Walking in the door last night to where I started several months ago brought a massive wave of relief, accomplishment and joy over my… — Walking in the door last night to where I started several months ago brought a massive wave of relief, accomplishment and joy over my wrecked shoulders and filthy backpack. Somehow, I had my arms, legs and spirits fully intact. …

a reflection of character — a reflection of character “If I went on a date with a girl and her car was as messy as yours, I’d be OUT of there.” “Well, lucky for you and I, we aren’t dating.” “I’m just saying, it’s a reflection of character.” “That is absurd, it isn’t. A reflection…

10,000 steps with my kindred Chinese spirit. — The trek up Emei Mountain was, in a word, humbling. Humbling because you never realize how out of shape you can truly feel until you climb a 10,103 foot mountain… of STAIRS. Humbling because of breathtaking, foggy cliff drops next to temples. Which, I’ll note, are built into the path…

I love sleeper trains. In what other setting would a Chinese cop, a mattress salesman, an engineer/backpacker from New Zealand and myself… — I love sleeper trains. In what other setting would a Chinese cop, a mattress salesman, an engineer/backpacker from New Zealand and myself be brought together, playing cards and drinking vile rice wine while stumbling over language barriers and cultural divides?

I’ve never loved and hated something so fervently as I do China. It’s a place that can bring you unrivaled joy and suck your soul dry… — I’ve never loved and hated something so fervently as I do China. It’s a place that can bring you unrivaled joy and suck your soul dry minutes later. …

an unpublished memoir of my polluted days from Chengdu, 2013. — an unpublished memoir of my polluted days from Chengdu, 2013. I take a drag. I feel the head rush, but it isn’t pleasant. I remember why I don’t breathe here. The inside of a bus has little air to offer apart from its polluted domain: the industrious, overpopulated city of…

why I hate itineraries — why I hate itineraries I’m never caught up, really. On sleep, on work, on postcards… I think it’s the tax of living everywhere and having a plan so little of the time. I read a questionably attributable quote once that said something like: “To do great things you need a…