I had to leave a Komodo liveaboard early. $1,000 down the drain, sick for DAYS, cold showers, dishonest advertising, and the stench of black mold. Honestly? The experience nearly ruined one of my life long dreams. So is a Komodo liveaboard worth it, or should you stick to land-based diving? Let me show you what […]

Looking for unique places to visit in Japan for nature? Known as Japan’s “Lemon Island,” Setoda is a small, charmingly rural town on the island of Ikuchijima off of Hiroshima. It’s a refreshing escape from Japan’s crowded cities, with its citrus-scented breezes, scenic cycling paths, lemon groves, mom-and-pop cafes, coastal hiking, ryokans, and friendly locals. […]

Borneo- you’ve seen it on Animal Planet and National Geographic on repeat for its famously silly, hairy, and rare primate: the Bornean orangutan. (If you’re looking for the best Borneo travel guide, you’re in the right place!). As 1 of just 2 impossibly remote places left in the world where you can see a wild orangutan […]

Scuba diving with thresher sharks. You might think I’m crazy, or you might be a fellow “lunatic” going thresher shark diving in Malapascua. Either way, this was a RARE shark encounter that I’m dying to share! From crying into my mask out of pure joy when a thresher shark swam comfortably within 2 meters of […]

If you’re a diver and a shark lover, diving with thresher sharks is probably at the top of your scuba diving bucket list! But how much is it to dive with thresher sharks in Malapascua? Here’s EXACTLY what I paid, extra costs to expect, and the breakdown of Malapascua dive pricing. I went diving with […]

Chichijima. This little island chain, a world away from Tokyo, is more than just a dot on the map—it’s a place with history seared into its cliffs and jungles, where WWII ruins mingle with tropical beauty and world class scuba diving. If it sounds familiar, you might be thinking of Iwo Jima– different islands, both […]

If you want to have a really bad time on vacation, start by wearing uncomfortable shoes. There’s just no place in sightseeing and adventure travel for blisters and rubbing- we’ve all been there! I’m a sneaker snob, and while comfort is king, I’m equally unwilling to sacrifice style. I’m also cheap and am usually not […]

Cappadocia, Turkey may not be at the top of your travel bucket list, but it should be! It’s a magical place for solo travel (and group travel) and is unlike anywhere I’ve been before. Perhaps one of the most unique things about Cappadocia is that much of the town was carved out of the mountains, […]

Like with many popular travel destinations, the unique things to do in Tulum are rarely what you see on Instagram (aside from tacos and tequila- that’s all true). Have you even heard of Sian Ka’an Biosphere? I can tell you that I hadn’t before I went! After spending 4 weeks there, I can tell you […]

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is best known for emerald waters and picturesque limestone seastack islands topped by rainforests, so it was at the top of my Vietnam travel list to take an overnight cruise in Ha Long Bay! It’s jaw dropping. The best part? You can explore it by sea on a luxury boutique […]