Hong Kong and Greater Area (2/26 -3/1)

After 29 hours of flying and airports I got into Hong Kong Thursday morning. Once I had my bearings, I headed off to a hostel in Lantau hoping for vacancy - no worries I was the only one there that night! I toured the world's largest bronze Buddha and visited the "wisdom path". I have pics and descriptions in the pic sections (I haven't figured out how to get photobucket to display the descriptions, yet...). The Buddha area got very touristy in the middle of the day - mostly Chinese tourists. I hiked up to Lantua Peak (934 m) only to find I never saw a soul. Between sweeping clouds (and maybe some Hong Kong smog too) the views were fantastic. I returned to the town to find it nearly deserted and was able to get a lady to sell me some ramen before she closed her store, as the hostel had no food (or people). I spent a very, very quite night in Lantau and then headed out early to catch the ferry to Hong Kong Central.

Im staying in the Kowloon district - very touristy. I got a room in Chunking Mansion, which I promise is anything but a mansion! It is 15 floors of sketchy guesthouses. I actually got a nice room but have yet to figure out what is in the several large bundled packages that African and Indian guys keep moving in and out of the building. For example, my room tonite will not be ready until they empty it of the taped-up boxes and duffle bags stacked to the ceiling - very odd. I don't ask questions.

Anyway the city is like a dirtier NYC with a wider variety of stinches and zero logic in the street layout - surprisingly though, the transportation here is great! This afternoon i'm hoping to find the meet up place of a Welsh hash group. Apparently, it is St. David's Day and I need to find some leeks (?). Tomorrow I think I will head to China - not sure where yet.

More pics to come from Hong Kong and JT.

Prepping for 4 Months

Ok, I would be lieing if I said i did not have a little of anxiety about this trip. But I already bought the flight tickets - I am committed now! Part of the anxiety stems from a general lack of planning on my part. Essentially, I have found in the past that planning for these trips is somewhat worthless. While it is helpful to be acquainted with things you might want to see, it is generally impossible to anticipate following a route for these long, budget-minded trips. Moreover, a regemented itinerary takes away from the reward of the unknown and unexpected. In terms of general preparation, that too seems like it is lacking, because there really is not too much to do! However, I ran across a buddy's buddy's website who is doing a similar trip. He listed what he brought. I found it helpful, so I thought I would build off that. Here's my prep:

Visas
China Visa ordered from embassay - $165
All other visas will be purchased at border
Hong Kong and South Africa - No visa requirement

Meds ($265)
Oral Typhoid
Oral Malaria (Lariam, I think)
Heb B #3 followup shot
Yellow Fever shot

Flights (~ $3000)
RDU (02/20) --> Vegas
Vegas (02/25) --> Hong Kong
Beijing (04/07) --> Cape Town
Dar es Salaam (06/11) --> RDU

Insurance
Flight and Health (~$300) thru Flight booking agency

Funding Means
2 Credit Cards
2 Debit Cards (different PINS)
$500 Traveler's Checks
$1000 Cash (hidden in 3 different places)

Stuff (~23 lbs)
1 Convertible pants, 1 khaki pants, 1 khaki shorts, 1 running shorts
1 gortex shell, 1 fleece
2 t-shirts (grey of course!), 1 button down, 1 polo
1 capilene light underpants and shirt
3 "traveling boxers" (don't ask)
2 wool sock pairs and 1 running pair
1 flip flops, 1 light gortex trail shoes
1 pack towel
3 lonely planet travel books, 1 journal, 2 reading books, 1 pocket English-Chinese dictionary
1 mp3 player and 1 digital camera (17 GB memory)
1 pen, 1 mini flashlight
1 pack hammock (doubles as bedbug protector)
1 roll TP, other toiletry stuff
1 small daybag
1 pack of water treatment tablets
1 pair binoculars
1 copy of passport and flight etkt numbers

Joshua Tree Jaunt (02/20/09 - 02/25/09)

A five day trip to the great southwest desert was kicked off in Vegas with my buddy Mike and three acquiantances, soon to be good friends, Rick, Jay and Aaron. We rocked out Vegas, the best way five quasi-health conscious nerdy guys can: we drank marginally and took the house for $80. The next morning we packed up our rented Sienna (aka: dream on wheels!) to the brim - honestly it was a little embarrassing to see this much stuff accompanying this few dudes, but we didn't care, we were already in a minivan.

Following a tour through the mojave desert (see blog title background pic) we broke camp in Joshua Tree. We were entertained with Jay's fireside mandolin covers from the likes of Gillian Welch to Elliot Smith while we dined on steak-veggie medley - my favorite camping "dish".

Day one on the rock taught us about induction periods. That is to say we were met with some unforseen challenges: 1) Joshua Tree primarily consisted of trad routes, for which we didn't have the equipment, 2) Most of the routes were underrated - nobody wants there first ascent pride to be "downgraded" and 3) bouldering was less prevalent than we hoped. For example, take note of the giant Don Juan boulder shown here. We didn't bring boldering pads big enough for this "boulder".

Day two was about the importance of an induction period. Coming out strong we hit a sloping friction 5.8 route. Rick ran lead, laid the top rope and we all completed our first JT roped climb of about 70 or 80 feet. After a little boldering, Jay scoped us out a great "5.9" called the crypt on tombstone rock. Unbeknownest to us, this was the rock to make our whole trip worthwhile. Kudos Jay. Mike ran lead (check out photoalbum) while we all held our breath. I then followed on top rope. I was a bit shaky as the drop off looked nasty. But, after conrolling my nerves, i made it to the top and can say hands down was the biggest thrill of my life.

The next day we approached headstone again, but having become acclimated to the precipitously balanced rock we were able to climb two new routes. It was all quite a rush, and needless to say I think have found my new hobby. Mike, Rick, Aaron and Jay, next trip?

We lit out of JT tuesday afternoon and hit up a room for a little less than $70 at Bill's on the strip. And as Jay liked to say, "I like to think of all expenditures in terms of fifths"; that is the room cost ~ $14 a person. Later, we hit up the casinos a bit. Mike and I are suckers for roulette and Jay was on blackjack. The house immediately took me for $50 buck, but after 2 hours of free High Life I clawed my way back to +$10 (not counting High Lifes) - I won. Here's to bufoo.

The next morning, we all parted ways. I sent off my camping gear and 'unnecessaries' via UPS. It cost $105 - ouch! They charged me $35 for "packaging and handling" - being that they are a "shipping" company, you would think that would be included. That is what they do - "packaging and handling"! Anyway, next time - Fedex! However, feeling much lighter on my feet I was ready to go - next stop: Hong Kong.

Some Time to Kill

Ok, so I finished graduate school back in December. I don't put my nose to the grindstone until July, which means I have some time to kill and some savings to deplete. So here begins a little more than a four month hiatus: 5 days in Joshua Tree National Forest searching for some rock climbing skills, followed by 6 solo weeks in China and about 2 months in south eastern Africa likely traveling with one or two acquaintances. Please read at your leisure and leave comments whenever you feel so inclined.