Let me tell you a story…

“Fail.” - Moments where I failed at life.

Escape from Snake Island February 2, 2014 The following is a guest post by Brandon Green of Brandon is Still Alive, who graciously asked if he could contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures. Brandon Green and I had taken the same Calculus III Honors class 9 years ago during my freshman year at Columbia University. Since then we haven’t really caught up ...
A Christmas in Buenos Aires December 27, 2013 I arrived on the eve of Christmas in Buenos Aires, welcomed by fireworks among the skyline and along the streets of Montserrat: I slept in until the next afternoon where Tabitha, also recuperating from the same trip we took to Antarctica a few days earlier, rendezvous with me at my hostel. We head out in search of ...
A Comedy of Errors December 25, 2013 It took more effort than what was necessary to get these views. After disembarking from the m/v Ortelius yesterday in Ushuaia and hopping on an evening flight to El Calafate with Anderson and Simon, I settled in America del Sur Hostel (one of the best I’ve been to!). While they went straight to bed, I pulled ...

Crisis! – Moments where I really almost lost it.

Bai Wedding in Dali – Ecstasy, Appendicitis, and Travel Insurance February 17, 2014 The following is the last of 4 guest posts on China by Lei Zhao, who continues to contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures time and time again. Lei Zhao and I have been close friends since 7th grade of middle school. Saying that we’ve been through a lot together is an understatement. And he’s probably one ...
Escape from Snake Island February 2, 2014 The following is a guest post by Brandon Green of Brandon is Still Alive, who graciously asked if he could contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures. Brandon Green and I had taken the same Calculus III Honors class 9 years ago during my freshman year at Columbia University. Since then we haven’t really caught up ...
A Comedy of Errors December 25, 2013 It took more effort than what was necessary to get these views. After disembarking from the m/v Ortelius yesterday in Ushuaia and hopping on an evening flight to El Calafate with Anderson and Simon, I settled in America del Sur Hostel (one of the best I’ve been to!). While they went straight to bed, I pulled ...

Serendipity! – The most wonderful parts of our trips are the coincidences we create with other people.

Ghost Festival in Dali February 10, 2014 The following is the second of 4 guest posts on China by Lei Zhao, who continues to contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures time and time again. Lei Zhao and I have been close friends since 7th grade of middle school. Saying that we’ve been through a lot together is an understatement. And he’s probably one ...
Hong Kong & Macau: 2 Different Worlds Inside China February 5, 2014 The following is the first of 4 guest posts on China by Lei Zhao, who continues to contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures time and time again. Lei Zhao and I have been close friends since 7th grade of middle school. Saying that we’ve been through a lot together is an understatement. And he’s probably one ...
Where Are Salwar Kameez Born? January 5, 2014 Part of being in Pakistan during December is that you’ll make it in time for good weather, good food, and the annual wedding season; stay here long enough and you’re bound to get invited to one without any prior notice. This is what happened to me today when I thought I had exhausted weddings in Pakistan ...

Way Way Off the Beaten Path – You won’t find these in any guidebooks…

Mutianyu – Great Wall by Public Bus February 13, 2014 The following is the third of 4 guest posts on China by Lei Zhao, who continues to contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures time and time again. Lei Zhao and I have been close friends since 7th grade of middle school. Saying that we’ve been through a lot together is an understatement. And he’s probably one ...
Ghost Festival in Dali February 10, 2014 The following is the second of 4 guest posts on China by Lei Zhao, who continues to contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures time and time again. Lei Zhao and I have been close friends since 7th grade of middle school. Saying that we’ve been through a lot together is an understatement. And he’s probably one ...
Escape from Snake Island February 2, 2014 The following is a guest post by Brandon Green of Brandon is Still Alive, who graciously asked if he could contribute to the Monsoon Diaries adventures. Brandon Green and I had taken the same Calculus III Honors class 9 years ago during my freshman year at Columbia University. Since then we haven’t really caught up ...

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Around the World…. – Some stories simply can’t be categorized.

One Night in Kiev December 28, 2012 So it’s Ruchika’s 22nd birthday today… Welcome to Ukraine, where the underground bars are just out of this world. This is Palata #6: I’m not judging or anything…but this is a Ukrainian birthday tradition called “The Injection.” Hey, I’m only an observing reporter. And the moment when everyone finds out that every bar in Kiev has wifi… How dare ...
From Guatemala to Belize (11 years in the making) November 28, 2011 The first time I’ve heard of Belize was when I was 14 years old. I was sitting on the 7 subway train coming into Manhattan and my friend Sara Yoo was sitting across from me when she looked at me in the eye and firmly declared: “I want to visit Belize before I die.” The ...
Who missed their flight now? Huh?! April 3, 2011 What an oddly perfect way to conclude this trip. In Monsoon Diaries tradition, every excursion requires a serendipitous coincidence to round it off. And this one is no different: Kseniya and I had parted ways earlier this morning; she was to take an early flight to Bogota to catch an evening flight back to NYC whereas I ...