Go Abroad!
Life (and the party) go on in Rio
Olympic flame snuffed, the party continues in Rio de Janeiro.
After months of continuous Olympic coverage two years ago, the questions still being asked about Rio de Janeiro likely include: "Wow! Rio looks incredible - is it really that beautiful?" And: "Wow! Is Rio really ...
Salento, cream of Colombia's coffee country
Experience small-town Colombia and some spectacular hiking on the finca.
Salento is an historic colonial town high in the mountains of the department of Quindio, situated 250 kilometers due south of Medellin. It used to be on the main route between Bogota and Popoyan even ...
Fascinating Kinmen, Taiwan
Cold War tunnels and traditional villages greet the curious visitor to this tiny island group.
A convenient weekend break from the noise and bustle of Taipei is a one-hour flight to the island of Kinmen. Although Kinmen is controlled by Taiwan, it lies only eight kilometers from the Chinese mainland ...
Escape to Minca, Colombia
Get a break from the heat of the north coast in this sleepy backpacker hub.
It’s not the kind of place that comes to mind when thinking about Colombia, but a little mountain village called Minca gets my vote for best of honors. A slow 17 kilometers up and out ...
Get lost in Marseilles, France's second city
Explore a maze of narrow streets, hip neighborhoods, graffiti art and grand museums.
Marseille has never gotten its due as a vacation destination. Most people traveling to southern France pass through Marseille’s airport and move directly on to the more pristine and tony Provencal destinations, such as Aix-en-Provence ...
Buenos Aires in 48 hours
Must-do's, see's and eats in the impressive Argentinean capital.
It's surely one of the most impressive cities in South America, and a must-see for any traveler, even folks who prefer the countryside. Having said that, Buenos Aires is a gigantic mass of humanity, and ...
Japan: a land of contrasts
By far the phrase I used most often was “Arigata gozaimasu”: I appreciate it.
I stare out at Mount Fuji: bright, clear, stately, basking in the morning sunshine. Cherry blossoms frame my view alongside the stunning Chureito Pagoda in the foreground. My timing was implausibly fortuitous. The previous day ...
Lisbon for foodies and history buffs
Tips on what to see, do — and most importantly, eat — in Portugal's capital.
Last summer, I visited Portugal to witness one of my closest friends get married. It was a short, whirlwind trip that I will never forget. I promised myself that I would return in 2018; here ...
Bulgaria? Nobody goes there!
Like many Westerners, I imagined a gritty, gray and boring post-Communist Balkans.
"Bulgaria? Nobody goes there!" said my husband when I mentioned it. Admittedly Bulgaria had never really been high on my list of places to visit, but fate brought me an opportunity to meet an old ...
Cyanide in my pasalubong
Gift of cigars from Philippines has dire warnings not everyone worries about
“Trip out on this, bro,” Ed said as he pulled out a Coronas Sumatra cigar box that was labeled with “stroke” on the front and “cyanide” on the side. On February 4, we were at ...
Adventures in Bariloche: a Top 10
Visit this Argentinean gateway to Patagonia and "Tahoe of South America."
Known as the Tahoe of South America — and the portal to glorious Patagonia — San Carlos de Bariloche is worth spending a few kick-ass days in before continuing on to El Bolsón or Villa ...
Thailand and back again
Individual and collective consciousness in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
Squeezing into the oyster can of LAX and 19 hours of flying coach later, Bangkok hits me like a freight train: Heavy air and loud noise bounce off paved streets and temporarily blind a few ...
What brings you to Kosovo?
The country remains untouristed, with lots to see for the intrepid traveler.
1/18 UPDATE: see this link on travel safety if visiting Kosovo. Travel to the north of the country is currently not advised, other areas are relatively safe. "What brings you to Kosovo?" In most countries, ...
The next Koh Phi Phi: Koh Rong, Cambodia
Add this less-touristed (for now) island to your Southeast Asia list.
Editor's note: this article was originally written in 2013, after the author returned from a trip to Asia. As Cambodia continues its surge in developing mass tourism, there are several places where the change will ...
South Pacific's mythic Marquesas
Journeying aboard the cargo-cruiser Aranui to far-flung isles.
The South Pacific’s remote, pristine Marquesas Islands make Hawaii look like Harlem. I can honestly say these South Seas sojourns to French Polynesia’s untrammeled atolls and isles have been the greatest excursions of my life. ...
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Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.
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