Lane Xang, or the Kingdom of a Million Elephants, is today known as The Democratic Republic of Laos. During the six weeks we spent there in early 2019, I discovered a country that was not as touristy as others we visited. At the same time, Laos had a particular European sophistication leftover from its days…
ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO
As I lay in my hammock watching the sunset paint the sky behind the green hills that surround the fishing village of Zihuatanejo, I realize just how lucky I am to be living here in this tropical gem. The movie “The Shawshank Redemption” was what made this small village on Mexico’s Pacific coast known. The…
Conceive, Believe, Achieve
I don’t have any tattoos. At 77 years old it’s taken me until recently to think of anything I would want to be painted on my skin for the rest of my life. I have identified two things that have been pivotal in my life. That title above is one of them. When I was…
MOTORCYCLING ON THE HO CHI MINH TRAIL
Our introduction to Easy Rider motorcycle tours began in Danang, Vietnam with a simple half-day trip from our hotel to Marble Mountain to see the sights. But this was just the beginning of what would turn out to be the best experience of our 5 month trip to S. E. Asia. My partner, Marie loves…
How my father influenced my travels
With Father’s day coming up, I began thinking about my father and how his life influenced my passion for travel. Growing up I heard all these stories over and over. As a Father’s Day “homage” I will retell some of them here. Morgan Livemore Knight was born in 1918. Together with his twin brother they…
Kho Phi Phi, the good the bad and the ugly
On December 26, 2004, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand was devastated by the tsunami that roared through the Indian Ocean as a result of the second largest underwater earthquake in history. Around 4,000 people on the island are believed to have died. Property loss was massive with over 90% of the island’s structures destroyed or severely…
MEXICO MEETS MOLKKY
Molkky, no, that’s not a spelling error. It’s in Finnish. Molkky is the name of a game invented in Finland in 1996 which has become the most popular beach and lawn game in Europe. In 2016 I was living in Zihuatanejo, Mexico overlooking what Conde’ Nast Traveler magazine has described as “Mexico’s best beach”. But…
ONE WORLD
Some time ago, I saw a documentary on Netflix called “One Strange Rock”. It was hosted by Will Smith and talked about how astronauts’ experiences in space had altered their perception of our planet. Invariably, they spoke about how seeing this bright blue and white orb in the blackness of space made them realize it’s…
The Most Relaxing Place On Earth
The most relaxing place on earth may be an island in landlocked Laos. Laos shares borders with Vietnam, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. Nowhere does it touch an ocean. However, the other thing it shares with all those countries is the mighty Mekong River. In far southern Laos on the Mekong lies the area called…
Borders Are Just Lines Drawn on Paper
I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Before I started kindergarten my family moved to Puerto Rico, where I grew up. I have lived in 6 different countries for at least a year and traveled to another 36. One thing I’ve learned in these travels is that basically we are all the same. No matter…