• 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 Best Places to Visit Near Dubai When You Have a Car
  • Top Regional Ferry Services in South East Asia
  • 12 Ways to Experience a Destination Beyond Its Famous Attractions
  • How to Meet Singles While Traveling Without Using Dating Apps
  • The Power of Adventure Vacations: Exploring Nature and Curiosity
  • 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…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    A plate of various Thai desserts

    Cravings And Why I’m Not So Vanilla

    January 20, 2013

    How to Plan a Weekend Around Great Food

    August 25, 2026
    Juice at Alchemy, Ubud Bali

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

    April 2, 2013
  • 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

    Goat in Crete

    A Beautiful Spring Road Trip Through The Hills Of Crete

    March 29, 2014
    Sunset on Kai Island

    Pictures From Kai Island

    April 10, 2013
    Offering in Bali

    Amed, Bali Pictures

    April 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…

    Read More
    paradise

    You May Also Like

    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    Where To Stay In Athens: AthensWas, A Spectacular Athens Hotel That Combines Luxury With Design

    May 18, 2016
    Villa Margherita hotel in Cefalu, Sicily

    Cefalu Hotels: Villa Margherita- A Calm Oasis In Sicily

    April 14, 2014

    A Relaxing Stay At Villa Cao In Cagliari, Sardinia

    April 2, 2014
  • 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

    Coral in Raja Ampat, best diving

    Pictures From Raja Ampat, Papua-The Best Diving Spot In The World!

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

    Pictures From Ella, Sri Lanka To Nuwara Eliya

    August 1, 2013
    Manta rays, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

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

    March 30, 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

    Dolphins Azores

    My Experience Of Volunteering With Dolphins And Whales In The Azores

    April 1, 2023
    Costa Rica Doesn't Have Tacos And 5 Other Reasons I Decided Not To Move There

    Costa Rica Doesn’t Have Tacos And 5 Other Reasons I Decided Not To Move There

    November 8, 2016
    Val with Guru Made, healer, Bali

    The Top 29 Things I Learned From My Travels

    May 15, 2013
23456

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