Port Blair

Port Blair is the Capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (350 islands) – a part of India. Most are uninhabited & even the inhabited ones have few amenities of modern life. The Islands were prison locations use by the UK when India was a Colony of Britain. They had a name “kala pani” or “a place of black waters” and were feared by the people. There are 242 species of birds, 46 species of mammals and 78 species of reptiles living on the islands. Many are nearly extinct. The port is home to a bustling lifestyle and we visited a very peculiar bizzarre. Independence was gained with India in 1947.

Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia are rapidly developing and a melting pot for people of many cultures. The city of two million by day and one million by night has many modern and beautiful skyscrapers. The city is very clean – attendants were seen sweeping cigarette butts up at toll booths. Hinduism and Buddhism have played a role in the countries development. The country is a major car assembly location for Japanese and Korean vehicles. Independence was gained in 1957 from the UK and Singapore left the republic in 1965. 

One Night in Bangkok

Bangkok has some of the most elaborately decorated temples that we have seen on this trip. Unlike Cambodia and Vietnam, Bangkok has attracted businesses and cultivated its tourist trade. It, too, has some areas that struggle economically but not nearly on the scale of its neighbors. It boasts to be the home to nine precious gems and a major economic & financial center of Southeast Asia. Home to eight million, the country has a population estimate of 65.5 million, and is about twice the size of Wyoming.

The Clean City of Signapore

Singapore is the cleanest city we have visited to date; get caught flicking a wrapper on the ground and you pay – no tolerance. The country of five million  is a major oil refiner, ship builder, constructor of ocean oil drilling platforms, and a major port for container transfers. It is also a major financial market location and attracts many companies involved with communications, electronics and transportation. The famous Singapore Sling cocktail reportedly goes for $25 on the island, or so Dick tells me. We took some time to visit a wax museum representing what life was like when Allied Forces were stationed there during WWII.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon)

With a population of eight million, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is the largest city in Vietnam. The streets are full of markets and vendors. Bicyclists go where they want. Traffic signals are advisory only and the wiring is something to behold. The US Embassy was torn down after the war but the Presidential Palace, the French Colonial Post Office, Rex Hotel and Notre Dame Cathedral remain in use. The Mekong Delta is still unimproved & used for farming. The trails both on land and in the water are haunting. 

 

Cambodia

Cambodia appears to be a country of the have's and have not’s. The beaches are something to behold and Sihanoukville is a “resort” town for folks from the inland. Roads in the country side are unpaved and many small tent communities line the roads. It is not unusual to see the children wearing nothing but a single piece of clothing. Educational opportunities in the country are difficult to come by & some schools built & supported by foreign groups. Many walls remain from previous land owners.

 
 

A Big Adventure in China

We spent four straight days exploring only a small portion of China and ended up with hundreds of photographs and a few new friends.

So, here we go. (in no particular order)

The Olympic structures are quite impressive. The structures are not being used on a daily bases because there are no organized sporting events (teams) in China. The massive investment made in these facilities may turn out to be the future museums of the country. 

 

Beijing is the Capital of China and home to 16 mil people. Since 1979 the country has been opened to more western trade. Many modern buildings line the cities business district. There are currently 5 ring roads around the city with plans for a 6th. Many of the old traditions are maintained while incorporating some ideas of the west. Families are still important and the young are still expected to take care of their parents. The one birth per family is still in place with many exceptions.

 

The Great Wall is one of the wonders of ancient China. Over 7350 K in length (4300 mi) this defensive structure was first built over 2700 years ago. Watch towers line the wall to serve as look outs and warrior resting locations. The wall varies in height (25 to 40 feet) and width (15 to 25 feet). Over 1 mil worked on the wall and those that perished during construction were buried in the wall. The center portion of the wall is rock and earth with a flat stone surface. 

 

Shanghai was our kickoff point to the Great Wall thus limiting our ability to see the sites. All of modern finance, trade, science and technology centers have been built in the last 20 years on the east side of the Huangpu River. Approximately 18 mil people live in the Shanghai metro area and is China’s largest city. The city was self governing and influenced greatly by western culture until the Communist Party came to power. It entered the English language as a verb meaning “to kidnap.”

 

Hong Kong was reunited with China in 1998 and is now an administrative region of China. A British Colony prior to that it has enjoyed the glitter of the west. The islands were occupied during WWII by the Japanese and then had more than 1 mil refugees come in after the Communist took over China. Famous for clothing, electronics, watches, jewelry, china, optical goods, cameras and more, retail shops line the streets with elaborate signage. Bargain hard and get it made in an hour. 

  

The Ming Tombs are northwest of Beijing & cover 40 Sq Km. The site is in a horse shoe shaped valley with mountains on the three sides. 13 emperors have burial sites in the valley. It was thought that the emperors would continue their rule form the mountains as the shape of the basin gives the notion of a natural throne. The Sacred Way leads the basin and is lined with stone statues of Warriors and animals standing & resting. Standing to guard the tombs & resting to be the guards tomorrow. 

 

Tian’an mem Square is said capable of holding 500000 people. It served as the entrance to the Forbidden City & now is the plaza in front of the National Assembly Building. A memorial to the fallen China soldiers is in the plaza. Mao se Tung’s mausoleum & Memorial Hall is opposite of the Forbidden City. The National Museum of China History is opposite the Assembly Building. Rallies & celebrations are held in the square & who can forget the student confrontation with the tanks in the 80’s.

  

The Forbidden City was just that to the peasants. Reserved for the Emperors and the ruling class the area was used for grand ceremonies. The city is surrounded by a moat and wall and protected with corner towers. Court business was conducted in the city and it also served as the seat of imperial power in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). The walled City covers 720000 Sq M (160 ac) and is 750 by 960 meters. The site is now called the Palace Museum. 

 

Temple of Heaven was a venue for Emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven & pray for good harvest. The temple is divided into two parts. There is an Altar of Prayer for Grain & a Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest that were used in the spring on the north side of the compound. The south side contained an Altar to offer sacrifice to the heavens on the Winter Solstice. The emperors never walked in the compound, they were carried to the different sites and would participate in ceremonial plantings.

   

Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima, Japan - August 6, 1945 at 8:15 am will be remembered by this city for centuries. The atomic bomb dropped on the city not only changed Japan but the worlds view regarding these weapons of mass destruction. Hiroshima has since rebuilt and dedicated much of the area around ground zero to a park and museum promoting peace and providing a reminder of the destruction brought about by the bomb. The bomb left 200,000 dead and half of the city destroyed. Today about 1.2 mil people live in Hiroshima.

Osaka, Japan

Osaka is Japan's seventh century capital and home to 8.8 million residents. A trade center with deep water port, Osaka is the center of finance, trade and cultural exchange for western Japan. Osaka and surrounding cities are home to many castles, shrines and temples. It is Japan’s second largest city. Rain and cool weather greeted us and hampered some of the photo qualities. Much of the city was destroyed in WWII and rebuilt since. Hence most of the office buildings have a modern style.

The architecture is simply amazing. Very climbable, but they frown on that.

There is a love of beauty and colors in this country.

This boat tree is more than 600 years old.

Guam

Guam came under US control after the 1898 Spanish American War and was purchased from Spain in 1899. In 1950, the island was established as an United States Organized Territory and the Island’s civilian government was formed. All of the islanders were granted US citizenship. The island was discovered by the Spanish and much of the architecture still reflects the Spanish influence. Jesuit missionaries were the first bring European-style civilization to the island. Guam was occupied by Japan during WW II.

I rock.

Like many places, honoring those who have died is very important in the culture here.

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea was the provincial capital of the country until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash from a volcanic eruption. The volcano started to spew ash into the sky again in 2006 and continues 24/7. Although these are not major eruptions they keep the sky full of ash. Our ship had to be scrubbed down after departing the port. There are minimal services on the island, no industrial capacity or running water. While lacking money, the people are not poor in spirit. 

My favorite part of the trip is meeting children from around the world. My new friend made us feel very welcome and showed us around the grounds.

I had a night full of grooming after getting covered in this ash.

Ben, I think I found a new project bike. I'll let you ride in the side-car.