Shmuel

Days 87-96: Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh & Hue

Ho Chi Minh After 18 hours of travel time (with a 12-hour layover in Bangkok), I was eager to settle in to my hostel and stretch my legs in Ho Chi Minh. Formally (and still commonly known as) Saigon, Ho Chi Minh is the largest city in Vietnam, surrounding the Saigon River. Saigon was theContinue reading “Days 87-96: Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh & Hue”

Traveling Bookclub V: View from the Summit by Sir Edmund Hillary

Unfortunately, I realized in the wi-fi-suffocated reaches of the Himalayas that I could not access the book I initially put down as my bookclub choice. On the bright side, the tea house I was staying at had another, tantalizing option – View from the Summit by Sir Edmund Hillary – the first person, along withContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub V: View from the Summit by Sir Edmund Hillary”

Days 66 to 87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part IV

Day 15: Lukla (2,830m.) -> Kathmandu (1,400m.) I woke up bright and early for my 6:30am flight back to Kathmandu. Determined to appreciate my last moments in the mountains, I watched the Sunrise from the airport, as the planes came in, dropping off fresh-faced trekkers eager to begin their journey. I felt a bit ofContinue reading “Days 66 to 87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part IV”

Days 66-87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part III

Day 8: Lobuche (4,930m.) -> Gorakshep (5,170m.) and Everest Base Camp (5,364m.) Today, Sophie and I had another early morning, starting our trek to Gorakshep at 5:30am. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy with snow flurries, making it a bit more challenging then usual to reach the next teahouse in Gorakshep, the original base camp forContinue reading “Days 66-87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part III”

Days 66-87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part II

Day 1: Kathmandu (1,400m.) -> Lukla (2,830m.) -> Benker (2,640m.) Bright and early, I caught a taxi to the Kathmandu Domestic Airport for my 7:30am flight to Lukla to begin the trek. Arriving an hour before takeoff (yes, only an hour), I headed to the one ticket counter, weighed my bag, and got my ticket.Continue reading “Days 66-87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part II”

Days 66 to 87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part I

I am going to divide this experience into 4 different posts: (1) Preparing for the trip and explaining the trek & logistics; (2) The trek to Ama Dablam base camp and Everest base camp; (3) The trek through Chola Pass, Renjo Pass, summitting Gokyo Ri, and the journey back to Kathmandu; (4) Exploring Kathmandu &Continue reading “Days 66 to 87: Nepal & the Himalayas, Part I”

Traveling Bookclub IV: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

The God of Small Things is a family drama novel written by Indian author Arundhati Roy. Her debut novel published in 1997, the book covers the childhood experiences of fraternal twins, Estha & Rahel, whose lives are significantly impacted by the “Love Laws” prevalent in 1960s India – basically, the societal regulations behind who oneContinue reading “Traveling Bookclub IV: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy”

Days 53 to 66: India & the Golden Triangle Part 2

The next day, I catch a train from Delhi to Agra, about 150 miles Southeast. Agra & the Taj Mahal Arriving in the evening, I met up with a few travelers I befriended at the previous hostel in Delhi (almost all backpackers on the Golden Triangle do the same route). Hungry, we all went outContinue reading “Days 53 to 66: India & the Golden Triangle Part 2”

Days 53 to 66: India & the Golden Triangle Part 1

Introduction I write this sitting at a cafe in the Delhi Tibetan colony. I sip a coffee and eat my eggs with aloo khalsa (spicy potato’s), tomato chutney, and tibetan bread, while 4 Tibetan monks sit to my right, drinking tea and watching Tic Tok videos on their phones. I look at them and theyContinue reading “Days 53 to 66: India & the Golden Triangle Part 1”

Travel Bookclub III: The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara

The Motorcycle Diaries felt like the right literary choice to conclude my time in South America – coupling an ‘Argentinian’ author with the larger socialist pan-American revolutions that took place over the course of the 20th and 21st centuries. In many ways, the book loops back to the start of my travels – when IContinue reading “Travel Bookclub III: The Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara”