A fellow blogger who read my post, “The Other Lost City of the Incas,” asked if I had any pointers on high-altitude trekking.  High altitude treks offer life-transforming rewards, but altitude sickness is a real danger.   (more…)

Although the recession has cut into my humble income, it still pays to speak the language of adventure. During the past two years I’ve been doing research for a historical novel based on my Mexican-Chinese grandma, called Tortillas from the Chung King Café. I’ve explored parts of South China, El Paso and Los Angeles most travelers don’t bother with. As I wait to afford my next trip, I’m cutting back on videos and caffeine to help pay for lessons in Spanish and Chinese.

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Remote, intensely difficult, not as famous as Machu Picchu: that’s why few trekkers visit the Inca city of Choquequirau, Machu Picchu’s Sacred Sister. But I want an alternative to the eroding, overbooked trekking superhighway known as the Inca Trail—which leads to Peru’s more famous sibling. (more…)