India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and rtw travel in this region of the world.
Nepal was a sleeper hit during my round the world trip more than 15 years ago. I had fretted and planned so much of my time backpacking across India, that I left planning my time in Nepal to the last second. I had arranged a one-month volunteering stint in the Kathmandu Valley, so I had …
Drizzling rain pattered on my umbrella as I wove through throngs of tourists, their rainbow-hued ponchos forming sudden pops of contrast against the canary-colored walls. I dodged locals pedaling rickety bicycles on the rain-drenched streets, and darted into the calm oasis of a local teahouse-cum-social enterprise in Hoi An, Vietnam. The rain hadn’t let up …
A throaty tenor danced across the inky night, joined moments later by a chorus of lighter voices. The empty footpath widened as I approached the Kartlis Deda statue. The disembodied voices echoed across the cool night. Lit in soft green, Mother Georgia towered above me. The nearby voices lifted in perfect harmony, swelling as the ethereal melody penetrated …
Maybe it was the wine. Or perhaps it was the latticed balconies. The unfettered hospitality played a part. And the idyllic scenery was persuasive. For the life of me, I can’t pin down precisely what made Tbilisi, Georgia so charming. Since leaving Georgia, I’ve taken on the mantle of fangirl for the Republic of Georgia. …
North Korea is all over the news lately. Over the holidays, the controversy over the film The Interview put the country back in the spotlight (is it ever far?) and highlighted for the world just how far the North Korean government will go to control information. A week after I watched the film, a close friend recommended …
Have you ever found yourself completely lost in a moment, engaged with every sense you have and unaware of the larger world? When this happens while you travel, you’re experience the best of what is now called “cultural immersion.” Moments and anecdotes from my travels flutter into my memory as I go about my day-to-day …
There is a textbook definition of the word “journey”: an act or instance of traveling from one place to another. Within the framework of our collective consciousness as people, however, the true meaning of a journey lies within ourselves. The word can imply the growth of very specific ideas and understanding within a set time …
As the wheels of the plane gently lifted off the runway, I glanced over at my toddler, clawing at the window for a better view of the disappearing cars below, his eyes wide with wonder. In that moment, I was reminded of the transformative power of travel, not just for seasoned wanderers like myself, but …