Soles of a Nomad

Ever hunted eels barefoot in a flooded rice paddy? In Mae La Oop, Thailand, I got muddy, met a snake, and earned a delicious dinner. Another adventure brought to you by travel.

In a Karen village in northern Thailand, I learned how to shower using a pink bucket of cold river water—and how not to inhale it up my nose. Another lesson in barely managed chaos. Because travel.

Chewbacca noises. Endless mountain roads. A village with no restaurants or guesthouses. This is how we stumbled into Mae La Oop, and into one of the most life-changing experiences I’ve ever had.

No hotels. No restaurants. Just floor mats, rice, and an invitation into someone else’s real life. This is the first post from Mae La Oop, a tiny village in northern Thailand that left a lasting mark.

One shirt. Two armpits. Zero hot water. This is backpacker laundry done the hard way — with soap, sweat, and shivering.

Teenage friendships lost. Fried tarantulas gained. This is what one traveling dad hopes his daughters carry home from a year abroad. Because travel.

Our family of five spent five days sweating, wandering, and snacking our way through Georgetown, Penang. Here’s what worked — and what wasn’t worth it.

We took the night train from KL to Penang for the romance, the legroom, and the savings. The ferry was smooth. The walk? Let’s just say… sweaty.

Among the rubble and grime of KL’s riverside, we stood watching the sun set behind Masjid Jamek as the call to prayer rose. A moment worth the chaos.

Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur greeted us with noise, confusion, and a sandal full of something best forgotten. It only got weirder from there.

Melaka may be hot and humid, but it’s full of charm. Here’s how a family of five ate well, stayed cheap, and avoided the worst of the tourist traps.

Under a fan in a sweltering corner of Melaka’s Little India, we ate with our hands on banana leaves. Messy, sweaty, and completely wonderful.

We came for the famous cendol and assam laksa at Jonker 88 in Melaka. Instead, two of our kids nearly passed out — and we learned not to underestimate Southeast Asia’s heat.

Georgetown Malaysia street food is chaotic, delicious, and unforgettable. Here’s how we ate our way through noodles, nasi kandar, and pure happiness.

Surviving the humidity of the Borneo jungle wasn’t about strength — it was about surrendering to the sweat and embracing the discomfort. Because travel.

A night walk on the Kinabatangan River revealed an unforgettable sight: hundreds of spiders staring back at us from the jungle floor. Welcome to Borneo.

A slow stroll through the forest with Solomon, a dignified orangutan at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, taught me more than I expected.

At the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, we found not just orangutans — we found pure glee. An unforgettable encounter in the heart of Borneo.

The colorful streets of Georgetown In 2015 we made an overland journey from Singapore to Bangkok. One of our best stops along that route...

After traveling with our three daughters from the time they were babies to teenagers, we've learned a few tricks. Here are 10 tips that helped us survive—and even enjoy—traveling the world as a family.