Me: age 23 - Nemrut Dagi, Turkey, 1989

Hi … Thought I’d list a handful of travel experiences to qualify myself before you hit the back button …

Arrested by the military in “Saddam’s Iraq” in Kurdistan; accused of being a spy … ( photo opposite taken 6 weeks before)

Hitch-hiking the Sahara Desert & the Sahel, from Algeria to Nigeria

Enjoying Carnaval and later mugged at knifepoint(s) in Rio, Brazil

Overland – mostly hitching – from England to India via Iran, where I was caught amid a deadly bus accident …

MRP @ Duatlabad, India – 1990

Drugged, abducted, robbed, ditched in Siberia, Russia

Amid a cyclone in Bangladesh that killed 138,000 people

Trans-Siberian Route – numerous city stop-overs – from Beijing to London

Antarctica by ship. having whisky and ice-berg on New Year’s Eve

Swimming with seals in Galapagos Islands

Caught amid riots in Jerusalem, Bali, and India

Horse trekking in southern Colombia, thru FARC territory

Slow boat down the Niger River to Timbuktu, Mali

Hitching over the Himalaya mountains from Tinggri, Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal

Escaping from Indonesia by fishing boat then hitching in a military Blackhawk from the Island of Auturo to be the “first tourist” to arrive in the new East Timor, on 14 Jan. 2000 …

MRP @ San Cristobal, Mexico - 2009

Actively participating in a Voodoo ceremony in Togo

Yeah, there’s plenty to blog about … BUT here you will only find a teaser of my experiences.  A book of crazy stories is planned … Anyway

WELCOME to – the candy trail …

I’m Michael Robert Powell and this is my personal travel site. I’m from New Zealand – also known as – Aotearoa: The Land Of The Long White Cloud.

I am a global nomad. Travel is my lifestyle … wandering the world, seeing and experiencing the planet, since 1988. I have no home, no base, just living out of a backpack and alone, traveling without plans, exploring anywhere I choose, mostly steered, by whatever happens.

I enjoy an uncomplicated, simple life. And while I hold a university degree I’ve never had a permanent job or a career, never owned a house or car or motorbike but once had a TV and today I remain ‘on the road’ and single, never married, no children, few assets, no social circle or societal niche. One day I may ‘normalize’ but for now I’m still addicted to the constant fresh experience that is the freedom & excitement of a wandering life.

I have experienced over 100 countries and intend enjoying more as I slowly see the world. And although I’m yet to see everything, I hope to experience what I can, while I can [ Travel Résumé ].

Why travel? I’m driven by a fascination of history, world cultures, and an appreciation of stunning scenery and nature. And, I am addicted to the journey, that freedom and unpredictability of being on the road [ FAQ ].

MRP -36th Birthday @ Punta Diablo, Atlantic Coast of Uruguay - 2002

My footprint: Because of budget, the modern world, also because of the way I like to travel – I only fly when I must: usually to get out one-way to then travel onwards overland, unplanned, and making the route as I go by local transportation, staying in simple hotels or family guesthouses, spending at small restaurants or food-stalls and other local businesses so that as little of my money as possible goes to large-foreign-owned enterprises or to brutal, corrupt, host governments – so that mostly my money passes directly to the local, everyday people.

My philosophy: Be a good person and do no harm to others … it’s not what you have, but what you do, that matters … life should be fun.

Featured writing is a wild, raw swirl of  diary, letters, email, published articles, and short-stories about crazy travels, sexy adventures, amazing places,  global journeys, and well, stuff about anything that happens … the good, bad, and ugly. The intention is to convey something about the nature of travel and our world – something fresh and interesting that you may not have experienced or thought about …

This blog is about the crazy adventure and brilliant wonder of world travel … So put on your seat belt, crack open a beer (cos you´re the passenger), sit back, and enjoy the journey.

Content is original: all photography, video, art, writing (for limited personal use it´s free – but give me a credit – link / everything is for sale to commercial parties). All Rights Reserved. © MRP 2010 – til the planet explodes. Contact me

Related links: Travel Résumé | FAQ | Travel Chronology