Compass & Camera

History, a Photograph and the View Over Guantánamo

The song accompanying this post is Guantanamera performed by Manos Libres, a musical group we loved in... Read More
Postcards From Trinidad

The song accompanying this post is Hasta Siempre Comandante performed by Dúo Real, a guitar duo we listened to while dining on the outdoor deck... Read More
Leaving My Heart in Havana

The song accompanying this post is Besos Discretos performed by Fusión Caribe, a fantastic band on the streets of Havana. Video follows below. ... Read More
Add a Bali Villa to Your Travel Bucket List

One of the things I love most about blogging is the support of fellow writers.... Read More
Gong Xi Fa Cai! A Love Letter to Asia

Arriving with a scaffold of expectations doesn't help if you're setting sail on an ocean of possibilities.... Read More
Road Trip Oman: Nizwa and Final Thoughts

We arrived in Nizwa last night after a long day exploring Jebel Shams and the aged village of Misfat Al Abriyeen. Today is our last... Read More
Magical Maldives

Like drops of glass in a cobalt blue ocean, the islands of Maldives look like they exist in their own world. We... Read More
The Allure of Sri Lanka

We arrived in Sri Lanka late on a Friday night, unable to see the country's landscape from... Read More

February 25, 2016August 25, 2016

— 39 Comments

Treasures of Kyoto

Few places in the world mix charm and history like Kyoto, Japan. Spending just a few days here juxtaposes the past with the future for an unforgettable experience. Where else can you see a stunning trio of geishas walking through Gion while fixated on their smart phones? I visited Kyoto last December and while the... Read More

September 30, 2015February 29, 2016

— 14 Comments

Vancouver Hiking: Joffre Lakes

Just a couple hours from Vancouver, our group finds the trailhead and sets out into the forest seeking a trio of glacial lakes in Joffre Lakes Provincial Park.... Read More

September 14, 2015August 25, 2016

— 13 Comments

The Old Trees of Alishan, Taiwan

It's two days before Christmas and we miss the last bus to Alishan. With no backup plan, we resort to hiring a taxi to drive us up the mountain. It's an expensive endeavor, but so... Read More

August 23, 2015May 22, 2016

— 20 Comments

Telunas Island Getaway

After just 45 minutes, our ferry drops us at Batam where we're greeted by smiling employees from Telunas. They lead us out of the port to the gritty local dock where a... Read More

May 10, 2016August 25, 2016

— 26 Comments

Gathering of Nations 2016

The opening moment actually takes my breath away. The first drumbeat initiates a men's dance of such color and fervor I can think of nothing to compare it to. A blur of motion blows past me -- men spinning, dipping, stepping eloquently... Read More

November 16, 2014April 29, 2015

— 16 Comments

Regarding Everest

After seeing Mani Rimdu and an enjoying an overnight stay near Tengboche, we trekked farther up the Khumbu Valley toward Dingboche. The terrain relaxed into high altitude farmland, where rock walls delineated... Read More

November 7, 2014December 11, 2014

— 6 Comments

Blessed by Mani Rimdu in the Himalayas

This entry is Part 6 in a series about my trip to Nepal in 2005. The sudden flutter of activity at the front door of... Read More

July 10, 2014December 11, 2014

— 25 Comments

Cowbells & Caravans: How to Tour with the Tour de France

It's summertime and I've been in the U.S. working for the past three weeks, leaving my blog stagnant and unattended. So hey, why not share a timely post from the past? The 2014 Tour de... Read More

August 4, 2016August 25, 2016

— 26 Comments

Carnaval: Into the Heart of Cuba

Of my recent trip to Cuba, I can think of a hundred ways to tell you about my experience that make more sense than where I'm choosing to begin my story. I could write a logical day-to-day account from start to finish, or prioritize the sights I saw in a narrative path around the... Read More

November 18, 2015May 22, 2016

— 28 Comments

Snow Monkeys of Japan

If you're visiting Japan, thumbs up for the snow monkeys. Take the train from Nagano to Yudanaka station. Inquire at the information desk outside, and you'll be politely directed to the bus for Kanbayashi. Once... Read More

October 28, 2015February 29, 2016

— 30 Comments

Autumn at Stanley and Pacific Spirit

The beauty of Stanley Park and Pacific Spirit Regional Park speaks silently. An entire season's story unfolds in broad strokes of fall color knit with smaller discoveries like spider webs and mushrooms.... Read More

April 22, 2015

— 14 Comments

“Earth laughs in flowers.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Earth laughs in flowers." Here's a gallery of laughter in honor of Earth Day, photographed at Gardens by... Read More

April 9, 2015August 25, 2016

— 26 Comments

Road Trip Oman: Peaks and Valleys Near Jebel Shams

After two blissful nights on top of Jabal Akhdar we depart the hotel feeling completely relaxed, with the distinct scent of Frankincense wafting from our backpacks. We load into the Pajero, reluctantly wave goodbye and pick up a carpooler on our way down the road. He's an employee from the hotel who is about one... Read More

March 4, 2015August 25, 2016

— 11 Comments

Road Trip Oman: Secluded Luxury at Jabal Akhdar

After two nights of wild camping and one night in the desert of Wahiba Sands, we're a little rough around the edges. The Pajero is covered in dust and so are we. I'm looking forward... Read More

February 17, 2015August 25, 2016

— 33 Comments

Road Trip Oman: Foray Into the Desert

We wake up on the beach in Ras Al Hadd, having met a large yellow fin tuna and having enjoyed a peaceful night camping next to the ocean. The Omani sun burns... Read More

February 2, 2015August 25, 2016

— 31 Comments

Road Trip Oman: Wild and Wadi Camping

After relaxing into Oman at a resort on the coast, it's finally time for us to leave the comfort of Muscat and set out on our road trip. Oman’s... Read More

September 26, 2016

— 7 Comments

A Quest to See Killer Whales

We were very lucky on our quest to see killer whales yesterday. We spotted quite a few of them, just south of Vancouver in the Strait of Georgia, not too far from the shoreline at the airport. Sockeye salmon are spawning right now -- heading toward the Fraser River -- but they... Read More

August 26, 2016August 26, 2016

— 49 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Frames of the World

I love this week's photo challenge: Frame. I'm sharing three of my favorite travel photos. Oman We woke up early after a splendidly silent night in Wahiba Sands. The sun... Read More

August 5, 2016August 5, 2016

— 27 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Morning in Cuba

The patchwork masonry catches my eye. I walk closer and see her looking out from her window onto the street below. I hold up my camera to... Read More

July 14, 2016

— 6 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Look Up

Stash your shoes at the entry and have a look. These are the beautiful mandalas of the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore. Whether you worship, firewalk or come to admire the prolific... Read More