Blogs

What is life like in Paraguay? For me, the best thing about living in Paraguay is the sense of being truly off the grid. Or perhaps, it’s that the rest of the world is off your grid. Either way, being in Paraguay feels like being somewhere entirely different. It’s a place where you lose track of what year it is and stop worrying about what’s happening in the world. You’re cut off from the noise, the madness, the worries, and every day feels like you’re in another place. This is especially true for those living in the countryside. Life on the farm, the red earth, the rhythm of the seasons, […]

What is it like to live in the remote parts of Scandinavia? Allow me to offer a glimpse from my life in Jämtland, a region renowned for its untamed wilderness in Sweden. Here, the word “remote” does not feel distant. My wife and I reside in a village of 700 souls. It’s not truly isolated—we have a supermarket, a train station, a gas station, and a school. Yet, once you step outside the village, you find yourself surrounded by vast forests stretching from horizon to horizon, dotted with incredibly blue lakes and small farmhouses scattered here and there. In Sweden, it’s not uncommon to come across a perfectly civilized home […]

Reflecting on the Trail Experiences that Have Brought Valuable Life Lessons and Personal Growth Among the many trails I’ve walked, the trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal stands out not only for its physical rigor but also for the profound life lessons it imparted. While this trail may not hold the global renown of summiting Everest itself, it remains a formidable challenge, teaching me the importance of perseverance, humility, and the power of incremental progress. The Lesson of Perseverance The path to Everest Base Camp is fraught with difficulties: thinning air, unpredictable weather, and the physical strain of continuous trekking at high altitudes. Each step tested my limits, teaching […]

It’s the pits. Especially if you’re into the great outdoors. I can hit up the UK’s biggest national park in less than an hour, or take a detour to the coast. And then there’s the nearby wilderness, perfect for a stroll or snapping pics of my favorite short-eared owls (still no luck with that elusive wild haggis, but I ain’t giving up). Loads of castles to wander through. Bag a ‘Munro’ or two, soak in the view from the top. Head out on a coastal road trip, catch the sunset on Skye. No way anyone’s bribing me back to England, let alone London. Not much to say about nightlife. Been […]

Once again, nature and animals have conspired to enact a miracle. Roberto Bubas, an Argentine wildlife ranger, found himself captivated by the world of orcas, leading to a profoundly special friendship. One day, as he was engrossed in observing the nature of orcas from the beach, a pod of orcas approached the shore, releasing a pile of seaweed from their mouths. Without hesitation, Roberto retrieved the seaweed, crumpled it, and flung it back into the sea. Remarkably, the killer whales, much like obedient dogs, fetched the ball of algae and brought it back to shore. From that singular moment onward, Bubas forged an unbreakable bond with these majestic creatures, often […]

The manager stands on the pier of a small remote fishing village, gazing out at the sea. They watch as a small boat approaches the shore. Upon the boat’s landing, the manager is impressed by the large quantity of tuna loaded on board. They bless the fisherman and inquire, “How long did it take to catch these?” The fisherman replies, “Not long at all. Just a few hours.” The manager looks slightly puzzled. “Why don’t you stay out at sea longer? You could catch even more fish!” The fisherman explains that he caught enough fish to feed his family for several days. The manager asks, “So, what do you do […]

Is there a way to survive without money? Here are some tips for living without money: Make a plan 1 Before deciding to live without spending money, try reducing your expenses. Living without money is a transformative decision, especially if you live with or support others. To see if living without money suits you, start small by spending a week or a month without spending any money. There are many ways to reduce expenses in daily life. Even if you don’t decide to switch completely to cashless payments, these techniques can help you save money. If you live in an area where you can commute on foot or by bike, […]

Is it possible to converse with whales? There’s an ambitious project aiming to interpret the vocalizations of sperm whales using artificial intelligence and engage in conversations. “I don’t know much about whales. I’ve never seen one in my life,” says Michael Bronstein, an Israeli computer scientist teaching at Imperial College London. Despite not being an ideal candidate for projects involving whale communication, his expertise in machine learning could be key to an ambitious endeavor formally launched in March 2020. An interdisciplinary group of scientists is attempting to decode the language of marine mammals using AI. If successful, the CETI project (Cetacean Translation Initiative) would mark the first time we truly […]

To embark on a minimalist lifestyle, what should one do? Because I have nothing, I feel like I have everything. Take a moment to ponder that… In recent times, minimalism has garnered significant attention, and the reason is quite straightforward. Despite our immense wealth and comfort, people in Western societies are not happier than before. This is largely due to our intense culture of consumption. Since realizing that “things” are not the key to happiness, we have begun to search for better ways. This has led us to minimalism. So… I’ve been calling myself a minimalist for about 5 years now. Before delving deeper, there’s something I want to clarify. […]

Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela The Beginning of the Pilgrimage Jim arrives at the Gare de Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in Paris – April 25, 2016 Excited pilgrims, though on the verge of getting lost, embark on their journey The First Signpost of the Pilgrimage Departure from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port The Castle Walls Walking within the walls Gateway to the journey Gate of the Clock Tower Pilgrim’s Passport Pilgrim’s Passport – Note the option to walk Location of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France Stamping the passport Day 1 (April 27, 2016) The path from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is challenging. It ascends about 800 meters in 7 kilometers. The path is quiet, with only the sound of my trekking poles, […]