Thoughts on Traveling Solo
Not everyone wants to travel alone, but solo travel can be freeing and fun. There are some ways to make the experience better and less lonely.
tours
A Taste of Kavalan, Taiwan’s Premier Whisky
As my first assignment as a freelance reporter in Taiwan, I took a trip to the Kavalan Whisky distillery in Yilan for a taste of award-winning whisky.
In the Sand Dunes of Mũi Né
A brief adventure in the White Sand Dunes of Mui Ne, Vietnam, one of the few tourist destinations in the coastal resort town.
Happy Year of the Dog
This year begins the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar. During my first year in China, I got to experience Spring Festival and celebrate Chinese New Year.
Farm-to-Table Tours in Japan’s Only UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
Enjoy a seasonal dinner at Japan’s premier organic farm-to-table restaurant NAA Farmer’s Restaurant in Tsuruoka, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
Witnessing the Scale of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an
On my first summer holiday in China, I visited the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and was in awe at the epic size of this ancient tomb for the Qin Emperor.
Overcoming Church Fatigue in Venice
Finding a renewed sense of appreciation for church architecture at the ornately decorated St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) in Venice, Italy.
In the Company of Elephants at MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary
While searching for a tour that didn’t include elephant riding, I found MandaLao Elephant Sanctuary outside Luang Prabang, Laos.
Calm Lake at Banteay Srei, Cambodia
On my second day in Siem Reap, I stopped at a lake outside Banteay Srei to enjoy the calm hidden from the large groups of tourists at Angkor Wat.
Introverted Travel or Social Avoidance?
A response to Yahoo! Travel’s article “18 Essential Tips for Introverted Travelers,” which reinforces stereotypes and encourages poor travel habits.
Walking Through Seoul’s Secret Garden at Changdeokgung
A visit to Changdeokgung palace in Seoul, South Korea, including a tour of the secret garden. This is one of the largest and most impressive palaces in Korea.
Cao Dai: A Different Kind of Temple in Vietnam
Visiting the colorful Cao Đài Temple outside Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on a day tour that included the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Silent Temples
“Nature is a temple in which living pillars Sometimes give voice to confused words; Man passes there through forests of symbols Which look at him with familiar eyes.” –Charles Baudelaire, from Correspondences Among the cities I’ve visited, watching the fashionable crowds scurry past beneath the shadows of skyscrapers that block the sun, memories of quieter destinations flood …
Look! More Ruins in Pompeii
Touring the ruins of Pompeii and wondering what each of the similar ruins once were. It included a nice stop in the ancient prostitution district.
Touring Banteay Srei
Banteay Srei in the Angkor Wat complex is one of the most beautiful temples. This 10th century Cambodian temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.