During my recent trip to Colombia, I had more than a few of those “Am I ‘getting old’?” moments. Or perhaps I should say ‘older’. (‘Old’ on its own has a different connotation, I think.) Now, in retrospect, I see that some of these moment were sort of funny and that many have something to…
Why is this woman, a gypsy traveling by ferry (somewhere between Eminonu and Sariyer), smiling with a peanut in between her teeth? And how about that expression on her face–what was she thinking/feeling? And how the heck did I, a nonsmoker, end up smoking a couple of cigs with her–and yeah, eating some of her…
First-time solo travel can be challenging. Choosing a destination…planning the trip…figuring out a budget…and staying safe once you’re there. But if you do it right, it’s enjoyable–and incredibly rewarding–which is why so many travelers, myself included, travel on their own. If you’re new to this type of travel, there’s a book I recommend that could…
It’s morning and I’m sitting on the porch, sipping my coffee and eating bakwan (fried vegetables). The birds are chirping and the roosters are still crowing. And Eti, the friend/teacher I’m staying with, is in her PJs, off-white with small teddy bears, and sweeping the porch and the yard with a handmade broom. Her hair…
I’m drawn to a place for many reasons. Sometimes I see a photo and think—yes, I must see that in person. Other times, opportunities come my way and things just sort of fall into place. Or, quite simply, I get a feeling about a destination—a tingle of sorts—and I know I just have to go…
Was it the Che Guevara-style berét that got my attention first–or the motorcycle? Perhaps it was the combination. All I know is that when I first saw Tsuyoshi Yoshihara, I thought of the Motorcycle Diaries film. And I wondered to myself: Is that Che Guevara’s Japanese reincarnation? The resemblance was that uncanny. When I spotted…
This wild horse, whose photo I took in Cappadocia, Turkey, caught my eye not just because of its beauty, but because of the sense of freedom it conveyed as it galloped among the surreal fairy chimneys of Goreme. The weather was perfect that day–and I felt happy to be traveling solo–and so, when I saw…
Last summer, when I traveled to the Middle East, I was not in the best frame of mind. After several stressful months, I seriously needed to relax—and to let go of some things that were bothering me. I hoped that traveling would help in some way. Sure enough, it did. And it was the Dead…
I have some exciting news that I’m thrilled to finally be sharing with you. I recently finished writing my travel memoirs—a collection of stories about my journeys on 5 continents around the world over the past 11 years! What It’s About The book is about my trips off the beaten path and in the moment,…
In a matter of minutes, I went from having a large/lovely beach pretty much to myself to having lunch with a leftover hippy/beach dweller/Rasta-like guy and then, briefly, being part of a quirky party he was having under his private lean-to. How the heck did this happen? Well, Random Travel Moment #2 was no different…
