as promised

As I count down my last few weeks in the great state of Iowa, I figured I should do some traveling here, before assuming I need to travel to the other side of the Earth to find some amusement. I found plenty of adventure this weekend, after traveling to the Maquoketa Caves and squeezing through the tightest spaces I could find (see picture). I was accompanied by Fearless Ravi Sharma, my big brother Chris, and the beautiful girlfriend Chavel Aron. It was a very fun trip and I am very happy that I got to get out and about in a beautiful area of Iowa. The park is very scenic with many boulders, moss, lichens, rivers, and (as the name implies) caves. I suffered quite a few abrasions and uncomfortable situations as I made my way through the few cramped caves at the park, but it was very fun, and the caves offered a wonderfully cool reprieve from the oppressive heat of the outdoors.


Oh, and as promised, here are the pictures of my new birthday presents!

I know the gifts seem to exude a martial aura, but I can assure you they are used in the most playful ways (mostly).

countdown, part II; birthday, part 22

Well, it was my intention to start this blog yesterday, to mark the one-month countdown until my departure to Thailand; instead I will begin my posting today, on my 22nd birthday. On July 7th, 2007, I posted my flight plans, drawn onto the Buckminster Fuller projection with Paint. Supposedly that day was particularly lucky, as it was 7-7-7. I chose the Buckminster Fuller projection because it is my favorite map; it is supposedly the only map to represent the land-masses accurately. It also organizes them in a way so that the viewer can see how they are connected well. Pseudo-Pangaea. Click on the image to get a large version.

Lastly, regarding my birthday celebration: I got a .22 (caliber rifle) for my 22nd. My new boxing gloves are on their way, too. Will post pictures when I get them.

countdown