Does the thought of solo travel leave you feeling a bit anxious? What if, instead of focusing on feelings of loneliness and awkward conversations with strangers, you focused on the idea of the Solo Travel Splurge? In other words looking at all the ways, both big and small, that you can enjoy being on your own… Read more
As a travel writer, I naturally write about my experiences as a foreigner in a foreign land. My adventures (and sometimes misadventures) trying new foods, visiting new locations. learning new customs, puzzling through new languages. I am always the wide-eyed, protagonist learning new things as I go along. But if I think about it, it is… Read more
As much as I try not to be, I’m a rule follower. I like order, I like organization (even if you’d never know it by looking at my suitcase packing techniques), I like things in place and needles to say, I like lists. Lists of things, lists of facts, To Do lists and Top 10, 100… Read more
While I haven’t yet made it back to Osaka since my trip last April, I got a little taste of the city last night with a delicious home cooked meal. I MAY have mentioned to a family from Osaka that my favorite Japanese food comes from their home city. And MAYBE the husband just happens to be a… Read more
The last time I wrote a post about cemeteries, I didn’t time it so well. It was not long before Christmas and I realize death and cemeteries, may not be most people’s ideal for holiday time merriment. But for me I oddly love cemeteries and I think they are always appropriate to write about. But, given… Read more
I had been following the mountain path for about an hour or so through the countryside of Kyoto, Japan. I had already spent much of the day contentedly wandering around ancient temples turned pink with thousands of cherry blossoms and through soaring forests of bright green, swaying bamboo plants. In my opinion the day was already… Read more
Istanbul is one of those cities that just feels alive. A constant shuffling stream of locals, tourists, animals, products, produce, boats, cars, and trams. I know New York is thought of as the city that never sleeps, but after staying in a hostel in the restaurant and club packed Taksim Square neighborhood, I sincerely believe Istanbul… Read more
Has it really been less than two weeks since I flew out of Tokyo’s Narita airport? I feel like months have passed since my time in Japan. I’ve been in transit for two days now… Sydney to Hong Kong to Seoul to Doha (where I am at the moment) and then on to Istanbul later today… Read more
I JUST BOARDED the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Kyoto Station all the way back to Narita Airport near Tokyo. Its my last day in Japan and I head out for Seoul, Korea this evening. I cannot believe 10 days have passed since I left home. I have a feeling these 5 months are going to go… Read more
Where to begin? I feel like so many days have past and so much has happened since my last post. I keep checking the date to make sure I haven’t missed a blog update (Mondays and Thursdays, ya’ll). But nope – I’m still on schedule. Over the next 5 months, I do not plan to make… Read more