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Losing Sleep But Finding Peace in Laos
There was a time when waking at 4:00 AM felt like a sentence, a period of quiet distress where sleep remained stubbornly out of reach. Now, I find myself disappointed if I sleep one minute past then. I headed out to the deck of the hostel this morning, a wooden perch overlooking the emerald Nam…
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From Shenzhen to Kunming: A 10-Day Journey from China’s Skyscrapers to its Karst Peaks
From the gleaming skyscrapers of Shenzhen to the tranquil riverbanks of Luang Prabang, my recent 10-day journey through Southern China was a whirlwind of high-tech marvels, ancient landscapes, and a few “cultural adjustments.” For those of us used to the “Right of Way,” traveling through China is a masterclass in a different philosophy: the “Right…
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The Great Wall of Bureaucracy: Getting into China
The Consulate Shuffle It all started with a train trip through Laos. I was riding China’s sleek new high-speed rail from the current capital, Vientiane, to the former French colonial capital of Luang Prabang. Looking at the tracks stretching north, I was struck by a thought: if I just stayed on this train, I could…
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Holidays in Hong Kong: High-Rises, Hounds, and Island Hopping
Happy New Year, everyone! I’ve just wrapped up another holiday season in Hong Kong, returning to the same house-sit I enjoyed two years ago. Knowing exactly what to expect didn’t make it any less impressive; I once again found myself in a luxury condo in one of the city’s most desirable districts. Life at The…
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Ditch the Drag: 10 Reasons Not to Check a Bag
One travel cost you have complete control over is your packing. I recently calculated the costs of traveling with a checked bag, and it easily added over $100 every time we moved from one city to the next. That was my tipping point! It’s not just about saving a few dollars in airline fees; it’s…
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From Ancient Rome to Istanbul; My Quest for the Perfect Hamam
I recently found myself back in the magnificent city of Istanbul, a place where continents and cultures collide, and there was one thing, above all else, at the very top of my ‘to-do’ list: find a hamam. My first Turkish bath experience was 10 years ago in this very city at the truly iconic Hürrem…
