Wandering Foward

There are so many places around the world that I am dying to see. Whenever I see something online I add it to my list. My list, which is ridiculously long, would take years, if not the rest of my life and longer, to accomplish. Not sure if I will ever manage it, but there are a few places that rise to the top of my list and those I hope to see soon. Here they are, in no particular order.

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

About 40,000 years ago a giant salt lake, probably originally created by the surrounding land being thrust up from the ocean, dried into the largest salt flats in the world. Uyuni is a desert now, with extreme temperatures—freezing at night and scorching during the day. The extreme landscape has amazing vistas and unique algae growths that create colorful red, yellow and green lakes after a rainfall.

Petra, Jordan

Petra is an amazing place. They carved out an entire city from solid rock! There is also some pretty cool science behind how they survived. For one thing there is no water in the area. So they developed a complex system of little channels that collected water from the morning dew and channeled it down into the city where it was kept in underground cisterns.  Being a major crossroads and also having available water meant that Petra was quite powerful during its height. It only collapsed because the trade routes changed.

Xi’an, China

When I first saw a television show about the terra-cotta warriors on National Geographic I knew that I had to see them. What I find absolutely amazing about them is that they are all unique—not one of them is duplicated—and there are several hundreds of them (all life-size!). Perhaps even more interesting is the possibility of an underground tomb of the First Emperor. Supposedly it contains a replica of the then known world with stars made of jewels and oceans made of mercury (which would produce a highly poisonous gas making excavation difficult).

Madagascar

Not the movie, but the island nation off the eastern coast of Africa. Madagascar is one of those places that has very unique flora and fauna. From baobab trees to lemurs, Madagascar has a lot interesting natural sites to see. They have everything from rain forests to deserts, not to mention beautiful beaches that are relatively unvisited.. Unfortunately, slash and burn farming techniques are doing a great deal of damage, but the current president seems to be trying to expand protected areas.

Easter Island, Chile

Why did the people of Easter Island decide to build giant monolithic statues that weigh over 40 tones? It’s an interesting question that has yet to be answered. The island is alliterative with the statues and how and why they were built-in the topic of major scientific debate. For me, I just want to see them. After all, Easter Island is the most remote place on Earth. There is no other place that it is as far from a mainland or another island than Easter Island. The mystery of how and why the statues were built, along with the isolation of Easter Island, makes it that much more interesting.

Great Barrier Reef

The sad thing about the Great Barrier Reef is that it is disappearing… rapidly. With the destruction of the coral from illegal fishing, coral bleaching, and coral collection, scientists estimate that the Great Barrier Reef will be gone in about 20 to 30 years (maybe sooner). I really want to see it before it is gone for good. I love to dive and I think most divers would agree, the Great Barrier Reef is the pinnacle of diving.

Amazon Rain Forest

Another amazing place is the disappearing Amazon rain forest. The Amazon rain forest is being destroyed by illegal logging, road building that is spreading pests and disease, and slash and burn farming that continues to encroach on the forest. The sad thing about losing the Amazon rain forest will not only be the loss of a beautiful place, but also the loss of potential life-saving drugs from plant and animal species yet discovered.

Socotra, Yemen

Perhaps the number one place that I want to visit, yet the least accessible, is Socotra. You might think that it would be Antarctica or the Amazon Rain Forest, but because of politics Socotra is. Socotra sits right off the coast of the Arabian Peninsula and has a long history of political problems. Nonetheless, there is arguably no other place on earth with such a unique ecosystem that looks like it could be from a science fiction movie.

Jellyfish Lake, Palau

Jellyfish Lake is simply cool because it’s so unique. There’s really nothing else like it in the world. About 12,000 years ago rising sea water filled the lake. The salt eventually was removed through rain and streams, leaving the jellyfish in freshwater. Without any predators, over time they lost their stingers and now are completely safe to swim with. The jellyfish have algae in them that produce their food. They rise to surface during the day for light and at night go to the nitrogen-rich bottom to fertilize them. It’s a perfect symbiotic relationship.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Although known locally, Machu Picchu was not discovered by archeologists until 1911. It was built most likely as a summer residence (though some think it is religious) during the time of the Spanish Conquest, but remained undisturbed because the Spanish did not know if its existence. The technology used to construct it is really impressive. Scientists are just now discovered a complex construction and drainage system that has prevented Machu Picchu from literally sliding down the mountain side.

Antarctica

While technically not as remote as Easter Island, it certainly seems like Antarctica would be. As with most of the places I want to visit, Antarctica is changing rapidly and not for the better. The natural balance is being upset by global warming, with ice shelves melting away and massive habitat changes that are threatening animals that live there. There is talk of stopping or severely limiting tourism to Antarctica, but that is not likely to really change the situation. There are few visitors and the real threat is from the massive amounts of carbon being dumped in the atmosphere.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world still remaining, the pyramids have fascinated people for thousands of years. The sheer size of them makes them an impressive engineering marvel (no, it wasn’t aliens that built them). Interestingly, I read an article recently about new pyramids being found through Google Earth. You would not think we would miss a couple of giant pyramids, but it seems we have.

Bonus: Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A wonder in its own way, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is probably the future of tourism the way things are going. So many natural wonders are being destroyed that all that will be left is the debris of modern society. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the Fresh Kills of the Pacific Ocean, the place where all the trash thrown into the oceans has collected over the years due to ocean currents. It is made up of plastic, chemical sludge and trash, killing many animals every year. Don’t worry if you are not near the Pacific Ocean, the Indian and Atlantic Oceans have their own too!

What places are at the top of your list? Share them in the comments below.

Ever notice just how much people want to improve their lives and increase their happiness? This seems to be everyone’s burning desire. It is even written into the Constitution (you know, that old piece of paper you have no idea what it says)!

Being an interesting person and living a full and happy life is not that difficult. The problem is the average person does not make much effort… at anything. They just want a simple solution. They don’t take action and when they do they don’t persist. Just by doing something and sticking with it you are way ahead of everyone else. Remember that.

If you are one of those people that actually wants to be successful, happy and live a fulfilling life, well that’s just peachy! This list is for you.

1. Don’t waste your time

You have far more time on your hands than you realize, but you probably waste it watching TV, playing video games, surfing the web, and other mindless activities. We all need some downtime and we all have things we enjoy, but when those activities consume an inordinate amount of your time it’s a waste. Six hours a day of TV is ridiculous. Use your time for something productive.

2. Be intellectually curious

Use your time to learn, grow and explore. Read books (classics and new), learn a new language, read the newspaper (the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal), or explore an arcane topic—think of all the people you can entertain at parties with your knowledge of the 19th century Italian cardinal Mezzofanti. If you don’t know something, don’t just shrug—go find the answer!

3. Keep learning

I hope you didn’t listen to the stupid bullshit about university not being worth while. It is and a university degree is the best investment you can make in a good life. Even though you might be done with university, don’t stop learning. Keep studying. In fact, pick something and become an expert. Read Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers. Actually, just read everything by him (and Bill Bryson while you’re at it).

4. Start your personal development

Self help books might be cheesy sometimes, but some of them are quite helpful. Read Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. It’s a bit dated, but a classic. Find others about business, finance, happiness, and so on, and read them or get the audio book version. Your personal development and growth is important.

5. Be polite

If you are from the West Coast like me, using sir and mame is not all that common, but you should use them. They will distinguish you from the common rabble. Always say please and thank you. Those two words have so much power and are so rarely used. Just listen, you will notice that people don’t use them. Ask them and they will tell you they did, but they didn’t. Being polite and courteous will make people like you and notice you.

6. Remember names

People are very attached to their names. Make it a habit to remember names. When you use someone’s name, they immediately perk up. They will remember you, and fondly too, because you showed interest in them by remembering their name.

7. Don’t waste your money

Do you really need the latest fashions? Do you need the entire CD, or will one song be enough? Can you find it somewhere else for free? Chances are you can do without a lot of shit. My little trick: wait a week and if I still want it, then I get it. Whatever you do, do not buy a new car. If you smoke or buy coffee daily, stop. (for your health and your wallet—make coffee a once or twice a week treat, but no more). My point: don’t succumb to the consumption culture, it only brings you down.

8. Save

Save at least 10% of your earnings, more if you can, and do not touch it! Create a free Sharebuilder account (Roth IRA or regular brokerage account), and have your savings automatically invested. Choose index funds (say, 40% in a S&P index fund, 40% in a small cap fund, and 20% in a foreign index). If you don’t know what any of this means, then look it up! You should know about this shit.

9. Pay cash

Credit cards are way to easy to abuse. Don’t get stuck in the debt cycle. Just pay with cash. Pull out what you need and when it runs out, you are done. The only exception to this buying big ticket items when your credit card offers some purchase protection and extended warranties. In that case, literally go home, log into your bank account, and pay the credit card in full that day.

10. Exercise regularly

Maybe you are young with a smoking hot bod, but don’t take it for granted. Trust me, when you are older you will wish that you had kept an exercise routine. Not only does exercise make you look and feel good, but it also improves mental acuity. Going for a walk, job, playing sports, whatever are good. Stay active.

11. Don’t sit around

Our bodies were not made for sitting. If you sit for 8 hours a day, it will kill you. Even if you are working out. If you can’t get a standing desk or a big ball for a “chair” then get up and walk around for 15 minutes every hour or so. Sitting is one of the worst things you can do, so avoid it as much as possible.

12. Eat well

Read Food Rules by Michael Pollan and then follow them. Basically, make vegetables and fruit your primary source of food. Limit meat and dairy. If the food comes in a package, don’t buy it. If you can’t pronounce all of the ingredients or don’t know what they are, don’t buy it. If the first five ingredients contain sugar or salt (learn the terms for these on ingredient lists), don’t buy it.

13. Meditate

Meditation provides clarity of thought, relaxes you, and improves your physical and mention health. This has all be verified by science. Spend a few minutes meditating every day. Trust, the benefits are noticeable and wonderful.

14. Have a moment, then get back at it

We all hit rough patches in life. That’s just part of how it works. It is normal to have moments when we are sad, when we lack faith in our abilities, lose direction, and so on. Bad things happen to us and those that we love. The tick is to not let yourself get caught up in this. You can’t change it, so get back on the train and move yourself forward.

15. Persistence is the secret

Successful people are persistent. Even when things don’t look their best, they stick with it. They don’t give up. Things usually look their worst just before they get really awesome.

16. Have values and don’t compromise them

It is important to have values and not compromise. You should believe in something and stand for it. Values are not necessarily opinions, so don’t confuse the two. Your values set a benchmark for how you approach life. Don’t be afraid to rethink them or challenge them, but don’t compromise on them if you truly believe in them.

17. Maintain your integrity

Similar to your value, integrity is about remaining consistent—being consistent in your actions, values and principles. In other words, walk the talk. People don’t like hypocrites, liars or people who stand for nothing.

18. Have goals

Make a list of goals and develop a 5 year plan, 1 year plan, and a 6 month plan to realize them. You won’t do it all, but you should try. Circumstances will change, though you should make every effort to fulfill your goals. Most importantly, write your goals down pn a physical piece of paper and review them daily. Print them out and have them on your desk or posted on the fridge. Revisit them regularly, updating them as needed.

19. Make a bucket list

You should have a list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket. Some people like to call these life lists. I don’t care what you call it, just have one. Use your imagination. There is a huge world out there with some many amazing things to see and do. Make your list, find ways to do what is on it, and keep adding to it.

20. Don’t be afraid to fail

Failure is the best lesson in life. Everyone fails, so what? It is not the end of the world. You will learn a lot and be better next time. Being afraid to try something new because you are worried you might not succeed is just foolishness. You learned to be afraid, otherwise you would never have been able to walk because you would have been to afraid to try it.

21. Avoid being conventional

There is no reason you have do things the same way as everyone else. Try a different path. Hell, make a new path. Conventional people are boring and limit themselves. Who is more interesting: the guy next door who goes to work every day and comes home and sits on his couch watching TV or Kathy Griffen? Be anything but conventional!

I’m not talking about gay guys. I’m talking about a different fruit. The sweet kind! Oh, that was a great double entendre! Thailand should be known as the land of fruit, for many reasons, but mostly because of the amazing fruit that available everywhere. They have so many different kinds, it is absolutely wondrous.

Thai vendors push around carts with fresh fruit they will cut up and hand to you for less than 35 cents. They have the common fruits that most people are familiar with. Watermelon is always available year round. They have every possible mango, with a preference for sour green mangos that they dip in a hot chilli sauce. Papaya is another common fruit as well. They will even have regular apples on occasion (not from Washington state, alas).

What really makes Thai fruit so amazing is the variety. The push cart vendors have a wide variety, but if you visit a market you will be amazed and overwhelmed by what is available. Some of them I have never seen or heard of before, and many I had trouble finding out what their English names where. Here are 10 common fruits in Thailand (that I happen to love) that you have probably never had or even heard of before.

Noi Na (Sugar Apple or Custard Apple)

Noi na is a very, very sweet fruit. It has a lumpy green skin that is easily picked off, with a white pulpy flesh inside (there is another version where the skin doesn’t come off so easily). I had one for the first time very recently. After eating just one fruit I felt like I had scarfed down a giant piece of cake, it was that sweet. Though my friend insists this is not the case, I have heard that the Thai will mix the fruit with coconut mix and make an ice cream from it. I can believe it–it certainly is sweet enough.

Lam Yai (Longan)

Lam yai is similar to lychee. The outside is brown or tan, and slightly tough, yet flexible. The flesh is sweet and moist with a big seed in the center. I tend to eat them by breaking the skin with my teeth (it can actually make a little snapping noise sometimes) and slurping out the goodness. They are usually sold by the bunch at fruit stands everywhere, and especially at the markets.

Ngoh (Rambutan)

Rambutan is a “hairy” fruit that you break open and eat. The inside is similar to a lychee also, and just as sweet. There is a big seed in the middle that you have to spit out. Really ripe ngoh are very sweet and juicy. I’ve never seen them anywhere in Thailand, but there is a sour version that I actually like a little better—it tastes like sour patch kids. I ate that right from the tree every day when I was at Mulu National Park in Borneo.

Kaeo Mangkon (Dragon Fruit)

Dragon fruit, or to translate the Thai, dragon crystal, is a somewhat tasteless fruit in my opinion. It’s slightly sweet and loaded with little black seeds. It comes is a crazy fluorescent pink and a plain white. Dragon fruit is nice to eat, but I think people like it more for the way it looks than the way it tastes. Though it is quite common in Thailand, so I could be wrong.

Mankoot (Mangosteen)

Mankoot, or the mangosteen, is everywhere in SE Asia. They have started popping up in the US a specialty super markets, but are still rather uncommon and expensive there. In Thailand they are inexpensive and tasty. You simply break open the deep purple skin and eat the white fleshy fruit inside. Yummy!

Chompoo (Rose Apple)

Chompoo, or the Rose Apple, is one of my favorites. It is actually similar in texture to a regular apple—crispy and dripping when you bite into it.  However, chompoo are not very sweet. That is why I like them. Most SE Asian fruit can be rather sweet almost to point of being overwhelmed, so the Rose Apple is a nice break from that. Besides, they are rather beautiful color with a shiny skins, and have an interesting deep curve in the bottom. Many people say they look like bells.

Maprang (Plum Mango)

The first time I ate a plum mango, they ladies that were offering them to me kept saying maprang. I had no idea what that meant and even though they tasted great, I was a little worried about eating a fruit that I had no idea about. Turns out they are rather common and they grow everywhere. They are actually related to the mango and taste just a good.

Lamut (Sapodilla)

Lamut is not actually Thai. It’s originally from Mexico and was brought to the Philippines by the Spanish and from there it spread. The Thai seem mixed on this fruit. Some like it and others not really, but it is readily available and is even on the push carts when it is in season. Lamut tastes just like caramel so I love it.

Salak (Snake Fruit)

I first has snake fruit in Indonesia. The Thai version is just as good. The skin literally looks like snake’s skin, brown and shiny with what appear to be almost scales. The similarity is striking, but it ends there. Once you peel the thin skin away and get at the sweet white flesh there is no confusing salak for a snake.

Durian

Everyone in SE Asia loves Durian. And I mean LOVES it. People outside of SE Asia, if they even know about it, think this fruit is awful. Durian smells bad. There is not getting around it. I think the best way to describe the smell is a combination of rotting fruit and dirty socks, times 10. If you can get past the smell, the taste is actually really good. The yellow flesh you nibble off of large seeds reminds me of custard.

If you are ever in Thailand, trying the fruit is a must. Some of looks rather strange and you might not know how to eat it, but its worth trying it and figuring it out. Most of it is really good and, fortunately, easily available and ready to eat from the fruit carts.