The pollution is real and not many speak English. We found our way by pre-writing the characters before setting out anywhere and then shoving it in people's faces. Always with the utmost respect of course, gracious bow included - but yes, many an innocent bystander fell victim to our paper-holding-charade-game we called life.
Vietnam was like stepping through a portal into backpacker frenzialand. Suddenly menus existed, in English, and buses CAME TO YOU! Unfortunately it rained throughout all of our time in the north. One day we decided to "get some culture" (mcnabb will understand...) by seeing the traditional artwork of water puppetry. Whatever you may think, it was RAD. McNabb and that other girl am have slept through the whole thing, but I can attest, it was awesome. There were lights, a crazy amount of puppets, a live orchestra, AND water effects! I mean, super cool.
While there are many highlights from both china and Vietnam, my memory has been marredby, McNabb's graceful bow out of the 'Great Pan Asia Hop Skip and Jumpathon.'. Therefore I have this to offer:
An Ode to McNabb:
If I knew how to write one, I would. So in its place I will.create a list - annotated at times.
1. Remember when I was blacklisted by the European Union?
* don't worry mom and dad I just switched up my passports. No broken laws!
2. Remember Sean? And his affinity towards gingers?
*1st couchsurfing host, private accordion concert
3. The fish fry after scrambling to the top of that waterfall?
4. Camping? Haha and that bug?
5. "Camping" in Shannon's backyard and telling his host family we had a tent? We did not.
6. Holger the jolly German who took us to the border?
7. Border guard,"why you go to Kazakhstan?". Me, "Because I'm Ghengis Khan!"
8. Totally weird and unbearably hot Azerbaijan?
9. The sing-a-long?
10. McNabb, "no, we can one more. I see you have landslide."
11. The day of tea?
12. Michael Jackson cargo-boat dance party?
13. Khalid?! Bahahaha, I should marry that man. Kidding, obviously....
14. Sleeping at the port in Kazakhstan?
15. That redicilous train raise to Uzbekistan?
*40 men, 1 open compartment, 24 hours?
*the camels on the horizon? Verbaloot or something in Russian right?!
16. Filip telling us he's French Nd how much America stinks?
* how riled up we were in our little floor beds?
17. Sleeping at Mobijan's? And those French girls not telling us we'd be sleeping on the floor? Haha
18. Meeting Filip again and realizing what a fantastic Belgien he is?
19. Karaoke in Bishkek?
20. Entering China, then immediately loosing our bus??!
21. Gisev Valley- the homestay, bridge, and lake?
22. Read-aloud time?
23. How fantastic the circus performer's hous was?
24. Tradition dancing at the anniversary party in Tanikistan?
25. Our presence being legitimized by rutiera driver at said party?
26. Bun Cha? White rose? Hachipore? Kinkali? Peking duck?
27. Mirror dancing at the club in Baku?
28. Your birthday?
*finally using those candles??
29. Astana and the world's biggest tent?
30. Those amazingly warm best-beds in frozen Murgab?
31. Thank hunky hitch-hike we got in Armenia?
32. "you drink beer?" "you drink wine?" "you drink kyumus?"
33. "do you want some vodka? No, but you're Russian and eating pickles?"
34. Trying to climb over Tim's security door?
35. Your awesomeness, sweet high kicks and side buns, kayaking skills and dance moves?
There are so many more I could list, but fear my iPod would crash. Good luck with your interviews and remember, you are always welcome to rejoin!
PS- we should have seen coolio in Kazakhstan.
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