2131andBeyond

Though this will get buried, I must share:

Coming home from Panama this past weekend, my buddy was stopped at customs in Miami due to his picture not matching up with his passport. Turns out, he was wearing a shirt with your face on it that the camera picked up, and officials there did not understand their system's error. It took 45 minutes of questioning until he was released back to our group.

Now this is an AMA by which I am intrigued.

• You say how you're a chef and like to be prepared, but at the same time went into this adventure just letting things happen...what were you able to plan in advance? Obviously plans change, but were you able to at least work out a route in advance?
• Did you have a phone or any communication devices with you along the way? Also, what exactly would you carry in the Chariot Cougar other than your tent? First Aid kit, perhaps?
• Best meal on the whole journey?

Seems like a grown up version of Capture The Flag.

Matt -

I got super eager and excited to open this when I saw it on my front page, as I not only graduated university last year with a degree heavy in journalism but was fortunate enough to study local travel writing in my final semester. That class definitely piqued my interest, as I have since subscribed to NatGeo Traveler in print as well as keep a rolling RSS containing an abundance of travel blogs of varying styles and subjects.

So, a few questions, if you'd be so willing -

1. If funds were of no issue, what adventures would you like to go on that haven't made their way into your plans to this point?

2. With time away from my first job and the ability to travel in the coming months, are there any underrated destinations that you may recommend that set off your "writing" bugs and got you going? Not to say that any place can't be written about with enthusiasm, but some places certainly provide unique experiences over others (though obviously experiences are what you decide to make them, so perhaps this is a dud question). Thinking of Guatemala, Greenland/Iceland, Chile, Tasmania, and Thailand as options.

3. As travel writing has certainly changed in recent years with the ability for any individual to open up a travel blog, let's say, what challenges have you met in maintaining your craft for a living when there is a profusion of travel writing widely available on the web at no cost yet still of above-average quality?

4. Thoughts on WWOOF'ing?

Thanks!

LPT: for people who ask in the future about it, simply send them to this AMA feed.