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<channel>
	<title>the optimist &#038; the cynic</title>
	<link>http://jacanddirk.com</link>
	<description>...in search of an imperfect utopia</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:39:13 +0000</pubDate>
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			<item>
		<title>Vietnam</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2010/07/23/vietnam-2/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2010/07/23/vietnam-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:45:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[0]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>High Altitude Train to Tibet</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/high-altitude-train-to-tibet/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/high-altitude-train-to-tibet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:26:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/high-altitude-train-to-tibet/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
To obtain a permit to travel to Tibet, one must be on an organized tour *Cringe*. Fortunately, the others in our tour group felt the same about their new compulsory travel companions. Our guide, Ben, an overly enthusiastic British bloke and a bit too quixotic for Dirk’s realist take on life, goes off to bribe [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>One World. One Dream.</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/one-world-one-dream/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/one-world-one-dream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:25:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[China]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2009/04/26/one-world-one-dream/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  
One World. One Dream.  So says the slogan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, as we whiz over a newly sealed overpass under a blood red sunset reflected in the tall shiny buildings.
]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Vietnam</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/31/vietnam/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/31/vietnam/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:06:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Vietnam]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/31/vietnam/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Brought to us through the lens of war in several books and movies over the years - depicting the futility of war in Coppola’s Apocalypse Now and its aftermath in Born on the Fourth of July – Vietnam is just opening its borders and participating in the global economy – - one of the fastest [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Island</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/17/the-island/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/17/the-island/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:43:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/17/the-island/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
We found the most splendid paradise on Ko Samet Island.  Our own little piece of utopia – a simple hut smack on its very own private beach secluded by trees. A large gecko agreed to share his tiny sanctuary with us in return for a position on the ceiling, high above the mosquito netting. [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/17/the-island/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sultry Bangkok</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/11/sultry-bangkok/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/11/sultry-bangkok/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Aug 2007 07:16:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Thailand]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/11/sultry-bangkok/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Bangkok.  Sweet, Sexy, Sultry Bangkok.  If Bangkok were a lady, she’d be smoldering, bejeweled, glistening skin and maybe a bit promiscuous.  By day, grounded by the monks that walk the streets of her mind.  By night, her inhibitions unravel – loud music obstructing her thoughts, forgangs having their way with her [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Somewhere Only We Know</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/08/antigonish-nova-scotia/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/08/antigonish-nova-scotia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:06:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/28/antigonish-nova-scotia/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I didn’t write much since South America but that trip wore me out and I’m ready to chill in Asia.  But not quite yet.  Couldn’t bear to get on another long haul flight after the 21 hours back to Toronto so side-tripped it and got on a 2 hour flight to Halifax instead.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/08/antigonish-nova-scotia/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Bolivia in a Week</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/26/bolivia-in-a-week/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/26/bolivia-in-a-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:04:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Bolivia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/26/bolivia-in-a-week/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Don’t attempt the above title.  Bolivia deserves so much more.  We started to run out of time in South America and wondered if we would achieve our raison d’entre a la Bolivia – the salt flats in the south.  We arrived to La Paz late Monday night to deserted streets filled with [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/26/bolivia-in-a-week/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lake Titicaca</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/25/lake-titicaca/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/25/lake-titicaca/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2007 23:59:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Peru]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/08/11/lake-titicaca/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The floating islands of Lake Titicaca, albeit somewhat beautiful, are barely a one-nighter on the way to Bolivia overland.  The town in which it resides, Puno, is a complete dump.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/25/lake-titicaca/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lares Trek to Machu Picchu</title>
		<link>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/17/lares-trek-to-machu-picchu/</link>
		<comments>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/17/lares-trek-to-machu-picchu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 22:29:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jac</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Peru]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/17/lares-trek-to-machu-picchu/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
There are various ways to get to Machu Picchu, one of the newly designated seventh wonders of the world.  We chose the road less traveled, the Lares Trek, over the illustrious Inca trail.  It was just us, our guide, Julio, and herd of llamas – and not one encounter with another gringo soul.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://jacanddirk.com/2007/07/17/lares-trek-to-machu-picchu/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
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