Hong Kong

I'm currently in the Cathay Pacific executive lounge in the Hong Kong International Aiport.

After having to book an extra flight to Phuket via Bankok and waste $200. My proceeding flight was canceled.

So basically I was screwed because my flights were through two different airlines.

BUT... Cathay Pacific Hooked me up. They booked my onward travel for tomorrow, and to make up for me losing my nonrefundable flights, hotel room, and private driver (yeah I know), they gave me a hotel room, dinner and figured out all of my return flights. AND... they let me use the executive lounge so I could "print out my itinerary." And I also decided to upload photos and update my blog. (Thanks Pacific Cathay for being too polite to kick me out)

Well, that's where I am now, in a very nice travel lounge with a few rich business people having to smell my travel stink and put up with my loud typing.

So, when I first arrived in Hong Kong, I was jet-lagged, excited, tired, and in some ways already homesick. I checked into my hostel and it was pretty much trashed, and full of cigarette smoke. (for those that dont know, I quit smoking for eight months and briefly relapsed). But, the people in the room were extremely friendly and offered me a beer and food as soon as I walked through the door.

Late night spicy garlic noodle after checking in.

The morning after my arrival. The roomies, four Navy guys and a Swiss girl, smoking cigarettes in the room. (At least they did it by the window)

Fresh OJ is the cure for jet lag.



Hong Kongs party district, Lan Kwai Fong. It's actually more crazy than it looks. Very loud, lots of crazy smells. Many drunk tourists. The navy guys dragged me out and said the first rounds were on them. It turned out they really meant it, and all four of them bought a round. There were some amazing bands, as good as I have seen anywhere.

I saw this drunk guy get hit by this cab. He was 65 and inebriated. He seemed OK, my diagnosis is a petela contusion... and a bruised ego. 

 This photo was taken the moment that I was blessed by a monk. He also put a bracelet on my wrist and help out his offering bowl. I kicked him down a cool $100HK for the trouble.

Combine lack of sleep, the time change, dehydration, general jet lag, and taking every shot the Navy guys kept buying me, and this photo shows exactly how I'm feeling. But I made it back in one piece, if even if a little worn for the wear.

The next morning I walked the streets, trying to make the most of a photo opportunity.

Chinese Bacon! The worlds most crazy spicy crazy delicious pork treat!  It was too good and too spicy.

Apparently cats in China look "Asian"

Except Cheshire Cats of Course. (there was a crazy alice in wonerland festival that I did not understand, but was strange and cool anyway)

This was in the middle of a very busy intersection and backed up foot traffic for blocks.

Tourist stuff. Hong Kong Harbor.

The Symphony of the lights. Do roof top lazers remind you of a movie?

According to signs and billboards, Hong Kong is "Asia's World City." I would have to agree that Hong Kong is world class. Excellent transportation, so many attractions and safer than most big cities in the USA.

I really like Hong Kong, hopefully I will be able to come back here again someday on transit to another amazing destination in SE Asia.

Thank you Cathay Airlines for the free hotel room, exclusive lounge access, and excellent tea!

My next blog update will be from Thailand. (once I get some photos and find a computer to upload them) Stay tuned for more.

Vancouver B.C.

Currently in Vancouver B.C. The past 24 hours have been a bit of a whirlwind. Yesterday I drove five hours from Eugene Or to Seattle airport to pick up Sheena. Then we drove three more hours to Vancouver Canada.

We stopped for free coffee at this Casino in Northern Washington after midnight. Not only did I get free coffee, I also got to see this orca in the moonlight. After free coffee and taking the casino for $16 on the  roulette table, we got out of there. Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

Here's the border crossing, a bit dead but as to be expected at 1:00am on a Sunday. Canada, Eh?

After checking into our relatively cheap and extremely small hotel room, we the decided to check out the Vietnamese Spicy Noodle place across the street. After much miscommunication with the sweet but engrish challenged server, we ended up with a Banh Mi and a family sized bowl  of sweet and sour prawn soup. Note the look on Sheenas face and the size of the bowl. (It is 3:00am in this photo)

It had some rather unfamiliar vegetables floating around in it, and when we asked what it was the server replied, "it is the most expensive vegetable." We were quite impressed but also a little bit skeptical. After a bit of google research we found out the vege is also know as elephant ear or bac ha. Very nice texture and absorbed the delicious broth. Overall an interesting and delicious dining experience.

The next morning, (today) we got up and hit the streets of Vancouver. We checked out the city a bit via city bus and ended up at the Vancouver Aquarium. Here's a photo of Sheena and "Daisy" a porpoise with a purpose. 

Jellyfish have no brain, eyes, mouth, nose, or ears. But somehow they survive and also look pretty kool on a blue backdrop.

We got free admission into the aquarium's 4D theater, which was awesome. The seats shake and spray you with cold water and poke you in the back and make you think a shark just attacked you. It was fun, but no cameras were allowed, so no photos.

After the aquarium we went to china town and walked around and finally ended up at the House of Dosas (their website is a joke) for some non-stop $5.99 dosa action (monday night is customer appreciation night). The food was really good especially the soupy stuff you dip the dosa into.

A bottle of wine later I'm back at the hotel preparing to fly to Hong Kong in the morning. Vancouver is fun, rainy and cold, but awesome nonetheless.  The next time I update this I should be in Hong Kong. Goodbye America! Goodbye Canada!

Finally Packed!

 

Here's my backpack. It's full of stuff. If you are curious of what I'm taking, you can check out my listmania.

 I embark on my around the world journey today... (link to itinerary map)

First stop, Beautiful Vancouver in British Columbia Canada.

More Photos to come!

Pre-Trip: Me and My Inspiration

My name is Daven. I am a recent OSU graduate and about to embark on an around the world trip.This is my first post, and later posts will be loaded with photos and other cool stuff.

My trip will cover 4 continents, at least 7 countries and will last 35 days. See a map of my rough itinerary here.

My travel style is to pack light, and travel as cheaply as possible. I bring one carry-on sized backpack for clothes and keep my gadgets down to just a compact camera and a wristwatch. I usually stay at cheaper hostels, and will also be sending out requests to stay with local people in a few of my destinations through websites like The Couchsurfing Project.

People who know me know that I love the outdoors and I love to travel. I have a huge interest in outdoor recreation, global cultures, and the tourism industry in general. An around the world trip is something that I have always wanted to do, and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

This whole idea started a few months ago when I signed up for a credit card deal that gave me 100,000 free British Airways miles. Yes, 100,00 miles. Yes, free. (sorry if you missed it, but the offer was short lived)

Long story short, after getting the 100,000 miles in my account, British Airways announced they are discontinuing the Executive Club, so I had to book my around the world ticket before the first of November.

I couldn't get the exact itinerary I wanted, but I was able to book an around the world trip with 110,000 airmiles. Needless to say I'm very stoked!

The taxes and fees were very reasonable too. I ended up paying $915, total out of pocket for my around the world ticket! Some quick math tells me that the BA credit card offer ended up giving me over $3400 in free flights!!!

I can't wait to start planning the details of the trip. So far only my flights are booked, and even for a "go with the flow" type of traveler, I'm feeling a bit anxious to do some research and book a few hostels before I leave in only 8 days.

Currently in Beuatiful Bend Oregon about to drive back the Willamette valley in the Morning.

Lots more updates to come including photos.