I signed up for a travel writing course in New York City a little over a year ago. I always forget to look up professors before attending the class and was pretty surprised when Cullen Thomas walked into the room. Unlike the other teachers who gloat about their published works, he quickly asked that no […]
Why Do People Hike?
One of the most common questions I get before a big trek or hike is “Why do people hike?” or “Why do people trek?” It’s a funny questions because why do we really do anything? The quick answer is, “I enjoy it.” But, that’s always followed by another, “Why?!” I constantly complain about how uncomfortable […]
Watching Cremations at Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal
When you ask your friends their vacation plans, you’ll rarely hear one tell you that they are spending the day watching open air cremations. In Kathmandu, Nepal cremations have become a bit of a tourist attraction, and while that may sound appalling, it’s actually extremely spiritual. Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal is a UNESCO World Heritage […]
5 Things Travelers Forget to Budget for When Trip Planning
When I first started trip planning for my year long adventure in Southeast Asia, I planned a pretty tight budget. I did a ton of research and took into account each flight, accommodations, food, tourism, etc. I knew I would be on a strict budget and that there wasn’t room for many extras. Before I […]
14 Day Yoga Challenge Schedule
For some reason, it never occurred to me to go away on vacation and come back having acquired a new skill. How many times over the years had I thought of picking up a new hobby, only to feel like I couldn’t commit? Learn a new language, amp up my yoga practice, or take cooking […]
Book Review: The Snow Leopard by Peter Mattheissen
One of my favorite discussions to have on the road is what book my fellow travelers are reading. A friend from Nepal recommended The Snow Leopard by Peter Mattheissen to me. I’d just completed the Everest Base Camp Trek and was looking for my next adventure. After reading up on almost every trek available in […]
How to Choose a Hostel in 10 Easy Steps
When I first started traveling, I picked all the wrong hostels. To be honest, I had no idea what I was looking for. I’d see something that looked great in photos, and then find out it wasn’t near any restaurants. Another would be close to everything, but was so loud that you couldn’t sleep. I […]
Tips for Long Haul Flights in Economy
Prior to this year, I’d never had the honor of sitting on a plane for 15 hours straight. No that’s not a typo. If you include my layovers, and short second flights, I’m usually traveling for a full 24 hours to get to Asia. Now that I’ve made the trip six times, I feel like […]
Vietnam Backpacking Budget & Per Day Breakdown
Generally, I travel on a really tight budget and try to stick to $30 a day. My Vietnam backpacking budget was a little different since two of my best friends from home flew to Vietnam to visit me. Since they were on a two week vacation and we weren’t staying in hostels, I let my […]
12 Tips on How to be a Better Tourist
It amazes me how important being a good tourist has become to me over the last year. When I started planning my year long trip to Southeast Asia, I didn’t consider half of the things I think about now. My biggest concerns were where I could take the prettiest Instagram pictures, seeing the biggest tourist […]