I’ll begin with the house where the cycles first began. I’m not sure what drove me to the forest — a sort of nervous excitement gripped me, hanging like damp cloth on the clothesline of my soul. I’d look into the thick greenness of the forest and feel it swaying, as though it were alive, …
Read more “Adventure, Reflect, Renew: The Cycles That Shape Us”
My Inner Critic: “Yeah… this article is shit.” Welcome to Notes from the Road—a travel series where I try not to try so hard. This will be more stream-of-consciousness than crafted narrative. Less editing, more honesty. I’ll definitely lose most of you, and I’ll probably cringe before hitting publish, but I’m hoping it helps me …
Read more “Night Train to Rajasthan: Dramamine, Stepwells, and Desert Survival”
My Internal Critic: Yeah… this article is sh*t.” Yea. Okay. That’s Fair. Welcome to Notes from the Road—a travel series where I try not to try so hard. This will be more stream-of-consciousness than crafted narrative. Less editing, more honesty. I’ll definitely lose most of you, and I’ll probably cringe before hitting publish, but I’m …
A first-timer’s guide to navigating one of Old Delhi’s most overwhelming neighborhoods—with humor, honesty, and a few bruises. Pahar Ganj Pahar Ganj is a bustling, chaotic neighborhood located just west of New Delhi Railway Station. Known for its budget hotels, backpacker hostels, street food, and markets, it’s often the first stop for travelers arriving in …
Read more “How to Walk Through Pahar Ganj Without Losing Your Mind”
There’s no easing into Delhi.You leave the airport, and the city grabs you by the collar, yells something in Hindi, and throws you into traffic. After a 12-hour flight from New York City, I landed at 11 a.m., buzzing with adrenaline. The thrill of arriving in a new country gave me just enough energy to …
Read more “First Time in India? Here’s What Delhi Teaches You Immediately”
It squeezes me like it’s trying to make a point. My chest tightens, and a vortex between my lungs twists my insides like a blanket, knotting inward, slouching my shoulders, and constraining my limbs to a point of heaviness. Outside is a foreign country, with stone chapels and high cathedrals, white washed alleyways and cobble …
Read more “How to Embrace Loneliness, Enjoy Solitude, and Build Community”
The gap is tight. Too tight. I’d never go for it. He won’t.—Oh $^@#! He will. I’m clenching the rear of the motorcycle with white knuckles as the poor thing labors to carry us along the shoulder and the rough edge of the road fights to push the bike off the road. The driver keeps …
The Indian food tour began somewhere above Greenland at 37,000 feet.My tray table became the first stage of a culinary adventure—one that began not in Delhi’s crowded markets, but in a metal tube hurtling across the Atlantic. With three meals spaced over the flight, each one brought its own take on India’s regional flavors, and …
Read more “India Food Journal: Paneer at 37,000 Feet and Other Choices I Regret”
On Friday, I flew to LAX Airport in California, where, after scraping a morsel of sleep off the Airport floor, I could not board my flight to Hong Kong due to an incomplete Visa for India. OUCH. Rather than remaining a vagrant of LAX Airport, I caught a bus south to San Diego to stay …
Posted on January 5, 2016 by Oolin Note: this was published in 2016, before the emoji revolution. But, you know, its the SPIRIT that counts. Friend at home: “How’d the day go, boys? Friend on trip:“Sdfghaiodfubadjnfgl!@dwgnwfghwfH!!njsfkgjb wrn!! DDAAAAAAaaaAA!!!!” Friend at home:”Is Joey Icelandic?” Friend#2 on trip: “No dude, he’s Stoked. “ I send a lot of …
Read more “Emojies Can’t Handle My Stoke (Send a Photo, Or Wait, Take Me With You.)”
Something calls you… Your ears can almost here it but instead they catch only the wind as it passes. Instead, your heart feels it’s whisper like the promise of a distant embrace. Something calls you, and at first, it’s only a calling. Like your pride beckoning you to the hunt. It floats between each heartbeat, as if …
“¡¿Que hay todavía?!” a voice shouts from the ghoulish black van rolling down the street beside us. The man at the grill behind the taco stall—his greasy apron glaring white under the cooking lights—calls back, hands waving in emphasis, and— ¡Vaya! — EEERRREEEEEEE!!!!! The vehicle abruptly skirts to the curb, parking at the corner of …
Read more “How to Find the Best Tacos in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico”
Google search: “S-o-l-o T-r-a-v-e-l” Google:” Oh-My-Gawd it is SO GREAT. You should totally F***ing do it.” Feel free to try it yourself at home. You’ll get thousands of hits. Google: The 10 Benefits of Solo Travel, 6 Advantages to Solo Travel, 8 things you learn about yourself while Solo Traveling, yadda-yadda-yadda. There is one unexpected thing you might …
Read more “A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Great Conversations with Anyone”
“If every country was a cocktail, Chile would be a skinny margarita, served in a champagne flute. It’s a long, slender country. It’s green, it’s tangy, and it leaves you wanting more.” Of the two bikes we shipped to Chile for our bikepacking trip, both were detained by customs officials in Santiago. Following their interrogation, …
Read more “The Carreterra Austral: Finding the Spirit of Chilean Patagonia”
Alaska is a gorgeous place, and it makes for wonderful road trips. Alaska is also a massive state, and driving times can be long, so you should be prepared with a few tips for getting around safely. Below are a few tips for how to be prepared for driving in Alaska and how to …
Read more “How to Get Around By Car in Alaska – A Trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks”
There are plenty of articles on how to prepare for burning man, and what to bring, and what to expect (pssst! you’ll still be surprised =)). There were some takeaways for me, that I didn’t find on any of the other articles, so here you go, check them out! 1. Volunteer for the Black Rock …
Read more “Be Outlandish: 3 Easy Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your First Burning Man”
I’m a minimalist. I like to travel light and simply. That’s why it is important for me to find the best bang for the buck items that REALLY carry their weight in a suitcase or duffel bag. Before going to my first Burning Man, I didn’t know what to expect, and I brought one duffel …
Read more “Burning Man Gear Guide: What Items Did I love, What Did I Regret Not Having?”
Do you want to travel to Patagonia but you’re worried you’ll be lonely? Don’t worry!!! Check out these pro tips on how to make friends while traveling in Patagonia! Remember, travelers are often out of their routine, and open to meeting new people and trying new things. How exciting! 1. Visit a Patagonian hot spring, …
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1. Travel friends give you insights about your own culture, and how weird it is. There are alot of habits ingrained in us through our culture, and through traveling and meeting people from different places we can gain insight into those habits and learn about new ways to live our lives as our best selves. Let’s …
Read more “Here’s Why You Should Give Some Love to Your Travel Friends”
