1) In a fit of enthusiasm, desiring to awaken a schoolmate to engage in more drinking (it was only three in the morning), I punched my hand through his dorm room window, shattering it. I was unscathed but the other dorm inhabitants promptly labeled me loco (or the Chinese equivilant of "loco" as we were in Singapore).

2) I learned that hookers MUST wear shoes.

3) Was almost abducted by quasi-Moonies after a U2 show. Well, I don't know if they were that interested in me, but I stepped out for a smoke and met several hillbilly/hippies. Being slightly on the bohemian side, they must have considered me a potential convert. By the time my friends caught up to me, I had handfuls of literature on their commune (built around the pseudo-mystical, "fight the man" poetry of their leader who bore a resemblence to Charles Manson). They also gave us a CD of this "poetry" put to music - the folks behind "This Is Spinal Tap" wish they had reached such heights of parody.

4) Met at least a half dozen women who would be future ex-girlfriends.

5) Spent an hour debating baseball with a Venezuelan kid named Airto in the bathroom of a hotel in Bangkok while two friends tried to guide me through an epic case of hiccups.

6) Following a night of drinking with friends in Edinburgh, Scotland, I decided that a friend and I HAD to call the rest of our friends in the States. When that game grew old, there was nothing left to do but crash - after some food, of course. I found a Domino's in the phone book and, carefully neglecting the fact that they deliver, I chose to go to them. Hours later, after wondering the foreign city hopelessly lost, I happened upon a lovely lass making her way home from a rave (note to fans of the female gender: Scottish women are some of the most amazingly beautiful in the world). Anyhow, she was kind enough to escort me back to my hotel - after wasting a bit of time :-)

The lesson, kids? I don't know. I do know that a dear friend who has traveled far more than me taught me two things - one, food is culture and, two, you have to get lost if you really want to experience a strange city*.

While we're talking drinks, check out these thoughts on more important matters.

*some restrictions apply

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