Finally in Osaka

My trilogy of Osaka posts is now complete. I’m writing this in Osaka and I’m exhausted. I spent all of today walking around Nara and Horyuji with a far too heavy camera bag. I had to carry stuff with me I normally wouldn’t have because my room situation was in flux. Rooms in Osaka have …

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Off to Gyeongju

After resting in Busan for two days, I’m off to Gyeongju. Gyeongju is a historic down in Korea and has two World Heritage Sites. I’ve been staying at Zen Backpackers in Busan, which is different than most places I’ve stayed in that it is an apartment on the 29th floor of a high rise building. …

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Onward to Hanoi

It has rained almost non-stop since I’ve been in Hue. Yesterday the rained stopped and I finally got the chance to go visit the Citadel and former grounds of the royal palace. It was sort of anti-climatic given how long I had to wait to go see it. The royal palace isn’t an ancient structure. …

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Twisted in Phuket

I’m in Phuket for another day (maybe two) because I twisted my ankle yesterday. Its really swollen, but I don’t think any serious damage was done. I can put pressure on it and even stand on one foot without pain. I’m limping much faster than I did even earlier this morning. I just can’t flex …

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Bali Ho!

Today was a pretty interesting experience. I hired a driver for the day and explored Bali. I got to see some traditional Bali houses, a Bali ceremonial dance, had wild monkeys sit on my head, ate lunch overlooking a volcano and a lake, and got dressed up in traditional Bali garb to visit the Mother …

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Slaying the Dragon

I’m having a hard time finding a reasonable tour to Komodo National Park. Everything out of Bali requires at least two people and if you go alone you have to pay an arm and a leg. I’m seriously considering just flying to Flores and doing some sort of tour from there. It should be much …

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Safe in Baguio

I’m finally out of Manila and in Baguio, which is higher, wetter, cleaner and safer than Manila. The ride up was interesting and the landscape near Baguio is very beautiful. I now need to figure out how to get to the rice terraces and Vigan. I should have a longer post on Manila up shortly. …

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Merry Kiritimati

Well, once again I didn’t get to Macau. Christmas day, however, it is going to happen. I know this because I have tickets booked. Today, by the time I got to the ferry terminal (I slept late. my room has no sunlight) the ferries were booked for several hours. I said screw it and just …

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(Literally) Stuck in Penang

If you haven’t been watching the news, there are political protests going on in Thailand right now. The protesters in Phuket took over the airport and train station, which means I am sort of stranded in Penang for at least another day. Even Bangkok is shut down, so that isn’t an option either. I’ve contacted …

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