Siargao: The Philippines’ Secret Island Paradise

Tucked away amongst the thousands of islands in the Philippines is a place where travel lore comes to life. It’s the kind of place that jaded backpackers dream of: off the beaten path, untouched by tourist development, with clean and pristine waters, where the visitors and locals still mix. It’s a place I’m afraid to… Continue reading Siargao: The Philippines’ Secret Island Paradise

Kitties, Kindness, and (Disgusting) Cream Puffs in Kuching

Trekking through the jungles of Bako National Park, Borneo in a constant downpour of tropical rain left me feeling (and looking) like a nearly drowned cat. Although I had loved my two days exploring the rainforest in search of monkeys, I was more than ready to relax and dry out in the nearby town of… Continue reading Kitties, Kindness, and (Disgusting) Cream Puffs in Kuching

What To Expect From a Buddhist Temple Stay in Korea

A foray into Korean culture would not be complete without a Buddhist temple stay. Buddhism, the predominant religion in the ROK, is the basis of many cultural beliefs and values for Koreans and throughout the country you can find hundreds of temples anywhere from the center of an urban city to hidden on rural, mountainous… Continue reading What To Expect From a Buddhist Temple Stay in Korea

What a Phone Booth in Panama is Reminding Us

  A few years ago I wandered through the cobblestone streets of the historic Casco Viejo neighborhood in Panama City, Panama. In the midst of gentrification, the area was an eerie juxtaposition of old and new. You could pass by a hipster cafe with a facade painted in vibrant shades of pinks and blues, and… Continue reading What a Phone Booth in Panama is Reminding Us

The Magical & Mysterious Fairy Caves of Borneo

Fairy Caves Kuching Borneo

I’ve never been to a place for which photos do so little justice as the Fairy Caves in Kuching, Borneo.   At some point during the planning of my Borneo trip I came across these caves and, along with the Bako National Park, they became the main reason I flew to Kuching for a few days.… Continue reading The Magical & Mysterious Fairy Caves of Borneo

Close Encounters at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Borneo

One of the main reasons I was excited to go to Borneo was to see the famed and endangered orangutans. My wish was granted on my first full day in Borneo after a quick flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and an hour cab ride out into the jungle. Before embarking on our Kinabatangan river… Continue reading Close Encounters at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Borneo

The Realities of Hiking in Korea

Last weekend I was surprised to find myself hiking 20km up a mountain. I mean, I knew that I would be hiking; what was casually omitted by the friend who planned it was the length of the trail and the severity of the incline. Not that knowing in advance would have changed anything. I still… Continue reading The Realities of Hiking in Korea

Sunday Sunrise at Jirisan

Ok, so this picture was actually taken about two hours after sunrise. Oops. But after sleeping in a noisy mountain shelter we couldn’t bring ourselves to go outside at the literal crack of dawn. Anyway, because I have an affinity for alliteration, here are some other “S” words that described me and my day: Sunny as… Continue reading Sunday Sunrise at Jirisan

Fall Colors and Lunch in a Cloud at Seoraksan

About a year ago I made a bucket list of the places I wanted to go in Korea and Seoraksan, Korea’s most popular mountain range, had been at the top of the list. Somehow, though, time slipped by and I finally came to accept that it just wasn’t going to happen. It was too far… Continue reading Fall Colors and Lunch in a Cloud at Seoraksan

WWOOFing on the Cutest Little Farm in Korea

My dear friend Emily is what we affectionately call “a total food hippy”. She ferments her own food, her eyes light up at the mention of bacteria, and she could talk for days about seeds and planting fruit trees. So, appropriately, one of the first things she did when she arrived in Korea earlier this… Continue reading WWOOFing on the Cutest Little Farm in Korea

A Road Trip to a Remote Land, Goheung Island

I believe in road trips. I believe in pit stops to frolic in flower fields. I believe in hiking to the top of a mountain. I believe in finding the most remote beach possible. I believe in oceanside cooking. I believe in sunset yoga poses.   Last weekend three girlfriends and I decided to get the heck… Continue reading A Road Trip to a Remote Land, Goheung Island