Snapshots and Memories

From the very beginning of our trip, Tim and I have had a little tradition whenever we arrive in a new country. It’s a simple tradition, but it never fails to make me smile. Every time we’ve begun the next step of our trip in another country, Tim will whisper in my ear, “Welcome to ______.”

Hedgehogs Without Borders Version 2.0

We’ve received several questions from family, friends, and fans (ok, readers: but fans worked better with the alliteration) asking if we’re going to continue to post on Hedgehogs Without Borders now that we’ve arrived home.

The Stuffy Who Fell On The Floor

In my last post, I mentioned that even though we’ve only recently returned to the United States, Tim and I had plans to visit Thailand again for 2.5 weeks. In addition to spending more time at Elephant Nature Park, there was a very specific reason we were returning to the land of smiles so soon after our round-the-world trip had ended.

TTT#1: Your Mileage May Vary

Especially when you’re just starting out on your trip, you can sometimes find yourself wanting someone to tell you what to do. You want black and white answers to gray-area questions. If I can’t drink the local water, can I brush my teeth with it? Should I give money to street beggars? Is it safe for them to shove my beloved backpack up onto the roof of the bus?

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.

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.

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 #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.

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.