About time I posted an update from Bali! I actually broke my laptop my first day in here- and by first day I mean within hours of landing in Bali after 36 hours flying from US my laptop simply would not turn on – so with some initial tears and “holy crap, I’m screwed” thoughts rolling through my head I was forced to hunt down a local computer repair center recommended by the locals (details at the bottom).
Telephone Conversation with my Computer Technicians
I’m going to jump right into my …

Nestled into the cozy, cushioned table beds in Café D’Noz on Lago de Atitlán I was taken off guard when my server climbed up onto the cushions to whisper in my ear. At first all I heard was a bit of hushed syllables inaudible over the blaring movie showing in the café. With a questioning look from me she repeated the sentence in a hurried voice and rapidly stilting English.
“If you have drugs – flush in toilet now, police do drug raid next door. Do now.”
San Pedro on Lake …

These past four months in Central America have been four of the hardest “travel” months of my life. I’ve been on the road for just under 18 months at this point and Central America has thoroughly exhausted me and essentially kicked my traveling ass.
I didn’t make a secret of that fact two weeks ago when I was frustrated beyond belief, sad, overwhelmed and just bone-tired of it all. It seemed like the Universe was conspiring against me, the gods of travel were just telling me to go home.
And …

Have you ever had those trips where you just feel like perhaps the planets weren’t aligned for you to be traveling right now? Everything is going minorly wrong, and it’s all adding up to be a bit exhausting?
I really hope that I am not alone, because this trip to Central America has been hard, like really hard. And it’s not any one thing that I can put a finger on because I still am really enjoying the countries I’m visiting and many of the unique experiences. I’ve even slowed …

I won’t say that it’s the most asked question I get when I’m on the road, but it certainly ranks right up there in the top ten, perhaps after the standard “where are you from?” and “how long are you traveling for?”
People want to know why I’m vegetarian.
And not just why, but also how I fare on the road being a vegetarian.
That’s a tough question to answer – on both counts. Because how I’m faring directly relates to the country…and in some cases to the experience.
So let’s first …

You know how that phrase “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry?”
Yeah, that about sums up most of my time in Belize and my major plans for the country.
I have read absolutely fabulous things about the diving in Belize. The Blue Hole has been on my bucket list for quite some time and the country boasts the second largest barrier reef in the world – sounded great!
But then a series of events forced me to completely abandon these plans and eventually just bail from the …

Dear my Lonely Planet: Central America on a Shoestring,

Why have you lead me astray? You disappointed me this past week at the Mexican/Belizean border crossing.

I love you, I nurture you, I pull you out of the depths of my bag when I’m in a pinch, and yet you disappoint at the weirdest times. You’ve got ten different hostel accommodations for some random, Podunk towns, but yet a mere paragraph about the actually fairly confusing border crossing between Mexico and Belize via Chetumal.

But also, you know, …

“Umm, did you hear that sound?” I oh, so casually ask Laura as we drive out of minuscule town of Doolin, on our way to the Cliffs of Moher.
Laura, partially deaf in one ear bless her heart, gives a definitive shake of her head and then re-launches into her story as I can’t shake the nagging feeling like something just happened to the car after the absolutely massive pot-hole I ploughed over at speedy 55 kilometers an hour.
With an ear tuned toward Laura’s story I continue carefully navigating my …