live & learn

Meeting Min

2010-06-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

I met Min 4 years ago. He commented, via Flickr, on some of the pictures I took in Burma while studying abroad in 2006. Since then, we've chatted online fairly often. Now he's a graduate student at ABAC Hua Mark campus, in BKK. He also runs an online business; f lashband.net. Today was the day I went to ABAC to meet Min. Tyler and I hopped on bus 99 and cruised through BKK to get to ABAC. Min picked us up at the bus stop and we went to C Building to meet some of Tyler's friends teaching at ABAC. Then I went to Min's house and met his family. Needless to say, it's great to finally meet Min.

Locals

2010-05-22T20:40:00.000-07:00

Thai people are very kind and hospitable. With an early smile and wai, they are at ease and friendly. I've been fortunate to meet many early on, through Loyola teachers finishing up their year contract at Saint Gabriel's College.

Recently Sarah and I went out to visit a friend of hers near Wat Songachai, southeast BKK. We met many people for the first time. They immediately offered us food, drink, cool towels, and accommodated us with what little English they knew. We watched futbol on TV but after a bit they put the game on the radio and changed the TV to, you guessed it, karaoke. Because let's be honest. The one thing that holds humanity together is singing songs poorly with a group of friends.

"Because I.. caaaan't helppp.. faaaalling in looove..with..yoooouuuu!!!" Coming to a Thailand Idol near you.

Here I go!

2010-05-19T09:54:00.001-07:00

My first post from Thailand! This will be a public journal of sorts. But you only get the PG rated stuff :-P

I'm here. In Bangkok, Thailand. Specifically living on the campus of Saint Gabriel's College, the primary/secondary school in which I teach 6th grade Math in the English language. School hasn't started yet because of the political situation. The government informed schools to not open until Monday, May 24. We'll see if they push it back again.

The red shirt protests have been going on in Bangkok for 2 months. Only today did the protest leaders surrender to police and encourage their followers to go home. They did so after the military cracked down on their main camp in the 'heart' of Bangkok. Arson and looting have ensued. The government called for an 8pm curfew tonight so the streets are now completely empty. No cars, no people, no noise but the insects. Rather eerie for Bangkok. I can't hear a thing from my apartment's roof. Quite peaceful actually. A stark contrast to the gunfights and arson that are happening in the red zone. I can still see the smoke rising from Central World, the second largest mall in Asia. But I can't hear more than the crickets, and occasional bat flying overhead...

Update: The curfew has been extended for the next couple nights. Nothing burning anymore downtown.

That's all that's happening on this first post, but get excited!, there will be plenty more to come.

Here's a video from my apartment's roof;

One Love

2009-07-07T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Warrior!!!

2008-11-08T18:46:00.001-08:00

I Love the Whole World

2008-10-26T13:19:00.001-07:00

Boom de yada!

BHO on global student competitiveness

2008-09-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

I wish a presidential nominee told me this freshman year of highschool...

Cuban Rocker

2008-09-06T13:37:00.000-07:00

A week ago I shared a story about a dissident Cuban rocker. As coincidence has it, CNN just did a little piece on him...

Racoon in Residence

2008-08-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ninjas join war on drugs

2008-08-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Justice from the shadows...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/24/police-arrest-ninja-team_n_120970.html

Laugh out Loud

2008-08-24T11:23:00.001-07:00

http://www.akenini.com/imagesfun/mini_animations/80.gif

Laughing Babies

2008-08-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

The best ever:

http://www.saynotocrack.com/index.php/2008/04/25/the-laughter-of-babies/

President 2008

2008-08-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

I need to get on my horse when it comes to the 2008 presidential election. In four months we will be electing the leader of our country, which is (IMHO) the most influential country in the world. Thus we will be electing, arguably, and again, IMHO, one of the most influential people in the world. We owe it to ourselves to make an educated decision. The least I can do is research the candidates to the best of my ability before making a choice. If you have any opinions or research you'd like to point me towards, feel free. In fact, feel encouraged. This should be a communal process. If anything, we can learn about what's important in each others lives and how BO and JM presidencies would affect those areas. I am about to get an education in American politics. Wish me luck.

2008-04-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

格里高利华特斯

apparently this is what my name looks like in pinyin. pronounced - "ge li gao li hua te si"
no wonder i never heard anyone pronounce my name with r sounds...

The world I know 2.0

2008-03-26T16:55:00.001-07:00

Click to Play

Song is The world I know by Collective Soul.
(Version 2.0)

Peace.

Who is singing this song?

2008-03-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

Anyone know the reggae artist who is doing this cover of Bill Withers' 'A Lovely Day'?

Rebecca this song is off one of your CD's. Any idea?

Sorry it's not a video, but I uploaded it like one..

Do we baby children?

2008-03-06T18:16:00.000-08:00

I think we baby children too much. Instead of conversing with them as little people, we treat them as if they wouldn't understand our 'adult talk'. It's as if we talk down to them. Children can engage in thoughtful conversation if you give them the chance and use language they understand. What a perfect time for children to learn and understand the importance of thoughtful conversation. Wouldn't this have a positive effect, all around, on their development?

Change of direction

2008-02-18T19:59:00.001-08:00

I decided I'm not going to make this a blog focused centrally on pictures/video/travel stuff. Initially I thought about doing something to that end. But it becomes just another place to post stuff and I'm already doing that on flickr, blip.tv, and facebook. So this blog is reverting to being about me and my life and anything that seems interesting to me. So there's a little change in direction for you...

Americans vs Vietnamese: FUTBOL

2008-01-28T18:15:00.001-08:00

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We won. They let us beat them, then tried to bring out their all-stars for the second game, which we bet on. We showed them the meaning of American-Sized. Watch Tyler step up and play the hero in this one.

Monkeys drinking our water (Cambodia)

2008-01-27T14:33:00.001-08:00

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The little monkey moves aside for a larger monkey, while two other monkeys play at our feet. There were many more monkeys around us eating, sleeping, playing, or grooming.

Work and Religion (Burma)

2008-01-16T16:59:00.000-08:00

While riding my bike along in Bagan, I saw this common scene of field work. The backdrop temple and pagodas represent the Theravada Buddhist religion practiced here. The number of temples and pagodas in Burma is overwhelming, yet Bagan is in a league of it's own with hundreds in view from one location.

Potala Palace (Tibet)

2008-01-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

Until recently, home to the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. This photo was taken from the rooftop of our hotel in Lhasa.

Angkor Wat (Cambodia)

2008-01-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

The Angkor region in Cambodia was the seat of power for the Khmer empire; the largest continuous empire in South East Asia. Angkor Wat, initially constructed as the capital city of the Khmer kingdom, is the largest temple in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. First Hindu and now Buddhist, the temple has become a symbol of Cambodia, even appearing on it's national flag.

The Forbidden City (China)

2008-01-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

The Forbidden City served as the home of the emperor and his household, and the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government. The world's largest surviving palace complex, The Forbidden City is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, listed as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

HaLong Bay (Vietnam)

2007-12-31T13:13:00.000-08:00

We spent the day on the water at this beautiful UNESCO site, HaLong Bay. Highlights included walking through a cave, buying lunch at a floating market, and general R&R on our boat.

Trevi Fountain (Italy)

2007-12-27T19:13:00.001-08:00

This fountain can be found in Rome. Popular legend says that it is lucky to throw three coins with your right hand over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain, and by doing so, you will eventually return to Rome. [Probably just a story to get tourists back :) ] The money is collected by the government at night, and used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy.

Ryōgoku Sumo Hall (Japan)

2007-12-20T20:47:00.000-08:00

All aspects of the daily life of a Japanese Sumo Wrester, from meals to their manner of dress, are dictated by strict Shinto tradition. Even the victory celebration remains steeped in ritual. It should be noted that top sumo wrestlers are like rockstars in Japanese society. Brian must have been aware of the sumo's celebrity status.

Creating a Longyi (Burma)

2007-12-18T20:34:00.001-08:00

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We were walking through a rural village when we saw this lady making longyis. Given the opportunity to purchase one, a few of us did so. These two models illustrate the different ways of wearing the traditional Burmese clothing.

Elephant walking the streets (Cambodia)

2007-12-15T14:49:00.001-08:00

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Tyler and I were eating lunch when this elephant walked by in Phomn Penh, Cambodia.

Back of the Bus (Gambia)

2007-12-13T19:52:00.001-08:00

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Traveling with Abdoulie and Justin in Banjul, Gambia.

Biker tribute at my uncle's funeral

2007-12-12T21:11:00.001-08:00

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Some of my Uncle Mike's best friends were those he rode with on the back of a harley on the open road. These guys were a part of the funeral procession. This video shows them after the burial. Music was played from the lead rider's bike. He was a close friend of my Uncle's. Another of Mike's closest friends is the man who takes longer to get on his bike. What a tribute...

On the importance of Culture

2007-12-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

No single cultural way can fully capture our humanity. Born an unfinished creature, the human being takes finished form according to the image promoted by his culture. Any single rendering of the human being realizes only one part of the full spectrum of the individual's potential humanity. People and peoples different from ourselves can perform for us an essential visionary service, revealing to us fuller dimensions of our own humanity than we can easily recognize in ourselves. To squander the diversity of cultures, to break this fuller mirror of our potential, is to endanger still further our precarious awareness of ourselves.

- Andrew Schmookler "The Parable of the Tribes"

Long Necked Woman (Burma)

2007-11-28T18:48:00.001-08:00

(PaDong Tribe, Inle Lake)

News Clip on funeral for my uncle, Michael Walters

2007-11-27T18:17:00.001-08:00

I recently took a trip east to Angola, New York to attend a funeral for my dad's older brother, Mike. The ceremony was amazing with tribute being made by a wide variety of people. The unique groups in attendance included government, emergency services, Native Americans, bikers, and Vietnam veterans. As testament to his community involvement, the local news came out and did a piece on his life and death. Pictures of both the funeral and the town of Angola (where my Dad grew up) can be found here. My brother blogged about the experience here. And a friend of the family who drove from Muncie with other family friends blogged his thoughts here.

Children falling from the sky

2007-11-26T17:19:00.001-08:00

I shot this photo at a rest stop in West Virginia. The guy's little girl ran up to him, he grabbed her, then tossed her in the air. He actually threw her higher than the picture shows. So you're seeing him preparing to catch her as she's coming down. So.. this is where babies come from...

Crazy Stuff

2007-11-19T17:35:00.000-08:00

Check out these absolutely insane weapons of war I just read about:

Gay bombs - Proposed by US Air Force in 1994 at Wright Laboratory in Ohio, just down the street from my alma mater, the University of Dayton. Adam Buckman probably contributed to the proposal.
Bat bombs - Developed during World War II by the US to use against Japan.
Who me? (bad odor weapon) - The smell was described as resembling "the worst garbage dumpster left in the street for a long time in the middle of the hottest summer ever" (to place on German officers by French resistance during World War II.)
Anti-tank dogs - Hungry dogs with explosives strapped on, taught to find food under tanks. I bet you can guess what happens next :0 The Soviets used them in World War II to the success of over 300 tanks disabled. "Training of anti-tank dogs continued until at least June 1996."
Fire balloons - Japanese project to send over 9,000 bomb balloons across mainland US during WW II.
Exploding rats - Rat carcasses filled with plastic explosives developed by the British to use against the Germans in WW II.
Killer dolphins - "In 2000 the press reported that dolphins trained to kill by the Soviet Navy had been sold to Iran." So that's where Dr. Evil got his Dolphins with lasers idea in Austin Powers!
Project pigeon (pigeon guided missiles) - American behaviorist B. F. Skinner's attempt to develop a pigeon-guided missile.
Cat bombs - "Somebody hit upon the inspiration that since cats have such a strong disdain of getting wet and always land on their feet that if you attached a cat to a bomb and drop it in the vicinity of a ship, the cat's instinct to avoid the water would force it to guide the bomb to the enemy's deck." - From the US Office of Strategic Services, the precursor of the CIA

If all this stuff came to fruition during the World War II era, it just makes me wonder what is being researched now...

Dogzilla attacks boat!

2007-11-11T08:48:00.001-08:00

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Heidi gets frustrated as she swims after a remote control boat in Crooked Lake. I used blip.tv to upload this video and so far I like it better than YouTube. That being said, my new account can be found here. More stuff coming soon!

The summer of a lifetime

2007-10-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Some of the incredible places and cultures we experienced in Asia.

Introducing ASAP 2006

2007-10-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Intro to our Asia Trip

It's the music that we choose

2007-10-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Fun song, fun times

Travel through Asia

2007-10-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

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We spent A LOT of time on a bus in Asia. Here are some scenes from that perspective. The song is "Sun's gonna rise" by Citizen Cope. This is the last of the major ASAP songs. Now I'll start pulling the video together. Never thought I'd be able to say that :) I'm looking for a good song for credits and outtakes. If anything comes to mind, let me know...

Inle Lake, Burma

2007-10-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

Our study abroad trip went through Myanmar (Burma). Obviously, by looking elsewhere on my blog, you can see I'm quite dedicated to following the current situation on the ground there. I was going to make this video later but after seeing so many images of the protesting monks and subsequent crack-downs, on TV, the Internet I knew I wanted to make it right away. I hope some of the images you see in this video with illustrate the beautiful people and culture of this place. Time spent on Inle Lake was a highlight of the trip for many. Prayers go out to the Burmese people in these dark times...

Burmese citizens who defy the regime

2007-10-21T13:07:00.001-07:00

video: The people's mother; 90 year old Burmese woman who is poet, author, and freedom fighter, voices political dissent. Comedians speak against the regime while under heavy military surveillance. Monks under high surveillance to stop them from leading further protests.

Rest and Relaxation on HaLong Bay

2007-10-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

ASAPers enjoying a beautiful day on the waters of HaLong Bay, Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climbing to the Roof of the World

2007-10-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

More video from the Asia Study Abroad Trip. Some of the group decided to climb a mountain while we were in Tibet. Our first hike began at Sera Monastery. After watching the monks debating, we began the three hour trek up the mountain behind the monastery. All went well except our encounter halfway up the mountain with a ferocious dog that looked similar to a small black bear and our lack of adequate water reserves. I couldn't tell you the number of times we exclaimed the view to be the most beautiful we had seen in our lives. We came across a small building on the side of the mountain that monks retreat to for periods of two weeks or more to study meditation. Once we made it to the top of the mountain we could see endless Himalayan mountains paired with a spectacular view of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The Potala Palace towered over the city in all its glory. On the way back down we came across the owners of the black bear of a dog, a father and his son. They were both happy to see us as they greeted us with big smiles. As mentioned before we didn't bring enough water with us so by now we were parched. The locals at the foot of the mountain were quick to offer us water from their pumps but we had to respectively decline as our stomachs surely would not approve.

The other mountain we conquered was in Shigatse, the second city of Tibet. Our Tibetan guide, Tenzing, led a group of us on switch-backs up the side of the mountain. Although he was incredibly fleet footed, cruising along with very little effort, he stayed at the back of our group to ensure nobody slipped too far back. I was not as patient and went ahead of the group on a quicker pace. Much to my delight I came across a Tibetan shepherd towards the top of the mountain who was grazing his herd on the slopes below. We smiled at each other and nodded as our only form of communication. After looking over his flock together, I motioned with my camera to make sure it was okay to snap one. He agreed and very somberly posed for a picture. Afterwards we sat together at the top of the mountain sharing a small snack. I gave him crackers and in return received some bread. We shared a moment there alone, at the top of the world, that I will remember forever. After a very peaceful 15 minutes, I motioned to him that I was going to the top of the mountain. He smiled, nodded, and waved goodbye, turning to tend to his flock. After hiking for another 10 minutes, I turned and looked back. I watched in amusement as the shepherd withdrew a slingshot from his pocket and very accurately flung stones towards the perimeter of his flock. By doing so he effectively maintained control of where the sheep grazed. After making it to the top of mountain, I rested and waited for the half of the group the decided to make it to the top. Here Chris McCrory marked his presence with a rock pile and then we headed back down. We had done it, we had climbed to the roof of the world.

Brutal Crackdown in Burma

2007-10-11T21:42:00.001-07:00

This videos was on my blog earlier but the original post on youtube was removed so here is a different post of the same video. Must See!

Inside Myanmar: The Crackdown - 10 Oct 07 - Part 1

2007-10-11T21:13:00.001-07:00

Very good video illustrating some of the build up protests and ensuing crackdowns in Myanmar. Part 2 is also available on YouTube.

"This isn't personal, Kay. This is business."

2007-10-06T13:11:00.001-07:00

You know how we do. Video of ASAP taking care of business in Asia. Company and US Embassy visits included:

Tsukiji Fish Market
General Electric
NCR
General Motors
Ford/PAG
Deloitte & Touche
Brown-Forman
HSBC Bank
NCR
Ford
Microtec
Ford Vietnam Limited
Chupp Rubber Plantation
British American Tobacco Company
Aragon
SRP International

US Embassies (Commercial Service Division) in

Tokyo, Japan
Beijing, China
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Singapore
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Party like a Rock Star

2007-10-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

Video: Doing our party thing in Asia. I apologize in advance for any indecent photos or clips in this video. But to censor wouldn’t do the partying justice. I don’t even know if this video does the party scene justice but hopefully it comes close. Here we go… “Chinese! Show me you know what’s up!!!”

Free Burma!

2007-10-03T21:13:00.001-07:00

Wesley's thoughts on the crisis in Burma

2007-10-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

I was amazed at the level of the protests -- most of those in the streets weren't old enough to remember 1988 (similar pro-democracy protests that ended badly) -- just as I was not amazed at the brutality of the reaction. As for the future of the Burmese people...history is prologue. When the two countries that have the most influence over internal affairs are India and China, then you're in trouble. Unless and until the people are able to rise up in armed revolt (and where are they gonna get the guns?), nothing is going to change. We (the US) have no influence there b/c of our lack of engagement over the years so we stand on the sidelines incapable of doing anything short of a military invasion.

All despots rule by fear (aka negative reinforcement). But one basic rule is that the one who has the most guns rules. And that's the case in Burma. So who's going to step forward and be cannon fodder until they run out of ammo? That's the problem in Burma. And so if they have a military coup, the general or army officer who prevails just repeats the same pattern. Democratic tendencies are almost never found within the military. The entire structure of the military goes against democratic principles. (Can you have a military where people take orders and obey while at the same time also questioning authority? Difficult to damned near impossible.)

So I'm not pinning my hopes on a rational response from Than Shwe (top Burmese general) or on a military coup leading to freedom for the Burmese people. When you have a military leader/despot that spends hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new capital city on the advice of his astrologer and then marches civil servants to that city in a forced relocation, you're not dealing with someone whose behavior is predictable by usual measures of predictability.

Problem w/ Burma is that there are 17 different tribes and most want their own country. (See Iraq for a Middle East example.) They may be all Buddhist, but the tribal identity is so strong that they historically haven't played together very well in the sandbox that is modern day Burma. So strip away this repressive military regime and what do you have? It may be no prettier than Iraq, just with more warring factions.

That's why the US and the UK ought to go in there, topple that military, grant the generals immunity and find them a place for asylum, get them out of the country, and impose sufficient order to develop a working and stable government. Unlike Iraq, the Burmese would welcome us b/c they remember how good they had it under British rule compared to how it is today. So they'd welcome an invasion, as long as we promised not to colonize them again.

But none of the above is gonna happen. We're going to make hollow pronouncements about supporting democratic reform in Burma while the life of the military goes on as usual. And we're gonna leave the Burmese people to fend for themselves. That's American foreign policy when we're tied down to what was never a winnable war in Iraq.

As for activism, write your US Senators, write the President, write all Congressional Reps from your state. Tell them to put pressure on the UN to act, tell them to establish a full embassy in Yangon with an ambassador so we can engage the gov't there, tell them to lift the trade sanctions and instead put in place a set of guidelines for doing business within Burma. Trade sanctions like the ones we have in place are as hollow as the stomachs of the Burmese people who can't earn a living because we shut them off. People will never rise up and overthrow a government on empty stomachs. Look at Cuba -- it simply hasn't worked, nor will it. So write them all and tell them to get off their sanctimonious asses and do something that's good for the Burmese people while putting in place a system to ensure that the government doesn't benefit from the trade.

Wesley King is a management professor at the University of Dayton. Each summer he organizes and leads a group of students on an Asia study abroad program with a focus on SE Asia.

This breaks my heart

2007-10-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

The latest out of Myanmar:

One from a British newspaper another from a Burmese Blogger.

My prayer is that these bodies are found along with the others that will be executed in the jungle, so that the West can make a case for crimes against humanity and act.

These articles about the slaughter in Myanmar make me so frustrated and angry with petty world politics and greedy economics. How are these blatant crimes allowed to go unpunished? Where are the economic and political monsters in the region, India and China? Where is Thailand? These countries only seek their own self interests, i.e. Burmese energy resources and market access for their growing economies. As long as this evil regime is propped up, and Western trade embargoes continue, the door remains open for easy investment by India, China, and Thailand.

Where are the powerful Western governments? How long before an effective coalition is formed to take this regime out? The general public (that even knows about it) is begging the international political community to do something. I thought our governments are ruled by the people? How many more news reports must be published about the military junta's crimes against humanity. Peaceful protests led by non-violent monks are being put down using incredible amounts of violence. Satellite evidence illustrates village destruction and population displacement as military bases are erected. Multiple ethnic groups are being targeted with women raped and the men used as slave labor by the government. Refuges leave with little or no chance of returning. Free democratic election results were completely ignored. The rightful leader of Myanmar and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest for the past 15 years. She won 82% of the vote in open elections. A slaughter just like this ALREADY occurred after popular protests in 1988. What more does the international community need??!! Act!!!

As for us as individuals, we can follow suggestions given by the US Campaign for Burma. In the very least we should be aware of the tragedies occurring and spread the news to the unknowing.

Please pray for the Burmese people and get the word out.

Friends all around the world

2007-09-24T17:56:00.001-07:00

A slide show illustrating some of the unique locals we met during the trip.

Religious diversity

2007-09-24T13:39:00.001-07:00

Different religions/philosophies illustrated in this slide show namely: Shinto, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam.

Burmese monks protesting

2007-09-24T08:39:00.001-07:00

Good photos found on Myanmar blogs:

http://mmedwatch.blogspot.com/

http://ko-htike.blogspot.com/

http://soneseayar.blogspot.com/

My brother and his employer

2007-09-20T12:25:00.001-07:00

new one:ten pic, originally uploaded by jkenning.

The company my brother (Justin) works for: one:ten communications. He's the dude standing at the top. Currently he is in South Bend, IN

ASAP family

2007-09-19T22:39:00.001-07:00

A slide show dedicated to the friendships made during ASAP 2006.

Beautiful planet

2007-09-19T19:23:00.001-07:00

A slide show illustrating some of the most beautiful spots on our trip.

Aung San Suu Kyi

2007-09-14T07:06:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping track of the latest developments concerning human rights abuses in Myanmar. Almost every site I come across includes this tagline:

"please use your liberty to promote ours"
-Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi is a Noble Peace Prize recipient who has been under house arrest since 1989. She is the rightful prime minister of Myanmar after winning the general election (while under house arrest) with 82% of the vote. But the military junta ignored the results and continue to repress the Myanmar people today.

Even if you can't do anything, at least be aware of what is happening.

Learn more about the struggle
http://www.uscampaignforburma.org/

Learn more about Aung San Suu Kyi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi

Dembo's thank you from The Gambia

2007-09-13T21:40:00.001-07:00

Dembo thanks the Walters family and BSA troop 77 for their impact on his village, Dankunku, Gambia. My sister Rebecca stayed in his father's compound during her time in the Peace Corps. making them brother and sister. Thus Dembo and I are brothers. This is the way of Muslim families.

Sumo's wrestling.

2007-01-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

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The guy yelling right next to us is hilarious. Awesome stuff to see.

Surrounded by The Forbidden City

2007-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

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Sumo Victory Ritual

2007-01-16T20:40:00.000-08:00

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Pagados on the Horizon (Burma)

2007-01-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

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Birds chirping, wind gusting, and a plethora of pagados. Very peaceful place actually..