How Not To Suck At Your First Half Marathon
I was recently part of the support crew for a group of runners who traveled to California to enter the Big Sur half marathon, and in my position as a non-runner I was able to glean a few helpful techniques. I have distilled these down to nine simple tips that should leave you feeling calm and raring to go on the start line.
Read More →A Comedy of Errors
It has been more than two months since my return from Costa Rica and I am just now continuing to write about the experience. You might be asking yourself why this is, and with any luck some answers lie in the words to follow. “Son of a bitch!” I scream into the sky as dusk renders San Jose monochromatic and …
Read More →Tamarindo
The pavement is already warm as I walk barefoot down the road from my cabina to the water. Acrid smoke from a small brush and garbage fire floods my nostrils when I turn off onto the small path that leads down to the beach but is quickly blown away by the constant offshore breeze that makes this such a well …
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How to Choose: A Pack
There are many reasons to buy a pack but perhaps the two most confusing choices can come from trying to find the right pack for travelling or hiking. Depending on your planned usage, there are a few basic considerations that can help you quickly narrow down your choices.
Read More →Tips from the Road
The challenge: four months of climbing and camping on the road in a tiny hatchback that makes a van look like a spacious loft apartment. Not possible you say? Think again. With a few simple tips you can make any trip more comfortable and affordable. Note: Tips marked with * may not conform to everyone’s moral ideals.
Read More →Seattle Day 2: the EMP
Those that know me are by now aware that I have something of a coffee addiction. During an all too brief stint during which I had a working espresso machine, I learned far too much about espresso and its preparation. Just ask anyone who has been misfortunate enough to be around me when I get started talking about the perfect …
Read More →Seattle Day 1: Pike Place Market
Friends had recommended that my inaugural trip to Seattle include the market, but I’d forgotten that it was the home of the “World Famous Pike Place Fish Market” where a rather large volume of sales likely came from visitors wanting to become a part of the spectacle. Simply place your order and watch the fish fly. At one corner of …
Read More →Extended Transit Tips
I won’t embellish on the obvious; my fluffy Clive Cussler novel and notebook were instrumental in using up the numerous hours spent sitting around bus stations and airports. The problem is that most people can’t seem to sit still for more than a few hours at a time, especially when faced with the often uncomfortable seats provided in such places.
Read More →Are you for SCUBA?
The surface was a mere two inches above my head and my world was panic. Every exhalation sent a rapid stream of bubbles upwards to throttle my eardrums and every sucking gasp inwards pulled in stale dry air that made my throat want to close up. Safety was so close and nearly every part of my brain was screaming for …
Read More →Renewal
After a month away, I was surprised to see the face of Hat Ton Sai had changed significantly. Two new restaurants had sprung up where there had previously been only wreckage, travelers were beginning to return, a brand new concrete and glass tourist information booth was finished being rebuilt, and a host of new lights and decorations adorned the beachfront …
Read More →Cooking with Class
This post picks up where my trekking post left off. Cooking school was one of the highlights of the trip for me, and I definitely recommend it if you have any interest in learning to cook thai food. Most of the schools cater to those looking to have fun and eat rather than learn much, but you can still get …
Read More →Chiang Mai Trekking
[Author’s Note: Please excuse any spelling mistakes or grammatical incoherence. After my trek I spent 27 hours in transit from Chiang Mai back to Hat Ton Sai in the province of Krabi. Although I did have a full night’s sleep last night, I am still a bit loopy from all that sitting on a bus, and have the added stress ...
Read More →Enter the Rooster
On February 9th millions of people ushered in the Chinese New Year with celebrations around the world. With a large Chinese population, Bangkok was no exception. “The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Because of cyclical lunar dating, the first day of the year can fall anywhere …
Read More →Wandering Solo
A lot of people say they enjoy the freedom of traveling on their own. There are no compromises, no waiting for someone else to be ready, and no being rushed or pushed into doing something while you would rather just lie around and watch movies. There is often also no one to talk to when you are waiting for your …
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