:: Current Location : Breckenridge, Colorado :.Well, the way Saturday went, I figured Sunday would be just as fun. As usual with my friends. I was up and ready at 9am, but somehow we didn't leave Phnom Penn until 1pm.
Our plan was to go to Mekong Island, as the expats call it, or Silk Island as the locals call it(or at least what they market it as). It's very clost to the city, but far enough that you feel like you are miles away from anything. It is a long island in the middle of the Mekong River, that has a sandy beach at the north end. The locals plop a few bamboo huts right on the waters edge, and serve food and push their wares.
On our drive to the beach, a woman came running out into the street screaming bloody murder. I pictured her with a kitchen knife in her hand, but it was only silk scarfs. What a sales tactic. Scare the crap out of barangs into buying something.
So, there were 5 of us all together that took the trip. Two small motos and one big moto. We all parked out on the sand and setup on one of the huts. The children immediately swarmed all over us, and we had a fun time trowing them around on the innertubes. The water was quite warm, and only a few times did we see sewage float by. It is not clean by any standard, but I think being here so long has built up my toxicity levels.
We hear tires screeching, and I see a car has gotten stuck in the sand. The tide came in and sunk a few cars. 3 to be exact. So, the Khmers couldn't quite figure out how to get the cars unstuck. We showed them how to dig under the tires, and stick pieces of wood for traction. After getting the first car unstuck, we were recruited by the other groups to help them. This lasted for almost 2 hours. Most of our time there was spent helping others get unstuck from the sand. When we wanted to leave, we had to stay and help. Fortunatly, a well off khmer in an SUV came and towed the rest out. So, on our way back, my friend Simon, on the big bike, decided to dry his clothes on the back of his bike. Great Idea!
His shirt and shorts got stuck in the wheel and eventually got sucked into the drive chain and into the engine. His bike seized and he almost crashed. His shorts were wedged in their tight, and our little knife couldn't cut all the way in. Luckily, one of the trucks that we helped earlier passed us and stopped to give a hand. They had lots of tools, and we took the casings off and ripped the clothing out.
See what happens when you are nice to others... it comes back to you!
.: Ben Hansen :: 12:18 AM [+] 0 comments
Ahhh, such a strange day. I wanted to goto Kirirom National Park today. I started a little later than planned, which means it is hotter. Yesterday, I took 4 showers during the day. I crashed a NGO party last night, so maybe that's part of the reason I was a little slow getting organized.
3 other teachers are leaving the same time I am, so we all came up with the brilliant idea of having a going away party..... in the train station! Bribe enough people, and you can do anything in this country. We are trying to decide how big the party should be. We can use the space ourselves, or try to make it a huge party... with lights, DJ's, the whole thing. Tomorrow, we are all meeting to iron out the details
So, I rented a 125cc bike, twice. I drove off with it before i noticed that everytime I idled, it would stop running. So, I had to drive back and exchange the bike. My new bike had a very stiff brake lever. All the rentals are crap.
I got off to a good start, but I saw a sign for the park about 25km before i should have seen any sign. So, i go off and check it out. 100km later, i realize its not the right way. But, i found this beautiful little lake where they were harvesting Lotus flowers. Beautiful water lillies, plus you can eat the seeds.
I didn't make it to the park until 2:30. Since I didn't have much time, i was able to bargain the ticket entrance fee down a dollar. Still, 4 dollars was well worth it because I saw.... A FOREST!!! I know that doesn't sound like much, but there aren't any natural ones around here, and I haven't seen any since North Thailand.
Mountain roads are always fun, these were fun because I get the extra pot-holes to manuever around. I was covered from head to tow in clothing to keep the sun off my skin. But as soon as i crested the hill, i see clouds... dark ones... Thunderclouds!! Now its still dry season, and it is not supposed to rain until May or June, but they always say that mountains create their own weather.
There is supposed to be a mediocre waterfall somewhere in the park, but since it is dry seans, the water flow is low. I goto another scenic area, and I notice a lot of people dressed up in leaves. They are wearing bikinis(strange for Khmers, they normally wear their clothes to go swimming) with leaves attached. Kinda like a hula skirt. I then notice that there is a cameraman, and they are filming a movie. I then notice that the women aren't exactly women... LADYBOYS! Transvestite movie! I reluctantly take my clothes off to go swimming in the stream, it was actually a pond.
While all of this is going on, i hear thunder... strange. I remember my friend Snatch, he was struck by lightning on a mountain, so i get nervous and start to head down. Within 30 seconds, the clouds start to dump rain on me. It's cold rain, then its hail. I had a minute of hail pelting me before I found a food vendor stand to hide in. I waited out the storm in the hut with about 5 other khmers. Their first question was where was i from, second question.. was i married. Always trying to marry off their daughters to a foriegner... The lightning and thunder was LOUD. You know you are close to lightning when you start to hear the thunder in one ear, and then it finishes in the other ear. 2 bolts struck within 200 yards, because there was no gap between sight and sound... It was a pretty intense storm. i was pretty high up, so it didn't stop raining for almost 2 hours. Even then it was still raining a little. Coming down the mountain i could feel the rain heating up. At the top it was cold, but at the bottom it had turned into warm rain.
A long dark ride back to phnom penn, but there wasn't any rain in the city, just in the mountains. If it weren't for the entrance fee, I'd go all the time. It's the closest real piece of nature. I can't wait for Khmer New Year, when i get to do the same thing for a whole week in North Cambodia, where there is even wilder jungle and forest.
So, getting lost, Ladybody movie, hailstorm... not your average day, huh?
.: Ben Hansen :: 7:53 AM [+] 0 comments
What an incredible weekend. On Friday I finished a hellish 8 hour day(long for Cambodia). I was going to meet some friends at a pool bar(just a bar with a swimming pool), but through no fault of my own, we followed the wrong person and drove around the city for almost an hour trying to find it. So instead, I ended up at a favorite bar where they were having a late St. Patrick's day party. No Guiness, but it was still fun.
To recover from the hangover, I went to The Phnom Penn Water Park. Yes, there is a water park, with the most important feature, The Lazy River. Nothing like floating on an innertube around with a beer. There was an NGO that had taken a field trip with a bunch of orphan kids. Otherwise, no other westerners were there, so I was a novelty. The place is right below the final approach path for the few airplane that land at Phnom Penn Airport, so I never got to nap.
Afterwards, I was invited to a Baby Shower(pretty much the same description as my wedding post). Lots of drinking. I was forced to dance with some army captain, but all in good fun. A really cute kid, and I got to bless it by tying a piece of string around its tiny little hand. I went with a few other backpackers, but things got ugly when they refused to give money for the food and beer. Don't know what they were thinking, but I ended up having to pay for two of them. So, it was a little more expensive than i expected, but worth it. Late night was spent at a friends birthday party that really sucked, but everyone at the party agreed, so we all comforted each other by telling each other how much it sucked. We were all obligated to be there because I knew they bar owner and I haven't been around in a while.
So, Sunday, the big day. I rent a moped and head off for a replication of Angkor Wat. I had no description of where it was, and like everywhere in Cambodia, no english signs. Plus, the actual road turned out to not even be signposted in Khmer. Anyways, after asking a few friendly locals, I find the correct road. I see a huge wat, with a lot of khmer cars, so I check it out...
Now, I stop in the wat and a friendly Monk starts up a conversation. His name is Tep, and he is the main english teacher for this Wat. There are 125 monks that live there, and he teaches about 40 of them. I met most of them and let them practice their english. In appreciation, Tep asks if I would like to take him to see his Mango tree farm. Sure! So, I rode out on my moped alone, so he hopes on the back and off we go... Me, driving a monk around... kinda funny.
This needs a little more description. Monks wear the bright orange saffron robes, so it is not easy for them to ride the bike. Most men straddle the bike, while most women sit sidesaddle, off to one side. Because the monks have the robe, they must sit sidesaddle as well. So its an odd sight to see a man riding like that. Plus the sight of some Barang driving around a monk must have confused many of the locals.
So, he takes me to his field where his grandmother spends all day guarding the trees. She has another home, but she spends all day there. I don't like the bitter mangos, but out of respect I forced a few down with a smile on my face even though I wanted to spit them all out.
There are two holy mountains(hills, only 500 meters high) right next to his farm, so we take the moto up and he serves as a guide for me. i have my own personal monk guide! Then i see it... The replication of the main Angkor Wat Temple. It's real size, for some reason i was thinking it was miniature. Turns out some well off Khmer made a lot of money in America, and gave a grant to build this duplication. Just down the road is a Temple he built as well. Its a strange temple, it doesn't look like all the other pagodas, it has some definite Western architecture in it.
So, after acting like a tourist and taking a few pictures, we head back to his Wat. Tep fed me traditional Khmer Soup, and I entertained his students for a little while longer. Then, i got blessed by the head monk. Usually they use leaves and sprinkle water on your forhead. This monk decided to use a wooden laddle, and used it to apply water to my eyebrows. My forehead is now holy. I tried to leave a small donation, since Tep had bought me a soda and soup, but he refused. FIRST TIME IN CAMBODIA THAT A KHMER REFUSED MONEY!!!!!! He gave me his business card(yes, he had a personal business card!) and asked that I come back soon. There's not much else out there, but if I find time, it should be fun.
.: Ben Hansen :: 4:45 AM [+] 0 comments
Well, been slacking on the pictures, but I should have them up in the next week. because....
I went away for the weekend again. Went south to Tonle Bati, and Wat Tamao. Both were lovely, but it is HOT and the sun is BRUTAL!. Got a little sunburnt. Luckily, there is a lake at Tonle Bati, and the cool water was a blessing.
The best thing about Tonle Bati, apart from the 7th century ruins, is the huts over the lakes. There is a thin wooden plank maybe 50 feet from the shore towards the middle of the lake. It is no easy task to walk out on, and even harder to walk back... because they serve beer in the huts. Nothing like getting so drunk that you can't leave your hut without falling in. I think the khmers don't mind, and it is sort of a game for them. They get such a kick out of laughing at others fall in. But inevitably, everyone who drinks usually falls in. The wooden planks are taken out each wet season, so they are not built to last, just to last a few months...
The only bad thing is that foriegners must pay $3.00 while Khmers must pay $.25. The foreign rip-off price is prevelant in Asia, so you just have to get used to it.
Wat Tamao was a little farther south, and I went there first since i missed the turnoff for Tonle Bati. Saw the strangest murals... will have to see the picture to understand...
So, its around 40 degrees Celcius everyday now. I have been cursing how much time I spend at school, but it is actually nice since they have A/C there and I don't use mine at home.
Take it easy!
.: Ben Hansen :: 2:06 AM [+] 0 comments
I rented a 125cc honda dirtbike for $5/day, and went with another teacher and his khmer girlfriend. Sean has been here for 1 year, but had not been on the road we were doing. It was a 300+ km loop towards the Vietnam border, following the Mekong River most of the way. A counterclockwise loop allowed us to leave Phnom Penn downriver, and come back down river from the opposite direction.
I thought having a khmer with us would help with communication with the locals, but she was a bit quiet, and Sean and I stumbled(I stumbled more) through the language barrier. Distances are very confusing, because NO dirtbike has a working odometer or tacometer, so it's done by time of day. Plus road conditions vary, so you never go the same speed all the time. I thought we were lost, but we found a nice road leading through Preyveng(same as my moto drivers), and found the provincial capital town. We ate by a huge lake that had dried up, and the locals said they have to move their houses when the rains come.
The weather is changing here, and the winds were gusty and persistant. I had to ride at a 20 degree angle just to drive straight.
We suddenly came upon a forest(very rare in the lowlands). All the trees were lined up, so it was some kind of tree farm. There were little dirt roads, and the locals were using them, so we cut off the main road and got lost in a maze of trees. We later figured out they were rubber trees. Every tree had a diagonal cut, and we could see the rubber draining out off a leaf into a bowl. No one seemed to mind us driving through.
Onto Kampong Cham, with the largest bridge in Cambodia. Very impressive. Relaxed and had a drive on the beach... yes river beach. During low water, there is a beach, where the locals lay wooden planks down so you can drive across. We went over a very sketchy bridge, but it held our heavy bikes and we made it safely across.
There is a pagoda complex there. Translated into english, it is Man mountain and woman mountain. (Woman mountain is taller!). Actually, there were smaller pagodas, and we went to one, looked like Noah's Ark. The whole thing was shaped like a boat(no two pairs of animals, must monkeys).
Sean and his girlfriend wanted to go home, so I went back to Kampong Cham and found a nice place in an abandoned Muslim Mosque and setup the hammock for the night. No problems with people bothering me.
The next day, I looked at the map for the area, and strangly enough, the map labels the pagodas as castles. I asked about another 'castle', and the guy said that the one i hadn't visited yet was used by a khmer as a castle, no monks. However, it was still on the map, so I went to check it out. It was gated up, but I could see it from the road. Only in cambodia can you buy history and shut it off to everyone. However, if you've seen one pagoda, there is little difference between them. One of the places from yesterday looked very old, but had been built ONE year ago. They just built it to look old.
So, by midday, I made it back to Phnom Penn, and as soon as I got back, I got a call from Tin, my moto guy. He wanted to know if I would come to another wedding. This one was in Phnom Penn, and was mostly just food. It was another moto guy who was getting married, so it was full of moto drivers. The food was excellent: Khmer sushi, lobster, prawn soup, fried frog legs, and some kind of fruit dessert. The best part was instead of rice being thrown at the bride and groom, it was flowers and Silly String. With all the rice they grow here, its strange they don't use it for ceremony purposes. But hey, nothing beats Silly String.
Lotsa fun. Pictures to come later...
.: Ben Hansen :: 6:44 PM [+] 0 comments
Went to my first official wedding on Saturday, and I never even learned the names of the bride and groom.
I went with Tin and an English backpacker, Dan. We went to the same villages I had been to on Chinese new year. The wedding was in a different village, but looked much the same as all the rest.
Climbed to the top of a pagoda, on a very sketchy ladder. at the top, I met the construction workers. It seems that constructions workers all over the world have the same mindset, all women are to be ogled at. In america, it is the catcall or whistle. In cambodia, they build naked female models on the pillars. I find it ironic that they are building a religious building, yet they put pornographic images in the ceiling where no monks will go. They got the most fun out of putting the nipples on the bust of the girls. They would paint, look at me and laugh, then start over again... hours of fun, nipples are...
Climbing up the ladder was easy, down was much harder. Especially since I was only wearing a krama, or scarf skirt.
The wedding was very secluded, and the music seemed muffled because it was in a depression. Usually, you can hear the music from 2km away. The food is always the highlight of the wedding. Excellent noodle salad, along with baby bamboo and mushrooms, with assorted meat.
Of course, since Dan and I were the only barangs, we were ushered up to do Apsara dancing. Absurdly easy dance, and boring after about 2 minutes, but the Khmers love it, so we danced as long as they did.
We were given a special table seperate from the rest of the guests, but most seemed to flock around our table. A mandatory donation is needed to eat at the wedding, but you can come at watch for free. I ended up giving $15, just beacause the food and beer was well worth it. Plus, a wedding is a good excuse to drink too much, and the khmers take this to a new level. I was dragged from house to house and paraded in front of the elder villagers, who poked and prodded and asked lots of questions. They seemed to be most interested in my arm and leg hair. They pulled quite a lot, since they couldn't quite tell if it was real or not.
After lots and lots of drinking, the next day was relegated to relaxing by the river and lake. Again, we went clamming and fishing again.
Lots of fun...
.: Ben Hansen :: 7:46 PM [+] 0 comments
:: Current Location : Breckenridge, Colorado :..AFOOT.and.light-hearted,.I.take.to.the.open.road,.Healthy,.free,.the.world.before.me,.The.long.brown.path.before.me,.le ading.wherever.I.choose....Henceforth.I.ask.not.good-fortune-I.myself.am.good.fortune;.Henceforth.I.whimper.no.more,.pos tpone.no.more,.need.nothing,..........Strong.and.content,.I.travel.the.open.road....The.earth-that.is.sufficient;.I.do.n ot.want.the.constellations.any.nearer;.I.know.they.are.very.well.where.they.are;.I.know.they.suffice.for.those.who.belon g.to.them.......Still.here.I.carry.my.old.delicious.burdens;.I.carry.them,.men.and.women-I.carry.them.with.me.wherever.I .go;.I.swear.it.is.impossible.for.me.to.get.rid.of.them;.I.am.fill'd.with.them,.and.I.will.fill.them.in.return.)....You. road.I.enter.upon.and.look.around!.I.believe.you.are.not.all.that.is.here;....I.believe.that.much.unseen.is.also.here... .Here.the.profound.lesson.of.reception,.neither.preference.or.denial;.The.black.with.his.woolly.head,.the.felon,.the.dis eas'd,.the.illiterate.person,.are.not.denied;.The.birth,.the.hasting.after.the.physician,.the.beggar's.tramp,.the.drunka rd's.stagger,.the.laughing.party.of.mechanics,.The.escaped.youth,.the.rich.person's.carriage,.the.fop,.the.eloping.coupl e,....The.early.market-man,.the.hearse,.the.moving.of.furniture.into.the.town,.the.return.back.from.the.town,.They.pass- I.also.pass-anything.passes-none.can.be.interdicted;.None.but.are.accepted-none.but.are.dear.to.me..You.air.that.serves. me.with.breath.to.speak!.You.objects.that.call.from.diffusion.my.meanings,.and.give.them.shape!....You.light.that.wraps. me.and.all.things.in.delicate.equable.showers!.You.paths.worn.in.the.irregular.hollows.by.the.roadsides!.I.think.you.are .latent.with.unseen.existences-you.are.so.dear.to.me....You.flagg'd.walks.of.the.cities!.you.strong.curbs.at.the.edges!. You.ferries!.you.planks.and.posts.of.wharves!.you.timber-lined.sides!.you.distant.ships!....You.rows.of.houses!.you.wind ow-pierc'd.façades!.you.roofs!.You.porches.and.entrances!.you.copings.and.iron.guards!.You.windows.whose.transparent.she lls.might.expose.so.much!.You.doors.and.ascending.steps!.you.arches!.You.gray.stones.of.interminable.pavements!.you.trod den.crossings!....From.all.that.has.been.near.you,.I.believe.you.have.imparted.to.yourselves,.and.now.would.impart.the.s ame.secretly.to.me;From.the.living.and.the.dead.I.think.you.have.peopled.your.impassive.surfaces,.and.the.spirits.thereo f.would.be.evident.and.amicable.with.me.....The.earth.expanding.right.hand.and.left.hand,.The.picture.alive,.every.part. in.its.best.light,.The.music.falling.in.where.it.is.wanted,.and.stopping.where.it.is.not.wanted,....The.cheerful.voice.o f.the.public.road-the.gay.fresh.sentiment.of.the.road....O.highway.I.travel!.O.public.road!.do.you.say.to.me,.Do.not.lea ve.me?.Do.you.say,.Venture.not?.If.you.leave.me,.you.are.lostDo.you.say,.I.am.already.prepared-I.am.well-beaten.and.unde nied-adhere.to.me?.O.public.road!.I.say.back,.I.am.not.afraid.to.leave.you-yet.I.love.you;....You.express.me.better.than .I.can.express.myself;.You.shall.be.more.to.me.than.my.poem....I.think.heroic.deeds.were.all.conceiv'd.in.the.open.air,. and.all.great.poems.also;.I.think.I.could.stop.here.myself,.and.do.miracles;.My.judgments,.thoughts,.I.henceforth.try.by .the.open.air,.the.road;)....I.think.whatever.I.shall.meet.on.the.road.I.shall.like,.and.whoever.beholds.me.shall.like.m e;.I.think.whoever.I.see.must.be.happy.....From.this.hour,.freedom!.From.this.hour.I.ordain.myself.loos'd.of.limits.and. imaginary.lines,.Going.where.I.list,.my.own.master,.total.and.absolute,....Listening.to.others,.and.considering.well.wha t.they.say,.Pausing,.searching,.receiving,.contemplating,.Gently,.but.with.undeniable.will,.divesting.myself.of.the.hold s.that.would.hold.me....I.inhale.great.draughts.of.space;.The.east.and.the.west.are.mine,.and.the.north.and.the.south.ar e.mine.......I.am.larger,.better.than.I.thought;.I.did.not.know.I.held.so.much.goodness....All.seems.beautiful.to.me;.I. can.repeat.over.to.men.and.women,.You.have.done.such.good.to.me,.I.would.do.the.same.to.you....I.will.recruit.for.myself .and.you.as.I.go;....I.will.scatter.myself.among.men.and.women.as.I.go;.I.will.toss.the.new.gladness.and.roughness.among .them;.Whoever.denies.me,.it.shall.not.trouble.me;.Whoever.accepts.me,.he.or.she.shall.be.blessed,.and.shall.bless.me... ..Now.if.a.thousand.perfect.men.were.to.appear,.it.would.not.amaze.me;....Now.if.a.thousand.beautiful.forms.of.women.app ear'd,.it.would.not.astonish.me....Now.I.see.the.secret.of.the.making.of.the.best.persons,.It.is.to.grow.in.the.open.air ,.and.to.eat.and.sleep.with.the.earth....Here.a.great.personal.deed.has.room;.A.great.deed.seizes.upon.the.hearts.of.the .whole.race.of.men,....Its.effusion.of.strength.and.will.overwhelms.law,.and.mocks.all.authority.and.all.argument.agains t.it....Here.is.the.test.of.wisdom;.Wisdom.is.not.finally.tested.in.schools;.Wisdom.cannot.be.pass'd.from.one.having.it, .to.another.not.having.it;.Wisdom.is.of.the.Soul,.is.not.susceptible.of.proof,.is.its.own.proof,....Applies.to.all.stage s.and.objects.and.qualities,.and.is.content,.Is.the.certainty.of.the.reality.and.immortality.of.things,.and.the.excellen ce.of.things;.Something.there.is.in.the.float.of.the.sight.of.things.that.provokes.it.out.of.the.Soul...Now.I.reëxamine. philosophies.and.religions,They.may.prove.well.in.lecture-rooms,.yet.not.prove.at.all.under.the.spacious.clouds,.and.alo ng.the.landscape.and.flowing.currents.......Here.is.realization;.Here.is.a.man.tallied-he.realizes.here.what.he.has.in.h im;.The.past,.the.future,.majesty,.love-if.they.are.vacant.of.you,.you.are.vacant.of.them....Only.the.kernel.of.every.ob ject.nourishes;.Where.is.he.who.tears.off.the.husks.for.you.and.me?....Where.is.he.that.undoes.stratagems.and.envelopes. for.you.and.me?...Here.is.adhesiveness-it.is.not.previously.fashion'd-it.is.apropos;.Do.you.know.what.it.is,.as.you.pass ,.to.be.loved.by.strangers?.Do.you.know.the.talk.of.those.turning.eye-balls?....Here.is.the.efflux.of.the.Soul;....The.e fflux.of.the.Soul.comes.from.within,.through.embower'd.gates,.ever.provoking.questions:.These.yearnings,.why.are.they?.T hese.thoughts.in.the.darkness,.why.are.they?.Why.are.there.men.and.women.that.while.they.are.nigh.me,.the.sun-light.expa nds.my.blood?.Why,.when.they.leave.me,.do.my.pennants.of.joy.sink.flat.and.lank?.Why.are.there.trees.I.never.walk.under, .but.large.and.melodious.thoughts.descend.upon.me?....I.think.they.hang.there.winter.and.summer.on.those.trees,.and.alwa ys.drop.fruit.as.I.pass;).What.is.it.I.interchange.so.suddenly.with.strangers?.What.with.some.driver,.as.I.ride.on.the.s eat.by.his.side?.What.with.some.fisherman,.drawing.his.seine.by.the.shore,.as.I.walk.by,.and.pause?.What.gives.me.to.be. free.to.a.woman's.or.man's.good-will?.What.gives.them.to.be.free.to.mine?.......The.efflux.of.the.Soul.is.happiness-here .is.happiness;.I.think.it.pervades.the.open.air,.waiting.at.all.times;.Now.it.flows.unto.us-we.are.rightly.charged....He re.rises.the.fluid.and.attaching.character;.The.fluid.and.attaching.character.is.the.freshness.and.sweetness.of.man.and. woman;....The.herbs.of.the.morning.sprout.no.fresher.and.sweeter.every.day.out.of.the.roots.of.themselves,.than.it.sprou ts.fresh.and.sweet.continually.out.of.itself.)...Toward.the.fluid.and.attaching.character.exudes.the.sweat.of.the.love.o f.young.and.old;.From.it.falls.distill'd.the.charm.that.mocks.beauty.and.attainments;.Toward.it.heaves.the.shuddering.lo nging.ache.of.contact.....Allons!.whoever.you.are,.come.travel.with.me!....Traveling.with.me,.you.find.what.never.tires. ...The.earth.never.tires;.The.earth.is.rude,.silent,.incomprehensible.at.first-Nature.is.rude.and.incomprehensible.at.fi rst;.Be.not.discouraged-keep.on-there.are.divine.things,.well.envelop'd;.I.swear.to.you.there.are.divine.things.more.bea utiful.than.words.can.tell.......Allons!.we.must.not.stop.here!.However.sweet.these.laid-up.stores-however.convenient.th is.dwelling,.we.cannot.remain.here;.However.shelter'd.this.port,.and.however.calm.these.waters,.we.must.not.anchor.here; .However.welcome.the.hospitality.that.surrounds.us,.we.are.permitted.to.receive.it.but.a.little.while......Allons!.the.i nducements.shall.be.greater;....We.will.sail.pathless.and.wild.seas;.We.will.go.where.winds.blow,.waves.dash,.and.the.Ya nkee.clipper.speeds.by.under.full.sail....Allons!.with.power,.liberty,.the.earth,.the.elements!.Health,.defiance,.gayety ,.self-esteem,.curiosity;.Allons!.from.all.formules!....From.your.formules,.O.bat-eyed.and.materialistic.priests!...The. stale.cadaver.blocks.up.the.passage-the.burial.waits.no.longer....Allons!.yet.take.warning!.He.traveling.with.me.needs.t he.best.blood,.thews,.endurance;.None.may.come.to.the.trial,.till.he.or.she.bring.courage.and.health.......Come.not.here .if.you.have.already.spent.the.best.of.yourself;.Only.those.may.come,.who.come.in.sweet.and.determin'd.bodies;.No.diseas 'd.person-no.rum-drinker.or.venereal.taint.is.permitted.here....I.and.mine.do.not.convince.by.arguments,.similes,.rhymes ;.We.convince.by.our.presence.........Listen!.I.will.be.honest.with.you;.I.do.not.offer.the.old.smooth.prizes,.but.offer .rough.new.prizes;.These.are.the.days.that.must.happen.to.you:...You.shall.not.heap.up.what.is.call'd.riches,.You.shall. scatter.with.lavish.hand.all.that.you.earn.or.achieve,....You.but.arrive.at.the.city.to.which.you.were.destin'd-you.hard ly.settle.yourself.to.satisfaction,.before.you.are.call'd.by.an.irresistible.call.to.depart,.You.shall.be.treated.to.the
