tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46917813612912163812024-03-19T10:18:17.255-07:00The Travelling 'ToonistA travel blog by Cartoonist and Illustrator John Steventon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-72125570478516868802012-08-03T15:22:00.001-07:002012-08-03T15:22:30.959-07:0010 States in 10 Days! Part 1: The North<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, after the two weeks of driving across America that I've just had, I just had to post here again! I drove from the top of the country to the bottom, not east to west, but still quite an accomplishment, and quite a bit to see.<br />
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Overall, I spent time in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and finally into Florida, and hit most of those places for a second time.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Lake Shore Drive, where you can picnic on the grass, walk along the lake </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">o either Navy Pier ( in the distance) or to the museums, catch a boat ride, or just hang out.</span></div>
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I actually started in Ohio, went through Indiana, to Chicago Illinois where it was, like the rest of the country this summer, hovering around the 100 degree mark. In Chicago, I visited the Shedd Aquarium for the first time, to see the baby dolphin there. I have to say that it was a lot of money to spend a day at the aquarium, and I didn't even see all the shows there. It is a nice place, but the Field Museum next door was a lot more reasonable, especially for eating. I guess dinosaurs can pay for themselves better than sea creatures can. Both places are worth the visit... the beluga whales at the aquarium were fun to see, and some of the sharks are amazing. And that baby dolphin was a blast. (I'll be posting a video of him swimming with his mom. I'l place the link here when I do) :0)<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Beluga putting on a show at the Shedd Aquarium.</span></div>
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I must say that I was skeptical about Chicago style pizza, especially after seeing pics of the stuff on the hotel local tv channel. I love a good New York style, and regret often that Ohio just does not offer a good pizza, except for the rare exception (Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is my favorite here). Fortunately, I was in for a nice surprise; I actually liked the Chicago style, and it's unusual crust. <br />
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After a couple of days in the hot and windy city, I went an hour north to Waukegan, Illinois for a couple of days, which led me up
into Wisconsin for an afternoon, to visit the Jelly Belly factory tour. I'm not even crazy for jelly beans or belllies, but I must say that their cocktail collection of jelly bellys are very tasty!<br />
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From both Waukegan and Chicago I had some amazing views of Lake Michigan, and some of it's lighthouses. There wasn't much to see in Waukegan, but they do have a small stretch of sandy beach with a view of two lighthouses and tons of seagulls. After a short visit, I headed slightly south, passing through Chicago and into Indiana. I wanted to do more in Indiana than just fill up the car, so I decided to visit the Indiana Dunes State Park. The park looks awesome, but they do want $15 for the day, which is a bit too much to spend for just stopping by. Fortunately, I asked at the Indiana Dunes visitors center, and was directed to Mount Baldy, the last of the dunes that you can actually climb upon.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The beach on Lake Michigan, in Waukegan, Ill. </span></div>
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This brought visions of a massive pile of sand with people climbing up and sliding down, but this was not exactly the reality. As I parked the car there really was a wall of sand before me, at least 40 feet high, but there was a fence in front of it, and signs explaining that the dunes are moving, and won't survive if people keep climbing on them! After a few moments of "What the-?" I decided to follow a sign that lead down the road a bit, and I think it mentioned a beach, so yeah, let's go. Turns out we really did get to climb the dune, but a part of the dune with a path cut into it, and the part of the dune overgrown with sassafras and larger trees and shrubs, so it was like climbing any other hill, just with a slippery sandy slope. A tough climb, but well worth it! At the top you can see Lake Michigan spreading before you, and reaching out to forever, with large white capped waves and a sandy beach at the bottom of a rickety wooden staircase. It looked and felt like visiting the ocean, but with a slightly different feel to it.<br />
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If you look to the right, though, you see this giant power plant smokestack that looks like a nuclear reactor taking up part of the sky line. A park ranger told me it is a coal burning plant and that all that smoke is just water vapor, so just look left and enjoy, :0)<br />
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The beach was stunning, and seeing the dunes behind us was amazing. I watched an awesome sunset begin, but then had to get going after too short of a break. Then it was hours of driving back to Ohio, where there was time to do some laundry before getting back in the car and heading south.<br />
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More on that next time in Part 2, so please stay tooned!<br />
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JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-52866414937539619432009-10-15T06:47:00.000-07:002009-10-15T07:18:10.801-07:00Washington, DC... in 5 Hours?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJJByKamMogFBEY3G9dE2HgZLeAmdSKNtBI69KFoV26-4AfLrUyX5vOD6awlMRPyZseVR0W4453XfW0-U6xXaWvfw0CthxHAS51BnjxJ81jLUHx1Kqzx55CTihyphenhyphenq49ig898aSNsWiSvc/s1600-h/whitehouse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJJByKamMogFBEY3G9dE2HgZLeAmdSKNtBI69KFoV26-4AfLrUyX5vOD6awlMRPyZseVR0W4453XfW0-U6xXaWvfw0CthxHAS51BnjxJ81jLUHx1Kqzx55CTihyphenhyphenq49ig898aSNsWiSvc/s320/whitehouse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392830619500650738" /></a><br /><br />Is it possible to do Washington DC in one afternoon? The answer is no, of course, but then again, if you're nearby enough to pop in on the train, there is plenty to see and do in a few hours, and the experience can be quite rewarding.<br /><br />After the Baltimore Comic-con, I stopped in Silver Springs Maryland for the night, and the next day took the metro to the Smithsonian stop in Washington. I had to change trains twice, but things went pretty smooth, and it was only 20 minutes or so until I was standing within an area surrounded by the Smithsonian Museum buildings, and gazing over at the Washington Monument.<br /><br />Now, being there for the afternoon, I had to prioritise, so standing in line was out. It was well worth it just to walk around the Washington monument, tilting my head back ever minute or so to see just how high it is, and looking for the secret inscription that Dan Brown mentions in his new book. From there it was a short walk to the Lincoln Memorial, with several other memorials to see along the way.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkLRSc_zJjGusjLjUTZV2xLnHDqhS6xdq5r7jWK9WN9GcETWlbytjB-7v6nojJP4tXbuOmfefiuvY6-A5wFxZfSrArfzSdvutQFQbp4LQvw5curw1u3RvC8JtKnAXThhlu0k3-hEl8EQ/s1600-h/monuments.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkLRSc_zJjGusjLjUTZV2xLnHDqhS6xdq5r7jWK9WN9GcETWlbytjB-7v6nojJP4tXbuOmfefiuvY6-A5wFxZfSrArfzSdvutQFQbp4LQvw5curw1u3RvC8JtKnAXThhlu0k3-hEl8EQ/s320/monuments.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392830740411077458" /></a><br /><br />The biggest disappointment so far was that big long pool of water you see in all the movies, including Logan's Run, where it was full of weeds from centuries of neglect. In reality, the pool looked a LOT like it did in Logan's Run, having green water that was overflowing in places onto the dirt path that followed alongside. Stick to the sidewalk about 20 meters away is what I recommend, although I stuck to it and followed the pool all the way to the steps. Looking left you can see the Jefferson Memorial, by the way, and turning around you can sometimes spot the Capitol Building in the distance, behind the Washington Monument.<br /><br />See how much we've seen already?<br /><br />The Lincoln Memorial is awesome in it's own sobering way, and definitely one of the monuments worth going in and walking around for a bit. Take time to read Lincoln's words on the walls, and to just stand there gazing up at the man himself.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKDz8eFKkMzp9XmT83wSgsQp-hmZ0Imaa7eElA5BLkXWvnA9rXqzcG1b7s2tbjIUx20h0mGVE0C5P_RIb1vPTtSfrSNoX14tqH5Im2wOWAhm-3BBXkxW3ogzsguo0EcYzbE5bAZuU3g0/s1600-h/lincoln.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKDz8eFKkMzp9XmT83wSgsQp-hmZ0Imaa7eElA5BLkXWvnA9rXqzcG1b7s2tbjIUx20h0mGVE0C5P_RIb1vPTtSfrSNoX14tqH5Im2wOWAhm-3BBXkxW3ogzsguo0EcYzbE5bAZuU3g0/s320/lincoln.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392830209243914882" /></a><br /><br />I then walked back to the Smithsonian making a slight detour east to see the Whitehouse, which unfortunately had a big white tent in front of it, marring the view. It just didn't seem worth going any closer since there was no time for a tour, so back across the park under the Washington Monument, and back to the Smithsonian.<br /><br />Once there, there were many options from Art museums, an information Castle where Mr. Smithson is interred, the Air & Space Museum, and the Natural History Museum. I love Natural History Museums, and was curious to see how much the Night in the Museum resembled it, so spent my few remaining hours there, where I saw a LOT of cool stuff, and even learned a few things. Highly recommended, especially if you have kids. Be warned, though, that food inside is expensive, but good, and the gift shops are marked up considerably. Still, you gotta buy something while you're there. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoUeCm7H1tCFT3srkE9ZOb8rFbZA891wZrUe6SNOcWsDRZADXhmEO2nHoB6WkdIZXlqfthsIw_acRuVPOu-4BQeaWF1Opt2BlUs4krAvoEa0MqDLpuVMKTMc1Wc5RFCGwatF_6GKFyro/s1600-h/smithsonian.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoUeCm7H1tCFT3srkE9ZOb8rFbZA891wZrUe6SNOcWsDRZADXhmEO2nHoB6WkdIZXlqfthsIw_acRuVPOu-4BQeaWF1Opt2BlUs4krAvoEa0MqDLpuVMKTMc1Wc5RFCGwatF_6GKFyro/s320/smithsonian.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392829763490199666" /></a><br /><br />After that it was another short train trip back, and then into the car for the ride home. A very good afternoon, indeed, walking amongst our nation's history, and seeing close-up all those things you see in the movies, which is really what travel is all about, isn't it? Experiencing life first-hand.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIWnLhap5xtkqwayTxqJdutxxbn37HafJ0vvdmuXLQax-CVyaQZaFdJI6MdHNLC-e9gwoA2CcN42gvjFvBRBBkDNyzOhTsn2meM_3qCazkd5lwH8KXCtAIg8svkNfmBTNvy02mJo3wPA/s1600-h/gumgum.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidIWnLhap5xtkqwayTxqJdutxxbn37HafJ0vvdmuXLQax-CVyaQZaFdJI6MdHNLC-e9gwoA2CcN42gvjFvBRBBkDNyzOhTsn2meM_3qCazkd5lwH8KXCtAIg8svkNfmBTNvy02mJo3wPA/s320/gumgum.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392829445929942386" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-4214007217568475722009-08-14T06:04:00.000-07:002009-08-14T06:08:04.036-07:00Drawing the Line<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVJn6C9vuQEiG0Kdfk7-p2cit7NuitG0VADbyeljWf9LB955KFwCELk7vBwuSRo4xXk-c-DeywUkOB-3fSQE5-9sOoE6G_3q6XzldB2NgMbpkEuiwsWibSZEpwJtobp7HqGNIb1T-2k4/s1600-h/earthworks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVJn6C9vuQEiG0Kdfk7-p2cit7NuitG0VADbyeljWf9LB955KFwCELk7vBwuSRo4xXk-c-DeywUkOB-3fSQE5-9sOoE6G_3q6XzldB2NgMbpkEuiwsWibSZEpwJtobp7HqGNIb1T-2k4/s320/earthworks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364995027512818754" /></a><br /><br /><br />In America, England, Australia.... just about anywhere, you can find history. Prehistoric peoples wandered the land and cluttered it up with burial mounds, henges, rock carvings, standing stones... you name it. All kinds of stuff that was so very important to them. Then Historic Man came along and decided everything would look nice plowed over and plundered. Then Modern Man came along and decided he could profit by building as many shopping and eating establishments as possible, and making sure there was plenty of parking to go along with it.<br /><br />In the Uk recently an ancient long house was excavated quickly so a car park could go in on schedule. Here in Ohio archeologists had to move fast to save some very important artifacts so that a new runway could go in at the airport. Even at Stonehenge, that most famous of monuments, there is a sign at the car park saying that some 3000 year old giant carved trees had once stood on that spot, somewhere under the tarmac!<br /><br />Obviously, these ancient sites meant a lot to their builders. Obviously, modern man needs places to sleep, shop, and eat pizza. So where do we draw the line? In a recent post here I was moaning about the loss of so much Native American prehistory here in Ohio. "Why oh why did they have to destroy so much?!" I cried! Then I looked at "Prehistoric Earthworks in Ohio by William C. Mills, from the 1914 Archeological Atlas of Ohio. There were thousands of earthworks, including burial mounds, ceremonial temple mounds, fortifications, village enclosures.. and then there were petroglyph sites, stone piles, and others. That's a lot of red dots on the map! See this link if you don't believe me: http://www.gustavslibrary.com/mounddistributionmap.jpg<br /><br />So where Do we draw the line between preserving the past and making way for 'progress'? A compromise would be nice, such as living alongside the monuments from the past, but in many cases it's much too late for that. The decision should have been made years ago.<br /><br />In all fairness, most people simply do not care about the past... just a bunch of rocks and dirt, some people say. So let's have a dialog here.<br /><br />"The Native Americans moved into Ohio perhaps 15,000 years ago!"<br />"Yeah, but we is here now."<br />"Only because 'we' forced them from their homes!"<br />"Might makes right, loser!"<br /><br />Never mind... this kind of conversation inevitably leads to disaster, since both sides have very different points of view. The truth is.. in most cases it is too late. Here in Ohio I've been told that everything was plowed over, so that even the monuments we see today are not truly their original selves. I've been here two weeks now, and in two different walks have seen evidence of artifacts that were ground into pieces.. broken pottery, a broken adze, a piece of clay pipe... the last two were not far from a certain burial mound I featured here, so even that was 'spoiled'.<br /><br />Even in our attempts to preserve the past, I believe we are failing. Some believe that letting the land go fallow is allowing the sites to be seen in their 'natural' state. Well, just what IS their natural state? We are not sure of the purpose of many of these sites, so how do we know what they should look like? The Native Americans did not have lawn mowers, unless you count sheep, but letting grass grow on earthworks is a better method of preserving them than letting them grow fallow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIj-OmhxxprBEJPFNMHX1SybrU1d65Do4aSi8rxHj4Evpqetf0xLPcD5lu5xUQwKaGaBEFYark1gTljuBupcebn_QHAyexCn72OUykeCCj6P06luJYJbi9otv2jY-hNnieg3zaEncph8/s1600-h/DSCF2303.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIj-OmhxxprBEJPFNMHX1SybrU1d65Do4aSi8rxHj4Evpqetf0xLPcD5lu5xUQwKaGaBEFYark1gTljuBupcebn_QHAyexCn72OUykeCCj6P06luJYJbi9otv2jY-hNnieg3zaEncph8/s320/DSCF2303.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364989276708031106" /></a><br /><br />Case in point, the Jeffers Mound as seen in the photo above. The Jeffers Mound is all that is left of a vast complex that included huge earthworks, a burial mound, a ceremonial mound (the Jeffers Mound), two circular enclosures, and longhouses. Who knows what else? The land was farmed for years until it was subdivided and sold into housing lots. Mr. Jeffers thankfully did not sell the land the Jeffers Mound was on, so this is all that remains of this once great complex.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4hOhkQwtd0mdXQlpfNgC0x41wYiQ7Pz4jiVZujrcmvYD9baObtKa8AKo3qxX1TuC2WlHyKyqSfSvoPE5cSUjm9rvWqWYNJDxvw_bMrUdfz5vXh-yCHOl6JzQxoMaOxdQq-TiKEo1FKA/s1600-h/jeffers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4hOhkQwtd0mdXQlpfNgC0x41wYiQ7Pz4jiVZujrcmvYD9baObtKa8AKo3qxX1TuC2WlHyKyqSfSvoPE5cSUjm9rvWqWYNJDxvw_bMrUdfz5vXh-yCHOl6JzQxoMaOxdQq-TiKEo1FKA/s320/jeffers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364990603950844658" /></a><br /><br />Now look at the photo above... can you even see the mound? It's like 25 feet high, but I had some people with me on the visit and they all saw a 'bunch of bushes' until I pointed out to them that it wa a mound. What bothers me though is the trees. If left in the woods, nature would eventually destroy these mounds on it's own,(see first photo above of Cole Earthworks) but this mound is supposedly being preserved, and there are 40 foot high trees growing out of it! That means there are 40 feet of roots burrowing through the mound, and when those tipping trees fall, there goes the mound.<br /><br />Oh well... let's just help nature along, shall we? This site is just wasted space, innit? Let's put up a bus shelter with matching car park and put this space to use, eh?<br /><br />Just remember one thing, though. These ancient peoples lived a long time ago, so we say 'their time has passed', and plow over the graves of their ancestors. Well, how would you feel if those were YOUR ancestors being plowed over? It could happen, you know. And not just in the movies. Case in point, the Pool family. They plowed over the two mounds I mentioned in my earlier blog, and lived here for some time in the 1800's. Not too long ago, right? And their gravestones were found 'somewhere south of Highbanks Metro Park, and no one is sure where their bodies are. Their stones now sit together in a little fenced off area... a 'pretend' burial plot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjjToLRFBhE6WaCpS8eTJcxN2dPOBiP6e8ndGU6qi8bn7wBh_tgiAPsUW9msxHuN-tgdkb7d489WsScUh4fQOMcJKBhdGNAvtbvSRVLCoIWJgALDXBQIDXPaAZQ7qWaWHtbMJP3LCQDA/s1600-h/pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjjToLRFBhE6WaCpS8eTJcxN2dPOBiP6e8ndGU6qi8bn7wBh_tgiAPsUW9msxHuN-tgdkb7d489WsScUh4fQOMcJKBhdGNAvtbvSRVLCoIWJgALDXBQIDXPaAZQ7qWaWHtbMJP3LCQDA/s320/pool.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364993951021676194" /></a><br /><br />And progress and history march on... :0)<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-50540003264200166312009-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:002009-08-01T17:01:36.244-07:00Site-seeing: a Lesson Learned<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhm8maxE18rvMesT87uhYaXD5owFW4ovroWClxfvSkZj63FQTNhLFmVhko2y8tZ3Vin6Fa6VxewQ97zaYP9H6Tz5ZO2obYpBHdoc312XHi08AG2jefslqqdCvj5UijBGHtKMLjPLCpss/s1600-h/sleddinghillweb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhm8maxE18rvMesT87uhYaXD5owFW4ovroWClxfvSkZj63FQTNhLFmVhko2y8tZ3Vin6Fa6VxewQ97zaYP9H6Tz5ZO2obYpBHdoc312XHi08AG2jefslqqdCvj5UijBGHtKMLjPLCpss/s320/sleddinghillweb.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361686123708942258" /></a><br /><br /><br />I have to point out that when it comes to ancient sites, it is best to see them in person, as opposed to simply reading about them in a book or on the net. These sites were made by people, and I believe that to truly understand them, we should look upon them in person and try to imagine them when freshly made. Even if the pyramids of Egypt were made by slaves, I'm willing to bet that some of those slaves stopped to look at these wondrous monuments and say to themselves, "I made that!".<br /><br />Of course, they were probably summarily executed afterward, but still, there's always that bit of pride that comes from doing something special.<br /><br />Now then, we can't always see sites in person, and although the net is no substitute for experience, it does come in handy as a reference tool. And here is today's lesson... If you are going to go visit a historic site, then please do some research ahead of time, or you too might find yourself in an embarrassing predicament such as the one I am about to discuss. :0)<br /><br /><br />So. My first Saturday morning in Ohio, and I am very anxious to get out in the field... any field... and see the sights. I had heard the day before that a local park featured some Adena Burial mounds, and so had to go. The weather was fair, and having done no research at all, I set out for Highbanks Metro Park, and their burial mounds.<br /><br />Yes, I did no research at all. Why? I figured, "it's a park, there'll be signs, how hard can it be?"<br /><br />And it wasn't! A few minutes after entering the park, I pulled into a parking lot and there it was... a huge mound, recently mowed, and standing there so majestically! This was my fist view of an Adena Burial Mound, and wow, was I impressed. I ran around taking about 50 photographs from every angle, including panoramic views, and climbed the summit several times to capture the scenery. I recorded everything, and then, exhausted, set out to find more.<br /><br />It was at the next parking lot that I found a map. A map that showed the wondrous mound behind me to be a Sledding Hill for local youngsters to risk their little necks in winter time. NOT an Adena Burial Mound. No, the two Adena Burial Mounds, and the Cole Earthworks, were only accessible by hiking through wooded trails... about a mile in each direction... to each site.<br /><br />And then the rains came.<br /><br />It rained so hard and so long that when it ended, and the sun came out, I felt safe enough to hike those trails after all. And so I set out.<br /><br />And then the rains came. Again.<br /><br />Believe it or not, but there were actually other people in the woods, in the rain, jogging or hiking. I met one couple who said the Weatherman had predicted zero percent chance of rain for today. Hmph.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP5e_H0i0MnqKkrHz23UjsLN8wvxNoJTPGx0EYAt2Cw592MjNfL9JcmhcWdHB6Z2SqvM2881ghSUrbs-yLszeDwU7kjuSOQWXSCAgGTpoLMS7lKKtnT4LocvWdEARayEx8MZdS90PSTI/s1600-h/DSCF1834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwP5e_H0i0MnqKkrHz23UjsLN8wvxNoJTPGx0EYAt2Cw592MjNfL9JcmhcWdHB6Z2SqvM2881ghSUrbs-yLszeDwU7kjuSOQWXSCAgGTpoLMS7lKKtnT4LocvWdEARayEx8MZdS90PSTI/s320/DSCF1834.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361684623339945714" /></a><br /><br />So, regardless of weather I continued, and eventually came to a rock with a plaque that said Adena Burial Mound. I rounded the corner and there it was. A tiny little bump in the earth, behind a little fence, with golden twilight sunshine casting a glow over its little patch of grass.<br /><br />My first burial mound. To some it may not seem very impressive. It's just this little bump in the grass, on top of a wooded hill, surrounded by trees. Very wet trees, at that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnoPxzS0FtbX1KPxLyAE9BRZ21dtBMSUMgwvxTRmQEzL5Z0KH61tkCRlslQLILdv4YhHnnrnySM_K_ZPmHFlEFuZX-n99SDiRIqKTKC6C9Sxh1Z-8e1iL15e2TeHi1DKg0gni4eC7QGw/s1600-h/adena+mound+web.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnoPxzS0FtbX1KPxLyAE9BRZ21dtBMSUMgwvxTRmQEzL5Z0KH61tkCRlslQLILdv4YhHnnrnySM_K_ZPmHFlEFuZX-n99SDiRIqKTKC6C9Sxh1Z-8e1iL15e2TeHi1DKg0gni4eC7QGw/s320/adena+mound+web.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361685604577569650" /></a><br /><br />But this is why I like seeing sights in person. It was quiet there, and that golden glow of the filtered sunshine gave the place a special atmosphere. A quiet almost holy atmosphere that gently guided one into quiet contemplation... a contemplation that made me realise that here was someone buried. A once living human being that was loved, or respected, or feared enough for his or her people to create this little mound for them on top of this hill, so that they could be remembered.<br /><br />And suddenly that little bump became very meaningful indeed, and I wished at that moment that all the people who plowed over, built over, or ruthlessly plundered the dozens or other burial mounds in the area to destruction could have seen those little bumps in the landscape in this same manner. These are burials. They meant something to somebody once, and we should respect that.<br /><br />I walked two hours in the rain that day... got muddy, and caught a cold, and my bones are still aching. But it was worth it. Every minute.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-85313931909969478692009-07-23T08:28:00.000-07:002009-07-23T09:22:59.805-07:00Alligator Mound: Ohio<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHV5yq2C_Khk3Cx00zHUL6dms6mwzpIzxJ8c6l0QH_m_0GIE6I7K0JJDEcP9HwRHZotUAFcoQDSZv6MjMwitIiZd5kSFFbNlSfOskT2M-C7cfTYzUAok5g63KkDIWaXc2aaWvqYZVQz0/s1600-h/DSCF1725.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHV5yq2C_Khk3Cx00zHUL6dms6mwzpIzxJ8c6l0QH_m_0GIE6I7K0JJDEcP9HwRHZotUAFcoQDSZv6MjMwitIiZd5kSFFbNlSfOskT2M-C7cfTYzUAok5g63KkDIWaXc2aaWvqYZVQz0/s320/DSCF1725.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359498361863811074" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXho8K2IpLBydo96Ec6HDDFgCAEo4SZY24rBSW83nmVO-q4VWH6aKbC3zI1qWM7PFlInd0WIRELastiq1SzATJ5N466qra1U_-5-AmH3rju1JokXT_hMYuq6m1QVKIqQuGVIQ_VSZwLhU/s1600-h/SIDE.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXho8K2IpLBydo96Ec6HDDFgCAEo4SZY24rBSW83nmVO-q4VWH6aKbC3zI1qWM7PFlInd0WIRELastiq1SzATJ5N466qra1U_-5-AmH3rju1JokXT_hMYuq6m1QVKIqQuGVIQ_VSZwLhU/s320/SIDE.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359501380894381538" /></a><br /><br />The Alligator Mound of Granville, Ohio, USA<br /><br />High upon a bluff, overlooking the Racoon Valley, lies one of two effigy earthmounds that we know exist in Ohio. As this report goes on, it will become obvious that there may have been others, but like so many native American earthworks and endeavors, they have become car parks, plowed land, and housing developments.<br /><br />I have just moved to Ohio, and this is the firt bit of history that I have been able to visit in person. (Astral projections don't count because I can't take me camera with me) Anyways, I am writing this as an international exchange of information, since I believe we cannot understand any ancient work without adding a human element to the archeology, and I also believe that many ancient peoples were probably just regular joes, and we should tryu to view ancient monuments through their eyes.<br /><br />As I mentioned, the Alligator mound lies high on a bluff... probably the highest bit of land around, and offers spectacular views of the valley. It is probably not an alligator, by the way, but Europeans named it that after the Native Americans told them the creature was a 'vicious water creature that ate people'. The mound is only 4 to 6 feet high at it's height, and at 200 feet long, is hard to see from the ground in all it's glory. In England, many burial mounds were built on the top of hills so that their chalky sides could be viewed from far away, and serve as boundary markers on the horizon. Here, from the bottom of the mound, the earthworks do make a bump across the top, but not a big one, and without your white chalk only serve as a mysterious silhoutte.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2milimlDX_vVPs4UKnJfSsQzM11PST1dXt_wmKvNj3GTdZy9Q_eYGmskA87OdGWvwwAIGkOzWp7Ho0Vc1E8BNOOR6QTYF_sxAZ_Ii77WY_Hhtu2Weu8MtPDphzfQOJ0EeUvF1r4hA4E/s1600-h/Alligator+mound.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2milimlDX_vVPs4UKnJfSsQzM11PST1dXt_wmKvNj3GTdZy9Q_eYGmskA87OdGWvwwAIGkOzWp7Ho0Vc1E8BNOOR6QTYF_sxAZ_Ii77WY_Hhtu2Weu8MtPDphzfQOJ0EeUvF1r4hA4E/s320/Alligator+mound.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359501152624730066" /></a><br /><br />Why build a mound in the shape of an animal that only the gods could see? Well, perhaps that's the point. There is no evidence of this being a burial mound, and that weird bump from the Alligators side seems to stand out, so it is suggested that this was a ceremonial site. What kind of ceremonies were performed here is not known, but we do know that Native Americans had their gods based on Nature, and so it is no surprise that they would have performed significant acts here on the top of a mountain, perhaps during a glorious sunset (speculation on my behalf, but this is big sky country, and the sunsets from this point would always have been fabulous).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT8zYCuQhbuyAygXzziScRWtt_j-oI9ixLRkkMlp9Qog2J9vW50vRTWH81LvqzznL2YDYeCHTcSVNehyJeF52kt0JQBGdZTEocN5CtJU_mq2NPAjIWqqRNe6BvZMFT3hzhi9JmKw8J5U/s1600-h/TAIL.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT8zYCuQhbuyAygXzziScRWtt_j-oI9ixLRkkMlp9Qog2J9vW50vRTWH81LvqzznL2YDYeCHTcSVNehyJeF52kt0JQBGdZTEocN5CtJU_mq2NPAjIWqqRNe6BvZMFT3hzhi9JmKw8J5U/s320/TAIL.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359501558219847938" /></a><br /><br />A few miles down the hill and road is a very large ancient city made of many earthworks, including a large circle. All of this is now a country club, where the well-to-do can golf upon these ancient walls and parapets, but the early native Americans lived here. I'm not sure if they built the alligator mound, since several ancient cultures overlap here, but if so, it can be argued that they climbed that very steep hill on special occasions to do their stuff.<br /><br />All over this land are farms that are slowly giving way to housing developments and shopping centers. The ancient cultures of the Hopewell, Adena, and Fort Ancient peoples were here for thousands of years. In the last 200 years or so, people have managed to plow over, bury, and basically destroy earthworks, burial mounds, and who knows what else? Looking at the Alligator mound, it is easy to see that other effigy mounds could easily have been overlooked of their significance, and cast aside in the name of progress.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-60447894738340674402009-07-12T07:28:00.000-07:002009-07-12T08:35:04.832-07:00Travelling One Way...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XzQXp0zee0wmm9v1LSDyA7lFDC5L6Hod0VmAWgLfgyeAvcA-9TIbCEICma4SqfoRj4SOmIvLr2jvKJoGVBKmg2Nz-niZm0okfPXFV3a4pdQFlXGtyp4-3dEprS79OC9bVi6SlIKLTh4/s1600-h/DSCF7520.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XzQXp0zee0wmm9v1LSDyA7lFDC5L6Hod0VmAWgLfgyeAvcA-9TIbCEICma4SqfoRj4SOmIvLr2jvKJoGVBKmg2Nz-niZm0okfPXFV3a4pdQFlXGtyp4-3dEprS79OC9bVi6SlIKLTh4/s320/DSCF7520.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357585725469162034" /></a><br />I guess the ultimate travel would have to be a one way trip, if you see travel as a way of exploring new places and learning new customs. As you may have gathered, I have recently undertaken a journey to Columbus, Ohio, for an indeterminate amount of time!<br /><br />Day 2 in the new house: Our furniture arrives tomorrow, and our belongings, enough to fill one van, are scattered about in a house much larger than the one we left. Going from a ranch to a two story sounds great until you awake in a house with no curtains and blinds and can't remember where you're clothes are! Trust me, the stairs get real old when you're running about from suitcase to suitcase looking for a pair of shorts, wondering why you were so daft as to leave each suitcase in a different corner of the house.<br /><br />The 'decency' scramble over, you find yourself wishing for at least one chair to sit down in as you catch your breathe. Standing all day yesterday was new and exciting, but today you'd trade two pints of blood for a box to sit on, or a folding chair. At least we have a fireplace to sit down on, if we take turns, and mind the sharp edges.<br /><br />Next up you wish Target had stayed open later, as it was ten o'clock the night before that they informed you that they were sold out on the coffee maker you wanted, and that there was no time to run to another store. Target also doesn't sell chairs, and the only nightlights are priced as family heirlooms, not practical items.<br /><br />Did I mention that we don't have a washer or dryer yet? The quality of life is going to drop steadily as each day passes without a place to wash clothes! And did I mention there are no screens in the house! If we want fresh air, we'll have to share it with the mosquitoes...<br /><br />At least the new fridge has an automatic water and ice dispenser, so dehydration is one thing we don't need to worry about. And we know where the grocary store is, but without plates and silverware, we're seeing enough local restaurants to write a Diner's Guide to Local Eating.<br /><br />Amidst all this chaos, the doorbell rings. It's the nice couple from next door, with a bevy of beach chairs. They saw us fighting over the back step as a place to sit and eat breakfast, and came to help keep the peace. :0)<br /><br />Good neighbors... what to look for when you buy a house. :0)<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-15408368639667181642009-05-11T16:22:00.000-07:002009-05-19T17:33:55.558-07:00NYC: The Little Mermaid<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwKCFqAsNrTwEi3mJw83k8OhTpf08DfEzl1rSj8zWGfq8m9l43RmaFu8P0tOJin_QNIZ9DY_MTVdlP-a3ZcXjoLHm463MB7KYLzaxfAvbkfFDVuq-6oYs_aXwzMfM-OyRdV6o31VjSO8/s1600-h/ariel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwKCFqAsNrTwEi3mJw83k8OhTpf08DfEzl1rSj8zWGfq8m9l43RmaFu8P0tOJin_QNIZ9DY_MTVdlP-a3ZcXjoLHm463MB7KYLzaxfAvbkfFDVuq-6oYs_aXwzMfM-OyRdV6o31VjSO8/s320/ariel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337696904704770338" /></a><br /><br /><br />There's lots to see in a big city, but in London or New York you definitely want to check out the Theater Scene. And in my opinion, you can do no better than Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway.<br /><br />I first saw the show a while back, and the cast was fantastic, with Sierra Boggess as a fabulous Ariel. Sierra truly captured the wonder and innocence of the character, and though she must have performed the show hundreds of times, her performance was fresh and real. However, it seems like Sierra is leaving the show, to be replaced by understudy Chelsea Morgan Stock. Is it possible for someone to compete with Sierra Boggess's performance?<br /><br />Believe it or not, but the answer is YES. I do not want to do a side by side comparison, because that would not be fair to either. Both perform the role with their own flair, and both capture the spirit of Ariel very well. The performances are both very convincing, and very fresh, and utterly delightful. So... though we wish Sierra all the best, we welcome Chelsea, with all the confidence that she can fill Sierra's... fins!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPemyR64XuqlNg2OX3mVZgnOz-G5eczgsTPuTtacWvCDpxRdC9w-q2oJDKuJ4N9nH7J7rGPFmhlJsGHsy0tSX4Enhvw-KFBGLkwWdo1qiFcvUkAarp6NbiAJ7-rU2o7-iSM1tF7UqGO8/s1600-h/mermaid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPemyR64XuqlNg2OX3mVZgnOz-G5eczgsTPuTtacWvCDpxRdC9w-q2oJDKuJ4N9nH7J7rGPFmhlJsGHsy0tSX4Enhvw-KFBGLkwWdo1qiFcvUkAarp6NbiAJ7-rU2o7-iSM1tF7UqGO8/s320/mermaid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337696166111184226" /></a><br /><br />The rest of the cast has seen some changes as well, but it appears that the Actors must meet with Disney's standards. All of the performances are top notch, although Rogelio Douglas's Sebastion has a fantastic voice and energy, and the blond kid who plays Flounder really holds his own with the rest of the cast.(Sorry, can't find his name)<br /><br />I haven't seen the movie, but I am assuming the story is much the same. The Broadway show offers several new songs, though, and outstanding sets. To me, a theater show resembles a comic strip. You have one 'panel' in which to set a scene, and place the characters against. All the action happens on one stage, yet Disney is able to show us under the sea, inside a castle, and on the beach and on a ship. Disney does a great job of this, and the Actors rolling along on inline skates give a realistic feal to the speed and flow of swimming sea creatures.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCJ1fbVeRRBIMWy32u4jlcGJAHYHrJjilHfe0TI15TjDAu1lvd2E3YmR-XLM13rPRLODrDuY7yLSVXLrZTEJpUQ5ccTncucisHwErM9iJVl1UlGkS4LUHVBgtmZ71FYLDjakVv9-_pxQ/s1600-h/mermaid2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCJ1fbVeRRBIMWy32u4jlcGJAHYHrJjilHfe0TI15TjDAu1lvd2E3YmR-XLM13rPRLODrDuY7yLSVXLrZTEJpUQ5ccTncucisHwErM9iJVl1UlGkS4LUHVBgtmZ71FYLDjakVv9-_pxQ/s320/mermaid2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337696681991490210" /></a><br /><br />The story itself is timeless. Dad does what he thinks is best for his kids... the youngest rebels... runs away... changes species... and eventually everything works out in the end. Even though Dads get a bum rap in the story, I hope the lesson sinks in that King Triton is only doing what he thinks is best for his daughters, and trying to keep them safe.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-60907013995614909352009-04-10T10:42:00.000-07:002009-04-10T11:45:51.898-07:00High in the Middle, Round on Both Sides<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIZg9x14___6CbFIBL3ijI74lUoVlCRSaZFuEAafKMDpok9fD12q5LsvcsFwtk2nDSnAW46EaJHywJoJcRAZEdhVWnWbQG63Q-KCNt7tbbEE7kjiBErcG_OP9pSUNiQPSMrf7YJQGDTU/s1600-h/DSCF7866.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIZg9x14___6CbFIBL3ijI74lUoVlCRSaZFuEAafKMDpok9fD12q5LsvcsFwtk2nDSnAW46EaJHywJoJcRAZEdhVWnWbQG63Q-KCNt7tbbEE7kjiBErcG_OP9pSUNiQPSMrf7YJQGDTU/s320/DSCF7866.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323125448738077314" /></a><br /><br />What state is high in the middle, and round on both sides? O-hi-o, of course! Hahaha. I've been telling that joke for years, and must have made it up because noone else has ever seemed to have heard it.<br /><br />Anyways.... still getting to know the place, slowly. The 'no handguns' sign on the door of a cell phone store was alarming, but many of the people I've met have been friendly, and the restaraunts I've visited have all had excellent service.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsp6snLC3TzfvGVRtC3QcuklAVVjwuXplNRREO-jzelgZ30sMien-bQ6Xp26Zksp8yzPX0qql8VfNZe_l9ep-V9A7yetCEXQilJpqBsD-8ybLB27FL78GoHzmLkrJk5OT0DnBlhPyw6s/s1600-h/DSCF7900.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsp6snLC3TzfvGVRtC3QcuklAVVjwuXplNRREO-jzelgZ30sMien-bQ6Xp26Zksp8yzPX0qql8VfNZe_l9ep-V9A7yetCEXQilJpqBsD-8ybLB27FL78GoHzmLkrJk5OT0DnBlhPyw6s/s320/DSCF7900.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323127253658607090" /></a><br><em>Hoover Dam, next right? Am I really that lost?!</em><br /><br />My home base is still Easton Town Center, so this humongous upscale shopping complex is probably not giving me the real Ohio. I did eat at a fun, family friendly place called Hoggy's, and hopefully this place is more indicative of the times to be had here in Columbus. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHRD6gpWa33wS9ElZ6YMcsFTjCaj-yazqQYCDNijO-9hq8zGbNVG1xhCCyrHngh_lud3MQDClX5ehjPfbYMJ8b3jd5JN3xnKHYkcuODlwYIEEh-iFSaUK1giEPOQHtOU6BBmYwponYnE/s1600-h/DSCF7960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHRD6gpWa33wS9ElZ6YMcsFTjCaj-yazqQYCDNijO-9hq8zGbNVG1xhCCyrHngh_lud3MQDClX5ehjPfbYMJ8b3jd5JN3xnKHYkcuODlwYIEEh-iFSaUK1giEPOQHtOU6BBmYwponYnE/s320/DSCF7960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323132052840139042" /></a><br><em>No, that's not MY Mini, though it looks like it. But hey, THAT guy just shouldn't have been driving!</em><br /><br />Have seen some farmland, and some nice parks, and have been reading about the history of the area, and the things to do downtown. Apparently the German villiage has a book store that's 32 rooms of books! Sounds like a place to visit! There's also the world famous Zoo, and the Indian Caverns, and all kinds of things yet to explore.<br /><br />But first a nap... I've caught a darn cold!<br /><br />JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR9YU9VN3SuusI3Zg4VtQHJndwURM-cdGoazbgLE6CX9zTiKArRtQ3ptjZZD1tdVNnvAZlkksLQEkFGxEJNt2RX-x4AL9DsTIa25-nzNPSkXNAVqBhWhoKoPmnQXQvKJEFowd4TjjE8c/s1600-h/DSCF7936.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPR9YU9VN3SuusI3Zg4VtQHJndwURM-cdGoazbgLE6CX9zTiKArRtQ3ptjZZD1tdVNnvAZlkksLQEkFGxEJNt2RX-x4AL9DsTIa25-nzNPSkXNAVqBhWhoKoPmnQXQvKJEFowd4TjjE8c/s320/DSCF7936.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323134964403767714" /></a><br><em>Abuelo's... a really nice place to eat in Easton Town Crossing.</em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-10120156142545286592009-04-08T21:09:00.001-07:002009-04-08T21:31:18.914-07:00Another Day in Ohio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi2MjbWUd45_Cch_9Hv43l_75XPSjy1kkucGDKKlAY5jyG4g15LGXajbU3N1ehdU-4MU7JfGaAOqwvbf1XAVIOpCgzCxd8L6yzHFvhZgCnDz4FJe-qpAZwy0BCX_1pkhs9D-mg1JRb7c/s1600-h/DSCF7857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi2MjbWUd45_Cch_9Hv43l_75XPSjy1kkucGDKKlAY5jyG4g15LGXajbU3N1ehdU-4MU7JfGaAOqwvbf1XAVIOpCgzCxd8L6yzHFvhZgCnDz4FJe-qpAZwy0BCX_1pkhs9D-mg1JRb7c/s320/DSCF7857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322536744664740898" /></a><br><span style="font-style:italic;">Welcome to Ohio</span><br /><br />[Note: In the spirit and style of <a href="http://www.wyrearchaeology.blogspot.com/">Brian Hughes</a>, one of our generation's finest bloggers, you may find quite a few Editorial Comments added to this blog as a humorous effect. Cheers, ye Editor]<br /><br /><br />Since my last trip to Columbus was cut short, I decided to return again. This time, I thought it would be great to drive the ten hours there, and really see this vast nation of mine. (@#$%! airline fares...)<br /><br />Time seems to slow down the further you drive. Sure, the first two hours seem okay, but the clock slows, and the miles stretch, until the pain in your backside can no longer be described. But let's go back to the beginning, shall we?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPZLt40MCfl1gwivvhGSPj5F3Cc-iug62YminDlRPEzraaBVu6pdb8B494DZRZl6Bs3hImJ6I4tPkpGVE2ffBkAZUpdKwvOio6h4rHafsdq7c4RcI2elp7Ll0YzDlYwxyPZjlViPKSDQ/s1600-h/indian.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPZLt40MCfl1gwivvhGSPj5F3Cc-iug62YminDlRPEzraaBVu6pdb8B494DZRZl6Bs3hImJ6I4tPkpGVE2ffBkAZUpdKwvOio6h4rHafsdq7c4RcI2elp7Ll0YzDlYwxyPZjlViPKSDQ/s320/indian.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322544009483117026" /></a><br><span style="font-style:italic;">Indian Country, Pa.</span><br /><br />First thing, I woke up late (of course), and then, while packing, heard what I thought was thunder. Looking out the window I saw... snow. In April. And though it stopped for a while, it managed to follow through the first half of Pennsylvania. (of course). While looking at the snow which shouldn't have been there, I noticed that there was quite a bit of traffic in my neighborhood. Turns out that they decided to tear up half the road around the corner... the way I was going, of course.<br /><br />The construction didn't end there. There was construction nearly every twenty minutes of the ten hour trip, meaning that I probably could have gotten here in 9 hours, considering how long I sat or crawled past orange traffic cones.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_ZTHUtrfRZWc8mJjhJ6u4_Yqt6VQSGpW9O2rKEGfsx8pX3Ckc5IbSqWg8ln0CMJJCbtUnyg0m86ZrcrebPi00dc-yPonprsWVGYoba5NUMpyZ5-PZMy_PwvxMiNvh-TJgWmthYBPToY/s1600-h/DSCF7862.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_ZTHUtrfRZWc8mJjhJ6u4_Yqt6VQSGpW9O2rKEGfsx8pX3Ckc5IbSqWg8ln0CMJJCbtUnyg0m86ZrcrebPi00dc-yPonprsWVGYoba5NUMpyZ5-PZMy_PwvxMiNvh-TJgWmthYBPToY/s320/DSCF7862.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322541106954476690" /></a><br /><br />So 2 McDonalds and three rest stops and twenty construction sites later, I arrived in Ohio, where it was bright until 8:30, which was a plus for the drive, considering it gets dark about 7:30 in NJ. Of course, it was well after dark by the time I arrived.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJID2qGxjIb_dzltV5ZSKNAAbbzlsjINAvhpoHMYXv0AQQaLl4OzEKt9gWFMrJ-NGaG0Sm-V6hpeCeXJfduRv7xBPPJrN8TKb1yDpn9RidiOe6DM_ztYwQwVeVqynhItq4VBkCQbGfYw/s1600-h/rock.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJID2qGxjIb_dzltV5ZSKNAAbbzlsjINAvhpoHMYXv0AQQaLl4OzEKt9gWFMrJ-NGaG0Sm-V6hpeCeXJfduRv7xBPPJrN8TKb1yDpn9RidiOe6DM_ztYwQwVeVqynhItq4VBkCQbGfYw/s320/rock.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322539979646938562" /></a><br><span style="font-style:italic;">Falling Rock Zone in the Mountains of PA.</span><br /><br />Driving did give me a better perspective of the land, and a bigger appreciation for air travel! Ohio still looks pretty flat to me... definitely big sky country... especially after driving through PA, which was all beautiful mountains, including one spot which had a sign which I think claimed the spot was the highest elevation east of the Mississippi, but it was hard to read a long sign while zooming past it. Driving, though, did give me a better appreciation for Ohio. I finally got to see stretches of farmland, vast panoramas, and signs for places like Grandpa's Cheese Barn. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ072L-ftdP7gGVc-Jhur9D2bzPxk3bqFDXzM7Ntqk_5uItWqb7U4XCDKNa7YGhfyuNF7AMPT6QQ54zCpn6ZNrfGtH0zDu4ft2uHGGUaqcs8oV59grBSbUkSW1rT6IMNcfRhv50V2N1sQ/s1600-h/DSCF7859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ072L-ftdP7gGVc-Jhur9D2bzPxk3bqFDXzM7Ntqk_5uItWqb7U4XCDKNa7YGhfyuNF7AMPT6QQ54zCpn6ZNrfGtH0zDu4ft2uHGGUaqcs8oV59grBSbUkSW1rT6IMNcfRhv50V2N1sQ/s320/DSCF7859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322534367948406834" /></a><br><span style="font-style:italic;">Big Sky Country<br /></span><br /><br />And speaking of difficulty reading signs, here's a travel tip. Try to avoid driving East, as you'll have the sun in your eyes most of the way, and when you finally get to the unfamiliar places, all of the road signs will be black silhouttes. It's a round planet, so I suggest you make life easier and only travel westward from now on.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-29168376998010723112009-03-24T19:14:00.000-07:002009-03-25T09:42:16.238-07:00Columbus, Ohio, Day 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl7TPW6wG2Nw-D_-QYwS_DmCgQ6dTTu_dFQkYGeSSo9hn530fnayTiaY8BnG0W5q6ZRvG61pF62oJjNlYnwEODU5XDB-HKgYhGtvuL82B-1pMOkFuLO0hCE-w3TGS4WKqz-hNmvWHe6s/s1600-h/ohio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl7TPW6wG2Nw-D_-QYwS_DmCgQ6dTTu_dFQkYGeSSo9hn530fnayTiaY8BnG0W5q6ZRvG61pF62oJjNlYnwEODU5XDB-HKgYhGtvuL82B-1pMOkFuLO0hCE-w3TGS4WKqz-hNmvWHe6s/s320/ohio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317153311431598930" /></a><br />Short post today, since I don't have a good wireless connection. No photos, but I promise more tomorrow.<br /><br />First impressions... people tell you a lot of things, but don't listen to them! The taxes in Ohio are not 25% of what you find in NJ, contrary to popular opinion. Property taxes are as high as any place in Jersey, at least in the areas I visited. I spent most of the day north and west of the city, and the entire place seems to be under development, which is why the taxes are so high. From this point of view, the place reminded me of New Jersey, where the greed of the developers eliminates the natural beauty and history of the State.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQOmsNH7T5Jcs7ojaM8NAW8XUNn01NdKmnMUmcp3hZArXKZ6ePwz12tVzfOVsXymXLORSOOQuZPXEkkKJaxjDYu0iVD3812EJBiK4a1s6QhGVtC_e0H8jTRleF8vfv-4rlhnmzi_PNMc/s1600-h/ohio2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQOmsNH7T5Jcs7ojaM8NAW8XUNn01NdKmnMUmcp3hZArXKZ6ePwz12tVzfOVsXymXLORSOOQuZPXEkkKJaxjDYu0iVD3812EJBiK4a1s6QhGVtC_e0H8jTRleF8vfv-4rlhnmzi_PNMc/s320/ohio2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317164424364271762" /></a><br /><br />Again, I was close to the city, and also, I suppose a booming locale is better than a dying one. There were many beautiful areas to live, and to shop, and some cute downtowns. Like the rest of the world, there are quite a few Irish pubs that look promising, and Columbus has a terrific zoo and aquarium to offer. I was surprised to see Amish shops, and to hear that there were Amish communities not far away. There is also an ancient Native American cavern that I look forward to exploring, and some nice farmland that hasn't turned condo yet. There are two large lakes that are state parkland, and free for everyone to enjoy, and one huge momma of a shopping area that could be a small town in itself.<br /><br />All in all, an exhausting day, and so of course take everything I say with a grain of salt. You can't judge a place on one day's visit... it isn't fair.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0X8J8GrccErauT0o9wDGVqrEk291VToBZLbTFFdZjyGW9Qj3lPERxI-MA9lhI1WyEjbYP9jVChrSfqz3kjhv_9njK8HQmnHcAKzbb2HcfR67zDknvz7K47CENPfS3ZxuT4UrXXEEGpFE/s1600-h/ohio3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0X8J8GrccErauT0o9wDGVqrEk291VToBZLbTFFdZjyGW9Qj3lPERxI-MA9lhI1WyEjbYP9jVChrSfqz3kjhv_9njK8HQmnHcAKzbb2HcfR67zDknvz7K47CENPfS3ZxuT4UrXXEEGpFE/s320/ohio3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317164659341453026" /></a><br /><br />I was surprised to see how close it resembled jersey, although truth to tell New Jersey has a lot of trees and wooded areas, and justly wears it's title of Garden State. From Ohio, I expected a lot of farmland and a slower paced life and hopefully a better cost of living. The people did seem very friendly, and the cost of living will probably be founf to be more reasonable if I get away from the tourist areas.<br /><br />More later, after I get some sleep. If you're reading this without photos, please come back in a day to see those. (update: photos added.)<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoB1KxWdX2ooYwG9r6WhLUmCqrNsMfPdvVpoFN4eAzzPJrRVWLTeb7t9L_Y2RQ7hk0CYle8e0_OVLvZj5FLNCB5uppqDHZcOIEOcMqZ1x2X7OtTCuyOLyX0icZYJ6a1qwnmtWRntJMeA/s1600-h/ohio4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggoB1KxWdX2ooYwG9r6WhLUmCqrNsMfPdvVpoFN4eAzzPJrRVWLTeb7t9L_Y2RQ7hk0CYle8e0_OVLvZj5FLNCB5uppqDHZcOIEOcMqZ1x2X7OtTCuyOLyX0icZYJ6a1qwnmtWRntJMeA/s320/ohio4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317164859913808962" /></a><br /><br />Photos:<br /><br />1) Downtown Dublin, a cute little town that apparently had one heck of a St. Patrick's day parade.<br />2) One of two beautiful and large lakes that residents can enjoy.<br />3) The Public Library in upscale New Albany.<br />4) A farm with a horse.<br /><br />Notice that the land is fairly flat out there, a least where I've seen. New Jersey is very hilly, and has it's share of mountains, and lots of wooded areas. Again, though, I never strayed far from the city, so I'll have to report again later when I've seen more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-2504958171299224792009-03-23T19:35:00.000-07:002009-03-23T20:15:05.956-07:00Columbus, Ohio, Day 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhDbdXRw9scDXjbIFlogI6wI0ueDfuRxuvZ1bzGCUPvVLzRgXMDEMVtSMdMtsW8B3-pNPCDWuO10TZ5gU8DobIHVsPIUp0F08cGY6FknN960txCb8R7wc-kq96nPuyYS9ZpTg40Yb0I0/s1600-h/DSCF7603a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhDbdXRw9scDXjbIFlogI6wI0ueDfuRxuvZ1bzGCUPvVLzRgXMDEMVtSMdMtsW8B3-pNPCDWuO10TZ5gU8DobIHVsPIUp0F08cGY6FknN960txCb8R7wc-kq96nPuyYS9ZpTg40Yb0I0/s320/DSCF7603a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316584919811099410" /></a><br /><br /><br />So I'm in Columbus, Ohio, doing some research for a future project, amongst other things. Only a brief visit, but I will share what I can.<br /><br />Tonight I am in a swanky part of town called Easton Town Center, a collection of shops and restaurants not far from the airport. The taxi ride cost $20 bucks for a 3 mile trip, and at least as far as Easton Town Center goes, prices are not any cheaper here than in New Jersey. From the crowd, though, and the number of hotels here, I am guessing this is a touristy area.<br /><br />Many of the restaurants are familiar to me, which just goes to show how the world is getting smaller in some ways. The above photo is of a miniature railway displayed outdoors here, and the horse statue can be found outside of a Chinese bistro.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVRzf7BgZpw-uMe81JDwOfemIArmDN1vG9QJUhZ1Hl4i4A2foOzjQ2sKgyXRa2RQnijra4dxx1IB3b-cbjPy-rJOcqsFuRJtqXaRFM3ST4uUfIitDHOLwK__3KxcklkpLEOeQ5eoVPDI/s1600-h/DSCF7605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVRzf7BgZpw-uMe81JDwOfemIArmDN1vG9QJUhZ1Hl4i4A2foOzjQ2sKgyXRa2RQnijra4dxx1IB3b-cbjPy-rJOcqsFuRJtqXaRFM3ST4uUfIitDHOLwK__3KxcklkpLEOeQ5eoVPDI/s320/DSCF7605.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316585491238662834" /></a><br /><br />So far, Columbus reminds me of Philadelphia, or Boston, perhaps, in the sense that things are spread out as opposed to crowded into a massive downtown area. I did little research before coming here, though, and I'm more familiar with other areas of Ohio, so this will be a learning experience. Sometimes it's good to get away to somewhere you haven't been before and just experience.<br /><br />Tomorrow I will see the rest of Columbus. I've already done some research on the area in a local bookstore, but have a lot to learn yet.<br /><br />Hopefully this last picture is NOT an indication of things to come. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtPDVTHAs_hUgYlAkwa65IN94TT1OVR1ufamD6ycvLwmkoHroaRzNnrxet6yOzdsFAv4XeQZGNPeJbEK197p2ahyl3rTwmwxZNWZG-Ex5O_dj6CWnAV7yDKwkjMrNOzD5KY41i1V9I9I/s1600-h/DSCF7607a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtPDVTHAs_hUgYlAkwa65IN94TT1OVR1ufamD6ycvLwmkoHroaRzNnrxet6yOzdsFAv4XeQZGNPeJbEK197p2ahyl3rTwmwxZNWZG-Ex5O_dj6CWnAV7yDKwkjMrNOzD5KY41i1V9I9I/s320/DSCF7607a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316584216573470034" /></a><br /><br />I'll try to post tomorrow!<br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-70160133363639312552009-03-16T06:54:00.000-07:002009-03-16T07:13:46.927-07:00Where I've Been<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP8f19kGoOg0lWSZsZ3jWkw7OyvkvgvwYdUI9ncbaXdDN1E2VlZCzeSWec96V0XWu-MnSMazwj8qg4RxXf2K-ark1QlaLtSwfM-jrNdUlTqEenkQvZeYO2aP_r0ib6DfKZniyaoSLQ0Y/s1600-h/travel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP8f19kGoOg0lWSZsZ3jWkw7OyvkvgvwYdUI9ncbaXdDN1E2VlZCzeSWec96V0XWu-MnSMazwj8qg4RxXf2K-ark1QlaLtSwfM-jrNdUlTqEenkQvZeYO2aP_r0ib6DfKZniyaoSLQ0Y/s320/travel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313787217449386786" /></a><br /><br />FaceBook has an endless number of applications to 'enhance' the user experience. Some are silly, some are plain dumb, and some are quite useful, and some are fun. One of the applications I like is called Where I've Been, and it acts as a virtual map with virtual pins that mark 'where I've been'.<br /><br />To be honest, the app is not always perfect, and for me at least, it isn't always easy to get into, but at least it saves your progress automatically, and it does seem to improving over time. One of the excitements of travel, of course, is seeing where you've been, and just as important, where you haven't been. An application like this is fairly easy to use, although it is limited to facebook. There are similar apps with facebook, if you want to experiment, but I like this one best.<br /><br />I have yet to research a similar program for desktop use, that you can share with everyone. I'm sure one is out there, and I will let you know. Meanwhile, if you can recommend something, let ME know.<br /><br />It would be great to have a world map on your wall, and place pins in it to mark your places of visitation, but honestly, that would take a big chunk of wall space, and what if the pins fell out? Of course, if I leave facebook, or the power goes out, I can't access Where I've Been, but since it is a program, there are some neat aspects like giving you a percentage of the planet that you have visited.<br /><br />For me, WIB says I've visited 10% of the planet. Now, I don't know if this is 10% of land mass, or the whole thing. If the whole planet, then 10% isn't bad, considering how much is water. My problem with the app is that it has been saying 10% for some time now. In fact, I've gone to considerable effort to add places, just to try to get it to 11%, but no... it hasn't changed. What irks me is that I've seen similar maps from other people, and one guy has 15%, but has visited less of the world thatn I have!<br /><br />I think the problem is that it gives you credit for an entire country, so the guy who hops over the border into Mexico for a quick margarita gets credit for the whole country. That's quite an edge, so I hope the application works these kinks out.<br /><br />The above photo is an actual screenshot of my travels. It shows I have quite a few places to visit yet! When in the program, you can actually zoom in and out like on google maps, and see individual towns and other places you can truly add most places you've been. One thing lacking though is places of interest, like Mount Rushmore or the Taj Majal. Hopefully they will add that to the cities feature some time.<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, it is a fun tool for a traveller, but only if you are on facebook. Maybe they'll expand beyond social networks one day?<br /><br />So how do YOU keep track of Where You've Been?<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-23714514683824247542009-03-08T13:08:00.000-07:002009-03-08T13:34:19.429-07:00Snow on the Beach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurZ-jk37YBKpBiTk-Wvb6aYChxqZz1ZhXDV637ssWH3rLiwJpe_agD4zP9mtP5aWQkRDlu_A-8g0fojuyPf-H9F0tj9334ooU8aSH-1R9JQNy8b3ckkOB3__fpGOO07mOTH4mItIJhqA/s1600-h/DSCF7424.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurZ-jk37YBKpBiTk-Wvb6aYChxqZz1ZhXDV637ssWH3rLiwJpe_agD4zP9mtP5aWQkRDlu_A-8g0fojuyPf-H9F0tj9334ooU8aSH-1R9JQNy8b3ckkOB3__fpGOO07mOTH4mItIJhqA/s320/DSCF7424.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310917120431988002" /></a><br /><br /><br />Went to the beach yesterday. The nice thing about living in New Jersey is, when you can forget for a moment the high cost of living, the high taxes, the over-development, the crowds, and especially the noise, well, at least you're close to the beach. Not that all beaches are the same, but at least in winter time there are fewer people and hopefully less garbage to tread on.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ius9-uNqkM_0j2TH_ZAv9pUHZMU-qq1jOtnp9nJwInDjfhmKMZoqbvQQzokPRpf_RmTKTOhEgXmQDcmc_bCAO1YoO-gK0Ak24h0NmwqfjJwEVNL0bAJxExExozF4Vtd5y3x6OWue01g/s1600-h/DSCF7415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ius9-uNqkM_0j2TH_ZAv9pUHZMU-qq1jOtnp9nJwInDjfhmKMZoqbvQQzokPRpf_RmTKTOhEgXmQDcmc_bCAO1YoO-gK0Ak24h0NmwqfjJwEVNL0bAJxExExozF4Vtd5y3x6OWue01g/s320/DSCF7415.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310914255729855282" /></a><br /><br />Do I sound annoyed? Yes, because it is unbelievable that people can go to the beach and leave their garbage behind them. Broken bottles, rusty cans, miscellaneous items of clothing.... you name it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZtnHzBjWD8U2JY_NMXnTLPMnABWv42iXX6T1qpsiScmms-lr1IOdDB7oaQ3wo20PC-YykLY_A3FmKdoR4P7N6F_KD0-pgViaX068tUXSMnjLL87fYEG58Q3edKGY7KASLa2mkGMGEMg/s1600-h/DSCF7421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZtnHzBjWD8U2JY_NMXnTLPMnABWv42iXX6T1qpsiScmms-lr1IOdDB7oaQ3wo20PC-YykLY_A3FmKdoR4P7N6F_KD0-pgViaX068tUXSMnjLL87fYEG58Q3edKGY7KASLa2mkGMGEMg/s320/DSCF7421.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310914959080388482" /></a><br /><br />However, I want to encourage travel, so let's speak of the beauty. I always enjoy a trip to the shore, and the ocean will always manage to impress the heck out of me. I love the beach in winter time, but yesterday was the first time I actually saw snow at the beach. Not a lot, but enough to be admired. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4XrdjhbvTUZ3dLHOfXi1qt-uHP3j1IjpfiQJjoQrAUB1A8eNvopAVp5VEEl7YzwzH8ykMHC_BPdADhflcGPnzmkhmR8ql1L3z7AHJ9a_CeUYfeFL0t_65DC3i9v8aZCBG7fFejGiHaQ/s1600-h/DSCF7457.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4XrdjhbvTUZ3dLHOfXi1qt-uHP3j1IjpfiQJjoQrAUB1A8eNvopAVp5VEEl7YzwzH8ykMHC_BPdADhflcGPnzmkhmR8ql1L3z7AHJ9a_CeUYfeFL0t_65DC3i9v8aZCBG7fFejGiHaQ/s320/DSCF7457.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310915387736046578" /></a><br /><br />I wanted to visit the twin light houses at Navesink, but unfortunately they closed early. I did get a few long distance shots, though. Supposedly there was a whale stranded at nearby Sandy Hook, but that was a week or so ago, so I'm hoping that situation was resolved, and the whale is on his merry way.<br /><br />And no, <a href="http://travellingtoonist.blogspot.com/2008/06/indiana-john-and-day-at-beach.html">didn't see any sharks this time</a>. :0)<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUwYprIg8fzNssrbO6x9bpZjVFDdX_Iv9MplYIs0PWUwTWiAQ8CbqZ0IXETwAZ58oW89gp_sVOmuiYFc4GXdjlKClZ1xotMoI_tv3DiKp3TRJzzz7h6KNJyn8n22dvg2FJW_4AywcDQc/s1600-h/DSCF7460.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUwYprIg8fzNssrbO6x9bpZjVFDdX_Iv9MplYIs0PWUwTWiAQ8CbqZ0IXETwAZ58oW89gp_sVOmuiYFc4GXdjlKClZ1xotMoI_tv3DiKp3TRJzzz7h6KNJyn8n22dvg2FJW_4AywcDQc/s320/DSCF7460.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310915595765910066" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-55408820213539010502008-12-10T09:47:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:32:48.073-08:00Christmas in Walt Disney World<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qo3I6vpqyAX15vCKLS1T8OG6M89CrFyX0uhL2VrxCdoNZ_nWWiJf3qIe9g0jnxpUZDBrkT8lMU7tBq7cju-3SdBt1aWoboJRAKRKz-9aKKBMuJwtkbgVhE9XB_Tuj2TxCM0YxJPpwHQ/s1600-h/wdwh1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qo3I6vpqyAX15vCKLS1T8OG6M89CrFyX0uhL2VrxCdoNZ_nWWiJf3qIe9g0jnxpUZDBrkT8lMU7tBq7cju-3SdBt1aWoboJRAKRKz-9aKKBMuJwtkbgVhE9XB_Tuj2TxCM0YxJPpwHQ/s320/wdwh1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230126286341618" /></a><br />Sticking with our Christmas theme from last post, I almost went to Florida this year for the Holiday party at Disney World. This blog wasn't around last year, and I did indeed attend the festivities at WDW and Epcot, and a great time was had.<br /><br />Last year, my trip began with winning a very, very nice gift because of the Year of a Million Dreams. Without going into details, the gift was expensive, and nice, and made my trip easier, and placed Disney World on the top of my list of very best friends.<br /><br />That said, Disney is a class act, and puts on one heck of a party. If you haven't attended a Disney Party, I can say that the Halloween and Christmas Parties at WDW in Florida are well worth the extra cost. The extra cost is a small fee for tickets to the park at night, and the park is only open to those ticketholders, so is relatively less crowded than on a normal day. The party consists of a special parade and fireworks exclusive to the party, and of course the place is decorated to the hilt. I'll cover the Halloween party at a later date, but the Christmas party has hot cocoa and cookies at different areas of the park, and other freebies I can't remember right now. There is artificial snow falling in Main Street, and Disney Characters available for meet and greets, and Belle telling a Christmas story behind the castle, and the castle? Wow!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdNcGgc4O2ATrwG_OzY95gkRt-8uneEMyE3UyeTeengNKBC6cMS3wTc966KwKCbuDtdlPhtmj7pVaKMYkG8jpPirkn0H_3S8HYngRUTbUoxp_A0JWnUCj5AjaAeWss2fA142ksad0RzQ/s1600-h/wdwh4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdNcGgc4O2ATrwG_OzY95gkRt-8uneEMyE3UyeTeengNKBC6cMS3wTc966KwKCbuDtdlPhtmj7pVaKMYkG8jpPirkn0H_3S8HYngRUTbUoxp_A0JWnUCj5AjaAeWss2fA142ksad0RzQ/s320/wdwh4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230746240725346" /></a><br /><br />The castle is covered with lights that change color slowly, and truly makes the place look magical. The lights are practically invisible during the daytime, unless you get up real close to the castle, and look for them. At night, though, the lights are hard to take your eyes away from.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3tv4FdFZFFvy3mwc90iT0zWFJRVx_TI6CpAyHtG-JJGlwuc367xJ-RbFyRaRQTiQvm1hRAKauK-K9zkEbMsfkthQn-3DLiqtfB8YD_gewaPA9OIEEh1T8CGHJPCZc9A6Gc_ceIq71o/s1600-h/wdwh2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g3tv4FdFZFFvy3mwc90iT0zWFJRVx_TI6CpAyHtG-JJGlwuc367xJ-RbFyRaRQTiQvm1hRAKauK-K9zkEbMsfkthQn-3DLiqtfB8YD_gewaPA9OIEEh1T8CGHJPCZc9A6Gc_ceIq71o/s320/wdwh2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230284385360370" /></a><br /><br />At the larger hotels, the chefs create special edible holiday displays thta must be seen to be believed. At the Beach Club in 2007, a gingerbread carousel smelled and looked wonderful. At Epcot there is a candlelight procession, Santa's from around the world, Holiday foods and music, and more. The Cast Members are very helpful, and enjoy talking about their Holiday traditions. At MGM, or Holiday Studios, (whatever they're calling it this year) there is a beautiful display of Christmas lights set up that again must be seen to be believed. Each of the parks also has their own giant Christmas tree, decorated to match the parks theme, such as the tree at Animal Kingdom being covered with animals.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXcJQLEj3oERYh9FR8woPxX1dHFVRbtA9Shdo9kCWybyUBt7rLO03Vyrfvf9k5U1yNGO9qW6J4mvR5aZ3Gt7PoyULpbXzA-PtlF8hHfgfJxgWisz3qqeDlahGG0bR_UhlmXGohDYxSmU/s1600-h/wdwh3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXcJQLEj3oERYh9FR8woPxX1dHFVRbtA9Shdo9kCWybyUBt7rLO03Vyrfvf9k5U1yNGO9qW6J4mvR5aZ3Gt7PoyULpbXzA-PtlF8hHfgfJxgWisz3qqeDlahGG0bR_UhlmXGohDYxSmU/s320/wdwh3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278230546632558082" /></a><br /><br />Altogether, Christmas at Disney is a wonderful experience. Sure, the snow isn't real, and the swimming pools are full of bathers, but the Christmas magic is there, and the Holiday is very enjoyable, even to someone who is used to cold and snow at Christmas. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi99KkStM9Lyh4pIXs01uvW0EYgXn0q_vKpFFxpHoJM_EPhUVEpjprhLcC3WK15sSJGMFZ0y-QwoTVwX3RJQxf3VhhX5otpInVveXgvhnXUajaIfiHh3P7v6j7iAyJpkS2KapGh5c2RU/s1600-h/wdwh6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdi99KkStM9Lyh4pIXs01uvW0EYgXn0q_vKpFFxpHoJM_EPhUVEpjprhLcC3WK15sSJGMFZ0y-QwoTVwX3RJQxf3VhhX5otpInVveXgvhnXUajaIfiHh3P7v6j7iAyJpkS2KapGh5c2RU/s320/wdwh6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278231009566013602" /></a><br /><br />And here's a Disney secret! Book yourself for an early morning event, like breakfast with the Princesses, or special offers that give you early access to the parks. It's amazing to walk through the gates and seeing Main Street Disney, with the castle looming behind it, all sparkling clean, and free from the crowds. Very nice!<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-72956263689076968522008-12-05T06:08:00.000-08:002008-12-05T07:04:58.146-08:00Christmas in New York City<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenaipCcUyWclsYERio2P9zpC-QkX3sXY5veallVj9epp5QD4TSEqruJeTa4pml9HF26Q6bHEPzL0SQ-dS0YsmBmj1Y88UQuNjVBoz6M8VlJ-3KYIifqD1cq8RHKItn1PKPsP9BSW4MeM/s1600-h/nyc1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenaipCcUyWclsYERio2P9zpC-QkX3sXY5veallVj9epp5QD4TSEqruJeTa4pml9HF26Q6bHEPzL0SQ-dS0YsmBmj1Y88UQuNjVBoz6M8VlJ-3KYIifqD1cq8RHKItn1PKPsP9BSW4MeM/s320/nyc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276308191806268978" /></a><br /><br />A big city has a lot to offer... it's fairly safe to say that most people will find something to enjoy... if they can stand the crowds, and do some research before they go. For me, there is no better time to visit a big city like New York or London, than at Christmas time. The lights, decorations, and Holiday spirit can take away from the pollution and litter, and the crowds seem more festive than annoying. Nighttime is best, of course, when the lights sparkle, and everyone is bundled up against the wind and cold, and the smell of roasting peanuts and pretzels fills the air.<br /><br />I've been to New York City at Christmas time many times, and it's usually pretty much the same every year, but somehow I find myself still taking the same pictures of the same lights, and enjoying it just as much. And there is always something new to see. The window displays of the major department stores change yearly, of course, with some being worth the long lines to see and hear.<br /><br />The above photo is of the famous processional in front of Rockefeller Center, facing away from the tree. This is definitely one of those sights I look forward to seeing each year, and it is lovely to stroll here. The huge snowflakes in the background twinkle, and every few minutes play Christmas carols, while blinking on and off to the music. The angels light the faces around you, and underneath those huge snowflakes is the window displays of Saks 5th Ave, I believe. Behind this view is Rockefeller Center itself, the famous skating rink with its golden statue, and the giant Christmas tree and large toy soldiers overlooking all.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqC1h0TLSRY6NE_2EYx-CGOqo1MXdTK7XeJyeKOdVqaA4cunFF8_0vVxbn9JBKK2AMf3jXYYBhIdsOHWr6EeWqwIYaiOlHXMEH1R2SZiSM81MZNIEYy1w16G8hfPeGDRbzxlco0i6xYc/s1600-h/nyc3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqC1h0TLSRY6NE_2EYx-CGOqo1MXdTK7XeJyeKOdVqaA4cunFF8_0vVxbn9JBKK2AMf3jXYYBhIdsOHWr6EeWqwIYaiOlHXMEH1R2SZiSM81MZNIEYy1w16G8hfPeGDRbzxlco0i6xYc/s320/nyc3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276312429956651138" /></a><br /><br />The surrounding area has much to offer in shopping and sightseeing, and every corner you turn can offer more Holiday displays such as the photo above. Besides the taxis and tourists, at this time of year you are more likely to see the horse and carriages of Central Park making their way southward to show the sights to their occupants. The clopping of hooves adds to the Holiday fun somehow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRKOrFBvUsTrxFIhjqMWq_Yx8lYYW2oZum6hpsAnGJjifk-TwbHu3jTRoq7nmNZ5ci0NFGhH40rNWcckDZcZxP1Y7zAtQyLZBTeuT7ol241-ZtqqpZt9Xwpv-feQSyLD0caArPWcD1FE/s1600-h/nyc4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRKOrFBvUsTrxFIhjqMWq_Yx8lYYW2oZum6hpsAnGJjifk-TwbHu3jTRoq7nmNZ5ci0NFGhH40rNWcckDZcZxP1Y7zAtQyLZBTeuT7ol241-ZtqqpZt9Xwpv-feQSyLD0caArPWcD1FE/s320/nyc4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276316205930033794" /></a><br /><br />A bit more walking will bring you to Times Square, which, if you haven't seen it, should probably be on your list of things to do. It's still crowded and dirty, but they put up about 200 more television screens, and a million more light bulbs to distrcat you from that. There are also hundreds of more advertisements, but hey, that's what it's all about, right?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNusmWpuPkyiRg3I6FWAvZ5MipgCrVb5ClsHhuKweL9IfBk-wFDMOin7VUVB4lvs3zTfXlZ8MU1QVfOu1vHA-5jHE1Lu3pKtFrY6t6_Dirmy4YFY58zmXjmcNTcmeRNVC4af6vv3KBps/s1600-h/nyc5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNusmWpuPkyiRg3I6FWAvZ5MipgCrVb5ClsHhuKweL9IfBk-wFDMOin7VUVB4lvs3zTfXlZ8MU1QVfOu1vHA-5jHE1Lu3pKtFrY6t6_Dirmy4YFY58zmXjmcNTcmeRNVC4af6vv3KBps/s320/nyc5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276316510875651906" /></a><br /><br />Times Square has some neat shops to visit, such as the Hershey's chocolate store, the M&M's chocolate store, and the big Toys R Us which is three stories tall and offers a huge ferris wheel inside, as well as a giant moving Tyranosaurus Rex that is guaranteed to scare the kiddies. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7h7o-AeM8Fqj6W678fUsElDbEHkqsu3uwdmh05buoKXhz-_IdCZY-cN_pQEWUldDvS8mSQNePIYzetxQiuOX3Pouumi-kP9kf-x0GMlSpp7mqcG3IvjwqJIk7xyfa0DDRJMUuXteHxQ/s1600-h/nyc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7h7o-AeM8Fqj6W678fUsElDbEHkqsu3uwdmh05buoKXhz-_IdCZY-cN_pQEWUldDvS8mSQNePIYzetxQiuOX3Pouumi-kP9kf-x0GMlSpp7mqcG3IvjwqJIk7xyfa0DDRJMUuXteHxQ/s320/nyc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276313459501757346" /></a><br /><br />This trip I went to the M&M's store, to buy some chocolate, and was surprised that the hardest thing to puchase there was... chocolate! They have hundreds and hundreds of items for sale from underwear to figurines with M&M characters everywhere, but oh so little chocolate, and what chocolate they did have was quite expensive! I didn't visit the Hershey's store this year, but I remember it being a lot more kid friendly, and chocolate lover friendly, with the emphasis on product first, merchandise second.<br /><br />Of course, New York City is the best for one sport... celebrity spotting. There's always somebody famous, or semi-famous, out and about, enjoying the sights. I saw this guy at the NBC store, but he obviously wasn't happy about having his picture taken. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdKj5TtfmcZcPehLe0lbkYk9qzurl_-U4xJk3bjGyYEuuphiG8b81yFEtRCgYqpYJKTMXk1wkN2lJXcoNQitMCeNhX5_Kaqmf6dFMAnHKIxsC09y5YFR3zuWSZUnvqGNvULxApusrZXI/s1600-h/nyc6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdKj5TtfmcZcPehLe0lbkYk9qzurl_-U4xJk3bjGyYEuuphiG8b81yFEtRCgYqpYJKTMXk1wkN2lJXcoNQitMCeNhX5_Kaqmf6dFMAnHKIxsC09y5YFR3zuWSZUnvqGNvULxApusrZXI/s320/nyc6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276315637884343858" /></a><br /><br /><br />Now, I've only briefly scratched the surface here... there's much more to see, and much, much more to buy, if shopping is your thing. Still, a night in a big city at Christmastime can be a fun and rewarding outing, especially if you enjoy the bustle of the Holidays.<br /><br />If the big city isn't exactly your thing, I can highly recommend a smaller city such as Edinburgh, or Zurich. Both offer big city sights and stuff with a much smaller, tamer, nicer, cleaner atmosphere. Zurich in particular is lovely during the Holidays, and really has kept the traditions alive there.<br /><br />Wherever you go, and whatever you choose to do, I wish for you a safe and happy Holiday Season! JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-31654190251799462052008-10-27T11:19:00.000-07:002008-10-27T12:29:21.395-07:00Travelling in Style<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-Bj-_LwqjUSx2YYL8HNIFieCDIgPMPYDCVsqibLo_8xMlH7GsJv5KGB2jJiY0VjA_fQxGZfX9nCAEf6vurWclOOz8bIpZLuhvfHhfCCcyAvuMudCACUnEo-NiWBfiner-Yj9GSt9lCw/s1600-h/mini3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-Bj-_LwqjUSx2YYL8HNIFieCDIgPMPYDCVsqibLo_8xMlH7GsJv5KGB2jJiY0VjA_fQxGZfX9nCAEf6vurWclOOz8bIpZLuhvfHhfCCcyAvuMudCACUnEo-NiWBfiner-Yj9GSt9lCw/s320/mini3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261913724070655394" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday I had the pleasure of parcipitating in MINI's Motortober 08 Rally around northern New Jersey. Who says you have to go far to get the benefits of travel?<br /><br />In this economy, it makes sense to travel locally, and participating in events like this get you out of the house and seeing places you might not have visited before, doing things you may not have done in a while, and meeting new people: all of which are benefits to travel. Of course, you're not immersing yourself in new cultures, but what the heck. Travelling for pure fun is good, too. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU_2u1sC-CkA80dJC8fcnJRgXZBs2FfmC8NNKqP75-sj7NPDzP-Erwe-s6Y2VlyO3-xCXdAunf68WrYrUuhoO8OzbTGv5p7ZPLTnNbhIInZgkDxo8VF5SiQb-1C3K364fH9U2C_RkEsw/s1600-h/mini1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU_2u1sC-CkA80dJC8fcnJRgXZBs2FfmC8NNKqP75-sj7NPDzP-Erwe-s6Y2VlyO3-xCXdAunf68WrYrUuhoO8OzbTGv5p7ZPLTnNbhIInZgkDxo8VF5SiQb-1C3K364fH9U2C_RkEsw/s320/mini1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261914783413430434" /></a><br /><br />Being in the MINI Rally was a blast... it was fun watching people's faces as first they see one MINI, then as they're pointing it out to their companion they see a second, and then their jaws drop as several more are seen following behind! I witnessed this three times, and several other times people shouted out "MINI!" as we drove by. It was hard to keep the entire group together when we were in towns, but there were at least a dozen of us as we pulled into the first stop for ice cream, and about two dozen when we pulled into a farm for some off-roading.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJrATzlfN4gKmwXcwWgX9iFh5ETlHA_PeR5ZeC3ft6moFiuhM_T11iyORMnkeQLAaUWRf6cNnsEPiSCi8U-roy8kBmWvy0FcDlovP3YlAyagx0QJ51ty7_6zusr7xk7Ho7UrLss0ZhcQ/s1600-h/mini2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJrATzlfN4gKmwXcwWgX9iFh5ETlHA_PeR5ZeC3ft6moFiuhM_T11iyORMnkeQLAaUWRf6cNnsEPiSCi8U-roy8kBmWvy0FcDlovP3YlAyagx0QJ51ty7_6zusr7xk7Ho7UrLss0ZhcQ/s320/mini2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261916238621165186" /></a><br /><br />At the farm we went on a hayride, and saw up close some alpacas... silly little creatures that look like llamas. After that we drove through the fall foliage to the Montville Inn for an excellent late lunch/ early dinner... with a special MINI menu. All in all a fun day, and we couldn't have asked for nicer weather. And with a MINI, we didn't use up that much gas as we tooled around the countryside!<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br />PS That's my MINI in the third photo... you can just see it at the far right.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGyuwerb-HH9kqjUc1d_yrFmTOHO1jXyXH37tz1iTWj7jZS5OTnfdtC6kYDvrTcNEfD0ifkqCAFSs1k7nw6Egc3URlyiMuiFEoh8HuQyEWxPdO1yi-qpnrcv6RmuSn2A9cHI-yOsXb4U/s1600-h/alpaca.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGyuwerb-HH9kqjUc1d_yrFmTOHO1jXyXH37tz1iTWj7jZS5OTnfdtC6kYDvrTcNEfD0ifkqCAFSs1k7nw6Egc3URlyiMuiFEoh8HuQyEWxPdO1yi-qpnrcv6RmuSn2A9cHI-yOsXb4U/s320/alpaca.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261917734650260978" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-9678099129146316712008-10-10T06:08:00.000-07:002008-10-10T06:39:19.282-07:00The Loud AmericanXenophobia, loosely described as fear or loathing of people or beings that are different from yourself. I've spoken here of why it's good to travel, such as it improves your brain, and your outlook on life. Like other travels, I should probably just focus on the good stuff, like great food, or excellent shopping when teh exchange rate is in your favor.<br /><br />No, I have to intellectualise things, and what I should say here is that I think travel should become mandatory. People aren't going to travel because it's good for them unless you drop kick them on the plane and wait to make sure they don't get off again until the next stop. Okay, that sounds a bit harsh, but the world, great big place that it really is, is also getting smaller in terms of cultural boundaries. More and more each day we're forced suddenly with people who wear different clothes, eat differet foods, and more importantly have different views, opinions, and ideas. Eventually, tensions arise, and problems begin.<br /><br />The cure, or at least delay to the problem, is of course, travel. More than reading a book or website, true travel immerses you in a new place, and you're forced to see things from other viewpoints. Being of English decent, I can blend in pretty well in the UK, if I keep my mouth shut. So I was sitting in a cafe in Bath one time, alone, and so quiet, when these Americans walked in... young kids, mostly girls, and fine examples of the American Teenager. Very loud and raucus, laughing out loud, making snorting noises, and pushing each other around as teenageers do here every day in every eatery in America. For some reason, though, this behaviour seemed unexpected in this little cafe in Bath, and people started staring, and glaring, the moment these kids walked in the door. Eventually, rolled eyes accompanied whispers of "Americans", and I smiled to myself since I was American myself.<br /><br />The point here, of course, that even in a country where you speak the language, there are cultural differences. And even though teenagers everywhere could use a little lesson in manners, these kids were just having fun, and yet drew stares and whispers. Take this idea further, and you can begin to understand xenophobia. how many Americans reading this see nothing wrong with the teenager's behavior? I wouldn't, except for the fact that I was there, and everyone else in the cafe was quiet and reserved.<br /><br />What I am trying to say is this: It is very easy to assume that you are always right and someone else is wrong, especially when all you know is your neighborhood, and you hav eyour neighbors to reinforce your world view for you. Travel to foreign countries can be eye opening when you see that not everyone loves America, or Americans, or our politics, or world stance. Did I tell the story about the guy in India who spit at me because he disagreed with Clinton's policies in Pakistan? I was told through a translator that since Clinton was my president, I must agree with the things he says or does! Well, talk about a misunderstanding, and a very scary situation!<br /><br />It is also very eye opening, and rewarding, to see that people in other countries are also very much like us. Most people just want simpler, better lives, with a good roof over their heads, and a warm television to sit in front of. They want better lives for themselves and their kids, and are not always enmeshed in politics, religion, or anything else that makes us all different.<br /><br />Wherever you go, you'll realise that people with very different lives can be very familiar to you if you actually see them with your eyes, and not through the filtered lens of the media. It's important to also see, though, that your viewpoint is not the only one, and no matter how sure you are of your beliefs, there are those out there who will strongly disagree with you. Both points are important to realise in today's global village.<br /><br />I sincerely think travel should be mandatory for American students.... all students, not just those who can afford the Senior class trip that some High Schools offer. It would definitely help us to raise better kids who are more prepared to face the world.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6-pFzNEFr7Q2C9b9YfIgtzufk0AupE42dsmJJ-pm3a0TOSKL_5AMjO2W6iyCZ3JLcol0YZauUdfwH6wGFJiX7LqARXS8qhzKCe-7lhEKJr8SloL9VF03xiEG_7hgXoQHkwFp990cvN0/s1600-h/knd241.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6-pFzNEFr7Q2C9b9YfIgtzufk0AupE42dsmJJ-pm3a0TOSKL_5AMjO2W6iyCZ3JLcol0YZauUdfwH6wGFJiX7LqARXS8qhzKCe-7lhEKJr8SloL9VF03xiEG_7hgXoQHkwFp990cvN0/s320/knd241.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255519116642015042" /></a><br>One of my cartoons about Bath, England. :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-10938325371492487972008-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:002008-08-21T12:15:43.753-07:00Bangers and Mash, Anyone?<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p75GN7Dl79KF-W4_8ofld65ii6uGx5VdzyN70XSOp9kZdm7ReFAQ3NhZvqKNOK56u9ugX-RbPBHDw3wddCbw3Cgg_lK6LhKPAMgWjIkTQGMFPLFwN2lfcN2BFpvA7YoPoXH5MN9hiKM/s1600-h/IMG_5681.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p75GN7Dl79KF-W4_8ofld65ii6uGx5VdzyN70XSOp9kZdm7ReFAQ3NhZvqKNOK56u9ugX-RbPBHDw3wddCbw3Cgg_lK6LhKPAMgWjIkTQGMFPLFwN2lfcN2BFpvA7YoPoXH5MN9hiKM/s320/IMG_5681.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237050428184028642" /></a><br><blockquote>An American standing in front of a decent pub</blockquote></center><br /><br />I always recommend a trip to the UK for an American's first visit overseas. The language is recognizable, the people friendly, and yet there is so much to see and do that excitement will fill your every moment travelling there.<br /><br />For a small island, England has a lot to offer. In fact, I'm sure most people would find something to their liking, especially if they just forget all that silly small talk, misconceptions, and 'facts' that everyone assumes to be true. No, it doesn't rain all the time in the UK, and yes, there are many restaurants and pubs that serve some excellent food, and no, beer is not necessarily served warm.<br /><br />One problem Americans in particular face when confronting England is the food. One joy of travelling is discovering new things, and the best place to start is food. However, the moment we Americans arrive, we right away look for something familiar and comfortable, and this is a mistake. I, as a new traveller my first time to the UK, learned these things the hard way, and would like to steer you right.<br /><br />England is more culturally diverse than America, by far, and so there is a wide variety of foods to choose from. However, this is England we're talking about, not some remote forest village. The water is safe to drink, and I doubt anyone is serving crunchy catepillars, so why the fuss?<br /><br />First off, true British food, what I would call Pub Grub, is fabulous. Shephard's pie, fish and chips, and surprisingly many vegetarian options are offered by pubs, along with some terrific beer. All fairly safe foods, so don't be intimidated.<br /><br />It is true that some British folk overcook their veggies by our standards, but I think you'll see this less and less in restaurants. Also, what may be familiar in America may not be familiar in the UK. My first meal ever in the UK was served in an 'Italian' restaurant. Suffering a wee bit of jet lag and culture shock, I looked for something familiar, and regretted it. The veggies were overcooked, and the pasta was soaking in way too much oil, and the cheese was overcooked until it too became unrecognizable and the spices were different than I was used to. Blech. Another meal, found along the vein of seeking comfort, was nachos in a trendy sports pub. How can you go wrong with nachos, right? Cheese and salsa on chips, toasted until the cheese melts. Well, fortunately my brain has forgotten the details of that frightful meal.<br /><br />Every country has specialties, and their own versions of things. In England, stick with a real pub, not one of the trendy chain pubs that are taking over the old pubs too rapidly. Or find a restaurant that looks crowded... a good tip for any trip. What is familiar here is not familiar there, where ever you go. Unfortunately for me, I went to places that just wanted tourist money, and tried to cater to tourists. Thankfully I learned to go with the flow, and do as the locals do.<br /><br />When you are feeling more adventurous, try some other places. It's best to have recommendations from friends or up to date guidebooks. I would recommend some places, but things are changing too fast for that. Some of my favorite places have disappeared or changed too much. Indian food in England is usually very good, especially in established restaurants, or some of the new fusion places. There are some bad places, but again, those were aimed at tourists, and gave you little for your money.<br /><br />Most places in the theatre district are pretty good from my experience, and there is a Chinatown not far away. Chinatown, though, is like Chinatown in other big cities, and should be approached cautiously by the unadventurous. You're not going to find the Americanized Chinese food we have here. My experience in New York and London is that this food is very authentic, and not for the faint hearted. A dim sum experience in London revealed foods that I could not identify by sight, and some, like fried chicken's feet, were too identifiable. If you're seeking adventure, that's the place. :0)<br /><br />European food can also be found, in restaurants that specialize in Swiss style eating, or Belgian, French, etc. One place I can recommend is My Old Dutch Pancake, which is not too far from the British Museum, but I always get lost trying to find it. The first time I went there it was a family friendly place, but the last time I went it was an upscale cafe with much higher prices. The food, service, and atmosphere is always nice, though, and something unique. <br /><br /><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO3iij6mkN8ZhlgsaIXKO6bauT_lVGtPKjUdvp82avLw78jkrvWTU4ads_HOEDcCph2jJWfGpqWz5FmGr1ntDL4CfJ67f9uCXbvdWuHUlBYFqIubQeizssbjT59NgwGopJhPKTYqyn_4/s1600-h/IMG_5661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO3iij6mkN8ZhlgsaIXKO6bauT_lVGtPKjUdvp82avLw78jkrvWTU4ads_HOEDcCph2jJWfGpqWz5FmGr1ntDL4CfJ67f9uCXbvdWuHUlBYFqIubQeizssbjT59NgwGopJhPKTYqyn_4/s320/IMG_5661.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237048893874393650" /></a><br>A different American standing before My Old Dutch Pancake</center><br /><br />In any country, it's best to go where the locals go, or to a slightly more upscale place. Noone is going to deliberately serve bad food, but there are some places it's best to avoid. A place looking to accumulate tourist money is not going to be aiming for repeat business... they'll take your money, and then the next guy's, and the next, for as long as they can get away with it.<br /><br />If a place is known for something, then it's safe to aim for that. In England, go for the Fish and Chips or other pub food. We've all heard about the Brits eating Fish and Chips, right? Then again, I've had the best Chinese food... in India!<br /><br />Which just goes to show what an adventure travel can be. Just be sure the surprises you find are good ones!<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-53324827806353317842008-08-16T12:38:00.000-07:002008-08-16T12:46:13.474-07:00Staying HomeSince the Googlebots haven't found this blog yet, my visitors have been few so far. I really thought that last post about my Disney trips would have got some of you talking, but then again, it's summer, so hopefully a lot of you are travelling. :0)<br /><br />Anyways, I still have lots of travel tips, stories, and illustrations to share with you, but right now I'm finding adventure at home... with my comic strip The Inquiring Minds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IbuGenaFccpwuqePzCQnJ3Y_LM-wm2KBUVeGZZVUPfOhMid3PcpZgL7TAprwghdxRQydm1qCKOsmCQIlq7FVA7ajNlu79YoP0inG1e3lxol6YNVU40WsqSxfoOL8c-dBgIeVJRKzw3g/s1600-h/summerad2lo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IbuGenaFccpwuqePzCQnJ3Y_LM-wm2KBUVeGZZVUPfOhMid3PcpZgL7TAprwghdxRQydm1qCKOsmCQIlq7FVA7ajNlu79YoP0inG1e3lxol6YNVU40WsqSxfoOL8c-dBgIeVJRKzw3g/s320/summerad2lo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235203707212333186" /></a><br /><br />Today I am proud to announce my 100th comic strip of The Inquiring Minds! This is a big deal to me. I'm doubly pleased that this 100th strip falls smack dab in the middle of the 2008 Big Summer Adventure currently going on. I honestly believe that when this is over, the Big Summer event will be my best work to date. I'm very pleased with the art and the writing both, and for me, this is something that's been a long time coming.<br /><br />It's fun, and getting funner, and big things are yet to come!<br /><br />If you aren't up to date with the story, please read through it before reading the new 100th strip below, as it is a culmination of what's been going on so far this summer. But this is by no means the end! Plot twists are a coming! :0)<br /><br />See the whole story at www.HappyGlyphs.com/summer.html<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GQY7CQxvJ0_GAHScr2wjWjaQjKUtilsgI5OMx6RQePHnPj7TEh2tz-Uf56P0ONnea5e69ms8t_H_B_B8fupi-WjvF0A0gvRE10F15tVQAIPUTjJiaw35AartjzJW83dlbR2fhlDrXIo/s1600-h/sunday36.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GQY7CQxvJ0_GAHScr2wjWjaQjKUtilsgI5OMx6RQePHnPj7TEh2tz-Uf56P0ONnea5e69ms8t_H_B_B8fupi-WjvF0A0gvRE10F15tVQAIPUTjJiaw35AartjzJW83dlbR2fhlDrXIo/s320/sunday36.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235203394374746850" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-33348672554476009992008-07-03T09:59:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:11.816-08:00We're Going Live in 3, 2,1...They say that you either love LA, or hate LA, but who cares about that? I'm in Anaheim, and about to hit Disneyland for the fourth day. That's right, The Traveling 'Toonist is reporting live for the first time, and ready to give up to the minute reports, travel tips, and answers to your questions.<br /><br />AFTER I hit the parks, of course. :o)<br /><br />Ciao, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYxnGG0E2wrZLXI_hMBTbz8kbjHG-keIjCGlB7c57QKzcu-ZsMs556TPLUfxnMyaAOvQgepJjOq3F2civQ_Tp989CMct12A4U_BvPKsOcqm_7IGTDUyKu6wrcWHk5fraeKrLAF0aVGMY/s1600-h/cinderella.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYxnGG0E2wrZLXI_hMBTbz8kbjHG-keIjCGlB7c57QKzcu-ZsMs556TPLUfxnMyaAOvQgepJjOq3F2civQ_Tp989CMct12A4U_BvPKsOcqm_7IGTDUyKu6wrcWHk5fraeKrLAF0aVGMY/s320/cinderella.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219714698722596994" /></a> <br><center><em>Getting up close and personal with a Princess</em></center><br /><br />UPDATE 0: No,it wasn't me assaulting Cinderella above, but someone else was, and she remained smiling the whole time while security took care of the matter. One of the nice things about Disney parks is that the characters are great, stay in character, and are very friendly and accomodating. I only saw one incident where a princess made a face at a family, and hopefully she'll be replaced.<br /><br />UPDATE 1: I'll update this with photos or illustrations when I return home. I'll also give you my plusses and minuses on my current Disney vacation.<br /><br />UPDATE 2: The economy sucks right now, so those of you outside the US can come here right now and live the high life. For those of you IN the US, the price of gas has some benefits... mainly shorter lines at Disney, since there are fewer vacationers. Later hours means little or no lines on great attractions like Pirates or Haunted Mansion or that Buzz Lightyear ride.<br /><br />UPDATE 3: Ran into Jack Sparrow, (that's Captain Jack Sparrow) in the Pirate's Lair of Tom Sawyer's Island. He let me in on an exclusive tip! He says there will be a 4th Pirates adventure, and it involves Captain Barbosa in the land of the Dead! Yes, you heard it here first, folks! A Pirates of the Caribean exclusive, straight from the Captain's mouth. :0)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_QeeUWmRfeMGH5sOoxarKAP_YTCVGWLdxusgOZHbY-RGlJVXnrnJXOdl-M0sop49C5gNCafCFP0CnPCki329hnLaP5GvHlMvYadbeIsV839YNoGQSYkMNECp-cQb7fnZOI1RTA2Cp5U/s1600-h/capt+jack.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_QeeUWmRfeMGH5sOoxarKAP_YTCVGWLdxusgOZHbY-RGlJVXnrnJXOdl-M0sop49C5gNCafCFP0CnPCki329hnLaP5GvHlMvYadbeIsV839YNoGQSYkMNECp-cQb7fnZOI1RTA2Cp5U/s320/capt+jack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219705958193928274" /></a> <br><center><em>Captain Jack Sparrow</em></center><br /><br /><br />UPDATE 4: The new ride at Disney is Toy Story mania, and it is definitely something to get manic about. 3D target shooting fun, fun, fun! I was told that people have stood in line for two hours to get in, and I can believe that. Even at closing time, the lines had a 45 minute wait. Definitely a ton of fun.<br /><br />UPDATE 5: Disneyland is NOT a copy of Disney World, nor vice versa. Both have a lot in common, but maintain their uniqueness nonetheless. Disney World does have 4 parks to offer, but Disneyland has California Adventure that is a beautiful park that has a lot to offer. Also, the parks in California are not as small as you may think, nor are they 'old or run down', as I've heard people surmise. Yes, Disneyland goes back to the 50's, but Disney is a class act, and they've maintained the parks well. Another reason for you East coasters to go to California? Pirates of the Caribean and Haunted Mansion are both far superior to their counterparts in Florida. PLUS, Pirates is not only longer, but has a restaurant inside called the Blue Bayou! How cool is that? I actually had dinner while people were riding by in their little boats, heading for adventure with salty pirates.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97C2GXQhpkbFo0OInKbeRuYmBST7t3WqmN-eBN68Cj8yGJy1_vK54CHV2lAfqjgvsYwj-WA_q_MqUT-EciWAOHYpAir2AtWzj6jGU07ZP00K-fdBPSqqSmEycDmoUiHsnNeIHkdAiEyw/s1600-h/blue+bayou.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97C2GXQhpkbFo0OInKbeRuYmBST7t3WqmN-eBN68Cj8yGJy1_vK54CHV2lAfqjgvsYwj-WA_q_MqUT-EciWAOHYpAir2AtWzj6jGU07ZP00K-fdBPSqqSmEycDmoUiHsnNeIHkdAiEyw/s320/blue+bayou.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219709328480508178" /></a> <br><center><em>The view from the Blue Bayou</em></center><br /><br />UPDATE 6: Walt Disney came up with the idea of Disneyland while out and aboot with his kids. He wanted a place where parents could have fun with their kids, not just sit on the bench watching them. A great idea, but what did I see so much of? People sitting on benches while their kids and other loved ones ran off to the rides.<br /><br />So what happened to Walt's dream? First of all, I wonder if he imagined just how big the parks would get, or just how many things there are to do there? Even 4 days wasn't nearly enough to do all that I wanted to do, and trust me, after 8, 10, 0r 12 hours in the Californian or Floridian sun, you are tired... exhausted even, and with the kiddies along, chances are they have passed out long before you are ready to leave.<br /><br />Another reason? I don't imagine that Walt wanted you people to bring along infants! I can't tell you how many boneheads I saw carrying one or two month old children around in the hot sun. First off, infants shouldn't even be in public for the first few months, to protect them from colds and stuff, and second, their little heads and everything else are just too fragile to be putting them through a theme park environment. Third of all, why would you want to sit on the bench for hours on end or push strollers everywhere? Please, people, please... come back when the kids are older.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaohkl8qYtUAXuiugwbFnSvmuLAflSxCiHoAOY51MhBNW4ZfBSviYtCGYvD2JnIw7SInVBf9R2kYT4P_2Or3uL3_xq-Wx8DJiKxmxyqBBGgPg1bcToUFTatAoLIv3PwpOCgW9pGYQB1Y/s1600-h/haunted+mansion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaohkl8qYtUAXuiugwbFnSvmuLAflSxCiHoAOY51MhBNW4ZfBSviYtCGYvD2JnIw7SInVBf9R2kYT4P_2Or3uL3_xq-Wx8DJiKxmxyqBBGgPg1bcToUFTatAoLIv3PwpOCgW9pGYQB1Y/s320/haunted+mansion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219710544329638642" /></a> <br><center><em>A denizen of 'The Mansion'!</em></center><br /><br /><br />UPDATE 7: I'm home, and can I please add that even with gas prices so high, I think I'll drive on my next vacation. The quality of air travel has gone down considerably. The plane I was on had the poorest air quality imaginable. You could smell the stench of the plane the second they opened the doors, and I was standing about 30 feet away! The food was bad, the bathrooms dirty, and the plane was kept much too hot. I'm sure the plane was so hot because they wanted to save money by not using the air conditioner. They actually asked us to close the shades so that they could conserve energy. Yuck, yuck, yuck. I'm driving next time, even if it's over seas.<br /><br />Okay, now it's time to add some photos. I'll post some more if and when it comes to me. Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br />UPDATE 8: While travelling, please avoid at all costs the internet connection that hotels provide on your hotel television set. It usually costs about 10 bucks a day, and it isn't worth 10 cents. The screen is awful, the graphics are awful, and the connection craps out every 15 seconds. And apparently my reply to Brian didn't even get through. Save your money, folks!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWFBJEfpDe3L8wbvNmr7mmyyPwSm2vXy34n4LMP3RPwsX2adMGac4WTkd3cEhftA8cjQRRR8CuUmyOQywT-8ptjGJX5iOn-7MJFRNLBcVcpRYqrlLR8P-iz_i5eD4OL3_RNak-cQBVGE/s1600-h/california+adventure.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWFBJEfpDe3L8wbvNmr7mmyyPwSm2vXy34n4LMP3RPwsX2adMGac4WTkd3cEhftA8cjQRRR8CuUmyOQywT-8ptjGJX5iOn-7MJFRNLBcVcpRYqrlLR8P-iz_i5eD4OL3_RNak-cQBVGE/s320/california+adventure.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219713093146028098" /></a> <br><center><em>Disney's California Adventure by night</em></center><br /><br /><br />UPDATE 9: If you are going to do Disney, do it right. Save up your money, and look for deals. I've got the Disney Visa Card, and it comes with some nice perks. (I wish I could get a commision for saying that!)<br /><br />Also, buy park tickets ahead of time to save a lot of money. At the door they are very costly. Get a park Hopper ticket, so that you can come and go as you please, and visit multiple parks in one day. Some parks close early, some late, and with the Park Hopper Pass you can take advantage of this.<br /><br />Another MUST DO? Stay within the parks, in a Disney Hotel. There are hotels for every budget, although the cheaper ones? Well, you get what you pay for. The real benefit is closeness and ease. In California, the Disney Californian opens right into Disney's California adventure, and into Downtown Disney, and is mere steps away from Disneyland. I stayed at the Convention Center which advertised being only 1 block from the park, but that was misleading. The parking lot was a block away, but the entrance to the park was a very, very long walk. In Florida, the Disney World parks have a bus system that runs every 5 minutes from your hotel to the parks, which is soooooo convenient, that I cannot recommend it highly! No need for car seats, no looking for parking spots, and you can go from park to park or park to hotel and back in a short, comfortable ride. A wonderful service, that is free with your Disney Hotel package.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-14685789792800747152008-06-17T10:06:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:12.670-08:00Around the World in 14 days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus7fYyar9n85GyaVHGcYbg-J9CHJlDOAwsyfH7I_VEIkZ_rJPIXZCPjyYCjF6yQJwPTfyIPJoOmKUAi5jl7fPLAInZdTcPrgmUCObGPWsxH0oJV2NjzZVxAcEBQcJsubVmWpAxA3yS1Q/s1600-h/London.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgus7fYyar9n85GyaVHGcYbg-J9CHJlDOAwsyfH7I_VEIkZ_rJPIXZCPjyYCjF6yQJwPTfyIPJoOmKUAi5jl7fPLAInZdTcPrgmUCObGPWsxH0oJV2NjzZVxAcEBQcJsubVmWpAxA3yS1Q/s320/London.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212905614475758866" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sometimes you don't need to leave the house to travel. You can watch the travel channel, look through old photo albums, or exchange letters with a pen pal from overseas, although, sadly, that last one seems to be fading away. The internet is another way to travel, but when all is said and done, there is no replacement for the real thing. Instead, all of the above should inspire one to make plans and actually get out there.<br /><br />As an illustrator, I have the option of drawing or painting far away places, which is another form of stay at home travel. Researching a foreign port, learning about new places, and seeing a hint of their beauty is also very inspirational. One of the benefits of Freelancing is that I never know what a client may want from me, and sometimes that takes me in unexpected directions.<br /><br />Recently, Freelancing took me around the world... in only 14 days!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSN0tzMdYld54HWNBL8oOOXi-KYxCdT2YhbyQKgWZjdgHXWSvbcHbGDv9u_5z9vljsz4qB1JH46o-gYa9ZUjcn3CbhQpqjHc4QGD7G1ZTd46KMlfhCS1L-eWhL9t6H6UWL7G9CvaHcEg/s1600-h/venice.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSN0tzMdYld54HWNBL8oOOXi-KYxCdT2YhbyQKgWZjdgHXWSvbcHbGDv9u_5z9vljsz4qB1JH46o-gYa9ZUjcn3CbhQpqjHc4QGD7G1ZTd46KMlfhCS1L-eWhL9t6H6UWL7G9CvaHcEg/s320/venice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212902227575515330" /></a><br /><br />Yes, a client came to me to provide artwork for an Annual Report, which is a big deal for an illustrator. Unfortunately, by the time we decided I would illustrate ports from around th globe, we had about two weeks left until the artwork had to go to the designer, and the print ready files go to the printers!!<br /><br />Thus began an incredible challenge that kept me from sleeping for two weeks, but also kept me very inspired and excited. Thanks to my well-travelled client, I starting learning about places I had never been to, and some I only knew very little about.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qL5eQ7X25Hc7BCtrSi6y6TY4Iknk_3oW3-Nno586VDVy_H5nA6o91adCvAxYDxlQ3NNW9ejsBE_qBEyMn5RhMtxtdl3Hvr80m7Px4svR3S8wpoqvL3khQZtJyXFeRpgl-BoMGR2m-Ig/s1600-h/istanbul.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qL5eQ7X25Hc7BCtrSi6y6TY4Iknk_3oW3-Nno586VDVy_H5nA6o91adCvAxYDxlQ3NNW9ejsBE_qBEyMn5RhMtxtdl3Hvr80m7Px4svR3S8wpoqvL3khQZtJyXFeRpgl-BoMGR2m-Ig/s320/istanbul.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212905825615317122" /></a><br /><br />I'm not going to show you everything I did, because I ended up doing 10 or 11 illustrations in those two weeks, and several of them were two page spreads. However, I will share a few with you, and maybe even inspire you to learn more about these places, or encourage you to one day visit.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><br />PS The illustrations above are London, Venice, and Istanbul... although you probably already guessed that. :0)<br /><br />PSS Artwork belongs to the American Club, so don't even think of borrowing it.<br /><br />On my iPod? Fish, Sunsets on EmpireAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-84325233898130276352008-06-10T07:38:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:13.005-08:00Indiana John and the Day at the BeachThey say that you can find adventure in your own backyard, and man was that point driven home the other day... on a trip to the beach! The sand was soaked with blood and I had a very close call with - well, let's start from the beginning, shall we?<br /><br />The moment I arrived, I was looking for a quiet place to put my towel when I immediately noticed something... different. I realised quickly that the water off to the side looked funny, in this space between a 2 foot sewer pipe that disappeared into the waters and a stone jetty about 10 feet away from that. The water was brighter there, much brighter, so I dropped my stuff and sauntered forth to see why.<br /><br />As I approached this tiny natural harbor the water flashed bright silver at the edges, and getting closer still I saw dozens of large fish being tossed by the tide! They were alive, but did not look happy, and I wondered why they were just letting the tide push them around. A few feet away a seagull appeared to wonder the same thing, as he cocked his head at the fish, and danced away from each wave.<br /><br />The fish were all between 9 to 12 inches, with bright silver and bright brown scales, and there must have been about 50 or more all within arms reach. In fact, calling over some sand urchins to see the fish, I borrowed one of their buckets and actually scooped up one of the fish... a big one too at about 13 inches long. It flopped in the bucket wildly, so I went to release it, and then noticed the red mark on its back. I also noticed the seagull was looking at me kind of funny like, as if he thought I was mad to be standing ankle deep in the water surrounded by 50 unhappy fish. THEN I noticed the dark shadow swimming back and forth just behind the waves... a long dark shadow about 3 feet long that suddenly lunged at one of the fish in front of me and snapped it in half!<br /><br />Well, I jumped out of the waves, the kids ran screaming down the beach, the seagull flapped its wings with excitement, and another shark-like creature made its appearance in the waves, with a flash of bright blue as it flipped through the piscene thrall and snapped the tail off of another fish.<br /><br />So, a Nature Channel special happening right in front of me, with quite a few lessons to be learned. First of all, if a seagull is unwilling to step into the water after free fish, there might be a reason for it! See, animals and birds aren't as dumb as some people think. The sharks were also pretty smart, since it became rather obvious that they corraled this school of fish into this natural tiny harbor, setting themselves up neatly for an easy buffet. You can argue that it's all instinct, but how much of intelligence is 'instinct', after all? One of the sharks was always on herding duty while the other went in for an easy snack. Neither was in a hurry, and the feeding frenzy went on for well over an hour, and only really begun when the fish were so exhausted they could hardly swim.<br /><br />My question is, though, is what kind of predator was this, gobbling fish at the Jersey shore? I spent some time watching, trying to get details, and the two acted like sharks, and swam like sharks, but I'm not sure. The top fin was veined like a fish, where the sharks I have seen have solid fins. Also, the head was not flattened like many sharks have, and was more fish like. The tail was vertical, and the two 'tines' were symmetrical, where sharks seem to have one tine much longer than the other.<br /><br />Whatever they were, they were calculating, cool, and vicious. It was fascinating to see the advantages they had, as well; their bellies were bright blue like the sky above, and their tops were dark greenish blue like the sand below, making them nearly invisible except when thrashing after prey. Their prey swam in schools for safety, apparently, but the fishes lost a lot of their numbers that day.<br /><br />But hey, this is a travel blog, so what's today's travel lesson? Oh yeah... you can find adventure in your own back yard. :0)<br /><br />So the next time you find yourself wanting to travel, but short on funds, go someplace not too far away, but where you don't get too often. Adventure is right around the corner, and it does the spirit good to get away from the usual once in a while.<br /><br />And since this is a Cartoonist's blog, I'm struggling to find the right illustration for this. I can't remember drawing anything about fishing, so let's visit The Inquiring Minds for a Predator/prey cartoon, of sorts.<br /><br />Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAtlMRV6b3Rel79-GokJrpWzGRu_l0hoqFfxeIwunHXQqeRZDmmhmR-Z1vJIm8IGuMElr0h2hOgXp_X_jGcc3__hVxt3sV98GId-8XrT4ZKIVGvCTju1Cc0LrsNKuYyKTm6WJsVn05FY/s1600-h/daily26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAtlMRV6b3Rel79-GokJrpWzGRu_l0hoqFfxeIwunHXQqeRZDmmhmR-Z1vJIm8IGuMElr0h2hOgXp_X_jGcc3__hVxt3sV98GId-8XrT4ZKIVGvCTju1Cc0LrsNKuYyKTm6WJsVn05FY/s320/daily26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210278676706233426" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-66434938999139179502008-05-16T05:46:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:13.729-08:00Greetings from Bangalore, Part II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-17QyspLjWu30H42PuBXdq5nzhvSHc0bNklylZjNu-faEVLU1iKsqQPNZcl44wkxWjsxrMn49hb7GRqmNVkKn-CXFXtaNmVqaEwxD5ZySKdFoOys938VQcae_bBAbLJQjg4nCJ7jzi4/s1600-h/temple.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-17QyspLjWu30H42PuBXdq5nzhvSHc0bNklylZjNu-faEVLU1iKsqQPNZcl44wkxWjsxrMn49hb7GRqmNVkKn-CXFXtaNmVqaEwxD5ZySKdFoOys938VQcae_bBAbLJQjg4nCJ7jzi4/s320/temple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200967051930741138" /></a><br />So let us please return to our regular scheduled report on <a href="http://travellingtoonist.blogspot.com/2008/04/greetings-from-bangalore-part-i.html">Bangalore</a>, after our short break in which we announced our <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/2498253">FREE DOWNLOAD</a>, a short comic story that I created after a visit to <a href="http://travellingtoonist.blogspot.com/2008/05/beckenham-kent-uk.html">Beckenham, Kent, England</a>, titled, <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/2498253">The Wolfman of Beckenham, Kent</a>.<br /><br />We left off with me singing the praises of the Dosa, a thin crispy crepe-like treat that originated in South India. I also mentioned that things are changing in Bangalore... upscale shops, higher prices, more traffic and pollution, and now I hear of high-rise luxury apartments. "Sheesh", you say, "you sure are selling the place!" Well, just hold on, please. First off, I do try to tell it like it is, because travel comes with enough surprises. Second, I DO recommend the place as a primo place to visit, and I will try to convince you of that.<br /><br />One benefit to the recent boom in Bangalore is more flights, and more direct flights. Once upon a time it could take 24 hours to fly there from New Jersey, with multiple stops, including a layover in Bombay (Mumbai) which could go on for hours. A nightmare... trust me. You're first view of India shouldn't be meeting the mosquitos at 4 in the morning with 90 percent humidity and 85 degree temps, and being hassled by hucksters trying to convince you to rest at their nearby hotel until your plane arrives.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A15tlcPkGmM8YBA3mXaidLWZEMoS25P4kgzPlBkjgiadW7pXOHWnQjlWnyR0vzpttDxOcT_j1K8s1jkbBEN_hTBhN28FSu3mA3CZ15npZdBnJngg6zEQ7BroMdGSl3vPgjJYRipayIE/s1600-h/3k55.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A15tlcPkGmM8YBA3mXaidLWZEMoS25P4kgzPlBkjgiadW7pXOHWnQjlWnyR0vzpttDxOcT_j1K8s1jkbBEN_hTBhN28FSu3mA3CZ15npZdBnJngg6zEQ7BroMdGSl3vPgjJYRipayIE/s320/3k55.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200963306719258994" /></a><br /><br />So now you can arrive in Bangalore after only 18 hours, and hopefully no stops. From there, I suggest if you are not travelling with friends, or a tour group, you hire a car. Hopefully you did this ahead of time, but still, a car and driver helps. And stay in a decent hotel. In my experience, even when the dollar went far in India, a 4 or 5 star hotel was still expensive. What you get for your money, however, is fab; Outstanding service, and a place of comfort to retreat to when jet lag or culture shock sets in. I've already covered this in my book, <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/241179">3 Knights in India</a>, so let's continue.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfF-989RoYtTxgmmJGBXpD8qwf55Ib23YgR2BU1998ucYMbx4RSelzt-bulDWavDBAvjlmHQGoyHbTwxtEEdTGKRkQqX1ZnxoETMzn4HJb1s1pZmcoFYzDn_GUitFMf9-uGkTjZy_x6M/s1600-h/3k63.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfF-989RoYtTxgmmJGBXpD8qwf55Ib23YgR2BU1998ucYMbx4RSelzt-bulDWavDBAvjlmHQGoyHbTwxtEEdTGKRkQqX1ZnxoETMzn4HJb1s1pZmcoFYzDn_GUitFMf9-uGkTjZy_x6M/s320/3k63.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200964311741606274" /></a><br /><br />Kannada is the language of Bangalore, although you'll hear many a native complain that the languae is falling out of favor with the influx of so many others moving in. Hindi is still spoken by everyone, and many speak English, or try to at least. At the hotels and bigger shops you will not have a problem. At smaller shops and out if the way places you'll have to take it slow and be sure that you and the proprietor understand each other.<br /><br />Now, I'm sure to get a lot of flack for the next photo, but most people laugh when they see it, and it does give one an idea of the language gap, and the importance of understanding what you are saying. And remember, mistakes go both ways. :0)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGg18Z0jgzlq6_J1qMbF0gw2OI4W3o9fjOtCmQm1cT2ojIq1yFeghc09tlCrTKFbN605Z56FTSMz8Gf-OQS9aseVuMQ418blmURCmolC0sQlOjkSj3p9q4_k4Hi_OsSusmajPiYoglKA/s1600-h/bang4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGg18Z0jgzlq6_J1qMbF0gw2OI4W3o9fjOtCmQm1cT2ojIq1yFeghc09tlCrTKFbN605Z56FTSMz8Gf-OQS9aseVuMQ418blmURCmolC0sQlOjkSj3p9q4_k4Hi_OsSusmajPiYoglKA/s320/bang4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200968383370602914" /></a><br /><br />It seems I have a lot more to say, so let's continue with Part 3 at a later date.<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-62089449563339037552008-05-07T20:38:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:14.309-08:00Beckenham, Kent, UKWe interrupt our current feature on Bangalore, India, to bring you the latest news from HappyGlyphs Comics: a new FREE comic called The Wolfman of Beckenham, Kent!<br /><br />I've had the pleasure to stay a few times in Beckenham, and used to walk past a cute little bed and breakfast on Coper's Cope Road, up from the train station. Unfortunately, I belive the neat little place full of nooks and crannies, and plaster walls, and old paintings of English Hunting Scenes is to be gutted and turned into condominiums. This saddened me, so I wanted to pay tribute to the place. At first I wanted to do a painting, and so took some nice pictured of the place. However, since I'm a Cartoonist by nature, I began to create an occupant of the place... a strange occupant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObL157fC9CdSNe8fPrnXUFcPAsU4M_zVAtpUGzRkQbK4wdogVwRqRY7NHnHxUaoccakGNK-GQBYHFRuO9ykkN_YTYtMQ4PBvingF6kPTP9mRWdSX2nBAYS2hMG-bt5LmDWNTc6mAMp8s/s1600-h/hotel+england.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObL157fC9CdSNe8fPrnXUFcPAsU4M_zVAtpUGzRkQbK4wdogVwRqRY7NHnHxUaoccakGNK-GQBYHFRuO9ykkN_YTYtMQ4PBvingF6kPTP9mRWdSX2nBAYS2hMG-bt5LmDWNTc6mAMp8s/s320/hotel+england.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197998394950717666" /></a><br /><br />The Wolfman of Beckenham, Kent is his story, and the story is my tribute to the Goodwood Private Hotel, and all of the other lovely places like it that are losing their charm so that they can become part of the modern world.<br /><br />Here is the cover of the story, and here is the <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/2498253">link to the story</a>. It's FREE, so please check it out. While you're there, check out our other fine offerings, including a fine poster print of the cover to The Wolfman of Beckenhem, Kent, complete with blue MINI cooper. :0)<br /><br />Cheers, JOHN :0) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTQIBiYy9TdBP6E4HfpSWxjwQr4e_a8ky7nCIcdOwpFltPZdGXnw2iM6B5Dm1b8uYiPUx6cvesXeG0aS1WuD0bVcLyAQHCFeSlZd4FjzQDX9zHXD6ATj52HgJ5hqVjL3AeFTFS8HXzs8/s1600-h/wolfman+cover+sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTQIBiYy9TdBP6E4HfpSWxjwQr4e_a8ky7nCIcdOwpFltPZdGXnw2iM6B5Dm1b8uYiPUx6cvesXeG0aS1WuD0bVcLyAQHCFeSlZd4FjzQDX9zHXD6ATj52HgJ5hqVjL3AeFTFS8HXzs8/s320/wolfman+cover+sm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197848676685746386" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4691781361291216381.post-82325050824172681362008-04-06T09:18:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:34:15.070-08:00Greetings From Bangalore, Part I<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiBog6DnGAJfAtybaD3QCQCgurmBirIr5t-6MjgP88Jm_cr3S4cohKboqMxJlrjSTo4M-EUzV6vviS4w6j7lkQA3fBTm7r-cPEcDVyp9Z7t_ruJ3PAujYqxTmIIlypgssXNV-6xOXxFs/s1600-h/snacks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiBog6DnGAJfAtybaD3QCQCgurmBirIr5t-6MjgP88Jm_cr3S4cohKboqMxJlrjSTo4M-EUzV6vviS4w6j7lkQA3fBTm7r-cPEcDVyp9Z7t_ruJ3PAujYqxTmIIlypgssXNV-6xOXxFs/s320/snacks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191709286387854930" /></a><br><center><em>Snacks in the park.</em></center><br /><br /><br />I'm not actually in Bangalore right now, but I liked the title. I actually had a page with this title at my <a href="http://www.happyglyphs.com">website</a> while I was working on my graphic novel<a href="http://www.happyglyphs.com/3knights.html"> 3 Knights in India</a>, and at the time I had indeed visited the garden city.<br /><br />So, I've had a few complaints about that post I made a few weeks back concerning a rough experience in India. I'm not dwelling on bad experiences, and I certainly do not mean to imply that this is all that India is about. I love India, or I wouldn't have spent 3 years of my life on that graphic novel, nor would I have travelled there so many times. My visits to India have had some spectacular moments, and I've had some wonderful times there... some of the best in my life.<br /><br />So let me now take you to Bangalore, a city with a great climate, decent food, and a whole lot of culture.<br /><br />Bangalore is in the southern part of India, and features simple but healthier food than its northern counterpart (but wait... there's more on that later). Being of a very temperate climate, the city's parks and residential areas are beautiful to look at, with the abundance of various flowers doing a decent job of competing with the colorful saris and churidars that the ladies wear. However, since becoming the Silicon Valley of India, and boasting some of the highest paid college grads, and basically becoming a booming city, the place is developing into THE place to be. Where once upon a time the American dollar could go very far, there are now places that have become very upscale, and money talks. Shopping malls, luxury condos, and a car in every yard is now the norm.<br /><br />Of course, the downside is incredible traffic that has to be seen to be believed. I've mentioned elsewhere that I've seen two or three laned roads with 12 lanes of traffic trying to get through. Of course, in India traffic can mean three wheeled motor rickshaws, motor scooters, ox drawn carts, bicycles, motorcycles, and others all squeezing between the cars and trucks that one would normally expect. Pollution has also increased, as well as litter, as the citizens of Bangalore are adopting a more western lifestyle of fast food on the go.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWAzPV0JeOszS8ptzHbvIru8hsVIkW-rDXsjDqDtkrAlfqp0lNxKFCXwKWhijzq7CqeFb0q5a800D9nSt4N02M4vOkcVwBmh9nUppCvCGCD8zBwf1fx0NzfUjQG7sNdxRSmGIfx41qiY/s1600-h/india+oxen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWAzPV0JeOszS8ptzHbvIru8hsVIkW-rDXsjDqDtkrAlfqp0lNxKFCXwKWhijzq7CqeFb0q5a800D9nSt4N02M4vOkcVwBmh9nUppCvCGCD8zBwf1fx0NzfUjQG7sNdxRSmGIfx41qiY/s320/india+oxen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191705292068269618" /></a> <br><center><em>Some of that traffic I mentioned.</em></center><br /><br /><br />I can't predict where Bangalore is going, but I believe that for a while yet it will still maintain its cultural distinction, and its natural beauty. Bangalore offers some outstanding hotels with luxurious service that you wouldn't believe, and the restaurants are becoming world class, with distinctive offerings found nowhere else.<br /><br />On my last visit, a blend of North Indian dishes and Chinese dishes seemed to be the specials at every top restaurant in Bangalore and nearby Mysore. I've had 'Chinese' food in Indian restaurants in America with very mixed results, and so far have found little of interest. In Bangalore, however, chefs familiar with a wide variety of spices and cooking techniques can turn Chinese food into something absolutely spectacular... definitely worth blogging about, and I highly recommend that you try 'Chinese' food while in India, as well as trying a wide variety of styles of food. Although not all experiments work, you'll find much of the food in Bangalore to be worthwhile.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH9pwS9UH5g5gDiQM-kTNuuBDTX7twbq6GgZTeBzUChX7DH2N9AROSvkqDLL971av0pNr9aLd6r0hS_vRdbluqM3s9fhGyZ9VdYdfaXqlyoXQZnzbj7RDN5rGkjRcPOg0BPNZOanndeM/s1600-h/Indian+Ox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwH9pwS9UH5g5gDiQM-kTNuuBDTX7twbq6GgZTeBzUChX7DH2N9AROSvkqDLL971av0pNr9aLd6r0hS_vRdbluqM3s9fhGyZ9VdYdfaXqlyoXQZnzbj7RDN5rGkjRcPOg0BPNZOanndeM/s320/Indian+Ox.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191707126019305026" /></a><br><center><em>My version of the oxen above, available as a high quality print <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/1757405">here</a>.</em></center><br /><br /><br />I mentioned earlier that south Indian food is "simple and healthier", and I am of course referring to traditional south Indian foods, such as idly, sambar, and dosa. Idly is a steamed rice dumpling, sambar a spicy tomota soup, and dosa? Dosas are a crispy crepe-like treat made from rice and dal flour, and the original recipe probably came from Heaven itself. Plain, spicy, or stuffed with a potato mixture, dosas go great with coffee for breakfast, or with chutney and sambar for lunch or dinner. A real treat which I recommend highly. Nowadays, South Indian restaurants are cropping up in America and elsewhere, so you may be able to try a Dosa locally.<br /><br />Part II coming soon!<br /><br />Meanwhile, here's another look at the above topic from the afore-mentioned <a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/241179">3 Knights in India</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RZWZQI3ETpDidOoDKEHbu-L7ICpioaKFHs8H1DMMxUsdjKZMx-6mQJShbqO_p5jXDdI2se9kWhmIc32O7ZJOL9b3qHTUH-N0y5g-qNQs5mHOQBW70D9xhCIjvwAB2hjqChSJ5e-x8LE/s1600-h/3k69.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RZWZQI3ETpDidOoDKEHbu-L7ICpioaKFHs8H1DMMxUsdjKZMx-6mQJShbqO_p5jXDdI2se9kWhmIc32O7ZJOL9b3qHTUH-N0y5g-qNQs5mHOQBW70D9xhCIjvwAB2hjqChSJ5e-x8LE/s320/3k69.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191712713771757154" /></a><br /><br />Thanks for visiting, JOHN :0)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15142977785391302797noreply@blogger.com2