A week ago, when I set out on this six-month road trip, I envisioned discovering new places, hiking across the United States, and exploring hidden gems in small-town America. Unfortunately, the first week of my journey hasn’t gone as planned. I’m reminded once again that it’s the journey that matters, not the destination. Sure, I’ve…
When I was on my motorcycle trip a few weeks ago, I kept seeing a flashing neon road sign with the message, “Stay Home. Stay Safe. Limit Travel,” and it got me thinking. Do we really need to stay home to stay safe? If I wear a mask, practice social distancing, and use hand sanitizer…
One of the most significant rites of passage for any U.S. high school senior is graduation and all of the events surrounding it. I fondly remember my senior breakfast and being handed my diploma up on stage. I remember standing next to my parents and having our photo taken with my honor cords draped around…
Three years ago, I began my journey to health and wellness. I worked as an ex-pat in India when I was laid off as a Program Manager for a large telecom project. Feeling desperate to reclaim my health after a year of eating fattening Indian food and continually inhaling some of the world’s worst pollutions,…
Mild Weather With 28 miles of continuous beach, two working lighthouses, six State Parks, and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, all in a span of about 30 miles, I can’t help wondering why more people don’t Winter here. Sometimes people say it’s the rain, but almost every day, the sun pops out for a bit, and…
You’ve heard the saying, “It’s a jungle out there,” well when it comes to life as plantation farmer in Costa Rica, there are no truer words. I made a new friend in El Paredon Guatemala, and he suggested I visit his aunt in Costa Rica. We chatted on Facebook, and soon I arrived at Sonia…
I stayed in El Paredon, Guatemala for three weeks, and one of my new Guatemalan friends, Walter, insisted that he take me kayaking through the mangrove canal before I left. I’ve kayaked through the mangroves of Kauai, and I’ve done a good deal of kayaking near my home in Ocean Park, Washington, so I didn’t…
Two weeks ago I packed up my backpack, grabbed my yoga mat, and boarded an airplane for Guatemala City. I took a taxi to Antigua, where I spent the night, and then headed directly to El Paredon the next morning. Adventure travel is not for everyone. There are a lot of unknowns, and you have…
Next month, I’ll be staying in beautiful El Paredon, Guatemala, for free in exchange for teaching yoga to surfers at a hostel on the beach. I’ve also received free yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India and paid nothing for ten days of accommodations in Lucca, Italy, where I saw the Rolling Stones perform live. I even got certified in yoga for free! People ask me all the time how I manage to get these kind of gigs. Surprisingly, it’s not that hard. Here is information on how to use work exchange programs to travel the world almost free.
We all have our unique talents. Perhaps you’re an outstanding cook, have a glorious singing voice, are a skilled videographer, or can teach English. Whatever your abilities, there are probably people around the world that are willing to host you in their home or resort in exchange for your talents. Some hosts will provide food and accommodations, and some might even toss in a small stipend. Each situation is as unique as your skill set.
Astoria, Oregon has a wonderful way of getting under your skin. The small city is like a new song from your favorite performer. You indulge in it as much as you can, and then you can’t get it out of your head. The town is famous for many things. The award-winning movie, The Goonies, was…