Giving a Face to the Egyptian Protests

As I watch the Egyptian protests continue to unfold and reach new levels of upheaval, I keep thinking of the people I met in the country along the way.

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Final Thoughts on Island Hopping and the Full Moon Party

After a little over two weeks of island hopping and one Koh Phangan Full Moon Party later, I can easily say I’m islanded out. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Andaman Sea coast and the Gulf of Thailand and met some great people along the way, but the lifestyle a traveler lives on the islands is more akin to a college spring break than a cultural learning experience.

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The Parallels between Haiti and Koh Phi Phi

Although it’s fairly difficult to come by a television with English news, I’ve been doing my best to keep up with news on the recent earthquakes in Port au Prince, Haiti. As a traveler, it’s easy to let news fall to the wayside and just enjoy your time away from reality, but as a reporter, that’s more than impossible for me.

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It’s Just Emotions, Taking Me Over

I’ve left home before, but never like this. I get on my flight to Bangkok in just 12 hours. My bags are packed and I’m ready to go. I’m excited as hell, yet a part of me is so nervous for what’s to come. It’s natural, I know, but my emotions are seriously all over the map (apologies for the bad travel pun).

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Reviewing "A Map for Saturday"

I first learned about “A Map for Saturday” on a BootsNAll thread started by someone looking for movies or TV shows about the lives of backpackers. Immediately intrigued, I asked a friend to add it to his Netflix queue. The 90-minute documentary chronicles Brook Silva-Braga’s travels through four continents and over 25 countries. Throughout his trip, Silva-Braga forms relationships and interviews several solo travelers, aiding in telling the story of his life as a vagabond and the places he visits.

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How to Deal: The Reactions

Over the past few months, I’ve heard it all. From the references to "Taken," "Hostel" and other travel-thrillers to the ever-pressing “Get your act together, get a job and settle down,” I really feel like I have heard it all. So how do you deal with the reactions of others when there are more Eeyores than there are Tiggers? (And yes, that Disney reference just happened.)

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