My Twenty-something Adventure

Round-the-world writer's chief goal is going places that scare her
We hear it loud and often: Your twenties are a time for mucking around. For figuring out what you want to do in life. For relishing a halcyon, responsibility-free respite before eventually (and inevitably) assuming ... More

A week in Egypt with Michael Jackson, the pyramids and unrelenting beauty
Here's the scene: I'm riding into the Sahara Desert, inhaling a dry wind that has remained unchanged for thousands of years. I'm on my way to run my fingertips over the last remaining Wonder of the World ... More

In Israel, a sense of family and some every-day moments we may never know
Don't tell my dad, but it's Friday night, and I'm dancing on a street corner with a gaggle of teenage girls. And I've just agreed to go home with a man who's dressed entirely in black. All right, fine. So the girls ... More

Charades and an imaginary horseback ride in Jordan
I've become the best charades player in the world. Let me explain: If there's one thing I've learned traveling in Arabic-speaking countries, it's the ability to communicate rather successfully using only the delicate art ... More

Where east isn't necessarily east: Two weeks in Turkey change author's sense of direction
Referring to the two weeks I'd spend in Turkey as the "turkey leg " of my trip never got old. Hearing about how Turkey is navigating the cultural gauntlet "between East and West" (capital E, capital W) did. ... More

In so many ways, this Georgia is the real Georgia
Before leaving the U.S., I got into an argument with a postal worker who thought I was being clever when I addressed an envelope to the Republic of Georgia. "You like to think Georgia is all on its own, is that it?" ... More

Fragile Kashmir, a land of intense beauty and tragedy
Several days ago, I booked what turned out to be a 34-hour bus ride to Srinagar, the biggest city in Northern Kashmir, the epicenter of the Pakistani-Indian conflict, and, according to former President Clinton ... More

Finding a cool spot in over-heated India
It's noon in New Delhi and it's really, really hot. It's 106 degrees, a balmy relief from yesterday's high of 109. I'm standing in a crowd of about a hundred, waiting to be let into a movie — one of the few oases ... More

A life-changing journey — now on to change the world
I'm back in the United States and, man, does it feel good to have a shower. After nearly 120 days of sleeping in a different hostel every night, I've come to appreciate the small things: indoor plumbing; clean sheets; crosswalks; toilet paper... More