the jet-lag and off to maui

the jet-lag never was this bad. i guess three weeks is alot of time to be hanging on the other side of this planet but it also might be the fact that im just getting old. the jet-lag would usually last two days tops but its been six days now im still having trouble sleeping.

but yesterday i hopped on a flight from los angeles to maui and maybe working from maui might help. its an exciting time for virgin america and im thrilled to help open the new station. i also heard the poke and loco moco have therapeutic/sleeping agents  known to knock grown men out.

yes please.

bangalore to los angeles via hong kong

today is tuesday

november 24th, 2015

im currently debriefing inside a starbucks a few blocks from home after a long long day of traveling from bangalore, india back to los angeles, california. 

the day began yesterday but technically yesterday is still today from the point from where i started.

ok,
moving forward...or backwards? 

bangalore time: monday nov 23th

we hopped on a cab at 9pm monday night. 2 hours later, after a bloc of akon and eastern european dance music along with close calls dissecting through the horrific evening bangalore traffic we made it to the airport. it was 11pm and the flight to hong kong was scheduled at 1:15am the next day.  

hong kong time: tuesday nov 24th

our flight landed at around 10am and the connecting leg was scheduled at 1:35pm. we walked around the airport for a bit and grabbed some some iced tea/coffee along with some pastries and waited for the flight. we found a good spot with chairs down at arrivals and relaxed a bit. the exhaustion was beginning to show in brianne's hair and eyes and in me through my speech; i tend to slur and not make cohesive thoughts when i dont get enough sleep.
we got our seats late so we had to move fast. when we reached the gate i noticed that boarding had just begun. we took a breather and i looked at my boarding pass, seat 72E, the middle seat at the last row on a boeing 777-300ER. i dreaded the flight at this point, which was estimated to take a little over 12 hours. before take-off, as i sat on my seat, i said a quick prayer to my Maker and off we were.

los angeles time: tuesday nov 24th

we landed at around 9:35am that same day, 4 hours before our flight took off. i got around 4 hours of sleep on the flight, not nearly enough. my shoulders were soar, i felt a bit groggy but we were back. i got home at 1pm and what was to be an hour nap became five. my shoulders didnt hurt as bad and the warm white chocolate mocha that sits comfortably in my right hand is taking a little of the edge off. the journey back home was long but when youre traveling with good friends while make new ones, there is nothing else id rather be doing. 

now back to the grind. i think

thekkady rub-down

i just want to preface this by saying that i havent had that many massages in the past. the way this one went down mightve been due to my lack of knowledge. you decide

i was brought into a room measuring 6"x10" and was asked by a young 18-22 year old thekkadian male to remove my shirt, pants and while i stood there wearing only my briefs, the thekkadian brought me this thin strip of cloth that kind of resembled a seatcover, which he then wrapped around my waist.

the next thing i see are my panties dropping to the floor and finding a hand reaching in-between my legs for the other loose strip of cloth, which was lazily laying on top of my crotch. 

a few reach arounds and he found it and with a tight and quick snug he brought it back up my crack and we were set.

to summarize the rest of the experience, i was dripped in this warm curry sauce from head to toe. 
was it really curry sauce? brianne says no but i guess ill never know. 
the next hour i was slapped, rubbed, gyrated, and tickled. while ass up, another young thekkadian came into the room and this is when the tag-team began. one heated hot stones and the other rubbed and placed them on my joints. this part i actually did enjoy. 

i was helped from the massage bed to this wooden box that had hot coals inside. i sat on this chair and then they closed the wooden box around me with my head the only thing peaking out. i roasted for about 10-15 minutes and while my body dripped and sweated the curry sauce, one of the young thekkadians began to show off his bruce lee stances and then proceeded to moon walk and show me some of his best michael jackson moves. i wanted to clap but i was in a box 

when they opened the box i was bit dizzy so they helped me up. at this point i thought the massage was over but no, it wasnt. 
it only kept getting better. the pair of thekkadians meticulously began to dry me off, limb by limb. the next few minutes were filled with awkward small talk. many thoughts began to race through my head: i thought the about current language barrier i had with these thekkadians along with the cultural differences and all of the life choices ive made that led me to this moment in time standing practically naked completely drenched in sweat and curry. 

when the drying was done, both walked out of the room and closed the door. the next few moments as i put my clothes back on i took everything that had just happened and i laughed.

brianne came out of her room maybe 10 minutes later looking all greasy. we parted ways with the staff shortly after and walked outside. our driver sumesh was there waiting for us

on the car ride back to the hotel i told brianne my experience and she laughed. 

last days in kerala, india

originally i began writing this post a few days ago back when i was still in kerala but ive been in bangalore for three days now and alot has happened since.

but back in kerela, before hopping on our houseboat in kochi, our days began with 4-hour road trips across southern kerala. we drove from munnar to thekkady in the morning and if it weren't enough, munnar sent us off with even more breathtaking views of its tea covered hills and countryside. the fluffy clouds hovering right above munnar's peaks placed a huge accent everything. it was sad to leave

but off we were and finally arrived in thekkady. we stayed at the spice grove hotel where the lobby staff greeted us with some fresh lemonade and then proceeded to place something like clay on our foreheads. the hotel staff upgraded us to a family room, which we didnt need but didnt mind at all. an hour later and we were on the road again headed to the thekaddy tiger reserve where hopped on a river boat hoping to spot a tiger, preferably chowing down on some nice tender deer or monkey or human, or whatever; the entrance to the park was riddled with monkeys so yeah, why not monkeys. 

after some drama trying to get our tickets, we finally got on the boat and went around the refuge. a little under 2 hours later and my report includes a flock of weird looking deer, a pair of horny miniature komodo dragon looking lizards, some colorful birds but sadly no tigers. 

we grabbed early dinner then walked around the uneven streets of thekkady. it was a busy night, the shops were mostly full of locals going about their normal business. we walked for about an hour, got lectured on the difference between pashmina and cashmere and then we heard thunder; the rain began shortly after. luckily we were close to our our next stop, the rangerwood hotel where we had scheduled massages earlier in the day. 

the experience? memorable

i began to write the experience on this entry but it got a bit long so i made it into its own. 

the next day we drove to kochi and caught an overnight houseboat that i still cant believe was just for us. we spent the night cruising down the narrow alappuzha straits and backwaters of southern kochi. we saw young children diving into the murky waters, ladies washing and beating their clothes on the stone walls and the countless other houseboats that trailed behind. we passed the time lounging and re-telling stories of earlier travels. the experience was heightened by the sheer beauty of the landscape around us; it was simply surreal. the morning after we took to the sights and explored fort kochi and saw the medieval looking chinese nets that hung next to the river, the jewish quarter and synagogue, walked around hill palace, got close to deer and a huge t-rex, then headed back to the hotel.

we said our goodbyes to our cab driver, sumesh, who had been with us for the past 5 days. we flew the next morning to the big city of bangalore and just like that kerala slowly became just another beautiful memory.  

morning: munnar, india

im still trying to process this morning's view
it was unlike any ive ever seen. 

the misty clouds didnt seem to move much, they stayed put like a well trained mascot. down below they were all nestled together in the deepest part of the valley while pockets of them hid below the forrest right above the surrounding tree lines. 

sunrise was at 06:16 and with coffee in hand i had a cool 3 minutes to savor the moment. the birds kept arguing down below our balcony, they were at it for the past few hours but i didnt mind it much. some of the neighbors began chanting and singing something traditional that i can only assume is local munnar tunes. 

the sun finally rose but it wasnt strong enough to pierce through the clouds. nevertheless, the sun's rays did something to the forrest. the clouds that were motionless a few minutes ago began to sprawl up the valley like a giant octopus. something unseen was set into motion: the clouds knew it, the birds knew it and now i knew it. 

i still cant believe im in india. i remember the look my mother gave me when i told her that i was coming here and to a certain degree, rightfully so. ive seen alot of faces on my travels and now that theyve brought me here, i can see why alot of people have a certain impression of india. 

from how they approach customs & immigration or their driving with seemingly no rules of the road but a simple set of car honks. add the long and lingering looks of strangers and india to the western newcomer might seem like a frightening place. 

but if you wait a question through the long gazes might emerge with a "hi, where you from?" or "can i take picture with you?"
out of those loud and annoying honks a pattern will begin to emerge and will quickly realize that all those cars are communicating. 

and, if you wait just a bit longer, out of those long and unwavering stares a smile will peak through. 

this will be day 2 in munnar, india and i feel like ive seen and experienced alot already. ill end with some wise and uplifting words i read this morning from c.s. lewis' mere christianity.

"when a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. when a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less. a moderately bad man knows he is not a very good; a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right. this is common sense, really. you understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping. you can see mistakes in arithmetic when your mind is working properly: while you are making them you cannot see them. you can understand the nature of drunkenness when you are sober, not when you are drunk. good people know about both good and evil, bad people do not know about either."

God bless 

tokyo, japon: round dos

we woke at the crack of dawn and flew from kyoto to tokyo on peach airlines. its probably the cheapest way to travel and if you have solid plans peach is a good option. but my travel plans werent solid, they never really are so i booked a refundable fare but peach makes it a nightmare to make any changes to your reservation even if you book a refundable fare. you only get your cash back in points and the points arent automatially placed into an account. it takes a few days for the points to appear, which come in the form of an email where you are given a voucher number. none of this is explained on the website, its all very obscure and you're left in the dark not knowing what the hell is going on.

"why not give them call?" you might say. 

i did, several times, at different times of the day, and all i got was a pre-recorded peach message. luckily i cancelled my leg in advance and got the points voucher a few days before i needed to fly but if i was truly in a bind id be screwed.

ok, so back to tokyo.

tokyo was fun, tokyo was intense, tokyo was tokyo. 

we stayed a few blocks from machiya station with some co-workers from our seattle station. in total, there were 10 people, included us staying at this house and we were crammed. it was all good though, like all trips you never really intend to spend your time at the place youre staying at. we went out the same night and headed to the hirajuku area. the group wanted to shop, i just wanted to eat. we walked and walked, saw some interesting outfits and finally found some chow. it was a gyoza restaurant, nothing really fancy. we ordered 4 fried rounds and 2 steamed and it was heaven. the rest of the night we walked, hopped on trains, and walked some more. we had some drinks but all i really wanted was some sleep. 

the next day we really didnt have anything planned. it was our sole day in tokyo, the following days would be spent in tokyo disney and tokyo disney sea. brianne had never been to tokyo, aron and i had. we were hungry so we looked up a sushi joint that had great reviews and off we were. after some wrong turns and walkin aimlessly through subway tunnels, we finally found our spot. it was one of those conveyor type sushi joints where the plates are priced depending on the color. the three of us went to town. the sushi was cheap and tasty, no waiting no hassle trying to translate; just look and grab. afterwards we headed to tokyo tower, then went to zojo-ji temple where they were having another yearly furniture burning. last time i was in tokyo they were having the same event, i should probably look into it. it looked cool though, there were munks humming, furniture burning, and it was just an odd sight to see.

we walked some more after that, stopped for some manaken waffles, then headed to shibuya to walk the five corner intersection. but not before having some bubble tea on the way. once we were done taking mandatory selfies and touristee videos of the shibuya crosswalk madness, we headed back to our hood and had some tempura. it was good

the next 2 days were spent in tokyo disney and sea and it was a fun time. if i had to choose a park id have to with disney sea. its bigger and they have journey to the center of the world. the food options arent the best but you will come to find massive lines for the popcorn. didnt get to try any but there was one that definitely got away, soy sauce and butter popcorn. there is also something to be said of the tokyo disney staff and that is that they are AWESOME! i hardly ever use all caps but they truly are. every single worker is giving 100% in something in as simple as hello and goodbye. i honestly think that was the most impressive thing about tokyo disney; not the rides, not the food (soy sauce & butter popcorn maybe), but the staff. makes you think twice about what you do and where your passions lie. 

from disney sea we went our seperate ways. aron flew back home to LA, and brianne and i continued on our travels. tokyo was fun but its such a massive city. it needs to be broken down in a manner that suits you, which takes planning. next time i might take some of that advice and plan a little more but judging from the little ive seen i know that tokyo wont dissapoint. 

but now im in the abu dhabu, uae waiting on a flight to india and something tells me the best is yet to come.

up next: kochi, india

kyoto, japon

in order to get to kyoto from osaka's kansai airport we needed to hop on a train; easier said than done. once you narrow down all of your options and decide which rail pass makes the most sense, you quickly realize that none of the train ticket kioks take credit cards. i brought some american cash and converted to yen and we were on our way. a little under 2 hours later and we were in kyoto.

it was overcast, a bit chilly, and the train station was crowded AF. it didnt take long to get oriented and we quickly found our way to our airbnb. the place was tiny but comfy. all i wanted to do was nap, which would've been a wrap on the day but i was also starving. brianne and aron weren't quite at the same crossroads as i so we began to walk towards kyoto's main rail station, which is also a massive underground shopping mall filled with delicious restaurants. we had something that i really cant recall, i was exhausted and hungry and everything was a blur. after dinner we kept walking through the mall then headed back to our place. sleep quickly settled in 

the following morning i felt like a new man. i was well rested and after surviving the tiniest shower in my life, i felt like i could take the world. aron on the other hand was not. aron stands at 6'3 and if the shower was too tiny for me, i could only imagine what kind of cirque de solei moves he had to bust in order to get things properly washed... 

also, i apparently have a snoring problem, which was never that bad but by the morning looks of my travel mates its taken a turn for the worse as...the trip would prove later on.

a cloudy, chilly and now rainy morning greeted us, you mix that with hunger and chemistry tells that you automatically get ramen for breakfast; you just cant disupute the science. and we just so happenned to find thee best ramen spot in kyoto: daiichi asahi.

totally unassuming and a few blocks away from the beehive of kyoto railstation.

we must've gotten there a few minutes after they opened. the patrons were mostly locals, the place was small and intimate with a rectangular kitchen in full view with one cook manning the dull pans sitting on the burners spewing steam like locomotives. put simply, it was the best damn ramen i've ever had. there were no pieces of paper to fill, the only choice to be made was the type of meat you wanted and then it was brought to you. ive never not finished my ramen, in fact i usually order extra but not this time. there was a point when i didnt know if the ramen would end. the broth had a great balance, not too thick and not too thin. the noodles were thin but hearty and had a fresh quality that i really cant describe.

the rest of my eats in kyoto can be described the same way. everything tasted fresh and there really wasnt anything i didnt like.  

after ramen we spent the next 2 days hopping from cab, bus and trains to the many temples and shrines all strewn across kyoto prefecture. brianne, being the planner that she is already had a list of the best temples we should hit like enko-ji, kinkaku-ji, tenryu-ji along with the bamboo forrest, and fushimi inari-taisha just to name a few. every single temple was beautiful in its own respect (my favorite being fushimi-iinari), some more grandiesque than others, but each one had its one serene and tranquil vibe that everyone needs from time to time.  

one thing that you will find yourself doing alot in kyoto, besides the eating of course, is walking. unless you're a baller and have money to spend on cabs from shrine to shrine, temple to temple, it would be wise to buy a local kyoto bus day pass. its not that expensive and they go pretty much everywhere in the city. the local subway does not as we later found out. also, if you're american or if you're using an american debit card, the only places that you'll be able to take out cash will be in two spots: 7-eleven and the japanese post office. 

in short, my stay in kyoto was great. it was sad leaving all of that serenity behind but something tells me that ill be back.  

japan, lets try this again

we're on the last leg of a 48 hour journey across the pacific. in a perfect world brianne, aron and i wouldve been in kyoto having already enjoyed late night sushi over some hot & rich sake. instead, we spent a night in marina del rey at aron's, and the following night in seoul, south korea.

regardless, we're on a flight out to osaka, japan and that's all that matters at this moment. the last time i was in japan things really didn't go according to plan and what was supposed to be a week long trip ultimately became just one night. id like to think of myself a bit wiser this time around with friends that continue to help me grow.

japan: day in t-minus 30 minutes