New Apartment - Newark, New Jersey

Since arriving home in early December, I’ve visited with family and friends, rented an apartment in Newark NJ, acquired a car, moved my belongings out of storage into the apartment, and enrolled in three evening film producing classes at NYU. Classes start the first week in February, until then I’ll be settling into my apartment, exploring the neighborhood, watching movies, writing, reading, jogging…

I'm infatuated with my new neighborhood; at times I feel like I’m still traveling. The neighborhood is filled with Portuguese and Brazilian restaurants, bakeries and fresh fish shops, etc., and the supermarket is stocked with imports from Portugal. Portuguese is the predominate language spoken. Locals often speak to me in Portuguese, after I respond with "what?" and then they generally switch to English, that is, except for the new immigrants. The new immigrants forge ahead with Portuguese. I generally succumb to gesturing, something I've become familiar with while traveling. Also, bring back traveling memories is the shop around the corner that sells "live" chickens for slaughter.

A crossed the “tracks”, about 10 blocks from my apartment (I live about two blocks from the tracks) is the heart of the African-American community where the hip-hop clothing stores and African restaurants are located. Not far from the where the Af-Am community hangs out, still within walking distance from my house, is the New Jersey Performing Art Center with offerings of symphonies, ballets, operas, and touring Broadway Shows.

The neighborhood has almost everything, even has a Brazilian gay bar. The only thing it doesn't have is an art house film theater. Fortunately, the subway station, more generally known as the "PATH", is located only four blocks from my house. It takes 22 minutes and cost $1.50 to get into lower Manhattan at the former World Trade Center site. Fortunately, a few art house theaters and NYU is only one transfer and 4 subway stops north of the former WTC site. The accessiblity to Manhattan and significantly cheaper rents were my primary reasons for living in Newark. The diverse neighborhood is a bonus!!!

Summary of the Trip's Expenses

The total cost of the trip was around $35,000. Broken out $3,000 for misc international and domestic airfares; $4,000 for pre-trip expenses, like clothing, books, sleeping mat, Gore-Tex rain gear, electronic accessories, vaccinations, visas, etc.; $2,000 for scuba diving; $15,000 was payment to the Overland Companies; and the remaining $11,000 to cover miscellaneous traveling expenses.

Broken out alternatively, the portion of the trip from Istanbul to Bangkok cost approximately $22,000 (6.5 months) of which $12,500 was paid directly to the Overland Company to cover overhead, transportation cost, food, sleep accommodations and entrance fees to certain pre-determined sites. About $4,000 of the $9,500 difference was to cover the pro-rated airfare and pre-trip expenses. The remaining $5,500 was spent on alcohol, snacks, souvenirs, and entrance fees, activities and additional excursions not covered by the overland company (i.e. balloon ride, whitewater rafting, camel safari, etc.).

During my one month stay in Thailand, I spend roughly $3000 on two round trip domestic flights, massage class, cooking class, and scuba diving. In Australia, my expenditures totaled $10,000 over a 1.5 month period. Broken out $2,000 was to cover airfare and pre-trip costs, $3,500 paid directly to Adventure Center, another overland company, $1,500 for scuba diving, and $3,000 for miscellaneous expenditures.