February 20, 2021
The Jeweled Lotus
A thief unwittingly stirs up memories of a distant past. This story, spanning oceans and generations, is the winner of the Reunions travel writing competition. At the end of the…
February 14, 2021
Brave as Hatice
When an American living in Istanbul meets a local woman whose story echoes her own, she learns a lesson about the meaning of bravery. This story was selected as a…
November 24, 2020
The Shadow of Sri Pada
A traveler in Sri Lanka leaves the comfort of the beach to seek out a sense of spirituality atop one of the country's most sacred mountains. It was just before…
November 11, 2020
Finding Solace in a Tokyo Bookshop
A spontaneous drinking bout in a Tokyo bookshop helps a jaded expat rediscover the spirit of travel. “Well that’s certainly the most pissed I’ve been in a bookshop,” I wheezed…
July 19, 2020
A New Devil
An unusual New Year's celebration in northern Thailand offers a traveler a chance to reflect on the "devils" that haunt us, no matter where we go. “Habits of mind and…
June 30, 2020
Following the Panj
An ancient river separates Tajikistan from Afghanistan. Here, a solo traveler hitches a ride, and swaps stories with locals who live on the edge of the former Soviet Union. The…
May 18, 2020
The Last Days of Communism
In the final story selected as one of three finalists for the 2020 Chance Encounters travel writing competition, a traveler making her way through St. Petersburg and Siberia witnesses the…
May 10, 2020
For the Love of a Dugong
In the second of three stories selected as finalists for the 2020 Chance Encounters travel writing competition, a traveler heading to the Spice Islands relays an unexpected encounter with an…
April 29, 2020
The Gates of Hell
In the desert of one of most politically repressive countries in the world, a traveler gazes upon a famous, undying fire that has burned against all odds for nearly 50…
April 26, 2020
Conversations with the Gardener
An expat in Kathmandu and his Nepali gardener attempt to bridge the gap of culture and language as they face the uncertainty of Covid-19 together. Knees creaking, ankles cracking, I…
