Thailand — for living and working.
Malaysia — a quickie visit to find out the hard way that they do not grant visas to India
India — my first time on this incredible stressful-but-interesting subcontinent
Sri Lanka — one month of island recovery time after India.

I’m still blogging over at http://www.vagabondinglife.com — and have given the site a facelift.

You can catch my writings from all over the web on: http://www.facebook.com/vagabonding.travel

See you there and may there always be a road!

My 2011:

• Lived on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand
• Saw the groundbreaking elections in Bangkok which could have resulted in a coup.
• Learned exponentially more about Thailand customs.
• Saw the record flooding in Bangkok which included escaped crocodiles!
• Visited Sumatra, Indonesia, and learned about the Batak headhunting cultures
• Climbed Gunung Sibayak – an active volcano – in Sumatra, and experienced a long earthquake!
• Lived in Amsterdam for two months just to remember how wonderful (and expensive) that Europe is!
• Went to Perhentian Kecil island in Malaysia again just for a break from the city
• Put on a fireshow in Perhentian Kecil in front of a bar crowd where I managed to burn my leg
• Spent good time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, showing new backpackers around the city
• Got my first traditional bamboo tattoo while on Koh Tao
• Went back to a Thailand Full Moon Party – first one since 2006

And the vagabonding travel adventures will (hopefully) continue into 2012!

I just started a new vagabonding travel Facebook page to encompass updates from this blog, my vagabonding blog, and my other backpacking websites. Don’t worry, I only post extremely – or bizarre – stuff! Give it a like, and add me as a travel buddy if you want.

Life is insane, but good!

I finally put the finishing touches on my new website to help people on their way to Thailand. Rather than the usual site with long articles to pick through for information, I came up with a Twitter-style site with small tidbits and tips of use for backpackers and vagabonds.

I literally launched the site yesterday, so I’m still putting some bells and whistles on. Still, if you have an upcoming trip to Thailand planned, check out:

Thailand Tips

I’m 100% positive that you’ll find some Thailand tips of interest that will help you save money and have more fun on your next trip to my favorite country.

Happy travels!

Man, what a ride it has been! Life changing to the Nth degree, my paradigms and personality have become permanently upgraded. The good news? After five years of being out of my corporate cubicle, there are no plans to go back. Bad economy be damned, it’s not even an afterthought when I’m trekking in the rainforest or sitting on a Thai island somewhere.

All countries, cultures, adventures, and memories aside, this humble blog played a far greater role in my vagabonding than I ever predicted. I have managed to meet new real-life friends all around the world, just through sharing a few things here.

This first post says it all; when I started vagabonding I had no idea how long I would be gone, where I was going, or what to think. I generally expected to get travel “out of my system” before coming home and unloading my stuff from storage to find a job and a home. That storage unit did eventually become unloaded – as I sold nearly everything I own to fully embrace this new life!

Thank you BootsnAll.com for the great opportunity, motivation, and support that got me out of that damned cubicle.

I’m doing a semi-thorough writeup on my vagabonding blog in hopes of inspiring others who are still stuck in corporate jobs, grinding away days and years without feeling fulfilled.

For a rundown of the countries I wandered through over the last five years and even some pictures, have a look at my homepage: Greg Rodgers.

Ignore the naysayers and negative types – don’t ever stop dreaming. If I managed to do this for five years, anyone can!

Cheers and may there always be a road!

I haven’t felt this excited about opening a box since Christmas circa 1985.

My new Denon AH-NC800 noise canceling headphones were everything that I would expect from a top-notch Japanese sound company dating back 100 years.  While the cost is certainly above the budget of the average vagabonding traveler, these headphones are a must for anyone working with video, sound, or production.  All frequent fliers would be happy with the splurge to own a Denon as well as people that just demand the best sound at any given moment.

I will do my best to quell my excitement and keep this review subjective – a task made easier as Job2Do thumps my favorite Thai reggae through the powerful inducers.

Read on to see what I have to say about my Denon AH-NC800 headphones.

The first thing I noticed when unpacking my Denon headphones was the packaging. Included inside is an attractive, crush-proof carrying case. At first glance, the case seems too small for these full-sized headphones, however a little experimentation proved that the Denon AH-NC800′s can actually twist and fold to a much smaller profile – a major bonus for anyone traveling.

After popping in the included battery and connecting the optional wire (the headphones can act as a standalone noise-canceling device) I didn’t waste any time putting them through the works of my music repertoire.

What is Restorer Mode?

A tiny switch on the side has three choices: off, on, and restorer.  Possibly the first time I have ever had to read the instructions included with headphones, I couldn’t figure out what restorer was.  The “restorer” mode claims to actually restore the original quality of compressed music files, such as MP3s.

While the audible difference between “on” and “restorer” was extremely minute, I could detect some change in fidelity with sharper mids and highs.  Although the Denon Ah-NC800s will still play music with no battery or the switch in the “off” position, the sound was impressively better once run through the amplifier.  In my opinion, the entire “restorer” idea could be scrapped if it meant lowering the price a little.

Noise Canceling

With no music playing, I could actually hear the noise canceling circuit working rhythmically.  The Denon headphones have two embedded microphones, both on the inside and the outside, which take in ambient noise.  A circuit reverses the sine wave to cancel out background sounds.  The idea behind the internal microphone is to reduce rattles and sounds inside the cups.

Flipping on the switch certainly puts you into another world.  The soft cups sealed comfortably on my ears; I may be too spoiled to ever use earbuds again!  While any predictable noise was canceled out, I could still hear myself tapping on my desk faintly. While the noise cancellation isn’t 100% by any stretch, I am certain that these headphones will make one of my 23-hour-flights back to Asia a little more bearable.  With music playing at just an average volume, no sounds in the room made it to my ears.

Sound Quality

There is absolutely no comparison between these premium headphones and earbuds or any other set that I have owned.  The 42mm drivers put out an amazing amount of bass while still keeping the highs and midrange intact.

On some songs I could actually discern the difference between 128kbps vs 320kbps MP3s. The sound quality with power on was incredibly better than without – make sure you pack an extra AAA battery for that long flight.

I tested the headphones with reggae, blues, and even Metallica. Lars has never sounded angrier stomping the double bass drums.  Could he still be upset over my downloading of his songs a few years back?

Build and Comfort

The Denon AH-NC800s are comfortable enough and adjust to conform to the strangest of head shapes.  I did notice that my ears became quite warm after a couple of hours of wear.  Normal? I have no idea, but it wasn’t too alarming.  The construction feels sturdy enough, but weight was certainly a priority for the engineers.  Rather than trying to imply quality with added weight, the Denons are surprisingly light to suit travelers.  Per the company, the AH-NC800s weigh in at only 180 grams – making them feel feathery on your head.  Fortunately the old mantra “light = low quality” has long since gone out the window with premium sound devices; give me weight reductions any day.

My Complaints

Just nitpicking to keep this review honest, my biggest complaint is the flimsy, thin wire. Perhaps weight was another factor for choosing to include such a cheap-feeling wire, but I would have expected a heavier gauge to accompany headphones of this caliber.  Luckily, the wire is replaceable.  The gold-plated tips and bonus in-flight connector are nice touches.

My only other complaint is a tendency for these headphones to gobble up batteries.  Denon states that a single AAA battery has 40 hours of life, which may be true, but the inconspicuous power LED is hardly noticeable. Because the Denon AH-NC800s operate with or without music or wire attached, I have already consumed one battery just by leaving the things on.  Perhaps future developments will include some sort of sensor that knows to power down when the headphones are not on my ears?

At a current price of $340 on Amazon, the Denon AH-NC800s are clearly aimed at people who can pay to play.  Fortunately, in this case, you certainly get what you pay for.

In Conclusion

Pros

• Superb sound quality. Excellent bass and midrange.
• Comfortable
• Nice travel case
• Music works without power.  Noise canceling works without wire.
• One-year warranty

Cons

• Cheap-feeling wire
• Very easy to leave the power on
• Price

Call it nostalgia, but after four years and over a half million hits (woohoo!) I refuse to let this blog go just yet. Instead, I am going to use this space for stuff such as travel gear reviews and other goodies that just don’t fit in on my regular blog.

I am home in Lexington, Kentucky, USA for at least the next month or two – resupplying and planning my next adventure in 2011.  What’s on the radar? You’ll know as soon as I do, but I’m toying with a return trip to Borneo plus finally getting to Papua, Indonesia.  A diving trip to the Philippines sounds nice too…as always, there are more ideas than time and money!

Whatever the destination, the priority for 2011 is outdoor adventure – preferably in the jungle and rainforests.

Some of you have been following this blog, as well as my transformation from cubicle dweller to vagabond, since I began in 2006.  Thank you for sharing this amazing life journey with me.

So, stay tuned…it’s going to be one hell of a vagabonding year!

As a former engineer and current lifelong traveler, I have decided to write a subjective review for Monster Cable’s “Travel Kit” - a nice collection of gadgets and devices that are guaranteed to make any flashpacker or career traveler on your list happy.  I know the Monster brand well from back in my old IBM days; serious hackers and IT guys always paid the little extra for Monster-brand cables when needed.

To keep the review subjective, I am going to list pros and cons for each piece.  If you are one of the lucky ones that Santa bestowed Amazon.com credit on this year, pay careful attention!

Monster Outlets-to-Go300

Anyone who has stayed in a budget guesthouse knows the frustration of having only one power point in the room.  How many times did I decide between running the fan in my 110-degree bungalow or charging a piece of equipment so that I could work?

The Outlet-to-Go is light, sturdy, and just plain smart. The plug folds inside, making the whole unit compact and easy to pack. Two USB outlets and three AC outlets (120 – 240V, of course) allow you to charge, work, and even enjoy the fan simultaneously.

I love this little toy!

• Pros: Feels extremely well constructed, more than enough outlets, no cord.
• Cons: US-style only plugs, no adapter option for changing plugs to work in other countries.
• Current Price on Amazon: $20.58  (View the Monster Outlets-to-Go 300)

Monster JAMZ Headphones with ControlTalk

How many hundreds of hours have I spent on nightmarish buses across Asia or South America – my only friend and salvation on those never-ending rides was my music.

While they are not exactly “cheap” by traveler standards, the Monster JAMZ headphones sound and look unreal; they even managed to make my ancient iPod Mini sound good again.  The metallic headphones have a chrome finish giving them a quality appearance – people can tell by looking that you have something special in your ears.

Along with the expected features such as gold-plated plug, Monster has added their own interesting touches to the JAMZ.  Meant to form a noice-canceling seal in your ears, the rubber tips are extremely soft. Monster includes a bag of assorted tips to fit all ear sizes.

A sliding bead where the headphones split allows you to tighten the fit around your chin to keep things snug on those bouncing bus rides.  A three-button switch/microphone allows you to control volume and make calls from particular iPhones and iPods (unfortunately it did not work on my ancient iPod Mini).

The packaging for the Monster JAMZ headphones was equally impressive, adding to the presentation of your gift!  An included faux-velvet pouch has a springy enclosure to keep things safe and protected.

For the size, the sound was positively superb.  I tried the headphones with reggae and other assorted music including the Black Keys.  The JAMZ produce a surprising amount of bass for such small transducers; Job2Do – my favorite Thai reggae band – honestly never sounded so good.

While the bass was good, the hiss of the highs remained clear rather than muffled – a feat not easy to accomplish with such a small earbud.  The amount of sound “leakage” is minimal; your seatmate on the plane won’t be able to hear what you are listening to.

My biggest complaint about the Monster JAMZ is that the earbud would fall out of my ear from time to time.  The shape doesn’t have the usual “hook” you see in other earbuds.  Even with lightly moistening them – recommended in the instructions – and trying multiple sizes of rubber tips, the weight of the metal earbud would eventually pull the bud out of my ear.  Luckily, Monster throws in a shirt clip and the slider bead helps a little, but does not entirely eliminate the problem.

Maybe my ears are too big, or perhaps these are better for the plane/office than in the bouncing South American bus.  I do like the fact that Monster counters the price with a great three-year replacement warranty in case something goes wrong.

• Pros: Beautiful design and finish, excellent bass + high ranges, included carrying pouch, three-year warranty.
• Cons: Won’t stay in my ears, long metal plug with plastic grommet could get bent/broken if abused.
• Current Price on Amazon: $70.85 (View the Monster JAMZ with ControlTalk)

Monster ScreenClean Mini

As I traveled through Borneo and Vietnam working on stories this year, my laptop screen became ridiculously filthy. At one point, ants were even climbing in and out of my keyboard! Harsh cleaners will permanently streak and damage your LCD screen.  The Monster ScreenClean Kit works well; the microfiber cloth is the right size as is the travel bottle.  Don’t even think about using mystery cleaners on your precious netbook screen!

• Pros: High-quality cloth, cleaner works well without streaking or dripping.
• Cons: I have no complaints (for once)
• Current Price on Amazon: $10.22 (View the Monster ScreenClean Mini)

Monster SuperThin HDMI Cable

As I mentioned before, I remember ordering Monster Cable products when building computers for clients and even when I set up my home entertainment system (back in the pre-vagabonding days when I owned a house!). Anyone serious – whether for work or fun – about audio, video, or network quality should pony up the extra money to buy quality stuff.

The Monster SuperThin HDMI cable is specifically designed with travelers in mind.  Gold plated, light (they claim 55% thinner than other cables), and beautifully constructed, this is my hands-down choice for connecting HDMI video stuff together.

• Pros: Light, thin, gold-plated, nice packaging.
• Cons: None that I can find.
• Current Price on Amazon: $62.90  (View the Monster SuperThin HDMI Cable)

That pretty much wraps up all my traveler toy reviews – check back next week as I continue to upgrade my travel/work stuff and share it with you!

Travel to Borneo and see stuff like this!

Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam….of all four places I visited this year, none captured my attention or my heart more by surprise than Borneo.

The name “Borneo” just comes across as exotic. Maybe it’s the fact that people were still lopping off heads there only a few decades ago or maybe it’s just the remote feeling of the place.  Either way, Borneo is teeming with rainforests, endangered species, and loads of adventure possibilities for budget travelers.

Thanks to so many tour operations popping up, Borneo travel is becoming synonymous with “too expensive for backpackers”.  From my personal experience this year, I found that as with every other place, you can still travel cheap.  Sure, Borneo may not be as cheap as Vietnam or Indonesia, but backpacking in Borneo really isn’t that bad.  Solo travelers will have a slightly tougher time saving money on accommodation – probably the highest expense, but getting into the national parks and spotting wildlife can certainly be done without hiring guides.

For instance, I was told that you must hire a guide to trek around the Gunung Gading National Park in Sarawak – the cheaper of the two states in Borneo.  Even the official park website says that you must hire a guide.  I visited the park and was given free roam on the rainforest; the rangers were always willing to help but never once tried to sell me something.  I think myths like this discourage budget travelers from visiting Borneo.

Gunung Mulu National Park was one place that I heard requires a guide. Probably because UNESCO has moved in and started charging a steep admission.  Even still [prepare to throw the rotten tomatoes] you can skip Mulu with all its expense and still have a damn good time in Borneo – probably more adventure too.

While I saw a few backpackers here and there, for the most part, Sabah was overrun with older tourists dragging suitcases into tour agency offices.  With flights around $60 from KL to Kuching, why don’t more budget travelers get down there?

If you happen to plan a trip around Malaysia, somehow get yourself to Borneo.  Sure, West Malaysia or Peninsular Malaysia is fantastic – I love it – but Borneo will literally stand out on your trip. The opportunities for seeing orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and having some cheap adventure are too good to pass up.

Not only alive and kicking, but alive and kicking butt.  Life is good!

So far this year I have managed to explore a large chunk of Borneo, visit Brunei, go to several new places in peninsular Malaysia to hike and work on my Bahasa language, then Vietnam – a brand new country for me.

After one month of bumming around Vietnam in the rain, I have now landed back in Thailand to live in Chiang Mai (in the north) for a month.  After this trip, I will have over two months accumulated in Chiang Mai.  This city is simply a great, relaxed, creative place to live full of interesting people and lots of sunshine.

I’ve been slowly catching up my vagabonding blog (this is an old one) over at www.vagabondinglife.com if you want to check out more details about this year’s trip.

Thanks for reading, and may there always be a road!

I start traveling again this June, its time to start working on this list!

Current List of Goals

1. Run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain
2. Ride on top of a train in India
3. Dive in a shark cage
4. Visit all 50 states
5. Go hang gliding
6. Go to a Burning Man festival
7. Try white water rafting in real rapids
8. Become proficiently bilingual in a foreign language
9. Do a volunteer project
10. Write a book
11. Learn to snowboard
12. Learn to Latin dance (well)
13. Spend a week in the wild alone
14. Go trekking in Papua, New Guinea
15. Learn to ride a horse (well)
16. Finish a 5 day fast
17. Learn mountaineering
18. Have a vision in a native American sweat lodge
19. Visit Tibet
20. Visit Everest Base Camp in Nepal
21. Visit Burma (Myanmar)
22. Sail as part of a crew from point A to point B
23. Live on a deserted island
24. Walk in an active lava field
25. Ride a motorcycle larger than 500cc
26. Travel from point A to point B by train hopping
27. Sleep in the desert
28. Walk on all 7 continents
29. Try zero budget travel
30. Get a bamboo/traditional tattoo

Goals Completed So Far:

1. Try skydiving
2. Try bungee jumping
3. Learn to Scuba Dive
4. Go inside a shipwreck
5. Solo (without protection) rock climb a named peak
6. Have a grizzly encounter in the wild
7. Swim with sharks
8. Visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia
9. Study Shaolin Kung Fu in China
10. Learn to drive a motorcycle
11. Go hitchhiking
12. Shoot a machine gun
13. See Komodo dragons in the wild
14. Try surfing
15. Use a machete in the jungle
16. Try cliff diving
17. Live with locals in a country
18. See a full moon party in Ko Phangan, Thailand
19. Go to Oktoberfest in Germany
20. Walk on a glacier
21. Walk on a nude beach (nude, of course)
22. Land a pre-paid travel writing assignment
23. See the Egyptian Pyramids and Valley of the Kings
24. Stand on top of an active volcano
25. Bribe a foreign official to get out of trouble
26. Go fishing in Alaska
27. Become self employed
28. Go into an underwater cave
29. Shoot something and eat it
30. Pet a tiger
31. Learn to spin a fire torch
32. Ride an elephant
33. Visit Machu Picchu
34. Meet my favorite travel writer (Rolf Potts)

This is a living list. I’m sure that it will be growing as I meet new people and learn of new opportunities.

Onward!