Back in NY

I got back to New York, just in time for the snow... Over the past week i have had the weirdest sensation on the tips of my ears, i believe its called "cold". Very strange, i haven't experienced anything similar for over 8 months.

Besides the cold, it is nice to be back in NY, with school and friends to keep me busy. I have been back a little over a week now, just trying to pull my life together in NY, with school, my apartment, and looking for a job. There hasn't been much excitement to update ya`ll about, nothing as adventurous as trekking through mountain villages or tropical beaches. The most exciting thing i have done recently (besides eat a Katz's cheesecake) was to go to the Whitney art museum, not much by comparison.

Below is a movie clip from my cousin Ari's AMAZING puppet show, with more on his web site. Enjoy!!!!

For What Its Worth
Uploaded by pfrband

At a Journeys End

I took advantage of a lay-over in Athens international Airport, on my way from Israel back to New York, to write the concluding entry of this chapter of adventure, travels doings since May 2006, when I left the States.

During this time, I have traveled to many places, seen many things, met varied and interesting people, fulfilled many a dream and experienced so much, words fail to summarize aptly. How can I sum up the events of the past 8 months, 4 continents, 10 countries, 2 Passports, 1 war, 1 coup, and 0 canings from Singapore? It may sound cliché, but its bee a Long Strange Trip. While the past few months have born enough excitement to last a lifetime, I have a feeling that it’s not over yet, with the best yet to come.

Lewis Carroll composed the below poem as the preface of Through the Looking Glass, which I feel to be appropriate, as I end my long summer and return to the New York winter.

“Without, the frost, the blinding snow,
The storm-wind’s moody madness –
Within, the firelight’s ruddy glow
And childhood’s nest of gladness.
The magic hwords shall hold fast;
Thou shalt not heed the raving blast.

And though the shadow of a sigh
May tremble through the story,
For “happy summer days” gone by,
And vanish’d summer glory –
It shall not touch with breath of bale,
The pleasance of our fairy-tale. "

Some more pictures of Lao and Vietnam (Part I & Part II) can be accessed by clicking on the links.

I spoke too soon

Well after some nagging and questioning, I found a memory card reader, so here are some more picts and photos from Vietnam.

After Sapa, i went down to Ha Long Bay, took a boat tour around the islands, and stayed for several days on Cat Ba Island.

Unfortunately, i wasn't able to upload any movies, sorry :(Below are some photos around the island, can you guess which one is from Monkey Island?

Correction...

One of my loyal readers pointed out that the 2nd movie clip i forgot is of mua roi nuoc - Thanh Long, or otherwise known as the Vietnamese water puppet show. I saw their show in Hanoi out of curiosity, since i did not know what water puppets were, and due to my family connection to puppetry, felt i must find out. Although the hall was filled with tourists, it was very interesting and very complex. It was also ridiculously cheap, costing less the $2, which made the whole thing much more enjoyable :)

I'm back in Hanoi for 2 days, after a relaxing time in Halong Bay, before I head back to Bangkok, and from there Israel, and finally back to NY. I would upload more photos/movies, but although the email here is fast and free, they don't have a memory card reader, so I cant :(

My loyal readers will have to wait for more to come, and don't worry, there will be....

Rambilin` Man

If a picture speaks a thousand words, I'm sure a movie can do much more. So instead of posting some more picts below find some movies i took on my great camera, from travels. I will try to post more, but the Internet has been problematic in Vietnam.....

Lao


I attempted to enter Vietnam from Lao at a border point that was not really meant for tourists. In fact only Lao/Viet` nationals are allowed in, so they turned me back. There were no buses to the border (hint hint), so i hitched a ride on the back of a truck, and saw some of the most amazing scenery in Lao.






A little bit embarrassing, I don't remember what this vid` shows, since i posted it several days ago.... I'm sure its self explanatory

Sapa - Northern Viet`





I reached Sapa right after New Years in Hanoi. The 1st day there I rented a motor-bike and took it all around, on an amazing sunny day (i got sun burnt...) The next day it was a little more cloudy, but the during the following 2, a cloud moved in, and didn't move. It was rainy, with visibility of about 5m. Only then did i appreciate how lucky i was to see the views i did when i could, since the weather is usually like that or worse.

that's it for the mean time loyal fans.....