tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11200864488849955732012-01-23T16:56:38.213-08:00Positions, Projects, and Ponderings of a world wandering engineerHolden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.comBlogger1241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-86662267734388379772012-01-23T16:26:00.000-08:002012-01-23T16:56:38.227-08:00

Highly recommended films, that all should watch: Ai WeiWei: Never Sorry Eye opening story about how a now famous artist in China is struggling to improve his country from the inside, sometimes fighting the strong-arm government.  Timely backstory, as just before filming was done, Ai was kidnapped by the government and held for 81 days; this time and his release are covered in the film.

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-69233754419527717652012-01-21T10:19:00.000-08:002012-01-21T10:19:19.639-08:00

Some friends and I are undertaking a new project, and I thought I'd share some details here!  We're working to make a pedal-powered banquet for 8 people -- a bicycle of sorts, decorated as a legitimately fancy and functional dining table! [Image hosted by Kickstarter!] While we're still sorting out the main frame and some drivetrain / steering parts (think lazy susan for steering wheel!),

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-76843227038246762722011-12-30T07:53:00.000-08:002011-12-30T11:45:17.914-08:00

Just a quick post to let folks know that they can learn more about me in my recent interview over at IdeaMensch, by clicking here. In addition to conducting interviews to learn more about successful people, IdeaMensch has posted some really awesome accumulated tips in the past, such as an e-book devoted solely to 44 good business ideas, given away for free!  Mario and his team are awesome

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-6772835902933119222011-12-26T09:46:00.000-08:002011-12-30T07:54:54.390-08:00

Recently, I thought about this blog and realized that it's 4th birthday was coming up -- a day that passed without notoriety on Dec 24th, 2011.  Since starting to record thoughts and experiences here, I've traveled a bit, notably New Zealand and India, I've worked again at AeroVironment, where we made some successful electrical products, including the charger for the Nissan Leaf, and posted a

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-42197221886486584062011-09-11T13:54:00.000-07:002011-09-11T13:54:08.164-07:00

A few weeks ago I showed a picture of some metal spheres and teased that they were for an upcoming project.  While the project was put on display, I hardly had a chance to get it finished right.   The project is a Wave Pendulum, and it shows off the varying periods of motion of pendula with different length lines, and how they start in unison, disperse to their own motions, and then, at

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3Los Angeles, CA34.0522342 -118.243684933.6312602 -118.87539890000001 34.4732082 -117.6119709tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-85860045807498260922011-08-17T21:38:00.000-07:002011-08-17T21:38:00.680-07:00

Goals for today's side project:  It should hold more than 10 bicycles It should be cheap It should fold flat for transport It should be a learning experience Mission accomplished!   Still need to do: Put some padding on the end of each horizontal bar; this sharp steel will not be friendly to thighs or tires!  Here's a picture of it all folded flat -- about 4 inches high!

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-81283573299098305612011-08-12T20:59:00.000-07:002011-08-12T20:59:32.869-07:00

Here is a picture of a project in the works -- any guesses what it will end up being? Hints are the photo as well as: The item will be about 12 feet long (not unlike my Rubens' Tube)! The item will involve lighting that can be used as a learning tool. I did a science fair project on a similar item back in 6th grade. Who's got a guess?

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-39504379711038219712011-08-04T19:44:00.000-07:002011-08-04T21:57:13.704-07:00

While I had ten minutes free yesterday, I created an about.me page -- it's something I've been meaning to do for a long time.  It's basically a personal landing site (as reviewed here) where I can direct acquaintances: Come See! I highly recommend it to those lazy folks looking to make a feeble attempt at managing your online profile.  It's super easy to set up, I just used a picture that I

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-24056032209615317692011-07-23T12:36:00.000-07:002012-01-21T10:26:38.590-08:00

While I realize that I could have accomplished something very similar by stapling a plastic Solo party cup to a hunk of wood, I thought it would be fun to model and then bend up some sheet metal to catch the caps from our bottle opener!  Here's some pictures! First, I made a SolidWorks 3D model on the computer. Then I printed out the un-folded shape, and cut it out of thin  aluminum

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-69760271881059721122011-07-13T13:00:00.001-07:002011-07-21T16:13:37.590-07:00

Just wanted to make a few notes about my latest project - a Rubens' Tube!  This is a simple apparatus that should be in every high-school physics class, as it involves music/sound, fire, and awesome visualizations! Though the interaction of pressure waves in and fire predates Heinrich Rubens' experiment in 1904, he is credited with bringing it all together in a great package!  Here's a simple

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-17148251311326549222011-07-09T14:37:00.000-07:002011-10-03T12:36:43.638-07:00

[UPDATE: See end of article about materials used and height differential!  Also new pump notes!] Just wanted to share pics and tidbits on how my roommate and I decided to heat our pool without breaking the bank.  While commercial estimates were coming in at between $5000 and $6000, we managed to heat our pool with a weekend of work and about $300 at Home Depot, and about $100/year in

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com13Los Angeles, CA, USA34.0522342 -118.243684933.7354072 -118.50012840000001 34.369061200000004 -117.9872414tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-30730411891557272962011-01-29T17:17:00.000-08:002011-01-30T14:20:55.375-08:00

First of all, the most important thing was that I loved being able to stay seated after the film and hear Q&A sessions with many of the actors, directors, producers, etc. Really made the films more human. Second of all, the films were astonishing compared with everyday blockbuster films because the themes weren't readily apparent, or easily digested. Many times during and after the film, we'd

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-89534336790457661522010-10-18T12:58:00.000-07:002010-10-20T12:24:29.555-07:00

After my week in Spain, I flew to Belgium to hang out with some friends - two from Florida, and one who had lived in California, but was born in Belgium. Having a tour guide is the best, thanks JB(K)C! We all arrived and beat jetlag in Antwerp.Tintin’s rocket in the Comic museum in Brussels Antwerp museum of Fine Art "Blue Steel” on the Grote Markt Foosball embraced as a real bar game!

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-62322923284528798272010-10-01T06:47:00.000-07:002010-10-02T11:21:04.970-07:00

At the beginning of September, I visited a small town called Los Alcázares, on the Mar Menor, in south west Spain.Some friends and I had rented an apartment -- which was incredibly cheap, as it wasn't the high season of August (even in the first week of September, there were hardly any tourists around, and thus, rates were very low). We ended up speaking almost no English and entirely in Spanish

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-54354729662424757792010-05-10T19:37:00.000-07:002010-05-10T20:18:58.254-07:00

I know that I'm a bit late with this one, but I figured, as they say, "better late than never!"Here are some quick reviews, written a few months after I saw the films at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah back in January.First of all, the most important thing was that I loved being able to stay seated after the film and hear Q&A sessions with many of the actors, directors, producers, etc.

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-9538450546830877362009-10-21T21:39:00.000-07:002009-10-21T22:46:10.122-07:00

This past weekend a few of us drove up to Bishop, CA, which is just south of Mammoth Lakes on the east side of the Sierra Mountain range.Camping Partner, Special Friend.Our tent site at the Pit, which was free, courtesy of the research groups that rented out the whole place. High desert, yum!Hard to beat butter, eggs, avocado, tomato, and cheddar. Really hard.We took time out to do some hiking

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-40691804819487228672009-10-15T21:53:00.000-07:002009-10-15T22:09:05.056-07:00

About this time last year I did a quick post about Poverty, highlighting my thoughts on the global situation, as well as a few groups that are doing their best to alleviate the pain involved.I encourage you to read the post here, as not much has changed. However, I have to say, since then, I have donated to Kiva, enabled a few loans, gotten my money repaid in full, and loaned it out again. And

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-1774400113926201702009-09-14T21:28:00.001-07:002009-09-14T22:05:30.699-07:00

Not too much to report for the time being, but figured people were curious what I've been doing. Well, I've been enjoying southern California for all it has to offer. Here are a few snaps:First off, an *updated* picture out my window, as I work from home (sometimes). Note the electric car out front, the MacBook, simple speakers, and plenty of light and fresh air!The next four pictures are from

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-32313857728628565722009-07-23T13:50:00.000-07:002009-07-23T15:00:48.439-07:00

Okay, so my home office isn't *that* inspiring, but I promise, the lawn that's hidden in the above picture is a beautiful spot. Between the palm and oak (?) tree, the lawn is great for people watching, eating meals, reading books, and stretching / yoga type stuff.But sometimes I forget to take time out for my body and do some stretching...Enter the "goStretch!" bookmark!This is simply a little

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-17102794913375775192009-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:002009-07-22T21:51:14.046-07:00

I might be writing out of turn here, but I believe that I can free mount with less than 3 tries at any given time, and so I'm counting that as a win for the time being!I took a long ride this afternoon after work and went up and down main street, all around the park -- probably totaling about 1.5 miles total!Random picture of MAS and I flying in a Piper Cherokee, over to Catalina for a hike and

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-12171393213984480742009-07-07T20:52:00.000-07:002009-07-07T21:12:57.505-07:00

Today was a pretty successful day, as I was able to free-mount (get on the unicycle) without holding on to a fence 3 times (out of about 50 tries). Very exciting; this brings my total to 5 free mounts!In addition to trying to free mount, I did some work at the park on my turns. The first drill was a slalom course made from the tether-ball poles:Second, there are these two concentric circles on

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-47853422635169770142009-07-06T12:05:00.000-07:002009-07-07T20:58:22.314-07:00

Alert: Nerdlevel 9 Ahead!(Click the image)That was fun, eh?Unfortunately I still can't turn right very well, but it's no big deal because it's about to be Mega-Nuts Slalom Week!

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-34863187948011908362009-07-03T14:05:00.000-07:002009-07-03T14:28:19.078-07:00

My three day weekend started beautifully enough, spending half a day at a surprisingly beautiful man-made park in Costa Mesa. I decided to use the contour hills of the park to practice on my Unicycle! Riding up and down small inclines isn't a big deal -- but it does get very tough, very quickly as the incline increases. This second movie shows the limit of what I can descend right now.

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-11211337568363359332009-06-29T20:50:00.001-07:002009-06-29T21:08:55.962-07:00

This time I'm posting two things that I have nothing to do with -- besides really enjoying them.1) The TED Blog posted an excellent illusion the other day that really blew my mind. Check out the spiral below, and then try and wrap your mind around the fact that the blue and the green parts of the spiral are actually the same color. That's right, there's no blue and green, just a single

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-19710501326541986182009-06-25T20:34:00.000-07:002009-06-25T20:48:36.400-07:00

Another excellent day on the concrete today, folks. After a few false starts by starting off over-confident, I drew back, got down to basics, used the wall for a few mins, and then headed out.I went down the street to the middle school and hopped the fence and started my first experiments in FLATLAND. It's really nice to have such a big area (2 basketball courts, a flat painted map of the USA,

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-15268662256237296282009-06-24T20:58:00.000-07:002009-06-24T21:29:32.168-07:00

Day 8 was good, but not great. Went back to using the same old full coverage shoes that I had been learning on, before the flip-flop accident, and that seemed to help. I did something non-traditional at this point, however, and relocated to a new venue! The Balboa Sports Complex in Encino was my classroom for about 20 minutes as I tried riding in the open spaces along pathways, and open tarmac

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-30693436125571350512009-06-22T21:39:00.000-07:002009-06-22T21:56:21.850-07:00

Well, as they say (more in walking than in riding things, I guess), two steps forward, and one step back.Day 6 of self-lessons on the unicycle was incredible! I accidentally rode away from the wall that I usually hold on to, and just kinda went with it, and ended up riding about 20 feet! I honestly didn't control direction at all, just marveled that I was successfully riding.Feeling strong, I

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-65698418207477573072009-06-21T15:20:00.000-07:002009-06-21T15:46:59.565-07:00

Let this post serve as an accountability tool for my newest endeavor: learning to ride a unicycle! When you check in with me next, inquire about how my self-teaching lessons are going, and ask what my current struggles are!My end goal isn't to join a circus, although the thought hasn't entirely left my mind.(The above picture was taken in Wellington, New Zealand, Feb. 3, 2008)Here's my first

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-70122277715511401442009-03-17T15:51:00.001-07:002009-03-17T21:05:26.572-07:00

Part 2 of Spring Break took place in the greater LA area when a friend from Notre Dame came to visit from Chicago. Who needs dreary days that have a high of 18 degrees?We decided to stay on the Queen Mary, which is now a hotel. While it was designed to carry about 3000 people, it holds the record for most passengers in one vessel: 16,082 (Learn more about this fantastic ship at Wikipedia.) We

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-78456311511442741442009-03-11T22:41:00.001-07:002009-03-11T23:32:02.434-07:00

No real time for text, the pictures will tell all.For Californians (using acronyms): PCH from LA to SF.For outsiders: a most excellent trip driving up the coast, the standard fare of beautiful sunsets, ocean views, wine tasting high class hotels, camping on the cliffs, and all with the best possible company.Left from Santa Monica, cruised through Malibu on California Highway 1; Pacific Coast

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-37402844410870350022009-03-03T09:23:00.001-08:002009-03-07T11:32:18.720-08:00

Last year at this time I wrote one blog post about every 3 days, and now I'm struggling to keep up with one ever 3 months. It's not the fact that my life is less exciting, but rather that I talk with more of you on the phone or in person, now that I'm back in the US.My life, as always is in flux, and change is in the air. I'll try and make a new post if and when I move or get a job nailed down.

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-56564990919013760972008-12-08T22:49:00.000-08:002008-12-08T23:38:43.626-08:00

With Utah ranking as my favorite US state for the outdoors, I couldn't very well turn down an offer to backpack Zion over Thanksgiving! After a tortilla-roll filled day on Thursday, we woke up Friday morning in one of the most aptly named National Parks this great land offers: ZION!My friend Rip is an excellent photographer and has posted some pictures from the trip, and I'm stealing some here.

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-81624710657576984162008-11-15T10:26:00.000-08:002008-11-20T22:20:01.267-08:00

Did you know: Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the US! (1 in 6 men get it every year!)African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease and should have regular annual testing starting at 45. All other men should commence testing at 50. Prostate cancer is 90% curable if detected and treated early.During Movember

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-57426207509807478082008-10-20T21:06:00.000-07:002008-10-21T07:30:47.300-07:00

Recently I had the chance to show my support for Plug In America, an electric vehicle advocacy group, by attending their first fundraiser event! Along with the company of some friends, I enjoyed an evening with green food (and drinks!), typically perfect SoCal weather, a DJ spinning some of my favorite tunes, encouraging words from other electric vehicle enthusiasts, as well as the vehicles

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-78411915606177006462008-10-15T21:20:00.000-07:002008-10-15T22:47:05.142-07:00

I'm a bit late to the game, but slipping in under the buzzer -- my post on Blog Action Day is posted on October 15th. The idea of this special "day" is to raise awareness on one issue each year -- last year was the environment. The result is a concerted dialogue all over the web with different viewpoints and suggestions.I'm contributing by listing two ways that I believe can help curtail the

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-81570078026339140492008-10-15T07:48:00.001-07:002008-10-15T08:11:42.815-07:00

Thanks to a friend, I found out that the normally quite harmless folks over at AutoBlogGreen have been carefully predicting my every move! The latest offence coming just a few days ago regarding my future automobile ownership (link). The screenshot below proclaims "Holden to get Chevy Volt"!I can only counter with "No, I'm not." And proceed to tell you that as I've noted before on this blog,

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-81833512343752431772008-10-10T08:14:00.001-07:002008-10-10T08:44:00.164-07:00

Just thought I'd do a quick Friday post to keep folks excited about the world.If you haven't heard of Good Magazine, I advise you to get over to their website and sign up for a subscription. Right now they have a (Radiohead-esque) promotion where you can pay whatever you like. All of the money that you decide to give goes to the charity of your choice (magazines are paid for by advertising, not

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-73976046164723198132008-09-01T13:50:00.000-07:002008-09-01T15:20:07.446-07:00

Honestly, I think that everyone who might read this knows that I'm back in Los Angeles. And it's pretty friggin' nice. Let's see what I've been up to:Supporting weddings on the beach.Cruisin' around town in the drop top. The old haunts.Cruising through the mountains and beaches in the ole' roadster.Driving up the coast to see the family in the Bay Area:Hangin' at the pool all-american style:

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-33971299174670284192008-08-17T11:07:00.000-07:002008-08-17T11:32:45.675-07:00

After my trip to India drew to a close, I found myself in Singpore for a 1 day layover (by choice). Being quite tired of feeling like a tourist everywhere I went, I elected to skip the Changi Museum (about the Japanese occupation / POW history), and the Tiger Beer brewery. The one touristy thing I wanted to do was visit the Sinapore Zoo, for their famous Night Safari, but the rainy weather had

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-69904795647877955712008-08-10T19:53:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:09.749-08:00

Sometimes you just know that you're in the big city again because there are beautiful buildings:And then other times you just know that you're in the big city again because there's ridiculous stuff like McDelivery.If you didn't watch this commercial that I posted, I recommend you do now.Sometimes you just want to tell people they're taking work too seriously, like this rail worker as the train

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-38216738041527450792008-08-06T17:22:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:10.875-08:00

Another blast-from-the-past post, I'm getting around to writing about the trip through Goa -- we came up on a train from Alleppey (you remember the serene backwaters post?), through Kochin to the south end of the Goan beach paradise, Palolem. The train ride up the coast was wonderfully lush and I could hardly count 10 seconds without seeing either 1) a young boys' cricket game, 2) men standing

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-3250937644141517802008-08-03T21:41:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:12.242-08:00

I haven't made time until now to sort through some pictures and video from my visit to Bodhgaya, India. This is the town where the first Buddha (Prince Siddhartha) attained full enlightenment back in 623 B.C. There is a massive monument (54 meters high) and park setup, with tons of burial sites and shrines built by folks from all over the world, known collectively as the Mahabodhi Temple (maha

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-26569222667688788882008-07-30T03:20:00.004-07:002008-12-10T07:02:12.726-08:00

This post is about the lesson plans that I created for the Electricity chapter of the class 6, 7, and 8 students back in Meerut, India. They include the basic concepts, some examples of classroom interaction and homework, as well as the low-cost science experiments (materials and explanations) that I produced. Additionally included are notes on the learning curve and student interaction with the

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-43860001280686522772008-07-27T03:29:00.005-07:002008-12-10T07:02:13.227-08:00

This post goes back to April when I was teaching science to the 6th, 7th, and 8th gradersat Chiragh Grammar School, in Meerut, India. I was experimenting with the role of the low cost, rugged, OLPC laptop computers in science classrooms.So how did it go? Well I just so happened to write it all up! Although I wrote up this full report (20 pages) in early May, we weren't sure where the report

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-10245983851458601202008-07-12T02:06:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:02:14.247-08:00

Again, all I have are excuses. This time it's for completely skipping blog coverage for two weeks of my trip -- definitely some of the best weeks -- when I stayed with a friend at her yoga ashram. Among other things we learned yoga for the body, mind, and general energy.But I digress. This post is about our post-ashram experience in the state of Kerala, India. We came to a small town of

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-52375755467664515802008-07-08T01:41:00.005-07:002008-12-10T07:02:14.753-08:00

I'm going to have to do this one a bit out of order, because I don't have the pictures from Bodhgaya.That said, I only have with me a small portion of those from Varanasi, but I figured some was better than none.We stayed a few days here and were really sick of the constant hounding by the boatmen and their helpers who constantly bombarded us with offers for rides on the river, hotel rooms,

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-13046219707135923582008-06-29T21:59:00.000-07:002008-06-29T21:59:01.004-07:00

I'll put up a post soon, hopefully, about my time in Bodhgaya, India. This is the serene town where Buddha attained enlightenment.After visiting the holiest place in the world for Buddhists, it's off to the holiest place in the world for Hindus - Varanasi and the Ganga river!

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-38959353199331239062008-06-26T20:26:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:16.129-08:00

To pick up where I left off in my second HMI post, we had finished our main altitude adjustment period as well as completed most of our lectures and practice work on the nearby Rathong glacier. It was time for our final exercise: an altitude gain day with option of summiting a peak, weather permitting. The goal was to reach approximately 18,000 feet (previous high altitude was 15,500 feet on

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-88227651586222884052008-06-23T09:17:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:02:18.058-08:00

After our week and a half of physical training and lectures in Darjeeling, we commenced our trek up to HMI Base Camp. A quick bus ride later put us at the start of the trek, in Yuksom, West Sikkim, India. (Yuksom is an ex-capital of Sikkim, with a coronation seat, and was the meeting place of the lamas.) From Yuksom, at about 6,000 feet, we made our way up through Bakhim ("House of Bamboo"),

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-63084830111963293672008-06-21T01:31:00.002-07:002008-12-10T07:02:19.101-08:00

This is the first of a few segments about my brief stint (1 month) at the Darjeeling based Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI, official website, official website #2). The institute was founded in 1954 by the Prime Minister of India, upon Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's ascent of Everest (the first in history). (As I stood in front of Norgay's final remains and monument, I was reminded

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-44445839861937714212008-06-18T04:35:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:22.170-08:00

While I was up in the hills near Darjeeling, I was able to visit some world famous tea estates! In addition to enjoying the palpable leaf-soaked-goodness with my mouth, the sights were excellent.Unfortunately, I was disappointed to learn that there's really no smell from the tea plants. Bummer, dude.The tea has been grown in these parts for hundreds of years, and virtually every bit of land is

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-24432796821181305492008-06-15T04:49:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:02:23.152-08:00

Seems that I definitely beat the curve of foreigners getting sick in India, but I'm not immune. Instead of the usual 1-2 weeks, it took me a full 10 weeks to get sick here!(I should note that for the first 8 weeks I was under wonderful culinary care by the Chauhan family and then HMI's 'adventurous' cooks, but that really hurts my case as an outstanding traveler, so let's not dwell on that!)This

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-39006681406516462332008-06-12T05:05:00.002-07:002008-12-10T07:02:23.484-08:00

Seems like I fled from the hills just in time! After getting off the night train here to Calcutta, I read the papers with disbelief: the struggle for independence that has been going on in "Gorkhaland" for a quarter century turned violent towards tourists for the first time!Just as all the warring parties in nearby Nepal agreed during my visit 3 years ago, hurting tourists helps no one. This,

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-15462397406220842162008-06-11T04:23:00.007-07:002008-12-10T07:02:25.565-08:00

Or hold your yaks, or hold your zos (strong, sterile mix of cow and yak), whatever the case may be.Yep, I made it back, safe and sound from the majestic Himalayan mountains, and, more importantly, survived the trials of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute's Basic Mountaineering Course! There will be posts in the coming days.In the meantime, here's a smathering of random lighter from the few

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-16013168285296934482008-06-10T20:45:00.003-07:002008-06-10T21:34:24.868-07:00

Just because people asked about the failed upload, here's the video from the radio shop: (I know, I know, my commentary needs work. I've found when I'm in survival English mode it takes a few days to get back to my normal, vocabulariffic self.)

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-57214663068612745692008-05-30T12:03:00.004-07:002008-12-10T07:02:25.585-08:00

Almost every day I rode my bike down to a little tiny electronics / radio repair shop called Rajni Radio. While nobody that worked there spoke English fluently, we were always able to communicate - even when it came to tough subjects like electrical engineering. I was able to describe what I had, and what I needed, and they did the rest. It was face-to-face, international, language barrier

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-70724150230995989512008-05-23T12:03:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:25.597-08:00

Recently I posted regarding my love for bicycles, how I like to make the most of them, and what it's like to ride in India. It can be much more special, however, to stumble upon a party in the streets, than the everyday intersections.It's so much fun to be riding down a crowded alleyway looking at all the shops and run into a wedding or random other party. Here's a bridegroom on his way to

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-46370400979225834562008-05-16T12:03:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:02:26.472-08:00

Besides gaining fame for starting the revolution against the British in 1857, Meerut is known for its Mela, or fair. "The Nauchandi Mela has been a tradition of hundreds of years. More precisely, it started way back in 1672 AD as a one-day affair, mainly for cattle traders... Significantly, the mela is a rare symbol of communal harmony with Hindu and Muslim shrines – Nauchandi temple and the

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-66312636041967353362008-05-10T07:11:00.003-07:002008-12-10T07:02:26.642-08:00

No single image or video clip can really convey what it's like to ride a bike in India, it's just got to be experienced. The movie below manages to capture a bit of the confusion, however. I shot it while riding through an intersection here in Meerut (Begum Bridge). This (not quite perpendicular) intersection has a roundabout in the middle, but it's more of an optional installation than a rule

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-30386746626933989192008-05-05T07:26:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:02:26.818-08:00

The Challenge:In my last-minute lesson-planning preparation for this past Earth Day, April 22nd, I was desperately searching for some good simple graphics to demonstrate the various forms of renewable energy. Having a captive audience (e.g. 6th, 7th, and 8th graders), and a legitimate platform (Electricity Chapter), I figured that the least I could do was to give them a bit of history on

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-5687400935866685442008-05-02T07:24:00.006-07:002008-12-10T07:02:26.993-08:00

One of my favorite things about staying in Meerut, India, was that I could explore it by bicycle. You might remember my post about my shiny new, ultra-durable and practical bicycle a few weeks back. Friends of mine will know that when I have two wheels under me, there's bound to be a customization hack in some form or another. For my jaunts around town I knew I'd definitely need some tunes, and

Holden Bonwithttps://profiles.google.com/111828140098788792633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-24602801267885626472008-04-30T10:38:00.016-07:002008-12-10T07:02:28.793-08:00

My time in Meerut, India has come to a close, and so I thought I'd post some pictures from the classroom over the last month. Hopefully I'll have time for a non-academic "Leaving Meerut" post as well.First off, I've finished my time as science teacher for 6th, 7th, and 8th class here at Chiragh Grammar School. I've written a roughly one-month syllabus for each class, to teach Electricity and

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-87985166077229840312008-04-27T21:27:00.006-07:002008-04-27T21:56:41.815-07:00

The title shouldn't mislead you into thinking that there will be a set of movies each week simply reposted on this blog (even though it seems 90% of the internet is simply re-postings of other content -- I try to keep it mostly original).Judging from emails and votes, you people, the readers (aren't we democratic) are interested in "life in India." And so I thought you'd get a kick out of three

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-15688865039063394432008-04-23T08:50:00.008-07:002008-12-10T07:02:28.968-08:00

I just found out that for the past three months my emails have not been delivered due to my email signature containing my blog URL. Turns out that lots of spam email have links in them to websites that end in "blogspot.com" as my blog has, and as a result, spam filters have been throwing me in with all the good herbal male enhancement ads. Wonderful.The following antispam rules were triggered

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-22295013165703201292008-04-21T03:57:00.016-07:002008-12-10T07:02:29.297-08:00

This past weekend I took a trip down to Agra! I took the train down, and the -km ride took about 5 hours. Unfortunately, I got on the wrong train car marked "S2" (they have an S2 in each class of service). After 3 hours someone pointed out to me that I'd spent too much to be riding back there and I found my way to the proper car. (I paid 140 Rupees, I was riding in a car that cost only 70

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-52849593798839061182008-04-16T10:16:00.014-07:002008-12-10T07:02:29.961-08:00

Hanuman Chowk is of the main intersections in town, near the market area. It's meant to be around-about, but you can pretty much drive whichever way you want around it. You just have to have the loudest horn, or biggest vehicle.The scene gives you an idea of the importance of religion around here. The figure is Hanuman, an ape-like humanoid, one of the main characters in epic Indian poetry. You

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-19385255261848079102008-04-13T22:10:00.000-07:002008-04-14T05:05:39.111-07:00

Caution: Strong smells ahead. Kinda self explanatory, if you've heard of an open drain.

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-79836593010986574092008-04-10T02:53:00.010-07:002008-04-10T04:00:07.358-07:00

Look to the left, below the clocks andPlease take 2 seconds to votefor what you want to see on this blog! (Oh, and write in your vote if you don't see something you like!) This past weekend Nikhil and I went up to the mountains north of us, to a town called Mussoorie, India. It's a town of 20k people with a few very good, internationally renowned schools. It's also got some really awesome views

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-40676187500811522622008-04-07T20:08:00.004-07:002008-04-07T20:30:48.918-07:00

Well, this blog wasn't deleted, but to make sure that I preserve its content in case of some emergency, I thought it was a good idea to make a backup of everything! Turns out there's lots of options in this realm, but my favorite is a newcomer to the party: BlogBackupr.Unlike other backup programs that I looked at, these guys provide: free daily backups (and restoration) of the text and media

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-56930346554977765392008-04-06T20:57:00.011-07:002008-12-10T07:02:30.296-08:00

[Click here for the whole cartoon,Blogger cuts this one off]Most of you know that I really like the idea of electric vehicles as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles. Thanks to my friend SP for pointing out Mike Adams' (www.NaturalNews.com) great cartoon about "GreenBoasting." Adams writes:"Why did Ford, GM and most of the American car companies ridicule Toyota over the idea of hybrid cars, and then

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-23627962495116603992008-04-03T06:16:00.004-07:002008-12-10T07:02:31.345-08:00

So it's true. I've gone and done it. I went ahead and let the marketing propoganda (above) get the best of me, and I bought a bike. Now, I really couldn't justify getting the milk cart / bicycle rickshaw that is so popular here, but I DID get a sturdy, reliable hunk of steel from the Hercules company: It's a beautiful ride, loaded with extras. Lemme run down it's feature list for all the bike

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-47737339785987801562008-04-01T20:28:00.014-07:002008-12-10T07:02:31.920-08:00

New Picture: Me in my normal Skype environment (wireless!).It occured to me the other day that at my fingertips were two options for wanting to talk to the US from over here in Asia:Option 1: Desktop computer, external monitor, wireless receiver, Uninteruppted Power Supply (UPS) backup batteryOption 2: OLPC XO laptop (built in wireless, monitor, battery (UPS))Option 1: Full desktop setup (UPS

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-22319274271605105372008-03-31T03:09:00.005-07:002008-12-10T07:02:32.175-08:00

Just wanted to give a quick update on my status -- I arrived in Delhi a few days ago and was whisked away from the airport around midnight by some new friends - the principle of the Chiragh Grammar School (in Meerut, India) and her son. Over the past few days we've been getting ready for the new school year to start- April 2nd is just around the corner!(This is the quality picture taken from the

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-32971410047835447392008-03-31T01:25:00.003-07:002008-03-31T01:38:21.178-07:00

So remember how I posted a video of the Iditarod first place racer, Lance, coming down the stretch back a few weeks ago with my Iditarod 2008 wrap up?Turns out that I was the main commentary for other videographers! James J Keller, a sponsor of Mitch Seavey (2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes winner), happened to be standing next to us and I ended up on the web because of him, as well![Picture pinched

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-33767599402291319402008-03-30T09:09:00.003-07:002008-03-30T09:24:49.501-07:00

Thanks to AD for keeping me in the loop on this one. You might remember the winner of the Iditarod a few weeks ago, Lance Mackey, who was going to try to set another record this year, by winning three major sled races.Last year he set a record by winning the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year.This year he set another record by repeating last years performance.And he would set yet

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-72641057706396708962008-03-28T02:16:00.001-07:002008-04-08T06:56:29.668-07:00

Just trying to post a quick video from the XO / OLPC laptop!

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-40844184892947120002008-03-27T22:09:00.002-07:002008-04-02T19:21:17.914-07:00

After reading the following in the Singapore Airlines magazine, I had to think some more about what was happening each moment I sat happily cruising around the world:"Flying in an A380, you are personally creating less carbon dioxidethan you would do driving the average family car. You will also beusing less fuel, at around 2.9litre per passenger per 100km."**Turns out that I'm not nearly the

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-88646154361146423552008-03-27T22:00:00.003-07:002008-12-10T07:02:32.430-08:00

Over the Pacific I read an interesting article (click here) about how many educated / successful kids are moving back in with the parents or having other general crises about what to do with their lives in their 20's.At least I'm not like this one kid they mention, that graduated from NYU in international journalism that donates sperm and undergoes psychological testing for a paycheck -- as he

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-84170808876981786782008-03-24T10:19:00.020-07:002008-12-10T07:02:35.212-08:00

Sorry for the delay, folks, here is my post about the Iditarod 2008! Sorting through a few gigs of pics and movies wasn't easy, but here I give to you some of the best moments captured digitally. I was visiting a college friend (with a few other college friends) who has lived in Nome for the past few years, and it was really helpful to have a local around! Thanks AD!First off, where is Nome?

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-57824843353608595722008-03-24T10:06:00.006-07:002008-12-10T07:02:35.737-08:00

On the way home from Alaska, I had the chance to briefly visit Dayna and her family, which was great. Dayna was a pro at the "relaxing" pace of touring that I was after, and so we got a really enjoyable *rain free* day to see Tacoma. We took in some Chihuly glass sculptures, in and around the Union Station and glass museum.Before that we'd wandered north of Tacoma to the site of the famous

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-30214245802796183192008-03-21T19:53:00.005-07:002008-12-10T07:02:36.382-08:00

Just wanted to post a quick one to let folks know that I made it back from Nome, Alaska just fine where I had an awesome time visiting friends, meeting the Nomites, and welcoming the mushers and dogs of the 36th Iditarod Dog Sled Race -- an update will be forthcoming on those topics!I'm definitely back in Los Angeles, by the look of things:Bikes and sports cars rule, but classy bikes on the back

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-55464996259982820882008-03-14T16:54:00.003-07:002008-12-10T07:02:36.680-08:00

I kinda like these two noteworthy pics (click to enlarge) that I forgot to include in the last update:

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-22084223408383296042008-03-10T17:44:00.008-07:002008-12-10T07:02:37.381-08:00

When my 6 weeks in New Zealand came to a close, I had the chance to layover in Sydney for 6 days, and spent it in the city and surrounding areas. Unfortunately I happened to be there for the week culminating a month of celebrations for the gay / lesbian community, which wouldn't have been so bad except that I couldn't find a place to stay for a reasonable price! The good news was that they had

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-31598420645513975322008-02-28T17:54:00.003-08:002008-04-09T07:16:06.923-07:00

Shot at Barrys Bay Cheese, on the Banks Peninsula (Akaroa) outside of Christchurch, New Zealand. Mmmmm..... cheese...

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-49786509265231998792008-02-28T17:40:00.002-08:002008-02-28T17:54:02.772-08:00

Doesn't get much simpler than that.

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-55088675743589923572008-02-28T16:45:00.008-08:002008-12-10T07:02:38.448-08:00

Due to an extremely quick-mouse-clicking travelmate, we were able to score 2 last-minute spots on the Milford Track (usually booked ~6 months in advance, despite the cost ($120 to hike unguided for 4 days)) and had 3 days to drive from the top of the south island to the track. We went down the west coast, stopping at Greymouth (to stay at the Global Village, see this post) and Hokitika to look at

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-58450620136267607032008-02-28T16:02:00.003-08:002008-02-28T16:40:45.111-08:00

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-13148053047198566592008-02-28T15:33:00.007-08:002008-12-10T07:02:39.253-08:00

The Abel Tasman Coast Track is a totally awesome hike that you should see at least part of on your next trip to New Zealand. I was able to hike part of it in January and the rest of it in February (about 5 days on it, total), and take 3 water taxis around the area to really see the remote spots (that you can't even get to by hiking).In addition to all the cool seals, fish, and birds that were

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-3017233683894767612008-02-28T14:15:00.003-08:002008-02-28T14:17:07.386-08:00

Just for my records, and for anyone planning to go to New Zealand, I wanted to post this great weather site for New Zealand:http://metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nz&noofdays(They also have weather for a few other places in the world: http://metvuw.com/forecast/ )

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-90396156915826990152008-02-10T20:38:00.001-08:002008-12-10T07:02:39.631-08:00

This past weekend (okay, way back in early Feb.) I hung out with some family friends in Auckland and was eager to take them up on their offer to go up to the family bach (holiday home) at the beach a bit north of the city. On Saturday we went to the Goat Island Marine Reserve and did some snorkeling. Glad that my camera was waterproof, I was able to take some good stills and videos. (Click the

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-55641367169175976912008-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:42.730-08:00

Last week I hiked a one-day (18 km?) portion of the 5 day "Northern Tongariro Circuit" called the Tongariro Crossing. It's basically a saddle hike that goes between two of the three main active volcanoes on the north island of New Zealand (Mt. Ngauruhoe and Mt. Tongariro). The picture above is of Mt. Ngauruhoe... otherwise known as Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings.Unfortunately, the weather was

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-6944950938560212932008-02-05T23:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:42.926-08:00

You can click the image to see it larger, and read on the paper placemat in my (regulation size and color) McDonalds tray that they are doing some really positive things down here in NZ that make me less afraid of visiting their restaurants.Makes me feel like there's hope for all this international, regulation-free, capitalism, after all!

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-63785530382316055232008-02-05T23:03:00.001-08:002008-12-10T07:02:43.196-08:00

Outside the museum there was an old Vauxhall in excellent condition, that, apparently, someone had driven that day. Amazing that this would be their commuter car! Email me if you want more pictures of the dashboard or steering mechanisms.I really should have done a second take with this movie, "Places Not to Fall Down, Episode 4," but I figured enough talking in a museum. Sorry for the bad

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-88333003432443982852008-02-03T13:55:00.002-08:002008-12-10T07:02:43.515-08:00

Spent the day walking around downtown Wellington yesterday.I was able to take a look around the Te Papa - New Zealand's national museum. Saw some exhibits on the native Maori peoples (not unlike those at the Auckland museum -- which were more complete, I thought), the environment in NZ (complete with magnitude 5 earthquake simulation and volcanoe demonstrations), and some local artwork. It was

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-35031503424441849362008-02-03T13:48:00.001-08:002008-12-10T07:02:43.684-08:00

The journey northward continues, and I'm now on the north island of New Zealand. The above picture is from on the ferry that I took across the cook strait, at sunrise (actually, had to arrive at 4:30am...). It was really picturesque with all the islands and fingers of land all around, and the sun coming up and bouncing off them all (and the water of course). Cameras really don't do it justice;

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-38202530115912140862008-02-03T13:36:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:44.277-08:00

So here's my first picture from the north island of New Zealand. It's the hills and skyline of Wellington, as you come into port. (Okay, there are some other nice buildings, for sure.) I was just amazed at how much "forestry" was going on in the background, to have such a noticeable impact on the hills. Picture to right pops to full resolution.On the south island, you can really see how "

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-21625595226997970862008-01-31T01:14:00.001-08:002008-12-10T07:02:45.015-08:00

So there's a bit of forestry going on. And by a bit, I mean a lot. And by a lot, I mean, I am really amazed at how much these outdoors-loving Kiwis are harvesting out of their lush forests (bush). You can see it all over the mountain sides.Click on the picture (to see it full size) if you can't see the detail of the trees missing.

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-37592192508525187532008-01-31T01:07:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:45.546-08:00

... but rather, just the left side of the road.I drove a car for the first time on these crazy islands today. Logged about 350 km of curvy mountain roads, in a luxury automobile... okay, a 1994 Toyota Camry. Of course we never got lost or drove on the wrong side of the road, becuase "Karl the Kiwi" was always watching out for us from on top of the steering wheel. He's got a complex IMU that

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-75356490820177683422008-01-31T00:55:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:45.773-08:00

... or so I think, in my rather limited experience.The Global Village Backpackers hostel in Greymouth makes me want to start my own hostel somewhere, modeled after it. It's just amazing that a hostel can be this clean and welcoming. I would rather stay here than a hotel because of the kitchen that's clean and stocked, the free kayaks that you can take out, and the free bikes that you can use

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1120086448884995573.post-43969685745773541222008-01-31T00:40:00.000-08:002008-12-10T07:02:45.973-08:00

This past week, after a few days of recooperating in Wanaka, I headed up the west coast, by the Franz Joseph Glacier(great article, picture on the right with the fern) and Fox Glacier. While they're not that amazing in themselves, as Glaciers go, they are unique in that they directly border rainforest. This is possible due to the almost constant rain that the west coast of NZ gets.As the

hbonwitnoreply@blogger.com3