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Flower seller in Durban Square, Kathmandu Why do I spend irresponsibly on travel when I’m so responsible in every other facet of my life? One week only sale to Nepal? Book it! Last minute 14-day cruise for $499? I’m there! Go camping for two months straight? Sure! Why do I love getting lost in travel … Continue reading
A few months ago, I wrote a post about what Star Trek has taught me about travel. It remains one of my favorite posts to date. I love the way the crew of the Enterprise sought to interact with the indigenous population (especially when they were either green or furry), without leaving a trace, taking … Continue reading
I don’t know where I got the bargaining gene from. Certainly not from my middle-class suburban Virginia upbringing. Maybe it stems from being ultra-competitive in almost anything I do and just hating to lose. Either way, it’s served me well in my travels abroad and specifically the past 11 years in SE Asia, first in … 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
fly, Icarus, fly 