Travel

Jared at Work! Jared is extremely knowledgable about coffee and very generous in sharing.  For decades, I ask questions wherever I go.  Those answers have given me new technique that totally changes what I am able to do with my coffee’s.  Jared is one of those people who shares a wealth of knowledge!  I’ve picked […]

Several small local collectivo vans drove by while I was waiting.  If you look closely toward the front of the top, you’ll see the head of the turkey.  Yes, there are really chicken buses here.  Schedules…not so much.  Somehow it all works!  Read on for more details! Days ago, I had WiFi!  Since then, I

Surprise! I made it…and there’s WIFI! Marathon travel day!!  Alert!  It might cause you some pain to read this!! My general policy is to leave early.  It gives me more options in case something does not work smoothly.  Generally, that works well.  However, in the confusion and contradiction of information about shuttle times, I wasn’t

The street in the image above was virtually a river one night.  For the past two evenings, there has been a lot of rain.  During the day, it’s been perfect!  Cool mornings giving way to late morning warmth.  Afternoon clouds cool it before it gets too intense.  I’ve experience no humidity discomfort so far.  But,

Amazing experience this morning! Awesome morning this morning!!!  I was one of if not the first person buying a ticket this morning to see the ruins.  Definitely not crowded at 8:00 am opening!  Cooler!  Quiet without all the crowds and group tours.  And the birds were very active.  Before I got to the security fence,

Outdoor bathroom, shuttle stop. Original Van. Second one newer and more comfortable. Adaptability! Yes, already!  Full on adaptability.  After a pretty smooth travel day yesterday, I was really pleased with my journey.  When I reached Guatemala City, Fernando had a name and a phone number for a driver who would be here at 3:00 am

Departure soon!  I’m finished with projects.  My home is prepared for winter.  All my little travel details, as many as I need to get done before beginning my trip, are all complete.   I’ve spent a lot of time online with various tech support people getting things working properly before I leave.  Once I’m am in

I haven’t been to Southern Guatemala in 20 years.  I’ve dreamt of seeing Copan, I’m going now.  And El Salvador, once the murder capital of the world, is now safe.  I’m going before it gets more commercialized.  Nicaragua, a friend has a farm there and might be there with his family for Thanksgiving.  And I’ve

Bye Ubud and Bali! Relaxing at Sandat Bali Pool Yesterday, I left Ubud and arrived in Sanur.  At some point in my travel experiences, I realized the benefit of finding a spot to stop, sit, relax, and recharge before flying home.  It clearly has relieved some of the travel stress involved in changing time zones,

My time here has flown by!  It’s been refreshing, after two months of travel, to be in one place relaxing.  I’ve had some great food, met awesome people, had healing sessions with Papa, taken a motorbike out for early morning exploration, attended a latte art class and so much more.  My first two months were

Back by the pool at Sandat Bali in Ubud! Coming back to Bali is a bit like coming home.  I love the culture, the energy and warmth of the people and the family feel of being in Sandat Bali.  This is home to my Balinese family!  After several months of planning, details, bus scheduled, coordinating

I suspected Laos was changing quickly after the high-speed train went in. It was completed in December 0f 2021.  This is the beginning of the third year of operation and already the change is dramatic.   I’m shocked by how quickly and how much it has changed.  Shocking!.From a quiet warm friendly personable country, it now

Immersion and now rest! Hello again!  It’s been a while since I wrote.  I’ve been immersed in traveling, exploring, planning, making coffee, and savoring a culture.  Leaving Luang Prabang by bus to go to Nong Khiaw, we traveled through neighborhoods untouched by the tourist invasion.  Foreigners tend to congregate in known and highlighted areas.  We

Flowing along, learning from experience being here rather than what I read from afar, and adapting constantly it seems.  Such a good practice!  I remember reading years ago, in the ages when people still traveled with “Lonely Planet”, about how current information was in the most current travel edition for a country.  A photographer who

It feels like yesterday, cold and sitting inside my closed-up home staying wary, I was looking at images of restaurants on the short of the Mekong River.  Now, suddenly, I am in that image!  Cool!  Awesome!Yesterday I explored Chiang Rai and got details for the bus travel for today.  Or, so I thought!  More on

Language exhaustion!  Yes, it is a thing!  What is it?  Intense concentration on listening and trying to communicate with people who speak, pronounce, and use language differently!  I realize that is part of what happened on my brutal and extremely painful trekking experience.  I communicated, clarified, made a video expressing my intentions and still…the experience was