Well, I Just Finished My Last Final,

meaning I am officially a senior. I'll be 21 in just over a month. And I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but in four days time I will have traveled in one giant circle around the world. No big deal.

Ready for Some Scuba Fun in Hilo

 

 

I'm Coming Home

I'm coming home,
I'm coming home,
Tell the world I'm coming home,
Let the rain wash away,
All the pain of yesterday,
I know my kingdom awaits,
And they've forgiven my mistakes,
I'm coming home,
I'm coming home,
Tell the world I'm coming...

Our ship leaves in 40 minutes and I will officially be home-bound. It was so strange to be back on US soil today, where everyone speaks English, and the highways are a huge waste of space; where I don't have to calculate the exchange rate every time I make a purchase, and everything just seems eerily familiar for still being half an ocean away from home.

P.S. I'll have cellphone service for the next 40 minutes, until we leave, if anyone wants to text/call me. :)

The Best Thing I Ate In: Japan

 

This has to be one of the most amazing things I've ever tasted. I decided I wanted to go to Harajuku, being in Tokyo for the third time and having never been there, and so rounded up a few friends and headed there via the subway, or train, or some combination of the two. I don't remember. The public transportation system in Tokyo is total chaos. There is the train system, there is a publicly owned subway system, there is a privately owned subway system, and there are several other random lines. They all interconnect in completely bizarre ways so that you have to have a handful of maps of each system to figure out how to get anywhere. So we made it to Harajuku, decided to have lunch before exploring, and I set about asking where we might find Kaiten Zushi, because conveyer belt sushi is the funnest thing ever and I hadn't had it yet this trip. Trying to find anything at all in Tokyo is a task in itself. Knowing some Japanese, asking and getting directions was never too difficult, but Tokyo is such a complex city that even the locals never know how to direct you toward what you are looking for. 

After a bit of a walk, we finally found what we were looking for, only after having bumped into a handful of other SAS students and picking them up along the way. I think there were about a dozen or so of us by the time we found the place. I sat down at the conveyer belt bar, and the fun began. I love Kaiten Zushi. The plates are all color coded so you know how much they cost, anywhere from $2 to $8 at this place (or up to $50 for a single plate if you go to one of the fancy restaurants). The sushi chefs are still right there preparing raw fish on rice, and once they are finished with their creations, they put them on the conveyer belt and round they go. So you have all of these delicious pieces of sushi rolling around and past you and you just watch in glee with your mouth watering, wondering how you will ever decide which to try first. 

This plate is tomago, or egg, topped off with some avocado, a couple shrimp, a bit of crab meat, a touch of fish roe, a drizzle of mayo, I don't even know what else but it was simply divine. I never used to like egg sushi, it used to freak me out for some unfathomable reason, but it is really really yummy. It doesn't even taste like egg but more like custard, and topped off with all of this goodness it was positively exquisite . 

My Favorite Country

Before I left home the most common question I encountered was "Which country are you most excited for?" Or even when I was on the ship in those early days, "Which country are you most excited for?" The answer to that question was always whichever country happened to be next on our itinerary, because that was honestly the only country I could focus on. When we first boarded I would say "Dominica," after that it turned to "Brazil." Now that I have actually been to all of these incredible places, I know I am about to come home to an even more challenging question, "Which country was your favorite?" I'm going to answer that right now. And my response is that I could never possibly answer that question. I loved all of these places, for completely different reasons. Some of them were my favorite because of the things a saw, some were my favorite because of what I experienced, some were my favorite because of the people I was traveling with, some were my favorite because of the people I met. So here is my answer to that loaded question:

My favorite country was Dominica because of its pristine beauty. It was in every sense, a paradise. And it took me completely by surprise. I have been to a fair number of islands scattered throughout the Caribbean and thought I knew what to expect from tropical islands. I was thrown completely off guard from the moment I first stepped outside that January morning to the most stunning sunrise I have every experienced, over a lush, green, mountainous landscape.

My favorite country was Brazil because of the outlandish adventure it gave me. I slept in a hammock out in the open in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest. I fished for piranha and feasted on it for dinner. I went Cayman spotting in the pitch black night along the Amazon river.  I hiked through the rainforest and swam in the Amazon with these bizarrely alien Pink Dolphins. Brazil gave me the Indiana Jones adventure that everyone fantasizes about at some point in their lives.

My favorite country was Ghana because it gave me the rude, humiliating, awakening as to how privileged we really are. I played with so many beautiful, carefree, happy children, who more often than not don't know where their next meal is going to come from. Going without running water, or even access to clean drinking water at times, made me appreciate just how much we take for granted, and the ridiculous amount of things we think we need to survive happily, but really don't. Growing up I never had to worry about food or water; I was fed three meals a day and was lucky enough to live in a place with clean tap water. That one aspect alone, that I never even thought to appreciate it was such a given, made me more privileged than the majority of the world. We hear that everyday but it is impossible to understand the full weight of it until you have seen it.

My favorite country was South Africa because it was the place that I could most easily see myself going back to live in for an extended period of time, and that is because I was comfortable there; everything was familiar on some level or another. Not only that but it was beautiful. It had the mountainous landscape that I have grown up with and would never want to live without, and the ocean. I got to hike to the top of Table Mountain and see the most breathtaking landscape before me, and then go diving with the magnificent Great White Sharks.

My favorite country was Mauritius because it was a small unexpected gift that was given to us out of the generosity of our amazing staff and crew here on Semester at Sea. Also, being a scuba diver, I have an insurmountable appreciation for marine life and any small island culture where the ocean plays such a significant role, whether as a source of food or in the economical role of ecotourism.

My favorite country was India because it pushed me to deal with being in a place that is so different it is uncomfortable at times, and I came out a stronger and more self-aware person for it. I have romanticized this place for so long and in return it stripped me of every little familiar aspect of life that we cling to when we travel as something that is not different. There is a point of ecstasy when you first arrive in a new place, when you are so excited that you don't have time to feel the discomfort of how foreign it is. It is only after some time there, after the initial glee wares off that you realize you don't know where you are, or how you are supposed to act, or what you are even supposed to do, and that is when you begin to become a stronger person. That is when a country truly teaches you its lessons. That is the true beauty of travel, and what India did to me.

My favorite country was Singapore because for a day I ran around and became a kid again. I visited Universal Studios, walked into the worlds of my favorite movies, got super psyched over the insanely advanced technology (they have magical electronic paper!), ate the spiciest meal of this entire trip, saw the view from the top of their most iconic high rise, and stood just outside the gate of their world-famous infinity pool. Singapore may not have been much different than any other big city, but it was a day of pure fun where I could gawk in amazement at everything with pure, childlike wonder.

My favorite country was Vietnam for two different reasons. First, because for the first time I experienced true backpacker culture, and it was exciting! I stayed in one hostel after another, surrounded by people my age who have been traveling for months on end simply for the enjoyment of it. I met incredible people from all over the world (which is ironic that that's what was exciting considering that's what I've been doing this entire trip), and heard their stories of their travels and realized just how easy traveling really is. I was inspired. Secondly, Vietnam showed me the true devastation of war. out of all of US history, I have always had this grim fascination with the Vietnam War, and visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum was a more moving  and horrifying experience than I could ever justifiably describe in a simple paragraph.

My favorite countries were Hong Kong and China, because they were an unexpected chaotic string of mishaps and surprises that somehow meshed together into one unbelievable experience. In fact, China was probably the most I have enjoyed myself, which is insane considering it was just one big series of mistakes and setbacks and language barriers after another (It's a long story). We were given an entire week, longer than any other port, to travel across one of the biggest countries in the world. I had no plans whatsoever until literally the night before, but I spent that week traveling with three of my favorite people on this ship, one of whom had ancestors that grew up in a virtually unknown city that we visited to pay our respects. And the street food was to die for. I still think about China's street food constantly. 

My favorite country  was Japan because I returned home. It was my third time in Japan, I knew the country, by this point I knew the ins and outs of traveling, and I just spent an incredible few days bumming around Tokyo and doing and eating everything I have missed the most. Japan hasn't changed a bit. It will always be a home away from home; someplace familiar and welcoming despite its being an entire world away from the US, as much in culture and customs as in distance. 

If you ask me what my favorite country was when I get home, don't expect a simple answer. My escapades in all of these places were so different, and they were all crucial to my overall experience. 

The Best Thing I Ate In: Brazil

 

Piranha! 

Yes, that is a piranha hiding under all those hard-boiled eggs and lime wedges. 

You'll like this story; I don't think I've told it yet. So this one time, smack dab in the middle of the Amazon river, a group of us were chilling out on river boats by day and sleeping in hammocks by night. We had this guide, Marcos, who had been told that part of his job was to take us piranha fishing. So the group of us moved from the river boats into little canoes and set out sailing down the Amazon into the areas where the piranhas like to hang out. We were handed long bamboo sticks with fishing line and raw meat tied at the end. I must say, it took great coordination with so many of us in this little boat to not smack each other with the bamboo sticks.

There is a certain technique to piranha fishing. You have to splash the end of the bamboo into the water really fast a few times to get the piranha's attention, and then let it sit for a minute and let the meat sink. There we all were, splashing the water with bamboo sticks, and it starts pouring. Remember, we are in the Amazon; it doesn't just rain, it pours. So we are all sitting there, soaking wet, desperately waiting for a bite when one of us starts yelling all excitedly that they caught something. They pull in their bamboo stick and there is a little fish hopping about at the end. I don't remember what it was but it wasn't a piranha. There are a couple more false alarms and we are all soaked and discouraged and wondering why in the world we are out in the middle of the Amazon in the pouring rain, trying to catch piranhas with bamboo sticks. And then it happens. I feel a tug and give the stick a yank and up comes a piranha bigger than I've ever seen (I always thought they were little things). Marcos somehow manages to pull the hook out of its razor-sharp jaw and puts it in the bow of the boat where it flops about violently for the entire ride back to the riverboats. 

We had a couple family members of our tour guides with us back on the riverboats who graciously cooked us home-made meals three times a day. For dinner that night, we feasted on my piranha. It was unlike any fish I've every had before. There really was not much flesh at all, but the flavor was unbelievable. And that is the story of how I ate piranha in the Amazon. 

The Best Thing I Ate In: Dominica

 

I suspect you're missing my stories of port as much as I'm missing decent food so I've decided to devote a post to my favorite meal from each country. It's a win-win scenario. Well not really, you get the story but I still don't get real food... 

So way back at the beginning of my trek around the world I was exploring Dominica, completely unaware at this early point in my travels as to how to go about finding the best food, and my friends and I were lucky enough to stumble by this hot dog man. He had a little cart set up on a street corner and you knew it had to be good from the crowd surrounding him. Actually, it was probably just as much the show he was putting on as the food itself. This guy could whip up a hot dog with everything you ever wanted on it in a few seconds flat. Watching his hands was a complete blur; one moment he was pulling a roll out of his cart, a few mustard squirts and flourishes later he was handing you a hot dog with the complete works. 

Back when we were still in the early stages of our voyage, I was unwilling to stray from my pescetarian ways, and so opted for his swordfish variation. In a matter of seconds he produced a long, thin roll of bread, what looked like a miniature baguette, sliced it open, smothered it with his obviously homemade swordfish and bbq sauce concoction, added some other garnishes and relishes, and handed me the result. Imagine some fusion of bbq, and that great Jamaican jerk taste that you can only find in the Caribbean, and make it into a sandwich. Mmmm. 

4/20 #2: Deja Vu

It is once again midnight on the morning of Friday, April 20, 2012. When was the last time you got to live the same day twice? It feels like the movie Groundhog Day, which ironically, is currently playing on TV. Also ironic, they played the alarm song from Groundhog Day over the intercom speakers just before 8:00 yesterday morning. I don't suppose they are planning on playing it again this morning? I just hope they don't give us the same menu in the dining halls. It was a record bad.

4/20 #1

Tonight we cross the International Dateline! That means that today is April 20, and tomorrow is also April 20.

Nothing too exciting to report. Classes are wrapping up, review is underway, which is totally bizarre because I'm just getting back into the routine of living on the ship and going to class everyday and now we're supposed to be taking finals already? How did that happen?

Meanwhile, back in Boulder - 4/20 capital of the world - I keep getting threatening emails from CU stating that checkpoints have been set up all over campus and anyone not possessing a valid Buff OneCard will be fined. Furthermore, Norlin Quad, the heart of it all, has been closed off to everyone, even people affiliated with campus, and anyone caught there will be charged with trespassing. Honestly CU, I know you're concerned with our reputation, but isn't this all a bit excessive? Was it really that detrimental of an event? I mean how much harm can a bunch of hippies sitting around in drum circles really cause? Aren't there other more important areas where these efforts could be focused? Like how about the grant money you keep telling me and countless others that we should be receiving but you don't have the funding to actually give it to us? Glad that's being put to good use.

We just had a Boulder reunion up on deck 7 which ended with us breaking out in our fight song. We are the highest represented school on this ship with 44 students. Go Buffs!

My Biggest Regret...

...is that I didn't try harder to smuggle those darn onigiri balls on board in Japan. Can't. Stomach. Any. More. Pasta. Or. Potatoes.

So who wants to airlift me a Cosmo's pizza with some spicy ranch?! :D

Pearl Tower in Shanghai

 

 

I <3 Our Crew

We seriously have the sweetest crew in existence. Our cabin steward,  Achiles, comes every other day and cleans our room for us. No matter how messy it is (and we usually try to clean it for him but it can get pretty messy between ports) he always folds everything and stacks everything neatly on the beds or counters. We usually leave him tips when we get to port and leave little sticky notes on it to say Thank You. There was one time when I just left out a bill without putting a note on it and it was still sitting there a couple days later when I came back to the ship. He didn't think it was for him.

I brought some instant noodles with me from Japan, because even those beat ship food at this point. When I went up to the Garden Lounge just now for hot water, one of the crew members came running with a plate, bowl, and soup spoon when he saw me trying to pour hot water from the tap into the makeshift bowl that they come in. I asked him if there was anywhere to pour out the hot water and he just took everything from me and made it for me. He asked where I was eating it and I said downstairs, so he stuck a fork inside and covered it with a napkin to hide it because we are not allowed to bring anything out of the dining areas. Such a sweetheart. 

100th Anniversary of Titanic

It's been 100 years since the most famous maritime event in history and I get to spend the anniversary on a ship. How fitting. I think this calls for a movie night!

Japan, Just in Time for Cherry Blossom Season

 

 

So Much Kawaii

 

 

Carmel Cookie Ice Cream: Not Nearly As Strange As Chili Pepper Ice Cream

 

 

Remember the Shrine in Memoirs of a Geisha?

 

 

It's Almost Over

I know I haven't written a proper blog post in ages, and I am sorry that this first one is such a long time is not one of the enthusiastic, exciting adventure stories that I have entertained you with for the past months, but it is an aspect of my journey that I cannot ignore, no matter how hard I try.

I haven't slept in days, because I keep having this recurring nightmare.

We are docking in San Diego, and there are just so many aspects to it that are devastating. For one, how do I go back to normal life after living on a ship and circumnavigating the world? I've been high on the adrenalin of travel for so long, how do I come down? How do I go from living in a fairy tale adventure back to the mundane routine of school and work every day?

I am back home, but it is not the same, nor will it ever be the same. I am home but this place is completely foreign to me, because I have seen and experienced things that shape the way I see the world around me. So many things about everyday life that I used to take for granted I now am either extremely grateful for, or repulsed by. In my dream I am taking that first step off of the ship and back onto US soil, and I don't know how to handle the overwhelming emotions that come with the end of this epic voyage. It is over.

I wake up crying in my sleep, every time. And what makes it all the worse is it is not just a nightmare that will be forgotten once I drift back to sleep. In two and a half short weeks it will be my reality.

Yee Yee Baltic Sea!

Shanghai City Street at Night

 

 

Zhujiajiao Water Village

 

 

Traveling at 430 km/h on the Magnetically Levitating "Maglev" Train

 

 

Street Food + Squid = Delicious!

 

 

Dragon at a Temple in Hong Kong