On my travels I have made a point to visit many of the incredible Unesco World Heritage Sites all over the world. These range from the iconic architectural sights like the Taj Mahal and Angkor Wat, to the beautiful and charming UNESCO cities of Guanajuato and Luang Prabang. I’ve picnicked in UNESCO National Parks and stared in wonder at the historic wonders of Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Take a peek at my favorite experiences over the past decade as I’ve traveled this world in search of culture, history, and connection.
It was a little painful to wake up at 5:00am, but we had no choice but to catch the morning train out of Jaipur after the Holi Festival of Colors revelry. My cousin and I dragged ourselves out of bed, slung our pre-packed backpacks onto our shoulders, and trudged to the train station—it was early. It also …
Traveling Southeast Asia these past months has been an incredible whirlwind. Seven weeks seemed like enough to make the backpacker loop through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, but that isn’t even remotely the case. I decided to adjust my itinerary and save Vietnam for another trip, which has allowed me to more deeply explore Laos. …
Luang Prabang is a beautiful city, it’s like the adored child who is the apple her parents’ eye. The city crawls along the Mekong River. The gilded tips of temples peek above the palm trees. In 1995, UNESCO designated the entire city as a World Heritage site. Key aspects of the city are now protected from tourism, time, and …
It’s been a whirlwind couple of months and I am wrapping up my time in Australia. I started my round the world trip here because I knew it was beautiful, English-speaking, and full of adventures. That plan panned out and I realized a dream here of scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef. Cairns is the …
Based on the recommendations from other travelers, I’ve planned two weeks in Melbourne. The first week is mostly solo now that my travel friends have left. And the second week is staying with a friend I met through Couchsurfing when I lived in LA. Before I move over to my friend’s house in the Melbourne suburbs, …
It’s just past midnight on December 26th and it seems time to share a very Merry Christmas to everyone back home the States! The time difference here in Australia makes it odd. I am heading to bed soon and for you guys, the day is just beginning. With a head start on you guys, I’ll share a …
I loved my first long hike through the Blue Mountains just outside of Syndey, which ended at the Giant Staircase in Katoomba. Katoomba is a cute mountain town with stunning views out over the mountains and valleys. It’s also the main town in this area and the starting point for most major trails. After that beautiful trail, …
The Blue Mountains takes its name from the blue haze that hovers above the mountain range in every direction. You can’t actually smell the sweetly mentholated scent eucalyptus in the air, but the blue haze stretches as far into the distance. The blue haze is created by the oil released from eucalyptus plants—there are so many …