Travel stories written while I’m on the road exploring. So many adventures and experiences pop up each day, I’ll begin by managing them under travel stories and invite you to follow along.
In little over 8 hours, I’ll get on the ferry from Gorontalo for the Togian Islands. Tomorrow morning, when we arrive, I’ll get a boat with friends or wait until the 4:00 pm public boat and head to the northern most island, Melenge. My friends told me it was their favorite. Equipped with clean clothes […]
Immersion and off grid Read More »
One night at Daniel’s, I looked around the dining area and noticed all the different conversations taking place. Russian, French, Spanish, Indonesian, Dutch, Canadian, a woman from China, a man from South Korea, a couple from England….what a mixed pot! One of the Russian’s got a bit belligerent the next afternoon. I think substituting beer
Today is…..well, today. I’d have to find my watch and look up the day to know any different. After three days of traveling, the last one being the longest, I landed in Manado. Manado is the largest city in Northern Sulawesi with a major airport and harbour. Before arriving, I had called a couple hotels
Manado arrival, it was “today” then…. Read More »
Today, with so much time on my hands and with my trip feeling it is changing into a new phase, I had a bit of a haunting question pop up. After traveling like this for three and a half months, how will I ever fit back into my old life and existence? New friends every
A haunting question Read More »
The reality of traveling the way I am is that it does take time. Two days ago, I left Semporna by minivan and headed to the harbour. Through the downtown area, stumbling along to find the harbour and immigration, I finally made it to my boat. It cost for travel so much more than days
Travel realities as I sit in Balikpapan waiting nearly 7 hours…. Read More »
OK, figured out why they call it “paradise”, no one knows what I’m talking about or where it might be? When I ask about an island close to here for snorkeling, they all refer to Derawan which is a long trip. So, I’m off looking for a new paradise which in many ways, I’ve found
Paradise is evasive in Manado, Sulawesi Read More »
I walked around town and found the one hotel that has WiFi and even though I am not staying here, they gave me the password to use their system. The internet cafe next door was completely full. Not a tourist in sight, only small children playing computer games. So, here’s the latest scoop. I’m sitting
I’m here, wherever that is…. Read More »
Today, I went snorkeling. It was lovely, lots of fish, many turtles, moray eels, colorful fish, unusual and weird fish, and a lot of dead coral. Whether from dynamic fishing of years past or heating of the ocean, a lot of the coral was dead. When I was near live coral, the fish population exploded.
Mystery tour beginning tomorrow Read More »
Two days of interesting encounters between yesterday and today. I went walking to the Post Office in Sandakan and was the only tourist there. In fact, once I left the area of the waterfront, I didn’t see another tourist. Everywhere, people looked at me shyly but kept looking back like they hadn’t seen a tall
Semporna: wonderful encounters, snorkeling and nearing the end of Borneo Read More »
I’ve stumbled upon great places to stay and eat on my trip that are not listed on the internet or in Lonely Planet. It’s a strong desire of local business’s to be listed in Lonely Planet as it can really increase their business. However, there are thousands of wonderful little places that are never mentioned
Sandakan: dining and our friend Miu Read More »
A very mysterious thing happened when Steve, Sam and I arrived in Sandakan: the rain stopped. Really, for two whole days, no rain!!! Amazing! Amazing and hot! Our first day here, we had breakfast at Sandakan Backpacker Hostel and headed of on the Heritage Trail Walking Tour. Equipped with a map from the most friendly
Sandakan and Labuk Bay Sanctuary: good friends, food and adventure! Read More »
I am out of the jungle. Pretty amazing journey once again! After my last quick entry, the spontaneous and magical moment of getting off the bus at just the right spot, seeing a sign for Uncle Tan’s, meeting Diego, renting a room, finding out I could go on the river trip that afternoon (in 35
Sabah, Malaysia (Northern Borneo): exhilarating and sad! Read More »
Back in Ranau and waiting for my wonderful dinner to arrive, I opened a new mystery novel I bought in Penang. Those words were the introduction page before the first chapter began. “The unapparent connection is more powerful than the apparent one”. Today was another example of it for me and no surprise that those
“The unapparent connection is more powerful than the apparent one” Heraclitis, 500 B.C. Read More »
From ages ago to this instant, I’ve landed in Borneo. July 2010, when the thought first struck me, it seemed like such a long way off! I started reading as I knew virtually nothing about Borneo, then learned how much there was close to here. A short trip to explore Borneo expanded to a full
Months or moments and a few degrees of separation? Read More »
I’m sitting in the Penang, Malaysia airport waiting for my flight to Borneo. What a nice way to begin the new year, wandering about a place described as “Mother Nature’s Fantasy”. I’m looking forward to more flow in 2011 and grateful for the sense of flow that’s pervaded every day of my journey so far.
A brief note on a thought bouncing around my head. I just finished helping two people with ideas for how to travel in Sumatra and where they might want to visit. Angelica form Germany has back trouble so won’t be interested in long bus trips. Dan is from Switzerland and considering going as well. I
Inexperienced Expert! Read More »
Last night, I attempted to book a ticket with Air Asia for my flight on to Borneo. On the way back from the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Chocolate Botique, I got off the bus in front of Air Asia offices near here. After printing a copy of my return flight information, she
What am I thinking?! Force never works as good as flow. Read More »
Yesterday, I left Bukit Lawang at 11:00 am and arrived here in Penang at 11:00 pm. Jimmy was closing up shop but kept the final section of security door ajar. I knocked saying hello! He and Julia responded together, “Larry, is that you?” Ah the comfort of new friends! Jimmy confirmed I can and should
Ah HA! I may have found it!!!! Read More »
Merry Christmas! It’s Christmas Day here and I’m in the one internet place in all Bukit Lawang. Last night, I came to do some work and the power went out. This morning, I’m sitting here in this cool little spot with flat white river rocks for the floor waiting for the humongous tower above to
Christmas in Bukit Lawang Read More »
There is a flow to life, a flow that operated everywhere! Much of the time, people are simply to busy, preoccupied, to focused on “their” goals, or simply out of touch to notice. Richard Bach made this point in the introduction to the book “Illusions” by sharing a similar story: Once, there was a village
Travel Magic: What is needed shows up! Read More »