Jun 10
WWI Hike at Monte Cengio near Asiago, Italy
Hiking along the Grenadier’s Path at Monte Cengio, Italy.
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Dec 14
A Favorite Hike Called Mount Crag …
In the spirit of favorite things and all subjects Christmas-cheer related, I thought I’d share one of our favorite hikes in the Gorham area. Now, what makes a hike a favorite is obviously a subjective standard, but here are some of my criteria: (1) Not too long–as in, five miles or less. I am, alas,…
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May 4
Hello, Mt Surprise … and so long snow shoes!
It has taken awhile, but it appears Spring finally decided to settle her toes in the North Country for at least a few weeks, and our recent hike to Mt Surprise made this gloriously clear. I’ve privately griped about the weather here since late March, when I thought winter was SUPPOSED to be over. Don’t…
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Feb 11
Takayama: The Walk-able, Hike-able Tourist Trap Town You’ll be Glad You Fell Into
The town of Takayama sits in the middle of the Japan Alps, reachable by train via Toyama to the north or Nagoya to the south. We decided to visit (“why not?”) after our stop in Kyoto, as we were slowly making our way east toward Tokyo for our air departure. We’d been warned ahead of…
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Nov 8
The Weird and Wonderful: Rain Forest Walk in Balikpapan
Indonesia has the world’s third largest tropical forest, after the Amazon and the Congo. And lucky us, we currently live in Kalimantan, a/k/a Borneo, where the rain forests cloister species still being discovered; currently our island — the third largest in the world — is home to a huge range of flora and fauna found nowhere…
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Oct 30
Jatiluwih Rice Fields: Bali’s Cultural Landscape UNESCO Designation
The Jatiluwih rice fields of central Bali are a stunning destination, and a wonderful reminder that there is more to the Island of the Gods than parties, shopping and beaches. Jatiluwih Rice Fields UNESCO Designation The Jatiluwih rice fields also happen to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage designation celebrating the Balinese Subak System….
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Oct 4
Hiking Trails in the Mountain Town of Munduk, Bali
Two things I love the most about the tiny, mountain town of Munduk: the amazing hiking and the day-to-day activities going on all around. Here, for the most part, people couldn’t care less about the ogling tourists in their “Bali” pants, snapping photos beside waterfalls and limitless scenic vistas. Whatever. They’ve got coffee cherries to…
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Aug 26
Visiting Proboscis Monkeys along Pertamina’s Pipe Walkway (Balikpapan, Indonesia)
Living in Balikpapan, Kalimantan, Indonesia is, for the most part, like living anywhere else … sort of. Even if you’re here as a dependent instead of the work visa spouse, you still have your chores and errands: shopping for groceries, house cleaning, laundry, exercise, cooking, and all the other day-to-day activities that are a part of being…
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Aug 9
Hiking Bukit Dinding off Samarinda Road, Kilometer 45
Bukit Dinding (Wall Hill) is a stunning backbone of boulders arching above East Kalimantan’s rain forest, about an hour and twenty minute’s drive from downtown Balikpapan. Pak Yayan has been telling us about this place for months, and since Sam had a weekend off to go further from camp, we said, “Let’s do it!” Now, the title…
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Aug 5
Trekking to Kali Waterfall in Manado, Sulawesi
Kali Waterfall (“Air Terjun Kali”) is located in the rain forest surrounding Kali village, about twenty or so minutes from downtown Manado. Along the way to Kali, tarps spread with freshly plucked cloves (“Cengki”) dry in the sun. Sulawesi is one island west of the famed Spice Islands, where Columbus himself set sail for, so…
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