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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

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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
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
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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
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  • Coral in Raja Ampat, best diving
    Pictures

    Pictures From Raja Ampat, Papua-The Best Diving Spot In The World!

    May 2, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Raja Ampat is the best diving spot in the world.  I still can’t believe that I got to swim with manta rays there!! I also saw the most vibrantly colored coral I’ve ever seen, the biggest clams, many sharks, beautiful fish, and so much more.  If you are a diver or a snorkeler, I highly recommend a trip to Raja Ampat. You may also like my article on swimming with the manta rays in Raja Ampat! 

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  • Travel by train in Sri Lanka, tea plantations
    Travel Tips

    Train Travel-The One Thing You Must Do In Sri Lanka

    April 29, 2013 / 5 Comments

    Train travel in Sri Lanka is a common way to get around. If you go to Sri Lanka, don’t miss out on taking the train from Ella to Nuwara Eliya.  You will see stunning views of tea plantations, waterfalls, misty green valleys, interesting people, and lush tropical foliage.  I was so upset when I heard the train was supposed to go on strike, and thought I might miss this experience.  The minute I heard they weren’t going to strike, I headed to the train station and lucked out and got the last ticket in the observation car. I also met an incredibly nice Sri Lankan family.  I spent the day…

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    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

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  • Places To Stay

    Clock Inn-A Cheap Hotel In Colombo, Sri Lanka

    April 28, 2013 / 2 Comments

    If you are looking for a cheap hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Clock Inn is a good place to stay.  It is in a great location on Galle Road close to good restaurants such as the Barefoot Garden Cafe and The Gallery Cafe.  The room is stylish, though small, in the European fashion.  It is fairly clean.  I did find several hairs on the floor, so it’s not immaculately clean, but clean enough.  There are both private rooms and dorm rooms. The private rooms have  AC, free Wi-Fi,  a TV with LCD flat screen, and hot water. They are $50 a  night. The dorm rooms are $16 a night and…

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    Pictures of Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

    July 2, 2013
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    Oregon Waterfalls: Butte Creek Falls

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    February 5, 2026
  • Elephants Drinking Water Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
    Travel Tips

    Yala Park-Why You Should Go To Sri Lanka-Just Be Careful Of The Suicidal Cows!

    April 25, 2013 / 13 Comments

    Most people don’t know much about Sri Lanka.  I know I didn’t. I came because it sounded exotic, and because I hadn’t been before.  Yala Park made me glad that I had journeyed so far.  The variety of animals is astounding.  I am convinced that this is where Noah must have parked his ark.  I saw elephants, leopards, monkeys, water buffalo, crocodiles, monitor lizards, beautiful birds, a mongoose, wild boar, deer, and so much more.  I highly recommend going to Yala Park.  That is, if you get there alive. My driver drove like many of the people in Asia, at breakneck speeds, plowing down anything that should get in the…

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  • Blue whale sri lanka
    Travel Tips

    Blue Whale Watching In Sri Lanka

    April 23, 2013 / 1 Comment

    If you want to go whale watching in Sri Lanka, the best area for this is in Mirissa.  In fact, that is the main reason to visit Mirissa.  The beach isn’t spectacular, but the blue whales that swim in its water are incredible.  The blue whales are the largest animal that have ever lived.  Blue whales are even bigger than the biggest dinosaurs.  The whale watching trips leave at 6 am, so you will be getting up early, but the early morning harbor views are just gorgeous. I highly recommend going whale watching in Sri Lanka with the group Raja and the Whales.  Raja is a researcher with the University,…

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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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