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		<title>DAY 010 // RALEIGH</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/raleigh-nc/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/raleigh-nc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:36:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RALEIGH]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA</h2>

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		<title>DAY 009 // RICHMOND</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/richmond-va/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/richmond-va/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:35:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RICHMOND]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[RICHMOND, VIRGINIA Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>RICHMOND, VIRGINIA</h2>

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		<title>DAY 008 // WASHINGTON DC</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/washington-dc-two/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/washington-dc-two/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:35:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WASHINGTON DC]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON DC &#124; DAY TWO Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>WASHINGTON DC | DAY TWO</h2>

<p>
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		<title>DAY 007 // WASHINGTON DC</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/washington-dc-one/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/washington-dc-one/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:35:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WASHINGTON DC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://danfromindiana.com/?p=5137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[WASHINGTON DC &#124; DAY ONE Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>WASHINGTON DC | DAY ONE</h2>

<p>
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
</p>

<!--
<p>
I've decided to give my good friend, Megabus, a break and instead took the MARC train into DC. (Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC). I've been to DC several times before. It's always struck me as a clean, efficient, well groomed city with plenty of monuments and and interesting radial design pattern, though there is slight lack of intensity in DC, some sort museum-esque quality that I've never quite been able to put my finger on. I've decided to stay two nights; it is the national capital after all and rumor has it the Zoo is free --- have to make time for the Prairie Dog Playland.
</p>

<strong>HISTORY</strong>

<p>
Washington DC was founded in 1790 specifically to be the national capital. It was a common practice in the early colonial days to site capital cities away from large commercial cities in the hopes of limiting the amount of influence from Big Business. Indeed today only 18 states have their largest city as their capital. Additionally the need for a new Federal city became apparent when Philadelphia, at the time the capital, was sieged by unpaid soldiers from the Revolutionary War. The federal congress fell mercy to Pennsylvania who refused to disperse the protesters. A Federal City, under its own jurisdiction was seen as a neutral way to protect congress from the whims of any one state.
</p>

<p>
From that point on Washington DC has always occupied a strange place in the American landscape. Residents of DC are not considered residents of any state and are given no representation in Congress (despite being the location of Congress). Until 1961 they couldn't even vote for president (despite being the home of the president). The city is managed by the Federal Government, meaning representatives from the 50 states decide how to run DC, regardless of what the residents of DC actually want or need. Beginning in 1973 the city was allowed to run its own affairs via a mayor and city council, but such self-governance exists only at the pleasure of Congress and could theoretically be revoked at any time. In 1993 Congress voted on allowing DC to become a state (a proposed solution to the DC resident problem) but the vote lost 277 to 153.
</p>

<p>
Surprisingly there are a number of planned national capitals like DC in the world. Australia's capital, Canberra, was a purpose made planned capital (1908). Brasil's capital, Brasilia, was a purpose made planned capital (1960). India's capital, New Delhi, was a purpose made planned capital (1911) as was Pakistan's Islamabad (1960). Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Belize, Myanmar, and Nigeria all have planned capital cities as well.
</p>

<strong>MY IMPRESSIONS</strong>

<p>
There's no question that DC is worth a visit, a few days even. 
</p>

-->

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		<title>DAY 006 // BALTIMORE</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/baltimore-md/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/baltimore-md/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:23:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BALTIMORE]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://danfromindiana.com/?p=5134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[BALTIMORE, MARYLAND Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>BALTIMORE, MARYLAND</h2>

<p>
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
</p>

<!--
<p>
My journey continues on Megabus ($5 ticket from Philly) and I've arrived in Baltimore. In recent years Baltimore has seen a bit of a renaissance, both in tourism and in investment. Some of the city's face lift projects, such as the Inner Harbor, have been touted as national models for contemporary city planning methods. My personal opinion is that the Inner Harbor is a solid project with plenty of public space; it does teeter dangerously close to having a theme park feel, being made up of various (and somewhat disjointed) entertainment complexes and I feel the residential and hotel components could of been more charmingly crafted to actually create new neighborhoods that extend the fabric of the city (one of the country's most historic) --- but on the grand scheme of things it works.
</p>

<strong>HISTORY</strong>

<p>
Baltimore was founded in 1729. Whereas Pennsylvania was founded as a haven for Quakers, Maryland was founded as a haven for Catholics. There are many similarities here historically with Philadelphia, which I wrote about yesterday. Due to Suburban Flight, Baltimore has lost nearly 33% of its entire population since 1950. Some of its most historic districts were hardest hit and many historic structures were demolished, either due to neglect, insurance arson, to make way for parking lots for suburban commuters, or due to the bulldozer mentality of mid-century planners who had a particular penchant for placing concrete and glass super-structures on the fresh graves of ornate historic gems.
</p>

<p>
Also like Philly, the void created by the fleeing Middle Class was filled with African-Americans themselves fleeing the Southern States for a variety of reasons. Today Baltimore is an important African-American city (the 5th Blackest by percentage, 65% African-American --- 2nd Blackest if you include only cities over 500,000 people). As a person interested in communities and relationships between groups, I'll try to delve a little deeper into the topic of race relations in the United States later on; needless to say its a complex and dynamic topic.
</p>

<strong>MY IMPRESSIONS</strong>

<p>
I've been to Baltimore once before, but only explored the city for a few hours that time (I was mainly here for a music festival). Baltimore is a nice mid-sized (620,000) city. I do think it falls slightly behind a few gems of similar size, namely Boston MA (617,000), Washington DC (601,000), Seattle WA (608,000), Vancouver BC (603,000), San Francisco CA (805,000), Quebec City QC (516,000) and Portland OR (583,000) but I see a lot of potential for the city to continue improving. Now onward to my next destination, my nation's capital.
</p>

-->

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		<title>DAY 005 // PHILADELPHIA</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/philadelphia-pa/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/philadelphia-pa/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:37:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ESSAY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ON THE ROAD]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHILADELPHIA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://danfromindiana.com/?p=5129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA</h2>

<p>
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
</p>

<!--
<p>
The adventure officially begins. I've reached Philadelphia, the very first destination of my trip. I took Megabus here from New York for $5. The East Coast is well connected by cheap bus lines which generally range from $1 to $15 for a one way ticket. The system began with (somewhat sketchy) Chinese run buses that connected Chinatowns up and down the East Coast. Eventually the secret got out: if you were able to find the correct  street corner at the appropriate time, and were willing to stomach questionable smells and a lack of English signage, a bus would appear that would take you four hours to Boston or DC or a bevy of other places for a mere $10. As more non-Chinese started taking advantage of these buses the quality of the buses were able to improve. Eventually big players, such as Greyhound (using the name BoltBus) and Megabus (from the UK) got in the game using a pricing structure that encouraged booking tickets months in advance -- basically the first seat booked on every bus is a dollar and prices increase per seat based on the number of seats booked. I'm staying with a Couchsurfer, just for the night, before heading to Baltimore tomorrow.
</p>

<strong>HISTORY</strong>

<p>
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, a Quaker and one of America's early champions of democracy, religious freedom, and fair treatment of the Native-Americans. Quakers make up a sizable branch of my own family and indeed my home state of Indiana has more Quakers than any other state, including Pennsylvania (historically the official Quaker State). The three most important cities during the Revolutionary War were Boston, the most rebellious of the American cities and first to turn against England, New York, the base of operations for the British and their final outpost, and Philadelphia, the central meeting point of the colonies and where much of the planning took place. Philadelphia served as the national capitol for several years after Independence was won and Washington DC was being built. For a time it was the largest city in the nation, one of the most beautiful and most historic, but sadly great swaths of the city were destroyed in the wake of the Suburban Flight movement that followed World War II, a fate that befell many great American cities and a topic I shall discuss in more detail in the future. Fortunately there is a restoration movement underway in the US and neighborhoods formerly abandoned by the middle-classes are being returned to their former glory as Americans rediscover the value of real communities and pedestrian neighborhoods (as opposed to the mass produced, cheaply made, car dependent sprawl of the suburbs).
</p>

<p>
Philadelphia was once one of the most prestigious cities in the New World, perhaps even once comparable to the great cities of Europe. Throughout the era of Suburban Flight much of its historic housing stock was allowed to fall into disrepair, entire city blocks of irreplacable buildings were bulldozed for concrete towers or, worse yet, for parking lots for suburban commuters (who eventually abandoned the city altogether and moved even their offices to suburban 'office parks'), and many great buildings were burned down by owners seeking insurance money. To understand just how dramatic the flight of the middle class was in Philadelphia, between 1950 and 1990 the city lost half a million people, roughly 25% of its entire population.
</p>

<p>
This population loss would of been even more dramatic were it not for the Great Migration, a time which saw millions of African-Americans in the South, where they had historically been concentrated due to Slavery (which was limited primarily to the South), move Northward both to escape racism and find employment in the more industrialized North. Philadelphia went from being 18% African-American in 1950 to nearly 50% African American by 2000. Perhaps the single most positive effect of this ying and yang of White Flight and Black Migration (for each fueled the other in various ways) is that Philadelphia, now home to the 3rd largest African-American population in the country, has become an important center of African-American culture in the United States. [I should also note that Philadelphia's connection to Black History is almost as old as the nation; in the 18th Century it had the largest free Black population in the country and as a Quaker city it became the center of the abolitionist movement to end slavery].
</p>

<p>
American cities, once abandoned and neglected, have seen a resurgence in recent years. The challenge of this generation will be dealing with the fallout of gentrification, when families and tight nit communities that have called neighborhoods home for literally generations are pushed out by higher rents when old neighborhoods are 're-claimed' by the middle class. In this way, a city's renaissance is a double edged sword for residents: it can lead to greater economic investment, better job possibilities, safer streets, and higher tax revenues, but it can also force out residents and disrupt communities --- giving them none of the positive benefits despite it being their neighborhood or city.
</p>

<strong>MY IMPRESSIONS</strong>

<p>
Among large US Cities, I would say Philadelphia and Boston are the two best preserved colonial era cities, each possessing a type of historic charm that can only be derived from narrow streets, cobblestone alleys, and handsome brick sidewalks, none of which are typically found in the 'function over form' aesthetic of urban America (though needless to say there are some really well preserved smaller cities like Providence RI, Annapolis MD, and Portsmouth NH). But while Boston was able to weather the storm of suburbia fairly well (one of the few US cities to do so), Philadelphia more or less crashed and burned. It pains me to know how much beauty was demolished with wrecking balls in this once great city.
</p>

<p>
However, there is still much to salvage in Philly and I feel the city has come a long way in doing so. Certainly for the history buff its a worthy destination, filled with ample historical sites, and not the obscure, dinky type but the type that are near mythic in American lore and taught in every school across the nation. Aesthetically the city has re-claimed some beautiful streets, worthy of a photographer. I know Europeans doing the popular DC-NY-BOSTON circuit often grapple with the question of adding Philly or not --- I found myself doing the same when planning my trip. Ultimately I think for an American its a worthy day trip, if for no other reason to see the legendary artifacts heralded in the history books of childhood (though there are certainly more offerings than this --- Philly is no one-trick pony). Now I'm onward to Baltimore.
</p>

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		<title>DAY 004 // NEW YORK CITY</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/thanks-for-all-the-rats/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/thanks-for-all-the-rats/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Mar 2012 19:52:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEW YORK CITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PHOTO ESSAY]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE RATS A PHOTO ESSAY OF NEW YORK CITY]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE RATS</h2>

<strong>A PHOTO ESSAY OF NEW YORK CITY</strong>

<div class='photoESSAY'>

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		<title>DAY 003 // NEW YORK CITY</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/new-york-introspection/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/new-york-introspection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:48:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEW YORK CITY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SENTIMENTAL]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[NEW YORK &#124; A REFLECTION Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>NEW YORK | A REFLECTION</h2>

<p>
Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats!
</p>

<p>
Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thundercats, Ho! Thundercats are on the move, Thundercats are loose. Feel the magic, hear the roar, Thundercats are loose. Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thunder, thunder, thunder, Thundercats! Thundercats!
</p>

<!--

<p>
I had contemplated writing much more about New York City. After all, I've lived here for nearly five years and during the course of that time have discovered a great many of her nooks and crannies. I've spent many a weekend hiking from neighborhood to neighborhood on exploratory campaigns. I've lived all over the city and have given close to a hundred tours to visiting travelers (mostly through Couchsurfing) --- tours of the 'real' New York, places like Brighton Beach in Brooklyn or Flushing in Queens and everywhere in between. But this blog is about traveling and New York, though of great interest to many a traveler, is for me the place I am traveling from. So I've decided to include only two posts focused on the city; one regarding what life has been like for me in this metropolis of metropolises, and the other a story told in photos.
</p>

<p>
Manhattan Island, the core of New York City, was originally home to the Lenape Indians who sold the land to the Dutch. The Dutch settled the city in 1624 and named it New Amsterdam, only to lose it to the British in 1664 who renamed it New York, though many Dutch place names still remain (you can see a list of some such names <a href='http://www.heardutchhere.net/OldNewYork.html'>here</a>. Following the Revolutionary War (1775–1783) which overthrew British rule in the colonies, New York City was made capital of the newly formed United States of America though the capital was later moved to Philadelphia and finally to Washington DC. I arrived in New York late in 2008, during one of the worst economic recessions of modern history.
</p>

<p>
Believe it or not but I was initially not impressed with New York. I had gone to college in Boston, a sophisticated city with a medieval layout of twisting, cobblestone streets, outdoor cafes, pedestrian malls and lazy plazas. Boston was a city of neighborhoods, each historic, preserved, protected, romantic. It was surrounded by beautiful seaside towns just a few train stops away. New York on the other hand had a layout crafted with all the originality of a waffle iron. The streets were as wide as highways, jammed with cars and the sidewalks entirely too narrow for a city that billed itself as a pedestrian mecca. There were no brick walkways or cobblestone streets; instead everywhere the eye turned was just concrete and asphalt, most of which was in total disrepair. New York was surely the scaffolding capital of the world as well, at every corner were miles of poorly constructed scaffolding, none of which seemed contingent with any actual work being done. The subway system looked and smelled like a public urinal and the city streets had been robbed of any sort of charm or architectural unity decades ago by Modernist architects who saw anything other than flat glass and steel as an anathema to their conversations at fancy cocktail parties.
</p>

<p>
But the city grew on me the longer I remained. New York is really a failure on the principles of good design and planning, the country's most 'pedestrian' city which sarcastically has nearly no pedestrian areas but plenty of seven lane avenues at every turn and highways that cut the residents off from the waterfront. But what it does have is the energy of the human soul pouring down its streets with the intensity of an avalanche. Agent Smith in the MATRIX tells Morpheus that the first crop of humans died en mass because the Matrix world had originally been created too perfect; the machines had determined that the human soul needed chaos and challenge to flourish and survive. The suburbs of America are drowning in their own perfection, sanitized of any semblance of culture or uniqueness, a sprawling mass of manicured lawns dotted with the same corporate chain stores that repeat more often than the scrolling background of a Nintendo game. New York may not be manicured, it may be a shoddy canvas filled with characters of every walk of life, a Babylon of languages, cultures, and ideas--- but this is precisely what gives it appeal, life, and authenticity. Here there is the promise of possibility, the rag-to-riches dream, a city that never sleeps, an engine of the human condition and world economy. Days do not bleed into one another until years pass unnoticed, simply because every day is so divergent in experience from the day before. This energy more than makes up for the (numerous) shortcomings of this towering metropolis.
</p>

<p>
So what is life like living in America's largest city? A hundred different New Yorkers would tell you a hundred different impressions, so I can't claim mine to be any more representative than any other but the photos below are of the neighborhoods I've lived in over the last five years (yes I move a lot) and in the descriptions I've included tidbits about my daily life. Enjoy!
</p>

<p><b>VAN VORST PARK | JERSEY CITY</b></p>
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='JERSEY CITY. I moved into a friends spare room in Jersey City in 2008. Jersey City is unofficially the sixth borough of New York, located directly across the river with a very efficient subway system linking the two cities together.' /> 
</a>

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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='JERSEY CITY. When I first arrived I got a job parking cars for a condo association. One does what one must in order to survive. Eventually I landed a job as an executive assistant at an economic development agency in Midtown, after which I was able to afford to move to Manhattan.' /> 
</a>

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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='JERSEY CITY. Despite the poor reputation of New Jersey, Jersey City is actually quite nice, with a great waterfront view of Manhattan and charming neighborhoods, like the one I lived in: Van Vorst Park.' /> 
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<p><b>NOLITA | MANHATTAN</b></p>
<div class='threePHOTOS'>

<a class="highslide img_162" href='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg'  onclick="return hs.expand(this)">
<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='NOLITA. Nolita is perhaps my favorite Neighborhood in Manhattan, an old tenement district, once part of Little Italy, and now home to young professionals and up-and-coming designers. With its narrow streets, well preserved architecture, multitude of locally owned small shops and cafes, it is one of the more "European" areas of the city.' /> 
</a>

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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='NOLITA. A common naming convention in New York is to squish pieces of words together to make a neighborhoods name. Soho comes from South of Houston Street. Tribeca from Triangle Below Canal Street. Dumbo from Directly Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. And Nolita from North of Little Italy.' /> 
</a>

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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='NOLITA. Typical Day in Nolita: Wake up at 8:15, get dressed, catch the V train at the end of my block at 8:40, V train stops in my skyscraper, start work at 9:00. Get home around 5:45, take a 40 minute nap, have dinner at home or with friends, go on a walk either alone or with friends, normally around Chinatown or Soho which were both nearby. Go to the gym around 10:00pm, watch Anderson Cooper 360 at the gym [no television at home], come home, shower, sleep.' /> 
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<p><b>WEST VILLAGE | MANHATTAN</b></p>
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='WEST VILLAGE. The West Village is probably my second favorite neighborhood in Manhattan. Its larger and visually more charming than Nolita, but lacking in some sort of organic quirkiness (aka "coolness") found in Nolita. This is probably due to its exorbitant cost of living (my 350 sq ft studio with no amenities cost $1600 a month plus utilities) and the large concentration of rich old people and Hollywood celebrities. But one huge plus is proximity to the Hudson River Park, where I went jogging almost every day after work.' /> 
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='WEST VILLAGE. The West Village is a popular Brunch spot. I capitalize Brunch because in New York its something of a religious sacrament occurring every weekend. Forget the literal meaning of Brunch (late breakfast? early lunch?), in New York Brunch is really just a social norm for higher earning young professionals--- the demands of work can be intense throughout the week (as well as the weekend, I've had friends take conference calls during Sunday Brunches) so often a weekend Brunch is the only time for friends to hang out, at least all together. Its something akin to regular Wednesday Bowling Nights or Thursday Bingo.' /> 
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='WEST VILLAGE. Typical Friday night in the West Village: Well I could hardly say any weekend was typical, but I did host a lot of Couchsurfers in my little studio, so Friday was often a good night to give a tour of the bars, pubs, and lounges of New York to various world travelers. The West Village is home to a bevy of elegant little Wine Bars, nice places to have a conversation about life and travel before heading over to the East Village, where punk and dive bars serve drinks until the sun comes up... and a few times I was out with groups of friends until the sun did come up.' /> 
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<p><b>BUSHWICK | BROOKLYN</b></p>
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='BUSHWICK. Upon moving to Brooklyn I found that life in Manhattan compared to that of Brooklyn could be comparable to life in two wholly different nations. Brooklyn, larger than Manhattan, more diverse, and once an independent city that was (with great reluctance) absorbed into the greater metropolis of "New York City" has a particular pride towards its own offerings and a certain disdain for all things Manhattan. Artists, priced out of Manhattan, thrive in Brooklyn. Immigrant communities, seeking peaceful corners in which to prosper, proliferate in Brooklyn. Well-to-do newlyweds, deciding Manhattan is no place to raise a child, flock to the tree lined streets of Brooklyn when theyre ready to invest in baby strollers. Life is calmer in Brooklyn, quirkiness more tolerated, communities more generational, and the prices nearly halved.' /> 
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='BUSHWICK. Ah, Bushwick. There's really two halves to Bushwick. Half the neighborhood is a Mexican and Ecuadorian district (which I proudly called home). Its upbeat, flavorful, a bit loud at times with impromptu street barbecues, mariachi music playing at all hours, and kids playing ball in the streets. There are the smells of Mexican food at every corner and few English signs to remind one which country one is in fact in. But its safe and certainly not lacking in character.' /> 
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='BUSHWICK. The other half of Bushwick is a factory and industrial area re-purposed as artist lofts for "hipsters" --- white, privileged youths who play artist or musician whilst living off their parents money. Fortunately Bushwick is home to a greater number of true artists and creative intellectuals than neighboring Williamsburg (Hipster HQ), so theres less pretension. This part of Bushwick, sometimes called Bushburg given its location between Williamsburg and the Mexican quarter of Bushwick proper, is one of my favorite hang out spots. Large factories have been converted into shops and apartments, theres a sparseness here, the feeling of some far distant outpost in space where traders and locals come to meet. In twenty years this district will be destroyed by insensitive development that will turn it into a copy of a thousand other places, but for now it is a unique landscape and holds a special place in my heart.' /> 
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		<title>DAY 002 // NEW YORK CITY</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/knapsack-rucksack-backpack/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/knapsack-rucksack-backpack/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:44:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[INVENTORY]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEW YORK CITY]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://danfromindiana.com/?p=5115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[KNAPSACK TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD Children of the sun, see your time has just begun, searching for your ways, through adventures every day. Every day and night, with the condor in flight, with all your friends in tow, you search for the Cities of Gold. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah... wishing for The Cities of Gold.Children of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>KNAPSACK TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD</h2>

<p>
Children of the sun, see your time has just begun, searching for your ways, through adventures every day. Every day and night, with the condor in flight, with all your friends in tow, you search for the Cities of Gold. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah... wishing for The Cities of Gold.Children of the sun, see your time has just begun, searching for your ways, through adventures every day. Every day and night, with the condor in flight, with all your friends in tow, you search for the Cities of Gold. Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah... wishing for The Cities of Gold.
</p>

<div class='twoPHOTOS'>

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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='PLACE HOLDER' /> 
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<img src='http://danfromindiana.com/photos/xtra/PlaceHolder.jpg' alt='PLACE HOLDER' /> 
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<p>
So what does one bring with them to the ends of the world and back? As an avid player of Role Playing Games back in my younger years I got pretty good at outfitting my character with all the necessary goods and weapons before leaving town for gloomier dungeons. Now I am my own character and my inventory screen is an Osprey Porter Backpack (pictured below). I really can't say if I've packed well but in a few weeks, after I've been on the road a while, I'll post a follow-up entry rating myself on how well prepared I was and what I think one should pack for an extended backpacking trip.
</p>

<p>
To start I have a few necessities; my Camera (a Canon 60D DSLR) and two Lenses (a Sigma 30mm 1.4F and a Sigma 18-250mm 3.5-6.3F). My laptop (an Asus N53 --- at 15inch and 6.5 pounds she's a bit heftier than I'd prefer for a travel computer, but I haven't the budget to invest in a new computer). And my tablet (a Vizio Android Tablet --- good for reading on trains and buses and checking my email at cafes). 
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<p>
I have my clothes. Three [3] pairs of Jeans. One [1] pair of soft athletic pants (also good for sleeping in). Five [5] T-Shirts. Three [3] Short Sleeve Button up shirts. Ten [10] pairs of underwear. Ten [10] pairs of socks. Three [3] undershirts (mostly for sleeping). One [1] hooded sweatshirt. One [1] wool cap. And it was a difficult decision given my limited real estate available but I've chosen to include one [1] suit (a tightly folded suit jacket, dress pants, and two [2] dress shirts). It occurred to me with the suit I would have greater flexibility for special occasions, nights out, interviews, etc during the course of my trip. I've chosen to bring a single  pair of shoes, black, comfortable, good for any occasion or outfit.
</p>

<p>
And finally I have my miscellaneous items, including toiletries. Here it's all just guess work. I have eight [8] handkerchiefs which I feel can have a variety of uses. One [1] titanium spork. One [1] small blanket (stolen from Delta Airlines). Three [3] laundry bags which I plan to use for dirty laundry, stuffing with T-shirts to make a pillow if necessary, and general storage/separation of my belongings. One [1] each of the following: toothbrush, tube of toothpaste, stick of deodorant, vial of mouthwash, vial of cologne, vial of liquid soap, vial of shampoo. One [1] Microfiber towel. One [1] Small notebook with pen. One [1] small pocket knife with can opener. And One [1] rain cover.
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		<title>DAY 001 // NEW YORK CITY</title>
		<link>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/all-things-either-good-or-ungood/</link>
		<comments>http://danfromindiana.com/travel/all-things-either-good-or-ungood/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:40:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dan From Indiana</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[UNITED STATES]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NEW YORK CITY]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[ALL GOOD THINGS There's a voice that keeps on calling me. Down the road, that's where I'll always be. Every stop I make, I make a new friend. Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again. Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down, Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on. Soaring through [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>ALL GOOD THINGS</h2>

<p>
There's a voice that keeps on calling me. Down the road, that's where I'll always be. Every stop I make, I make a new friend. Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again. Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down, Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.
</p>

<p>
Soaring through all the galaxies. In search of Earth, flying in to the night. Ulysses, Ulysses - Fighting evil and tyranny, with all his power, and with all of his might. Ulysses - no-one else can do the things you do. Ulysses - like a bolt of thunder from the blue. Ulysses - always fighting all the evil forces bringing peace and justice to all.
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<p>
My name is Daniel and today is the first day of the rest of my life. I've promised myself not to waste that life; whether that wastefulness be derived from sitting behind a desk one too many days while the world passes by outside my window or from one too many hours spent sitting in front of a television or computer screen. The world is a rich, vast canvas and I intend to paint my mark on it while youthful naivety still empowers my soul.
</p>

<p>
Today is also my birthday. It seemed as good a day as any to begin my journey (and consequently this blog). To begin however, first I must quit. So today I've quit my job, quit my apartment, and quit my life in New York. I am unencumbered by responsibility and as free as one can be of the crushing expectations that the cog must fulfill some duty within the machine less it be spiritually empty and scorned. Still I am no radical hippie (I'd like to make this point particularly clear). I've worked hard for every inch of ground I've gained, putting myself through college by working nights and weekends, living on my own since the age of eighteen, learning hard lessons of debt and personal responsibility-- experiencing the humility of failure but also the joys of a success hard won. 
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<p>
And now here I am, on the precipice of a cliff. It is no easy task to leave the world one knows behind, a world assigned and dictated in such a way that thought need not be poured into it. Buy a house, buy a car,   get married, vacation at a packaged resort, consume, consume, consume. I don't begrudge anyone who follows this prescribed path, I don't want to give the impression that I do. I respect that comfort can be found in stability and consumerism is a powerful engine that helps power a society, even if it is not always implemented in the most tasteful of ways. But I've walked that path long enough. Now I require the wind in my hair and the horizon at my bow.
</p>

<p>
So in four days I will leave New York. Perhaps I will never return. I will travel a bit, as long as the fancy strikes me. I will study language, and culture, and the organic way in which cities and societies are made. I will visit nature, parks and wilderness. Sometimes I will sleep on the hard earth and sometimes on the couches of kind strangers or old friends. I'll travel by foot, or boat, or train, or plane. The hows do not matter. We have but one life to live. My name is Daniel and this is mine.
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