It still stands as the largest land empire that ever existed in human history, surpassing the Romans & Alexander the Great in sheer size. The Mongol Empire controlled thousands of kilometers of forbidding lands stretching across vast expanses of steppes, mountains, rivers. Today (October 1st), I find myself nearly there. In under thirty minutes, Mongolian…
Tag: explore
Shanghai in 5 Photos
Wow. Just starting to venture further afield, getting to know my newly adopted city. There are many elements of Shanghai I’m liking a lot….more and more… Just got home after a few hours out exploring, wandering, adventuring. No captions or annotations this time. Draw your own conclusions from these 5 photos just taken this afternoon-evening.
9th Day: Detained by Chinese Security
40:07 into this morning’s run on my ninth day living in China; that is when I was detained by Chinese security. And the run was going so well. Look where I was: Yeah. Beautiful running route. No one out on this elite school campus yet but a legion of groundskeepers, security & myself. For…
I’m Going to Show Them
Yeah. This is how it’s done. I charged into ICBC bank on Hongmei Road like I owned the joint. Shit, I live across the way now. And I’ve been here nearly 6 days. I’m going to show the 2 Caucasian ladies waiting how an American in China does business. I went straight to the futuristic…
Fortuned Freak
That’s the supremely interesting thing about traveling: even when things look the same upon first glance, just look closer. China now is a vastly different place than it was even 15 years ago. It’s far more open, cosmopolitan, even influenced by Western ideas. However, it is still a completely unique place all its own. My…
Running Shanghai: The First 8 Lessons
It’s hot & humid as hell here. That’s lesson #1. Knew it’d be hot, but not like South Texas. Therefore, I am being forced to transition from an early evening runner to a wicked early morning runner. That meant starting out at 0620 today. But on a school day, it will mean starting my run…
I’m Getting There…
As I lift my pumpkin seeds with chopsticks, I reflect on my first 46 hours in Shanghai… I’m in Veggie Gather, The all Vegetarian joint that fooled a 17 year vegan. I was traumatized as I ate dinner here last night seeing late in the meal that small chunks of pork were mixed in with…
Oh Canada!
This is my new life, which I embrace exuberantly: preparing to touch down in a foreign nation–yes, Canada is indeed another nation!–having no idea where I will lay my head tonight. Sun shining brightly over our Bombardier CRJ100’s robin blue wings. We circle the airport once, then twice for good measure. Prosperous neighborhoods of tidy…
Today I Am Moving to…Canada?!
Well, I thought I was moving to China today. Not even a layover in Toronto was scheduled; just a quick transfer. However, the Air Canada plane scheduled to depart from Northern Kentucky would not start. That’s a bad sign. I would not feel confident getting into a plane experiencing “mechanical failure.” Surprisingly, only one Air…
What the F–k is Wrong With Me?!
My boy Charlie was right— Not this Charlie… these are the best of times and worst of times. Yes, as many of you all know, I had an amazing expedition to and through Asia this summer. As many of you may not know, I even got to embrace and kiss beautiful women in Thailand &…
Curated X
The final photo in my series of 10 favorite photos of summer comes from last week’s Riding the Storm post. Location: Edenburg, Pennsylvania No alterations to color or shading. This sky is completely natural. Please request permission to utilize/borrow photo, as I’ve given permission already. Alternately, you may credit dontletmyparentsreadthis.com
Curated Photo VIII
Number 8 in the series… Gates of Heaven At 37,000 feet, we soared over mountain peaks in the Kluane National Park & Reserve of Canada. I stayed up all night taking shots of an absolutely surreal atmosphere–more space than earth. What look like clouds below are huge mountain peaks piercing the sky. A purple arc…
Don't Let My Parents Read This 