Adrian Bs Blog on RealTravel

North America journal: hawaii :: 3rd visit

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:03:45 GMT

for my grand finale of this 15 month global adventure i spent my last month in Hawaii, on Maui with a good ole friend Mattius & my dad.

North America journal: hawaii :: beaches, bamboo forests, waterfalls oh my!

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 22:56:07 GMT

for my grand finale of this 15 month global adventure i spent my last month in Hawaii, on Maui with a good ole friend Mattius. For my dads 60th birthday present i flew him over to spend 3 weeks with us. at first I had many big intentions for all sorts of activities to fill the days, but I slowly began to understand "maui time" & let go of the agendas. enjoying this time became more about being rather than doing. Mattius has been living in this deluxe yurt that is run off solar power. This is exactly what i intend to manifest! I love

these yurts! A yurt combined with a ...

Japan journal: JAPAN #1 :: 6 action-packed days/5 late nights

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:44:03 GMT

JAPAN :: 6 action-packed days/5 late nights

I finally made it to Japan! Since a young child I have idealized aspects of their culture such as ninjas, martial arts, the samurai strength & willpower. Later I grew fond of their Zen Buddhism, temples, art, architecture & history. Japan, a land where many samurais once roamed, now replaced by business men in black suits who seek a different kind of power. Most things have changed into a post-post-modern futurism of digital buildings & consumerist culture that for me was overwhelming. But…some things never change. The rice, bamboo & ...

Varanasi/Dharamsala/Rishikesh/Haridwar journal: Varanasi/Dharamsala/Rishikesh/Haridwar

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:42:16 GMT

India trip #2 ::

1) Varanasi – the oldest living city in the world where the big holy river Ganges flows & flows while dead bodies burn & lives yurn as this timeless sequence turns & turns. building & temples decay as young children play where the past has not yet met the future. many still living the old ways. took a few boat rides at dawn to witness the burnings & puja rituals

of prayer, music, candles & much devotion (they do this everyday in places along the Ganga like here, Rishikesh, Haridwar & actually most people in India do a little puja offering ...

Asia journal: India #2 :: September-November 2007

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 20:13:49 GMT

After 6 months in India trip #1, 4 months in Europe & 1.5 months in Nepal I decided to return to India. The mission...back to Dharmsala to volunteer at Tibetan daycare & back to Rishikesh for 2 month intenstive yoga school!

Pokhara journal: Kathmandoo-doo :: volunteering, trekking & life in Nepal

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:24:08 GMT

This blog is under construction.

I was in Nepal for 6 weeks, 4 of those volunteering, another 2 weeks trekking in the Tibetan regions of north Nepal's Himalayan area called Annapurna Conservation Area.

I began like this:

While planning an escape from my expensive 4 months in Europe I decided to come to Nepal and volunteer before going back to India for yoga school. I found INFO Nepal (www.infonepal.org) by looking on the internet and chose them because I liked the colors of their webpage (really!), well…also they had a quick same-day reply back to me and good communication!

Nepal journal: Nepal :: July/August 2007

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:40:52 GMT

After 6 months in India, 4 months in Europe, I decided to go to Nepal for my first time. Here is what I experienced...

Budapest journal: Budapest :: thermal baths, yurt living, music fests and hitchhiking!

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:43:22 GMT

I finally left Krakow and Poland for good this trip. All in all about 2 of my 4 months were spent in Poland, mostly because of having a good friend and girlfriend there...it became home-base. Also, the Outrageous Bus Tour became an Outrageous Pain In The Ass for me, and all involved. The bus went through a series

of mechanics garages and was delayed 2 months past the initial May 1st launch. The big problem was that we never knew when it was going to be fixed-it was always next week...and then the next! After waiting patiently, and not so patiently for many weeks, I finally gave up ...

Prague journal: One week in Prague...Czech it out!

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:22:49 GMT

We arrived in Prague around Saturday 23:30 and were greeted by a nice fellow CouchSurfer, Argus. There happened to be a CouchSurfing Prague monthly party, so we went directly over to the pub where it was happening...with our bags on and all. We mingled with the other 20 or so couchsurfers, and after much discussion...and a few good Czech beers shoved in our hands, we decided to stay with Vitek instead of Argus, as he could host us for more days. We originally thought of staying in Prague for about 3 to 4 days, but ended up staying 6. The days we had chosen to see the big Prague castle ...

Berlin journal: Burrrlin ::

Tue, 22 May 2007 10:07:40 GMT

7 days in Berlin. Burrrlin. Cold weather front came in about the same time I did. In these days of global climate change where April heat waves bring May freezings, don't expect anything to be as before.

I came to Berlin to check out the music scene, the art collectives & venue spaces, the history, & to visit my friend Ian (same guy that stayed with me & Michael for 6 weeks in Krakow) & his wife Sonja. I got to Berlin just in time to see one of my favorite musicians Deadbeat play a solo set at Club 103. I got in on the guestlist just for asking Scott, aka Deadbeat, before the ...

Amsterdam journal: Amsterdam-it!!!

Mon, 21 May 2007 14:28:27 GMT

9 days in Amsterdam. Amazing place! The most inspiring for me so far in Europe, and my new absolute favorite city next to the Bay Area (which has more colorful people, more sun & beaches). For the record...my favorite cities in the world are:

1) San Francisco & whole Bay Area 2) Amsterdam 3) Honolulu 4) Vancouver, BC 5) Portland ...but from what people are telling me, Barcelona will soon take #1!

Amsterdam-it! Another love/hate thing.

I fell in love first with the canals & houseboats here in Amsterdam. My friend Ben, who is a documentary filmmaker ...

Zakopane journal: cobblestone Krakow vs. hiking in Zakopane

Fri, 18 May 2007 12:09:12 GMT

Poland :: cobblestone Krakow vs. hiking in Zakopane

I have been in Krakow a little over a month now. I have not been having the typical tourist experience here, of that i am sure.

I never thought that Poland would be a place I spent more than a few days in my Europe travels. After six months in India I chose to ground out in Krakow, Poland - and not for a few days, but six whole weeks! I came to Krakow not because

Krakow is now known as one of Eastern Europe's hot spots & a very popular travel destination. I came because I have a good close friend that has been ...

Stary Smokovec journal: 3 day trip south to Slovakia

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:19:31 GMT

3 day trip south to Stary Smokovec, Slovakia with miss Summer. Found nice 'privat' private rooms in people's homes we rented. Went hiking everyday, over the rivers & through the hills... until we reached this lovely mountain lodge chateau for lentil soup & bread lunch. and beer of course! here we found about a dozen Slovakians sufficiently drunk at 4pm singing "Stairway to Heaven" and celebrating their spring skiing vacation. They were having the most fun that i've seen people have in a long time. well, since India where people specialize in smiling & having fun with simple ...

Europe journal: Europe 2007

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:58:28 GMT

Finally...."the BIG Europe adventure" is happening!

India journal: India conclusions ::

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:59:26 GMT

_______________

India Conclusions ::

Cultural shock waves continually flowing through my mind-body-soul. From the Arctic North to the South Pole. Like a black hole, fully in control, consuming lightwaves until I feel full!

We are light beings dancing with our shadows of samsara in an eternal cycle of harmony & chaos of the Kali Age. The ancient Indian holy texts of the Vedas state that we are going through a long dark age of humanity called the Kali age, where fear & suffering seem to be increasing. India, the place where Buddha himself found a way to end this suffering ...

Kochi journal: Amma's ashram :: Kerala, South India

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:53:15 GMT

Greetings from the warm beach west coast of India, where the Arabian Sea catches the sun to set every evening. I am at guru Amma's huge ashram. the hugging saint that i spent 3 days conference in Tacoma at last June! she has hugged over 24 million people, donated $23 million to build 100,000 homes in India, started a few orphanages, built a hospital for free service to poor, an engineering college, a biotech college, an ayurveda health college, & many more amazing selfless acts to help out in this crazy world.

The reason millions believe her to be a living saint...is because she ...

Mumbai (Bombay) journal: Goa 2nd visit & Mumbai :: dj gigs, laser eye surgery, meeting another guru & the usual tourist stuff!

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:49:59 GMT

Goa 2nd visit & Mumbai :: dj gigs, laser eye surgery, meeting another guru & the usual tourist stuff!

I went back to Arambol, Goa for 6 fabulous days back on my favorite beach. My main mission was to have Enrico finish my tattoo, pick up my passport i forgot in a xerox machine, & manifest another dj gig at Pyramids. And all that was accomplished...plus unexpected surprises! On the bus heading into town I met two young Russian women that were very socialable & wanting to be friends instantly. We ended up hanging out on the beaches sharing massage, eating coconuts, & good ...

Kodaikanal journal: mystical mountains of Tamil Nadu :: South India

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:49:49 GMT

Tamil Nadu :: South India

___

Zen retreat. 7 days of mostly silence & lots of deep meditation. Arrived Monday January 15th, 2007, after 48 hours of 1 overnight bus to Bangalore, 1 day in that sardine can of 6 million souls city, 1 overnight train, another 3 hour bus, one last 1 hour bus, & a quick taxi ride up a mystic mountain...has brought me to a remote mountain zen retreat center, located in South India.

"Nirvana is right here before our very eyes. You are looking at the Lotus Land. You are the very body of Buddha." (ancient Zen saying)

"The journey begins ...

Madurai journal: Madurai huge temples :: South India

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 02:44:19 GMT

Madarai huge huge massive temple complex! picture is a 1000 words

so here are 8000 words in my 8 pics! this place was truly massive & one of the holiest & biggest wonders of the world without a doubt. Reminds me a little of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, big scale production, yo!

Auroville journal: Auroville :: a visionary eco-city in the making!

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:18:22 GMT

Auroville, South India :: 6km north Pondicherry

Auroville. An experiment in living, inaugurated in 1968 & now 39 years into its evolution. Not really a big commune, but more of a small conscious city of 2,000+ 'Aurovillian' residents & many guests passing through for short & long-term visits. Auroville is diverse, spread out over many square miles & hard to understand at first glance. Even after 10 days here I feel I have only seen a small portion of the area. It consists of many smaller individual communities or what could be called eco-villages, cooperative living, organic ...

Arambol journal: Goa NYE 2007 :: Al Queda threats dissolve into tranquility!

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:29:50 GMT

Goa Goa bo boa, banana nanna...fo fanna...fee fi fo fanna!

Israelis, Russians, Al Queda threats,live music on the beach, NYE, & more ::

Goa. the legendary tropical beaches of southwest India. the place where the Portuguese settled & colonized in the 1500's & made predominantly catholic & found financial & political control, until the 1947 Indian Independence which ended that & the larger British Raj control. Goa. the place where the hippies came beginning in the 1960's to getaway from the materialistic west, live for dirt cheap, & party on the beaches. Some have never ...

New Delhi journal: Delhi nights & crazy daze ::

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 04:15:12 GMT

New Delhi : I came to India with the intention to avoid the big cities. Like the black plague, they keep spreading & spreading, & infect many millions of people. Delhi's growth is out of control. It is amazing that it all stays together & life functions in this kind of chaotic infrastructure of 12 millions bodies constantly coming & going. Perhaps the most difficult challenge here is the simplest thing in life...breathing! This place has too much pollution from autos, buses, & rickshaws giving off black fumes of not so lovely air to breathe (giving you a daily set of black boogers!). I hear ...

Rishikesh journal: More Hairy Om's

Sat, 02 Dec 2006 21:00:15 GMT

More Hairy Om's. More days in Rishikesh brought more travel blog topics. More interesting people, places, cows, & even a robot! So far my India trip has been about staying in one place as long as possible & not zooming around like an italian stallion spending 2 days here, 1 day there. I've gotten very comfortable in Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj (6 weeks) & now Rishikesh (2.5 weeks).

Again, Rishikesh is a holy ancient Himalayan city where the holy holy Ganges River flows direct from the highest of the most high mountains on earth, & holy men & women come down from their caves & ...

Rishikesh journal: Hairy Om's!

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 02:03:36 GMT

Rishikesh. The "Yoga Capitol of the World". The city of ashrams & the holy Ganges River. A place where sadhus (the bearded, dreadlocked holy, & some not so holy men come to gather, chant, &...ask for money/food). The place the Beatles visited in the 60's to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of Trancendental Meditation (T.M.). Wow. finally made it to this crazy place! Alot different than i imagined, but isn't it always like that? Expectations. Although...I'm not disappointed. I came straight to Laxman Jhula area, which is the furthest away from downtown Rishikesh & ...

Rishikesh journal: nice view! friendly owner. great price!

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 00:43:55 GMT

Amritsar journal: Journey to The Golden Temple

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 05:56:22 GMT

I decided kind of spur of the moment to travel the seven hours to Amritsar last Saturday. The aim...to see one of the holiest shrines on Earth on one of the most auspicious days to be there. The Golden Temple, like Mecca for the Sikhs of the world, on the day celebrating the anniversary of their first of ten gurus, Guru Nanak. Mission accomplished! Even though i turned down a dangerous motorcycle ride with Sivadas, I did not escape quite escape danger on this transit. You see...I had to do a bus ride which i've so far avoided this whole 6 weeks in India. The buses are uncomfortable, ...

Dharamsala journal: prayers for peace...many meaningful events!

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:32:06 GMT

I'd like to quote some Yoga text to begin.

"Yoga works on several levels at once. On the physical level, it makes our bodies strong, balanced and light, and rejuvenates tired limbs. Internal organs are massaged & toned and vital glands like the thyroid and parathyroid are made to function properly. At the psychic level, we become more relaxed and more aware. Through the practice of awareness-in-movement, we become able to observe our minds and bodies, and to become less implicated in our inner turmoil. This growing awareness naturally predsiposes one to meditation. At an ...

Dharamsala journal: feeling at home ...abroad!

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 04:24:45 GMT

well, things have been coming together for me here in Dharamsala this past week. I am feeling at home...abroad! Very comfortable here. Being up in the mountains with lots of trees, green rainforest environments, & now October weather getting cold in evenings...this is alot like back home in Vancouver & Pacific NW. For the first 9 days here or so, it was all about eating 3 big fantastic meals at various global restuarants (they have Thai, TIbetan, Japanese, Korean, Continental, Italian, Indian...) & this was a big part of my day. The food is $1 for a meal. $2 if you want a drink & ...

Lisbon journal: Portugal :: not your usual tourist trip!

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:22:00 GMT

i'm back from Portugal 3 weeks of fun, adventure, hard work,

sun, & new friends! what a trip. the Old World. finally!

things i liked ::

- the fact that you can drink in public, and

even passengers in vehicles.

- Bairro Alto club/bar scene with 1000's hangin out

in the streets

- the streets! so tiny, cobblestone, ancient labrynths of Lisbon

that i got lost in many times. lost in a good way!

- the people. except for some Portuguese people (who i won't name) that

were overworked, stressed, & therefore rude. or maybe they ...

Portugal journal: Portugal :: 1st trip to Europe

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 07:15:25 GMT

finally made it to Europe for my 1st trip. Portugal for 1 month. not your usual tourist trip. did psy-crisis work at drug emergency tent at Boom Festival for 9 days. Lisbon & south Portugal for the rest of the trip! good times!

Dharamsala journal: Having too much fun!

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 05:05:58 GMT

Dharmsala, actually up the hill in a place called McLeod Ganj, home of Tibetan refugees including Dalai Lama & his monastary & temples. Beautiful mountain town

full of tourists, Tibetans, & Indians. Season July-November. starts to get cold here in December apparently.

_________________________ ____________

At night, you get woke up every now & then by the Dog Orchestra. No...it's not a new band, it is an orchestra of dogs barking in a valley that carries sound very well. I think i'm finally adapting to it, or my earplugs are working better now that i jam ...

San Cristobal journal: Timetravel back 200 years?

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 07:06:27 GMT

I liked the vibe in San Cristobal & Chiapas state i general. Native

tribal people everywhere that were wearing their colorful traditional clothing & living the simple life. Big smiles from these modern Mayas!

So....i travelled their trail down to Guatemala which is even more indigenous

& 3rd world at it's best!

It's like time travelling back 200 years where Native Americans are

everywhere, only it was 1996 & there were hotels, ATMs, & pizza

for me, & even the natives were drinking Coke & Pepsi & changing

with these ...

Central America / Caribbean journal: Mexico & Central American journies

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 06:55:41 GMT

I've been to Mexico about 5 times (4 months total) & Guatemala 2x (2 months total), Honuras 1x (2 weeks), & Belize 1x for 2 days. And i'd go again at the drop of a dime! especially want to go Costa Rica!

Delhi Paharganj journal: yikes!

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 06:49:36 GMT

Day 1 :: of a six month journey began at the Delhi airport at 3am. Luckily I was

warned by a website too get a pre-paid taxi from OUTSIDE the terminal

because the one's inside charge more. This was a good introduction to India

because everything is like this from what i can tell. More, especially if your a foreigner, unless you look harder & seek out the fair price. I took my late night

taxi ride about 30 minutes to Paharganj & was not impressed with the scenery,

or the driver's reckless driving! The scenery consisted of busy busy traffic for 3am ...

Dharamsala journal: Unradiant

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 01:32:40 GMT

wooo. i'm in Dharamsala in Northern India staying at the Green Hotel. Tibetan people everywhere. they are so kind & lovely. very radiant people! unfortunately i'm not feeling too radiant at the moment. i got the "travellers diarrhea" that 70% of us get the first 2 weeks. got mine my 2nd day! guess it's good to get it over with. it "usually" only comes once. achy, crampy, nauseous & havn't left bed much last 1half days, except to eat a little, & of course use the bathroom alot! i went through this in Thailand & in Mexico too. not the funnest, but now i'm 38 hours into it & ...

Asia journal: India Ohh India

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 01:28:57 GMT

after 12 years of wanting to go to India, i've finally done it!

i'm here!

for 6 months!

Bangkok journal: Bangkok :: 2002

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:18:44 GMT

Wow! A huge metropolis that somehow seems relaxed & laid back. maybe it's the buddism (95% of Thais are Buddhist)....all the daily buddhist prayer & mediations must keep the road rage & anxiety at bay.

Asia journal: 1st trip to Asia :: 2 months Feb-March 2002

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:16:11 GMT

I finally made the dream a reality & made it to Asia. For 2 months I enjoyed the buddhist cultures of Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia. This was a trip i did for my 4th year at college majoring in cultural studies. I went with the group Village Studies and had a great adventure. Even though I prefer not to travel in groups, this went smooth & proved helpful for my 1st trip to Asia. I did a homestay in south Thailand with a pro Thai kickboxer & his family (this one makes an interesting story...later!) , was an english teacher volunteer at a large elementary school in north Thailand, ...