Adventures in Storytelling… travel, sickness, stress, and Japan!

Aren’t you worried? Aren’t you scared? Why are you going…….there? It’s fascinating to me that over the last few years, increasingly when I tell someone that I have a trip planned, these are some of the more common questions that I’m asked. If I believed that my life was in danger or that something bad […]

Everyone has their reasons for traveling to certain places. Take the beach, for example. Although it’s not something I can do for days on end, some people really seem to enjoy sitting  in the sun and watching the waves roll in. Some say it relaxes them, some go to get a tan, while still others […]

If I could, I would open a restaurant.  I would open a restaurant that would have  a casual, yet hip atmosphere, and played great music.  My restaurant would incorporate aspects from the restaurants and cultures I’ve experienced all over the world. As with all dining establishments, location is paramount.  Mine would be found just on […]

Conde Nast has compiled a list (complete with a slide show) of its list of “Trips of Lifetime.”  Several of them are on my list, and I could add a few more, based on this.  How amazing are those pictures?  Who wants to go to Croatia with me? See their list by clicking HERE.  

There’s a scene in the film Full Metal Jacket where a group of American soldiers are propositioned by a group of Vietnamese prostitutes. Several times, the women say, “Me love you long time.” The scene is iconic, but not because it is a great moment in cinema. It’s funny, but it’s also a bit racist, […]

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love a good nap. My day usually isn’t complete unless I get one in. They aren’t particularly long, but they are invaluable for recharging. A little snooze for 15 or 20 minutes has proven to be a great way to recharge my batteries, and keep my […]

Last week I had a meeting to start laying out my next big adventure, and it brought back memories of years past. The biggest issue I’m going to be facing is transportation. I travel on a tight schedule, and buses just don’t get the job done. In these situations, I’ve hired a driver to help […]

There’s a side of the travel and tourism world that hides in the shadows.  It isn’t discussed openly and lurks in the furthest reaches of the internet.  It’s sexual tourism, traveling for the purpose of prurient sexual activity.  This goes far beyond simply employing the services of prostitute.  In much of the world this involves […]

It happened again! Another successful Toland Travels-Live! event took place at Urban Standard in Birmingham, Alabama. It was interesting, and entertaining, and so emotional, on a number of different levels. I must thank all of the participants this go round, Lara Paterson, Fergus Tuohy, Heather Fann, Lee Smith, and Bob Boyd. They all did an […]