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The first and only time I’ve had to shit in a cup was at the CIWEC clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was nearly ten years ago and, as a newbie traveler, I didn’t yet have experience with dysentery—the awfulness of things exploding, simultaneously, out of nearly every orifice. When the friendly doctor asked me to “provide a stool sample,” something clicked in my mind. Of course. That’s how they diagnose these illnesses: they need to … Read more »
It’s a fact that travel dreams begin to intensify when summer is around the corner. For me and most other inveterate travelers I know, every fiber is starting to vibrate with an anxious need to hatch a plan pack a bag, and head off to far-flung places. The passport sings to us, asking to be paroled out of the drawer it’s been kept in for months. … Read more »
Hitchiking, working our way around the world or couchsurfing are all good ways to save some money on the road, but being able to travel without spending anything has always seemed impossible to me. As Anna recently posted, we may get free flights with credit cards’ air miles; however, as far as I know, travelling without spending a single cent is a dream. And believe me, I am one who really … Read more »
As independent travelers we discuss the best light weight gear or how to save pennies. But what about something that weights nothing and can’t be bought: common sense.
Like, pavement is more slippery when wet.
Rolling down the highway earlier today, I recalled a lesson my Grandfather taught my mother. “Drive five miles slower when it’s raining.” The charcoal sky began to pour and within moments even my windshield wipers–on high–did no good. Vehicles on … Read more »
Booking three weeks of European travel (on a budget) is a daunting task. One could spend an eternity burning the midnight oil on hostel aggregators, in a desperate search for half decent dorm bedrooms that (according to my recent searches) can run you 50-60 euro a night. 60 euro for a dorm bed? Not on this budget!
And … Read more »
There was an interesting discussion on a cycling forum I visit from time to time. A man responded to a blog post I had written about cycling to the ends of the world with my children. “I just don’t see how subjecting kids to this odyssey of self-discovery or whatever it was could possibly benefit them in the long run,” he wrote. “That’s just irresponsible.”
He went on to say, “I … Read more »
When it comes to the vagabonding life, you’re quite literally going on the path not taken by most people. As we get older, sometimes the itch to answer the question “what if?” becomes more urgent.
Although not strictly related to travel, this GQ magazine article got me thinking: Eric Puchner finds the cooler version of himself.
On the surface, it seems like an impossible mission. Puchner surveyed … Read more »
“Professor James Petrick of Texas A&M, who focuses on psychology and marketing and their application to tourism, has studied when tourists return to destinations or hotels they’ve visited before. Like many in the field, he believes meeting expectations is a key factor. The take-away for travelers: don’t idealize the places you’re visiting and you’ll be much happier in the end. In an interview, Professor Petrick said that one way we can do that is to … Read more »
“Wait – you’re moving where?”
CP: “South Dakota”
“Why would you ever move there?”
CP: “Well…”
Cost/day: ~$30/day (food / gas / fun)
What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?
When I turned off the Interstate and into Rapid City, I saw (and promptly ignored) a speed limit sign stating 25 mph. Seconds later, I was braking to avoid rear-ending a Chevy truck. Just as I was about to move into the other lane, I … Read more »
Once upon a time in Okinawa people were so healthy and happy that many of them lived more than one hundred years. The legend says it was because of their special diet, the very active lifestyle (Okinawa is the motherland of Karate) and the strong sense of community that keep everyone together. Still today Okinawa enjoys not only the highest life expectancy but the world’s longest … Read more »