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This Way To Paradise

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
  • Escape Guides
    • Belize
      • Ambergris Caye
      • Caye Caulker
    • Cambodia, Koh Rong Samloem
    • Costa Rica
      • Arenal and La Fortuna
      • The Osa Peninsula, Corcovado National Park
      • Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
    • Dominican Republic
    • Guatemala
      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
      • Gili Islands
      • Kai Island, Maluku
      • Raja Ampat
      • Sumatra-Belitung Island
    • Mexico
      • Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo
      • La Paz
      • Patzcuaro
      • San Miguel De Allende
      • Todos Santos-The Antidote To Cabo!
      • Zipolite Beach: A Complete Travel Guide
    • Portugal
      • Beach Porn Alert: 7 Reasons Why You Need To Put Lagos, Portugal On Your Bucket List Now
      • The Top Portugal Beaches To Visit
    • Sri Lanka
      • Colombo, Sri Lanka
      • Ella
      • Mirissa Beach
      • Yala National Park
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok
      • Koh Lipe
      • Phi Phi
      • Phuket
      • Railay Beach-Krabi Town
      • Your Thailand Songkran Water Festival Guide
  • Places To Stay
  • Food
  • Contact Me

Recent Posts

  • The Power of Adventure Vacations: Exploring Nature and Curiosity
  • The World’s Most Exciting Long-Distance Travel Routes
  • What to pack for the Camino de Santiago (and what to send ahead)
  • Trading Palm Trees for Twinkle Lights: Finding Winter Paradise in Europe’s Festive Old Towns
  • Hidden Alpine Destinations That Deserve More Attention
  • suitcases
    Travel Blog

    Letting Go Of Baggage: A Weight Loss Plan For Your “Stuff”

    February 28, 2014 / 50 Comments

    The less I needed, the better I felt. • Charles Bukowski Well, here I go again. Almost, six months ago, I sold everything I owned, and moved to Mexico. Well, almost everything. I still had SIX suitcases, which is a lot to carry if you want to be free. But, you know what? I wasn’t quite ready to let go of everything yet. I did pretty good at downsizing from a three-bedroom house to this, but it was still a heavy load.  But, now, I’m finally ready. I’m ready to exchange my stuff for adventure, freedom, and lightness. If you are learning how to be a nomad, one of the main…

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    An Alternative To Staying In Touristy Waikiki: Rent This Condo In Makaha

    June 27, 2016
  • Valen Dawson, food blogger
    Food

    Announcing My New Website: Eating The Globe- A New Travel Food Blog

    February 24, 2014 / 11 Comments

    Yes, I have started a new travel food blog called Eating The Globe. I have always said that menu’s are my maps. I tend to visit places for the food (and the beaches). So, I thought it was long overdue that I start bringing you my advice on the food in the areas that I visit. Yes, I have a Food section on this blog, and I will continue to keep you updated here as well, but I want to fill an entire website with advice about the food of the places that I visit, tell you about the markets, and the food stories. I want to do more. So much more…

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    San Miguel, “It’s Not You, It’s Me”

    February 16, 2014 / 26 Comments

    Oh, San Miguel de Allende. I know it was terrible of me to break up with you on Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t keep my feelings inside any longer. I hope you understand. It’s not you, it’s me. I was in the middle of the biggest change of my life, when we met.  Actually, I did what I always do. I fell in love too easily with you….BEFORE WE EVER MET.  I had heard about you from others, how amazing you were. And then we started chatting online. You sent me your pictures. I was sold, head over heels in love. And so, I moved in with you….BEFORE WE EVER…

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    March 7, 2013
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    May 15, 2013
    Yangon

    The Credits: Meet Tinmyint From Yangon, Myanmar

    June 13, 2014
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    Travel Tips

    How To Blog For Money

    January 27, 2014 / 5 Comments

    Many people would like to blog for money, but they don’t know where to start.  I love the freedom that blogging gives me to travel when I want, to work when I want, and to write about something that I’m passionate about.  Since starting my travel blog, I have had a lot of people ask me how they can start their own and make money from it. Here’s how I got started. When I began, I knew nothing about blogging, so I signed up for a course called Superstar Blogging. I learned so much from this course. There are lessons on creating content, advice on getting traffic from social media, and…

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    May 13, 2026
  • best meail in san miguel de allende lamb mixiotes
    Food

    The Best Meal In San Miguel de Allende

    January 13, 2014 / 15 Comments

    I have lived in San Miguel de Allende for four months now and have spent most of my time eating my way through town.  I thought I had tried it all until the morning I went to El Pato for the local dish of mixiotes. If you don’t know what mixiotes are, they are packets of spiced lamb or chicken steamed overnight in a broth in the ground in the leaves of the maguey plant or banana trees.  They are out of this world. I had never had mixiotes before going to El Pato, and now I declare this restaurant to serve the best meal in San Miguel de Allende.…

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About Me

I am always looking for the perfect escape, the perfect paradise, the kind of place that tosses your cares into the sea. Fortunately, I have discovered many! I created this site to show you where to go and how to get there. My goal is to show you that Paradise is only a plane ticket (or boat ride) away. I have inspired many others to travel and to create a better life. I am available for inspirational speaking, coaching, writing, travel planning, and photography.

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