Over two years ago now, when I was in the planning stages for this entire crazy adventure that I’ve gotten myself into, my initial intention for this Round-the-World trip was just that: to embark on a journey around the world. If you’ve been following my journey since then, you’ll long ago have realized that, as it turned […]
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Mohinga, Shan Noodles, and a Fermented Tea Leaf Salad
Eating in Myanmar is, if nothing else, a sensory experience — one that engages many more tactile functions than simply those of your tastebuds. It lets you know that you could be nowhere other than Myanmar at that moment. Whether it is the vibrant spray a lime squeezed over a fresh salad, the sizzle and crackle of battered […]
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A Plain Full of Pagodas and a Temple in the Clouds
In an attempt to escape the swampy wetlands and torrential downpours that make-up the delta region surrounding the city of Yangon, the next activity on my itinerary was to move North into the (relatively) dry heartland of Myanmar to take in the temples and views of the sprawling geographical region known as Bagan. This area first came into […]
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Riding Out the Rainy Season in Rangoon
Beyond the heat and humidity of the sub-tropical climate and the numerous golden pagodas that comprise the city’s skyline, through the beige-colored thanaka make-up smeared delicately across the cheeks of most women and children and the red-stained teeth of betel-leaf-chewing taxi drivers, past the ever-present traffic snarls of a major metropolitan area that doesn’t allow motorbikes or the fact that most men seem to be […]
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Kayaking the Urauchi River and Fighting the Crowds in Kabira Bay
After having sampled every culinary treat I could find in Naha, and subsequently lounging off the post-meal malaise on the beaches of Zamami-jima, my next destination was that of the Yaeyama Islands in the very Southwest corner of the Okinawan Island chain (only a stone’s throw away from Taiwan, if that gives you a better idea of location). Continuing […]
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Goya Champuru, Taco Rice, and Awamori Liquor: The Unique Cuisine of Okinawa
Tokyo may be famous for its fresh sushi bars and seemingly uncountable ramen joints; the old capital of Kyoto offers diners a peek into the high art of Kaiseki cuisine as well as a variety of tea sweets; a trek into sacred Koya-san will lead one to the heart of the vegetarian Shojin-ryori fare of […]
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Arriving in Okinawa: Japan’s Tropical Paradise
Beyond the rustic aesthetic of the temples or serene nature of the shrines, the towering torii gates or the snow-capped mountains, the perfectly manicured gardens or elegantly choreographed tea ceremonies, or the flashy neon mega-cities and ultra-modern transportation methods lies another — and often overlooked — face of Japan: that of the tropical paradise of the Okinawan Islands. Its isolated […]
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Kumano Kodo – Part Two: The Towns, the Temples, and the Shrines
NOTE – Part One of my Kumano Kodo Experience can be seen by clicking here. Tanabe, Japan: Before ever setting foot on the mountain or steeping into the forest, most visitors choose to first make a pit stop through the town of Tanabe, just outside of which lies the beginning of the Nakahechi Trail, the […]
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Kumano Kodo – Part One: A Walk Through the Woods and a Soak in an Onsen
Due South of Kyoto, in the Wakayama Prefecture, lies the Kii Peninsula, stretch of forest and mountains that has long been thought to be the home of many Shinto deities, or spirits, known as “Kami” — which later morphed into expressions of the Bodhisattva as the Buddhist and Shinto faiths became intertwined within Japan’s religious beliefs. As […]
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A Two Day Teaser from Kyoto
When planning the final leg of my Round-the-World trip, I’ve had enough experience to know to account for some extra jet-lag recovery time before making any actual plans — and with this particular trip requiring me to re-set my body’s clock forward 13 hours (a significant adjustment), I knew that I’d likely need at least a few days before […]
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