The Feral Scribe: Chronicles of a Wayfaring Journalist

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Nathan Comp is not your ‘ordinary’ travel blogger. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for career reasons. He then became bored with a “prolonged period of profound tedium”. (Tedium tends to do that to people.) He is now traveling around America and possibly other places of the world. Regardless, his blog is enlightening, insightful and full of great stuff.

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Dear Lonely Planet… Because there’s no perfect guidebook to life

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To call Eric Feldman’s site a bit eccentric would be an understatement. He gave up a life as an attorney to travel and become an activist for human rights. But, it is his view of the world and writing style that make this blog what it is – exceptionally entertaining. His words: “Eric purposefully throws himself into awkward situations in the hopes of having something interesting to later share with strangers at cocktail parties.” Cheers to that!

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Life II, The Sequel

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Simon Cordall has had his obstacles – one of them being the loss of his sight. I don’t mean “insight or inner sight or even hind sight”. I mean his visual sight. Something we all take for granted. He quotes: “There comes a time in a man’s life when, to get where he has to go, if there are no doors or windows he walks through a wall.” For Simon this is true. He’s passed through the wall and has reclaimed his life – something he is now writing about in a very entertaining and insightful way.

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Country Driving: A Journey through China from Farm to Factory – Book Review

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Dong Dwellings
Dong Dwellings by joffre

This book caught my attention because it was on a list of the best non-fiction books of 2010 by the Christian Science Monitor. I found it to be a fascinating read and worthy of being on the best books list.

About the Author

Peter Hessler was a journalist for the New Yorker magazine based in Beijing. In the period from 2001 to 2007, he frequently drove around China and wrote about the changes in the local culture. An American who spoke Mandarin, he was able to interact with the locals in ways a tourist cannot.

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The Review

The book is actually three short books in one. The first book describes his journeys by car along the Great Wall. It is an amusing and interesting commentary on the emerging car culture in China, as well as providing some historical context for the Great Wall.

The second book describes Hessler’s extended visits to a remote village, next to the Great Wall, two hours outside of Beijing. Hessler rents a house to visit on weekends to work on his writing. Over time he develops close relationships with the peasants of the village. In particular, he narrates the changes that take place in one family that are exemplary of the changes taking place in many of the Chinese. The transition from an agricultural peasant life to a modern business focused life is difficult for many of the people.

The officials literally move mountains to build a new factory town overnight.

The third book describes Hessler’s visits to a new factory town in the south. He tells the story of two businessmen who start a new factory to make brassiere parts. The interactions between the bosses, the migrant workers they hire, and the local officials is very educational in an entertaining way. The officials literally move mountains to build a new factory town overnight. The businessmen push hard to maintain their profits in a competitive field. It looks like the teenaged workers are exploited at 40 to 80 cents per hour, until one sees that the wage is better than what they could make on a farm. For all of us who have ever shopped at Walmart, it becomes clear after reading this book how cheap goods are produced and dominate the retail sector.

For those interested in travel to China, this book provides insight into the attitudes and motivations behind the changing Chinese culture.

Buy now: Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory on Amazon.

Editor’s notes: This article contains affiliate links.

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Sandcruiser.com

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The journey started about 10 years ago for Steve and Jocelyn Broyles. They are on their fourth Sandcruiser (landcruisers with attitude) and still on the road. Okay, there have been stops in between but never for very long. Besides Calypso, their dog, they are joined periodically by an assortment of friends, family and other travelers. It’s been an interesting ride – or should I say drive. WOOF! (More can be found at Sandcruiser.com: Adventure Continues)

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Eat Smart in France – Book Review

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How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods & Embark on a Tasting Adventure By Ronnie Hess

Lunch
Lunch – Fruits du Mer overlooking the Nice Marina by GregW

About the Author:

Ronnie Hess is an author, journalist, English teacher, and chef. She has lived and worked in France, studying gastronomy with a passion for the art itself.

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The Introduction:

This entry to the Eat Smart series of guides tackles French cuisine in a most interesting manner. It is not simply about the cooking, but rather it covers the historical and regional aspects of how the foods came to be what they are today, immersing the reader in the culture of the country. It brought back memories of the aromas around an open air market in Paris so many years ago…..the bread, the cheese, the garlic…..

The Review:

This book is absolutely delicious, cover to cover. I feared I would actually eat the pages; that’s how descriptive the author made the food of France.

This book is absolutely delicious, cover to cover. I feared I would actually eat the pages; that’s how descriptive the author made the food of France. The first chapter is dedicated to a brief history of French cuisine, from the beginning of human habitation to present day, with a slight lament that fast food may have become the mode of choice for the citizens of France. Fast food has its place, but dining is more than eating; it plays a large role in the social structure of humankind.

The second chapter covers the regional variations found throughout the country, and though the main ingredients can be essentially the same, the seasonings and style of cooking are vast and unique. Geography plays an important factor in what is prepared and how it is presented.

The third chapter presents a few recipes for each course of a meal. They appear easy to prepare, and I will definitely work on making the tomato and red pepper tart!!!

The remainder of the guide explains food shopping in France, presents a very nice list of resources for finding ingredients, shows the reader some useful phrases to use when dining at a restaurant (complete with a pronunciation guide – VERY helpful), reveals a comprehensive list of items one would find on a menu, and finally gives the reader a dictionary –like list of ingredients, cooking utensils, and cooking methods, in both French and English.

This guide is for people who appreciate that food should be more than something that is pre-processed, pre-packaged garbage, filled with preservatives, fillers, and artificial ingredients. French cuisine and sitting around a table with friends and family for hours on end over plates and bowls filled with new and unusual foodstuffs are things everyone should experience, if for no other reason than it enriches the soul and makes life good.

Now, what to have for dinner tonight………

Buy now: Eat Smart in France: How to Decipher the Menu, Know the Market Foods & Embark on a Tasting Adventure on Amazon.

Editor’s notes: This article contains affiliate links. The book was also received compliments of Ginko Press and University of Wisconsin Press for review.

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WanderingNotLost

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“My life was content, meaningful, and secure.” writes Kate Convissor on her blog. But, she gave up (almost) everything for travel – except her dog Oreo. (He travels too.) Armed with a Dodge Durango and a 14-foot pull-behind camper trailer, Kate and Oreo hit the open road for places unknown. They may not know where they are going, but they’ll know it when they get there.

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Valentine’s Day in Costa Rica no blog until Thursday and still trying to post audiovideo with neighbors live music

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FELIZ DIA DEL AMOR Y DE LA AMISTAD Happy Day of Love and of Friendship You can read about Valentine's Day in Costa Rica and other Latin American Countries through the link below. httpinsidecostarica.comdailynews2010february14costarica10021407.htmSince I'm leaving on another 4day trip with Barb and her friend Mary today there will not be a blog until Thursday. I'm still trying to post t

Off to Gili Trawangan

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We were up bright and early this morning earlier than usual as I'm usually awake by 645. We were showered packed had eaten and were read to go by 630 and our ride picked us up promptly at that time so it was a good thing we were ready. It was a long ride to Paidang Bay where we took the Gili Fast Boat to the Island. The ride over was uneventful and not too rough so fortunately I did not g

My third and fourth weekend already

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Hello so much more to tell youLast weekend so the 29th Lyn Bob Paula and I went out for the night to a bar called the Angkor What after having a lovely meal in town. The evening consisted of many cocktails and buckets of alcohol In the end Bob had to be taken home as he was far too pissed Lyn was not as amused as Paula and I who thought it was wonderful In the morning however none of

recently got back

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I recently got back from Saint Lucia and there's nothing special to tell. The only out of the ordinary thing was the hotel which was right in the middle of the city... On the whole not recommended

The West coast Murchison Cape Foulwind Hokitika and Franz Josef

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The West coast Murchison Cape Foulwind Hokitika and Franz Josef Thursday 3rd FebruaryLeft Nelson to drive to Murchison. Stopped on the way for a short walk at St Arnaud. We are now in high country with steep valleys and beautiful hills. Arrived in Murchison and found our BB very plush with four rooms and a big lounge area. We are the only people staying so have the lounge to ourselves. Wal

recently returned from my trip

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guys. Anyone who hasn't been should go the hotel was recommended to us by a coworker on the whole worth your money and the staff were adorable and useful On my way I met an old friend from college... We were able to see all the places we came for. Which made the vacation absolutely one in a million

Cape Coast Trip

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This weekend I took a trip to a nearby town called Cape Coast. This town is about three hours outside of Accra and is the site of the first European contact with Ghana. The town has many historical sites as well as lots of beautiful beaches. Just outside of Cape Coast is the Kakum National Park. On my first morning in Cape Coast I went to this national park where they have a famous canopy walk. Th

Thursday 13th February 1879

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Fine hot day tho' somewhat cloudy. Went by steamer to a Manly Beach a place of 9 miles north east of Sydney supposed to be the Brighton of N.S.W. tho' only a small place. It is prettily situated and a fine view of the bay and heads is obtained on the way there. Taking it altogether Port Jackson is lovelier than the Bay of Naples but taking them bit by bit the Bay of Naples carries away t

A Tale of Two Battles in the AngloZulu War see blog entry 13th February

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On 22 January 1879 at Rorkes Drift on the Zululand border in South Africa a tiny British garrison of 140 men defending a mission station fought for 12 hours to resist repeated attacks by up to 3000 Zulu warriors who came very close to defeating the garrison but were ultimately repelled. This heroic defence was rewarded by the government of the day with no fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses

the daily routine

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6am wake up6.30am kit up the dive equipment and enjoy a breakfast of tea and boucboucdeep fried sweet dough ball banana pancakes or semelinacorn flour porridge...very tasty with condensed milk7.30am hop on the reefdoctor boat for the dive briefing while the captain Manjoi takes us to our first dive location8am hop in the water and put remaining gear onBCDregsdive computer so on... And

Extra Information

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I wanted to post this to clear up some things that people have been asking me. Sorry if everyone is having trouble reading my entries. The spacing and indentations are very off. It is really hard to format stuff on the site Im using. Im definitely looking into it and will try to fix it soon. I also have very limited time to write so Im also sorry for all the grammar errors.

Some days Nights in lazy Laos

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Our appearance in southeast Asia was the beginning of the end. We had a schedule we had a flight we had an enddate. Five months left before we had to find a job and do it. Five months five countries starting with Laos.On the other hand Laos did promise something different. Most travellers we'd talked to who had toured SE Asia had nothing but glowing praise for the country and it's people

a run through the charming treasure of Czech Republic called Prague

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Prague can be whatever you wish it to be. That's why quite a few folks have dreamt about this fine venue numerous also making an appearance on the city's doorstep occasionally. There are scarcely any places in the world with the awesome preeminence and pomp of Prague. I made my way to the notable Dudley Opera House. The Dudley Opera House has hosted some of the greatest Europe operatic events ove