Visiting the Middle East was a goal for my travels for a long while. I had always wanted to travel to the Middle East, but didn’t make it there on my round the world trip, or in several subsequent years of travels. Why? Well, some of it came down to perception—I travel solo and I …
When traveling in India, you have to be aware of the scams and avoid them at all costs. Many times, the scam starts off as a delightful opportunity to dive into the local culture—perhaps someone offers a chance to learn more about a cultural practice, or invites you to lunch. Sometimes, they’re offering a lot …
Ice cream dripped down my hand as I made my way to the small Fort Augustus bus stop—I was staring down the barrel of another long and drawn out travel day. I had strapped on both my backpacks, and with 20 minutes to kill before the bus arrived, I made my way to the grassy hill …
Monkeys in India are unkind. In fact, as cute as they may look from afar, they are downright nasty. Monkeys don’t wander the mountains and towns back home in Florida, so I didn’t realize that it’s not fun and quirky to encounter a monkey while traveling—it can be harrowing. What would have been a challenging …
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 …
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, …
When I dreamed of traveling youngster, I conjured exotic scents and foreign colors. I heard in my mind the lovely lilt of unknown dialects. I tasted in my dreams the cuisine of far off places. Never did I think about the practicalities of traveling through cultures, countries, and places foreign. Foreign by definition means strange and unfamiliar, and it’s …