Kachin State: Taking In Katha And Bhamo

Katha was the setting for one of George Orwell’s first novels, Burmese Days. A favorite read for backpackers in Myanmar, I made sure to grab my own copy before I got there. Bhamo was to the west and had a bamboo bridge that got washed away and rebuilt by villagers each year. Both towns don’t… Read More

Scooting And Sweating Through The Temples Of Bagan

2,200 Buddhist temples dating back to the 11th century scatter across 26 square miles in a multitude of shapes and sizes. I had a wonderful time at this top tourist destination, and that was saying something considering two setbacks—May was during hot, triple-digit season, and most of the viewpoints were under restoration, severely limiting options… Read More

Starting My Burmese Days In Yangon

So began my Burmese Days in this busy, dirty town discovering gems that were both obvious and subtle. While aware that the Schwedagon, with its several metric tons of gold and jewels, was known for being the most impressive pagoda in Southeast Asia, I was also adjusting to high temperatures and seeking opportunities with the local community.… Read More

Musings Over An Unanticipated Thanksgiving In Europe

My life was suddenly a new level of nightmare for claustrophobics—it was hard to tell at first, but it became clear the British bus had in fact driven into a train, parked, and said train was moving into the ocean. Thankfully I didn’t feel claustrophobic, and instead felt enlightened, especially when the sunlight of the French… Read More

Passing Through Cartagena

Cartagena served as a base for accessing other destinations in Northern Colombia. During my brief visits I enjoyed strolling the historic district and the charming Getsemaní neighborhood, all the while hunting down specific street foods that my Colombian roommates made me promise to ingest.     Transportation The Rafael Núñez International Airport (CTG), was a convenient $4… Read More

Island Hopping From Rincón Del Mar To Casa En El Agua

When people start saying they don’t have time for somewhere on the map, roll your eyes and head in that direction. Parbs and I wrapped our trip in the San Bernardo Islands and it quickly became our favorite destination—we couldn’t get enough of how isolated we felt. Here, we shared our best meals and got to… Read More

Dodging Crowds And Feeling Timeless In Tayrona

I was hesitant on visiting the unique beaches of Tayrona National Park because I didn’t want to deal with such a large volume of tourists, but according to the bathroom wall of The Journey Hostel, “The only impossible journey is the one you don’t take.” With the help of Inti, the founder of the hostel,… Read More

Hammocks And Hitchhikes Beyond Minca

Colombia is the only country in the world that has snow mountains bordering the ocean. Nearing the Sierra Nevada meant birds were more beautiful, nights were more chilly, and sand flies were unexpectedly belligerent. This place was a playground for adults. From our hostel and its 8-person hammocks, we took a walk in the opposite direction of everyone else,… Read More