Excuse me while I go a bit fangirl in this space. Only, going “a bit” fangirl is an oxymoron, isn’t it? Well, maybe not — it’s not like I loitered behind the theatre after the show; I didn’t try to steal the setlist from the still-reverberating stage. When Sufjan Stevens finished his angelic performance, I simply thanked the music gods…
Checking in to the luxurious Maya Ubud is a five-star experience. Bali is hot and you’ll be sweaty from a day zipping around in a taxi bound for temples, coffee plantations, rice fields, and beaches. At Maya Ubud, you’re greeted with a welcome drink and a cold towel. Cool off in the open-air lobby before…
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is exactly what it sounds like — a nature reserve and temple complex with more than 340 long-tailed macaques roaming freely. These entertaining socialites do not hesitate to climb on, steal from, and perch from visitors brave enough to interact with them. We thought all our junk was…
A year in the making and I’m proud to say I finished my first documentary film. “American Soil, Chamorro Soul” made its world premiere on April 29, 2016 at a film festival on Guam. The doc was well-received and I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment and relief to have finished it, even through the…
Bondi to Coogee Walk is a must-do in Sydney. I only made it to Tamarama Beach, 15 minutes from Bondi, because I was spellbound by the views. This free path is popular with runners, photographers, and dog walkers for good reason. Every turn is more beautiful than the last with intricate rock formations, technicolor waters, and fresh…
I hate to sound ungrateful. Complaining about a visual feast like the Whitsundays in Australia is criminal, I know. Make no mistake, I love the unreal turquoise water, the architecture of the Great Barrier Reef, and those vanilla swirls that make up Whitsunday Inlet, but John Mayer is playing and people are actually enjoying it. It’s…
You know those Booking.com commercials where the weary travelers check-in to their hotels and are elated? That’s how I felt arriving near midnight in Sydney at Finger Wharf Woolloomooloo. Getting from Guam to anywhere besides a handful of Asian cities is a long process. I often arrive in a new city under the cover of night,…
I didn’t expect to like Shanghai so much. It was simply a gateway from Guam to Zhangjiajie and those majestic “Avatar” mountains. After 10 days in rural China, I was ready for a few nights in the city. I pictured Shanghai the way I’ve heard Beijing described — imposing, smoggy, and crowded. After all, Shanghai has…
It’s perfectly safe for solo travel, easy to navigate, and incredibly clean. Whether you visit Sydney for food, architecture, or arts, only a miser would refuse to be charmed. I’ve never met a traveler who gave Sydney a bad review. That being said, if you are American, check the exchange rate because Australia ain’t cheap. During…
Many people head for the Turquoise Coast of Turkey, using Fethiye as their base simply to enjoy the wonderful climate. It’s a place to relax, swim, and get a guaranteed suntan. Fethiye tours are best experienced with the help of experienced guides. History and Culture Fethiye itself has some reminders of the Lycian civilization that occupied this…
