#18 — A Month in India (Part 1): The Auroville Intentional Community in Tamil Nadu

We arrived for a one month’s stay in a wonderful Airbnb apartment in Auroville, Tamil Nadu — just north of Pondicherry and about three hours south of the Chennai airport.

This is our third visit to India. So much felt familiar and we felt an excitement because such a fast moving society was likely to have changed significantly since our last visit in 2020. It’s such a welcoming country. We love the food, the culture, the people — and the cows who were just as likely to be sauntering down the middle of the highway as they were to be grazing in the gorgeous green open space behind our apartment building. We didn’t even mind that walking to dinner our first night, in the dark along the main Auroville Rd., our village hometown this month, that Paul squarely squished a fresh cow pie (shit) under his left shoe. That’s India. Take it in stride. By the way, our US$8.50 dinner of veg paneer with gravy, masala chicken, jeera rice, phulka and sweet lassis that night was intoxicating. More please.

Auroville — The Intentional Community in Tamil Nadu, India — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys

#17 — Second Time Around, Our Return Visit to Sri Lanka

We arrived in Sri Lanka in late May 2024. It was our second visit to the pearl of south Asia and we stayed a month including two weeks of relaxation on Nilaveli beach, north of Trincomalee, on the eastern coast — an area we did not include on our first visit in 2018. Our itinerary also included some familiar spots worthy of a return visit. We wanted to see again the exquisite 4th century BCE Dambulla caves filled with beautifully preserved Buddhist carvings. Our good friend Ayesh, a young Sri Lankan man we met six years ago, was our host and guide the entire month.

Our Return Visit to Sri Lanka — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys

#16 — Bali and Java, Our Month in Indonesia

We visited Bali, Indonesia in April and May 2024. It’s a great time of year south of the Equator to enjoy Asia! This is our second visit to Bali, and a first time visit to Java, including the ancient and mysterious megalithic site near Jakarta of Gunung Padang. Most of the spots on Bali were clothing optional. All on Java were historical or spiritual. We started in Denpasar and exited from Jakarta. Affordable paradise! We went back to Bali in mid-July 2024 visiting all the clothing optional places again as we love them all!

Bali and Java, Our Month in Indonesia — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys

#15 — Our 25 Days in Japan 2024

Dreams Do Come True — Our Second Visit to Japan We spent three weeks in Japan in 2018 and ever since we’ve attempted to jockey our itinerary for more, more, more! We tried in 2020, just before the Covid lockdown, with what was to be an albeit inadequate three night stopover in Tokyo between Thailand and Portland, Oregon USA. But that got nixed.

So in late March 2024, we arrived in Tokyo for a second three-week visit, to this alluring, gorgeous country. In addition to visiting Tokyo we took a Shinkansen (bullet train) south to Naoshima, a destination commonly known as Japan’s art island and also enjoyed several spots around Osaka/Kobe.

Our 25 Days in Japan 2024 — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys

#14 — South American Travel Stories

We recap the end of our 2023 South American travel with stories from the wine country of Mendoza, Argentina to celebrating Mardi Gras in Brazil and our visit to Iguazu Falls ending with a retelling of our experiences on Easter Island. We start with our incredible emergency plane landing story! Listen to our informative and lively conversation below. Moderated by Nancy Ward.

South American Travel Stories — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys

#13 — Swedish Death Cleaning & Our 1st Days in Buenos Aires

We turned to the Swedes for inspiration and practicality as we drastically downsized our personal belongings and freed ourselves from the burden of too much stuff! Listen to our informative and lively conversation below. Moderated by Nancy Ward.

Swedish Death Cleaning & Our First Days in Buenos Aires, Argentina — Audio Version
Global Hotel Guys