Battle

This photo was taken in 2009 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Vendors near Songhua Lake

This photo was taken in 2008 near Songhua Lake in Jilin, China. The women in the picture were selling a few fruits and fried fish. Songhua Lake is dammed by the Fengman Dam and the heated water forms a beautiful phenomenon known as rime ice. Jilin hosts the International Rime Ice and Snow Festival every year, which is a celebration that I have been fortunate enough to attend twice.

Joe at 世纪广场

This photo was taken in 2008 at 世纪广场 in Jilin, China. 世纪广场 translates to Century Square. In this picture, Joe Deprey is skating under Chairman Mao. Joe was asked to stop skating so close to the dear Mao Ze Dong by a security guard. Mao appears on every denomination of currency in Mainland China.

Stop and Smell the Roses

This photo was taken in 2008 on the train between Manzhouli and Harbin, China. Sometimes you have to stop to smell the roses. The rose has been used to display love since the ancient Greeks and Romans both used it to symbolize their goddesses of love, Aphrodite and Venus.

Piano Bar in Kumamoto

This photo was taken in 2007 at シャルマンバルール in Kumamoto, Japan. The piano player was quite good and we sang a few songs together. The piano is thought to have been invented around 1700. The word is a shortened form of the Italian word for the instrument, pianoforte.

Aso, Japan

This photo was taken in 2007 in Aso, Japan. The sun is 150,000,000 kilometers, or 93,206,000 miles from Earth. The sun was formed about 4.6 billion years ago when a hydrogen molecular cloud collapsed. The Sun does not have enough mass to explode as a supernova. Instead, in about 5 billion years, it will enter a red giant phase, its outer layers expanding as the hydrogen fuel in the core is consumed and the core contracts and heats up. We will all die. Fortunately, if you're reading this, you have no real chance of being alive in 5 billion years. But, still sad.

Flowers in Jilin

This photo was taken in 2009 in Jilin, China. During my stay in Jilin, the coldest night was -38 degrees Celsius. And yes, that's cold.

That's G

This picture was taken in 2009 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. The Bird's Nest, as it is known, was the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies, athletic events, and soccer finale. For another post and more info on the Beijing National Stadium, click here.

Friendly Fukuoka Pigeons

This photo was taken in 2007 in Fukuoka, Japan. These pigeons were so tame they would eat crackers out of my hand. Pigeons are some of the most amazing navigators in the animal kingdom. A champion racing pigeon can be released 400-600 miles from it's home and return within a day. Studies have been conducted to find out how the pigeon is able to navigate so well, but a solid answer has not presented itself. During one such study, the pigeons were observed following freeways and even changing directions at major junctions. Other theories are that pigeons use the Earth's magnetic field, the sun, or low frequency seismic waves. Whatever the answer, pigeons are fantastic animals.

The View from the Back

This photo was taken in 2008 from the back of a train traveling from Manzhouli to Harbin, China. The ride takes about 15 hours and includes numerous stops throughout Inner Mongolia. It's a stunning trip as you can see the vast grass plains and the traditional yurt homes of Inner Mongolians. A yurt is a portable home made of wood lattice and usually covered in felt made from wool. If you're ever on the train from Harbin to Manzhouli, keep the curtains open and enjoy the scenery.

Harbin, China

This photo was taken in 2008 in Harbin, China. Harbin is the 10th largest city in China with just under 10 million residents. Harbin is sometimes called "The Ice City," both because of the bitterly cold winters(average HIGH temperature in January is -12 C) and because of it's famous Ice Festival. Harbin's Russian influence also makes it unique and it has numerous Russian style cathedrals and an entire shopping street with European style storefronts. Harbin is a city that most travellers would overlooks, but if you plan on going to Manchuria, Harbin is a can't miss.

Kentucky Fried China

This photo was taken in 2008 in Manzhouli, China. Manzhouli is a small border town that is a few kilometers from Russia. But, while Manzhouli may uniquely have a Russian influence, it, like many other cities in China is feeling the influence of The Colonel. A new KFC is built in China everyday! The effects have yet to be fully seen, but I expect as China becomes more wealthy and more fast food places pop up, more obese people will pop up too.

Diamond Ay?

This picture was taken outside of Nha Trang, Vietnam in 2010 and pictured is my friend, Sam. We had a huge rainfall over a period of 4 days and when you get into the mountains, mudslides and falling rocks are frequent. Diamond Bay is a resort about 15 minutes outside of Nha Trang and this sign sits on the cliff face across from the entrance. As we were riding our motorbike out to Bai Dai beach, we noticed a giant boulder had slid down the mountain and crushed the B in Bay. It has since been fixed, but if you're driving through the mountains in Vietnam during rainy season, be careful!

Catholic Church in Kumamoto

This photo was taken in 2007 in Kumamoto, Japan. Despite more than half of Japanese people claiming no religion, religion plays a large part of many people's lives in Japan. While the overwhelming majority of religious Japanese adhere to Shinto, Buddhism, or a mixture of the two, Christianity has a small following in Kyushu where the first Europeans landed in 1542. The Kyushu daimyo(lords) welcomed trade with the Europeans and tolerated their proselytizing. However, when Francis Xavier tried to spread Christianity to the capital, it resulted in the ruling general, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issuing a ban on Christianity and executing 26 Franciscan missionaries in Nagasaki. The ban stood from 1597 to 1873 when the Meiji restoration gave the Japanese freedom of religion. Today Christianity is practiced by between 600,000 and 1,000,000 Japanese.

The Shack at Bai Dai

This picture was taken in September 2011 at The Shack in Bai Dai Beach, Vietnam.  The waves at Bai Dai are wind generated beach breakers and can reach 1-3 meters in the high season of October through April.

Родина-мать зовёт!

This photo was taken in 2008 by Rosie O'Neill near Manzhouli, China. The statue in the picture with me is actually a replica of a famous Russian statue called "The Motherland Calls." The title of this blog entry is the Russian name. The original statue was built in Volgograd to commemorate the Battle of Stalingrad. When it was dedicated in 1967, it was the largest sculpture in the world, standing 86 meters(284 feet) tall. The statue in the photo is obviously much smaller. You can view a picture of the original statue by clicking here.

Kyoto Giant

This photo was taken in 2007 by Cris Cordio in Kyoto, Japan. I am 6'4" or 193 cm tall. The average height for a man age 18-29 in Japan is about 5'6" or 171 cm.

Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome

This photo was taken in 2007 at the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome in Fukuoka, Japan. The Fukuoka Dome was built in 1993 and has a seating capacity of 35,695. Frank Sinatra played his last public concert there in 1994. The stadium is the home of the Nippon Baseball League's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. The Hawks won the Pacific League in 2010, but fell in the Pacific League Final Stage to the Chiba Lotte Marines in 6 games despite holding a 2-1 series lead after 3 games. The Hawks haven't won the Japan Series title since 2003, but have a strong team heading into 2011.

Covered Chairman Mao

This photo was taken in 2009 at Century Square in Jilin, China. The normal skate spot had been largely walled off due to renovations to Chairman Mao's statue for the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009. You can see the statue covered in red(of course!) fabric behind the wall. Century Square's Chairman Mao statue is relatively small compared with ones in other cities I have seen. One must wonder what Chairman Mao would have thought of skateboarding.

Moon Jellyfish

This photo was taken in 2011 at AQWA Aquarium in Perth, Australia. Pictured is a moon jellyfish, a common jellyfish belonging to the genus Aurelia. Ten species, including the moon jellyfish, in the genus Aurelia are so similar that it is impossible to identify differences without genetic sampling. Moon jellyfish lack respiratory, excretory, and circulatory systems. They feed on plankton, using their tentacles to trap and paralyze the small animals while small cilia move the food into the jellyfish's gastrovascular cavity. Little is known about the vitamin requirements of jellyfish, but since they produce digestive enzymes it is reasoned that they can process fats, carbohydrates, and proteins just as most animals can.

Hoa Lo Prison Memorial Garden

This photo was taken in 2009 at Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hoa Lo Prison was used by the French to house Vietnamese revolutionaries and later gained infamy in America as the prison that American POWs sarcastically referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton." The memorial garden is a tribute to all of the Vietnamese who died at the hands of their French captors. The French were exceptionally brutal, keeping Vietnamese prisoners chained to a large, flat table by their ankles then torturing them and executing them by means of the guillotine. The words on the wall mean, "High Indomitable Patience - Eternal Glory."

Penguin Island

This photo was taken in 2011 at Penguin Island in Rockingham, Australia. Penguin Island is home to the largest colony of Little Penguins in Western Australia. Little Penguins are the world's smallest penguins, standing around one foot tall and weighing about two pounds. Little Penguins are only found in Australia and New Zealand with unconfirmed sitings in Chile.

Statues

This photo was taken in 2009 in Xingcheng, China. The two figures on the rock are not people, but statues facing each other. If anyone knows what the statues mean, please fill me in!

North Koreans on the Yalu River

This picture was taken in 2008 in on the Yalu River in Dandong, China. The boat is flying the North Korean colors and appears to be manned by a few soldiers near the bow. Dandong and the North Korean city of Sinuiju are separated only by the Yalu River. One of the main attractions of Dandong is the ability to get close to North Korea. We took a speed boat along the river and near the North Korean shore for 70 yuan or about 11 USD. Also available in Dandong are pictures, posters, pins, and stamps featuring Kim Jong-Il and his father Kim Il-sung.

Hanoi Propaganda

This photo was taken in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2009. The mural is propaganda for the Communist Party of Vietnam, hence the sickle and hammer logo in the top right. Under the mural, the words translate to, "Determination to successfully implement the resolution of the Party." In Vietnam, it is not uncommon to see Communist propaganda on walls near schools, police stations, and public meeting places. Sometimes, the murals feature various workers or students crowded around a teaching Ho Chi Minh.

Bar Xaymaca

This photo was taken in 2007 at Bar Xaymaca in Fukuoka, Japan. Bar Xaymaca is a reggae bar located in the Tenjin district of Fukuoka. The name Jamaica is derived from Xaymaca, an Arawak word meaning "land of wood and water." The bartender pictured here learned English from the bar's owner, who is Jamaican, so despite being Japanese, he had a Jamaican accent.

Lone Boat

This photo was taken in 2010 on Nha Trang Bay in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Nha Trang is a coastal city in southwest Vietnam that is famous for it's beautiful bay. Nha Trang is consistently placed among the most beautiful bays on the entire world. It features clear water, beautiful reefs, and a cable car to Hon Tre Island. There are numerous islands dotting Nha Trang's coastline which are easily accessible by boat. Nha Trang was home to the 2008 Miss Universe Pageant as well as the 2010 Miss Earth Pageant.

The Spectacular Spiderman

This photo was taken by Justin Hedgecock in 2010 on St. Augustine beach, Florida. Spiderman tampered with a black suit between 1984 and 1988, but discovered that it was actually a symbiote alien who desired to permanently bond with him. Eventually, Peter Parker discarded his black suit and it became attached to Eddie Brock, who became Venom in 1988.

Grey Nurse Shark

This photo was taken in 2011 at AQWA Aquarium in Perth, Australia. The grey nurse shark is known as a sand tiger shark in the U.S. and a spotted ragged-tooth shark in Africa. They are the most commonly kept aquarium sharks due to their ability to survive well in captivity. Grey nurse sharks are fierce looking because of their jagged teeth that protrude from their mouths, but they are relatively harmless and will only attack if provoked. The grey nurse shark gulps air into it's stomach to maintain buoyancy. Out of all known shark species, none are known to do this besides the grey nurse.

Joro-gumo

This photo was taken in 2007 in my co-worker's backyard in Kumamoto, Japan. In Japan these spiders are called Joro-gumo, literally 'harlot spider.' The name comes from an old story from the Edo period about a woman who lures men into her home, then turns into a spider and eats them. In western countries this spider is called Nephila clavata and is a member of the golden orb-web spider group. The web of the female Joro-gumo can reach one meter in length. After mating, the female spins her egg sack, which can contain between 500-1500 eggs, and attaches it to a tree.

Geisha or Not?

This photo was taken in 2007 in Kyoto, Japan. Kyoto was the capital of Imperial Japan and was so from 794 until 1868. Upon becoming the capital in 794, Kyoto became home to the Geisha. Also known as Geigi or Geiko, Geisha were originally skilled dancers called Oiran who also provided sex to their patrons. In the 1700's, many Geisha stopped dealing in sex and became exclusively entertainers; mostly actresses, dancers, and musicians. While some Geisha still offered prostitution, Geisha was seen as a respectable and desirable occupation for women. The women in this picture are Japanese tourists who have paid to be dressed and made up as Geisha.

The Leaves of Shin-yabakei

This picture was taken in 2007 at Shin-Yabakei near Nakatsu, Japan. Nakatsu is in Oita prefecture about 60 km from Oita City. The surrounding mountains are known for their beautiful trees which change to all shades of yellow, orange, and red during autumn. Oita prefecture is also home to some of Japan's, and the world's, finest hot springs with Beppu being a particular place of interest. The combination of stunning scenery and friendly people make Oita prefecture a wonderful place to visit while in Japan.

Donkey Cart

This photo was taken in 2009 outside of a restaurant in Manzhouli, China. Donkey pulled carts are not uncommon in China, especially in smaller cities. Many vegetable deliveries are still carried out by local farmers who can't afford cars or delivery trucks and have no other option but a donkey cart. When the donkeys become too old to pull the cart, they are slaughtered and eaten, usually as stuffing for dumplings. Such is the life of the sad, poor beast of burden.

Through the Tinted Glass

This photo was taken in 2009 on the beach in Xingcheng, China. The early Inuit used glasses with a small slit down the middle to reduce the exposure of the sun, however, they didn't decrease the intensity. Sunglasses as we know them have been used since the early 1900's. In 1929, Sam Foster introduced cheap sunglasses to the masses in New Jersey, U.S.A. Foster's brand was called Foster Grant and was sold from a Woolworth's in Atlantic City. Regular use of sunglasses can reduce the chances of getting cataracts, glaucoma, snow blindness, and eye cancer.

Two Girls on a Beach

This photo was taken in 2009 at the former Demilitarized Zone of Vietnam(DMZ). The DMZ is located about 100 kilometers north of Hue and was established at the Geneva Conference of 1954. The DMZ was set at the halfway point and separated the communist controlled Democratic Republic of Vietnam(North Vietnam) and the imperial controlled Republic of Vietnam(South Vietnam.) Troops from either side were not permitted within 5 kilometers of the DMZ line.

Aqua Rocks

This photo was taken in 2010 at Mun Island in Vietnam. Vietnam is home to some of the best diving in Asia. It's clear water and natural coral reefs combined with low costs make it an ideal place to become a certified diver or even a dive instructor.

Objects Farther Than They Appear

This photo was taken in 2009 at our hotel in Beijing, China. Pictured through the peephole is my friend, Stephen Kovaz. In the U.S., a burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds and 34% of burglars come in through the front door. So please, lock your doors and utilize your peepholes.

Pretty Lights

This photo was taken in 2008 from the window of my hotel in Manzhouli, China. China is home to over 12,000 tourist hotels with approximately 1.3 million hotel rooms, or enough to house the entire combined populations of Iceland, The Bahamas, Belize, and Malta. Between 1998 and 2002, the number of tourist hotels in China went from 5782 to 8880, a 54% increase. Hotel prices in China range from well over 1000 USD a night to under 10 USD a night.

Naka River Lovers

This photo was taken in 2007 along the Naka River in Fukuoka, Japan. Fukuoka is home to over 90 love hotels, most of which are located in the Hakata and Tenjin districts. Love Hotels are places where Japanese couples go to get privacy and be intimate. Privacy in the Japanese home can be difficult since many Japanese men, women, and couples live with their parents. The reason for this is the closeness of the Japanese family. Japanese children are expected to care for the parents when they become elderly and having them in the home is the easiest way to provide care. Of course, this is not true for all people, but it is not uncommon to have a family of 3 generations under the same roof.

Tiananmen Square

This photo was taken in 2009 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Present day Tiananmen Square was the result of Chairman Mao's dream that Beijing be home to the largest meeting place in the world. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of The People's Republic of China, a number of important buildings were erected around Tiananmen between 1958 and 1959. These include The Monument to the People's Heroes on the southern side, The Great Hall of the People on the western side, and The Revolutionary History Museum, now called The National Museum of China, on the eastern side. The northern side of the square contains the gate to The Forbidden City.

Ngoc Son Temple

This photo was taken in 2009 at the entrance to Ngoc Son Temple on the northern side of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ngoc Son means 'Jade Mountain' in Vietnamese and was built as a dedication to Tran Hung Dao, a Vietnamese military commander who defeated Kublai Khan's Mongol army twice in the 1280's. The victories over the mighty Khan are considered by military scholars to be one of the greatest military feats in history. To this day, Tran Hung Dao is revered by Vietnamese and has several shrines and temples erected in his honor.

Cows at Mt. Aso

This photo was taken in 2006 at Mt. Aso in Aso, Japan. Cattle roam free around the foothills and mountains of Mt. Aso, which is the largest active volcano in Japan. The central cone group of Aso is made up of five peaks: Mt. Neko, Mt. Taka, Mt. Naka, Mt. Eboshi, and Mt. Kishima. Mt. Naka has the only active crater among the five, but hasn't erupted since 1991.

The Bird's Nest

This photo was taken in 2009 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. It is nicknamed, 'The Bird's Nest' because of the intricate weaving of the 100,000 tons of steel used to construct the outer portion of the stadium. The stadium was used during track and field events and the soccer final of the 2008 Olympics. Since the closing ceremonies, the stadium has been used for soccer primarily, but plans are in the works to turn the stadium into a shopping center and entertainment complex. Upwards of 25,000 people visit the National Stadium per day.

Skating the Great Wall

This photo was taken in 2008 at the Great Wall of China in Dandong, China. The skater in this photo is my friend, Stephen Kovaz. The Great Wall or Chang Cheng, as it is called in Chinese was originally erected to protect China from unwanted visitors and nomadic hordes. Including all of it's branches, the Great Wall is 5500 miles in length and contrary to popular belief is not easily visible from space. The construction of the Great Wall started in 5th century B.C. and various emperors added to the wall until around 1620.

Bai Dai Beach

This photo was taken in 2010 on the road from Nha Trang to Cam Ranh, Vietnam. Bai Dai or Long Beach is a 10 km stretch of beautiful beach just outside of Cam Ranh Airport. Bai Dai is the spot to surf in Nha Trang with swells reaching 4-6 feet and over 8 feet during storms. It's still relatively undeveloped with small food stalls and surfboard rentals available.

Western Australia War Memorial

This photo was taken in 2010 at King's Park in Perth, Australia. This memorial was erected to honor the men of Western Australia who fought and died in World War I. The Australian flag is on the left and the Western Australian state flag is on the right. Australia entered World War I in 1914, 3 years before the Americans declared war on Germany. 421,809 Australians served in World War I and 58,961 were killed in action. At the time, Australia's total population was a little more than 4 million people.

Dom Perignon

This photo was taken in 2007 in Kumamoto, Japan. My student, Kunio, took me and Gen, my co-worker, out to a French Restaurant and I had Dom Perignon for the first time in my life. They served it in etched glasses. Dom Perignon is named after a Benedictine monk and was only produced in 36 of the last 81 years. A bottle of Dom Perignon costs around 110 USD for a 2000 vintage. The same amount of money would buy forty 40 ounce bottles of Miller High Life.

Khai Dinh Tomb

This photo was taken in 2009 at Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue, Vietnam. Emperor Khai Dinh was the 12th Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Khai Dinh only reigned over Vietnam for 9 years (1916-1925) and was an unpopular ruler. He collaborated closely with French occupiers which was the main reason for his unpopularity. He was accused of living in luxury while the average people of Vietnam suffered horribly at the hands of the French. Only 15 years after Khai Dinh's rule was over would Ho Chi Minh become leader of the Vietnamese Independence Movement.

Tigers of Dalian

This photo was taken in 2008 at Tiger Beach in Dalian, China. The Tiger is one of 12 Chinese Zodiac symbols which begin and end based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The most recent Tiger year started on February 15, 2010 and will end on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, preceded by the Ox and followed by the Rabbit. Tigers display the following characteristics: courage, friendliness, hopefulness, impulsiveness, resilience, vanity, disregard, and indecisiveness.

Kickflipping an Ice Block

This photo was taken in 2008 at Century Square in Jilin, China. Skateboarding was introduced in China in the late 1980's and has gained popularity in bigger cities like Beijing and Shanghai. It is estimated that there are 50,000 skateboarders in the country of 1.4 billion. Shanghai is home to SMP Skatepark, which is the world's largest skatepark. SMP is 12,000 square meters in size and contains the world's largest vert ramp and the world's largest concrete skating bowl. China is also the birthplace of the popular skate brands Fly Streetwear and The People's Republic of Skateboarding.