This article provides a good number of flying tips. It covers the planning, ticket buying, packing, and traveling phases. I am not an airplane fan. I would prefer to travel using another transportation method. Even though flying is not my favorite part of traveling, I recognize planes connect multiple parts of our planet in an […]
Panama La Vieja: The Country’s Original Settlement
This article highlights Panama La Vieja or Panama Viejo (different from the Casco Antiguo or Old Town), the county’s original settlement. As you guys know, I am a hardcore history lover. I have already told you about that time pirate Henry Morgan (yes the guy famous for lending his name to a certain rum brand) […]
A Magic Garden and a Hidden Castle in Catalina Island
Guess what? A lot of you guys loved last week’s post about the city of Avalon located in Catalina Island. So, this week, I have decided to post once more about this idyllic place. Hopefully, you guys are not getting bored. But let’s face it. Who can get bored of this amazing place? After discovering […]
How to Blend In and Avoid Unnecessary Attention
When I visit another country, I like to blend in with the locals. The desire to live like a native and have an authentic experience is a big appeal to me. Moreover, I don’t want to appear disrespectful, foolish and impolite due to my selection of clothes and manners. That would attract unnecessary attention which […]
Papillon Photos: Avalon, Catalina Island
Earlier this year, I visited Santa Catalina Island. For those of you who are not familiar with this place, Catalina Island (as it is usually called) is located off the coast of Southern California at 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles. Actually, really close but a world away from the big city. For years, I […]
Meteora: Wonderful Surprise in Greece
This article highlights Meteora, a unique architectural, natural, and religious site located in Greece. My first great trip was a month visiting Europe and Egypt after I finished my undergraduate degree. Let me tell you the months before the trip was filled with many moments of disbelief. I mean, I was going to visit Italy, […]
Art in the Streets: An Uncommon Exhibition
Last weekend, I went to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) to take a look at one of its current exhibitions called Art in the Streets. This exhibition is the major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art. Now, you can ask why in the world somebody wants to go to […]
Caracol and Rio On Pools: A Day At Belize’s Jungle
This article highlights Caracol, Belize’s greatest archeological site, and Rio on Pools, a series of pools in the On River. Before arriving to Belize, there was no doubt about it, I had to visit Caracol. Caracol is the name given to an ancient Maya City located in the middle of the jungle within the limits […]
It is just me or is Brazil expensive?
In this article, I discuss why I found Brazil expensive (from a traveler’s perspective) and provide cost-saving tips. When I visited Brazil, a rush of emotions invaded my body as soon as I got out of the airport. While riding to Copacabana, I was faced with favelas (slums), intricate graffiti, rough streets and terrible traffic […]
Papillon Photos: Old Town San Diego
Before last weekend, I have never been to San Diego even though I have lived 8 years in California. Well, I have officially been to San Diego in many occasions but I don’t count them like proper visit to the sunny city. I have visited Sea World many times and I went once to the […]
Know your World – Philippines
In this section Know You World, bloggers from different parts of the world discuss the culture and uniqueness of their own countries.T his week I am featuring the beautiful and varied country of the Philippines. Grace from Pinay on the Move accepted to answer my questions. And you know what. She did a great job!!!! Read ahead […]
9 Things Tour Companies Don’t Tell You
Even though I consider myself an independent traveler, I have taken my fair share of tours. This is what tour companies do not tell you. There is one question that can be found all over the blogging community and travel forums, should I travel independently or take a guided tour? The answer is not an […]
Nothing is as great as you think. Seriously.
When I was little, I remember my mom told me that one of my aunts was in Spain. My aunt was going to be visiting the Iberian Peninsula for two weeks. At that time, I thought “Wow, someday I want to go to Spain”. Of course, at that age, I thought this was an impossible […]
Suzhou Museum: Architecture and Desing in China
The new Suzhou Museum was opened in 2006 and designed by the world-renowned architect I.M. Pei. Since last week’s post about Luzhi (a water town) was such a hit, I decided to post more about my trip to China. Today, I want to show you a little bit about the Suzhou Museum. In somewhere like […]
Luzhi: One of the Most Beautiful Water Towns in China
Luzhi is considered the first water town in China and its history goes back to more than 1400 years. I think I haven’t told you but a few years ago I went to Shanghai as part of a program sponsored by my graduate school. A visit to Suzhou was included in the trip. Suzhou was […]