ast summer I went on a 5-day backcountry hike with my brother (Jeff) and father (Dale) in the Canadian Rockies, and as I usually do, I put my own last minute spin on it.
We did it in a dress, and it was awesome.
I've already mentioned it in a past, but as the season is about to start again, I thought I'd toss out some of my views and updates on what happened since last year...
Read MoreUpdated Feb 2014
I'll start by saying that I'm not a huge fan of guidebooks. In the age of the internet and nearly limitless access to information, the printed word is often out of date by the time it's still hot off the presses. For example, the latest Myanmar Lonely Planet (11th ed.) was published in Dec 2011, with much of the research likely done 3-12+ months prior. As of May 2013, the information could be 2+ years out of date.
That said, I've had my Lonely Planet for Myanmar since my first big trip to the country in early 2012, and...
Read MoreI wrapped up my two month "Travel With a Local" trip in mid March, and I thought I'd start with a few of my Instagram "snapshots" from the trip.
I carry around more than my fair share of camera gear, but sometimes a quick shot with my mobile phone is just what the doctor ordered.
You can follow my travel snapshots on Instagram, and my more artistic work on EyeEm...
Read MoreAs England is to pubs, Myanmar (Burma) is to tea shops. You'll find them everywhere, sometimes lined up one after another, with their little plastic stools and small tables spilling out onto the sidewalks and into the streets.
Let me introduce you to one of my favorites, Shwe Ya Minn tea shop. Located on the market block of the small "hill station" town of Kalaw (Shan State), it might be tough to spot without a readily visible English sign. Instead, you'll have to look for the crowds.
Although open all day, often from 6am until 10pm, the busiest times are early in the morning for...
Read Moren November 2009, I embarked on my first real solo travel experience when I landed in New Zealand, and honestly, I didn't know what to expect. Hiking and adventures I guess.
In a strange way, arriving in a place on the other side of the world felt like, for the first time, I had the entire world at my fingertips. Not knowing where to start as all of these bright new opportunities came my way, I just let them navigate me on my journey. A million choices, all at once, and I just dove in...
Read MoreUPDATED October 2017
One of the most common questions I get has to do with how to deal with money as a traveler in Myanmar (Burma).
While in the country, you'll use a mix of US dollars and Myanmar kyat. Most hotels, domestic airfares train tickets, and entrance fees will be in USD, while everything else (food, souvenirs, uses etc) will be paid in kyat.
Until very recently (Nov 2012) there were no ATM's in Myanmar due to the economic sanctions...
Read MoreLight the candle on your krathong, set it in the water, make a wish, and release into the current of the river for it to drift away.
It's that simple...
Unless there is a troll under the bridge stealing your wishes.
The Loy Krathong festival celebrated in Thailand each Oct/Nov is especially...
Read MoreUpdated December 2016
Most people will need to apply in advance for a Visa to travel in Myanmar / Burma (there are very few select circumstances where a visa may be available on arrival). A typical tourist visa, which is what I'll talk about here, is good for 4 weeks (28 days) from arrival.
But that's just a taste!
Fortunately overstaying a visa in Myanmar is a relatively cheap and painless affair. Here's the scoop...
Read More*A warning to my more squeamish visitors, this story includes graphic images*
The drums: pounding. The crowd: dense. The colors: vibrant.
In a word,
It was after 5:00pm, and I had spent the day on nearby Bilugyun (Ogre) Island in the heat of Myanmar (Burma) summer. I was exhausted. So exhausted in fact, that when I caught a glimpse of a line of 150-odd monks walking toward us on the other side of the road my first instinct was to just move on.
Then, something I'd never seen before.A row of people walking on the other side of the road. Brightly colored garland draped over-top of an apparatus some were Read More
Monks, and Buddhism in general, have a strong bond with society in Thailand and other neighboring countries in the region. However, a recent article in the New York Times suggests that as the region becomes more wealthy, monks will lose relevance in the...
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