CULTURAL INSIGHTS: DISPELLING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHINA For many years I’d been eager to travel through China. Simultaneously, I’d been equally hesitant to go because of my perceptions of China: packed with super-noisy, super-messy, phlegm-spitting Chinese citizens; shady aggressive business tactics; and great difficulty getting around. Those were images I’d developed both from other travelers’ stories […]
PHOTO GALLERY: PENANG ISLAND ARCHITECTURE
PHOTO GALLERY: PENANG ISLAND ARCHITECTURE I’m thrilled to announce that I’m moving to Penang Island, Malaysia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of my favorite places in SE Asia. I’ve visited Penang 3 or 4 times in recent years and was charmed each time by it’s amazing, diverse architecture, delicious food, great natural areas, […]
AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS: Recommended Airlines and Online Booking Services
Welcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. Thank you! —> AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS: Recommended Airlines and Online Booking Services When it comes to flying, I’ve been very fortunate during the past 20 years of international travels: most of my flights have been with Asian airlines. […]
MAOIST GUERRILLA BOMBINGS AND DRAMATIC DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU NEPAL
Welcome! If it’s your first time here, you might want to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. Thank you! —> MAOIST GUERRILLA BOMBINGS AND DRAMATIC DEPARTURE FROM KATHMANDU NEPAL As I was winding up the last two days of my Annapurna Circuit trek in western Nepal, I started to see soldiers along the route. Hmmm…? […]
TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH ZAC OF TRAVELS WITH A NINE YEAR OLD
Young Zac and his mother, Theodora Sutcliffe, set out on a one-year RTW trip in January, 2010, but they haven’t stopped yet! For the past 2 years Theodora and Zac have been traveling the world and writing about their adventures on Travels With a Nine Year Old. (now at EscapeArtistes) I interviewed Theodora in August […]
PHOTO GALLERY: KARUTA- ANCIENT JAPANESE CARD GAME
players dresed in period kimono play Karuta at Yasuka Shrine, Kyoto, a New Year’s Festival PHOTO GALLERY: NEW YEAR’S KARUTA- ANCIENT JAPANESE CARD GAME Happy New Year! Japan rings in the new year with the rather unusual practice of an annual New Year’s card game. Modern versions are played all over Japan in people’s homes. […]
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 !
Here’s to wishing you all a fun New Year’s Eve, with time to reflect on your adventures and achievements in 2011 plus great, challenging resolutions or a more stress-free life for 2012. Let’s all make 2012 fabulous! Follow your dreams! cheers, Lash
MY GUEST POST: JACUZZI IN THE JUNGLE
Yippie! A final year-end surprise: My story ‘Jacuzzi in the Jungle‘ has been selected by Keith Jenkins of Velvet Escape as one of a collection of ‘Velvet Moments’ in 2011 by other travel bloggers. Keith asked all of us travel bloggers to submit any tales of luxury travel we’ve enjoyed. Since I’m a budget traveler, I don’t […]
HIKING THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK, NEPAL
Views of the Annapurna Range, part of the Himalayas in western Nepal HIKING THE ANNAPURNA CIRCUIT TREK, NEPAL The Annapurna Circuit Trek in western Nepal is one of Nepal’s most popular hikes. As the name implies, it’s a circular hike- through the high valleys and mountain passes rimming the Himalayan Annapurna Ranges. Those soaring mountains […]
TRAVEL STORY: ACQUIRING A SHOU MA
TRAVEL STORY: ACQUIRING A SHOU MA On my first Sunday morning in Shanghai, China, I got up early and excitedly went out to explore the interesting streets of Old Town, spread out below our apartment tower. I had already wandered along the nearest streets, locating various tasty food shops, fruit stands, and other useful shops […]