aboundlessdrop

It's April of 1979. Survivors of one of the deadliest genocides in history return to their homes. They make their way from the countryside where (if they were lucky) they spent their days as slave laborers working the rice fields. It's time for rebuilding. As many as two million people died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. Some were worked to death, starved and malnurished. Others were imprisoned, tortured and forced to make false confessions. Shortly after, they were often taken to killing fields where they were beaten to death and buried in mass graves. You're thinking of them now. You start the day at the Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh. The Genocide Museum is a former Khmer Rouge prison converted into a memorial center with the purpose of educating people about the Cambodian Genocide ... read more

You’re lying face up, staring at a light bulb. Feel the cold tile on your palms, hear the dead silence. Light refracts more as the tears form in your eyes, and after they fall the light dims. You’re crying your heart out now. No watch, no way of knowing how long you’ve been here. After what seems like hours help arrives; out of the darkness they come. Their white robes resemble those of priests and their smiles are warm and inviting. They raise you up and place you in bed where your mind and body can rest. Rewind Vang Vieng, Laos. Substances of all forms are easily accessible here. You want alcohol? Ask your bartender for a bucket. A bucket is a half-gallon sized drink that includes 3-6 shots of alcohol (exact amount unknown), an energy ... read more

The brightest of neon lights contrast with the dark and flicker in the night sky. The loudest of sounds project from speakers in the highest of pitches and the deepest of tones. From where you’re standing you can hear music from three different bars and smell the food from six different restaurants. You’re in the middle of it all. Line a street with businesses; stack a layer of businesses on top of those businesses and add another layer of businesses in between those businesses. A month’s worth of advertising enters your brain in a matter of seconds; consumers beware here. Patong is located on the island of Phuket in Southwestern Thailand. It is famous for its 3.5km (2.2 mile beach) and for its nightlife. Hotels line the waterfront and surrounding areas; Patong is like a Las ... read more

This isn’t you. If people are like characters in a play, you’re playing another character right now. Hop onto another side of your brain. You’re at a boat party on a pirate ship. Turntables spin, electronic music blasts, deep bass sends vibrations as far as the eye can see. Aside from a few people tormented by a combination of sea sickness and a lack of self-control at the open bar, people are ecstatic; hands in the air, hugging strangers, screaming song lyrics ecstatic. Your eyes wander. 360 degrees of sun soaked grinning beautiful souls; uniting for the sake of uniting, brought together by music and this generations preferred social lubricant; alcohol; unnecessary but ingested. Beads of sweat form as ice cubes melt within seconds in the scorching sun. Dancing increases body heat, the added moisture makes ... read more

Day 1 Rubber tires skid on asphalt; a sharp curve catches you off guard. The oncoming traffic is unpredictable; a bus driver neglects to use his horn on the turn. You’re feet away now; eyes locked on the bus. You jerk your bike to the right, it falls and it slips away from you as you drift the corner. Life doesn’t flash before you but heart beats reach astonishing rates. Somehow you manage to ditch the bike and keep your footing. Impressive athleticism or amazingly good fortune, who knows? It is day 1 of Peru’s Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu. A bus takes us up to 5000 meters. Step outside now. Bitter cold; fingers turn purple. Strap on helmet, adjust protective gear, listen to instructor’s safety briefing. You’re on a mountain bike now, heading straight down. ... read more

It's hot. Beads of sweat drip down my face. Lost; I can't find my way around town. My 50 pound backpack is weighing heavy in the mid-day sun. I'm walking. Current mission; find a place to sleep. Smoggy air, trash-ridden sidewalks, traffic is bumper to bumper. First impression; I'm not getting good vibes from Guayaquil. Three hours later I am here. I rest my bones and wait for the morning light...the monsters await. Leather skin, sharp claws, beady eyes. They stare you down; fearless creatures. I glance to my left and see one attack a child; the boy is crying now. I can't help but laugh. Call me an ass. Call me evil. But trust me; iguana's are harmless. Downtown Guayaquil is home to an array of churches and museums. This fact is of no interest ... read more

Surrounded by countryside and farmland; this city is ripe with cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, and pine trees. Cuenca, Ecuador sits at about 2500 meters above sea level. Circa the equator; Cuenca is blessed with a temperate climate...45 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit (7 - 21 degrees Celsius). With a population of about half a million; Cuenca has the perks of a big city without a "big city feel." Small town folks. Peoplen here seem friendly and inviting. I'm alone now. My travelling buddy heads to the coast while I break for the mountains. I find comfort here. Cuenca. Cuenca it is. From what I read it is beautiful. I can't tell yet. It is 3am and I'm sitting in a hostel...awaiting sunrise. I close my eyes for a bit. Wake up, feet on cold concrete, head ... read more