The best thing about being a wanderer, or at times being consumed by wanderlust, is the stories you collect. In addition to collecting my own stories, I like to hear about other people’s adventures. I had a 7 hour delay at the Kathmandu airport – which worked out well because I wound up on a direct flight to Bangkok on the very posh Thai Airways…
Crossing the border from India to Nepal was like finding relief on a lush deserted island in a sea of humanity. Immediately, the streets were cleaner, the people were fewer, and the scenery was greener. Cows munching garbage were replaced by goats feasting on fresh grass. Aridity was replaced with humidity, and the smog gave way to bluer skies. After a visit to Gautama Buddha’s…
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…
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…
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…
Call me silly, but I had this image in my mind that Bangkok would look very much like the opening scene of Anna and the King. Surprisingly, it has changed over the last several hundred years. Hahahaha! This weekend is the new year festival. The streets are full of house music, PEOPLE, and supersoakers. It is insanely fantastic. The old, the young and the very…
