One of my favorite parts of Rolf’s book “Vagabonding” is where he talks about improvising what form of transport to take. He says it’s one of the best ways to get into adventures, and I agree.

Travel website VirtualTourist.com has compiled a list of the Top 10 Wild Rides for Travelers. I have a personal fondess of ferry boats (not very daring, I know). I’ve ridden on them in Hong Kong and Bangkok, and they … Read more »

Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” is a book that many travelers and nature lovers hold close to their hearts.  This makes it disheartening to read a recent Scientific American blog post about how recent studies show that many species in Walden Pond are facing local extinction.

“Despite the fact that ~60% of all natural areas in Concord are undeveloped or have remained well protected, a striking number of … Read more »

One of our favorite Kiwi families has hit the road! Eight children, two parents, and one grandpa are almost a month into their round-the-world trip, scheduled to last for several years.

We first met them in May 2007 when they were preparing for their journey. After a couple of updates during the past year and a half, they are on the road!

From assembling a massive first aid kit … Read more »

Do you remember what travel was like before the internet? Me either. I have some fuzzy memories of a time before discount airfare searches, hotel finders, route planners, Lonely Planet forums and Bootsnall guides, but I try to block out the dark days.

Of course while all that stuff is incredibly handy, I find the best effect the … Read more »

For those wanting a way to share their travel experiences or get back on the road (or to earn a little extra money), I’ve seen a few competitions recently that might interest you. Check them out:

Road Junky 2008 Gonzo Travel Writing Contest—Hell Trips To apply: Submit a story about one of your own true-life hell trips—described in the contest guidelines as “your worst journeys, your near-death experiences, when you were robbed, beaten up, … Read more »

One of the most sought after exploration routes in history, the fabled Northwest Passage, may soon be open to both explorers and vagabonds alike. Of course Roald Amundsen “found” the northwest passage way back in 1903, but the ice pack surrounding the North Pole has traditionally meant that it was navigable for only, at most, a few months … Read more »

Most online activity amongst traveling youth is restricted to the US or Europe. It is not common to find vagabonding adventurers 1) who are Indian, 2) in India, 3) Indians in India. So when I found a really cool initiative born in India that involves traveling and making a difference, I was excited and had to share it.

The first thing you see in their promotional video is Che Guevara’s famous quote: “Let the … Read more »

Professional musicians (and itinerant buskers) who hit the road are finding it increasingly difficult to get their sometimes priceless instruments onto airplanes.  After September 11 and the lockdown on airport “security”, where going to the airport means waiting in interminable lines only to discover that you have to remove your shoes, get rid of your toothpaste, and hand over your dignity, TSA officials are now deeming musical instruments a potential hazard to airport security.

It … Read more »

“Vagabonding is not like bulk shopping: The value of your travels does not hinge on how many stamps you have in your passport when you get home — and the slow, nuanced experience of a single country is always better than the hurried, superficial experience of forty countries.” –Rolf Potts, Vagabonding (2003)