Frequent readers will know that Western Africa is one of my favorite parts of the world, so my expectations were already high when I secured a lift to Bamako.

Just as sailors abide by the laws of the sea, desert inhabitants live by a code that keeps them safe in this often extreme environment. Lesson number one: Your water is everyone’s water.

It’s not New York or Shanghai — it’s Cairo. Here are some tips and tricks for enjoying the cultural life of this great city without getting a headache or hearing loss.

While I generally try to travel the slow and steady way, sometimes opportunities arise that are too good to miss. When my friend Kahlil invited me to spend a weekend with his family in the Djebel Babor mountains, I had to make it happen.

Morocco has four historical capitals: Fez, Marrakesh, Meknes and Rabat. I spent a week in each and emerged with a clear favorite.

I woke up to a mysterious text message from my friend Ekrem: “I’ve got a one-of-a-kind job waiting for you in Cappadocia if you can make it here by Monday.

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned in my travels is that the best food is any destination is never at the fancy hotels. Follow the locals and you’ll eat well (and cheaply).

Does it ever get lonely out on the road? Yes. But if you can learn to embrace loneliness, it can be a great teacher.

May Day may be a non-existent holiday in my native US, but the tradition is very much alive in Europe.

I’m sitting in Bangkok’s airport, about to board a plane to my wildest destination yet: My sister’s wedding back home in Santa Cruz. What will I find in America after two years of constant travel?

Let’s celebrate April Fools’ Day with a list of every scam I’ve encountered in three weeks in Bangkok, shall we?

The last six years of travel have been a story of reduction. When I first set out, I was proud of myself for only bringing one backpack full of clever gear. Today, I see the world with only five essential items.

The saung is Myanmar’s most iconic musical instrument, a boat-shaped harp that sounds like nothing else.

You can’t have a typical relationship while you travel the world, but that doesn’t mean romance is always out of reach.

One of the biggest adjustments for me when I first started traveling was losing my innate suspicion of other people. I’d glad I did, because so much of my journey has been about the people I’ve met along the way.

A common mistake travelers make is packing things that can be easily (and cheaply) purchased once they arrive at their destination.

I went to Bhutan to see if it’s reputation for being the happiest country on earth was accurate. Spoiler alert: It’s that and so much more.