Oregon, here I come and why NWA sucks

Hello campers!

I am in the last 36 hours before I make the trek to Oregon. Packing is going slowly as I'm not entirely sure what to bring. I'm thinking a backpack and medium sized suitcase ought to do it but I can't shake the feeling that I'm going to leave something either important, necessary, or usefull behind. I went to the doctor this week to get some antibiotics and sleeping pills and ended up coming away with two different sets of antibiotics, de-worming medicine, and no instructions on when to use either. Plus, the stupid doctor said I wouldn't need sleeping pills. Something tells me that the 9-12 hour time differences yet to be encountered might disagree. But she was probably right to keep them out of my hands seeing as I would have immediatley downed half the pills with a bottle of whiskey. I mean come on, isn't that how they work???

Now while the lack of sleeping pills is surely an inconvience and delay (there are other doctors in the sea), the recent change of my flight by NWA has me steamed. For the second time in 7 months, they have cancelled my 10:30 AM flight and rescheduled for 7 AM. 7 AM isn't all that bad but when you consider I have to be up at 4 AM to make my flight, that really grinds my pickle. Add on a 700+ dollar price tag, an hour on the phone to confirm my flights, and the added layover hours and I'm really hoping someone other than NWA flys to Klamath Falls sometime soon. I have had nothing but bad experiences with NWA. At least it's a different airline to Asia!

Received my travel backpack in the mail a couple of weeks ago and have to say I'm liking it more and more. While it's a little bulky, it's also lightweight and comfortable. Here are a couple of video links showing what the bag is made for:

http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/pacsafe_daysafe_outside_150.wmv

http://www.corporatetravelsafety.com/Daysafe_security_dsl.wmv

I've also added a link to my friend Jeremy's blog. He's spending the summer in Senegal and always has witty and intelligent things to say. Sometimes. Well, on occasion. He really tries!

peace out, yo.

Matt gets hit on by a gay guy

Oh man.

Oh jeez.

Wow.

Oh boy.

huh....

Tonight didn't exactly happen as planned. Though, I really didn't really have a plan. But if I did, it wouldn't involve anal sex. I don't really want to be crude or "non-asian" in this blog, but geez, what a night!

So I played another 4 hours gig at Schubergs tonight and I decide to hang out afterwards. So I'm talking to Kyle about life (the female manager) and she has to go to work. So I start to talk to this guy, Jerry (or maybe terry or barry or carrey or fairy or gary or larry or mary or perry or query or terry or wary or don't go near me) this guy from Ireland who seems cool. He wants to go to a bar down the street and hang out and I barely so yes. why...

I don't have gadar. I don't believe in gadar. But I do believe in intentions. In a predominantly heterosexual culture, you should really make sure that you are clear in your homosexual intentions. Dude did not.

It's actually kind of funny. In a "I didn't get my ass raped" kind of way. The guy kept wanting to buy me drinks but I said I had to drive. Dude didn't seem to care. He wanted me drunk. I kept saying no thank you but he still bought. I didn't drink but he kept buying. I've had many friends do the same thing so I thought, it's cool. He's just a drinker. He grabbed my hand and kissed it. He's European... It wasn't until I said I had to go and he said "my place or yours."

uh..............dude.................I'm going home.

I left. I got home. I sighed and laughed a little. I felt a little a bad. Can you imagine trying to meet a homosexual man in the middle of nowhere? But trying to get a dude drunk and then take him home is not cool.

The point of this is this:

Matt = oblivious

I think gay people are great. Just not when they are trying to get into my pants.

The "no-chance-in-hell" hat

Greetings all. Not that much new to report. Just ticking off the days until I leave Michigan and the US.

Do you remember the list of items I posted last time? Well, I haven't actually received all of said items. I have most but a few are still on the way. Should all be here by Wednesday (or say the good people of ups.com.) Here's what arrived this afternoon:

waterproof pants
spf 30 nylon long-sleeve shirt
bug repellent sun hat

The waterproof pants are pretty cool. They fit into a tiny pouch about the size of a bicycle water bottle. I put my cell phone in the picture for scale.



The shirt is a little big and not that exciting BUT the hat! Ah yes, the hat. I knew it would look a little dorky but what the hell, it would keep bugs and the sun off. Maybe the first clue was the use of the word "unisex" in the description. Here is both the first AND last time you will ever see me in this hat.



This is why the hat was on sale. I knew it was too good a deal. Maybe if I didn't get blue. I think it's the pastel blue that's the problem. And the bill is floppy. I look like a frickin character right out of the old Strawberry Shortcake cartoon. If only I was a gay gardener...

So now I need a new hat. No more catalog ordering on this one, I'm going to a backpackers store and find the Charles Bronson of hats and replace whatever memory the "no-chance-in-hell" hat has scarred on my brain.

The beginning

Hello all and welcome to what is sure to be a spectacular blog. First, I must give credit to Mr. Jeremy Kenyon for convincing me this was a good idea. Jeremy is headed off to Africa (again) for the summer and thought a blog would be a good way to let people know what was going on and document his trip. I am following his lead and will be doing the same. I tend to forget most things that happen so hopefully this will serve as my memory.

For those of you who don't know what I am about to embark upon, I am spending roughly 3 and a half weeks in Asia. I will be in Japan for a little over a week and in China for two. I am happy to say I will be joined by my father and this will be our first trip to Asia. I have never been overseas and am looking forward to seeing all the sights, meeting all the people, and getting out of my comfort zone. I am not looking forward to wierd food, extremely high temperatures, and lots of insects (though Michigan has proven to have all three.) We don't leave untill July 10th and there is still plenty left to do. To catch you up to speed (and to serve as a checklist) here is a list of what's been taken care of so far:

Passport
Chinese visa
Waterproof shoes
Theftproof backpack
Sun hat
Adventure pants
Adventure shirts
Adventure socks
Water purifier bottle
Waterproof jacket
Camera

That's all I can think of right now. I would love for those of you who have traveled overseas to tell me what else I need. Any good luggage for having to move all the time? How much do I actually need to bring? Is anyone actually reading this???

As this is summer, I actually have the time to spend on blogging. I will be sure to share even the tiniest minutia that is my Asian Adventure. Oh, any good underwear for a trip like this?

XXOO,

Matt