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I’m sitting on a bench in the center of Bangkok’s Lumphini Park when two Thai guys approach me. “Hey, how ya doing?” “I’m okay, thanks.” “Do you want to buy some sapphires?” “I’m listening.” Looking back on the scene with the virtue of a 60-something’s perspective, I should probably have gotten up and walked away […]

“After dinner, we shall all talk.” That’s the rule my dad imposed on the family from the time I was 10 years old through age 15. For the next five years, from ~6:30-7pm each evening, the three of us – my Dad, Walter, my brother, Brian, and I – would sit at the dinner table […]

“Am I a tourist or a traveler?” That’s the question I ask myself at 5:30am on a warm, sultry morning in beautiful Luang Prabang, as I watch the procession of monks gracefully receiving alms, one at a time, as they calmly pace through the city. As a “tourist,” I’d probably run up to one of […]

One of the reasons we all travel is to escape our “routine”: the same old work, the same old meals, the same old chores, etc. More often than not, travel represents a cool, refreshing drink after a long time in the desert of our day-to-day lives. Occasionally, however, “routine” can actually be a good thing. […]

Although my preferred way of seeing a city is by walking around interesting neighborhoods, inclement weather occasionally drives me indoors – an absolutely great problem to have in a fabulous museum-city like London. But where do you go when you’ve seen the British Museum, the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the National […]

“Tsujino-san. You have to go to this little tempura place I found. A pile of tempura for only 800 yen!” “How is the food presentation?” “Oh, pretty simple. Just a white plate filled with tempura.” “I could not eat such food, David-san. Without elegant presentation, food is not delicious to me.” That’s a conversation I […]

Growing up in Millbrae, CA, I had a hate-hate relationship with the hill between my childhood house on Claremont Court and my best friend, Mike’s, place on Evergreen Way. After walking up a steep, lung-burning section of Larkspur Drive, I’d turn left at the stop sign and then huff and puff up an even steeper […]

I go back and forth regarding the “purpose” of travel. On the one hand, I see the benefits of using vacation as a time for rest and rejuvenation. Heck, what is more restorative than a week on the beach, reading a good book while sipping a cold, fizzy drink? On the other hand, travel also […]

“Hey Dave, let’s go see that new RomCom, ‘Anyone But You.’” “Sure, Hon, but I want to read some reviews first.” “It looks fun. Who cares about what other people think?” “I do!” I’m sure it drives my wife to distraction when I dance this particular dance, always seeking out yet another opinion, but I […]

As you probably can tell by now, I love a good treasure hunt. There’s something about going off in search of rare, hidden, objects or services that always gets my blood rushing. I also love plant-based eating. So why not combine the two passions? That was the thinking that inspires my wife, Donica, and I […]