Crossroads in Agra: Heat, Horizons, and the Art of Choosing

My Internal Critic:  Yea, this article is Sh*t. Yes. Welcome to Notes from the Road: India Unfiltered. My goal in this series is to not try so hard.  Expect more stream of conscious blogging, and less editing.  I may lose you and I will cringe before hitting Publish, but writing helps me clarify the experiences. …

Notes from the Road – Delhi, India

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 …

First Time in India? Here’s What Delhi Teaches You Immediately

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 …

India Food Journal: Paneer at 37,000 Feet and Other Choices I Regret

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 …

Emojies Can’t Handle My Stoke (Send a Photo, Or Wait, Take Me With You.)

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 …

A Solo Traveler’s Guide to Great Conversations with Anyone

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 …

The Carreterra Austral: Finding the Spirit of Chilean Patagonia

“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, …

Be Outlandish: 3 Easy Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your First Burning Man

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 …

Here’s Why You Should Give Some Love to Your Travel Friends

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 …