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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

The Ultimate Olympic National Park Itinerary: Best Things to See and Do

It can definitely get a little overwhelming when trying to plan an Olympic National Park itinerary. There’s a lot of beautiful things to see and do, and you definitely will…

read more
September 5, 2026
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
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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  • Offering in Bali
    Pictures

    Amed, Bali Pictures

    April 2, 2013 / 3 Comments

    If I could describe Amed in just one word, it would be peaceful.  It was here that I relaxed so deeply that I made a resolution to try to look at my life and see the bigger picture and not let stress and angst dictate my life.  Its beautiful sunsets mesmerized me.  The beautiful people captivated me. The afternoon massages on my outdoor daybed were the physical manifestation of letting it all go.  Amed is a blissful place that I will not soon forget.  Most of these pictures were taken from my beautiful bungalow on a hilltop at the Bedulu Resort.                  …

    Read More
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    Sunset on Kai Island

    Pictures From Kai Island

    April 10, 2013
    Flower in Victoria Garden, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

    Pictures From Ella, Sri Lanka To Nuwara Eliya

    August 1, 2013
    Elephant Family at Yala Park

    Pictures of Yala National Park

    July 16, 2013
  • Juice at Alchemy, Ubud Bali
    Food

    Alchemy-A Juice Bar And So Much More-Ubud, Bali

    April 2, 2013 / 1 Comment

    What is Alchemy, you ask?  Alchemy is part vegan café and salad bar, part juice bar, part retail shop and health store, part gathering place, part community builder and part health clinic.  Alchemy is a treasure, and I’ve never been anywhere like it in all of my travels.  First of all, the juices they offer are amazing.  Nutritious, organic, and absolutely delicious, they are the perfect tonic to the Bali heat.  I loved the fact that their straws are made from papaya.  The restaurant serves salads, and what an amazing salad you will get. First of all, they are huge, and you get to decide what toppings you would like…

    Read More
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    Durian in Ambon, Maluku

    Was That Dog I Just Ate? Uncovering The Food Of Maluku

    March 24, 2013
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    Belize Food-Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker

    January 27, 2013
    Coffee in Sumatra, coffee shop in Makassar,Belitung

    The Worst Cup of Coffee Ever-Exploring The Coffee Shops Of Mangarr, Belitung

    April 3, 2013
  • Tanjung Tinggi Beach, Belitung, Best Beach in the world
    Travel Blog

    The Best Beach In The World-Spellbound On Belitung

    April 1, 2013 / 17 Comments

    Sometimes the earth spills into the sea.  The boundaries become blurred between earth and water and sky, and there is so much splendor there that you are left stunned, speechless, and spellbound.  And you catch your breath because the moment you have been waiting for is here.  You have found the best beach in the world. He doesn’t even know it, but it was Scotty Graham who brought me here.  I saw his stunning photograph of Tanjung Tinggi beach and decided that I just had to go.  Yes, I am like that.  Show me a beautiful picture of a place and I will start formulating a plan about how to…

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    Journeying Home www.thiswaytoparadise.com

    Where Is Home?

    September 13, 2013
    Val eating fish in Mexico

    Lost In Translation-How My Spanglish Almost Caused Me To Starve To Death

    February 25, 2013

    The Raja Ampat Islands: Conscious Diving in Raja Ampat

    December 9, 2013
  • Yogi's Paradise and Grill sign, a restaurant in Bali
    Food

    Yogi’s Paradise And Grill- A Great Restaurant in Bali

    April 1, 2013 / No Comments

    Of all the restaurants in Kuta, Bali, I was most impressed by Yogi’s Paradise And Grill.  The trick, though, is finding the place.  It took me three attempts to find it.  I am glad, though, that I don’t give up easily, as I was well rewarded for my efforts.  It is down a small alley or gang, more in the area of Legian than Kuta.  It is down the gang across from the Melasti Beach Resort.  The easiest way to get there is to ask for the Island Hotel.  It is just around the corner.  Or just stay at the Island Hotel, as they have an amazing breakfast.  Then, amble…

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    Belize Food-Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker

    January 27, 2013

    Hidden Culinary Gems: Extraordinary Dishes Worth Trying

    June 9, 2026
    Juice at Alchemy, Ubud Bali

    Alchemy-A Juice Bar And So Much More-Ubud, Bali

    April 2, 2013
  • Eating duck in Bali
    Food

    The Food Of Indonesia

    March 30, 2013 / 5 Comments

    Indonesian food is some of the best food around.  Sadly, unless you come to Indonesia, you will rarely get to know its flavors.  And even if you do come to Indonesia, you can still easily miss out on the true Indonesian flavors by eating at restaurants that cater to Westerners.  The Balinese usually prepare several dishes and put them on the table all at once and eat them together with a huge mound of rice.  There is always a spicy sambal meant to be eaten with the dishes.  My favorite dish is the water spinach also known as kangkung.  Of course, I also love the pork and duck that they…

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    San Miguel de Allende Food: 4 Places For Sweet Treats

    November 24, 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