A few hours after our initial attempt we piled back into our jeeps and started back up the hill.  The landslide had been cleared and traffic was well on its way. The paved two-lane highway soon switched to a one-lane dirt track Read more

Our first attempt to trek up to Khardung La Pass was foiled by a landslide, so took the opportunity to stroll around Leh and absorb street life on a sunny afternoon.

A few shots from an afternoon spent in Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh.  The view from the roof was absolutely breathtaking.. I would have just had my mail forwarded and moved in, but the monks weren’t taking new roomies.

Hemis is a 15th century Buddhist monastery tucked between converging cliffs high above lush green farmland.  This was just one of many treks throughout Ladakh.

You have 360 degrees to choose from.  Whichever direction you gaze you’ll be captivated.  Ladakh is about contrast.  It is the raw stuff of existence.  Piercing blue sky, razor-sharp peaks, texture, red barren Earth dotted with valleys, each exploding with life.

We arrived in Leh on July 14th and spent a few days acclimating to the altitude — 11,500ft isn’t terribly unmanageable, but your body needs to adjust properly to avoid or minimize altitude mountain sickness, not to mention the Read more

I arrived in Delhi on July 13th with only a few hours to explore the neighborhood where I was staying. Early the next morning I met my team and departed for Leh.

I am officially unwound!  We are just finishing the European leg of a summer overseas.  Sixteen days have passed since we left Texas, and I am so far removed from the frenzy I would believe it if you told me I had been gone for years.   Read more

A little snapshot of the promised land, taken June 19th, 2010, with a disposable waterproof camera and a case of Modelo Especial.

By the time we arrived in Amsterdam we were pretty exhausted on the fast pace of travel we had designed for ourselves.  I really don’t think I would have made it through this trip if my brother hadn’t been with me… Read more

Though we were only passing through, I must say Nijmegan was one of the highlights of our trek.. so peaceful and modest, yet the most insane nightlife that we found ~ including Amsterdam.  I think Nijmegan is on my “do-over” list.

After we had enough of Nice we caught a second night train through Paris and on toward Cologne, where we hopped a regional to Bochum.  It was quite a trek just for a party, but, then again, it was quite a party.   Read more

Shortly after my brother arrived in Paris we stocked up on provisions (cheese and beer) and boarded a night train bound for Nice.  A bit of unsolicited travel advice (I’ll be giving a lot of it on this site) for your next Read more

In the spring of 2009 my younger brother and I spent several weeks trekking around France, northwest Germany, and The Netherlands. I arrived in Paris a few days early and Couchsurfed with a nice young couple until he arrived.