On my drive from Wadi Feynan to Wadi Musa my Bedouin driver kindly stopped for me every time I motioned at my camera.  I personally think he enjoyed getting the occasional smoke breaks while I snapped away in awe.  This photo just goes to show you how stunning and surprising this country is.  The mountains [...]

Father’s Day was last Sunday; what better time to reflect upon my recent travels with my father. Last October I traveled to Nepal to hike the Annapurna Circuit with my 73 year old father.  We hiked for 21 days with many ups and downs…quite literally.  I blogged about each step of that journey here on [...]

Tiger Balm Tales Vol. 22 Best and the Worst of the Annapurna Circuit Near the end of hiking the circuit, my father and I reminisced on some of our best and worst experiences over the past 21 days. We compiled a list of the best / worst of our Annapurna Circuit experience. Remember…this is only [...]

Tiger Balm Tales vol. 19 Coming Down to Reality Down Dooby Doo Down Down, Comma comma Down Dooby Doo Down Down, Comma comma Down Dooby Doo Down Down Leaving Annapurna is Haaarrrrdddd…. tooooooooo…. dooooo… I couldn’t get this tune out of my head.  Probably because… There was nowhere to go now but down. Our downward [...]

Tiger Balm Tales Vol 18 Going Up…AGAIN We had been on the trail now for 18 days. We no longer had that rookie look in our eyes. We were no longer surprised by cold showers, the same menu, donkeys squeezing by us on the trail. We were old timers. We had 4 days on the trail [...]

Tiger Balm Tales Vol 16 Carbo Loading Whoever said carbs aren’t good for you never hiked in Nepal. When hiking for 2 weeks, carbs become your ally. This is probably the one time when you can get away with eating carbs at every meal, so my best advice is – enjoy the hell out of [...]

Tiger Balm Tales Vol. 15 A River Runs Thru It The sign read Welcome to Marpha! Delightful Apple Capital of Nepal. I wondered if Johnny Appleseed was the mayor of this little town along the Annapurna Circuit. Aside from the Thorung La Pass, Marpha seemed to be the highlight of the circuit. We had been [...]

Tiger Balm Tales vol. 13 The Longest Day KLOMP, KLOMP, KLOMP The sounds of hiking boots on wooden floor echoed outside my door. I poked my nose out of my warm sleeping bag cocoon, breathed in the cold air, and let it out only to see my hot breath evaporate into the darkness. I’m aware [...]