One of the things that makes falling for New Orleans so easy is the incredible array of things going on in the city. From cultural events to it’s world famous music scene there is always something to mark on the calender. This past weekend John and I took the street car downtown and meandered around until we ended up on Frenchman St. There was a book fair going on in this bohemian street that day and we were eager to check it out. True to the city’s style the book fair had a life of it’s own with the booths being set up up and down the street and into favorite watering holes complete with live jazz and blues. We met several independent authors, watched as a seemingly random second line jazz parade erupted down the street, and found out that this book fair had a definite edge as the closing ceremony was to be a burlesque show! Much to John’s disappointment we couldn’t hang around until the burlesque show but on the way back uptown we did run into some friends and watched a performing arts group put on a Tableaux on the trendy Julia St. Here is part one of our photo essay from just one day in the Big Easy. Sit back, grab a drink, and maybe even turn on that funky jazz channel and follow us along on a walk about in the Big Easy.

Waiting For One Of Our Fav Modes Of Transport, The Historic St. Charles Streetcar

I think I found my next “traveling” hat!

Part Two: Book Fair, Indie Authors, Second Line Parade, and Tableaux are will be up in the next day or so!

Romantic, vibrant, and deeply historic, Charleston, South Carolina, was so much more than we expected. Though I’m a huge New Orleans fan with it’s architecture, culture, and it’s unique character I have to say that Charleston is now a formidable contender for a “unique city to visit” in the U.S.

The Customs House

St. Philip’s Church

If New Orleans is the slightly rowdy, fun loving, center of the party type of kid on the block, then Charleston would be it’s more mature and gentle older brother with a softer Southern accent.

We stayed in Charleston for about 5 days visiting my ever nomadic parents who had recently moved there. Here are the top 5 things we recommend to do while visiting Charleston!

1.) Walk, Walk, and Walk around the historic down town!

On the first day we took a long walk around the old neighborhoods in the downtown area. Spring is the perfect time of year to go, as all of the trees and flowers were in bloom and the meticulously maintained lawns of the giant historic homes glisten. I just love walking around unique neighborhoods and in this regard Charleston does not disappoint. Almost every other house is adorned with a plaque stating it’s role in the history and development of America. For such a young country it’s one of the few places you can go and say “ah, this house is 200 yrs old” “but this one is 348 yrs old” “George Washington slept here after his party at the Exchange Building.” The recent economic downturn might have something to do with the many “for sale” signs we saw out on the lawns. But our fantasy of picking up one of these “charming” ten bedroom historic houses was soon crushed by reality when the second Mazeratti was seen in the driveway…we might have a while to go before we could move into this neighborhood! But getting lost in this old world charm is free, so grab your walking stick and a camera!

A Rather Charming House

Another Rather Charming House

“The Marriage Compromise House” So called due to it’s two different styled front balconies that the each spouse wanted while building their new home

The Unique Charleston Style Homes are facing sideways with large porches in order to maximize getting air flow throughout the house

The best part of walking through the neighborhoods and it’s multitude of architectural styles is that most of the houses are still real homes, with families that maintain the buildings. For those curious to see how the better half lived in the past there are a few house museums you can tour in as well.

Find Out What Else To Do While In Charleston!

2.) Horse Drawn Carriage Ride!

I never thought I’d become a big carriage ridding fan but after taking two rides around town back in Cartagena, John and I both looked forward to taking a spin around in the one horse powered vehicle! There are several horse drawn carriage tour companies in town, and most are located around the market district right down town.

We chose our carriage ride bas es on three important criteria: (but these were just our criteria and I’m sure all the other companies we didn’t end up choosing are just as great)

1) Guieds must be in costume, I mean who doesn’t want their carriage driver in costume.
2.) The best looking horses, though this is not an exact science as all the companies have good looking horses and your placed with a random horse upon arrival. There are a few that offer donkey carriages for those looking to be different!
3.) Offered discount coupons! Pick up a pack of coupons at the visitor’s center before heading out to town and you can save a few bucks, as let’s face it, Charleston is not the cheapest place in the world.

The tour was a great way to see the city and learn about it’s rich history. In a city where every corner has a story and every building begs to be examined, the tranquil pace of a horse drawn carriage is the best way to explore.

3.) Get Nitty Gritty With History

What’s the point of being in a ‘historic’ city if you don’t roll your sleeves up and start exploring through history? The tour guide on the carriage ride should have provided a good starting point so start filling out juicy details. You can get a ride on a ferry to Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Or head over to the Exchange building where Declaration of Independence was read out loud to the citizens, the only other place this was done other than Philadelphia. The basement was used as a prison during the occupation of the Royal forces during the Revolutionary war. Where George Washington came to celebrate while on his tour of the new country after the creating of the United States. We found out that Mr. George Washington was quite a ladies man, having danced with over 200 Charleston ladies during a ball held for his honor! The Exchange Building is just the beginning. There are guides, guidebooks, ipod guides, and everything in between to educate you on the city so take an afternoon to soak up some American history.

Broad Street and The Old Exchange Building

Where The Declaration of Independence Was Read

In the ball room of the Old Exchange Building John and I danced where George Washington danced over 200 years ago. These pics were proved by DJKPhotos, or as I like to call her, Mom. Check out her site for more amazing photos from the Caribbean to the East Coast!

John “Rallying The People”

4.) Get Married!

There Are Many Historic & Beautiful Churches In The City

O.K. before family members and friends start flooding our inbox, NO we did not get married! But Charleston is considered one of the most romantic cities in the South. And while walking around the city we saw many happy couples tie the knot or posing for their wedding album photos. There are many old mansions restored and opened as boutique bed and breakfast inns that would make ideal wedding locations as well. The city is also referred to to as the “City of Churches” with it’s numerous old churches that finding one for any denomination shouldn’t be too difficult. Though I’m sure most are booked well in advance!

5.) End The Night With A Well Deserved Pub Crawl!

You’ve walked the streets, learned more about the happenings of history that you know what to do with, so what now? Charleston is a very hip little city and there are some really good restaurants and bars tucked into every nook and cranny. From BBQ ribs to roof top bistros there are so many places to check out. So do what we like to do in a new city. Go on a pub crawl and find your niche!
In our relationship a good amount of the daily conversation time is taken up with the “So what do you want to eat tonight?” question. This question can literally take us hours to figure out. In many cases the answer is closed and the question needs to be re-examined before we can actually get dinner. Charleston was no exception, we ended up meandering up and down streets looking into every store front (sorry dinner eaters as we stared at your plates debating). The up side to all of this is that by the end of the first night we have a pretty good lay of the land in which to attack the next night.
After having dinner phase two of the evening starts, the pub crawl. Ever on the look out for our “perfect” pub we walked the city having a drink in every type of bar we could find. From dive bars like the Big John to rooftop snazzy at The Library we tried it all. By the end of our stay we had found “our” pub, The Blind Tiger. With friendly bartenders, a funky piano player, to a surprisingly large outdoor patio we ended up making The Blind Tiger our nightcap home in Charleston.

I hope you liked this rambling guide to Charleston! I’m sure I’ve missed several major things to do but please leave a comment and enlighten both John and I and our readers!!

Qinghai Lake, written as 青海湖 translates literally as ‘blue sea lake’. It is the largest lake in China. The reason it’s often referred to as a “sea” is that this lake, which sits at 10,515 feet elevation, is SALTY! This lake also happens to be the largest body of saline water found in China. The lake is famous for it’s almost surreal turquoise glow. The color of the water is one of the most unique I’ve ever seen, caused by the low oxygen levels in the lake. Or by the nuclear testing done back in the ’50s and ’60s… either way it’s an out of this world view.

Qinghai Lake at 10,500ft

I was fortunate enough to get a chance to travel to this remote “wild west” region of China for a couple of days with my Dad. I was living in Shanghai for a few months at the time and he was in the country on business. Heading west together we got to explore a whole new face of China, a world away from the bustling smog enshrined metropolis of Beijing and Shanghai, together.

Qinghai is the western most (un)official providence in China. To it’s northwest is the  Xianiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and to it’s southwest is the famous Tibet Autonomous Region. There are a few don’t miss places to see while in the area, the Blue Sea Lake and the Kumbum Monastery. Today, let me take you around the lake district.

To get to the lake we rode on a min-van across vibrantly green plateaus for an hour or two, stopping off at a Tibetan Buddhist shrine built on a hill in the middle of no-where to stretch our legs.

A Small Village We Passed By, The Yellow Flowers Are Harvested For It’s Oil

I don’t recall the name of this small shrine, but I do know that it was built for an important female deity. Though there are only a few building that might house people in sight along the horizon, the shrine happens to be right off the two lane highway to the lake. It is a big enough tourist bus stop to ensure roadside vendors, entry ticket salesmen, and locals dressed in traditional clothing either selling the clothing or selling the opportunity to take a picture with them.

Ticket Vendors. The Traditional Coats That The Locals Wore Are Perfect For The Climate, Thick And Warm (Plus Great Style)

It’s definitely worth the stop! Not just to stretch your legs but to walk up the little hill and take in the scenery, colors, and the beautifully ornate temple. There are yaks laying about with their traditional Tibetan outfits on (pay per snap), and several local merchants to buy the ornate jackets from. The air is so much thinner up at those heights that I remember feeling out of breath just from the short hike up. Also it was quite chilly, even during mid-summer, and the strong winds were a never-abating!

After the short lay-over at the temple we headed on ward towards the “Ocean In The Sky.” The pictures really don’t do it justice, as the color of the water seemed to glow, it reminded me of blue kryptonite for some reason….

This used to be an atomic bomb test site back in the ’50-60s as well, might explain the glow in the water…

A Camel by a salty lake 10,500ft up, not a sight you see everyday

Tibetan Prayer Flags

Tibetan Child “model”

I took that last picture of this amazingly beautiful little child, only to find out that I owed her money…and was then surrounded by another ten kids offering to pose with me. Turns out they are here to pose with tourists, and they can be VERY persistent so either have some change ready or hide your camera.

Once at the lake you can take ferry rides out to exposed sand dunes in scattered throughout the lake. On our ride over we met a very interesting elderly couple, who were both so sharply dressed in their own style in a way I wished I could pull of. Turns out this was their first vacation, and first time leaving their village to the east. They spoke a very strong dialect and even our friend who spoke fluent Chinese had a hard time understanding them. The most amazing thing about meeting them was once again finding out how small the world is. Though they had never left their small village in rural China it turns out that their son is currently living in Seattle…as a computer programmer! Guess which company..? They were planning on visiting him and flying for the first time later that year.

The Coolest Grandparent’s

Loved Her Look!

On the way out of the designated lake viewing area there are display tents from the regional nomadic tribes. Though these are for tourists, we saw communities of nomads who had set up their tents along the waterfront on the way in. The number of nomadic people are dwindling, part economic pressures to migrate to the city and also in part by a concentrated effort by the government who have built cities for the sole purpose of relocating the nomadic people to a permanent location.

Nomadic tribes camped out for spring

Set Up For Tourists To Tour

Another interesting thing to check out while you are in the area is the Tibetan Mastiffs. These are huge, woolly, adorable looking, but at times vicious guard dogs of the region. There are a several pens where the dogs are housed. When I was there there were a few teen pups that made you forget how tough these fighting dogs can get.

They Have Been Bred To Be Strong & Ferocious When Needed

But How Cute Is This?

Next post will be about the Kumbum monastery and temple. If anyone has been to this area or to the monastery please feel free to add any additional information or tips you might have come across. There is not that much accurate info on the web for this region.

It was one of those overcast and muggy summer days in Beijing when you could feel the grime from the city clinging to your moist skin. I had gotten up that morning bright and early. I bade my host family good bye with a series of hand gestures headed off towards the center of the city. After a couple of crowed buses and subway ride I found myself looking across the People’s Square and into Mao’s giant eyes. I say giant because there is a giant portrait of the former leader over the main entrance to the Forbidden City.

Forbidden City Gateway

Enter The Forbidden City

Look At The Guy Up There, The Buildings Are Massive

Máo Zédōng’s Gaze

(These videos where my first attempt at recording a trip back a few years back, thus I didn’t know better than to hold the camera still longer. You’ll see what I mean as these videos goes on…)

I was excited to head inside and explore, I had hear of the Great Wall of China, and have been there several days earlier, but I had not heard or learned much about the Forbidden City until arriving in Beijing. What I found was one of the most awe inspiring and amazing places I have ever been.

After walking under Mao’s watchful gaze you find your self in a court yard. Well, court yard does not do this scene justice. More like a vast square surrounded by 30ft high red walls and crammed with several hundred people.

The First Square

One of the things that amazed me all day after this first mystery was how the crowds seemed to mysteriously appear and dissipate as if from the mist. The Forbidden Palace, with 72 ha. (17.2 acres) is gigantic. The city is organized into two halves, the palaces and official buildings occupy the ‘outer court’. Behind there is the ‘inner court’, a vast labyrinth of inter connected courtyards and buildings that was the living quarter for the Imperial family. It’s no wonder that you can find your self utterly alone in one of the thousand courtyards while just a few steps away your picking your way through the crowds.

Layout Of The Forbidden City

My Electronic Map and Guide

After successfully purchasing my ticket and an electronic “tour guide” I stepped into the Forbidden City. The first half of the city is filled with large open squares, massive yet intricately ornate buildings that once housed the working government of the dynasties. The Forbidden City was built in only 15yrs between 1406 and 1420! Considering it had over 1000 buildings, 8700 rooms and covered over 7,800,000 sq ft. (Thanks Wikipedia for the factoids!) that’s an amazing feat of ingenuity! It also helped that they could call up over a million workers. Today these buildings house the priceless works or art and artifacts from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. The entire city has been designated an UNESCO world heritage site since 1987. Let me show you some of these beautiful buildings and the art within. Please excuse the poor photo quality, it was an over cast day and I wasn’t supposed to take photos of the art works…I “later” found out.

The Size Of This Place!

Every Surface Is Intricately Decorated

Close Up Of The Stair Case

Close Up Of The Pillars

Rain Water Drains From Their Mouths!

Here’s a sneak peak of some of the great artwork in the buildings.

Love His Expression!

The Emperor’s Clothes

The Chinese Were One Of The Most Advanced Civilization

After walking through the spacious Outer Court I passed through another gateway that led into the Inner Court, the home of the Emperor and his entourage. This is where you can lose the crowd and spend hours getting lost in the maze of red walls and secret courtyards. My electronic guide was a little fussy and didn’t work most of the time but it seemed to always kick in with a juicy tale of romance and espionage when I walked into one of the homes of a specially saucy concubine. I got the gossip loving computer guide I see…

Inner Court Entry

Fast Food Break

People Appear

Then Their Gone!

Turn Around And You Can See How I Might Have Gotten Lost

A Park Inside The Inner Court For The Empress And The Ladies

I hoped you’ve enjoyed a peek into the Forbidden City!

HOP & JAUNT LLC

It’s our third month in Andalusia, Alabama I am happy to report that HOP & JAUNT, LLC is doing well. Alyson and I couldn’t be prouder of our modest company. We had always wanted to start our own business. In the past we would spend hours pitching all kinds of crazy business ideas and company names to each other. I never would have thought that our business would end up being named HOP & JAUNT, …but I really like it. Its much better than my previous favorite name of “ThunderCORP”.

We’ve been back stateside for over 3 months now. Initially we had travel withdrawals upon arriving in Andalusia, Alabama, which made us feel depressed or anxious. Though we did get our picture on the front page of the Andalusia Star News that brightened our day! Since we’ve got the company going time has just flown by. We’ve been putting in some pretty heavy hours. We open up shop around 8 in the morning and usually close up sometime after 10pm. I have to say that it makes a difference working overtime when you are doing it for yourself.

Since we’ve been working so hard, today we decided to reward ourselves by going out and exploring a little bit of

my hometown, Andalusia, Alabama

.

Welcome to Andalusia

We spent the morning exploring Andalusia, Alabama’s Town History Museum. Its a humble museum located in an old train depot, but inside we found some pretty cool things. Turns out the city had gotten it’s name not from Andalusia, Spain but from a legendary horse! How the city came to be named Andalusia is a story of local legend. Andalusian was the breed of a legendary white stallion name “Destinado”. The horse’s unmatched speed, strength and courage enabled Creek Indian Chief “Red Eagle” to escape capture while battling over land against white troops. Supposedly, the town square is built around the site of the horse’s burial place which was marked by a Poplar tree with the words “Destinado Andalusia” carved into the trunk. That’s the official story of how Andalusia, AL, became well…Andalusia!

A Mural of the Legend of Andalusia

Walking through the museum was like stepping back into another era. Since we were the only two people there we were able to really take our time and get a personal tour from the curator. Admission to the museum is FREE.

An Old Alabama School Room

The Clark Family Log Cabin

The Old Clark Family Home

Alyson had a fun time playing around in the exhibits.

We were dying to take this baby a joy ride.

One of our favorite exhibits was the model train display. Since the museum is located in the old train depot there are plenty of railway antiques and train memorabilia. We spent about half an hour playing with the large model train set.

Alyson Playing with the Model Trains

A Model City

There were some pretty neat things on exhibit. The curator opened up the displays to let us get a closer look at some.

We both thought that this Old Political Cartoon was pretty funny…and still relevant.

This book is called “The Ways of the HOBO” by A-No.1, the world famous tramp who traveled 500,000 miles on $7.51. We thought this would make a good budget backpacker guide.

The original budget backpacker’s guide.

a Wheel Chair

A Dental Chair

To show you a little bit about present day life in Andalusia, here are a few photos we took from walking around town.

the Andalusia Courthouse on the town square.

the Vetrans Memorial

I like these Vines.

Mr. Wiggins Barber Shop.

The Clark Movie Theater. Alyson and I had our first date here over 8 years ago.

And of course we had ice cream afterwards at the Dairy Queen.

If your interested in visiting Andalusia, AL a good time to come will be during the Homecoming Festivities. November 11-14 will be a four-day celebration including parades, ceremonies, tours, art shows, concerts, sales, and an air show.

I will close out this blog with a funny video from a couple of fellow travelers Hamish & Andy. Hamsih and Andy are a comedy duo that host a radio show in Australia, and surprisingly enough visited Andalusia. I think this video sums up life here in Andalusia, AL just right.