The question in the headline came up on recently on Nomadic Matt's Nomadic Network on Facebook, and it didn't take long for a particular traveler to came to mind. Here's what I wrote on the forum:

What I didn't say on the forum is that Andy's also sensitive to criticism and can be prickly about it. Unfortunately, I pissed him off a couple of years ago when I questioned some of his ideas and he banned me from his site. But that doesn't diminish the admiration I still have for what he's done, nor my thanks for helping to inspire me to the life I lead today. Travel well, Andy, always my friend.

 The national flag of Malaysia bears a remarkable resemblance to the U.S. national flag, though the similarities are not mentioned in the articles I perused to write this.
There are 14 alternating  read-and-white stripes on the Malaysia flag, representing the nation's states and territories, while the U.S. flag has 13 similar stripes representing the original 13 colonies.
The blue field in the upper left also is similar, though of course the U.S. flag displays a star for each of the 50 states, while the Malaysia flag has a crescent representing the state religion of Islam, and a 14-point star representing unity among the nation's states and territories. The crescent and the star are yellow,  representing the traditional royal color of  Malaysia's rulers.
Malaysia first raised its national flag in 1963, while the U.S. flag dates back to the legend of seamstress Betsy Ross and America's Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The former Hin Bus Depot in downtown George Town, Penang, Malaysia, was transformed at some point into art galleries, exhibition and performance spaces, cafes, shops and workspaces, and it's become one of my favorite stops over the past few weeks.

 Today marks three years since I left Hawaii to begin traveling. At the time I didn't know where this journey would take me, and I'm not sure yet where it's going.
But today feels like another birthday to me, my celebration of a new beginning, life reborn on the road.
It's cliche to say travel is life-changing, but what else can I say?
"Forever forward, forever alive," said the poet Walt Whitman, whose "Song of the Open Road" has its own page here (look in the menu, under "More".)
And I'm not just trying to be funny or clever when I say that I'm staying alive by not staying still, paraphrasing Bruce Lee. It feels real.
I've learned so much about myself and the world in these travels, it's overwhelming. And still with such a long way to go.
On this occasion, I've published a page of all the quotations I've collected  that have inspired, amused, or motivated  me along the way (also under "More" in the menu above).
Maybe you'll find something among them that will touch your life, too. I hope so, because it's really a fallacy to say I travel solo.
All of you who've followed me, encouraged me, cared about me, and written to me during my journey are with me in my thoughts every step of the way. Thank you for being there.
I also rededicate my life and my journey to the memory of my family, my dear late parents and brother, whose spirits forever guide me along life's way. I would not be without them.
And finally, to my friends, may your journeys always lead you to a better place in your heart, as mine have led me.
Life is good. Enjoy!





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How to define an adventure traveler? There's really no one way.
Some travelers would call an adventure nothing less than barreling down death road on a bicycle at 15,000 feet; others like their adventure in the ease and comfort of quiet contemplation along  El Camino Santiago.
What most adventures have in common, though, is living out a dream. You dream, you travel, you gain a new perspective on who you are and your place in the world.