Whether you’re headed to Bangkok for the first time or the fiftieth, this itinerary is a foolproof way to get to know (and, hopefully, love) Thailand’s City of Angels in just a few days.
Continue ReadingDestination Guides
Pearl of the Orient
To honor the five year anniversary of my move to Shanghai – and the difficulties I faced while living there – I traveled back to the city to make peace.
Continue Reading
My Life-Affirming Day in the Helsinki Archipelago
Even if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting such fine Finns as I have, I hope this post inspires you to take your own trip to Finland – it is truly a life-affirming place.
Continue Reading
Salvador, My Savior
After a tumultuous time in Rio and a tiring trek in the Lençóis Maranhenses, three days in charming Salvador, Brazil was just what the doctor ordered.
Continue Reading
The One Place You Have to See Before You Die
With miles of rolling sand dunes separated by colored lakes, capped off by the bluest skies you’ve ever seen, Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is the ultimate bucket list destination.
Continue Reading
The Big Problem With Internet and Phones in Japan
The bad news? Foreigners cannot buy SIM cards in Japan. The good news? There’s a workaround.
Continue Reading
You’ll Never Believe the Prices in Japan
With intelligent planning—and a little bit of restraint—you can travel in Japan without going broke.
Continue Reading
How to Time Travel from Tokyo
Nikko is just a short trip away from Tokyo, geographically, but it feels like going back in time several centuries.
Continue Reading
Me, the Mountains and a Dozen Nude Japanese Men
My past three weeks in Japan have been extraordinary, no doubt, but they’ve also been extraordinarily exhausting. So naturally, I had to cap them off in a place known for extraordinary relaxation!
Continue Reading
Monkeying Around in the Japanese Alps
Seeing Japan’s snow monkeys reminded me of the time another traveler (the one who first informed me of their existence, no less) made a monkey out of me.
Continue Reading
Are Japan’s “Animal Islands” All They’re Cracked Up to Be?
I found both of Japan’s animal islands more disappointing than the majority of other bloggers.
Continue Reading
Exploring the Land of Princess Mononoke
Yakushima differs profoundly from everywhere else I’ve seen in Japan, yet I can’t help but wonder if the spirits of its ancient forests transformed me in a deeper way.
Continue Reading
The Saddest Thing About Hiroshima
Terrible events happened in Hiroshima, but the saddest thing about the city is how disappointing it is as a destination.
Continue Reading
Yes, Japan Has a Desert—and Yes, It’s Amazing
Japan is the ultimate land of contrasts, so it should come as no surprise when an arid desert randomly appears out of nowhere along its heavily-wooded northern coast.
Continue Reading
Memoirs of a Gaysha
Kyoto is about carving your own path through the history, heritage and chaos, not following the established tourist trail.
Continue Reading
How Many Days Should You Spend in Tokyo?
As a traveler (and a travel blogger), I’m always reevaluating and recalibrating my stances—the topic of how many days in Tokyo you should spend is no exception.
Continue Reading
