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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

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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
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

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
  • Tanjung Tinggi Beach, Belitung Island, Sumatra
    Pictures

    Pictures From Belitung Island, Sumatra

    May 5, 2013 / 2 Comments

    “The best beach in the world.”  That was what I thought when I stepped onto Tanjung Tinggi Beach on Belitung Island in Sumatra.  Pictures can’t give you the feeling of what it’s like to walk among the granite rocks that are towering above you.  The water of the ocean is crystal clear and just invites you to sink in.  I was the only one on the beach when I went and the solitude of the place just made me relax even more.  I first found out about this beach by seeing a picture of it on the internet, and then I decided that I just had to go.  It didn’t let…

    Read More
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    Boat on Gili Trawangan

    Pictures of Gili Trawangan

    March 17, 2013

    A holiday by bike: a unique way to discover the world

    July 20, 2026
    A wharf on the beach in Ambergris Caye

    Ambergris Caye, Belize

    January 12, 2013
  • Bali Offerings
    Escape Guides

    Indonesia

    May 3, 2013 / No Comments

    Indonesia has over 20,000 islands, many of them uninhabited.  On these islands, you will find raw beauty, deserted beaches, a beautiful culture, and places that you will never want to leave. On my visit, I visited Bali, the Gili Islands of Lombok, Maluku, Raja Ampat of Papua, and Sumatra. All these places were incredibly different and took my breath away.  Bali was my very favorite island in Indonesia not only overall, but also culture and food-wise. For the diving and snorkeling, there is no place in the world like Raja Ampat. The most beautiful beach was on the Kei Islands.  But the Gili Islands are still my favorite island escape…

    Read More
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    Where to Stay in Los Cabos: 7 Boutique Hotels That Make Baja Feel Unforgettable

    June 15, 2026
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    Planning a Summer House in California: Everything You Need to Know

    July 3, 2026
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    Bali Bliss: Unique Things To Do In Ubud

    July 1, 2019
  • Baby in orphange in Sri Lanka
    Travel Blog

    Being A Temple Instead Of Visiting Temples-My Visit To An Orphanage In Sri Lanka

    May 3, 2013 / 26 Comments

    For those of you who have followed along, you know that my visit to Sri Lanka has not been the greatest.  It has been unsafe to travel here as a single woman, and many unfortunate things have happened to me along the way.  This is a sad country with an even sadder government, and the people who I have met have talked about their feelings of repression, and how they envy my freedom as an American.  The person with the most moving story was my driver, Michael. Michael told me the story of how when he was 28 years old, he traveled to the Philippines.  He happened to fall in…

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    Sama Sama Bungalows Places To Stay In Gili Trawanagan

    Sama Sama-One Of The Worst Places To Stay On Gili Trawangan

    March 17, 2013

    The Ultimate Luxury Retirement Getaways

    October 29, 2025
    Washington Hikes: The Stunning Moulton Falls Trail

    Washington Hikes: The Stunning Moulton Falls Trail

    November 27, 2017
  • 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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    Saving Money For Travel: How I Saved $300 With This Basket Of Cinnamon Rolls

    February 19, 2013

    Planning the Ultimate Ski Holiday

    August 7, 2025

    Brazil: The Best Holiday Locations in 2025-Updated

    November 24, 2025
  • 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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    July 27, 2015
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    Meet The Locals While Traveling

    July 21, 2014
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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