On the Indian subcontinent, nothing ever really runs smoothly if they run at all. Things that appear to be simple, simply cannot be explained and there is little retribution. I have had 7 flights (including connections) thus far on this trip within the subcontinent and to neighboring islands and every one of them have been [...]
A Maldivian Honeymoon With Myself
June 22, 2009 By 8 Comments
The Maldives are a place that was almost made up to me. I never really thought they really existed. I had seen so many brochures and pictures of this amazing place; a tropical paradise on the other side of the world that seemed so exclusive and alluring. Well it is. It is as gorgeous as [...]
The Lakshadweep Islands
June 20, 2009 By 12 Comments
Lakshadweep, from Hindi meaning “100 islands” is actually a string of 36 palm covered islands, of which 10 are inhabited, 200 miles off the coast of Kerala in Southern India. Its inhabitants are mainly Sunni Muslim fisherman wherein fishing and coir production are the islands’ main sources of income. Life on the islands is very [...]
From the Azores to India
June 17, 2009 By 2 Comments
It was a long and tumultuous journey from the Azores to Kochi, India but I have finally made it and spent the day relaxing in Kochi or Cochin at the Le Meridien hotel which is very nice and very cheap. My crazy journey started in the Azores by my first flight to Lisbon being delayed, [...]
Post-Tsunami Sri Lanka
February 25, 2009 By 4 Comments
I am reposting this story that I wrote in 2005, right after the devastating tsunami that hit Central and Southeast Asia. I have always been intrigued by the country of Sri Lanka. Ever since I studied the map as a kid I thought Sri Lanka was a place I would like to see one day. [...]
Trapped in Turkmenistan
July 24, 2008 By 5 Comments
I really appreciate all the emails from everyone and I am fine, I promise. It’s nice to know so many people are reading my site and following my trip. I know I haven’t responded to emails, facebooks or posted in a few days but that is because the government of Turkmenistan censors and blocks all [...]
Central Asia’s Holiest City
July 21, 2008 By 4 Comments
Central Asia’s Holiest City, Bukhara, Uzbekistan, has buildings spanning a thousand years of history. It has a thoroughly lived in old center that probably hasn’t changed much in a few centuries. It is the best place in Central Asia for a glimpse of pre-Russian Turkestan and it’s just a really nice and interesting place to [...]
Penjikent and the Marguzor Lakes
July 20, 2008 By 1 Comment
Tajikistan is a Persian and Farsi speaking outpost in a predominantly Turkic region and it is in many ways the odd one out in Central Asia. The modern country is a fragile patchwork of clans, languages and identities, forged together by little more than Soviet nation building and the shared hope for peace. However, that [...]
The Golden Road to Samarkand
July 19, 2008 By 2 Comments
We travel not for trafficking alone, By hotter winds our fiery hearts are fanned. For lust of knowing what should not be known, We take the Golden Road to Samarkand. These final lines of James Elroy Flecker’s poem, “The Golden Journey to Samarkand” evoke the romance of Uzbekistan’s most glorious city. No name is so [...]
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
July 19, 2008 By 6 Comments
Talk about a mouthful and a hell of a lot of points in scrabble, Kyrgyzstan is just that and Bishkek is its green and pleasant capital city. Bishkek isn’t the most exciting place, that’s for sure, but it is a nice place to spend a night or two. The main attractions in Kyrgyzstan are in [...]
