Home Sweet Home?

After living in Japan for over three years, I'm not sure where home is, or if it even exists. For now, I'm settled in the high desert town of Flagstaff (pop. 60,000, elev. 7000 feet), not far from the Grand Canyon. Generally, I'm liking it here, though I do miss Japan. Anyway, this place is paradise for climbers, hikers, and cyclists. It boasts crags within ten minutes of town, hiking in the city itself, and endless miles of scenery that can be enjoyed on foot, bike, or by car. While I await the potential job call backs (keep your fingers crossed), I spend my days hiking, climbing, and reading some good books (I'm into "When Titans Clashed", a pretty intriguing account of the Germans getting mauled by the Red Army in WWII). Here are a few photos from a recent hike to Sedona, a land of red rock canyons about 30 miles south of here. Incidentally, I hope to get a job with the Forest Service down there....what an office.

If anyone wants to stop in for a visit or send a postcard, I'm at:



306 W. Forest Avenue, Apt. A
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
USA

Happy Holidays!

Retroactive Blogging Continues: Halloween

Halloween '06

I felt I needed to Church-it-up on this occasion. No time like Halloween to fight the Devil.

Father Tris and Sister Danny....we're so going to Hell.

Father Tris with Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson's piece. See how the cross glows? God likes handguns apparently.

Coming Home Slowly

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain


As some friends already know, I finished my Japan stint in early August, hung out there for another month, then went home the long way via Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and China. I could write some long, overly descriptive narrative of that amazing trips happenings, but instead I'll let brevity and the photos do all the talking. Well, I'll probably still write a lot.....

I was only in Taiwan for about 16 hours...enough time to see a few things in Taipei but nothing really worth writing about. Sorry to all those Taiwanese nationalists out there. I'm sure it's a cool place for those with the time to explore.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was where things really kicked off. I climbed a little bit at the Batu Caves with some local Malaysians. We also partied in the city at places most tourists never know exist. After a few days there I was really craving some nature, so I hopped a suicidal bus to the east coast of the peninsula and then took a boat to the Perhentian islands. Again, I'm not even going to dive into how spectacular this place was because the pictures will tell a better story. After three unreal days spent kayaking, snorkeling, and bouldering, I left the tropical paradise for the Cameron Highlands. Though touristy as can be, the hill country was a welcome respite from the heat and humidity of pretty much everywhere else in Malaysia. Two days and another bus ride later, I was back in KL. I visited an orchid garden and the National Mosque in the Lake Gardens Park. The very next day I flew south to Sabah, one of Malaysia's two Borneo states. I ended up in Semporna, a not so sparkling gem whose only real attribute is its proximity to the diving mecca of Sipidan. I spent another five unreal, surreal, days there, a large majority of which was underwater. I dived with giant sea turtles, white tipped and grey sharks, lion fish, schools of barracuda, several kinds of rays, about a billion different fish, and the occasional giant lobster or octopus. In the process, I managed to get my advanced open water diving certificate, another notch on the belt of living.

Here are the Malaysia and Borneo (diving) photo links:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/occam79/album/576460762347764748
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/occam79/album/576460762347755772

"Traveling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.'"
-Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

I left Malaysia on September 19 for Vietnam. Two years ago I visited the northern portion of this very long country with my buddy Dave (even though he's Canadian I still let him hang out with me). This time around I had the southern half in my sights. Unlike Malaysia, which has both traditional sightseeing and eco-tourism opportunities, most of souther Vietnam offers only the former. This was okay with me initially since I had gotten exhausted diving in Borneo and planned on two weeks of climbing in China. However, I soon found that the sightseeing required almost constant traveling, never staying in one place for more than 48 hours. Believe me, such is more exhausting than climbing most mountains, so I was and am less than psyched about my time in Vietnam. I did have some cool experiences, saw some interesting stuff, and met some great people from all around the world, but I'd much rather have spent my time in one place than in seven. Plus, the southern Vietnamese seemed to be much more aggressive when it came to hawking their goods than their northern cousins. Nice region, lots of history, great food, but the South is just not for a guy like me. I'm happy I went there and saw everything, especially the War sites, but even now I can't muster up the energy to ramble on about this portion of my trip. I'll bow out and let the photos take over:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/occam79/album/576460762347765909 (as a few photos will show, I did get in some hiking up in Dalat)

"Man always travels along precipices... His truest obligation is to keep his balance."
-Pope John Paul II


Two weeks of sightseeing left me hungry for some adventure, something slightly off the tourist track. China provided. I spent the first night there in a city called Shenzhen, which is right across the border from Hong Kong. The wild thing about China is that you can routinely enter a city you've never heard of even though it's larger than New York. Shenzhen is one of those towns. I didn't plan on staying there but a lack of bus tickets to my final destination left me no choice. I shared a room with another stranded backpacker, took in a few sites, and then jumped on the next evening's bus to Yangshuo. Known for its infinite karst limestone towers, Yangshuo has been a tourist hot spot and rock climber's dream every since the late Todd Skinner started bolting routes in 1993. I spent about 9 days climbing at several different crags with a southwestern good ol' boy named Doug and later Dr. Yoli from So. Cal. It was good times: wake up around 8 or 9, eat a big breakfast, cycle out to the rock, climb all day, maybe go for a swim in the river, cycle back dirty and tired, shower, eat some delicious home-cooked food at our guest house, watch a DVD, sleep, repeat. There's nothing better than going to bed dead tired with a stomach full of good food, knowing the next day will be just as satisfying as today. Makes you feel more productive than any job can.

I ended my China trip in Hong Kong where I got in a fight with Bruce Lee. He was pretty fast, but I feel that I won that battle. Also saw some interesting fung shui influenced architecture (same as for interior design, except that the building themselves must be in harmony), took a tea drinking class (apparently it's more complex than just pouring it down your throat), took in the night view from Victoria Peak, and heard a Dixie band which brought the house down.

All China photos are here: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/occam79/album/576460762347754895

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."
-Oscar Wilde


That's about all. I've been in the States since 10/20, still adjusting after three years living and traveling abroad, but overall I'm liking things. I hope the following turns out to be true:

"A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
-George Moore

Retroactive Blogging

It's been a while since I've written much. I only recently organized and labeled the photos from my 2 month Malaysia, Vietnam, and China trip. I've yet to write anything about that but intend to do so by the end of the month. There are also several posts from my jobless and final month in Japan and a Halloween photo or two that deserve to see the light of day. Expect some retroactive updates in the weeks ahead.

Recommended Climbing Sites

As rock climbing grows in popularity, so do the Internet sources pertaining to it. Yes, there is the ever famous rockclimbing.com, a site with links to climbing areas just about anywhere in the world, forums on every climbing topic imaginable, and some killer photos. But with size comes chaos and rc.com is a bit of a mess, making a nightmare out of navigating for specific issues or even finding the location of one's own past posts. The site also lacks the depth that it could have if more energy was devoted to specific climbing areas and routes as opposed to such topics as when to retire a rope. When looking for more detailed crag info, check out this new site:

www.mountainproject.com

This source, which is admittedly still being developed, has all the forums, photos, and crag info offered by rc.com minus the cluster. MP.com offers detailed crag info in an easy to understand format such as this Arizona spot: http://mountainproject.com/v/arizona/jacks_canyon/lost_world_at_jacks_canyon/105799753 .
Its coolest feature however is the user profile option. Anyone who so desires can create a detailed log of where they've climbed and what routes they've conquered. Here's one of my friend's pages: http://mountainproject.com/u/yoli/105861545?action=personalpage .....hope it's okay that I posted that Yoli....you rock Mad Dog!

Another easy-to-use and very helpful rock climbing-related source is http://www.climbinginjuries.com/. Like the modern classic "Snake on a Plane", this site delivers exactly what its address suggests and nothing more. Why bother searching through the forums of chockstone.com or rc.com when the three mostly common climbing injuries are catalogued at one place? Verdict: climb 'til you are injured (it will happen at some point.... that or you don't climb enough and should probably not quit your day job yet), and then exploit the hell out of this gem.

My final suggestion is hardly one I would call useful, but it is unique and it definitely puts the "R" in re-use. For what to do with your old and un-climbable rope, take a look at: http://www.roperugs.com/. Instead of just tossing his old ropes, this dude got creative and started making door mats out of them, a concept that makes perfect sense given how durable and long lasting our live lines are. He also make pet toys, leashes (I assume for dogs but to each his/her own), and Christmas wreaths. You can send him your own rope or order a product made from one of his. This entrepreneur definitely gets an "A+" for creativity, originality, and environmental sustainability.

Zombie Mannequin Holocaust

I often cycle in the hills outside of town. Like anywhere else in the world, "Hill People" tend to differ quite a bit from their townie brethren. Old cars blend with vines to become nesting grounds for God knows what, neglected kittens abound, and the homes are a little worse for wear. Even something as common-place as a scare crow-mannequin, may take on a frightening twist.

Look at that thing! It looks leperous. What happened to its fingers? Bitten off by another creature of the night no doubt. Let us hope that they don't become day walkers.

The Triumphant Return of Extraordinarily Ordinary

When you first arrive in a foreign country, you go through a honey moon sort of period where everything is extraordinary and little bad can be found. With time, a routine sets in and with it, the reality that every place has it's flaws. Those unique facets of life in Japan become mundane, easily passed over. The digi cam, the one you bought in Japan because this country supposedly has the best electronics on Earth (true, but all can be bought for the same or cheaper in the States), becomes tragically underused.

As I ready myself for greener pastures outside of Japan, the mundane has suddenly become novel yet again. If you don't believe me, look at the recent posts. Mannequin scare crows, gyoza.......no, I'm not bored, just nostalgic. I want to take a tangible record of the little things back home with me, something to look at down the road. So, I hereby launch part 1 in what is sure to be a half-assed series of Japan through the eyes of a confused foreign.

Behold! The effects of a shamelessly commercial society hopped up on a language they don't really understand:

Left- T-Shirt. I've heard a similar line used about Jesus. Instead, we here in Japan embrace Mule. He's just as good as Jesus and will carry your pack if you get tired while hiking the Grand Canyon.

Below- Hooded Sweatshirt. No comment needed due to a 10/10 rating on the bizareness scale.

Pencil Case. This is so cool I had to post the picture twice. Owned by an 8th grader who I'm sure doesn't smoke weed, nor even know what it is. I've seen senior citizens wearing sweatshirts covered with pot leaves here. Complete ignorance makes for trendy fashion I guess. Other great pencil cases that I've seen have said, "Your pretty face is going to hell", "When I die, bury face down so that the world can kiss my ass", and "Man made booze, God made weed.....who do you trust?". All belonged to junior high students who had no idea what their pencil case slogans meant. Classic Japan.