Fiji is universally recognized as one of the world’s most iconic island destinations, where five-star resorts beautifully dot the pristine coastlines. It’s unfortunate that travelers often don’t take more time to learn about the history and culture that make a place like this truly unique. I’m thankful that my parents always prioritized learning a bit…

Looking back, our trip to the Philippines was easily one of the most memorable vacations of my younger years. It was all about sharp contrasts. We kicked things off in the crazy urban sprawl of Manila and wrapped up our stay on the island paradise of Palawan. The Manila Metro area is gigantic, 14 million…

It seems there is always a bit of competition among states, and I think it’s just human nature. The attitudes of people in the Northeastern USA, particularly the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, definitely take part in this. New Jersey is often looked down upon by Connecticut and New York residents.…

Las Vegas is famously known as Sin City, and few would deny the name is appropriate. Tourism is so engrained in the local culture that it has become the city’s whole identity. It makes you curious what the city would be like if that first casino had never opened. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have…

I can’t remember how I became a Chelsea fan, but I have been one ever since I started following professional football years ago. My passion for the team grew when they acquired my favorite American player, Christian Pulisic, in 2019. Seeing a game at Stamford Bridge was a dream come true, and it lived up…

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most iconic historic churches in the world. The world was shocked when it was devastated by fire in April 2019. My family visited Paris a short time later, in June 2019. Of course, we couldn’t go inside. Luckily for us, Paris has no shortage of other…

A quick search will tell you that Rome receives 51.4 million tourists every year. This is not surprising considering it has some of the most famous sights in the world and seems to be on every international traveler’s bucket list. The more surprising number is that the population of Rome is only 2.75 million. This…

Watching the best player in the world is the ultimate dream for any soccer fan. For many Americans, that dream is now more attainable than ever with the G.O.A.T., Lionel Messi, playing for Inter Miami. I had the chance to fulfill that dream years ago, when I was still in elementary school and Messi was…

Years ago, my family and I went on a holiday to Myanmar. At the time, I was in upper elementary, and it seemed like a perfectly normal trip for people living and traveling in Asia. We started in Yangon, then traveled to Bagan, and finally relaxed on Ngapali Beach. I remember a lot from that…

On a beautiful early October day, my family took a surf lesson on a beautiful beach in Portugal. Although we were only a short distance from the big-wave hub of Nazaré, the waves were gentle and rolling—perfect for beginners. Since it was the off-season, the beach town was sleepy, and the day was great. Our…

When my family lived in Beijing, we would occasionally go see our favorite local team, the Guoan, play in the old Workers’ Stadium. Built in 1959 and since demolished, the stadium offered a great, one-of-a-kind experience. I’m not even sure I want to go to the new stadium, even though I still root for the…

New Orleans has one of the most unique cultures in the United States. While cities like Miami and San Antonio clearly show Cuban or Mexican influence, the French Quarter doesn’t feel like you’re in France. The food and culture are distinctly New Orleans. The city’s culture is homegrown, from the iconic music to the spicy…

New York is a true melting pot, which makes it unique among my favorite cultural cities. While many other cities with a great cultural vibe have a dominant culture that makes you feel like you’re in a different country, New York’s cultural scene is defined by its incredible diversity. New York’s skyscrapers don’t necessarily scream…

I have a soft spot for Miami. The white sand beaches with their colorful lifeguard stands are iconic, and the wide sidewalk that runs alongside the beach is perfect for biking, skating, or just walking and taking in the view. The city’s Art Deco architecture, especially in South Beach, is unique and distinctly Miami. It…

*Warning* This is a very biased post.  I move a lot, but San Antonio is my home city.  My summers and holidays are spent here and I know this city perhaps better than any place on earth.  As a young kid, it was a dream.  Theme parks, water parks, museums, the zoo, caverns, the best…

When I was a young kid, a trip to Bali was my family’s go-to holiday, but this summer, I had the chance to visit Komodo National Park and the surrounding area. It was an incredible trip. We saw the legendary Komodo dragons, the largest lizards in the world. They were magnificent and huge, and I…

When I was a young kid growing up in Beijing, we went to Bali like my American peers went to Florida. It was the perfect escape from Beijing’s cold and pollution: excellent weather, great food, and relatively inexpensive hotels. We went there often enough that I took the uniqueness of Balinese culture for granted. It…

I love the ocean. Whether it’s a beach or a bay, water brings happiness and calmness to me. I enjoy exploring different beach destinations because, beyond the water, it’s fun to see the cultural differences. A consistent theme is that life moves at a slower pace. Maybe that’s because of the mix of vacationing tourists…

Of all the family holidays I’ve taken in Asia, one of my most memorable was a 2017 trip to Chiang Mai. While I wish I could say it was because of the amazing temples or lively markets, the truth is, the most memorable part was the incredible hotel we stayed at, the Dhara Dhevi. The…

Sometimes “must-see” attractions can be a bit of a letdown, and initially, I would have put Brussels’ Manneken Pis in this category. Honestly, my expectations were pretty low going into it. The small statue and fountain itself met those low expectations, and the surrounding crowd exceeded my expectations.   However, my appreciation for the landmark…

Of the Disney Parks I have visited, Disneyland Paris was one of the least crowded, second only to Hong Kong. The French school year hadn’t quite ended for summer holiday, but I was still surprised by the lack of huge crowds.  As usual, the rides were mostly similar to other parks, with a few notable…

Before our family vacation to Europe in 2022, I thought I had a bit of an idea of the differences in work culture between the US and Europe. Thanks to social media and chats with my parents, I was well aware of the discrepancies in maternity leave and paid vacation. I even knew about the…

January of 2020 feels like a lifetime ago. It’s wild to think that just weeks after my family and I visited the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, the entire world would be changed by COVID. Looking back, we were incredibly lucky, not just to beat the global shutdown, but also with the weather. I’d…

Living abroad for most of my life has meant I missed out on some distinctly American experiences that many people take for granted. School celebrations for Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day were not part of my elementary school years. However, I did get to take part in one piece of Americana that I will…

All professional sports games are unique in their own way, but baseball in the U.S. definitely has a different atmosphere than football, hockey, basketball, or soccer. That’s mostly because baseball games just feel less intense. Even though an average nine-inning Major League Baseball game is about three hours long, like an NFL game, most people…

Athens is definitely one of those iconic European cities that I wish everyone would have the chance to see, even if you don’t need a whole week like you might for Paris or Rome. For many, it is a natural starting point for people kicking off their Mediterranean cruises. The Acropolis, as expected, is bustling…

I’ve been lucky enough to visit quite a few national parks across the U.S., and every time, I have been amazed by the natural beauty of my home country. We always stop at the visitor center and it is always a welcome break from the hours of driving. Last summer, we did a big road…

I enjoy all types of fruit, but especially more tropical varieties. However, my love for pineapples is next level. I am a pineapple connoisseur. On a recent trip across the border from Singapore to the Johor Bahru area of Malaysia, we visited a small pineapple farm. Nectar Pineapple Park is geared towards educating tourists on…

Traveling via rail in foreign countries often makes me wish we had better public transportation options in the USA.  Japan’s rail system, in particular, is just phenomenal. It’s quiet, clean, incredibly fast, and everything an American traveler can only dream of when it comes to public transport. It makes me wonder, what would it truly…