Me Wrong About Mekong
Before experiencing the best of the Mekong Delta, my imagination cruised me down quiet rivers shaded by palms, while other sampans paddled over to sell me tropical fruits. I was shocked to discover...
View Article37 Hours: Hoi An
Most travelers arrive to Hoi An, Vietnam, after visiting the insanity of Hanoi or the chaos of Saigon. So there is no better time to enjoy the relaxing stopover in the middle of Vietnam before...
View ArticleOne Day in Vientiane
The guidebooks will tell you that Vientiane, Laos, has a “French feel” or retains its “placid charm.” My experience is that Vientiane is a collection of impossible to cross streets and sidewalks filled...
View ArticleHaving Children: Southeast Asia, A Case Study
Five of Marissa’s friends were pregnant at our wedding and these friends started popping kids out while we were in Southeast Asia. Naturally, the topic of having kids was breached. We decided that we’d...
View ArticleTsunami in Thailand: Remembering the Devastation of 2004
On Nai Yang Beach, two kilometers from the Phuket Airport, in the south of Thailand, a construction worker hammered relentlessly. He was reinstalling a restaurant’s roof. Today, the coastal region in...
View ArticleKids in Laos are Chuck Norris Tough
Laos is flooded with babies. Every second vendor at the night market in Luang Prabang held a scarf for sale in one hand and a baby against a breast with the other. I observed something right away about...
View ArticleThe Best Things To Do in Ubud, Bali
Bali’s sun and surf wore me out. Even after applying generous amounts of sunscreen, I was roasted after my first day on the waves. A trip to the artsy town of Ubud, in the center of Bali, saved me from...
View ArticleGetting the Rub Down Across Southeast Asia
One of the highlights of Southeast Asia was getting good, cheap massages. One of the lowlights was when my wife got mad at me for being picky when selecting my masseuse in Chiang Mai, Thailand. “Why...
View ArticleThe Best Things to Do in Philadelphia Sans Plan
As travelers, sometimes we feel an obligation to see things. I had been to Philadelphia before–once to run a marathon, another time to attend a wedding, and once more to eat a cheesesteak (more or...
View ArticleThe Five Best Things To Do in Vietnam
After I returned from Vietnam, I stopped by my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Queens, New York, Little Saigon. I was excited to tell the waiter, Alex, about my adventures in Vietnam, but instead,...
View ArticleThe Best of Bali
Recently, I received an email from a friend. He and his wife–two spiritually enlightened New Yorkers, one a Buddhist dancer, the other a music zealot–were walking on a Balinese beach. They were on...
View ArticleWalk San Francisco: A Route Dictated by Burgers, Rain and Tenderloin
The best way to see a city is by foot. That’s why I decided to walk San Francisco. Actually, when I first arrived, I decided to run San Francisco. (I had just spent all day in the car from Tahoe...
View ArticleChiang Mai Elephant Camp in Thailand
I often worry when I drive roads lined with signs advertising monkey shows, reptile shows, snake shows, bungee jumping, ATV riding, and the like. I smell tourist trap. My trepidation elevates when I...
View ArticleTiger Kingdom Chiang Mai Thailand
Outside the gates of Tiger Kingdom, a half hour from Thailand’s second most populous city, Chiang Mai, we watched a woman lay her head against the ribcage of a giant tiger. My wife and I were troubled....
View ArticleWalk Charleston
Some people dance the Charleston. I walk Charleston, which you should do if you’re visiting this South Carolina city. It’s the best way to experience its elegance and history. (Since cabs and buses are...
View ArticleFort Sumter Tours Bring History to Life
Fort Sumter is the infamous site that marks the outbreak of America’s Civil War. A visit to Fort Sumter, a few miles by boat from downtown Charleston, unleashes history. One that is manifest in the...
View ArticleCharleston Plantation: A Visit to Middleton Place
I dislike pollen and I’m still trying to figure out why Westerners opt to pay for the murdered parts of trees. However, no trip to Charleston, South Carolina, is complete without a visit to a...
View ArticleTwo New York Jews Visit the Hong Kong Jewish Community
Before leaving Hong Kong, my wife and I wanted to explore a location we had seen on our map. It had been marked with a single Jewish Star printed atop two intersecting roads. We assumed it was a...
View ArticleHong Kong Market Tour: Delicious, Dubious, and Disgusting
The Hong Kong markets are a shopper’s paradise. And while the Kowloon district is famous for their abundance and variety of markets, the best markets in Hong Kong are across the harbor, on Hong Kong...
View ArticleThe Best Day Trips in Hong Kong: Trekking Shek O and Strolling Tai O
Most travelers are familiar with two Hong Kongs. The Hong Kong that appeals to gadabouts who are most interested in shopping designer stores, indulging in overpriced dim sum, and waiting on long tram...
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