the ch!cktionary

    24 Feb 2009

    “There were three stages of Cambodia’s holocaust. Pol Pot’s genocide was but one of them, yet only it has a place in the official memory. It is highly unlikely Pot Pot would have come to power had President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, not attacked neutral Cambodia. In 1973, B-52s dropped more bombs on Cambodia’s populated heartland than were dropped on Japan during all of the Second World War: the equivalent of five Hiroshimas. Declassified files reveal that the CIA was in little doubt of the effect. “[The Khmer Rouge] are using damage caused by B52 strikes as the main theme of their propaganda,” reported the director of operations on May 2, 1973. “This approach has resulted in the successful recruitment of a number of young men [and] has been effective with refugees.” Prior to the bombing, the Khmer Rouge had been a Maoist cult without a popular base. The bombing delivered a catalyst. What Nixon and Kissinger began, Pol Pot completed. Kissinger will not be in the dock in Phom Penh. He is advising President Obama on geo-politics.”
    — John Pilger
    Tags: USA.

    18 Dec 2008

    Taken by Patrick in Angkor, Cambodia. I just finished going through more photos from this summer. There are literally thousands. This is a work in progress.

    Taken by Patrick in Angkor, Cambodia. I just finished going through more photos from this summer. There are literally thousands. This is a work in progress.

    10 Sep 2008

    Angkor, Cambodia I don’t look it, but I was terrified to climb this structure. The steps were six inches wide, no exaggeration. Photo credit: Patrick Hamm

    Angkor, Cambodia

    I don’t look it, but I was terrified to climb this structure. The steps were six inches wide, no exaggeration.

    Photo credit: Patrick Hamm

    2 Sep 2008

    To Go List

    Since I’ve been talking to my mother a lot about traveling next year during my time off Harvard …

    Domestic

    • Chicago - Nearly went to college at Northwestern, but got in early to Harvard so I never made my spring break visit. Have wanted to see Chicago ever since.
    • Portland - Have never been to Oregon despite living on the West Coast my entire life. Time to amend that!
    • Providence - Just a super short train ride from Boston but I’ve never managed to make the day trip. Maybe when my little sister does her college hunting, I’ll take her to Brown?
    • Seattle - Went once I was 17 for a journalism conference. Thought it was gorgeous but my status as a minor obviously prevented me from fully enjoying the city. Dying to go back. It’s too bad Kennedy left for Colorado instead of sticking around.

    International

    • Asia
      • Cambodia - If I do Angkor Homestay
      • China - Been to Hong Kong thrice but never Beijing or Shanghai
      • India
      • Indonesia - Jakarta, mostly
      • Singapore - Have wanted to go to Singapore for years
      • Taiwan - My cousin is living in Taipei for the next couple years
      • Thailand again - Because there’s so much left to see besides Bangkok
    • Middle East
      • Dubai
      • … and pretty much ANYWHERE else there
    • Europe (all remainders from this summer)
      • Paris
      • Prague
      • Venice
      • Vienna

    It’s time to save like mad. I’m working all fall in Boston, placing myself on a shopping moratorium, and getting a piggy bank. Oh, the places I hope to go!

    30 Aug 2008

    My favorite photos of my trip are from Cambodia.

    My favorite photos of my trip are from Cambodia.

    30 Aug 2008

    Angkor, Cambodia

    Angkor, Cambodia

    8 Aug 2008

    Just got back my visas for Vietnam and Cambodia. Patrick and I leave in less than 48 hours for 17 days in Southeast Asia.

    Just got back my visas for Vietnam and Cambodia. Patrick and I leave in less than 48 hours for 17 days in Southeast Asia.