In the Wake of Empires (June-August 2006)

In June 2006, I embarked on a journey around the world. At the time, it was ostensibly my sabbatical from BioWare Corp. where I was then working. The journey took me across Europe, to the highest point on the continent on Mt. Elbrus, across Russia, Mongolia before finishing in China. In 2012, I resurrected the old journal and site which is what you find here. Six years have passed and there are a few things missing from this journal, things I realized many years hence.

For one thing: This trip is truly dedicated to one friend Nils and his remarkable brush with death. Nils and his family showed me that working as hard as I did wasn’t all there was to life. This trip was a manifestation of that realization. Nils, I am proud to know you, and though I don’t often talk to you, you inspire me.

Now, onto the journey!

• Introduction
• Edmonton to London (Jun 08–09)
• The Case of the Twelve Pints (Jun 10)
• Arranging Family and Friends (Jun 11–12)
• ’Tis a small world after all (Jun 13)
• Germany breaks through Polish defence (Jun 14)
• Concentrating on Sachsenhausen (Jun 15)
• Trains, Australians and Sardine Cans (Jun 16–17)
• Please don’t fall out of the sky (Jun 18)
• Dups, Filmstar (Jun 19)
• Legs don’t fail me now! (Jun 20)
• Midsummer’s eve at 4000m (Jun 21)
• “When I’m up I can’t get down!” (Jun 22)
• There’s nothing wrong with “cheating”! (Jun 23)
• “Stop! Stop! Military Polizei!” (Jun 24)
• False Summit Attempt (Jun 25)
• Europe below us! (Jun 26)
• Karaoke Stars (Jun 27)
• Insecure Security (Jun 28)
• Three’s Company (Jun 29–30)
• Happy Canada Day (Jul 1)
• Finally an entry about a train (Jul 2)
• “You’re from Edmonton too?!” (Jul 3)
• Yummy fish (Jul 4)
• What’s a “Putinska”? (Jul 5)
• Chased by flies (Jul 6)
• The Flood (Jul 7)
• Border Torture (Jul 8)
• Crash (Jul 09–10)
• Quilted Picker-upper (Jul 10)
• The Intrepid Crew (Jul 11)
• Alternative Olympics (Jul 12)
• Across Mongolia
• Part 1: The Surreal Life (Jul 12–13)
• Part 2: Monastical Meanderings (Jul 13)
• Part 3: Feasting Flies (Jul 14)
• Part 4: Smells of Home (Jul 15–16)
• Part 5: Mountain Madness (Jul 17)
• Firestarter (Jul 18)
• Transvestite Cows and Pink Gers (Jul 20)
• Spiders Ahoy! (Jul 21)
• Playing with Madness (Jul 22)
• Lost (Jul 23)
• Camel Jockey and Twinkie Driver (Jul 24)
• Beijing or Bust (Jul 25)
• Forbidden Ramblings (Jul 26)
• Close your eyes and pray (Jul 27)
• Praying to the Halls of Dispelling Clouds (Jul 28)
• The Last Train (Jul 29)
• Winding down in Shanghai (Aug 01)
• “It would be a pity…” (Aug 02)
• Time for tea (Aug 03)
• Around the world in 58 Days (Aug 04)