Tim s Excellent Adventure

Cambodia is the stuff of legends, a forgotten patch of jungle hidden deep in both time and place. Crumbling temples slowly sink under creeping vines, and the ancient races whose kingdoms once stood here can still be seen in the eyes of the local people. Cambodia is a true frontier, where everyday life is lived on the edge. On the edge of safety and the brink of starvation. Always near catastrophe and at the breaking point of civilized law. People here are often struggling for basic survival, and the culture still feels the echo of centuries of death and disaster. And, like all major tragedies, an inspiring amount of hope has managed to shine through as well. The experience of Cambodia is like seeing the whole ballet of nature played out in the microcosm of a ... read more

Vietnam is instantly more pleasant than China. As soon as we crossed the border, the toilets became bearable, the people got friendlier, the food gained flavor, and the sky became blue again. My first experiences in Hanoi and Halong Bay were so relaxed and beautiful, it was easy to overlook the street people literally thrusting items into my hands to buy. Halong Bay is only a few hours away from Hanoi by bus, and has been listed as one of the 7 Natural Wonders. A three day tour package had me swimming in the tropical sea at sunset, hiking in the jungles and climbing through caves on Cat Ba island, kayaking on the ocean between towering limestone pillars, and lots of sun and sand. The food was great, the weather was deliciously hot, and the whole ... read more

After Xi'an, I kept moving East toward Beijing. Along the way I stayed a few days in the tiny, ancient city of Pingyao, where a medieval wall still surrounds the clusters of narrow alleys and pagodas. The crumbling bricks and dusty towers make Pingyao feel like the Chinese version of the Old West, and watching the sun set on the forgotten city is way more peaceful than any of the big cities I've been to. Then it was time to move on to the queen bee of the Chinese hivemind: Beijing! I wasn't really sure I wanted to spend any more time on the big ugly cities, but I've always wanted to meet Udo for beers in a far away place. Anybody who knows Udo can tell you that he's very well traveled, seems to really ... read more

For the last week or so I've been back in Thailand, this time to the gorgeous Southern islands. I stayed on the island of Ko Phangan, which is famous for it's monthly Full Moon Party. Thousands of backpackers from all over the world come here to dance, wear glow paint, and drink cocktails so potent they're made in buckets. The days leading up the Full Moon were just as fun, and the actual event was packed beyond belief. There were fire dancers, enormous sound systems, and a perfect tropical backdrop for youthful celebrations of life. It was amazing, and like Vang Vieng in Laos, it's a real shame we don't have this kind of fun at home. When I wasn't twirling glowsticks under blacklights, I was cruising the island on a rented motorbike. It's the perfect ... read more

Wow. This is the kind of thing that happens to "this one guy who knew this other guy", but it really did go down just like in a movie. Arnthor is missing. Last night, we met some Danish guys who were keen to hit all the seediest bars in Bangkok. I had a couple drinks with them at the hostel bar before hand, but was falling asleep in my drink. Sheepishly, I went to bed instead of going out with the boys. Arnthor, however, wasn't slowing down at all. 10 am, one of the Danish guys stumbles down the stairs, looking greener than a seasick crocodile. He had clearly had a wild night. Good for him... but where was Arnthor? He thought he was with me. I thought he was with him. Eyebrows were raised. He ... read more