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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 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

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…

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

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
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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
  • One World
    Escape Guides

    Belize

    February 16, 2013 / No Comments

     Belize is one of those places that once you arrive, you immediately start breathing slower, walking slower, and even thinking slower.  You start wondering what all the rush was about back home, and you start taking notice of the small moments.  The way the breeze sounds as it rushes through the palm trees, the frigate birds and the way they swoop through the air, the days that the sea is smooth as glass, the smiles that other people are giving you.   I only got to scratch the surface of things when I went to Belize, and I definitely plan on returning  for more. I went to Ambergris Caye and…

    Read More
    paradise

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    The Best Beaches In St Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    The Best Beaches In St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL

    November 5, 2021
    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    All The Places You Need To Stop On A Big Sur Road Trip

    January 31, 2020
  • Boat in Belize
    Travel Blog

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

    February 15, 2013 / 4 Comments

    I admit, I was searching for happiness when I booked my plane ticket to Belize.  You see, I spend most of my time in  Portland, OR where in the winter, the only sun we see is the picture of the one on the Weather Channel.  It was March, and I absolutely couldn’t handle another day of rain.  So, I booked a ticket leaving for Belize three weeks later.  I was feeling blue, and I thought the sun, the sand, and the sea would bring me some much-needed happiness. And yes, while the beauty there did make me feel happier, the true joy that I discovered was the people themselves.  The…

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    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    August 15, 2016
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    Watching The Rice Grow-What I Learned In Bali

    March 5, 2013
    Cape Horn: The Pacific NW Hike That Will Leave You Smitten

    Cape Horn: The Pacific NW Hike That Will Leave You Smitten

    April 17, 2018
  • Cuban flags
    Travel Blog

    The Punishment and The Reward: How My Illegal Entry Into Cuba Changed Me

    February 13, 2013 / 18 Comments

      Yes, I did.  I went to Cuba illegally.  I had the urge to see it before things changed too much, before it got too modernized.  And so it was, that my best friend, Ingrid, and I decided that we would make a little side trip from the Dominican Republic and go see this incredible place for ourselves.  We had a little trepidation, but entered the country without too much of a glitch.  I had read about how hard it was for Cubans to get basic necessities such as dental floss, so we came armed with an entire suitcase of floss, toys for the children, and medicine that I had…

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    Consumerism In America: How Your Stuff Is Killing You

    October 28, 2013
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    How My Wine Obsession Almost Got Me Confused For A Terrorist

    March 22, 2013
    Yangon

    The Credits: Meet Tinmyint From Yangon, Myanmar

    June 13, 2014
  • Mexico hammock
    Escape Guides

    Mexico

    February 8, 2013 / No Comments

    Oh, Mexico!!  The very word conjures up thoughts of gorgeous beaches, some of the best food I’ve ever tasted, beautiful passionate people, colorful markets, and a place, that everytime I go, I say that I will never leave.  Mexico is definitely a place that I’m not through exploring yet.  Another great thing about Mexico is that it is very affordable.  The price of hotels, food, and transportation is very reasonable.  The bus system in Mexico is extensive and makes it very easy to get from one place to another without spending a fortune.  You can also barter with the taxi drivers on the price before you agree to get in their…

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    Why Ibiza is still the Mediterranean’s most captivating escape in 2026

    March 19, 2026
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    Going To Lake Atitlan Guatemala? You Need This Guide!

    July 13, 2015

    Paradise Islands That Travel Bloggers Don’t Write About

    April 17, 2026
  • Travel Blog

    The Girl And The Island-One Girl’s View of Koh Lipe

    February 8, 2013 / 4 Comments

    (written by the girl while swinging in her hammock exactly 19 steps from the ocean)  There once was a girl, and she loved many things, but Islands were probably at the top of the list. This girl spent many years always searching for the perfect one, and she managed to discover many beautiful islands, each one so different from the last. One day, she heard about an island. It’s name was Koh Lipe (Leepay) and she knew with all of her being that she had to go there. She thought about the place for many months and soon realized that it would not be an easy journey to arrive. She…

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    April 29, 2014
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    Tibetan Singing Bowl Lessons: The Best Thing I Did In Nepal

    October 29, 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