Alone, New Friends, One Friend, A Cousin, The Whole Fam (or not), Good Friends

[Note: this is a very long entry with lots of name dropping but not much travel info. You might want to skip it - depending on what you're looking for in a travel blog. Whatever suits you - just know that I know it's a hicup in the "flow" of the blog. Deal with it.]

It should be pretty obvious at this point, but I didn't have just one travel companion for this adventure. And frankly, that's probably a good thing. I do enjoy travelling alone (some people don't; I do). But I also enjoy travelling with people, but usually spending too much time with the same people can be dangerous.

So on this trip - I mixed it up quite a bit. And since people have repeatedly asked "Who did you go with?" (and before I left, "Who are you going with?") I figured I'd give it a go at detailing the varried companionships.

Yemen and Oman:
I went to both of these countries alone. At the time, I was quite happy (I'm a hermit) to be rid of all the craziness that comes from frequent and responsible relationships with people (my list of "to do's" in LA for work, friends, roommates, etc... was no longer fun or fulfilling, but rather just tiresome and frustrating). It was nice (for a while) to have no one to report to or do things for. It was a very quiet week and a half (3 days on planes, 3 days in Yemen, 3 days in Oman). But, I got to listen to my iPod (post on thit later) and see a lot of great places at my own pace in my own way).

Nepal:
As I've already indicated - Rachel, Hassan, and Ted joined me (or rather, I joined them) for the 4 day (+ 2 travel days) trip to the Kathmandu Valley. It was fun adding two strangers to the itinerary and great travelling with another Broadbent (since we "got" each other's travel styles, and such - or so it seemed to me).

Dubai and Abu Dhabi:
In January 2007, I joined Jen Birtcher and some of her wonderful friends on a trip to Kenya to build a school in a small remote village. I tried to get several of them to join me on this adventure (admittedly this was not as service oriented a venture, but they were good people - worth travelling with again). Unfortunatly (and fortunately) Jen Birtcher was the only one able to match my travel schedule. So, Jen and I spent 5 days "seeing" and living in the U.A.E (while Rachel graciously hosted us but went to work each day - leaving us to fend for ourselves: we're big kids and this suited us fine). Joshua and Melinda considered joining me, but my schedule didn't match theirs and so they actually beat me to U.A.E. by a month. Even so, they still deserve some print space in the blog!

Lebanon:
Rachel and I took a late night flight to Lebanon and had a couple days there (no Hassan or Ted this time). She had been there before (and not seen everything she wante dto see); therefore, she had list of "hot spots" worth hitting and frankly - that worked just fine for me. I know almost nothing about Lebanon, so having and "experienced guide" to take me to the Cedars AND "The Music Hall" suited me well. She had to get back to Abu Dhabi for work (people and their jobs: shaaa!), so I stayed a bit longer and saw some thing she saw on her first trip.

Abu Dhabi x 2:
After Jen went back to Kenya - where she now lives - I had a day to myself in Dubai. And when I returned after Lebanon - I had a day outside Abu Dhabi (visiting the camel traders, etc...). It was nice to have these 2 days to mix things up and relax before heading into yet more legs of the adventure.

Los Angeles:
I passed through LA en route to UT/ID. I think I was there for 20 hours. It seemed like most people had already taken off for the holidays (understandably so), but thankfully Brandon was around to pick me up at the airport and Amber and I got to see some Christmas lights before I packed up again and flew off for family Christmas fun. 20 hours is not long enough to switch modes from "summer heat and desert travels" to "cold snow and frostbite destination." So, my methodical plans to avoid the jet lag due to the 12 hour time shift were derailed by staying up all night prepping jpeg files for Rachel and the fam, doing laundry, and packing for yet more travel fun.

[Note: I didn't expect this to be a long and detailed a list of people and places, but I guess that's what I get for not realizing (before or after) how crazy long and intricate this whole thing was).]

UT/ID:
This year, we (the fam) decided to do Christmas in UT and ID (yes, both). The plan - fly to UT, do Christmas dinner with Catherine, Grant, Mom and Dad... then drive up to ID to bask in the leisure of the Lava Hot Springs with the whole Kearl clan (thus bringing Rachel back into the agenda yet again - ha ha). That was the plan, but snow closed the roads and eliminated the whole Lava part of the world tour.

So, as much as I wanted Gary, Mima, Rachel, Anna, Susan, David, Matthew, and Katie to have a place in the travel blog - this (this sentence) will suffice as their moment of fame and glory. The 5 of us stayed in UT and made SLC our vacation haven while the 6 of them dug their way out of the 17 feet of snow surrounding their house.

And the 5 other "Broadbents" (aka Snarrs) - Sara, Jeff, Hannah, Megan, and Ali - they too get "honorable mention" in the blog because - after all - it is Christmas and they're family too (even if travelling with three small kids from NY to ID just didn't fit the "holiday spirit" - understandably so).

California:
And finally - as I write this, this hasn't happened yet - I expect to enjoy my final week of vacation from the comfort of my own bed (or at least my own ThermaRest - since a camping trip is in the works): editing, cleaning, planning, camping, reading, watching TV, playing with friends, and who knows what else.

Maybe I'll do some of this alone (like Yemen and Oman).
Possibly with new friends (like Nepal).
Per chance with old friends (like U.A.E)
Or simply those I consider family (like UT or Lebanon) - or at least those I consider family (my 2nd family)...
And if I'm lucky - maybe I'll do some of it with those vying to be my future family.

Did I really say that? Really? Seriously? Oh come on - you know you're laghing; it's funny. And you never know. Really, you just never know. Trust me - I know about not knowing. And about not knowing often.

Travel, Work, Sleep

Rachel and I went to Nepal with two of her co-workers. Ted and Hassan are working with her at Booz Allen Hamilton - doing consulting work for the governement (not the U.S. government... the Abu Dhabi government). Crazy world that the UAE brings in a team of Americans to revamp their workflow processes! Nevertheless, they do - and I'm glad they do, since it affords me the opportunity for a trip like this.

Anyhow, the four of us met up in Kathmandu and saw the sights. Odd thing about it - the three of them kept pulling out their laptops at night to work. Really. I'd go to bed after a long day of walking, buying, picture taking, and other exhausting travel "stuff" and they would dive in on Powerpoint and whatever else they "do." The hotels all had free wireless, so they were in (relatively speaking) heaven. How crazy is that? Go all the way to Nepal, to do a spreadsheet and/or revise a presentation on HR management expectations...

But again, no complaints here - but I was amazed at how little sleep Rachel got (yet survived on). She kept reminding me, "We're in Nepal... even though I have to work, I'm not going to miss out on this. I may never be back." And so we packed in 4 full days (and she added a few full nights as well). I suspect she's working through Christmas as well (in Idaho, nonetheless), but hopefully she'll get some sleep: since she barely got any while I was there.

Sure Why Not - Everest

How did I end up going to Nepal and Lebanon?
The same way I ended up on plane flying over Everest!

Rachel suggested it and I said, "sure why not." On our last day in Nepal, prior to our 9 am departures,

planned departures that is - ask Rachel about how her 9 am flight became a 4:45 pm flight, and how it brought me the joys of clean laundry

we caught an early morning flight over the mountains of northeast Nepal.

The views were stunning and I can now say (according to the signed cirtificate I received from the flight crew) that "I didn't climb Everest, but I touched it with my heart."

The whole process involved a crazy-mad-rush against time, security, and domestic/international terminals separated by a 5 minute run (or a 1 minute taxi-ride - worth every penny).

Funerals

Public cremation by this river may have been more appropriate in years gone by - when there was plenty of water flowing by to "accept" the remains of their relatives. But nowadays, the trickle of water running through Pashupatinath, leaves something to be desired in the realm of compete and sanitary disposal of... well... you know.

Pashupatinath is Nepal's most sacred Hindu sight and apparently the "best" place to be creamated, should you have the means. Serendipitously (depending on your point of view), we arrived at this temple as several families prepared to say their "last good-byes" - and without gwaking, we had a glimpse into their customs and traditions.

Facinating - but we both agreed: we won't be burning our relatives (not directly anyhow).

What Is This Stuff?

So what to do in and around Kathmandu? Walking tours. There are temples (Buddist, Hindu, and probably others) on nearly every corner. Some are little more than a statue in an alcove, and others are little less than massive undertakings that words and pictures really can't do justice: Stupa, Stupa, Stupa.

Either way - there's tons to see. Frankly, I don't know what any of it "means" but it's beautiful and stunning in its variety and grandeur. It's really cool, too, to see the central point that many of these sights still play in the everyday life of the people here. They're not just "historical sights." Most of the sights are still in use.

Where Am I?

Ignoring the international visitors (mostly from Europe), I'm left wondering if I'm in China or India... Nepal, straddling the border between the two, is a mix of both cultures. Tibet to the North and India to the south, there's buddist and hindu temples at every corner. Being so far from anywhere, the past is everywhere - interwoved into the slowly modernizing present. It's an amazing collection of colors, sounds and sights.

In our limited time here, we barely got away from the Kathmandu Valley. But, with the 4 days we did have - it was just enough to "see" everything worth seeing. But, I could sooooo come to Nepal again to check out other parts of the country. We barely got 40 km from city center, and the country has so much to offer those willing to venture away from Thamel's hippie culture and tourist lifestyle.

Hippie Street

For reals... There is a street in Kathmandu called "Hippie Street." That should give you some impression of who had (in the 1970s) the strongest effect on the tourism business here. Things have changed over the years, but there's still a strong feeling of post hippie-hippiedom.

In many ways, Rachel and I don't "fit in" here... Actually, come to think of it: everyone fits in here. But, it is interesting to see who (from the West) has decided to hide-away in Kathmandu. There are the real new-age hippies, the middle-aged tourists, the "I'm hiding from real life" twenty something croud, the hikers and trekers, and us.

Hot or Not?

As I recall - in America (The United States thereof, that is) men beep their horns at beautiful women. At least, that's how it works in the movies (especially honking at women they've never met and somehow expecting that obnoxious 120 dB F# to woo her into a long term relationship (or at least a one night stand). If only life were like the movies.

Anyhow, I digress. Thing is - here in (pick your country: Nepal, Oman, AUE, Yemen, and especially - Lebanon) I keep getting honked at. I'm starting to know what it must feel like to be a beautiful woman. Oh wait - strike that. I digress.

Am I hot... or not? I'm guessing "not."

Here's the deal - I must look like a guy who needs a ride (probably something about the fair skin, the goofy backpack, the hiking shoes, and the mildly lost glaze across my face. So... every taxi driver honks as he passes hoping I'll dump an inordinate amount of money into his retirement fund for driving me .25 miles up the road to the next landmark.

It took me a while, but I've finally mastered what it seems ever woman I've ever honked at seems to have mastered: the... "ignore the honks because they don't actually know you or offer anything you want" look. In other words, I keep walking and avoid the urge to turn and examine all loud noises.

Granted, this can be mildly problematic when the military guards are blowing whistles at me to indicate I ought to stop whatever I'm doing (taking a photo for instance). At these times - paying attention to the loud noises might be in order. Foreign travel - everyday a new negotiation.

PS It would be cool if beautiful women would look at me even when I'm not honking at them. I'm just sayin'.