Three months into China’s reopening, I stumbled upon a valley that completely changed how I think about traveling in Asia. While researching alternatives to overcrowded Zhangjiajie, a local photographer in Chengdu mentioned Jiuzhaigou Valley — a place I’d never heard of despite 25 years of travel writing. What I discovered was a 720-square-kilometer UNESCO sanctuary … Lire plus
Deep in the Solomon Islands, where most visitors never venture beyond the main island of Guadalcanal, lies something extraordinary that challenges everything we think we know about Pacific islands. While tourists flock to Bora Bora’s overwater bungalows or Fiji’s resort beaches, a remarkable feat of human engineering sits quietly in Langa Langa Lagoon on Malaita’s … Lire plus
September transforms Cyprus into the Mediterranean’s hidden climate sanctuary while its famous Greek neighbors surrender to scorching heat. As temperatures soar to 95°F across Mykonos and Santorini, Cyprus maintains a perfect 75°F paradise that feels like nature’s own air conditioning. I discovered this weather phenomenon during what locals call “the golden season” – those precious … Lire plus
Behind Buckingham Palace’s gilded gates lies a royal residence that’s both an iconic British landmark and a living piece of history. With its 775 rooms and centuries of royal drama, this majestic palace welcomes over 530,000 visitors annually during its limited summer opening. As the administrative headquarters of the British monarchy, it stands as a … Lire plus
While overlanding enthusiasts drop €45,000 on a VW California, Eastern European engineering delivers something revolutionary. The Dacia Jogger-based camper conversion costs just €18,990 and accesses mountain trails those luxury giants can’t even attempt. After testing both extensively across the Carpathians, I discovered why Romanian adventure culture produces better solutions than German marketing departments. This isn’t … Lire plus
Valderrobres: Spain’s Medieval Masterpiece Hidden in Aragon’s Countryside Spain’s Teruel province harbors an extraordinary secret. While travelers flock to Barcelona and Seville, the medieval town of Valderrobres stands frozen in time—a Gothic wonderland of honey-colored stone that transports visitors to Spain’s storied past. This architectural gem, with its imposing castle crowning a hillside of winding … Lire plus
Three months ago, I boarded the Queen of Jaffna Express on a whim during my Sri Lankan adventure, expecting another routine train journey. What I discovered in this ancient Tamil capital completely transformed how I experience South Asian culture. The 250-mile railway journey from Colombo felt like traveling through time itself. As we approached Jaffna … Lire plus
When I first sailed into Road Harbour and learned that this entire Caribbean paradise spans just 55.7 square kilometers, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tortola, the heart of the British Virgin Islands, is actually smaller than Manhattan at 60 km², yet somehow supports the world’s most prestigious sailing capital. This tiny island hosts 23,908 residents … Lire plus
Standing on the shores of Langebaan Lagoon, I realized I was witnessing something that defies nature’s conventional rules. This isn’t just another beautiful South African beach—it’s one of only three saltwater lagoons on Earth that receives no freshwater input whatsoever. While most lagoons form where rivers meet the sea, Langebaan exists in scientific isolation. The … Lire plus
France’s most perfectly preserved medieval fortress town sits hidden among cotton-candy pink salt marshes just 30 miles from Montpellier. Aigues-Mortes, whose name hauntingly translates to “dead waters,” boasts 800-year-old stone ramparts that rise dramatically from the flat wetlands of the Camargue region like a mirage from another century. A crusader king’s perfect fortress Built in … Lire plus