A few years ago, after finishing a journey in the Indian Himalayas, I traveled to the desert state of Rajasthan and visited the Hindu holy-town of Pushkar. A scenic outpost of 13,000 residents, Pushkar was famous for its Brahma Temple, its serene lake, and its annual Camel Fair. Several travelers had recommended it to me...

Many people head to southern Thailand for beaches, islands, and the relaxed vibe of coastal life. Ao Nang is a bit more relaxed than larger cities like Phuket but still has a vibrant tourist draw and is an easy jumping-off point for many activities like rock climbing, island tours, beach lounging, hiking, and diving. Cost...

Always travel with snacks. Eat local. Taste the street food. Try the cuisine specific to this culture. Have you ever had something so delicious? These are all things travelers hear when heading to a new destination. But for me, some places are harder while others make my taste buds soar with delight. I’ve been a...

One afternoon late last year, I went out for lunch at a restaurant not far from the south Thailand guesthouse where I’d been staying. My landlady ran the place, and on this day she seemed particularly pleased to see me. “We have new English menu!” she exclaimed, presenting me with a glossy list of entrees....

Columbian Arepas first tasted at The Vic-recreated in Long Beach, New York! At the age of twelve, I visited my friend Jill’s house and tasted what I still believe to be the best barbecue sauce around. Her dad’s friend Steve brought it with him on a visit from Toronto, Canada and I have never found...

This summer I’ll be spending several weeks helping to guide travelers through Europe’s best sights. A dream job to be sure, but the stakes are high; the task of introducing people to the richness of Europe can be a heavy burden. Being in charge of a group’s travel safety and general exposure to the rich...

Image credit I have a confession to make: I’m falling in love with Anthony Bourdain. After twelve years without a television to share my life with I discovered his shows when we were wandering in New Zealand. The food. The locations. His sass. I was smitten. Then, I began to read, you know he’s a...

In the final entry in my series of posts on the subtle but interesting variations in how European cultures celebrate Christmas, I take a look at one of the finest places to spend the holiday season, England. It’s not just a beautiful country with a joyous approach to the holiday; it’s also the spot where...

Growing up in the Midwest, my Thanksgiving was the traditional spread of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, devoured at a relative’s home in suburban Chicago. But I grew up to be an inveterate traveler and spent the holiday in many places—one of the best was the historic, colorful Belgian city of Bruges. Several years ago...

For this week I would like to stay away from my usual “reflective topics” and investigate something much simpler: food. I started thinking of travel and food as I stumbled upon this article on Asia’s 10 greatest street food cities . As I am currently in Bulgaria and have seen many countries and sampled much...

One of the great things about travel is how even ordinary errands can become cultural adventures. For example, the simple act of going grocery shopping. Ben Groundwater, who writes "The Backpacker" column for The Sydney Morning Herald , waxed poetic in this article: Culture shop: the joy of supermarkets . Groundwater recounts his memories of...

"An American asked why he calls the brothers of his parents and the husbands of his parents' sisters by the same kinship term, is likely to reply, 'Because they are all uncles,' or he may ask, 'What else could you call them?' Were he asked why he doesn't eat fruit salad or ice cream and...

Asia is full of dedicated foodies, both locals and expats. Debating dishes between countries and even between cities in the same country qualifies as a national sport. The foodie discussion forum Chowhound.com has a great thread on an impossible question: Best cities in Asia to visit for chowing? Although it's a year-old, replies are still...

A few topics that people get heated about: politics, religion, and sport. I'd add food to that list. The New York Times discussed this in an article titled The Chocolate Wars . It's about Kraft's attempt to mount a takeover of Cadbury. The mayor of London had this colorful comment: “We face an appalling choice...

Indigenous food directly connects you to a place--the place literally assimilates into your body--but it also works the other way around. When you're home, food can bring you places by bringing those places into you. The standard Western supermarket has a wall of imported chocolate offering escape. Goya (and competitors) often claim half an aisle,...

Eating cheaply on the road involves doing pretty much the same thing as eating cheaply at home: don't eat in restaurants, cook for yourself, make rich friends who take you out to dinner. But eating healthily, according to your personal iteration of healthy, can be harder. Unfortunately for vegans, celiacs, and other people with highly...