Tiger Balm is a popular ointment with a distinct menthol smell and memorable packaging. When I read the description of Haw Par Villa in Singapore my eyes immediately glazed over. The park is a series of dated statues and dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, legends and Confucianism. I saw the photos and the words cheesy [...]
This is the Holy Grail, travel for free! In a several week period in April, I received about $8,000 in free airline tickets and hotels. I stayed in a hotel I would never typically stay in: Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa. My 1000 square foot overlooking the Indian Ocean was over $700 a night. My [...]
The Simien Mountains, a UNESCO site, are found in northern Ethiopia. The tallest peak is Ras Dashen at 4543 meters in The Simien Mountains are found on a massive plateau (412 sq km) ranging from 1600m-4543m. Peaks dangerously dive into deep gullies. The most common launching point is Gondar, about a 3 hour drive away. Besides the [...]
Abu Dhabi - Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The UAE also includes Dubai, for a total of 7 emirates. Abu Dhabi is the less flashy, but richer brother to Dubai. The UAE became a unified nation upon the departure of the British, who managed the territory as a protectorate. The UAE is astonishingly wealthy, with a per [...]
There are too many hotel options in Bangkok. Too many choices. But if you want to splurge, consider staying at Lebua at State Hotel. Have a drink on the 63rd roof deck bar and restaurant. Why not? That is where the characters of Hangover II were hanging out. Otherwise you can take a dip at the [...]
What do I have in common with Matthew Todd Miller and Jeffrey Edward Fowle? No, we are all not serial killers. But we have all gone on vacation to North Korea. The difference ends there. Miller and Fowle are in jail in North Korea, and I am back home, writing this story. North Korea aka the [...]
Why should you visit Belarus? President Alexander Lukashenko is known as the “last dictator of Europe”. He has been in power since 1994, winning four elections. He rules the country with a totalitarian-Stalinist fist. Minsk, the capital, at first appearance is a pleasant and relaxed city. This initial impression belies a darker reality. Dissent is not [...]
If there is a must see in Dubai, I believe it is the Burj Khalifa. TheBurj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world. It checks in at 829.8 m (2,722 ft). There are 164 floors and over 24,000 windows. It took 10 years to construct this beautiful monstrosity. Over 100 km (62 mi) of pipes snake [...]
Spend 2 days in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (the world's worst nuclear disaster) with over 100 photos! Sign up to get your free copy of the book.
