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A Day in Singapore
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” — Henry David Thoreau Quick Layover I arrived in Singapore after leaving the temples and volcanos of Java Indonesia. This was my last stop in Asia before heading home for a few months. It’s really just a prolonged layover really. I was barely in the city for 48 hours. Not nearly enough time to see everything, but it’s a start and it will have to be enough. Get in. See some shit. Get out. Go home. This will be a relatively short post.…
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Mount Bromo and Leaving Indonesia
“I don’t want to own anything until I know I have found the place where me and things belong together. I’m not quite sure where that is just yet. But I know what it’s like.” — Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s More Java Moving across Java, I took an overnight train from Yogyakarta eastward to Malang. Midnight training across Indonesia isn’t a bad way to get around, but arriving at a train station at 10pm and trying to sleep in an upright seat for 11 hours is not my favorite. It’s as comfortable as you’d expect. So not very. Malang is one of my last stops in Indonesia. I’d…
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Yogyakarta and Central Java
“Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” -Stephen Covey Waking up in Java It was before dawn in Yogyakarta when my alarm went off. The sun still lay sleepily below the horizon while I sleepily got dressed. It was 3am. On this day, I was scheduled to meet a van filled with foreigners and a local tour guide at 3:30 am. We were headed to Borobudur Temple. A.k.a. The largest Buddhist temple in the world. I came to Yogyakarta to see Borobudur. And a few other things. But mostly this temple. Yogyakarta is a medium-sized and relatively calm city in central Java, the biggest island in Indonesia. The…
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Yoga Retreating in Indonesia
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius Diet, Exercise, and a Life of Travel I am an active person. Before embarking on this year of life and world exploration, I was a runner, cyclist, short distance triathlete (though I do not care for the swimming), occasional rock climber, and general cardio connoisseur. I’ve woken up at 4:30am to make a 5:30am spin class. Got home at 9pm on a Wednesday night because I stopped on the way home for a Yoga HIIT class. Whatever that means. I don’t do these things because I’m a natural athlete who just loves cycling so…
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New Years in Ubud
I know I’m WAY behind on this Blog, but good things are worth waiting for, so keep your pants on. Cassandra Johnson Leaving the Resort After spending Christmas by a Hilton Conrad pool in Nusa Dua in Bali, Vinisha, Ali and I made the journey to the faraway land of Ubud, Bali. It’s a deceivingly short 45 kilometers between the two cities. But don’t let that fool you. It takes damn near all day to get there. Balinese residents have had the pleasure of living in a peaceful, tourist-free oasis existence until just recently. Because of this, there are no wide-laned highways transversing the island. It’s blatantly obvious that the…
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Christmas in Bali
Stories from my time in Bali, Indonesia
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Central Vietnam: Imperial Cities and Handy Bridges
“Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” – Benjamin Disraeli Travel MOOD I’m going to take a self indulgent moment of whining. There are days where I tire of acclimating to new places. Don’t get me wrong. I love traveling. I mean I LOVE it. Obviously, or I wouldn’t have turned country hopping into a full time career that pays in the currency of life experience. But I’m constantly starting over. And there are days where this feels positively exhausting. Great….let’s pull up a map and figure my way around. Again. Time to get lost. Again. Let’s spend the next…
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A Giant Cave in Vietnam
Adventure, yeah. I guess that’s what you call it when everybody comes back alive. – Mercedes Lackey Heading South After leaving my friend Ankit in Hanoi I took a trip south to central Vietnam. Flying into Dong Hoi, I caught a pre-arranged shuttle to Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. Phong Nha’s claim to fame is its world record worthy cave system. The largest cave in the world, Hang Son Doong, is here. The third largest cave in the world, Hang En, is also here. I came to Phong Nha to camp in Hang En. Let me start by saying I almost didn’t do this particular nature adventure. Vietnam a cheap country…
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It’s Raining in Vietnam
“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” — Anthony Bourdain Hanoi: Part 1 My early impression of the Old Quarter in Hanoi was that it is just like many other Asian cities. Truthfully, the city didn’t peak my interest much on arrival. The one oddly fascinating quality of Hanoi is the systematically themed avenues of shopping. Our hotel was clearly on Christmas street. …
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Laos. On a Bike.
“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain Heading North I spent my first full day in Laos on a boat for seven+ hours, slowly trolling up the Mekong river. Under normal circumstances I would cringe at this idea. This is a very long time on a very slow boat. But you know what….it was alright. Laos, with it’s serene landscapes and casually chill populace has put me in a zen mood. It also helps that I’m here with a friend. I met my former co-worker, current friend and travel…
