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.
Arriving in Tanzania started on a shaky note. I hadn’t realized someone robbed me of my cash my last day in Cape Town until I stood at the border between Kenya and Tanzania. I gutted my bag and found nothing. I sat miffed among my scattered possessions, wondering how my cash had vanished. The very cash that was meant …
The streets of colonial Mexico pulse with color and life. Before traveling, I glimpsed this pocket of culture and history only through small photographs of sun-drenched cobblestone streets making an appearance in my school text-books. And on a good year, my family visited a museum and I peered at the traditional clothes and colors in …
Mexico surprised me with the hospitality and friends I found when I landed there with the intention of living in Mexico and traveling there for at least six months, maybe more. I flew into Puerto Vallarta, sure that I would visit with friends who were living near there for a month, and then move onto …
There is something about a church that transports me through time and deposits me at a former version of myself. I step through the doors and old habits, memories, and rituals flood my senses. I was raised Christian, though my travels have led me toward a much broader spirituality. After years on the road, I …
The air around me was cool and damp, the kind of pervasive dampness only found in old spaces, spaces locked off from human habitation for decades, centuries even. On every wall, remnants of an ancient culture depicted animals, kings, triumphs, and women, lots of women. We had visited several desert castles in Jordan that day, and Quseir Amra was …
A tiny bell tinkled in the light whisper of wind outside the inner temple, the faint music audible inside the small prayer room despite the crush of bodies kneeling prostrate in front of the gilt Buddha. After paying my respects to Buddha, Buddhism, and Burma inside the room, I continued circling the tall zedi, the …
The pace of life in Luang Prabang, Laos is so very charming. It’s a low-slung city with wide streets (unnatural for much of Southeast Asia), French inspired post-colonial architecture, monks clad in sunny saffron robes, and a humming buzz of relaxed tourism. I wrote earlier about the changes three years and more tourism brought upon this …
Situated in the heart of Myanmar’s Shan State, Inle Lake stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of nature and culture. This vast, serene body of water, stretching over 44.9 square miles, is not just a geographical marvel; it’s a central chapter in the story of Myanmar’s rich and diverse heritage. Visiting this Inle …