- From Luxembourg to Andorra: An Epic European Road Trip
I’m not proud of it. For two decades worth of border crossings and passport stamps, I’d avoided the habit. Portable hard drives chocked full of images from lands near and …Continue reading “From Luxembourg to Andorra: An Epic European Road Trip”
- A Layover in Doha, Qatar
Qatar. The only country in the world that starts with “Q.” Aerial photos of a soccer stadium with an, er, distinctive design slated to be built for when the hot, … - Montezuma’s Revenge: A Quail of a Tale
In the Davis Mountains of remote west Texas, I finally overcame a multi-year bout of “Montezuma’s Revenge.” Eight years, in fact. I first succumbed to the ailment in Southeastern Arizona. … - A Tour of the Lion Statues of Washington D.C.
What comes to mind when I say “Washington, D.C.”? Aside from politically-charged phrases like “gridlock” and “senatorial quagmire,” I imagine it’s, like me, landmarks like the U.S. Capitol, White House …Continue reading “A Tour of the Lion Statues of Washington D.C.”
- Travel Notes: Chile and Argentina
Travelers know the questions one must field after returning from a trip. “How was the weather?” “What was your favorite part?” “How was the food?” all hurled at you by … - Travel Notes: Trinidad and Tobago
This is a regular series where I go to the farthest reaches of the globe, walk around, observe daily life, eat some food, maybe take some photos, and say “wow, … - Sh-t that wouldn’t fly back home: Cuba Edition
I love to travel. Sure, I like trying new foods and immersing myself in cities already centuries old when my native Seattle was just unexplored frontier. But the main reason …Continue reading “Sh-t that wouldn’t fly back home: Cuba Edition”
- The Cars of Cuba
“Cuba.” What comes to mind? For me, cars. Classic cars. And when I booked my trip to (legally) visit the Caribbean island, it’s the first thing I thought of. As … - “Super Moon” at Robin Lakes
It was our first backpacking trip of the year, and we knew there would be a few cobwebs: an obese backpack, forgotten necessities, atrophied quads, and sore heels. It was … - A Clam’s Throw from North Korea
Spotted Redshank. Terek Sandpiper. Dunlin. Lesser Sand-Plover. North Korean Border Guard. Red-necked St—wait, North Korean what? I was at the northern most point of the Yellow Sea, scanning an extensive, … - Sh-t that wouldn’t fly back home: China edition
If you’ve been out of the country, you’ve had this experience. Maybe it was a smell, sight, sound, or perhaps a taste—something caused you to stop and think to yourself …Continue reading “Sh-t that wouldn’t fly back home: China edition”
- Nocturnal Tidepooling: Sea Pens on a Friday Night
I haven’t posted in a while. It is hard to contribute to a travel blog when you, um, haven’t traveled. But sometimes adventures can be found just around the corner …Continue reading “Nocturnal Tidepooling: Sea Pens on a Friday Night”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#4) – Saemangeum Seawall
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea It is difficult to convey size with the written word. On the west coast of the Korean peninsula, the Saemangeum (say-MAHN-gum) …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#4) – Saemangeum Seawall”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#3) – More Time On Yubu
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea Are you a birdwatcher who doesn’t like to get up early? This is roughly the equivalent of a baker who’s allergic …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#3) – More Time On Yubu”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#2) – Yubu Island
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea “What’s your favorite bird?” It’s a frequent question posed to birdwatchers and I stumble for an example that people can relate …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#2) – Yubu Island”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#1) – Nakdong Estuary
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea “It’s just to the left of that red ramen container.” I found the piece of trash on the beach with my …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#1) – Nakdong Estuary”
- Reverse Culture Shock: Paris
“The thrill of take off: the burn of reentry.” Or it could be less of a burn: a mild irritation, perhaps. But if you’ve returned from overseas back to your … - Church Ceilings, Around the World
Grandiose, Ostentatious, Awe-inspriring, Humbling … Such is the way that religious institutions—churches, synagogues, temples, mosques—are described around the world. Their designers created physical tributes to the deities that guided many … - The Non-Cruisers Guide to Cruising
Point A and Point B can both be exciting, but often times the best part of traveling between two points is the vehicle. And I’ve experienced a few: an elephant … - French Woman Window Thingy
Sure, it’s a weird thing to obsess over. But once I noticed my first, it was impossible to stop looking for more. And I found them, all over France. This …
Travel, birding and cultural minutiae
