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[endlesspassport]

“No es posible ingresar a Bolivia. Vuelve a Chile.” That is the direct quote from the Bolivian immigration officer who held my fate, and passport, in his hands. Without a hint of sympathy, he’d just said, “It is not possible to enter Bolivia. Go back to Chile.” I knew it would likely be the toughest country I had attempted to enter to date, but I didn’t realize I’d be staring down the very real possibility of being kicked off my bus and left alone at the Chilean/Bolivian border in the middle of the desert. I thought I did my homework. Americans must provide a laundry list of items in order to receive a Bolivian tourist visa upon entry. I photocopied my passport in color and black and white, had proof of yellow fever vaccination ready, booked all of my hostels ahead of time complete with email confirmations and had my proof of exit, an emailed bus ticket leaving Copacabana, Bolivia and going to Puno, Peru. Lastly, and most importantly, I had $200 in U.S. twenties on me. A couple weeks ago, when visiting home, my bank teller and I sifted through the available twenties, handpicking only those with no creases, stains or folds. The Bolivian visa only costs $160, but if the border agent found issue with any of my bills, I’d have two extras to swap in. We know border agents are rarely the warm and fuzzy type, and this gruff gent was no exception. He aggressively grabbed my pile of neatly organized paperwork, and began rifling through it. When he asked me to show my proof of accommodation, I reached for my phone, but apparently electronic documents were unacceptable. Additionally, I only had the original yellow fever vaccination certificate, whereas, apparently, he needed a paper copy of it. We didn’t get much further when he demanded I take a seat, quite annoyed I did not meet the precise requirements. Fortunately, I was not alone. Another American couple was going through the exact same drama. Maybe we could problem-solve together. They, like me, had most pieces of their needed puzzle, but lacked a couple items. They, too, were told they’d be left at the border. When it seemed totally hopeless, the American girl, who was fluent in Spanish, pleaded with the guard, and even began crying. We all flashed our cash in desperation. Beyond that, I sat there helpless, thinking that my arguing in English would only inflame matters. Then, the guard’s colleague, witnessing all of this, got on the phone, and suddenly, there was “maybe the possibility” we could all get in. We three sat in suspense as the guards ran in and out of the office and made more frantic phone calls. After what felt like an eternity, three visitor visas magically materialized. It seemed, afterall, those U.S. dollars might have magically opened doors. The couple and I speculated that the border agent may have also wanted a bribe, but, fortunately, this was not the case. Instead, he took our pile of money, carefully scrutinized each bill, organized the pile and neatly tucked them away in his desk drawer. He handed us our newly modified passports, and off we went. “Bienvenido a Bolivia.” With great relief, I write this entry from my bus window seat as we careen through the Bolivian desert en route to our destination of the town of Uyuni. Right now, the sun is setting, but my Bolivian adventure is just beginning. It was vindicating being told our entry was absolutely impossible, and yet, with creativity and persistence, we found a solution. Also, I will forever make copies of and print everything required. Lastly, it seems that keeping calm helped matters, but, sadly, we all know that having money in hand was all that really mattered.

[endlesspassport]

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With this month in the books, I’d like to introduce #1SE. This app allows you to compile one second everyday into a customizable clip of your personal videos and photos. Here’s my June! ✈️🌎🇦🇷🇨🇱 https://www.instagram.com/p/BzXD576DL-i/?igshid=spc9idlv6gwo

[endlesspassport]

Thousands of monks marching in Almsgiving ceremony in Mandalay, Myanmar [November 2016]

Mission 5 of 5: Learn about daily life and cultural customs.

It is difficult to suddenly immerse yourself in a totally different culture. The social norms, ways of life and unfamiliar languages can be confusing and even frustrating to grasp. However, I have found that by maintaining an open mind, demonstrating genuine curiosity and not being so afraid of embarrassment tears down walls and builds bridges.

This has resulted in forming countless and enduring relationships with locals, now friends, around the world who opened their hearts and homes to this once vagabonding stranger. Our world’s generosity is boundless, and I am thankful to experience it. What I know for sure is that karma is very real in the travel universe.

Five hundred Instagram posts while also surpassing 500 followers! Thank you for joining in the adventures. We have many more to come!

Wander purposefully,

Brian Michalski

[endlesspassport]

Climbing Colca Canyon at sunrise in Peru’s Cabanaconde District [February 2019]

Mission 4 of 5: Explore and respect nature.

The natural splendor that fills our world is nothing short of spectacular. From scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef to climbing icy, active volcanoes in Chilean Patagonia and horseback riding through the tobacco fields of Cuba, I have been blessed to experience many uniquely magnificent sites.

The education provided along the way has reminded me how delicate our planet is, and why we each have a responsibility, greater than ever, to protect it. I hope that we can all come together so that future generations get to experience this same bountiful beauty before it is too late.

[endlesspassport]

White water rafting in the Alajuela Province of Costa Rica [August 2018]

Mission 3 of 5: Try new experiences and be adventurous.

When traveling, we have the choice of staying in our tiny western bubble or pushing ourselves outside our comfort zones. We only learn and evolve when we try new things.

Whether bungee jumping, farming on an organic vineyard or trying my hand at surfing, I get immense pleasure learning new skills while testing my physical and mental boundaries. This does not mean I become a master at everything I attempt. It is more about doing what intrigues me, and just having fun! I am physically able, so why not take advantage of these rare opportunities? I choose to step outside the bubble, and hope you do too.

[endlesspassport]

Fried Chicken Lady serving up her culinary delights in Pai, Thailand [September 2016]

Mission 2 of 5: Devour the local cuisine.

Food is love. Some of the biggest smiles I bring to foreigners’ faces come right after complimenting a chef (or the family restaurant matriarch) on the impeccable dish they’ve just created and served me.

For me, it doesn’t have to be fine dining. In fact, the majority of the time it’s not. I prefer street food to table service; some hearty staple that’s been in the family for generations. Plus, the price is always right.

Getting to experience authentic local cuisine is one of my greatest pleasures. If you research a region’s specialties, ask your server key questions and try unfamiliar (even scary sounding) dishes, I promise your culinary curiosities will be handsomely rewarded.

[endlesspassport]

Volunteering at an English language learning school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia [March 2016]

Mission 1 of 5: Serve others by working and volunteering.

Working fills your pockets; volunteering fills your heart. Look within yourself to decide how you want to positively impact those whose paths you cross. While traveling, if you can highlight your talents and also learn skills that benefit others, you will bring an enhanced sense of purpose to your journey.

Whether you scrub hostel toilets, care for endangered elephants or farm zucchini in the blazing heat, do what grows you as an individual. Your energy spreads unto others, thus, continuing the cycle.

[endlesspassport]

This is the perfect opportunity to pause my current journey for a special featurette. Leading up to my 500th Instagram post, I would like to share my Mindful Vagabond Mission in five segments.

I will discuss how and why I travel and reflect on what I have learned along the way thus far. No two journeys are identical, and that has been part of the challenge and thrill!

There are still many countries to visit, people to meet and adventures to be had. I look forward to these future endeavors and learning much more. Thanks for coming along!

[endlesspassport]

What’s Goin’ On?

Quick Sunday night update for y’all:

I will continue enjoying Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia until getting back into work mode June 19th. I have found a lovely Airbnb in the heart of Malbec country itself, Mendoza, Argentina, where I will resume teaching English online for three weeks.

From there, I get to visit Chicago for two weeks, surprising my grandma (she can’t see this post), attending our annual family reunion and catching up with loved ones and friends.

On July 26th, I will return to Santiago, Chile to resume my South American adventures. From August into October, I will pursue volunteer opportunities and seek out new adventures in Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia before dipping into long awaited Brazil!

Thank you for supporting me and enjoying these special adventures right by my side!

Safe travels,

Brian

[endlesspassport]

VIPKid Parent Comments!

After 265 classes, 140 students and five months with VIPKid, I thought it would be fun to share my favorite parent feedback up to this point. As I have been in need of extra positivity lately, re-reading these comments brings me the nourishment to continue along on my journey. Without further ado, enjoy!

“The teacher's class was light, lively and interesting, and the time passed unconsciously in happiness. Fully communicate and interact with the child, the child's favorite teacher.”

“Teacher Brian is very loving and patient, can help correct pronunciation in time, and actively encourages children to speak out.”

“More and more interested in learning English, more and more confident, very like the teacher.”

“Children are very much looking forward to seeing the teacher before every class, and they are very happy to actively interact with the teacher during each class. The teacher is very attractive, has the affinity, has the appeal.”

“Very good, teacher! Sincere, guided, patient.”

“Because Kailly is sick, no spirit in class, to be able to adhere to the class is very good, thank you for your patience!”

“The child likes, can listen attentively, the teacher facial expression is rich, drives the child to interact with him.”

“Jack still wants to take your class. You're his favorite teacher.”

“The teacher that the child likes very much, interact with the child very well, can arouse the enthusiasm of the child!”

“I feel very lucky to be Brian's student. He is very patient and enthusiastic. He always makes the class interesting and impressive.”

“An amazing teacher, our boy likes him so much and willing to follow his lessons!”

“He is full of energy. He helps me with my pronunciation when necessary. He always makes the class interesting and impressive. He is a great teacher! I hope he can teach level 4 or more.”

[endlesspassport]

Let’s Catch Up, Yo!

It is my 57th day away from home! It only made sense to start my journey eating my way through Lima, Peru, the dining capital of South America. Then, I spent last month in Arequipa, Peru, successfully completing the requirements to get my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. As a reward for my hard work, I went to Cusco to complete the four-day Inca Trail experience that finished at Machu Picchu. It was an epic experience, and life highlight.

Now, I am in the midst of spending a week and a half in the Santiago, Chile region. Originally, I scheduled this time to look for teaching opportunities, but almost as soon as I arrived to Peru, every single person who had already been here told me how much I would not like it. As most said, Santiago is just another big city with little to do and has mediocre food. They were basically right, so I am treating this as a mini vacation before I fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina to apply to different schools to teach English to adults and children.

This will also include securing a long-term AirBnb with adequate high speed Internet, so as to resume teaching English 1:1 online through VIPKid. With this platform, I teach 25-minute English webcam lessons to kids ages 4-13 located in China. I create my own schedule, and it is insanely fun. If making $20-22 an hour in this way interests you, my referral link is https://www.vipkidteachers.com/mkt/landing/personal?referralToken=2816acdc19044d4f1d91c8ac2d936ed2&refereeId=25267653. For now, the plan is to settle down for at least three months in Buenos Aires teaching both in person and online.

This leads me to August/September, where your guess is as good as mine. I would like to explore the southern part of the continent, which would include tackling Patagonia, Uruguay and Paraguay. Then, I will put down roots again, maybe next in Colombia. There is so much to see and do on this massive continent. I want to embrace slow travel and make sustainable money as I continue along.

I have been slow to learn Spanish, so last week, I downloaded Duolingo, a language learning app. It helps to practice 10-15 minutes each day. Also, I work hard to speak Spanish only when interacting with workers at restaurants, and certain other local businesses. I am trying to be patient with growth, but also recognize I need to be challenging myself.

Since leaving Peru, I have been weirdly antisocial, but foresee that changing when I arrive to Buenos Aires Thursday. It has been helpful to write, listen to music and organize my thoughts.

I have had difficulty taking deep breaths lately, especially when lying down. It is likely related to my fractured rib injury of three years ago. It seems to have gotten worse the last few months. I even hear the ribs clicking upon certain inhales! My Chicago doctors said there was nothing to worry about, but I am certain it needs to be reexamined. If a rib did not heal properly or further damage was recently inflicted, then I will need to look at my options. Next month, I can get the opinions of a couple credible doctors, and decide a plan of action.

Time to cook dinner and grab a beer. Thanks for listening, y’all!

[endlesspassport]

Extra night in Lima at this hostel which operates out of a historical structure built 125 years ago.

After four hours of weather-related delays, I experienced my first ever flight cancellation. Additionally, I had to wait in line for my refund, which took an additional three hours.

During this ordeal, I saw the worst of people who were not given food, water or bathroom breaks - screaming at flight attendants, bickering with one another about who had what position in line, folks with special needs being severely neglected. It was awful, and very sad to witness.

When it was my turn, the flight attendant said the man in front of me got the last of the cash and that I would not be refunded. I not so politely told her that was beyond unacceptable and that I would be waiting as long as necessary. A half hour later, her supervisor magically showed up hand-delivering more cash. Thankfully, I received the refund.

Now, instead, I am two hours into an 18-hour overnight bus journey to Arequipa because the airline’s next available booking would have forced me to miss my first day of TEFL classes, which begin Friday morning.

Fortunately, I built in these buffer days for a disaster exactly like this, and I will arrive in time for class.

Bring it on, South America. We’re just getting started.

[endlesspassport]

This is a really incredible read to help make your European travel adventures come true this summer and fall!

[endlesspassport]

Another mindful (and strategic) vagabond. Awesome stuff.

[endlesspassport]

Tiger’s Eye

Cubans cheekily brag that you haven’t properly experienced their country until you’ve completed four tasks: Drank a mojito, smoked a cigar, salsa danced and, lastly, gotten with a local. As a feisty world traveling backpacker open to new experiences, all activities appealed to me, and I knew the opportunities would present themselves during my two weeks on the island.

My first mojito was refreshing; with freshly muddled aromatic mint and a generous overflowing double shot of rum. The cigar I smoked was rolled right before my eyes on a tobacco farm deep in the heart of picturesque Viñales Valley. I took salsa lessons in Havana, and had a blast clumsily executing my moves on dance floors all across the country. 'Getting with a local,' however, turned out far less ideally than the others.

I knew I needed to make my one and only weekend in Havana count. I had looked up gay clubs ahead of time, and Cabaret Las Vegas featured drag shows, a lively crowd and cheap drinks. As a U.S. citizen, when visiting Cuba, your credit and debit cards are useless. You must fully budget ahead of time, bringing all necessary cash to eventually convert into CUC, the Cuban currency. I arrived to the airport with the equivalent of $750 to last 13 days; a budget-friendly amount that also allowed for occasional splurging.

My chosen hostel casa was basic, but of the five places I ended up staying in Cuba, it was the only one with a safe. This worked out well as the skintight red vintage women's slacks I picked for my big night out didn't have pockets big enough to fit my wallet or passport. It took all my gymnastic efforts just to squeeze in my iPhone, hostel keys and 25 CUC (the equivalent of $25). Drinks are cheap in Cuba, so this was likely to get me through the night.

As I approached the long entry line to the gay club looking spiffy, feeling energized and ready to mingle, I struck up a conversation with a darling couple ahead of me. One was a shy Cuban boy with a dazzling smile, along with his equally handsome partner who was visiting from Madrid, Spain. Once inside, we found a table, and continued chatting over our first, second and, eventually, third drinks.

Waiting for the universally late drag queens to take the stage, I stepped away to the upstairs rooftop for a quick cigarette. My resolution to quit smoking six weeks prior had been going splendidly until, a couple nights prior, I drunkenly accepted a pack from a fellow traveler. 

In my horrible, broken Spanglish, I asked two locals if I could borrow a lighter. One asserted himself, stepping forward and immediately lighting my cigarette. With long eyelashes I will never forget, Jordan was friendly, funny and, thankfully, had a better grasp on English than I did Spanish. "I like, you bracelet," he attempted, pointing to my wrist. It was tiger's eye; a string of powerful yellow-golden stones meant to protect and guide their wearer. It is said to help make decisions with discernment and understanding, remaining unclouded by your emotions. I had bought it at a night market in Myanmar just two months prior.

As his wingman stepped away, Jordan and I continued our flirty chat. He was without a drink, so I bought a round, keeping in mind my now remaining 12 CUC. Could I balance being gentlemanly yet cheap?

The drag show was mediocre but I could have cared less; Jordan was fun, flirty and sensual. His natural scent intoxicated me deeper than all the night's collective cocktails as we danced and kissed. He was open and playful, which allowed me to let my guard down. This was the Friday night in Havana I had envisioned. How could I be so lucky to nab this hottie? I had just enough cash for one more round, leaving me with 4 CUC for my short cab ride back to my hostel 

Jordan and I nursed our beers, less into them and more into each other. He inquired about where I was staying. After I told him I was sleeping in a ten-bed hostel the size of a closet, we refocused on his living space. He said he could host, and I was certainly keen for a sleepover.

It came that time of the night to exit the club. We walked a few blocks to a more taxi friendly area of the city. As we waited to hail one, he ran across the street to buy us each a can of Bucanero, the strong local beer. How sweet! Earlier on, I had treated a couple rounds, and now he was repaying the favor. He opened the beers and held them for a bit, finally handing me mine with a wink as we stepped inside our cab. It was an intimate 15-minute ride to his place. We held hands, intertwining fingers in the backseat, sipping our Bucaneros and drunkenly exchanging newly learned flirtatious passes in each other's language. I paid the cabbie a couple CUC and we walked a few more blocks to his casa.

Finally arriving to his place, he said, "I think we should wait here a bit." No problem, I thought, as we settled into his cozy patio chairs. We watched YouTube videos of salsa performers on his phone for ten minutes.

Black.

In a haze, I am stumbling slow motion through an unknown nondescript living room. There is another male with Jordan.

Black.

I am in the same room. I feel a tug on my left ear as someone has just removed my diamond earring. I am far too sedated to even attempt stopping them.

Black.

Jordan is in possession of my iPhone, repeatedly incorrectly typing in the passcode.

Black.

I cannot tell you where I woke up - inside, outside, in a bed or on a sidewalk; to this day I will never know where they dragged me after they were finished with me. It was very early morning; breezy, bright and beautiful. The birds were chirping, classic cars whizzed by and young families strolled down the concrete sidewalks. The air was crisp.

Dusting myself off, I reached into my left pocket. My final 2 CUC was gone, but my hostel keys were still there. In my right pocket was my iPhone, which now said, "iPhone is disabled - connect to iTunes." I felt my left ear; the diamond earring was gone. Yet the matching one somehow remained. The tiger's eye bracelet that Jordan had complimented had been taken too.

Still heavily drugged, I stumbled over to four locals. In mentioning a couple landmarks, I asked them how to get back to my hostel. They must have sensed something was off, because five minutes later, two police officers pulled up in a squad car. In that moment, I thought it was my magical cab ride home so I hopped right in and slept soundly in the backseat as they drove me to the police station.

I sat in a nondescript waiting room with a dozen deadbeats for two hours. In between bouts of accidentally falling asleep in my hard lime green plastic chair, I pestered the officers, demanding they call me a cab. They politely ignored me, escorted me back to my uncomfortable spot and requested that I wait.

At one point they put me on the phone with an English speaking authority. "What is your name and passport number?" he asked. I told this stranger my credentials, also mentioning the drugging and robbery. The male voice seemed indifferent to these details and hung up.

Finally, around noon, the officers released me. No questioning, no investigation, no reprimand; that was it. I got into a cab, told the driver where my hostel was and, after passing out in the front seat, arrived to my hostel. The worried hostel owner, a young mother of twins, was so relieved to see me. She helped me pay the cabbie, and guided me to the couch where my body forced me to sleep my entire Saturday away - 12 uninterrupted hours.

Around midnight, a fellow hostel mate woke me. "Brian, we found an earring. Do you know whose this is?" She showed me my missing diamond. How was this possible? Confused, I put it back into my ear as she guided me toward my bunk bed, where, again, I passed out an additional eight hours.

I woke up the next day thirsty, hungry and groggy. It was a bright Sunday morning in Havana, Cuba. Time to get out there and do what I had done everyday for 21 months - put on my backpack and go explore.

***

It’s Alcohol 101 – don’t accept open drinks from strangers. Please learn from my naivety. Date rape is an underreported crime that can happen anywhere at anytime. All genders, sexualities, races and ages. Victims are often shamed into silence, but I refuse to subscribe to that.

You likely have as many questions as I do. I still have not fully processed the long-term effects of this event, but in the context of what happened, I am lucky to have my life, limbs and organs. In physically examining myself afterward, there was no bruising, soreness or fluids present, but I did follow up for STI/HIV testing once I arrived back to Chicago. All signs pointed to this being a (largely failed) robbery, and, thankfully, nothing more.

Despite this incident, Cuba remains among the best countries I visited during my 22-month adventure. Full of dazzling beauty, this is a country with so much to offer. During my two weeks, the dozens of other locals I met were kind, curious, fun, generous and passionate.

I choose not to give Jordan the power to shape how I remember and define an entire nation. Hopefully the tiger's eye bracelet he now wears provides him the strength, guidance and positive energy he needs.

[endlesspassport]

Journey Scorecard

Geography, Transportation

Days Away from Home: 662 Continents Visited: 4 Countries Visited: 20 Cities/Towns Visited: 125 Countries Planned to Visit but Skipped: 6 Free Flights Redeemed with Miles: 3 Buses Missed: 1 Longest Trip: 24 hours

Food/Drink

Cooking Classes Taken: 4 Most Expensive Glass of Wine: $24 Cheapest Beer: 20 cents (beside all the free ones) Most Expensive Meal: $120 Bottles of Red Wine Consumed: Can’t find “infinity” symbol Tarantulas Eaten: 2

Finances, Budgeting, Money

Money Spent: $45,000 Money Stolen from Me: $55 Amount of Bills/Coins Found on Ground: $24 ATM/Money Transfer Crises: 3 Money Raised for Cambodian Orphans/School Children: $450

Health, Fitness, Lifestyle

Steps Walked: 7.6 million Scuba Dives: 12 Full Days Spent in Silent Meditation: 4 Weight Gained: 2 pounds Seconds Free Falling During Bungee Jump: 9 Times Food/Water Poisoned: 2 Times Crashed/Fell Off Motorbike: 4 Ribs Fractured: 2 Toes Fractured/Broken: 1? Leeches Found on Body: 4 Beds with Bedbugs: 2 Monkey Bites: 1

Naughtiness

Museums Sneaked Into: 3 Tickets Issued from Officers: 4 Airport Hookups: 4 Number of Nearly Violent Hostel Encounters: 2 New Piercings: 2 New Drugs Tried: 2 Times Physically Removed by Security: 1 Times Rescue Boat Looked for Me: 1

Miscellaneous, Etc.

Handwritten Journal Pages: 158 Hours Spent Camping/Waiting for Sydney New Year’s Fireworks: 20 Abysmal Haircuts: 1 Songs on Travel Playlist: 80 Days Spent Volunteering: 22 Animals Run Over: 2 Articles of Clothing Lost in Laundry: 0 Times Orangutan Stole from Me: 1

People

Celebrities Met: 7 Relatives/Friends Died: 0! Times Fallen in Lust: 3 People I Am Grateful for: Too many to count