Goodbye New York, hello world!

Earthquake, hurricane and bomb threat.

It has been an interesting couple of weeks in my life.  I managed to be in DC for the earthquake, NYC for Irene and on Monday my flight was redirected to Oakland and I was detained because of a bomb threat aboard my plane.  Good times!

The only flooding that I experienced during the hurricane was the tequila that flooded my liver between the hours of 6 and 9pm. 

I lost my phone in a cab after only having it for 4 weeks.  Luckily, I had insurance but did notice on the claim that you can only get two replacements every calendar year.  Yesterday I dropped it and chipped the screen.  At this rate I might want to start buying iphones in bulk. 

I feel that employment is looming and I must enjoy my last days of freedom.  It dawned on me that I probably won’t have a break like this again until I retire which is over 30 years away.  Kill me. 

I have 8 days until my next interview.  I’ve decided to roadie it to Grand Teton for some trail running.  Hopefully I can avoid the bears…

I was interviewing for a job back in NYC and got a huge blister on my heel from the shoes I was wearing.  It was like even my feet were rejecting the idea. 

I wish I could get paid to just hang out and be me.  Life would be so much better. 

I’m going to Vegas next week and I am not going to lie, my liver is a little scared. 

Wyoming here I come!

batesolebaby asked: Hi Kate- I hope you are coming back soon, we miss you! I need my training partner back so I can get a running plan down post-baby. Love you, N

I’m coming back. Just have to figure out timing and we will be workout buddies before you know it!

The long flight back…

I’m on my way back to NYC for the first time in three months…feels like I have been gone forever and just left all at the same time.  I think the reality of wearing shoes that aren’t flip flops is going to be a brutal shock. 

I opted for a suitcase this trip rather than a back pack.  I had an intimate relationship with it for years trekking around the globe on both business and personal trips, never having a problem.  It must have felt abandoned on my trip around the world because the handle feel apart on my first flight and I am now lugging it around by the side handle.  I get it wheely bag, you are mad at me and I am going to have to pay. 

I think that if a flight has turbulence, cocktails should be complimentary. 

I’m very disappointing with the merger of Continental and United.  It is like they got rid of all the good parts of both airlines and only kept the crap.  Not to mention the shrinkage of leg room. 

Why can’t the flight attendant keep an open tab like a bar?  Cashing out after every glass seems to be a waste of energy and not environmentally friendly since they give you a receipt every time. 

I have some interviews set up for the end of the week and I have to admit I am looking forward to getting back to work.  In addition to a pay check it will be nice to have a routine again.  Plus, it is time for my own apartment and my bathing suit is on its last legs. 

I’m up for a pretty big job back in Seattle, that I would really like to get.  Everyone please send good vibes that way. 

I once played a game on a road trip where we eliminated states so we could make the US smaller and our drive not as long.  I am still for it.  Do you really need Kansas and Nebraska?  Both Dakotas?  It would make my bi-coastal life easier. 

Over the past month I have got to see and catch up with a ton of friends from college and high school.  It may have been years but it sure doesn’t feel like it sipping margaritas and catching up.  XOXO to all of you. 

I intend to wake up at 5:30am an run tomorrow like the old days, should be interesting…

I’m back…

I’ve been back for about a week now and I am not going to lie…it is depressing.  Sure my stomach is finally starting to regulate itself and I’ve adjusted to my timezone but my backpack isn’t looking so bad after a break. 

You really only need four outfits in life.  My closet seems excessive and I have boxes in the basement still. 

I had a job interview the other day that was 4 hours long.  It required me to straighten my hair, wear high heels and use words like execute and strategy.  By hour two I was wishing I had brought a snack.  By hour three I was thinking my tan was fading too fast and by the end they were making me an offer.  Huh? 

Traveling isn’t nearly as expensive as living is.  I mean the price of gas…what the F@CK?!?!?!? 

I’m still wearing a bathing suit more days than not. 

J-O-B, It looks like I am going to have to get one.  I didn’t strike it rich while traveling. 

Blogging about my travels has been so fun that I signed up for a travel writing class.  Who knows maybe I am the next weaker stomached Paul Theroux. 

Thank you for reading!  I hope to post more soon.  But for now, goodbye trip around the world, hello life…crap. 

Hong to the Kong.

They say that HK is where east meets west, some could argue that it is where shopping mall meets skyscraper. 

Riding on the top of a double decker bus on the winding hilly roads of HK island, to the adorable village of Stanley is probably more enjoyable without a massive hangover from the previous nights drinkfest with four Spaniards.  Lesson learned. 

Danger:  Lane Crawford and Harvey Nichols are having sales!  Minimal damage thus far; one pair of sunglasses.  But there is always tomorrow…

I really wanted dumplings the first night I was here.  HK is a very international city but I was in Central so I figured it would be easy.  Wrong.  After perusing 15 menus, I finally asked the hostess at one of the restaurants where I could find some.  She looked at me quizzically and informed me that I would need to find a Chinese restaurant.  Exactly!  I’m in China, it shouldn’t be this hard. 

HK has this thing called the octopus card.  You put money on it and you use to enter the subway, buses, tourist attractions and even some convenience stores.  It’s fantastic!  Hold it up to the sensor and breeze on thru.  No tickets, no receipts!

I bought a handheld Chinese fan at one of the markets to cool myself with.  You know, the old fashioned kind with no batteries.  I hit myself in the face no less than 10 times today while fanning myself. 

I cashed in my Starwood points and am staying at The W.  I’m on the 52nd floor on the Kowloon side overlooking Victoria Harbor with a jacuzzi bathtub and a king sized bed.  The place I stayed my last night in Hanoi was $8 a night and the bathroom down the hall.  Pretty similar. 

Everything is very organized in HK.  To cross the street you almost always have to use an under or overpass and you can only catch taxis at stands.  I am sure there are safety statistics backing up this level of urban planning but I find this annoying.  I feel like a mouse trapped inside the maze.  I prefer to jump into oncoming traffic, hail a cab and see what happens.  

Halong Bay and other fabulousness!

I spent yesterday kayaking thru Halong Bay.  The literal translation is bay of the descending dragon.  Legend has it that a giant dragon flew thru the mountains and his tail knocked and broke the rocks into their current jagged formations that stick out from the sea. 

I miss personal space and leg room.  I pretty much kiss my knees every time I sit on a bus. 

In Vietnam, there is no such thing as a breakfast food.  You get pho, spring rolls and rice all day long.  Fine by me. 

The Vietnamese are very resourceful.  Most of the motorbikes are made of recycle metal from shrapnel and abandoned tanks and planes left over from the war. 

On the way back from Halong Bay, my bus got stuck in a traffic jam.  It was caused by the flat bed truck carrying an elephant trying to turn across traffic.  That Toyota was working so hard!

One of the coolest parts about kayaking thru the bay is that you can get out and explore the caves.  I brought my own flashlight but then I discovered that the Vietnamese had illuminated them with bright colored lights.  It has a Space Mountain meets Vegas sort of feel. 

All the kayaks are two person kayaks so I was partnered up with Claus, a Danish school teacher.  He informed me that I was a bit of splasher when I was rowing.  Apparently, he was getting wet.  Um…you are in a kayak. 

Communism has kept a lot of the west out, which has protected the Vietnamese culture unlike like Thailand which can feel whitewashed at times.  However, you can sense that it is on the cusp of transition.  In 10 years, it won’t be the same, which is tragic. 

Women’s bike helmets here have a notched out of the back for a pony tail.  They also have a bill on them to shade your face from the sun.  It is almost like a plastic baseball cap.  So smart! 

I leave for Hong Kong today, which I am excited to see but I love Vietnam and feel like I just scratched the surface.  We will meet again, me and Nam!  I hope sooner rather than later. 

Anonymous asked: Oh Kate--You look amazing!! I am really enjoying reading your amazing travels! I think Southeast Asia has been my favorite of your stops. I know nothing about it! Best! Christa

Thanks!  I really like SE Asia too!  Put it on the list…the boys would like Vietnam I think.  How are you?