Living Outside the Box

Check-in 332

rtumicki — Sun, 2 Jun 2024 19:13:00 GMT

332: Time flies when I neglect my journal entries. Now I am down to 332 days and I have a sneaking feeling this time will go by quicker than I think or would like. I have started many to-do lists in various notebooks I keep. One, the red one, is dedicated to 2025 Planning and that is where I intend to keep all stuff Camino related. A big relief was in May when my finance guy said I was sitting pretty and gave a few suggestions to make my money work for me, namely, move money from my checking account to my money market due to a higher interest rate. I am also toying around the idea of writing a book about the hosting side of the Camino. Notes on this is also in the Red notebook. I started looking at backpacks but chose the wrong day to go to REI - the Monday of Memorial Day Weekend when their huge sale is ending attracting all the last minute shoppers like me. Way too many people for me so I left. Another thing on my list is to start learning/practicing Spanish. More on that as time goes on.

Check-in 525

rtumicki — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 04:09:00 GMT

Not much spare time to think about other things rather than work at this point. Knowing I have a target date in mind does make my inner smile glow. It is a busy spell until the early January. This Thanksgiving holiday weekend I will have more time to think and do and will report back. Main task will be to get ready for the Florida mini-vaca and to start on the yearly letter.

Check-in 526

rtumicki — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 02:06:00 GMT

After a day like today, I wish it was 526 minutes remaining rather than days. I find comfort in tracking the days reminding me things are not forever. Progress for today was reading about different walks on the Amerian Pilgrims on the Camino. I feel like a kid in a candy store deciding what would be my most favorite. Norway in the summer would be grand. Japan when I feel more fit. Portugal in a heat beat to sample egg tarts along the way.

Check-in 528

rtumicki — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:49:00 GMT

527: Count down to April 30, 2025. Yesterday was the day I decided to put a number to my imaginary line in the sand, hence 528. Freedom calls to be out in the world once again. Five days here and there for vacation needs to be expanded to weeks. Need more time to walk another Camino, volunteer as a host on the Camino, volunteer with Helpx, visit family/friends in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Cambodia, Vietnam, the list goes on. Hoping to walk Florida's nature trail as well. Now is the time to prep for it, saving for it, and savor the anticipation of it. One thing I was considered with was I thought a person was penalized at tax time if they did not have health insurance in the USA. A web search revealed this is no longer the case. I feel better about that. Started making list for gear I would need, especially, if I decide to drive across the USA checking out libraries and visiting folks. That road trip would be called, "For the Love of Libraries."

Photos: Vietnam Collage

rtumicki — Mon, 21 May 2018 12:39:00 GMT

Highlights

Leaving on a Jet Plane

rtumicki — Mon, 21 May 2018 12:36:00 GMT

I lost my first version of this story. Need to redo. Stay tuned.

Five Months Left

rtumicki — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 05:50:00 GMT

With 23 being a favorite number of mine, I decided to leave the states around Sept 23 give or take a few days based on astrology alignment and/or ticket prices. The time is right to start making lists of things to do in preparation of the human journey.

Volunteering Completed

rtumicki — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 15:33:00 GMT

Friday was my last day at Kep Gardens with the students and it was a bittersweet day. For the last week my friend Karen and I did art lessons with the students and we all had a great time. Considering these students do not have art at school, they did amazingly well and there is some natural talent out there too. One student after creating a paper cockroach said it was a very happy day in his life. He never had the opportunity to make something out of scrap paper and he is 28 years old.

So many wonderful memories to keep me going until next time. I will miss the warmth and caring at Kep Gardens.

Now I am on free time for 2 weeks in Cambodia.

Photos: Last Week at KG

rtumicki — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 14:50:00 GMT

Art week and saying so long

Photos: Kampot

rtumicki — Fri, 1 Nov 2013 22:32:00 GMT

Out and About

Holidays around the corner

rtumicki — Fri, 1 Nov 2013 22:21:00 GMT

With it being November now and Halloween long gone, it is time to pause for Thanksgiving and prepare for December. Why am I thinking these thoughts? Maybe because I started to listen to Christmas music and dream about cold and snow. I plan to do another holiday letter but when it arrives it will be a surprise.

I will be in the CT area starting Dec 16th and will be around for at least a month. The mailing address is:

95 Water St

Stonington, CT 06378

I have been devoid of letters and cards for a long time so a holiday note would be greatly appreciated.

October 31, 2013

rtumicki — Fri, 1 Nov 2013 22:15:00 GMT

Why is it when I am away from a computer I can think of many things to write about but when I am sitting at a computer, the mind goes blank? To get the writing juices flowing I will start with where I am. I am sitting at the Espresso Café in Kampot and a really strong stench is in the air. Could it be the cigarette the girl is smoking a table over? Can a cig smell that fowl, more so than normal? Is it the special coffee they roast and brew? Is it the lunch special of Arancini, whatever that is? Or could the putrid smell have come from the dog that was just shooed away? The smell has gone and now I can focus on this entry for the journal but I do wish all the smokers in here would take at least a 30 min break from not lightening up. Another traveler told me people pick up smoking in Cambodia because it is cheap. Now that sounds like an intelligent thing to think and do.

I left Kep at noon time to come to Kampot to get some computer time in using my computer. With it being early afternoon, the annoying bugs that feed on ankles are still asleep allowing me to get some work done with being driven crazy with bites. I lug the HP notebook with all the required gadgets and Internet stick to Kampot with me to get work done but already I can tell what I want to do and will end up doing won’t be the same. The Internet stick is not connecting. The wi-fi adapter on the computer is not working and there are very few outlets in convenient places in this otherwise great coffeehouse to hang out in as evident with all the others travelers with electronics.

It is Halloween and I will forgo any parties that might be around tonight or tomorrow night and settle for a Belgium movie at the local movie house.

The date has been set for my departure from Kep Gardens (KG), it will be Nov 15^th. That leaves me two more weeks to enjoy the surroundings and the students. The last four weeks have been eventful and here are some highlights:

Attending the last day at Pchum Ben at a local pagoda (see pictures)
Welcoming back old and new students
Settling into a nice morning routine in the market to have breakfast and an iced coffee while reading and writing before the 9:00am session started.
Hearing Fido the faithful dog whimper by the window to get me up at 5:45am – he likes it when I did downward and upward dog with him
Having the company of three other volunteers
The scary and uncanny timing of a huge spirit tree on the Kep road come down right on KG’s tuk tuk that was just newly restored; thank heavens the driver was not injured at all – it was a matter of mere seconds that he was spared but this controlled tree removal had gone wrong. Where the mighty tree once stood, there is a huge gap on the road and in the soul of Kep. Major road work is being done to promote tourism but with everyone and their relative opening a guest house, the market is saturated and everyone is taking a hit yet more are being built.
Sad news with the geese and hen population dwindling with night time raids. The original 4 that were here when I arrived along with 5 goslings that were born, 1 goose and 2 goslings remain. The dozen hens have been reduced to one hen, one rooster, and 8 baby chicks.
The cat population has increased from the pregnant black cat by three kittens in her July litter and several more from her recent litter yet to be seen.
Quiet walks with Fido is the afternoon between sessions
Spending long afternoons walking the jungle in Kep Natl Park. When I came down with a cold a few weeks ago, I headed to the park to absorb all the good energy I could and I swear I felt much better the next day.
Quality reading time: Falling Leaves, Walk Two Moons, The Bean Trees, My Father’s Notebook, Is that Thing a Diesel?, Aleph, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, A Woman of Angkor, Memory Keeper’s Daughter, First They Killed My Father
Pausing to look up to see the star studded night sky
I have very much enjoyed working with the students and getting to know their names, personalities and improvements in English.

On Saturday Karen, a teacher friend, arrives and it will be nice to have her around for the last two weeks in this area before we move on for other adventures.

Before I fly out Dec 4^th, I have one more yoga retreat to attend outside of Siem Reap. It is called Hariharalaya and another volunteer recommended it highly, plus, I wanted to go back to Siem Reap to do some gift shopping.

October - Back in Kep

rtumicki — Sat, 5 Oct 2013 22:31:00 GMT

The month long summer break has ended and my visits to Kampot, Siem Reap, Battambang, Bangkok, Nong Khai, and Phnom Penh were all wonderful with the scenery, talking with locals and meeting other travelers.

I came back to Kep in time to celebrate Pchum Ben, a religious holiday to show respect to ancestors. The holiday is 15 days long and the last day,which was yesterday, people go to the pagodas and bring offerings like food and money for the monks. I went with people from Kep Gardens and it was fascinating to see. People wear white shirts and dark pants or a skirt. Lots of food is brought, money is offered and tons of incense is lit. We stayed and prayed and then was invited to stay for a picnic meal when it was over. In the afternoon we went visiting and continued to celebrate the day by eating after the spirits were fed. Food is laid out and incense is lit telling the spirits to come eat. When the incense is finished, then the spirits are finished eating.

More info

http://www.tourismcambodia.com/tripplanner/events-in-cambodia/pchum-ben.htm

Being back in Kep also means sharing the space with toads, ants and a number of flying creatures. They bounce off the laptop at night and then into me.

School starts this week and there are 127 students registered this year. The average class size will be about 35.

I am glad to be back. Another volunteer comes next week then 2 more after that and then it will be a full house in the bunk house.

Photos: Battambang

rtumicki — Sat, 5 Oct 2013 22:04:00 GMT

3 days in the second largest city in Cambodia

Angkor Wat

rtumicki — Sat, 7 Sep 2013 13:13:00 GMT

The BIG day arrived and I was off to see sunrise at Angkor Wat followed by a bike tour to key temples. Going on a bike tour was excellent because the guide took me along jungle paths were few ventured, mostly locals. I felt like I had the whole park to myself and was not in the hords of people at the main entrances. Photos do not do justice to being there but I tried.

I will go back by tuk tuk to see other temples further out and the last visit, I bought a 3 day pass, will be by bicycle. Now I know to look for side trails.

Some facts I borrowed from sacredsites.com

Hearing about the Draco constellation and the layot of Angkor intrigued me and that is how I came across this stie.

Next post will be about Siem Reap.

There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia.
The temples of Angkor, crafted by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing architectural achievements.
From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain, which reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and are long since decayed and gone.
Conventional theories presume the lands where Angkor stands were chosen as a settlement site because of their strategic military position and agricultural potential. Other scholars however, believe the geographical location of the Angkor complex and the arrangement of its temples was based on a planet-spanning sacred geography from archaic times.

Using computer simulations it has been shown that the ground plan of the Angkor complex – the terrestrial placement of its principal temples - mirrors the stars in the constellation of Draco at the time of spring equinox in 10,500 BC. While the date of this astronomical alignment is far earlier than any known construction at Angkor, it appears that its purpose was to architecturally mirror the heavens in order to assist in the harmonization of the earth and the stars.
Both the layout of the Angkor temples and iconographic nature of much its sculpture are also intended to indicate the celestial phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes and the slow transition from one astrological age to another.

Photos: Angkor Wat

rtumicki — Sat, 7 Sep 2013 12:46:00 GMT

Sunrise bike tour

August 24 - the past week

rtumicki — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 15:28:00 GMT

“To preserve you is no gain; to destroy you is no loss.” Slogan shouted by the Khmer Rouge

All personal life outlawed.

Under the leadership of Brother Number One, Pol Pot, Cambodia sank into darkness of ignorance, into the kingdom of death.

During my time, I saw some terrible things. It shook my whole body. I was so scared I could not speak. Even though the people asked, Are you deaf? Are you mute? I always shook my head. There were no words. Just work and work. No talking. No looking at anyone. No looking at the sky, nothing. We could only look at the sky if we were away from the Khmer Rouge. – U Sam Oeur, born in 1943. He is the first major Cambodian poet in the west.

These are excerpts taken from the current book I am reading, “In the Shadow of Angkor”, contemporary writing from Cambodia. It has been an eye-opener about the tragedy Cambodia has suffered and continues to emerge from. Rithy Panh, a highly acclaimed Cambodian filmmaker, produced the documentary called “Bophana: A Cambodian Tragedy” and that is high on my list to watch when I return to the USA. Before I leave I will also go to the Killing Fields and S-21 Detention Center in Phnom Penh.

Next week I will see another side of Cambodia where the golden age of the Khmer Empire took place, Angkor. There are approximately 1,000 archaeological sites found on 3,000 square kilometers of plains around the area. My guide book says most people see about 10-20 sites while at Angkor. With buying a three day pass, I will have 3 days and a bicycle to see what I can see. Highlights for me will be seeing the fig trees devouring the monuments at Ta Prohm and sunrise with the masses at Angkor Wat.

This past week was the last week with having four volunteers at Kep Gardens so I took some afternoons off to stay in Kep to watch sunsets and to view the full moon. I would come back in the mornings to teach math and then hop back on the bike fighting the wind to return to Kep.

Last weekend the winds were gusty too but I didn’t know the extent of it until I turned around to bike back to Kep. The three hour outing to see the salt fields and small fishing villages along the coast and to a distant Buddhist temple was scenic and a bit grueling when it came to biking on the path that was quickly becoming flooded by the incoming tide. At one point my foot got stuck in the mud and the bike fell on its side and a local lady was right there to help but I managed to pull myself out. I was also doing this in the heat of the day making for a hot and sweaty ride. But, it was beautiful and peaceful so I am glad I made the effort. My reward was a swim at a pool and a lovely meal on the veranda.

I brought along some logic games from ThinkFun and they are a big hit with the students, especially the students who are teachers themselves. These games are well thought out with design, directions, and packaging. Even the other volunteers like the challenge of the games. I see these games as a valuable learning resource for all levels of English learners. Now the question is, how to get more of these games out there?

Kep Gardens said good-bye to another two BeMore Volunteers on Thursday. The bunkhouse is down to two volunteers and Fido the faithful dog when it is storming outside.

Photos: Salt Fields Bike Ride

rtumicki — Sat, 24 Aug 2013 15:12:00 GMT

A Windy day in the hot sun.

August 16 - Dragon Race

rtumicki — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:59:00 GMT

A sunny and dry day in Kep and yet, it is not miserably hot.

The big event this week was the Dragon Race 12 students participated in on Wednesday. Two teams were formed and they called themselves the Tigers and the Dragons. They did a variety of activities from the spoon race to crossing on a balance beam. Some of them proved to be natural athletes.

Back to using Internet cafes to get photos uploaded. Glad there are a few places left and this one is at Don Bosco, a training school for local youths. The students gain experience with computers and running the place.

Two weeks left until school breaks for the month of September. My plans are for Kampot, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, and Nang Khai, Thailand. All by bus unless I decide to fly back from Thailand.

While I am waiting for the photos to upload, I will describe my morning meal in the market. In a big bowl, bean sprouts are added along with mint and slices of cucumbers. A big fist full of white noodles, cold, are places on top. A fried pork roll is cut up into slices and added on top. The toppings are crushed peanuts, dried shrimp, coconut milk and a sweet chili sauce. This costs about 45 cents and fills me up.

The market has a food court area where people have wooden tables they cook at and small wooden slats are benches. Small fires are cooking fried bananas, fried dough, waffles, and more fried dough dipped in sugar. This all reminds me of camping and I much prefer to eat in the market trying different things.

Time to bike back for class.

Photos: Dragon Race

rtumicki — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:41:00 GMT

A morning out of fun activities for 12 students.