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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

  • Small Ship vs. Large Ship: Which Nile Cruise Suits First-Timers?
  • Beach at Sunrise, Pyramids by Noon: A Day Across Egypt
  • Lost and Found: Unforgettable Moments in Greece
  • Santorini vs Mykonos: Which Island Is Worth Visiting
  • What No One Tells You About Beach Living in Dubai
  • Boudhanath Stupa
    Travel Tips

    Things to do in Kathmandu: Visiting The Sacred Boudhanath Stupa

    October 14, 2014 / 6 Comments

    The Boudhanath Stupa ( known as Khāsti by the local people) is considered to be the most sacred Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet.  This holy stupa is the biggest in Nepal and one of the largest in the entire world.  It’s located just outside of downtown Kathmandu in the town of Boudha. The proper way to walk around the stupa is clockwise. The sounds of Tibetan chanting, prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, and prayer bells will fill your ears with delight. I felt a great sense of peace and tranquility as I walked around the Boudhanath Stupa. Glowing butter lamps, fragrant flowers, the musky smell of burning incense, and singing birds all added to…

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    Solo Trekker’s Guide To Remote Destinations And Hidden-Trail Adventures

    November 19, 2025
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    Island Of Crete Beaches: Agii Apostoloi

    March 23, 2014
    View from the Kei Islands

    Planning A Trip- Should I Plan Everything Ahead Of Time Or Just Wing It?

    March 23, 2013
  • Travel Tips

    Planning a Trip to Kamuela on Hawaii’s Big Island? Here is Your Travel Guide

    October 10, 2014 / No Comments

    Kamuela, also known as Waimea, on the north side of Hawaii’s Big Island is a favorite destination for hikers, horseback riders, and those just wanting to relax and enjoy a laid-back ranch-town atmosphere. Kamuela offers stunning views of the Kohala coastline, and if you are looking for a piece of Hawaii that is quiet and peaceful, then this is the place for you. Getting There Kamuela is 32 miles from the Kona International Airport and 43 miles from the Hilo International Airport. For $2 you can ride the hele-on bus from either airport to Kamuela. If you plan on doing a lot of exploring on the Big Island, then renting a car…

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    Valen Dawson at the Castaway Resort, Koh Lipe www.thiswaytoparadise.com

    Other Travel Articles Written By Valen Dawson

    December 30, 2013
    Edinburgh

    5 Reasons Why You Need To Book A Flight To Edinburgh Right Now

    September 29, 2014
    Palermo Piazza things to do in Palermo

    5 Ways To Know Palermo

    April 7, 2014
  • Edinburgh
    Travel Blog,  Travel Tips

    5 Reasons Why You Need To Book A Flight To Edinburgh Right Now

    September 29, 2014 / 3 Comments

    Are you planning a vacation, but aren’t sure where to go?  I say, book a flight to Edinburgh. Out of all the places I traveled to in Europe, Edinburgh was my absolute favorite. Edinburgh is a city that touched me to my very core. It combines magic, tradition, and culture, and there really is no place like it. Here are: 5 Reasons Why You Need To Book A Flight To Edinburgh Right Now  1.  Walkability I adore cities that I can walk in, and Edinburgh was perfect for walking. Every step I took seemed like a surprise. There was just so much to see. I went in May when everything was blooming. I loved…

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    Bird in Yala Park, Sri Lanka

    What The Animals in Yala Park, Sri Lanka Taught Me

    December 2, 2013
    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    August 15, 2016
    Gili Trawangan sunset

    Trapped In Asia: How It Took Me 2 Credit Cards, 5 ATM Machines, 4 Travel Agents, And A Bike Ride Through Horse Dung To Buy A Plane Ticket

    March 10, 2013
  • Marrakesh spices
    Travel Tips

    Why I Thought Marrakech Was Hell On Earth (And 8 Reasons Why You Should Still Go)

    September 22, 2014 / 16 Comments

    “What kind of hell did I just arrive in?”, I wondered as I found myself in a heated argument with the entire taxi cartel at the airport within five minutes of arriving in Marrakech. They were trying to make me pay 300 dirhams to get to my hotel, when I knew the rate should have been 70 (a difference of about $27 USD). Fortunately, I had help. An expat interrupted and helped me negotiate the rate down to 100. He offered to share the ride and the cost with me. I was relieved not to be alone in the taxi with my angry driver, so I agreed. However, once the expat…

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    The Best Beaches In St Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    The Best Beaches In St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    November 5, 2021

    This Kauai Bike Path Will Show You Some Of The Best Views In Hawaii

    March 27, 2017

    Slow-Travel Secrets: Why Unhurried Journeys Leave Clearer Memories

    April 14, 2026
  • artist in chaing mai
    Travel Blog

    The Credits: Meet John Monoon, The Coolest Artist In Chiang Mai

    September 15, 2014 / 1 Comment

    I rounded the corner of Thae Pae Rd Soi 3 onto Loi Kroh Rd in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and it was there that it happened. I was drawn into The John Gallery, and I suddenly became Alice falling down the rabbit hole. I found myself in a wonderland of trippy colors, rock lyrics, meteor showers, temples, sunsets and quotes that seemed especially meant for me. For the first ten minutes, I was bizarrely alone in the shop, and I couldn’t help but be entranced. I have always loved quotes. I had a history teacher who instilled that love in me. Every day, that teacher would write a new quote on…

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    The Power of Adventure Vacations: Exploring Nature and Curiosity

    September 28, 2026
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    A Bali Ceremony: How One Culture Celebrates The Purity Of New Life

    March 7, 2013

    The Girl And The Island-One Girl’s View of Koh Lipe

    February 8, 2013
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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.

©2026