Where it all began: Some context (please read this first)
One of the most frequent questions I get is about how I’ve been able to pick up temporary work throughout my travels without falling afoul of the law.
Songs for the sick
Frequent readers will know that Western Africa is one of my favorite parts of the world, so my expectations were already high when I secured a lift to Bamako.
Fukushima
Just as sailors abide by the laws of the sea, desert inhabitants live by a code that keeps them safe in this often extreme environment. Lesson number one: Your water is everyone’s water.
Remind me
It’s not New York or Shanghai — it’s Cairo. Here are some tips and tricks for enjoying the cultural life of this great city without getting a headache or hearing loss.
and then
While I generally try to travel the slow and steady way, sometimes opportunities arise that are too good to miss. When my friend Kahlil invited me to spend a weekend with his family in the Djebel Babor mountains, I had to make it happen.
Bird Poem
Morocco has four historical capitals: Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat. I spent a week in each and emerged with a clear favorite.
The measure of a man
I woke up to a mysterious text message from my friend Ekrem: “I’ve got a one-of-a-kind job waiting for you in Cappadocia if you can make it here by Monday.
Remember the dead
One of the most valuable things I’ve learned in my travels is that the best food is any destination is never at the fancy hotels. Follow the locals and you’ll eat well (and cheaply).
Apparently
Does it ever get lonely out on the road? Yes. But if you can learn to embrace loneliness, it can be a great teacher.
When you write about god, write about the details
May Day may be a non-existent holiday in my native US, but the tradition is very much alive in Europe.
How the weekend began
I’m sitting in Bangkok’s airport, about to board a plane to my wildest destination yet: My sister’s wedding back home in Santa Cruz. What will I find in America after two years of constant travel?
You don’t love me
Let’s celebrate April Fools’ Day with a list of every scam I’ve encountered in three weeks in Bangkok, shall we?
When I was six
The last six years of travel have been a story of reduction. When I first set out, I was proud of myself for only bringing one backpack full of clever gear. Today, I see the world with only five essential items.
Genesis
The saung is Myanmar’s most iconic musical instrument, a boat-shaped harp that sounds like nothing else.
Diagnosis
You can’t have a typical relationship while you travel the world, but that doesn’t mean romance is always out of reach.
I plan my life out a day at a time, so my posting schedule can be erratic.
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