I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say in passing, “Everyone loves Chiang Mai.” They’re talking about the bloggers, entrepreneurs, and job-quitters who flock to this city to start a life lived on their own terms. Each time, it makes me wince — because it’s not true. (Note: this post was originally written […]
Chiang Mai is Not for Everyone. Read More »
Are you a fan of the Pride and Prejudice BBC miniseries from the 90s? The one when Colin Firth first stepped into our lives and made us swoon as Mr. Darcy, long before anyone knew who Bridget Jones was? Well, this weekend, I went to see one of its filming locations: Lyme Park in Cheshire, England.
Lyme Park: Home of Mr. Darcy Read More »
Dear Readers, I know that many of you long to see the world. So you’ve traveled a bit in Europe. You’ve done the resort vacation in Mexico. Perhaps you’ve done a bit of Central America or even Asia. And you’d like to try somewhere new– somewhere adventurous, and exciting, and DIFFERENT. May I make a
Jordan: The Perfect Introduction to the Middle East Read More »
As I walked through the streets of Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s historic center, I noticed that there were quite a few cats milling about. That’s nothing special — you see that in most cities. Probably Rome more than anywhere else. But upon further inspection, I realized that unlike the frail, weak stray cats that fill most cities,
Stray Cats in Istanbul Read More »
As I prepared to leave the sub-zero temperatures of Cappadocia in November, I had one thing on my mind: I need to get warm. And with that, I headed to Turkey’s southwest corner on the Mediterranean — to Fethiye. Oh God, this was such a wonderful place. I first heard about Fethiye from Julia and
Fethiye in Winter: Pure, Chilled Bliss Read More »
While spending the holidays at home in Boston, I took a quick trip to see my sister (and get my India visa) in New York City. I was fighting a pretty bad cold, so I wasn’t motivated to run around the city all day, but I got to see lots of my friends — and
New York: As Seen By Instagram Read More »
If you ever plan on getting into a hot air balloon someday, here’s a suggestion for you: do it in Cappadocia, Turkey. Hot air balloon flights are incredibly popular in Cappadocia — several dozen balloons go up each day, even in the winter, so people can see the incredible landscape from the air. I booked
Freezing in a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia Read More »
While in Istanbul, I spent the majority of my time doing two things: eating and walking. And eating while walking, and walking to restaurants. Have I mentioned that I enjoy food? One of the most memorable meals was in a tiny, nondescript restaurant by the Galata Bridge called Kismet Muhallebecisi (Kucukpazar Cad. 68, Eminonu, Istanbul). Jodi
Strange Food: Istanbul’s Chicken Pudding Read More »
Of all the landscapes in the world, there is NOWHERE that looks like Cappadocia. That’s what drew me to this region of central Turkey — this freaky, otherworldly landscape. During the Tertiary period (65 million to 2 million years ago), volcanic activity formed the mountains in the region. Over the next few millions of years,
Hiking in Cappadocia: The Freakiest Landscape on Earth Read More »
I had never heard of the Birmingham Christmas Market until fairly recently — and soon learned that it was the largest Christmas market in the UK. That was enough of a reason for me to go! Birmingham, in the West Midlands region of England, is the second largest city in the UK, and you’ll find
A Day at the Birmingham Christmas Market Read More »