Beach Travel
It’s A Bird. It’s A Plane. It’s A . . . Flying Donkey?!
It’s not often that I’m dumbfounded by the stupidity of people. Check that. It’s not often I’m this dumbfounded by stupidity. It looks as if a group of entrepreneurs locked themselves and copious amounts of drugs in a room and vowed not to leave until they had the perfect idea to attract tourists to their […]
Another Phuket? This One In The Philippines
Is it me or does it seem like every time a new tiki bar or hotel opens up on a Southeast Asian island, the inevitable, “The next Phuket” tag seems to creep in? Which begs the question: how many Phukets can there be, and do we really need or want more than one? This week […]
When In South Africa, Go To Mozambique
It’s a horrible analogy, but here it goes. Mozambique is to South Africa as Mexico is to the U.S.: Respites away from the home country where the currency goes further, the beaches go less visited, and the chance to get far away from it all is really not that far away at all. This week […]
Face It, Paradise Sucks
Last year, I spent a week on Boracay Island, Philippines. The flour-soft sand underfoot, Jack Johnson vibe at the bars, and crystal water rhythmically crashing was as close to “paradise” as I’ve gotten in quite some time. I hated it. The monotony of, well, nothing, propelled me into a sandcastle making contest with the bartender’s kid just so I could break the routine of, […]
Where To Avoid The Tourists In Vietnam
This week the NYT headed off-the-beaten-path in Vietnam in search of a little respite from the hustle and bustle that is the rest of the country, and where they found it may be a little surprising: Con Dao — the infamous island chain known more for their prisons than for their visitors. Until recently, the […]
The Embattled Island Of Corrigador, Philippines
I wouldn’t consider Manila a “destination” as far as destinations go. It’s one of those cities you fly into then spend a day or two getting your feet wet before you go to the places you’ve come to see. Although that may be somewhat true, the few days I spent there made me realize it […]
Psst! This Is Where You Go To Avoid Tourists In Costa Rica
So you’ve been hearing great things about Costa Rica, and you’ve been wanting to head there yourself to experience some of the outdoor adventures and impeccable beaches the country’s known for. But, as the year’s gone on, you’ve started to have second thoughts: it seems like everyone who goes to Central America goes there . […]
Seeing Real Phuket (Without The Tourists) By Any Means Possible
You find yourself paddling a lagoon in the Dr. Seussian islands, about 20 kilometers northwest of Phuket, Thailand. Few words have entered your mind since you began; perhaps none of your vocabulary matches the kind of tranquil beauty around you. That is, until you notice your arms begin to tire from paddling your kayak for […]
Going To Cuba For A Little R&R: Rest And Revolution
It’s funny how life weaves experiences and occurrences together so seamlessly. Just the other day I was talking with my ex-pat roommate about his imminent return to the U.S. He left home nearly 3 months ago and, using Buenos Aires as his base, went on a little spin around Latin America. He also told me […]
Surfing With Swamis In India
You know how you’re always thinking to yourself, “I wish this next trip I could both surf and expand my spirituality at an ashram”? Well look no further than that Kaliya Mardana Krishna Ashram in Karnataka, India, home to Swami Narasingha. As the Telegraph reports, “Swami Narasingha, who grew up surfing in Florida, established this […]