 |
Whether you’re an historian, literary enthusiast, or beach-seeking vacationer, Greece seems to seduce many people. The country is a long sought after destination for many travelers, including the traveling epicurean.
Here are some sensations from the Mediterranean palate that are not to be missed if you find yourself traveling in the area.
Ouzo: This anise flavored … Read more »
“Walking is a way of remaining in place, or in a place, of leaving oneself to return to oneself, of upping the odds that surprise might flow through. Of giving one’s eyes something to do, so that the world might be heard.” –Peter Cole, “Jerusalem,” Poetry, November 2009
There are far more entertaining and sexy subjects when it comes to long-term travel than what it takes to stay healthy on the road, but there are also few things that can screw up a RTW trip more than getting sick when you’re far away from home. This isn’t to say that there isn’t going to be adequate medical care wherever you happen to be – you might find nice doctors and top-notch facilities. But … Read more »
Travelers with a preference for environmentally sustainable practices don’t have a wealth of resources when on the road. As with travel in general, it’s often necessary to carve together information from a variety of sources—from books and magazines to online resources to word of mouth. Sometimes it’s like a treasure hunt to find the ideal place, and sometimes it’s just plain tedious.
The Read more »
“Privacy” is a novel concept in Asia, where questions about salary, marital status, and race aren’t taboo. Novelist Vanessa Hua faced this sort of casual interrogation on a taxi ride in China: The fare to Yangshuo. Although she’s ethnically Chinese, she still felt out of place in China.
This piece resonated for me on several levels. It’s surprising how visiting the “motherland” can be a big culture shock for second-generation immigrants. … Read more »
Ko Phangan, Thailand
Seldom is there just one reason why a person travels, a point Colin Thubron eloquently makes in the opening pages of his Shadow of the Silk Road:
It’s not a likely scenario, but it is one that provides food for thought of our dependance on these hydrocarbon-burning aluminum tubes that we pack ourselves into like sardines to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, placing our faith in well-maintained aircraft, pilot training, physics, and luck.
The eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland a few weeks ago shut down many … Read more »
Western manners don’t teach us how to respond to non-Western hospitality.
I’m talking about generosity that’s over-and-above what we’re used to. The sort of generosity where saying please or thank you is shunned as unnecessary, or even taken as slightly offensive.
India is famous for its hospitality, and lately I’ve been feeling confused about how to respond to the one-sidedness of things: Meals that never end, being constantly … Read more »
After two months of living in Asia, I’m finally starting to feel settled. My mind is no longer preoccupied with the endless details of moving to another country, and I can finally get down to business and start asking the important questions. Is there a doctor’s office close to where I live or work? What is the system … Read more »
Last summer, when Marco Polo Didn’t Go There was making its debut in Italian translation, the Italian version of Glamour magazine asked me to offer readers 10 tips for improving their travels. Mixing advice straight from the pages of Vagabonding with some more recent sentiments, this is what I told them:
1. Go slow Remember to keep your travels at a slow, enjoyable pace. … Read more »