travel
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round two
Already I’m nostalgic for what I just wanted to finish not so long ago. The simplicity. The minimalism. The rhythm of the day-to-day routine. Having only one focus, one requirement, one goal—to walk. Long days, big miles, pushing and challenging yourself. Out of your head and in your body. I didn’t love it or like Continue reading
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walking the length of an island
Why do you walk eight, nine, 10 hours a day? In any weather and conditions, on whatever tracks or pavement or gravel or dirt or sand or grass, through deep mud or rushing water—anything the day brings? In whatever environment, from muggy subtropical forest to beaches to farmland to towns or cities to quiet or Continue reading
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“the long path”
The longest backpacking trip I’ve done to date is eight days in the Patagonia region of Chile, averaging around 10 miles a day when it was all said and done. Now, I’m planning to thru-hike New Zealand’s north island for at least two months, hoping to average more like 15-18 miles a day during the Continue reading
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in the wild (part 2)
In a damp cathedral of towering firs in Oregon, I bend down, close my eyes, then raise them upward, my eyes and heart open. I pray. “You are my hunger and my food. My thirst and my water. My wound and my healing.” I was brought here for this holy moment in the light rain, Continue reading
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Week 51: waiting
I’m familiar with waiting. I remember spending a 12 hour “layover” at a city train station in Mandalay, Myanmar many years ago, having already taken a 12 hour train ride on an “ordinary class” train, with a 14 hour train ride ahead of me to go further north. (“Ordinary class” trains had hard, uncomfortable, nearly Continue reading
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Week 43 / 44: moments
Week 43 & 44: moments I’m on the road living out of my truck for a few weeks, and currently sitting at Moab Coffee Roasters with a cold brew. It’s been a few days of intense bike riding, and I need a breather (and some WiFi). There’s something living out of a truck teaches you—to Continue reading
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Week 16: India & AIDS
April 16, 2009. Chennai, India. I was on an “around the world” trip with my good friend that would last for over nine months. In Chennai, we were spending some time with local ministries and organizations, including one that helped local Indians who suffered from AIDS (children and adults). On this specific day, we went Continue reading
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Week 6: seeing (part 2)
Almost two years ago, I was in Arequipa, Peru. I connected with a couple who help run a home for young Peruvians with mental and physical handicaps, most of them severe. I remember my first afternoon visiting the orphanage. Most of the individuals have severe mental handicaps. Some of them can communicate a little; many Continue reading
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Week 5: seeing
Years ago, during a night in the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, I had an ever so small encounter that, for whatever unknown reason, has left a lasting emotional impact. I meandered through a crowded night bazaar with sidewalk shops and stands, enjoying the evening and people watching (as I always did without Continue reading
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What I learned from a day on my motorbike in northern Laos
One day in northern Laos, I decided to take a secondary road (one not shown on Google Maps, as I noticed later) from a small city called Hongsa back to the very popular city of Luang Prabang. It ended up being the longest, craziest, most intense motorcycle drive I’ve had yet (thankfully it was just Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 