Rock Climbing
The weather cools down and the leaves crisp up, signaling that autumn is moving in with a vengeance. This time of year is a melange of outdoor senses, an awakening of newness despite the cycle of death urged on by winter’s approach.
It’s also prime climbing season.
With a friend who knows how to fly, … Read more
Guatemala
Length of Stay:
Itinerary
Guatemala
Straight rows of tiny well-cared-for plants.
Tall trees generous with sharing their shade.
Gorgeous mountains surrounding it all.
As an avid coffee drinker, visiting a coffee farm or roasting plant has been on my bucket list for a quite a few years. You can imagine my surprise (and delight) when I found this little gem … Read more
Guatemala
There’s always that moment when you see or experience something in real life that you previously had only glimpsed in photos.
That sense of comparison.
Of disappointment or surprise.
Of noticing things that even the most expensive of camera lens wouldn’t be able to capture.
After I impulsively decided to fly to Guatemala during my … Read more
Guatemala
It was slow-going. For each step that I took, I slid down half of a pace. The loose rubble crunched under my hiking boots, and I was glad that I had worn such sturdy shoes to traipse across the rugged, winding terrain. I felt the heat acutely, both from the sun shining down overhead and … Read more
Africa
Length of Stay:
High:
Low:
Favorite Hike:
Favorite Treat:
Africa
It was windy.
I saw wild ostriches.
The kelp anchors looked like something from a Sci-Fi movie.
Ah, Cape Town. Existing below the equator, this South African city is renowned for its unique coastline and urban-meets-nature feel. I was bracing for chilly winter weather, but this metropolis (found at the edge of the continent) was … Read more
Africa
I wasn’t entirely sure what I was doing. The roll of flattened tubing was heavy, and uncooperative as I tried awkwardly to unroll it. My hands were already filthy, so I gingerly used my inner elbow to hold back the sweat already dripping from my brow. I began to hum an indistinguishable tune, finding my … Read more
Africa
Outdoor education is near and dear to my heart.
Along with the mental and physical benefits, getting kids outside in a school-based environment encourages them to become passionate about the places that they will one day seek to protect. In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv talks about the inevitable joy … Read more
Africa
The sea was an alarming cobalt blue, hinting at shades of azure and turquoise when the sun hit it just right. In all its glory, the sky looked like a drawing from my childhood, with fluffy innocent clouds and careful shading. Yes, the blue-hued background of Pemba, Mozambique was a natural wonder, drawing my eyes, … Read more