Seven hours out from my headquarters in Bogota, I found myself cruising on epic mountain roads, the windows down, El Arbolita on the radio, and I was wondering, “Why can’t everyday be like this?”
Up in the highlands of the Colombian Andes, where Lake Guatavita spreads towards Boyaca, I was living for weeks in cold temperatures with no hot water. Brutal, mentally taxing. A spiritual test of minimalism — no junk food, no fancy utilities, no modern luxuries. When I got the greenlight to visit Salento, Colombia for InsideHook, I hopped in my rental car eager to meet the sun again.
Back in society vis-à-vis Chico Norte, I washed a few Whitman Oxfords, stocked up on Montecristos, and set out for Eje Cafetero. Late afternoon I came into Salento through the skinny, winding roads that flooded through the jungle one bend at a time. Meanwhile, a few points east, I had local legend Tim Harbour guiding me on the phone to his coffee sanctuary.
I’ll save the rest of this story for when the article comes out, which should be sometime in July. In the meantime, I should address my absence. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in your inbox.
Between writing, deciphering how to break free from old projects, and taking some time for myself, I’ve spent the majority of the last six months tucked away in Yucatan, Mexico City, and Colombia. For the most part, I’ve disconnected from social media and real life, determined to set boundaries for what I want in life — what brings me joy, what brings excitement, desire, lust, and momentum.
In the spring of this year, I started taking travel writing seriously. I read books on Japan and Turkey, I took courses on Buddhism and Islam. I started writing fiction again. I fell in love with Nora Ephron’s essays. I got inspired by Stanley Stewart’s travel dispatches. I sat on the peak of an Andean valley and realized that everything I want, and everything I’ll ever need, is always right here.
I think foolishly I might’ve deflated the power of my prospective by trying to fit into a box that I don’t really belong in. It never occurred to me that I could get paid for travel articles or personal essays, let alone potential book proposals or film projects. So here I am. Starting from scratch. And I’m using this rebranded newsletter — dubbed “Airplane Mode” — as my launch pad.
I guess part of my charm is that I never quite have my shit together. But it feels good to be honest about it. Between InsideHook and a few other publications, I’ll be putting more effort into building this newsletter while focusing on writing full-time.
I’ll be using this space to share BTS travel episodes for magazine assignments while providing some refreshing commentary about my life, and maybe the life we all find ourselves trapped inside. Maybe this newsletter will be a form of escape for those who enjoy the far flung places in the world.
I don’t have any set expectations but you can expect road-trips, plane detours, horseback journeys, hotel stays, and more. So far I’ve got an exciting itinerary lined up that will take me through the corridor of Colombia, into the mountains of Ecuador, and down the neck of Northern Peru. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look as I cross borders, chat with locals, and tap into the local literary scene.
If you’d consider sharing with a friend or subbing to a paid $5 subscription, I’d be hugely grateful as we lift off. Either way, I’m excited to be back in your inbox. I hope you are too.
See you soon.
Evan Klein — AM Newsletter
evanlklein.com