CULTURAL INSIGHTS: The 4 Balinese Names All Balinese people are named one of just 4 names: Wayan, Made, Nyoman or Ketut. Both men and women. Isn’t that amazing? To get a better feel for the implications of this naming strategy, imagine that every single citizen of your own country- such as USA or Canada or …
Quite unfortunately, I arrived in Cebu City, Philippines. I’d flown in from Malaysia for my first visit to the country, in search of scuba diving work. Taking a cab from the airport through the city and then walking around during my first evening left me thinking, “Uh, oh. Am I going to like the Philippines?” The entire city seemed …
BEYOND GUIDEBOOKS: PENANG CULTURE- LOCAL HOMEMADE SWEETS Because of its multi-cultural heritage, Penang offers an amazing variety of delicious, homemade local sweets: Indian, Malay, Chinese, and others. Most are made in little bakeries and pastry shops on Georgetown’s side roads. Yet I rarely see any western tourists eating these delicious sweets! I suspect it’s simply …
REVIEW OF CHEONG FATT TZE MANSION I’d been wanting to visit Penang’s famous Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion for ages. I’d walked past it several times over the years on my visits to Penang, peering over the wall at it’s striking cobalt blue exterior and shady front garden. Somehow I’d always run out of time to …
I VISIT KATHMANDU, NEPAL Kathmandu is a unique, extremely interesting, exotic old city. It’s what I imagine a medieval city to be like, however close or far from the truth my imagination is? Kathmandu is almost entirely red brick: the streets, buildings, numerous city squares, temples. All brick. At the time of my visit, I’d been …
Welcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. Thanks> * Cheeks skewered with spears. * Backs pierced with double rows of finger-size hooks. * Chests and stomachs buried by small silver cups or citrus fruits held on with fine hooks. * Tongues pierced with sets of …
CULTURAL INSIGHTS: DISPELLING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHINA For many years I’d been eager to travel through China. Simultaneously, I’d been equally hesitant to go because of my perceptions of China: packed with super-noisy, super-messy, phlegm-spitting Chinese citizens; shady aggressive business tactics; and great difficulty getting around. Those were images I’d developed both from other travelers’ stories …
players dresed in period kimono play Karuta at Yasuka Shrine, Kyoto, a New Year’s Festival PHOTO GALLERY: NEW YEAR’S KARUTA- ANCIENT JAPANESE CARD GAME Happy New Year! Japan rings in the new year with the rather unusual practice of an annual New Year’s card game. Modern versions are played all over Japan in people’s homes. …
CULTURAL INSIGHTS: CURIOSITIES OF SHANGHAI Even though I’d been traveling and living in Asia for nearly 17 years, when I moved to Shanghai I STILL came across some curiosities: funny, strange or unusual sights and experiences that I’ve seen nowhere else! Such as: >Dogs wearing SHOES! Yep, little doggie shoes on each paw, usually sneaker …
Welcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to the free monthly newsletter —–>> Sailing into Brunei- Borneo, Malaysia CRUISING INTO BRUNEI COUNTRY Early one bright tropical morning in the South China Sea, I cruised into the tiny Islamic nation of Brunei. I wondered what to expect. Would people be friendly …
Hi! I'm an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
