Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
The Opening
I couldn't believe that I was in India. Looking over to my left was an alarm clock blinking 10:30 am. At this time the TV was still on, its introductory screen slowly coming in and out of actual sound in the room and my consciousness as well. I had flown into the dark, bustling city at 3 am just hours previously. It seemed that Chennai didn't need sleep, but I definitely did. Hundreds had lined up outside the airport to take guests to places around the city. I had found my connection somehow and then there was a taxi ride on a dirt road surrounded by rush hour traffic. It was dark all the while, although something in the air sensed the early day was beckoning itself in. The flight previously had been equivalent to about two days of flying. The experience was possibly close to being flushed down a toilet and arriving in another world. "Was it possible to be water logged by time?" I felt that right then. Outside people were now working in the blazing daylight. I was in the cool interior of a room. India was packed tightly around me, but there was no judgement. Everybody lived together, weaved in together, made sense together. This was apparent and it was new and unique. I was there to attend "The Oneness Partners Course" with Oneness University. It was a process that I had started four years prior. A deep Chennai sun blossomed slowly over the sky lighting up the world for millions of people as they began another day in their life. I just happened to be present as well in that part of the world. My life was weaving in with India I realized right then.
By Sound And The Messenger9 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (2)
I rose at about 6:45 and hit the road by 8:30. The plan was to follow the directions I’d looked up on my phone to the local Firestone. However, the area around my motel consisted, in addition to construction sites, also of a bizarre sea of interlocking parking lots with no real “town” amongst them and streets and street signs that operated in ways I hadn’t seen before, so I ended up bungling around for awhile in that area, then driving across a highway into the actual downtown area, which was just as bad, involving narrow one-way streets and wandering lanes. After a bit, I just said “screw this” and opted to hit the freeway for Omaha.
By Nathan Sturm9 years ago in Wander
Visit the Dead Sea While You Still Can
The Dead Sea is one of the world’s most famous bodies of water. Its lunar landscape, curative mud and saline water — on the surface of which is possible to lie and take a nap without worrying about drowning — attract over 1.7 million tourists a year. The Dead Sea is roughly 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. Unfortunately, this may not be the case for much longer.
By Uly Spitts9 years ago in Wander
The City That Never Sleeps
On first impressions, it seemed to be less alien than I imagined. When you sit and think about how different our two countries are, you tend to imagine there to be guns visible at every glance, patriotic nationalists bombarding you from all forgotten angles, and a pale green cat... A cat bigger than any building you've seen before, just there... Towering over the city... With dollar signs for eyes and a laugh that you just can't seem to run from... A cat that has paws bigger than clouds, that boom together when he makes that money rain... But, to my disappointment, he wasn't there, and neither was the rain... Neither were the anti-abortion activists spouting their brainwashed hypocrisy, neither was the young African American man who was shot and killed before my very eyes, and all the other people on the street who trivially walk by... Just me, and my eyebrow raised.
By Charli Knight9 years ago in Wander
Paris of the 90s
So, what first struck me when I entered the arrivals terminal at Václav Havel Airport were the select few people that sat awkwardly, smoking in a glass room. A room which was built into one of the long, clinical white walls, with heavy window panes. You know the kind, the kind that resemble something out of the Starship Enterprise.
By Charli Knight9 years ago in Wander
New Orleans
New Orleans is well known for the Mardi Gras. People from around the country visit to dress in costume, drink, watch the parades as they go down the small streets of the French Quarter and when the police aren't looking bare their chests so as to have beads thrown at them from people on floats in the parade.
By Kate Adams9 years ago in Wander
What's That Smell?
We all know with every country comes its own quirky customs and cultures. Us Brits are the best for forcing our superior traditions on to "foreigners" with such barefaced yet subliminal effort. But the nation I've come to speak of today is a nation that has many customs that are widely accepted ways of behaving, but ones to which I find particularly strange. In what world is it normal to leave babies outside in sub zero temperatures? Nor is it appetising to eat the flesh of fish marinated in piss?
By Charli Knight9 years ago in Wander
The Bucket List
By definition, The Bucket List is a number of experiences or adventures that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. As depicted in the movie The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the definition is oh so true. In the movie, we have two men who have been stricken with cancer and are in the same hospital room. Jack Nicholson plays a millionaire and if I remember correctly Morgan Freeman's career is working in a garage to support his family. As the movie plays on, both men have a bucket list and against the doctor's orders both leave the hospital to achieve as many adventures as they can on their lists before they die. For those who have not seen the movie, I am not going to ruin it by telling you the whole story. You will have to watch The Bucket List" in its entirety to find out what happens during their adventures.
By Kate Adams9 years ago in Wander
Heiwajima
It's 10 PM on a Wednesday night and I'm again walking the streets of Tokyo. A steady rain pours down on the road and the drops are light and more like a spray than a rain. As usual, I have my guitar in one hand and a pack on my back. It seems too much, but I feel like I'm missing something when I leave the house without the guitar and so it's there like an extension of myself. The train that was supposed to come never came and so I struck off on the road and now my feet feel the pavement and slowly I'm starting to regret the decision. Overhead a train passes over me, its pale yellow lights putting yellow sparkles onto a road, the pavement drenched in the spray that has been slowly accumulating. Even the streets somehow seem soaked to the bone. Then as if the passing train signals a transition in time, almost as though there was a check point to be passed, I see the sign for Heiwajima Train Station glow overhead. I had been looking for a hot spring in Tokyo City for some time and a place to stay that was cheap. There are the international hostels of Tokyo, which house the foreign night owl, but I wanted to find something more local and preferably something with hot water. When I had conducted the search online Heiwajima Onsen had popped up and so here I was answering the call at 10 PM at night. The station "Heiwajima" translates to "Peace Island" in English. I had walked across the sea of buildings and had arrived!
By Sound And The Messenger9 years ago in Wander
Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park (Erie, Pennsylvania) Review
A condensed but fun water park. Friendliness\Helpfulness of Staff The staff overall was friendly and would answer questions when needed but considering this is an indoor water park they were focused on maintaining safety. While staffing the rides they would not look at you directly when answering questions. Lifeguards would do the same thing but this is expected. When not maintaining the rides they were far friendlier and would do their best to be helpful in pointing you in the right direction. Another thing to note here is the inconsistency the ones manning the rides had in enforcing particular policies whether or not they are actually written down. Most ride staff didn't seem to mind if you wore a shirt when you went down some of the water slides, but others would not allow you to ride. This could lead to an inconsistent experience. Another small note is that I called the night before to find out pricing. The person who I spoke with did not seem to be aware of their after 4 PM pricing.
By Relaxed Tourist9 years ago in Wander
"Wanna Get Away?"
It's Thursday. It's 3 PM. You're about two comments away from telling your supervisor or employee where to shove that patronizing smile that they shine on you as they ask you another stupid question, or hand you another, boring, useless task. It's April and you're already "over" all the B.S. your career has to offer and you've got to get away.
By SIR FRANCIS IV9 years ago in Wander
