So there I was, IN the Forbidden City...

China is grappling with capitalism to be sure and no where is that more apparent that on my recent visit to the Forbidden City. Sure it was the emperor's palace for over 600 years but after Chm. Mao and his little red book swept through China, there was little need for an emperor or his house. Then it was thrown open for a visiting dignitary followed by the Chinese people and has been toured ever since.

The disrepair of a palace over 600 years isn't insignificant but it wasn't totally ignored the whole time either. Never mind the fact that it was built out of sandal wood and there is NO MORE left in China so they are importing it from India...

And despite the fact that all the signs are 'sponsored' by American Express, there is a STARBUCKS inside the FORBIDDEN CITY. Now, like many American's, I have gone to a $tarBucks once or twice (a week!) but I can't really vilify the company. Their product is not the best coffee (see Pete's for that in a chain) but it IS consistent. I have tried AND TRIED and now am TIRED of trying the 'local' coffee house only to have nasty espresso poured into my drink time and time again.



But I digress - Chinese party members are not happy about the location of choice but they are happy to collect the rent to help pay for the repair bill on the palace. They really have no problem with Starbucks in general - they don't have 'local' coffee houses to be fearful of the 'scourge' of this espresso pouring monster. What this store does represent is AMERICANA in the middle of a very old heritage (a heritage they were told to not like for the past 60 years...) and that stings a bit.

But I think its more that this is a perfect mirror for what the entire country is starting to wake up to - Communism doesn't pay, capitalism does, but where does that leave room for a Communist Government? If you embrace capitalism but your government didn't collapse (like it did in the USSR) and it still is the governing body with the same little red book from Mao, how do you parse their message while counting all your RMB (yuan)?

Anyway, it might get booted out but China needs money, it needs it in all forms, and the problem of Capitalism versus Communism (these are opposing ideologies after all) isn't going away. An aging infrastructure, a world coming to your doorstep in a little over a year - the pressure to look your best is at its highest. And with over 1 BILLION copies of the little red book printed, you can't add a chapter without anyone noticing...

HOME - (almost) but in transit as I type this

Ok, so the first trip around the world is done. All that's left is actually flying home but I am on the part of the journey as I write this! YEAH and there was much rejoicing.

I gotta say, as grand as it was to actually circumnavigate the globe, and even a personal goal of mine (before 40, mark this DONE), it is time to go home. Its amazing, I used to be able to travel and never worry or even think of home - but that was loooong ago and without Maddie at home. Now that she is there along with Jill and the boys - seesh - home IS where the heart is - I GET THAT NOW.

Funny how life throws you some curves and it actually makes things BETTER than they were. Anyway, I appreciate all of you who have stopped by during this trip. I should have a few more photos and a political blog or two out of this trip coming up but for now, I need to rest with my family.

Where in the World is Raleigh? - Dublin, Ireland today

Today I am in Dublin, Ireland on the tail end of this very long trip. How long you ask?

Anyway, its been great fun and interesting challenges along the way. I know now exactly how Bill Murray was feeling in "Lost in Translation" and no, not for the Sydney portion of the trip :-P

So bear with me as I update this blog less frequently as I am working hard in Dublin, but do check my picassa pics for some updates there. Most of the pictures from China and Bali have comments for your reading pleasure.

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper -copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

The trip continues...back in Singapore for a few hours

I am blogging from the Singapore airport. Normally I would be walking around, especially after a 7 hour flight and before another 8 hour flight but this airport has seen enough of me and I it for these past two weeks. This is the third time in 9 days I have been here. Plenty of shopping to be had but nothing spectacular deal wise.

I do like the noodle house (Chen Fu Ji) on the third floor near the 7-11 where I had a breakfast of champions last time:

Yes, Charlie is on the trip with me, if you don't know don't ask but he's been all over the globe on my treks courtesy of Maddie and Christmas 2003. Some dim sum there, tiger beer (which I am growing to like a lot with spicy food), green onion cakes and some scheziuan chicken. Avoiding airline food is my first priority, except when I land in China. Then it will be to find Pizza Hut and McDonald's as I am fearful of the 'food' I may be served could be tainted with seafood and then where will I be?

Anyway, nothing cool to say except check out the photos from Sydney over in picassa and expect some from China depending on internet access and how many people in that country are currently playing WoW.

If you haven't looked in a while, check out my picassa pics

Sorry such a short blog but check out the pics over at the picassa web album (link over there on the right hand side). I have updated the pictures (a bit) from the Bali-Sydney portion of my trip. Especially love the bats, no one told me there would be bats. And yet, here they are, freakin A HUGE and as all get out.

Also, check out the Hungry Jack photo - recognize the font/logo? It's Burger King to you and me but as Mikey already told me, there was a Burger King down under long before this one tried to show up - courts ruled in his favor.

Last, since I haven't blogged about it - you gotta get a sling box. I have been able to watch my favorite shows, right off the DVR (or live if I wanted) remotely from 16,000 miles away. Killer! I setup the sling box pro and presto - remote viewing of all my stuff.

With that, I bid you g'night from Down Under.

G'Day from Down Under!

So after Singapore (two stop overs, 12 hours) and Bali (three days only) I am now in Sydney. I gotta say its a lot like San Francisco but with less traffic and more heat (and sun). The people here are super nice and the clothes and almost everything else, super expensive - everything but housing seems high.

I have some pics of the opera house but I currently can't pull them off the camera - gorgeous building let me tell you. The harbor - called Darling Harbour (oddly enough, pronounce it as if you were from Maine and Long Island and you'd have the local way down pat!) is quite pervasive, its everywhere and anything of value is near it.

Anyway, gotta go for a walk-about (:-P) and will post some pics and a day or two. Any suggestions on where I should go, just holler.