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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

  • How to Find a Secluded Beach Getaway Without Spending a Fortune
  • How to Find Your Own Paradise on Vacation
  • How to Plan the Perfect London City Tour: Must-Visit Attractions and Travel Tips
  • From Theme Parks to Coastal Escapes: Planning a Florida Vacation That Has It All
  • Small Ship vs. Large Ship: Which Nile Cruise Suits First-Timers?
  • 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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    Food and Wine You Can’t Miss in Lanzarote

    January 27, 2026
  • 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…

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    March 29, 2014
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    July 16, 2013
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    Pictures From Raja Ampat, Papua-The Best Diving Spot In The World!

    May 2, 2013
  • 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…

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    SoleMare: A Fantastic B&B In Monterosso, Cinque Terre

    April 18, 2014
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    A Casa di Amici: A Friendly Hostel In Palermo

    March 28, 2014
    Waikiki Condos: Darmic At The Waikiki Banyan Review

    Waikiki Condos: Darmic Waikiki Banyan Review

    June 7, 2016
  • 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                        

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    Pictures From Kai Island

    April 10, 2013
    Val enjoying a becak ride, Ambon

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    April 18, 2013
    Elephant Family at Yala Park

    Pictures of Yala National Park

    July 16, 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…

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    September 15, 2014
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    What No One Tells You About Beach Living

    August 15, 2016

    What All Inclusive Really Means on a Small Ship in the Caribbean

    October 21, 2026
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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