One common misconception people seem to have about growing food is that we need a lot of space in which to do it. In reality, we don’t even need a yard! Urban and small suburban patio gardens are springing up everywhere these days, and they can be incredibly productive. Within the permaculture practice, small spaces […] More
ASTORIA, New York- A nice surprise was waiting for me when I returned back to NYC after a little US tour where I filmed for a doc series in Kansas and Texas and gave a talk at the University of Michigan: a book by a guy who I helped out a little on his Silk […] More
Posted: 4/2/2020 | April 2nd, 2020 Travel hacking is one of the best ways to lower your travel costs. Flights, accommodation represent two of the biggest expenses travelers face so getting those to zero allows you to travel more for less. When money isn’t a worry, the world is your oyster. While I have tons […] More
Before I started running this website and writing about travel for a living, I worked full time as a software developer, and I’ve always maintained a passion for technology. So from time to time, its nice to write both travel and tech. In today’s post, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know […] More
Posted: 03/31/20 | March 21st, 2020 On a breezy fall morning, I was walking home from my university’s humanities department after trying to get out of my Spanish language requirement to no avail. On the way, I ran into one of my roommates. He mentioned he had heard that a small plane had crashed into […] More
Trying out our new CROSSNET With kids out of school and social distancing still in effect, families like us are looking for healthy, active ways to spend our family time. If you’re fortunate enough to have an outdoor space, we’ve come up with some great inspiration for the best backyard games for the family. What’s […] More
You have probably heard of the British Museum and its collections. If you’re visiting London, the museums in that city should be high on your list of things to see. Not only are they some truly remarkable institutions with fascinating exhibits from all over the world and from pretty much all fields and historical periods, […] More
*This story was originally written for a publication that I regularly contribute to. However, due to its political nature, they canned it. So I’m giving it some light here. The vaccine race is on, diplomats are squabbling, foreign media is being kicked out in escalating waves of retaliation, conspiracy theories are getting official backing, and […] More
A common photography problem that you have likely encountered when taking photos is that sometimes the sky doesn’t compliment the scene you are photographing. The end result is that we get a lovely shot of some scenery or people, with a flat grey sky that really doesn’t do justice to the scene we are trying […] More
We, like many people, love coffee. It’s a staple of our morning routine, whether we’re on a road trip, on a camping adventure, or just hanging out at home. Of course, there’s a world of variety when it comes to coffee, and not every coffee drink is created equally. When we’re at home it’s easy […] More
Posted: 03/26/20 | March 26th, 2020 As many of you know, I have the coronavirus. Well, had. I’ve recovered. Luckily, I had a mild case. It felt like a really bad cold. My fever lasted only a few days, and the cough lasted until about day twelve. (Today is day fourteen.) Given how bad this […] More
I saw it out in the green field, a blackish-brown dot in the distance. A few people started gathering looking in the same direction. I knew this was it – good things come to those that wait. You see, I have a Grizzly bear curse. No matter what I do, I’ve been unable to see […] More
Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy If you are looking for seaside fun with your family or friends, then Hua Hin is the perfect destination for […] More
Updated: 3/15/2020 | March 15th, 2020 When I went to college (university as non-Americans say), a few of my friends studied abroad. They came back glowing from life-changing experiences, telling stories of new friends, spontaneous trips to exotic locations, foreign beauties, “weird” food, and life lessons learned. Their tales made it sound like they lived […] More
Updated: 03/24/20 | March 24th, 2020 I loved visiting San Francisco from the start. It’s a city home to hippies, techies, artists, immigrants, students, and everyone in between. There’s incredible music, wold-class food for all budgets, some of the BEST Asian food in the country, parks galore, and amazing bohemian vibe to it. With so […] More
In an effort to bring you some new voices on Ottsworld, here is a guest post from a fellow hiker, Becki Rupp. I met her in Denver at the Travel and Adventure show. Not only is she a travel lover, she’s also a trainer focusing on health coaching for active experiences. I asked if she […] More
LGA, New York City- There’s nobody here. In 20 years of travel I’ve never had LaGuardia to myself. I’ve never had any airport terminal to myself… I scan the gates. There’s clusters of two, three, five people where there’s space for dozens. Flights are departing with less passengers than I have fingers. My flight had […] More
Konark Sun Temple is the most popular sun temple in the world. It is difficult to imagine how grand it would have looked when it was intact and when all the seven horses in running posture would have made it look like a chariot in motion. The closest you can feel the scale of this […] More
Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy I love to go back to places I have already visited. I know, there are so many new destinations to […] More
Nyepi is a Balinese day of silence that is dedicated to meditation and introspection. There’s to be no sound, no light, no eating, no leaving the home, and they even turn cell towers off, so there’s no Internet, for one full day. This is strictly enforced by police, which might sound a bit harsh at […] More
Home » Destinations » 10 Pattaya tourist places worth to visit in 2020 [+ where to stay] Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy Pattaya is undoubtedly […] More
As rising numbers of diagnosed cases create growing concerns over the coronavirus (a.k.a. COVID-19), throngs of people have been swarming stores to stockpile medical, cleaning, and household supplies. Just a few weeks into America’s experience with this global pandemic, panic-stricken people have been hoarding more toilet paper, bleach, N95 medical masks, and hand sanitizer than […] More
Posted: 03/18/20 | March 18th, 2020 Since mid-February, Coronavirus has spread uncontrollably around the world. Many countries are on complete lockdown. People are quarantined in their homes. We have an unprecedented shutdown of human movement around the world. This is a “Black Swan” event, an unpredictable turn of events that will undoubtedly change the world. […] More
It’s a tough time for us travel-loving humans. As more and more countries close their borders and go into lockdown in a bid to help flatten the curve of COVID-19, we’re doing everything we can to keep the wanderlust alive. Travel is a huge part of who we are and how we connect with […] More
Amanda adjusted the bike seat and explained the gears on the electric bike. As I got ready to peddle off out of Clifden in Connemara, she looked ahead at the dark clouds and asked, “Do you have rain paints?” “No…not really,” I replied looking at my water-resistant pants knowing darn well that resistant and waterproof […] More
Amanda adjusted the bike seat and explained the gears on the electric bike. As I got ready to peddle off out of Clifden in Connemara, she looked ahead at the dark clouds and asked, “Do you have rain paints?” “No…not really,” I replied looking at my water-resistant pants knowing darn well that resistant and waterproof […] More
Last month, a guy came up to me at a reader meetup (let’s call him Pete). He’d just returned from an overland drive from NYC to Patagonia. (How cool is that? What a trip that must have been!) After I peppered him with questions about his trip (I mean really, how cool does that trip […] More
ASTORIA, New York City- The bar owner stood up in front of everyone and revealed the credit card that he said he pays for everything connected to his business with. He then cut the card up into small pieces with a pair of scissors. As the shards sprinkled upon the bar he declared, “I ain’t […] More
Kerala is as much water as it is land. It is as much forest as it has pockets of habitation. It is as rooted as it seems to be in sync with modern times. You do not have to go too far to see, just see those narrow wooden canoes going up and down on […] More
Pin me! Ancient myths and legends have interpreted the northern lights to be spirits, a firefox’s tale, and even a battle of dragons. These days we know that the Aurora Borealis is actually disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind, but after seeing the lights in person, it’s easy to understand why so many […] More
ASTORIA, New York City- When I read the news it seems as if the entire city of New York is stricken with coronavirus pandemonium. But when I go outside in the streets it doesn’t seem any different than any other day. I go to the coffee house and it’s still full. Some of the shelves […] More
We’ve tested the large expandable Knack pack for a few weeks. In that time, we’ve tried it out on a road trip, and on short trips around town as an everyday bag. Here’s what we thought. Knack large expandable backpack specs Unexpanded dimensions: 21.5″ x 14″ x 4.5″ Expanded dimensions : 21.5″ x 14″ x […] More
Back when I had a film camera, a common feature was the ability to add a date onto photos. This was a really handy feature, meaning that when you got the prints back from being developed, you could easily see exactly when you took each photo. This was particularly useful when looking back at old […] More
Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy What would be your winter dream destination? Mine would surely be visiting a tiny village covered in snow and surrounded […] More
Pin me! Thermëa spa in Winnipeg can be the perfect winter oasis, and the perfect spot for relaxation in the summertime, too. Surrounded by nature and providing a variety of saunas and pools, this is how to get the most out of Thermëa Winnipeg: A Brief History of the Nordic Sauna The first sauna was […] More
ASTORIA, New York City- Quarantine is the word of the day in New York City. You can hear the word dozens of times as you walk through the streets. People talking on their phones, people talking to each other, people talking to themselves about the seemingly inevitable fate of soon being quarantined. “We better stock […] More
Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy El Nido. Spectacular, isn’t it? Coron and El Nido both belong to “Palawan”, often regarded as one of the most […] More
Advertisement: This is a paid partnership with Choice Hotels™ Canada. As a traveling family, we’ve had amazing adventures together, like camping in the Sahara desert, riding in a hot air balloon in Turkey, looking for land turtles in the Galapagos, and road tripping across Spain and Portugal. But you don’t have to travel far to […] More
Posted: 3/12/2020 | March 12th, 2020 Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is a medieval city nestled against the Baltic Sea. With its picturesque historic Old Town that dates back to the 13th century, it has been drawing in tourists since the fall of the Soviet Union. Cheap flights, cheap prices, and the beauty of Prague […] More
It’s fair to say that so far, 2020 has been a tough, and for many, a tragic year. Since the first case of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 was reported. Everywhere you turn someone’s either talking about it, reading about it, or stockpiling sanitiser for it. We know that these uncertain times can cause a lot […] More
If you’re visiting Barcelona, there’s a good chance you are planning on visiting the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, commonly referred to as just the Sagrada Familia. This magnificent building is a must-see in our opinion, and is high on the to-do list of most visitors to the city. Because it’s so popular, you do […] More
ASTORIA, New York City- I was supposed to be on my way to South Africa to speak at a conference a few days from now. Cancelled. I planned to be a part of a press trip to Singapore at the end of the month. Nope. I was scheduled to give talks in two different cities […] More
Pin me! If you’ve always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights, or have seen them already and know how incredible they are, you’ll know it’s a beautiful phenomena that gets addictive. The more you see them, the more you want to. When the skies are dark and clear, the sun storms put on a dazzling […] More
I’ve been in deserts all over the world, however it’s a landscape that is foreign to me. I grew up in the Midwest and never really thought I’d actually see a desert – it was as far off as the ocean was to me as a kid! As an adult I’ve come to learn that […] More
Some of our links are affiliated, we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product. This will have no extra cost for you. For further info please refer to our Privacy Policy Are you ready for our Montafon ski adventure? The sound of snow crushing under my feet. The wind blowing on […] More
Hey friends! Alexx here again from Finding Alexx and I’m back with a Porto travel guide. I did a whirlwind extended weekend Portugal road trip last year from the stunning southern coast all the way up to Porto, so when week #14 of my 52 countries in 52 weeks solo trip took me back to Porto, […] More
The city of Agra is famous for the ‘Taj Mahal‘ a historical monument counted among the seven wonders of the world. Apart from this, another thing with which the identity of this city is associated is the famous Agra Petha. Yes, you heard it right. Although this sweet dish is made in many areas of […] More
Pin me! Alright, folks, it’s time to be frank: the present state of Mother Earth isn’t looking good. The planet needs us more than ever before. We have a pretty serious situation on our hands as a result of climate change, and now I’ve found myself asking — as I’m sure many of you have, […] More
On the first of my three Kenai Fjords tours (way back in 1999), I took a half-day sightseeing cruise out of Seward, Alaska. Although the 4-hour Kenai Fjords cruise was brief, the wildlife watching was still extraordinary. We saw a small pod of Orcas, a pod of Humpback Whales, Harbour Porpoises, several Sea Otters, Atlantic […] More
When my first book came out in May of 2015 I planned to take a big part of the distribution and sales duty on my shoulders, grind it out, and make money. Instead, I got discouraged and gave up, relying on other people to sell my book, and leaving royalties as my only source of […] More