Fieldnotes
Postcards from the inside and out — travel tales, roadside wisdom, and life in flip-flops.
The Road as Rite: How Travel Changed Me Forever
Somewhere between the back alleys of Bangkok and the bamboo hills of northern Laos, I lost something. Or maybe I found it. Myself, perhaps? Or the self I used to be. Either way, I never came home the same.
Eating Snake in Da Nang – How Vietnam Bit Back
"Hey you! What are you looking for? Taxi? Maybe a cute girl?" A local guy materializes from an alley in Da Nang, Vietnam. I had planned a quiet night of Vietnamese potato chips and bad hotel Wi-Fi. The universe had other ideas.
All You Need to Know About Thai Food
If the gods of gastronomy were to throw a dinner party, I’m fairly sure the Thai kitchen would be responsible for the menu—a fever dream of lime leaves, chili heat, fermented funk, and coconut calm. Eating in Thailand isn’t just a way to refuel. It’s a full-contact sport, a ritual, a social glue, and occasionally a dare.
Roadtripping the Seven Sisters: One Van, Five States, and a Thousand Small Stories (India)
This is the story of a journey through five of India’s Seven Sisters. Of rice wine toasts and jungle bathrooms, of mountain roads, roadside wisdom, and sacred traditions whispered over campfires.
Something Fishy in Surin (Thailand)
I woke to the sound of Kong’s voice outside my window. Kong is my neighbor and one of the few people in the village who speaks a bit of English. He’s also taken it upon himself to be my unofficial cultural translator. (You’ll hear more about him. Think of him as my spiritual guide through mud and chili sauce.)
Shit Happens: Naked farang vs Nam Song in Laos
Imagine this: You're deep in the Laos countryside, far from the comfort of civilization, when your stomach sends out a distress signal—loud, urgent, and non-negotiable. Yesterday’s suspiciously spicy soup is staging a full-blown revolution. If you don’t act now, you’re going to crap your pants. What do you do?
Welcome to Jeju Island: South Korea’s Volcanic Gem
I went to South Korea and Jeju Island on a scientific conference in 2015. And I loved Jeju so much that I extended my stay to explore more. Jeju Island is where nature whispers, the wind sings, and everything feels just a little more alive.
"Beautiful destruction": When collapse becomes creation
In a world where opposing concepts often seem to stand in contrast to one another, there sometimes emerges the fascinating phenomenon known as beautiful destruction. This inspiring concept explores the complex beauty that can arise even in what appears to be chaos and ruin.
Why Meaning Matters: What Viktor Frankl Can Teach Us About Mental Strength
Viktor Frankl´s perspectives have been a great inspiration for me. You can control how you think and feel. This is the most liberating realization in life.
Welcomed by the Spirits: Animistic Rituals in Isaan, Thailand
In Thai culture, the veil between this world and the spirit world is thinner than in the West. Join us on a journey into the heart of Isaan, Thailand, where ancient animist rituals and spirit ceremonies are still very much alive.
3 Fascinating Anthropological Theories Explained Simply
Who said anthropological theories are boring? Theories help us understand what’s happening in the world on a deeper level. Here are 3 anthropological classics!
Can thinking about death lead to better lives?
Death is a topic that is often avoided or feared in Norway. A taboo. It is not something that should be talked about or thought about. This also shapes our relationship with the natural process that we all must go through. But is it healthy? And could it be that we might have better lives by thinking more about death?
What is social anthropology?
It's not uncommon for me to get questions about what social anthropology is. Not only from the general public, but also from individuals who have been in academia for a long time. In this post, I will attempt to explain it.