Stories
First-person narratives from OG Travelers rooted in the independent travel principles
6 - Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - Turkey – Searching for Something
13 Mar 2002 I can't help but sing that catchy They Might Be Giants song everywhere we go in Istanbul.
Chinese Festivals
China is a country with many ethnic minorities and rich cultural heritage.
Fortaleza General Information
According to some local historians Vicente Yanez was supposed to have landed on Pria Mucuripe on the 2nd February 1500, two months before Pedro…
Natural Wonders: Vietnam National Parks
I usually think about how people draft their trips and vacations.
Surviving a Night at Quebec’s Ice Hotel – Quebec, Canada
I stood frozen. It wasn’t just the bitter cold of Quebec in February. I was looking at an Eskimo’s wet dream.
Urumqi, China – Kanas
The Kanas is a magical and appealing place for all ages. It is an enchanting Mongolian name which means "beautiful and mysterious".
Never an Idle Moment – Iceland
Despite a cumulative seven days in Reykjavik over the course of two separate visits, I failed to indulge in two of my main objectives in Iceland.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (7 of 7) – Turkey
After seven weeks in Arab lands I entered Turkey and immediately wished I could turn back.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (6 of 7) – Lebanon
"Ali, how come all Lebanese girls have big breasts?" I whispered across the breakfast table signing Pamela Anderson's figure.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (5 of 7) – Syria
After Israel, I made it to Syria from Jordan rather easily, the little "stamp me on a separate piece of paper" thing working quite well.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (4 of 7) – Israel
Alleluhia! I made it to Israel... and back! Actually, the Holy Land was a bit of a let down and far as excitement goes.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (3 of 7) – Jordan
I had planned to spend almost a week in Dahab , the Red Sea party town where I thought I could meet tons of interesting fellow travellers and lazily…
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (2 of 7) – Siwa Oasis
Travelling, especially by yourself, is all about the people you meet along the way.
Cairo to Istanbul in a G-string (1 of 7) – Cairo
One week in Egypt and I didn't have to spit on anyone yet.
El Teniente – Chile
While roaming Chile last summer I had the opportunity to visit the El Teniente copper mine, said to be the largest underground mine in the world.
Table Mountain – Cape Town, South Africa
Two ways up Table Mountain: five minutes in the cable car, or three hours up Platteklip Gorge with a grandmother who will not hear of the cable car.
Welcome Back Broadway - October 2002 – Eugene, Oregon Travel Guide
Welcome Back Broadway October, a month that is usually characterized by the approach of dark foreboding clouds and the gradual appearance of…
Don't Leave Montréal Without Savouring a Smoked Meat Sandwich – Montréal Travel Guide
New York may have its pastrami, Toronto may have corned beef, Italy may boast about its pasta, however, there is no place in the world other than…
Ice-Blocking – "Your Town" Travel Guide
Night fell, and the sound of the wintry rain created a somber mood.
Montréal's Bagels – Are they the Best in the World?
According to native Montrealers their bagels are the best in the world!
Oslo, Norway
Norway, to me, is the Argentina of Scandinavia.
Powell's City of Books – Portland, Oregon Travel Guide
Powell's is far more than just a bookstore; it's an essential part of the Portland experience.
Argentina – South America Newsletter
Located in southern South America on the coast of the South Atlantic Ocean, Argentina is bordered by Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Guts and Glory: Angola Prison Rodeo (3 of 3) – Angola, Louisiana
No matter what acts these men have committed, few people in the state will call Angola a "country club" prison.
Travels in Cuba – Cigars, Salsa and Hemingway
Our holiday began in Havana, the capital of Cuba. It's a bustling city, full of classic cars, bike couriers and pedestrians.
Joe and the Whale Shark – The Philippines
"Hey Joe!" yelled the darkly tanned men with weathered faces and ragged clothes fishing along the inaccessible riverbank as we floated through the…
The Game of Buzkashi in Afghanistan
Buzkashi is an ancient game of horsemanship played in Afghanistan. OG BootsnaAll Writer Mr Ginger shares his experience
Laos: A Wartime Visit
In 1970, Laos was a much different country to visit that today.
Afghanistan: Part of the OG Overland Trail
Before the Russians invaded, Afghanistan was a part of the overland trail between Europe and India. Not today.
Tall Ships Challenge 2001 (1 of 2) – Kingston, Lake Ontario, Canada
Kingston's St.
Montpellier, France
Only 1000 years old Montpellier is the capital of Languedoc-Rousillon, the biggest wine region in the world, set between the mountains of the…
A Summer Walk into Montreal's Early Years under French Rule
If you are in Montréal on a sunny weekend summer day and if you want to hear and perhaps see the ghosts of early Montréal, take a walk through "Vieux…
Lizards Ran Up My Walls
To achieve any sort of reward in this life you must first sacrifice.
Natal, Brazil
Last time I wrote about Natal (Prohibition Town Blues) I was snowed under with abusive emails about the negative press I gave the place - the local…
Abandoned Mandu
India is a country full of romantic ruins, forts and abandoned cities, and often the most memorable moments of a trip to India are spent exploring…
Krakatau by Night
The eruption of the Indonesian volcano Krakatau, or Krakatoa as most history books refer to it, in 1883 is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as…
Lions in the Serengeti (1 of 3) – Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Siblings change their purpose over time.
Mahakam: Into the Heart of Borneo (1 of 4) – Indonesia
The rain, which poured down ceaselessly in sheets all night and then most of the morning, shouldn't have surprised us.
Pedalling to Nirvana: Mount Kailash by Bicycle (1 of 7)
"The highest road in the world." The words grabbed my attention when I first read them.
Xanadu
It is however, no ordinary embankment, but the remains of the walls and towers that girdled round twice five miles... Yes... this is the place.
Sabah Borneo, Malaysia – January 2000
Arrival As most travellers start their journey to Sabah from Kuala Lumpur, you should check with your travel agent on how to get to Kota Kinabalu,…
Puerto Williams, Chile
Getting There Fly to Santiago, Chile, by Lan Chile. Use a Chile Air Pass to economically fly within the country; e.g.
Black Forest, Germany
An immensity of vegetation surrounded by magical mountains in the southwest corner of Germany, a gateway to Central European history and legends...
Recife, Brazil
Located in the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil, Recife is a passionate city with a rich sense of art and culture.