Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
Kangaroo Kiss & Koala Piss
"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." Yeah, I know it's a grand opening; too bad I borrowed it from a great writer. But, I believe Dickens would have chuckled to see me use it in a story about being kicked by a horny Kangaroo and pissed on by a Koala.
By Gerald Holmes5 years ago in Wander
The Complete Coyote Gulch Tale
Chapter 1: To the Edge of Coyote Gulch “Where will you be heading into the gulch at?” asked the National Park Service Ranger stationed behind the counter at the Escalante visitor center upon hearing our request for a backcountry permit. When my companion Kat replied “40 mile trailhead” the old woman’s head snapped up sharply and she fixed us both with a hard gaze. “You do realize the trail there is a 45 degree descent. Are you both capable of handling that, with packs?” We nodded as she gave us the once over, appearing satisfied with what she saw she handed over the permit and we turned to leave. A 45 degree descent sounded challenging but that was exactly the reason we had made the long trip out to the Utah desert, to test ourselves against some of the most difficult backpacking conditions to be found in the United States and prove our mettle. At the time I was grateful for the heads up and warning, later I would curse the old woman for what she neglected to tell us. The 45 degree descent into the gulch was a one way trip, it simply was not possible to return up out of the gulch the same way.
By Everyday Junglist5 years ago in Wander
How to Learn How to Travel
The hot June sky was swiftly filling with clouds. I was grateful for the shade but I worried it would start to pour before we arrived. A few drops began to fall as we parked and started our short hike. An elderly white man in loose marigold colored clothes had set up a booth on the sidewalk handing out informational booklets about Hindu deities. I was in a hurry but Sophie, my friend and traveling companion, was interested, so we stopped and chatted for a while. I am glad we did. We had a short but lovely conversation about openness and spirituality. It was truly an experience of human connection. Is there anything more beautiful?
By Kait Leininger5 years ago in Wander
How to Get Around in Penang, Malaysia
One of the most important things to learn before you travel to another country is how you can travel within that country during your stay. This can help you estimate things like how much time it might take to travel between places. Furthermore, once you know which kinds of transport you prefer, you can estimate how much you need to set aside for the travel component of your budget for your Penang getaway.
By Amie Ginendra5 years ago in Wander
Vegas on a Budget
I have always loved to travel. When I was younger, my step mother tried to take me everywhere, and wherever she was allowed to take me, I was always happy to go. When I got older and had to foot the bill myself, there were only so many places I could afford with even less time to go, and traveling went on the back burner. Back in February, I started my new side gig as a travel agent. It was something that I wanted to try since some friends had already done this years before, but I just never took the leap until finally, with the pandemic and with everyone trying new things, I decided to go for it. Because I am still relatively new to the industry, I needed to really get out here and travel more, but my budget is very meager seeing how I am a student, mother of three teenagers, and I just started on this brand new journey, I decided it was now or never. Vegas, though it is easy to rack up a nice little price tag in America's playground, can still be done on a budget. Here are just a few clues as to how to save a coin or two and still do everything that you might want to do there.
By Nailah Robinson5 years ago in Wander
My Adventure in an Indian Tiger Preserve:
Tigers are fascinating and majestic creatures. After my misadventure at a tea plantation, my family headed to the Periyar Tiger Preserve National Park. The national park was a beautiful area covered in dense forest with a series of interconnected lakes. On one of the lakes, there was a small resort where guests could stay the night. Guests had to take a small boat out to the resort, and my father had rented it as an anniversary gift for my mother. When we arrived by boat, we were informed that it was possible to see wild elephants bathing in the lake early in the mornings.
By Chad Pillai5 years ago in Wander
