Dear readers, if you’ve found your way here, a hearty welcome to you. I haven’t updated this blog in a while, but please enjoy the words and photos herein. These stories are timeless and if you’re looking for travel inspiration, inspiration you will find. When I set out on a grand adventure to Asia in…
Author: Michelle WC
Writer/editor/adventurer/explorer
Thoughts of Nepal in the Wake of the Earthquake
I’ll never forget the first time I saw the Himalayas. I was in the middle of an excruciatingly long and bumpy bus ride, one of many I would take in the course of my six week journey around Nepal. I was gazing out the window (I always fought hard to get a window seat) while…
Video: Mastering the Longyi, the Traditional Dress of Myanmar
While the beauty of majestic Myanmar is fresh in my mind after the last post, let’s talk about the art of the longyi. The longyi, or longi, or longee, (pronounced simply lon-gee), is basically a long wrap skirt made out of one big piece of cloth. It comes in every color and pattern imaginable, and…
The Faces of Myanmar — A Photo Essay of a Remarkable Place
Dear Myanmar, You stole my heart from day one. From your majestic, dream-like landscapes to your colorful markets and big smiles. I will never forget you. Sincerely, Michelle Note: I will refer to this country as Myanmar because all of the local people I interacted with called it Myanmar. For example, they cheerfully told us we…
The Best Street Food in Southeast Asia
OK, OK. I know what everyone really wants to know about… The food! Glorious food. Street food. One of the greatest joys of travel, and my favorite motivator to explore an unknown neighborhood, the quest for local cuisine can lead you to not only some delectable new flavors, but also to a unique cultural exchange…
Your Ultimate Road Trip Kit: Gadgets to Bring on the Road
If you can get yourself a vehicle, driving can be a really great way to travel when overseas. Especially when you are in a big country with a lot of ground to cover, like Australia. It gives you the freedom to get up and go where ever you want on your own schedule, instead of…
Don’t Date a Girl Who Travels…Fall in Love With a Woman Who Wants to See the World
I’ve read some of the cute and corny and heavily-clichéd posts about dating or not dating a person who travels, and whether you like them or not the point is the same: For good or for ill, travel will instill certain qualities in a person. Independence, self reliance, adaptability, uncertainty, disinterest in material things, easy-going…
Literally Touching the Clouds: Paragliding Over Pokhara
My crazy Italian paragliding pilot told me there are two things he loves most about his job: flying next to big birds like eagles, and flying up into the clouds. After launching off the hill and gliding into the air, I immediately understood why. It was really amazing to ascend to an elevation of more…
What I Learned in 3 Days of Silence: A Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Nepal
Oh, meditation. It’s a fickle beast, gently lifting you up into the air one moment and then quietly slipping out of grasp the next, like grains of sand falling through your fingers. I never really tried meditation before arriving at the Sadhana Yoga and Meditation Center in the hills overlooking Pokhara, Nepal, for a 10…
Bukit Lawang: Must Love Orang-Utans. And Rustic Jungle Jams.
Sumatra. I just like saying the word. I like the way it rolls off the tongue; at once sounding mysterious, dark and exotic, igniting the imagination and stirring up all of the things that have driven me to travel to distant edges of the earth, that have inspired me to lift up the corners of…
Learning About the Hindu Religion
In the novel “Shantaram” the main character Lin explains that at times in India you have to learn to surrender. Surrender to the country itself, surrender to people and the place, just give in and go along with the flow. “Sometimes you have to surrender…before you win. Surrender is at the heart of the Indian…
Just Havin Some Fun at Angkor Wat
The glorious, sweeping complex of temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia was definitely a big highlight of the trip for me so far. You can easily spend hours wandering through the crumbling doorways, misty corridors, and sun-mottled courtyards of the many gorgeous temples — or you could spend them hiding in random dark corners and…
The Art of Getting Lost | Wandering Around Angkor Wat
Getting lost can be one of the most time-consuming and frustrating parts of travel. It can also be one of the most exciting, and occasionally it can lead you to discover something you never expected to find. It’s a fine art, to be able to get lost and make it into something meaningful. Some of…
Backpacking in the 21st Century: Gadgets for Staying Charged While on the Road
Ladies and Gentlemen, today I present to you the first, and what probably will be the only episode of “Backpacking in the 21st Century.” Here Jamie and I reveal our secrets to keeping our devices powered up while traveling and staying in budget accommodations, which often have only one power outlet in the room. Here…
How to Negotiate with a Tuk Tuk Driver in Bangkok
Hey! Here are some quick, non-comprehensive tips for negotiating with a Tuk Tuk driver — many of these tips could apply anywhere, but Bangkok has some of the sheistiest drivers around. Tuk Tuks may not be the safest form of transportation, but they sure are fun to ride in! And they can weave through traffic…
THE WORLD AND BACK: Adventures in Southeast Asia and Beyond 