I’ve found myself happier recently. In fact, I think I’m probably the happiest I’ve been since pre-puberty, as cool as my 6th-grade bleached hair was. I want to understand why. I’m living in Bali, and at first brush one would think that alone should explain this. But if living in…

In my last post, I argued that Americans should take time to familiarize themselves with Indonesia and covered some polite dinner table topics like religion and politics. In this post, I continue that line with quick intros to Indonesia’s unique biosphere, explosive natural history, and lovely population. Ecological treasure Indonesia’s…

I moved to Indonesia about two months ago, visa issues finally resolved. So far, I’ve lived in Jakarta (Java), Ubud (Bali), and Canggu (Bali). I love it here. Indonesia is a country rich with history, culture, and spectacular nature. But American education barely even touches Vietnam, much less the rest…

I’m opening my mud-caked panniers as the rain smacks the ground, digging for the crumpled remains of a Clif bar to make a peace offering to my tyrannical appetite. After grinding through 70 snake-infested miles, my soaked body demands calories. I chew the stale bar as I pull the line…

Cappadocia doesn’t seem quite real. Sitting smack dab in the center of Turkish Anatolia is a natural and historical treasure that must have been the natural conclusion of a summit between Cormac McCarthy, early Church fathers, and Dr. Seuss. Unless you’re a latter-day Luddite, you have probably seen Cappadocia —…

It’s Thursday morning, and I’m just getting off a call with my teammates in Indonesia. I jot down some final thoughts from the meeting, then glance at the clock as I hear the call to prayer rising over the city around me, a euphonious reminder that it’s midday. I close…