The Road to Hana

The Road to Hana

When this trip began eighteen months ago, I had no idea it would include two weeks in Maui with friends made at the start of the trip in Utila. But when one of those friends got a job here and suggested I come visit, I couldn’t pass it up. Especially when we started to discuss timing and realized that another of our friends would be coming through at the same

Cute animals, weird mounds of earth, what’s not to love about Bohol?

Cute animals, weird mounds of earth, what’s not to love about Bohol?

Primates that can fit in the palm of my hand; brownish-green hills that resemble overgrown anthills; caves that beg to have their stories of WWII told; a green river nestled between jungle-covered hills; access to a white beach lined with bars and restaurants owned by those trying to create a mini-Boracay; and some excellent diving 45-minutes away by boat. This is Bohol. Like so many other islands in the Philippine

On the Banana Pancake Trail – Nong Khiaw & Maung Ngoi

On the Banana Pancake Trail – Nong Khiaw & Maung Ngoi

About four hours north of Luang Prabang by minivan or jumbo tuk-tuk sits Nong Khiaw, a village on the banks of the Nam Ou with simple guesthouses, one nice hotel, a handful of outdoor tour operators, and just enough restaurants for the tourists who trickle through. Until recently, it could be easily reached by boat but a dam under construction between Luang Prabang and Nong Khiaw has made that a

Glow Worms and Wetsuits

Glow Worms and Wetsuits

After finishing my undergraduate degree, I got a job at a travel agency. I never intended to make a career of it but I was barely 21 and this seemed as good a place as any to enter the full-time work force. The pay was abysmal and eventually, after 9/11, the work wasn’t much fun. But the friends I made, the experiences I had, and the knowledge I gained during