Stories From The Road

Of all the stories and posts that have generally burst from my fingertips when I finally sit down at a computer, this one has certainly been the opposite. Being lost in distant thought while my senses were busy absorbing and assimilating new raw surroundings left me exhausted and confused. Cambodia is exploding with change and PEPY (the NGO who organized this ride and many of my friends and family helped me to support) led us right through the center of this force. Three weeks, 980 kilometers, dozens of great projects, hundreds of powerful and positive Cambodians and a million thoughts… Read more »

Having stayed in Nepal a week longer than planned, my itinerary through India turned into a whirlwind tour. At this point in my travels and after leaving the peaceful world of the Himalayas, this presented me with an annoying and exhausting mental problem: an intermittent bad attitude. Read more »

I decided to stay in Nepal an extra five days to see my friend Anne briefly on her unexpected business trip so I needed to entertain myself until she arrived. Lingering in Kathmandu eating pastries and apple pies was not an acceptable option. The Kathmandu Valley covers a huge circumference around the city and contains a wealth of cultural sites and interesting cities. The problem is, it’s hard to visit many places on a budget. It seems either you need to rent a taxi for the day or join an annoying cattle herding tour group… or buy a map and get creative.  Read more »

My goodness. This Solar Sister project was definitely an experience. Installing a solar light panel is easy. If you’ve ever experienced an Ikea instruction book, then you’ve got the idea. Getting the thing there and feeling your way around a remote village with unfamiliar customs and strenuous social demands is quite another thing.

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The Annapurna Circuit trek was phenomenal. I have no idea how to concisely describe such outstanding beauty. If I tried, I’m afraid I’d gush for hours. Therefore, I limited myself to a top ten list… which is not to say I’ll be concise. Ironically, “Hotel California” is playing at this Kathmandu internet cafe. On the trail I actually sang this song twice, both times with locals who had asked if I was from California when I told them I was American. I’ve always loved this song but who’d have guessed Nepalis do too! The man next to me is playing solitaire… shouldn’t he be addressing his needs for solitude with trekking or something?! But hey, here I am at a computer for the second day in a row! Okay, my list…

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Varanasi, the spiritual epicenter of India, certainly delivers an explosion for the senses. As I said before, I think it’s that which makes the difference between an anticipated (and possibly) disappointing image and one that vividly comes to life. This place is bursting with energy: one part life, one part death, and one part somewhere in between. At the heart flows the murky brown life transforming river Ganges. Read more »