Human geography’s an interesting one!
If you look at most countries that are experiencing the most population growth, it typically isn’t happening across the whole country. It tends to be more concentrated in rural, agricultural areas.
India recently overtook China as the most populous country and it too follows this pattern.
This was the house I lived in when I was Rhys’ age.
It’s usually what I think of as my childhood home, even though we only lived here for a couple of years and my family technically didn’t own it. My aunt did, and we stayed here while my dad was sick. I have some of my earliest memories here.
I hadn’t been back in nearly 30 years, but something about being in Philly with Rhys at this age made it feel like the right time. Kind of an emotional experience!
And then he had to go to the bathroom and since we were out in the suburbs, I quickly got reacquainted with the woods behind the old house.
I have a soft spot for classic Philly rowhouses.
They feel a little English with how space efficient they tend to be and each one has such a distinct layout it’s always a surprise inside.
If not for the scarcity of access to soil in these houses, I’d love living in one.
I’m too young to have seen Dick Allen play baseball, but I’m well aware of his importance to Black baseball, especially in Philly.
He took no crap, and made it clear that integrating the big leagues alone wasn’t enough. Respect was warranted. That paved the way for guys like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard to later shine by being themselves.
Too bad Dick Allen passed just a couple years before being inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. But I had to draw this as a tribute. Between the mutton chops and fro and old school Philly colors… really one of the more fun athletes to illustrate.
Growing your own food is hard enough, but you know what makes it tougher?
Not having access to land.
It’s the challenge facing most of the ethnic minority communities I met in Thailand. But the backyard garden approach is allowing these families to have incredibly diverse diets out of tiny garden spaces.
Getting to spend some time in New Zealand this summer (their winter) was a longtime wish fulfilled. All the gorgeous nature shots, combined with its distance, kept it at the top of my list for years.
I’d like to say that New Zealand lived up to the hype. And it did… at least relative to the amount of time we spent there. The thing is, there’s just so much to do. And some of the most beautiful are on rather remote hiking trails and in parts of the country not so compatible with a 10 day itinerary.
So while we had to leave a whole lot on the ol’ “next time list,” I appreciate the taste I got for Aeotearoa. Here are a few observations that might be helpful for anyone heading that way:
Here’s my very brief impression of the main cities. Mind you, I’ve only actually been to a couple, so this isn’t terribly well informed. But…
Auckland – The “big city” with all the expected pros-and-cons of being the big city. You’ll probably get the best restaurants here, along with more to do in the evening, but it can feel a bit generic at times.
Christchurch – Felt like the most liveable city. Absolutely gorgeous, and so much new infrastructure post-earthquake.
Wellington – The political capital, but with some hidden gems.
Queenstown – Hard to imagine actually living there, but so full of outdoorsy adventures and attractions.
Rotorua – Probably the city most in touch with Māori culture, featuring hot springs
Wanaka – Photogenic social media darling
Dunedin – Glacier paradise down at the bottom
And of course, some of the best sites aren’t in cities, but around its 13 National Parks and notable trans-island hiking trails.
Within six hours after we left Auckland for Christchurch, a tornado struck Auckland and the top of South Island. A state of emergency was called. When we made it back a few days later, you would’ve had no idea.
We were in the country in time for its winter, and while the temperatures were mild, the wind was noteworthy. Wellington happens to be the world’s official windiest city, however that sort of thing gets measured.
A random thing I’ve overthought before is which culture’s sense of humor matches mine most closely. While I still think the most likely answer is the obvious, American, Kiwi humor sits well with me. I love the practical and understated dry humor, and the way people don’t let their mates get too big-headed. Its full of that “don’t take yourself too seriously” energy I think our world needs more of.
I had one of the top three* breakfasts of my life on this trip. It was in Auckland, at the Cordis hotel. Its restaurant is named Eight, as it draws inspiration from eight different cuisines of the world, and it plays by those same rules for breakfast.
What I like is that they had a different station for whatever approach to breakfast you prefer. If you’re a bacon-and-eggs Ron Swanson type, they had the hot breakfast bar. If you’re more sweet toothed, the pancakes and fixin’s were out there. They had the yogurt and muesli and fruit station. And they even had an Asian zone for those of us who are down with kimchi stew and tofu for breakfast.
*My other top two breakfasts are also hotel buffets, but from the Philippines, and I hold Filipino breakfast in the highest regard.
I did. I was pleasantly surprised to be so wrong.
Before, if you asked me to name a New Zealand must-eat, I’d say… pavlova? But is fruit and merengue ever actually a must?
Ironically, there are more than a couple New Zealand pubs in San Diego that are quite good. But their signature items are simply burgers. Good burgers. But nothing too distinct.
Well, what New Zealand lacks in signature items, they make up for in diversity and culinary skill. There are simply all kinds of great restaurants, and the food halls in Christchurch made it too easy to grab two dinners a night. I was especially fond of all the Indonesian options, as that’s a great cuisine that isn’t easy for me to find back home.
The label “tourist trap” doesn’t come with the best associations, but in New Zealand, you could do the most touristy things and have a great time. I assume the most touristy thing in the country is Hobbiton, and it’s a fun visit! It’s kind of what happens when something with amusement park appeal gets put in the hands of a place as chill as New Zealand. You get to walk about the film set, explore the inside of a hobbit house, and grab a beer at the Green Dragon Pub. Hopefully you don’t like the beer too much, because the brews are exclusive to Hobbiton.
The other big touristy thing in the area are the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves, and riding a boat under a cave that’s glowing blue is simply magical. This was my favorite item on our trip.
Apparently when Peter Jackson was scouting out filming locations for The Fellowship of the Ring, he came upon the farm in Waitomo that now houses Hobbiton and knew right away that this was the spot. It’s worked out pretty well for the family, who continues to own the farm and holds a 50/50 agreement over the film set. They benefit from all that tourism revenue. On the flip side, the farm next door is virtually identical and could’ve easily done the job. If only their neighbors weren’t home when Peter Jackson was making the rounds…
From the bilingual signage in public spaces to all the Māori monuments, its easy to feel like the Māori-Pakeha relations have made so much more progress than parallel struggles elsewhere around the world. And a lot of progress has indeed been made. It wasn’t all that long ago that children were punished in schools for speaking the Māori language. But, it’s certainly an incomplete success. I happened to visit at an interesting time, where the most right-wing government New Zealand has had in a while is attempting to revisit a lot of core treaties. (You may have seen the viral Parliamentary haka in response.)
The book Once Were Warriors by Alan Duff is a bit older now, but still offers a more raw look into some contemporary struggles facing Māori populations.
Or don’t. I know little about fashion, and I dislike shopping. But I do know the feeling of finding a ridiculous throwback starter jacket or souvenir tee in a thrift shop and getting a ton of use out of it because it’s such a strong flavor. I do know that this experience is pretty rare in American thrift shops now, as they’ve gotten gentrified and rebranded. But Auckland’s still got it going on, and I got to relive it.
About 70% of Christchurch was leveled during its 2011 earthquake and as plans for its rebuild were drawn, Māori planners and engineers infused culture into its design. Mahinga kai is a term that refers to gathering food, not just as sustenance, but as a means of connection to the land, its waterways, and each other as a group of people.
Today, the heart of Christchurch is somewhere where its downtown shops turn into the Riverside Food Hall which is right on the Avon River. The practicality of this design actually makes so much sense when you’re staring at it in person.
Anyways, I certainly hope this is just the first of several trips I get to take to New Zealand within my lifetime. Don’t know when the next time will be, but I look forward to getting even more deeply acquainted.
This year, I completed a certificate program in Social Impact Storytelling with Georgetown. It’s been a minute since I’ve done anything academic, but it was kind of nice to be back!
They say that screenshotting every single lecture slide isn’t a really effective notetaking method… but I seriously wanted to retain everything. And I have definitely gone back to look over everything as I pass some gems along to my team.
Here are some faves:
⚡️ To make a movement attractive, build its culture of storytelling
⚡️ To navigate the complexities of storytelling, it helps to see yourself as a co-creator. Moderate a conversation with people, rather than owning the narrative.
⚡️ It’s easy to obsess over the micro-impact of storytelling (clicks, volunteers, fundraising dollars…) at the expense of its macro-impact (shifting the narrative on certain issues.) More transactional wins are easier to measure, but it’s always helpful to see things both ways.
⚡️ Using simpler language and minimizing complexity isn’t “dumbing it down.” It’s working with the human brain in a way that helps us better relate to the happenings in the story, and doing it well takes smarts!
⚡️ Choosing curiosity over certainty always makes for the better story
One of the funny things I’m still getting used to now that I have a kid in school is that summer is a thing again. And so is the end of summer. The school year starts tomorrow. Kindergarten for my oldest, and five days a week of preschool for the twins.
Soon enough, summer will be a total quandary for us, as it is for a lot of parents. This year he was young enough so we could send him back to his old preschool with his siblings and that took care of three days a week, grandma for the other two. The next few summers probably won’t be that simple, but we’ll cross that bridge eventually.
I actually like being able to lean more into the spirit of summer. The other week, we brought the kids out for a movie-in-the-park, which is quickly becoming a favorite summertime ritual. The feature happened to be The Sandlot, and my kids absolutely loved it. Tequila scene especially.
We happened to catch the movie at a park on a hill. If you know where to look, there’s a little opening behind the playground with a view of the whole bay. After The Sandlot, my three year old told me she had never seen fireworks before, and wouldn’t you know it, there happened to be a few going off right at the moment. I led the kids to the secret viewpoint and… you just can’t script that kind of thing!
It’s been a good summer, but it’ll also be nice to have school going again. I’ve come to the conclusion that both have their pros-and-cons, so it’s a good thing that they switch on and off, alternating inconveniences.
Summer lets us sleep in more. Not having to worry about a 7:00 drop-off gives me more flexibility around my running schedule.
School, however, saves us money. Next year will be bliss, where we can stop paying our daycare center at least a third of our paychecks. For now, we’ll settle for the relief of having one fewer tuition.
Also, this will be the first time where we’ll have five days a week of school for all three. I’ve had to be real creative with my work schedule the past couple years so this slack already feels like a luxury.
One thing I will miss from our summer lives, however, will be the opportunity to do random afternoon dates. Daycare goes until 5:00 and not 2:00, and Deanna often finishes work at 2:00 or 3:00. That means if I start my work a couple hours early, we can slip in a random date on a weekday afternoon.
A few days ago, we decided to take advantage of that window to go see The Naked Gun. The dumb, dad-jokey humor of the original and other Leslie Nielsen classics hold a special place in my memory. Seeing the trailer for the new installment, along with the Liam Neeson casting, made me trust this one.
I’ll say, I liked it. It perhaps wasn’t quite as densely packed with jokes as I anticipated, but it was true to the spirit of the original and self-aware. What’s significant is that a feature length comedy was just released in theatres, and I really want it to do well. Well enough that theatrical comedies become a thing again.
We’re halfway through the decade and I can think of only three other comedic films to reach theatres. Joyride, The Weird Al movie, and the Please Don’t Destroy movie. And those didn’t exactly get big releases. I remember walking around Blockbuster back in the day. The comedy section was like a third of the store. Who would’ve thought that we’d grow up and that entire genre would be gone?
Of course… the entire store is gone. But you know what I mean. They still make all the other genres. But how’d we lose comedy??
I can’t help but note the way the disappearance of comedic movies syncs up with the rise of hostile politics and social erosion and I don’t think that’s a coincidence. I could spend a long time unpacking that, but the short synopsis is that we forgot how to laugh at ourselves and take ourselves too seriously.
Clapping back in the comments section with the 🤣 emoji as punctuation is a wack replacement for humor.
Speaking of comedy, I’ve got a couple of improv shows coming up this weekend and I’m ready to shake off some rust. My last couple of shows weren’t exactly my best and I could feel myself overthinking. But that’s the catchy part of improv. If your show goes well, you wanna chase that high again. If it doesn’t, you wanna chase it down soon enough with a better performance. Either way, you make your way back on stage, and I’m thankful to have these opportunities every week.
I played this past Friday at my home theatre with Pacific Quiche, then Saturday with Optimus Rhyme at a venue I’ve never played at before.
I heard a lot of good things about the Brooks Theatre in Oceanside, namely the crowd that turns out for shows. It’s a bit different than the sea of familiar faces I’d gotten used to at the theatres closer to San Diego, and they lived up to the hype.
I also got to debut the obnoxiously loud Asics jacket I picked up in Auckland.
One thing I learned about Auckland earlier in the summer is that the city has a really good vintage scene and thrifting culture. It reminds me of what thrift shops felt like before the song Thrift Shop. At most thrift shops these days, I feel like somebody just dropped off dozens of the same used running shirt, then the thrift shop manager priced them like a rare artifact.
Not so in Auckland! A bit of a treasure hunt for nostalgic hits. Starter jackets. Jerseys of long retired ballers. Tour shirts for obscure and forgotten indie bands.
Some of my favorite finds have come in this sort of setting. I remember in college getting an old 1984 Team USA windbreaker that felt like paper, and a Japanese baseball jersey. They felt like absurd purchases at the time, but I ended up getting so much use out of them for themed parties and what not.
I’m hoping the turquoise, purple, and zebra-striped Starter jacket I picked up in Auckland plays a similar role. Being on a hip-hop improv team should help.
On my list of simple things that make me glad to be alive is walkout music. You know? Your at-bat song if you’re a baseball player. Your entrance jam if you’re a wrestler. The song intro that blasts across the room if you’re a teacher, a postal worker, or a floor nurse.
I guess those latter three professions don’t typically use entry music, but I’m fully supportive of that becoming a thing.
Anyways, I’m glad that taking the improv stage gives me a chance to try out different walk-out anthems. I don’t know if Gasolina can be topped, as its an instant signal that a 15 year old from the Dominican Republic is about to knock one out of the park. That said, Deanna and I entered our wedding reception venue to Sleigh Bells’ Tell ‘Em, and that’s a lesser known way to make your presence known.
I suppose I’m on a walk-out music kick lately because baseball’s trade deadline just passed, and the Phillies’ big trade was for Jhoan Duran, a closer who throws 102 MPH. Just as importantly, he has one of the more sophisticated entries I’ve seen for an athlete, with the stadium going dim for a light show synced among fans, animated spiders and flames taking over the LED ribbon screens across the stadium, and Farruko’s El Incomprendido stirring up Citizen’s Bank Park.
It’s been a long time since the Phillies have had a true closer, and it’s real nice to have a reliable pitcher in the role. I suppose if the theatrics were setting up somebody who routinely blew the game, they’d get old fast.
But, I think there’s a lesson for all of us from this: If you could use an assist at being more present for the task in front of you, cue up some at-bat music.
Anyways, time to go be present for the dwindling days of summer.
This might be a little bit of an unpopular opinion: Travel doesn’t make you a better person
Yeah, there’s that beloved Mark Twain quote about it being the antidote to bigotry or whatever, but I don’t think it's that simple. Travel’s a privilege, first of all, and just because somebody doesn’t have the funds or is limited to a weak passport doesn’t make them less open-minded or empathetic.
If you travel with the right mindset, yeah, it can play a role in a whole lot of development and growth. But I don’t think it should be treated like a de-facto indicator of a person’s values.
“In Myanmar, life was dangerous. We lived in the forest, constantly afraid of thieves and violence. It wasn’t peaceful. That’s why we came to Thailand.”
I got to spend an afternoon with the Yapa Family on my last visit to Thailand and to hear about their escape from Myanmar and the beginning of their village. Uncle Yoba was practically one of its founders.
“Back then, the forest was full of wildlife and fish—we could catch fish that weighed up to 5 kg. The land was fertile. But eventually, the impact of deforestation caught up with us. When our farmland stopped producing well, we felt hopeless. For years, I used the same plot of land, and over time, the soil degraded.
Through Plant With Purpose, I received training and seedlings. I planted trees—some for food, some for shade, some just to restore the land. I’ve been part of the program for three years now, and I’m proud of that. Before, my land was dry and barren. Now, it’s beginning to recover.”
For whatever reason, Finland keeps getting overlooked as a destination in Northern Europe.
My first visit to the country was a father-son trip when my oldest was just four. It was an instant winner, as Finland is one of the world’s most child-friendly destinations. I was immediately glad I rolled the dice on flying him across the planet, as we were rewarded with an unforgettable time together.
It’s not hard to see why Finland constantly gets named as the World’s Happiest Country. They’re having a 90’s Chicago Bulls-esque run of being top ranked for happiness. Moominvalley might not be a real place, but its native country of Finland might be the closest thing we’ve got.
Here are my top picks for places to stay, treats to eat or drink, and things to see and do should you make it over to one of my favorite countries.
Most of the items here will be centered in the spots I’m more familiar with:
Helsinki – Finland’s capital and by far its largest city. Sleek and modern, while still being quieter than most European metros.
Tampere – A city in Southern Finland with plenty of local quirks and an industrial history
Rovaniemi – A small city at the edge of the Arctic Circle, home to Santa Claus Village
Miscellaneous National Parks – Finland has plenty of hikes and campsites that come recommended
In all likelihood, Helsinki will be your entry point into Finland. It’s a well-connected hub and easily accessible from major cities all around the world. The train system provides an easy way to get to central Helsinki.
For the most part, Finnish cities are easily navigated with public transport, and rideshare apps can fill in the gaps, with perhaps a short-term car rental for hiking trips.
Also note that from Helsinki, one can easily catch a two-hour ride to Tallinn, Estonia on a very comfortable ferry. Consider giving a few days on the itinerary to Estonia, or even more if you want to venture further into the Baltics.
The items on this list aren’t likely going to happen all on the same trip, because the best time of year for each one will vary.
My personal favorite time to visit Finland is in mid-to-late March. Yes, it’ll probably be colder there than where you’re coming from, but I think that’s part of the aesthetic. You expect Finland to be cold, and the blankets of Arctic Snow are absolutely gorgeous. At the tail end of winter, the cold will be mild enough so you can still go out and about, plus, this probably gives you the best chances at seeing the Northern Lights if you’re in the right spot.
September’s not a bad time either, in terms of Northern Lights probability. Then there’s Finland in the summer. It’s a good option for escaping the heat that takes over most of Europe these days, and Finland’s got plenty of gorgeous lakes and National Parks for camping.
Finland gives you a pretty good range of options for places to stay within reasonable price points. Splurging is always an option, but I do think the budget/mid-range options tend to provide everything I could possibly want. Instead I prioritize location.
I’m also throwing in a few unorthodox accommodations, where you’ll be sure to have a memorable stay!
Fabian’s location is an amazing spot for visiting Helsinki. You’re only a couple blocks’ walk from the heart of town, but it's still on a quiet enough street. Something about the hotel’s presentation seems to be just the right balance of feeling luxurious while still being understated and true to the Finnish-style of keeping it practical. It’s got a snuggly feel, and their breakfast is a good one to wake up to.
This hotel’s got a moody, cool, and stylish swagger. The rooms almost look like they were styled by a Nordic Bond villain. People come for the swagger, stay for the sauna, and whisper about the breakfast like it’s a state secret. It’s located in a fun, artsy part of town and housed in a former police station… which somehow adds to its rebel vibe.
Okay, so imagine a brick industrial warehouse evolves into a cool co-working space. Then that co-working space evolves again and becomes a hotel. That’s Unity. Tampere’s a quietly edgy and creative city, and this hotel matches its charm. It’s not a bad option for a long-term stay, but with a lot more charm than the generic apartment-stay. There’s a rooftop sauna (because Finland), a community kitchen, and a relaxed feel… with a few plants for emotional support.
I booked a night here thinking it was a splurge, and wound up feeling like it was a steal. That’s because Arctic Snow Hotel is so much more than a spot to crash for the night. It’s on a campus full of snow-play areas, reindeer feeding, and so much more. You’ll catch a buffet and a fine dining restaurant and a bar. And a sauna, of course. They also have an ice hotel where you can book a room in case sleeping on a block of ice is your thing. Their glass igloos were equipped with aurora alarms so when the sky goes green overhead, you won’t miss it.
Yup, one of my recommended accommodations is a hammock. In a tree.. In a national park. Nuuksio National Park appears later in this list as a great visit, and here’s a great spot to stay if you want a forest campsite with some off-grid cred. No walls, just birdsong, pine needles, and squirrels. If you’re in Finland in the summer, it’s a great way to fall asleep under the stars.
Hop aboard the Santa Claus Express. It’s the closest thing we’ve got to the Polar Express, but without the creepy early 2000s animation. It leaves from Helsinki’s main station and the journey to Rovaniemi gives you private cabins, slow-motion scenery, and “main character in a winter novel” energy.
If you’re doing this, best take the overnight route. You’ll be able to sleep in a bunk-bed cabin with a private toilet and shower. Then get ready for the coolest waking up experience as the sun comes up in the Arctic Circle.
Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s magical. Santa Claus Village is where Christmas goes extra.
Embrace it. Commit to the bit. You’re here.
Wait… I’m hoping you’re familiar with Moomin. Tove Jansson’s emotionally resonant world of nature-loving hippolike creatures that feels like a squishy hug. Well, if you did grow up with Moomin, it needs no introduction, and if you didn’t, a trip to Finland is the perfect way to get acquainted.
A theme-park island recently opened in Naantali, offering hobbit-hole houses, storybook trails, and zero scary rides… just wholesome, weird, deeply Finnish fun. It’s probably most aimed at younger kids, but I confess, I enjoy it all the same.
If you happen to be in Tampere, its Moomin Museum is where the emotional depth of the Moominverse is lovingly preserved in dim lighting and glass cases. Original drawings, melancholy quotes, and hauntingly adorable figurines fill the space like a soft-spoken dream.
And all over Helsinki, you’ll find Moominshops and Moomin Cafés, even at the airport.
The Finnish visit would feel just a little incomplete without some sort of sauna, huh? his architecturally stunning waterfront steam temple mixes traditional wood-burning heat with sleek design and cold-dip access to the Baltic. Locals love it for after-work detoxes. Just remember: it’s all chill until you jump in the sea and forget what warmth is for a solid 30 seconds.
This place also pairs with a sleek and attractive restaurant with a great view of the sea.
In case this place isn’t along your way, many Finnish accommodations offer sauna, but i recommend carving out some time for it.
Lohikeitto is creamy, dreamy salmon soup. It sounds simple. It is simple. But it delivers. Chunks of buttery fish, soft potatoes, and a savory broth… bonus points when paired with a thick slice of warm bread.
Vanha Kauphaali is one of the city’s main food halls and a perfect spot to try salmon soup. Practically every other stall offers it. You can also find salmon pie here, though I’ll make some other recommendations for places that offer it up. In my experience, the vendors were quite friendly, and happy to sell fresh cuts of fish, dressed up just to taste.
As far as pastries go, the Finnish cinnamon bun is a classic. So are karelian pasties. You’ll find several options for those at the Hakaniemi Market. Located in a trendy neighborhood, you’ll find it a bit more chaotic than Vanha Kauphaali, but that’s part of its vibe.
You’ll find some regulars who drop in for their trusted fishmonger or for cheese-stuffed pastries no chain bakery can touch. It’s less polished than Vanha but way more fun if you like your markets with a side of attitude and pickled everything.
Ekberg is the grande dame of Finnish cafés, housed in a 19th-century setting with one of the best presentations of classic Finnish pastries and coffee. It’s perhaps a bit on the posh side, but you still have to bus your own tray to keep you humble. Voisilmäpulla is a classic Finnish sugar-butter bun that this spot happens to do quite well.
Not me sending you off to another food hall! Well, Tampere’s is buzzing with energy, savory smells, and enough local character to fill a sauna. Maybe your best chance to try Tampere’s infamous blood sausage (mustamakkara) with lingonberry jam. It’s weirdly delicious, and somehow... comforting? It’s not everybody’s favorite, though, so there’s also everything from hand-rolled sushi to grandma-grade meat pies (lihapiirakka).
Finland has a signature blueberry juice drink that is an absolute treat. One of the best versions of this is one that’ll be available on board flights via with FinnAir.
Once you’ve landed, though, you’ll find plenty of options available at any given Finnish grocery store.
This is the most impressive library I’ve seen.
This futuristic book palace is where you can check out a novel, a 3D printer, or a video game console, all while enjoying café vibes and a forest of indoor light. People love it for being a community space that actually feels like it’s for everyone: artists, gamers, toddlers, and pensioners all peacefully co-exist beneath that swooping roof. There’s a cinema and restaurant on the floor level, a sleek reading area on the top level, a kids’ play area, and a midsection where you can play board games.
Finns consume plenty of coffee, therefore, there are plenty of cvarying opinions over which one is best. You’ll see the name Fazer pop up a lot. It’s a big Finnish chain, and honestly, it’s quite good. Their chocolates are worth a taste. But if having your classic Finnish coffee shop experience in a chain isn’t your style, I might recommend Andaté as an alternative. It’s all houseplants, sunlight, and minimalist serenity.
The Helsinki City Museum is actually free, which sweetens the deal a good amount. It also proved to be a good spot to bring my four year old, as there were a lot of hands’ on items at the Children’s Town area.
It’s the Punk Museum! A a tiny space packed with zines, vinyl, and the kind of angst you can only get from basement shows and too-tight jeans. It’s proudly DIY, full of attitude, and often staffed by people who probably were in that band.
In the middle of the city’s hustle, Kamppi Chapel just whispers peace. This sleek wooden structure looks like a giant walnut, a quirky building with a lot of character. It shares its plaza area with a large shopping complex, which makes its calm and quiet interior even more of a feat.
Savotta is more on the fine dining end of the spectrum, but it retains a lot of Finnish flair. The space looks like it’s been inspired by a log cabin, and you’ll find antique tools on the walls, plaid napkins, and menus with wild game and foraged mushrooms.
Okay, I’m not typically enthralled with the idea of visiting a fortress. But this sea-fortress is just 15 minutes from the center of the city, and so many people report feeling a sudden tranquility upon arrival. It’s a great walking area, and if you actually are a history buff, then enjoy nerding out over tunnels and battlements.
A beach? In Finland? Oh yes. People come for jogs, dips, dog-walks… if you happen to be visiting in the summer, you’ll find Finns enjoying the most beach friendly weather they get. But even at other parts of the year, it’s still a scene.
Breakfast and lunch in the morning with outdoor seating options, dinner in the evenings with DJ accompaniment on the weekends. Oh, and brunch.In terms of food, they have plenty of pizza options, a pretty good shakshuka, and there are plenty of vegan options.
It’s a gorgeous nature-inspired restaurant at the edge of the National Park. Perched above treetops, this eco-friendly restaurant serves up sustainable Finnish cuisine that tastes like it came from the forest itself, because it kind of did. Berries, mushrooms, lake fish form like a forest tasting menu curated by a kindly forest spirit.
It’s an impressively wholesome wilderness. You can hike, paddle, pick berries, or just sit and stare at a pine tree until your existential dread melts. You can come and visit for the day, but if you’re interested in camping in Finland, this is honestly a pretty good option for that.
What do you get when you cut a hole in a frozen lake and willingly jump in? A Finnish rite of passage and the closest thing to an out-of-body experience that’s not illegal. Hey, everyone swears by cold plunges these days. Must be something to it!
Check out the wildlife-filled nature reserve with pine & birch forests surrounding lakes and well marked paths. It’s relatively close to Helsinki and offers great scenes and hiking trails.
Climb a small hill, conquer a spiral staircase, and earn yourself a doughnut. That’s the Pyynikki deal. This retro tower offers killer views of lakes and trees, and a café at the top serving munkki, aka Finland’s superior doughnut. People love the low-effort adventure: you feel like you hiked without actually hiking, and your reward is sugar. It’s simple, sweet, and surprisingly satisfying.
A ferry accessible island on Lake Pyhäjärvi for hiking, swimming, and relaxing in nature.
Ravintola Puijon Maja offers a great food experience in one of Helsinki’s better outdoor towns. Great blend of food and nature, an all-you-can-eat surrounded by the forest space of Kuopio.
You’ll find a variety of options for these all over the top of Finland. And you can easily catch some in Rovaniemi. If you happen to be more east, I might steer you towards one in Salla, aka “middle of nowhere” done very right. Arctic safaris here offer dog-sledding, snowmobiling, reindeer encounters, and aurora sightings that make you gasp and question reality. People love the untouched snow, the sheer peace, and the bragging rights.
At first, the idea of pizza and burgers seems a little too basic for a destination as epic as the Arctic Circle. But step inside. It’s a burger joint, record store, and tattooed indie hangout rolled into one.
You’ll often find a good-spirited crowd inside. People love the cozy messiness, locals love the vibe, and everyone agrees the burgers are worth the hype. The atmosphere alone makes it feel like a place from a movie.
Thailand and the North Pole have about as opposite climates as you can find, and yet, the cuisine and setting pair together beautifully. I find it even easier to enjoy the warmth of Khao Soi after stepping inside to escape a harsh winter. People love the bold flavors, giant portions, and the feeling of stumbling into Thailand somewhere between a tram stop and a snowstorm.
Side note: Rovaniemi has a surprisingly good amount of Asian food options. If you have the meals to spare, you’ll also find great Korean and Vietnamese options.
I’ve had the good fortune of seeing over a dozen African cities, but a few months ago, I made it to Nairobi for the very first time. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved the city… and if I’d never been to Africa before, I’d recommend it to myself as a great starting city for traveling the beautiful continent.
“I have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture is dedicated to values that have no concern for the soul.”
–Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
At a time where it seems like every city is trying to grapple with a housing crisis, Norway has moved in the opposite direction, now boasting one of the lowest homelessness rates in the world.
Sometimes you arrive in a place, just knowing it’s going to be a food-centric stay. Bologna? Oaxaca? Chengdu? Better double check the itinerary to see if you have enough dinners to make it through the list of must-try items… you just might need to double up!
Then there are places that weren’t on your radar, but you very quickly realize they should’ve been. That was my experience in Nairobi. I was amazed by the amount of places to eat I was told were simply a must. Thankfully my journey there was partly to understand Kenyan running culture and participate in a marathon… meaning my calorie intake was UP. Still, there were plenty of eateries left on my “next time” list.
I don’t know when that next time will be, but ever since returning I’ve been recommending Nairobi as a destination, particularly as a good entry point into African travel. With that general recommendation comes a whole bunch of more specific food recs. Here are some dishes to try and where to find them!
This was a joint that locals fell in love with back when it was at its old location tucked behind a gas station. That usually bodes well, doesn’t it? While the new spot has a more polished ambience, its retained its mastery of grilled meat.
Mishkaki is a cornerstone of Kenyan BBQ. Picture a localized kebab. Skewers of marinated meat that concentrate as much flavor into one bite as the grill master can manage. It’s spiced and grilled, often eaten as street food or bar snack… but here it can stand on its own! If you are looking to pair it with something, the butter naan and chili chips come highly recommended.
Bring an appetite. You definitely don’t want to come here to nibble.
If you’ve ever had a Brazilian Churascarria before, where servers come by with cuts of meat on spears and check the card in front of you to see if you’re ready for more, this is what you’re getting at Carnivore, but Kenyan style.
Steak? Chicken breast? Sausage? Yup. But also… ostrich and crocodile and camel if you so choose. Your only defense against the swords of meat is a little flag they give to use in surrender.
Pro-tip: This place is also the birthplace of Dawa, a cocktail a bit like a gingery caipirinha.
Nairobi’s got a coffee scene, and residents do enjoy camping out in a coffee shop for conversation, caffeine, and computer work. But there’s a turf war.
Java House is the OG. A longtime staple around Nairobi with massive mugs, good coffee, and even burgers.
Artcaffé’s a bit newer on the scene. Hip playlists, European influences, and artisanal pastries.
I have my own opinion as to which is better… but go try both and form your own!
That being said, I will share my own opinion… they’re both good. Artcaffé might have a slight edge in terms of coffee and food, but Java House is tough to unseat as an original. And if you want a more localized experience, that’s the one I’d go for. But do them both.
This is Nairobi’s food playground. It’s a bit of a hub of different food booths, so feel free to hop around from one to another. Tacos upstairs, sushi down below, a stray samosa, a snazzy cocktail. I personally loved the adobo chicken wings I had, paired with a Tusker Lager.
While this place is a delicious food paradise, it’s also a very reliable hangout. The outside space offers occasional live music or DJs and numerous lounge type settings so you can linger long after the meal. The inside does include a handful of boutiques and if nothing else, it’s pretty photogenic.
Nikkei cuisine is that very special Peruvian-Japanese fusion where the boldness of wasabi and lime blend into each other. Altitude-affected sushi. Ceviche made with mastery. While the bulk of noteworthy Nikkei eats would of course be found in Lima, Nairobi’s INTI not a bad place to find it on the opposite side of the world.
The artsy plates pair well with their creative and elegant cocktails. It’s a popular date night in the Westlands neighborhood, where you can impress your partner with unique dishes hard to find elsewhere. Catch the sunset over a a plate of tiradito.
While Kenya has several distinct, must-try dishes, I suppose nyama choma has the strongest case for being the national dish. It typically consists of char-grilled goat, beef, or chicken, grilled all smoky and primal, plus ugali (maize porridge). If you want to act natural, pinch the ugali and use it to rip off a chunk of meat or the kachumbari tomato-onion salad it’s usually paired with.
Roadhouse Grill–no relation to the American chain that you might remember from the 90s or 2000s–is a simple, loud, casual spot that doesn’t let anything distract from the eating experience in front of you. Prices are friendly and the portions are generous.
I went to kesh kesh to work. I heard it was a decent coffee shop with wi-fi where I could pull-up a laptop, and while that was technically true, I was surprised to see that it was also a full on burger joint AND an Ethiopian restaurant.
The burger and beer I ordered was solid, and from what I could see, the Ethiopian options were also great. It’s nice having a neighboring country that has its own excellent cuisine. I felt like having a massive disc of injera and my laptop out would’ve been asking too much of my tabletop, but this place is a mashup that shouldn’t work, but absolutely does. It’s chill, it’s soulful, and you’ll probably leave with both a caffeine buzz and a full belly.
I already put you on to the Java House vs Artcaffé rivalry, but those are large entities. Local icons, but chains, nonetheless. You’ll probably want to mix something that’s a bit more of a one-of-one, and that would be Sigiria Coffee House. This is a place to come and romanticize your morning cup a little bit.
This is actually tucked beside the trails at the entry of Karura Forest, and it’ll feel like an escape from the city without having to actually leave. You’ll get a good tree cover, plenty of green space, and even the occasional stare from a monkey.
The Swahili Coast of East Africa has its own distinctive regional cuisine, influenced by cloves, coconuts, and historic trading routes to the Indo-Malay strait. While Nairobi is inland and up high, Swahili Plate can serve as an ambassador of the coast.
It’s downtown location is humble in appearance, but its food just might make you wish you had a Swahili grandmother that introduced you to this cuisine much earlier in life. (If you actually have a Swahili grandma… lucky you!) Enjoy the pilau, the samaki wa kupaka, and the spices. Wear something loose and indulge in the coconut sauce.
Okay, if we’re trying to be efficient, you could get the Swahili Biryani at Swahili Plate, where it is excellent. But we’re not going for efficiency. We’re going for experience. So consider the bonus journey over to Hash Grill a treat.
Many parts of the world are familiar with biryani, beloved mountain of rice that it is. But Swahili Biryani comes with its own twist. You’ll have the classic fragrant rice and tender meats, but the spice blend comes inspired by coastal hubs like Mombasa or Lamu. If you ever find yourself in a conversation with Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangaldeshis over who has the best biryani, you just might find a new contender has entered the arena.
Don’t think I could make it through this list without a proper street food experience. The food court of the Sarit Center is a snacking mecca. My top picks are the smocha - a smoky sausage roll wrapped in a chapati, and the mayai pausa, which are sliced boiled eggs stuffed with kachumbari. These are cheap, quick, and nostalgic bites meant to hold over an appetite in between errands, but they’re such a core part of the Nairobi experience that you can’t leave them off the list.
When you’re spending time in a new place, not every meal is going to be a big old indulgence. Gotta keep a spot open for the casual stuff. And that’s what you’ll find at Birdy’s. Chicken sandwiches, wings burgers, and maybe even a milkshake. But it’s nice when casual eats like this still feel distinctly Kenyan, and options like their half-poussin chicken with samosas, masala chips, and coconut beans and rice help accomplish that.
Ever want to sip cocktails among comic book panels and neon lights while staring at the Nairobi skyline? Probably not, because unless you’ve been here or you’re local, you might not have known that was an option. But it is, and it’s a stunner.
The drinks are themed, the decor comes emblazoned with various superhero icons, and even the bathrooms play along with the theme. It’s not all just aesthetics. Their tapas are legitimately good.
Have you heard that adage about every culture’s cuisine having some sort of doughnut? Well, Kenya’s definitely got one, and it’s mandazi. Fried pillows of dough.
Swahili doughnuts are perhaps a bit like a mochi doughnut. Slightly sweet, chewy, and light. They’re great paired with chai… something Nairobi also does really well. Mandazi are a humble treat with cult status. Affordable, nostalgic, and always freshly made. They’re Nairobi’s version of comfort food therapy.
I’ve heard several Kenyans cite tilapia as their favorite local dish, and while it can be prepared several ways, having it fried up is probably tops. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, you know the drill
Served with ugali and sukuma wiki, this is Kenyan dining at its most iconic. And if some high-profile eaters can help convince you, know that Barack Obama and Anthony Bourdain have made this pilgrimage.
One of my favorite things about Nairobi is how well it serves as a gateway to the continent. A well-connected airport, some neighbors worth visiting, and relative stability all help with that. But if you’re not able to make it to a bunch of other African nations in one trip, at least your palette can.
At Ankole Grill you’ll find West African jollof, East African ribs, and all kinds of grilled glory in between. The ambiance is sleek but rooted, with décor and dishes that tell a story. Also, their chapati might ruin you for all others.
Whether you’re interested in the spices of Swahili coastal cuisine or bringing the appetite to a smoky barbecue joint, I can’t say enough good things about the plethora of options you’ll find in Nairobi.
Plan well! Your taste buds will thank you as you make your way around this vibrant African hub.
It’s a big day for Asian baseball fans. Also, Asians in general and baseball fans in general.
Congrats Ichiro.
Over 90% of Kenya’s electricity comes from renewable resources. It also increased household electricity access from around 27% in 2013 to over 75% by 2023, with most of those gains in rural areas.
This makes Kenya one of the few countries in the world to massively expand electrification without increasing reliance on fossil fuels.
I recently came back home after a couple weeks on a big adventure out of the country. My favorite thing these days is when I get to see the kids again after being away for a little bit. Nothing like the colorful greetings that usually wait on the other side of my front door.
The next few days were part of a long weekend, which was especially welcome. I spent most of it deeply enjoying very ordinary things. Spending time with the kids in the pool. Restocking on groceries. Planning the week ahead on a spreadsheet. It was quite the contrast with the waterfall hikes and cave exploring I was up to earlier in the week, but I was loving it.
Re-entry after a big adventure used to feel more disorienting. I see these memes of people trying to recreate their European getaways by sitting outside of a coffee shop in an American suburb, only to find congested parking lots and scattered shopping carts in the background. That’s what coming back home used to feel like. The bigger the adventure, the bigger the come-down afterwards. Womp womp.
Coming home doesn’t feel like such a letdown anymore.
Some of it is acclimation. I’ve gone on enough adventures to understand that another one will come soon enough, and being home is a good chance to catch up on life until then.
But also, I’ve come to appreciate the ordinary side of my life a whole lot more. Dare I call it… the boring side.
I used to hate the idea of life being boring. The word didn’t feel strong enough to describe the emptiness of life without meaningful pursuits or a sense of purpose. And so I wanted to make sure my life was the opposite of boring.
Last year, though, I heard the term boring used in the most positive way I’ve ever heard.
I lost a family member to cancer, and at his memorial service, his wife shared that their marriage was “boring in the best way possible!” By this, she meant it was free of drama, steady, and always felt like a comforting and familiar sense of home.
As my own home life has taken off in the past few years, with three young kids, I’ve come to value balance a whole lot more. I’ll probably always have an appetite for adventure and wanderlust, but I’ve also started to value pairing that with an appreciation for the ordinary.
I devoured books and blogs written by people who did exactly that. A guy who gave up his career to ride his bike around the coastline of Africa. A guy who came up with a pretty good method to rapidly learn languages to travel around the world. Young people who left stable jobs to launch nonprofits in war zones.
And I always figured I’d end up doing something similar.
I went to a bunch of conferences that offered a closer look at how to overcome the things that usually get in the way of such a life. The necessity of money. The expectations of others. The trap of comfort.
Inspiring stuff!
From my vantage point, life throws you curveballs. Different people face different challenges in life, things that make their life “different than how it’s supposed to be.” For some it’s a diagnosis, for others it’s an early loss. All kinds of things. It makes you realize that there is no “normal” way to experience life.
If that’s gonna be the case, might as well try and make it “abnormal” in a positive way.
I started making some unconventional choices. Like:
Opting to couch surf my way through a semester of school instead of renting a place.
Taking on an odd internship of living in a van and speaking about North Korean human rights immediately after graduating.
Not waiting too long to start traveling with my kids, and taking them to Guatemala, the Philippines, and Portugal as toddlers.
And you know what? These ended up being great decisions!
During that semester of couch-surfing, I wound up becoming good friends with a girl who I’ve now been married to for ten years.
That odd internship gave me a taste for working in the nonprofit world and set the bar high. I’ve been working at nonprofits with a similar culture and heart for over a decade, loving what I do.
While traveling with babies wasn’t easy, traveling with my kids is relatively easy now thanks to their early experience. My five year old recently told me he wants to do an escape room in every country in the world, and so I love that a sense of adventure has been stoked. (If you know of any good escape rooms in Angola, help the kid out!)
All that to say, I value unconventional living. I think it’s good to question norms and expectations around how life is supposed to go.
But when doing things differently becomes your new normal, then question that too.
I have several bookmarked experiences where you can spend a night with a local family in a yurt in Mongolia, a Berber home in Mauritania, and so on. And I’ve already had plenty of opportunities to visit and spend time with people in rural villages, experiencing their daily activities.
While these are adventurous experiences to me, they represent people’s ordinary lives! To the Bangladeshi bricklayers I got to interview, they were just there for another day at work. The only weird thing was this guy from California who came by to chat in the middle of it.
It’s easy to romanticize ordinary when it isn’t your ordinary, but that just means that your ordinary is also fascinating to somebody else.
One thing that’ll quickly make you realize how good your ordinary life is are those times where you have it taken away from you.
I’ve had to endure a couple of health crises with my family, and while things resolved in a way I’m grateful for, those moments were full of so much uncertainty. Having to take care of kids on top of that makes it both physically and emotionally draining. You start to long for a simple day of being able to drop people off at school, go to work, and make dinner without worrying about test results.
Okay, skip ahead if you don’t want spoilers here, but Soul’s been out for years! Anyways.
By the end of the movie, Joe navigates a near-death experience to play his dream gig of accompanying a legendary jazz singer. However, in the quiet come-down after the experience, he realizes he was living along, through simple acts as he went about his day. He realizes that his “spark” of life wasn’t for this one special purpose of playing music, but the joy of living.
I loved that ending. Your passion, your pursuit, doesn’t have to be your purpose.
Just after college, I would alternate between stints of backpacking around the world and working odd jobs to afford those adventures. One of those odd jobs was being a substitute teacher, and I remember having to guide a class through an exercise in telling personal stories of things they experienced.
I realized that most stories I had from the previous summer spent in Europe might not relate to them too well. They might also come across as showy and unnecessary, so instead I told a story of trying to make a better grilled cheese. Pursuits often lead us to connect deeply with those we meet along the way, but it’s also good to note when they might actually create separation.
In the end, I think there’s still something wise in living outside the script of expectations. It’s a good thing to question what often gets taken for granted as the next logical step.
Whenever you face questions like:
What will I do after graduating?
What should we do with the kids when I go back to work?
How can I afford the trip of my dreams?
It helps to consider that the most ideal approach often isn’t the obvious one. Starting from a standpoint of openness to look at these crossroads from a whole bunch of different angles often leads you to doing things you end up really grateful for down the road. It’s been that way for me.
I think in the long run, I’ll still always have a natural inclination towards unconventional living, ambitious pursuits, and an eclectic mix of things I pursue. Much of this is just baked into the way I’m wired, and I appreciate that when you live this way, you wind up with good stories to tell.
But I’m also grateful that recent years have helped me better realize the value of the ordinary in-betweens. In the end, both ends of the spectrum are important. They both matter. You can miss out on life by living in a cocoon of familiarity, repetition, and routine, but you can also miss out on a large chunk by thinking that only the highlight reel is important. You really do need both ends.
I think the key to a richer life isn’t to have a more eccentric life. It’s to have a more deeply examined life.
When you question life’s norms and expectations, that’s one valuable examination. You often discover that a lot of the things we think of as necessary actually aren’t.
But when you keep examining, you might also start to discover that there’s a lot of good in life’s simpler corners. That fully embracing the ordinary days also makes a lot of sense. That these two opposites make each other more special.
Ordinary days can be amazing.
There’s probably some alternate timeline where I lived out my entire childhood in Philly, and maybe even stuck around after that. I love Philly, and it’s easy to get curious about what that would’ve been like. It’s an impossible hypothetical, though.
I love the life that unfolded in California and the people I get to share it with.
It’s like the movie Past Lives, minus the preschool playmate who becomes a lifelong what-if.
“It’s true that if you leave, you lose things. But you also gain things, too.”
I don’t easily embrace limitations, but part of getting older and growing creatively lets you see limits as a catalyst for something good.
You cannot separate the earth from the people who live on it.
Love the stories that come to me from our Plant With Purpose teams around the world. Our Burundi team sent me Juvenal’s a couple weeks ago and I had to spin off a little sketch.
“I felt happy when I heard about the three integrated components: economic, environmental, and spiritual. It wasn’t just about money or farming. It was about the whole person. One of the lessons was about forgiveness. I realized that forgiveness surpasses all. It’s bitter at first, but the fruit is delicious.”
