Notes on backpacking through Thailand
I’ve been traveling on my own since I was 17. I lived with a host family in Italy the summer after my third year of high school, and before I started college, I saved money by waiting tables and scooping ice cream at my part-time job to study Spanish in Peru. However, I didn’t embark...
Secrets of Taroko
After a few days in Taichung, my Taiwanese friend Olivia and I traveled to Hualien, a naturally-preserved, remote beach town on Taiwan’s east coast. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and we spent a few days biking, walking along the beach and drinking beers on the rocks, while listening to the waves crashing...
Nuts Huts: roughing it in the Filipino jungle
“The beetles eat the bat shit and the bats eat the beetles, but the beetles can’t eat the bats because too big,” our guide, Pedro, stated as he pointed his flashlight from a cluster of sleeping bats hanging from the top of the cave to a few beetles scurrying along the dirt floor. “So I...
Taking the scenic route to Seoul
Wednesday, October 3rd. 2:30 PM: Alona Beach, Bohol Island, the Philippines “400 pesos,” the man says. He looks like he’s in his forties, with short, black hair and skin that’s endured years of sun exposure. Four other tricycle drivers swarm me. I haven’t even grabbed my backpack from my room across the street. “300 pesos,” I say...
Couchsurfing with a Chinese Family
Last August I was in Beijing, trudging along a sidewalk lined with high-rise apartment buildings. Sweat dampened my t-shirt beneath my oversized backpack, filled with essentials to confront China’s diverse terrain and weather. I clutched a wrinkled piece of paper with directions to the family’s home and squinted at the rows of buildings. I was...
How to travel on a budget in Tokyo
My budget travel guide, How to travel on a budget in Tokyo, was published today on Matador Trips! If you’re planning a trip to Tokyo soon and you don’t want to break the bank, check out these tips. Also, feel free to share or leave a comment if you enjoy the article. ^^ -Text...
2011 in Photos: a year of transition and travel
Despite some negativity, the Year of the Rabbit allowed me to grow and transition in a positive way. I traveled a lot, moved to Seoul, got a new job, participated in an art show, and made some great new friends. 2006 and 2009 are still my favorite years, but 2011, wasn’t so bad. I’ve summarized my year...
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