Soles of a Nomad

We thought planting rice in a Karen village would be simple. It wasn’t. Our backs gave out, the world spun, and we walked away muddy, sore, and deeply grateful. 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.

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.

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.

Traveling with kids means planning ahead for the tough days. In Battambang, Cambodia, we created one perfect day—kayaking lazy rivers, hiking to mountaintop temples, and watching thousands of bats stream into the night—before facing a long travel day. A joyful reminder of why we travel together.