I had said in a previous entry how “normal” everything seemed when I was in Iran last week, but about a week since I’ve returned I’ve noted some exceptions. Of course, some of these are via word of mouth through our interpreter, but this is the closest I’m ever going to get short of actually living [...]
Archive for the ‘Post-travel Reflections’ Category
How to Get into Trouble in Iran
Monday, April 23rd, 2012Why I Move
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012A dozen outstretched hands descend upon me. I scan the faces of the rickshaw-wallahs and I ask for the lowest price in their native language. A thousand teeth grin at my brazenness and the game begins. We knock down local currency to exaggerated sighs and clicks of the tongue. Eventually one shouts a price [...]
You’re Going to Crave It…
Friday, January 20th, 2012You’re going to crave slow roasted chicken, beef, or lamb tajines on the rooftops overlooking Morocco, the fresh and perfectly seasoned roasted vegetables, and the happiness of knowing that while Calvin is blogging, he’s not eating, so there’s more to go around… The warm, fresh bread that came out with every meal, [...]
Why you should come with us to Iran (and/or Chernobyl)
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012Taken by Mahdi Kalhor – ‘Kalut’ in Lut Desert We at The Monsoon Diaries have traveled to over 30 countries in the last 18 months, all while spending very little and keeping fulltime jobs, remaining as fulltime students, or both. We’ve been to beaten paths and off the beaten paths. We’ve survived war zones, falling [...]
You’re going to miss it…
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012You’re going to miss the freedom of wandering, the days that begun with nothing to expect, the trust in what’s around the corner, the feeling of wanderlust, the time when you were free to do anything that you wanted. You’re going to miss rambling about the traffic-free streets of Las Ramblas, the [...]
It’s Not A Competition!!!
Monday, January 2nd, 2012Calvin is kicking kicked my ass in the blogging department!! But BOY do I have some great excuses for that! I brought the wrong charger to my netbook. Whoops. Calvin travels with all the force of a great Monsoon. Zzzz, so tired. I’m sick. Sleeping in trains, train stations, and cold places in general is not a [...]
Guatemala and Belize in Motion
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011Redoing all my entries by adding the appropriate videos I’ve taken in the last 5 days. Here are some highlights: Our layover in Miami: – At time of posting in New York City, Central Park, it was 55.4 °F – Humidity: 90% | Wind Speed: 11km/hr | Cloud Cover: few clouds
The Kindness of Strangers
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011No other country has left such a positive impression on our departure than Belize. I woke up this morning realizing for the very first time in my life, I could possibly miss a flight. Let me break down the math for you: – At time of posting in NYC, it was 57.2 °F – [...]
“The World’s Most Dangerous Countries”
Friday, November 18th, 2011Travel and Leisure came out with a list of 15 of the world’s “most dangerous countries.” Out of that list, we’ve already recently been to 3 of them, dallied on the border of 2 others and are planning to go to 2-3 more within the year. In our experience, some of them really aren’t as [...]
