Articles from this Category
July 24, 2019
Known as the “Hawaii of Korea,” Jeju Island was formed when a volcano erupted nearly 2 million years ago. The main volcano, Mount Hallasan, is surrounded by some 368 smaller volcanoes. Although virtually unknown to Americans, Jeju is a popular Korean honeymoon and vacation destination. The fairly large island offers a plethora of spectacular and […]
July 16, 2019
I’d never heard of Tongli before stepping foot in the 1100-year-old, world’s oldest water town. Now, I’d be hard-press to name a more visually stunning, charming place in all of China. Sure, I still love the neon glitz of Shanghai’s Bund, but the spectacular, Instagrammable places in Tongli inevitably etched their beauty on my memory. […]
June 23, 2019
Nanjing is one of the most fascinating cities in China. Located in China’s eastern Jiangsu providence on the Yangtze River, it’s just a 1.5-hour ride from Shanghai to Nanjing on the bullet train – well worth expanding out of Shanghai to see an amazing number of things to do in Nanjing. Nanjing played an important […]
February 17, 2019
“You can’t just stop in the middle of the street!” he said as he gently tugged me out of the path of the rapidly approaching chaos, i.e. every mode of transportation imaginable, all converging where I was standing. Taking on the traffic in Old Delhi is not for the faint of heart. And by “taking […]
September 17, 2018
“Stop laughing. You need the right attitude if you want to look like a geisha of Gion!” I said to Rebecca and Marie, head turned away to hide my own smirk. We shuffled our way towards the shrine looming at the end of the cobblestone street, less than a quarter of a mile away. The […]
May 21, 2018
I passed through the elaborate gate at the main entrance – a beautiful construction unto itself – and gasped as I looked through the rounded frame. There it was… the elaborate, dazzling white marble castle-like structure that inspires so many dreams. The Taj Mahal. Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the purpose […]
April 2, 2018
Traveling in India can be daunting for even the savviest travelers. Infrastructure is lacking, there are hordes of people to contend with, putrid-smelling trash everywhere, sanitary issues with food and water, and the traffic is pure bedlam beyond anything I’ve ever seen, anywhere in the world. You’re probably thinking, “why would I want to go […]
February 1, 2018
South Korea, most known for sharing a heavily militarized border with its testy neighbor North Korea, is a land of diverse beauty and culture. From a cosmopolitan capital to flowering green countryside, to ancient Buddhist shrines and 5000-year history, to tropical island paradise, festivals, bizarre sculpture parks, unique cuisine, and 13 incredible UNESCO sites in […]
January 5, 2018
Half a world away, there are so many reasons why this fascinating city is magnetically drawing me in. Dubai Gate1 tours offer excursions to all the best places! Once considered just a stopover connecting the continents, Dubai is now a destination unto itself. The contrasts are extreme. In the same day, you can have fun […]
July 13, 2017
“Don’t go to street markets!” warned our Chinese guide from Viking River Cruises. “Dangerous. You get sick.” I get it. Nobody wants tourists to have a bad experience. Viking, in particular, caters to an older, affluent crowd who prefer fine dining and luxury experiences. Enter me, a well-traveled adventure junkie who isn’t good at following […]