There are a few places in the world that I’d consider “heaven on earth” — and Ngepi Camp, tucked away in rural Namibia, is one of them. We arrived in Bagandi, a small town near Ngepi, invigorated by our seven hour drive from Etosha National Park and ready to see what everyone (read: one person) had told us about.
Read MoreAs much as I've been a nomad geographically, I've been one spiritually, too. Throughout my life, I’ve been drawn to various religions, books, teachings, and practices in my earnest attempt to make sense of things. But if someone were to ask me today what I believe in, truly and deeply, I'd say, rather simply... people. I believe in people.
Read MoreKyoto felt like stepping into an alternate universe — one where there were sinks on top of toilet tanks, minimalist design reigned supreme, and geishas tight-skirt scurried into back alleyways. But my favorite part of visiting Kyoto was, hands down, THE FOOD.
Read MoreOn my second day in Taiwan, my best friend’s cousin picked me up on his motorbike at the train station in Keelung, just outside of Taipei. We spent the morning devouring conveyor-belt sushi, sampling custard wheel cakes, and sipping the kind of custom iced coffee with a plastic seal that you punch through with a straw.
Read MoreThe food in Taiwan is amazing. Playing host to delicious corner shop dumplings, the original Din Tai Fung, and a robust café scene, the country is truly a dream for anyone who wants to eat extravagantly well on a reasonable budget. So read on for my top picks in Taipei and nearby Jiufen.
Read MoreCoron boasts jaw-dropping limestone formations, turquoise ocean waters, jade-green lakes, and a handful of lovely beaches. Having been the site of various battles during WWII, it’s also home to dozens of shipwrecks lurking just beneath the water’s surface.
Read MoreThere are moments in your life that will make a home for themselves inside of your heart.
Read MoreToday marks 63 days since I first self-quarantined myself here in NYC, and it’s been a wild ride.
Read MoreI think it’s safe to say I didn’t think I’d ever feel the need to write this blog post. And yet, on day 41 of my self-quarantine from COVID-19, here we are. The travel industry has ground to an unprecedented halt in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is absolutely as it should be — the only way we’re going to get this situation under control is by staying home, social distancing, and, well, not traveling.
Read MoreVisiting Victoria falls was a lesson in almost incomprehensible beauty — from within and without. As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Victoria Falls is stunning, and yet somehow, it took my breath away.
Read MoreWhen I first told people I was moving to Kuala Lumpur, the first thing people said was always about food. About how I’d be living in a foodie’s paradise, filled with mouthwatering laksa and perfectly seasoned satay. What I actually found during my two years in Kuala Lumpur was a bit different – most Malaysian food and I didn’t get along particularly well — but there were certainly a few exceptions. I spent most of my “eating” time in the city at coffee shops, but were also a few standout restaurants and street stalls that I love to recommend to visitors.
Read MoreColombia helped me get my groove back – and I couldn't be more grateful.
Read MoreThe Traveling Creative is the culmination of years of Google-mapping, pseudo-travel-guide-writing, Insta-stalking, and most importantly, traveling – and I couldn’t be happier to share this with all of you.
Read MoreThe 36 hours I spent in Budapest were the best 36 hours of my 2019 – from start to finish, my visit was flawless, and I can’t wait to go back! Budapest packs a lot of punch into an extremely walkable city – it’s easy to understand why people flock here year-round. I visited in March 2019 with one of my closest friends, Stephanie, and the whole weekend felt like a massive recharging scheme.
Read MoreWhen I arrived on the sandy shores of Toby & Thelma’s Camping Adventure in the Philippines, I knew I had found the closest thing to heaven on earth I would ever find. And against that transcendental backdrop, I immediately had an intense urge to write about all the beautiful things this slice of heaven was making me feel. So here’s a glimpse into my personal journal.
Read MoreSundays in Hanoi encapsulate everything I love most about Asia: the way life happens on the street. The way all types of people share the same physical space, if only for a moment. The way the masses of people living out their lives – falling in love, having an argument, growing up, crying, laughing, smiling – makes me feel that little bit less alone.
Read MoreWhenever someone asks me what my happy place is, I have a very simple answer: the Marou chocolate shop in Hanoi, Vietnam. I was first introduced to Marou by one of my best friends, Klara Markus, who lived in Saigon for years and always raved about Marou’s chocolate as being the absolute best in the world. I first tried it for myself a couple of years ago, and quickly discovered that she was absolutely and unquestionably correct.
Read MoreEqual parts big city and small town, Hanoi is one of my favorite places in Southeast Asia. My aunt and uncle live in Hanoi, as well, so I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lovely place to stay every time I’ve visited. Hanoi is more approachable, calm, and cold than Saigon… and I love it. And yet I’ve never spent more than 36 hours in Hanoi at a time, so I know for sure that you can do all the things I’ve listed in a single weekend visit. Enjoy!
Read MoreAsia is a million worlds coexisting on a single continent, and possibly my favorite place on earth. From the calm river valleys outside Laos’s Muong Ngoi to the frenetic energy of Bangkok at 2AM, Asia truly offers a taste of everything. So it should come as no surprise that the continent plays host to many of my personal happy places, and is arguably the part of the world in which I feel – at least at present – most at home.
Read More
