The Monsoon Diaries: How to travel the world with no time or money -

Getting Away With Robbinsville: The Akshardham Redemption

by Calvin Sun | October 6, 2025 | Camping, Layovers, New Jersey | 0 Comments

One of my more unique camping trips to have monsooned; this is what happens when you plan a camping trip months in advance just to visit a temple arguably worth seeing as a world-class destination. I was stuck at work all day Friday as Eddie took the initiative...

A Quick Halifax Check

by Calvin Sun | September 12, 2025 | Layovers, Lessons Learned, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Walking Tours | 0 Comments

After two days in Saint-Pierre (and a turbulent ferry ride to Miquelon and back), we boarded an hour-and-a-half direct Air Saint-Pierre 9am flight to Halifax, landing around 9:30am local time (Halifax runs an hour behind Saint-Pierre), Our onward...

Miquelon Impossible

by Calvin Sun | September 11, 2025 | Doctor in the House, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

Sometimes the most spontaneous detours leave the strongest impressions. That morning in Saint Pierre, we hadn't planned on leaving the island. But after completing two walking tours around St. Pierre and checking the ferry schedule, we realized we could still...

48 Hours in a Little Saint-Pierre-ce of France

by Calvin Sun | September 11, 2025 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

After three days soaking in St. John's charm, we dropped off our rental car at YYT Saint John's airport to catch the rare 5pm direct flight (PH1127) via Air Saint-Pierre to Saint-Pierre & Miquelon: one of the few weekly connections between Newfoundland and...

Don’t Be Dildo-Dallying

by Calvin Sun | September 9, 2025 | Canada, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

While based in St. John's, we took a spontaneous day trip by rental car to the now-famous town of Dildo. You'll know when you arrive; they're incredibly proud of their distinctive name. Though a vocal minority has repeatedly raised referendums to...

St. John’s: The Eastern Edge of Everything Everywhere All At Once

by Calvin Sun | September 9, 2025 | Canada, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

Months ago I decided to gift myself a week off after Labor Day...simply because I could. After a year as wild as this past one, I craved actual and intentional self-prioritization to restore some balance. Finding fares under $200, I booked a morning departure:...

Singapore Airlines Business Class FRA-JFK

by Calvin Sun | August 5, 2025 | Flying Fancy, Germany, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin | 0 Comments

After a slow morning walk and talking about our villain (antihero?) origin stories in Berlin, I hugged Daniela and Gabe goodbye, hopped on the tram for a few stops, went underground for the metro, and made it back to the hostel in time for a 1:30pm check out. Nisha,...

When You’ve Never Been to Berlin

by Calvin Sun | August 4, 2025 | Let me tell you a Story..., Serendipitous!, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin, The Nightlife, Walking Tours | 0 Comments

If it's not already playing, press play. And then start reading. After 3 days in Amsterdam, Nisha, Sujay, Priscilla, Kenny, and myself boarded a 2pm direct train bound for Berlin. It was a 7.5-hour journey that gave us just enough time to reflect...

I Amsterdand We’re Back in Amsterdam!

by Calvin Sun | July 31, 2025 | How Did You Do That?, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin, The Netherlands | 0 Comments

From Tomorrowland, because apparently we still weren’t done, 7 of us rerouted north for one last hurrah in Amsterdam, linking up with Anthony Lui and his Dutch crew. While most of the group boarded planes home to brave the dreaded post-festival blues, we...

Tomorrowland After The Fire

by Calvin Sun | July 29, 2025 | Belgium, Festivals, Fit for Foodies, Serendipitous!, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin | 0 Comments

How’s my ankle holding up before Tomorrowland.... This is Day 0 — right after a 1500-lb bull stepped on it: Day 8: Day 4: Day 17: Not bad, right? Turns out I can be pretty decent at wound care when the stakes are high. Last year was cancer, this year...

Mogadishu, Somalia: Witness to Reconstruction & Renaissance

by Calvin Sun | May 27, 2023 | Getting that VISA, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Somalia, Travel Warnings, Way Way Off the Beaten Path, What Dreams May Come

The Battle of Mogadishu took place nearly more than 30 years ago in 1993 and its subsequent depiction in the film Black Hawk Down has remained a fixture of my childhood since high school. I still remember the night when we went to watch the film with my fellow...

Asmara Times You Fail, Eritrea Harder

by Calvin Sun | May 24, 2023 | Eritrea, Fit for Foodies, May 2023: Horn of Africa, The Nightlife

After 5 days in Somaliland, we attempted to fly out from Hargeisa on a scheduled 12:00pm Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa so we could make our connecting Ethiopian Airlines flight at 5:10pm in Asmara. However, when I looked down at my watch to see...

The Sweet Is Never As Sweet Without The Massawa

by Calvin Sun | May 22, 2023 | Crisis, Eritrea, Introspection, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Uncategorized Stories, Walking Tours, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

We're skipping ahead from Somaliland to Massawa today, but if you want to read about how we got into Asmara yesterday from Somaliland: read here.After arriving a day later than planned in Asmara from Somaliland and Addis Ababa we quickly had lunch in...

“Laas Geel!” “To Where?” Berbera!

by Calvin Sun | May 20, 2023 | Fail, Fit for Foodies, How's the weather?, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Somalia, Somaliland, Unrecognized Territories, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

After breakfast this morning, we visited Hargeisa's livestock market where locals allowed us to purchase our very own camel or goat! Here also happens to be the only place in the world where you can find the original rare black-headed sheep aka...

“Har”geisa You Ready For Somaliland Independence Day?

by Calvin Sun | May 18, 2023 | Getting that VISA, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Somalia, Somaliland, Walking Tours, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

Waking up early after 3 days in Djibouti, we scrambled at 5am to board our Air Djibouti flight DJB204 at 7:00am. You'll have to buy this ticket separately on Air Djibouti's website approximately 2 months at the earliest before your travel date. ...

Lake Assal-t on Our Senses

by Calvin Sun | May 16, 2023 | Djibouti, How's the weather?, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

On our way back from the beautiful hellscape of Lake Abbe, we grabbed a quick breakfast back at our camp, bid good riddens to bug filled Klendathu, and then made our way for another 3 hour drive for lunch back at the same hotel in Dikhil. We then drove onwards...

Take a Chance Take a Chance … on Lake Abbe

by Calvin Sun | May 15, 2023 | Camping, Djibouti, Epiphanies on the Road, Fail, How's the weather?, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Way Way Off the Beaten Path, What Dreams May Come

After arriving yesterday and breakfast this morning in Djibouti City, we boarded our convoy of 8 (Eight!!!) 4x4s at 8am. Thus begins our grueling 9 hour drive under an oppressive >105ºF sun towards the border between Djibouti and Ethiopia for Lake...

Shake “Djibouti”!

by Calvin Sun | May 14, 2023 | Djibouti, Fit for Foodies, Getting that VISA, How's the weather?, May 2023: Horn of Africa, Walking Tours, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

I seem to be on a roll with getting great premium economy deals over business when flying across the Atlantic. After forays with British Airways Premium Economy, Air Tahiti Nui Premium Economy, Air Senegal Premium Economy, American Airlines Premium Economy, I...

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