Waste

18 December 2008: My first thought on this sunny, birthday morning was: i'm 27 years old - this sucks.

My next thought was: it's Thursday - my morning workout day. And I felt better.

I find my mood is more affected by my activity level, less by the weather. I've come to believe in the power of perspiration, not precipitation. So, I sweat. And I smile.

On Skype, I update mom and dad with my birthday goal:
- J: At 27 years old, I should have a 27 inch waist.
- M: You should be 127 pounds!
- J: What?! Mom, at the end of high school I was 148 pounds and in fine swimming shape...

- M: No, at 127 you'd be svelte.
- J: I'd be bones!
- D: Bones and svelte...

image from: espion

Trust

03 December 2008: My official tour guide at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is informative, engaging, and concise. Tick, tick, tick.

We arrive at the flagpole marking the site where the treaty was signed between Maori and the British Crown. Tick, Tick.

Our guide glosses over controversy related to the treaty. Tick.

I ask: What is it like here on Waitangi Day? Boom.

image from: jackie

Engagement

09 August 2008: Happy engagement Jen and John!

On Saturday, 9 August, 2008
John _ _,
from Bradford, West Yorkshire proposed to
Jennifer _ _, from Los Angeles, CA
whilst on the top of the London Eye to which she happily accepted.

The couple have been living together in Guildford, Surrey and look forward to beginning to plan their wedding.

image from: jennifer

Welcome

03 July 2008: Happy Birthday baby Oscar!

Congratulations Mama Stephanie and Papa Frank!

image from: Frank

Hail

3 May 2008: Last night was my first New Zealand hail storm.

My first was as a kid in the hills of Los Angeles. My sisters and I ran outside to catch the frozen beads in our soup bowls. As I recall, it was less like hail and more like stinging rain. My second hail was at home again. This time I was a big kid - and danced in it - eyes closed, mouth open.

Yesterday's hail smeared across the city streets right in the middle of my 10 km bike ride home. It was thrilling! I arrived home with numb fingers, but still floating on the rush.

image from: jackie

Smell

5 November 2007: Seeing the fall colo(u)rs in the UK was a treat. But they are missing out on my favorite Providence season: wind.

Regardless, both England and Providence smell like mulch. I like it.

Here in India, I stink of sweat. I departed from the cool, English weather only to fly thousand of feet high, arrive in Mumbai, unpack, and see my garment bags and contact saline solution sweat like cold soda cans in the summer sun.

After I checked into my miniature room in Colaba, I immediately got into the shower. If only you had seen it - an actual shower head (rare), a bucket and cup (standard), no toilet paper (depends), and a high ceiling with layers of peeling paint (unreal). I didn't think it was odd, but I just wanted to share because I don't think you would believe I thought so.

Anyway, so I beat the heat by wandering away from the waterfront and the Gateway of India towards the high-end shops - the skin on hotel bones fed from the outdoor pool and squawking bird sanctuary belly.

I decided (since my last trip to India) it's better to stay cheap and eat out rich. I save on merely a clean and secure bed to sleep on to make way for food with better quality and taste. So at this beautiful restaurant in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & Tower, the only English conversations I picked up - besides my Economist news fix and my own lips smacking over masala dosa - were of marketing consultants and biomedical engineers.

I wonder, if I were to stay on my same track if things may work out richly in the end. And if I would want an alternate route, well, I could learn Hindi.

Here's a pakora in the face.

Love,
Jackie

Thanks

24 October 2007: In Barcelona, Spain traveling with mom and dad.

[insert photo: Gruell Park] We made arrangements in Guildford, kissed Jen goodbye, and arrived last night. Our hotel is in Gracia, beside Gruell Park and the Gaudi museum. We've spent the morning in the mountains and the park overlooking the city to the sea.

Mom and dad don't know too much about Gaudi and were in awe when we got to his first stone stacked bridge held up by Catalan arches.

[insert photo: sangria mommy] We wandered to Casa Vicens, Mercat de la Libertat, and Placa Ruis i Taulet for dinner where we learned that mom gets soggy over sangria - a double-whammy of alcohol and sugar. We rolled her home.

Mileage

02 October 2007: I arrived last night in Delhi and today arranged a driver, Keshav.

The mileage reads 73,116 km and so begins my travels around Rajasthan, India.

PS: Happy birthday, Gandhi.

Image from: jackie

Open

Hey Mark and Liz -

Yesterday I flew on a tiny propellered fish painted airplane to arrive at Siem Reap. I'll be wandering around today to sweat and see what's Wat.

Like most places I travel to, Cambodia's weather reminds me of Hawaii. However, I've never seen a red sun forcing it's way through cloudlines towards a palm tree lined horizon quite like that before. Clem, my airport taxi scooter driver, was zooming along and I sat with the wind through my hair having only felt the sky as big on Vermont's Lake Champlain.

In the next few days I hope to get out further in that magical land. And don't worry - I'll stay on paths to avoid land mines.

When I get out to the Angkor Hospital for Children, I'll be sure to drop your names and see if any Brown folks are still working there - doing as you two awesome people have done so well.

Thanks again for the advice and I hope each of you are doing well.

Best,
Jackie

Beatles

24 September 2007: Hello (soo-a s'day) Cambodia, Goodbye (sayonara) Claire, Lauren, Tomo, and Japan.

Image from: jackie

Dateline

15 September 2007: 29 pounds prepared for 5 months.

Check-in and security went quickly and easily at Los Angeles International. At the gate I met a group of martial artists bound to compete in Shanghai. Restless already, they were doing stretches.

The plane left on time. 1h 20m into the flight, a smoker was caught in the bathroom. Restless already.

I got some sleep on the 12h flight.

Image from: manganite

LAX

- Any trouble in the airport?
- Nope. Typical. Slept on the flight, landed, waited at the curb next to Jude Law.

- Did you say hi?
- No. I ignored him.
- Ah. Like a true Angelino!

Image from: arimoore

Send

Ladies -

Well, I'm off and gone. Leaving for South America - tonight!

Please let me know if you want to keep updated of Linda's and my 5 week mis-adventures. It should be exciting: avoiding the FARC, Cartagena heat stroke, mugged at Machu Picchu...

Then again, Huaraz should be spectacular!

Hope all is well with each of you and that you're enjoying the best plumbing the world has to offer.

Best,
Jackie

Image from: DefMo

Central

After picking me up in LAX, Jes brought me to her work.

Comedy Central: Roast of Flavor Flav.

Image from: artist direct

Boat Shoe Diaries

Welcome. The time has come to travel. I can't wait. The suspense is . . .