by Calvin Sun | Aug 14, 2011 | Mythbusters, North Korea, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
What trip to Pyongyang would be complete without seeing the structures that represent the very soul of North Korea? We take a look at central Pyongyang and Kim Il-Sung square, the heart of its communist movement and the 16th largest city square in the world. In a way,...
by Calvin Sun | Aug 13, 2011 | Getting that VISA, How Did You Do That?, Let me tell you a Story..., Mythbusters, North Korea, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path, What Dreams May Come
Press play. And then start reading. Well, I just got into the most isolated country in the world without a hitch and I’ll be coming out with a lot of stories. There’s a lot of material to go over in terms of what I’ve seen...
by Stephanie Quan | Aug 7, 2011 | Let me tell you a Story..., Myanmar, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
On my last day in Myanmar, I decided to look up an art gallery I had read about in Smithsonian. The article outlined a series of artists who made art that skirted government censorship; artists who made paintings of women trapped in spiderwebs and lied about the...
by Calvin Sun | Aug 6, 2011 | Let me tell you a Story..., Myanmar, Mythbusters, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
I had to wait until I got out of Myanmar to post this without getting prematurely deported or thrown in jail. I got a small rush writing this while still in the country, but I didn’t want to take my chances before leaving Myanmar for good (as if posting this in...
by Stephanie Quan | Aug 6, 2011 | Cambodia, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
defenses up again. haggling again. sleeping in a building that’s about to be torn down. there’s a rave going on outside. got a massage by a blind person… It may just be the place where I’m staying (by the lake, near a cluster of cheap...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 28, 2011 | Bangladesh, How Did You Do That?, Lessons Learned, Let me tell you a Story..., Mo' Money Mo' Problems, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
I may have spoken too song in singing the praises of Bangladesh. Or maybe it’s because I’m a stupid tourist. …but in my defense, nobody mentioned this in the guidebooks: I learned the hard way today that when you arrive in Bangladesh and take money...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 21, 2011 | Introspection, Let me tell you a Story..., Sri Lanka, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Travel Warnings, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
He seemed stern at first. Upright posture, concentrating on the world around him without giving too much away. He is a special forces commando from the Sri Lankan military. “We’re not allowed to talk about what we do, not even to our wives.” I...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 3, 2011 | India, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
More scenes from our unplanned gueststay at a Kashmiri wedding in nowhere else but Kashmir. Pre-wedding: Getting henna done: As the groom arrives, the balcony and street are flooded with onlookers. The girls are all together off on one side…...
by Calvin Sun | Jul 2, 2011 | Fit for Foodies, India, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
Najia’s Classmate Calvin Sun will arrive in Srinagar soon. Arrives in Srinagar 1st or 2nd July to attend Neelu’s wedding. He will call your Mom/Dad. Give him a place to stay and feed him to fatten him with wazwan. - Najia’s uncle in an email...
by Calvin Sun | Jun 28, 2011 | Community Service, Fit for Foodies, Nepal, Serendipitous!, Summer 2011: From the Middle East to North Korea, Way Way Off the Beaten Path
Before I post up my entry on Everest, I should mention our unexpected detour to Hindu Vidyapeeth (HVP) last night. HVP is a non-profit educational trust that enrolls Nepalese children from regions as far as Myanmar and provides them a quality education and prepares...
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