This introduction to Part Two marks an important transition from academic-style essays about tourism to stories about actual travel experiences. “Northern Threads” was designed to illustrate the learning process of a novice traveler. It explores many of the mistakes that I have made while on the road and offers warning about how to avoid them. (more…)
Lost luggage can happen to anybody, especially when trapped in a major typhoon. This true story show how difficult it can be to track down a suitcase from inside a speeding taxi cab while unable to speak the language of a foreign land. It also explores the joy of being stuck at an airport after a canceled flight. (more…)
This true story recalls the time that a Mikey Finn was slipped into my drink on Christmas day, while I was celebrating and drinking cheap whiskey with local Thai hoodlums. Not surprisingly, I woke up without my wallet near a secluded alleyway. It was at this time that I discovered the real meaning of Christmas. (more…)
Package tours can be a curse to free-spirited travelers. This story describes my one and only experience with a package tour and the sensation of being stuck on a bus full of people that don’t like each other. It ends with a truly horrific experience on a crowded Korean train. (more…)
English teaching can be an accidental path taken by recent university graduates, who often have more student loans than job options. For the new expatriate, pubs are a great place to meet and share ideas about a foreign land. However, if you look underneath the surface, there are many social politics and conflicting cultural dynamics hidden within the walls of taverns. (more…)