Quarter Life Crisis

I’ll admit it. I’ve been a bit of a whore. I’m in a new bed every night, a trail of cities in my wake. The list of places that I embraced and left is long and tragic. So many incredible towns have opened up their arms to me, only to be milked of what wanton enjoyment I can get before I mosey along. I’ve been fortunate enough to lie within some of the most desirable locales on the planet, but it happens just the same every time. At first, I’m intoxicated with the newness of every place. I lust after every inch a city has to offer. The thrill overwhelms me and I can think of nothing else that being right there in that moment in that town. Soon enough though (whether it’s two weeks, ... read more

Word on the street Down Under is they’ve got themselves a decent barrier reef. Some would even call it a satisfactory barrier reef. I’ve even heard the bold describe it as an adequate barrier reef. Are these boasts simply the hubris of a country that lacks a variety of artifacts to put it on the international radar (come on, name three things you know about Australia without using the words “crocodile” or “Dundee”)? Or is there is there a genuine passable, quality, or even downright good barrier reef somewhere in this land? (It’s totally possible. There’s enough empty space here that it wouldn’t be that big of a surprise that they found Emilia Earhart, Jimmy Hoffa, the Loch Ness Monster and Chupacabra playing poker in an old building from Atlantis somewhere in the Northern Territory.) Jenny ... read more

Note on the title: Unlike many Americans, I do understand that the city is not pronounced "Mel-born" However the proper pronunciation kills my little pun. For the record, it's "Mel-burn." The phonetics are a little unfortunate considering the recent Australian bush fires that have ravaged the Victoria countryside. These of course differ from American Bush fires, which tend to be effigies. Australia is a land of anomalies. It's this massive hunk of Earth way out in the middle of nowhere Indian Ocean. Its nearest neighbor is Asia, it's heritage English but its attitude is pure Southern California. Outside of a paint splatter of tiny island nations, Australia makes up the entirety of a continent (Austrailasia, Oceania, whatever the hell people are calling it these days). However its population barely surpasses that of Tokyo alone. For all ... read more

Laos is the red-headed stepchild of Southeast Asia, forgotten and overshadowed by its illustrious neighbors. Not, that this is Laos' fault. When you share borders with such a lineup of famous (and sometimes notorious) countries, it's easy to be overlooked. Laos lacks anything that would put it on the international map (not literally of course. It's on an actual map, it's the one that looks like it's spooning with Vietnam. Like me it prefers to be the little spoon). Thailand has its beaches, Vietnam has its war, Cambodia has its history and China has, well, the fact that it's freakin China. Laos is Ringo, the fat Baldwin, Christian Laettner on the dream team, and Joe the plumber's brother Greg the podiatrist. It is surrounded by greatness and glory-hogs in every direction and unable to wrestle the ... read more

Take one of the largest places on the planet, with almost one-fifth of its population, probably the most varied landscape of any one country, a history of power and culture that goes back 4,000 years and try experience it all in two weeks. THEN, try to reduce that down into 1000 words of commentary to be consumed by the masses back at home (I may be overstating my audience a little with "masses") The task is impossible. China is too much, we've been grinding nonstop for the last 2 weeks and have hardly touched this place. Our treks are a grain of sand in the Sahara, a drop of water in the Red Sea, a typo in a Sarah Palin press release. China is so epic that when travelers all get together and talk about where ... read more