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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

  • Where to Stay in Los Cabos: 7 Boutique Hotels That Make Baja Feel Unforgettable
  • 4 Stunning Greek Beaches Perfect For Families
  • Hidden Culinary Gems: Extraordinary Dishes Worth Trying
  • 10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
  • UK Escapes That Rival Any Global Hotspot
Travel Tips

Unforgettable Things To Do in Portland, Oregon

I moved back to Portland, Oregon after living in Charleston, SC and St Pete, FL the past four years. Moving back has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever…

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April 1, 2025
Escape Guides

From Dolphins To Fish Tacos: The Best Things To Do In Loreto

I just returned from Loreto, Mexico, and while I can’t say it was my favorite place in Mexico, it still had its charms. Zipolite still gets my vote for being…

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August 5, 2025
Escape Guides

10 Hidden Beaches in Mexico You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

If you’re looking for an uncrowded escape, you need to know about these hidden beaches in Mexico. Everyone tends to gravitate towards Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and to Cabos,…

read more
May 29, 2026
Travel Tips

San Pancho & Sayulita Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know

I just got back from my travels to San Pancho and Sayulita in Mexico, and I had a wonderful time. These two beach towns are right next to each other,…

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November 28, 2025
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My Favorite Greek Island
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Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
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Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
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The Secret Beach on the Big Island
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Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
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Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • 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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    Considering a Caribbean Vacation? Choosing the Best Time to Visit

    December 12, 2025
    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    January 31, 2020
    Dolphins In Hawaii: Kealakekua Bay On The Big Island

    Where To See Dolphins In Hawaii On The Big Island

    June 5, 2017
  • traveling to Iceland reasons to visit Iceland
    Travel Blog

    Big Announcement: 11 Reasons Why I Will Be Traveling To Iceland

    October 20, 2015 / 21 Comments

    I’ve got the travel bug again, so I’ve decided where to go next. The main place that keeps capturing my interest is Iceland. So, I’m going to be traveling to Iceland in May. Here’s what I will be doing on my Iceland vacation and the reasons I’ve decided to travel there. 11 Reasons Why I Will Be Traveling To Iceland  1. Magical Waterfalls Waterfalls are one of my favorite forms of nature, and the waterfalls in Iceland look glorious. There is an interesting legend behind Barnafoss waterfall, and it’s just one of the many waterfalls I hope to visit while traveling to Iceland. Barnafoss is only one hour away from Reykjavík, so it’s…

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    Sankampaeng Hot springs

    How To Boil An Egg In Thailand: My Visit To Sankampaeng Hot Springs

    June 30, 2014
    Boat on the Kei Islands, Maluku, Spice Islands of Indonesia

    How My Wine Obsession Almost Got Me Confused For A Terrorist

    March 22, 2013
    Raja Ampat Coral

    Being Circled By Sharks-My Adventures In Raja Ampat

    March 29, 2013
  • Pashupatinath Temple: The One Thing You Must Do In Kathmandu
    Escape Guides

    Pashupatinath Temple: The One Thing You Must Do In Kathmandu

    September 28, 2015 / 4 Comments

    I had paid a taxi driver a flat fee to take me to the temples of Kathmandu, but he didn’t speak much English. So I knew nothing of what I was about to experience at the sacred Pashupatinath Temple. Smoke rose ominously from the funeral pyres next to the Bagmati river. I watched as a body was placed on one of the pyres to burn. I could feel death all around me, but not just feel it. Ashes touched my skin, the smell of decay mixed with burning spices entered my nose, and I will never forget the cries of those who mourned for the demise of those they loved. But, these weren’t just cries. This was…

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    Things to do in Kathmandu: Visiting The Sacred Boudhanath Stupa

    October 14, 2014
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    Norwegian Air Review: How My Dreamliner Experience Turned Into A Nightmare

    August 11, 2014

    Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic

    January 11, 2013
  • What To Do In Bali: Bali Tours With Locals
    Travel Blog

    Why I’ll Probably Never Go Back To Bali

    September 14, 2015 / 25 Comments

    I know. It must be surprising to hear from me, but it’s true. I’ll probably never go back to Bali. What happened? About a year ago, I decided I would move there after falling in love with the rice fields, the lovely people and their ceremonies, the healers of Bali, and so many other things. But, things have changed, and now I will probably never go back. Here’s why. What Bali Used To Be Like The first time I went to Bali was in 2005. I’ve never really liked the Kuta area, though the first time I visited, I did spend a few days there. It’s the spring break tourist trap for young…

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    Goat in Crete

    A Beautiful Spring Road Trip Through The Hills Of Crete

    March 29, 2014
    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    May 18, 2016
    Val with Guru Made, healer, Bali

    The Top 29 Things I Learned From My Travels

    May 15, 2013
  • airbnb review
    Travel Tips

    My Airbnb Review And An Airbnb Coupon For You

    August 12, 2015 / 6 Comments

    I have stayed in incredible places that are better than any hotel I could have stayed at by using Airbnb. Just to give you an idea, I have stayed in an incredible joglo (pictured above) in the middle of a rice field in Ubud, Bali. I also stayed in a magical roof-top glass enclosed bedroom, nestled in the trees, with a gorgeous view of all the churches and colonial buildings in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. If you’re headed to Singapore, you can stay in a very luxurious Singapore Airbnb. Here’s my Airbnb review that details my experiences both good and bad. My Airbnb Review All of my experiences except…

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    Riding an Elephant

    White Knuckles-Surviving Scary Situations And Letting Go of Fear

    January 20, 2013
    Lotus flower from Ubud, Bali

    Pictures From Ubud, Bali-Part 3

    May 17, 2013

    Things To Do In Bali: Bali Healing And Its Balians

    April 16, 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