Travel Essays

Thailand, the land of smiles and golden dreams, is languishing, and Pattaya, its biggest fun city, is succumbing to a thousand ills. Pattaya Pains is about living in Pattaya over the long term. Even though the collection of essays, stories, and observations herein would relish the golden dream of painting Pattaya as a romantic hotspot where Thais and foreigners bond, it can’t do so - not only because East is East and West is West, but also because Thais just don’t see foreigners in a good light.

"The Only Blasphemy" is an essay from mountaineer legend John Long chronicling his solo ascent at Joshua Tree National Park's Half Dome with climber extraordinaire and childhood friend John Bachar.

Wisconsin had a big party in 1998. It was a roll-out-the-barrel, slice-the-cheese, strike-up-the-polka-band wing-ding that promised to roust every last badger out of state burrows and into the streets to dance with guests.

If you love David Sedaris, you'll have to listen to Marion Winik's anything-but-traditional tales of traveling with her cranky family in tow. From lost teenagers and missed connections to overpriced drinks and gambling mishaps, Winik - author of seven memoirs and a Morning Edition commentator on NPR - illuminates the unexpected pleasures of journeying out of your comfort zone.

Irmela Brender beschreibt in ihrem Feature die Baden-Württembergischen Berge Teck, Hohenstaufen, Lichtenstein, Hohenzollern, Hohentwiel und Asperg.