TTrraavveellss wwiitthh BBoobb DR. BOB CURTIS HAMM This book is copyrighted by: B. Curtis Hamm in January, 2009 Forward How does one get inspired to travel? What is the purpose of travel? How can one travel on a low budget? Who can you travel with that would be fun? Is it possible to learn from one’s travel experiences? My Aunt Goldie was my muse for travel. She was an Executive Assistant, a part time college professor, a real estate mogul and an exciting person to know. My first remembrance of her was when I was about five years old. She just returned from a cruise to China and had stayed on the bund in Shanghai. She brought back home movies which we all watched with great delight. I was the only one who wanted to go to China, and made it one of my goals. Later in life, my Sunday school classes consisted of maps of the Holy Land and this also became a must. Then, I loved reading the National Geographic magazine at the barber shop and this instilled even more desire to travel to Africa, Rome and other major places. But, I think it was always China first. Then, in 1949, the bamboo curtain was shut and China closed its doors to outsiders. Those doors were not to be opened until 1979. We started our first trip to China in 1980. My second great desire was to go to Tibet and spend a day at the Potala and see the Dali Lama. But, by the time I got to Tibet, the Dali Lama had left and spent most of his life in India. The purpose of travel has always remained the same for me. Learn about the culture of people of a different society without being judgmental. This is very easy to forget as one is eating “interesting” food in another country or doing without hot water in Tibet. It is amazing how culture bound we are in terms of hygiene and our basic requirements. But, once we have adapted to the new culture, we think our own culture may be the one that is unusual. In these articles, I have tried to let the reader see a glimpse of another culture and to let me share with them some of what I thought was my learning “take away.” I think my key lesson is that I was able to adapt much better than others thought possible. I give credit to my Boy 1 Scout training for much of my ability to be resilient. But, being poor in one’s childhood is a help too. It makes one appreciate (know the real value) of things as well as to empathize with the other culture. Travel does not have to be expensive if one learns some simple techniques. I learned that many of the objects we see outside our borders are available inside our borders. For example, when I returned after a year in China, I learned that some friends had babies while I was gone. So, I went to a little small Chinese store and purchase outfits for the babies. They thought it was great that I brought them gifts from China. Buy only things that are of value and not trinkets. Second, take a small trunk or extra bag if you are on a voyage and limit yourself only to filling that bag. Finally, become an expert on travel and take others on trips and let someone else pay for your trip. I will be eternally grateful to my graduate school office mate, John Ludlum, for getting me involved with the Experiment in International Living for my first trips abroad. Travel only with people who are fun and enjoyable. I have loved traveling with high school and college students, but found it equally fun to travel with mature adults who enjoy life. Avoid complaining and angry people, they will only distract from your joy. What can one learn from travel? When you read the stories, hopefully, you will enjoy seeing that each city, nation and region offer much to see and learn. Sometimes, it is the history lessons of King Ludwig of Bavaria or the King of Sera Lanka. Maybe a merchant or priest will share a moment and give one insights like my old priest friend in Cyprus who said, “A man without a woman is like a kitchen without a knife,” or the Spanish merchant who said, “you will be no richer and I will be no poorer,” as we negotiated over two apothecary jars. But, then it the little grandmother who uses all her food stamps in China to make a twelve course meal for her grandson’s professor that is the teaching point. Life is full of learning, but it demands a sharp eye to see it sometimes. I encourage you to read only one story about a place and then give some thought to how you would have experienced that place and what you might have learned from the event. My days on the ship, the Universe for 100 days was a highlight of my travels, but so were a few days in Tibet when a lady offered to sell me her small purse by writing a number on her hand. In fact, overseas travels have helped me not only appreciate the United States more but also helped me understand other cultures in our own country. One does not have to travel abroad to have wonderful experiences. Blessings on all God’s children, may we grow to love them all as we were taught. 2 Travels with Bob THE TRAVEL LOG Forward ..................................................................................................................................... 1 The Travel Log..................................................................................................................... 3 Stand in the Place of the Man JORDAN........................................................................................................................................... 8 Sumptuous Funerals Lead to Rich Finds THEBES (LUXOR), EGYPT ............................................................................................................... 15 Good Business Starts With Honesty FIJI ISLANDS..................................................................................................................................... 17 Take a Peaceful Walk in the Gardens ATLANTA, GEORGIA ..................................................................................................................... 19 A Place of Mystery TANGIERS, MOROCCO .................................................................................................................. 21 The Eighth Wonder of the World: The God of Wealth SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA ..................................................................................................................... 23 Is a Home a Man’s Castle? THE ALHAMBRA, GRENADA, SPAIN........................................................................................... 25 A Spiritual Journey to Find Peace MASDAS (CHENNAI), INDIA........................................................................................................ 27 Hospitality and Spirituality JUMBY ISLAND, ANTIGUA............................................................................................................ 29 Give a Blessing, Get a Blessing BORA BORA, TAHITI ...................................................................................................................... 31 Finding a Lost Sheep BETHLEHEM AND JERUSALEM, ISRAEL....................................................................................... 33 3 A Culture of Fear, A Culture of Freedom PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC........................................................................................................... 35 The Roof of the World LHASA, TIBET................................................................................................................................... 37 A Life Well Lived MARTHA REED’S HOME, TAOS, NEW MEXICO ......................................................................... 39 The Price of Freedom PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC........................................................................................................... 41 The Choices in Life - Climbing the Matterhorn ZERMATT, SWITZERLAND............................................................................................................. 43 Thanksgiving in a Foreign Country AMMAN, JORDAN......................................................................................................................... 45 Small Towns make Great Strides TELLURIDE, COLORADO................................................................................................................ 47 Hemingway – Do Heroes Stand the Test of Time? HAVANA, CUBA............................................................................................................................. 49 Three Kinds of Statues RUSSIA.............................................................................................................................................. 51 A Man Without a Wife Is Like a Kitchen Without a Knife CYPRUS............................................................................................................................................. 53 The Velvet Prison SINGAPORE ..................................................................................................................................... 55 Two Perfect Days NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA................................................................................................. 57 I Cannot Speak Norwegian, But I Have Family There NORWAY......................................................................................................................................... 59 4 Lessons From a City of Former Glory TIMBUKTU, MALI............................................................................................................................ 61 A City of History and Culture AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS ............................................................................................