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10 Things I want to accomplish before I die (which I will try to accomplish at least half in this next two years)
1. Travel the world
2. Spend a Christmas in a tropical island
3. Spend a weekend high rolling in Vegas
4. Publish 3 books
5. Do MS 150 from Houston to Austin
6. Participate in native New Zealand ceremony
7. Sky dive
8. Finish my masters
9. Spend more time with my grandparents
10. Excel in my career

10 Things my trip has made me wonder about….
1. If English is the universal language, why do only 6 countries in the world speak it?
2. America is an expensive place to live, sure you earn more, but 45% of your salary, or 5 months of the year, are for other people/insurance/government, so how much do we really earn?
3. I have a lot of respect for a country that considers quality education and internet a requirement provided by the government instead of a gift.
4. Be prepared to get sick when traveling. If the mosquitoes don’t get you than maybe the jet lag, water, height, food, air….there’s no way around this.
5. Creative thoughts or actions are harder to come by the longer you follow a routine. However, some routine is necessary…I have to reserve 1 hour each day writing in the morning.
6. There are two times in your life to travel: when you are old or young. The experience will be totally different in what you are able to do and what kind of cash you are able/need to have.
7. Unfortunately, for the majority of the countries the prettier the wife the bigger the husband’s wallet…there’s a lot of materialism to human nature.
8. The functional/operational language must have vocabulary on bathroom, taxi, directions, and laundry.
9. It’s so annoying to see females thumb their intelligence down to fit in or be liked…this seems to be a universal phenomenon.
10. How honest a nation/family/individual is to themselves and others is an awesome indicator how much perspective on life and the ability to present a strong humble transparent self.

10 Things to do before embarking on a long trip
1. Know where you’re from…yes, this does require some light traveling
2. Know where you are going…operational language requirements
3. Go digital–take full advantage of your memory or ipod for storage
4. Financial consolidation and cleaning up credit card
5. Will
6. Visit those you love
7. Find a way to stay connected: Grand Central, Skype, etc
8. Know your limitations and test them often while raveling
9. Find out the closest hospital and medical care wherever you are going
10. Don’t give your important documents to anyone. Many countries will ask for your passport and never give it back. Place a copy in your hand bag and one in your Google account.

10 Things to place in your carry on bag
1. Kleenex and wet naps (’cuz not all bathrooms have toilet paper)
2. towel and hand towel
3. water bottle (remember to empty it before you go through customs)
4. sheet or throw blanket (think if you get stuck in an airport)
5. small container with the hygienic items you could not stand to loose if your bags were lost, mine is lotion and deo
6. pen and pad (at least three of these)
7. meds (know some traditional medicine, boiled parsley is a great diuretic, papaya is a natural laxative)
8. tennis, flip flops (the sandals for the shower the tennis should be light)
9. plastic bags (rain, carry out, spillage, etc)
10. napkins, fork, knife and spoon (it is so hard to eat soup udan on chop sticks)

The world’s oldest water clock: when the big pot fills each hour it makes the bell ring. Doors fascinate me.