Hotel Hawaii

I'm at a hotel in Hawaii with a band playing Hotel California outside, and in Korea I used to stay at the Hawaii Hotel. Life can feel so intricate sometimes.

Cafe Les Verts

Every time I think I've encountered the perfect WiFi cafe, Korea does me one better. I came across Cafe Les Verts a few minutes ago walking from my hotel to--what else--Java City. Oversized square maple tables that don't require mousepads, organic teas and coffees, curvy porcelain cups, a bank of iMacs on a shiny metal counter circling a leafy tree--coupled with perfect lighting, and outlets everywhere, with just enough jazz music to put a bounce in your fingertips. And, of course, the Internet is free, not your usual Korean NESPOT "buy our overpiced card only at the airport 50 miles from Seoul" service.

Secret Agent

The woman in a blue suit looked me (and my pillow) over critically. "I am secret agent for Northwest Airlines," she said.

"A secret agent?"

"Yes."

She proceeded to interrogate me (not very secretly) about my travel plans. "Why do you fly so many airlines?" she asked, at one point. "It is more expensive."

I whispered, "Actually, because it's cheaper."

Before she released me, I had to show her my Scholar's Cup ID Badge and a business card. "You're the president of organization?" She seemed incredulous.

"Yes, president with a pillow," I said.

Later, at immigration, I was asked, "Are you soldier?"

The pillow seems less effective than it used to be as a way of making me look innocent.

Signs Seen in Bangalore

Things are much blunter in India. From my taxi, I see one sign advertising a clinic. Among the things it treats, in bold lettering: “Sexual weakness." Next door, a prim blue building is labeled “Home for the Mentally Retarded.”

Somewhat further down the way, a restaurant offers "Chainese Food"--by which maybe it means it offers orange chicken from Panda Express?

I'm writing this at Cafe Coffee Day, which is sponsored by Microsoft Vista. The menu is shaped like the Windows logo, and the "Vista Coffee" is their classic brew with a "delightful splash" of orange.

It's unrelated, but I should also note that earlier today, a teacher very interested in the Scholar's Cup insisted to me that he was the younger brother of Hare Krishna--and Jesus Christ.