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Trips, Tips, and Treks
Blue Lake Kaboora Hike on North Stradbroke Island: What to Expect
The Blue Lake is located in the heart of Queensland, Australia's North Stradbroke Island (also called Minjerribah or "Straddie"). The large freshwater lake can only be accessed via a 3 kilometer return hike through impressive eucalyptus forests. When spending one day...
20 Tips for Visiting North Stradbroke Island, Australia
North Stradbroke Island is a beautiful sandy island located just an hour and a half east of Brisbane, Australia. It's a perfect a weekend getaway from Brisbane, and can even be visited as a day-trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. North Stradbroke Island is known for...
12 Tips for Visiting Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia is the largest koala sanctuary in Australia (and the world!) It's a must-visit attraction in Brisbane, home to over 100 koalas and other Australian animals that visitors can get up and close to. These tips for...
Hiking the Piper Comanche Wreck Trail in 2022
The Piper Comanche Wreck trail is a medium-difficulty hike just an hour’s drive northwest from Brisbane city center in Australia. It’s located in D’Aguilar National Park, a favorite nature escape destination for Brisbanites. The council-owned trail is a former logging...
10 Tokyo Restaurants with Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Options
Eating out in Tokyo is a huge part of experiencing the best of what the city has to offer. Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you need to miss out on incredible food in Tokyo either. Unless you’re traveling with a group of vego’s, you’ll likely want to find a Tokyo...
Van Life in Australia with Apollo Campervan Rentals
To ring in 2022 and the return of domestic travel in Australia, I traveled from Brisbane to Adelaide to visit an Australian bucket-list destination: Kangaroo Island. To reach and explore this remote island, I rented a Toyota Hiace campervan from Apollo motorhome...
20 Must-Read Tips for Visiting Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Kangaroo Island in South Australia is one of Australia's natural wonders and national treasures. It deserves a spot on every Australia bucket list, especially on any South Australia itinerary. These 20 tips for visiting Kangaroo Island will ensure your travels will go...
Adelaide and Kangaroo Island Five-Day Itinerary
Domestic travel around Australia is picking back up, so it’s time to pack your bag and tick off some of those Australia bucket list destinations! To ring in the new year, I traveled to Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and the beautiful Barossa wine valley all in five days,...
Western River Cove Beach and Campsite on Kangaroo Island
Western River Cove is one of Kangaroo Island’s best kept secrets. This beautiful beach, camping area, and snorkeling and fishing spot is tucked away between the jagged cliffs of north western Kangaroo Island. My guide to Western River Cove will tell you all you need...
Visiting Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island, Australia
Flinders Chase National Park was my favorite part about visiting Kangaroo Island (KI) in South Australia. From beautiful coastlines, the iconic Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and the amazing wildlife and nature walks, Flinders Chase National Park showcases all...
20 Japanese Books That Will Transport You To Japan
Reading books from other countries is a wonderful way to transport yourself to international places while you wait for your actual trip to happen. These Japanese books will transport you straight to Japan. They were all originally published in Japanese by...
12 Travel-Related Sewing Projects
How many of you purchased a sewing machine while in lockdown? I got a sewing machine from my mom for my birthday, and have been sewing fun crafts ever since! These 12 Travel-Related Sewing Projects are a great way to prepare for your next travelventures. If you’re...
12 Travel-Themed Self-Care Ideas
From once-in-a-century pandemics to day-to-day stresses, we all need a bit of self-care to disconnect and unwind. These 12 travel-themed self care ideas will let you relax and recharge your mind and soul. Self-care with a travel theme combines what we love with what...
How to plan your next international trip
The world is opening back up to travel, and it’s time to start travel planning! One of my favorite parts of travel is building anticipation before a trip even happens. I love travel planning because the world becomes your oyster, and if you can dream it, you can plan...
Tips for Visiting Meow Wolf in Denver
Meow Wolf in Denver's Convergence Station is one of the most unique interactive art installations in the world. Since its Denver grand opening in September 2021, Meow Wolf has been an immensely popular Denver destination, drawing in all types of people to explore its...
How To Live Like A Local In Tokyo, Japan
In 2019 I lived for six months in Japan in a Tokyo sharehouse. I made some amazing friends, both local and international, and was able to spend time exploring Tokyo through the eyes of a local.If you find yourself with time to unwind and explore the local’s side of...
Top Things To Do in Zagreb, Croatia
While I was backpacking the Balkans region of eastern Europe I spent the most time in Zagreb because I renewed my U.S. Passport at the embassy. I discovered a number of wonderful things to do in Zagreb, during my time here. The moment I stepped out of the bus station...
Nepal Backpacking Budget
Budget travelers will rejoice at the cost of backpacking Nepal. You don’t even need to be on a shoestring budget to save some major coin while traveling this beautiful country. Out of the dozens of countries I've travelled to, the cost per day to backpack in Nepal was...
Off-The-Beaten-Path Places In Tokyo
So you've been to Sensoji-Temple, seen the Shibuya Crossing, and had a drink in Shinjuku Gai. You've checked off everything on my Top Things to do in Tokyo list. Now what? It's time to visit off-the-beaten-path Tokyo. There are many staple things to do in Tokyo for...
Visiting Josephine Falls From Cairns
Cairns, Australia is not just for snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef and jetting off to Port Douglas. One of the most popular day-trip activities from Cairns is to check out the many waterfalls just a short distance from town, including visiting Josephine Falls. With...
Best Vegetarian Dishes from Around the World
I managed to stay vegetarian and eat vegetarian or vegan dishes only while I was long-term traveling. Since being stuck at home, I’ve been reminiscing about the most delicious vegetarian dishes from around the world that I’ve had the privilege to enjoy. I found that...
6 Things to Do on the Cairns to Port Douglas Drive
Cairns, Australia, the gateway to Tropical North Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, is also the first stop for most travelers on the drive to Port Douglas. Port Douglas used to be a small fishing town, but it’s bloomed into a tourist getaway spot known for its...
10 Hakone Ryokan with Private Onsen
Japan hasn’t fully opened up to tourists yet since shutting its borders, but I can dream, can’t I? Checking out gorgeous Hakone Ryokan on booking.com has been surprisingly therapeutic while I wait for the borders to open. It’s made me even more excited for my...
Cairns Four Day Itinerary
Cairns, Australia is the gateway to North Queensland, known for its tropical rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and beautiful - although crocodile-ridden - sandy beaches. This Cairns 4-Day Itinerary will help you make the most of your Cairns trip by organizing some...
Cairns Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling – The Evolution Reef Cruise
Snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket-list item for many travelers, and there's no better place than Cairns to make these dreams a reality. From the Cairns Reef Fleet terminal on the Cairns Esplanade, a variety of different Great Barrier Reef snorkeling and...
Australia Zoo vs Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Brisbane, Queensland is home to two of the greatest animal experiences in Australia. The Australia Zoo is the "home of the Crocodile Hunter", the late Steve Irwin, and is still owned and operated by the Irwin family. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the the world's...
The Perfect Three Days in Tokyo Itinerary
Tokyo is one of the greatest cities in the world, as the capital of Japan and former host of the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo has so many incredible highlights that three days in Tokyo won't cover all of the key things to do. When planning a Tokyo three-day itinerary though,...
Permaculture Course at Navadarshanam, India
Navadarshanam is a small organic farm and sustainable living community located in Tamil Nadu, two hours south of Bangalore. I attended a sustainable farming and permaculture course at Navadarshanam in 2013. For four days, myself and a dozen other...
My Ultimate Sydney Bucket List
Sydney, Australia is a city that's got it all - pristine beaches, city life, beautiful vistas, a rich history, iconic attractions, and coastal hikes. I decided to put together my own Sydney bucket list after two uneventful trips there (one cut short due to COVID, the...
Visiting Sadhana Forest in Auroville
Sadhana Forest is a sustainable living and reforestation project in Southern India, founded by Aviram Rozin in 2003. The original Sadhana Forest is located in the state of Tamil Nadu and is part of the Auroville township. With the help of many volunteers...
10 Travel Books to Get You Through Quarantine
If you're like me, traveling anywhere international is still a pipe dream since the start of the pandemic. A mix of closed borders and a slow vaccine roll-out in Australia means I'll be staying right here in Brisbane for the foreseeable future. So since April 2020,...
Top Things To Do In Tokyo
The metropolis of Tokyo is back on everyone's radar after it hosted the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo is also one of the cities I miss the most while in lockdown, and the six months I lived there in 2019 feels like decades ago. To face my FOMO head-on, I've re-worked my Top...
Volunteering at Pun Pun Organic Farm in Thailand
During my sophomore year of university, I spent two weeks living at Pun Pun Organic Farm 50 km outside of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. The experience allowed me to explore this little corner of the world in an eco-friendly way, and help with the organic...
South Korea 10-Day Itinerary
The perfect 10-Day South Korea itinerary: from Seoul to Jeonju, to Jeju Island to Busan, this Korea itinerary takes you to all the highlights and to some off-the-beaten-path Korean gems!
Best Tokyo Hotels Near The Yamanote Line
Most first-time visitors to Tokyo want to know: where is the best place to stay in Tokyo? The answers vary depending on what you want to be near: Shopping? Try Ginza. Nightlife? Shibuya or Shinjuku. Anime? Akihabara. Museums? Definitely Roppongi or Ueno. Most likely,...
One Day In Yangon Itinerary
Yangon is the former capital of Myanmar, and is a vibrant city that should be included on every Myanmar itinerary. Yangon is far from "just another big city." It's an off-the-beaten-path Southeast Asia gem, that is filled with amazing cultural experiences and...
One Day in Nagoya Itinerary
Nagoya, Japan is a large industrial city perfectly situated between Tokyo and Kyoto. Sadly, Nagoya doesn't make it on a lot of Japan itineraries because it's dismissed as just another large city. Actually, Nagoya is filled with interesting attractions, great shopping,...
Three Days In Kyoto Itinerary
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan, and a must-visit city for a Japan itinerary of any length. Countless cultural heritage sites, incredible temples and shrines, and fantastic markets and neighborhoods dot the city.Before visiting Kyoto, there are a few tips and...
Hakone Day Trip From Tokyo
Hakone is a popular destination in Japan known for its hot springs and amazing views of Mt. Fuji. Although many people choose to stay overnight in a luxurious Hakone ryokan, it's entirely possible to do a Hakone day-trip from Tokyo. With a little help from a discount...
Backpacking Japan Three Week Itinerary
It's a myth that Japan isn't for backpackers or budget travelers! Although you shouldn't expect $2 dorm beds like in Southeast Asia, it's entirely possible to travel three weeks in Japan on a budget. If it's your first time backpacking in Japan, I recommend this...