Viajar Sin Rumbo

Faces of Nepal

2012-01-23T09:09:00.000-05:00

If you're looking to visit a country with friendly people, look no farther than Nepal. Warm smiles and open hearts are easy to come by over here. It's also a great place to capture some memorable portraits. Locals who spotted a camera around my neck often yelled out the request "one photo!" when I passed by. Due to this welcoming attitude, I was able to snap dozens of portraits while in Nepal

The Nepali Bus Survival Guide

2012-01-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

Ready for adventure? If you've come all the way to Nepal, then chances are the answer is yes. The lure of the highest mountains on Earth draws huge numbers of thrill-seeking travelers to this small mountainous land. But you don't need to climb Everest if excitement is what you're after. Just hop on a local bus. Challenging topography has played a big part in hampering the creation of roads and

Back to School

2011-12-27T04:11:00.003-05:00

The sight of smiling schoolchildren has the power to warm the heart of anyone, anywhere. Even if the young ones are strangers from a strange land, it's hard not to hope that they are receiving a quality, well-rounded education in a productive learning environment. In the developed nations of the West, our relatively strong public school systems have allowed many of us to almost take this as a

The Top of the World

2011-12-19T00:00:00.046-05:00

The mighty Himalayas loomed behind as I walked down the tarmac to the tiny sixteen-seat propeller plane that awaited. I stepped onboard, took the seat directly behind the pilot, and stuffed my ears with cotton balls in preparation for the quick but noisy flight ahead. Minutes later the lakeside city of Pokhara was but a fading oasis below. I soon realized with a startle that tremendous

Wandering these Ancient Streets

2011-12-12T00:00:00.023-05:00

A lone woman emerges from the intricately carved window above me. She surveys the scene below her, a scene no doubt similar to ones that she has witnessed before, but always with some new detail to observe. Crowds weave their way through the narrow rubble-strewn street, dodging bamboo-crested rickshaws, speeding motorcycles, and maniacally-piloted taxis. Proud women file past in immaculate,

Singing on the Roof

2011-12-05T07:01:00.000-05:00

Is there a better place to strum a carefree song than on the rooftop of a Nepali bus? Tired of being stuffed inside cramped coaches, a fellow traveler and I decided to ride out the final leg of our journey to Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha, on the roof rack. I took out my trusty guitar to commemorate the auspicious occasion. Here's a little bit of Jason Mraz' "I'm Yours", played off the

Twenty-Five Things about Bangkok

2011-11-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Bangkok is a sprawling, bustling, and cosmopolitan metropolis. The city known to locals as "Krung Thep" is essentially the capital of Southeast Asia, and anyone traveling in the region will likely pass through here at least once. Bangkok can be anything to anyone. So, inspired by this kaleidoscope of a city, here are some random thoughts on Bangkok, Thailand, and the region in general. If

Bat Cave of Battambang

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Every night shortly before sunset, a mesmerizing spectacle unfolds at a cave in western Cambodia. Over a million bats initiate a symphony of high-pitched shrieking in anticipation for the night's feast. Quick as a flash, they come streaming out of the large opening of their cavern dwelling, and do not stop their procession for over an hour. Locals bring their children to witness the event.

Mystical Angkor

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

So many temples dot the landscape of Asia that I thought I'd seen it all, that I was completely "templed out". Accordingly, I didn't raise my expectations ahead of visiting Cambodia's Angkor Wat. But I was wrong. The ancient temples of Angkor are astonishing. I was overcome by a sense of child-like wonder, totally in awe that such a place could exist on Earth. I consider myself fortunate to

The Mekong Runs Deep

2011-10-31T09:00:00.003-04:00

Any travel guidebook on Southeast Asia will issue stern warnings on visiting the region during the monsoon season. Getting from place to place can be a challenge, they say, and carefully laid tourist plans can be ruined by unpredictable weather. Yet here I was, arriving in one of the least developed countries in the region, right in time for the peak of the wet season. Cambodians have been

Ten Surprising Uses for Motorbikes in Vietnam

2011-10-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

A Vietnamese person without access to a motorbike is like a bear who hates the taste of honey. You just won't find any. Over twenty million of these machines are on the roads in this country, far outnumbering all other vehicles combined. And you will not just encounter motorbikes transporting their drivers, but everything else and the kitchen sink. Literally. I regularly had the urge to

Journey to the Mekong Delta

2011-10-17T09:00:00.008-04:00

Heavy bags by my side and sweat on my brow, I sat in the already scorching morning heat and waited for my bus to arrive. I had spent all of my time in Vietnam on the well-worn tourist trail and I was eager to see a different side of the country. So, I'd impulsively decided to make a bound for somewhere that sees few tourists. The only information that I possessed related to the town of

Traces of Old Saigon

2011-10-10T09:00:00.003-04:00

Saigon. A mere mention of the name will bring vivid imagery to the minds of many Americans, even if we have never seen the city with their own eyes. We picture surreal visions of an exotic, tense, and war-torn place that is frozen in time. But in reality, this modern metropolis bears little resemblance to the images of old. Saigon has raced into the 21st century with

Riding the Rails in Vietnam

2011-10-03T14:28:00.001-04:00

I arrived in Vietnam with a strong sense of purpose: to travel all the way from Hanoi in the north to Saigon in the south by train. The "Reunification Express" covers the 1,070 miles between these two cities, making stops at other points of interest along the way. In terms of comfort, reliability, and scenery, I had little idea of what to expect. But there was one thing I was knew for

Street Crossing: Hanoi Edition

2011-09-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

This is how you cross the street in Vietnam. If you ever want to get anywhere by foot, you will quickly learn how to do this too. And I thought crossing the street in Syria was an experience!

Sin-Some Dim Sum

2011-09-12T09:31:00.001-04:00

When thinking of what to share about the week that I recently spent in Hong Kong, I considered many possibilities. I could talk about the claustrophobia-inducing crowds of the Mongkok district, relate the thrill of riding the world's only double-decker tram system, or reminisce on the awe-inspiring city skyline as viewed from Victoria's peak. But instead, I'd like to share a much more humble

The Lao Wedding Crashers

2011-07-29T14:15:00.002-04:00

James and I took our seats at the table, gazed around at the enormous ballroom hall surrounding us, and shook our heads in disbelief. Three days ago we had arrived in Vientiane without knowing a single soul in the Laotian capital. And yet here we were, special invitees to one of the most lavish wedding receptions that either of us had ever been witness to. It would prove to be a night that

Jewel of the Mekong

2011-07-18T10:55:00.006-04:00

There are thousands of cathedrals in Europe and a grand number of mosques in the Middle East, but in quantity these may be surpassed by the Buddhist temples of Southeast Asia. One place in particular has an astounding concentration of practicing monasteries, atmospherically nestled within lush mountain scenery. Luang Prabang, Laos, is hallowed ground and an unquestioned jewel of the far east.

Such Great Heights

2011-07-05T22:27:00.650-04:00

Certain human rituals are so macho, so reckless, so testosterone-fueled, that only men could have possibly come up with them. Spanish men decided it would be a good idea to run down a narrow alley while being chased by bloodthirsty bulls. Red-blooded American males gifted the world with the Monster Truck Rally (we are forever grateful.) Japanese men, possibly after a

Soaking In a New Decade

2011-06-06T13:34:00.000-04:00

Turning thirty years old is a watershed moment in life, rich with symbolism. The roaring twenties are left behind, and a more wise and mature epoch of living is entered. The frivolities of youth have by now been replaced by adult worries and concerns. To mark this somber occasion, I decided to attend an appropriately solemn event...I traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to join the biggest

Lake of a Thousand Reflections

2011-05-24T07:24:00.004-04:00

You gradually open your eyes and begin to soak in the dreamlike scenery that surrounds you. Glimmering water that mirrors dazzling blue skies and all-enveloping mountains. Dozens of silhouettes in the distance which acrobatically row canoes using one leg while deftly manipulating fishnets with free hands. Children smiling and waving from cherry-stained wooden houses comfortably perched on top

One Fine Day in Mandalay

2011-05-15T13:01:00.002-04:00

I awoke at sunrise, had a quick breakfast, and stepped into the already bustling streets of Mandalay in search of a trishaw to taxi me to my destination. After haggling with a driver for a reasonable price, we began our slow journey through the concrete, traffic, and smog of the city. Bicycles, motorbikes, cars, and pickups whizzed past in a frenetic whirlwind of movement. As we approached the

The Lost Kingdom of Burma

2011-05-08T13:01:00.003-04:00

Some one thousand years ago, one of the greatest cities in the ancient Buddhist world arose in a large plain near the center of modern day Burma. The city was called Bagan, and became the capital of the first Burmese Empire. By the time Bagan fell to Mongol invaders in the 13th century, it was home to an astonishing five thousand temples. In the present, little of the city remains, except

A Kick in the Longyi

2011-05-02T01:01:00.001-04:00

No, its not hacky sack; it's Chinlone. No visitor to Burma can go long before observing a group of men enjoying a round of the country's national sport. It's especially popular at sunset, which is when I captured this video in the historic town of Pyay. The sumptuous view from Pyay's Shwesendaw Pagoda was just to good to keep for myself. So, enjoy the clip, grab yourself a ball, and start

The Clock That Went Backward

2011-04-25T08:13:00.000-04:00

Most people dismiss the concept of "time travel" as an impossibility. They consider it a fantasy of science-fiction; one that will likely never be achieved by man, at least in our lifetime. No one could hope to suddenly surge into the future, and most certainly we cannot leap back into the past. Six weeks ago, I was inclined to agree...but not anymore. I have been to Burma. Arriving in