The Tale of Tong Jan

Sometimes the work we do for the elephants can be heartbreaking. And sometimes it gets so hard that I can’t bear to take any more. And when that happens, I take a deep breath. And I think about Tong Jan.

TTT #3: Top 13 Tips for a Long Bus Ride

Comparing an 18-hour bus ride through Peru to a 5-hour bus ride in Cambodia is like comparing jalapeños to tarantulas. Both have their positives, both have their drawbacks, both say a lot about where you’re traveling, and both are delicious if you’re in the right frame of mind.

They Have a Song For That

Jessica and I are squeezed into the back seat of the cab with our new friends Paul and Caroline, who days earlier had invited us to come with them on this cultural pilgrimage to the heart and soul of the Argentinean identity: a football game. (That’s “soccer” for those of you playing along at home in the US.)

Cheers, To All Our Friends

I miss meeting new friends, travelers and locals alike. I especially miss the instant connection we had with other travelers – the instant bond where all the bullshit and the small talk is cut out, and you get to what’s really important.

TTT#2: Concerning Small Backpacks

There is not one piece of equipment more integral to the backpacker than the eponymous backpack itself. Given this fact, it seemed only right to ruminate briefly on what makes a good backpack, a well-packed backpack, and a backpack likely to confer happiness onto its wearer.

A Day in Kampot

Kampot is the essence of why we fell in love with Cambodia. This sleepy provincial town could not be more removed from the hustle and bustle of hectic Phnom Penh. Instead of cars and motorcycles, here it seems virtually everyone travels by bicycle.

On Anniversaries

The day we landed in Buenos Aires, March 4th, 2005 marked the beginning of everything. I’m sure there are people in the world (perhaps even reading this right now) who think we were a bit crazy to do what we did. Selling everything we owned, quitting our jobs, and saying goodbye to life as we knew it to chase a dream. We might have seemed a bit crazy. But I wouldn’t change any of our decisions for the world.