Nashville, Tennessee

Got the Nashville experience staying with Jake Bender, a good friend of Chaz.

We explored some of the nightlife and food.

Jake gave me another nick name, Young Will.

(Awesome Boxer!)

(Parthenon Replica)

Washington, D.C.

Finally after living so close to the Capital of the United States and for so long I finally made it here for a visit. 

One word to describe this place: 

Monumental!

(Lincoln Monument)

(Lincoln Monument from a distance)

(The all-mighty capital)

(The White House)

(Washington Monument)

(Thomas Jefferson Monument)

 Air and Space Museum

This place was truly impressive

(The original! First powered airplane piloted by Orville Wright)

After wandering around "The Mall" taking in the significance of what all the monuments represent you should definitely get some soul food! The night scene here in D.C. is also pretty awesome, but get ready to spend some serious money. D.C. seems to be even more expensive than New York City. 

(Delicious soul food)

Baltimore

Back on the road again reunited with my travel companion Chaz. Only this time, instead of Asia, we are traveling across the good old US of A.

Wandered in to this cozy and lively pub to have some shepherds pie. I had no idea I would find an ensemble of violinists.

 Fort McHenry

During the war of 1812, Francis Scott Key was a young lawyer that set off to negotiate the release of an american prisoner aboard a nearby british naval ship. Francis was accompanied by Col. John Skinner, an american agent of prisoner exchange. They managed to convince them to allow the release of the prisoner but would not allow them to leave until they had carried out a surprise attack on Fort McHenry. The bombardment lasted 25 hours. The following morning they could see the flag still blowing in the breeze. They then knew they had won the battle. This inspired Francis to write the poem "Defense of Fort McHenry" which would eventually be put to music and become our national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner. 

(Fort McHenry)

United States Naval Academy

(bad ass grave of John Paul Jones)

Boston

Visited one of my best friends on the planet in Boston!

It was so nice to spend quality time with Ore and Danielle and made some new friends in the process.

Unfortunately, I took no pictures of this little chapter in my travels. Still, I feel the need to add it to the timeline of this long Journey across the world. 

(Boston Marathon finish line)

Mahtomedi, Minnesota

Home for the holidays!

After 13 months of traveling Asia I got to spend Christmas with friends and family in Minnesota. The reverse culture shock was strange as I quickly rewired my brain to the familiar roads, people, food, weather, and the rest of the minute details of life. Within days, what had seemed to exist only in my distant memories like a dream world, had become full on reality. Driving in the snow, prancing through the Johnson's lake house, buying Christmas presents. Minnesota Christmas is the best!

Wish I had taken more pictures, but these are all I've got.

New York, USA

New York

Finally back in the U.S. to catch up with my friends and family for the holiday season. 

Family

(Just in time to get the Christmas tree with my little sister Logan)

(Logan at her birthday party) 

(Home sweet home on my balcony reuniting the Bitter family)

(My older sister who I love so much!)

(Dude, Aaron, Tiger, Logan, Me)

(Jurek! My half sisters father whom I have grown closer and closer to)

Friends

(Getting drunk with awesome people)

(Chilling)

(Enea, the fierce Albanian) 

(Cayla, awesome new friend who works at Brooklyn Boulders!)

Walking Dogs

(making some money and getting some puppy love)

Being a tourist in my own city!

(The famous pigeon guy at Washington Square Park)

(New addition to Time Square)

 Bringing Onigiri to the Bitter household

Snow storm!

Snowboarding

After missing an entire winter while in Asia I finally went snowboarding for the first time in two years, and yes, right after the snowstorm.

Vang Vieng, Laos

Vang Vieng

Instantly upon arriving in Vang Vieng I found myself back in the western backpacker party scene of Southeast Asia! The shop keepers all spoke english, hostels were full of westerners drinking and easy access to travel information was everywhere.  With not much time, I had to move quickly. I made friends with my bunk mates and we set off on the river the very next day. Vang Vieng is a party town and the party starts as early as you want it. Every day is a pub crawl, but not just any normal pub crawl. This pub crawl takes place along the Mekong River. The first step is to make sure you have your swim-ware as well as some cash, oh, and grab a beer. Then rent a tube which will come with a ride to your first bar along the Mekong River. The rest of the day you will float from one bar to another, linking up with new friends, getting more intoxicated, and getting closer to the finish line. Oh no! I'm drifting past the bar I want to stop at. SPASH! a bottle filled with water lands next to me, or hits me in the head. Grab it! The next thing I know I'm being reeled into the bar by a rope attached to the bottle. In fact good luck passing a bar without being bombed by water bottles from locals that want you to drink at their place. 

(Drunken, muddy, volley ball)

(Cool people)

(look how much fun I'm having while my camera is being soaked)

Get to the end and don't want to stop partying? Tons of bars and clubs  are welcoming all the wet and trashed tubers in the early evening and are open late! 

These photos mark the last day that my camera lived. The Mekong River claimed my camera that day due to my friends failed dry sac. At least I have some cool pictures of this awesome day thanks to Rannon, Minna, and Kanak! I would have stayed longer but I had my flight to NYC in Bangkok and needed to get moving.