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This Way To Paradise

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Travel Tips
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    • 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

  • 8 Mistakes First-Time Solo Travelers Make and How to Avoid Them
  • Discover Two Unforgettable Southern Hemisphere Campervan Road Trips
  • The Woman’s Guide to Solo Travel in Colorado
  • Easy Daily Transport in Thailand for Tourists Using eSIM
  • Paradise Found: The Ultimate Guide To Paradise Island’s Tropical Wonders
  • What Being Back In Hawaii Is Really Like-The Good And The Bad
    Travel Blog

    What Being Back In Hawaii Is Really Like-The Good And The Bad

    July 12, 2016 / 11 Comments

    Well, I made it! I made it back to Hawaii. After living in Mexico for almost two years, my heart felt like something was missing. While in Mexico, I came across a list of my dreams that I had made years ago. The incredible thing was I had done almost everything on this list. Traveled the world, healed the pain of the past, and surrounded myself with beautiful friends who I loved dearly. Just about everything I had written down had been done. All except the first one. That dream was to live on a cottage on the beach. Well, my heart sunk, as I realized I didn’t live anywhere near…

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    February 24, 2014
  • An Alternative To Staying In Touristy Waikiki: Rent This Condo In Makaha
    Places To Stay,  Travel Blog

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

    June 27, 2016 / 2 Comments

    Many people who visit the island of Oahu in Hawaii for vacation don’t like it as much as the other islands. This is because they never leave Waikiki. Waikiki is good for the type of person who is looking for the shopping, nightlife, and variety of restaurants. But, if you’ve come to Hawaii to enjoy the beach and nature in a more tranquil setting, you want to stay outside of Waikiki. Makaha is an excellent alternative that will give you more of a true Hawaiian experience. This main floor condo at the Makaha Beach Cabanas is right on the beach. Not only that, Makaha Beach is one of the least crowded beaches…

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    SUNSET FOR ONE: THE GOOD AND BAD OF TRAVELING ALONE THROUGH THE REMOTE ISLANDS OF INDONESIA

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    July 24, 2017
    Valen Dawson at the Castaway Resort, Koh Lipe www.thiswaytoparadise.com

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    December 30, 2013
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    January 18, 2013
  • The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams
    Travel Blog

    The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

    April 7, 2016 / 10 Comments

    “Since the dawn of time, people have been trying to influence the thoughts and emotions of others. Our culture took yet another turn toward something unreal after the Second World War, and we’ve been trying to make sense of it ever since. A fair amount of thinking went into fabricating our identity after the war because we had to identify our ethos in contrast to the philosophies of communism and socialism, which had created our new nemesis. The Soviet Union was built on these principles, and they were expanding their sphere of influence all over the world. The frontal attack on capitalism, religion, and “our way of life” created a…

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    June 19, 2026
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    April 29, 2014
  • The Exciting 5 Reasons Why I'm Moving To Hawaii Now
    Travel Blog

    The Exciting 5 Reasons Why I’m Moving To Hawaii Now

    March 21, 2016 / 20 Comments

    And me? I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it’s not some place you can look for. Because it’s not where you go. It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something. And if you find that moment… It lasts forever. • Richard, The Beach (2000) I recently made the announcement that I’m moving to Hawaii. Those of you who have followed my journey know that almost three years ago, I sold all my stuff to travel the world. I decided to live my dream. My dream of seeing the world, to have adventures, and to live a life…

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    8 Mistakes First-Time Solo Travelers Make and How to Avoid Them

    July 16, 2026
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    10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

    May 29, 2026
    Costa Rica Doesn't Have Tacos And 5 Other Reasons I Decided Not To Move There

    Costa Rica Doesn’t Have Tacos And 5 Other Reasons I Decided Not To Move There

    November 8, 2016
  • Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos
    Travel Blog

    Day Of The Dead (Dia de los Muertos)-It’s So Alive

    November 3, 2015 / 11 Comments

    The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered “Man…. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” When I first came to Mexico, Mexico taught me how to live. I learned to slow down, to live for each day. I learned how to celebrate each and every moment. On…

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    August 21, 2025
    Washington Hikes: The Columbia Gorge Labyrinth Has It All

    Washington Hikes: The Columbia Gorge Labyrinth Has It All

    October 29, 2018
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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