Arriving in Delhi was a shock to to senses. The air was hot, thick, and smelled of burning wood. The streets were bustling with cars, tuk-tuks, pedestrians, cows, and trucks overflowing with unidentifiable cargo. The electrical wiring twisted over the walkways. Chickens lay in stacked cages, and merchants sold meat in the 105 degree heat. Intertwined with this madness was an indescribable beauty. Women clad…
My new tour started in Buenos Aries. Such a great city, yet I didn’t see much of it. I think sometimes when you have a lot of time somewhere, you tend to waste more of it. I suppose I will have to visit Buenos Aries again someday! After Buenos Aries, we spent two days exploring Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil….
Traveling on the northern edge of Patagonia was absolutely stunning. The views will take your breath away, and the fresh, crisp air will restore it. No words or pictures can adequately describe this experience, and it has enticed me to one day explore the southern parts of the region. Rain, fog, and wind alternated with warm, beautiful sunshine and freezing cold. The weather mostly worked…
The thing about travel is that there are so many components and variables that make up a trip, inevitably, you’re going to have some mishaps. It’s easy to let these things frustrate you, but it’s far better to just roll with it, adjust your expectations and move on. Of course, there are times when those mishaps are major and you must respond accordingly, but it’s…
While I’m presently packing and planning out four months of travel spanning all four seasons (make that five seasons, considering India is supposed to reach 104F/40C degrees), I’m continuing to reminisce about my first trip to Europe in January 1998. Oh my, did I learn a lesson about packing! First, I’m American, that means I absolutely wouldn’t dream of wearing the same outfit twice on…
One of the most magical things to me is standing in the international terminal of an airport and looking at all the departures on the screen, knowing the world is at my fingertips. Some of the cities I’ve been to, and others are on my list. I watch each name sparkle and think of the memories I earned there or will perhaps acquire in the…
Vietnam is absolutely beautiful. I have enjoyed parts of it immensely. It is more expensive than the other SE Asian countries, but it is still about half U.S. prices, and there are much more luxurious options than in Laos or Cambodia for spas, dining, etc. Vietnam has a strange contrast. Its beautiful beaches and wonderfully quaint towns are mixed with gritty and crowded cities. I…
I remember the first time I truly understood what “war” meant. I was eight years old and went on a family trip to Washington, D.C. My mother was somewhat out of sorts and insisted that we visit the Vietnam War Memorial. I’m not sure what I was expecting of the memorial, but I was confused to find it was just row upon row of names…
Today was a brighter day as we spent it exploring temples. We left the hotel at 4:45 AM this morning to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. It was absolutely beautiful. This afternoon we explored two additional temples – Bayon and Ta Prohm, which was made famous by Angelia Jolie and Tomb Raider. Ta Prohm was such an amazing…
Until the last two days, our trek through Southeast Asia has been full of water-gun fights, blessings from Buddhist Monks, and cruises down the Mekong (and of course: cockroaches and squat toilets). Presently, our trip has taken a darker turn down the tumultuous road of this region’s violent past. This is a journey I have very much wanted to take–a reminder of human atrocities and…
