Mark Wiens has spent most of his free time from Yaowarat Chinatown to Victory Munch (also known as Victory Monument), pursuing a mastery in the edible arts of Bangkok.  He has naturally partaken of most edible things in sight and has sampled seemingly infinite tidbits.  With a voracious Thai food eating habit, he has managed to start making som tam (papaya salad) at his personal street cart vendor and has even patented a dish to his name at a neighborhood eatery (hint: # 29).
I feel like a King every single day in Bangkok due to the ambrosial and affordable cuisine I devour.
This list does …

With a time constraint in Cambodia, I was only able to allot a single day to the brilliant World Heritage Site of the Angkor Wat Temples near Siem Reap.  I was able to see a significant amount of temples that were truly spectacular in complete regards.
The single day really began on the evening before the day.  We arrived to Siem Reap in the mid afternoon and tuk tuked our way to the entrance by around 5pm.  If you arrive at 5pm, you can purchase your $20 single day ticket in the evening for the following day.  That …

When 2009 rolled in, I had just returned to the the United States from Patagonia to attend my sisters wedding in Phoenix, Arizona.
It was in February 2009 under the influence of a carne asada burrito that I decided it was time to record my migrationology travels in the form of online documentation. I knew next to nothing about the web world, (twitter was literally just the sound of a bird to me).  Utilizing gallons of my parents coffee and my addiction to yerba mate from Argentina, along with free internet, I …

The culture of late night Hong Kong Dim Sum is a manifesting statement that appears to have developed throughout all of antiquity. It is through the lens of these ambrosial dumplings situated on bamboo steamers at uncommon hours where whole new worlds are cracked and observed from the depths of the concrete canyons of Hong Kong.
It was 3 am in Hong Kong and my metaphysical instinct drew me to naturally dwell upon one thing only; Dim Sum.  To my satisfaction there was an established restaurant on the bottom floor of …

Growing up I have had the privilege to spend Christmas in a “whirled” of places.  The contrast could not be much more drastic from Hutchinson, Kansas to Tandala, Democratic Republic of Congo, or from Albertville, France, to Bangkok, Thailand.

1.  Albertville, France- 1991
By far my whitest Christmas was spent in Albertville, situated at the base of the Alps in France.  I vaguely remember the white cap of flakes on our medium sized hill outdoors and sledding or sliding down it in any possible manner.  The Christmas was my families first away …

To follow Thanksgiving, I thought it might be appropriate to introduce a small nameless store I stumbled upon in the heart of Quezon City, Novaliches area in Manila, the Philippines.
Ironically, I had just taken a jog in Manila, when my wonderful couchsurfing friend and I decided to invest in some “treats.”  Little did I know we were about to enter a stuffed cavern of highly creative and very processed nibbler’s paradise.
On the side of Quirino highway, we crouched on hands and knees into a tiny cave opening.  I tried to …

“A hot dog, 12 bites of macaroni and cheese, and 8 squares of Lindt dark chocolate was one of the best Thanksgivings I have had.”
A year ago I was with my buddy Luke in the spectacular Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia, located in the Southern icy part of Chile.  We had planned a 10 day trek covering the Q trail or hiking a circumference around the famed mountain park.
Along with our modest clothing which was far, far, away from gore-tex (like everyone else), we had to carry ten …

I cringed at the thought of having to tell people I went to a “vegetarian festival in Bangkok” especially after letting everyone know I get dirty in seafood Dampa and I consider myself skilled at indulging in nyama choma (East African grilled goat).  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to deny vegetation, in fact, I love a healthy dosage of veg on the daily.  There’s just something about a vegetarian festival that I was slightly embarrassed testifying to, but that was soon to change.
I arrived in Bangkok’s Chinatown to …

Other than people running to Vientiane to make a Thailand visa run there are also numerous valuable things to do in the capital of Laos including lessons on relaxationism.
Vientiane has to be one of the most relaxing capital cities in the world.  It seems that no one is in a hurry and barely anyone has a schedule set in concrete.  Everyone floats by, calmly laughing, slowly relaxing, and passionately enjoying life.  Obviously men carry on sporting the natural shirt vent super casually.  Vientiane can be a welcome relief as no …

Subway take note:
In Vientiane, Laos, local street stalls set up in the morning with glass cabinets filled with fresh baguettes, cured meats and pate, green herbs, and an array of dazzling sauces and serve a Laos sandwich known as “khao jji paa-te.”  While walking down the street, I had another Asian golden stumble upon.
I am not one to overly rave about sandwiches, but the “khao jji paa-te,” that I partook of in Laos, definitely changed my perspective and deserves the respect I have been neglecting for years to the sandwich …