• Start Here
  • Contact Me
  • Advertise/Hire Me
  • Privacy Policy

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 Power of Adventure Vacations: Exploring Nature and Curiosity
  • The World’s Most Exciting Long-Distance Travel Routes
  • What to pack for the Camino de Santiago (and what to send ahead)
  • Trading Palm Trees for Twinkle Lights: Finding Winter Paradise in Europe’s Festive Old Towns
  • Hidden Alpine Destinations That Deserve More Attention
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

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…

read more
April 1, 2025
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
Link 1
My Favorite Greek Island
Link 1
Sacred Sites of Mt Shasta
Link 1
Best Things To Do in Milos, Greece
Link 1
The Secret Beach on the Big Island
Link 1
Do You Know About the Florida Springs?
Link 1
Some of the Best Florida Beaches
  • Manta rays, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
    Pictures

    Swimming With The Manta Rays-Just Another Day On Raja Ampat

    March 30, 2013 / 2 Comments

    Today was a day that I will not soon forget.  Today was the day that made all the uncomfortable days, all the hunger, cold showers, unpleasant smells, malaria laden mosquito bites, and lack of sleep worth getting to Raja Ampat.  Today I saw and swam with what I think has to be one of the most impressive creatures on this earth.  Manta Rays.  I’ve never seen one before today.  Setting out, I thought that they would be about the same size as stingrays.  I had no idea that they would be about the size of a small airplane.  That realization hit me when we arrived at the spot where they…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Mirissa Beach coconut

    Pictures of Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka

    July 2, 2013
    Flower in Victoria Garden, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

    Pictures From Ella, Sri Lanka To Nuwara Eliya

    August 1, 2013
    Goat in Crete

    A Beautiful Spring Road Trip Through The Hills Of Crete

    March 29, 2014
  • Raja Ampat Dive Resort sign made of shells
    Places To Stay

    Raja Ampat Dive Resort-Where To Stay In Raja Ampat

    March 30, 2013 / 4 Comments

    If you have never been to Raja Ampat, getting there is half the battle.  First you must fly to Sorong, and then take the public ferry over to Waisai .  Then, you must hire a speedboat to take you to the island that your hotel or resort is located on.  Before you leave, you must also secure a marine pass for the area.  What I loved about the Raja Ampat Dive Resort is that they made all of this hassle so easy to deal with.  The owner met me at the airport when my flight came in.  He took care of my marine pass, and since we had five hours…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Bedulu Resort-One Of The Best Places To Stay In Amed, Bali

    March 18, 2013
    Bed and Breakfast Benebenniu

    B&B Benebenniu-A Wonderful Place To Stay In The Heart Of Alghero

    April 5, 2014
    Your Isla Mujeres Travel Guide

    How to Choose the Best Hotel in Mexico: A Smart Traveler’s Guide

    July 2, 2026
  • Gili Air pineapple juice on the beach, Gili Air
    Pictures,  Uncategorized

    Pictures From Gili Air

    March 30, 2013 / No Comments

    Gili Air was my favorite of the three Gili Islands.  It was by far the most lush with its cows and agriculture.  It also had quaint beach bars and areas that just encouraged you to just sit and chill and let your worries fade away.  I can’t wait to go back to Gili Air and spend more time there.               Hard At Work                        

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Elephant Family at Yala Park

    Pictures of Yala National Park

    July 16, 2013
    These Photos Of Iceland Will Make You Want To Go There Right Now

    Photos Of Iceland That Will Make You Want To Go There Right Now

    May 3, 2016
    Val enjoying a becak ride, Ambon

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

    April 18, 2013
  • Footprints in the sand Raja Ampat
    Travel Blog

    Trapped in the Mosquito Netting-More Adventures From Raja Ampat

    March 29, 2013 / 23 Comments

    Well, there’s not much going on here in Raja Ampat.  Well, besides getting circled by sharks.  But I already told you about that.  I mean, I could write about how I moved from the front porch to the hammock, but there’s no hammock.  Which is really a shame, actually.  I could also tell you about how I am missing a flip-flop.  The thing just disappeared right off the boat jetty.  Only one.  Left the other one behind just like that.  The people at the resort said it must have been the wind. My response to that was, “What wind?”  The fan in my room is about the most wind I’ve…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Mangosteen

    Phuket-How I Created My Own Sanctuary Among The Crowds

    January 28, 2013
    Beach View Gili Air

    Learning To Slow Down On Gili Air

    March 12, 2013
    Boat on the Kei Islands, Maluku, Spice Islands of Indonesia

    How My Wine Obsession Almost Got Me Confused For A Terrorist

    March 22, 2013
  • Raja Ampat Coral
    Travel Blog

    Being Circled By Sharks-My Adventures In Raja Ampat

    March 29, 2013 / 3 Comments

    Papua. Raja Ampat.  Just the names of these places conjured up dreams of adventure, the unknown, the unexplored.  When I found out that it was home to some of the best marine life and the best diving and snorkeling in the world I knew that I had to go.   I am here now on this jungle beach, a saw-toothed palmetto plant that is taller than me towering over me, the waves gently lapping on the shore at my feet.  Getting here was quite an experience, although not as hard as some of the other remote places that I’ve been in this world.  I flew to Sorong where I took a…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    nepal sunrise nagarkot

    Tibetan Singing Bowl Lessons: The Best Thing I Did In Nepal

    October 29, 2014
    Val in her empty house

    How I Feel After Selling It All To Travel The World

    July 9, 2013
    The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

    The Powerful Reasons You Should Follow Your Dreams

    April 7, 2016
6465666768

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