Central Vietnam by Bike: Rice Paddies and Smiles
After falling absolutely head over heels for the city of Hoi An, I was very reluctant to spend any time outside of it while...
There’s Something About Hoi An
Once upon a time, the city of Hoi An, Vietnam, was home to one of the most important trading ports in all of Southeast...
RTW Diaries: Southeast Asia in the Rearview
Things have been quieter than usual around here since just after New Year's. And there's a good reason for that: I've been traveling around...
The Best Things to Do in the Imperial City of Hue, Vietnam
Like many countries in Asia, Vietnam used to be ruled by dynasties of families; by feudal lords and ladies; by emperors with harems and grand...
Of Kumquat Trees and Death Wishes: Cycling in Hanoi
The warning alarms should have gone off in my head as soon as I was outfitted with a mountain bike and a sturdy helmet...
Ha Long Bay: Just as Incredible as You’ve Heard
When you close your eyes and picture Vietnam, what comes to mind? Rice paddies? Conical hats? Crazy motorbike traffic? These were all things I...
Lantau Island: A Green Escape From Hong Kong
I first noticed it while walking along the Wisdom Path. I stopped in my tracks. Just listened. Despite the fact that Hong Kong was...
Capturing Hong Kong in Photos
Hong Kong is not a beautiful city. It's not one of those cities that you arrive in and are immediately charmed by, mostly because...
The Best Guided Tour to Take at the Vatican
“There was just too much to see at The Vatican.” This was a common complaint I heard from people who were traveling in Italy...
In the Footsteps of Giants
It begins with a tale of two giants. One Irish, one Scottish. The Irish giant, Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCoul to most people), gets...
Visiting the Cliffs of Moher
Each and every year, more than one million people visit the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland. Which is pretty impressive, when you realize that...
13 Memorable Travel Moments From 2013
As far as travel years go, I think 2013 was perhaps my best so far. Even though I spent the first half of 2013...
Belfast and Its Troubles: What a Black Taxi Tour in Belfast is Like
As I stand in front of the International Wall in Belfast, topped with barbed wire and splashed with political murals, I can't help feeling...
Imagining the Unimaginable at Auschwitz-Birkenau
The sun was shining brightly that day in Oświęcim; a chilly but blue-skied September afternoon in southern Poland. It would have been beautiful — if...
Krakow in Photos
When it comes to Polish cities, many have a lot in common — mainly that a lot of the most historical ones were destroyed...
7 Reasons Why Warsaw Is Awesome
If you read my recent post about my favorite European capitals, you may have been surprised to see Warsaw quite high up on the...
Review: Greek Islands Tour with Intrepid Travel
If you're anything like me, chances are the Greek Islands lie somewhere on your travel bucket list. After all, those postcard-perfect pictures that crop...