Sean Paul Kelley

One of my first tasks starting next week when I leave The Agonist will be to go on a Dostoevsky binge of epic proportions.

There was no way someone could look at this picture and call it beautiful. They’d be hard pressed to know where it was either, except that wherever it was there was plenty of rain. Tropic of Cancer? Tropic of Capricorn? Or perhaps it was temperate? If you look close enough you can convince yourself that [...]

It’s hilarious to watch Republicans fall all over themselves bashing each other for speaking French in the case of Mitt Romney and Chinese in the case of John Huntsman. Of course, it’s hard for me to get excited about a candidate that speaks a romance language. They are all pretty easy to master. I mean, [...]

Last year wasn’t anything close to being a ‘Big Year.’ I only saw about 225 or so different species. Heck, some people can do that from their backyard. And my year included Costa Rica, New Mexico, California, Malaysia and Indonesia. From the Monk Parakeet colonies here in Austin (which I have yet to photograph) and [...]

It?s always at the end of the year that I re-read the list of books read and find surprising trends. 2011 was no different. There was, as always, a lot of history. But the Middle East and Central Asia have faded, although not totally. This year?s main theme seemed to be Texas and its history. [...]

It’s been five years to the day since I snapped this photo hanging out of the window of a white Land Rover. Yes, I know I?ve written about this photo before, but wow, it?s one of those stunning images that stays with you no matter what. Of course I had no idea how terrible 2007 [...]

I?m far from the most prolific writer, travel or otherwise, that ever scribbled nonsense in a journal. Sure, I?ve blogged a lot, but that?s not what I call composition. And in the course of writing a few stories, I?ve worked with a handful of editors. Some of them have been fantastic and others have been [...]

So, I know not all of you will appreciate the bird photos, but hey, I like the birds. Call me a freak, I don’t mind. Thus far I have seen 24 new species of birds on this trip. Actually more, but I’ve only gotten decent photos of 24. If you are so inclined you can [...]

The inimitable rhythms of Toba have set in, father being infected this time. (I was infected back in 2008.) Just like 2008 I keep repeating Yeats’ “Lake Isle Of Innisfree,” and the bee loud glade where lake water comes lapping low. Today I casually mentioned when he thought we should leave. “Never,” he replied. I’ve [...]

From the travel diary, October 28, 2011: After the Security Check, Penang Airport It was a breeze, the airport. No worrying about shoes. Just a quick, clean exit from passport control, a short security check and many, many smiles. We sit and wait for the 45 minute flight across the Straits of Malacca to Medan, [...]