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This Way To Paradise

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  • 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
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
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…

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April 1, 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
  • Val enjoying a becak ride, Ambon
    Pictures

    Ambon, Maluku,The Capital Of The Spice Islands-Not To Be Missed Photos

    April 18, 2013 / 4 Comments

    Ambon, Maluku is the capital of the spice islands.  It is a pretty island, and the main area of town can have pretty views that overlook the bay.  It is also a bustling city, and in no way is the air perfumed with spices like I thought it would be.  (Think rotting durian fruit, fried foods, and gasoline fumes).  It is, however, perfumed with a rich culture that I enjoyed visiting.  They weren’t used to tourists here, and I found that I spent most of my time posing for pictures.  I loved riding the becaks or bicycle rickshaws to get around. I did find that finding good restaurants here was a…

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    Things To Do In Bali: Bali Healing And Its Balians

    April 16, 2013 / 73 Comments

    You will never run out of things to do in Bali. However, after reading the book Eat, Pray, Love, many people find themselves curious about visiting a traditional healer, or balian. Besides the balian, there are many other healers and practitioners available to treat imbalances of energy in the body. There are actually more balians in Bali than there are doctors.  In this article, I am going to spotlight some of the best ones that I have visited. Also, I will tell you about my experience, and give you the balian’s contact information. I only visited healers in the Ubud area of Bali, but there are many others throughout the…

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    Pictures From Kai Island

    April 10, 2013 / 1 Comment

    Kai Island (also known as the Kei Islands) is part of the spice islands of Indonesia, and includes some of the prettiest beaches that I’ve ever seen.  When you think untouched, tropical paradise, this is it!  Pasir Panjang Beach on Kei Kecil is one of the top beaches in the world.  While staying at Coaster Cottages, I saw some of the prettiest sunsets of my life.  You may also enjoy my review of Coaster Cottages!                                              

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    Learn How To Paint In Bali

    April 8, 2013 / 22 Comments

    Ubud, Bali is home to many artists and painters.  I knew before I arrived that one of the things I wanted to learn while I was here was how to paint.  I wasn’t sure, though, how to go about finding someone to teach me.  As I was wandering the streets of Ubud one afternoon, some guys who were sitting on the sidewalk asked where I was going.  I decided to ask them if they knew where I could take a painting class.  They laughed, both moved in opposite directions to reveal a sign that said, “Open Painting Class-Have Fun Time With Balinese Artist.”  I knew, immediately, that I was meant…

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

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    Washington Hikes: The Columbia Gorge Labyrinth Has It All

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    How To Travel: What Kind Of Traveler Are You?

    April 7, 2013 / 19 Comments

    How to travel is a question that is very much on everyone’s minds.  Most people are curious about how to find the cheapest airline ticket, the best-priced hotel, or how to find all the places that the Lonely Planet has already discovered.  Yes, it is important to get to your destination affordably, and you want to stay in a nice room, but other than that, I have found that the best way to travel is to let the place you are in take you to the places you should experience.  Notice I said experience, and not see.  I have learned from my travels, that there are three types of tourists.…

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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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