BAGAN: EXPLORING MYANMAR’S MOST WONDROUS SIGHT (Dear friends. No, I’m no longer in Myanmar. I’m actually in Brazil, but time didn’t allow me to finish blogging on my last trip until now. So, here is a little more on Burma, before I blog on Maceio. Among the joys of travelling are meeting of travelers and at times bringing down stereotypes. I had a chance to do just that as I started my journey to Bagan and the sights of the centuries old temples of which first drew my attention to Myanmar. From Inle to the Heho airport I shared the taxi ride with Laura, an incredibly talkative and friendly girl from Latvia. She was nothing like the stereotypical person from the Baltic region: “cold, unfriendly,…”. Arriving at the airport, I meet 2 very arrogant, unfriendly Brazilians. ... read more

BEFORE TAKING OFF TO SE ASIA: Months in advance, my ticket, free on miles, is ready, but the not forecasted diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis, a painful inflammation on the shoulder, threatened my journey. Well, the doctor categorically said “go, anyways”, and that was all I needed to get my visa and trekking shoes and start packing. The morning of the long awaited trip arrived. I was certain that my flight is at 8:20am, so despite waking at 5, I hung in bed. At 5:55am, I had an urge to check my ticket and it read: departure time 6:40am!!! I panicked, woke Amanda up and in record time got my bags and rushed to the car, still in my pajamas, and headed to the airport hoping for a miracle. I started to change my clothing in the ... read more

NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE CHILLED IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA As I prepare to head to Colombia with the whole family, a country famous for being the world’s largest producer of cocaine, friends were quick to inquire: "Isn't that dangerous?", "Is this a safe place to travel to?” My travel book is contradictory. First it states that "Colombia’s back. After decades of civil conflict, it’s now safe to visit". Then, it gives a little bit of not so great news: "The drugs may still be here but the violence is gone, at least for now." But then, at the bottom of the page, after giving me a sense of security, it comes with this: "Travel Alert: Travelers should exercise vigilance at all times due to the level of violent crime. Although kidnapping and homicide rates in urban ... read more

WHAT AN OCTOBER! Definitely can't complaint this one has been uneventful. Early in the month, Amanda and I got to see the legendary song writer, musician, and activist, Bob Dylan, right at home in Gainesville. On his 70's, the voice is still barely there, but boy he can still draw a crowd! The arena was full of old folks and young dudes alike. Amazing to think that Dylan has been on the top of stages since the early 1960's! Mid-month and the two of us hopped in the car and headed to Georgia , where we saw the Dalai Lama. He wasn't in Daramasala, his home in exile, when we visited India in 2008, so we joined him here in Atlanta during this conference on compassion and meditation. East met West at Emory University to unveil ... read more

On the early morning hours of day 4, we took a ferry on the deep blue Aegean Sea to our first island.. Syros was chosen because we wanted one of the 2 islands we picked not to be too touristy, and our Greek friend George suggested it. As we approached the island from the ferry we could see the relatively small capital town of Hermoupolis set on a hill. What cached my eyes immediately were two big churches: the catholic St George Cathedral with the blue dome on top of the hill, and the Byzantine Orthodox Church of Anastasis on the middle of the hill. Off the ferry, the first thing we did was to get lost trying to find our way to the hotel in the intertwined maze of narrow crooked streets going up ... read more