Blog | The Pin The Map Project

How to Manage Travel Anxiety, According to Experts

March 2, 2018 By Nikki

Anxiety finds me at 37,000 ft. (11, 300m) above the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between Tokyo and Los Angeles. My thoughts begin to swirl up around me like dirt kicked up in the wind. My chest tightens as though an invisible hand has clenched my heart in its fist. My breathing becomes shallow as the panic begins to rise…. [Read More]

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Tips for Visiting the Taj Mahal for the First Time

February 28, 2018 By Nikki

Morning at the Taj Mahal in India and the fog hangs over the iconic structure like a lace veil. The crowds are few at this early morning hour, lending a sense of calm and serenity to my first visit at this man made wonder of the world. The perfectly manicured gardens lead up to… [Read More]

What it’s Like to Visit India’s Holy City of Varanasi

February 26, 2018 By Nikki

Its sunset in Varanasi and the pink and blue streaked sky is beginning to cast a glow over the slow-flowing Ganges River. It’s surreal to be here as it feels like it was just yesterday that I was wearing pajamas back in New York City, watching a CNN special on Varanasi, with my tabby… [Read More]

The Romance of the Rails: Checking into India’s Maharaja Express

February 20, 2018 By Nikki

Morning onboard the Maharaja Express and the slow rocking of the train is gently shaking the sleep from my eyes as India’s countryside blurs past my window. The train cuts a path through northeast India, offering quick glimpses of fog-shrouded trees and rural villages hidden between the major metropolitan areas of Delhi and… [Read More]

How to Avoid Sickness in India (and What to Do if You Get Sick)

February 15, 2018 By Nikki

When I told friends and family I would be traveling to India, I was always met with the same two statements: “India will be the most intense place you’ll ever visit” and “just start mentally preparing yourself now for getting sick.” Getting sick abroad has become somewhat of a tradition for me, unfortunately…. [Read More]

Why I Marched Today at the 2018 Women’s March in NYC

January 20, 2018 By Nikki

Saturday morning in New York City and there was a palpable energy in the air, an electric current of defiance that seemed to buzz through the subways and avenues. Today was the Women’s March in New York City, marking the one year anniversary of when Donald Trump took office and women around the… [Read More]

On Sh*t hole Countries: An Open Letter to Donald Trump From a Travel Editor

January 13, 2018 By Nikki

Mr. Trump, After a year of cringe-worthy headlines, blatant lies and a steady stream of cutting tweets emanating from your account, I—like so many others I know—have become painfully numb to the daily tirades of you, our Commander-in-Chief. Both your politics and character seem to epitomize the very worst of our country—from… [Read More]

How to Beat this Year’s Winter Blues in Four Steps

January 3, 2018 By Nikki

Admittedly, I am writing this blog post as much for me as for whoever may be reading it. It is January 3rd in New York City and my fresh-faced optimism to hit the ground running in 2018 and start my New Year off right, has been replaced with the onset of the dreaded winter… [Read More]

A Year in Travel: A Look Back on 2017

December 20, 2017 By Nikki

Wednesday afternoon in New York City and I am sitting here reflecting on the year that has passed. Another year come and gone with the promise of a new year ahead. This past year has been a transformative one for me as I’ve both turned 30 (yikes!) and embarked on a new career path… [Read More]

Notes on Getting Past Insecurity in Life and Creativity

December 8, 2017 By Nikki

Insecurity rears its ugly head as I sit here on a cold afternoon in New York City, struggling to find the words to write a story about saving for travel in the New Year. I’m not sure what triggers the insecurity, but I imagine it shows up like a trench coat-clad debt collector lurking… [Read More]

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