Is travelling independence? Sure it is. Travelling is a journey, just like life is a journey. When you are travelling you are completely free, free from responsibilities of life and free from the influence of others. Independence is the equivalent of travelling, to be free from control, opinions and organization. But what place in the … Continued
As July 4 approaches, I have been thinking about liberty. Is war the opposite of freedom? Is love the opposite of hate? I believe that apathy is the opposite of love. I am pondering the opposite of autonomy. I challenge myself to make selections that will make me proud. Owning a bikini from the 2012 … Continued
As I closed my eyes and try to remember being in my favorite place, all I can think of are the sounds, smells, and the amazing smiles I receive as I am walking down the streets. The smells of the fresh brewed coffee from the coffee plantation fills the air, the laughter and everyone yelling … Continued
My friend Baruch and I wended our way up into the northern Galilee in Israel, up into the mountains. Just a few kilometers from the Blue Line – the UN determined border between Israel—we drove past an Israeli Army outpost and its patrols dressed in their heavy uniforms in all that heat. The day hovered … Continued
If there are two other people on the pristine white beach with us in Koh Phangan, Thailand, we consider it crowded. I lay on my back on my thin blue sarong, absorbing the rays of a midday sun so brilliant I still need my shades on, even with my eyes closed. I run my fingers … Continued
Everybody wants to feel independent. Everyone has their place that they feel that once in a life time feeling. Well, that place for me is the outstanding Santa Barbara, California. I love the feel of freedom that just overcomes me when I get to look at the beautiful beaches and the clear, blue sky. Feeling … Continued
An excerpt from Desperado’s Wife: A Memoir by Amy Friedman Elton I can still feel the churning pleasure I felt as I anticipated the day of Elton’s release. The idea of leading someone out, of driving someone to his freedom was the first real pleasure I’d felt in years, the first day after too many … Continued
The Husband: We were zooming up the coast of Lombok, Indonesia when we saw a crowd of villagers rallying around a pole. It was early February, but the blazing sun seemed stuck on July. Earlier that day, my wife and I had rented a motorbike to visit the lush northern hills of Bali’s sister island. … Continued
When I arrived in Goreme, for the first time, it was high summer. Nestled in the Anatolian heartland, Goreme was a traditional farming community like any other in Turkey except for its spectacular landscape. The arid countryside, already aged and yellowed over thousands of years, glared harshly under the heat of the day. My head … Continued
Stephen King shares his personal life story and philosophy on learning to write well in his book, On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft. As he says, “I believe large numbers of people have at least some talent as writers and storytellers, and that those talents can be strengthened and sharpened.” … Continued