How did a simple chat about my phone with a man–a complete stranger (see below)–lead to some crazy shopping in a busy market and then, eventually, to me taking a 17-hour overnight bus ride with him and 20 teenagers a few days later? Read on to find out! Part I: Chatting at a Cafe Where:…
I tend to have some offbeat/quirky experiences wherever and whenever I travel. And here in Sumatra, Indonesia (Payakumbuh specifically), it’s been happening yet again. And know what? I’m really enjoying it. I’ve gotten many laughs out of these situations (especially #5) and I hope you do, too. Without further ado, here are 6 of the…
Dear Beloved iPad2, So sorry to have to do this, but I’m…dumping you. Yes, I once loved you, but you’ve disappointed me too many times and it’s just not working out. Especially for certain projects and for travel. It’s over. Before I tell you the reasons, I want to say that it’s me and not…
What would you do if you spotted a mysterious Turkish Van cat, with two different colored eyes, while exploring a town? You’d take its photo, right? That’s what I did. And then, as a result, I got drawn into something totally unexpected. Here’s the story… Where: Seljuk, Turkey I was wandering around Seljuk–recuperating after a…
When I first spotted him in the Aleppo Souq (market) in Syria, I thought–he looks like a body builder. An Arnold Schwarzenegger lookalike, perhaps, but not exactly. See, he was built. Really built. And I’d never seen anyone quite like that in the Middle East. And I was taken aback by it. I Tried Not…
I haven’t been feeling well lately, and it’s not just because I’m back in New Jersey’s crappy cold weather after enjoying wonderful 80-degree weather in the Dominican Republic. There’s something far more serious going on with me. See, while I was away, I became addicted to the DR’s truly perfect papaya milkshakes, known as “batida…
Ever wonder what it would be like to experience time travel? I did it this summer and would now like to share with you my secret–my number one tip, in fact. Visit Ecuador and go window shopping. That’s it. See, in cities like Quito and Cuenca (and even some small towns), a unique time travel…
I don’t know about you, but when I read one of my trusty indie travel guides (Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Let’s Go, etc.), I sometimes chuckle. Why? Well, I’ve been using them so long now that I usually know what they’re really saying—regardless of how much they try to dance around or soften things (not…
I admire people who know how to camp and actually love it. I really do. They’re not unlike those whose VCRs and coffee pots never flash 12:00. How do they do it? What is their secret? Obviously, I’m a bit challenged in both these areas–especially camping. And it’s a shame because I truly love nature….
If “idle hands are the work of the devil,” then it looks like evil cyber spam spawn (ECSS) are being born by the second. At least they’re hoping to be. That’s right. In a parallel universe—where there’s no red or blue pill but rather, a list of 1000 crappy mail-order generics—super lame (and some evil)…
