After almost 35 years of being on the road—planes, trains, and the occasional tuk-tuk—I find myself asking a question I never thought I would: is traveling still worth it? It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love with discovering new places, far from it. Vietnam and Cambodia recently gave me some unforgettable adventures, the kind …
Sometimes the hardest messages are the simplest ones. This is me trying to put a difficult moment into words with honesty, kindness, and a little bit of hope for what comes next. Friendship isn’t about never disagreeing; it’s about feeling seen even when perspectives clash. When misunderstandings pop up, it can sting more than the …
When Travel Means More Than Adventure Most people travel for fun, for the thrill of discovering new places, or to reunite with old friends. But when I boarded a train to Poland in late summer of 1989, I wasn’t just another tourist. I was 20 years old, full of restless energy and hope, and I …
There aren’t many dates that everyone remembers exactly where they were or what they were doing. But September 11, 2001? That’s one of those days. This year marks the 24th anniversary of that tragic event, and like everyone else, I have my own memories. No stress, no worries. Well, actually… On 9/11, I was as …
Note: This article recounts an experience from September 2001—24 years ago. Back in September 2001, I found myself on Tetiaroa for the fifth time. By then, my annual visits had made me something of a regular—enough that I’d gotten to know a member of the Brando family, I call him here Tama. We’d fish together, …
From the Archives: Australia 2002 The story below is an excerpt from my handwritten daily diaries, which I scribbled during my first adventure across Australia from October to December 2002. Group tours, outback sunsets, and plenty of drama—some things never change! New Faces, Old Drama It’s day 46 of my Sydney-to-Sydney adventure, and our little …
Travel has a way of surprising us—sometimes with breathtaking sights, other times with unforgettable encounters. My story from May 1996 is one such memory, a moment that stayed with me long after the plane touched down. The Young Polynesian Girl and Her First Flight It all started at Faa’a Airport in Tahiti. The manager of …
Between 1991 and 1994, I traveled to Sri Lanka three times. When you travel solo, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll meet locals. On my second trip, I somehow found myself promoted to the role of prospective son-in-law. Caught in the Rain—and the Family Web One day, as I was taking a walk, I got caught …
Maybe you have to spend a long time away from home to start thinking differently about travel. I used to live for the dream of ticking destinations off my wishlist—the pre-trip research, the daydreams, the “this time next month I’ll be in…” fantasies. Honestly, sometimes the anticipation is its own kind of happiness. Is it …
Weimar has always held a special place in my heart. Just a quick 45-minute train ride from my family’s home, it was one of those rare towns that felt worlds apart from the everyday. Even as a young man, I found myself drawn to its streets—something was enchanting, almost otherworldly, about the city. Back in …