When Christmas isn’t ho ho ho

Christmas 2011 ~ We’re halfway around the world for Christmas this year, the first time we’ve ever spent the holidays away from home and family. On the surface, it appears that our year-long around-the-world journey is a grand lark taken…
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Digging a hole to China

When we were kids and dug around in our backyards our parents would ask if we were digging a hole to China, so we always assumed China was directly opposite our little patch of Earth. As we got older we finally realized that China and the…
rickshaw driver
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Are you happier than a rickshaw driver?

In Sydney last night we had the opportunity to attend a worldwide movie phenomenon known as the "Happy movie", directed by American filmmaker Roko Belic. He was previously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary for the film, Genghis…

How can I convince my wife to visit Chernobyl for our 25th anniversary?

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. The amount of radiation has been reduced to somewhat manageable levels at the site---allowing intrepid visitors to make a strictly timed visit to the 30-km radiation zone that…
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Book Reviews: North Korea

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives In North Korea by Barbara Demick is a valuable peek behind the curtain of North Korea, a gray land whose monochrome pallor is broken up only by the bright colors in propaganda posters lauding their Great…
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Book Reviews: Lost on Planet China and China Road

Lost On Planet China: One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation By J. Maartin Troost   Lost On Planet China by J. Maartin Troost is one Westerner's take on the riddle of modern China. The…
Rocky steps Philadelphia Core Fitness

From the Rocky Steps to the world

As the most historic city in America, Philadelphia has nurtured accomplished citizens in all walks of life. But its most famous resident is a fictional movie character: boxer Rocky Balboa. Rocky represents the city’s hardscrabble image.…

Just go already!

Part of me feels fortunate to be taking a year off to travel around the world at this point in my life. The other part of me can’t believe it took me so long. I see all those twenty-something backpackers out there traveling long-term and…

What about all your stuff?

When we tell people about our plans for a year-long trip one of the first questions we are asked is, “What are you going to do with all your stuff?” It seems that there are two camps out there: “Pack Rats” and "Tossers.” To determine…

Either here or there

Are you here or are you there?  The answer depends on if you are a traveler or not. One of the interesting things about taking a year to travel is the response you get from the people you tell about your trip.  Reactions tend to fall…