<![CDATA[The Human Voyage - Eric's Blog ]]>Sat, 25 May 2013 20:50:54 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Photos from A Voyage of Scientific Exploration on the Caspian Sea]]>Sun, 12 May 2013 10:15:00 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/05/photos-from-a-voyage-of-scientific-exploration-on-the-caspian-sea.html
]]><![CDATA[What Secrets are Held In the Depths of the Caspian Sea?]]>Sun, 21 Apr 2013 07:42:56 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/04/what-secrets-are-held-in-the-depths-of-the-caspian-sea.htmlI didn't wake up till the plane touched down in Moscow. After several weeks of work exploring the ocean floor off an exotic island ( read: Side Scan Survey off Manhattan ) I find myself again traveling with a group of scientists  to a distant land, carry-on bags stuffed with enough electronics to back the line at airport security out past the Starbucks.

What secrets lurk in the depths of the Caspian Sea, and what adventures await us on land as we prepare for another voyage of scientific exploration?  The next month will have plenty to offer in the way of adventure, and technical challenge as well.]]><![CDATA[New research into Egypts Sunken Cities  examined at an international conference at the University of Oxford March 15-17]]>Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:46:56 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/04/new-research-into-egypts-sunken-cities-examined-at-an-international-conference-at-the-university-of-oxford-march-15-17.html
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Bronze statue of Osiris, the assassinated and resurrected king-god. It is adorned with the atef crown. The typical insignia of power (crook and flail) are missing. Its open eyes are accentuated by fine gold sheets. ©Franck Goddio/Hilti Foundation, photo: Christoph Gerigk
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‘The survey has revealed an enormous submerged landscape with the remains of at least two major ancient settlements within a part of the Nile delta that was crisscrossed with natural and artificial waterways,’ said Dr Damian Robinson, Director of the Oxford Centre for Maritime Archaeology.

For me it is very exciting to hear the results of scientific and archaeological study of the artifacts we uncovered under the sea.

]]><![CDATA[Bomb Hunting in Laos; The Movie]]>Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:39:09 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/bomb-hunting-in-laos-the-movie.html
The video we shot in Laos last month is turning into an interesting trio of short films. Here is the first episode, I hope you like it.
]]><![CDATA[In New Jersey This Time Of Year...]]>Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:15:21 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/in-new-jersey-this-time-of-year.html
I popped in to ASI Head Quarters, and was greeted with a treat. A golden dawn over fresh fallen snow.
]]><![CDATA[Endless Winter Landscape of Afghanistan]]>Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:34:42 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/endless-winter-landscape-of-afghanistan.htmlPicture
Flying back to Paris, I was reminded how the vast mountains and valleys of Western Afghanistan went on and on.
]]><![CDATA[A Few Photos from Laos upon Leaving]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:02:23 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/a-few-photos-from-laos-upon-leaving.html
]]><![CDATA[In Laos, A UXO Survivor Turns Adversity into Advocacy]]>Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:32:17 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/in-laos-a-uxo-survivor-turns-adversity-into-advocacy.htmlPicture
Phong at the COPE Center in front of the instalation representing a cluster bomb opening up.
One of the survivors of leftover wartime UXO that we have gotten to know in Laos is Phongsavath, who lost both his hands and his sight a few years ag when a friend unknowingly handed him a  live bombie. He Was 16.

Phongsavath hasn't let this keep him down. Using a computer donated to the Cope Center, he is able to use the internet to help raise awareness of the problem of UXO. (His screen name is Peter Kim).

I told him that I'd share a link to his youtube videos. There's one where Miss Minnesota ( a girl of Lao Heritage) serenades him with "Birds In The Sky" . The song is still stuck in my head. 
]]><![CDATA[Dry Season in Southern Laos]]>Sun, 03 Mar 2013 04:04:55 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/dry-season-in-southern-laos.htmlPicture
As we towed our array through the fields, a constant trickle of traffic went by; cattle wandering , villagers from upland rice fields heading back home, and hunters with long flintlock rifles and packs of tiny hunting dogs, all streaming by, mostly ignoring us and our quest to find and remove the bombs lurking under this peaceful landscape.
]]><![CDATA[Cold Weather in the Southern Highlands of Laos]]>Sun, 03 Mar 2013 01:10:15 GMThttp://www.thehumanvoyage.com/2/post/2013/03/cold-weather-in-the-southern-highlands-of-laos.htmlPicture
It still caught me by surprise. 

Although forwarned that the winter in the Highlands of Laos could be cool, and armed with jackets and fleece, it still seamed like a jarring contradiction to go from the heat of Vientiane to 1250m altitude in the mountains and experience strong winds and cold temperatures in the evenings. 

Our accomodations, thached longbuildings with tarps stapled on the inside, formed an effective shelter from the elements, but when stepping out for a bit of star gazing, either driven by the stunning night sky and lack of light pollution, or just jet lag,  all the layers of clothing I had seemed like just enough. 

(I can already hear the comments: " Oh Boo Hoo!")

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