Once in a while I get the question: What’s your favorite country? My answer has typically been: ‘the exact place I was in, or the last new country I had drifted to’. Sheer newness elevates optimism. Fresh surroundings breed content and enhanced excitement.

While Vietnam’s coffee allure may have pushed me into consuming more caffeine than ever, it also nudged me to give it up, at least for the last 19 days. I have no immediate intention on stopping this cold-turkey endeavor. Still, the abstinance could

I awoke around 4:15 a.m. I don’t want to deal with electronics at that hour. It’s a deal I’ve made with myself. Although the habitual thought loomed, I observed it, and let it slip away. Psychological win! Mostly, the only thing mindful was

The wide sidewalks, yet long blocks make Danang a pleasant alternative to Hanoi’s cluttered streets and practically endless buzzing traffic. Hanoi’s Old Quarter thrives in organized chaos while Danang seems to prosper without this potentially-perceived pandemonium. Danang has a wide, luxuriously-long, soft-sandy beach.

Laos is a land to love. It’s an earth space that can have you feeling like you’ve stepped back in time, while simultaneously, the country seems to be developing at a moderate pace. I don’t believe that Laos is well-known to most of

A current drifting mantra of mine is Wellness. In eastern Asia I get to take advantage of incredibly affordable saunas or more accurately herbal steam. Sauna, herbal steam, I’ll happily take whichever I can get. It’s called a sauna when in essence it’s

On foot in Panama City, I ordered a fruit shake from a drive through window. I was charged for, and got four huge shakes in styrofoam cups. My Spanish language ability was supposed to be functional. I was on a tight budget, but

Buying and haggling for things in most Asian and other developing countries can be a different experience compared to in Europe and North America. Away from shopping malls, stores, and street food stalls, getting used to haggling in the developing world is something

When drifting in a land not one’s own, it behooves a visitor to take time to think about why learning numbers abroad is a great idea, along with the phrase ‘how much?’. Many vagabonds might disagree, as I’ve observed that the vast majority

Visiting the Khon Kaen National Museum in central Isaan, Thailand, implements an interesting look into yesteryear. Archaeology museums give a glimpse into the past by way of teleportation or time travel. Why not engage the mind in a museum? That was my impromptu