Author: rhysfunk

Rhys Martin is an author and photographer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. His love of travel was awakened in 2009 when he sold all of his possessions and left the country. For ten months, he lived out of a backpack and explored southeast Asia and Europe. When he returned home, it was with fresh eyes for his home state. As he drove the back roads of Oklahoma, Rhys discovered the significance of historic Route 66 to the greater American story. He has traveled all 2,448 miles of the Mother Road and continues to seek out the quiet Main Streets of the Midwest. Rhys's travel writing and photography has been featured in numerous publications, including Tulsa People Magazine, This Land Press, ROUTE Magazine, Nimrod Journal, The Oklahoman and Tulsa World. He wrote the book Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, which features the stories of nearly 50 iconic eating establishments from the city's past. He has also been a contributing author to multiple Route 66-based travel and history books. Rhys is the President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and serves on multiple boards and commissions related to the Mother Road and its upcoming Centennial in 2026. He loves to connect with people and share his experiences.

Indonesia – Thoughts and Impressions

Indi and I fly out of Indonesia in about twelve hours and head to Malaysia. I'm very excited about this, and have been spending the last few hours thinking about my time here and what I've seen. Here are some of my preliminary observations: 1. Western Culture Creep. Some parts of Indonesia are very old-school … Continue reading Indonesia – Thoughts and Impressions →

Qu’est’ce que c’est? – Fire, Trial by…

(Warning - NSFW. Language.) Well, Cirebon is cheaper, but I can't tell you much else about it. I tried not to write much about my growing unease in Java, partially because I didn't want to give solidity to any kind of fear. I am notoriously stubborn. It's true I had some questionable-at-best experiences in Yogya, … Continue reading Qu’est’ce que c’est? – Fire, Trial by… →