You know what I’m a sucker for? If you said scarves and toast you’d be right, but that’s not what I’m referring to here. When it comes to architecture and historic places,…
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Photo Inspiration: Winter in Southern Iceland
Leave it to me to think it’s a good idea to visit Iceland in the winter. Honestly though, it really was a good idea. Empty roads, lower prices, misty eerie landscapes. Like…
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Scenes from La Latina, Madrid
Far away from the stately buildings that line Madrid’s Gran Via are the gritty slinky side streets of La Latina. Hidden from the wide open spaces of Plaza Mayor are the dark…
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Madrid’s Mercado de San Miguel
It’s only fitting that my first real post about my trip to Spain is a post about my favorite place to go when I’m in a new destination: the market. The smells, the…
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Travel Repeat: Spain
Spain was the first country I traveled to without my parents. While I had spent time in Europe before, the safety net of my mom and dad and brother made the travel experience…
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Local Spotlight: Anokhi in Fort Kochi
I’m a sucker for scarves. My collection of scarves is one of my most favorite things I own in this world. Despite my lack of stellar New York City style (or any…
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Photo Essay: Kerala, India
It’s been a decent amount of time since my short trip to Kerala, India, yet I remember each moment, each sweat bead, each flavor, and each sound so vividly. I could…
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First Impressions of Kerala, India
I’ve always wanted to travel to India, but I’ve been a little fearful of its intensity. I’ve had a love affair with Indian fabrics and the bright vivid colors, but inside I’ve…
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The Frenchmen Art Market
As you know, I love a good market. Farmer’s markets are hands down my favorite with so many colors and smells and mysteries, but art markets are a close second. While I…
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My Favorite Places in New Orleans
New Orleans holds a special place in my heart. Since my first trip to the city in 2004, it’s been a place of great memories, music, and moments. I’ve visited for work,…
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Essential New York: Top of the Rock
Getting a bird’s eye view of Manhattan is something every New Yorker and NYC visitor must do at some point. Touristy? You bet. Still Awesome? Definitely. The immense skyscrapers and shining lights that…
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Teaching a Fearful Dog to Swim
Our rescue pup Cambodia is not a fan of swimming. Merely the suggestion of submerging her in water sends her running in the opposite direction, ears back, desperately seeking a hiding spot.…
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Scenes from Gangaramaya Temple
We only had four hours to explore Colombo. This is not nearly enough time to get the feel for the city, explore the cultural quirks, or find a corner I could call…
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Local Spotlight: Happy Spice in Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
In a modest open air restaurant on the side of the main road in Unawatuna, I had the best Sri Lankan meal of my life. After a week of tasting local dishes…
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Beach Getaway: Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
I know this sounds a little crazy, but going to the beach was not on my list of priorities on my trip to Sri Lanka. In fact, at first I had planned…
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Why You Should Take the Train in Sri Lanka
Riding the train is one of the best ways to get around southern Sri Lanka. Whether you are in the capital, down by the beaches, up near Kandy, or traveling through hill…
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An Evening Puja at the Temple of the Tooth
I could spend hours walking around temples marveling at the architecture and design. Like I’ve said before, I rarely get templed out when I travel. So when an opportunity came up to…
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Essential New York: Governor’s Island
New York City is more than just a few islands. In fact, there are somewhere in the range of 48 islands within the city boundaries. I’ve lived here for over ten years…
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Tea Time at the Geragama Tea Estate
Ceylon. That name sounds familiar, doesn’t it? You’ve probably seen the word Ceylon on your Twinnings tea box, your Bigelow tea box, or at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. You know…
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My Favorite Places in Istanbul
Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world. Its unique east-meets-west culture is fascinating and its food is hauntingly delicious. But beyond the things that make Istanbul stand out are…
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Notable Photos: The Colors of Matale
The roadside town of Matale is often overlooked. Traffic zips through on it’s way to and from Kandy. On the surface, there is little to see but the bustle of daily Sri…
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Sri Lanka’s Golden Temple
Tucked away on the side of a mountain in central Sri Lanka, there are five caves filled to the brim with Buddhist shrines. These caves have been here since prehistoric times, but…
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An Ode to My SteriPEN
One of the most important, helpful, and impactful items I carry with me when I travel is a SteriPEN. In general, I am not a fan of buying travel gadgets or gear.…
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The Jetwing Vil Uyana: My Personal Heaven
Have you ever been to a hotel that makes you want to throw away everything you own and just move in? I’m not talking about just any luxury hotel that stuns you…
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Camping with Dogs: Pocono Edition
If there’s one thing that my rescue dog Cambodia loves, it’s being outside. Give her a plot of grass and this pup will lay in it and scan for squirrels for hours.…
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The Gathering of the Elephants
Experiencing Sri Lanka’s great elephant migration called “The Gathering” was hands down one of the coolest wildlife experiences I have ever had. While I am a big animal lover, I don’t often…
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Climbing the Lion Rock
One of the most unique landmarks in Sri Lanka is Sigiriya, the Lion Rock. Most of the time when you imagine the site of an ancient city, you think of grand entrances,…
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First Impressions of Sri Lanka
The heat is what I remember most about arriving in Sri Lanka. Once the doors slid open at the international airport just outside Colombo, the heat and humidity slammed into me like…
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Scenes from my Favorite Caribbean Island: St John
St John in the US Virgin Islands has quickly become my favorite Caribbean island and one of my favorite vacation destinations. It’s an island full of colors, tropical flowers, beautiful sunsets, impossibly…
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Renting a Cottage on St John
Finding the right place to stay in St John takes a lot of thought and planning. Prices can be high and inventory is low on this small and protected Caribbean island. You’ll…