crewrower's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 3,192 | 2008 - About Crewrower's Travels by crewrower - last update: Apr 24, 2009 |
Why I travel
My first trip abroad was to the Philippines with a student group. Since then I've financed 5 further trips to various parts of the Philippines, and taken another hand holding high school trip to Spain that taught me never to travel on a tour again.
I've looked at the burial tomb of Queen Anne in Westminister Abbey, only then realizing who was the person for which a county in my home state of Maryland was named. I've looked at thousands of skulls stacked in a glass case on the outskirts of Phenon Penh, only then realizing that genocide is one of the worst things we as people are capable of doing.
I've been to the 731 holocaust museum in northern China and anti war museums in Japan and Vietnam, and seen that we're often able to do the worst things to one another. I've wondered what it's like for people and their families in other places like Africa who don't even get a proper memorial.
I've been to baseball games in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Arlington TX, Beijing and Tokyo. One "good seat" at an average baseball game costs more than the average person in China earns in two months.
I've never lived at either end of this wealth spectrum and feel lucky for that.
I've walked sections of the Great Wall in northern China and have seen a cat intentionally strangled alive from an alley wall in southern China.
I've slept on the street in Hong Kong, airports in Tokyo and Vienna, and on a beach in southern Taiwan. I'd hope to not repeat any of that, but oh the joy of youth! Likewise I've stayed at some of the best hotels through Asia and appreciate that, but still guess when it's all said and done I'll be talking about why I was on that street in Hong Kong (which was, incidentally, on June 30, 1997, the night Hong Kong was returned by the UK to China).
I've driven through Jordan by myself with no map and no Arabic and found everything I was looking for, and a bit more. I've spent a week seeing Slovakia from a college mate who drove me around to show me his country of which I knew nothing about.
I had the privledge of waking up for 4 years in college to watch the sunrise in Baltimore (morning rowing), and a year in Pittsburgh watching that same sun set over the Monagahlia (coaching rowing in afternoons).
I've swam in pristine but not famous ocean waters in Malaysia and the Philippines, and swam in formerly pristine but now over touristed beaches in 3 times as many countries.
I've been accidently bit by a stray dog in South Carolina (she didn't mean it) and have hit a stray dog in Siquijor, Philippines (I didn't mean it).
I've seen amazing things ancient people have done in places like Ankor Wat (Cambodia), Petra (Jordan), and Xi'an (China).
I dream of going to more countries in Asia and getting to Africa before long.
I've seen scores of people begging for food in Dumaguete (Philippines) and had no joy in giving them what little I did (such a fleeting feeling as you leave your vacation but they can't leave that life).
I've riden my bicycle through parts of China's Hebei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. Each day of that is worth a week of travel experience.
I love living abroad for the little shocks one sees every day, like the chicken with it's hind tied to the back wheel frame of a bicycle with spring onions sprinkled on the concrete ground before it - in my apartment complex!
I've been to Myanmar and would like to go back. I'd really like to see North Korea but have little interest in seeing the South. I'm saving the developed world of Europe and North America for old age if I make it that long, though I'd take a trip to Australia or New Zealand any time if possible given its relative close proximity. I think traveling has made me better and helped me see I'm not good enough, definitely not as smart as I thought I was, but without a doubt luckier than most. |
|  | Overall 2007-2008 Travels November 08 - Hangzhou (China)
Ocotber 08 - Hong Kong
September 08 - Beijing
August 08 - Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing
July 08 - Singapore
June 08 - Singapore
June 08 - Seoul, Korea
June 08 - Baltimore, Maryland
April 08 - Zhujiajiao (near Shanghai)
April 08 - Beijing
April 08 - Singapore
April 08 - Hong Kong
March 08 - Beijing
February 08 - Singapore
December 07 - Philippines (Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Manila)
October 07 - Beijing
October 07 - Hong Kong, Macau
October 07 - Tokyo (Japan)
October 07 - Los Angeles, Palm Springs (USA)
October 07 - Jordan
May 07 - Tokyo (Japan)
May 07 - Maryland (USA)
April 07 - Hangzhou (China)
February 07 - Yunnan, Guizhou, Chongqing (China)
January 07 - Hong Kong, Macau
Shanghai, China resident year round. |
Philippines Winter Tradition - 2009 is on target
Philippines * Christmas *
In what has become a tradition (Feb 2005, Dec 2006, Dec 2007, Jan 2009), I will spend part of the Shanghaiwinter in -- The Philippines!
This time (Jan 2009), I will go to Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin, and get a better part of a day in Manila. It'll be a 5 day trip, followed by a week in Sabah, Malaysia.
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In Decmeber, 2007, I went to Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete (Negros Oriental), and Siquijor
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In Decmber 2006, I went to Boracay and Manila, and Angeles City (woah).
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In February 2005 I did a similar trip to Cebu and Bohol. Bohol was utterly fantastic, and so I could easily be lured back there this time. Other places of interest are perhaps northern Cebu (I did southern Cebu (Moalboal and others) on the last go), and hopefully the waterfalls and beaches of nearby island of Sequijor. |
| | October 2007 - Jordan Off to Jordan I took a short trip to Jordan in October 2007. Rented a car and drove all around the country (Madaba, Kerak, Dana, Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Amman) The trip was as as magnificient as it was short!
This was a busy travel month as I took separate trips from Shanghai to Jordan, USA, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Beijing. |
| | Feb 2007 - 2 week bike trip in Southern China I took a 2 week bicycling trip through the rugged mountainous region of Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in February 2007. Check out my Yunnan, China page on VT for some info and pics from the ride, and also a ride in Febuary 2006 I did there. If you have experience cycling in remote areas and would like to join me for this ride, drop me a line and we can chat. |
About Crewrower I was born and schooled in Maryland, did graduate school in Pittsburgh, and since then have lived in China.
I work in in Shanghai, China. I've lived in China for more or less the past 5 years.
I speak English and Mandarin Chinese, although I hope to raise my fluency in both languages. |
 Comments for crewrower | | | | |
teevee Thu Apr 23, 2009 09:44 UTC
Ni hoa!Must be good as the 2nd mystery VT member to be uncovered. Knew i had no clue but curious to know who it was.Happy swimming,cycling,climbing,walking, running,flying all around the world! | Segolily Fri Apr 3, 2009 05:45 UTC
Chris, I picked you as the answer to VT's "who am I" quiz. Did I get it right? :-) | Avieira67 Thu Apr 2, 2009 07:00 UTC
Hello Chris, happy birthday! Greetings from the Azores. | DAO Wed Apr 1, 2009 18:55 UTC
"♫•:*¨`*:•Happy birthday to you♫♫Happy b-day to you♫HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CHRIS ♫♫Happy b-day to yoou•:*¨`*:•♫ Hope you have a great Birthday. All the best!! |
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