Monthly Mood: Never Trust An Egg Sandwich November, Nepal, Nepali November of my dreams. The month starts with clocking into Namche Bazaar and ends with coming down from the Gosaikunda track. In between, the heartiest autumn dosage of Mount Everest views. [su_spacer size=”40″] [su_spacer size=”40″] I see my first high altitude psychedelic chickens (see ‘bird of the month’ below) and still haven’t… Read More
Monthly Mood: It’s Happening When The Vegan Way pressed a farewell slice of carrot cake into my hands and bid me a safe journey to Sri Lanka, I said I’d be back in October. What do you know, I awaken once again on the shores of paradisiacal Phewa. The lake winks at me that yes, it’s autumn. Yes, I’m… Read More
Monthly Mood: Ukalo Oralo [su_spacer size=”40″] Nepal. Small, precious, exploited for outdoor tourism. Annapurna Circuit. First snowcocks and snow pigeons and herds of Himalayan blue sheep, visually the most beautiful days of my life, deforestation, shards of Snickers wrappers strewn into earth. Besisahar to Nayapul with zero motor vehicles. 300 kilometers in 34 days. Idly creeping up to 5,416m… Read More
Orchard Observations: The Counterintuitive Way Life Works Hidden away in a corner of Japan’s fruitiest prefecture, I was volunteering on one of the best farms that ever happened to me. I wove my bike through rice fields and greenhouses of cherry trees. On clearer days, I soaked up a splendid view of Mount Fuji. One morning, I even found myself at the… Read More
High Up Huangshan: Three Days In China’s Yellow Mountains It was a Sunday morning. My mom, dad, myself, and our enormous sack of lychees and grapes were moving at 250kph along the train tracks through Chinese countryside. I was still unaware of what I was in for. Across the aisle of our train compartment, my mother was stretched across three seats, and unresponsive. I… Read More
Solo Hitchhiking La Carretera Austral Part I: Caleta Tortel—Cochrane Before I left for my world trip, I sternly told myself that I would stop hitchhiking alone. Yet using my thumb to experience the gems and potholes of La Carretera Austral, under rain or sun, had remained one of my biggest fantasies for more than two years. The generosity of strangers carried me… Read More
Solo Hitchhiking La Carretera Austral Part II: Puerto Rio Tranquilo—Coyhaique Continued from Part I: Caleta Tortel—Cochrane. Puerto Rio Tranquilo PRT is the pit stop for making an aquatic excursion out to the Insta-worthy Capilla de Mármol, or marble caves. Capilla is the Spanish word for chapel, so Capilla de Mármol actually refers to one specific limestone formation that your guide will point out.… Read More
Solo Hitchhiking La Carretera Austral Part III: Queulat—Chaitén Continued from Solo Hitchhiking La Carretera Austral Part I and Part II. Parque Nacional Queulat This national park is famed for its view of the Ventisquero Colgante, a hanging glacier poised over a lush green valley. Campers can set up a tent by the park entrance for 2,000 CLP ($3.30). Day 47 27 March 2018… Read More
Lycian Way 2-Day Loop: Olympos To Gelidonya Lighthouse And Back With an overnight in Adrasan and a hitchhike back to Olympos from Karaöz beach, the three of us walked one of the highlight sections of the Lycian Way with just our day packs. The scenic trek was the perfect medley of warm pine forests and rocky coastline. Before we knew it we were back to all… Read More