I remember working at an advertising firm in Manhattan. It was January-by far one of the worst months to be in New York. The holidays had passed. The charm of snow had faded. All the was left were the months of waiting until Spring. My cubicle-which was a veritable collage of travel images-felt suffocating… [Read More]
A Guide to Visiting Komodo National Park
The other morning I woke up in a hotel room in Indonesia and flipped on the television. As I walked around my room packing, I listened as a documentary on National Geographic Wild blared from the TV. I stopped mid-packing to watch. The documentary flashed images of Komodo dragons and Komodo Island; a place I… [Read More]
How I Got Lost in the Borneo Jungle
Afternoon in Borneo. The sweat drips down my body, filling every curve and crevice. My knees, my stomach, my neck are all damp as the jungle wraps itself around me like an uncomfortable sweater. My legs are streaked in dirt, covering layers of mosquito spray and suntan lotion beneath. More than twenty four hours… [Read More]
A Quick Guide to Solo Travel in Ubud
I’m sitting at the Cafe Pomegranate in Ubud. It’s my favorite local cafe with an unbeatable view of the surrounding rice paddies famous to Bali. A warm Ginger tea sits inches from my laptop while two kittens play beside my table. After a few minutes the kittens fall asleep in a tangle of fur and… [Read More]
3 Places to Visit in Indonesia BEYOND Bali
I understand the irrestible allure of Bali. Sitting here at Cafe Pomegranate in Ubud, I see why the head of Bali tourism was once quoted as saying “we are all loving Bali to death.” There’s just something about the island that beckons tourists from around the world. Nicknamed as the Island of the Gods, the verdant rice… [Read More]
Why I’ve Decided to Solo Travel in Bali
It’s almost 9pm here in Bali and I’m somewhere in Ubud, tucked away in a charming hotel amongst the verdant foliage and rice paddies that seem to extend in all directions. I’m alone. My hotel room-which seems tailor made for newly weds-is serving as a honeymoon suite for my laptop and I as I solo… [Read More]
8 Cities you Should Visit in Japan
No other country in the world does such a better job of teetering on completely opposite ends of every spectrum. When you think of Japan, images of frenzied mega-cities lit by flashing neon lights intersect with tranquil pockets of shrines and temples. In this eastern country, the latest technological gadgets coexist with traditional practices… [Read More]
A Guide to Ilocos Norte of the Philippines
It was Monday morning when I received an e-mail inviting me to fly to the Philippines that very Saturday. Up until that point, my weekend plans had consisted of Netflix and couch time as I prepared to usher in another hot, New York summer. I hadn’t anticipated much that weekend so when 120 hours later I… [Read More]
10 Filipino Dishes to Try in the Philippines
Before my plane touched down on the tarmac in Manila, I was already anticipating my first savory bite of South East Asian fare. Countless books, television shows and films had left me dreaming about the classic plastic stools, balmy fragrant air and complex flavors that are unique to this part of the world and… [Read More]
A Quick Guide to Jakarta, Indonesia
On the northwest coast of Java sits Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta. Jakarta is a melting pot of cultures from Chinese to Arab to Dutch, many of whose influences are still seen around the city today. If visiting Jakarta for the first time, consider this your guide to the best sights, where to sleep and what day… [Read More]
