And a Lonely Stranger Has Spoke to Me Ever Since
When I saw the old man waiting by the pond with his camera my heart fractured a little along the fault lines, already weak, still vulnerable. He was counting on …
The Scariest Moment is Always Just Before You Start
When I was young I would pore over National Geographic magazines and dream of adventures like this — train hopping through the Sahara Desert on one of the world’s longest trains. I …
The Expert’s Guide to Surviving Long Haul Flights
Whoever said “It’s not about the destination. It’s the journey” never flew on a long haul flight. Those flights can be painful, tiresome, jet-lagging, and not to mention absolutely boring …
Adjusting to Your Home is no Different than a New Country
I’ve been home from China for nearly three weeks now. While it hasn’t hit me that I’m not going back to China any time soon yet, there’s one thing that …
No Fixed Abode: Quitting Home Ownership
A little over a year ago, I quit my job, sold my home and gave away 99% of my possessions so that I could travel the world. It was the …
The Day I Lost My Child in Charles de Gaulle Airport
I heard the timid voice from the seat behind me, followed by a flight attendant handing over a miniature can of Coke. The accent was almost perfect, the delivery immediate …
Slice of Tokyo: How Japan Became a Pizza Hotspot
Tokyo is home to some 6,000 Italian restaurants — and a growing community of chefs crafting some of the finest pizza in the world. Tsubasa Tamaki didn’t dream of pizza. …
How to Find Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb, and Anywhere Else
In recent months there’s been a number of alarming reports of Airbnb hosts installing hidden cameras in their properties but not disclosing them to the guests staying there. Back in …
How to Navigate Travel Experiences While Sober
When I was drinking, I would use alcohol as a way to ease almost every aspect of travel. It was the perfect salve for homesickness, culture shock, and the discomfort that …
The Vacation I Became a Parent to My Father
In Hawaii, I walked around in white pedal pushers, carrying a large, white straw purse, (even larger than my mom’s) thinking that all the boys would surely notice me. Well, …