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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

  • 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
  • Skip the Hotel, Skip the Villa: The French Summer Luxury Everyone Overlooks
  • Planning a Summer House in California: Everything You Need to Know
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…

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,…

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November 28, 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
  • Bali Offering www.thiswaytoparadise.com
    Travel Blog

    11 Things To Do In Bali That You Won’t Find On TripAdvisor

    August 25, 2013 / 22 Comments

    I fell in love with Bali the moment I first saw it. The sensuous sandalwood smoke curling itself upward to mingle with my breath and remind me to be fully in the moment, the smiling happy people who wanted to know everything about me, the colorful flowers everywhere. It was the first place that I traveled to that felt completely exotic. There were so many things to do in Bali, and I fluttered around from place to place trying to do them all.  But seven years later, I still felt like I needed to go back.  I had done all the touristy things, but Bali was still calling to me.…

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    paradise

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    A Guide to Visiting Sri Lanka for the First Time

    March 24, 2026

    Nile River Guide: Everything You Need to Know

    June 19, 2026

    The Splurge-Worthy Moments Every Peru Vacation Needs

    April 30, 2025
  • Boat at Sanctuary Resort, Thailand www.thiswaytoparadise.com
    Places To Stay

    The Sanctuary Resort at Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

    August 17, 2013 / 9 Comments

    I ended my three months of traveling throughout Indonesia and Sri Lanka at the Sanctuary Resort in Thailand. There were things I absolutely loved about it and some things that weren’t so great. I wasn’t expecting it to be, but for those who don’t know this, it’s definitely not a resort. I tend to shy away from “resorts”, so this was fine by me. However, I did find the Sanctuary to be outrageously overpriced, especially by Thailand standards.  I paid around $45/night, and that was for a room with no air conditioning and a very uncomfortable hard bed.  To use the restroom, I had to enter a door next to…

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    Boat on Gili Trawanagan

    They’re Coming To America-Why This Neil Diamond Song No Longer Holds True

    March 16, 2013
    Kona Condos: This Big Island Rental Will Make You Not Want To Go Home

    Kona Condos: This Big Island Rental Will Make You Not Want To Go Home

    June 15, 2016
    Elephant Family at Yala Park

    Pictures of Yala National Park

    July 16, 2013
  • Flower in Victoria Garden, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
    Pictures

    Pictures From Ella, Sri Lanka To Nuwara Eliya

    August 1, 2013 / 5 Comments

    Ella, Sri Lanka was one of those places that you see a beautiful picture of, and so you decide to go.  The problem is once you get there and you’ve seen the one waterfall where the beautiful pictures were taken, that’s it, and you wonder why you came so far to see so little.  But what made it all worth it was the glorious train ride through the tea plantations to Nuwara Eliya.  The scenery was stunning.  I made friends with a local family who even offered to share their lunch with me. It was here  I really started to feel the hospitality of the Sri Lankan people and also…

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    paradise

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    Boat in Belize

    Where I Found Happiness In Belize (It Wasn’t Where You Might Think!)

    February 15, 2013

    Why Car Accidents Spike During the Spring Break Season

    March 27, 2025
    Valen Dawson, food blogger

    Announcing My New Website: Eating The Globe- A New Travel Food Blog

    February 24, 2014
  • 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…

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    You May Also Like

    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    August 15, 2016

    Sustainable Travel and Virtual Escapes For A Green Adventure

    September 4, 2025
    Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos

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

    November 3, 2015
  • 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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    Why You Definitely Want To See The Marietas Islands With MiraMar Excursions

    February 20, 2018
    artist in chaing mai

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

    September 15, 2014
    View from the Kei Islands

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

    March 23, 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