Gearing Up in Kathmandu for Trekking

Gearing Up in Kathmandu for Trekking

Gearing up in Kathmandu for trekking in Nepal wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as I had fantasized. But having just left Thailand during one of the hottest months (April), I was dreadfully unprepared for mountain weather. Looking down at my shorts and flip-flops, I...
Getting Ready to Trek Alone in Nepal

Getting Ready to Trek Alone in Nepal

My three days of getting ready to trek alone in Nepal went something like this: Blunder around Kathmandu to get a feel for the city Talk to experienced people, buy an Everest map, and plan a trekking route Book a flight to Lukla (the airport nearest Everest National...
Solo Trekking in Everest National Park

Solo Trekking in Everest National Park

The solo trekking in Everest National Park (Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal) I did in 2016 turned out to be one of the greatest adventures of my vagabonding life thus far. I’ve recently come across some interesting, forgotten stuff from that trek in my journal...
The Koh Phi Phi Tsunami Scare

The Koh Phi Phi Tsunami Scare

The Koh Phi Phi tsunami scare was one of the strangest adventures that surprised me on my inaugural backpacking trip to Southeast Asia. I first wrote this in 2007, but even publishing it this many years later caused my hands to grow cold and clammy! Here’s the...
Visiting the Noodle Factory in Hsipaw, Burma

Visiting the Noodle Factory in Hsipaw, Burma

The Shan noodle factory in Hsipaw, a small town in Burma, was a literal sweatshop. I was drenched within minutes as moisture poured from my body. Despite the sauna-like conditions, workers were cranking out rice noodles at an alarming rate. For some reason, the...