Every afternoon, without fail, I crave a cup of coffee. Not for the caffeine jolt, though. Coffee is how I punctuate my day. I use it as an excuse to stop what I’m doing and reflect as I enjoy the pleasure of sipping a latte in solitude. It’s become so important to my day that I get antsy […]
Meet My Favorite Cafe in London: Lavish Habit 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 »
In less than a week, I start my yearlong trip around the world. It’s time to wind down 1.5 years of living in the UK: one year in Chester and eight months in London. This was never my plan. I had always imagined the UK as a place that was nice, but cold and a
What I’ve Learned From 1.5 Years in the UK Read More »
Here’s something I’ve learned from a year and a half in the UK: if you open any guidebook about this nation and skip London, Edinburgh, and the most touristy sites, you’ll soon see tales woven of cities once dark and desolate, cities defined by their industries, where life was hard and cold and there wasn’t
Hello, Glasgow: The Gritty and the Pretty Read More »
Let me tell you something: it’s easy to go to Europe and see nothing but cities. For years, that was my modus operandi — to hit up the major cities and ignore small towns along the way. It’s the easiest and most convenient option, especially if you’re traveling by train. But in the past year,
Small Towns in Europe That I Love Read More »
The Isle of Skye has long held a place in my imagination. Off the west coast, it’s been known as one of the most beautiful places in all of Scotland. It’s home to countless legends. My cousin, who adores Scotland, even dreams of getting married on Skye! So you can understand that I had high
On a Skye High in Scotland Read More »
When I was in high school, I was in a performance of Brigadoon. The show — cheesy, but featuring some very beautiful songs — is set in the Scottish Highlands. Brigadoon couldn’t have painted a prettier, happier picture of life in the Highlands — weekly markets filled with cheerful merchants, beautiful fields of heather, proud Scottish
The Dark Side of the Scottish Highlands Read More »
Looking back over the years, my New Year’s celebrations have been mostly low-key, largely unexceptional. Oh, I’ve had some good ones — my Bangkok New Year’s was so much fun, and I’ve had a few memorable nights in Boston — but most of the time the night hasn’t lived up to the hype. It’s hard
Hogmanay: Bringing in the New Year in Edinburgh Read More »
With Christmas freshly finished, I’ve got my next trip planned: Blogmanay! I’ll be celebrating New Year’s in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh, which I’ve long extolled as one of my favorite cities, has one of the world’s best New Year’s celebrations. People come from all over the world to celebrate Hogmanay. I’ve been invited to be part
New Year’s in Scotland — It’s Time for BLOGMANAY! Read More »
Edinburgh is famous for its wild and unpredictable weather, categorized by frequent rain showers, fog, and chilly winds — the kind of weather that makes you want to bundle up with a tartan scarf and wile away the day in glorious cafes. Well, most of the time, that is. I happen to have incredible luck
Scenes from Rainy Edinburgh: The Water of Leith Read More »