EscapadesAbroad

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escapadesabroad — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:30:00 GMT

It has been years since I've updated on here, mostly because aside from a whirlwind trip to Madrid in 2009, I've been too poor to travel anyway too crazy. While I am currently not travelling abroad, I recently joined World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms - WWOOF - an amazing organization that connects organic farms with workers who are willing to work for free in exchange for room and board. At the request of several of my friends, this blog is now revived from a lengthy hibernation, and I will attempt to record my experiences of my first day of travel and two days of WWOOFing with requisite detail to satisfy inquiring minds.

Day 1: I learned a very important lesson about travel before even leaving my bedroom. If your mother comes to bid you farewell before a long solo journey, and warns you to "Be careful, especially at the rest stops, don't get nabbed!" - NEVER reply by saying "Ma, if it's my destiny in life to get nabbed, there is absolutely nothing I can do about it." This will certainly produce tears from your mother, and increase the liklihood of your being locked in your room for the rest of your life.

My car trip from Avondale to Orchard Park, NY was a 7 hour journey through the wilds of central Pennsylvania and western New York. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, and it was difficult sometimes to drive by some of the incredible vistas of the Appalachians without stopping. There are a few notable curiousities in the NY state countryside. First, it seems that New Yorkers love statues. I saw statues of dragons, bears, and something else strange that I don't remember. I also passed the birthplace of Francis Bellamy in Mount Morris. Otherwise, nothing too epic occurred.

I arrived at the farm around 7, and lucky for me, I had not missed dinner. Catherine, my hostess, is a wonderful lady. She welcomed me in with a tour of the house, and I put my things in a small pretty purple upstairs room with a great view of some trees behind the house. The front of the house has sweeiping views of serene fields and Buffalo/Niagara Falls in the distance (on a very clear day you can apparently actually see the falls themselves. I have not yet experienced such a clear day). After I got settled in, I had a wonderful late dinner of steak and fresh foods from the garden with Catherine, another WWOOFer Marie, who hails from Germany, Catherine's son Mikey, and a young family friend of theirs who is working here for the summer, Eric. Everyone is SO pleasant and happy, it's kind of difficult not to be in such a beautiful place. We all stayed up very late chatting,

The Red Centre!

escapadesabroad — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:00:00 GMT

On my previous trips to Australia, my biggest regret has always been a failure to make it out the red centre in the Northern Territory. Home to Uluru (or Ayer’s Rock, one of the world’s largest monoliths), Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), and King’s Canyon, the red centre is now definitely on my list of top “must-sees” in Australia. Bryan and I flew from Sydney to Alice Springs the day after our Blue Mountains reality tour, arriving mid-afternoon, just in time for all of Alice’s attractions to begin closing (it was Sunday, hence the early closures). After checking into our hostel and getting some lunch, we set out to explore to the town. We got some essentials at the camping store, including Sigg water bottles (which I’d been wanting for a while), insect repellent, and the most incredible Swedish made spoon, knife, fork combination I’ve ever laid my eyes upon (for only $3.50!). Alice Springs is quite the oasis town, and is considered by many Australians (aka Liam) to be “really the middle of nowhere.” For the middle of nowhere, it was rather bustling during the daylight hours, and had an impressive shopping center and CBD. I actually wish we’d had more time in Alice, as there were several museums that sounded really interesting. After watching an incredible sunset on the top of ANZAC Hill (a must-do in Alice), we retired early, as our tour began with a 5 am pick-up the next morning.
5 am is a terrible time to awaken, and an even worse time to need to depart, particularly when the tour ends up arriving 30 minutes late, and you realized you could have slept for much longer. However, it was within these 30 minutes that I had a life changing conversation. In my many travels, I have never had positive dealings with the French. My late grandfather Roy Miller often traveled on business to France, and I remember him continually singing their praises, but generally have had negative or neutral experiences. In the lobby, we met Carole and Jimmy, a French couple who was traveling “around the world” in two years. They were not only the friendliest French people I’ve ever met, but some of the friendliest and interesting people I’ve met generally. Carole is a chef, and Jimmy is a waiter. When they are at home in France, they travel around working in different gastronomic restaurants. Spending 6 months here, six months there, so that they can see their country. Now they are spending the first year of their round the world trip traveling around Australia, organic farming when they need money. It was great talking to them, and as an added bonus, they often cooked for us…making delicious meals out of the most basic supplies.
The tour company we booked with was Adventure Tours Australia, recommended by my friend Rea, and now recommended by yours truly. Be warned, however, ATA is not a tour for the faint of heart – it involves a rigorous schedule, and willingness to participate in long bushwalks (hikes) and group meals. Our guide Michelle was absolutely fantastic, even though she lost her voice almost completely after the first day. She knew exactly when we needed to sleep in the mini-bus, and when we would be happy to play games and sing some Aussie classics.
Day one began with Bryan and I taking a camel ride (hilarious), followed by a long drive to the national park, and a 15-kilometer hike through Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), which means “Valley of the Winds.” At the end of my trip, it was hard deciding upon a highlight, but really Kata Tjuta is absolutely awe-inspiring. Out of the 36 massive domed rocks that comprise the formation, tourists are allowed to wander around 8. It is an extremely sacred and important site - Michelle said that it was the Vatican of the local aboriginal people. The final lookout couldn’t help but remind me of the end of the movie Land Before Time I, when the baby dinosaurs reach the special valley and find their families. There is really not much else to say, as I will have to let the photos speak for themselves.
After our walk through Kata Tjuta, we drove to Uluru to watch the sunset, which was also incredible. The rock changes colors and illuminations as the sunsets, and it is truly a spectacular sight to witness. Our group then returned to our campsite, to take advantage of the most incredibly hot and clean shower facilities that I have ever seen in a camp. The group was delightfully varied, with representatives from Germany, Switzerland, France, Ireland, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Japan, USA, and Australia. Our ages ranged from early twenties to mid sixties, and everybody participated in everything with gusto.
Day two also began at 5 am, with a drive back to Uluru to watch the sunrise. There were several morning options. Bryan and I chose to do a full base walk of Uluru, which is quite a daunting task to complete in the two hours we were given, but definitely worth it. Seeing the sunrise close-up on the rock is definitely an experience, and was also another major highlight for me. We could have also watched the sun rise from the sunset lookout, and then do a half base walk, or climb the rock (which the local people strongly request we refrain from doing, and is also very dangerous).
The most amazing thing about these formations is their prominence on perfectly flat lands all around them. There are several other formations in the “area” (meaning a space of hundreds to thousands of kilometers), including Mount Connor, often called “Fooluru.” As it is on private land, many unknowing tourists never get close enough to realize that its not the real thing (once you’ve seen Uluru, its clear that they’re vastly different, but if you’re just driving along looking for a big rock, it would be easy to get confused). After our morning at Uluru, we stopped at Mount Connor for the obligatory photo, and then climbed the dunes behind the lookout to see the vast salt lakes behind it.
We spent the afternoon driving to King’s Canyon, learning some interesting and enlightening geological facts along the way. Apparently, the Grand Canyon is not actually a canyon. Canyons are shaped by wind, and a river shapes the Grand Canyon, making it a gorge. However, nobody ever liked the sound of “The Grand Gorge,” so the Grand Canyon it remains. Our campsite at King’s Canyon was much more rustic than that at Uluru, but was situated at the base of some spectacular little cliffs. Several of our more intrepid groups members climbed the cliffs, and watched a beautiful sunset from the top. Michelle cooked us an amazing authentic Aussie bush meal on the fire, and we all stayed up late telling tales around the fire.
Day three began with a good “sleeping in” till 5:30. We got to King’s Canyon early, and began our long hike all through the canyon with a trek up “heart attack hill.” I truly wondered if I would make it, but I did, and (comparatively) it was much easier after that. King’s Canyon is made of composite rock, so its extremely fragile, and sometimes large chunks fall off. The rock is also extremely porous; so many plants grow in its cracks, reaching their roots deeps into the bedrock. We trekked all the way down into the canyon to the “Garden of Eden,” an oasis in the bottom, back up to the top, and around the rim. Bang! Flash! Aliens attacked! Horror of horrors!!!!
We sacrificed Ronnie.
Our fellow American, and a papal pilgrim. Made his last one true journey, and now rests with his fathers. Satisfied, the aliens returned to their ship.
Okay, not really, Bryan just stole my computer for a few minutes.
King’s Canyon, like Uluru and Kata Tjuta, is really better viewed via photo rather than words, and hopefully when I return home to real Internet, I will upload the “best of” shots post-haste.
After the long journey back to Alice Springs, our group reconnoitered for dinner at an interesting local pub called Bojangles, which boasted its own python and live webcam, where family and friends could log-on, watch you having a good time, and buy you a drink. Some would call it interesting. Some would call it radical. I just call it creepy. In all, the trip was absolutely incredible – new faces and new places everywhere we went. The further I travel, the more amazed I am with the world, and the more I want to see. Photos soon!

The Blues are Still Blue

escapadesabroad — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:30:00 GMT

Not far from Sydney are the beautiful Blue Mountains, a small range of smaller mountains, but a wonderful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. I do believe that no time in Sydney is complete without a trip to the Blue Mountains, so I made sure Bryan and I had a day tour booked right before we left for our trip to the Northern Territory. This began our week of 5 am wake-ups, not something I enjoyed doing, but a practice that perhaps builds a little character in the end.
We traversed the early morning buses and trains to the Menzies Hotel, where the tour was to begin. We stood in the freezing cold, awaiting our Activity Tours minibus, while a nearby group of chain smokers tested my ability to breathe in a burning tobacco barn, in the unlikely event that such an a travesty should occur. The minibus rocked up ten minutes late, an irritation considering we were twenty minutes early. Little did I know that even greater horrors awaited me inside the bus. Upon entering, I was greeted by sound so familiar yet so strange in the context – a North American accent. I introduced myself to our tour guide, hoping that my disappointment did not show over the fact that he hailed from Wyoming and not somewhere like Woolloomooloo or Wagga Wagga. The six of us on tour were quite a varied group – 2 whiney American co-eds in Sydney for an internship, a young Italian Papal Pilgrim named Febreezio, and an Englishman named Matt in Sydney for a few days on business. The two-hour ride into the Blue Mountains was a trip into the proverbial heart of darkness. Our guide (who never told us his name, but we nicknamed Adolph) never ceased to bother us with a constant Q&A battle that can best be described as “I’m right, and you’re wrong.” He would ask questions like “so do you guys know if there are any Aboriginal peoples in Australia.” Someone replied yes, which gleefully quashed with a “WRONG! None of their tribes are called aboriginal…there’s no such thing as Aboriginals…that’s just a myth other tour guides will tell you.”
By the time we reached the mountains, if I heard that man utter the words “wrong!” or “that’s just a myth other tour guides will tell you” I was going to stage a mutiny. Offensive, crude, acerbic, uncouth – just a few words to describe this man’s behavior. The worst part was that he often got his facts very wrong. The co-eds were the most offended and sassed him back. The rest of us just played along, knowing that being bratty would only bring increased harassment. It was however, poor poor Febreezio that bore the brunt of the jokes. Adolph continually referred to him as “Italy” or “Fab,” teased him because it took him longer to read the instruction page that got passed around, and to my horror said “you’ve gotta lose the backpack man, its cramping your style,” (referring to his red and yellow World Youth Day backpack, referenced in a previous post).
I could go on for hours about this horrid man, and can tell more lively tales upon my return to any who wish to hear. By the end of the day we realized he was a disgruntled ex-pat, who seemed to hate America, and the world in general (he had plenty of bad things to say about Australia). A rabid Green Party member, he used his little tour bus as his soapbox, making us all feel guilty that it (allegedly) took 10,000 liters of water to make a hamburger, and teaching us about how Kangaroos are the only carbon neutral meat in the world. The most interesting useless fact was that wombats (allegedly) excrete square poo.
In spite of this man, we had a good time when he left us on our own, both at Featherdale Wildlife Park and Scenic World. Featherdale is one of my favorite attractions, and my number one recommendation to anyone visiting Sydney. You can get really up close and personal with the animals, and hand feed kangaroos and emus. There was a particularly cute mother ‘roo with a baby in her pouch, and I got bit by an emu, which was rather thrilling. The last time I was at Featherdale, there were 3 baby emus, and they were likely the same ones that we fed this time, just grown up (I think Featherdale is a kind of rescue). There was also an absolutely ADORABLE pack of dingo pups with their mother, who stood on a rock and gathered them with her howl.
When Adolph left us at Scenic World, the Super Six all were able to let off some steam and say what we were all thinking on the way there. I was forced to overcome my fear of cable cars, by riding on two rather state of the art cars (I still would never ride in an old one, and think ski lifts are questionable). We also rode on the steepest railway in the world, which was incredibly fun, like a natural roller coaster.
Thankfully, Adolph mellowed out a tiny bit in the afternoon, and we were able to enjoy our few remaining hours. Afternoon tea was very good, and we got the standard Olympic Park tour plus a tour of the Eco-town connected with the park. I was actually really impressed with the water recycling system, and the use of solar power on all the homes, but less impressed with the million-dollar price tag the homes carried. Our tour ended with a pleasant sunset cruise back to Circular Quay. Bryan and I had hit it off with Matt, and so the three of us went out to a great dinner at Lowenbrau in the Rocks. Lowenbrau serves my favorite beer in the world (It’s a Mango-infused White Beer), and considering I’d not had any since 2006, it was a great treat.
While not my idea of the most incredible Blue Mountains Tour experience, the day will certainly be unforgettable for all involved.

World Youth Day

escapadesabroad — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:03:00 GMT

I realize my failure to consistently write about my adventures here in Sydney, but I must tell you that for the past several weeks, nothing really exciting has been happening, as preparation for final exams took up most of my time. There is a lot to be learned in two 5-week courses, and I am hoping I did very well in them. I will attempt here, as my trip nears its close, to impart to you all the very exciting things that occurred after exams, as they are many.
Finals week was overshadowed by “World Youth Day,” a week celebrating Pope Benedict’s first visit to Australia – and flooding the city with Catholics from all over the world. While I am not one to inhibit people from expressing their faith as they choose, I will say that anyone who experienced Sydney in World Youth Day mode will agree that to classify the event as an “incredible inconvenience” is an understatement. The CBD shut down as several hundred thousand “youths” (probably ranging from 8 months to 80 years) descended upon the city. They crammed the sidewalks with their matching red and orange backpacks, and carrying their native flags. As we studied in the library, we could hear them chanting as they meandered around the city, usually in groups of at least 30. Once, I was even forced to climb over their roadblock with all my books, as it was hindering my path to the train station. Needless to say, I wanted to get a little something in return for all my troubles. While an audience with his holiness was most definitely a no-go (general requirement was recent miraculous recovery from life threatening disease or accident), I thought for sure a nice photo of the man riding around the city in the Pope-Mobile wasn’t too much to ask for.

For most of the week, the pope was “resting” in the Blue Mountains, as the pilgrims sang and learned things all day and all night. He came to Sydney on Wednesday night, to prepare for Big Thursday, when he would take a tour of the city by both “Boatercade” and Pope-Mobile.

Using the daily newspaper to chart his path through the city, I thought a nice general public spot in front of Hyde Park Barracks would give me a good view and an easy escape through the Martin Place train station. I arrive close to 3 pm, as the paper said he would likely be passing that spot between 4:30 and 5 pm. I was sorely disappointed when I realized that the “non-pilgrim” side of the street was lined with a 3-meter fence. I took my place at an empty spot next to a friendly looking couple and the wife’s mother. They were joined after a bit by their brother, 2 kids, niece and nephew. Enter Reason #1,565,009 why I love Australians. We struck up a conversation within a few minutes, and were sharing stories and snacks faster than you could say, “the dingo ate my baby.” I have always found Australians to be the most hospitable and generous people group I have ever encountered, and generally a mere smile and g’day can easily gain you a friend for life. After waiting several hours, the pope finally did drive by, at the speed of light, and I got one horrible dark grainy photo, which I will hopefully post when I have genuine high speed internet. In the end, thankfully, it was the family that I spent those few hours with that will leave me the most memories of the Pope and his pesky World Youth Day.

A Long Overdue Update

escapadesabroad — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Our first week of classes was pretty standard, although foreign summer classes are thankfully much less adversarial than your standard law school fare. The highlights of the week were found in the extra-curriculars. Wednesday night was Liam’s birthday, and he happened to be in Sydney for Google developer day. Bryan and I took him out for a birthday hurrah at the Blackbird Café on Cockle Bay Wharf, a great place for some eating and catching up. The next morning required a ridiculously early start, as a day-trip to Canberra was included in our study abroad program. The motley crew met at the bus at 7 am, and began our 3-hour bus ride to the Australian Capital. Having spent a weekend in Canberra last summer, I knew that a day trip there was ridiculous, as we spent just as much time traveling as we did sightseeing around the city with our new comrades. Our Aussie professors were very informative tour guides, and one highlight was actually going up in the Telstra Tower. Last year I developed a conspiracy theory that Canberra was actually built by aliens, whose impending return would take the city away to their home planet. While an actual visit to this city is necessary to really grasp all the similarities between the city of Canberra and an alien colony, I can say that the Telstra Tower is a main hub of alien activity. Towering over all else, this missile-shaped command centre (conveniently covered in satellite dishes) will be a crucial instrument in the alien takeover. We also visited “The Mothership” (aka Parliament House), and witnessed the infamous Question Time. In Parliament, Question Time is an hour every day when the opposition party (the Liberal Party) can ask the majority party (the Labour Party) any questions about how they’re running the government. Most of the questions were directed at the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, but in reality any MP can ask anyone else anything. Question Time is both an important instrument of government accountability and a bawdy sideshow - accusations, chants, jokes, and hollers fly. The day we went was particularly rowdy, as the K-Rudd had misquoted the 2009 interest rates the previous day. The Liberals were really taking jabs at him, and he countered with hilariously vague answers. While Question Time seemed more like an impending pub brawl than government protocol, I believe there are infinite benefits of the procedure in keeping the executive and his party accountable for their actions and (if nothing else) would make CSPAN much more enjoyable. Here is a clip of a Question Time, (though not the one on the day I was there), and an accompanying news story offering an explanation:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bl-GzqTCxZY&feature=related

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PBvryavwV0w&feature=related

Although the PM was not there that day, it is particularly entertaining, and a good example of the level of insanity the day I was there. After our Canberra trip, we returned to Sydney late, and then had classes on Friday. Friday night most of our study abroad group went to a Hibachi-type Japanese Steakhouse for dinner in Newtown. Saturday, Bryan worked on his corporate journal paper, and I returned to Newtown to meet up with Liam and Monica! After a delicious Thai lunch, we wandered around the shops, visiting this crazy used bookstore, and also a funky teashop. As my world grows larger, it simultaneously shrinks. I met a fellow wannabe-expat named Megan working in the teashop, who just happened to hail from Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania! She is also in Sydney doing graduate work, but gets to stay for 2 years! We had a nice chat, I bought lots of tea (though not as much as I would have liked), and I will hopefully go back and see her again before I leave. After shopping, we returned to Surry Hills, tore Bryan away from his writing, and went to the local Turkish Kebab joint for dinner. Sunday got a slow start before the big football game that night! Held at the Olympic Stadium, the game was the final qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup finals. We met up again with Liam and Monica, and Liam’s brother Jesse and his girlfriend Sunny (who I had met back in 2006). The Aussie Socceroos were playing the People’s Republic of China (technically, Australia was already qualified, and PRC couldn’t qualify even if they won). As the Socceroos are sponsored by Qantas, free swag was plentiful, and the creepy cultish Qantas children’s choir sang at the opening. The game was fun, and wild fans another entertaining sideshow. Despite the huge showing of Aussie fans, the PRC won the game with one goal. Considering my many trips down under, this was my first sporting event, and it was definitely amazing! I wrote most of the previous ramblings several days ago, but was delayed from posting over some recent news from Travelblogger that they would be shutting down in a year, and have been debating over whether I should switch domains now or continue to invest in the same spot. I have decided to stay with Travelblogger for this trip, under assurances from Travelblogger's FAQ section that I will be able to download my blog once they close, however, every time over the past week that I’ve tried to update, the site doesn’t work! So I’ve gone to World Nomads (who also sells great travel insurance!). More updates soon my friends, more updates soon!

Week One Highlights: Part Uno: Travel, Theatre, and Taronga

escapadesabroad — Sun, 6 Jul 2008 11:46:00 GMT

Loyal and Patient Readers, I apologize for the long delay in updating. My first week and a half here has been spent settling in, recovering from jetlag, starting 4 hours per day of classes, taking a day trip to the capital, and catching up with friends on the weekends. I will summarize the highlights below. Sinclair's is probably the best budget accommodation I have ever stayed in. The City Hostel is in Surry Hills, Sydney's version of Brooklyn (formerly fairly dodgy, currently hipster paradise). The rooms are a bit small, but for one person are definitely comfortable. In addition, its just a short bus ride from central station downtown, and UTS, making it super easy to get around the city in a short amount of time. Surry Hills is packed with ethnic restaurants, and Bryan and I have set a goal to eat at as many different ethnicities as possible before leaving Australia (for all of you recent inquirers, Bryan is my boyfriend from law school). I will create an exhaustive list of our gastronomic accomplishments in the coming weeks. The managers at the hostel, Jeanette and Bob, are just wonderful. Jeanette is the resident mom, and is always baking delicious goodies for our (free!) breakfast every morning, and warning us that she will call our parents if we look too good when we go out. Yesterday she called Bob "Bob the Builder." He definitely is that, and is always around for a good chat in the kitchen. Our second night in Sydney, we had dinner at Phillip's Foote, a self-grill steakhouse, followed by Edward Scissorhands the Musical at the Sydney Opera House! The show was in its final weekend, and despite extreme jetlag, the performance was incredibly enjoyable. Staying true to the storyline and the quirkiness of the film, the musical used extreme costuming, sets, and pantomime to tell the beautiful story of Edward's brush with mid-twentieth century suburbia. There was absolutely no dialogue or traditional stage musical song in the show, just instrumental music, which prevented any possible cheesetastic interpretation of one of Tim Burton's best films. The next day (Friday) was a full day of university orientation, which included a walking tour of the city and a genuine Aussie Sausage Sizzle (barbeque). My love of (Er...obsession with) Sausage Sizzles was infamous among some at Macquarie, and the food was as good as ever! I really need to find out what they're made out of, or the spices used, so I can perhaps replicate the event properly at home. It was good getting to know some of our fellow law students. The group dynamic is...interesting. To give you a hint, at the start of our walking tour, a random man sitting on a bench exclaimed, "Well, THERE'S a motley crew!" with a tone of both bemusement and horror. Another first week highlight was an epic return to the Taronga Zoo! While the wildlife population is reported to be as vicious as ever, and attacks on wranglers are up 32%, poor weather on the day of our trip kept many of the more deadlier creatures in hiding. Sadly, the poor weather also meant that the cable car was completely inoperable, and after the zoo ferry dropped us on the shore we were forced to take a bus to the entrance, increasing our risk of animal attack by 56%. After spending the entire day filming the waddling echidnas, touring the tranquilization station, escaping a zebra stampede, and surviving a particularly brutal peacock attack on the dining hall, we made our way back to the ferry on foot. Not realizing we could have waited for a bus, Bryan and I were soaked to the core, and shuffled dangerously along the edge of the road down to the ferry. After walking for a long time, a bus drove by and the driver picked us up out of the compassion of his heart. This lucky break meant we were thankfully out of the reach of the night prowling Ligers, and would probably make it home alive. In the interest of time, and my need to read before my next class, I will refrain from posting the incomplete second half of the “first week highlights” until tomorrow. I hope you are all had a wonderful week in your respective domiciles, and that any brushes with wild animals ended in your favor. Until next time…AMG

Gallery: PHL to SYD

escapadesabroad — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 13:53:00 GMT

In flight photos

Keep your bags close, and your boarding pass even closer

escapadesabroad — Mon, 9 Jun 2008 11:40:00 GMT

I write this after my lunch in The City Deli…LA International Airport’s poor excuse for an employee cafeteria that just happens to be open to the general public, and home to one of my top ten foulest restrooms in world history (it makes the Vietnamese squatty potties look like 5-Star Accommodations). This year’s journey to Australia began at 4 am with a cup of yogurt and a hasty departure to another airport that harbors all of my ill will – Philadelphia International. After my mom and Elizabeth dropped off Bryan and I at the Southwest Airlines Terminal (which is, Terminal E) we checked our luggage, learned our flight was leaving from Terminal D, and headed through security without a hitch…or so we thought. After being unable to find where our flight gate, we were informed that due to construction, the terminals were no longer connected to each other, and the only way to reach our flight was to go out of Terminal E, and go down these crazy twisty passages to Terminal D, and be hazed once again by the Philadelphia TSA. Crestfallen, we lugged Bryan’s seemingly tiny backpack, and my massive triple carry-ons to Terminal D. A horrific sight awaited us. The airport’s width could not even contain the Terminal D security line, which ironically only had enough employees to keep 2 scanners working. The line of hundreds of angry passengers reached from the security gate to the parking garage, and was beginning to loop back around again by the time we arrived. Line cutters abundantly Fortunately, it was only 6:30, and we didn’t take off until 8:15, leaving enough time for TSA Round 2, but quashing all hopes of a relaxing, overpriced airport breakfast. After a painfully slow journey through the line, we made it to our terminal, mere seconds before boarding. After boarding I crumpled under the weight of the four hours of sleep I managed last night, only to discover that the flight was having a stop-over in Denver, Colorado. While it did catch us a bit off-guard, it didn’t alter our arrival time and afforded many unexpected tourist opportunities, including a pretty view of the Southern Colorado Rockies (which pale in comparison to their northern Canadian cousins), and a low altitude fly over the Grand Canyon! As I have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, I was quite excited, and took several photos that I will be posting soon. It was nothing short of incredible. On arriving at LAX, Bryan and I gathered our luggage, and began a long search for some food, as neither of us had eaten properly all day. The LA Lakers were having some thing in the airport, and everyone was going crazy, but the hunger pangs spurred me past the madding crowd (and my historic track record of seeing random celebrities like the Queen). I asked traveler’s aid for directions (most food is inside security, and we are going out for dinner tonight with my friend Bev). After a long walk and our average lunch, City Deli closed, and we were forced to return to the Terminals to wait for Bev, not looking forward to the herds to tired passengers collecting their baggage. On the way we crossed paths with a man who looked like P-Diddy, but I sincerely doubt it was him, considering he’d probably have a limo, and security, and an underpaid butler to carry his bag. While crossing in front of the impatient buses waiting for us to move out of the pedestrian path, I caught a whiff of something… could it be? The familiar scent of over roasted espresso beans! I looked up and staring me in the face was that immortal green mermaid, the personification of modern American coffee culture – STARBUCKS. Quickly shifting gears, we got a table (where I now write), and after going to use a real restroom, I went to get my drink. While I do not hold Starbucks as the supreme god of coffee, nor do I hold myself to be an expert on coffee, I do think Starbucks receives a lot of unwarranted criticism. On many a journey, in all sorts of places, I have found Starbucks to be a warm port in the storm. I find it mildly comforting that in almost any country, I can walk in and order my Grande Soy Chai with one shot of Espresso, and it tastes exactly the same as the one I order at home. That kind of consistency is impressive, and the relaxation that I get from my over $5 hot caffeinated beverage (it was $6.66 today in LA..eek!) is worth the sub-par beans and the cliché image. In addition, the (sometimes) provoking “Way I See It” tidbits on the cups can be mildly inspirational, and particularly so today. I am often asked how and why I travel so much. I often find it difficult to explain why, and have gotten a lot of looks when I start talking about how I don’t even travel as much as I would like. The words of Katy Croff (an archaeological oceanographer and National Geographic Emerging Explorer) sum it up precisely: “People often ask me if it is worth it to work at sea, isolated from the world, far from loved ones, seasick, and running on three hours’ sleep. To lay eyes on something never before seen by anyone, to learn something new about our planet, for that one moment of discovery – yes, it is all worth it.” (The Way I See It #274). I’m officially off to dinner with Bev, and Sydney! More to come soon…

The Starting Line

escapadesabroad — Sun, 1 Jun 2008 11:36:00 GMT

The start of a major trip is an adventure in itself. With the LOST season finale out of the way, I have begun massive preparations for my impending journey. Now but one week away from the eve of my departure, I find myself at a loss of what to pack, despite my previous trips abroad throughout the years. I was once advised that you should lay out all you want to take on your trip, and take only half. While this is brilliant advice in theory, it has never quite worked well for me in practice (anyone familiar with Great Shoe Incident of 2006 will understand). Australia is particularly messy. The temperamental climates of the Australian winter, and my many varied activities means I must pack everything from casual wear to business and semi-formal wear to adventurous outback-chic. (I realize at this juncture that I am veering off-track, and will spare you from the grusomely shallow details of my style woes). I have made a few discoveries in preparing for this trip. First: Victorinox luggage is brilliant! Made by the same company as Swiss Army knives, this brand has many excellent pieces which have recently rounded out my varied luggage collection. It can also be found at discount stores like TJMaxx or Rei.com for a significantly discounted price. I will keep youupdated on its performance throughout the trip. Second: I am FINALLY heading to the real outback with www.adventuretours.com.au, a company recommended by my friend Rea. They have a massive variety of tours all over Australia, and would be an excellent starting point for anyone looking to travel down under. Third (and most importantly): I am going to see Edward Scissorhands the Musical. At the Sydney Opera House. Enough said. I hope this blog keeps you up to date with my unpredictable adventures, and that it is at least mildly entertaining. If perhaps you discover any content which is particularly unsettling (e.g. Drop Bear Sightings, zoo animal attacks), it is probably a joke. Conveniently, travelblogger also allows photo albums, so I can streamline the bloggin-photo album process. I also plan on avoiding typos this time around, as a re-reading of my old blog nearly sent my inner-editor into a tailspin. Until next time...