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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

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,…

read more
November 28, 2025
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…

read more
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…

read more
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
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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
  • www.travelscamming.com
    Travel Tips

    Introducing Travel Scamming: Avoid The Scams And Travel Safe

    July 29, 2013 / 5 Comments

    I am excited to announce to everyone that I have a second website that I’ve been working on,Travel Scamming.  I  still have a lot of information to add, but I wanted to let everyone know about it.  Many of you probably remember the scammers who tried to take me for a ride in Sri Lanka.  Well, one of the comments, I got on that article was that there should be somewhere for people to go to read about the scams that can happen in certain areas when you are traveling.  Well, I thought that was a perfect idea, so I took it and ran with it.  I will also be…

    Read More
    paradise

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    Fairytale Awaits: Proposing in Europe’s Most Historic Cities

    September 29, 2025
    Boat on the Kei Islands, Maluku, Spice Islands of Indonesia

    How My Wine Obsession Almost Got Me Confused For A Terrorist

    March 22, 2013

    Brazil: The Best Holiday Locations in 2025-Updated

    November 24, 2025
  • Elephant in Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka
    Pictures

    Pictures From Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

    July 22, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Udawalawe National Park was amazing because of the number of elephants that I saw.  I got to see many elephant families which had me totally enraptured.  There were also a lot of water buffalo, crocodiles, and eagles.  I liked Udawalawe National Park because it was a lot less touristy than Yala National Park.  If you want to mainly see elephants, then Udawalawe is the one to visit.  If it’s a larger variety of animals that you are hoping to see, then Yala National Park is the one for you.   You may also like my pictures of Yala National Park!  

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    Dusit Thani Bangkok

    Dusit Thani-An Oasis Of Heaven In Bangkok

    June 4, 2014
    The Equus Hotel Waikiki: A Honolulu Boutique Hotel

    The Equus Hotel Waikiki: A Honolulu Boutique Hotel

    June 8, 2016

    All The Best Things To Do In Dubai

    September 11, 2025
  • Elephant Family at Yala Park
    Pictures

    Pictures of Yala National Park

    July 16, 2013 / 3 Comments

    Yala National Park was my favorite part of Sri Lanka.  Getting to see leopards, elephants, water buffalo, monkeys, and peacocks all in the same day in their natural habitat was incredible.  My favorite part was seeing the elephants.  I could have watched them all day.  It’s easy to forget what majestic beings we are sharing the earth with, and a visit here will remind you of why we need to all do our part to protect it.  I feel a lot of gratitude for the chance to have seen these animals and to have had the opportunity to be so close to them.  I hope these pictures of Yala Park will…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    A Complete Family Travel Guide to Exploring Gatlinburg

    January 27, 2026
    View from the Kei Islands

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

    March 23, 2013

    Planning the Ultimate Ski Holiday

    August 7, 2025
  • Val in her empty house
    Travel Blog,  Uncategorized

    How I Feel After Selling It All To Travel The World

    July 9, 2013 / 67 Comments

    Yes, I did it.  Exactly six weeks after getting back from a three-month sojourn to Asia, I came back home and decided to do what many other travel bloggers and nomads have already had the courage to do.  I sold just about every item I owned, so that I, too, could travel the world.  When I was in the midst of the “biggest garage sale on earth”, I couldn’t help but tell my story.  So many people, as they grabbed up all of my stuff, would comment, “I don’t think that’s something I could ever do.  I could never get rid of my stuff.” It’s funny because I once thought…

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    You May Also Like

    From City to Serenity: How to Plan a Perfect Trip to Panama

    September 10, 2025
    If you love plants and flowers, you definitely want to visit the Lyon Arboretum Botanical Garden on Oahu

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    September 29, 2017

    7 Spiritual Ways To Experience Bali

    April 1, 2019
  • Mirissa Beach coconut
    Pictures

    Pictures of Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

    July 2, 2013 / 9 Comments

    While I didn’t find Mirissa Beach to be the most beautiful beach I’ve ever visited, I did enjoy seeing the blue whales there.  The early morning light made the other boats in the harbor look like paintings.  Mirissa Beach is on the southern part of Sri Lanka, and I also enjoyed taking the train from Colombo to arrive there.  At night, the restaurants grilled fresh fish right on the beach, and it made for a perfect setting to unwind and relax.  One day, while walking to the beach, I almost tripped over a monitor lizard, and ,well, let’s just say it cured my fear of spiders and other bugs.  Nothing…

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    January 14, 2026
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    March 2, 2013
    Things To Love About Yelapa, Mexico

    13 Reasons To Love Yelapa, Mexico

    April 3, 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