Discover the World Through My Eyes

Tons of Tips, Guides and Videos From a Travel-Obsessed Writer Who’s Been There

Discover the World Through My Eyes

Tons of Tips, Guides, and Videos From a Travel-Obsessed Writer Who’s Been There

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Your Ultimate Travel Guide

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Welcome to the Jungle: A First-Timer’s Guide to Luxury Costa Rica

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Seven Sandwiches That Will Change Your Life… and Your Waistline!

People with umbrellas cross a street on a rainy day near traditional buildings.

Tokyo 101: Top 10 Etiquette Tips Every First-Timer Should Know

Person walking on a cobblestone street in a historic European city.

Holy Doors and Gelato Cones: My Jubilee Journey Through Rome!

Person in a long black coat and hat standing on a path near a castle.

Highland Majesty: Why the Scottish Highlands Are an Absolute Must!

Hand holding a melting ice cream cone in front of a shop window.

Raw-Dogging for Ice Cream: Is This Line Really Worth It?

Woman in striped dress sitting outdoors by a lake on a sunny day.

Wine Tasting:  Sandy’s Guide for the Casual Enthusiast Who Has No Idea What They’re Doing

Person walking on a vast, empty sandy beach under a clear blue sky.

Where the Salt Meets Sky: The Otherworldly Wonder of Bolivia’s Uyuni Flats

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It’s a Good Day to Bombay: My Day With the Dabbawallas!

Royal carriage parade with guards in uniform.

How to Camp on the Mall (or Die Trying)

Mummified figure covered with cloth on table.

Weird Science: Unwrapping a Mummy

Two weathered, old dolls hanging outdoors.

Drowned, Decapitated and Drop-Dead Crazy: The Island of the Dolls

Slice of cake outside a bakery shop.

Hungry Like the Wolf: My Search for the Best Black Forest Cake in the Black Forest!

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The Art of the Stroll: Coyoacan Edition!

Person sitting at a Parisian café terrace.

How to Spend a Perfect Day in the Marais

Person jumping joyfully in desert landscape.

Done and (Mostly) Dusty: Egypt Edition

Giraffe standing outside ivy-covered stone building.

Giraffe Manor: The Most Incredible Bucket List Breakfast on Earth!

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Five Wild-Ass Facts About Zebras

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The Rise of the Ruin Bar

Guards in red uniforms with black hats.

All the Queen’s Men: Right Royal Facts About the Queen’s Guard

The Daily Journal
12/24/22: Ban Ka Long Train Station:
Christmas Eve finds me on the outskirts of Bangkok. Broadly speaking, I'm about 50 miles outside Bangkok's city center. Specifically speaking, I'm standing at the Ban Ka Long train station on my way to the so-called Life-Risking Market. Yes, you read that correctly. Life-Risking Market. Naturally, I have to investigate.
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The Most Spectacular Sips and Where to Find Them

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Around the World in 80 Sips

Spirituality doesn’t always mean saying no. For me, it means saying yes with intention. Sharing a glass of wine with friends, raising a cocktail in celebration or toasting life’s little milestones can be as sacred as quiet reflection. For some, the path is dry; for others, it’s about mindful enjoyment. Either way, it’s not about what’s in the glass but rather the joy, gratitude and connection we pour into it.

A Visual Tour

A Visual Tour

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South Africa

Uganda

Tanzania

Europe

North America

Hoi An, Vietnam

Dharamsala, India

Thimphu, Bhutan

Bangkok,Thailand

Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland

Reykjavik,Iceland

Varanasi, India

Mendoza,Argentina

Oaxaca,Mexico

Edinburgh,Scotland

Taj Mahal,India

Prague, Czech Republic

Tokyo, Japan

Rio, Brazil

Bucket List Bites

Bucket List Bites

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Food is the heartbeat of culture, the most delicious passport stamp. Food reminds us that travel isn’t just about places; it’s about people. Every flavor is a connection, a bridge, a story waiting to be told. That buttery croissant in Paris isn’t just breakfast; it’s centuries of French bakers folding butter and dough into golden poetry. Vietnamese Pho in Saigon? It’s the perfect storm of trade routes, family recipes and balance on a spoon.

So, here’s to tasting the world one forkful, chopstick or finger-licked bite at a time. Pack your passport, your appetite and your curiosity because out there waiting is a flavor you’ve never met, a dish you’ve never imagined, a memory waiting to be made!

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Storybook Nights

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The Suite Life

✨🌍 The Suite Life: Where Magic Becomes a Room Key 🌍✨

Some hotels don’t just give you a bed. They give you a story! They’re places where the walls whisper legends, the air carries enchantment and the night sky feels like it’s been painted just for you.

🌳 Chalkley Treehouse, Sabi Sands, South Africa

High above the bushveld, this open-air treehouse is a lantern-lit nest. You fall asleep under a dome of stars, while the sounds of lions and leopards hum like a lullaby written by the wild itself.

👻 Ballyseede Castle, Tralee, Ireland

An ivy-draped fortress where the fireplaces roar, the walls whisper, and a gentle ghost might walk you to bed. Legend says it’s haunted by friendly spirits. Between ghostly footsteps and roaring fires, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Celtic legend.

🧂 Hotel Luna Salada, Bolivia

A palace carved from salt, shimmering under the endless Salar de Uyuni. It is like sleeping in the heart of a crystal, where silence tastes sweet on the air.

🦒 Giraffe Manor, Nairobi, Kenya

Here, breakfast is never ordinary. Giraffes stroll up to the windows, gracefully leaning in for a nibble of toast. It feels like dining inside a whimsical storybook.

🌿 Sirikoi Lodge, Lewa Conservancy, Kenya

A sanctuary of canvas tents and wild beauty, where elephants wander by at dusk and fireside dinners feel like a private chapter of safari magic.

🎨 The Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland

A Victorian coaching inn turned gallery of marvels. Here, taxidermy stags and Picasso sketches share the walls, and every corner feels like stepping into a novel you’ve always wanted to read.

🌊 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa, Cape Town

Clinging to the cliffs with the ocean pounding below, sunsets spill gold across the waves. It’s part sanctuary, part stage for the sea’s endless drama.

🪷The Imperial, New Delhi, India

Colonial grandeur meets Mughal romance—marble halls, chandeliers, and history unfolding at every step. Staying here feels like walking through a living museum, yet wrapped in velvet comfort.

🌹 The Milestone Hotel, London

Opposite Kensington Palace, this boutique jewel glitters with charm. Afternoon tea feels like stepping into a royal daydream, where every detail whispers indulgence.

🍇 The Farmhouse Inn, Sonoma, California

A countryside retreat where rustic simplicity meets Michelin-starred cuisine. Here, vineyards stretch out like lullabies, and mornings smell of lavender and freshly baked scones.

🐪 Merzouga Luxury Desert Camp, Sahara Desert

Golden dunes stretch forever, and your tent glows with lanterns beneath the Milky Way. Here, the desert itself becomes your ceiling, and silence your companion.

🔮 These are not hotels. They are dream-keepers. They hold the hush of oceans, the shimmer of salt, the brushstrokes of art, the whispers of ghosts.

My Van Life Adventures

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Powered by Coffee & Open Roads

Van life is a lesson in belonging to the present. It’s the hush of morning light spilling through the trees, the rhythm of rain against the roof, the endless sky folded into a single window view. My home moves with me, but the stillness I find within it stays.

No, van life isn’t about escape; it’s about presence. Yes, the road has its challenges, but it also offers clarity: Freedom in carrying only what I need, joy in noticing what’s right in front of me and peace in knowing that, wherever I stop, I belong.