I know I’m suppose to be in hardcore savings mode with about 3 months until departure, however I got caught up in the media hype surrounding David Beckham’s arrival in the United States last month.

When regular (vs. season/group) tickets finally went on sale, all were sold out except the corner upper deck seats (and even those were more expensive than normal). I decided to catch the game on TV, until I received an e-mail from the Barra Brava fan club I joined earlier in the year. They still had single tickets for sale in their dedicated section (center, closest to the field).

The game turned out to be one of the best I’ve seen or attended in my past four years of following DC United (and soccer in general)! I’ll try to describe the scene from within Section 135 of a sold out stadium of 46,000 fans:

• Barra section stood on seats (as always)
• Constant songs and chants (foul language aplenty)
• Drums pound non-stop
• Flags waved - big and small
• Despite sundown, oppressive heat and humidity have us sweating like pigs
• DC’s Brazilian, Emilio, scored the one and only goal - beer flies everywhere
• Green smoke bombs cloud the air
• Flash bulbs flicker as Beckham began warm-ups around the 35th minute
• Torrential rain begins before halftime
• LA Galaxy player gets a red card (ejected) in the 66th minute (dangerous tackle)
• Beckham takes the field (after taking off shirt for the ladies) in the 70th minute
• Beckham bends his first MLS free kick (LA misses equalizing opportunity)

Hot dog - $3 / Midfield-row 7 seat - $35 / Watching a soccer great debut in a new country’s league - Priceless!

Share This

To dovetail my previous post on the challenges of entering Tibet, if I decide to enter Tibet from China, then I will walk into the Chinese Embassy in my home town of Washington, DC a few weeks before I leave the country, and pick up an L (tourist) Visa.  The embassy website indicates a 4-day processing time for getting a tourist Visa, which is valid for entry within a 6-month period from the date of issuance.

Unfortunately, they recently doubled the price from $50 to $100 for us Americans.  Obviously, with the rush of Visa applications in advance of the Olympics, it is time for the Chinese to cash in on their status as the host nation of the 2008 Summer games.

Share This

During the Summer of 2006, I was developing my rough ’round the world itinerary and budget using Microsoft Excel. I posted my spreadsheet on the BootsnAll message boards to get some feedback. Soon after, I was contacted by Jessie, one of the web site moderators. She indicated Wendy Rieger of the NBC News affiliate in Washington, DC was interested in speaking with me about a story she was putting together.

I contacted her after some initial reservations about blowing my cover at work, and a few weeks later, she met me at my apartment with a cameraman to do the interview. The recorded Q&A lasted about 10 minutes, however true to her word, she only used about 15-30 seconds of it! The interview aired in early October 2006, and a few of my current and former coworkers saw it (and not-so-subtly) and asked me about it in the office. I acknowledged it, though didn’t put a time frame around when I planned to leave.

I am appropriately labeled as “Future Traveler” in the video. Enjoy!

Share This

Andre, a structural engineer by trade, and a German by birth, was the first couchsurfer I had the opportunity to host. He contacted me about 6 weeks ago as he was planning to fly down from Boston (where he’s a Research Associate) to attend a friend’s wedding in Leesburg, VA.

After reading his introdoctury e-mail, I checked out his CS profile which was full of positive references. I responded back that I was free to host him, and we exchanged a few additional e-mails to work out the details around arrival time and directions to my apartment.

Thursday Arrival

I had mentioned to Andre in advance that I would be attending a happy hour with coworkers the night he planned to arrive, and he suggested there was no need for me to leave it early just to meet him. As it turned out, I was ready to leave by the time he was on his way to Arlington from Dulles Airport (via bus and metro). I was back at my apartment when there was a knock upon the door. I opened it up and saw an imposing figure with a big smile.

Once inside the apartment, he unzipped his day pack to reveal a 6-pack of Heineken for the host. It seems great minds think alike as I had previously picked up a 6-pack of Warsteiner, a German beer, to ensure my guest had a little reminder of home. I opened a couple of beers and we got to know each other better. I was a little self-conscious about the fact that I only had a space on the floor available, however when I offered up my down comforter and a few pillows, Andre seemed completely content, and we got some zzzz’s.

Friday Night Lights

I was working a 1-10pm shift for a coworker on Friday, so in the morning, we walked a few blocks to my favorite coffeehouse, Murky Coffee. Andre had specifically indicated he wanted a ceramic cup (as we established paper “to go” cups are decidedly non-European), so he was a little miffed when his American coffee came in a giant paper cup. We gobbled down some pastries, and I pointed him east toward The Mall in Washington, DC, which he walked to as the morning sun began to beat down (it got into the upper 90’s by afternoon).

Later that night, I arrived back at the apartment to find Andre enjoying the air conditioning after he experienced the full force of a hot, humid Washington summer day. I had given him a key to my apartment so he could have a little more freedom. I think he was a little surprised by the offer at first, however I shared my attitude toward believing the best in people, and practical approach toward fostering a non-materialistic lifestyle.

We met up with my friend Jason, and walked a few blocks to Clarendon, a small town with a popular nightlife near my apartment. As it was late, we were limited in our restaurant choices, and settled on Hard Times (chili) which allowed us to sit outside and watch the drunk people walk to and from the bars. After a few beers, some food, and laughs, we called it a night.

Saturday

I drove my guest to a local Macy’s so he could pick up a new tie for his friend’s wedding. Clothes shopping was not his forte, however we accomplished the mission, and then grabbed coffee and a bite to eat at Panera Bread, before I drove him to the bus stop so he could head west to Leesburg for the night.

Soccer Sunday

Since Andre’s flight didn’t depart until 9pm’ish, I had invited him to a DC United (vs. NYC Red Bulls) soccer match at 1pm. I picked him up at the bus stop and we sped through the cit, arriving at RFK’s parking lot in time to get some free grub from the Barra Brava (fan club) tailgate.

And then it was on to the game, where I sat in the Barra Brava section for the first time. We didn’t watch the game together, as Andre needed a little distance from the beating drums and chanting hordes. DC United kicked butt, winning 4-2, and we headed back to the car. Given we had some time to kill, I suggested we check out Georgetown. We stopped in Bistro Francais where we ordered some light food, and more coffee. Then it was off for some lounging in the grass by the waterfront (of the Potomac River), before I dropped Andre off at the bus stop for the last time.

I will reflect more on my experience, and share some tips for guests and hosts in my next post.

Previous in series Next in series

Share This

This past week was marked by a sudden stomach bug, and slow recovery. While I was bedridden, Google’s 72 data centers were updating their Page Rankings across the web. By Monday evening, the dust had settled, and I was thrilled to see my blog’s front page capture a PR 4. While I’ve been focusing on getting new readers from search engine hits, I had no inkling as to how well Google’s algorithm was going to treat me after just three months. I owe special thanks to everyone who has linked to me and left comments thus far. I look forward to reading the comments each day, and I know they get quite a lot of hits from other readers as well.

As a result of the updated Page Rank, my blog qualified for Review Me. Based on a variety of metrics, I set my price at $62. I intend to clearly disclose any future sponsored posts within the first few sentences so readers can choose whether or not to read the whole thing. Personally, I am thrilled to have been accepted into this new marketplace, as diversifying my income streams via the web will allow me to make money online while I am traveling around the world!

On the down side, with all my attention focused on the blog, and Wordpress as a content management system, I completely stopped updating the rest of my domain. As a result, Gobackpacking.com fell from a PR 5 to a PR 4. I think this was the result of changes to Google’s calculations, as I had a PR 5 after coming off a five year hiatus from working on my website. I am going to try and recapture a PR 5 through the blog this next go around.

Lastly, I caught my first DC United game of the year (vs. NE Revolution). As often happens, we sat next to a bunch of English guys. They were having a great time, having moved to Washington, DC five days ago, for the next two years, as part of their work. DC earned their first point in the ‘07 season with a 1-1 tie. Hopefully they’ll pull out their first win this Sunday.

Share This

WordPress Plugins

JavaScript Pull-Quotes - This is one of the cooler plugins I’ve come across lately. It pulls out text I select, and highlights it in a larger font on the left or right side of the post. I’m hooked on using it, and I hope readers have found it fun and visually appealing.

My Week in Review

Another day, another dollar. I started out this week by taking advantage of the beautiful Springtime weather we experienced in the DC area Sunday (Earth Day). I took the metro to The Mall, and visited The National Museum of the American Indian, as it was the second travel writing assignment I received. Of course you’ll have to wait for me to write and re-write the piece before getting my take on the newest museum to join the Smithsonian.

Along with the warmer weather and longer days, I’ve begun to increase my daily exercise. I tend to hibernate like the mighty grizzly during winter, thus allowing my cholesterol to creep up, and my quadriceps to atrophy until I have the knees of a 60-year old. Part of my motivation to build cardio endurance this year (vs. muscle strength) is to ensure I’m not huffing and puffing on the treks, in the mountains, and at  the high altitudes I encounter in 2008.

I ended the week by reimbursing myself $1,155.10 out of my Health Savings Account for the first stage of my dental implant. The money (which was employer contributed in 2006) covers about 1/3 of the total cost. Initially I was going to pay the first half myself, and use the HSA money to cover the second half this Fall, however it’s been irking me that I’m paying off my bill piecemeal, and I’d rather not have it hanging over my head the next two months. Oh, and I received my first payment from Google AdSense today! I’m sure it’ll be another year or two before I see that happen again.

Share This

The famed cherry blossoms surrounding the tidal basin in Washington, DC were in full bloom this weekend. The Festival kicked off Saturday, March 30, with tens of thousands of locals and tourists from around the world descending upon the National Mall to enjoy the day. Upon exiting the Smithsonian metro station (which puts you on the Mall, halfway between the Washington Monument and Capitol Building), I was immediately struck by all the kites in the air. Apparently April is also national kite month, and it was one of the first events of the festival. I circled the tidal basin, completely open to the beautiful blossoms and kaleidoscope of languages being spoken. I unleashed the options on my digital camera for the first time, snapping pictures in a wide array of settings, mostly with super fine (1600×1200) resolution based on a great post I read recently. Below are my unedited favorites, in the order taken, which was between 2:30-4:30pm. It was mostly cloudy, and as the afternoon wore on, I didn’t adjust to account for the dimming sunlight. Maybe next time I’ll get up early enough for sunrise…yeah right! I included links to larger versions hosted on Flickr.

Comments are appreciated!

Capitol Building - Large - 1024×768

Jefferson Memorial - Large - 1024×576

Cherry Blossoms and Washington Monument - Large - 1024×768

FDR Memorial - Large - 1024×576

White House (a Democrat can’t get there soon enough!) - Large - 1024×576

World War II and Lincoln Memorials - Large - 1024×768

Share This

Passport Renewal

Yesterday, I had a new passport photo taken at my local FedEx Kinko’s. The cost was $5 per set, where a set equaled two photos. I ordered a total of three sets for starters. Two photos were sent along with my passport renewal application, and I’m keeping the other four for future use. Actually, I was a bit surprised at the cost, and decided I could probably scan and print more for less, using my parent’s computer. The actual passport renewal fee was $67. On top, I felt it appropriate to FedEx the application given it included my old passport. The total cost was about $100. It was money well spent!

My last passport renewal was in August 1997, a year before I was to take my first backpacking trip (to Europe). In looking back at that picture, I was quite chubby in the cheeks. I’ve lost about 25 pounds, and a head of hair in that time.

Assignment Old Town Alexandria

After a cool, rainy Saturday, I hit Old Town Alexandria, Virginia with a bounce in my step today. My travel writing assignment was to write a 1,000 word piece on the top 10 must-see’s of the city. I worked in Old Town from 2002-2004, so I already had some locations and ideas in mind, however I didn’t want to be prejudiced to them. Plus, what’s the fun in being a travel writer if I’m going to pretend to know everything about a certain place without going out to experience it first hand.

So with the sun shining, I pounded the brick sidewalks, and made an afternoon of the assignment. Surprisingly, I had a heck of a good time with myself, and the city’s offerings. After putting it off a few weeks, I now have 6 days to write my piece and submit it to Mr. Haines. Submission will be followed by a group critique at his house. Once I’ve written and revised the piece, I will post it here under a new Category entitled “Publish Me!”

Share This