Blog Feed: Wandering Earl

Wandering EarlDue to the increasingly heavy workload I’m facing as a result of the growing number of new projects I’m working on, I’ve decided to hire some help in the form of a “Nomadic Affairs Assistant” (aka Project Assistant). And as … Read more → > read more

What It’s Like To Live In Bucharest, Romania

Published on 2012-05-21 12:00:13

Wandering EarlWhile it is true that I tend to speak positively about almost every destination I visit, there’s a simple explanation for that. My views about a particular city, or even country, have little to do with the tourist attractions that … Read more → > read more

How To Spend Your First 20 Minutes In A New Country

Published on 2012-05-15 10:47:08

Wandering EarlCoffee? You’ll see. So, your flight lands. You walk off the plane and proceed to the Immigration lines. You receive your entry stamp in your passport. You collect your luggage from the luggage carousel and you walk through the Customs … Read more → > read more

Do Long-Term Travelers Prepare For Retirement?

Published on 2012-05-11 11:31:24

Wandering EarlThere seems to be a general belief that anyone who decides to travel extensively or to give up the traditional 9-5 lifestyle in favor of a life that focuses on the achievement of one’s goals, is at least in some … Read more → > read more

The Day I Was Followed By A Secret Agent In Beirut

Published on 2012-05-07 08:18:05

Wandering EarlStanding at the reception desk of the shabby, low-budget Al-Shabaa Hotel in the Gemmayze neighborhood of Beirut, there was little I could do when the hotel owner informed me that the single room I had booked was no longer available. … Read more → > read more

Poll Results: Incredible India Takes First Place

Published on 2012-05-02 07:14:46

Wandering EarlLet me begin by thanking everyone who participated in the travel poll over the past week. There were over 500 voters as well as a few dozen comments in which many of you offered your own suggestions of other countries … Read more → > read more

Poll: Where In The World Would You Like To Travel?

Published on 2012-04-26 10:36:36

Wandering EarlThe goal of this post is simple. If you could travel anywhere in the world, let’s say during the upcoming summer, I want to know where it is you would choose to visit. As I’ve hinted in a previous post … Read more → > read more

The Simplest Hotel In The World

Published on 2012-04-20 17:22:27

Wandering EarlFor some reason, this morning, just seconds after waking up, I started thinking about an elderly Indian man. But this was not just any elderly Indian man, it was the owner of a small hotel in the tiny Ladakhi village … Read more → > read more

There’s Nothing Wrong With A 40-Hour Workweek

Published on 2012-04-16 16:27:08

Wandering EarlFour-hour workweeks, two-hour workweeks, zero-hour workweeks…that’s what it’s all about, right? After a little research, anyone looking to break out of the traditional path in life, especially those of you who want to do some traveling, will undoubtedly discover an … Read more → > read more

Why I Don’t Plan To Visit Every Country In The World

Published on 2012-04-10 14:28:28

Wandering EarlAs excited as I am when I first step foot into a country I’ve never visited before, I must not deny the fact that there is also a part of me that, these days, just wants to travel to countries … Read more → > read more

End Of An Era: After 12 Years, It’s Time For A New Backpack

Published on 2012-04-04 12:29:42

Wandering EarlLet me start with this. It appears that my upcoming Fiji trip is no longer happening. Unfortunately, this South Pacific nation has been hit with some severe flooding over the past week due to a series of storms, including a … Read more → > read more

Bulgaria: The Best Value Destination On The Planet?

Published on 2012-03-31 09:34:16

Wandering EarlIn a somewhat hazy state of mind this morning, I began to write this post. My haziness is a result of flying from Istanbul to New York City yesterday, a 10-hour flight that, despite being as comfortable as possible for … Read more → > read more

A Stroll Along Istiklal Street in Istanbul

Published on 2012-03-28 10:01:22

Wandering EarlDuring my stay in Istanbul over the past five days, it occurred to me that taking a stroll along the city’s popular Istiklal Street is something that never gets old. This three-kilometer long, pedestrian-only avenue on the European side of … Read more → > read more

My ‘Travel Date’ With A Guy Named Kaji

Published on 2012-03-25 11:13:57

Wandering EarlAnyone who has spent even a short amount of time traveling would certainly be familiar with the ‘travel date’. This is when we actively seek out another traveler to spend time with despite knowing that we will end up having … Read more → > read more

Some Cool Travel-Related Stuff From Around The Web

Published on 2012-03-21 06:41:42

Wandering EarlHere I am, sitting on a pile of comfy floor pillows in the common area of a hostel in the small Bulgarian town of Veliko Tarnovo. I’ve been here for several days now and the town certainly lives up to … Read more → > read more

Blind For A Night: A Most Unusual Meal In Bucharest

Published on 2012-03-16 04:52:30

Wandering EarlAt first, the restaurant looked normal enough. It was somewhat small, with only 8 tables or so, but it was comfortable and seemed to have a cozy atmosphere. The only problem was that I had no idea what kind of … Read more → > read more

My New Travel Plans: 27,000 Miles In 39 Days

Published on 2012-03-12 02:46:48

One minute I think I’m staying in Bucharest for a couple of months in order to finish some projects I’m working on and the next minute I have seven flight reservations made, two of which will take me over the … Read more → > read more

When Daydreams Of Travel Come True

Published on 2012-03-05 17:13:47

Before I actually started traveling, I remember spending a great deal of my time daydreaming about being a traveler. Entire afternoons would pass by, especially during my university years, where I did nothing but try to envision myself exploring every … Read more → > read more

This Post Is For My Friends In Syria

Published on 2012-02-28 07:22:10

Last night I was sitting here in my room in Bucharest at 12.45am. I was exhausted from not being able to sleep the night before due to a severe headache. But despite the exhaustion, despite the headache, I turned on … Read more → > read more

Stuck In A Room Full Of Lace Panties Looking For Sexy Boots

Published on 2012-02-24 12:55:51

It’s not often that I find myself standing in the middle of a room full of women’s lingerie, so when I wandered into a Victoria’s Secret store during my quick stay in New York City last week, I wasn’t at … Read more → > read more

Let’s Share Our Stories & Inspire Each Other

Published on 2012-02-19 09:09:22

As I sit here right now on my flight from Florida to New York City, and my quick two-week visit to the US approaches its end, I can’t help but notice that I’m feeling more inspired than I have felt … Read more → > read more

An Early Morning Stare Down With An African Lion

Published on 2012-02-13 22:16:18

In previous posts, I’ve already written about the hippopotamuses and about the crocodiles that I ‘ran into‘ during my visit to South Africa back in December, and I’ve already posted photos of the zebras and the penguins of Boulder’s Beach … Read more → > read more

How To Survive An Eastern European Winter (Video)

Published on 2012-02-09 07:28:26

For the past six weeks, I’ve been in Bucharest, Romania, trying my very best to survive what, even for Eastern European standards, has turned out to be a cruel winter. Snow and ice have been piled high, covering every inch … Read more → > read more

Do You Need A University Degree To Travel Long-Term?

Published on 2012-02-04 07:31:42

The quick answer to this question is of course a big fat ‘no’. It’s not as if you’ll be asked for your university diploma when entering a new country and you certainly won’t need to show proof of extended study … Read more → > read more

How To Be Productive Anywhere

Published on 2012-01-30 16:59:45

As most of you have probably noticed, I’ve never put up a guest post on this site. I’m quite picky about the content of the blog which is why I have always preferred to write it all myself. However, the … Read more → > read more

When You’re On The Road, Sick & All Alone

Published on 2012-01-25 16:12:32

For the past week I’ve been battling the flu as well as the idea that I’m currently in the midst of experiencing my first real winter in over ten years. Even as I type this post there is an actual … Read more → > read more

The Night I Felt The Powerful Vibe Of South Africa

Published on 2012-01-19 07:51:52

Forget about the wildlife. Forget about the wines and the mesmerizing coastline. You might as well forget about the diverse cuisine and the adventure activities for a moment as well. This post is going to highlight another aspect of South … Read more → > read more

Please Don’t Be Afraid To Travel On Your Own

Published on 2012-01-12 15:28:45

You want to travel. You make a vague plan. Maybe you’ll fly to Thailand or maybe to Mexico, but either way, you’re leaving in six months time. You start saving money, you start doing research every single night and your … Read more → > read more

The Most Frightening Kayak Trip On The Planet

Published on 2012-01-08 05:19:29

Have you ever had an experience that you were so excited about before it began, but then, once you found yourself in the middle of that experience, you started to wonder if it was such a good idea after all? … Read more → > read more

Join The Live Travel Chat Tomorrow!

Published on 2012-01-02 16:42:54

Now that the below live travel chat has finished, you can still check out the entire conversation over at FoxNomad.com. It was an excellent chat session, with many interesting travel-related questions and answers submitted by many readers and visitors. If … Read more → > read more

Goodbye 2011: It’s Time To Stop Plucking Our Eyebrows

Published on 2011-12-29 07:09:52

The year that was 2011 was an odd one for me. There was certainly no shortage of traveling as I bounced around from Australia to Southeast Asia to Mexico to Eastern Europe to Turkey, back to the USA, to South … Read more → > read more

My 7 Links: Posts You Might Have Missed

Published on 2011-07-04 01:16:01

Last week I received an email from that sociable Canadian couple known as the Traveling Canucks informing me that they had nominated me to participate in the “My 7 Links” project. This project, started by Katie over at Tripbase, offers … Re > read more

How To Eat A Mexican Tostada (Video)

Published on 2011-07-01 09:28:09

Today’s post offers an instructional video of sorts. While at first it may seem completely pointless to demonstrate how to eat something as basic as a Mexican tostada, I have simply watched too many foreigners struggle with this staple of ̷ > read more

The Ultimate Train Challenge: Portugal to Vietnam By Rail

Published on 2011-06-28 03:04:29

Towards the end of this coming August, I shall board a flight bound for Lisbon. This will not be my first visit to Portugal’s capital city, but it will be the first time I travel there not as a crew … Read more → > read more

How I Can Afford My Life Of Constant Travel

Published on 2011-06-24 01:23:16

I’m confused. I’m simply confused as to how it’s possible that I have so far failed to properly explain how I’ve managed to travel/live/work abroad nonstop for 12 years straight (and counting). The questions are still pouring > read more

Spiti Valley, India: A Land Of Missing Roads

Published on 2011-06-20 14:11:34

Bus travel through India’s mountainous regions involves dramatic scenery, remote villages, fresh air and colorful passengers. The only thing missing sometimes is the road itself. An overly squeaky, yet oddly enjoyable, Hindi pop song blared fro > read more

How To Find An Apartment In Playa del Carmen

Published on 2011-06-16 15:33:33

As I mentioned in a post about Playa del Carmen a few weeks ago, travelers I’ve met here in this coastal Mexican town typically seem to pass through a remarkably similar set of stages. They get off the bus. They … Read more → > read more

Why Travelers Drive Buses, Ride Scooters & Pet Tigers

Published on 2011-06-12 14:35:38

Stepping on the brakes, I slowed my car down to a crawl before rolling over the special speed bump set up by the Mexican police. I had arrived at the permanent road block located on the highway from Cancun to … Read more → > read more

My New Laptop & An Offer From Travel Blog Success

Published on 2011-06-09 08:46:23

Today I write to you on my brand new laptop. As reluctant as I was to give up my previous machine, one that surprised and shocked me repeatedly due to its remarkable ability to over-achieve like no other laptop that … Read more → > read more

Continental Airlines: This Post Is For You

Published on 2011-06-05 00:47:18

On Thursday afternoon, I picked up my mom from the airport in Cancun. She was coming to Mexico for a quick holiday and even though her JetBlue flight had arrived 3 hours late, she was in quite a happy mood … Read more → > read more

June Update: Travel Plans Cancelled

Published on 2011-06-01 14:35:32

About ten days ago, I was working on my laptop as usual in the wonderful Ah Cacao Cafe here in Playa del Carmen. At one point, I stood up from my seat and walked towards the restroom. And then I … Read more → > read more

Playa del Carmen: Such A Good Place To Live

Published on 2011-05-28 00:13:06

When many people think of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, they automatically think of a heavily touristed party destination for Americans. As a result, it’s no surprise that many independent travelers don’t really have a desire to visit this to > read more

Travel Photography: Terrible Photos Of The Middle East

Published on 2011-05-22 23:14:07

To all of you out there who know what you’re doing with a camera, consider the following a compliment to you. The photographs you share are more than impressive. There’s no denying that. And I could spend hours and hours … Read more > read more

It’s Okay To Be A Non-Digital Nomad

Published on 2011-05-17 12:35:17

Yes, I know. I am indeed a Digital Nomad myself. It is true that the majority of my income these days is earned online and without my laptop, I simply wouldn’t be able to maintain my nomadic lifestyle. Of course, … Read more → > read more

Air-Conditioner Repair… Mexico Style

Published on 2011-05-14 00:52:09

Rarely do I use the air-conditioner in my apartment here in Mexico. As long as I open up all the windows, turn on the two main fans in the living room and open the balcony door, the temperature inside is … Read more → > read more

Novica: Handcrafted, Fair Trade Products

Published on 2011-05-11 17:51:38

Every now and then, while traveling around some faraway land, I’ll come across something for sale, perhaps in a small shop or in a local market, that I am interested in purchasing. Maybe it’s a piece of artwork, some local … Read mo > read more

A Traveler’s Perspective On The Death Of Osama

Published on 2011-05-07 14:04:04

When I first heard the announcement, I simply stared at the television screen and thought, “Okay, he’s finally dead.” Then, for a few minutes, I sat in silence, able to do nothing but think about all of the people who … Read more U > read more

Cash & Plastic: A Peek Inside My Money Clip

Published on 2011-05-04 18:21:54

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the method(s) I’ve used over the years to carry my money while traveling, mentioning that the money clip is generally my preferred method. However, what I failed to mention in that post is … Read more → > read more

Cash & Plastic: A Peek Inside My Money Clip

Published on 2011-05-04 18:21:54

Air Travel Tricks I’ve Recently Learned

Published on 2011-04-30 12:51:32

As travelers trying to stretch every dollar we have, it only becomes natural that we should try and find the absolute cheapest airfare we possibly can when it comes time for us to fly somewhere. As a result, I’m sure … Read more → > read more

Air Travel Tricks I’ve Recently Learned

Published on 2011-04-30 12:51:32

The Most Important Word In The World

Published on 2011-04-26 11:32:25

This article has been written as part of the “Most Important Word in the World” series, a collaborative project to inspire people to step outside their comfort zones and find adventure and friendship. Other contributors to the series are: > read more

The Most Important Word In The World

Published on 2011-04-26 11:32:25

I Have Worms

Published on 2011-04-23 11:19:27

Starting this evening (Saturday), my website might be down on and off over the next couple of days. I’m in the process of moving my web hosting away from Bluehost, a service I was once quite happy with, to a … Read more → > read more

I Have Worms

Published on 2011-04-23 11:19:27

We All Have A Reason To Smile

Published on 2011-04-18 18:56:07

One random Saturday, when I was a mere twelve years old, my parents, along with my sister and I, went to visit some family members who lived nearby. We actually visited these relatives somewhat often during my youth and on … Read more → > read more

We All Have A Reason To Smile

Published on 2011-04-18 18:56:07

My Recent Experiences With PayPal & Award Wallet

Published on 2011-04-15 19:51:00

What do PayPal and Award Wallet have in common? Not much really, except for the fact that I’ve been dealing/working with each of these online tools quite a lot as of late. First, let me state that this is in … Read more → > read more

My Recent Experiences With PayPal & Award Wallet

Published on 2011-04-15 19:51:00

What does PayPal and Award Wallet have in common? Not much really, except for the fact that I’ve been dealing/working with each of these online tools quite a lot as of late. First, let me state that this is in … Read more → > read more

Broken Bones, Handcuffs & Other Goals

Published on 2011-04-12 10:47:15

When I was a freshman in high school, I remember the day when a good friend of mine broke his ankle and showed up to school with his leg in a cast. In the 15 years I had been alive … Read more → > read more

Broken Bones, Handcuffs & Other Goals

Published on 2011-04-12 10:47:15

Volunteering At Mother Teresa’s Home For The Dying

Published on 2011-04-07 09:37:43

On April 9th, 2009, I leaned against a wall and watched a man die only a few feet in front of me. This man had been lying down in a cheap metal bed, where he had spent the past 15 … Read more → > read more

Volunteering At Mother Teresa’s Home For The Dying

Published on 2011-04-07 09:37:43

How I Carry My Money While Traveling

Published on 2011-04-04 12:41:08

By this point in my travels I think I’ve tried it all when it comes to carrying around my money and credit cards while on the road. Sitting here right now I can only chuckle and shake my head as … Read more → > read more

How I Carry My Money While Traveling

Published on 2011-04-04 12:41:08

Airports & Flights: Damascus to Chiang Mai

Published on 2011-03-30 20:46:52

This is a new idea that came to me while flying from Syria to Thailand a few months ago upon completing my recent set of rewarding Middle East travels. Given that I’ve been spending so much time flying all over … Read more → > read more

Airports & Flights: Damascus to Chiang Mai

Published on 2011-03-30 20:46:52

This is a new idea that came to me while flying from Syria to Thailand a few months ago upon completing my recent set of rewarding Middle East travels. Given that I've been spending so much time flying all over the planet as of late (25 flights in th > read more

A Farewell to Ship Life

Published on 2011-03-30 20:15:48

My bedroom no longer sways in the night and I no longer work to the melodies of a three-piece Latvian orchestra in the background. Oddly enough, I now seem to wake up each morning in the same location where I fell asleep the night before. Nobody is > read more

Sleep, Eat & Surf in Singapore

Published on 2011-03-25 23:44:10

When I visited Singapore recently, which was the third time that I had traveled to this small city-state over the years, something quite bizarre occurred. I actually enjoyed myself.During my previous visits, I simply didn't connect with Singapore at > read more

Introducing My New Site Design

Published on 2011-03-22 10:45:06

Chances are that I'm sound asleep as you read this post, no matter what time of the day it may happen to be. I've been up all night working on the upload of my new site design, right on the heels of a painfully long 45-hour journey from Singapore to > read more

Let’s Get To Know Each Other Better

Published on 2011-03-17 16:44:48

My route back to North America – after my recent change of plans – has been a long one. First, upon leaving Thailand, I had to make a stop in Bali and after a few interesting days there, I had to fly to Singapore. The reason for all of this bounc > read more

When Tourism Goes Terribly Wrong

Published on 2011-03-12 09:09:26

(Note: I was planning to spend some time in Thailand over the next two months but my plans have suddenly changed for a few reasons that I won’t go into now. After making a quick stop in Bali, I’m now actually headed back to the US. More > read more

How Many Beds Have You Slept In?

Published on 2011-03-09 01:55:39

No, I’m not asking how many people you’ve slept with, just how many different beds you’ve slept in over the course of your life so far.Last week, while flying from Perth to Singapore, en route to Thailand, I randomly decided to try > read more

Traveling With A Purpose

Published on 2011-03-03 19:48:53

The other day I was asked if one of my goals was to visit every country in the world. And after a lengthy pause, I replied by saying that while I certainly do intend to visit all 193+ countries at some point during the span of my life, I’m obvi > read more

Sydney’s Chinese Garden of Friendship

Published on 2011-02-27 21:14:30

From the above photograph, it might be difficult to believe that such a place exists, not in the lush countryside of China, but in the exact center of a city with over 4 million inhabitants. This is the Chinese Garden of Friendship, built in 1988 by > read more

An Afternoon Meeting With A Queen

Published on 2011-02-24 18:17:18

Walking down George Street towards Sydney’s Circular Quay, I stopped dead in my tracks the moment my eyes unexpectedly fell upon her. And before I was able to continue moving in her direction, I needed several deep breaths and a nod of reassura > read more

Camping, Kangaroos & A Fine Looking Teepee

Published on 2011-02-20 21:49:54

For the past two nights I slept in a teepee. This wasn’t any ordinary teepee either. It was the TeePee 2000, the mother of all modern day teepees, built with such skill and precision and with the comfort of potential inhabitants carefully consi > read more

A Much Needed Visit To A Sheep Farm

Published on 2011-02-15 18:13:34

I’ve never considered myself to be a farm boy. After all, I didn’t grow up on a farm and in fact, the closest farm to where I did grow up was most likely over 100 miles away. And that’s just a guess because rarely did I find myself > read more

The Barossa Valley & A $975 Bottle Of Wine

Published on 2011-02-10 00:46:30

This post is a rare one for me, as it discusses something that I seldom do – take a tour. Yes, a tour, as in an organized excursion complete with vehicle, tour guide and a scheduled pick-up time.Ever since I began traveling, as far as I can rem > read more

How Much It Costs To Travel In Iraqi Kurdistan

Published on 2011-02-06 04:23:18

When it comes to traveling around Iraqi Kurdistan (the semi-autonomous region of Northern Iraq), it can be quite difficult to gauge how much money a traveler would need for such a visit. There really isn’t much information to be found on the in > read more

Travel Expectations Vs Reality

Published on 2011-02-01 18:07:59

How would you feel if you planned your dream trip to the Dominican Republic, flew to the Caribbean, spent ten incredible days on an island and only upon returning home, discovered that you had actually been on the island of Dominica?Would it affect w > read more

A Typical Summer Week In Melbourne

Published on 2011-01-28 21:51:57

This past week has been full of activity as I had a chance to take part in some events that, every time I’m in Australia, I seem to always find myself attending. Of course, as you probably can guess, none of these events were Music Festivals or > read more

How To Avoid Being Ripped Off By Taxi Drivers

Published on 2011-01-26 07:07:57

It happens. Travelers get ripped off. And it happens often.One of the most common ways of getting ripped off involves taking local transportation and sometimes it seems as if we spend hours every single day trying to negotiate taxi or rickshaw or tuk > read more

Why I Won’t Attend Another Music Festival

Published on 2011-01-22 23:35:50

Something flew onto my upper lip and I woke up. In my exhausted state, still half-asleep, my attempts to swat whatever was bouncing around my face, nearly ended up giving me a bloody mouth. The insect swooped down again and hopped from my left cheek > read more

The Melbourne I Call Home

Published on 2011-01-18 20:42:08

The first time I traveled to Melbourne, Australia was back in 1998 as part of a student exchange program during my university years. And during the 6 months that I spent here ‘studying’, as well as dying my hair bright blue and having my > read more

Why I Shouldn’t Complain About Wet Socks

Published on 2011-01-14 21:03:35

This morning I was forced to dry my underwear and socks in the microwave. It all began when I had the unfortunate timing of washing a load of laundry at the exact same moment that the rain started to fall here in Melbourne. And that was five days ago > read more

Exhausted But Not Ready To Sleep

Published on 2011-01-10 22:26:37

As I stumbled onto the bus, all I could think about was finding my seat and passing out. I had reached that point of exhaustion where my brain was able to do little more than perform it’s most basic functions and and even an attempt to speak re > read more

Visiting The Directorate of Residence In Kurdistan

Published on 2011-01-07 22:38:46

There is some confusion as to whether or not travelers to Iraqi Kurdistan are required to visit the Directorate of Residence during their stay in order to validate their visa. After all, the visa stamp that one receives upon entering the country does > read more

Has Travel Made Me Dumber?

Published on 2011-01-03 18:11:40

For all the talk about the positive benefits of travel, and more specifically, long-term travel, I’ve begun to realize that there is a completely different side to the story, one that is rarely, if ever, mentioned. And I will say that before I > read more

The Biggest Traveling Tool Of 2010

Published on 2010-12-30 18:48:01

That’s right. I’m the tool.Two weeks ago, a few minutes into a breakfast I was having with a friend in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this said ‘friend’ suddenly looked up from her omlette and called me a ‘tool’. Actually, > read more

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