Wow, it's been a nutty few months. I had many reasons to worry about my overall well-being for a bit there but things are finally getting sorted out. The lengths I go for stories to tell later in life. Anonymous, guess what, I am still unemployed. But as long as I'm unemployed, there's no reason to stagnate. So I shoved off to the Bay Area in October for my buddy's wedding in San Francisco. It was a great time that continued when much of the same circle of friends traveled to Oahu two weeks later for another wedding. It was an amusing time filled with dancing, eating, diving, surfing, jumping, and sun-burning.
You must try Puka Dog next time you're in Waikiki. Hot dogs with garlic sauce and tropical relish. They've got yummy shave ice as well. I did a great dive with an outfit called Aquazone (tip Erin and John for me if you see 'em, I didn't have any cash on me). We checked out the Kahala Barge wreck and Fantasy Reef. I saw turtles, a shark, octopus, eel, and all sorts of funny lookin' fishies. And finally, I roasted my back in the sun, laying on a surf board for an hour and a half. I just wasn't feelin' the waves and ended up floating around like driftwood. Alas, I will be back Hawaiian waves... you will be surfed.
My friends Dan and Kelly graciously put me up in their guest room in LA while I went to Halloween and election activities. Then I shot back up to the Bay Area again to house-sit and watch my brother's kids while he and his wife were off on a travel adventure of their own. After a few more days of playing Mr. Mom, I've gotta run down to LA for some other wedding activities before the Thanksgiving holiday. Back and forth, forth and back. At least gas prices have come down.
I've got some interesting things in store for 2009. Hopefully, I'll have some more stories to tell.
You must try Puka Dog next time you're in Waikiki. Hot dogs with garlic sauce and tropical relish. They've got yummy shave ice as well. I did a great dive with an outfit called Aquazone (tip Erin and John for me if you see 'em, I didn't have any cash on me). We checked out the Kahala Barge wreck and Fantasy Reef. I saw turtles, a shark, octopus, eel, and all sorts of funny lookin' fishies. And finally, I roasted my back in the sun, laying on a surf board for an hour and a half. I just wasn't feelin' the waves and ended up floating around like driftwood. Alas, I will be back Hawaiian waves... you will be surfed.
My friends Dan and Kelly graciously put me up in their guest room in LA while I went to Halloween and election activities. Then I shot back up to the Bay Area again to house-sit and watch my brother's kids while he and his wife were off on a travel adventure of their own. After a few more days of playing Mr. Mom, I've gotta run down to LA for some other wedding activities before the Thanksgiving holiday. Back and forth, forth and back. At least gas prices have come down.
I've got some interesting things in store for 2009. Hopefully, I'll have some more stories to tell.
Yesterday was just another day at the beach but this morning I decided to get up early and hike up Diamond Head Crater. I zoomed up past the other tourists in my flip flops, triumphantly reaching the top in about 25 minutes. Sweat running from my forehead, I took a last look around Oahu and thought about completing my around the world journey in ten hours. I rushed back down the crater to make it back in time for a shower at my last shared hostel dorm room of the trip. Before I did though, I grabbed a Hawaiian shave ice.
A girl named Kori discovered my short film, Missing Pieces, on the net about a year ago and soon after, she found out about my trip. I'd never met her but she was one of the first donors to feedtony.com. A native Hawaiian, she requested that I treat myself to a shave ice when I made it to Honolulu. So here it is, my last thank you of the trip:
Mahalo Kori!
I'm at the airport waiting for my flight. Five hours til I hit the mainland. Nutty man, nutty.
Been taking it easy in Hawaii. The weather's been great. I've worn shorts and flip flops everyday. I have many thanks to go out to people who have thrown some extra funds my way to help ease the pain of spending real American currency. Let me tell you, it's shocking to hand over the greenbacks after playing with the 'Monopoly money' that is foreign currency for the past ten months. I feel like the cashiers at the ABC store have to pry the bills from my hands sometimes.
First big thanks goes to Erica and Anton for my sunset dinner at Longhi's in the Ala Moana Center. I ate at this restaurant with my friend Manash when I was in Honolulu two years ago for the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival. Back then, I tried the Longhi's Shrimp and Scallops. I'd been dreaming of having it again ever since I left two years ago. This time around I started with an artichoke appetizer. I don't remember the last time I had a whole artichoke but it reminded me of eating them with my parents when I was a kid. Mmm, butter. Anyhoo, it was a nice meal even though I had to dine alone this time.
Yesterday, I went to do the touristy Polynesian Cultural Center museum and Lu'au. Mahalo to my brother Walt for helping to fund the full day of exploring Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Aoteroa, Hawaii, and Marquesas cultures. I saw traditional dances, listened to music, learned how to throw a Tongan spear (my favorite part), and sampled coconut bread cooked in the ground. In the evening I got lei'd on my way to my first luau. There I watched more performances, including one guy's amazing jam session on the ukelele, and feasted on a massive meal of fish, chicken, taro, roast pork, rice, salads, and four types of dessert. I had to fight a food coma on the bus ride back to the hotel.
And today, I did some scuba diving with Dive Oahu, a great dive shop here in Honolulu where Captain Dave and Hector, my dive guide, took really good care of me. This trip came courtesy of Carol and John who've urged me to enjoy these dive opportunities whenever I can. I'm glad I did because this wreck dive down to a ship called Sea Tiger was one of my favorite dives. About 100 feet deep, the ship was a really cool sight. The most thrilling bit was when I turned to point out a spotted ray to my fellow divers and just as I turned back to look at it again, a sea turtle swam right up to me. I flipped around backwards and watched it glide right over me. Later, the guide took us into the ship where we found another turtle hiding out in the dark. Fun stuff.
Exhausted from waking up early and getting on a boat, I checked into the YHA hostel and took an afternoon nap. For dinner, Tristan's cash went towards a Mexican dinner at Senor Frog's. I'd been craving Mexican food for months and I was going to wait til I got back to California but a coupon lured me to this funny joint. I had tortilla soup and chicken enchiladas, oh, and a crazy full stomach afterwards. To ease the pain I went for a post-dinner walk along the beach at sunset.
One more full day to enjoy paradise. I'm back in the Bay Area on Saturday night. I'll be in town for a few days and then I'm running down to LA for a two day film gig. Gotta go where the money is. But no worries, I will be around Cali to see all of my friends and family before some employer slaps the shackles back on my wrists.
Check out Azad's latest photoblog from Iran, Germany, and Spain at LifeGoesOnInTehran.com Wish him a happy birthday, too (because I forgot to!)
Aloha!
Can you believe it? The sun came out my last day in New Zealand, effectively the last day of my international trip around the planet. Steph, Carlien, Amy, and I hopped on the Stray bus for a free tour of Auckland. Carlien and Steph scored a free jump off of the Sky Tower which was a funny way to start off the day. We took in some other sights around town, walked around a volcanic crater, and sat by the water watching really big seagulls (these birds were the size of dogs).
In the evening Carlien and I went up to the observation deck of the Sky Tower. We had a cocktail and a chat above Auckland skyline. My head was flooded with thoughts and my shoulders tense with anxiety over returning to the States. {You know what... I missed the Oscars this year}
302 days I've spent on the road. It boggles my mind a bit. I wonder about how a trip like this will shape me from here on out. I feel as if I could return home and slip right back into where I was before. But I hope that doesn't happen.
I leave New Zealand on Tuesday morning and arrive in Hawaii Monday night. I'll take a few days on the beautiful island of Oahu to sort my head out a bit.
Thanks again to Walt, Mom, Mai, Charley, Lisa, Kim, Carol, John, Erica, Anton, Shilpa, Mikey, Daniel, Jeremy, and Kat for dropping some funds into the FeedTony hat to help me on the New Zealand leg of the trip. This place has been the most expensive country by far but I've had some unbelievable experiences here. Thanks for being a part of it all.
Labels: Food, New Zealand
It hasn't stopped raining in 24 hours. A poor end to this NZ trip. Hopefully I can get a partial refund on this Kiwi top bit tour thing and do a dive in Hawaii. When you can do anything outdoors, you have to find indoor entertainment.
Mike, thanks for the fundage which kept me at the hostel and out of the rain when dinner time came around last night. Steak and sausage barbecue was the evening meal with a free pint to wash it down. I spent the rest of the evening watching Whale Rider. It was a heck of a lot more interesting after being to the town where it was shot and learning a bit more about the Maori history behind it. Anyhoo, here's a look at lovely Paihia where we've been stuck for the last couple of days. It's off to Auckland this afternoon.
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
Hello Mai! Thank you so much for sending me some funds for a nice meal. I decided to take in the Tamaki Maori Experience which featured a hangi meal (a meal cooked under the earth with hot stones). Our shuttle picked us up from the hostel and a host on the bus started by teaching us some of the Maori language (Kia Ora means "To Life" and is used as a greeting, a thanks, and a goodbye) as well as the etiquette for being welcomed into a Maori village and its chief.
Right from the start the experience was amazing. While villagers chanted in the background, Maori warriors dressed in full regalia and carrying traditional weapons came out to perform a traditional welcome. This involves lots of fierce eye-bulging, guttural grunts, and threatening swings and jabs of various weaponry. Then we were walked into a replica village to learn about different aspects of ancient Maori life like wood carving and more weapon wielding (Can you tell that I was pretty fascinated with the warriors?)
Following our village visit was a full out concert with dancing, drumming, and a an exciting haka or Maori war dance. And finally, dinner! I had my fill of potatoes, carrots, kumara, lamb, pasta, salad, mussels, fish, chicken, and a dessert of fruit, kiwi pavlova, and steamed bread pudding. All of it, crazy good. It was a great evening and thanks again for making it easy on my wallet! Kia Ora!
Labels: Food, New Zealand
Daniel, hope you're having a good day at work. It was excellent to hear from you the other day. I appreciate the contribution towards keeping me fed. This morning I waited to hear whether the weather would allow me to go out for my first skydive over massive Lake Taupo (said to be the size of Singapore). At 9:45, everything was go. That's when my heart started pumping and I got a bit nervous.
Skydive Taupo sends a stretch limousine to pick you up which is really amusing. A few minutes later I was at the airport getting suited up and ready to be thrown out of a pink airplane. It was all very surreal and my brain couldn't register any of it.
Up in the sky the view was incredible. After dropping a few people off at 12,000 feet, we climbed another 3,000 to our jump point. At this height we even had to use oxygen masks for a bit. Then, before I could even think about it, we were out and soaring above the lake. It was unreal. I've had plenty of dreams of flying and this is probably as close as I've gotten to the really doing it. It felt like a pretty long ride up there (maybe too long as my guide's spinning made me a little queasy).
Back on earth, I've just finished cutting my YouTube video and I'm off to have a big meal, care of one Daniel L. of San Jose, CA (I ended up having salmon with poached eggs over a potato rosti... speaking of salmon, remember that one time we went fishing? That was the only time I've ever been fishing.). Thanks again and I'll see you in a few weeks.
You know, my mom is going to watch that and the first thing she's going to think is, "Why didn't you shave your ugly face!?"
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
Jeremy, thank you for the contribution. I didn't run out and find the most "cholent from Gehenna" looking thing I could find. I've actually applied your funds to my healthier eating. I bought some really delicious peaches and nectarines from a fruit stand on my ride out to Queenstown. And I've picked up lots of fiber-full breakfast bars and lactic acid battling bananas to assist me during hikes and other demanding activities.
It was great to hear from you. I hope the New Year (do you Jewish people celebrate New Year? Just kidding! Ah how I miss the religious humor) is treating you well. Hopefully we can catch up sometime when I'm wandering around LA next month.
Shalom!
Labels: Food, New Zealand
The other day in Nelson I went to check out Michael Clayton at the movies. The movie kind of beat me up a little. George Clooney got a nom for the role, right? Well deserved because by the end of that movie I felt as exhausted as his character seemed to be. But not so exhausted that I wasn't going to tackle the short hike up the hill in Nelson to reach the Centre of New Zealand.
Thank you again for providing me with my first meal on the South Island in Christchurch. I know you've been dying to get out here and you were here in spirit as I munched on an enormous avocado burger from some joint called Wisconsin (who's slogan is "Home of the best burgers in the world"). Hope your foot's doing well and the new job turns out to be what you're looking for. Share some of your global perspectives with those kids!
Labels: Food, New Zealand, Videos
"300g Prime cut Australian Angus fillet grilled to order with special in-house basting. Served on a bed of wilted spinach, Forrestiere potatoes, mushroom confit and cafe au lait sauce. Drizzled with truffle oil."
Served up with a glass of 2005 Kumkani Pinotage from South Africa, the above was one of the best meals I've had in nine months. I have to thank my cousins for taking me out to the Meat and Wine Co. in Parramatta last night. It's nearly lunch the next day and I'm still full. I'd also like to say a huge thanks to the whole family here in Sydney for taking me in and making my stay here so comfortable.
** Above is a photo of a couple of my cousins and me on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge about a month ago. I finally got it scanned in.
Big thanks to my buddy Cal in Sydney for treating me to a "Schnitzel Challenge" lunch yesterday at a Bavarian joint near Martin Place. That was way too much food for one afternoon. You're lucky you didn't catch a rocky ferry boat after that. It was good to see you and hopefully we'll meet up again in some other faraway country.
I spent the rest of my day strolling around Bondi and hanging out with the girls on their last night in Sydney. It would have been a wonderful day if I had kept my mouth shut but sometimes you get a lot of thinking done wandering around a strange city at 3am. Other times you just get tired.
I woke up horribly miserable today and decided to find distraction at the cinema. I caught Juno which I hear got a few Oscar noms. Not the best choice for my mood I must say. I left a bit more frazzled than I was before. So much so that I practically ran away from a girl with lovely green eyes who started to chat me up because I reminded her of "one of her mates". Hm. Oh well. I'll be hanging around Sydney the rest of the week trying to figure out how to tackle the final country on this incredible world voyage. I make my way to New Zealand on Sunday morning.
I spent the afternoon shootin' the breeze with Jordan and the girls around Southbank in Brisbane. We stopped into Kapsali's where I took a break from pasta and sandwiches to have a huge serving of Greek moussaka. Huge thanks to Jim for picking up the tab. Without you I may have spent another evening eating Kangaroo bolognese, not that there's anything wrong with that (it's tastier than you think!)
Alex! It was crazy running into you at the airport in Saigon. I think you're the first person from home I've randomly run into on my travels. I think that's awesome. It's great to see people escape the States for a bit.
Australia's been wonderful but it's painfully expensive. I've been having many 'backpacker' meals of pasta cooked in youth hostel kitchens and during the day, my lunches are usually Subway sandwiches. It seems like there's a Subway shop here every two blocks. I've been eating so many of them, I feel like the Jared** of Australia. Except I don't need to lose any of my weight.
Anyway, thank you for funding my six-inch turkey on wheats. Hope you have many more trips abroad in the new year!
**He was/is the American spokesperson for Subway in the US... he'd lost something like 100 pounds on a diet of Subway sandwiches for a year.
Australia's been wonderful but it's painfully expensive. I've been having many 'backpacker' meals of pasta cooked in youth hostel kitchens and during the day, my lunches are usually Subway sandwiches. It seems like there's a Subway shop here every two blocks. I've been eating so many of them, I feel like the Jared** of Australia. Except I don't need to lose any of my weight.
Anyway, thank you for funding my six-inch turkey on wheats. Hope you have many more trips abroad in the new year!
**He was/is the American spokesperson for Subway in the US... he'd lost something like 100 pounds on a diet of Subway sandwiches for a year.
I'd made my way quickly through the beach towns of Rainbow Beach and Noosa on the Oz Experience bus. I met quite a few solo travelers along the way. Some with no intention of returning home. Don't worry, I don't share the same desire. I found my way back into Brisbane and another torrential downpour on Sunday. But the rain didn't last long and I was welcomed back to Jeihan's house with a dinner of roast kangaroo and veggies. The roo was tender and tasty, definitely a fine introduction to kangaroo meat (I'm not counting the teriyaki jerky I got for Christmas).
We ended the night with a Christmas pudding lit on fire with brandy and extinguished with vanilla custard. If the weather holds up, I may do some Gold Coast exploring this week but it looks like more rain.
Hi guys, I hope you're doing very well in Manhattan. Gotta love that city. Thanks for sending some funds my way. I've been on this tour of the Great Ocean Road along the southern end of Australia for the past few days. Think of it as a really beautiful scenic road like PCH in California. Except there are these unique landscapes unlike anything I've seen before. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to take a helicopter flight over the famous 12 Apostles rock formations along the coast. I'd never been up in a helicopter before and the tour group had a special price that I couldn't pass up. I was thinking of you guys up there above the water. It was beautiful. Check it out:
A couple months back, I was trying to figure out how to thank all of you who have been so generous in contributing to FeedTony.com. I decided that I would pass along this spirit of giving by donating to some charities this holiday season.
One of the ideas that I've picked up over and over again through books, talks, films, and just observations in 20+ countries is that happiness can be found in giving to others. This act of giving back is what provides humans with purpose. Whether you're helping your family, friends, neighbors, or complete strangers across the planet, it is this act that empowers us to make a difference.
On behalf of the 75+ of you who've been so kind to me, I've decided to donate to Oxfam and Conservation International:
Oxfam, Conservation International, and I thank... Adam, Alex, Amy, Andee, Angela, Angelica, Ankush, Anna, Anthonette, Anton, my Australian family, Azad, Bao, Ben, Bill, Binh, Caroline, Charley, Cheryl, CJ, Corrie, Dan E., Dan L., Dan S., Donovan, Eliseo, Erica, Faisal, Gia, Greg, Harai, Holly, Jen, Jessica, Jim, John, Julie, Kate, Katrina, Kelly, Ker, Kirk, Kori, Kvit, Laura, Madeli, Manash, Melissa B., Melissa C., Mom, My N., My L., Myleen, Oscar, Pat, Paul, Phil, Pin, Pranee, Raiker Family, Rich, Rob, Scott, Seema, Shari, Shilpa, Tristan, Uyen, Valentina, my Vietnamese family, Walt, Willy, Yadira, Yasmin, and Yajayra
One of the ideas that I've picked up over and over again through books, talks, films, and just observations in 20+ countries is that happiness can be found in giving to others. This act of giving back is what provides humans with purpose. Whether you're helping your family, friends, neighbors, or complete strangers across the planet, it is this act that empowers us to make a difference.
On behalf of the 75+ of you who've been so kind to me, I've decided to donate to Oxfam and Conservation International:
Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. With many of the causes of poverty global in nature, the 13 affiliate members of Oxfam International believe they can achieve greater impact through their collective efforts. Oxfam International seeks increased worldwide public understanding that economic and social justice are crucial to sustainable development. We strive to be a global campaigning force promoting the awareness and motivation that comes with global citizenship while seeking to shift public opinion in order to make equity the same priority as economic growth. - Oxfam.org
We are innovative problem-solvers. Our work is based on cutting-edge science, comprehensive partnerships, and concern for human well-being. With these three principles guiding us, we safeguard valuable species, preserve the most important landscapes and seascapes, and support communities that care for and rely on Earth's natural resources. To reach these goals, we focus on three strategies: dedicating ourselves to innovation, raising awareness about conservation, and maintaining business-like effectiveness. With this strategy, funded by the Future for Life Campaign, we achieve great things. (*Make your own donation by Dec. 31 and it will be doubled)-Conservation.org
Oxfam, Conservation International, and I thank... Adam, Alex, Amy, Andee, Angela, Angelica, Ankush, Anna, Anthonette, Anton, my Australian family, Azad, Bao, Ben, Bill, Binh, Caroline, Charley, Cheryl, CJ, Corrie, Dan E., Dan L., Dan S., Donovan, Eliseo, Erica, Faisal, Gia, Greg, Harai, Holly, Jen, Jessica, Jim, John, Julie, Kate, Katrina, Kelly, Ker, Kirk, Kori, Kvit, Laura, Madeli, Manash, Melissa B., Melissa C., Mom, My N., My L., Myleen, Oscar, Pat, Paul, Phil, Pin, Pranee, Raiker Family, Rich, Rob, Scott, Seema, Shari, Shilpa, Tristan, Uyen, Valentina, my Vietnamese family, Walt, Willy, Yadira, Yasmin, and Yajayra
Labels: Food
Note: I was feeling a bit under the weather and apologize for the shoddiness of the video and my mispronunciation of every single language.
India, Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia. Four months. That's all I was able to take to hit Asia. And it was nowhere near enough time to do even one of those countries properly. But I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to sample sometimes just a couple of days of each land and culture. There were some very beautiful and perfect days during the Asia trip as well as many rough and completely miserable moments.
The amazing: Gazing at the Taj Mahal, zooming through the night amongst the karsts of Guilin, walking through the neon blazed streets of Shanghai, reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji, sliding through the rice terraces of Sapa, gliding along with a whale shark in Ko Tao, waking up to the sight of Angkor Wat at sunrise, racing around the backroads of Pai...
The not so good: Broken nose and teeth in the Muay Thai ring, misery on the beach in Ko Phangan, food poisoning at Cat Ba, saying goodbye...
The trip wouldn't have been as fruitful and pleasant as it was without the support from friends and family around the world. You helped me through those rough days and made the great ones even greater. Special thanks to all of you who've contributed through FeedTony.com or have helped me out while I've been in your towns and homes:
Mom, Charley, Walt, Binh, Caroline, Ankush, Natasha, Eric, Harai, Madeli, the Raikers, Phil, Rich, Pin, Azad, Ana & Bao, Scott, Shilpa, Seema, Greg, Laura, Ben, Erica & Anton, Kvit, My L., Myleen, Holly, My N., Amy & Dan, Valentina, Melissa, Tristan, Linh, Sonia & Martin, Carlien, Steph, Mai, Giao, Be and the family in Vietnam.
I know I've fallen behind on personal thank you's, please forgive me but this traveling thing keeps you pretty busy sometimes :) I've received a few more generous contributions from Kat, Ker, and Yajara. I'll be using these very quickly in Australia and New Zealand. Can you believe it? I'm heading to Australia and New Zealand now! Talk to you in a couple of days.
-Tony
P.S.- How you goin'? I'm posting this from Sydney, Australia!
My brother Charley has joined me here in Ho Chi Minh City. He pretty much spent the first day in bed. We chatted while I sorted through the supply drop my mom sent along and put together the 12 pounds of extra baggage I was happily shipping back with him to the States.
The next day, we hung around our cousins' camera shop, visited a friend from the States, and checked out the War Remnants museum. There, I went through a pretty cool collection of photos from the Vietnam/American War. We were spooked by recreations of war prisons and impressed by displays of large weaponry. Outside, we joked around with people trying to sell books and motorbike rides. My brother's been handing candy to everyone on the streets. When someone tries to sell us something, we give them candy and try to charge them for it. Hilarity ensues.
We had haircuts in the evening, dinner with the family, and later in the evening, our friends Sonia and Martin picked us up for a drink at Allez Boo in the Pham Ngu Lao area. Big thanks to Sonia and Martin for buying me a Bulgogi burger at Lotteria. It hit the spot.
Next stop for the Brothers Bui: Bangkok.
