Fun Facts & Final Thoughts to Share

O.K. First things first I must make a discalmer about my blog. True, I can't spell at all and my grammer can be shotty at best. For the first time I looked over some of the blogs and I was horrified at some of the mistakes. Yes, some of them are mine but many are due to the computers I have had to deal with that were circa 95. I also would like to explain why I only posted pictures once. The deal is the pictures were too large, they needed to be reformated blah, blah blah. It took my friend 2 days to figure it out and he is a graphic artisit. I know I am Jon 2012 and you all marvel at my computer skills and I have dissapointed you. When I return I will ask my dear friend Amy to help me post the rest of the pictures. Until then I have demoted myslelf to Jon 2010.

OK. People see waht I mean, this bloddy computer will not do spell check and keeps freezing. I must get in the pool and I am just going to post it mistakes and all. Oh Well I am noy in Kansas.

Now on to the fun facts:
I will have been gone a total of 76 days...it seems so much longer.
I stayed in 17 hotels, Villas or Bingalows. Shortest stay 2 nights the longest 9 days.
I went to 5 countries/ Thailand, Cambodia, Loas, Vietnam and Indonesia in that order. I passed through Singapor, Mylasia, Hong Kong and Japan.
I went to 11 islands.
I visited 22 cities.
I took 17 planes. Some were connecting flights but I still got on and off a plane so I counted it.
I took 9 boat trips, 4 bus trips and 1 train.

I saw to plays/Simon Cabaret in Thailand it was halariously bad and When Elepahants Weep in Cambodia it was deeply moving.

I attended 3 Bali traditional ceremonies.

Talked ona phone twice for a very short time...a miracle for me.

I NEVER EVER discussed work for a minute...thanks to Matt & Allison.

I found out my real hair color after 20 years...Ouy Vay am I Gray. Hopefully I look more like Richard Gere than Richard Jennings.

I was told by a friend who needs to remain nameless (Darrel Cummings) that I would get sick for days and just get ready for it. I was in a very upscale Italian resturaunt in Cambodia. I ordered a bruscetta like a good Dago and they brought me a bib lettuce salad with crutons and real ceaser dressing. People it was bib lettuce, not a hard lettuce but a soft kinder gentler lettuce. The name alone evokes a babys terrycloth bib coming out of the dryer. How much harm could it do. I was dying for something green. Anyway... 2 hours later I was cramping like a High School Girl after gym class. I had some pills and it was over in 24 hours.

I have had no meat on this trip and I am hoping to stay a vegatarian. God help me when I see a Steak au Poivre on a menu.

I have been a regular Jane Goodal on this trip....O.K. maybe more like Jane Fonda becasue of my political rage...O.K. O.K. more like Jane Hathaway from the Beverly Hilbillies, but she was a brid watcher and I watched many a birds.

I now have friends I can visit in Amsterdam, Australia, France, Bali, Singapor, North Korea, Mylasia, and Japan, France & London.

There were these 6 geese in Bali that would walk down the center of the street every morning and night. With cars and motrbikes honking they would not move. They slowed traffic down for about 20 minutes and every day people would just deal with the geese. Their insistance was really a sight to behold and I have some good pcitures.

I went on line and picked out a Versage suit, picked out a beautiful cotton silk fabric and had a suit cutsom made for $175. Say it ain't so Joe...its so Joe.

I woke up singing Like a Brid on a Wire (by Lenoard Cohen) and couldn't stop singing it all day. I got back to my Villa for a disco nap and there was a brid in my room. He wouldn't move and we were roomates for 3 days.

The way they deal with the gargabe on the beach is they burn it twice a day. I would say this is not really the best solution eh?

Woman are being tortured all over the world when you read newspapers from India and Indonesia you could loose your mind.

I rode a motorbike...yes you heard me. Oh people I was so Steve McQueen, well perhaps more like James Dean, alright more like Bill Murray in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas but I looked pretty darn cute.

I did not see one argument, outburts or anyone get mad at anyone on this entire trip.

O.K. How come Monks are so sexy? I know this sounds crazy but shouldn't they be bald, round, in a creme-cycle orange robe and look like...well Uncle Fester. These monks all look like Keanu and they stare at you in a way that just gets to you...I am sorry they are hot. I have asked other people and it is not only me. Oh, I am going to hell in a handbasket for even posting this. No worries, there are millions of handbaskets here.


Books I have read:
The Hour I first Believed by Wally Lamb

The Happiest Places on Earth: One Grumps Search for Bliss by Eric Weiner. (My dear friend Mark gave me this book and it was the best gift for this trip it taught me so much. Mark nailled it and I am so greatful. It is a MUST read)

The Adventures of Hulkeberry Finn by Mark Twain (Thanks to my boss Alan, he told me it is one of the best books on racisum and he was so right)

The Worst Thing I have Done By Ursella Hegi ( Thanks Lorraine)

A Prayer for Owen Meany By John Irving (need I say more)

The History of Indo-China (Thansk Darell, this was a huge help)

No Death, No Fear by Thich Nhat Hanh ( Thanks Roberta)

Hotel of Saints by Ursulla Hegi

A Boys Own Story by Edmond White

Harbor by Lorraine Adams

Kaftka on the Sea by Haruki Murakami (Thanks Jerry you are a God for this recomendation)
Dance, Dance Dance, by " "After Dark by " " Haruki Murakami

Almost the Moon by Alice Sebold

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.

Memoirs Of Hardian by Maequerite Yourcenar ( Once again Jerry comes through)

Over 6,000 pages in total.

For all of you that posted comments thank you so much I can't tell you how they lifted my spirits.

I will do one more final blog on Friday night. I will post the pictures and talk about the renetry then I think I close this chapter. Thanks for coming along for the ride and I will talk more about that in the final blog.

I'll be coming home soon, I'll be coming home.

Jon xoox