Hiking the Himalayas is like almost nothing else you have done before. Before my trip, my only frame of reference was hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu four years earlier. Considering that was just a four day trip and only reached at altitude of 4400 meters, it really was no comparison. I did buy […]
A First Timer’s Guide to Trekking in the Everest Region Read More »
It has been more than a month since I returned from Nepal, yet as I celebrate Thanksgiving this year, that time in Nepal is what comes to mind. As we were trekking in the Himalayas for two weeks, our group leader, Peter, occasionally had us share three things for which we were thankful. It was
Saying Thanks in the Himalayas Read More »
It was 3:15 a.m. when my alarm clock buzzed in my ear. I was already awake, though, stirring with worry over whether I would be able to make it. I snuggled under my two thick blankets around 8:00 p.m. the night before, trying to get good night’s rest, but that was all for naught. I
To the Top of Gokyo Ri Read More »
It’s not often that I attend a fundraising event and end up teary-eyed. But that is exactly what happened last May when I volunteered at a buildOn breakfast fundraiser featuring the organization’s founder, Jim Ziolkowski. Jim’s story was moving and the effect that buildOn is having on at-risk youth in Chicago and impoverished youths in
Passports with Purpose: Raising Money to Build Schools in Mali Read More »
The last few weeks have been a blur. I returned from Nepal at 5:00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon and headed straight into the office the next day. Two days later, I was on a late night flight to Washington, D.C. for two work events as a horrible cold took over my entire body. My
Figuring Out What I Really Want Read More »
As my departure date for Nepal drew near, I found that most people assumed I was trekking to Everest Base Camp (EBC). I knew I wasn’t, but the fact was, prior to arriving in Nepal and taking a good look at a map of the Everest Region (also known as the Khumbu), I really didn’t
The Trek to Gokyo Ri: An Alternative to Everest Base Camp Read More »
Almost any trekking trip in the Everest Region of the Nepal Himalayas starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, a small town that is widely considered the jumping off point for such treks. The only real alternative to flying to Lukla? Taking a 12 hour bus ride from Kathmandu to a town called Jiri
The Adventure of Flying To and From Lukla Read More »
I dragged my massive suitcase onto the 81 Lawrence bus at Jefferson Park and carefully grabbed a seat, piling my smaller backpack on my lap and letting the suitcase jut into the aisle. Exhaustion and hunger overcame me as I had been up for nearly 48 hours straight making my way back to Chicago after
When Home No Longer Feels Like Home Read More »
I have never been one to take a lot of pictures of people when I travel. With my point and shoot, I could never get close enough to take compelling photos without making myself (and likely the subject) feel uncomfortable. I always felt like I was imposing. Even if I started chatting with the locals,
The Faces of Kathmandu Read More »
I left my Cairo hotel around 1:30 p.m. and attempted to hail a taxi to take me to Khan el Khalili. I was told it should cost me about 10-15 Egyptian pounds, but I soon realized that whatever I am told, it’s really about 10 more. The taxi driver absolutely refused to take me for
Getting Scammed in Cairo Read More »
