Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital, was a very sobering visit. Aside from blatant examples of sex trafficking and prostitution, Phnom Penh is also the site of the Killing Fields; one of several hundred locations in Cambodia where tens of thousands innocent civilians were brutally beaten to death by members of Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. These acts of genocide were carried out during 1975-1979... During which nearly 5 million Cambodians were systematically erased off the planet. After the Khmer Rouge were finally overthrown by Vietnamese troops in 1979, the Khmer Rouge retained presence and funding support for 10 years from countries such as Great Britain and the United States. A majority of the leadership of Khmer Rouge remain free, while a few select leaders still await trial, charged with crimes against humanity and genocide. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to inform themselves about what happened in Cambodia in the late 1970s. Some of the things I learned about in the Toul Sleung Prison and the Killing Fields tour would even make Adolf Hitler flinch.

While the somber nature of this city in repair brought about long faces and early bedtimes, we still got plenty of lighter moments, such as playing chess in a smoothie shop or watching the Buddhist monks' tunics flow elegantly from the Mekong river breeze.

Ankor Wat, Cambodia

A few more pics from the 12th century mystical temples of Ankor Wat, the largest remaining religious ruins site in the world... Or something like that. Either way, these temples were of magnificent scale. While tramping around these ancient temples it seemed we were only missing khaki safari hats and a British accent to get the full on 18th century explorer experience. Prior to leaving Seam Reap (town near the Ankor Wat site), I also enjoyed a bit of the local "snack" specialty (see last two pictures).

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Hello friends, family, colleagues and all the good people on The List,

I am obviously back at that backpacking thing. I will be mobile for the next two months and blog posts are hard to complete with such fun new experiences constantly surrounding me. Therefor.. I will be uploading only the most important items to my blog for the next month... Just pictures. Remember though... If you send a personal note my way I promise to reply.

Enjoy the images!

Christmas Shoppin' and Airport Hoppin'

I’ve got five different currencies in my pocket right now, and I need all of them.

And I’m heading home... just for a bit.

While I originally planned to stay and travel in China during my winter break (which started in December), I had a change of heart. Actually, I just came across good fortune. When a random, unnamed donor offers to pay for your flight back home to visit and surprise family for Christmas, it’s hard not to accept.

What a parade!

So, just this past week, I had to plan. A lot. Seeing as I am returning home for two weeks, then leaving January 10 for Thailand, Cambodia, and Hong Kong, I had to pack accordingly. Take that and then add in end of semester classes, Secret Santa gift exchange, money transfers, and Christmas gifts for friends and family… and… well, you get the idea. “Stress,” amongst other colorful, less innocent words, were a regular part of my vocabulary during past week. Before leaving Chongqing for what amounts to be about two months, I am surprised and thankful to say that I've tied up all loose ends.

I departed from Chongqing at 3:30p.m. on December 19, 2012, anticipating on spending the Mayan apocalypse in Hong Kong with the St. Olaf Global semester study abroad group. While the Mayan apocalypse never came around, lots of great times with Elise sure did. Our first day was spent around Europe-like Macau, a Porteguese settlement with a complementary mix of East and West influences. Aside from the obvious draw of gambling at THE VENETIAN, GALAXY, WYNN, and THE GRAND LISBOA, I found the streets of Macau to be a fascinating place to wander. In one day we came across several beautiful churches, a protest, a parade, and even ate Macanese food (e.g. baby pigeon).

hmm.. baby pigeon

“This is another one of those traveler moments,” I said to Elise as we skipped away from a fun view of the Macanese Independence day parade, “when you come across things and just get lucky.”

Our second day in Hong Kong was as fortunate as the first. By happenstance we spent the day with two Hong Kong natives, Marcus and Matthew, friends of one of Elise’s fellow students. They showed us around downtown Hong Kong (Central, Times Square, etc.) and took us to their favorite Hong Kong restaurants. They even accompanied us as we strived for the last of our Christmas shopping, showing us the places we could get the best deals. At the end of the day, they guided us back to the MPR (Metro Public Railway?) and bid us adieu. Elise and I both agreed that a day spent with locals in a city is even better than the best day at the city’s most famous tour stops.

Now, after my brief stop in Hong Kong, I am heading towards my fourth airport in the last week; Chicago, Ill. I have a very brief layover before I fly into Minneapolis, MN, get a ride home from Grandpa, and surprise my little sister for Christmas for the second year in a row. By the time this blog is posted, I will likely be enjoying the delectable feast made tirelessly by Mom. Although I’ve still got that travel bug bad, there’s nothing like being home for Christmas.

I’m around Minnesota till January 10. Give me a call if you can! I wish all blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Time Flies After Thailand

My Mom and Dad stayed here

Time Flies After Thailand

HOT POT!

I’ll admit, my blogging enthusiasm hasn’t been up to par in the recent month. This isn’t due to inactivity; rather, quite the opposite. After returning from spending a week with my family amongst the sun-soaked mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand, I returned to throw myself completely into a life of constant study. This has involved a disciplined yet reclusive routine. After completing classes, I would return to my apartment, flip on the space heater, scarf down a day old “Fat Sister” (fried rice from our favorite local street food vender), light up my cheap “Ocean Breeze” Chinese incense, turn on my study soundtrack (“Explosions in the Sky”), and crank out two hours GMAT, one hour Chinese. Tuesday and Thursday nights became long this semester, with Chinese night classes. Nevertheless, I completed my hour goals and caught up.. just waiting for Christmas season to make me behind again.

Riding an elephant

Thailand was a magical place. Pictures will do it better justice than will my words. Reuniting with my parents and sister was a blessing. For the first time in years, I was spending time abroad with one of my siblings. The fact that both of us are grown adults made it even more exciting. A couple of days in Bangkok were enough for visiting the incredible but repetitive Buddhist temples and shrines. I also got briefly familiar with Elise’s Global Semester crew, which made me reminiscent of my semester abroad in Ireland only three years ago (see www.thomasinireland.blogspot.com). After Bangkok, we experienced a 3-day stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern, culture-keeping city.  A mere three days led us to enjoy the delicious Thai food (think sweet AND spicy), visit several Buddhist temples including one with a live, living (maybe?) meditating monk, and a spectacular trek through Thailand’s jungles, each of us atop our own massive elephant. The experience was full, and our accommodations were as posh as could be. After spending months backpacking around twisting turning roads in Guatemala and embracing the dirty squatters of Chinese bar bathrooms, having a smooth Gin and Tonic poolside was a refreshing splash of reality in another way traveling can be enjoyed.

Old Duck Soup with Mom and Dad

Meditating, (e)motionless monk

Chinese Dishes with my Chinese Family

On a riverboat in Bangkok

Learning about elephants

A scene from the JUNGLE BOOK

The whole experience was topped off by a visit to “CAPTAIN JACK’S,” a high-scale seafood restaurant near our gorgeous in Bangkok. After regressing back to Bangkok from our return flight from Chiang Mai, we jumped on Sangri-La Hotel’s complementary boat ferry and made our way down the river to our five star meal. I ended up polishing off spendy but extensive seafood platter with Elise while we overlooked the river. Could anything had gone better? Well, maybe if Dad and I had remembered to wear PANTS… (we had to borrow quite a few pairs on the trip)

Chongqing Cold

Cliché… weather talk. Pardon my trite topic, but its been on my mind. Out of no where, Beibei has gotten brutally cold in the last few days… a shivering 7 degrees Centigrade (40 some Fahrenheit).

“Where is your Minnesota blood?” you may ask, “How can’t you still be in shorts now?” This kind of cold is different. Like Ireland (and some rather nippy days in the mountains of Cobán), it is a wet cold. Everything remains damp in Chongqing… year round. It is 10 degrees colder than Guatemalan temperatures, and, (the silent killer) there are no heated buildings. Our rooms have expensive-to-run space heaters that hang from the ceiling. Nevertheless, I’ve recently rearranged my room in order to feel the hot air blow on my shoulders as I sit at my desk. I have thought many times of my BVC comrades in the Bahamas… sometimes second-guessing  my choice to live within the confines of a cold, mountainous region rather than a warm beach.

I must say, however, that my current choice has not come without merit. My grasp of the Chinese language is very slowly but steadily coming into fruition. I find myself muttering Chinese phrases as I wake, and I now have a few sentences to memory. Characters are beginning to look more familiar, and understanding every fifth word in a Chinese sentence is still something I find encouraging.

Studying remains popular amongst our group this year... everyone is encouraged to learn more and more Chinese. I’ve been logging long hours of GMAT study as well, which is something I’ve come to enjoy. Finally after years of life as a college student, I find interest and incredible merit in academia.

One night I had a dinner with over 30 students! We filled 4 tables

Working a teaching job hasn’t been too much to handle. Every day I walk into work, I am greeted with a rousing cheer, “GOOD MORNING TOM!” Students go out of their way to say hello when I walk around campus. I have gone out to dinner with almost all my students, and I am constantly assured of my incredible persona. Need a confidence boost? Become an English teacher in China.

Recently, us foreign teachers went on an excursion to XiannuShan, a location near Wulong that touts the biggest natural land bridge in the world (see pictures below). The massive cliffs were  

amazing, and made me itch to get back on the road.

Teaching my students American games

That moment will come all too soon. This Saturday, I will pick up my Mom and Dad from Chongqing airport. They will enjoy a few days visiting Beibei, and then we will head over to Thailand to visit my sister in Bangkok. I look forward to sharing with all of you more photos and adventures from the road…

---

-The size of the Chinese “Army” that many politicians talk about may be a bit deceiving. During my first month here, all Chinese freshman students are required to be dressed up in military uniforms and instructed to march and stay at attention. This is their “freshman orientation.” While the sight of hundreds of Army green uniforms may look intimidating from afar, as soon as you get closer, you’ll notice hundreds of immature, giggling 18-year-old 105 lb little girls in military gear. Hardly threatening, I’d say.

I saw a Preying Mantis!

-Cars in China, because the most rich own them, are all very fancy.  Porsche, BMW, Benz, and Bentley are all too common status symbols.

-One of the very few miserable parts of living in China is enduring the “Squatter” toilets. Bathrooms are not bathrooms. They are glorified holes in the ground. Also… don’t forget to bring your own paper.