tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40642895251004556682024-03-13T11:48:18.127-07:00The Wandering GeneticistTorah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-26599172396259599012013-07-16T22:47:00.001-07:002013-07-16T22:48:01.490-07:00Hanging up StuI guess it is inevitable that life would catch up with me and tie me down. I figured as much when I got home from romantic-Russia in 2010 and realized I wanted a partner and a 'normal' life. But then I took off for most of 2011 and had the adventures of a lifetime with Mongolia, Ethiopia and Tibet.<br />
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Those that bother to read my previous blog posts will see that I have traveled the world, I have seen more in my 34 years than most people ever aspire to, let alone achieve, in a lifetime.<br />
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But just when I thought I had it all - a flexible job that paid enough to continue my nomadic ways - life caught up with me. A partner, a job that isn't so flexible anymore (but I love you CBC) and perhaps a bit of settling into the routine of a Canadian life.<br />
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I'm faced with the prospect of retirement. I honestly think I'll deal with retiring from my job at 65 better than retiring from my hobby/love of traveling at 34. For those of you out there who have hung up your backpack and said it's time for a comfortable bed and drinkable water - how have you handled it?<br />
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Because, oh my Darwin, does my backpack, aka Stu, summon me.<br />
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<br />Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-91179169571629549562012-12-09T15:55:00.001-08:002012-12-09T15:55:24.463-08:00Stuff I take everywhere<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are things we have to take with us - keys, phone, wallet. Sure, those things go with me almost everywhere. But the stuff that I really take with me and that will never leave me are my memories of traveling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here I am, procrastinating getting work done and looking outside to the frigid air deep in a Canadian winter and I am longingly reliving some memories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today I have been struck by the memory of February 2011, in a tiny village on the outskirts of Konso where I had been invited to share in the bull jumping ceremony. This is a sacred ceremony that only happens every few years and symbolizes a young boy's entry into manhood. The festival included a lot of moonshine, face paint, Kalashnikovs and drumming. I was, with no surprise, one of the attractions of the day being about a foot taller than anyone in the vicinity and probably five thousand shades lighter. Plus, I had all these gadgets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">An elder from one of the nearby villages came over the talk - or gesture wildly and nod -and as a universal way of communicating, I let him look through my camera. He was enthralled, mystified, electrified and ecstatic over the fact that he could zoom onto someone's face far away and see detail. He turned the camera over, looked into the lens backwards and marveled in it's ability to do such non-human things. It was completely implausible to him that this thing, this inanimate, kinda heavy, strange looking thing could see better than us. There was a lot of screeching, hand clapping and ear to ear smiling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">His energy was captivating and I immediately matched his enthusiasm. I was also enthralled, captivated and mystified, not by my old camera but by the joy that is in all of us. Here, in the middle of absolute nowhere in the Lower Omo Valley of Ethiopia I found pure, unbridled and unkempt happiness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It wasn't happiness because of a material object. It was happiness in the marvel of the world and the continual ability that we have to see a different world everyday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I carry my memories, my lessons and the changes in me from my experiences. They never leave me and I hope they never will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-20859858965962784962012-09-17T18:04:00.005-07:002012-09-17T18:04:47.388-07:00It's only September...I usually spend Septembers sorting through pictures, picking which ones to frame, admiring the new Lonely Planets on my travel bookshelf and sated from a summer spent exploring.<br />
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Today...not so much.<br />
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Mozambique was hardly the adventure of a lifetime and after the year I had in 2011, it's amazing that I feel like I have anything left to experience in the world. But I do, and I want it, badly.<br />
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A travel addiction is a serious problem with me. The monotony of daily
life in Edmonton is simple and mindless and I like it. But every 8
months, on the dot, I get itchy feet and need, absolutely <i>need</i>,
to leave and get thrown into the most uncomfortable, unique, new,
mind-blowing experience that I can possibly find wherever I am in the
world. <br />
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The adventures of the previous summer usually tide me over until the deep dark winters of Alberta when, in February, I find myself weeping in the travel section of a bookstore and knee-jerk book a trip to some crazy destination I know nothing about. But what is going to hold me over this year?<br />
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I still want to write a book about our trip to Mongolia, so maybe I can relive that adventure long enough to find myself weeping in the travel section of a bookstore in December, instead of tomorrow....which is what I feel like doing.<br />
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My ideas for next summer depend on the universal two factors - time and money. Although I'm currently hypnotized about the idea of the Silk Road and doing the 'Stans. I <i>should</i> go to India just so I can say I've been there to people who always ask. Or maybe Cameroon. Who knows? I certainly don't.<br />
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<br />Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-80067624088552942492012-07-15T00:11:00.000-07:002012-07-15T00:11:00.462-07:00Hosteling 101There are a set of unwritten, unspoken rules in hostels. I should know, I'm a 15 year veteran. To make sure all your dormmates don't stick squid in your sheets or steal your shit...follow these rules.<br />
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10) Do not leave open food anywhere but the hostel kitchen. Bugs, dogs, smell, rot are just disgusting<br />
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9) If you leave early, pack the night before<br />
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8) Lights are OFF from 11pm - 7am. This should be obvious - you are sharing your space with strangers, don't piss them off. If you need light, have a headlamp or flashlight handy, if you are too dumb to bring these, suck it up and go to bed in the clothes you are wearing in with dirty teeth.<br />
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7) Changing down to your underwear is okay, even in mixed dorms. Stripping is not.<br />
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6) Bring earplugs and eyeshades. Despite these clear and simple rules, people are assholes. Don't get frustrated if a drunk girl starts flipping on every light in the middle of the night, suck it up princess and be prepared.<br />
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5) Claim your space. But don't take more than you need.<br />
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4) Oh my god, please do NOT pack all your junk in plastic bags....nothing is worse (besides hearing someone's dirty drunk sexcapade) than hearing 30 minutes of rustling through crunchy plastic bags in the middle of the night. Use old pillow cases to store your stuff, or specially designed pack cubes.<br />
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3) Quit your bitching about the noise, smell or cleanliness, if you want 5 star then pay for it.<br />
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2) Don't have sex. That's disgusting. Use common shower areas, stairwells or dark alleyways for all I care...no one wants to hear your hookup.<br />
<br />And the #1 rule for a happy hostel stay......if you snore, and everyone knows if they do so don't pull the "I don't know bullshit', get a private room. Or risk being punched in the gut in the middle of your sleep from yours trulyTorah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-31467587705326754592012-07-12T00:10:00.002-07:002012-07-12T00:10:22.562-07:00Travel SnobI'm one of <i>those</i> people. The types of people that travel enough to start comparing destinations.<br />
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Mozambique beaches were nice, but not as nice as (<i>insert beautiful locale here)</i> but much nicer than (<i>insert overrated destination here</i>).<br />
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I think it's simply a product of experience but this trip in Mozambique really brought it to a head. I didn't like Mozambique, there was nothing wrong with it; the people were exceptionally friendly, the beaches were actually beautiful and my sister and I had a fun time. But it wasn't up to snuff, because I'm officially a travel snob.<br />
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It didn't have the flavour of Guinea with the rhythms and drumming everywhere, the food was edible at best and not like Ethiopia. The beaches were nice but lacked character. The cities were blah, not like the energy of Dakar or the hassle of Bamako. The sights were modest like Senegal but it lacked a certain soul and root that anchors me in Africa.<br />
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Yet, I would highly recommend Mozambique for anyone interested in a beach holiday or a gentle, oh so gentle, introduction to Africa.<br />
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Me? I prefer noisy, stinky, constant hassle, soulful, traditional, spirited Africa of Mali, Ethiopia or even Morocco.<br />
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Hate me if you must, I'm one of <i>those</i>.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-76926809117443651152012-06-20T09:57:00.000-07:002012-06-20T09:57:02.104-07:00En RouteUpgrade #1 complete.<br />
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I am currently sitting in the Business Class Lounge in Heathrow after my well-deserved upgrade to business en route to Maputo.<br />
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Maputo? Where the effff is that? You aren't alone if that name hasn't hit the Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego games. So far, every airline staff I have spoken with have no idea what MPM stands for.<br />
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I just hope it exists.<br />
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2 more flights to go. A 13 hour leg to Joburg leaving in an hour then a quick jaunt over to a-possibly-non-existent city.<br />
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My sister has decided to join me on this little directionless jaunt. I have given her the Lonely Planet so that I have an excuse to have not read a page before arriving. Randomness is part of the fun right? It's all about exploring not planning?<br />
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I sure hope soTorah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-60310450090565889252012-02-25T18:09:00.002-08:002012-02-25T18:15:09.628-08:00Mozam-where?It's official. I have booked a 6 week trip to Mozambique for June and July 2012. An incredibly quick trip for me but it will have to do.<br /><br />Where is Mozambique? South-east coast of Africa, north of South Africa and south of Tanzania. What's there? Not sure yet but hopefully some azure waters and oceanside villages to explore, a bit of jungle so I can swing in the vines and learn how to pound my chest, maybe a few wildlife sightings but most of all - adventure.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNzMGDiNHE-l3sWMVqSE5jV89pxEhBDQSZYuClx11nrFJ_hyphenhyphenQiYeMPxtccK8xjZx5qiLn0BpZC_X8BtJ2lEzhiSIXXQagyjYSLGwRyWnklXHbl19KOTd7RUiyXJprKu1YEnIDNMG9qZHt/s1600/about-mozambique_about-mozambique_top_289_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNzMGDiNHE-l3sWMVqSE5jV89pxEhBDQSZYuClx11nrFJ_hyphenhyphenQiYeMPxtccK8xjZx5qiLn0BpZC_X8BtJ2lEzhiSIXXQagyjYSLGwRyWnklXHbl19KOTd7RUiyXJprKu1YEnIDNMG9qZHt/s320/about-mozambique_about-mozambique_top_289_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713262125903965618" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I have received the 'bible', or Lonely Planet for the country and I plan on reading that a bit before I go...or just on the plane on the way there. Not sure what there is to do, see or experience, but I'll be bound to brag about it when I get back.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-9143054367874266582012-01-30T09:21:00.000-08:002012-01-30T09:29:32.535-08:00ChoicesDeciding where you want to go, when you want to go everywhere, is absolutely heart-wrenchingly impossible.<br /><br />I have 6 weeks next summer, that's it. In between commitments to my family, loved ones and something I like to call a career has limited my summer to a very short 40 days. Which for most of you sounds like a travelers dream. But for me, someone who is used to 4 months or more to go off galavanting and exploring, 6 weeks feels like a week in Mexico.<br /><br />So, where to go?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrSztzsvJKLLLubS0TE3rtAg4N_4ayoHJaq8gA1IzkfMbFJ_yilFT_QsVY2dZRim2-J0fijbycKytPrpULfTCS_Yu0od9bvUqYPaAtb7nzvOVSezfXtP0E_xARx-PJ1YAU9CrSZSaaY8L/s1600/Summer+2008+Favorites+%2528225%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrSztzsvJKLLLubS0TE3rtAg4N_4ayoHJaq8gA1IzkfMbFJ_yilFT_QsVY2dZRim2-J0fijbycKytPrpULfTCS_Yu0od9bvUqYPaAtb7nzvOVSezfXtP0E_xARx-PJ1YAU9CrSZSaaY8L/s320/Summer+2008+Favorites+%2528225%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703478290867321810" border="0" /></a><br />It's Africa. It's always Africa with me.<br /><br />Africa has my heart. I don't know why, but there is something there that I don't understand, a way of carrying on, a way of interacting and a way of being that is so unlike me and yet so similar. I don't understand it, but I will spend my life trying to figure it out. I am drawn back to my heart's magnet - the dark continent.<br /><br />Africa is huge, I have been to the North, East and West so it's time to hit the south. Pick a country, any country and I want to go. I'm severely torn right now between Botswana with the wildlife, the Okavango and the classic safari; Mozambique with its azure waters, off-the-beaten track wilderness and it's remoteness and Rwanda for its gorillas, the evidence of redemption and the cleanliness of a country that has outlawed plastic bags.<br /><br />It depends, as always, on time and money. And availability of flights on points.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-60961152904967437452011-08-15T17:54:00.000-07:002011-08-15T18:07:06.443-07:00Desperation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU-VRrf0flnOp-QrtdKb8Qvr6Pnu3kTW_Bm1YytJuO3K6TmR7jbUQ4lcREFOgtyP5zXUqICViMfzb-_xLHsh9oDxrHGGlmHSECNZO7alqYT2QETHvQEIZknxgwA5aDYgL3gqacuc-jnku/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU-VRrf0flnOp-QrtdKb8Qvr6Pnu3kTW_Bm1YytJuO3K6TmR7jbUQ4lcREFOgtyP5zXUqICViMfzb-_xLHsh9oDxrHGGlmHSECNZO7alqYT2QETHvQEIZknxgwA5aDYgL3gqacuc-jnku/s320/IMG_0119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641253573563257938" border="0" /></a>
<br />Yesterday, a Tibetan monk in a predominately Tibetan province of Gansu of China drank gasoline, set himself on fire and chanted “Free Tibet”.
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<br />This is the second such suicide of defiance in the past 6 months. The last one resulted in 300 monks being illegally detained and put into re-education programs (ie. indoctrination of propaganda). I'm in Tibet right now and I am concerned about the fallout of the actions of this poor and desperate monk on the rest of the 500,000 Tibetans within the reach of the strong arm of the Chinese government. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">No one who knows me will say I lack opinions – but I'm usually not a hardcore activist or political town crier. But in this case, I want to scream from the rooftop of Jokhang temple in central Lhasa – "Free Tibet, Free Tibet, Free Tibet". Of course I also don't want to go to Chinese prison so I will abstain.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">It is not just some hippie bullshit to jump on the political bandwagon because the Dalai Lama seems like a cool dude. It is the overt colonization of the Tibetan territory and blatant Chinese propaganda that fills the streets that saddens and angers me. The Chinese say they are modernizing a rural backwater. I say they are polluting a beautiful city with hideous flashing neon lights and pointless consumerism.
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">And yet, the Tibetans live on. They spin their prayer wheels, prostrate themselves in front of Potala Palace and emit a deep-rooted spirit like nothing I have seen anywhere in the world. They have the confidence and the knowledge that their culture has and will survive, despite everything the Chinese can throw at them. As I join in the kora around Jokhang temple, I am swept up in their peaceful energy and quiet confidence. That is until the pimple faced Chinese soldiers armed with machine guns march counter clockwise and demand everyone moves out of their way.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">I want to have hope for the Tibetan people, but the Chinese have nuclear weapons, an army of millions and all the money in the world. All the Tibetans have to fight with is compassion.</p> Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-78249811629463804342011-07-29T20:07:00.000-07:002011-07-29T20:19:36.007-07:00What 7 months?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJHHcq6tUHfKZ_gU_BJAf3xpgYevmyvpWLxgxAYI1jilqjb80JIozz_L6pZ9tr9PjjjvGx8Ym9Tw5EkzTV8k_xTBK4bRsD9AcatG8gWeRiEMu05k01T1rA_syHdW2fYCrTyczE5e0w_uT/s1600/DSC04954.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJHHcq6tUHfKZ_gU_BJAf3xpgYevmyvpWLxgxAYI1jilqjb80JIozz_L6pZ9tr9PjjjvGx8Ym9Tw5EkzTV8k_xTBK4bRsD9AcatG8gWeRiEMu05k01T1rA_syHdW2fYCrTyczE5e0w_uT/s320/DSC04954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634979699552058738" border="0" /></a><br />I have finally made it to a country where I don't have to do the "point-and-pray" in restaurants and can even find shoes that fit me. I'm in the Land Down Under to visit Jordan and Dave for 2 weeks and it feels like we've never been apart. It's the mark of true friends to be apart for 7 months and have experienced as much as we have and yet feel like we haven't skipped a beat.<br /><br />And the wine is fabulous.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-80644604628319341192011-07-16T19:31:00.000-07:002011-07-16T20:10:17.516-07:00GuiltI have 8 months off to travel the world and I have already been to Ethiopia, Argentina, Chile, Mongolia and Indonesia. The two months in Ethiopia allowed me to see one of the most magical and beautiful countries on the planet. And now they are suffering.<br /><br />Of course Ethiopia is no stranger to drought and devastation, the famous drought of the 1980's resulted in millions dead and starving but these massive casualties were mostly the result of intentional mismanagement by the government. In 1984 an Amharic president was in power, Mengistu, who was also a dictator and a tyrant with a complete and sheer hatred for the two other major tribes making up Ethiopia - the Tigrinyans and Oromo. A long-standing separatist movement by both the Tigrinya in the North and Oromo in the South fuelled his tribe-centered views. When a massive drought hit the Tigrinya regions the government had already spent 46% of its GDP on military spending and government officers turned a blind eye to the suffering of their 'enemies' and countrymen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;">The result? 1 million dead. Bob Geldof hitting the scene with LiveAid. Ethiopians becoming synonymous with bug-eyed, loose limbed children.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCWC9fXoSTZbK7pLAE2HsmvsXECa6DjEG_TIrnRUWqQcq9x8-il29EyZ-2RZD0aL_0tAArsIcBu2bQTh-Wkz19S4nl4aIl61fpd6i1TTMdtMRgGcdmHGPl5O3ktB3xSriy5ybU9srTOQR/s1600/droughtslide_9.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCWC9fXoSTZbK7pLAE2HsmvsXECa6DjEG_TIrnRUWqQcq9x8-il29EyZ-2RZD0aL_0tAArsIcBu2bQTh-Wkz19S4nl4aIl61fpd6i1TTMdtMRgGcdmHGPl5O3ktB3xSriy5ybU9srTOQR/s320/droughtslide_9.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630146535997933314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(Image courtesy of AFP)<br /></span></div><br />And now it is happening again. In a country where I just ate injera every day with shiro or tibs or beiyanatu and enjoyed every single mouthfull. I didn't enjoy the food because it represented freedom from famine or the first meal I had had in weeks, I just really liked it. I spent thousands of dollars in a country where $300 is a yearly income. And now the worst meterological drought in 60 years threatens these beautiful people again.<br /><br />Perhaps the political situation in Ethiopia proper will prevent the major disaster seen in the 1980s but the worst hit region is Somalia - a country in anarchy and 'run' by our 'enemy' - Fundamental Islamists.<br /><br />Humans deserve food, water, shelter and access to medical care. Humans include fundamental islamists, Africans and those that live differently than 'us'....just in case you needed a reminder. But politics run the world and starving humans are chess pieces to governments and NGOs alike. We need money and food and water to get through the corrupt officials and the game-players to those that need it. An almost impossible task.<br /><br />I wish my travels to the region gave me some insight on how to help or what to do to ease my traveler's guilt. But I have no ideas....short of jumping on a plane and getting back to a country I love so much and buying all the rice I can find and walking it to the camps and feeding children by hand. One small step? Maybe, but I feel as helpless as everyone else, maybe moreso because of my affection for the region. Should we all give a day's wage to the multitude of red-tape filled aid agencies with a religious or political motive?<br /><br />Helping is one of the simplest things to want to do. And yet it's the most complicated to actually complete. I have no answers. Does anyone?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W4vcG7kygArUBuRCh2p0M5xtho74jnffhL2Ubx5UEoFpstcQyboqTWW2_w1ky9A6xdUrAeZFvpfOECNgjxqG61vzzuMl8o7JPjzSIGfVvLrx8PJi3wbOb_R_z8WnKAyzjEl_YNf3CZFK/s1600/IMG_4608.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W4vcG7kygArUBuRCh2p0M5xtho74jnffhL2Ubx5UEoFpstcQyboqTWW2_w1ky9A6xdUrAeZFvpfOECNgjxqG61vzzuMl8o7JPjzSIGfVvLrx8PJi3wbOb_R_z8WnKAyzjEl_YNf3CZFK/s320/IMG_4608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630152024404924754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">(Market in Lalibela, Northern Ethiopia, January 2011)<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-87442309550831015162011-07-15T04:37:00.000-07:002011-07-15T04:50:02.060-07:00Amed, my Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b2v7nC6NQmlezWA_WC1MTnhAcV1hZ8X5jM5bTaW5eJgcwvZPlsmn9zORqUAXRiXcLo1Mc9ZwwLwkvfubDUVX7vXLsdzOuVCNzMbA5ePnv2tOHDbisN-6srqwszHks6EN0Aa36PWPO2v6/s1600/IMG_9606.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b2v7nC6NQmlezWA_WC1MTnhAcV1hZ8X5jM5bTaW5eJgcwvZPlsmn9zORqUAXRiXcLo1Mc9ZwwLwkvfubDUVX7vXLsdzOuVCNzMbA5ePnv2tOHDbisN-6srqwszHks6EN0Aa36PWPO2v6/s320/IMG_9606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629545008888821794" border="0" /></a><br />I have fallen in love with Bali. Not the Bali of drunk Aussies but the Bali of Amed, on the north-eastern coast. It is a place of scalloped black-sand beaches, lapping waves, tranquil breezes and mountain villages in the distance. It is paradise.<br /><br />All for $12 a night (including breakfast) in a hotel with a private beachside pool, semi-private beach and wifi. Take that Hilton Waikiki.<br /><br />I'm working on my tan lines, getting $7 poolside massages and going on walks in the lush mountainside behind the beach that is full of happy locals proudly displaying their fighting roosters and inviting me in for tea.<br /><br />I'm happy.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-64204260597351238182011-07-14T05:54:00.000-07:002011-07-14T06:27:21.757-07:00Who's TalkingA simple and unfortunate rule of travelling:<br /><br />Those who talk to you, you don't want to talk to. <br /><br />These are the touts down Monkey Forest Road in Ubud that call after you for a taxi over and over and over again. Or ask if you need a room, or need to buy souvenirs, or...the list goes on. Then you walk two steps and it starts again and again and again. They are doing their job, I get that, but I can't possibly say or even acknowledge everyone that speaks to me in a day because I wouldn't move 2 feet.<br /><br />Those you don't talk to you, you want to talk to.<br /><br />These are the people going about their day and allowing you into their country with a warm smile and welcoming passivity. These are the people that go about their day despite the tourists and don't rely on the tourist dollar for their livelihood which usually means that they have much more interesting and 'real' lives to the multitudes of those that hassle tourists.<br /><br />It is the people of any country that make it worth seeing and exploring and the Balinese live up their reputation for being kind and with a deep soul that resonates in everything that they do. If only I carried a sign that said "I don't want any. (And if I do...I'll find you)".Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-90657336085215092412011-07-10T22:49:00.000-07:002011-07-10T23:06:53.848-07:00Balinese BlissBali is a cheap tropical paradise in the middle of Indonesia with smiling people, luxurious spas and a culture of relaxed efficiency. I came here after the epic trip in Mongolia to relax and to re-enter the world of Facebook, texting and English. I am still searching for my Balinese Bliss (BB).<br /><br />I started at Villa Serenity - by donation yoga, pool, 100m from the beach and a full on chill vibe. Cool people, cheap food and away from the crowds. It was beautiful. But guilt got the better of me and I figured I couldn't just hang out at the same beautiful location for the entire time in Bali so I headed out, in search of more BB.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ99EqNsxM4EU6sDZSZKweOYPDPk8LxC5TWkkjqqrrtj_Y8suK5QeURiK7-81XVAvDQk4MjR6bRsMZ7dw7bq2KDurzkLcPaZJ3GfFvCSTrRINl4u5gKGtx40cZuEkacHyH2sCCwV-an75/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJ99EqNsxM4EU6sDZSZKweOYPDPk8LxC5TWkkjqqrrtj_Y8suK5QeURiK7-81XVAvDQk4MjR6bRsMZ7dw7bq2KDurzkLcPaZJ3GfFvCSTrRINl4u5gKGtx40cZuEkacHyH2sCCwV-an75/s320/IMG_9403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627971850036545234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We got a group together to visit some temples where we found the Balinese people in the middle of their yearly celebration of Galungan. People were bringing offerings to their gods on their heads, praying for peace and happiness and smiling, always smiling. But I'm not a Balinese Hindu and I can see their religious calm, but my lack of understanding of their religion means that it cannot be my own inner peace.<br /><br /><br />This bliss is definitely not in the so-called cultural capital, Ubud. Made famous by the book Eat, Pray, Love you half expect wandering fortune tellers and yogis in the streets creating a calm and soothing city life. But Ubud is hectic, FULL of tourists and shops that cater exclusively to Western clientele. Not for me.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'm heading of to Amed, a tiny village on the north-eastern coast that is supposed to have great snorkelling, cheap food and good yoga. The Balinese Bliss I've been searching for? I hope so.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-27198422968862573492011-07-01T03:02:00.000-07:002011-07-01T03:02:01.237-07:00CookiesThis is our dog:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-o0d_tmimOZ_Tfp4V7Vnr8Vnw1RIsaqOFuzYmlImjiAiuduIYQwsmlg8WKPMmnd3ssOalRQhV5M1dQECBJ6aSQnXxyBMChZ5Oo5sFBik2qkiJgo59_1AbGfhKeznugaUUWCmtcMortbY/s1600/IMG_7890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-o0d_tmimOZ_Tfp4V7Vnr8Vnw1RIsaqOFuzYmlImjiAiuduIYQwsmlg8WKPMmnd3ssOalRQhV5M1dQECBJ6aSQnXxyBMChZ5Oo5sFBik2qkiJgo59_1AbGfhKeznugaUUWCmtcMortbY/s320/IMG_7890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623952354009869826" border="0" /></a><br />She is probably Rottweiler, maybe Shepard and a lot of mutt and she is ours. We purchased her for a whopping sum of $22 from a local in Tariat and we have loved her ever since.<br /><br />Her name was Simba but we decided that a much funnier name that we could never get away with at home is "Cookies". And it fits because she adores food, like passionately in love with anything that has ever smelt or dealt food.<br /><br />We got her for our protection and to protect the horses but she sleeps like a rock, snores like a lumberjack and occasionally will try to bark at our own horses. But we love her anyways.<br /><br />And it was inevitable that we had to give her away, we can't bring her to Edmonton and we searched across Mongolia for a loving home for her. Mongolians aren't known for their love of dogs, in fact, they are universally petrified of them, but we asked as many people as we could for somewhere that would love her as much as we did.<br /><br />A tough goodbye and a few tears later, "Cookies" is now the new guardian and occasional trekking companion at Bonda Lake Guesthouse in Hatgal, Mongolia. If you are ever there, give her a kiss for us.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb-NVfIHRYOoVPMZ4vdPTDGRxxeNrAOne7TSbp7x8eGd6jR_KamgC9nfro6xtMkBHNBi9wKRoSkgBMCI__DTqXfF1Locg2zDuMjaq1-VB-837wQERcr3bs-WMtxh7KBC-LlgkMhDGHlTB/s1600/IMG_8511.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzb-NVfIHRYOoVPMZ4vdPTDGRxxeNrAOne7TSbp7x8eGd6jR_KamgC9nfro6xtMkBHNBi9wKRoSkgBMCI__DTqXfF1Locg2zDuMjaq1-VB-837wQERcr3bs-WMtxh7KBC-LlgkMhDGHlTB/s320/IMG_8511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623953221799924674" border="0" /></a>Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-34544986689960576652011-06-30T02:44:00.001-07:002011-06-30T02:59:31.183-07:00Tale of the TapeBy the numbers, 6 weeks in the Mongolian countryside:<br /><br />- one boob grab<br />- two thefts<br />- three tumbles off the horse<br />- four hours a day on horseback<br />- five kilometers an hour average<br />- six showers.... in 6 weeks.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-51403547702737346092011-05-22T05:07:00.001-07:002011-05-22T05:07:58.905-07:00And They're Off<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> 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{mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">There are still some negotiations and prices to settle but if we can bargain hard, we will be off into the wilderness tomorrow.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have selected 3 horses and they all seem very pleasant and somewhat healthy, it is a long hard winter on the horses and the weather is finally turning to allow grasses to grow so they are still a bit skinny and weak.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That didn’t stop our horseman from showing us the biggest nag of the bunch – a white old stallion that has masses growing all over its body and has definitely seen better days.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then, when they said we could try lassoing one on our own, they were a bit impressed to find that we picked out their best and most beautiful horse.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(although Kelti didn’t succeed on the whole lasso thing).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It wasn’t until about an hour later that they told us that, in fact, that particular horse is not for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But the white one is still up for grabs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In short, we have found 4 horses that will suit, we still have to negotiate which of the three we will pick but some of the choice will take into consideration that our pimped out Canadian saddles are about 10 sizes too big for the ponies they pass off as horses here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, we hacked the shit out of our saddles with new holes in the cinch and all sorts of cutting and hole punching and they fit…. Sort of.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It will calm all of your fearful loved ones that we will also try to negotiate in a guide for the first 5 days to, literally, show us the ropes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It will be nice to have someone to show us how to tend to the horses while we struggle to make camp.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We practiced with our stove today, it only took 5 tries to get it going.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We’re hoping when we actually set up camp that it will bring that down to 2 tries.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If not, we can always eat ramen noodles uncooked.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We will likely be in contact in a couple of weeks or so when we hit Moron (pronounced Muroon but they didn’t think to write it like that). We will desperately need a shower by then and we might even find internet to check in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Until then, the horse girls of the Mongolian steppes are going into the wild.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Peace out.</p>Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-78220242736481187842011-05-17T22:42:00.000-07:002011-05-17T22:56:14.719-07:00The Fear FactorI was just thinking of going into my account and writing a blog about how things are coming together - we had a plan - White Lake to Khosvgol for 5 weeks.<br /><br />Then the proverbial shit hit the fan.<br /><br />We found out we needed a border permit to visit the Northern reaches of our itinerary - which is basically impossible to get because of logistics and time it takes to get this free permit.<br /><br />I opened up an email from a tour agent that I had contacted and he basically said "Don't do it, it's irresponsible, you will get robbed, you will lose your horses, you will get lost"<br /><br />And now Kelti and I are kinda freaking out.<br /><br />Don't worry - we're still going, we just need to rework our route, think about renting horses and maybe even taking a guide. I don't know but we'll be leaving Friday at the latest to start. By then, we'll have gotten our confidence back and will be set to go.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-89849521062650954332011-05-14T07:35:00.001-07:002011-05-14T07:38:13.178-07:00The Last...Before I embark on a big trip I spend the day before recognizing the last of things that I appreciate. The countries I go to aren't famous for their luxuries, so I learn to love the last time:<br /><br />- I will actually use soft toilet paper<br />- I will use a nice, big and fluffy towel<br />- I can stand naked outside of the shower<br />- I will drink out of the tap<br />- I can spread eagle on a bed with clean and soft sheets and actual pillows<br /><br />And the last time, for three months at least, that I can spend alone with my thoughts and be able to know that home is very much what I have made here in Edmonton.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-47845525210610008832011-04-21T16:16:00.000-07:002011-04-21T16:20:10.425-07:00Homeward BoundWe are headed home on Saturday and after many, many hours on the bus; many, many bottles of wine consumed and hopefully only a few, miniscule pounds gained; it's time to come home.<br /><br />I never plan anything for the last few days of travel because after having been gone so long you start to look ahead to all the stuff you have to do when I get home. Everything from remembering where my car is parked to scheduling my leg wax, you just start looking ahead.<br /><br />Luckily, Santiago has little to detain me, it's got a nice vibe with some friendly people but nothing to really see or do. So, we'll wander and drink wine with breakfast, lunch and dinner and wander around some more.<br /><br />Then home, sweet home. At least for 3 weeks....then it's off to Mongolia I go.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-43407464940498366462011-04-15T15:08:00.000-07:002011-04-15T15:08:00.211-07:00Wine, Chocolate and MountainsI have found my gustatory dream: Argentina. Everyone warned me of the massive beef consumption and that I would starve while watching others devour steak after glorious steak.<br /><br />Those that warned me of the beef forgot that I can live for weeks, if not years, on wine and chocolate alone. Argentina is famous for its Malbec - the gentle and fruity red wine that is delicious in sangria. And it's chocolate is world class.<br /><br />Around Mendoza there are countless wineries that are conveniently located within biking distance of one another. A few wine tastings later your bike isn't quite as stable as it once was, but in 28 degree heat and a perfectly sunny day, being a bit tipsy seems like it's a perfect moment in time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqpS7YfSYXRrcytyZNyWjtsm6NseMXW4tUmoeNsT9uShYzAIPuOIPA58XjMVyzRszyd7y_V9VS_ldnQYzg1QTfIYXVIoUPkI_fRtmJF2HY3ZX-uy0njFb_IPb0u_5X6wprGk3gLFyrKw/s1600/IMG_7222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfPqpS7YfSYXRrcytyZNyWjtsm6NseMXW4tUmoeNsT9uShYzAIPuOIPA58XjMVyzRszyd7y_V9VS_ldnQYzg1QTfIYXVIoUPkI_fRtmJF2HY3ZX-uy0njFb_IPb0u_5X6wprGk3gLFyrKw/s320/IMG_7222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595212477451007698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next on the destination list is Bariloche in Patagonia - famous for chocolate and mountains. We've been bar hopping from chocolate store to chocolate store while admiring the mountains. Add in some Patagonian Malbec and I have found my calling in life - to be a super fat and drunk hiker.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-29306431308983245192011-04-05T14:07:00.000-07:002011-04-13T16:15:14.201-07:00Boca! Boca!! Boca!!!If there is one thing, just one thing that unites all Argentines - it is a passionate love for God. <br /><br />No, not that God.<br /><br />Diego Maradona.<br /><br />The greatest footballer to ever live, scoring the most beautiful goal in the most beautiful game was an Argentine and is revered across Argentina. And nowhere more than in the slums of Buenos Aires in a region called Boca.<br /><br />It is the Boca football club where Maradona wowed the crowds in La Bombonera, the most famous football stadium in the world. Best player in the world, best stadium in the world - of course I went.<br /><br />Boca Juniors Football Club played Estudiantes on April 3rd, 2010. And Torah Kachur was in attendance. It is a pretty normal league game but you'd never know. Passionate fans singing, dancing, heckling and making as much noise as one human can possibly do for 3 entire hours. A football match only lasts 90 minutes, but the crowds assemble long before and stay long after to show their loyalty and their love for the beautiful game.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxaXDnRqOxILeeKKVQN8QBZ3ffWoLIoudyGgAzhpq-AAVWVxL-j-Dnkn9ojgzjrpfii_4K6mRoYbZaJdNWx_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />It was a regular league game, but it was far from a normal game. Two quick goals early in the match made the score 1-1, where it stayed for the better part of the match with the visiting squad playing a slow and boring style content to sit back and take the tie in the rival stadium.<br /><br />Then, late in the 2nd half, Boca decided to take charge and start taking risks - a few quick chances didn't materialize but at least the crowd jumped a bit more than their usual 100 times per minute. Then, in spectacular fashion - Boca Juniors scored with 15 seconds remaining in the match.<br /><br />Understandably, the crowd went beserk.... an old man fell on top of me, beer was sprayed everywhere, a woman started crying. For a regular season match.<br /><br />Oilers fans are pathetic.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-87468974400364954012011-03-31T08:01:00.001-07:002011-03-31T08:06:25.548-07:00First WordsI have learned that you have to prioritize the words you try in any new language. The first words to learn are:<br /><br />1) "How much?" This year alone, I have learned to say "How much?" in Spanish, Mongolian, Russian, Chinese, Amharic and Tibetan.<br /><br />Followed by a close second of:<br /><br />2) The numbers<br /><br />Only after you have mastered those will you need to say:<br /><br />3) "Thank you"<br /><br />And finally, only if you plan on riding the subway or any really crowded place, you learn to say:<br /><br />4) "Sorry"<br /><br />That will cut it just about anywhere.<br /><br />The word "please" isn't on my list; if it was, it would be about #435....only Canadians say please. We also say sorry, a lot.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-55400354812955199582011-03-30T17:17:00.000-07:002011-03-30T17:27:48.805-07:00Quintessential ArgentinaThe soul of a country is rarely found in the cities, but instead it's found in the countryside where the primary producers live off the land that shapes their culture. For Argentina, the soul is in the tango of the city and the gauchos of the campo.<br /><br />I find myself in San Antonia de Areco, a bucolic town sitting on the Areco river with cobbled streets, a single church and a people wandering the banks of the river and commuting on bicycles and horseback. The horse is a quintessential part of Argentine culture - they herd cattle, use them for transport and allow rich people to feel important when they play polo. In the countryside, the horse is revered, respected and a passion.<br /><br />When I found myself sitting on a bench near the river with a roll of Oreos in hand I wasn't surprised to hear the sounds of a gaucho astride his mount galloping across the puento viejo (or old bridge) of San Antonia de Areco.<br /><br />It takes a special talent to eat Oreos and snap a picture of the perfection of that moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsR25tof8zQJbpUkCW9N8nJv2TsfaUg-EbYnWHPlfVKjkiSXz0LnEtgu0bhy7j8VEZ2QpztmjzK3mZPt10DgNWWD6nrCws09oS62DtJf5MQnshonHwFgQfBLKo__deem2DnxUqoWyrzhf/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsR25tof8zQJbpUkCW9N8nJv2TsfaUg-EbYnWHPlfVKjkiSXz0LnEtgu0bhy7j8VEZ2QpztmjzK3mZPt10DgNWWD6nrCws09oS62DtJf5MQnshonHwFgQfBLKo__deem2DnxUqoWyrzhf/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590033664069893842" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't given Argentian horses a go yet. Maybe tomorrow I'll try my hand at mastering the gaucho ways, complete with their oversized beret.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064289525100455668.post-57259506446760717922011-03-27T08:47:00.001-07:002011-03-27T08:52:40.341-07:00Leaving (again)The adage goes - sometimes getting there is half the fun.<br /><br />I wholeheartedly disagree - I think getting there is ALL the fun.<br /><br />Except when it comes to air travel.<br /><br />Despite the massive amount of excitement I have to discover a new country, push myself with adventure and experience a new culture; I still find it a bit of a drag to leave. Thinking about the day ahead of 20 hours of travel, airport delays, pissy flight attendants... it makes me dread it.<br /><br />Now I know my 'travel-self' well enough to know that the small depression about leaving, yet again, is just my way of covering my anxiety of making sure I have everything or my nervousness about whether I'm going to like the new country. I always get excited as soon as we break the clouds and the plane starts to descend on a new city and I get to see the glorious new country from 37,000 feet. I'm getting excited again just thinking about that first look, the first taste and the first time I breathe the mountain air again.<br /><br />A new destination awaits and I'm ready, so ready. I just have to get on that dang plane.Torah Kachurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553011899817994308noreply@blogger.com0