The Everywhere blog

Everywhere member Christopher Boffoli is a Seattle-area photographer, writer, foodie & filmmaker. Fortunately for us, he's also a world traveler happy to share his many adventures. From eating reindeer in the Arctic Circle to appreciating the fine and famous toilets of Tokyo, Christopher's travelogue is packed with some great travel tales.

We asked Christopher if he would share a bit more about his writing, photography, and life for the Everywhere blog, and he shared some of his best travel advice and stories.

What's the favorite place you've ever visited?

Picking just one favorite is like trying to pick a favorite movie. There are just so many. The south island of New Zealand was definitely a place that exceeded my expectations. But if I had to pick absolutely one place I’d have to say Morocco. Foreign places often look and feel too American or Western. Everything about Morocco just felt different, right down to the color palates and the quality of the light. It was a marvelous place.

(Photo: Marrakech, Morocco)

Any places you’ve visited where all you wanted to do was leave?

Vanuatu in Melanesia. I’d like to think that I could tough it out and survive anywhere. But everything about that place seemed backwards, tired and dirty. It seemed impossible to get away from all of the bugs and mold. The only redeeming part of that trip was the chance to photograph some of the interesting Melee people. Otherwise, I couldn’t wait to leave. I’m sure there are worse off places in the developing world. But no other trip has made me more grateful for the comforts of home.

What's the one dream place you'd like to travel to?

Again, it is so hard to pick just one place. Iceland, India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Myanmar are right up on the list. But if I had to choose just one I’d say I’d love to see the Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia.

Do you have any regrets about a place you’ve visited or something you might do differently?

I was at the most remarkable fish market on the docks at Pusan, South Korea and the variety and freshness of the seafood they had there was astounding. I’m a pretty adventurous eater and a sushi lover but I felt like so much of what I saw in that market was completely alien to me. At one point I encountered a woman who offered me a bite of her lunch. It was a plate of tiny octopus tentacles sprinkled with sesame seeds and they were still moving, wriggling all over the plate. I wasn’t brave enough but if I had the chance again I would have gone for it.

(Photo: Pusan, South Korea>

Any additional advice?

There’s a great line in Karen von Blixen’s book “Out of Africa” that has always resonated with me. She wrote, “The world was made round on purpose so that we can never see too far ahead.” I think this is a great philosophy by which to approach travel and also even life. There is something to be said about being organized and planning carefully. But you should also endeavor to be open to new experiences and savor surprises.

Thanks Christopher! Be sure to see all of Christopher's travelogue for more great travel stories. Here's just a sample of his work:

"Whereas other modes of fast transportation tend to accelerate quickly and then level off, Shanghai’s mag-lev train never seems to stop accelerating. The sensation was somewhat like a smoother, quieter jet take-off. (on On the Mag-Lev Train, China)"

"If I have any qualms about eating reindeer meat while live reindeer are standing nearby looking on, I forget it the instant I taste the lunch they have made for our visit." (on Reindeer Tagging with the Sami people, Sweden)

"The French-born and trained vintner Christophe Barron decided to plant his grapes on plots of land that were packed with baseball-sized rocks so dense that it almost appears there is more rock than dirt. The rumor was that the quality of the land reminded Barron of similar vineyards in France and that he thought the presence of the rocks would greatly challenge his vines to produce grapes of greater complexity and character."- (on the wineries of Walla Walla, Washington, USA)