I was really excited to visit Livingston. In fact, when we were planning our backpacking trip through Guatemala, I fully expected Livingston to be a major highlight. A sleepy fishing village on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, full of cool ocean breezes and a friendly Afro-Indigenous culture, what’s not to like? Unfortunately, as is […]
Tropical Rio Dulce is an underrated destination in Guatemala. The beautiful, lazy river rambles through sumptuous jungle hillsides crammed with tropical birds and insects. It’s also the gateway to Guatemala’s Caribbean coast. There are hidden jungle canyons, natural hot spring waterfalls and plenty of friendly locals. Rio Dulce is also the kind of place where
Rio Dulce: Relaxing and Exploring on Guatemala’s Sweet River Read Post »
Lanquín is a bit of an enigma. It’s the gateway to the hugely popular natural area of Semuc Champey, one of Guatemala’s top tourist attractions. At the same time, the sleepy, tropical town feels both isolated and remote. Unlike the rest of Guatemala’s major tourist hot spots, there are almost no souvenir shops and even
Lanquín, Guatemala: Exploring the Caves and Chocolate Beyond Semuc Champey Read Post »
Poets have written a million words inspired by the beauty of birds and flowers. There are few flowers more beautiful than orchids. And there are even fewer birds more impressive than the Resplendent Quetzal. If you want to see both orchids and quetzals, you have to travel to Cobán, located at the edge of the
Quetzals to Orchids: A Travel Guide to the Birds and Flowers of Cobán, Guatemala Read Post »
Is Guatemala City worth visiting? Even though I’ve been there, I’m still not sure I can answer that question. Guatemala City definitely has a bad reputation. The city conjures up images of ugly, sprawling slums, streets crammed with traffic and shirtless gangsters with gold teeth and face tattoos loitering on every corner. These are exaggerations,
Is Guatemala City Worth Visiting? Read Post »
What do you want when you travel? Do you want highland treks along the slopes of smoldering volcanoes? Do you want to wander cobblestone streets, drinking coffee in front of grand colonial edifices? How about scaling ancient ruins to peer above humid jungle canopy? What about witnessing the modern traditions of the descendants of the
Go to Guatemala: A Travel Guide Without the Tourist Traps Read Post »
Historical ruins aren’t typically on the list of reasons people travel to Thailand. Especially considering that nearby Cambodia is home to the world-famous Angkor Wat. However, Thailand has its own set of ruins. They aren’t as magnificent or impressive as its neighbor’s, but the ruins of Sukhothai are still totally worth a visit.
Sukhothai: You Should Visit Thailand’s First Capital Read Post »
Where can you find nature in a city of 20 million people? At first glance, Beijing seems like the last place you would look for natural beauty. Afterall, this sprawling megacity is famous for being crowded and polluted, especially after the “airpocalypse” of 2014. But, this city is full of surprises. Beijing has some gorgeous
Fragrant Hills Park: a New View of Beijing Read Post »
If you’re looking for an escape from Shanghai’s overwhelming glistening modernity, you could do a lot worse than Qiuxia Garden. The garden is located in the suburb of Jiading, about an hour cab ride away from the glittering steel towers downtown. The garden, and the surrounding old town, makes for an incredibly relaxing afternoon getaway.
Qiuxia Garden: An Ancient Chinese Garden in Shanghai’s Backyard Read Post »
There isn’t much to Jinshan Fishing Village, or Jinshanzui, or 金山嘴渔村. However, it’s a nice place to spend an afternoon wandering around old narrow streets, soaking up some ancient Chinese architecture, and maybe buying some dried fish. Unfortunately, despite being a seaside fishing village, it isn’t the best place to see the ocean.
Jinshan Fishing Village: The Sea-Side Town with No Sea-Side Read Post »
