this Thai temple takes details to the next level

2 of the 12 giant guardians protecting the temple: Maiyarap and Wirunchambang Welcome to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha in English)–the most sacred Buddhist temple in all of Thailand. Construction began in the late 1700s. Since it’s creation, future dynasties and kings continued to work on this incredible structure, to gain religious…

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Na Ka Island

Right off the coast of Thailand in Phuket, you’ll find Naka Island. It’s only accessible by boat, so gettin there is half the fun. It’s right next door to Koh Naka Noi Island, where some of the rarest South Sea pearls are cultivated. The water is clear, the sand is soft and it’s about as…

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Exploring Bangkok

Welcome to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon! (otherwise known as Bangkok) That’s right, Bangkok’s real name is 168 letters long. Technically, it’s less of a name and more of a descriptive phrase that means City of Angels. This wonderfully busy city is and endless mashup of new and old. Perhaps most known for its street life,…

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From India to Joshua Tree

Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California. It’s known for and named after its bristled yucca palms. That’s right. Joshua trees are the largest yucca in the world. So why exactly do we call them Joshua trees? It came from Mormon settlers in the 1800s as they made their way through the Mojave…

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historical sites and possible snake bites

Amer Fort, perched atop the hilltops of Amer, Rajasthan, sits one of the most striking places I visited in India. When I went to the Taj Mahal, I knew it’d be great. But this old palace was such an unexpected surprise. In the valley below the old walls sits Maota Lake, reflecting the yellow structure.…

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my favorite Indian city–and it’s easy to see why

Welcome to Jaipur! My most favorite and final stop on the Golden Triangle. The colors, the food, the art–there’s so much to love about this place. It’s known as the Pink City. Probably because most of the buildings are pink. It’s also known as the Paris of India, which makes me chuckle in only the…

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another year in review, 21.0

Years have felt less year-like. In the time warp following 2020, there’s just pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. Dates seem to drip, flowing without delineation into a blur. That’s why it took be so long to pull this year in review together. It’s a tradition I’ve kept since 2012 that usually brings me a lot of joy…

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The only sneakers I bought in 2021…and they’re not Nikes

Well, it’s the first day of 2022. Seems like the perfect procrastinated moment to share the only sneakers I bought in 2021. INTRODUCING MY NEW AllbirdsWOOL RUNNERS Over the last few years, I’ve limited my personal consumerism. For this lifelong sneakerhead, that means I’m buying WAY less. In 2020, I only got one fresh set…

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The Eagle’s Nest of the French Mediterranean

And now, the final stop on my tour of the South of France: Èze. But first I’d like to mention what a pleasure driving has been. The country roads are just as fun as exploring the towns along the way: from vineyards to lavender fields to intensely blue waters. Èze, referred to as the eagle’s…

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Welcome to French Hollywood!

Cannes, once a tiny fishing village named for its reedy shore, is now a grand stage of competition for film makers ’round the world. The commune is most known for the film festivals they hold every year: 1.) Cannes Film Festival2.) Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity But this picturesque city has more to offer…

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