkrp3mRZq7XRq2SU/s1600/Mary_oths.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPkJlE0743EwgmN2kGKQNnBfMH94ncdJ0jznMuido9kLqX9vNVr6SPW3tr8k99OvuK-yvpz2lcFhSD206r86NvjOn5stRshb1C3RDSd0ABRihXeOW_s1z3LGSP-yNkrp3mRZq7XRq2SU/s400/Mary_oths.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499437886769650306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn49bQKRjMOv0hVCrNjh7eZew1S_NzKyaNOEbX7uhPu5zeeWWQWGNtr_GB-uVdJKo7v4pfdhlkCM-yDq5hyRqOcNPezoztD6JIj7LJvY75v1bea5I9oCFD2xCm0abuXG1n60k8w_WRKg/s1600/wedding04.jpg"><br /></a>The cover of our wedding invitation had this quote by Mark Helprin:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">“The world is a perfect place, so perfect that even if there is nothing afterward, all of this will have been enough.”</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn49bQKRjMOv0hVCrNjh7eZew1S_NzKyaNOEbX7uhPu5zeeWWQWGNtr_GB-uVdJKo7v4pfdhlkCM-yDq5hyRqOcNPezoztD6JIj7LJvY75v1bea5I9oCFD2xCm0abuXG1n60k8w_WRKg/s1600/wedding04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn49bQKRjMOv0hVCrNjh7eZew1S_NzKyaNOEbX7uhPu5zeeWWQWGNtr_GB-uVdJKo7v4pfdhlkCM-yDq5hyRqOcNPezoztD6JIj7LJvY75v1bea5I9oCFD2xCm0abuXG1n60k8w_WRKg/s400/wedding04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499436074515637682" border="0" /></a><br />Back then we didn’t have any clue what was to come. If you’d asked me, I would have guessed we’d live in Seattle forever. New York was as foreign as the moon. And if you’d told me we’d eventually be able to make a living from our theater, I would have said you were crazy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahhKsPG4g_80aAaz9syeLDHhj4Xja75benrPg3AxDK5FPNXwkrGgy65NYftoQbjQLanSwWxEYJoOqiUMKIY_Cm2ZOeuPSwvszlEg-DyNlB6T0xvCyI4jAPibneqPkYdzmkD8AASAHYA/s1600/IMG_6077.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIahhKsPG4g_80aAaz9syeLDHhj4Xja75benrPg3AxDK5FPNXwkrGgy65NYftoQbjQLanSwWxEYJoOqiUMKIY_Cm2ZOeuPSwvszlEg-DyNlB6T0xvCyI4jAPibneqPkYdzmkD8AASAHYA/s400/IMG_6077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499442101215120738" border="0" /></a><br />Not too many of those original photos turned out well, so a few months ago, I got back into that dress (still hanging at my parents’ house) and Mike into a tux, and my little sister Ruth—who was still a teenager at our wedding, but who is now an old married woman—took a new batch of wedding photos. Everywhere we went, people honked their horns and wished us well. We were only too happy to take their blessings, and hope we get to use them on the next ten years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m-DHBedfm-kBzRktKXKfFHVS56lbNYdC2Cile_RHFwoxJfLIH9kLXMSRo7y2ktkhGX-zQZ5aMckTlbBwHwFgwzEnwNG5c2RzStIiumrqk372cwFdSR9W2h2uznCctfBS0cPFKxoVhgY/s1600/IMG_6045.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m-DHBedfm-kBzRktKXKfFHVS56lbNYdC2Cile_RHFwoxJfLIH9kLXMSRo7y2ktkhGX-zQZ5aMckTlbBwHwFgwzEnwNG5c2RzStIiumrqk372cwFdSR9W2h2uznCctfBS0cPFKxoVhgY/s400/IMG_6045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499442781647145346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MGIRPRwjSHKe-VXNRCVMiskx85yxvinaRLQYjBhY2nAAB8rJ835czmeGwOjrZ9E2xxQNsoIuF-jUlebWk-VEusYAqv_CAUHxU4U3AG81TV4Ft1sC2hEHuP1VaEFqcG91UUkK7pWMZCA/s1600/IMG_5979.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-MGIRPRwjSHKe-VXNRCVMiskx85yxvinaRLQYjBhY2nAAB8rJ835czmeGwOjrZ9E2xxQNsoIuF-jUlebWk-VEusYAqv_CAUHxU4U3AG81TV4Ft1sC2hEHuP1VaEFqcG91UUkK7pWMZCA/s400/IMG_5979.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499440495720508850" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-40201290563230190302010-07-15T16:00:00.001-04:002010-07-15T16:02:24.434-04:00Dream Song 14Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.<br />After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns,<br />we ourselves flash and yearn,<br />and moreover my mother told me as a boy<br />(repeatingly) "Ever to confess you're bored<br />means you have no<br /><br />Inner Resources." I conclude now I have no<br />inner resources, because I am heavy bored.<br />Peoples bore me,<br />literature bores me, especially great literature,<br />Henry bores me, with his plights & gripes<br />as bad as Achilles,<br /><br />who loves people and valiant art, which bores me.<br />And the tranquil hills, & gin, look like a drag<br />and somehow a dog<br />has taken itself & its tail considerably away<br />into the mountains or sea or sky, leaving<br />behind: me, wag.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">~John Berryman </span>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-79077904075423767642010-06-24T16:39:00.000-04:002010-06-24T16:39:11.020-04:00Ring of Kerry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtEOEi5nYyn-sao9JeWEfVVLFg0tWkoejUp-z6ixMDpxSMzF-vr361-51Ykqh7ZgBxEHFldIkNN2h5WlMIEZ3bAeqETxmTB-qMrO4gxO7PHQE2VYlxmkgx-I8TUv1L3zAvndqNjk-M7E/s1600/rok24.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtEOEi5nYyn-sao9JeWEfVVLFg0tWkoejUp-z6ixMDpxSMzF-vr361-51Ykqh7ZgBxEHFldIkNN2h5WlMIEZ3bAeqETxmTB-qMrO4gxO7PHQE2VYlxmkgx-I8TUv1L3zAvndqNjk-M7E/s400/rok24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486439400183096514" border="0" /></a><br />We're in Ireland for quite some time--a whole month! with a car!--but for the first two weeks we've got shows most nights, so there's a limit to how far we can travel before the chain of performance yanks us back.<br /><br />Last Sunday, however, we had a full day off, and we used that time for an epic drive from Cork to the famous Ring of Kerry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEyjq1IWL8zVWy9OGNAUD6oVEhyCkY_f43ZcxPTPe1MqEysEuTe1UAK_1Y7ufA1CTJeccjPrGpXk-CsuT-4HcrMxtI5TLRMWAScsZgWCo8uX_TcZ_eqdOQWIuSN7t6EAGLwsbXYNxb6k/s1600/rokmap.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEyjq1IWL8zVWy9OGNAUD6oVEhyCkY_f43ZcxPTPe1MqEysEuTe1UAK_1Y7ufA1CTJeccjPrGpXk-CsuT-4HcrMxtI5TLRMWAScsZgWCo8uX_TcZ_eqdOQWIuSN7t6EAGLwsbXYNxb6k/s400/rokmap.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486317229651142098" border="0" /></a><br />We were warned in advance that it would be crazy touristy. That if we wanted "authentic" Ireland we should head to the Dingle or Beara peninsulas. But seeing as how visitors have been swearing by the Ring of Kerry for hundreds of years now (really! it was a hot spot even in Victorian times, though I suspect there were less plastic-shamrocks-made-in-China available for purchase), and armed with Rick Steves' invaluable guidebook and a detailed road atlas, we set our alarms for 7 AM.<br /><br />(This is the cue for those of you who know us to gasp.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmqOf01-C2nL9m5bmirk2d8FtIoLfu-fqR10SZoBlxyjWITdpzb1KxB4k-gBBEbSie_uWlMKQkYWsEp1GbPTREboNoTZbGG6wf5ETmZlj4SNmzZxMNgX8sBy-ueSkzqlMGX97ABJfA60/s1600/rok01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmqOf01-C2nL9m5bmirk2d8FtIoLfu-fqR10SZoBlxyjWITdpzb1KxB4k-gBBEbSie_uWlMKQkYWsEp1GbPTREboNoTZbGG6wf5ETmZlj4SNmzZxMNgX8sBy-ueSkzqlMGX97ABJfA60/s400/rok01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318924249429746" border="0" /></a><br />And off we went!<br /><br />Although we got a later start than we'd intended. Probably because we'd stayed up until 3 AM. So we weren't actually on the road until 10:45 AM.<br /><br />(This is the cue for those of you who know us to laugh.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTIaJSiPGh-y_L6qcYt1p_y5NWDl2iOjoHsCHkeyjtZxnml_3-0a5dHWnh5P9X5hb9DvzUBB_wDBaIMNL7YTj0DxX2DfMQjEf0zzlklM03ehj0XOgrXbiw_naOKYwX2Ljeq11gkl6IRU/s1600/rok06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTIaJSiPGh-y_L6qcYt1p_y5NWDl2iOjoHsCHkeyjtZxnml_3-0a5dHWnh5P9X5hb9DvzUBB_wDBaIMNL7YTj0DxX2DfMQjEf0zzlklM03ehj0XOgrXbiw_naOKYwX2Ljeq11gkl6IRU/s400/rok06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318932928228146" border="0" /></a><br />But goodness! It was beautiful even before we'd gotten anywhere near the Ring.<br /><br />And driving on the wrong side of the road really isn't so hard. Especially with a patient navigator by your side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq2ZCtk1YKD-GlH-6LqQhB0kzoMe1k2x8T3N77SJ2Q5t8i3R9AvLAV9psoz-R6nusAVgs0VRglJ0GShd8QK9Q09Bu_N9DEzsMAOuOL_anxGCDxhzO_27stNeaI3RTQK03ZOlL-pubnnQ/s1600/rok08.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWq2ZCtk1YKD-GlH-6LqQhB0kzoMe1k2x8T3N77SJ2Q5t8i3R9AvLAV9psoz-R6nusAVgs0VRglJ0GShd8QK9Q09Bu_N9DEzsMAOuOL_anxGCDxhzO_27stNeaI3RTQK03ZOlL-pubnnQ/s400/rok08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486319916983869362" border="0" /></a><br />City folks that we are, we were delighted by the many sheep and cows and horses along the way. These ones were loose by the side of the road, so we pulled over to get closer...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP4i3QxAB9C8hwFWvvsFtIrvQw94mG006ZY9Iqe3Q9nE51NGI73vy_PBlMdjD3R_rUMdixBehLSQ_aunPGyo8H4QMWh6gZQ2S39MvudUnHiCWZs_Omio2ZLGvjCx3uDsR9v3bvSirNeM/s1600/rok02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxP4i3QxAB9C8hwFWvvsFtIrvQw94mG006ZY9Iqe3Q9nE51NGI73vy_PBlMdjD3R_rUMdixBehLSQ_aunPGyo8H4QMWh6gZQ2S39MvudUnHiCWZs_Omio2ZLGvjCx3uDsR9v3bvSirNeM/s400/rok02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318944673639842" border="0" /></a><br />They were interested until we pulled out our camera. Then they huffily walked away. <span style="font-style: italic;">Tourists, </span>they bleated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTI1a95feNQwp0r5l82FRKAcGJgYWVmR1ECN9FHa2I_4OiADa00oohay_SZvcoBacefCt35W06-_e5272e1hQ6qFciMBGLR-jVuqOp4hSWkESCcPgb4VfJJm0F85_FU7lk2MNGvFlCag/s1600/rok03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTI1a95feNQwp0r5l82FRKAcGJgYWVmR1ECN9FHa2I_4OiADa00oohay_SZvcoBacefCt35W06-_e5272e1hQ6qFciMBGLR-jVuqOp4hSWkESCcPgb4VfJJm0F85_FU7lk2MNGvFlCag/s400/rok03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486318956620338706" border="0" /></a><br />But listen! Our late start proved to be a blessing. All those huge tour buses roust their elderly inhabitants out of bed at the crack of dawn in order to beat the traffic, so by the time we were sailing around, we had many of the roads to ourselves. And with the midsummer sun (it doesn't get dark until around 11 pm), there was no shortage of sunshine to light our path.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUoXM7rv4V4YnLeHau33zKLTNtV_simefapj7E6gpUwG2o8QIXLa4iXwYMu0YTW4ctIqT0yLIC97ZeQ3IsSlCRYqjP3qE8UKOr_j24D7I2zCB3NUdCS1fy1iK38sxQXEixFj43_u6XYw/s1600/rok09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUoXM7rv4V4YnLeHau33zKLTNtV_simefapj7E6gpUwG2o8QIXLa4iXwYMu0YTW4ctIqT0yLIC97ZeQ3IsSlCRYqjP3qE8UKOr_j24D7I2zCB3NUdCS1fy1iK38sxQXEixFj43_u6XYw/s400/rok09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486321283919974898" border="0" /></a><br />This is a ring fortress built around 500 BC that we had pretty much to ourselves. Well, us and the sheep and the horses and cows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41wockgTEzRAw1ZVwhKcPT9SekPZJHVingAQAGc0ZKYZFt0nUV8IQ0ZkCFvgBUH6C9K-Rdqc144KdxlCDoJdSfhtaXeQjvR8z5UUDPLsKXXMn20kUCL9dMdDmlBHK-NIl0HNbwYmPPM0/s1600/rok18.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41wockgTEzRAw1ZVwhKcPT9SekPZJHVingAQAGc0ZKYZFt0nUV8IQ0ZkCFvgBUH6C9K-Rdqc144KdxlCDoJdSfhtaXeQjvR8z5UUDPLsKXXMn20kUCL9dMdDmlBHK-NIl0HNbwYmPPM0/s400/rok18.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486435859965209074" border="0" /></a><br />It's hard to capture in photographs how beautiful the peninsula is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyPaF9Di80cABXsAlmSHx8kB7Cq838MitjLX_DcHPpP5u_tPL-hIV0F8EltUnKeaaRk_PklfjXV9mjNQ-eu4DMAJ4MK8DQginK_YIYLofvKdNl1ZT2OpZT9rhTiPVVYVkTJpQ-3lyAfY/s1600/rok13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyPaF9Di80cABXsAlmSHx8kB7Cq838MitjLX_DcHPpP5u_tPL-hIV0F8EltUnKeaaRk_PklfjXV9mjNQ-eu4DMAJ4MK8DQginK_YIYLofvKdNl1ZT2OpZT9rhTiPVVYVkTJpQ-3lyAfY/s400/rok13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486321309488851266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1she_s_6bIuokwWtHZn8qpEogoluYLi_6j9c38HV2TR4xOd0NiiMyzlzIH2vbcqv0RNqJ-kS7Jkg7qi7Hdf2H_EetqJr_JecPEtaBylqjYidZ78Xn9OOuLSghDo28ol14Mb8bVf4qROQ/s1600/rok10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1she_s_6bIuokwWtHZn8qpEogoluYLi_6j9c38HV2TR4xOd0NiiMyzlzIH2vbcqv0RNqJ-kS7Jkg7qi7Hdf2H_EetqJr_JecPEtaBylqjYidZ78Xn9OOuLSghDo28ol14Mb8bVf4qROQ/s400/rok10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486321294331735570" border="0" /></a><br />It's in the way the water meets the rocky shore, and in the variety of textures and colors that make up the rolling patchwork of the countryside.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtPtt4ZYkbFQvLvwpOoo-uGmT3yLFAxbcYNceioqqBw74iwKle1-_G9CwHWzQ64k8vPopPhBGQ6HSxWJGvT3grSU0LB81GwtBu7bvZDkAu5lszwMyJcReVWeDJhyphenhyphenkX-JwPTwxS35whQ8/s1600/rok14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtPtt4ZYkbFQvLvwpOoo-uGmT3yLFAxbcYNceioqqBw74iwKle1-_G9CwHWzQ64k8vPopPhBGQ6HSxWJGvT3grSU0LB81GwtBu7bvZDkAu5lszwMyJcReVWeDJhyphenhyphenkX-JwPTwxS35whQ8/s400/rok14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486323435279400930" border="0" /></a><br />As my husband said at one scenic overlook, "I need an 180-degree lens."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvybVnOunADti8LZbBnaIqcg5wMMTkWwZ_On9tSC5427Pg5YXvYMaXZmv1c06ibwMu4I0msnFTEIQqhU8ZJDGCF34jifY6IRXFRx0mAJ9r6i2gpH88zc2j_HTJXbt21akI6HLoscQ26VY/s1600/rok12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvybVnOunADti8LZbBnaIqcg5wMMTkWwZ_On9tSC5427Pg5YXvYMaXZmv1c06ibwMu4I0msnFTEIQqhU8ZJDGCF34jifY6IRXFRx0mAJ9r6i2gpH88zc2j_HTJXbt21akI6HLoscQ26VY/s400/rok12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486322217334721138" border="0" /></a><br />Everywhere you look you can see the obvious footprints of the glaciers that moved through here and grooved the land.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjvy6IqJhtQeVZmqPN0PYx17IvWOGUTfSdtsYcPxsBEPuJAN5yp4RTPbBVRVr2ZJDxdjXVTJThhZGJQ0di0Dn6EDNrwbS0jSOUMUmYZuIhCsxFKWU4ElHNnGBwUxLp-Ac7hhpXygdGuk/s1600/rok04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjvy6IqJhtQeVZmqPN0PYx17IvWOGUTfSdtsYcPxsBEPuJAN5yp4RTPbBVRVr2ZJDxdjXVTJThhZGJQ0di0Dn6EDNrwbS0jSOUMUmYZuIhCsxFKWU4ElHNnGBwUxLp-Ac7hhpXygdGuk/s400/rok04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486321284899269490" border="0" /></a><br />And the beaches are exquisite. Soft sand beneath your toes, but big hard rocks with cockles and mussels and shallow pools with interesting marine life to explore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibInklqxCIRShxCS69n117Uzy_vhHJaN_8J198JIxrvttD8heggTwozF8wuhBT2_axCmHuKVS-LKGQt6gY_KaJl5zMwAWbQwzYGgEilqdq1ZIluhtAL0tH0tkji9e0NFQhd9bsKaoljek/s1600/rok16.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibInklqxCIRShxCS69n117Uzy_vhHJaN_8J198JIxrvttD8heggTwozF8wuhBT2_axCmHuKVS-LKGQt6gY_KaJl5zMwAWbQwzYGgEilqdq1ZIluhtAL0tH0tkji9e0NFQhd9bsKaoljek/s400/rok16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486324845556682114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44ebRWw_iM3TOVDdwOfKjwCxoZwQQ_vY6Tw7usBlRgu-Y3PGKCJqUnB3LQ8RIQM7yRRzmkRDmBcm7ZM0YcQLVheRkoozPbRiyhw2bS6BtXE_rmUj9s47vEgKdOjUshLouuWAxsAr2Gbo/s1600/rok17.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44ebRWw_iM3TOVDdwOfKjwCxoZwQQ_vY6Tw7usBlRgu-Y3PGKCJqUnB3LQ8RIQM7yRRzmkRDmBcm7ZM0YcQLVheRkoozPbRiyhw2bS6BtXE_rmUj9s47vEgKdOjUshLouuWAxsAr2Gbo/s400/rok17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486324858257246482" border="0" /></a><br />By dinner time, we'd worked up a hearty appetite and ordered dinner at this pub in Portmagee.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUoXM7rv4V4YnLeHau33zKLTNtV_simefapj7E6gpUwG2o8QIXLa4iXwYMu0YTW4ctIqT0yLIC97ZeQ3IsSlCRYqjP3qE8UKOr_j24D7I2zCB3NUdCS1fy1iK38sxQXEixFj43_u6XYw/s1600/rok09.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjvy6IqJhtQeVZmqPN0PYx17IvWOGUTfSdtsYcPxsBEPuJAN5yp4RTPbBVRVr2ZJDxdjXVTJThhZGJQ0di0Dn6EDNrwbS0jSOUMUmYZuIhCsxFKWU4ElHNnGBwUxLp-Ac7hhpXygdGuk/s1600/rok04.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHphEkrNEk5trFHMVdf_W0rxuLF0mJ7-brLSueTS4XHCEv14bbeiQ1ZijYbA74D7hWD6zbT55MhUasfw4_7kNA2RkCkOl17rTshHjnLBex61CUAFgxLyIGU1bJbZArWV8B2j59zCYwN-k/s1600/rok20.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHphEkrNEk5trFHMVdf_W0rxuLF0mJ7-brLSueTS4XHCEv14bbeiQ1ZijYbA74D7hWD6zbT55MhUasfw4_7kNA2RkCkOl17rTshHjnLBex61CUAFgxLyIGU1bJbZArWV8B2j59zCYwN-k/s400/rok20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486435870319232418" border="0" /></a><br />Seated at a picnic table alongside the small harbor, we ate big bowls of chowder and a hot seafood sampler and washed it down with a few pints of Harp.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhypTawFbcJZj6G-GyNHcwCO6SStiJoDQrBtg890X9QPt50N6cuLzT3GcyADg9iy0OQdvZd2a8bgT0NVD28VIr2Eg4up6Eov31IsFa_msfTBNSgcPRlzIFoOylVbz-UoH6g4uxTSVqmFE/s1600/rok21.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhypTawFbcJZj6G-GyNHcwCO6SStiJoDQrBtg890X9QPt50N6cuLzT3GcyADg9iy0OQdvZd2a8bgT0NVD28VIr2Eg4up6Eov31IsFa_msfTBNSgcPRlzIFoOylVbz-UoH6g4uxTSVqmFE/s400/rok21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486435886655340594" border="0" /></a><br />It was delicious.<br /><br />And I have to say, it didn't feel very "touristy." Everyone else appeared to be locals. And if there are a few more places along the Ring to buy postcards then there are in other parts of Ireland, well, I certainly didn't mind it. Especially since those same places have WCs and tend to sell ice cream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoBEEbYSo2ySCA3iWHwTTO2bMqCDE9AxpDOji1mk2YrOqoBqz1gP6POdtQfYPKbgUoU8qyYlPO8d7tCjesxYbeSyGsPB2hQUetj5Zz93wDrw-BlGb-QBFDgLJ-qrWi5gBHECasxqsTWI/s1600/rok19.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoBEEbYSo2ySCA3iWHwTTO2bMqCDE9AxpDOji1mk2YrOqoBqz1gP6POdtQfYPKbgUoU8qyYlPO8d7tCjesxYbeSyGsPB2hQUetj5Zz93wDrw-BlGb-QBFDgLJ-qrWi5gBHECasxqsTWI/s400/rok19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486435868029939010" border="0" /></a><br />The only thing that would have made our trip better is if we could have spent the night there and driven back the next day. But a morning technical rehearsal beckoned, so we popped our Chieftans CD back in and continued on our way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87z4zCVTZ1xCBNaImxkOYKBch7499qpaHeP7eJ_oUK_G-S3qs7EP_H5P2SQeu-ksaiDOAr-iDzMbfMJbAlIL1usCL7Lc_yr2Ki6Sh6UtYeIRnRyf6j9VdAk2qa6zDVO2qit8eWHB2kHM/s1600/rok23.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87z4zCVTZ1xCBNaImxkOYKBch7499qpaHeP7eJ_oUK_G-S3qs7EP_H5P2SQeu-ksaiDOAr-iDzMbfMJbAlIL1usCL7Lc_yr2Ki6Sh6UtYeIRnRyf6j9VdAk2qa6zDVO2qit8eWHB2kHM/s400/rok23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486439379715355842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Tourists,</span> said the sheep. <span style="font-style: italic;">Why not Springsteen?</span> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n9dV03zDztdS_xwNpTQnqqEuRZMp87j8-V-dp_jj0fd1Rr6b-K_Sy8vfbzB5ihFQuxu2nAKVivIdlqeyh4GRBGuRQwdWzOOCsdPWHTYSHMPGPJSAJPxry54evt0yGbVorEr35CeZEMs/s1600/rok22.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6n9dV03zDztdS_xwNpTQnqqEuRZMp87j8-V-dp_jj0fd1Rr6b-K_Sy8vfbzB5ihFQuxu2nAKVivIdlqeyh4GRBGuRQwdWzOOCsdPWHTYSHMPGPJSAJPxry54evt0yGbVorEr35CeZEMs/s400/rok22.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486435900500929586" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-51577104894882073602010-06-24T06:37:00.004-04:002010-06-24T06:46:48.957-04:00Cause and Effect<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_z2LU1Tc5IugsVjRWJIXMVutd9daXnzGGs5Hdj2ryUUR9uQqHrVkvB-7sqWO_HUblbh2wwpWV7S5_EyxofJGcar2h0iG11PM_8g0S1vPq9ii5PGdLYNAmfdb_4yzQr6NspVMq4_f5jo/s1600/DSCF5605.jpg"><br /></a>My father's wife, Kathy, sent me this enviable picture of her first-class voyage to England.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxtVeqF528lIfUe-ht0MZKQG1nW41O-vjpdLqKo4bRW-M18ROZaX0znpteF0mvyRHGnEoVE1PjP2ojyAUDCJICVrdbdU81tIcU51SqBwQju0AtyOips7HAu9n-4Y-rhlU3mwWTb-oNGk/s1600/HPIM0599.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxtVeqF528lIfUe-ht0MZKQG1nW41O-vjpdLqKo4bRW-M18ROZaX0znpteF0mvyRHGnEoVE1PjP2ojyAUDCJICVrdbdU81tIcU51SqBwQju0AtyOips7HAu9n-4Y-rhlU3mwWTb-oNGk/s400/HPIM0599.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486287998094447922" border="0" /></a><br />To quote Kathy, it was "the most amazing trip ever. The seats reclined totally flat and every position in between."<br /><br />Now, here's a picture of them enjoying the lovely midsummer weather a day or so later.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_z2LU1Tc5IugsVjRWJIXMVutd9daXnzGGs5Hdj2ryUUR9uQqHrVkvB-7sqWO_HUblbh2wwpWV7S5_EyxofJGcar2h0iG11PM_8g0S1vPq9ii5PGdLYNAmfdb_4yzQr6NspVMq4_f5jo/s1600/DSCF5605.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_z2LU1Tc5IugsVjRWJIXMVutd9daXnzGGs5Hdj2ryUUR9uQqHrVkvB-7sqWO_HUblbh2wwpWV7S5_EyxofJGcar2h0iG11PM_8g0S1vPq9ii5PGdLYNAmfdb_4yzQr6NspVMq4_f5jo/s400/DSCF5605.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486287999191151922" border="0" /></a><br />Look how rested and happy they look!<br /><br />Clearly, this is scientific proof that my next long voyage needs to be first class...JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-51355634510390450452010-06-13T13:30:00.013-04:002010-06-13T14:03:33.090-04:00The Big Buddha on Lantau Island<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj16EBkK1aazR9pexNjZztzjxRF8upZXQuf03ah-hu2w-LL8Sswtarvri7OqmQXwSo2WdDXr2BOw8p-5pTNWeX6dVFMSx9wUQwqdK0Thh24gMZ5vQACVYXuft-AIcVyx6-LWosMH7MAI/s1600/gifts.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj16EBkK1aazR9pexNjZztzjxRF8upZXQuf03ah-hu2w-LL8Sswtarvri7OqmQXwSo2WdDXr2BOw8p-5pTNWeX6dVFMSx9wUQwqdK0Thh24gMZ5vQACVYXuft-AIcVyx6-LWosMH7MAI/s400/gifts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482313970887229106" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28m5-_HGz0oIbNzO2Wxw2FzmYLjehBXCxHvzvLQ3yiJ8vg0N9078Sq-7om3knUx9BkdmYXtaZF5AMVOm40_Lnf-3xkvdXpteW5ZEhB524U7aXIMxhBKb6Eq4t3T1Dhc4NzgN-_ppWGLg/s1600/sign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28m5-_HGz0oIbNzO2Wxw2FzmYLjehBXCxHvzvLQ3yiJ8vg0N9078Sq-7om3knUx9BkdmYXtaZF5AMVOm40_Lnf-3xkvdXpteW5ZEhB524U7aXIMxhBKb6Eq4t3T1Dhc4NzgN-_ppWGLg/s400/sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482313071202036818" border="0" /></a><br />Go to Big Buddha, they said.<br /><br />Ok, we said.<br /><br />We took the metro for a 25-minute ride, then got onto this cable car for another 25 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6ldCo7QpxlE9fHknJdaqHqKdTRlXCDG_Ty7m54ecWNWxFHsau__xQo-W3eWlkSTrELdQ9m1lE5CX6_VV2aDLQwieBRg9QoKOc9Wxi51t7aTDe-RdycyI6mGv2SoOYjeu66oGpNfXbRI/s1600/cablecar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6ldCo7QpxlE9fHknJdaqHqKdTRlXCDG_Ty7m54ecWNWxFHsau__xQo-W3eWlkSTrELdQ9m1lE5CX6_VV2aDLQwieBRg9QoKOc9Wxi51t7aTDe-RdycyI6mGv2SoOYjeu66oGpNfXbRI/s400/cablecar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312833303762658" border="0" /></a><br />The view was stunning. In every direction.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1nVvZqXJQAvyTBWkZEirtxHzX-edo_xsD-ZSF5K_AkD_YQmhmhRlZC409r8yfj-EPvnJNyjfJhB8bTFpX7tdu1OpODSualqP4jNUiA-aIG8bZcGRJhNDnyNOOxoWkTMkcp1WtbNyOUo/s1600/floor.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1nVvZqXJQAvyTBWkZEirtxHzX-edo_xsD-ZSF5K_AkD_YQmhmhRlZC409r8yfj-EPvnJNyjfJhB8bTFpX7tdu1OpODSualqP4jNUiA-aIG8bZcGRJhNDnyNOOxoWkTMkcp1WtbNyOUo/s400/floor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482313414900228018" border="0" /></a><br />Down below we could see the conical hats of fishermen and fisherwomen working on the shore. Were they clamming? Were they crabbing? It was a hot and humid day, and we fanned ourselves as we glided over their toil.<br /><br />Eventually the Buddha came into view. Can you see it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT0nCFEoUmEtv2lGd64pbhylNklChu7LUJSXP-Ye0p9UBWjk8KUdx4J-kVRiyi-uhf0ppx6qDBosphAvKYXP7QG2yyyaWD1E-H46szXoVTCcLOejMEbTdA4IbzwZS6DG8oHEIBUrvX_A/s1600/distance.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFT0nCFEoUmEtv2lGd64pbhylNklChu7LUJSXP-Ye0p9UBWjk8KUdx4J-kVRiyi-uhf0ppx6qDBosphAvKYXP7QG2yyyaWD1E-H46szXoVTCcLOejMEbTdA4IbzwZS6DG8oHEIBUrvX_A/s400/distance.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312842817062178" border="0" /></a><br />There he was, residing over one of the many verdant hills of Lantau Island. The low clouds looked like incense.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO6SAJ-qSn1xVQcpkIqGMBjsxr6Wt7j0YMO-3rFQbvtYqA0_T7uiBZ_Vy7BM7x9BMZr2nPnfGMbIBobpP93XjldqvkdnRnaW7akNG_Zb6Qc52x5NM8114aV_xfB1croES6ejtWyP4rk8/s1600/residing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO6SAJ-qSn1xVQcpkIqGMBjsxr6Wt7j0YMO-3rFQbvtYqA0_T7uiBZ_Vy7BM7x9BMZr2nPnfGMbIBobpP93XjldqvkdnRnaW7akNG_Zb6Qc52x5NM8114aV_xfB1croES6ejtWyP4rk8/s400/residing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482317971309027186" border="0" /></a><br />To get to the Buddha, you must first pass through a commercial "village" that is packed with gelato shops and restaurants and gift shops and Starbucks.<br /><br />There is even an interactive ride/show where you can pay to get closer to the Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJZx8aFSC-nEVwd6twGjLJa3pjYWuIKC794tPBjRhCpnJqETya48QezL0lMu3LKID4Y9wyuE_jKWRFNHmadMUMCth2N7hU5LPw1I26RJXZy56lkEOt8y5GbtkpwA7gBPQLQmVtVAJXHI/s1600/nowshowing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJZx8aFSC-nEVwd6twGjLJa3pjYWuIKC794tPBjRhCpnJqETya48QezL0lMu3LKID4Y9wyuE_jKWRFNHmadMUMCth2N7hU5LPw1I26RJXZy56lkEOt8y5GbtkpwA7gBPQLQmVtVAJXHI/s400/nowshowing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482315726735410882" border="0" /></a><br />It gets worse. There is a fake tree called the Bodhi Wishing Tree, and you can write down a wish and place it there. Which sounds ok, until you read that to get the tag you must spend HK$150 at the gift shop.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfiCcmXq23OS4yf23I1wMnRlgKgS5MCZ4Y3pWjoUJPX56B-5QdoMcfAZfKEXKq9MyMfFScIbAvF2joIr1zf2Ihyt0qK2Lan-wWpfVMAgwe3Z7LZr7QPAmOF_2wRhs1q2WqoBHUn5NS3k/s1600/tree.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfiCcmXq23OS4yf23I1wMnRlgKgS5MCZ4Y3pWjoUJPX56B-5QdoMcfAZfKEXKq9MyMfFScIbAvF2joIr1zf2Ihyt0qK2Lan-wWpfVMAgwe3Z7LZr7QPAmOF_2wRhs1q2WqoBHUn5NS3k/s400/tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482315746568318562" border="0" /></a><br />I would love to know what the monks at the Po Lin Monastery think of all this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P2_9H1nfqB_C1moEC1T3MW9ARDSZymGZ8VPv15C9SHITn2YzJu1tjjuz0Bz3dCOUBjlPKNZ07clUxQjdlZTs9JHzfBR_neBCvYBTtxTyiUCHmIMZqF4HgeDjxl7qKVAGsW_XS9-YFww/s1600/posing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P2_9H1nfqB_C1moEC1T3MW9ARDSZymGZ8VPv15C9SHITn2YzJu1tjjuz0Bz3dCOUBjlPKNZ07clUxQjdlZTs9JHzfBR_neBCvYBTtxTyiUCHmIMZqF4HgeDjxl7qKVAGsW_XS9-YFww/s400/posing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482317964445574498" border="0" /></a><br />But once you get past the commercial strip, you arrive at the base of the Buddha, and as yet there are no air-conditioned escalators to whisk you to the top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpEnhaYFyrduBAqCIfTAhnv2wPw28vAXTlROpISrarkmsmRwhChGvvja6Vq-Q5NGyStXrDMN3VwJrzgZp-BDOjFKktthjv4Wj1Lgc95703ssbhzQt-iFkcB94W13m6Ly81Qo6ua3WRVE/s1600/longwalk.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpEnhaYFyrduBAqCIfTAhnv2wPw28vAXTlROpISrarkmsmRwhChGvvja6Vq-Q5NGyStXrDMN3VwJrzgZp-BDOjFKktthjv4Wj1Lgc95703ssbhzQt-iFkcB94W13m6Ly81Qo6ua3WRVE/s400/longwalk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482317297264990386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8gfvNHcW4ypzBlh7hZn6TaZnEd4wR9xWE610dhlpGniHvu-yZDrj05qDdNG3z3ag_tgXmZ_9Llw_GrxpcZlpWCTU5XYi7k5WtTxaBoBdjddBB59mxWMolCp0XyJnqS1K_2LhVc4US6g/s1600/halfway.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8gfvNHcW4ypzBlh7hZn6TaZnEd4wR9xWE610dhlpGniHvu-yZDrj05qDdNG3z3ag_tgXmZ_9Llw_GrxpcZlpWCTU5XYi7k5WtTxaBoBdjddBB59mxWMolCp0XyJnqS1K_2LhVc4US6g/s400/halfway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482316432811152306" border="0" /></a><br />It's not such a long walk after all, and at the top there's a cool breeze to reward you for your efforts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaXqTbyilXxYGB9WZRW6koMzomZZyai-kwtt-tkf1bVAABaGQn_aW02XmD2264pSrCETsjLSKVSHYtCAS09ampDFQh-tNwIifesUCcUbSI9CJ7x3LG5fpJBHGnOA8uOxhznjju-f50hE/s1600/alleyes.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaXqTbyilXxYGB9WZRW6koMzomZZyai-kwtt-tkf1bVAABaGQn_aW02XmD2264pSrCETsjLSKVSHYtCAS09ampDFQh-tNwIifesUCcUbSI9CJ7x3LG5fpJBHGnOA8uOxhznjju-f50hE/s400/alleyes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312136307732514" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone wants to get their picture taken with the Buddha.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nExwbH0I6sU7DJb2BoBIF17pkp7xOFpVg12q6ZmCpZWtTSMmOOP1hZAmTSHbqSQJDxEEXi52F-a3yWwryweROfn7gMUN04FoBDm_k25HTCLfAgYWcFy-WCgVs1kNhizcD95JWn9n7bc/s1600/monks.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nExwbH0I6sU7DJb2BoBIF17pkp7xOFpVg12q6ZmCpZWtTSMmOOP1hZAmTSHbqSQJDxEEXi52F-a3yWwryweROfn7gMUN04FoBDm_k25HTCLfAgYWcFy-WCgVs1kNhizcD95JWn9n7bc/s400/monks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482315766705482866" border="0" /></a><br />Wouldn't you?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gSbi-_C3KStUR4KfZy_dOqtsj55XyDSxWKxg9VEc5E6w-tBRL9XqxFDPs_bQeECgREDAu_o9vdBRZKpbhaW6vsWWf4C3AD1gSO5kVBE204gouaKFjcSUPK2gP7NAMIh3KrhM498m4R0/s1600/lookingup.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gSbi-_C3KStUR4KfZy_dOqtsj55XyDSxWKxg9VEc5E6w-tBRL9XqxFDPs_bQeECgREDAu_o9vdBRZKpbhaW6vsWWf4C3AD1gSO5kVBE204gouaKFjcSUPK2gP7NAMIh3KrhM498m4R0/s400/lookingup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482317306906673794" border="0" /></a><br />Afterwards we went to the Po Lin Monastery, where the monks are very used to the presence of outsiders.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdgc-M7uBT9ZOscrB8rUAPB9VlM83zPkKmJ72kwMZ2Wk-_gsxJUr2IFpLUtDn7U7KCEawwIUH6pm_ke8IX1uFdVcjyA3HETsbjWp2tZBDseSNbnAjIgQpXrjVGQyQKemLMdXi4E-mox4/s1600/monastery.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdgc-M7uBT9ZOscrB8rUAPB9VlM83zPkKmJ72kwMZ2Wk-_gsxJUr2IFpLUtDn7U7KCEawwIUH6pm_ke8IX1uFdVcjyA3HETsbjWp2tZBDseSNbnAjIgQpXrjVGQyQKemLMdXi4E-mox4/s400/monastery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482317977187758466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqkcXtjEJC2mM5caVTSU9aeCc6VaX1h8XmxCqup578pgUipbVMOTnnchJwmy_pALRz-7UNycACyVoYFOnJh3pzc1NoyzO9aP-lwJ_yFst9TdJFjMi8wD0YBxb4nHibuU_34UVwu0ODaI/s1600/doors.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqkcXtjEJC2mM5caVTSU9aeCc6VaX1h8XmxCqup578pgUipbVMOTnnchJwmy_pALRz-7UNycACyVoYFOnJh3pzc1NoyzO9aP-lwJ_yFst9TdJFjMi8wD0YBxb4nHibuU_34UVwu0ODaI/s400/doors.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312851078681138" border="0" /></a><br />They served a basic vegetarian meal that happened to include one of my all-time favorite dishes: baby bok choi and mushrooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ReGVcAOUrNVqTiHb3T2GLO2mKGbifC4ckLs1DmUiSPdCGszxACFU5oPTygaD0Vg3kH73k0mWFiSxvZlFtXSadIocx7krk0iECP7Y_cbLE1tj6F0K3W8X1qvebsTz5eYN9X-4ScB4c5M/s1600/bokchoi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ReGVcAOUrNVqTiHb3T2GLO2mKGbifC4ckLs1DmUiSPdCGszxACFU5oPTygaD0Vg3kH73k0mWFiSxvZlFtXSadIocx7krk0iECP7Y_cbLE1tj6F0K3W8X1qvebsTz5eYN9X-4ScB4c5M/s400/bokchoi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312826581342626" border="0" /></a><br />They also served up some wisdom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pWxq5VOrc9gYulFPIPvW2K3drXaxDv-fcUGz5ze3NQICrtu_Rfao36-6cpQpAy7mg4C1iAQ1dktkN0javAAgAecDkn8jLhi3O2r0cSu6x9mDqUN1ogsrh4QMMFGinMkR5Y7wJAFzihA/s1600/wisdom.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pWxq5VOrc9gYulFPIPvW2K3drXaxDv-fcUGz5ze3NQICrtu_Rfao36-6cpQpAy7mg4C1iAQ1dktkN0javAAgAecDkn8jLhi3O2r0cSu6x9mDqUN1ogsrh4QMMFGinMkR5Y7wJAFzihA/s400/wisdom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482315787804667906" border="0" /></a><br />After the meal we sat in the courtyard, listening to their chanting and watching the many birds and enormous black butterflies flit around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sUYEkg8AP5LCTDfbut5rIOA5tEvks7ExlW96JLGb9zduYY9GAVGG4r6Gk84Kumj_1QtnA7xL0cNQPonIayCtkUICfHAR_qXC1UEhYe87jWWqPOJc8XDZu22sLjWOP63326_IFc-2zdk/s1600/courtyard.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sUYEkg8AP5LCTDfbut5rIOA5tEvks7ExlW96JLGb9zduYY9GAVGG4r6Gk84Kumj_1QtnA7xL0cNQPonIayCtkUICfHAR_qXC1UEhYe87jWWqPOJc8XDZu22sLjWOP63326_IFc-2zdk/s400/courtyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482312837807486626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4Tp3iWNYEzRPxgw99ZBGvAiueOnMKH7CqaM8KV9FUCeBOUaC688-8wMx_mgPWi71NHuKk7FyBBHWsDaYe9BaBdr6ADna5T_DyVqQfTnHMIO2TsYP1KCO4PDM9sKe_Knq4meNFCGVkeE/s1600/flowers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4Tp3iWNYEzRPxgw99ZBGvAiueOnMKH7CqaM8KV9FUCeBOUaC688-8wMx_mgPWi71NHuKk7FyBBHWsDaYe9BaBdr6ADna5T_DyVqQfTnHMIO2TsYP1KCO4PDM9sKe_Knq4meNFCGVkeE/s400/flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482313966059465362" border="0" /></a><br />Filled up on peace, it was time to head back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9k2NOL0shnAXH2mk-dStMLE3MTudL5GByfwhdgo8v4wefPe3_oJbyMjiyVHZd4W1a_21Ivwqaoc2qjdIxFGfHKIhyphenhyphenVDPCJJF5Edatv6idBOv9wEifkdNNM_qZ5kqfOhjcdWuw1NeAFs/s1600/tranquil.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9k2NOL0shnAXH2mk-dStMLE3MTudL5GByfwhdgo8v4wefPe3_oJbyMjiyVHZd4W1a_21Ivwqaoc2qjdIxFGfHKIhyphenhyphenVDPCJJF5Edatv6idBOv9wEifkdNNM_qZ5kqfOhjcdWuw1NeAFs/s400/tranquil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482315774015454002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWrMfuZdIqq3x0rrzPioX2yAQbXfJvN8KuDgHyQrLQE3_qwtQ_sxwFn1SBY5f0w6pZ4S-78YHO0Fz0DOWYFPss0mWV_EoH0BITMXOW9NnyBik78sxv4WCo54vYfnq2jIB40Efp9xHkYc/s1600/hello.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWrMfuZdIqq3x0rrzPioX2yAQbXfJvN8KuDgHyQrLQE3_qwtQ_sxwFn1SBY5f0w6pZ4S-78YHO0Fz0DOWYFPss0mWV_EoH0BITMXOW9NnyBik78sxv4WCo54vYfnq2jIB40Efp9xHkYc/s400/hello.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482316426498358482" border="0" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-89720194453342548332010-06-10T05:40:00.021-04:002010-06-13T13:19:56.720-04:00Can You Name the Third Largest City in China?<span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5_9Jn63fw-3HBK-a5QeD_dGzlEmD0EYyXiQHEUapMZU7JiWL4IfxNsd28FxxNV0H2ZJ0Yt7gzDybS-2KeARUFrtdeG0AFDby3AxLYaErgKJbKs0ti5j_hl4UcWpy4a7Kx0dF_p6gp-I/s1600/shenzhen19.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481327200328580946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5_9Jn63fw-3HBK-a5QeD_dGzlEmD0EYyXiQHEUapMZU7JiWL4IfxNsd28FxxNV0H2ZJ0Yt7gzDybS-2KeARUFrtdeG0AFDby3AxLYaErgKJbKs0ti5j_hl4UcWpy4a7Kx0dF_p6gp-I/s400/shenzhen19.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
Shenzhen, China, population 14 million, is one of the largest cities you've probably never heard of. But the electronic goods you are no doubt surrounded by--and perhaps are using to read this very post--most likely were created and assembled here. Motorola, Sony, Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia . . . the list goes on and on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWUo0q7w1lhMb-BHhggwBgsKGfhwCYogmStVndvguvN2oUCWtoxI7dRd-beoe0d3onNZkN9gkZX3vEaJJl2C17llTNmlpeYJjIn_nZmRT7CxI8Ayl9KEiF5AzcGdUpxTrsuVbgbwqVbM/s1600/workers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481560134710190226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWUo0q7w1lhMb-BHhggwBgsKGfhwCYogmStVndvguvN2oUCWtoxI7dRd-beoe0d3onNZkN9gkZX3vEaJJl2C17llTNmlpeYJjIn_nZmRT7CxI8Ayl9KEiF5AzcGdUpxTrsuVbgbwqVbM/s400/workers.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">It's amazing that so few of us westerners have been here or even heard of it, especially considering it's next door to the much-visited Hong Kong. In fact, you can literally take the subway right up to the border, hop off and walk through border control, then hop on the other city's subway on the other side.<br />
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But aside from business folk, you don't see too many people doing that. And the portal between the two cities can feel like a passage to another world.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqQ67sAQ6ZaC00sodoEsAUNJcWSliGji_L8r4zc1ubmu5rgm_0XF9_4jKYcoAFp7oJ49BAePx2idMlLx048UpMm7iSGSOjPk_bJAH6DqHEvIkRz2o-uHxII0IA0548x29CM62avPPsCs/s1600/border.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481558186960335266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqQ67sAQ6ZaC00sodoEsAUNJcWSliGji_L8r4zc1ubmu5rgm_0XF9_4jKYcoAFp7oJ49BAePx2idMlLx048UpMm7iSGSOjPk_bJAH6DqHEvIkRz2o-uHxII0IA0548x29CM62avPPsCs/s400/border.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
It's a city of the young. As soon as kids are old enough to leave their village, the brightest and most ambitious, most entrepreneurial, flock here to try and make a new life for themselves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29iecwHm2k-QrdnIfYSSXFIryoypns2T6A4DBTM7OoslsKoUq-l90TC8tQrM73laisRxD4ZTMJjFd4Rf-Iu7ISwUpMcw8ZLq7PsqCNUBthBSDKZ6jDI7KusC4HJgfLHE4Ku5qMb_fz4I/s1600/shenzhen04.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481325011437970386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29iecwHm2k-QrdnIfYSSXFIryoypns2T6A4DBTM7OoslsKoUq-l90TC8tQrM73laisRxD4ZTMJjFd4Rf-Iu7ISwUpMcw8ZLq7PsqCNUBthBSDKZ6jDI7KusC4HJgfLHE4Ku5qMb_fz4I/s400/shenzhen04.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><br />
As one person told me, "Shenzhen is where you go to become whoever it is you want to be."<br />
<br />
</kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv2eIsdOcAKQELtbseII9DwBtdMl55bMLYt8lvdqxcuTRAjZK_dLjuNQqjLaihj3ozmoIwXZLDzsNDzRF9efHXru9NFxjSd7ElWzFeZLJClUTmq1jEzgKTSfwW_oFWd3spyekyjbTkTo/s1600/shenzhen01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481324998871652642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv2eIsdOcAKQELtbseII9DwBtdMl55bMLYt8lvdqxcuTRAjZK_dLjuNQqjLaihj3ozmoIwXZLDzsNDzRF9efHXru9NFxjSd7ElWzFeZLJClUTmq1jEzgKTSfwW_oFWd3spyekyjbTkTo/s400/shenzhen01.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><br />
It's part of a Special Economic Zone established by Deng Xiaoping in 1979, as part of the larger "Reform and Opening" initiative. Really, it's capitalism meets communism, and that makes for a wicked, fascinating, hopeful, and often heartbreaking combination.<br />
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</eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBmYkH3wcGQITBZK4VOtHoVYHlM9QmY08u9-OmZYRL0QrelfD9jkP_R3NM754rdFpdgz8huSLmYql5-hRlT42WTf_IUG9CHI3vzCyfoXX66nOhWn5FV-PktGqZIsYJgcqgdLUlc0qbjg/s1600/shenzhen16.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481325032475839154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBmYkH3wcGQITBZK4VOtHoVYHlM9QmY08u9-OmZYRL0QrelfD9jkP_R3NM754rdFpdgz8huSLmYql5-hRlT42WTf_IUG9CHI3vzCyfoXX66nOhWn5FV-PktGqZIsYJgcqgdLUlc0qbjg/s400/shenzhen16.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 295px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo="">It's a tale of two cities.<br />
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</deng></eric></kids>The interior, where we stayed, is bright and modern, with an ultra-sleek subway system, networks of high-end malls, and Starbucks, KFCs, 7-11s and McDonalds spreading everywhere ("like germs," said one local resident).<br />
<kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><br />
</deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJaNPoexGIx8T36cbVVi6czl9vK_lNx8nBZziYglhtfBnS1ExFqNnmu6LdN8qSyr9XtGaRN4YFbLkjfrSoT5o64PvdJLiZeMH2HVbIB_x_tB6Ew2fKmXq57Ur5i7l2T6YUHpiRfLeBHU/s1600/mall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481558189014471394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJaNPoexGIx8T36cbVVi6czl9vK_lNx8nBZziYglhtfBnS1ExFqNnmu6LdN8qSyr9XtGaRN4YFbLkjfrSoT5o64PvdJLiZeMH2HVbIB_x_tB6Ew2fKmXq57Ur5i7l2T6YUHpiRfLeBHU/s400/mall.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
High-rises are going up--and old ones coming down--everywhere you turn. And in Shenzhen, "old" means more than five years. Consider that in 1979, this place was little more than a fishing village. 30 years and 14 million people later, it feels like everything and everyone was made just yesterday. That's probably because they were. At 32, I'm not just older than this city, I'm also older than most of the people who live here and run this place.<br />
<kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><br />
</mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwivF9iraD16AZgMK82bXQ2cHlz8qM7BKYJcMlGk_TB70jRhqRU2HjwgJRITEIoegbTtcu6cttrOGeNJV4Uc35WYxc4vUHwseMV948HdC3Hpqdx8Zm4uX_vdFCchBJcdoBZcMCdDpCREo/s1600/shenzhen03.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481326115470534610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwivF9iraD16AZgMK82bXQ2cHlz8qM7BKYJcMlGk_TB70jRhqRU2HjwgJRITEIoegbTtcu6cttrOGeNJV4Uc35WYxc4vUHwseMV948HdC3Hpqdx8Zm4uX_vdFCchBJcdoBZcMCdDpCREo/s400/shenzhen03.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
In between all those high-rises it's still China. Fortune tellers dot the sidewalk beside the metro. Old grandmas pull wooden carts loaded with rice and drinking water. Babies wear split britches rather than diapers and are held over bushes when they need to pee. Police officers are everywhere, usually on bikes with flashing red and blue lights.<kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><photo mug="" of="" shenzhen=""><br />
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</photo></mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYPfxj4nMvR0lEy0K6QQfF_Tyr6MlKmFoBuU8GQ-kHWCHeZy6X72ofBclwPPOMuNsbLuq9K6vJQ3n6MZiDeTmK4rWb6pJK6fOdQq5c7DqkN2oZSnEscSAvvAxQnUgNiYkWoo01wtwfM/s1600/shenzhen13.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481326133625492562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WYPfxj4nMvR0lEy0K6QQfF_Tyr6MlKmFoBuU8GQ-kHWCHeZy6X72ofBclwPPOMuNsbLuq9K6vJQ3n6MZiDeTmK4rWb6pJK6fOdQq5c7DqkN2oZSnEscSAvvAxQnUgNiYkWoo01wtwfM/s400/shenzhen13.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwivF9iraD16AZgMK82bXQ2cHlz8qM7BKYJcMlGk_TB70jRhqRU2HjwgJRITEIoegbTtcu6cttrOGeNJV4Uc35WYxc4vUHwseMV948HdC3Hpqdx8Zm4uX_vdFCchBJcdoBZcMCdDpCREo/s1600/shenzhen03.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</a><kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><photo mug="" of="" shenzhen=""><pic new="" next="" of="" old="" pic="" shenzhen="" to="">When Mike and I walk along the side streets, we are the only white faces, even here in the city center. Folks are not shy about staring. One group of school boys called out "hello," and when we said "hello" back they collapsed into giggles.<br />
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</pic></photo></mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA5o45TjhgK_XQPQIYb9wmT9vs3esRMpwtPb0vy7j6IBWtAcoKvl_0Vo1sm99iN3AJthcRVnolpi33UvsqMqDY07jPHhfOx4in5Q4zj8vMrriDdWrip2Tf5_5HcDv_veZwf6eebDdd28/s1600/shenzhen05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481569325476253474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA5o45TjhgK_XQPQIYb9wmT9vs3esRMpwtPb0vy7j6IBWtAcoKvl_0Vo1sm99iN3AJthcRVnolpi33UvsqMqDY07jPHhfOx4in5Q4zj8vMrriDdWrip2Tf5_5HcDv_veZwf6eebDdd28/s400/shenzhen05.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><photo mug="" of="" shenzhen=""><pic new="" next="" of="" old="" pic="" shenzhen="" to=""><wal-mart seller=""><br />
To live or work in inner Shenzhen, you need special papers. There is a wall that separates inner Shenzhen from outer Shenzhen, which is where all the factories are, and there are a series of checkpoints that locals tell us are becoming less and less strictly enforced. Whenever we drove through them we saw police officers with big machine guns, but were never stopped or saw others being stopped.<br />
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</wal-mart></pic></photo></mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17LqXQw7bf7zvno75XMEiX5406Y0VFHhjznHz5jAELflScqMsJgea1QveAeN7ltYQB0zJr_FXUVgnBTtDrpHrzhA5ZbHLSOO-uLfDaCTmiGR2qILI9Qq8KQKBf2_U0NNlSTY0UMAfcOM/s1600/shenzhen14.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481326141770087810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17LqXQw7bf7zvno75XMEiX5406Y0VFHhjznHz5jAELflScqMsJgea1QveAeN7ltYQB0zJr_FXUVgnBTtDrpHrzhA5ZbHLSOO-uLfDaCTmiGR2qILI9Qq8KQKBf2_U0NNlSTY0UMAfcOM/s400/shenzhen14.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><photo mug="" of="" shenzhen=""><pic new="" next="" of="" old="" pic="" shenzhen="" to=""><wal-mart seller=""><border>Once you pass through to the other side, the construction of roads and building escalates to an unimaginable frenzy. It feels like it's going so fast, there might even be workers five feet ahead of you laying the very cement you'll be driving on.<br />
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</border></wal-mart></pic></photo></mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfEDRpO3lFByNOJhAQ9NAcygZRnHfASmIy2qYvtUiqpc8b6MQTP3jzSkm-utJf1cv5DRThWLIDBcDihlQV2I_MCJKwwgoabSGulMdvpoGe0jSbqu3XEY6MyF7oxFVIXBgF1WPDo4g884/s1600/construction.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481560132248176722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfEDRpO3lFByNOJhAQ9NAcygZRnHfASmIy2qYvtUiqpc8b6MQTP3jzSkm-utJf1cv5DRThWLIDBcDihlQV2I_MCJKwwgoabSGulMdvpoGe0jSbqu3XEY6MyF7oxFVIXBgF1WPDo4g884/s400/construction.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><kids for="" lined="" up="" work=""><eric money="" receipt="" with=""><deng photo=""><mall><photo mug="" of="" shenzhen=""><pic new="" next="" of="" old="" pic="" shenzhen="" to=""><wal-mart seller=""><border><construction><br />
It also gets considerably less clean.<br />
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</construction></border></wal-mart></pic></photo></mall></deng></eric></kids><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlY_ouDYq5Nb4WZicyueQYA4gqLBiWk2FbTRzY_zPPeoLFRRqzrdAK5n0X-WPZyb25FcMsUxUCF9I7dFXT3KKxcmGaMv19OhdCVKtg797DlAO6Exwts3gOgXsw5OFBt7jSFRi3s5LqAY/s1600/shenzhen06.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481325049950921410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlY_ouDYq5Nb4WZicyueQYA4gqLBiWk2FbTRzY_zPPeoLFRRqzrdAK5n0X-WPZyb25FcMsUxUCF9I7dFXT3KKxcmGaMv19OhdCVKtg797DlAO6Exwts3gOgXsw5OFBt7jSFRi3s5LqAY/s400/shenzhen06.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">But everyone is working very, very, very hard to build a better life for themselves.<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i5YuXzWVvF-f6EavEgB3v-TkL_28bNltJHu6v04O5KOL8ofm5UgsasbCZzJhi3hXws3-Qnf4RLKZt8IeZpQb9cYICwdPb96LvuoTRLAo5x16DofAygr4og9l8BnZJ_Sr0bd1619DZZ4/s1600/shenzhen02.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481326100634640050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i5YuXzWVvF-f6EavEgB3v-TkL_28bNltJHu6v04O5KOL8ofm5UgsasbCZzJhi3hXws3-Qnf4RLKZt8IeZpQb9cYICwdPb96LvuoTRLAo5x16DofAygr4og9l8BnZJ_Sr0bd1619DZZ4/s400/shenzhen02.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">This obviously bootlegged book was being sold in a stall outside one of the many Wal-Marts in Shenzhen.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWepsn7yoEmLnOtgM00gm683wZRIxCmr1rXqDULA7I9p6qc_6WyEy0wLjPUB9C00yUiLl2oT4TCUyoL5eMxs6cFlonG58SVnO5SAotPAl3UjJUbxaQ50MaLNBH6XGHo5is_AzQzOEa-ek/s1600/shenzhen07.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481325019954630450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWepsn7yoEmLnOtgM00gm683wZRIxCmr1rXqDULA7I9p6qc_6WyEy0wLjPUB9C00yUiLl2oT4TCUyoL5eMxs6cFlonG58SVnO5SAotPAl3UjJUbxaQ50MaLNBH6XGHo5is_AzQzOEa-ek/s400/shenzhen07.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">And if they can't achieve it in their lifetime, then there is always the hope that maybe it will be different for their children.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjis7RAPK3uubazuGp31O9_V32N1ZWDhAcVxSJ62cBQAHiMLa5k76GKaOAmRkj0pumfu59LHNOJ5E4CfrIryJ1OANvBm4XzUiiACAeIjWqKAqK3pxrsbpIgE4SizRnRtAPesYOjC4NjY/s1600/shenzhen12.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481326125370069650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjis7RAPK3uubazuGp31O9_V32N1ZWDhAcVxSJ62cBQAHiMLa5k76GKaOAmRkj0pumfu59LHNOJ5E4CfrIryJ1OANvBm4XzUiiACAeIjWqKAqK3pxrsbpIgE4SizRnRtAPesYOjC4NjY/s400/shenzhen12.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;">Once you go here and meet the people, who are warm and friendly and full of hope, you not only begin to share in that dream--you start to realize the true depth of interconnectivity and responsibility we in the west have to help make those dreams come true.</span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOEUPAKwcCEkH52Lezx0ii5exiXGsBpuaQE2NPT5xg5anWgV2IyGiqIVWaW_4bLRY8EGdYyF5S6f1fFbB0zj5Zd4nsQyQcgpo6IJRC6t-0zJLtolY1if3u6oz-JYQqSmTekV73-jjar8/s1600/shenzhen23.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481327211202500754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOEUPAKwcCEkH52Lezx0ii5exiXGsBpuaQE2NPT5xg5anWgV2IyGiqIVWaW_4bLRY8EGdYyF5S6f1fFbB0zj5Zd4nsQyQcgpo6IJRC6t-0zJLtolY1if3u6oz-JYQqSmTekV73-jjar8/s400/shenzhen23.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwivF9iraD16AZgMK82bXQ2cHlz8qM7BKYJcMlGk_TB70jRhqRU2HjwgJRITEIoegbTtcu6cttrOGeNJV4Uc35WYxc4vUHwseMV948HdC3Hpqdx8Zm4uX_vdFCchBJcdoBZcMCdDpCREo/s1600/shenzhen03.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</a></span>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-26570813840820333012010-06-09T03:05:00.014-04:002010-06-09T13:19:55.511-04:00Dispatch From Foreign Devil in Fragrant Harbor<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCr4TQ0KyjfZIHWuzCVmb0sOzzyk-Mid2kOsNiQQMEE-uCUv3eHrAWzJvNI050JUwH4SpSPenUUI_ObPoskAKz-_JD-EAzdaB4jFJqA9DSX9zAy-hM2ecJfxu5mMjrhxurmmg6t9p3vg/s1600/IMG_1598.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCr4TQ0KyjfZIHWuzCVmb0sOzzyk-Mid2kOsNiQQMEE-uCUv3eHrAWzJvNI050JUwH4SpSPenUUI_ObPoskAKz-_JD-EAzdaB4jFJqA9DSX9zAy-hM2ecJfxu5mMjrhxurmmg6t9p3vg/s400/IMG_1598.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480666670522546306" border="0" /></a><br />Woot! In case the picture didn't give it away, we're in Hong Kong now. Last night we even saw a Kung Fu film in a theater just off the bustling street you see above.<br /><br />We spent most of last week in mainland China (post to follow), and though we found it surprisingly easy to get around despite our complete lack of Mandarin, it's great to be back in Hong Kong, where folks are used to English even if they don't speak it, and nobody stops to stare at me when I'm out on the street.<br /><br />Here are just a few of the things I like in Hong Kong...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Chi Lin Buddhist Nunnery</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRALi68qlUMzOhb1I4dpTx23VHT9cOvWql6lxc78uzBJOCcT_1t9svXNqSWi8jP9Hq-K-KstkcC1R2vxCx-wgInB3yH1135tCdzt8x6fQslyN9KT1a6z-KgxR1m2v-z563DvifJ8fYEU/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRALi68qlUMzOhb1I4dpTx23VHT9cOvWql6lxc78uzBJOCcT_1t9svXNqSWi8jP9Hq-K-KstkcC1R2vxCx-wgInB3yH1135tCdzt8x6fQslyN9KT1a6z-KgxR1m2v-z563DvifJ8fYEU/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480675152442100274" border="0" /></a><br />A lot of the pictures you'll see of it online crop out the high-rises that surround it, but to me the fact that this sacred place is in the middle of Hong Kong's hustle and bustle is exactly what makes it so great. And you can tell that the gardeners are working with the skyline rather than trying to ignore it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_5B8-m2WwJ951UEHQsfoNjceaGeZX6ss6MUC8vBhTcrNlRZIiCibvOsN4WotLFdJLqitVh4HzwlH9xJ5pMRFTRm93C4Kxd5ooCYmQ10LBLKmK1VZL5LWtYf4FXt2xUIVEulLyr7nFN8/s1600/IMG_0409.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_5B8-m2WwJ951UEHQsfoNjceaGeZX6ss6MUC8vBhTcrNlRZIiCibvOsN4WotLFdJLqitVh4HzwlH9xJ5pMRFTRm93C4Kxd5ooCYmQ10LBLKmK1VZL5LWtYf4FXt2xUIVEulLyr7nFN8/s400/IMG_0409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480676751698770898" border="0" /></a><br />Apparently it's the world's largest structure created entirely without nails. The above, of course, is a picture of the garden, because taking photos in the interior is forbidden. But I can tell you it's a very welcoming and serene place, with its ornate woodwork and its many golden Buddhas and bodhisattvas, and the sound of a young nun singing reminded me of when we were visiting a museum in Istanbul that was said to contain some of Islam's sacred relics. As we walked through the exhibit, the whole thing was underscored by an imam we couldn't see who stood on the other side of a wall and continually sang the Koran. It was lovely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUpewiufygegiZwRKJtL9NZFqiBRWf_KOqgoVMPWoNBEsg8DvPlz17tk_pPmG1PBoSESa_oVFSJefTTjhdh5xgZNdspRrMm_LUrv1nkZl7htR0giZM7lSh4dyljrot2dTIXvb_gYpNTo/s1600/hk06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUpewiufygegiZwRKJtL9NZFqiBRWf_KOqgoVMPWoNBEsg8DvPlz17tk_pPmG1PBoSESa_oVFSJefTTjhdh5xgZNdspRrMm_LUrv1nkZl7htR0giZM7lSh4dyljrot2dTIXvb_gYpNTo/s400/hk06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480667686503780066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Subway System</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIR7hC3En1eUepHiQgUcf_HtJGHd95yHvt-UKzhUJ8tkq0Bw9FaQmKUzhyphenhyphen5D7o2Fy1OItJft_kc1cY47iOc9C3WgQuzLxsCEsXLW7-YPImE06DFHlW4a155UNb4u0FMoyhDdpj1K62wsc/s1600/hk07.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIR7hC3En1eUepHiQgUcf_HtJGHd95yHvt-UKzhUJ8tkq0Bw9FaQmKUzhyphenhyphen5D7o2Fy1OItJft_kc1cY47iOc9C3WgQuzLxsCEsXLW7-YPImE06DFHlW4a155UNb4u0FMoyhDdpj1K62wsc/s400/hk07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480677807182598082" border="0" /></a><br />Both here and in mainland China, the subway systems are extraordinarily fast and efficient, even for English speakers like us. It makes me feel simultaneously embarrassed and sorry for everyone who comes to New York and expects we'll offer something similar. Instead we give them enormous rats and constant service interruptions and announcements that even the natives can't understand. Sigh.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bamboo</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKflwEVrVE9U5X1P5gK66NAuYgZj2kIBBA_3l-acxqVYhq5W7N2RyPHRlO8Nx42cSHRwwxWfrCmHP8Buf7Px8ZGEbfHVQmJ3zrPGpHxGeqG9RvrzZWvtsT-dcwaVR_KAqy8TsikHnBR0/s1600/hk10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKflwEVrVE9U5X1P5gK66NAuYgZj2kIBBA_3l-acxqVYhq5W7N2RyPHRlO8Nx42cSHRwwxWfrCmHP8Buf7Px8ZGEbfHVQmJ3zrPGpHxGeqG9RvrzZWvtsT-dcwaVR_KAqy8TsikHnBR0/s400/hk10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480678602440570354" border="0" /></a><br />It's used instead of metal poles for scaffolding everywhere, even on the fanciest building projects. Which makes sense, since it's lightweight yet incredibly strong, and readily available. Hell, bamboo is so versatile it can be made into paper, into clothing...it can even be eaten. What a useful plant!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Night Markets</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThfB37kTGKCxvcKRdSZlL7tuWIZMsObcu6eXc2ZOGu5NaKhptbHUN-dqI6arBUDDnM36FkgfjcmnckPJhm5VfVvROzlmife0ppFh-Vr7gPQIx_h2BwotuTb__bn3vZBJHqc1jqd42RTE/s1600/hk14.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiThfB37kTGKCxvcKRdSZlL7tuWIZMsObcu6eXc2ZOGu5NaKhptbHUN-dqI6arBUDDnM36FkgfjcmnckPJhm5VfVvROzlmife0ppFh-Vr7gPQIx_h2BwotuTb__bn3vZBJHqc1jqd42RTE/s400/hk14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480679424925763810" border="0" /></a><br />China really does nighttime well. Everything and everyone comes alive, and there's a market to match whatever mood you're in. Electronics, lingerie, luggage, teacups, jewelry, Mao-morabilia...<br /><br />Of course, we're on the road for months, so we are both strongly disinclined to buy even the smallest of souvenirs. But we can take pictures!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakSvoMnoqWGJ9jN4WtIyTwgjNMPaTiGJW5asYwMmrq4oTG18-a05bKuzQkjAzWhLHb2Gz2erm5Sk6GMWoDyBgw8p-SwbgPb7cv2ebCZgJoGPcxNNCv2De6oTv6a_lMoEePsp7Uvm9ZZ8/s1600/hk04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakSvoMnoqWGJ9jN4WtIyTwgjNMPaTiGJW5asYwMmrq4oTG18-a05bKuzQkjAzWhLHb2Gz2erm5Sk6GMWoDyBgw8p-SwbgPb7cv2ebCZgJoGPcxNNCv2De6oTv6a_lMoEePsp7Uvm9ZZ8/s400/hk04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480682834246629634" border="0" /></a><br />(This is Mike's new nickname.)<br /><br />And we can eat!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKfzYyNIkHlegDgHJy4T7Jo6I3cWLf3CQOOhHcHb_09Kq94FzvxgFzj3qMdSasROelUphN68rG68a2OqL5YDsA0Lz7ud4xgjYFXsDt_a8FXbwVN5pH14S8nCzEyVsCGc1OZ81VGcpmt0/s1600/hk15.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKfzYyNIkHlegDgHJy4T7Jo6I3cWLf3CQOOhHcHb_09Kq94FzvxgFzj3qMdSasROelUphN68rG68a2OqL5YDsA0Lz7ud4xgjYFXsDt_a8FXbwVN5pH14S8nCzEyVsCGc1OZ81VGcpmt0/s400/hk15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480679438884316530" border="0" /></a><br />Here we are at the Temple Night Market, and that's one of the many "Beer Girls" in the background wearing the red and white stripes. She tried to get us to buy her company's brand (San Miguel) and was very disappointed when we went with Tsing Tao instead.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Star Ferry</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1s5CZdQgfSLRneTrxG9y58Bu_u47oC0bFA5GIy3HBmVbJC8GnsBc163fZqxElaWOsDrVrsUaHoEe4jRQhd5TNP-ttVD6E8JrN33_jwQD3sf95iULSmnD5UKRjGD0Mom6EsujuXmYeaxE/s1600/hk12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1s5CZdQgfSLRneTrxG9y58Bu_u47oC0bFA5GIy3HBmVbJC8GnsBc163fZqxElaWOsDrVrsUaHoEe4jRQhd5TNP-ttVD6E8JrN33_jwQD3sf95iULSmnD5UKRjGD0Mom6EsujuXmYeaxE/s400/hk12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480682845652824498" border="0" /></a><br />It connects Hong Kong island with Kowloon (which is where we're staying) and is a romantic, swift, and cheap way to make the crossing.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our Hotel</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPG6NShLkkOCJUNzzArWr_fUM-yIJk_nVyFozPUe1fSxyOzhlTK5t8MZmxyXwaBdBVWMJKEt2YXwzo9a1hszoQJrBOCaXZrQo_sY-U9gVdlI6BWTFTAaYK59Odwj_-GqbaX1xW6GB9SeM/s1600/hk09.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPG6NShLkkOCJUNzzArWr_fUM-yIJk_nVyFozPUe1fSxyOzhlTK5t8MZmxyXwaBdBVWMJKEt2YXwzo9a1hszoQJrBOCaXZrQo_sY-U9gVdlI6BWTFTAaYK59Odwj_-GqbaX1xW6GB9SeM/s400/hk09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480682863968623554" border="0" /></a><br />This place is ridiculously comfortable, the rooms stunningly designed, and there's a pool with glowing and twinkling lights that cycle through overhead while you're floating on your back and thinking about how to resist the siren call of room service. Also, a sauna. Also, a steam room. Also, a shower with one setting marked "fresh" and one marked "fun" that uses six different shower heads and many lights and varying textures and temperatures of water to give you experiences that are, indeed, both fresh and fun.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-70909018004557554762010-05-31T06:54:00.003-04:002010-05-31T07:04:41.103-04:00Pizza Hut in Hong KongCan I interest you in some Chinese pizza?<br /><br />No? You say you'd prefer to eat dim sum and barbecued duck while you're in Hong Kong, because you can always eat pizza when you're back home?<br /><br />Oh no, my friend, check out this photo and think again:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGSjC6XKDugTzo2tpwPw0EHPh6MMoQRTA9Dbebq_3foCfEt5_ktTRxY9EUvyqdfXbLp-KQLygm04BLYCpoegdUJQJivCoA4bLa8DsCeSHbD2ac0HIyPUkstiIpzaqOFfoXP8yyK_53Y8/s1600/pizzatapas1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGSjC6XKDugTzo2tpwPw0EHPh6MMoQRTA9Dbebq_3foCfEt5_ktTRxY9EUvyqdfXbLp-KQLygm04BLYCpoegdUJQJivCoA4bLa8DsCeSHbD2ac0HIyPUkstiIpzaqOFfoXP8yyK_53Y8/s400/pizzatapas1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477386772359528418" border="0" /></a><br />If you're not convinced by the Flamenco-meets-Chinese dancer, perhaps this close-up will lure you in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGoTtBbaj6QjPYWUVpxDpqJA1nb6EHmXUeea262VMaBio3ctBrubesuAqch-daqjP1OonCFdt471p8-bnA7VpfthIAMg08L0LzwzkQizc-nYBCEfgUb06ZjG8Ill55qayjRHN-bM1aOQ/s1600/pizzatapas2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGoTtBbaj6QjPYWUVpxDpqJA1nb6EHmXUeea262VMaBio3ctBrubesuAqch-daqjP1OonCFdt471p8-bnA7VpfthIAMg08L0LzwzkQizc-nYBCEfgUb06ZjG8Ill55qayjRHN-bM1aOQ/s400/pizzatapas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477386780003005186" border="0" /></a><br />Mmm. That's a lot of tentacles on one little pizza.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-23813300234317362092010-05-29T10:59:00.010-04:002010-05-29T12:00:51.920-04:00Aminalz! Aminalz! (Also: Fruitz!)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyYuHWNyV1A90Ry6AiaWSWYNws-KN1hhfp7hEOe9U_wdrpt73lsU4znOKUpyW8xks6k02Rva1dyB8VGh5JPObfkNJipKFqEhKr1S_jGAJbdXsnVUBzO-mZ7aXHTVo-Tnq7rhrlBU-EGs/s1600/final04.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyYuHWNyV1A90Ry6AiaWSWYNws-KN1hhfp7hEOe9U_wdrpt73lsU4znOKUpyW8xks6k02Rva1dyB8VGh5JPObfkNJipKFqEhKr1S_jGAJbdXsnVUBzO-mZ7aXHTVo-Tnq7rhrlBU-EGs/s400/final04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476707450895032290" border="0" /></a><br />I'm itching to tell you about Hong Kong, but first I want to share some photos from our final day in Sydney. Because that was the day we went to the Taronga Zoo, and oh my goodness, Australian animals are the best! Isolation is truly the mother of weird and fascinating creatures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbdMrbhaTB3dT-IJ0W_kLRo5WBb0HJCGkmmmim3qy4feGwUxQwTU2d00bKh9lkeTGu51ZN3M-tRHMSHaoYuogPQvYB4w5u_aQDGsnaw0LIvwg6cHpA1Aj9aTNmqJTb8y817PSAfcUqFQ/s1600/final01.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbdMrbhaTB3dT-IJ0W_kLRo5WBb0HJCGkmmmim3qy4feGwUxQwTU2d00bKh9lkeTGu51ZN3M-tRHMSHaoYuogPQvYB4w5u_aQDGsnaw0LIvwg6cHpA1Aj9aTNmqJTb8y817PSAfcUqFQ/s400/final01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476707417158621106" border="0" /></a><br />Like this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna">Spiny Echidna</a>, whose tongue is as long as its body, whose males have four-headed penises, whose females are mammals but lay eggs and then carry their young around in a pouch for the first fifty days or so of life...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZX-XaDv_-zBcN_Z8-mOn3sXLRbsKP7cXpRa1FV0Fv1wKLb0h7JMfH3YW2EDQo26rbkqfuOmZoJWBHIIu5_Bwg9b-Ql-nds4WR0ugxpz5YvHiaXvnHAZdH9sEGtix29t9mqYsByJHXvA/s1600/platypus2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZX-XaDv_-zBcN_Z8-mOn3sXLRbsKP7cXpRa1FV0Fv1wKLb0h7JMfH3YW2EDQo26rbkqfuOmZoJWBHIIu5_Bwg9b-Ql-nds4WR0ugxpz5YvHiaXvnHAZdH9sEGtix29t9mqYsByJHXvA/s400/platypus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476721962817734882" border="0" /></a><br />...and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus">Platypus</a>, which Wikipedia describes pithily as an "egg-laying, venomous, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal." That description left out the part where the platypus uses <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroreception">electroreception</a> to stalk their prey. Like their brothers the echidnae, the platypus's egg-born young are called "puggles," which can only be a good thing in my book.<br /><br />These wonderfully weird creatures so flummoxed European naturalists when they were "discovered" in the late 1700's that folks thought they were a hoax and tried to pry off their bills. Ow.<br /><br />When I was a kid and everyone forced me to answer the question "What's your favorite animal?," my stock answer was the platypus. It was a delight to finally get to see one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHBISsgO_odt9oEoTAmfH_ZW2yEOt7FbpiloD-HK3T14tN-PVFjMRWoSddvhRVgSr8MBbSPVcpa-x_lKGa25U1eTiwmsPcTcc5hW4_hMi8RNyRlRQUIJmULTGXhCI_0yxL2zUgu4KCqc/s1600/final02.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHBISsgO_odt9oEoTAmfH_ZW2yEOt7FbpiloD-HK3T14tN-PVFjMRWoSddvhRVgSr8MBbSPVcpa-x_lKGa25U1eTiwmsPcTcc5hW4_hMi8RNyRlRQUIJmULTGXhCI_0yxL2zUgu4KCqc/s400/final02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476707430606726210" border="0" /></a><br />Of course, the star of the zoo, and needing no introduction, is the remarkable <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala">koala</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM_4_Vf6rRXpdqDCr3o2NQdszzYEaM4_OEcE4itMCSyzZFB73CHedAxTj_-qUPGLtk2lG0Ftd9JGQVqL3iCS76XSVETKQblQyp1TbsIHBwH6hvszeAdgj6jGcS7EwEM3f9NEsOzDpIBM/s1600/final03.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM_4_Vf6rRXpdqDCr3o2NQdszzYEaM4_OEcE4itMCSyzZFB73CHedAxTj_-qUPGLtk2lG0Ftd9JGQVqL3iCS76XSVETKQblQyp1TbsIHBwH6hvszeAdgj6jGcS7EwEM3f9NEsOzDpIBM/s400/final03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476707439492539618" border="0" /></a><br />This guy's name is Irwin, and he seemed to take a particular interest in my husband.<br /><br />We paid extra for a "koala encounter," which is why we're so close in these shots. Getting up close and personal with a koala was terrific, as was having the zoo-keeper nearby to answer all our questions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LuMF6XNiJi5Y8pAM5MKkjFv430rBPE-IZ1h5B4l9E8m-aToKWMK9rRlAcVR5iSWheE__SQNrY8nXJXo0CPzJ108wNbxGBS9iCAL81spQ__tcYuG93K_NV-yz_SbJbBYT0ovoM1xbUjI/s1600/final06.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LuMF6XNiJi5Y8pAM5MKkjFv430rBPE-IZ1h5B4l9E8m-aToKWMK9rRlAcVR5iSWheE__SQNrY8nXJXo0CPzJ108wNbxGBS9iCAL81spQ__tcYuG93K_NV-yz_SbJbBYT0ovoM1xbUjI/s400/final06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476708069559066130" border="0" /></a><br />Despite what that sign says, that's a kangaroo. Her name is Charlotte and her fur is very soft.<br /><br />We also saw plenty of wallabys, one of whom was lying on her side when the white fur on her belly started gyrating like crazy. A zoo-keeper confirmed that she'd recently given birth and was carrying her young in her pouch. They were waiting for the little one to poke its head out, as none of the humans had seen it yet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIoHiZ7ShWNM9ZWCNt-BvymIZEBzwybpeCRanSB7u6yvVYD2PNKsE-grhOoXe6G6ViIcgt5psbVrItmYPea2rj5zxDGrLyQ_-_tqDDtrfOouagmiWtApLG2VF-5fYJcfX5pZm07HjasI/s1600/final05.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIoHiZ7ShWNM9ZWCNt-BvymIZEBzwybpeCRanSB7u6yvVYD2PNKsE-grhOoXe6G6ViIcgt5psbVrItmYPea2rj5zxDGrLyQ_-_tqDDtrfOouagmiWtApLG2VF-5fYJcfX5pZm07HjasI/s400/final05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476707458330082258" border="0" /></a><br />And to round out the Australian collection, an emu! It's not just a Scrabble word!<br /><br />My goodness, that's a big bird...we saw it bullying the young kangaroos into giving up their food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZGvIkdyjyV3iMEb-unRNsH6UUaz9l_CO0m307w8JarcNEInunXOuhhb0-66dCVi-Gv3ZnsQw5J8-IUZGAWkAshyMBC0Ajoq31RX6bI-znlvoEQNy5d0GwyNgV1jQe1zLapE8Oyamyi4/s1600/final10.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZGvIkdyjyV3iMEb-unRNsH6UUaz9l_CO0m307w8JarcNEInunXOuhhb0-66dCVi-Gv3ZnsQw5J8-IUZGAWkAshyMBC0Ajoq31RX6bI-znlvoEQNy5d0GwyNgV1jQe1zLapE8Oyamyi4/s400/final10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476708100551855010" border="0" /></a><br />On the ride home at dusk, we finally saw the famous Sydney bats, thus completing our zoological tour of the continent down under.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P7BwrZS7rZEgWgGjoiVFXEszpr_LK4UQGJMlja8c8jsByLbtzoezCMoGBBpBpEibJDPvq3DA_WRxmUWylTyTUgovxGNug7W_aAXGqUM6ZFVzzQKfBOKMH2utPpUUwW9pDW1CSkKEHtc/s1600/final13.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4P7BwrZS7rZEgWgGjoiVFXEszpr_LK4UQGJMlja8c8jsByLbtzoezCMoGBBpBpEibJDPvq3DA_WRxmUWylTyTUgovxGNug7W_aAXGqUM6ZFVzzQKfBOKMH2utPpUUwW9pDW1CSkKEHtc/s400/final13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476708397821631730" border="0" /></a><br />And then these lovely people had us over to their home for a wonderful meal. Janet (woman farthest to the right) was our production manager at the Opera House, and she and her partner Adrian loaned us their very own table to use in our production!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKxh9sY5W-rPk4PrFTfzcIMA3RdEXryhCu03tGTzU2aI6tydUeg9KAHjbIU8H8rZJPDiSIjqk4PKlN9mgznaPcdjF42RBhCu_nGhacn_8QQYpaH5MJW66csI0W8D5lr9ae55Kh9Gjyus/s1600/final11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKxh9sY5W-rPk4PrFTfzcIMA3RdEXryhCu03tGTzU2aI6tydUeg9KAHjbIU8H8rZJPDiSIjqk4PKlN9mgznaPcdjF42RBhCu_nGhacn_8QQYpaH5MJW66csI0W8D5lr9ae55Kh9Gjyus/s400/final11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476708380185191730" border="0" /></a><br />I forget what this dish is called, but we'd had it the night before in a Chinese restaurant and loved it. Then we had Adrian's version, with finely diced apples and I-can't-remember-what-else, and his version was even better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDEG10fVeaMS_ZDznOMPit-LSjSDZyvsfkQGrafr3uH_ZPx5X8uspnWfpvMY6g0okep8jfbgvlh48czTOL5BjBeI8_hmreztRE9hFhD5kMOqVkyf1U94pPk17kOwgmFuBCSph4yULLDI/s1600/final12.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDEG10fVeaMS_ZDznOMPit-LSjSDZyvsfkQGrafr3uH_ZPx5X8uspnWfpvMY6g0okep8jfbgvlh48czTOL5BjBeI8_hmreztRE9hFhD5kMOqVkyf1U94pPk17kOwgmFuBCSph4yULLDI/s400/final12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476708390825757298" border="0" /></a><br />Dessert was an assortment of exotic fruits. Exotic to *me* at any rate. Of all the fruits pictured above, I'd only ever had one of them. TRAVELMONKEYS readers, I issue you this challenge: How many of these fruits can you name? And how many have you had the pleasure of trying yourself?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbdMrbhaTB3dT-IJ0W_kLRo5WBb0HJCGkmmmim3qy4feGwUxQwTU2d00bKh9lkeTGu51ZN3M-tRHMSHaoYuogPQvYB4w5u_aQDGsnaw0LIvwg6cHpA1Aj9aTNmqJTb8y817PSAfcUqFQ/s1600/final01.jpg"><br /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-73995613010219740902010-05-25T17:09:00.001-04:002010-05-29T10:59:06.545-04:00Sailors Thai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL-6WmvrizWIbOdAOubmzBMQc89MhgfmNhjt17lBG_SG0_dsQi_7Z9lkeAYKhv5G1x2-tWKEKCpy615Ux8RnPTVcXoGZg2YZk0qvLzHIQZir1J0GMsFM_87WsNIQYFkdM9EkWzDRWk_4/s1600/sailors1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnL-6WmvrizWIbOdAOubmzBMQc89MhgfmNhjt17lBG_SG0_dsQi_7Z9lkeAYKhv5G1x2-tWKEKCpy615Ux8RnPTVcXoGZg2YZk0qvLzHIQZir1J0GMsFM_87WsNIQYFkdM9EkWzDRWk_4/s400/sailors1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474946844556221266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5ujjqUNDQtvroRWMd4aLqCHTJjjBCeHZDevCwnAyuDL6GRWYO8vcZ12aoZlc1dt__dcx3AyJkwrauUHxL-UhQ2EHAQAfo7ijynQ3U4XTmwoXCuEwdfrEFg2QP6y-61-p2pK8Msvjqr4/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-25+at+7.06.35+AM.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5ujjqUNDQtvroRWMd4aLqCHTJjjBCeHZDevCwnAyuDL6GRWYO8vcZ12aoZlc1dt__dcx3AyJkwrauUHxL-UhQ2EHAQAfo7ijynQ3U4XTmwoXCuEwdfrEFg2QP6y-61-p2pK8Msvjqr4/s400/Screen+shot+2010-05-25+at+7.06.35+AM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474947064352040242" border="0" /></a><br />...unless you post it to your TRAVELMONKEYS blog. Then it's immortal.<br /><br />If you are ever in Sydney, do not miss the opportunity to eat at Sailors Thai. There's a posh downstairs, a more relaxed "canteen" upstairs...the food at either is exquisite. Really one of the best meals I've ever had.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-73426923213505432682010-05-24T17:17:00.010-04:002010-05-29T12:01:52.399-04:00One More Story Before I Go<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyOJqxtw8fMwNqyRU24V5JjvQBXxTycKWX3gnOSiwoCtw-3RWEV7iRbJxcVQjV5JgCQK2Iu_jRyMSvIyme5RxW4YPp_aOL70GHt3-fBIT4mdaY2H48IT8lF1v0ebhFdL0L2VvAUQZUBc/s1600/parrots1.jpg"><br /></a>We fly to Hong Kong today, which I'm finding both thrilling and nerve-wracking.<br /><br />I have visions of myself paralyzed on the side of the road while pedestrians stream by, not being able to find an entry point, like a new driver who's frozen and unable to merge.<br /><br />Then I think, Really? You've lived in New York how long? Surely you will learn.<br /><br />But before I go, a quick story from Sydney.<br /><br />So, we go to this restaurant for breakfast one morning, and shortly after sitting down I notice there's what looks to me like a parrot hanging out next to the table of a dour German couple.<br /><br />The waiter comes by to hand us our menus and I ask him if the parrot belongs to the restaurant. He looks up and says, "Oh, those? They just come here."<br /><br />Shortly after that two more of these magnificent birds (which I will later learn are Rainbow Lorikeets, a sub-species of the parrot) appear, and I take this picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR9ogXcsl-Eg4BEDsU4eRttueLgtDWODGtmepfob6aW_X0Y4gvciV-BcPsRpSdFsifMdALEi4DFI8KfdeV_5KM-RrP86Yzn0aEg_TEAG8YEikf2CestzpmCTnwW98jbB7Ld0Hs0YpHA0/s1600/germans1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR9ogXcsl-Eg4BEDsU4eRttueLgtDWODGtmepfob6aW_X0Y4gvciV-BcPsRpSdFsifMdALEi4DFI8KfdeV_5KM-RrP86Yzn0aEg_TEAG8YEikf2CestzpmCTnwW98jbB7Ld0Hs0YpHA0/s400/germans1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474951737875129570" border="0" /></a><br />The busser in the background notices and comes over to our table shaking a sugar packet. He pours it into my open hand and the birds flock to us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zgBDwsh4qt3xPhOD99WrVIOFf_xKob9Y4llHbwZ-AMBawG_iMfGzThH-_EwSyGZYFGglLZGz93HnDTWIiSuW0_-X7vV6Wwzg0bPYhAsbf552-EzKO3XvG2y9JshGDnXD9JzG4zpioQs/s1600/parrots2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zgBDwsh4qt3xPhOD99WrVIOFf_xKob9Y4llHbwZ-AMBawG_iMfGzThH-_EwSyGZYFGglLZGz93HnDTWIiSuW0_-X7vV6Wwzg0bPYhAsbf552-EzKO3XvG2y9JshGDnXD9JzG4zpioQs/s400/parrots2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474949423582395858" border="0" /></a><br />The non-tourists around us couldn't be less interested. In fact, they're probably a little disgusted. I'm trying to imagine how I would feel if I saw a tourist back in the States encourage a pigeon onto their tabletop before eating.<br /><br />But as you can see from this photo, I'm way too delighted to be cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyOJqxtw8fMwNqyRU24V5JjvQBXxTycKWX3gnOSiwoCtw-3RWEV7iRbJxcVQjV5JgCQK2Iu_jRyMSvIyme5RxW4YPp_aOL70GHt3-fBIT4mdaY2H48IT8lF1v0ebhFdL0L2VvAUQZUBc/s1600/parrots1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyOJqxtw8fMwNqyRU24V5JjvQBXxTycKWX3gnOSiwoCtw-3RWEV7iRbJxcVQjV5JgCQK2Iu_jRyMSvIyme5RxW4YPp_aOL70GHt3-fBIT4mdaY2H48IT8lF1v0ebhFdL0L2VvAUQZUBc/s400/parrots1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474952933545202754" border="0" /></a><br />I will pay for this later, when one of the lorikeets returns mid-meal to swipe a sugar packet from me.<br /><br />More and more of his brothers (sisters?) return, and I keep trying to shoo them away--but in a quiet-ish way, so as not to disturb the Aussies around us conducting business meetings. I am unsuccessful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4AllEVTRrGIa7Pqv6d75Rkh39MzEPf4asB72fpTYUfYQv9vitrZ-bZ1XbjCiAwKhfPMaJZ7-Q29cGBOrOUEig-s1va5lQUoC0bQzdt4t5YZQLh-8qa8vVXxnQk6VnefoItgDJWwemAo/s1600/parrots3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4AllEVTRrGIa7Pqv6d75Rkh39MzEPf4asB72fpTYUfYQv9vitrZ-bZ1XbjCiAwKhfPMaJZ7-Q29cGBOrOUEig-s1va5lQUoC0bQzdt4t5YZQLh-8qa8vVXxnQk6VnefoItgDJWwemAo/s400/parrots3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474949433812923938" border="0" /></a><br />Until finally Michael puts both hands over his head and says<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">cawww! CAWWWW!!!</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span>It is so loud that absolutely everyone in the restaurant stops what they're doing, startled.<br /><br />But it works, and the lorikeets leave us in peace for the rest of our meal.JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-11661511638143064302010-05-23T21:14:00.008-04:002010-05-24T16:54:57.394-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1Cb5AjPtC0nPdVtl_IW-RiSjirkDIYAnvqd8t6jHeCZUMsNpHYA8qi44bd9JFyOpuKq9P7xSP2VFHbPnH6NtUhPwnJv9wqEM0qR4UXzF9SW1Tu8wnq5G5t0iMjFeOb6RJ3O3sHByHv4/s1600/harborphoto.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1Cb5AjPtC0nPdVtl_IW-RiSjirkDIYAnvqd8t6jHeCZUMsNpHYA8qi44bd9JFyOpuKq9P7xSP2VFHbPnH6NtUhPwnJv9wqEM0qR4UXzF9SW1Tu8wnq5G5t0iMjFeOb6RJ3O3sHByHv4/s400/harborphoto.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474642172484250770" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sydney Psalm</span><br /><br />It’s a constant embarrassment, this living.<br />The gloves come off and so do the panties,<br />the eyes widen but the feet march forward<br />--meanwhile the waves continue their assault<br />on the shore, boats carrying screaming<br />children and waggling businessmen rock<br />from side to side but no one is lullabied.<br /><br />It’s a joke, this life. And also, a song.<br />A rude intimation, a whisper before<br />passing out. Everyone knows the ending,<br />yet we struggle to leave with our hats on<br />and our dignity intact. Fat luck, that.<br /><br />--meanwhile the best bedtime story is yet<br />to be found. Climb that hill, scratch that old man’s<br />back. Ask the weatherman to speak, if he would,<br />on politics. Or maybe try spitting watermelon<br />seeds from a great height, then scuttle below<br />to see the pattern you’ve made, ooh and ahh<br />at their form, say, <span style="font-style: italic;">Yes, I was here.</span><br /><br />You can summon lorikeets with sugar,<br />watch their rainbow heads bob in your palm<br />while you survey the harbor, belly full<br />of noodles, wallet full of cash.<br />What is there to do now, but sing?JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6896372647197990724.post-34395638993192647172010-05-22T07:34:00.003-04:002010-05-22T07:54:25.661-04:00The Path to the Opera House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalui9ihr2goAoqtwmxjlPnYtGNcCyA1IKGqjHyUgZx90R9eWDWupddP7S-kCMeKNk6EGmaIOJetA-sYlUF10BSeKa0UiU6547Q4u5qy0jG74QzY3ZbXtlUFaV0uzUL1zFFDqeMCFYXQ4/s1600/soh1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalui9ihr2goAoqtwmxjlPnYtGNcCyA1IKGqjHyUgZx90R9eWDWupddP7S-kCMeKNk6EGmaIOJetA-sYlUF10BSeKa0UiU6547Q4u5qy0jG74QzY3ZbXtlUFaV0uzUL1zFFDqeMCFYXQ4/s400/soh1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474059558225389186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm-E4K-656JLssW5aAKioPSXzBk2vsYmbf4WFZEqSNENQc2osC6iIp9J2UzIBIVqoOss5uq5uEd0AI6isb-ZlMRd4P6GUGLNCavFtETPv3Vig_WcqLxtDFlG8f1McVUz3UPGxtOeck68/s1600/soh2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggm-E4K-656JLssW5aAKioPSXzBk2vsYmbf4WFZEqSNENQc2osC6iIp9J2UzIBIVqoOss5uq5uEd0AI6isb-ZlMRd4P6GUGLNCavFtETPv3Vig_WcqLxtDFlG8f1McVUz3UPGxtOeck68/s400/soh2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474059561092936770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsVpgOZhjPEWzo7VOb745JcyMZ6lUXM26HL9gJEfTbqZExJ6QowDEIJZuwSTFQEH2uhQ2qPNJstwkBOrHtQCuXi_s1g_glz3ix7vgHSAythwsyuecOFLOhsC63uwP4-8wdl-wllj8DHI/s1600/soh3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsVpgOZhjPEWzo7VOb745JcyMZ6lUXM26HL9gJEfTbqZExJ6QowDEIJZuwSTFQEH2uhQ2qPNJstwkBOrHtQCuXi_s1g_glz3ix7vgHSAythwsyuecOFLOhsC63uwP4-8wdl-wllj8DHI/s400/soh3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474059568500063602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UJGBVcyXGrpbPK-m1iG1UwpPIBBd82MYoxTucgoFIPv2etQwrUgacn9rIDVBvUsFLNBq4bXNIVkmXagzjxgV1oh8t9dVy1EgC7hKYY8VQZD7TLF9MDWEZ5DEMYvCJJKqqckEmr4OvQ0/s1600/soh4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8UJGBVcyXGrpbPK-m1iG1UwpPIBBd82MYoxTucgoFIPv2etQwrUgacn9rIDVBvUsFLNBq4bXNIVkmXagzjxgV1oh8t9dVy1EgC7hKYY8VQZD7TLF9MDWEZ5DEMYvCJJKqqckEmr4OvQ0/s400/soh4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474059571522750866" /></a>JMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12812147554920627542noreply@blogger.com2