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…
April 18, 2020
Hiking with Lady
After starting a challenging solo hike to prove something, a woman discovers that company isn't a barrier to finding oneself. Why do I even like hiking? I grumbled to myself…
March 7, 2020
Coronacation – In South Korea During Covid-19
An expat English teacher in Korea experiences an "ordinary" day in one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Ping! Ping! Ping! My phone emits a sequence of…
March 3, 2020
The City of Longevity
When a young woman makes a trip to Taichung, her father's hometown in Taiwan, she struggles to find a window into his busy life. “We’re meeting them at the restaurant.…
February 4, 2020
Sober in Southeast Asia
A solo traveler attempts to navigate Southeast Asia's hedonistic backpacking scene without the crutch of alcohol. I stumbled out of my Grab car with my trusty black backpack into the…
December 26, 2019
Living with the Dead
In a Manila cemetery, the living and the dead live side-by-side, and our writer wants to know why. It was a steaming afternoon in mid-summer when I found myself at…
