Feb 21, 2025 The Christian West and Its Singers: The First Thousand Years, by the great English musicologist Christopher Page, covers the development of Christian liturgical music from its origins as an elaboration of the role of the lector to its flourishing in the monastic and cathedral singing schools of France, as Roman chant was … Read more
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“How high is this hike again?” I asked as I panted up the mountain trail, the top seeming so far off in the distance. “12,0000 feet,” our guide Efrain said cheerily as he and the others from the Amazonas Explorers office glided up the trail. “But it flattens out soon!” he added as a bit … Read more
Feb 11, 2025 A new biography of Ven. Fulton Sheen gives special attention to his high-profile converts, but reveals many other interesting facets of his life as well. Author Cheryl Hughes joins to discuss Sheen’s at times shockingly direct evangelization methods, his outstanding television presence, his lifelong struggle with vanity and ambition, and the mistreatment … Read more
When I started backpacking almost 20 years ago, there were no smartphones. That meant you had to rely on paper maps, physical guidebooks, and (often outdated) information from random web forums. While it made traveling adventurous, it also made planning a trip very difficult. Fortunately, times have changed. It’s never been easier to access information … Read more
When I finally decided to visit Peru, I knew one thing: I wanted to hike with the company that Mark Adams, my friend and fellow travel writer, used for his book Turn Right at Machu Picchu. The stories he shared about his treks and what he learned on them convinced me that those were the … Read more
Big news! I am releasing a new book! It’s a massively updated version of my NYT bestselling travel guide, How to Travel the World on $50 a Day. Except this new edition is called How to Travel the World on $75 a Day. Why the new edition? Well, because of inflation…and the changed way we … Read more
Hong Kong. Its name inspires visions of a chaotic, jam-packed city with soaring skyscrapers, thick smog, endless noodle stands, big finance, and wild nights out. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world. The fast pace creates a sense of permanent change, and the crowds, multiculturalism, and food keep me continuously coming back. Oh, … Read more
When people tell me they hate Bangkok and don’t find a lot of things to do there, I totally understand. It’s a love/hate city that most people aren’t a fan of on arrival. In fact, when I first visited Bangkok in 2006, I despised the city and couldn’t wait to leave. It wasn’t until I … Read more
Who am I besides just a guy who loves to travel? What do I do when I’m not on the road? What are my interests? Do I have hobbies? Since I’m more than just a writer and travel fanatic, I wanted to share a bit about who I am and what I do when I’m … Read more