My Birthday Wish: join me in Hong Kong on June 22nd

Also on my new blog: http://aroundtheworldwithmike.wordpress.com/

“Registration” is now open for our first track: Hong Kong to Singapore by land

• June 22nd-23rd: Arrive in Hong Kong
• ~June 27th: Leave for Hanoi, Vietnam by train/plane
• ~June 28th-July 15th: Make it to Ho Chi Minh City by train
• ~July 16th-18th: in HCMC, fly/train/bus it to Kuala Lumpur
• ~August 7th: Arrive in Singapore
• From Singapore, my sister Julie and I might be headed to Bali(by boat?) or swing back to Thailand.

If you’re interested in coming, there’s no catch, fee, sign-up for credit cards or crazy travel scam, just email me. You don’t have to stay for the whole track, or for any of it: you can meet us someplace for a day if you like. Or stay for a few months. If you do, just post your experience online so I can link to everyone else I’ve traveled, making a patchwork quilt of people you’ve traveled with around the world.

If you’re still reading and can’t wait to eat fried bugs, ride elephants and bamboo raft rivers, then please send an e-mail to mikerudz@gmail.com with the following:

1. who you are and a bit about yourself
2. why you are interested in coming
3. how long you intend to stay(if you have no plan, then we’ll get along great)
4. When you plan on joining

Flights to Hong Kong from Los Angeles, round trip and one way:

On train travel in Vietnam and China. The video on the Vietnam page gives a good indication of just how nice the trains are. For further info, the best resource is also Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Travel Forum.

Let the great adventure begin! Happy Birthday to me!

Our Theme Song: Beg, Steal or Borrow

Where Fiction and Reality Meet

As I gaze out upon the majestic landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand, I sense its striking resemblance to the stunning creation wrought by JRR Tolkien in his novel “The Lord of the Rings.” In preparation for this journey I began reading a copy of the novel loaned from the public library near where we were living in Melbourne. But by unforeseen providence, and after I had discovered that the length of the loan would not permit me to bring the book with me to New Zealand, I happened upon a copy cast to the curb. It lay beside the stop where I awaited my tram every morning to fulfill the work whose payment ultimately made this journey possible.

The Lord of the Rings was born in the mind of a great and talented author, and yet no less human than any one of us. In the end his words so closely resembled the landscape here in New Zealand, that Peter Jackson ultimately brought the filming here to this stunning landscape in the end. And what a tremendous impact that small thought, which began in the mind of an author has now had upon the world at large.

Up until the time of the Lord of the Rings, I daresay that many Americans including myself, had known very little about this fabled outpost of the Commonwealth known to English-speakers as New Zealand and the to native Maori as Aotearoa. And yet it is no longer simply a British colony; it is a country in and of itself, drawing tourism and immigration from all over the world, and setting itself apart for its diverse landscape and warm, welcoming people.

Whether an idea, a country, or a dream, all must start somewhere. JRR Tolkien’s idea later became a novel and then a film, and an outpost of the British empire became its own country. Interesting now that its role as the backdrop for the film has transformed it from unknown to world-renowned. I venture that the connection that all of this bears to our own journey did not happen by mistake. We set out on our own journey starting on the 4th of September, not really knowing exactly what we were doing, nor what the future might hold. Now we have seen a good part of the southwestern United States, Hawaii, lived and worked abroad in Melbourne for almost two months, and have taken holiday in New Zealand; a land I never thought I would reach in my lifetime.

But had we never set out on that Saturday in September, had Tolkien never written out his ideas, had New Zealand never seen itself as more than just an outpost of Great Britain, none of us would have achieved what we have up to today. The world would not have the Lord of the Rings, New Zealand might still serve as an undiscovered outpost, and we ourselves, would never have beheld all of the beauty of this land, never encountered the generosity and warmth of its people, and never learned just how far our dreams might take us if only we give them flight.

Our tour of this land has enabled me to conquer many a fear, to look deep inside and see what it is that I am, and what I like about that person. For that I have only my companions, those who have helped along the way, and all of you to thank for your ongoing support and encouragement. None of this would have been possible had it not first been for you.

All of these stories are true, though they very well could have only ever happened in fictional novels. But they are real, they are true, because we had the audacity and courage to blur the lines between fiction and reality. In fiction, the good guy often wins, but he also never gives up. Thus, just as JRR Tolkien tenaciously pursued his novel, and Peter Jackson the land of New Zealand as his setting, let us be the protagonists in our own stories of life. Let us live our life stories before they reaches their respective conclusions. For as many “The Ends” as we can read through during our lifetime, for each one of us there will come only one end.

May we live our stories well.

Flight from Te Anau

Snapshot: Lake Matheson suspension bridge

What's every day like with the World Trip Brothers(and sister)?

Defacing our car

Happy Birthday!

If you desire your birthday to last for more than just 24 hours, all you need do is travel away from your family to the other side of the world, and perhaps bring a sibling to sort things for you.

Daniel stands on the precipice of perhaps one of the most beautiful coastlines we have ever beheld on the western edge of the south island

16-Jan-2011 The Pre-Birthday Celebration

Such was the case with Daniel for whom the celebration started on 16-January in anticipation of his turning the big 19 years old at midnight! Thus I went out early, originally intending to go for a run, but ended up in search of gifts for Daniel. Before that point I only had one gift: an apron and towel butcher set that I had bought in Australia. However after that day, the gift total ended up consisting in a volleyball, a garlic press, two tea infusers, a flashlight, and pens for journaling. These were given to him at strategic points over the next few birth-days.

Once everyone was up by the afternoon of the 16th, we made a trip to the beach for which Daniel received his volleyball, and along with Cindy – our friend from France – we had a ball playing on the beach, as well as trying out our newly acquired skim and boogie boards.

At an overlook high above the beach where we spent the afternoon of the 16th

Upon our return to the hostel that night, we arranged for a pasta feast including eggplant and garlic bread, for which Daniel received his garlic press to help prepare! We ate and chatted with our newly acquainted friends far into the night. The night of course culminated in a game of cribbage between Daniel and myself, and a card game similar to “Bang,” taught us by Cindy, that eventually captured all of our interest. It was a brilliant evening!

17-Jan-2011 The Proper Birthday Celebration

The next day was a Monday, and I was up early for the 8am mass. Afterwards I headed off for another shopping trip. From this issued the chocolate birthday cake that we would devour later that night, though the other dimension to my search was fruitless. I sought a claw-shaped tool that we had used at Colin and Heather’s a couple nights before, that enables the user to easily pick up olives, grapes, and other round objects difficult to spear with a traditional fork. I searched everywhere, eventually learning that Baku a cooking specialty store in nearby Richmond, would in fact be the best place to look.

I returned to the hostel, and Daniel having nothing else to where, received his new Puma sandals from Carrie. After this we headed out to get some tea for his infusers from a nearby specialty shop, and Mike and Carrie headed off to grab some groceries for an afternoon picnic. From there we headed to Baku, about 20 minutes away in Addie. Mike made the drive beautifully, and once there we not only acquired one slotted and one regular bamboo wood cooking spoons for Daniel, Carrie and Mike also found gifts for the entire Rudzinski clan, and the owners Linda and Lynn recommended I get my hearing checked out at a nearby clinic. Thus I made my way down and learned that my ailment is one more of listening than it is of hearing. Who knew?

Our return took us through Nelson and down Maitai road, where we had a nice picnic, watched dogs chase and attack one another, and learned what is meant by a Roktopus.

Our first experience on the Rok-topus at the nature reserve along the Maitai River outside Nelson after our picnic

Evening brought us back to the hostel to gather volleyball players, and we headed to the pitiful net set up just off a glorious playground. The game of 4 on 3 worked well and we ended up pretty much even for talent and sets won by the end of the night. Being a part of a game of volleyball between Brits, Swedes, and Americans was truly an experience not soon to be forgotten.

Afterward we enjoyed the swings that swung higher, the ziplines that moved faster, and merry-go-rounds that spun more violently than anything that one could ever find in the US. In a word: liability. But apparently not as big of a concern here in New Zealand, and I can honestly say that the same could be said for the US. Though the equipment was probably more “dangerous,” it was actually fun to play on, which is more than can be said of the plastic protective structures that are called “play”-grounds in the US today. What an experience.

Back to the market for the fixings for the second birthday dinner. This time chicken schnitzel with a pasta and penne mix, and a salad. Wine accompanied the meal, and cake and banana ice cream followed.

The crew prepares for the meal of a life-time – 19 years of it!
Friends include, starting from Mike’s left: Will (Britain), Cindy (France), Truls (Sweden), and Danielle (Jersey)

Daniel’s cake was decorated with candles that spelled “D-A-N” acquired earlier that day from Baku. Dessert was shared with almost everyone that entered, conversation was lively, and we were the hit of the hostel! The night was crowned with the viewing of the “Last of the Mohicans,” and Daniel and I finally got to bed after 3am.

Above: Daniel receives the cake celebrating his 19th birthday
Below: Daniel contemplates just what in the world he has just received

18-Jan-2011 The Post Birthday Celebration

The morning of the 18th brought an early rising and lots of rain. Hence we decided that instead of checking out by 10am, we would stay a fourth and final night and hit Abel Tasman the following morning. Skype dominated the day, and Daniel recounted our adventures of the days before to Mom and Dad, meanwhile they wished him a Happy Birthday for it was at that point only 17-Jan., and hence still his birthday. Thus Daniel lived his birthday for three days, and what a birthday it was!

He even got to celebrate later on 20-Jan. when Mike bestowed the glorious and luxuriant gift of cigars that the three of us men shared next to a beach-side bonfire outside of Punakaiki. Oh God how great thou art!

Interestingly enough, Mike (March), Carrie (February), Daniel (January), and I (December) will all have spent our birthdays abroad between the while on this trip. Carrie is next and is much looking forward to what is to come. Only time will tell.