The cold weather is among us in full force. For many in the Northern Hemisphere, this can be a dreadful time since it’s chilly and they can’t visit some of the best beaches in San Diego and elsewhere. Our vitamin D levels tend to drop as we receive fewer daytime hours and our motivation to…
Mongolia is an enchantment for travelers interested in history, culture, nature, and adventure travel. And yet, it is ranked as one of the least visited countries for tourism in the world (134 out of 188). This is partly because up until Mongolia’s Democratic Revolution in the 1990’s, tourism was limited by their formerly communist government….
What does it mean to be an American? We are a 236-year-old relatively nascent country of immigrants, influenced by cultural values from around the world. Every few decades a new wave of immigrants enter and form their own diaspora communities for a few generations until they slowly assimilate into what we call the American culture; but…
Myanmar has been making headlines across news platforms and social media for its military’s persecution of the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority, which United Nations experts now call “textbook ethnic cleansing.” Because of this humanitarian crisis and the government’s public denial of its gravity, many ethically-mindful travelers have called for a boycott of Myanmar travel. These…
Three trips to Cuba just weren’t enough. I still yearned to spend more time in the country connecting to the Cuban life. So in early 2017, I enrolled to the University of Havana and moved in with family friends in the beautiful Vedado neighborhood, as immersed as a yuma could be. Being a cultural hybrid…
Like many, I’ve been intrigued by the elusive island for years. The island embraced me with open arms and squeezed me tightly from Baracoa to Havana. By 2017, I was hauling three large suitcases through JFK with a one-way flight to Havana. I’ve now been to Havana countless times and there is always more and…
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a country of 55 million people, uniquely situated between India, Bangladesh, Laos, China, and Thailand. Due to its unique location, this captivating country is home to various ethnicities, religions, and languages. Although not-so-well-known, Myanmar has recently been frequenting the front pages due to what experts have determined to be…
“I wish I had your perfect life.” An Instagram user sent me this message recently. It isn’t the first time someone has sent me some variation of that message. These, coupled with the growing accumulation of other questions and comments from readers and Instagram followers have motivated me to finally clear up a few of the…
A lot of folks have been asking me my opinion on the legal changes to Cuba travel announced in June 2017, by President Trump. I’d been quiet about it for many reasons: 1) I’ve been busy traveling throughout Central Asia since the announcement; 2) The changes were still pending official implementation by the Treasury and Commerce…
In Cuba, healthy eating often takes a back seat in the country’s long list of priorities. Lovers of healthy foods or those with nutritional requirements headed for Cuba may face some hurdles. But with preparation and knowledge, it is possible to eat nutritiously in Cuba. Whether you’re moving long-term or touring for a short period,…