Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the crew of Shenzhou spacecraft 6, carried the Olympic flame Saturday in the torch relay at the Dongfeng Space City in northwest Chinas Gansu province.
A total of 22 bearers took part in the relay in the satellite launch base as most of which were top experts in Chinas spaceflight program.
Fei, 43, and Nie, 44, had been the crew of Shenzhou 6, the second human spaceflight of China, which was launched three days before the second anniversary of Chinas first human spaceflight, Shenzhou 5, and took flight for five days in low Earth orbit.
The opening ceremony was staged on the movable launch complex within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center as Fei ran down the first leg from the launch rack at 8:10 a.m. local time in the days relay.
The lighting of torch adopted a method of time countdown as the rocket launch does in the backdrop of stage.
s another great honor for me along with the Shenzhou 6 flight. Its a great honor not just for me, but also for the whole family of cosmonauts and Chinas space program technology, said Fei.
For Nie, carrying the torch in the 15th place is also one of the best memories. I am happy with this, even happier than my 41th birthday, said Nie, who celebrated his 41st birthday in space.
Wang Yongzhi, 76, the chief designer of Chinas manned spacecraft program, made an exhibition of the torch on the ninth floor of Umbilical Tower, part of the launch complex.
Wang, who was born in northeast Liaoning province, is an aerospace scientist and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was awarded the nations highest scientific and technological prize, State Preeminent Science and Technology Awardin 2003.
The relay, complying with the theme of science and technology, passed the launch field, Ruoshui River, Heaven Flying park, Wentian Pavilion and Central Avenue, and reached the closing ceremony site, Dongfeng Square, at 9:10 a.m..
Shenzhou 6 was launched on 12 October 2005 on a Long March rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The JSLC, which covers 2,800 square kilometers, has been the focus of many of Chinas successful ventures into space, including their first satellite Dong Fang Hong 1 in 1970, and their first manned space mission Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003.
After the relay in spaceport of Dongfeng, the Olympic flame heads for Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region for Sundays relay in Zhongwei.

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Condominiums For Sale In Knoxville Tennessee to be legislation about deregulation issues, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (TCA) was really an open invitation for the cell phone industry to place their towers anywhere they wanted. Section 704 of the TCA basically states that local authorities cant ban the placement of towers in their jurisdictions. The law says: No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the Commissions regulations concerning such emissions. So legally the local government cant refuse the construction of a cell phone tower in your neighborhood! Any challenge by local communities could easily end up in federal court. Our lawmakers have basically given the cell phone industry free reign to install these towers wherever they want. And, by the way, the cell phone industry helped write this legislation that our government officials passed as law! The public, therefore, now has no voice and no vote. Is there something wrong with this picture? Why didnt our public officials represent the people instead of big business? Why would you let the very industry youre trying to regulate write its own laws?
Does the income outweigh the potential risks? It appears not. Many studies and a lot of research have proven alarming health effects from various forms of cancer to stress. (2) Dr. George Carlo, chief scientist for the largest study ever conducted on cell phone radiation, predicts an epidemic in brain cancer soon. He says that based on calculations from peer-reviewed studies he expects the number of cases of brain cancer to number between 400,000 and 500,000 by the year 2010. Thats up ten-fold from the 40,000 to 50,000 cases we see today and its all directly attributed to cell phones and wireless technology. (3) He feels that were beginning to see the curve of an epidemic like weve never seen before.
Representatives from the industry are quick to point out the microwaves emitted by cell phone towers are well below federal standards. And indeed they may be. At least on paper. Most towers operate at a power output of 100 watts. However, this isnt the total wattage of the tower. What they arent telling you is that 100 watts is the power per channel. Since one tower may have dozens of channels you can see that the power output could be highly excessive and well beyond 100 watts. Its a technical loophole. And, of course, who is monitoring the power output from these towers after they are erected? The FCC certainly isnt. It doesnt have the manpower or money to properly regulate the millions of towers and antennas now online. And who is to prevent these companies from turning up the wattage when no one is around? Dr. Carlo indicates that many of these towers have already shown power outputs in the 900 to 1000 watt range. (4)
You Cant Escape The Radiation. Its Everywhere.
We simply cant escape the exposure to this radiation. Its everywhere. There are so many people using cell phones and wireless connections today that you dont even have to own a cell phone to be exposed. Youre just as exposed as everyone else. Every time someone makes a call from a mobile phone the signal is sent to a cell phone tower. There are so many calls being made by everyone all around us and now there are so many mobile phone towers in operation, that all of us are caught in the crossfire. Its like second-hand smoke from cigarettes, except that we cant get away from it. There simply isnt anywhere to escape.
How Mobile Phone Towers Work
Cell phone towers emit signals in a flower petal pattern around the tower. This 360-degree radius around the tower is called a and this is what the term in cell phone means. (5) When your phone is in a you get good reception and when it isnt in a ? you get poor reception. So, for a cell phone company to provide complete coverage cell phone towers and antenna towers must be positioned all across the country so that the overlap. You can begin to see what a huge infrastructure needs to be created to provide complete cell phone coverage. Thats why cell phone towers and antenna towers are so prevalent. Furthermore, thats why these antennas are installed in so many places like rooftops, fire stations, schools and churches. This is what is necessary for complete coverage.
Studies Show Adverse Health Effects From Cell Phone Towers
If you arent sure that cell phone towers and masts are harmful the following study summaries should convince you. Below are listed six studies that have shown significant adverse health effects on people living near cell phone towers. According to Dr. Grahame Blackwell these are the only studies known that specifically consider the effects of masts on people. All six studies show clear and significant ill-health effects. There are no known studies relating to health effects of masts that do not show such ill-health effects. (6)
1. Santini et al. found significant health problems in people living within 300 meters of a cell phone base station or tower. The recommendation was made from the study that cell phone base stations should not be placed closer than 300 meters to populated areas. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2002; 50: 369-373.
2. A Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research study entitled, Effects of Global Communications System Radio-Frequency Fields On Well Being and Cognitive Function of Human Subjects With and Without Subjective Complaints found significant effects on well being including headaches, muscle fatigue, pain, and dizziness from tower emissions well below the level.
3. Gerd, Enrique, Manuel, Ceferino and Claludio conducted a Spanish study called The Microwave Syndrome and found adverse health effects from those living near two cell phone base stations. The health effects included fatigue, a tendency toward depression, sleeping disorders, difficulty in concentration and cardiovascular problems.
4. From an Israeli study published in the International Journal of Cancer Prevention, Vol. 1, No. 2, April 2004, Wolf and Wolf reported a fourfold increase in the incidence of cancer in people living within 350 meters of a cell phone tower as compared to the Israeli general population. They also reported a tenfold increase specifically among women.
5. In the Naila Study from Germany, November 2004, five medical doctors collaborated to assess the risk to people living near a cell phone tower. The retrospective study was taken from patient case histories between 1994 and 2004 from those who had lived during the past ten years at a distance up to 400 meters from the tower site. The results showed that the proportion of newly developed cancer cases was significantly higher in those patients living within the 400-meter distance and that the patients became ill on average eight years earlier. In the years 1999 to 2004, after five years of operation of the transmitting tower, the relative risk of getting cancer had trebled for residents of the area in the proximity of the installation compared to the inhabitants of Naila outside the area.
6. An Austrian Study released in May 2005, showed that radiation from a cell phone tower at a distance of 80 meters causes significant changes of the electrical currents in the brains of test subjects. All test subjects indicated they felt unwell during the radiation and some reported being seriously ill. According to the scientists doing the study, this is the first worldwide proof of significant changes of the electrical currents in the brain, as measured by EEG, by a cell phone base station at a distance of 80 meters. Subjects reported symptoms such as buzzing in the head, tinnitus, palpitations of the heart, lightheadedness, anxiety, shortness of breath, nervousness, agitation, headache, heat sensation and depression. According to scientists this is the first proof that electrical circuits in the brain are significantly affected by a cell phone tower. The distance in this study was a mere 80 meters.
Two-time Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Gerald Hyland, a physicist, had this to say about cell phone towers. Existing safety guidelines for cell phone towers are completely inadequate. Quite justifiably, the public remains skeptical of attempts by governments and industry to reassure them that all is well, particularly given the unethical way in which they often operate symbiotically so as to promote their own vested interests.
Dr. Bruce Hocking did a study in Syndey, Australia, of children living near TV and FM broadcast towers, which by the way, are very similar to cell phone towers. He found that these children had more than twice the rate of leukemia as children living more than seven miles away from these towers.
Results in yet another recent study (7) conducted on inhabitants living near or under a mobile phone base station antenna yielded the following prevalence of neuropsychiatric complaints: headache (23.5%), memory changes (28.2%), dizziness (18.8%), tremors (9.4%), depressive symptoms (21.7%), and sleep disturbances
(23.5%). In this study the participants were given a neurobehavioral test battery measuring such things as problem solving, visuomotor speed, attention and
memory. Symptoms of exposed inhabitants were significantly higher than control groups.
Furthermore, Europes top environmental watchdog group, European Environment Agency (EEA), is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to mobile phone
masts. EEA suggests action to reduce exposure immediately to vulnerable groups such as children.
The development of brain tumors in staff members working in a building in Melbourne, Australia, prompted the closing of the top floors of the building. The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is housed in the building. Seven staff members were diagnosed with brain tumors and five of the seven worked on the top floor. A cell phone antenna is located on the roof of the building. (8)
The Orange phone company in England is being forced to remove its mast tower on a building in Bristol, England. The removal is a result of a five-year effort by residents and local authorities to have the mast removed. Cancer rates in the building, which has become known internationally as the Tower of Doom, have soared to ten times the national average for the 110 residents living there. The two masts sitting on the roof, one owned by Orange and the other by Vodafone, were installed in 1994. Vodafone has refused the remove its mast. (9)
Cell Phone Towers Affect Animals
Animals arent exempt from exposure the cell phone tower radiation either. One veterinary school in Hanover, Germany, reports that dairy cows kept in close proximity to a cell phone tower for two years had a reduction in milk production in addition to other health problems including abnormal behavior patterns. (10)
Firefighters Vote To Suspend Cell Tower Construction On Fire Stations
Concerned about the effect that masts have on the nations firefighters, The International Association of Fire Fighters voted in 2004 to voice its opposition to cell phone towers and antennas being place on and around fire stations. They want proof first that there isnt a safety issue and have asked for a moratorium on further construction and placement of any more towers or antennas on or around firehouses until such a study can be conducted.
What Are These Antennas Doing To Our Kids While Theyre In School?t worth the risk. They should not be subjected to microwave radiation when science has proven there could clearly be devastating effects as outlined in the previously mentioned studies. School boards and parent organizations need to be aware of the inherent dangers from such an exposure. Its been clearly shown that microwave radiation penetrates the head of a child much easier than that of an adult. This is due to the thinner and softer bones in the head of child. (11) Skull bones dont fully harden until about age 22.
How Many Cell Phone Towers Are Near You?
The average person lives within one-half mile of a cell phone tower. Have you ever wondered how close you live or work to one of these towers? Would it bother you if one were right in your backyard? How many of these towers and antennas do you think there are in your immediate area.

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Chinese restaurant chicago? This way!
F L A N T R E X. Both have the same features and functions, and both look very similar. These are just low res videos and don't stream smoothly or look particularly good. If you don't use Rhapsody and don't intend to start, there's no reason to favor this bulky flash device over slimmer, smaller options like the. Digital media distribution is done a number of ways now. Though popular aggregators are the natural choice for many people interested in music and video downloads, some may opt to house content distributed by a particular producer in a single program.
E mail required, must be legitimate. Read all ear canal posts in Crave.
Website of the Week Cathay Pacific. Style Cathay Pacific's duty free shopping website maintains the strict colour scheme adopted by the rest of the airline's official website.
Pounds, with an initial rollout in August, and new features, including WiMax and WWAN support sometime after October. Already able to get streams from. Provides a large variety of free MP format songs for young listeners.
TAKING IN ALL YOUR COMMENTS, I SHALL ADD TO FAV. Standing on its own on a desktop thanks to the drawn out speaker cum resting post, on the other side it features a two inch QVGA screen with support for MPEG video as well as FLAC, OGG, MP and WMA audio. After enjoying a brief hiatus, MP Mailbox Monday is back and back to basics. Also, as the bit rates get higher, most normal listeners can't tell the difference between the various file types. Leaks the facts on this scheme.

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Back to the story

So after Mizzou puts us through an application and interview process, I received a letter in December that I was formally accepted to be a volunteer at the 2008 Olympicssort of. Actually, I was formally accepted as a candidate for a volunteer position. Id been accepted by Mizzou, but now the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG) wanted to test me themselves.

Candidate or no, I was excited just to make it to the next level. A bunch of friends and I went to a local sushi joint to celebrate. (Yes, Im aware sushi is from Japan, but Columbia, Missouri isnt what youd call a big city. I was happy just to get rice.) It was fun, although I did spend most of the time teaching everyone how to use chopsticks and keeping the guys from pelting each other with wasabi.

But the spot in China was no sure thing. Mizzou had accepted 61 candidates, and BOCOG only had 51 slots. The upcoming test would decide who went.

We took night classes twice a week to prepare which was tough, because we had absolutely no idea what the test would be over. Frantically, we studied the poorly-translated sports guides theyd given us and caught up on Chinese culture.

Turns out, none of it would help. They tested us over note-taking and quote gathering, which is most of what well be doing in Beijing for the Olympics News Service. We watched a beach volleyball game and wrote a story on it, and then we gathered quotes from recordings of athletes after competitions. We also presented a debate to prove our proficiency in English.

In March, we found out all the Mizzou kids were accepted, which means we did so well that they extended 10 extra slots for us!

So thats what it took to get here. After all the classes, tests, lectures and books, Im ready just to be there. And a week from now, I will be. Anyone have any advice.

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On June 27 a spokesperson for the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Co. announced that the increased security measures were in accordance with new security laws aimed at ensuring public order and safety during the Olympic Games. Security screening would focus on controlling all materials with the potential to endanger public safety, including guns, ammunition, explosives and other hazardous materials.

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I usually, in fact I have never written a post about politics or anything of the sort for fear of retribution from those that don't agree with me. It's not because I am not firm in my beliefs, but the majority of the time, people of differing political parties become frustrated, defensive, and a "healthy" argument then turns into a blood bath with the words "ignorant" and "incompetent fool" being thrown around like it was a compliment. I welcome a debate concerning different view points and believe that is the only way we can educate each other, despite our differences, however, I don't enjoy doing so when it becomes insulting, disrespectful, and derogatory.

We all know, well at least I hope you know, that there is a presidential election coming up. I was talking with my parents about it and they think it is one of the most important elections they've encountered - not because it's between John McCain and Barack Obama, but because of the issues that are being addressed in this year's election. So many things could be changed, either for the better or for the worser, depending on how you view items like same sex marriages, fair trade, universal health care, and the war in Iraq. I'm not going to say who I support, because it could either entice or drive away people who have no clue what is going on, but is supporting that specific candidate because their parent's told them to.

I say all that to say that I think that this election year, we really have a chance to voice how we feel about issues by who we vote for, literally. Don't go with what is popular or what you think you should do based on your families political preference. Educate yourself, read up, and make fully informed decisions that you can back up in mature discussion if the opportunity ever crops up. Yes, we live in a free country, but you're a prisoner of ignorance if you don't take the opportunity to research, learn, and remember. I'll get off my soap box now.


"Only the educated are free.

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Mobile phones have virtually brought a renaissance in the world of communication. Riding high on the wings of modern technology, the world of mobile phones has come a long way. The journey has been so good so far. Each day is a new day for the mobile phone deals manufacturers. Newer features are constantly pouring into the latest handsets making mobile communication sweet, smart and sophisticated.
Just rewind 10 years from now! Could you imagine our stand in the mobile communication world then? Yes, you guess it right - we were like newbies if not less. Mobile technology was at a nascent stage. Mobile manufacturing companies like Nokia mobile phones and Motorola showed much courage and began to experiment with many a new technologies in their handsets. But interestingly, since then there is no looking back. Several mobile manufacturing companies have appeared in the scene and unveiled some technologically advanced handsets. Camera, music, connectivity, gaming, web access - all have become standard features in the latest mobile phones. Companies like Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, HTC, i-mate, BlackBerry, O2 are also doing exceptional jobs these days.
The best part with the latest mobile phones is that they can be used as multi functional devices. You need not carry a separate camera or music player when you go on long drive. Your latest mobile phone itself can do all these favours as it features imaging as well as music features. Capture those beautiful moments or listen to the likes of Coldplay, Sir Elton Jon, Jon Bon Jovi or Shakira - do whatever you feel like!
If you are planning to buy a high end mobile device with a value mobile phone deal, then its really a very good time to fulfil your dream.

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Welcome to our History of Volleyball advanced search facility. The purpose of this site is to help you quickly and easily find the information you’re looking for about the History of Volleyball. As you will soon see, as you navigate the pages of this site, there is an almost unlimited assortment of items available to meet your needs. You will also find an assortment of helpful articles and information to assist you in your search for the history of volleyball.
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The Olympics are quickly approaching and the controversy over the host aside, they are shaping up to be great. The facilities are simply astonishing. The Beijing National Stadium, nick-named the bird-nest, is certainly a unique piece of architecture. Herzog de Meuron Architekten AG, a Swiss firm, won the bid to begin construction way back in 2003. Their other notable works include the Allianz Arena in Munich and the Tate Modern in London. The venue will have a seating capacity of 80,000.
Volleyball has had a relatively short history in the Olympics. It certainly was not featured in the games in Olympia. But, as we go forward into the coming games it is nice to take a moment to look back on the games of the past.

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Sorry to keep anyone waiting. I've been in Thailand now for two days and haven't even posted on the rest of Vietnam. Access has been spotty and days have been long. But without further ado...

After leaving Saigon, we spent a few days in the central Vietnam cities of Hoi An and Hue. We actually flew from Saigon to Danang which is roughly between the two and then took a cab, along with Ron, an Australian man, down to Hoi An. We didn't have a hotel in Hoi An but were lucky that the one we picked near the center of town had one room left. Ron had to go searching unfortunately.

Hoi An used to be a very prosperous port town, one of the largest in Asia I believe. It no longer holds that status and today is just a quaint little fishing village. We ended up staying in Hoi An for 2 nights. I know I said that Saigon was hot but Hoi An took things to another level. After we checked in on the first day we ventured out around the city but we didn't make it very far before being enticed by 3,000dong (20cent) beers at a cafe along the river. Honestly the next day and a half was a series of beers interspersed with a walking tour through the lanes and alley ways of the city center. Don't worry it was the local stuff...mostly water anyways. Alongside our walking tour we took advantage of a ticket that the town sells which gives you access to one museum, one historical family home and one assembly hall. We also discovered what Hoi An is most famous for, it's silk production and it's enormous number of tailors that can whip you up a suit or a coat or a ball gown in 24 hours. I thought about a couple coats that I saw and Jess considered a bridesmaid's dress for her sister's wedding but in the end neither of us wanted to carry them around asia and with the cost of shipping it home you might as well have just bought it in the US. At night in Hoi An there was a little strip of restaurants and bars that catered to tourists. One had a great bar and pool table where one night we played endless games with an american mom and daughter duo (daughter works for an NGO in pakistan and they met up for a vacation) and three british boys who are traveling after just finishing university or as they and now I have taken to calling it. Good times.

On our second full day in Hoi An we booked a tour ($5) out to the My Son (mee sun) ruins. Unfortunately the guided tour was light on guidance but from what I remember without my guidebook in front of me they date back to the 13th century and unfortunately have sustained quite a bit of destruction from the war.

From Hoi An we took a 4 hour and $4 bus ride up to Hue. The countryside was really very beautiful with endless rice fields and little fishing huts scattered about along the coast. About an hour outside of Hoi An it started to rain and really didn't stop for our entire stay in Hue. Despite the weather Hue was a town full of adventures for us. After battling the motorbikes for days we decided to join them and booked a motorbike tour of the countryside including visits to two emperors' tombs, two buddhist temples, the Imperial Palace and a few other far-off places. In total we rode for 60km. We each had a driver and I swear they know their way around the back roads and alleys like you wouldn't believe. We were soaked by the end but had a complete blast. So far it's been my favorite experience. Oh wait, how could I forget to share that on the tour we rode past a family carving up a dog they had just finished roasting. You hear the stories and now we have proof!
After our motorbike tour Lindsey decided we should get massages. Here's where I am going to share with you my friend Jess's writeup of the experience that she sent in an email to her family and friends. My experience was almost identical.

Jess:
Ah yes, the massage. That was yesterday and I'm still sore. Very sore. Let me set the scene- We all walk upstairs and enter our own rooms. A little odd, I thought, as I noticed the massage table set against a wall. How was he going to maneuver around the other side? My question was answered VERY quickly. He barely introduced himself before he was on top of me, straddling my back asking my name and marital status. What followed reminded me of a childhood game called Rose Garden. You took another unsuspecting child's forearm and slapped it, pinched it and rubbed it until it had a pinkish color. Well this was a full body game of Rose Garden. I found myself peeking at my watch the way I do during my spinning classes. Only 15 more minutes- I can do this! There was a brief pause. Yes, almost done. I glance back and see him standing on the table. Then I feel a lot of pressure on my hamstrings. He's standing on me! Now he's standing on my lower back, then mid-back, then upper back. Quick thoughts of me become paralyzed right there flashed through my head.

I thought she did a much better job than I could have. I hope you enjoyed. We all had quite a few laughs sharing our own personal variation of the above.

We flew from Hue up to Hanoi, where in hindsight we wish we had had another day. All the books and many people said that Hanoi would be a much more traditional city, stuck in time a bit, unlike Saigon. I have to say that after my brief stay I would very much disagree with that. It certainly lacks the extreme hustle and bustle of Saigon but I think that is a huge positive and it was really very modern (If Saigon is NYC then Hanoi is Boston). The city is centered around Hoan Kiem Lake which we all felt really shaped the community and general life in Hanoi. In the morning the older folks were out doing their tai chi and aerobics by the water. At night the teenagers were out to one another and families with their small children were just enjoying the public spaces. On our first afternoon we walked around the lake and explored a bit of the Old Quarter but didn't really do anything extremely touristy.

We spent our second and third days out at Halong Bay which is 3 hours east of Hanoi. I'm just going to direct you to my pictures to get a sense for the scenery of the Bay. It was a bit overcast so the pictures aren't great but hopefully you can understand the beauty of the nearly 2,000 limestone pillars in the bay. The Vietnamese are trying to get it declared as a natural wonder. We booked a tour and stayed overnight on a boat. There are hundreds of junk operators and I'd say ours was really quite nice. In addition to sailing through the bay we had the chance to take kayaks through a cave and into a beautiful lagoon. We also explored Surprise Cave which is a massive cut out in one of the pillars with beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures. There were 14 guests and everyone really enjoyed each others' company. The 4 aussies led the way in terms of hydration (if you get my drift) and were good sports during karaoke at night. Ah yes, how vividly I still remember my rendition of Come On Eileen (too ra loo ra too ra loo ra lay!)

We've made it safe and sound to Thailand and have enjoyed a day and a half already in Bangkok. We are already enjoying the food so much more. I guess I hadn't really had much Vietnamese food before this trip and I have to honestly say that I think it is only capable of being so good. We tried cheap dives and moderately priced spots but never could rave about it. A good bowl of Pho is hard to beat but really this noodle and chicken soup is the highlight of the cuisine in my humble opinion.

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Sorry to keep anyone waiting. I've been in Thailand now for two days and haven't even posted on the rest of Vietnam. Access has been spotty and days have been long. But without further ado...

After leaving Saigon, we spent a few days in the central Vietnam cities of Hoi An and Hue. We actually flew from Saigon to Danang which is roughly between the two and then took a cab, along with Ron, an Australian man, down to Hoi An. We didn't have a hotel in Hoi An but were lucky that the one we picked near the center of town had one room left. Ron had to go searching unfortunately.

Hoi An used to be a very prosperous port town, one of the largest in Asia I believe. It no longer holds that status and today is just a quaint little fishing village. We ended up staying in Hoi An for 2 nights. I know I said that Saigon was hot but Hoi An took things to another level. After we checked in on the first day we ventured out around the city but we didn't make it very far before being enticed by 3,000dong (20cent) beers at a cafe along the river. Honestly the next day and a half was a series of beers interspersed with a walking tour through the lanes and alley ways of the city center. Don't worry it was the local stuff...mostly water anyways. Alongside our walking tour we took advantage of a ticket that the town sells which gives you access to one museum, one historical family home and one assembly hall. We also discovered what Hoi An is most famous for, it's silk production and it's enormous number of tailors that can whip you up a suit or a coat or a ball gown in 24 hours. I thought about a couple coats that I saw and Jess considered a bridesmaid's dress for her sister's wedding but in the end neither of us wanted to carry them around asia and with the cost of shipping it home you might as well have just bought it in the US. At night in Hoi An there was a little strip of restaurants and bars that catered to tourists. One had a great bar and pool table where one night we played endless games with an american mom and daughter duo (daughter works for an NGO in pakistan and they met up for a vacation) and three british boys who are traveling after just finishing university or as they and now I have taken to calling it. Good times.

On our second full day in Hoi An we booked a tour ($5) out to the My Son (mee sun) ruins. Unfortunately the guided tour was light on guidance but from what I remember without my guidebook in front of me they date back to the 13th century and unfortunately have sustained quite a bit of destruction from the war.

From Hoi An we took a 4 hour and $4 bus ride up to Hue. The countryside was really very beautiful with endless rice fields and little fishing huts scattered about along the coast. About an hour outside of Hoi An it started to rain and really didn't stop for our entire stay in Hue. Despite the weather Hue was a town full of adventures for us. After battling the motorbikes for days we decided to join them and booked a motorbike tour of the countryside including visits to two emperors' tombs, two buddhist temples, the Imperial Palace and a few other far-off places. In total we rode for 60km. We each had a driver and I swear they know their way around the back roads and alleys like you wouldn't believe. We were soaked by the end but had a complete blast. So far it's been my favorite experience. Oh wait, how could I forget to share that on the tour we rode past a family carving up a dog they had just finished roasting. You hear the stories and now we have proof!
After our motorbike tour Lindsey decided we should get massages. Here's where I am going to share with you my friend Jess's writeup of the experience that she sent in an email to her family and friends. My experience was almost identical.

Jess:
Ah yes, the massage. That was yesterday and I'm still sore. Very sore. Let me set the scene- We all walk upstairs and enter our own rooms. A little odd, I thought, as I noticed the massage table set against a wall. How was he going to maneuver around the other side? My question was answered VERY quickly. He barely introduced himself before he was on top of me, straddling my back asking my name and marital status. What followed reminded me of a childhood game called Rose Garden. You took another unsuspecting child's forearm and slapped it, pinched it and rubbed it until it had a pinkish color. Well this was a full body game of Rose Garden. I found myself peeking at my watch the way I do during my spinning classes. Only 15 more minutes- I can do this! There was a brief pause. Yes, almost done. I glance back and see him standing on the table. Then I feel a lot of pressure on my hamstrings. He's standing on me! Now he's standing on my lower back, then mid-back, then upper back. Quick thoughts of me become paralyzed right there flashed through my head.

I thought she did a much better job than I could have. I hope you enjoyed. We all had quite a few laughs sharing our own personal variation of the above.

We flew from Hue up to Hanoi, where in hindsight we wish we had had another day. All the books and many people said that Hanoi would be a much more traditional city, stuck in time a bit, unlike Saigon. I have to say that after my brief stay I would very much disagree with that. It certainly lacks the extreme hustle and bustle of Saigon but I think that is a huge positive and it was really very modern (If Saigon is NYC then Hanoi is Boston). The city is centered around Hoan Kiem Lake which we all felt really shaped the community and general life in Hanoi. In the morning the older folks were out doing their tai chi and aerobics by the water. At night the teenagers were out to one another and families with their small children were just enjoying the public spaces. On our first afternoon we walked around the lake and explored a bit of the Old Quarter but didn't really do anything extremely touristy.

We spent our second and third days out at Halong Bay which is 3 hours east of Hanoi. I'm just going to direct you to my pictures to get a sense for the scenery of the Bay. It was a bit overcast so the pictures aren't great but hopefully you can understand the beauty of the nearly 2,000 limestone pillars in the bay. The Vietnamese are trying to get it declared as a natural wonder. We booked a tour and stayed overnight on a boat. There are hundreds of junk operators and I'd say ours was really quite nice. In addition to sailing through the bay we had the chance to take kayaks through a cave and into a beautiful lagoon. We also explored Surprise Cave which is a massive cut out in one of the pillars with beautiful stalagmite and stalactite structures. There were 14 guests and everyone really enjoyed each others' company. The 4 aussies led the way in terms of hydration (if you get my drift) and were good sports during karaoke at night. Ah yes, how vividly I still remember my rendition of Come On Eileen (too ra loo ra too ra loo ra lay!)

We've made it safe and sound to Thailand and have enjoyed a day and a half already in Bangkok. We are already enjoying the food so much more. I guess I hadn't really had much Vietnamese food before this trip and I have to honestly say that I think it is only capable of being so good. We tried cheap dives and moderately priced spots but never could rave about it. A good bowl of Pho is hard to beat but really this noodle and chicken soup is the highlight of the cuisine in my humble opinion.

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I never learned what healthy eating was until partway through college. Growing up it was meat, pasta, pizza, cheese, fast food, Little Debbies. Not one fish, not one veggie, not one fruit - save the occasional banana or raisin. In fact, I remember as a kid my grandfather had bought my mom some fancy grapefruit. She felt pressured to eat it. She sat there for an hour trying to gulp it down. Oh, the faces she made - such disgust!

Obviously, I'm off to a rough start. If the parents don't eat one healthy dish...how are the kids going to? It was a damn good thing that I played soccer, basketball, track, cross country, dance, volleyball, baseball, softball, and did weightlifting. If I was burning that many calories, I would've been a whale.

As I got older, I started to learn more (through sports coaches) about things you should and shouldn't eat to give you more energy for sports. It wasn't anything in depth, but little pieces here and there. Grilled chicken breast for example, one soccer coach said. One guy I knew through soccer lost 20 pounds by eliminating soda from his diet. So when I graduated high school I thought the ole' metabolism would start slowing down since I was getting so old and not participating in as many sporting activities. So I gave up pop, soda, Coke...whatever you call it. Cold turkey. I had caffeine withdrawal headaches for a week. I had the shakes. But now I've been soda free since ninety three. It's not even a consideration. It just looks like syrup or sugar water to me now. Good for me.

But the real change came in college when I joined the cheerleading team. We were working out like mad. Practicing like mad. Plus we had to walk all those Southeastern Ohio hills all day long going to and from class. i was burning a lot of energy. but our coach was really into fitness, so she would measure our body fat, keep track of our weight, and in the summer when we had two months off, we had to write down everything we ate and mail it to her each week. This was not only to make sure we weren't putting too many bad things in our bodies, but to also make sure nobody was underfeeding themselves...which is easy to do for the female members of the team. They wanted to be small and light so we could throw them around - not to mention look good on national TV.

WOW! When you write down everything you eat and then go back and look at it...it really adds up. It is an eye opener. But the good thing about the chart is that it also made sure you were drinking enough water, eating enough healthy foods and getting enough exercise. One of these days I'll scan it and put it up here.

So it was then that I really started to research nutrition. And let me tell you, it was hard to go from eating pizza and burgers to salads and fruits. Your body craves what you give it. If you eat bananas every day - you will want a banana. If you eat Frito pie every day - you will want that heart attack in a bowl. But I also know that you can get used to anything if you try it enough times. So that's what I did. I kept eating all these fruits and veggies until my body got used to them and now crave them.

And can you imagine the first time I went to Maine and tried to order chicken in a lobster house? I took a lot of crap from a lot of people for a long time for not even trying some of their favorite foods. And that is my philosophy now. I think, "This dish somebody's favorite dish somewhere in the world." So I try anything now...anything. Because of that, I know loooove sushi. I regret all the great foods I missed out on growing up, but now relish in the fact that I can go anywhere in the world and know that I will be happy at the dinner table.

In fact, one time I was in the stage version of Fear Factor and had to drink a nasty smoothie of rotten milk, fish, crickets, etc. Whatev, I say.

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I never learned what healthy eating was until partway through college. Growing up it was meat, pasta, pizza, cheese, fast food, Little Debbies. Not one fish, not one veggie, not one fruit - save the occasional banana or raisin. In fact, I remember as a kid my grandfather had bought my mom some fancy grapefruit. She felt pressured to eat it. She sat there for an hour trying to gulp it down. Oh, the faces she made - such disgust!

Obviously, I'm off to a rough start. If the parents don't eat one healthy dish...how are the kids going to? It was a damn good thing that I played soccer, basketball, track, cross country, dance, volleyball, baseball, softball, and did weightlifting. If I was burning that many calories, I would've been a whale.

As I got older, I started to learn more (through sports coaches) about things you should and shouldn't eat to give you more energy for sports. It wasn't anything in depth, but little pieces here and there. Grilled chicken breast for example, one soccer coach said. One guy I knew through soccer lost 20 pounds by eliminating soda from his diet. So when I graduated high school I thought the ole' metabolism would start slowing down since I was getting so old and not participating in as many sporting activities. So I gave up pop, soda, Coke...whatever you call it. Cold turkey. I had caffeine withdrawal headaches for a week. I had the shakes. But now I've been soda free since ninety three. It's not even a consideration. It just looks like syrup or sugar water to me now. Good for me.

But the real change came in college when I joined the cheerleading team. We were working out like mad. Practicing like mad. Plus we had to walk all those Southeastern Ohio hills all day long going to and from class. i was burning a lot of energy. but our coach was really into fitness, so she would measure our body fat, keep track of our weight, and in the summer when we had two months off, we had to write down everything we ate and mail it to her each week. This was not only to make sure we weren't putting too many bad things in our bodies, but to also make sure nobody was underfeeding themselves...which is easy to do for the female members of the team. They wanted to be small and light so we could throw them around - not to mention look good on national TV.

WOW! When you write down everything you eat and then go back and look at it...it really adds up. It is an eye opener. But the good thing about the chart is that it also made sure you were drinking enough water, eating enough healthy foods and getting enough exercise. One of these days I'll scan it and put it up here.

So it was then that I really started to research nutrition. And let me tell you, it was hard to go from eating pizza and burgers to salads and fruits. Your body craves what you give it. If you eat bananas every day - you will want a banana. If you eat Frito pie every day - you will want that heart attack in a bowl. But I also know that you can get used to anything if you try it enough times. So that's what I did. I kept eating all these fruits and veggies until my body got used to them and now crave them.

And can you imagine the first time I went to Maine and tried to order chicken in a lobster house? I took a lot of crap from a lot of people for a long time for not even trying some of their favorite foods. And that is my philosophy now. I think, "This dish somebody's favorite dish somewhere in the world." So I try anything now...anything. Because of that, I know loooove sushi. I regret all the great foods I missed out on growing up, but now relish in the fact that I can go anywhere in the world and know that I will be happy at the dinner table.

In fact, one time I was in the stage version of Fear Factor and had to drink a nasty smoothie of rotten milk, fish, crickets, etc. Whatev, I say.

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. Tennis Warehouse - tennis racquets, tennis shoes, tennis apparel . Tennis Australia - Rules near Equipment. CATA Tennis Community Forums. The Tips4Tennis Blog Blog Archive Pro equipment log. Today, pool which once was a restricted sport for Kings is a world-class competitive sport attracting millions of players and fans all around the world. Tennis Avenue is a virtual pro shop offering discounts yes quality equipment and services for tennis players who he serious about their game. Equipment for tennis player - Get Advice About Choosing Your Table Tennis Equipment.

Tennis Equipment Buying Guide - Overstock.com. Babolats the king o tennis when it comes from mark sekelsky racquets. Seventy players use Babolat racquets to. do you need prayer Board. me cost: tennis players $15 relational operators $5 for folks just wanting a work-out.

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. Tennis Warehouse - tennis racquets, tennis shoes, tennis apparel . Tennis Australia - Rules near Equipment. CATA Tennis Community Forums. The Tips4Tennis Blog Blog Archive Pro equipment log. Today, pool which once was a restricted sport for Kings is a world-class competitive sport attracting millions of players and fans all around the world. Tennis Avenue is a virtual pro shop offering discounts yes quality equipment and services for tennis players who he serious about their game. Equipment for tennis player - Get Advice About Choosing Your Table Tennis Equipment.

Tennis Equipment Buying Guide - Overstock.com. Babolats the king o tennis when it comes from mark sekelsky racquets. Seventy players use Babolat racquets to. do you need prayer Board. me cost: tennis players $15 relational operators $5 for folks just wanting a work-out.

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