Whenever I travel, I try to fit in. I’m quiet. I observe. I try to speak as much of the local language as I can. I even dress like the locals. I try to fit in seamlessly with the tapestry before me. I love doing this, and having an ethnically ambiguous look is certainly an […]
The Revelation of Hong Kong Read More »
The expat community of Brunei was recently rattled by the sudden deportation of one of their own. Most expats in Brunei either work in the oil industry or are teachers. One could make the argument that oil workers or English teachers are a dime a dozen here. This man was neither. He held arguably the
Brunei: Perplexing, Infuriating, Unforgettable Read More »
UPDATE: For current updates from an on-the-ground source in Bangkok, check this page. Good luck and stay safe. Over the past few months, I’ve been asked whether it’s been safe to travel in Thailand during Bangkok’s political protests. I’ve spent a few months in Thailand this winter and I can tell you that my trip
Is it Safe to Travel in Thailand During the Bangkok Protests? Read More »
I’m going to do something different for this post. I’d like you to read an old post first and see what you think. Go, read The Endangered Beauty of Railay — it’s short — and come back here. Right. Let’s get started. In the first piece, I briefly mentioned Gone Walkabout — but I didn’t
Railay Revisited — Is It Still The World’s Most Beautiful Beach? Read More »
Whenever someone asks me what my favorite places in the world are, I always mention Koh Lanta. I fell madly in love with this little Thai island on my first visit to Thailand in 2010 and vowed to return someday. As Mario and I made plans to visit Koh Lanta for his birthday, Christmas, and
Koh Lanta: Still Fantastic, Three Years Later Read More »
I had never heard of Khao Sok National Park on my first visit to Thailand three years ago — and now that I’ve been there, I am singing its praises to everyone I know. Khao Sok is home to some of the most visually spectacular jungle I’ve ever seen. Limestone karsts rise out of everywhere
Khao Sok: Cliffs and Adventure in Southern Thailand Read More »
“I don’t think the bags will fit,” I tell the motorbike driver apologetically. “No, it’s okay.” “No, I mean, we tried before and it was too big–” “No, okay now.” I had called our lodging ahead of time and asked about transporting my large wheeled backpack, affectionately nicknamed The Turtle. I had read that there were no cars
On Islands, Snobbery, and Koh Phayam Read More »
2013 was a fantastic and exciting travel year — probably my most active year of travel yet! This year I visited a record-breaking 22 countries (UK, USA, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, San Marino, Austria, Malta, Turkey, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Romania, United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and Cambodia — though,
My Favorite New Destinations of 2013 Read More »
To me, arriving in Bangkok feels like slipping on a well-worn leather shoe. It’s so easy, familiar and friendly — yet exciting and full of surprises. No two days are ever the same. That’s a good thing — but Bangkok’s familiarity has also become a problem. After exploring Bangkok like crazy during my first 10
New in Bangkok: This Time Around! Read More »
Three years ago, I fell madly in love with Cambodia. For three years, it occupied a top five spot on my list of favorite countries. So when it came time to go back to Southeast Asia, I knew that Cambodia would be a mandatory stop. I was beyond excited to return to this wonderful country.
Cambodia has changed, and not for the better. Read More »