The Conch Republic At the southernmost end of US Route 1 and usually under sunny skies lies the enchanting isle of Key West. Known for its nearly perfect weather, Key West not only attracts artists, writers and vacationers, but especially those who want to live on the fringe of society, vagabonds and others with wanderlust. … Continued
The significance of time is time itself. To waste time is to waste that which cannot be regained. Furthermore, to live life with regrets is to deny its brilliance at permitting much needed do-overs. -Self This I know all too well. Each new day being announced by the intrusive wail of the alarm clock, never … Continued
John Le Carre in The Honourable Schoolboy writes “When you leave Hong Kong,” …”it ceases to exist.” To me Hong Kong never ceases to exist, it remains an inspirational enigma even after five years of stay. We, my husband and me, came to Hong Kong in 2008, initially for a year, but the year rolled … Continued
We approached the clearing cautiously, snatching glimpses of the abandoned building’s interior through gaps torn in its sliding screens. There were frayed tatami mats covered in a thick layer of dust and a solitary paper lantern hung half-heartedly from the ceiling, its washi paper yellowed unevenly by prolonged exposure to the sun. The evening air … Continued
“The road is not silent. It has a language of its own, heart-piercing and true, and faithful to travelers. The road is refuge. It is hope. It is absolution.” My great-grandfather’s words stare gravely at me from the height of heroic times, and I feel small, undeserving. The letters are uneven, the paper – crumpled … Continued
Many of us spend a great deal of time planning our vacations. Where are we going? What are we going to do?…and what happens? A schedule develops. We’ve all done it. Heck, I have gone so far as to create elaborate itineraries and laminate them – one for each traveler on our trip. What this … Continued
Orlando inspires me to use my time wisely because there’s so much fun stuff to do. We went to a theme park every day. We’d get up early and we regularly went to a breakfast buffet so that we could eat a lot so that we would be full for several hours. These are all … Continued
On a cold winter’s night, when the stars lay across the sky, my friend and I decide to visit to Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah. It’s Thursday and the entrance to the dargah is swarming with pilgrims. Wires twist like tendrils around a forlorn lamppost at a distance. Translucent-winged creatures whirl around like Sufi saints lost … Continued
I find it beautifully ironic that I stumbled upon this travel writing contest the day before a significant anniversary in my life. It’s an anniversary I share with my significant other: nature. February 12th will forever be my “quit-aversary,” that is, the day I quit living someone else’s life and started living my own. After … Continued
Gurgling and gasping for air I finally surfaced. Shooting pain surged through my legs and back forcing me to float as flat as possible, the transparent water surrounding me. Adrenaline rushed through me as I heard the muffled screams of victory from my newfound friends on the yacht in front of me, their shouts almost … Continued