tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1544578305044950602024-03-05T09:30:02.999+00:00Not Born at ChristmasMy Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-90202310054356401152013-01-10T08:10:00.000+00:002013-01-10T08:10:52.270+00:00Welcome to the YouK!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />Hey there everyone! I know I'm not awesome at posting on this blog lately but I have been working a lot getting a new business up and running. I'm happy to it is now officially official! If you still want more to read you can also check out my other blog at www.congestionzone.wordpress.com. <br /><br />A little about <a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/"><b>YouK Custom Tours</b></a>:<br /><br /><br />For those of you planning a trip to London we can help with with personalised <a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/inspiration/"><b>travel recommendations</b></a>, <b><a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/tailored-london/">customised days out</a> </b>or <a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/bespoke-london/"><b>bespoke tours</b></a>.<br /><br />If you are <a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/uk/"><b>planning a trip around the UK</b></a>, get in touch for itinerary suggestions, travel coordination or guided tours.<br /><br />For <a href="http://www.youkcustomtours.com/living-in-london/"><b>new students and expats</b></a>, we’ll help you learn all the basics about your new home.<br /><br />Don’t forget, you can always reach us at <a href="mailto:info@youkcustomtours.com">info@youkcustomtours.com</a> if you have any questions or need help.<div>
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-74343852270141975122012-12-15T15:34:00.001+00:002012-12-16T10:32:58.507+00:00C is for Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I moved to London in 2010 I spent an average of three to four hours a day learning the city by foot. After I had the main thoroughfares solidly mapped in my head, I decided I should get to know each neighbourhood as best I could. I made it a habit when out and about to always go down at least one road I had never been on before (a relic of my parents’ weekly desire to “<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">find a new bit of road</span>“). I can’t imagine a better way to get to know London than on foot. How else are you meant to linger outside people’s windows and see how they decorate their Christmas trees and set their tables?<br />
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I love love love maps and have a mild obsession with knowing where I am and how it links to where I’m going and coming from (no, that’s not a profound life philosophy, it’s just basic geography) and I am a very visual/interactive learner so mapping my outings became the best way for me to understand where I’d been. My bedroom is adorned with two maps of London: one of greater (Wembley, Richmond and Stratford being its limits) and a large-scale of central.<br />
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Every time I walk down a new road, I mark it on the map in whatever colour suits my fancy that day. For the first few months, my fingers were constantly stained with the byproducts of my nightly routine. Then I fell into the habits that daily routines bring and slowly found myself treading the same bits of ground more and more regularly. As a compulsive explorer, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime;">this just would not do</span>!<br />
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So, in the lead-up to my 30th birthday (still a 20-something as of today!) I compiled a list of 30 things to do before the big 3-0. Not surprising to anyone who knows me, improving my knowledge of London and the UK in general features prominently in this list. One item in particular was designed help me get to know as many hidden corners as possible:<br />
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WALK ALL the STREETS of CENTRAL LONDON<br />
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Ok, this requires some boundaries to be set. First of all, what IS central London??? We all have our own definitions which seem to range in size quite dramatically. To solve this riddle, I decided to go by what the local authorities define as the busiest parts of the city: the Congestion Zone…dun dun dun (technically they call it the “Congestion Charging Zone” but that is just a bit too much for me).<br />
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Yet having established this area, I STILL had to decide WHICH Congestion Zone. You see, right around the time I moved here, the boundaries were changed quite dramatically. Whereas<a href="http://www.royalsofrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Congestionchargingold.gif"> the old CZ</a> spread alllll the way along the river, up past Earl’s Court and into North Kensington, the <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/London_congestion_charge_zone.png">new CZ</a> ended really quite neatly at Park Lane. With just a little over a year to complete the challenge, time was certainly a factor. Right, that’s my reason and I’m sticking to it. Call it laziness, call it cowardice, call it what you will; I chose the new CZ as my barrier.<br />
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FAILING the CHALLENGE<br />
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So now you know the story and you know the quest (but what is your favourite colour??!). What you don’t know is that I have failed already. Yep. That’s right. You just wasted all that time reading when you could have been doing your morning <a href="http://blogs.citypages.com/food/Contortionist.jpg">callisthenics</a>. What a waste.<br />
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The fact is, my 30th birthday is just over two months away and while I’d LOVE to say I will spend the next ~60 days walking my little legs fit over London’s cobbled alleys, I will not. I’m working on something really pretty exciting and fun (if you stick with me you’ll probably hear about it pretty soon…you knew there’d be a hook!) but it has a tendency to take up really a rather large amount of my time. In short, I will not have the CZ badge on my sash by February 20th.<br />
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I have chosen, therefore, to lift my self-imposed deadline and continue on with my quest till death (or dry markers) force me to admit defeat. And for you, dear reader, I will document my wanders in as few words and as many photos as possible (I mean really! Why are you even still reading this tome?!).<br />
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<a href="http://smhttp.14409.nexcesscdn.net/806D5E/wordpress-L/images/walking_dead_header1.jpg">Let’s get our walking on!!!</a><br />
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By way of separating my personal writing (or the little I have done lately, at least) from this project, I have created a website for it specifically. Visit <a href="http://www.congestionzone.wordpress.com/">www.congestionzone.wordpress.com</a> for updates! </div>
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-31211557011575713462012-09-12T19:56:00.000+01:002012-09-12T20:32:07.885+01:00Get a Grasp on Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://xkcd.com/1106/">This is EXACTLY my life</a> at the moment. Actually most of the time but particularly right now! Thank you <a href="http://xkcd.com/">xkcd </a>for, once again, knowing precisely what's up? <br />
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-41881340858389857382012-09-02T23:48:00.000+01:002012-09-05T22:57:55.912+01:00Photo Finish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As previously mentioned, on my travels I often had difficulties getting a connection reliable enough to load photos in blog posts. Some of you (I won't say who, so as to maintain the size of your preferred internet footprint) are not on Facebook and have patiently waited to see pics on here. Well wait no longer! This weekend I have gone through a few past posts and added several thousand words in picture form. And as a thank you for your patience, I will give you photos that facebookers have yet to see ;) </div>
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I will update the list below as I get to more posts. Hope you enjoy! <br />
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<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/02/noodle-soup-aka-birthday-bliss.html">Birthday Bliss</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/taj-mahal.html">Taj Mahal!!</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/amritsar-golden-temple.html">Amritsar</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/rajasthan-1-jaipur.html">Jaipur</a></div>
My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-39764169582397722052012-08-27T19:21:00.006+01:002012-08-28T08:11:32.080+01:00Context Clues<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am a big fan of collecting quotes of the day. I just love looking back on them and laughing until I snort/cry/drool all over again. Sometimes it takes me a minute to remember the context and it makes them even more bizarre and hilarious. I thought I would flick through my notebook and share a few with you. (You can highlight between the brackets below the quotes to get the context - I know I always read ahead when I'm curious so I'm hiding it for cheating readers like me). WARNING: it's heavy on Nepal references....again...as my travel journals are the ones I currently have with me. One day I will stop talking about it. Not soon though. ;)<br />
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"It was painful, but it was surprisingly acceptable."
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[<span style="color: black;">Markus referring to having his foot run over by a car.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"There is dog cheese?!"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">My niece misunderstanding something my brother said. Still not sure what he actually did say.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Why does it always hurt when I'm with you?"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Me referring to Alex and the fact that I always get a sideache from laughing so damn hard with him. I have been mocked ever since lol<span style="color: white;">]</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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"It feels so awesome to not be walking right now."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Meaghan after our first day on the trek.<span style="color: white;">]<br /><br />
"I have a serious problem to move my legs."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Markus after our first day on the trek.<span style="color: white;">]<br /><br />
"It's going to be a struggle to have this mandatory dinner."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">At all the guest houses on the trek we had to make a deal to eat there for dinner and breakfast in order to get free rooms. On our first day in Manang we were so excited to eat apple pies and cinnamon rolls and burgers at the local cafes that we ruined our appetites for dinner. This was Evan's thoughts on the matter when we had to consider eating again. He avoided our required dinner by passing out in the room early. Clever.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Halloween is cool; I'll keep on walking."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Evan explaining his various motivations while hiking.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"It's in Kentucky!!!! What do we do now???!?!?!"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Chris' take on end-of-the-world-virus-takeover movies.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"I hope I dream about this place...once in a while."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Evan's opinions on the walk between Machhapuchhre and Annapurna Base Camps. I concur wholeheartedly.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"I'm trying to get the coke back."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Aby hating her whiskey and coke and wishing she could have selective tastebuds.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"I just want to find some affordable apple Fanta."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Evan again. It is what it says. Really it's all in the delivery but as I have the luxury of knowing that part too it just makes me giggle. You'll have to find him and friend him to see why these are true gems.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Something about him bugs me. What do you think? It might be his face."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Yafit about some dude.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"I blew my nose and something came out my eye."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">My mom. Hahahaha! I still can't read it and not laugh out loud.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Am I the total bitch??"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Evan upon finding out he lost the round of Feudalism and now had to fork over to the King.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"University Guest House, this is Alex." - "You rent out rooms for affairs, is that right?"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">A guy who wanted to hire a room to hold an event - not that kind of event.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"You and your freaky spies leave me alone!"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Stuart getting mad at me for knowing what he is wearing. All the time. From across town. Mwahahahahaha.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"There's nothing lonelier than being a Jew on Christmas."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Super Sad Sara explaining the plight of her people.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Did you see what he has?!?! It's big!!"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Yafit about someone. I can't actually clarify what she was referring too because I did not, in fact, see...it.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Ziplines and Altitude Sickness: are rocket packs the answer?"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">The study Chris and I decided NEEDS to happen in the Himilayas.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"Three cheers for the adverb!!"<br />
[<span style="color: black;">The Grammar Guy at Selfridges.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"You want to try it? It's gross."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Markus about Nepalese tea.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"I don't know, man. It's got bits floating in it."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Chris reply on the aforementioned tea.<span style="color: white;">]<br />
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"We're moving into a shipping container in the jungle."<br />
[<span style="color: black;">Some strangers I met in Kathmandu.<span style="color: white;">]</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-5169147733276437062012-08-23T10:06:00.000+01:002012-08-27T20:27:12.331+01:00Fun with Collages<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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On my trip I took a series of photo collages to put together at a future date. With our internet being down the last few days, I have had some offline computer time to work on them. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure. *they should open into a new window to let you look at the big versions up close* <br />
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<u>River in Soppong</u><br />
I will probably redo this collage a bit as it was my first attempt and I learned a lot from the following two. I love the colors though! Yafit and I played in this waterfall for quite a while our last day in Soppong. It's got a natural, mini water slide at the bottom and a few bathing pools up top. Pretty much perfect.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwog4xT_0UU/UDvJzA5jQyI/AAAAAAAA_rM/04tbhPxmc7o/s1600/Collages13-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gwog4xT_0UU/UDvJzA5jQyI/AAAAAAAA_rM/04tbhPxmc7o/s400/Collages13-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<u>Valley View</u><br />
On the Annapurna circuit trek there were a few junctions where we could choose between hard and easy paths. One time we aimed for easy and we got hard. Crazy hard. In the pounding rain. Straight up a mountain. The second time we chose hard and we got hard. Crazy hard. In the burning sun. Straight up a mountain. Both times we were rewarded with stunning views. This is a valley view from the second of these two adventures. We started our day just around the other side of the mountain on the left (not too far up from the river - yeah THAT river. The one alllllllll the way down there). This shot was taken just after our first tea break - aka probably about a third of the total distance that day. Luckily it was just about the highest point of that journey. <br />
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<u>360 and Beyond</u><br />
At 4800m (15,748 ft), Thorung La High Camp presented one of the hardest challenges of the circuit. We inched ourselves up the last kilometer, sure that we would never see the top. Again and again we saw false summits. Again and again we held out hope that our guest house would peek out from around the next pile of rocks. Again and again we were disappointed to see nothing but more mountain to be climbed. When we did actually see buildings in the distance, even the promise of food, warmth, and a place to sit were not enough to convince us we could make it. Don't believe me? Witness Markus' reaction to our first sighting of the lodge. In case you don't speak German, let me interpret for you: that is not an expression of joy. In fact, I think he was actually trying to will the buildings closer to him because he was sure he couldn't get any closer to them. <br />
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We did manage to get there though, and once we recovered enough to walk again we explored the area a bit. This panorama shows the entire camp and surrounding mountains. It doubles over on itself at the end but it is so beautiful I figured there was no harm seeing the same mountain twice. Enjoy! <br />
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-61634573622265202072012-08-23T09:34:00.000+01:002012-08-30T09:36:22.767+01:00Rae of Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After participating in two and a half months of what I can only describe as felony-grade nacho abuse, I have recently been immensely pleased to discover that I am, in fact, much more fit now than I was six months ago. Apparently the progress made over three months of carrying a backpack, walking, hiking, climbing, swimming, playing, jumping, diving, cartwheeling and being indoors only while sleeping cannot be entirely undone by two months of binge eating, bonding with Morpheus*, binge drinking, road-tripping or the consumption of SIX seasons of How I Met Your Mother.<br />
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I fixed up <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2011/01/sweet-baby-rae.html">Rae</a> this weekend (changing a flat and giving her a much needed scrub down to remove the cobwebs, dirt and slugs that built up in my absence) and I have been amazed at how much easier riding is now compared to February. When I arrived in Utah, freshly back from a month of all-day-every-day hiking, I noticed a significant difference in my fitness. Suddenly I found myself on my bike at the tops of hills I never would have even thought about going up before. And not only at the top of them but at the top of them without being out of breath or wanting to die. In fact, I felt more energized and excited to keep going.<br />
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What I did not expect, however, was that after a not-so-brief stint of laziness and excess in the States I would find the same thing happening in London. I am currently staying at the top of a big hill but it's been noticeably easier to get back here after a long night out than it ever was before. For the last two years I have had several markers along Shoot Up Hill to see if my abilities were improving - willing myself to just get to the first tree, the bus stop, the street sign. Now I get to the top without having to coach myself at all. I'm riding faster and stronger than I ever did before, all as a result of no purposeful training whatsoever. The only change in my life was going from a desk job and studying to walking around all day every day - often while carrying a backpack....or a pina colada. I guess it just goes to show that being even a little more active every single day does really add up after all.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*for the uninitiated, Morpheus is the obscenely seductive sofa who lives at my parents' house. He will suck you down the rabbit hole faster than you can say, "why oh why didn't I take the blue pill."</span><br />
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-61797704399330100232012-08-20T10:30:00.000+01:002012-08-20T15:57:15.031+01:00Computer Says "1877"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the first installment of <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/08/in-preparing-to-review-my-travels-i.html">random image search based story-telling</a>, I shall tell you about this photo:<br />
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This may not seem like a photo worth a lot of words but it certainly is! A great start for our trip down memory lane. <br />
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Attached to this as-yet-unidentified grey blob of animal/vegetable/mineral is the key that unlocked the door to our room on nights 19 and 21 of the Annapurna trek (April 30 and May 2). More specifically to Room 6 of the Namaste Bamboo Guest House and Restaurant in Bamboo. We scored this quad-room at a bargain the first night after I used my feminine charms to barter with the hotel owner. Okay okay, it was probably because she pitied my feeble negotiation attempts and more likely the result of her agreeing to my terms quickly so as to get me and my offensive hiking odor out of her kitchen as quickly as possible. When we returned from Annapurna Base Camp two nights later she handed us the key as if we come every week. She was a lovely lady indeed and we were all terrified of her.<br />
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Highlights of our two nights here included cat showers, hot chocolate, and some serious bridge playing. Let's take it one at a time:<br />
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Markus constantly informed us that German is the best language in the world as it has a phrase for everything. I was not disappointed in his explanation of cat showers - a shower lasting as long as a cat would stay in. A very useful phrase I feel. You will sadly miss the hilarity of him acting it out - replete with hissing - but know that it made me laugh so hard I snorted. The shower in Bamboo was sooooooooo cold I thought my hands would fall off. It was, however, also sooooooooo necessary as it had been two sweaty days of hiking (the second consisting mainly of the "<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/05/long-steep-stone-staircase.html">long, steep, stone staircase</a>"we had dreaded for ages). That shower took forever because I could only put about ten square inches of my body in it at a time and had to wait for my hands to thaw out at several points. Don't get me wrong, it is refreshing in its way and awakened me to the depths of my being. Most of the time I felt like this though.<br />
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At least I could look forward to a nice, big cup of steaming hot cocoa to warm me up inside. That was until, after a couple of soothing sips, Markus asked if the floaties in our drink were unmixed powder or just bugs. Closer inspection revealed the disappointing truth. The thing is, folks, after traveling that long you just pick them out and keep going. We competed for the winning number and finished our cups. I still think I would have been in the running if I had not taken a couple of greedy gulps prior to our discovery. <br />
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Markus - 5<br />
Chris - 3 <br />
Me - 2<br />
Evan - drank his before our discovery so we will never know<br />
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From Day 1 of the trek we had a habit of playing cards almost every night. Our typical games were Shithead and 31. That was until Maggie threw Bridge into the mix. We turned into ravenous beasts for it, playing for hours and hours at a time. The first day we arrived in Bamboo about midday which was quite early for us but were forced to stop because it started pelting down rain. While trying to decide if it was a lunch break or our final destination, we played Bridge. We also played for about three hours after we decided to stay. Everything was really just an excuse to play more Bridge. Having given up on the complicated scoring system, we implemented something based on checks, check pluses, and Xs. Even that got too tedious so it eventually become something smiley face oriented. In a fierce game of Us vs. Them the Thems took it pretty soundly. The Us-es did have a couple of pretty stellar hands though! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the distance, Evan looks across the room while peripherally picking up on my diamond vibe. So good was our subliminal communication that we somehow won this contract with 11 diamonds between us.</td></tr>
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These hours and hours of Bridge took place in one of the nicer dining halls of our trip (filled with hideous fake flower arrangements) while we ate some fantastic dal bhat - and our fair share of Snickers. <br />
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Evan and I also spent a good chunk of time watching the goats play fight outside in the morning. Pretty fun to see! All in all, Bamboo was one of my favorite places on the trek and definitely the most fun on the Base Camp trail. <br />
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-76976566897645992312012-08-17T20:50:00.002+01:002012-08-18T09:16:27.507+01:00An Experiment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In preparing to <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/08/six-months.html">review my travels</a>, I found myself organizing thousands of photos across four memory cards. That's a lot of pictures!! In what will seem a non-sequitor, I recently attended a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFYG-TyQ-m0&feature=youtu.be">ukulele flash mob</a> at Trafalgar Square, followed by the weekly ukulele rock session at a nearby pub. The group of devoted players recently found a way (aided by my lovely friend Tanja) to shake up their routine and try some new songs: a random number generator. Instead of playing a fairly regular set list, they now challenge themselves to play whatever comes up next on the screen. I would like to do the same. From time to time I will use a <a href="http://www.random.org/">generator</a> to determine which photo I pull up and write a little about it. Let’s see where this takes us!
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-65762861567311937632012-08-17T14:41:00.002+01:002013-01-28T12:02:52.751+00:00Six Months <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Crazy as it may seem, today marks the six month anniversary of the <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/01/so-it-begins.html">beginning of my big adventure</a>.<br />
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In that time I:<br />
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<li>circumnavigated the globe</li>
<li>rode camels in <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/hello-from-india-its-proved-more.html">India</a></li>
<li>explored canyons in <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/goodbye-thailand.html">Thailand </a></li>
<li>crossed one of the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorong_La"> highest passes </a>in Nepal / the world</li>
<li>sent dozens of <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/search/label/Past-cards">postcards</a> around the world </li>
<li>explored <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1278&bih=679&q=tent+rocks+new+mexico&oq=tent+rocks+&gs_l=img.3.0.0l2j0i24l8.595.1921.0.2824.11.9.0.2.2.0.129.762.6j3.9.0...0.0...1ac.Nb2HBVLtdSc">tent rocks</a> in New Mexico</li>
<li>floated the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bitterroot+river&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3kYuUKayG6ah0QX0oYAI&ved=0CG4QsAQ&biw=1278&bih=679">Bitterroot</a> in Montana</li>
<li>road tripped across <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=utah&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1278&bih=679&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=EkwuUIsuhofQBai_gOAM">Utah</a></li>
<li>hiked through ruins in <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=images.google&aq=f&sugexp=chrome,mod%3D4&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=O0wuUODJFanX0QWS74CYDg&biw=1278&bih=679&sei=PEwuUK_FNIGb1AW4xYDgDA#um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=mesa+verde&oq=mesa+verde&gs_l=img.3..0l10.843.3377.0.3595.13.13.0.0.0.0.125.805.11j1.13.0.caqth..0.0...1.9B6EHO9zgq4&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=24237ee34c762106&biw=1278&bih=679">Colorado</a> </li>
<li>saw everyone in my <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/06/i-passed-past-week-with-my-siblings.html">immediate family</a> </li>
<li>saw very nearly everyone in my extended family </li>
<li>celebrated</li>
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<li>two 1st birthdays</li>
<li>one 90th birthday</li>
<li>one 100 1/2 birthday</li>
<li><a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/05/same-same-but-different.html">three graduations </a>- representing four master's degrees</li>
<li>more July birthdays than I can count</li>
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<li>ate disgusting amounts of curry, <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/sluuuuuurp.html">noodle soup</a>, and nachos</li>
<li>learned all kinds of new card games - and a new favorite game night game (watch out, I have been known to break it out pretty regularly recently!)</li>
<li>cheered on teams USA and GB with equal gusto in rooms/parks full of screaming people </li>
<li>and happily settled back into a life with a little more routine and down time - though we all know that can't last for long ;) </li>
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It's been a pretty incredible ride. It hasn't always been fun and it hasn't always been easy. Some of the challenges I have faced in the last six months have been the hardest in my life. Travel really is a crazy and unpredictable beast. I can honestly say it pushed my physical, emotional, and mental boundaries in ways I never could have expected. At times I hated it and wanted to go home. At times I loved it and was overwhelmed with how incredibly blessed I am and how beautiful this world is. It broke me down, it got me dirty, it scared me, it made me sick. It strengthened my confidence, my resolve, and my understanding of the world. It took me away from people and places I love. It brought me new friends and opened room in my heart for wonderful new destinations. </div>
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I've been lucky enough to share some of my experiences with many of you in person but there are still so many stories to tell. My ability to post was severely limited by technology (particularly in Nepal - hard to do anything without power) and the fact that I was constantly on the go. Looking back, I see that I did post more than I remember but not nearly as much as I wanted to. In reading my posts I see hidden elements of other stories I didn't have time to share and allusions to post that never came. So over the next few weeks I am going to fill in some of the gaps on some stories both small and large. I look forward to reliving the memories with you :) </div>
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My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-68570212130681790412012-06-16T21:30:00.000+01:002012-06-29T04:35:07.548+01:00Santa Fe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I passed the past week with my siblings, niblings, parents, and pup-on-loan enjoying all the West has to offer: sweeping vistas, surprising geography, hiking, biking, climbing, and Mexican food. We played board games, card games, video games, and word games with equal gusto. We watched hilarious movies, played some sketchy ping pong, and ate excessive amounts of salsa, We experimented with glow in the dark bubbles, played a practical joke on the dog, and drank silly amounts of wine - all while only breaking one piece of art!We spent time catching up on all that life has brought to our lives these last couple of years: new homes, new loves, new hopes, and new happiness. <br /><br />This morning we parted ways once again hoping to have another week like this next year. Who knows what news we might have to share with each other and what new silliness we will get up to when that time comes. On the road today, as we listened to Fiddler on the Roof, I was caught up with emotion during <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLLEBAQLZ3Q">Sunrise Sunset</a> and it's no wonder why. Seeing everyone's lives change so much with each passing month, season, and year makes everything seem so quick. There is nothing more effective than seeing your <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=niblings">niblings</a> all grown up and successful to make you feel like life is going just too damn fast, offering too little time to share the experience with everyone along the way. <br /><br />It's times like these when I appreciate the connected world. With the eleven of us scattered across six cities spanning from coast to coast, even if I wanted to live in the US there is no where I could be that would allow me to see everyone as much as I want to. So for all its faults and foibles, I must thank facebook for allowing us to share the big and the small things when we can't be together for them. I feel lucky to be a part of a family so full of interesting, fun, witty, silly, crazy characters. Can't wait to see them all again soon!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-28655542611643395102012-05-25T23:10:00.000+01:002012-05-25T23:12:46.752+01:00I Want to See the Fort!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Jaisalmer Fort was a picturesque place indeed. I walked around with a couple of fellow travelers in those really amazing pre-sunset moments and I couldn't believe how deep and rich the colors were. Quite charming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The rooftop of my guest house in Jaisalmer, India<br />
To: Illinois, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-14746739487520537582012-05-25T22:59:00.001+01:002012-05-25T22:59:46.435+01:00Same Same, But Different<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some things have changed in Salt Lake City. The downtown now boasts a large (and frankly overpriced) mall, a GIANT Harmon's and several new condo buildings. 9th and 9th now has a delicious gelato joint. Olympus high school is expanding - big time. The dumpy joint on 13th and 11th has been replaced with a gorgeous restaurant. Smith's is new, sparkly and has a gas station. Red Butte Garden has acquired a beautiful neighbor in the Natural History Museum (which I have yet to visit) and I am told it boasts one of the best views in the city. The University Guest House has grown an entirely new wing. Liberty Park staff is no longer in the process of squeegee-ing the oil off each individual duck. Trax now has all kinds of new lines. Millcreek Library is now a place I would gladly spend the day working (and plan to!). <br />
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Some things haven't changed. Park Cafe still has the best strawberry jam. That guy that sat in that one seat at that one cafe every day still sits at the same seat at the same cafe every day I have been there. Nearly every place I go, I run into people I know. Has-a-trust-fund-but-chooses-to-be-homeless Jake still roams around the park, warming his can of baked beans with the fire from a pile of sticks he's gathered at the playground. Hornsby's still tastes the same - but the bottles now look TINY!!! <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2011/02/strawberry-moraine.html">My parents house</a> is still one of my favorite places. And my friends are still some of the best people I have met in the world and they make me laugh until I am red faced (and nearly wet crotched) every time I see them. </div>
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It's that last thing that makes me the happiest of all. I've been back for a week and a half now and every day has made me feel just a little more happy/proud/humbled/excited about just how incredible my friends are. How is it possible to be surrounded by such an amazing group? They are the funniest, most interesting, intelligent, kind, concerned, helpful, fun people a girl could ever hope to know. They accept everyone new with no hesitation. They support every ridiculous idea I can throw at them. If I said I wanted to po-go around the world, they would never ask why. They would start listing off places I should explore for industrial strength sticks. In the midst of my stress over visas and jobs, they have been completely there to listen to my stress but never get caught up in my fears about the future. They break down the problem and attack each step with optimism and a list of possibilities. They center me when my mind is hectic (though perhaps it's just the cider they throw at me that creates the calm). They believe in me and think I can do whatever I want in this crazy world. Little do they know they are the reason I have had the courage to follow through on some of the scarier endeavors in my life. No matter how many things change or stay the same, no matter where we are all living in the world, I can only hope they know how much I love them and hope that I am able to give them the same optimism and support when they need it. </div>
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</div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-53123648992379901602012-05-18T23:57:00.003+01:002012-05-18T23:57:56.896+01:00As I Lay Me Down to Sleep<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Prayer flags really were everywhere!!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g2UPaFX5x0/T7bTWqW7o9I/AAAAAAAA_DY/lRoeytCauRo/s1600/Kathmandu+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g2UPaFX5x0/T7bTWqW7o9I/AAAAAAAA_DY/lRoeytCauRo/s400/Kathmandu+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: My room at the Traveler's Home Guest House in Kathmandu, Nepal<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-60510410987843888402012-05-18T23:51:00.001+01:002012-05-18T23:51:19.733+01:00Even Gods Need a Good Read<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another book store pic for one of the bigger readers in my life. I visited this shop many times during my time in Dharamsala.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJ-g4fJbF0/T7bQ0Qxr5iI/AAAAAAAA_Cc/W1h0W_QKQ9Q/s1600/Dharamsala+-+Chris.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wGJ-g4fJbF0/T7bQ0Qxr5iI/AAAAAAAA_Cc/W1h0W_QKQ9Q/s400/Dharamsala+-+Chris.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The best book shop in McLeodganj, India<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-43110324373710572462012-05-18T23:42:00.002+01:002012-05-18T23:42:41.583+01:00The Chocolate Log<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Really??? Would you eat at this place?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: McLeodganj, India<br />
To: England, UK</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-12527954087496403792012-05-18T22:34:00.002+01:002012-05-18T22:34:31.541+01:00Ngadi Bazar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our first day of trekking was pretty spectacularly beautiful. The views only became better every day after. This night it was pounding down rain and the river outside turned from teal to brown in about half an hour. Due to the weather I couldn't take a picture outside so below is a better view taken the next morning...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-REWDhjT4Zl4/T7a8i5OmcAI/AAAAAAAA_Bg/7aCU83tAV6U/s1600/Ngadi+-+Kelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-REWDhjT4Zl4/T7a8i5OmcAI/AAAAAAAA_Bg/7aCU83tAV6U/s400/Ngadi+-+Kelly.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The window of our guest house as the rain beat down on our first trek night in Ngadi, Nepal<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-35781772513175367902012-05-18T22:14:00.000+01:002012-05-18T22:15:19.171+01:00I Loved This Place!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I truly could not get enough of the <a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/taj-mahal.html">Taj Mahal</a>!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vR9klxQiGag/T7a7BmfZ6VI/AAAAAAAA_BY/3BrKHoA-5hk/s1600/Taj+-+Z+and+V.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vR9klxQiGag/T7a7BmfZ6VI/AAAAAAAA_BY/3BrKHoA-5hk/s400/Taj+-+Z+and+V.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The Taj Mahal, Agra, India<br />
To: Texas, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-53631585865616915542012-05-18T22:10:00.001+01:002012-05-18T22:10:36.063+01:0031 Shitheads on a Bridge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We played cards. A lot. This was the first night of the trek so we were just getting started and as we didn't know each other well we were quite civilized. Things got pretty intense there by the end. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: Our first night of card playing. Appears to be Shithead we were going for here in Ngadi, Nepal<br />To: Washington DC, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-38645041390161568202012-05-18T22:02:00.002+01:002012-05-25T23:18:17.208+01:00Pi Day - Behind the Scenes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.notbornatchristmas.com/2012/03/pi-day-real-one.html">Pi Day</a> was a productive one for me. I flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur to Delhi. I also sorted out my finances, wrote a blog post, and sent a postcard to Al. All before taking on what would be two of the craziest hours in all of my time in India. A day to remember for sure!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2NZVZ4bnup8/T7I922FZRxI/AAAAAAAA_BI/1e8Ffdx9YZg/s1600/Bangkok+-.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2NZVZ4bnup8/T7I922FZRxI/AAAAAAAA_BI/1e8Ffdx9YZg/s400/Bangkok+-.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: A rickety table in the Bangkok Airport, Thailand<br />
To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-72811176679461563832012-05-18T21:55:00.001+01:002012-05-18T21:55:16.740+01:00Flower Signs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some fun with perspective after everyone had been energized by coffee and butter-soaked breads. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tdVGc03weyI/T7a2rzJt9hI/AAAAAAAA_A8/k_3Wd3o1eoQ/s1600/Alex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tdVGc03weyI/T7a2rzJt9hI/AAAAAAAA_A8/k_3Wd3o1eoQ/s400/Alex.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The cafe with the best coffee on the trail (so I'm told) on the road from Marpha, Nepal<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-28667995159224716132012-05-18T21:47:00.002+01:002012-05-18T21:47:40.152+01:00Do You Have an Ace Bandage?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The design of my shoes combined with the stormy weather meant I needed some drastic measures for preventing blisters. The measures actually caused some other blisters in the end. Oh well. It all worked out in the end.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEyEcxKQcAM/T7JBW69s_fI/AAAAAAAA-1M/-mPWj-SMm-I/s1600/Trek+Day+3+-+Mom+and+Dad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEyEcxKQcAM/T7JBW69s_fI/AAAAAAAA-1M/-mPWj-SMm-I/s400/Trek+Day+3+-+Mom+and+Dad.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: My makeshift sports clinic at the guest house in Chame, Nepal<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-52993920888522073732012-05-18T21:43:00.001+01:002012-05-18T23:48:12.966+01:00Trains and Tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My first Indian train experience!! I was surprised actually at how clean and comfortable it was. I had been told all kinds of horror stories. Shortly after taking this we even had the chai guy come through with a delicious cuppa. That's service! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: The back of the seat of the guy in front of me on the train from Jaipur to Udaipur, India<br />
To: England, UK</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-90247730049708961872012-05-18T21:39:00.000+01:002012-05-18T21:39:05.391+01:00The S***<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On my first day in Delhi, I met these two German lads who were just as lost as I was. We trudged through together and had a grand old time for a few days in Delhi and Jaipur. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_DxDDz-OP4/T7I9-Ymx67I/AAAAAAAA-wM/gbJYbSLgEG4/s1600/Delhi+-.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_DxDDz-OP4/T7I9-Ymx67I/AAAAAAAA-wM/gbJYbSLgEG4/s400/Delhi+-.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: Our rooftop table at the hotel in Delhi, India<br />To: Utah, USA</td></tr>
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<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154457830504495060.post-78264274005703496602012-05-18T20:38:00.000+01:002012-05-25T23:19:52.236+01:00As Easy as MBC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is sort of a 360 view as the postcard shows the mountains directly behind me while I was taking the picture. The hike to Macchapaucchre Base Camp was pretty wet and a little bit miserable in parts. The views were incredible though! And the hike to Annapurna Base Camp for sunrise the following morning was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Bonus picture below :)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFnOc7D3h00/T7ZVisERpHI/AAAAAAAA-_s/XMpeCN8UXLs/s1600/MBC+-.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FFnOc7D3h00/T7ZVisERpHI/AAAAAAAA-_s/XMpeCN8UXLs/s400/MBC+-.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From: Macchupachure Base Camp, Nepal<br />
To: Texas, USA</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sX8HsKu0HAQ/T7akK-PWqwI/AAAAAAAA_Ao/ZrRgnw0Lzkc/s1600/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sX8HsKu0HAQ/T7akK-PWqwI/AAAAAAAA_Ao/ZrRgnw0Lzkc/s400/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>My Name is Not Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377271234938156695noreply@blogger.com