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My Interview On Voyagner
2009-08-30 13:45:00
Dan over at Voyagner recently interviewed me regarding my trip around the world.  In it, I talk about a few of my favorite countries, the most entertaining dare I received, why Colombia appealed to me, and a few ways in which my views on life and work have changed as a result of traveling for ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Interview – An American Expat In Costa RicaNow Available: Free Dare Me! eBookInterview With Travel Writer Thomas Kohnstamm

My Travel Wishlist
2009-08-30 00:48:00
Here are a  few travel experiences I hope to accomplish in my lifetime: Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro Travel overland through eastern Africa (Victoria Falls to Nairobi) Take the Trans-Siberian Railway Take the world’s highest train from China to Lhasa, Tibet Take the 2-day, mountain bus ride from McLeod Ganj to Leh, India Bicycle down Corocio, the “world’s most dangerous” road, in Bolivia Handglide ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Friday Flashback – Flying Past Mt. Everest10 of My Favorite Posts (from the Archives)Friday Flashback – Making Friends Through Meditation
More About: Wishlist , My Travel

Travel Video of the Week ? Panda Bear Cubs At Play
2009-08-29 08:59:00
This week, I delved into some of the 750+ video clips from my travels. Most of them are destined for a folder I’ll never open again, but who doesn’t love cute, cuddly panda bear cubs hanging around in trees? Here’s the link to read more about my visit to the Giant Panda Research Base near ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Now Available: Free Dare Me! eBookVideo of the Week – Skytrain to LhasaVideo of the Week – Caye Caulker, Conservation Paradise in Belize
More About: Travel , Play

Friday Flashback ? Paragliding In Pokhara
2009-08-28 12:54:00
Himalayan eagles soared around us as we caught the thermals up and made swooping turns to the left and right going down. It took a few minutes to feel comfortable in the seated position, with nothing below you but the terraced farmland. At least with skydiving you know you?re going straight down. Paragliding is all ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Friday Flashback – Trek Preparations In PokharaFriday Flashback – The Bus From Kathmandu To PokharaFriday Flashback – Day 1 of Trekking In Nepal

30 Words ? A New Approach To Language Guides
2009-08-26 13:04:00
While I was making my way through Southeast Asia last September, Andrew and Erin Kitchell were busy developing 30 Words , a new series of language guides they believe the marketplace lacked and travelers would actually use.  Erin offered to send me a few copies of the South and Central American Spanish, and European Spanish guides ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Stuff I Am Not PlanningTravelgrove – Compare Deals and SaveCreative Travel Blog Advertising with MOO.com
More About: Guides , Language

Travel Talk With Jerry Haines
2009-08-25 12:58:00
Arlington?s Clarendon Center was ground zero for Travel Writing ? A One-day Short Course available through the county?s Adult Education program. Our teacher was Jerry Haines, a former lawyer and college journalism teacher turned Washington Post columnist. The class was made up of 7 women and 3 men, ranging in age from early twenties to ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:So You Want to Be a Travel WriterTravel Talk At The Grey Dog’s CafeInterview With Travel Writer Thomas Kohnstamm

6 Reasons I Appreciate Being Home
2009-08-24 08:54:00
As much as I love to be on the road, coming home is nice too.  After all, you know you’ve changed as a person from your experiences abroad, but you will never truly see or feel that difference until you insert yourself back into the same environments and situations you frequented before leaving.  It’s like ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Making My Way Back Home Friday Flashback – Making Friends Through MeditationHow To Survive Reverse Culture Shock
More About: Reasons

Update: The Colombia Trip
2009-08-23 18:57:00
As I shared last Thursday in Would You Accept a Free Trip to Colombia , I was asked to head down there next month for 2 weeks to see the best the country has to offer and blog about my experiences.  I was 99% sure everything was in order, however I learned how important it is ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Would You Accept A Free Trip To Colombia?Win A Free Trip To Colombia – Entries Due Sept 21Update From Medellin

New Media & Youth Action Conference
2009-08-23 08:12:00
Sosauce is presenting a free all-day community youth forum on progressive issues such as health, environment, global & local development and cultural diplomacy.  They will be providing an open platform for young people to learn about how to use sites such as Sosauce.com with social entrepreneurship to create effective change. The event will be held on ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Travel Talk At The Grey Dog’s CafeSosauce / Matador BBQ In BrooklynIntroducing Sosauce Travel
More About: Media , Action , Youth , New Media , Conference

Video of the Week ? 8 Wishes & 10,000 Miles
2009-08-22 08:47:00
I have great admiration for people willing to travel long distances by bicycle.  I learned about Paul’s 10,000 mile journey around the United States in 2007 via Twitter (hey, it really IS useful!).  His was a charity ride to raise money for children with dyslexia and learning differences.  If you enjoy it, be sure to ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Video of the Week – Bizarre FoodsVideo of the Week – Trekking in NepalNow Available: Free Dare Me! eBook
More About: Miles , Wishes

Friday Flashback ? Lessons Learned From My First Trek
2009-08-22 00:26:00
Considering a trek in Nepal? Then you’ll want to read Final Thoughts – Annapurna Sanctuary Trek , which  is a post I put together to wrap up my whole 10-day trekking experience in Nepal.  The lessons learned section is what I wish I’d read beforehand.  And not in a book, but from a regular guy like myself ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Friday Flashback – Trek Preparations In PokharaFriday Flashback – The Bus From Kathmandu To PokharaFriday Flashback – Trekking Troubles In Sinuwa
More About: Lessons , Learned

Thai Delivery, Mexican, & Kampuchea
2009-08-21 20:27:00
One of the many reasons I would love to live in NYC is the wildly diverse food scene.  In just a few days, within a few blocks of my brother’s apartment in the East Village, there were a zillion options. First off, classic American hot dogs.  Next, the Japanese noodles on St. Mark’s Place.  And then ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Thai Cookery SchoolFine Dining Around The WorldDare #15 – Completed – Mastering The Art Of Muay Thai Boxing
More About: Food , Mexican

Would You Accept A Free Trip To Colombia?
2009-08-20 06:30:00
I’m not going to get all sentimental on you, at least not for long. By now you know how I feel about Colombia , and Medellin in particular.  Since arriving back in Virginia four weeks ago, I can’t help but compare everything here to what I left behind – the climate, the geography, the people, the ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Update: The Colombia Trip Win A Free Trip To Colombia – Entries Due Sept 21Would You Accept A Sponsored Trip Around The World?

Tibetan Pendants, Japanese Noodles, French Vodka, And Mini-Burgers
2009-08-20 02:27:00
I met my friend Kai at the corner of St Mark’s Place and something.  This neighborhood in the East Village use to be a lot edgier – the domain of punks and the down and out.  But that was then, and now there are just a few shops and people left to reflect that old ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Thai Delivery, Mexican, & KampucheaTravel Talk At The Grey Dog’s CafeNevada Smith’s – New York City Soccer Bar
More About: Food , French , Japanese , Mini , Noodles

Travel Talk At The Grey Dog?s Cafe
2009-08-19 08:33:00
I met up with Sean and Alisha from Sosauce the afternoon following the networking barbecue in Brooklyn.  The Grey Dog’s Cafe in the West Village looked vaguely familiar, and I became certain it was one of the many places my friend Kai had taken me on NYC trips past. It was lunchtime, and the place was ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Sosauce / Matador BBQ In BrooklynNew Media & Youth Action ConferenceTibetan Pendants, Japanese Noodles, French Vodka, And Mini-Burgers
More About: Travel , Food , Talk

How To Survive Reverse Culture Shock
2009-08-18 07:18:00
If ever there was a long term traveler who didn’t want to experience reverse culture shock, it was me one month ago in Medellin.  I’d been living the good life for 20 months, and I knew my time was almost up.  Before I left home in 2007, I imagined myself as possessing the maturity to ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Culture Shock 3 Travel Bloggers Survive Torrential RainsMy Interview On Voyagner

Lightload Towels
2009-08-17 21:04:00
In an effort to spread the word, George from Lightload Towels offered to send me a free sample of his unique product.  It was an offer I couldn’t refuse since they are billed as “the only towel that is a survival tool.”  I wonder, does Bear Grylls know about this? When the package arrived in the ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Snorkeling On The Great Barrier ReefPoll: How Much Do You Think My Full Backpack Weighs?Tripbase’s Flight Carbon Emissions Calculator

Salsa Dancing In New York City
2009-08-17 08:25:00
After leaving the barbecue, I turned my attention to salsa dancing.  I’d made it out for a few dances the prior night at LQ, but having arrived after the band had finished also meant most of the people had left as well.  Still, I got a chance to check out the bar and dance space ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Salsa Dancing At Kukaramakara ClubI’m Alive And Well In New York City Nevada Smith’s – New York City Soccer Bar

Sosauce / Matador BBQ In Brooklyn
2009-08-16 08:11:00
Brave New Traveler was one of the first travel blogs I began to follow back in early 2007, and I still recall how it was something of a “must read” for those of us figuring out how to write for a travel blog when we’re not actually traveling.  And I still remember when the editor, ...Your Free Subscriber Download Download "Dare Me!" now. Enjoy 17 off-the-wall adventures from a RTW trip. Related posts:Travel Talk At The Grey Dog’s CafeNew Media & Youth Action ConferenceIntroducing Sosauce Travel
More About: Brooklyn

Day 3 - Yumthang - Valley Of The Flowers
2008-06-07 09:22:00
I couldn’t sleep well the second night, so at 4:45am I got out of bed to check for mountain peaks like a kid checks for presents on Christmas morning. My insomnia was rewarded with views of snow-covered mountains in almost all directions. Perhaps not as much snow as I had hoped, however ...
More About: Flowers , Valley

Day 2 - The Tsopta Valley And Jeep Drama
2008-06-06 09:08:00
The next morning, we could see patches of snow on some of the mountains around us, however the cloud cover was low enough to temper my excitement about the potential for clear views higher up the valley. Our day’s highlight came early when we arrived at an Indian army base in Tsopta Valley , elevation ...
More About: Drama , Jeep

Day 1 ? Big Waterfalls, Long Drive
2008-06-05 08:07:00
There was a delay in getting the necessary permits for the jeep tour north so we ended up leaving an hour late. Then, a little ways outside of Gangtok, we stopped at a scenic outlook for 30 minutes though clouds hid the mountains of interest. We left a stop at Phodong Monastery ...
More About: Drive , Long , Waterfalls

Yak Rides At Tsomgo Lake
2008-06-04 07:56:00
  The jeep ride to Tsomgo Lake took a little less than two hours thanks to our fast driver who thought nothing of overtaking other jeeps along the precipitous mountain roads. As we gained altitude, we began to literally drive through clouds. The air temperature became noticeably colder. We passed landslide zones, stopped ...
More About: India

Good Time Gangtok
2008-06-03 07:43:00
After breakfast, Natalie and I stepped outside of our hotel’s restaurant to a procession of monks and lay people descending Tibet Road in celebration of Buddha’s birthday. We made our way to Mahatma Gandhi Marg, the pedestrian-only road which marks the center of city life (at least as far as tourists are concerned). ...
More About: India , Time , Good

Sikkim Bound
2008-06-02 07:27:00
Sarah is traveling around the world as I am, and her time in Asia was wrapping up in Darjeeling while I was ready to bust up to Sikkim for closer Himalayan views. Cameron would stay with Sarah through her last night, while Natalie joined me in a share jeep a day earlier for ...
More About: Bound

Himalayan Sunrise And Buddhist Monasteries
2008-06-01 07:12:00
Tiger Hill is a thirty minute jeep ride south of Darjeeling, at a higher altitude of about 2,600 meters. It is a popular place to watch the sun rise over the Indian Himalaya, and specifically, Mt. Kanchenjunga. As it was the pre-monsoon season, clear views of the mountains were hard to come ...
More About: Sunrise , Buddhist

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
2008-05-31 07:34:00
The day after visiting the zoo I set my sights on a joyride on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. I was up at 5:30am, out of bed by 7am, queued for a train ticket at the rail station around 7:30am, and enjoying breakfast at the popular cafe Glenary’s by 8:30am. I received an email from ...
More About: India

Regular Updates To Resume Soon!
2008-05-29 10:17:00
Good news…I’m alive and well in the sweltering heat of India .  Since leaving Darjeeling, and a great little internet cafe with lightning fast broadband, I’ve been left adrift from quality internet connections and computers from which to upload my latest photos and stories. I hope to get back on track in the next few days, ...
More About: Blogging , Updates , Resume , Regular

Mt. Kanchenjunga, A Tea Plantation, And The Snow Leopard
2008-05-22 07:03:00
At 8,586 meters, Mt. Kanchenjunga is the world’s third highest mountain, and only 10-20 meters behind K2 in Pakistan for second place. Spending additional time in the shadow of the Himalaya was a big reason for my decision to enter India via Darjeeling. On my second morning, I awoke around 5:30am, saw blue skies ...
More About: Snow , Leopard

Getting To Know D-town
2008-05-21 07:16:00
I spent my first full day walking around Darjeeling. Thankfully, the city center turned out to be smaller than I expected, however you’re often either walking up or down hill given the city is on the ridge of a mountain. While I was trying to find Observatory Hill, a lookout point topped with Hindu ...
More About: Town