I heart New Orleans....my true love

I want to continue my blog, but don't know what to call my new blog. Should I start a new blog? Maybe I will just keep this one and modify the title. However, I am home and have been home for a couple of weeks. I love New Orleans that is what Japan taught me. Japan taught me to appreciate my partner, my friends, and my family. I loved seeing the world, but seeing the world without my partner is something I do not want to do. I believed I made the most of the experience. I traveled more than most and felt I really saw what I wanted to see and was ready to come home. I feel the experience was a great success. When I first got home, I was so relieved to be away from Japan that I could not see what the experience had taught me. Now after a couple of weeks, I am so fucking proud of myself for going. I did what I said I was going to do and traveled as much as I could. I can say I will miss Angela/Dave without them I do not know what I would have done. In September, when I got off the plane, I really thought I would be there like a week maybe two, but I stayed. I stayed in a place where I knew no one, did not speak the language, and had little in common with most people I met. I love that I went to Japan, but New Orleans and my partner are my soulmates. Thank you for those that followed my blog. It really helped with me feeling connected to home.

Best buddy and baby!!

I heart making people pose!

So cute in our ears!

Jessica sitting in her new chair at the parade

Monkey sunbathing during Mardi Gras

Endyimon 2009

Scooby B and Monkey!!

Mardi Gras 2009

On the back of the scooter with Mr. Phong

My first and only time at the circus. It made me sad....

Look at all the scooters

Elephant ear fish it was very fishy

Mekong Delta in Vietnam

Pagoda in Vietnam

The coolest thing I saw in Taiwan!

It's raining I think Japan is sad

In couple of hours, I leave for New Orleans. It is raining here maybe Japan is tearing up because it will miss me. However, I am excited for Mardi Gras!!! Today, I leave at 4 PM and get to New Orleans at 4:15. Would it be nice if it really only took 15 mins. to get from Japan to New Orleans? See you soon. I promise to put up my pictures from Vietnam and Mardi Gras.

I heart third world countries

On Thursday, I snuck out of work, got the base bus, and was off to the airport. The flight was fine. I watched a Righteous Kill, which was a very good movie. I got to Taiwan where I had a 12 hour lay over. I booked a hotel because before hand I knew I would not want to hang at the airport. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express which I was the nicest hotel I have stayed in while Asia. It was late when I got to Taiwan. I walked down the street, another place with no sidewalks and went to the 7/11. I did not think much of Taiwan, but at least I got the stamps in passport. Early the next morning, I took a taxi back to the airport and headed to Ho Chi Minh where I learned the people prefer to call it Saigon. I had to wait a long time for my visa, butit looks great in my passport. It was hot again not New Orleans not Vegas hot, but I guess what call only be described as Southeast Asia hot. I got in a taxi and saw the most chaotic driving situation I had ever seen. Imagine no rules, no one stops, no lanes, driving with and against traffic in the same lane. I really had never seen anything like it. My taxi ride to the guesthouse was 100000 dong or like 5 dollars. I was staying in the backpacker area and was nervous about my 15 dollar a night room. However, it was nice with a bed, bathroom, tv with hbo, a lot better than I expected. I unpacked my things and headed out to explore the city. As soon as I walked out of the hostel, I was approached by Mr. Phong whom was a scooter driver. We negotiated a price around 300000 dong or 15 dollars where I would have a driver for the day. I never had my own scooter driver. Anyway, he spoke minimal English, but told me his sister lived in CA and that made us family. I went with it. Anyway, he brought me to a Church (run down church that they are proud of), Pagoda (religious stuff), and the War Rememrants museum (which was sad and showed horrible pictures from the war and the after effects from the war). After the museum, I felt the need to apologize to Mr. Phong for America and he accepted my apology in exchange for lunch. We went to a local place where I was very concerned about not having nuts and not eating dog. We ordered beef with spices and pineapple with chili pepper both were very good. Mr. Phong was drinking beer which cost like 50 cents. I felt Mr. Phong could handle his liquor and was not worried about drunk driving here. I truly believe you have to grow up there in order to be able to drive in that. When I rode, I always looked up or out and tried not to notice the millions of people coming at us with their scooters. After lunch, I had him drop me off at the big market. The market sold everything food, souvenirs, clothes, and counterfeit goods. I got a Coach wallet that I swear looks like the real thing for 8 dollars. It was so hot there that I caught another scooter for like a dollar and went back to the guesthouse. On Saturday, I went on my tour to see rural life in the Mekong Delta. The tour picked me up and we drove about three hours to the Delta area. In addition, there were only four people on my tour and non were overly friendly. I was glad about that. We took a boat ride and explored the area. We went to one area where they were making food, tropical fruits garden, and lunch. It was a nice tour. However, on the way home, I saw someone on a scooter get hit by a van and there was blood everywhere. Apparently, 100 people die everyday on scooters in Saigon. On Saturday nite, I ate at another Italian restaurant and talked to the 80 yr old man from Australia whom had traveled all over the world, but never wanted to go to America. His wife of 33 yrs had died 3 yrs ago and he was here with his Vietnamese I guess girlfriend of 2 and half yrs whom had just dumped him. On Sunday, I had arraigned from Mr. Phong to take me somewhere locals go and he took me to this Amusement/Zoo/Park where they were only Vietnamese. Needless to say, I stood out and little children where pointing and running up to say hello and ran away when I responded. I have always thought of Big Eyes as a complement, but I am pretty sure it is not a complement here. After I had him drop me at the market, where I bought last minute crap, but got a massage for 12 dollars. That night I met Mr. Sydney for dinner and had the most boring dinner of my life. He rambled on and on and on and on. After, I went to bed and prepared for my journey home. Yesterday, I took every mode of transportation with a scooter to the airport, plane, bus, train, and taxi. I started at 8 AM and did not get to base till 1 AM. Today, I am so sleepy.

To Scooter or not to Scooter

That is the question? Well in just a couple of hours I will be getting on my flight to Taiwan. I really don't know much about Taipei. I am only going to be there for 12 hours. I got a hotel that is close to the airport. I will eat, sleep, and head back to the airport. I have really loose plans in Vietnam other than Saturday I am taking and all day tour to the Mekong Delta. I want to rent a scooter and drive to the beach, but I am scared maybe I will just rent on. However, I am hoping there is something I don't know about and will end up doing that. I know there are lots of spas and I am sure I will find my way to one. So wish my luck and hope I have no problems with my visa on arrival that I got on the Internet.

My blog.....

Blog, have I been neglecting you? According to my mother, I have and maybe I have. During the week, it is boring and routine. I wake up, go to work, try and take a nap at work, go to the gym, eat, go home, and repeat. I guess when I first got here I needed to document every detail of my life in Japan and now I don't. This weekend, I was sick again. On Friday, I was sick, third time in six weeks. I got subway and rented 30 Rock. I had never seen the show and it was so funny, Werewolf Bar Mitzah is my new favorite song. If you have not seen the show stop what you are doing and go rent it or buy it. I heart Tina Fey! Saturday was Angela's Birthday. I had gotten a bunch of her friends and husband to meet at Tomato/Garlic which none of them had been too. Everyone loved the food and I would say it was a huge success. After the restaurant, we went to karoke. Sunday, I went to brunch and hung around Angela's house. This week I am getting ready for my trip to Taiwain and Vietnam. I have my visa, I picked my tour (Mekong Delta tour), and trying to get Ash to meet me, but I dont think that is going to happen. I want to rent a scooter there, but I don't want to die.