Soles of a Nomad

Travel has a way of revealing things normal life politely hides. When you’re tired, hungry, lost, and making decisions together in unfamiliar places, personality traits quickly shape the whole trip. These eight rules aren’t about gear or booking strategies—they’re about emotional responsibility and how to make travel better for everyone involved.

Sulfur burps. Endless diarrhea. The sinking realization that this is not, in fact, “just something you ate.” After getting giardia three times on the road (Wyoming, India, and most recently Central Asia), I finally learned how to recognize it, treat it properly, and stop suffering longer than necessary. This post combines an embarrassing travel story with practical, field-tested advice for identifying and treating giardia while traveling.

Somewhere between “character-building discomfort” and “why does my spine hate me,” I decided to travel with inflatable mattresses. You can laugh now—but after a few weeks of rock-hard beds, you’ll understand why this might be the smartest travel tip for the fussy and the aging.

Wondering if you really need to learn about a country before you visit? You don’t have to become a historian or linguist—but even a little background can turn your trip from surface-level sightseeing into something far more meaningful. This post lays out two compelling reasons why doing some pre-trip learning helps you connect more deeply with the places you visit—and offers practical, reasonable-effort ways to get started.

Sea lions, penguins, and guano — oh my! The Ballestas Islands may not be the Galapagos, but they offer a chaotic and entertaining slice of coastal Peru. Here’s what to expect (and what not to).

Practical travel tips for Luang Prabang, Laos—including how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and how to enjoy this beautiful tourist trap without falling into common pitfalls.

Relentless touts in Vietnam taught me that humor and kindness go further than frustration — and made for one of my favorite travel memories.

Life on the Mekong River It is a Competitive World Out There   Everything is a competition.   There, I said it. You know this is true. I...