Was less a dream actually and more a collection of moments saturated in the musk of remembrance strung together with the frayed strings of the sadness of what will never be. I pulled you to me confidently and you fit perfectly along the contours of my silhouette. I titled your head back ever so slightly with the bridge of my finger and kissed you... A slow, incredibly long all-encompassing kis

I lived in France for about a year working with a French company in 2004. My first assignment was in an EXTREMELY small village that had all of 50 residents. Yes, you read that right, 50 people! The company I was with doubled the size of the population while we were there. These were two part observations for France as I knew what I observed for small village France would not be the same once I go

Traveling isn’t just about seeing, it’s also about experiencing. One can visit the most scenic of locales and other than a few photos and souvenirs, leave with nothing of real value. Even the memories seem, less. While a random conversation at a grocery store, a shop owner inviting you for a coffee, and a barista explaining which fish & chip shop has the perfect fish batter in a small seas

Here is the second part to my French Observations. Hope you still find them amusing and thought provoking. One of the strangest things I have observed by far in my travels. In France, they start counting on their thumbs, where as in the states if we begin counting we usually start with our index finger and the thumb is five. That in itself is no big deal at all. The big deal that after 2 ½ mon

While I didn’t have as many outstanding experiences in Sri Lanka as I did in Myanmar, if you visit Sri Lanka, you should definitely try to frequent these establishments or experiences these sites. Colombo - 1 night As I was in Colombo for less than 24 hours I have no suggestions. My hotel for that one night should be a fallback if no other accommodation is available, as in check to

On the upper most peak of Lion’s rock there is a single entrance and exit. It can get congested like evening rush hour as tourists walking up interlace chaotically with the tourists walking down. Waiting my turn to dive into the human commotion I noticed a group of teenage monks doing what teens do, talking a little too loudly, laughing a little too much, and taking

It’s probably not the best idea to even attempt to see a country as full of wonders as Myanmar in 8 days. But when you’re not a professional traveler you do what you can when you can. Getting to Myanmar was a journey in itself. A 4 hour train ride to Frankfurt started it off. Then a 10 hour Air China flight from Frankfurt to Beijing, a short layover, then Beijin

Visiting Myanmar is like 2 lovers running into each other again years after the relationship ended on good terms. There’s a strong sensation of familiarity that takes a moment to place where you experienced it before. Then, a gentle pull on your senses and you’re tumbling through a collection of real memories infused with make-believe. That is Myanmar.

I lived in France for about a year working with a French company in 2004. My first assignment was in an EXTREMELY small village that had all of 50 residents. Yes, you read that right, 50 people! The company I was with doubled the size of the population while we were there. These were two part observations for France as I knew what I observed for small village France would not be the same once I go

Traveling isn’t just about seeing, it’s also about experiencing. One can visit the most scenic of locales and other than a few photos and souvenirs, leave with nothing of real value. Even the memories seem, less. While a random conversation at a grocery store, a shop owner inviting you for a coffee, and a barista explaining which fish & chip shop has the perfect fish batter in a small seas

Here is the second part to my French Observations. Hope you still find them amusing and thought provoking. One of the strangest things I have observed by far in my travels. In France, they start counting on their thumbs, where as in the states if we begin counting we usually start with our index finger and the thumb is five. That in itself is no big deal at all. The big deal that after 2 ½ mon

I very rarely go back, to countries that is. I revisit cities I’ve vacationed in, but never a country I once lived. A part of me has a deep significant fondness for exploration that is stronger than the gratifying tranquility of remembrance. The pull of the undiscovered is a powerful ally for my sense of adventure. Also, I’m afraid. It’s one thing to pass through as a tourist; a temporary di

“In the eye of a hurricane at sea, the ship is pitching, rolling, yawing and surging, so it takes awhile to realize the wind isn’t howling anymore. In fact, it’s stopped completely. You have the momentarily hopeful thought you’ve moved out of the storm. Then you realize only the wind is quiet, but the seas are not getting any smaller, you’re about to get your ass kicked in the very near

  Preface I can recall the exact moment when pen met paper; my first entry on the first page of my first journal. Since that day, many years have passed and the vast majority are well documented. I say that so you know this is no work of fiction. Every emotion, action and conversation are born of truth. Time often bends memories to fit our own narrative, but ink is the

While recounting all of the countries we’d lived and visited, a good friend asked me, “From or to?” Unsure I’d heard him correctly, my reply was, He laughed and repeated his question very slowly, enunciating every word like I was the village idiot. “FROOOOM, OOOOOR TOOOOO?” I believe, “Negro, no more alcohol for you!” was my response. He explained his

Reservoir Dogs, directed in the 1990’s by Quentin Tarantino, was a game changer for me when it came to movies. The disjointed timeline style had me so captivated that as soon as the film ended I went out and bought another ticket to the next showing. For a teenager with not m

Was less a dream actually and more a collection of moments saturated in the musk of remembrance strung together with the frayed strings of the sadness of what will never be. I pulled you to me confidently and you fit perfectly along the contours of my silhouette. I titled your head back ever so slightly with the bridge of my finger and kissed you... A slow, incredibly long all-encompassing kis