fly, Icarus, fly

For the last 10 years, I’ve been in the strange position of ushering in the new year not once, not twice but three times a year. That’s a lot of resolutions, people. There’s International New Year on January 1, followed by the Chinese / Vietnamese Lunar New Year that’s usually somewhere between the end of … Continue reading →

You can also read this article on Voice of Vietnam, your one-stop source of information on Vietnam. I just have that kind of face. I’ve been blessed (or is it cursed?) with a face that is home in any Asian country. After a recent trip to Thailand, the taxi driver who picked me up asked … Continue reading →

I have Travel OCD. There, I said it. Acceptance is the first step toward healing, people. It doesn’t help that I have the Myers-Briggs personality known as ENTJ, aka The Field Marshal. But Field Marshal? Really? Doesn’t sound all that great considering that the other personality types have names that make you feel all warm … Continue reading →

This wasn’t at all the plan. I was supposed to have quit work last September, travel around the world and land in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, living off of savings for another blissful 6 months… But sometimes life takes a detour. So it was that I found myself on a short contract in Bangkok. … Continue reading →

It’s the year 2555. People travel high above the ground. The human form has evolved from two distinct sexes into one seamless hodgepodge of androgyny. People no longer cook. You simply imagine what you want to eat and it is instantly available. Yes, I’ve been to the future, people, and it ain’t pretty. Of course, … Continue reading →

“When they find a frozen caveman in their backyard, two high school outcasts thaw him out and introduce him to modern day life while he in turn, gets them to actually enjoy life.” You know you know what movie that is. Of course, it’s the 1992 Pauly Shore insta-classic, Encino Man. And I’m sure you’ve … Continue reading →

(Scene: Holding a candle, dramatically lighting up only my face while dressed all in black…) “My name is James… and I’m a spoiled brat”. (all together:) “Hi, James!” Sigh. Just coming off a two week transatlantic cruise and heading off to Hawaii next week, I could barely muster up enthusiasm for this 7-day hassle-free family … Continue reading →

Remember the end of the 1985 movie Cocoon when all the rejuvenated elderly folks went with the aliens to their world where people never get ill, age or die? Well, they’re back with a vengeance and I think I know where – Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship, The Navigator of the Seas. It all started with … Continue reading →

Long distance runners and cyclists sometimes talk about “hitting the wall”, a sudden onset of extreme fatigue, sometimes accompanied by confusion and the desire to simply stop, sit and not move. This usually happens towards the end of a marathon when glycogen stores simply run out. There’s usually not much to do about it except … Continue reading →

Every major city that plays hosts to tourists typically has some version of a tourist card, usually a combination transportation + admissions to some of the most popular attractions + discounts to other attractions / activities / restaurants. Google and you’ll find online forums debating the value of these cards (some may have intangible benefits … Continue reading →

Prague has always been on my bucket list of great cities to visit. Not that I actually knew anything about Prague, mind you, but in my head were visions of Old World castles peeking out from the fog along the Vltava River. Right or wrong, I had made a mental czechlist that included castles, stunning … Continue reading →

It was bound to happen. With 21 flights in the space of a few weeks, the inevitable… “They”… lost my luggage. You know the feeling. You’re waiting at the luggage carousel, seeing everyone gleefully leaving with their luggage, piled high. “I’m SURE it’s coming”, you say to yourself. “It’ll be in the next batch”. But … Continue reading →

Dear Istanbul, I know we’ve only known each other for a few days, but in that short amount of time, I’ve really grown to love you. I love how I never know what to expect from you. Are you Asian or European? (Or both because you’re the only metropolis in the world to straddle both … Continue reading →

After the unbeatable highlight that was Petra, it was hard to find motivation for more exploring around Amman, the ancient capital of the Biblical Ammonites. However, I present you Amman for the Senses. Sights: The first thing I noticed is that Amman is really hilly. The panorama of houses is an undulating one. The well-preserved … Continue reading →

Described as “a red-rose city, half as old as time”, it seems like it’s been forever that I’ve wanted to visit Petra. I mean, an entire city, carved out of sandstone cliffs accessible only after walking through a 2km canyon? Built in the 6th century BC and flourishing with a population of about 20,000 Nabateans … Continue reading →

Jordan made it onto my bucket list solely based on mystical Petra, an entire city carved in stone. So it was that I found myself in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about Jordan and really hadn’t done very much planning for this leg, other than downloading some possible side trips … Continue reading →

Who hasn’t dreamed of lazing around on a Greek island somewhere, small yacht anchored in a picturesque bay, a place to see and be seen amidst crystalline green waters, whitewashed houses gleaming against a cloudless blue sky? That’s just how I roll, right? Well, this trip, that exact scenario wasn’t to be. The closest I … Continue reading →

I finally landed in Athens, after 19 hours of flying. That is actual FLYING time, people! Luckily, I am surprisingly good at doing nothing which is why I really don’t mind air travel all that much (and secretly, I DO like airplane food!). The older couple next to me kept asking if I wanted to … Continue reading →

There’s something about taking an old-fashioned train ride. The clickety-clack of wheels against rails, the windy nature of the train snaking through the landscape all viewed from huge panoramic windows, the nostalgic feel of the whistle stops along the way… So it was that I found myself booked on the TranzAlpine, rated one of the … Continue reading →

My collective knowledge of B&Bs (see how fast I’ve picked up the lingo?) has admittedly been gained solely from television shows and the odd tourist brochure. In my mind, people who stay at B&Bs should expect lots of doilies, hearts, crocheted items of all types, wooden ducks and possibly mandatory post-dinner Scrabble and/or Yahtzee games … Continue reading →

Nelson, a quaint town towards the top of the South Island, is dubbed New Zealand’s sunshine capital. This was good news because Nelson is also the base for exploring Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand’s smallest, at 23,000 hectares, but most visited park. After the adrenaline of the dolphin swim, I was ready to take … Continue reading →

I might have an IQ of 142, but my name is James and I am spatially challenged. There, I said it. Every intelligence test I’ve ever taken where I needed to predict how a piece of paper would look after it’s been folded, I’ve basically guessed at. Now, give me a map and an address, … Continue reading →

When I told a friend about my upcoming trip around the world, lamenting how much it was going to cost (answer: about the cost of a small car), he replied: “Just think of all the gadgets you could buy with that!” This coming from a man whose living room might as well have been sponsored … Continue reading →

I’m officially unemployed. Wow. It feels weird to say that out loud. I know we all consciously resist the idea of letting what we do define who we are, but is that really possible when it’s always the 2nd or 3rd question that people ask you? Wonder how I’ll answer that inevitable question now when … Continue reading →

I’m always intrigued by finding out how things are made. And because labor is so cheap in SE Asia, an incredible array of things are made by hand that you would never expect. For instance, ever wonder where feather dusters are born? Well, I found out one morning when I came across a tiny old … Continue reading →

It’ll soon be my 10th anniversary of living in Asia and more specifically in Cambodia. Being ethnically Vietnamese, a lot of things have come really easy. Looking Asian: My Western friends get stared at anytime they do something interesting. Like riding a bicycle. Or walking along the road. Or breathing. It’s nice to kind of … Continue reading →

Now that I know I’ll be leaving Cambodia at the end of the year, I have a sudden urge to visit all the places that I was too busy traveling outside of Cambodia to actually visit. This weekend, I hit Kep, a sleepy coastal town, with some friends for a fun-filled mahjong weekend. Bus tickets … Continue reading →

When asked why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, mountaineer George Mallory famously said, “Because it’s there”. Well, I was here in Napal, tantalizingly close to Everest, so how could I not go see it,  right? That’s how I found myself on an early morning mountain flight, on board a tiny 12-seater plane for the … Continue reading →

After lunch, it was off to Nagarkot, my poor, workhorse of a taxi wheezing its way around vertigo-inducing turns up to the top of the ridge, passing green-brown terraced rice fields and low lying houses. Apparently, winter is the best time to see the mountains, so as it was spring, I could barely make out … Continue reading →

After two days in bustling, crowded Kathmandu, I headed for the mountains. Almost all the tours I could find online were trekking tours. I’m all for getting amazing photographs, but come on, let’s get real. Respect the fatness… So embracing the spirit (if not the actual exercise) of adventure, I hired a car and driver … Continue reading →

My second day in Kathmandu takes me to one of its most iconic sites – Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, a short taxi ride from the tourist neighborhood of Thamel. This was the Kathmandu of my dreams. The temple is accessible via 365 steps where the faithful come to spin prayer wheels and … Continue reading →

I just had a genius idea. I tend to have those every now and then. But I really can’t take credit for this one. It just kind of happened. About a year and a half ago, I was planning a Cairo to Capetown overland trip and was desperately trying to get a decent fare from … Continue reading →

After going to Africa for two successive years, I decided to winter closer to home. My mother and sister came to Phnom Penh for a few days before all of us headed to Bali, Indonesia for a week of sun and surf. My sister had a timeshare of a gorgeous small villa with private pool … Continue reading →

Another long driving day takes us across the border into South Africa. Immediately, the difference is tangible. The roads are all paved and the landscape begins to get a little more verdant. Supermarkets are modern and shops selling cappuccino are welcomely plentiful. Food in South Africa is great as well, about 20-30% cheaper than in … Continue reading →

A good day’s journey through the Tropic of Capricorn, past tons of ostriches, some zebra and oryx, takes us on our way south to the inexorable end of the trip. The landscape changes from chalky white to sparse yellow grasses. Strange, unexplainable perfect circles of sand amidst the brush (known as ‘fairy circles’) dot the … Continue reading →

A seven hour drive takes us to Brandberg, the site of famous bushmen rock paintings dating back between two and five thousand years. Today’s lecture is on landscape photography, appropriate as we move into the ever-changing desert landscapes that Namibia has to offer. The scenery has changed dramatically, from the greenery of Etosha to much … Continue reading →

We drive four hours to the north, along the northwest border of Etosha National Park, passing giraffe, zebra and warthog. We arrive at the small town of Opuwo, where we pick up some supplies to give to the chief of the Himba village we will be visiting. There are a few Himba women in the … Continue reading →

A short morning’s drive takes us in Namibia (free visa), with a stop at a local clinic to pick up some malaria medication for Ebron. We camp at Ngepi, a quirky, beautiful campsite along the panhandle of the Okavango. It’s strangely known for its unique toilets and showers, each with a different theme and catchy … Continue reading →

An incessant drizzle during the early dawn hours forces us into the truck for a quick breakfast before making our way on across a ferry over the Zambezi and over the border to Botswana (free visa). All of Botswana’s animals roam free, with no fences anywhere. Two minutes after pulling into the town of Kasane, … Continue reading →

We spend the better part of a week in Victoria Falls, where the first tour ends and the second half begins. The Zambezi Waterfront is a lovely campsite / hotel with two small swimming pools and a bar overlooking the mighty Zambezi River, the rising mist from Victoria Falls (locally called Mosi Oa Tunya, ‘The … Continue reading →

With little fanfare, we cross the border into Zambia (and another USD 50 visa). Days of inactivity have rendered us largely lethargic, and we wearily listen to George’s valiant attempt at a workshop on fill-in flash and color temperatures. We drive by red brick huts with thatched roofs leading to the Wildlife Camp, just outside … Continue reading →

We spend parts of the next three days driving through the Tanzanian countryside on our way to Malawi. Vendors dash after every slowing bus, eager to sell fruit, cashews and other snacks to bored passengers. The cheery sound of children calling and waving to the truck never gets old. We spend the night at the … Continue reading →

We wearily rub sleep from our eyes as we set off in the dark at 5 am, having both breakfast and lunch on the road. Breakfast is a quick, uncomplicated affair, but the view of snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro energizes even the most lethargic of us. As we travel further south, the Islamic culture becomes more … Continue reading →

A day’s driving takes us through the rolling green hills from Kenya to Tanzania. Interestingly, the visa was USD 100 for Americans, USD 50 for everyone else — unfortunately something I’d get used to hearing throughout the trip (I guess it has to do with the US charging visitors expensive visa fees, so in the … Continue reading →

After months and months of planning and researching a dizzying array of overland companies, it’s finally here. My two month sojourn from Nairobi to Cape Town with Africa in Focus, a small, middle-end overlanding company focusing on photographic safaris. After 10 days on my own in magical Egypt, I join my sister in Nairobi and … Continue reading →

A 3 week South African safari last year only whetted my appetite for more of this incredible continent. I had booked a two month Nairobi to Cape Town overlanding safari but now was faced with the dilemma of getting to Nairobi. I had an award ticket as far as Johannesburg, and a one-way flight to … Continue reading →