Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Bucket List Gem or Radioactive Hellscape?
I’m pretty sure just reading the words “Chernobyl Exclusion Zone” instantly conjures images of death, destruction, and nuclear contamination. This April, it will have been 34 years since the meltdown in Reactor No. 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in northern Ukraine. Despite the scale of the disaster, the official death toll is just 54, which doesn’t include the…
Using the Internet in China…the Frustrating Truth
If I’m honest, there are quite a few things that annoy me about living in China. The Chinese don’t understand my need for personal space. They stare at me ALL OF THE TIME. Don’t even get me started on the spitting… I could go on, but I won’t. But by far the biggest frustration has been the internet. There hasn’t…
How to Visit the Three Gorges Dam Without a Tour
Scroll down if you only care about HOW to visit the Three Gorges Dam on your own. But keep reading if you’re curious about WHY I even bothered. It is no secret that I have a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with travel within China. I don’t like crowds, something very difficult to avoid in a country of 1.3 billion people.…
What You Need to Know About International Pet Travel
International travel with a pet can be a complex process depending on where you’re going. I’ve taken my dog, Mia, to three different countries so far and while the basic process is the same, the depth and complexity have varied quite a bit. My hope is to arm you with enough information so that you know where to start and…
Is it safe to travel to [insert random country]?
“Is it safe to travel to country X?” Every time I see this question, I can’t help but cringe a little. I know that it’s likely coming from a place of good intentions, but it still forces me to involuntarily wince each time someone asks it. Whose definition of “safe” are we using? I mean, what place IS safe? Because…
True Confession: Sometimes, Travel Isn’t So Great
I know it’s not a popular topic, but I think it’s important to discuss the less-than-glamourous side of travel – the stuff that can and does go wrong. Take a quick glance at Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and you’ll see everybody posting about their awesome their trip was. Does that paint a complete picture? I don’t think so. Sometimes, traveling…
What Inquiring Minds Want to Know – My Life in China
During my travels this summer I was often asked about living in China. People tended to have a lot of the same questions. I figured that you might as well. So in honor of returning to China this week, here my answers to the most frequently asked questions. Why did you move to China? Short answer: A job Long answer:…
Exploring Mexico Like a Local with Airbnb Experiences
For me, this has officially been the summer of Airbnb. During my time here in Mexico, I’ve had five Airbnb “stays” and taken three Airbnb “experiences”. By now I’m pretty sure that you’re familiar with Airbnb “stays”. A few years ago Airbnb expanded their offerings to include “experiences”, activities that are led and designed by locals. Airbnb offers more than…
