Soles of a Nomad

I first heard “Ozymandias” as a kid. Decades later, I found myself at the Ramesseum—the very site that likely inspired it. The poem, the place, the wind—it all hit at once. A funny, reflective, and slightly sweat-soaked look at what a ruined statue can teach us about greatness, memory, and what really lasts.

Cape Town didn’t wow us—and that’s okay. In this honest guide, we share our experience along with practical tips for visiting Cape Town without the hype.

At the India–Pakistan border near Amritsar, soldiers strut, flags fall, and the crowd roars. The Wagah border ceremony is part dance-off, part military ritual, and all surreal. What’s meant to stir national pride left me more contemplative than triumphant—because travel sometimes shows us how borders divide as much as they define.

We entered Nepal past a silent line of trucks. What we didn’t realize was that the road told a story—a blockade, a border, and a country gasping for breath.

Once upon a backpacker’s budget, I wandered Nepal with a creaky wallet and a pack of momos. Things have changed—fees, forms, and guides required. Worth it? That’s complicated.

Luang Prabang is a tourist trap—and that’s OK. Between the kitschy night market, Western restaurants, and surprisingly good cheese, this little Lao town offers a charming, if touristy, escape

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.

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.

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.

A massive tree grows atop the temple of Ta Prohm Finding Solitude and Awe Among Cambodia's Ancient Temples   I went to Cambodia, more or...

My Friend in Namche Bazaar Making Friends Around the Language Barrier   I met the man in the above photograph in Namche Bazaar, Nepal....

The Pyramid of Skulls The Basic Question   The sign in front of me read, "Please don't walk through the mass grave!"  I was on the...

A section of the lunch counter from Goldsboro, NC A Day of Monuments, Museums, and Meaning   On a family trip to the mainland, we spent...

Moscow’s subway was confusing—but meeting Boris turned a frustrating journey into one of the most meaningful experiences of my travel life.

In Nepal's sacred Pashupatinath, I watched life end on the ghats—and saw two boys collect a dead man's belongings from the river. What disturbed me most wasn't death itself, but what it made me question about my own life.

If travel = life, and life = food, then travel = food. Join our family as we slurp, nibble, and savor our way across the world—and learn the five rules we live by when food is the destination.

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.