I made it! All in one carry-on backpack! ...with a smaller waist pouch for some extras (:

With a combination of tightly rolling fabric (towel, clothing) and buying small things to start with ("travel-sized" stuff, roll-less duct tape), I made a TON of stuff fit into a very manageable bag. I'm going to wear the big stuff (sneakers, jeans, jacket) on the plane. I hope they aren't too strict with the knives and extra liquids at the airport (they never seem to notice)!

ACTUALLY IN MY BAG:

Clothing:
-(1) jeans
-(1) "khakis"
-(1) black stretchy pants
-(3) black REI performance shirts
-(1) white REI performance shirt
-(1) maroon tank top
-(1) teal t-shirt
-(2) button-down shirts
-blue rain jacket
-scarf
-bandana
-little black dress
-blazer from moab
-bathing suit
-(10) wonderful, non-quick-dry cotton underwear
-(1) bra
-(1) faux sports bra
-(4) pairs of socks
-(3) sleeping tshirts
-hiking sneakers
-green/brown/black tevas

Tools:
-roll-less duct tape (200 ft)
-led headlamp w/ 2 AAA batteries
-compass
-heavy string
-needle + thread
-safety pins
-rubber bands
-flat sink plug
-bamboo spork
-compressed sponge
-ziplock bags
-4 gal. plastic bags
-(2) swiss army knives (corkscrew, scissors, knife, file...)
-door stop
-collapsible water cantene (48 oz)

Health + Hygiene + Beauty:
-eucerin
-bug repellent
-hand sanitizer
-sunscreen
-plexion liquid cleanser
-plexion cloths
-deodorant (+ rock thing!)
-pouf
-toothbrush
-toothpaste
-floss
-earplugs
-wet naps
-tissues
-shiny steel (mirror)
-pads / tampons
-diva cup
-band aids
-nail clipper
-tweezer
-hair brush
-eye shadow
-eye liner
-oil absorbing sheets
-canker sore killer
-excedrin (2)
-anti-diarrhea: azithromycin (3), cipro (6)
-anti-malaria: doxycycline (156)
-anti-reflux: pepcid, tums
-anti-bad stomach: pepto
-anti-UTI: azo standard
-water purification tabs (30)
-peroxide pads

Laundry:
-shout! wipes
-liquid for "2" loads

Creative Juice enablers:
-camera + accessories
-mini tripod
-moleskine sketchbook
-big journal
-(2) sharpies
-ball point pen

Documents:
-passport + visa
-license
-photocopies of everything
-insurance information
-flight info
-info about transport to first host

FUN:
-jewelry: (3) pendants, (2) pair earrings, leather cord
-Dark Tower VII
-Shadows in the Sun
-Darshan DVD

Other:
-hard leather case (jewelry 'box')
-sleep sack
-security waist pouch
-wrist pouch
-shell christiania pouch
-brewhouse cards
-my business cards
-cell phone, charger
-NZ + US money, cards


http://www.onebag.com/pack.html#bundle
http://www.pulpology.com/?ESID=gear

This is, by far, one of the worst hotels I have ever stayed in during my entire life. It is without question the worst Doubletree I have ever seen. I travel frequently for both business and leisure, and I have stayed in some very undesirable places - but this one takes the cake! If you only trust one review, make it this one! You will be miserable if you stay at this hotel! My main "tip" for this hotel is that if you must stay here, make SURE you request a room as far away from the marina as possible. Yes, you won't get much of a view, but you won't be kept awake all night by the continuously noisy and aggravating marina "chime." The chime sounds like a very, very loud elevator dinging. The problem is, it goes off - literally - every 15 seconds. The a/c unit did not drown out the sound for us and if you like to sleep with the windows open, good luck doing it here! The chime will drive you absolutely batty, and it bothered us to the point that we could only get to sleep a few hours - and we ended up checking out of the hotel the next day and moving to another property. The hotel really needs to warn potential guests about this chime! There are little placards in the guest rooms (see photo), but it is too little too late. The chime noise is so bad, the front desk will even provide ear plugs free of charge if you ask. Ridiculous! What really bothered me about the hotel is just how worn out everything was. The furnishings in the room were absolutely a disgrace! They were so worn, it was just disgusting! The sofa in the room was horribly stained and the arms looked as if they had been clawed to pieces by a cat! I have posted photos - it is unbelievable! You can SEE the stains and the damage in the photos! The walls had holes in them (see photos) and the carpet was awfully dirty and stained (again, see photos). I might also add that I am a Hilton HHonors Diamond member (the top loyalty level) and the room I was in was an upgraded executive room! And it was in this horrible condition! I would hate to see what a standard room looks like. It is worth noting that the hotel is not within walking distance of anything, including and restaurants, stores or fast food. If you are looking for something to eat, you are at their mercy. The on-site restaurant is okay, but it is not open late. If you arrive late to the hotel, your only option (until 10 pm) is Domino's Pizza delivery. Get something to eat before you arrive at this hotel. This is also a sprawling property, so be prepared for a long walk from your room to the common areas. As for positives, at least there was ample free parking, and free wireless internet access in the lobby.

My blog cherry is now officially popped!
[Yes, this is my first time ever doing / making / writing / whatever you call it, a blog.]

There are 33 days until I leave for New Zealand. There are 84327850247 things to do.
Then there will be 240ish days of exploring, learning, meeting people, diving, farming, riding, teaching, traveling and living!

I don't really have any deadlines for my trip, with a few exceptions:
December 1 - leave my known world for NZ; arrive in Auckland on Dec 3
March 1 - meet Anna in Thailand
July 1 - back to US; Jamie's international competition?
Aug 16 - if not back to US in July: Russian barbershop festival, St. Petersburg?

With that in mind, I'll be back in Berkeley sometime in summer or fall of 2009. I'm excited to see Jamie sing at these awesome events, and I'll either go to one or the other (Anaheim or St Petersburg)....depending on how homesick, or poor, I get before then. If I go to Russia with Jamie, we'll take a few weeks after that and see some of Europe.

Tentative trip:
New Zealand - north and south island (6-8 weeks)
Australia - eastern / northeastern coast, Sydney or Melbourne to Cairns (2-4 weeks)
--?Malaysia?
--?Indonesia - Bali?
--?Cambodia - Angkor Wat?
Thailand - where? (1-2 weeks)
India - Agra, Kerala, Auroville, New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Kashmir...? (12+ weeks)

Woooooooo!

I cant recall how many months if not years of time ive spent in this small temple complex, hidden away behind the Ashby BART station in south Berkeley.  I also cannot recall the many tons and tons of food and drink i have consumed over the years either.  Each morsel and sip all seem to blend into a montage of hunger, desire, and then nappy time hahahahaa!

There was a time in the past when i became a monk (i will save that for another time ^^).  Before going to the monestary, i studied here for a summer, learning prayers, studying texts and teachings.  Practicing conduct and etiquette becoming of a "man of the cloth."  Orange cloth anyways hahaha.

Srry there were no pictures of the insides of the temple, but we are really on a mission to feed Kelly after all ^^.  The line for food runs all the way into the street from the counter, past the central dining area and through the alleyway between the two main buildings.  I hopped on over to the exchange counter for tokens, and Kelly hops into the line.  I would argue that her task is the more important one haha.  As i am making my way back, the girl in front of us in the line says, "Oh my god.  Big?  Is that you?"  So, now, a little background to our "chance" meeting with an old aquaintance:

January 2006:  Sarah is on a bus in downtown Bangkok, Thailand.  She sees Dylan walking down the opposite side of the street, and decides that it could not possibly be him, since it would have to be a complete coincidence to see a good friend randomly walking down the same crowded and humid street in a third world country.  She phones a friend back in the states, and comfirms that it IS Dylan, and that he IS in bangkok, staying with my brother Bay.  I happen to be there too, visiting my brother on the last leg of my trip to Japan, before heading home.  Strange...

Two weeks earlier, Aug 30:  Sarah goes to the Berkeley Thai temple for the first time, to check out the weekend market, and runs into Bay, my brother, who has been in California for only 4 days...he is visiting from New York where he has been for 3 years.  Merry meetings ensues.  Not so strange...

Today, Sept 13:  Sarah just happens to be at the Berkeley Thai temple for the second time, for the same reason: breakfast.  She happens to be standing directly in front of me where i had left Kelly in the line.  She happened to recognize me (score!! hahaha).  Merry meetings ensues.

When the world simply becomes your playground, your backyard, it gets smaller and smaller every year.  One can simply pass the series of coincidents off as meerly chance, or random freaky probability.  Or one can see them all as a series of oppertunities, as invitations, as small blessings.  Today the rich desire for food drew everything and everyone together.  The vortex is once again whole, complete.  And then, bang, it scatters again.  Oh well...we'll just have to eat here again ^^.

Dining at this restaurant is like momentarily escaping to the countryside of southern France. The restaurant is quaint, wonderfully decorated and cozy and the staff is friendly and attentive. They serve what they call "rustic Provencal" food- simple, mostly sandwiches, stews and pasta. It's fun to start with a glass of Kir or Kir Royale or one of the other variations they offer. I ordered a Bagnat au Poulet Grille- a grilled chicken sandwich with aioli and sun dried tomatoes that came with a side of rosemary potatoes. Everything was delicious and they gave us complimentary coffee at the end of our meal. Edit- I've been back for brunch now and it's also fantastic. I recommend sitting on the patio and enjoying an omlette or the lemon gingerbread pancakes.

This is a great little restaurant tucked back in this small shopping area in Berkeley, CA. This is the place I would come to when I was a an undergrad student at UC Davis and would go to Berkeley with the fraternity brothers. The food is great, the atmosphere is even better. The menu is varied, but consitant. We always get the party meal because it will allow you to eat as much as you like. You get salad, up to six differnt foundues and dessert. If you like shrimp, you do have to pay a little extra, but it is well worth it. The owners of the shop carry a cell phone, so you are always able to reach someone. They open at 5pm, but the owners tend to run a little late, so be prepared to wait a few minutes. It also takes them a few minutes to get the building heated, so if you go during the winter, try to arrive after 6pm when they have had the heater on. You will enjoy everything on the menu at very good prices. You can bring in your own bottle, but they charge a $10 cork fee. It is still good if you have a couple of good bottle that you would like to bring in on your own. The wine list isn't great, so if you have a favorite, I love a Luis Martnini Cab from the Napa Valley, bring it. Save room for the chocolate fundue. It is a great way to top the evening off. I also suggest that you park a little ways away so you can walk some of the food off. It is also just nice to walk up and down Telegraph looking into the shops and spending a little bit of money. You are very close to the UCB campus, so expect to see a lot of young people out on the streets enjoy all the street vendors and enjoy all the area has to offer. I always go back whenever I am in the area.

Jules and I really enjoyed eating here at Fondue Freds. This was one of my favorite places to go when I was an undergrad at UC Davis a few miles away. We we often come over and have dinner with the students from UC Berkeley. The place still looks the same, I think the pots are still the same. I would call ahead because the are always running a bit late. We loved the chateaubrian steak fondue the best. They had a variety of thinks to eat. It was a good time.

Really a good time. There is a really fun stone slide across from the park. Great place for a picnic.

saw this review at (do not know about cost, and my rating is based on this review): http://cityguides.msn.com/citylife/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6336620&page=3 Ginger Babycake (Gingerbread cake with Limoncello-cream cheese frosting) This Bay-area favorite prides itself on its use of fresh, high-quality ingredients, including butter, eggs, and milk culled from local dairies and farms, fresh fruit, Madagascar bourbon and Mexican vanillas, Saigon cinnamon, and fine, small-batch chocolates. All cupcakes are made from scratch daily, and while Love at First Bite’s menu offers plenty of innovative, temping combinations – the Hummingbird mixes pineapple, pecans, and bananas, while the Pretty in Pink pairs luscious strawberry cake with a light strawberry buttercream – their Ginger Babycake is a perfect balance of sweet and spice.

My brother got accepted at one of the most recognized colleges for engineering. He lives with me now and he asked me to accompany him to orientation day. My brother told me some tidbits about Cal while we were walking around campus. Cal Berkeley is the oldest of the UC campuses. He pointed out some of the bears all over the campus. He even showed me the smallest of the bears on one of the buildings. Boy, I have to tell you that engineers have their own language. I sat there with many bright undergraduates and didn't really understand their lingo. It was a different language all together. All I know is that he's in for a tough and challenging program. I do have faith in my brother. He's our boy genius and sometimes too smart for his own good. I don't have much on Berkeley but I will continue to update on this blog.

Sit mentiin kaupunkiin nimeltä Berkeley. Sielläkin vaan ajeltiin ja yritettiin etsiä sopivia kauppoja, mutta ei löytynyt. San Franciscossakin etsittiin vaan parkkipaikkoja. Sit käytiin yhdellä pierillä ja pois. Tarkoitus oli mennä Santa Cruzeen, mutta ei jaksettu.

Berkeley

This is the only Brazilian restaurant I've found in the East Bay that serves typical Bahian cuisine. The location is just a few blocks from all of the action of Downtown Berkeley but in a weird enough spot and so nondescript that it's easy to miss it. I used to work around the corner from this place and must have passed by it many times without noticing it. I found it through a Google search of Brazilian restaurants in Berkeley! Once you walk in, it's quite an ugly and tacky restaurant (plastic Brazilian flag picnic tablecloths etc.) and it's somewhat disguised as a pizzeria. But I guess even in Bahia it's normal to find restaurants that serve a combination of Brazilian and Italian dishes. They serve a variety of authentic Brazilian appetizers, entrees, Guarana soda and with no salty grilled meat in sight. They have feijoada, moqueca and bobo de camarao. The only things missing were pao de queijo and caipirinhas! I ordered moqueca de camarao, a heavy palm oil and coconut milk stew with shrimp. It was a familiar and satisfying taste and it came with delicious buttery garlicy rice and greens. It definitely doesn't have the cool atmosphere of Bossa Nova in San Francisco (see my previous review on that restaurant) but it's authentic and tasty. The bad decor actually brought back good memories of some of the random restaurants we ate at in Bahia. I'll definitely go back for Brazilian food, especially when I am overcome with feelings of saudade. Maybe I'll eventually get around to trying the pizza!

Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center presents a wide variety of world music, roots music and jam bands. They also have several dance classes such as bhangra, flamenco and Afro-Cuban. The building is woodsy and earthy and the walls are adorned with progressive signs. It's probably the hippiest of the Bay Area hippie venues. In the bathroom there's a separate receptacle to recycle paper towels. Before many of the performances they have dance lessons for whatever type of music is being played. They have shows every night except Mondays and sometimes have special kids' matinees on Sundays. The have mostly organic vegetarian cafe which serves things like "People's veggie stew" before the concerts. During shows they serve beer, wine and veg snacks. This is definitely an all ages venue with the typical crowd ranging from babies to octogenarians. There's an emphasis on the community aspect and it has a very local feel to it. The atmosphere is positive and forward-thinking. People at Ashkenaz are mostly unselfconsious and have no qualms about taking off their shoes and dancing to the beat of their own drums (not necessarily the ones being played ;)

Free, beautiful garden on a hill overlooking the bay. Went to school at Cal and didn't find out about this place for a while. It's not far from the north edge of campus, along Euclid. Come here at sunset to get a nice view of the SF bay...

Jedenfalls hat der Vadder uns danach wieder durch SF nach Berkeley kutschiert. Dort sind wir über den Campus der ältesten Uni in den USA geschlendert und haben ein Käffchen in der Mensa getrunken. Schee wars!