https://nonotjeff.com/Stories from my travels around the world 2026-11-06T16:31:32-06:00 Zev Skolnik https://nonotjeff.com/ Jekyll © 2026 Zev Skolnik /assets/img/favicons/favicon.ico /assets/img/favicons/favicon-96x96.png 2026-07-11T10:25:36-05:00 2026-07-11T10:25:36-05:00 https://nonotjeff.com/chopicalqui/ Zev Skolnik

It’s 11pm. Time to get up and get ready after only three hours of rough sleeping. I wrestle out of my warm sleeping bag, argue with my crampons, and tie into the rope. Our goal is to summit Chopicalqui, Peru’s third highest mountain at 6,354m. High camp where we slept last night sits at 5,350m, meaning every breath is laboured and oxygen is priceless. We leave camp just after midnight. Immed...

2026-04-04T20:12:07-05:00 2026-11-06T13:21:54-06:00 https://nonotjeff.com/hiking-in-an-active-warzone-at-2am/ Zev Skolnik

Sometimes hiking means scenic mountain towns and a nice view. Other times it’s setting a 2am alarm to walk through a warzone. After 11 hours, 7 forms of transport, and many questionable ‘chicken buses’, I’d finally landed in Quetzeltenango, Guatemala. Known locally as Xela, it sits off the main tourist path, surrounded by volcanoes and greenery. Tired, hungry, and groggy, I arrive at my host...

2026-02-03T19:54:52-06:00 2026-11-06T13:21:54-06:00 https://nonotjeff.com/how-a-bowl-of-wet-peanuts/ Zev Skolnik

I’d been having a miserable day. Exploring around Sapa in northern Vietnam, I’d slept at a disappointing homestay, the solo travel lonelies were hitting hard, and after five hours on the Sin Ho motorbike loop, all I had were disappointing views and thoughts about turning around. I thought I’d be in for an adventure. Instead I was tired, bored, and wondering what I was doing out there. Being ...

2026-01-20T13:01:39-06:00 2026-11-06T13:21:54-06:00 https://nonotjeff.com/how-does-a-monk-deal-with-a-mosquito/ Zev Skolnik

I’m two hours into my 5 day silent meditation retreat and a bee has stung me for the second time in my life. ‘Bastard!’ I yell, swatting the air as I pull the stinger out of my ankle. Probably not an ideal start to a ‘silent’ retreat. Apparently my karma could use some work. I’m at Wat Pa Tam Wua in northern Thailand. It’s a Vipassana style center where anyone can show up and stay for 3-10 d...

2025-11-24T05:15:45-06:00 2026-11-06T13:21:54-06:00 https://nonotjeff.com/powered-by-dal-bhat-saved-by-snickers/ Zev Skolnik

There are 25 people squished into this minivan, and for the past two hours I’ve been rubbing knees with a 50 year old Nepali man in a tracksuit. After each bump on the “road” (sometimes doubling as a 4WD track), I pray my backpack has been tied down securely on the roof. Judging by all the roadside debris, I’m not optimistic. I’ve just said goodbye to a new dear friend, and the countryside en...