Oops...  Looks as though it's been a couple of years since I've sent anything to this list.  The intention was there, as was the annoying beeping reminder of the Palm Pilot every few days.

If you don't remember...  you did sign up for this list, I just haven't gotten around to writing anything.

Anyway, since the original purpose of this list was to inform of updates and added photos to the website, I might as well get that part out of the way. Photos were uploaded sometime ago for Turkey and Egypt, and more recently for India. I had meant to write when I completed these, but it didn't quite happen. I started but never finished. There are too many photos, as the site currently is set up to be more of a travelogue or journal than a collection of prized photos. I do intend to create a new site of my favorite photos only, but I'll admit that it might never get done. The "current" travel site is at http://golddollar.com

A glance at the members of this list continues to perplex. I still think I haven't met most of you?!? Ah well. Not sure if this adds to the pressure of writing or decreases it. Feel free to introduce yourself...

Here's a quick look at the past, present and future for me:

Past: Having the odd realization that I have been drifting the world for almost four years?!? Since the last posting I spent a year or so generally in Europe and N. Africa, from Iceland to Egypt and more, took the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Beijing, spent a couple of months in China, and a few in India. Eventually I'll post stories and observations from times and places around the world. I have written quite a bit in my journal, but I'm never quite ready to publish it seems. There will be a bit more under the "Observations" section below. Too much really. 

Present: I am currently in Malaysia, specifically Kota Kinabalu on Borneo, getting ready to fly to the Philippines. I have been in SE Asia since March 12, 2007.

Future: Heading for US/Canada starting on July 17. I'll be in Detroit working on archiving old recordings from the bar for awhile, and then heading into Canada by early September in my old camper van if I can get it running. Living in the same van that was my home in 2003-2004 doesn't encourage me to find a "permanent residence" much, but I do have "permanent resident" status in Canada these days, so we'll see. Might be out traveling again next year, might be bicycling across Canada, might be ??? Ok, eventually getting a job...

Can't believe where I've ended up considering my original "plan" was 6-12 months in a van around US/Canada.  Guess I'm finally getting back to that?

------Update - Not in Mayaysia anymore. Wrote most of this posting as I was leaving there and heading for the Philippines a few weeks ago... Now I'm into my last night in Manila, flying to Denver via Tokyo and Seattle starting in nine hours.... Confused? Obviously I am.


-------- Warning: Lots of rambling text below. No time to edit...
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Observations - incoherent and incomplete thoughts from some of my writings... The disclaimer? These are thoughts of the moment and opinions could change in the next moment. That's what learning is all about, and that's what I enjoy.

Food:
It seems that some of the simple things make me happy. I am currently in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It's not a pretty city, most of the buildings being of the cement block school of architecture. Uninspiring at best. If the USSR would have had any influence here they would be blamed and it would be called Soviet style architecture, which is almost as bad as the very similarly uninspired American architecture of the same era. Who do we have to blame? What does this have to do with food? I had planned to stop and do a bit of writing here in KK, and it seemed fine for that. When I finally ventured out, I found some great little street food stands gathered by the waterfront, along with lots of small and inexpensive restaurants scattered about the town. My entire attitude about KK has now changed. I could stay longer wanting to sample everything. Even the big blocks of cement look better, knowing the treats inside...

Then there's the soy sauce problem... All over the world, Asian food could be even better, but.... I'm not sure when this happened. It was probably many years ago. Once upon a time, soy sauce was brewed. Yes, fermentation was part of the process. These days almost all soy sauce is made from hydrolyzed soy protien, salt, carmel color and corn syrup?!? There are variations, but all of them are bad... (uhh.... in my opinion...) The flavor is different, the color is different. The proper ingredients are soy beans, wheat, water and salt. Yes, there is some resemblance, I suppose, but... Interesting to realize that many (most) people in all parts of the world have never tried "real" soy sauce, and soon perhaps the flavor will be entirely lost with only flawed imitations remaining? Hmm.... Since most people can't seem to comprehend my soy sauce snobbery, just think of mixing vodka with grape juice. It might be good, but it isn't wine and never will be. How about making ice cream with a large percentage of vegetable oil instead of dairy products?!? Sounds ridiculous? Check the ingredients on those little ice cream bars, and unless it's one of the expensive ones, it's probably as much partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as it is milk. It holds together better in shipping, costs less and isn't as temperature sensitive. Flavor and texture are not so good, but... Wait a second. Vegetable oil replacing ice cream!?! Ugh... Do we notice these changes if the happen slowly? Apparently not. Wonder what else is fake/imitation? Quite a bit I'd guess. One final note on the soy sauce thing... It seems that Japanese soy sauce is all still of the brewed variety, and at least one international company (Kikkoman) still brews soy sauce. Hmm... Don't know where that rant came from, but there it is... 

And now for something completely different?

Smiles and affluence:
After a motorbike trip around northern Cambodia I flew into the modern and affluent Malaysian capitol Kuala Lumpur. I was struck at first by the relative lack of eye contact and smiles. It was like America or Europe. In Cambodia and Vietnam eye contact and smiles were the norm. I have noticed that I smile and make eye contact more than most people in western and more developed nations, so this was something I had really enjoyed. I got to thinking about how this might all relate. It might not,and it may not be true for all, but in my limited experience, most of the less affluent regions of the world seemed more smiley, and possibly more open and friendly? This was also quite true for me in the city of Detroit (friendly) compared to the suburbs (relatively paranoid). I felt comfortable crashing parties in the various neighborhoods where I lived in the city, and was always welcomed!?! Not to get ripping on the wealthy suburbs again, and there are of course exceptions, but some of the happiest people I have met have been in some of the most difficult situations, from Honduras to Cambodia. Does wealth buy happiness? Not necessarily. This was obvious to me from my private school days, seeing that the wealthy kids were often some of the most troubled. Why do we think wealth buys happiness? Hmm....

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a transition to the next topic? There isn't....

Random thoughts on Islam: 
 I have always considered myself relatively open minded and not too terribly influenced by the media. I think not watching television helps this? Even with my relative lack of exposure though, I wasn't prepared for my first visit to an Islamic country. Islamic nations are only in the news with screaming and bombing and such. Nothing could prepare me for the humor of Morocco. Yes, I was first struk by the laughter, the humor and the practical jokers. What?!? Yes, that was my strongest first impression.

It was also interesting how much communication can be done with eyes alone exposed. I got used to women being fully covered, and soon it seemed normal. Oddly, even flirting seemed possible. Hmm... On that note, I thought about how westerners look at being fully covered as repressive. It seems to me that it would be for people more used to the revealing west, but... Could the way women dress in our societies be considered repressive also? Having to buy the latest fashions, and more importantly having to try to maintain the supposedly perfect body shape that our culture forces on women? Cosmetic surgery? A society that approves of and/or encourages this would be considered repressive I think? Difference seems to be that we are used to this and consider it normal... Also important to note that there is a great variety in the way Islamic women dress in different countries and within the countries themselves. There is some personal choice and some family and society tradition, just like anywhere else...

Mosques... I had never been inside one before, but have now visited them in Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Bosnia, China, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and more. Of course there are extreme variations, and some do not allow non Muslims to enter. Many though, are quite comfortable places. Carpets on the floors are common, and in many countries kids running around and playing. I actually took a nap in a mosque in Cairo after touring around and climbing up the minaret. So far the mosque has been the only house of worship to provide an atmosphere casual and comfortable enough for a nap. Hadn't really thought of this until it happened.

Uh oh... was going to ramble on a bit more about Islam, environment, diving, orangutans and their relation to biofuels among other disconnected thoughts but it's now time to go to the airport...

------- Well, here it is a few weeks later, and it's again approaching time to head for the airport. I usually don't fly very much, but at times I can't figure out another way.

Sorry I don't have anything terribly profound to say at the moment, not that I normally do, but it almost seems that I should given that this part of my trip is coming to a close? I think the reality is just beginning to set in... Wonderful to have had the opportunity...

All the best, and I promise to be more coherent in my next installment, whenever that is.
-neil