I can pinpoint exactly when and where I first heard about the Sydney Harbour Bridgeclimb. It was the second season of The Amazing Race in 2002. I remember that clearly — I was a senior in high school, still coming off the high of my first overseas trip to France the year before, obsessed with […]
Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Read More »
One of the ways Korea surprised me was that it’s home to an amazing cafe culture. Koreans love their coffee, and you’ll find excellent independent coffee shops — all of them wired with lots of plugs and excellent wifi — throughout the country. And that’s not all — Seoul is home to several dog and
Puppy Playtime at the Bau House in Seoul Read More »
Tokyo is a sleek city of chrome, neon, and crowds — particularly in Shinjuku. This modern neighborhood is home to tall office buildings, high-end department stores, endless traffic, bright and colorful signs, and some of the busiest railway stations in Tokyo. But hidden on a narrow grid of side streets in Shinjuku is Golden Gai:
Golden Gai: Tokyo’s Coolest Bar Neighborhood Read More »
Since leaving Japan, I’ve been asked several times what my favorite place in the country was — and I honestly can’t put my finger on it. I loved Japan, but I think I loved the country overall more than any particular destination within the country. Tokyo was a great city, and it would be a
Bright, Brash and Funky Osaka Read More »
As soon as I realized I would be in Dubai for my 29th birthday, I knew I would have to plan a fun celebration. Believe it or not, this is only the second birthday that I would be spending abroad — the first was my 17th birthday in Ireland! Luckily, Dubai is a city that lends
How to Celebrate a Special Occasion in Dubai Read More »
Every now and then, I come across a unique hotel or hostel that I love so much, I can’t stop raving about it to everyone I know. Sometimes they’re places I discover on my own, like Monkey Republic. Sometimes they come highly recommended from friends, like Gallery Hostel. And on occasion, they are places that
Sweet Digs and Artsy Days in Vienna Read More »
Last July, I discovered Augsburg for the first time: a small Bavarian city just 25 minutes from Munich, and one that I found far more livable than its more famous counterpart. The occasion? My dear friends’ offbeat Bavarian wedding. This year, Josh and Daniel celebrated their one-year anniversary with friends and family flying in from
Augsburg: It’s Good to Be Back Read More »
I walked into Bologna and felt my heart swell with happiness. This was the city I loved so much — a part of Italy that is breathtakingly beautiful yet rough around the edges, home to some of Italy’s best food but still pretty cheap, cultural and enthralling and incredibly conveniently located — yet still off
Bologna la Rossa — Scenes from a Red City Read More »
The best photos have everything to do with timing. Maybe it’s waiting for the precise moment for your subject to be in the perfect position; maybe it’s a case of waiting for the best lighting of the day. In this case, it was when a storm arrived. After four days of searing heat and bright
Storm Arrives in Paris Read More »
Wow. My trip had only just begun, and Geneva was well on its way to being a complete and total disaster — but in typical fashion, it turned out amazingly! Geneva isn’t a typical city for backpackers to visit. For starters, it’s expensive. How expensive? 10 CHF ($10) for two coffees at an outdoor cafe; 16
Geneva: Funny How Things Work Out In The End Read More »