Hey folks,
Today, I updated my blog with posts about our travels in Japan, China and Thailand. Check it out!
-Elliot
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Phuket
So, Phuket, as imagined, is incredible. It's beautiful, warm, a little humid, surprisingly sunny, despite the fact that it's "rainy season", and fun. Yesterday and today, we rented scooters and scooted around town. Don't worry, parents, everyone's fine. We had a couple small falls, but, minor scrapes and bruises aside, nobody was injured. Yesterday, Joel, Jay F. and I scooted up to a place called "sunset point", a beautiful point of the island from which you can see for miles in every direction. Today, we first went to a place called Wat Chalong, a small collection of temples, some of which were absolutely beautiful, and some of them that, as Jamie put it, look like a Disney Temple. After that, we went to go see Phuket's "Big Buddha", a gigantic white Buddha that you can see from pretty much anywhere on the island.
Sadly, we leave tomorrow, but next stop is Kathmandu, a place that has been a favorite for the Whiffs of recent years. And after that, I leave the Whiffs for a week to go to Jordan. But, fear not, I'll be back with the group in South Africa. Someone else is gonna have to post in India, but I'll put up at least one in Kathmandu. Until then.
Sadly, we leave tomorrow, but next stop is Kathmandu, a place that has been a favorite for the Whiffs of recent years. And after that, I leave the Whiffs for a week to go to Jordan. But, fear not, I'll be back with the group in South Africa. Someone else is gonna have to post in India, but I'll put up at least one in Kathmandu. Until then.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
phuket
is amazing. this place is beautiful. we had a wonderful night in town, and then on the beach, sitting on the beach, drinking whiskey, looking at starts, and making friends with the random dog that sat next to us while we were discussing the stars, philosophy, the Whiffs, our situation, and many other topics of conversation. Tonight was a night in which the nights became closer. Additionally, i played connect 4 with a bartender. What?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
After a long break, back and in Bangkok
So, after a long sojourn into the land of censorship (i.e. china), i'm once again able to use blogspot. God forbid I express myself publicly while in China.
Anyway, I would rant, but I feel as if it might not go over that well. Regardless, we had a great time in China, despite the lack of youtube, (temporarily) google, and, of course, our blog. Our 4 days in Beijing and 3 days in Shanghai were action-packed, so much so that many of us are exhausted.
However, we weren't too exhausted to go out last night here in Bangkok. The cab coordinator misunderstood us and, instead of telling us the name of the bar district, he told us the name of a bar district that was...special...We were asked to go to many bars that we did not want to go to, and finally found a street stand at which to eat while we drank some beers we bought at a 7-11. it was, as i said...special...
Anyway, today, we went to the weekend market and all picked up a ton of souvenirs. i even have to ship some things home tomorrow to free up space in my bag.
Gotta go get ready for the concert tonight.
Anyway, I would rant, but I feel as if it might not go over that well. Regardless, we had a great time in China, despite the lack of youtube, (temporarily) google, and, of course, our blog. Our 4 days in Beijing and 3 days in Shanghai were action-packed, so much so that many of us are exhausted.
However, we weren't too exhausted to go out last night here in Bangkok. The cab coordinator misunderstood us and, instead of telling us the name of the bar district, he told us the name of a bar district that was...special...We were asked to go to many bars that we did not want to go to, and finally found a street stand at which to eat while we drank some beers we bought at a 7-11. it was, as i said...special...
Anyway, today, we went to the weekend market and all picked up a ton of souvenirs. i even have to ship some things home tomorrow to free up space in my bag.
Gotta go get ready for the concert tonight.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Still in Japan
Hey,
So we're still in Japan, where we have already been for 4 or 5 days. But I certainly haven't gotten tired of it. It's amazing here. Last night, after playing whales tales (a drinking game) on the train from Kyoto (where we had been just for a night) with sake sweat (see here: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9D%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A8%E3%83%83%E3%83%88 mixed with sake). It's actually quite delicious. When we arrived back in Tokyo, we proceeded to go out to a traditional japanese bar/restaurant, where, not only were we given unlimited drinks for 2 hours, but we were also fed. it was great. We ended up doing a tang wave and singing for the tables next to us. we didn't sound very good (see above about sake...we were all pretty well drunk), but it sure was fun.
Today, I'm hung over, but I'm excited because I get to go see Kabuki theater with my host family. It should be a ton of fun. After that, we are apparently going to a beer party in our honor, and going out for karaoke afterwards. Unfortunately, i'm in the lucky group that gets to wake up at 7 to sing for an elementary school tomorrow morning, but hey, small price to pay to be here.
So we're still in Japan, where we have already been for 4 or 5 days. But I certainly haven't gotten tired of it. It's amazing here. Last night, after playing whales tales (a drinking game) on the train from Kyoto (where we had been just for a night) with sake sweat (see here: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%9D%E3%82%AB%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B9%E3%82%A8%E3%83%83%E3%83%88 mixed with sake). It's actually quite delicious. When we arrived back in Tokyo, we proceeded to go out to a traditional japanese bar/restaurant, where, not only were we given unlimited drinks for 2 hours, but we were also fed. it was great. We ended up doing a tang wave and singing for the tables next to us. we didn't sound very good (see above about sake...we were all pretty well drunk), but it sure was fun.
Today, I'm hung over, but I'm excited because I get to go see Kabuki theater with my host family. It should be a ton of fun. After that, we are apparently going to a beer party in our honor, and going out for karaoke afterwards. Unfortunately, i'm in the lucky group that gets to wake up at 7 to sing for an elementary school tomorrow morning, but hey, small price to pay to be here.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Just posted 9 days worth of material!
I have finally updated my blog with recent photos and notes. Check it out!
So far, Japan has been spectacular, mainly because of our tremendous host families. I'm excited for our remaining days in Tokyo and Kyoto!
Cheers,
Elliot
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Japan
Hey all,
So, we're in Japan now. Our night in Sydney, as Joel described below, was pretty wild. I don't have much time because I have to get ready before brunch with my homestay family, but I'll put in a quick entry.
We're in the land of cultural traditions I don't understand. Yesterday, we sang a concert while people talked in front of us for about 20 minutes. It was confusing, and I didn't understand a word of it, but it seemed interesting and important.
Having said that, I love it here. Last night, we had an incredible night where they kept encouraging us to drink beer and whiskey after the concert, to the point where the majority of the Whiffenpoofs was comfortably drunk. It was a great night.
In general, this is the first stop of tour where I've felt like I'm on World Tour. I don't speak the language and there are a lot of things that happen here that make me say, "WHAT THE *#@%!?" Our homestays are incredibly hospitable and nice, and, even though Tokyo is a very difficult city to navigate (just try looking up how addresses work...oh and there are no street names...), they have made it as easy as possible for us.
Gotta run, longer update to follow.
So, we're in Japan now. Our night in Sydney, as Joel described below, was pretty wild. I don't have much time because I have to get ready before brunch with my homestay family, but I'll put in a quick entry.
We're in the land of cultural traditions I don't understand. Yesterday, we sang a concert while people talked in front of us for about 20 minutes. It was confusing, and I didn't understand a word of it, but it seemed interesting and important.
Having said that, I love it here. Last night, we had an incredible night where they kept encouraging us to drink beer and whiskey after the concert, to the point where the majority of the Whiffenpoofs was comfortably drunk. It was a great night.
In general, this is the first stop of tour where I've felt like I'm on World Tour. I don't speak the language and there are a lot of things that happen here that make me say, "WHAT THE *#@%!?" Our homestays are incredibly hospitable and nice, and, even though Tokyo is a very difficult city to navigate (just try looking up how addresses work...oh and there are no street names...), they have made it as easy as possible for us.
Gotta run, longer update to follow.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
How to succeed on tour without really sleeping
So we're in Sydney, Australia for basically an extended layover. I'm exhausted as I write this, having got no more than five hours of sleep for the last five days. I would say I'm running on adrenaline, but I think my body can't produce much more after New Zealand. Today, a group of us walked to Darling Harbor, got lunch, and saw a wide swathe of Australian wildlife at the Harbor Aquarium and Wildlife Experience. The main point I took away is that there are a fantastic array of Australian critters who can kill you, and they all do it in different ways. Even platypi are poisonous! We saw a huge bat eating a mouse while upside down from a branch, big lizards devouring crickets in their pen, and even a kangaroo (named Shredder) snarled at its keeper. Nature is red in tooth and claw.
Anyway, afterwards we walked up to the Bridge and Opera House, and dared Trevor to jump into the Harbor. He demurred. Now we're going to eat dinner and probably have a big night out despite our better judgment.
Deus vult.
Anyway, afterwards we walked up to the Bridge and Opera House, and dared Trevor to jump into the Harbor. He demurred. Now we're going to eat dinner and probably have a big night out despite our better judgment.
Deus vult.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Post/Comment!
Whiffs, post!
Others, comment!
I don't know if anyone even reads this thing.
Anyway, we're in Auckland. It's raining...a lot. It sucks. We were supposed to go to Rotorua today, where half the group was going to skydive while the other half zorbed: FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorbing.
It would have been awesome, but the rain ruined our fun. Apparently, it's supposed to rain tomorrow too. That means that today is a good day to get tour planning done. Jamie, Joel and I are going to try to get as much of it done as we can today, so if anyone has any important planning emails to send, send them today!
As for tomorrow, we're going to Waitomo to darkwater raft and see glowworms. Basically, we float down a cave-river on inner tubes and look at bioluminescent worm saliva. Gross/cool, huh?
One other thing I've noticed about New Zealand is that everything is poorly insulated and they leave doors open a lot, like in the coffee shop i'm in right now. Poor form, New Zealand. Not that a country where there are more sheep than people could have that huge a carbon footprint, but hey, it's actually kind of cold here.
So, yeah, back to tour planning. Hope all is well with anyone who reads the blog, a number that, for all I know, just includes my parents and Meghan.
Others, comment!
I don't know if anyone even reads this thing.
Anyway, we're in Auckland. It's raining...a lot. It sucks. We were supposed to go to Rotorua today, where half the group was going to skydive while the other half zorbed: FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorbing.
It would have been awesome, but the rain ruined our fun. Apparently, it's supposed to rain tomorrow too. That means that today is a good day to get tour planning done. Jamie, Joel and I are going to try to get as much of it done as we can today, so if anyone has any important planning emails to send, send them today!
As for tomorrow, we're going to Waitomo to darkwater raft and see glowworms. Basically, we float down a cave-river on inner tubes and look at bioluminescent worm saliva. Gross/cool, huh?
One other thing I've noticed about New Zealand is that everything is poorly insulated and they leave doors open a lot, like in the coffee shop i'm in right now. Poor form, New Zealand. Not that a country where there are more sheep than people could have that huge a carbon footprint, but hey, it's actually kind of cold here.
So, yeah, back to tour planning. Hope all is well with anyone who reads the blog, a number that, for all I know, just includes my parents and Meghan.
Whiffs sing on TV New Zealand
Apparently "poof" means something different to Brits and former colonies. WHAT?! Did anyone else know that!? IT's so amusing! It never gets old!!
I hope my punctuation conveys the appropriate level of sarcasm. Anyway, here's the link.
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/whiffenpoofs-perform-8-36-2772062/video
I hope my punctuation conveys the appropriate level of sarcasm. Anyway, here's the link.
http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/whiffenpoofs-perform-8-36-2772062/video
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