At first, I thought it was amusing. You could find a copy of anything. Do be honest, the fake item was probably easier to locate than the genuine one. Any street market could take care of all your needs. Ray-Ban sunglasses? Check. A slick new pair of Vans? The Lonely Planet of your next destination? [...]
After over two months of being fine without it, I gave in and got a room with air conditioning. Siem Reap finally did me in. It’s low elevation along with its large distance from the nearest ocean create a dry environment this time of year before the monsoon rains can cool it off. It was [...]
I miss cooking. In college, I couldn’t cook a thing, but once I moved out into the real world I soon realized the value of the skill. I found cooking skills attractive in girls, so it seemed only fair that I be capable as well. Plus, its good on your pride, your personal taste buds [...]
I sometimes joke about a important step in becoming a true traveler. A crucial and, really, inevitable step, food poisoning. It’s just a part of traveling in foreign lands and if you haven’t had it, two things. You’re lucky, and it’s only a matter of time. When it unavoidably does come, it will be at a very importune time [...]
I’m on a tight budget. Because I want to travel for months on end, I can’t act like I’m on a two week spring break and let lose financially. Saving a few dollars is worth passing on the western food, and walking an extra few sweaty blocks with my backpack to find a cheaper accommodation is commonplace. I [...]
One of my favorite things about traveling is how there is suddenly time to read, a lot. Back home, I’d have to make time for even the best of books, but on the road, opportunity always seems to present itself in the form of a long bus ride or, even better, an inviting hammock. Here [...]
A few days ago I wrote a post about why California will never stop calling me home. While this is true, not even California can keep me from hitting the road whenever possible. My first true travel experience was a six week study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain. The program was very structured and I [...]
California just about has it all. I know most people have a soft spot in there heart for the place they’re from and why shouldn’t they? Their beloved family and friends are there, their favorite food spot is close by, and it’s “amazing at [this or that] time of year,” but California is, well, different. [...]