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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
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      • Lake Atitlan
    • Indonesia
      • Ambon, Maluku
      • Bali
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      • Kai Island, Maluku
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    • 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

  • How to Enjoy Local Food Adventures Without Overlooking Food Safety
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  • Best Holiday Spots for Single Travelers Looking to Meet New People
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  • Best Things to Do in Kauai by Region: A Shore-by-Shore Planning Guide
  • 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! 

    Read More
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    July 16, 2013
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    March 13, 2013
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    July 2, 2013
  • 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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    Coral in Raja Ampat, best diving

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    May 2, 2013
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    June 1, 2013
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    July 22, 2013
  • Travel Tips

    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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    July 7, 2026

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    March 27, 2025
  • Sunset on Kai Island
    Pictures

    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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    Goat in Crete

    A Beautiful Spring Road Trip Through The Hills Of Crete

    March 29, 2014
    Buddha temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka

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    June 1, 2013
    Boat on Gili Trawangan

    Pictures of Gili Trawangan

    March 17, 2013
  • How to paint in Ubud, Bali
    Travel Tips

    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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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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