We explored Taipei’s distinctive sites, history and culture during a 4-day visit. This video is also available on YouTube.

We explored Taipei’s distinctive sites, history and culture during a 4-day visit. This video is also available on YouTube.

I fell in love with Nepal more than 50 years ago — first as a trekker, then as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It’s the birthplace of my wife, Champa, and it remains close to my heart. I’ve returned to Nepal many times and have written about it often on this blog. Here are some favorite posts:
Former Student Reaches Out After Years
Grandchildren Visit, Video, 2022
Momo Dumplings in Australia, New Zealand
Mountains Compared to Others Worldwide
NY Times Op-Ed Article I Wrote About Nepal
Peace Corps Service Compared to Moldova
Located between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is a small country with a fascinating culture and history. I wrote about it often while serving there as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2016-18 and continue to write about it occasionally. I’ve gathered some of these posts below. Moldova also features prominently in my book, Not Exactly Retired: A Life-Changing Journey on the Road and in the Peace Corps.
Not Exactly Retired covers a lot more than travel and retirement. Here are some posts from the archive on everything from cutesy language (yay!) to the allure of reality TV dating shows:
Customer Service, How to Win with
Cutesy Language. Yay! Awesome!
Globalization of our Dinner Plates
Lasting Impact of Volunteering
Not Exactly Retired has a new look.
After more than ten years and 400 posts, the blog now has a colorful new banner on the top, clearer navigation and new story collections. I’ve been releasing these collections — on travel, retirement and other topics — during the past few weeks, with a few more to follow.
I hope these changes make it easier for you to find posts or videos that interest you and tempt you to see what’s in the archive.
Last year was Not Exactly Retired’s best ever in terms of readership. If you’re enjoying it, tell a friend! As always, it’s free to subscribe and there’s no advertising.
Please let me know what you think of the makeover and, as always, thanks for visiting.
Travel changes your life. These selected posts from Not Exactly Retired discuss where to go, how to navigate and what to expect on the road:
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Amazing but False Stories Tourists are Told
Assessing Danger of Foreign Travel
Combining Travel and Volunteering
Cruising at a Reasonable Price
Escaping U.S. Turmoil Overseas
Phone Calls, Free Online Options
Planning for Serendipity in Travel
Travel Planning is Half the Fun
Travel Surprises and Serendipity
Travel, Fresh Perspective on Home
Travel, Seeing World with New Eyes
I served twice as a Peace Corps Volunteer — in Nepal and Moldova — and have been active in the Peace Corps community. Here are some of my posts about what it means to be a Volunteer and how Peace Corps service has changed
Older Peace Corps Volunteers — a special section
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Balancing the Three Peace Corps Goals
Champa’s “Full Circle” with Peace Corps
How Tech Changes the PCV Experience
Peace Corps Macho, Glorifying Sickness