Compelled by the land of sahti, sauna, and the sea, I spent a month in Finland. Finns are unique among Europeans. Universally down-to-earth, straightforward, fun, and pragmatic, even the most rooted of Finnish urbanites still carries forest-dweller DNA. Although famously taciturn, Finns are not always quiet or withdrawn but rather, deliberate and respectful. My fascination…
Satan Laughing Spreads His Wings
“Happiness to me is so unreal…I tell you to enjoy life. I wish I could, but it’s too late.” “We sail through endless skies Stars shine like eyes, the black night sighs The moon in silver dreams Pours down in beams, light of the night The earth, a purple blaze Of sapphire haze in orbit…
New! Vancouver Travel Guide
Vancouver’s main asset is its good looks — you get views of towering mountains and calm ocean inlets from just about every street corner in Canada’s ultimate Pacific Rim outpost. Consequently, outdoor life draws many travelers to Van, and you don’t need to travel far to hit the slopes at Grouse or Cypress, be alone on hiking trails, take a swim in the ocean, or spot cool wildlife — you can see herons, seals, or even eagles mere steps from your hotel.
Meditations on North Korea
Few people think of North Korea as an inspiring place to visit, but for us it led to a flowering of thought and feeling that resulted weirdly later in muteness and a difficulty finding the right ways and means of expressing the impact the DPRK had on us. We visited in September of 2018, and…
48 Hours in Yangon
Landing in a new city after dark is like being blindfolded until you arrive at your final destination. You have no idea what anything looks like until your first peek out the window of the hotel room (if you’re lucky enough to have a window). At the lovely Loft Hotel, we not only have a…
So, craft beer is a thing in Bhutan.
It’s time to talk about what’s going on in the magical mountain kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutan has craft beer. In fact, Bhutan has very good craft beer, both traditional beer and modern American-style craft beer, and yes, it’s surprising because no one thinks of Bhutan when they think of beer. The depth of Bhutan’s indigenous…
Highlights of the Persian Gulf
One of the things we love about traveling is experiencing contrasts, especially the contrasts between tradition and modernity or between nature and urban life. Big cities offer some the world’s most intense contrasts–Mercedes Benzes weaving around ox carts in Mumbai; street stalls side by side with tablecloth restaurants in Singapore; luthiers and lapidary located a block from Lululemon in London. Persian Gulf cities…
Overpriced, but Not Overrated: Raw Fish at the World’s Most Famous Fish Market
We opted out of the 5AM tuna auction, instead heading to the Tsukiji fish market after the bustle of the wholesale event subsided. Throngs of tourists from all over the world purchased overpriced raw fish–often grossly overpriced–from the vendors and restaurants in the sprawling outer market that surrounds the more famous indoor wholesale section. I only slightly regret…
The Most Surprising Things About Japan
We expected Japan’s complex and diverse food culture, modern conveniences, Hello Kitty, polite social norms, and ubiquitous robots. But the following things came as a bit of a surprise: There are no trash bins, but streets are spotless. You are expected to carry garbage with you in your pockets or bags until the appropriate time. You never need…
So What is Japanese Ramen Really Like?
It takes years of training, a lifetime of commitment, a bellyfull of emptiness. That’s what it takes to eat a healthy bowl of real Japanese ramen. Top 5 Ramen of Japan: Kikanbo Spicy Ramen (カラシビ味噌らー麺 鬼金棒)! Loved everything about this ramen! It’s the bees’ knees. The boss hoss. And word up–they have a Tsukemen-only joint next door!…
Cuba in a Thousand Feelings
Being in Cuba may awaken in you strange sensations. None of the typical things you feel when traveling, such as awe or wonder. Instead, you may feel a combination of compassion and despair that creates something akin to numbness. It resembles the symptoms of shock. Before I go on: I’m from Miami. I have Cuban family. I grew up eating…
Love and Barley 