Rick Ellis

Coffee, Markets, and Water Sport Islands in Malaysian Borneo

Coffee, Markets, and Water Sport Islands in Malaysian Borneo

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There’s a loud crack, and a chunk of ice the size of your fist skitters across the floor. The ice-crushing machine has fired a shot again—no surprise, since it’s over 50 years old. Somebody has ordered an Ais Batu, or “ABC.” This translates from the local Malay language to Crushed Mixed Ice, a blend of sweet corn, red beans, several flavors of Jell-O, and condensed milk on a bed of ice: All for $1.14. Perfect for a hot day. I’m sitting in the Fortune Coffee Shop in Kota Kinabalu, on the island of Borneo in Malaysia.

Reclaiming My Freedom With a Roving Retirement

Reclaiming My Freedom With a Roving Retirement

Living the Good Life
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Why would anyone give up friends, family, a beautiful home, a good job, and security to roam around with a small bag and a backpack half the world away? I had it all. But, like so many people, the fast pace of life and high stress in the U.S. just had to go. Long working hours, business travel, churn and reorganizations in the office… So over three years ago I quit my job, sold my house, car, and everything else, left two boxes of personal items in my friends’ garage, and took off.