In downtown LA, there is of course, a Chinatown.  Within the Chinatown boundaries are loads of Vietnamese restaurants...which of course is the best of all the Asian cuisines.  Their magic with flavors makes Thai food taste almost dirty, very unsatisfying (unless we're talking Palms i...

So, just off the main plaza in downtown Isla Mujeres is a narrow alleyway.  In that said alleyway is a rickety-ass grill.  Charring up on that said grill is some downright sultry smelling meat.  Sometimes it's slung up; sometimes not.  The day I happened upon it, I'd ...

When I left Indo last summer, I came back to the US full of piss-n-vinegar, all riled up to get 4th World Love off the ground.  And, I did.   All it took was a little brainstorming with my brilliant boys on the ground over there and some time putting together a budget for Phase 1, ...

4th World Love had its first volunteer show up a few months ago.  Even though I did it, it literally amazes me that people make their way halfway around the world (trust me, it's not easy getting there) and give their time/energy/soul to making the world a better place.  It warms me ...

So, the question of the day is this:  Is Isla Contoy, an uninhabited bird sanctuary a few hours boat ride from Isla Mujeres, worth the trip?  Well, why the hell not!  We rented out an old pirate ship looking vessel (free drinks all day long, included lunch and snorkel gear too) and...

I've said it once, I'll say it again.  Manana, the super-fly used bookstore/cafe/coffee house on Isla Mujeres is just the numero uno when it comes go food, chill atmosphere and a place to wile away the day.  Yes...entire days...til they kick you out at closing time.  Imagin...

Since I'm on the subject of food, I might as well get a little deeper into the best chile relleno ever.  I don't know what La Lomita does differently than the mess we usually call a chile relleno in the US, but whatever it is, I hope it never changes. Now, La Lomita is located on the w...

Lest anyone think that I have totally abandoned my food obsessions, please think again!   Those kind of you-are-born-with-em traits die hard and there is no getting around them no matter what city/country/outback I happen to be in.  I'm always gonna want to hunt down the best f...

So, while I was home in TN over the holidays, my mom got herself a little fire going in the front yard which after about a half dozen Dos Equis on my part, I then fueled with the pages of one of my travel magazines.  I sat there, deep in the mountains one afternoon, tearing out pages from T &a...

This one is a two-fer.  I went back to Indonesia to do what I said I was gonna do the last time I was there.  I was volunteering, teaching English to all the local villagers and I never got the chance to climb Mt. Rinjani.  It was closed for the rainy season and even if it wasn'...