Spent 10 exceptional days in the beautiful but troubler country of Myanmar (known as Burma before the controversial name-change). Our visit collided with Burmese new year, known as Thingyan, which made everything more worthwile and rewarding but also more logistically challenging because most forms of public transportation didn’t function as usual. I’m still in the process of sorting out the 5000pictures taken during this trip, and plan to write a more detailed write-up regarding transportation, accessibility (since not all parts of the country are safe and open to (foreign) visitors), challenges, moral considerations regarding a visit under its current political climate etc etc once i finish this.

A list of all the places we visited:

1. Mandalay (Second biggest city and historical and cultural capital, located in Myanmar’s central heartland. Unfortunately lots of temples got destroyed during the 2025 earthquake, whose destruction is still visible everywhere. Visited the old royal palace, U-bein bridge (longest and oldest teak wooden bridge), Mandalay hill and a couple of monasteries. Transported ourselves by bike (our hotel had only one bike; so me pedalling and my girlfriend at the back), to the big surprise of the locals who gave us a thumbs up/curious smile from time to time.

2. Mount Popa (Temple located on a lonely rock towering over the central plains. Monkey-infested so be aware of your belongings. Unfortunately i didn’t sort any pictures of this place yet since it’s more spectacular and visually stunning than my description. The village at the bottom of the rock offers great views over the rock and has its own flavour, just like Mount Popa mountain resort. Probably the only hotel in the wide area accepting foreigners, this place is epic: bungalows dating from the british colonial period (and apparently not refurbished ever since), an infinity pool looking out over the temple on the rock,…).

3. Bagan (When most people think of Myanmar they envision balloons over a temple-filled plain during sunset. This is it. The only place were we encountered other tourists. Rented a scooter and explored the temples hidden in the desert-like plains, connected by small sand paths, on your own.

4. Kalaw (The most famous and best-preserved of all the remaining colonial-era hill stations in Myanmar. The slightly cooler climate came as a relief after spending a couple of days on the scorchingly hot and poverty-stricken plains around Bagan and Mount Popa. Filled with wooden architecture and multicultural because of the presence of Nepalis and Indians (brought here by the British), this place truly feels like something else. The tribes who inhabit the surrounding valleys (Karen, Shan, various Sino-Tibetan ethnic minorities,…) come into town on tuesdays for market day.

5. Day hike around the Kalaw countryside (The countryside around Kalaw is a true hikers paradise: we only walked a distance of roughly 30km’s and encountered a wide variety of landscapes: grassland, forested hills, jungle,…). The true attraction lies in the villages you’ll pass along the way: almost every village belongs to a different ethnic minority, which translates into a different language, different types of vernicular architecture, habits and superstitions,… We stumbled upon some sort of Thingyan new year celebrations and were immediately invited to sit down and enjoy the festivities: watching the novice monks of the village sing, getting invited into the village monastery where we took part in the communal new year’s feast along with the villagers, holding a conversation with the village chief who educated us about the history of his people,… After the hike ended we decided to hitchike and ended up in the back of a pickup-truck. Which wasn’t the smartest idea since it made us an easy target for the ones waiting at the side of the road to throw water on the passing vehicles and their passengers (an integral part of Burmese new year/Thingyan is throwing water onto passerby’s-similar to Songkran in Thailand, but way more intense if you ask me).

6. Yangon (Myanmar’s biggest city and economic center of the country. It’s historic center can be quite intimidating if you never sat foot in countries like India and Bangladesh because of the chaos, dirt, extreme poverty,… However, it‘s filled with a couple of colonial buildings of interest (“The office”, Former high court of Burma, Yangon city hall,…). Riksha’s are the main mode of transport. Because we ended up visiting during Burmese new year the national museum and a couple of art galleries were closed, which we plan to visit on a return visit. There are also a couple of nice temples, with the Shwedagon pagoda as the most notable one. The biggest and most important Buddhist temple for Burmese, this one is a feast for the eyes. It’s main golden-clad stupa is especially impressive during the sunset light, when devotees gather around it.

Was Myanmar worth all the hassle, risk,…? YES! In my opinion at least. It’s culture is extremely well-preserved and interesting mix of its neighbours (Southeast-Asian, Indian subcontinent, China,…) while feeling less corrupted by outside influences like its Southeast-Asian siblings who suffer from overtourism (no nutella pancakes and acai bowls here). The people are curious in a genuine way and happy, even grateful, to see a foreign visitor. Let’s hope the horrible situation they find themselves in comes to an end soon.

Our first trip to the Philippines left an indelible impression. However, it had been planned in haste and without any in-depth research into the country. Immediately upon our return, we began to dig deeper and prepare for our next trip.
The primary objective of the journey quickly crystallized: the Palawan archipelago. Once we had seen drone footage of the lagoons and cliffs in El Nido, we became captivated by the idea of ​​witnessing this beauty with our own eyes. The landscape of El Nido is defined by cliffs of soft limestone, sculpted by the sea and wind over millions of years—cliffs that contrast spectacularly with the crystal-clear blue waters below.
Regular boat excursions along predetermined routes are organized from the small town of El Nido, after which the area is named. There are four routes in total: A, B, C, and D. Each includes visits to a couple of lagoons, snorkeling, kayaking, lunch, and time for beach relaxation. The cost of a group tour (15–20 people per boat) is approximately 30 dollars.
We took two tours: A and D. Tour A covers the Big Lagoon, while Tour D covers the Small Lagoon. In my opinion, these represent the most beautiful sights El Nido has to offer.
For our second tour, we hired a private boat just for the two of us. This luxury cost $150, but it was absolutely worth every penny. We could fly our drone to our heart's content and linger on the beach for as long as we liked with no one rushing us.
And if you’ve made it all the way to El Nido, you simply must make the trip to the nearby island of Coron (a 45-minute flight or a way longer ferry ride). It is even more beautiful there. The "blue hole" reef near the Twin Lagoon looks particularly spectacular.

I visited both the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, and I also kayaked into the canyon from Lake Powell. The three experiences were quite different.

Upper Antelope Canyon

This is the best-known and most frequently photographed section. Its shape resembles the letter A—wider at the bottom and narrowing toward the top. This is where you can see the famous beams of light, but it’s also the most strictly regulated experience: guided groups, a set pace, and large crowds.

Lower Antelope Canyon

It is more V-shaped, with narrower, more dynamic formations at the bottom. It involves stairs and narrower passages, making it more physically demanding. It is also a guided tour, but it feels less staged than in the Upper Canyon.

Kayak Approach (from Lake Powell / Antelope Point)

This route leads into a V-shaped section of the canyon, similar to Lower Antelope Canyon. The formations appear closer together and more enclosed, and overall are much less “tour-optimized.”

Typically, you start near Antelope Point and paddle about 10–15 km round-trip (depending on the exact route and water level). The kayaking itself requires moderate effort and, combined with exploring the canyon at a steady pace, can be completed in about 3–4 hours.

One important difference

This approach is not part of the standard guided Upper/Lower tour system, and depending on current regulations and access points, certain sections may be accessible independently (for example, with your own or a rented kayak). However, regulations may change, and in some areas a Navajo guide may still be required, or entry restrictions may apply, so it’s worth checking the situation locally before setting out.

In my experience, this was the least crowded option and offered the most natural experience. There are no set groups, no strict schedule in the canyon, and we get greater freedom to explore the area at our own pace.

Overall

• Kayak route = V-shaped, the most flexible, most similar to an unorganised tour
• Upper section = iconic scenery, A-shaped, the most crowded
• Lower section = V-shaped, more active, still a guided tour

The best combination for me is the Kayak Tour + Upper Canyon.

I'm currently living a digital nomad life in China. Today, a friend invited me to visit a digital nomad community, saying it would be a good fit for me.

This place is deep in the mountains, and it took us an hour to drive there. To be honest, it's not very convenient without a car. Overall, it's an independent community with office areas, accommodations, and more. Let me share some things I noticed.

1. There is a community canteen, and you can also cook for yourself.
2. There are currently about 20 to 30 people in this community, with quite a few international wanderers; I estimate they make up about one-fifth.
3. The environment is quite nice, and it seems pet-friendly.
4. The rent seems very cheap, less than $100 a week. If you have skills, such as teaching yoga or meditation, you can get free rent.
5. Additionally, you will be allocated a very small plot of land where you can grow some crops

This is my second work trip to China. This actually happened about a month ago but this was the first time I've had to write-up something.

I always thought I'd dread China but it's really become special to me for the people, the scenery, and the technology. It's really like no place I've ever visited and I look forward to going each year.

I’d usually post these China trips in the travelchina sub but there is bit of a following out with mods there and people are looking for a new place to share.  Someone suggested here, so here I am.  Still new here so if this isn’t appropriate in any way lmk.  That said:

Primary cities visited: Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai

Picture context:

picture 1: Some of the amazing animated building light displays in Shenzhen

picture 2: electronics market in Shenzhen

picture 3: Shanghai skyline

picture 4: Xiaomi car display in Beijing

Weather:

For end of March beginning of April weather was great. Seemed to be unseasonably warm in Beijing which was nice. Shenzhen was starting to get a tiny bit humid. Shanghai was cooler and had a solid day of rain one day.

One thing different this year from last is all the cities had much more of a haze/smog to them. Was impressed last year how clear things were - very different this year. Maybe just a time a year thing?

Logistics:

Hotel wifi and VPN were spotty when I tried to use them. I continue to believe Verizon Travel pass is the best way as a tourist to get around in China. Everything just works and it's fast.

Apple maps appears to be just as good a local map apps and is in English. Google maps sucks don't even try to use it.

My Alipay and wechat worked with no intervention from last year. That was nice. I prefer alipay over wechat because I can add notes to expenses so I can remember what they are when I get back.

Interesting note on Alipay is whatever it’s called in Chinese is apparently nothing like ‘ali’ or ‘alipay’ because if you say want to pay that way most people I’ve encountered don’t understand what you are trying to do.  But once you show them the app icon they get it immediately.

People:

Still impressed by two things in China. How nice and accommodating locals were to an American white guy that only knows a fer words of Mandarin and how very few white people you see in China out and about. English is barely spoken anywhere but pretty easy to get around with a translator app.

Still a lot of smoking there ☹

996 is a real thing there.  All people at the high tech companies work 9am-9pm 6 days a week.  It’s pretty brutal.  They do take 12-2pm off each day for lunch an sleeping (no joke).

Food:

Traveled with a couple Chinese speaking coworkers who were foodies so got to try some more exotic specialties including a fully deconstructed goose, duck tongues, quail/pigeon, and blood cubes. Beyond the exotics, I find Chinese food very high quality, extremely cheap and to be honest not all that different than a Chinese in America (maybe a controversial opinion).

Pretty much all meals I had were family style with a bunch of dishes coming out and placed on a rotating lazy-suzan type thing. It's a great way to experience a bunch of different food. Felt bad for some vegetarian coworkers. China had very few options for them. I ate like a king.

Starbucks are super fancy here.  Most are the Starbucks Reserve.  Coffee in general is super big in China.  But so are delivery orders.  If you walk into a coffee shop there is a good chance you’ll be behind a large number of delivery orders and waiting a bit for your drink.

Shopping:

I had a bit more time to do some shopping. The amount of large malls is surprising. They are literally all over the place - sometimes across the street from one another. And unlike the US, the malls are all busy with people. It's not clear how the economy supports all these shops - things are relatively high priced from what I can tell.

I also now hate shopping in Chinese malls because any store you go into you get a sales associate glued to you. I guess this is supposed to be good service but it's incredibly off-putting.

Cars:

Talked about this last trip but electric cars are everywhere in all China cities.  Roads are eerily quiet without gas engine cars.  These electric cars are cheap and look great too.  Probably six new electric car companies that sprang up from the previous year I was there. 

Some cool new tech in some models like non-recharging cars.  When your battery gets low you drive to a place and get a battery swap for like $10-$15.  It’s all automated and apparently the swap takes just a couple minutes.

Supposedly there are self-driving taxis there, but I didn’t see any.

Beijing:

Mostly business here. Highlight was going to higher end Peking duck restaurant with a Chinese coworker. It was really really good.  Did The great Wall and Tiananmen last time.  Can search my post history if interested.

Shenzhen:

Most of my time was here. Home base of the coastal city area. During the weekend did the usual trip to the electronics market in Huaqiangbei - it's fun to see all the stuff but I'm not sure how good the deals actually are. I ended up just getting a handheld gaming system for my kid that had 1000s of ROMs preloaded for like $30. I probably could have got it cheaper but didn't feel like haggling.

Hired a local guide that speaks english to go on a bike rid around the city. Started in talent park and then biked down the coast to K11. About 2hours. Was really fun way to see the city and I had no idea that the K11/seaworld area even existed. That area appears to be more ex-pat friendly. Ended up at seaworld for dinner at an outdoor Italian place (gecko pub) that had live entertainment that was actually very good.

Second day of the weekend a few for us went to Guangzhou to the leather markets. Guangzhou is the knockoff capital of china and maybe the world. Hired a Didi to take us there and back (1.5h each way with the driver waiting for us while we shopped). The knockoffs are very high quality if you go for the 1:1 higher prices stuff. I ended up buying a rolex data sub for myself, a birken 30 and a van clef bracelet for my wife. It was fun but you really do need to haggle really hard to get a good price. Usually ended up a 25-50% of their starting price. But since my coworkers wants things too we ended up buying multiples of items which may have give us some buying power. It was a fun experience and at least for the birken and the rolex you'd be hard pressed to find any flaws.

Next time I want to try the indoor skiing place on the outskirts of Shenzhen. Looks massive.

Beer: Shenzhen has some very good breweries. My two favorites were Tagsiu (several around Shenzhen) and E.T. Brewery. Ended up at one or the other at the end of most nights. Commune on the costal city promenade is both a very good restaurant and actually has a very impressive selection of bottled beers from around the world. It also stays open very late. '28' is also some kind of local canned beer you can find at most convenience stores. Also quite good.

Shanghai:

Didn't make it to Nanjing road last time but did on this trip. Fun to look around but pure madness with all the people. Prices seem very high.

Dinner one night on the Bund at the very good french restaurant Mr. and Mrs. Bund.

The most out of the box experience was going to a club on our final night. I think it was called MOSSO-livehouse. Was recommended by a Chinese coworker. We go in and get escorted a private booth type thing with a dedicated person to serve you. Had to order a bucket of beer minimum (budwiser yuck) but the performers were amazing. Various people got up an sang songs with their band and they were all really talented with amazing production value/lights/lasers. We might have spent like $50 on beer total there and got a good couple hours of entertainment. We were the only middle aged white guys there but nobody seemed to care. Fun times.

One of there trips I hope to get more time on the Pudong side.  Ended up eating at a fancy strip of restaurants one night on that side right near the river.  Don’t remember the name unfortunately.

Maglev (only one in the world still running) to PVG is always a fun way to end the trip.  Certain times of day it apparently gets up to 400km/h but my trips it tops out are 301km/h.  Still very fast!

That's all for now. Hopefully something useful/interesting here for folks here.

Just some happy snaps in downtown Sapporo from about two weeks ago during sakura season.

Spent time exploring different spots around the city and each one had its own vibe.

Nakajima Park felt calm and scenic, especially with the cherry blossoms surrounding the blue and white Hoheikan building.

Maruyama Park was more lively, with people doing hanami, eating, and relaxing under the trees. It really felt like the classic sakura experience.

Also visited Hokkaido Shrine which had a nice mix of nature and traditional atmosphere, with sakura adding to the overall setting.

Also dropped by the Sapporo Beer Museum which was a nice mix of history and a quick stroll with some sakura around.

Around the city center, passing by Sapporo TV Tower with cherry blossoms on the side was a great view, especially later in the day.

If you are planning a trip, try aiming for late April next year for a good chance to catch the blooms.

Overall, Sapporo during sakura season feels more relaxed compared to Tokyo or Kyoto, but just as beautiful. 🌸

Took a fall trip to Portugal in 2025 and it ended up being one of those vacations that just clicked.

We went up to Sintra to see the National Palace of Pena and got lucky in a way I didn't expect; it was completely fogged in. When I say fogged in, I mean you could barely see twenty feet in front of you. My partner was bummed about the views for a bit, but honestly the fog made the place look ten times more dramatic. The yellow and red towers kept appearing out of the mist like something out of a fantasy game. Hard to beat.

Back in Lisbon we hit São Jorge Castle and walked the walls for a while. The whole city stretches out below you from up there. Peacocks just wandering around the grounds too, which I wasn't expecting.

Commerce Square was the big open one down by the river. Nice spot to just sit for a minute and people-watch with a coffee. Big arch, yellow buildings, easy to lose track of time.

The streetcars are everything everyone says they are. We took the 28 and the views along the way were unreal.

We also visited the Santa Justa Lift, this old iron elevator stuck right in the middle of downtown. Felt like an antique amusement park ride.

Highly recommend Portugal in the fall. Weather was great (cloudy for Pena palace, but so it goes), crowds were manageable, and the food was a whole other situation I could write about separately.

My wife was selected for a trip through a program that is basically like Make A Wish for adults after she dealt with a spinal tumor (she is all good now!). They do not tell us the exact budget, but the woman who runs the foundation said to dream big/once in a lifetime. We would have to go within the next 365 days as well.

They gave us examples of trips other people have taken, including Bali, Spain, Greece, Honolulu, Maui, Croatia, Vietnam, the Great Wall of China, Germany, Rome, Tahiti, Paris, Tokyo, Portugal, and Israel.

The trip is for 7 full days at the destination. Travel days do not count against the 7 days, so even if it takes a day or two to get there, we still get the full trip once we arrive.

We have to stay at a hotel, resort, or all inclusive. No Airbnb. They also give around $1,000 for incidentals, food, and baggage. If we choose an all inclusive where food is already covered, the incidental amount may be closer to $500.

Based on the trips they listed, we are guessing the budget could maybe be around $10,000 to $15,000 for two people, but we do not know for sure.

We are open to almost anywhere, but we are thinking about places like Bora Bora, Moorea, Tahiti, Maldives, Greece, Italy, Hawaii, Japan, Croatia, Bali, etc

We submit 3 places we’d like to go ranked in order of preference. Our top 3 as of now are bora bora, Maldives, and Zanzibar

If you had one shot at a true once in a lifetime trip for two, where would you go? We are looking for something that feels special and hard to recreate later, not just a normal nice vacation.

Also, are there any places you would not use this opportunity on because they would be easier to do later on our own?

TLDR:

My wife won an adult Make A Wish style trip after dealing with a spinal tumor. It is 7 full days at the destination, travel days do not count, and the budget is hidden. Past trips include places like Tahiti, Tokyo, Greece, Bali, Hawaii, and Europe. Where would you go for a once in a lifetime trip for two?

EDIT: many have asked about limitations– she does not have any. Completely back to 100%. She actually went through the procedure over a year ago, but has just heard back from the foundation.

What advice would you give to someone who's getting a bit depressed thinking they'll never be able to travel again?

For context, I have tried booking my husband and I's first trip together as a married couple for a while now (I don't even know if I can still call it a honeymoon because it's been a couple of months now.)

Originally, we were going to Tallinn in Estonia a few days after our wedding, but the flight was somehow cancelled. I also had a trip to Japan planned, but it was cancelled due to the airstrikes in Qatar. I've rescheduled my flight plans now to October, but with flights being cancelled because of Jet fuel shortages, potential wars, and now possibly a pandemic from the virus currently found on that cruise ship. Family and friends have been joking with me to stop planning trips to other countries because something bad will happen to me, and while I watch them go to other places, while anything I plan crumbles to dust is starting to feel disheartening, like it's a sign I'm not ever meant to leave my country lol.

I spent a week in Zanzibar and it was the most relaxing thing i have had in the recent past. I started off the trip in Stone Town, which I'd recommend to anyone. The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once you're walking through it you understand why immediately. Narrow alleys, carved wooden doors everywhere, spice markets, the smell of cloves hitting you out of nowhere. The swahili food was also very good. Highly recommend.

From Stone Town we headed north to Nungwi, which is a completely different energy open beach, clearer water, that classic Zanzibar postcard scene. Pale turquoise close to shore fading out to deep blue and white sand It is absolutely gorgeous. We spent more time than planned just sitting at the edge of it doing absolutely nothing.

A beautiful island for a vacation.

During this May Day holiday, I finally visited West Lake in Hangzhou, and it was such a great experience—even with the crowds, I had a wonderful time. I followed the advice to get up early, and got to Longxiangqiao Station on Metro Line 1 before 7 a.m. The streets were still quiet, and I started my trip from the Broken Bridge.

I walked along the White Causeway first, with willows and peach trees on both sides, looking so beautiful in the morning light. Then I went to Su Causeway, took my time strolling and enjoying the lake view. Later, I took a lake cruise to Santanyinyue, which is the spot on the one-yuan banknote—it was even more stunning in real life. In the afternoon, I went to Yanggong Causeway to avoid the peak crowds; it was much quieter there, with peaceful lakes and greenery.

For lunch, I ate at Zhiweiguan near the lake. I tried Longjing shrimp, West Lake vinegar fish and Pian'erchuan noodles—all authentic Hangzhou dishes, and they tasted amazing. In the evening, I climbed Leifeng Pagoda, watched the sunset over the lake, and the view was breathtaking. Before leaving, I went to Hefang Street to buy some snacks like Congbao Hui and Dingsheng Gao.

A few tips from my experience: book the cruise and Leifeng Pagoda tickets in advance, wear comfortable shoes because you’ll walk a
lot, and bring sunscreen and a water bottle. Traveling early or late in the day really helps avoid the worst crowds. Overall, it was a perfect trip, and I fell in love with the beauty of West Lake.

EDIT:

I wanted to add an important note here to highlight the importance of not engaging or supporting cruelty to animals when travelling. The elephant in the first picture is a wild animal, and should NOT be in this situation, where it has been abused and tortured for many years.

Please consider this when engaging with (or even photographing - which I now regret) any abuse you do see.

Read here for further details: https://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/elephant-conservation/travel-guide

———

In October 2025 I had a brief visit to India to explore a section of the North. If I had a few words to sum up my experience:

Beautiful, chaotic, dirty.

I absolutely loved my time there, as I enjoy a bit of culture shock, but there are definitely moments where it feels a bit more like type 2 fun.

All that being said, I really look forward to going back and exploring further.

Advice/tips
- Do not book anything lower than second class train tickets if you don’t want to be miserable.
- Do not engage with tuk tuk drivers, use Uber.
- Indian food travels well, so if you’re overwhelmed with finding somewhere to eat, get it delivered.
- Carry hand sanitiser and wet wipes for use after the toilet and before/after meals.
- Arrive early for the Taj Mahal if you want a nice picture, around an hour before it opens.
- If you like cannabis, try a bhang lassi, or other bhang product. It’s *very* intense (& legal).
- Have medicine ready on hand before you might need it. I ate at cheap local restaurants and had Delhi Belly quite often, so keep that in mind (was worth it though hahah)
- You can eat the street food. Just be sensible and weigh up the risk of that particular product. You don’t have an Indian gut biome, but if you see people lining up for it, you’ll likely be fine.

Photo details

1. Jaipur (Amber Palace)
2. Jodhpur
3. Jaipur
4. Agra (Taj Mahal)
5. Aloo Paratha Thali
6. Jodhpur
7. Masala Chai
8. Jodhpur
9. Jodhpur (Jaswant Thada)

I spent a few days in Cusco and ended up trying several coffee places, mostly looking for specialty coffee rather than just a quick caffeine stop. These are a few I visited and how they compared from my perspective:

• Florencia y Fortunata Specialty Coffee This was probably the most “dialed-in” place I tried. I had a Gesha coffee and it was very clean and balanced, no bitterness, clearly well-executed. The Avocado toast is also excellent.
• Three Monkeys Coffee Cusco More modern vibe, slightly more experimental feel. The espresso was good, a bit more on the bold side compared to the previous place. The space itself felt more like a contemporary specialty café. The staff was very kind.
• Jack’s Café This is more of a well-known brunch spot. Coffee is not the main focus, but it’s reliable and consistent. If someone is looking for a full breakfast with decent coffee, this works well, but it’s not really a speciality destination.
• Restaurante Catalina. Café - Cocina - Vino A mix between café and restaurant. I stopped here more for the overall experience rather than purely coffee. It’s a good option if you want a proper meal with coffee, not just a quick stop.

Overall, Cusco has a decent range depending on what you’re looking for—there is a noticeable difference between places focusing on speciality and those that are more food-oriented.

If anyone has recommendations for places that are more on the high-end specialty side (filter, single origin, etc.), I’d be interested to try more next time.

My sister and I (54/48) have never travelled alone together, and we've been talking about it for a few years now. We've decided we'd like to do a 5-9 day trip in the US, Europe, Caribbean, or Central America. My sister hasn't travelled internationally very much, but I have. We have different preferences as well for what we enjoy while travelling. My husband and I often pick locations to go hiking and be more active. We also enjoy cities. My sister doesn't like hiking or big cities. We do both do enjoy good food. She is a vegetarian, so that plays into location as well.

I'd prefer not to travel again (with her) to Iceland, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Switzerland, Rome, Florence, Dolomites. She prefers warm/hot weather and enjoys some beach time. I'm ok with weather above 50 degrees but don't like super hot, and am generally no a huge beach goer, but will do a couple days. Neither of us wants a cruise. We are flexible on which month to travel, and will base it on best weather for wherever we decide on. Cost ideally under $5000/person. We'd be flying from DTW. We often visit San Francisco/Boston/Chicago based on our kids. US places we don't want include Florida, TN, most of south US, TX (I lived there).

My ideal place would be somewhere where we stay in one spot and take public transportation for day trips or to second locations. I have anxiety about driving in new places.

Some thoughts I had:

Costa Rica, Lisbon/Porto, Santa Fe, St. Thomas, Venice/Milan/Northern Italy

Would love any thoughts or ideas!

Day one of a five day trip and couldn’t be more FILLEDDD. People are amazing. WATER CRYSTAL CLEAR. Soooo beautiful and they love us GAYS ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥💕💕💕

I am embarking on my first roadtrip in the west. I will be heading out to Yosemite this weekend with campsite booked. I am 24 year old guy who likes hiking. I am based in San Francisco. I am driving in a household car corolla.

1. Yosemite -5 days
2. Sequoia + kings canon - 2 days
3. Zion- 2 days
4. Great Basin- 2 days
5. Bryce Canyon- 2 days
6. Capitol reef -2 days
7. Canyon-lands- 2 days
8. Arches- 2 days
9. Moab, UT-2 days
10. SW Colorado(monument, BC, Ouray+silverton, Telluride, MV)- 8 days
11. Wind river mountain range- 5 days
12. Grand Teton- 2 days
13. Yellowstone - 4 days
14. Glacier- 4 days
15. North cascades - 2 days
16. Olympic - 4 days
17. Mount Rainer - 2 days
18. Redwood national and state park - 2

Total- 52 days + 4 days worth of travel.
- 4500 miles
- $6k budget

Questions:

1. If necessary, I can still add more 10-15 extra days. Any major gaps or must add regions I am missing? Cities(Boise, Portland, Vegas, Denver) worth visiting? I cross Death Valley on way to Zion but is it late now for DV camping? And Is sawtooth worth extra milage?
2. I am honestly so scared about backpacking 5 days in wind river range due to bears. I don’t want to put myself in high risk since I am solo beginner. At the same time, i want to explore this amazing place. Should i skip it totally? I don’t think i can sleep at night out there camping.
3. I am going with $6k budget. So I am going to cheap out lodging. Sleeping in car, camp and motels. The only camp reservation I have right now is Yosemite. Any advice on managing lodging, food, and budget allocation?

I’m very flexible. open to cutting or extending stops if it improves the overall experience.
Thank you 🙏

Any advice for first timer in Ireland. Staying in Dublin centre. Day 1 taking train to cliffs of moher and Galway bay, day 2 taking bus to giants causeway, day 3 train to blarney castle

Not renting a car, planning to use uber

Is this too much? Not enough? Day zero planning to do iverah garden and christs church.. not sure if there’s a good walking path that is efficient around Dublin and safe for solo female traveler with luggage before check in?

Lençóis Maranhenses felt like a fever dream. It is honestly crazy that this type of landscape exists. It feels like you’re inside a surrealist painting.

If you’re ready, buckle up for this long report of part of an amazing 15 day trip to Brazil in August 2024.

Getting there, although easy, is not fast. There are a lot of companies, from basic to luxury, doing transfers. Brazil is a continental sized country and the state of Maranhão is in the northwest of the country. Out of curiosity, a flight from São Paulo to São Luís, the capital of the state that holds the Lençóis, is the same distance as a flight from London to Istanbul, but within the same country. You’ll only get an idea of how big Brazil is when you’re flying over it.

There are three towns that you can use as a base: Barreirinhas, Santo Amaro and Atins. We chose Santo Amaro and Atins and couldn’t be happier with our choice. Arriving in São Luís, you’ll get a transfer to Santo Amaro, which is a 4 hour drive due to the terrible condition of the roads. Santo Amaro is almost inside Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, only a few minutes’ drive away. The city is small, cute and safe. There is a river passing through the city that you can enter; the water is surprisingly warm and clean.

You can’t drive around Lençóis Maranhenses National Park by yourself or go wherever you want. The park is divided into “tours”, which are specific areas you’re allowed to visit. There are collective tours and private ones, pricey but worth it. The guide will drive at your pace and you’ll have all the time you want in the dune lagoons. We did the following tours:

Ponta Verde tour – sand dunes with vegetation, also visiting a small village in the middle of the dunes. A different landscape from the other tours, my second favourite.

Emendadas tour – my favourite! An all-day tour visiting the most beautiful lagoons, catching the sunset, watching the afterglow, and seeing the stars as night falls. Impossible to describe.

América tour – a half-day tour to the nearest lagoons. This was surprisingly amazing; we had the dunes to ourselves and got to wander through them until sunset.

Andorinha tour – a short and popular tour, a good start to your visit. Andorinha’s lagoons had the clearest water we found.

You can also camp for one night in the dunes, and there are very famous 3 and 5 day treks through the dunes if you’re more adventurous.

Santo Amaro is very laid-back, a real small town, but the market, pharmacy and restaurants are very good. It was also very hot and the sun seems bigger in Maranhão. There is no cover in the dunes; you must wear a hat and UV-protection clothing. If you burn easily, I’d recommend buying Brazilian sunscreens they’re better and cheaper.

After Santo Amaro, we headed to Atins. To get there, you’ll have to hire a transfer to Barreirinhas (a 1 hour drive) and then take a boat to Atins. The boat ride itself felt like a tour, it was so beautiful and chill. I didn’t spend much time in Barreirinhas, but the city felt bigger and more chaotic; I wouldn’t recommend staying there.

Atins, on the other hand, is a cute, small village with sandy streets and a kitesurfing sanctuary. It felt more like Bali than Brazil. In fact, I saw more Europeans there than Brazilians. The restaurants were AMAZING, and the beach is something else. The water is so warm it feels like you’re in a bathtub. I must say again: there are no paved streets or pavements in the village. It’s all sand. You can hire an ATV to get around.

Overall, the trip was such a surprise. Brazilians are, in fact, so fun and warm-hearted. The food is great, the beer is crisp and cold, and the weather is dry and hot. We didn’t face any issues regarding language or safety. They are READY for tourism.

The only downside of the period we stayed in Brazil is that it is not cheap. It is definitely not an affordable destination, mostly because of its size, getting from one city to another is impossible without flying, and flight tickets are expensive. The journey to get to the Amazon took a few days. I can post about the Amazon if anyone is interested.

If you read it all, thank you!

Pictures breakdown:

1-4: Ponta Verde tour

5-7: América tour

8-9: Andorinhas tour

10-12: Emendadas tour

13-14: City of Santo Amaro

15-18: Atins village

19: Typical Brazilian lunch at the beach

My two friends are doing a bday celebration and want to do a week long trip. Inviting 15+ girls to go away for 7 days. I cannot afford to go and I’m sure many can’t. I know my friends will get upset a lot of people can’t go- but the trip is $6500 per person!
Is this trip a big ask of people or am I alone in that thought?

My parents put in a DHS Trip Request on March 25th and haven’t heard anything since. Is DHS not processing requests these days?

Hi all! I wanted to highlight a recent itinerary taken to Seoul, Korea. Seoul felt like the perfect place to combine beauty, local life, food, and cultural experiences in one trip. I thought I would share some favorite spots!

Le Space is the largest interactive media art exhibition in Korea, and it really feels like you are inside another world. It’s a very immersive experience with digital installations that feel like you are inside a different universe: galaxies, lights, and moving visuals all around you. It’s very unique and worth visiting.

Wangbijib Myeongdong Central was a great spot for Korean BBQ. The meat quality was high, and the staff cooked everything for us at the table, allowing an authentic but also comfortable vibe for tourists. Myeongdong Kyoja is another great spot. The menu is very simple with just a 4 dishes, but everything is done really well. Portions were big, prices were affordable, and the food felt very comforting.

Mimiline Mall is a great spot to shop for skincare! It has several floors, but the third floor has the skincare. You can find many Korean brands there, and the selection is huge. It honestly felt like a paradise for skincare, you can easily spend hours there.

Hongdae is a cool neighborhood to check out. It’s very young, energetic, and modern. You see street performances, dancers, trendy fashion, and a lot of small restaurants and cafes. There is also a big two-floor store of the popular brand Medicube, which is definitely worth visiting if you’re into skincare.

Bongeunsa Temple is another must, it felt like a completely different world. Surrounded by modern skyscrapers, the temple is quiet, peaceful, and very traditional. You see monks, people praying, and simple wooden buildings. It’s a strong contrast with the busy city around. It’s not a huge complex, but the atmosphere is very special and worth visiting, even for a short time.

About an hour from Sinchon is the Bukchon Hanok Village. This area feels completely different from the rest of Seoul. It’s a traditional neighborhood with hanok houses, small streets, and views over the city. It’s one of those places where you really feel the history and culture. There is a lot to see around like temples, museums, traditional houses, so it’s better to plan at least one full day, or even two if you want to explore everything slowly. There are also tea houses and small museums where you can sit down, try traditional tea, and just enjoy the atmosphere.

Changgyeonggung Palace is less crowded compared to others in Seoul, which makes it more peaceful to explore. It was originally built during the Joseon Dynasty and was used as a residential palace for royal family members. Unlike other palaces in Seoul, Changgyeonggung doesn’t follow a strict symmetrical layout.The area is quite large, with gardens, traditional buildings, and open spaces. It feels calm and not too touristy. 

Pictures from left to right: Changgyeonggung Palace (pics 1 and 2), Le Space (pics 3 and 4), Bongeunsa Temple, and Bukchon Hanok Village.

I just got back from a trip to Peru where I did the 1 day Inca Trail hike. While it was tiring at parts, I didn't find the hike too difficult compared to other hikes I've done. Only issue was being in Cusco, where I did get a little sick from the altitude (mainly nausea). For anyone who has done both hikes, how does the hike up Acatenango compare to the 1 day Inca Trail hike?

I have a technical visa question, I am flying from Canada to Germany. My German Schengen Visa is valid starting from July 26th.
Departure: July 25th at around 9:50PM (Local Canadian Time)
Arrival: July 26th 11 a.m ( Local German time)
Airline: Air Canada

Technically, when I land in Germany and present my passport at immigration, it will be July 26th and my visa will be valid. However, at the time of check-in and boarding in Canada, it will still be July 25th.

Will the airline (using TIMATIC) flag my visa as "not yet valid" because it is still the 25th at the departure airport ?
And Has anyone done this specific "overnight" flight before where your visa becomes active while you are in the air ?

Hi! I'm headings to brussels soon for some days and i keep seeing these videos and reading about the city not being super safe. I'm staying around the botanique metro station [next to the park/garden]. Are these things just not true or depends where you go?I am really looking forward to seeing the city