It's funny to look through this blog and see how it's transformed over the 3+ years that I've been writing. It started out as me standing on a soapbox, ranting about my life and the wonders of the universe, and it has transformed into a travelers blog. Ironically enough, "Why I'm Here..." is still a suitable name for the blog; although, some would argue that I should change it to "Why am I HERE?!".
I started this blog because I was staring at a computer screen all day with no one to talk to. Back then, I really had way too much time on my hands to think about the mysteries of life, and as I go back and read some of my old entries, there's no way that the married, Singaporean Chad today could/would say some of those things. My life and views have changed so much since Oklahoma that it's hard to empathize with the weirdo that once wrote an ode to his coffee.
Don't get me wrong, I still love my God, my mother, and my coffee, I still cringe at the thought of babies, and I still have the reading (listening) level of an 8th grade girl. But it would be interesting to go back and take some of the same topics that I wrote about in 2009, and write about them in my present frame of mind. The posts wouldn't be near as long or in depth, that's for sure. These days, I never have time to sit and write, but I really have nothing interesting to say anyways, so I guess it doesn't matter.
Anyways, like I said, always moving and no time.
Tra and I are doing great. She loves her job; Polo has been really good to her in Singapore. I am still always going somewhere new or extreme, and occasionally she will get to join me in my travels for a weekend. We have a melting-pot of friends ranging from Americans, Aussies, Europeans, Indians, and of course, plenty of Asians. This weekend we are going to an Indian/Chinese wedding in Cebu, Philippines, and we will be attired in full Indian formal wear; it's going to be awesome!
Here are a few photos from my recent travels...
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| You can write on the Great Wall, right?... |
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| Earning brownie points at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing |
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| Hanging out at the Emperor's Summer Palace in Beijing |
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At a customer dinner
in Beijing. These little fellas are still alive and trying to get off their
skewers. Bleh!
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In Shanghai with
one of my salesman, Harry. He's a happy person.
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| At a medicine shop in Guangzhou, China - Penis Cervi and Deer Placenta Cream. All natural! |
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| The beautiful lights of Tokyo, Japan. |
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| Japanese think of everything. A "Flushing Sound" in the public restrooms for the nervous pooh-er. |
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| Bay view of Vung Tau, Vietnam. A beautiful island off the coast of Ho Chi Minh City. |
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| In Vietnam, you close your eyes and cross the street. There are very few crosswalks and motorcycles will run you over |
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| The tallest building in the world; the Burj Khalifa in Dubai |
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| About to do a little cave exploration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the Mrs. |
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| Monkeys just monkeying around at the caves. Tra wouldn't get close enough to take a pic with them. |
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| Hanging out on the roof tops of Hong Kong |
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| Jello Needles in the alleys of Hong Kong with Karen and Danny. They're actually the happy couple getting married in Cebu this weekend! |
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| I had to endure a golf tournament in Bali, Indonesia last week for work. Just hideous views. |
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| I had to listen to this one complain the whole trip as well. Look at that angry face; she has such a tough life. |
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| Lastly, the golf tournament required us to attend a lavish banquet one evening and get fancy, so we obliged. |
