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Kong Island
Hong Kong 10/10/2016 UpdatePlease check state department travel advisories due to the protest before you head out. Without further ado…. my story After a 6 hour delay and losing most of a day, I finally reach my destination, Hong Kong. A British colony since 1842 and returned to China in 1997, it’s always been an important international trading port and the backdrop of a ton of movies – from Bruce Lee films to Bond films and everything in between. I stayed in an area called SoHo – home to more expats and lively nightlife. After Korea, I was a bit drained and wanted something more ‘homely’? Definitely not the right word, there’s no…
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KYIV – Places to See
11/26/2019 This Kiev list is only based on where I went. I did see a lot of places in Kiev and no Chernobyl wasn’t one of them. Without further ado. Disclaimer: I will use Kiev and Kyiv interchangeably throughout this post 🙂 Going to Kyiv? Read this first. St Andrew’s Church and Andriyivsky Uzviz I will say this is my favorite church or cathedral in Kiev. I did not go inside as it was closed for renovations but just from the outside, this one is just simply beautiful as it is impressive. Just take a look. You can’t mention St. Andrews Church without mentioning Andriyivsky Descent. This cobbled line street snakes…
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Wallyard Concept Hotel
Berlin (A Review) 9/16/2015 The Wallyard Concept Hostel in Berlin is an excellent option for those looking for budget friendly hostels that are nicer than your average $7 college backpacker hostels. It’s a short bus ride or about a 20 minute walk from the Hauptbahnoff. Trendy, modern, clean and friendly atmosphere makes this place stand out; and you’ll notice when you enter and check-in. As with other hostels, you have options as far as your room goes, from a standard 6 bedroom dorm with a shared bathroom to a private room with a private bathroom and everything in between. You’re close enough to the Mitte district that you can hop on a…
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O’hia Lehua
1/2/2016 This is one of a few stories that I heard while traveling through the Big Island. And one I remember well for a few reasons. One, just driving and seeing the destructive landscape that’s just nothing but black lava rocks and what seemed like dead trees growing on them. As the story or legend goes: There was once a man named O’hia who was deeply in love with a lady named Lehua. Pele, the goddess of fire or the goddess of volcano had met O’hia and wanted him for herself. She made several advances and he continued to refuse her advances, for he only had eyes for Lehua. This…
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Seattle, Washington
3/29/2015 I landed at SeaTac, walked off the plane with a smile on my face. I immediately heard Alice in Chains playing on the speakers. Yup I knew I was in Seattle. I’m honestly not sure what to make of this place. To me, it’s enemy territory being a Niners fan. However, it seems like the city is still finding its’ identity. I’m not talking about the 12th man here, I’m talking about everytime I walked out to explore I kept thinking I was in San Francisco. Luckily for me, the 5 days I spent here (for work), it didn’t rain. I did get coffee and got a dose of…
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Kyiv
11/26/2019 I’ve never met anyone that’s gone to Kiev (Kyiv), and the only thing I know about Ukraine is whatever I’ve read on the travel forums and that Russia wants it back. I heard this place is cold (in terms of people), dangerous, sketchy, you have to watch out for yourself, etc… Here’s how the conversation typically went. Them: Where you off to?Me: Kyiv (Kiev)Them: Where’s that?Me: UkraineThem: Wow, wait [pause], isn’t that dangerous?Me: I guess we’ll find out soon 🙂Them: You’re crazy. Aren’t the women supposed to be hot?Me: We’ll find out soon 🙂 And for those that want to know the answer to the last question and stop…
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Bratislava Top 5
11/26/2019 Bratislava… what can I say about this capital city of Slovakia. I read enough about Bratislava and thought it might be cool to check out. I also met some people in Prague (who were expats from Bratislava) who said, I’d get bored after 2 days. They were right. However, I’m going to try to give you a top 5 of the city. Top 5 Old Town St. Michaels Tower The historic center of Bratislava. Everything is around Stare Mesto and definitely walking distance. This area is full of restaurants, pubs and souvenir shops. The cobblestone alleyways leads into various squares and at the center, km marker, 0 – St. Michael’s Tower.…
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The Land of the Morning Calm
Seoul, South Korea 1/18/2020 Japan might be the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, South Korea is the Land of the Morning Calm. This name was given by an emperor from the Ming Dynasty in China – calling Korea ‘Chaohsien’ which means ‘Morning Freshness’; later dubbed as ‘Morning Calm’ However this is a lie in Seoul. Seoul is the complete opposite of calm; however Jeju or other smaller cities, I see it to be more accurate. In Seoul, morning calm really only seems to exist between the super early hours of the morning, I’m going to guess between 3-4am and if it rains. This city seems to 100% energized at all…
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Dubai – an uncultured city
7/18/2016 Like they typical girl you see in teenage movies – you know the one that wants to be the most popular girl, shows off her new designer handbag and jewelry, thinks and wants to be better than everyone else, but loses her true identity for the sake of her image, that’s exactly what Dubai is. Built on nothing but wanting to be the best, biggest, fastest, longest, highest at the time of construction, Dubai has a self identity complex. The city is fake. It’s cool to see the architecture which is nothing short of amazing, but culturally it’s lacking. Besides seeing local men in their white robes (dishdash and…
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Wanderers
5/23/2016 So with my travels and tours it amazes me to see people traveling alone all over the world. However, my friends are the first quickly tell me ‘yea, like you don’t do that’. I just never realized, think that I do but it’s true. I’m not sure if it’s the call of the unknown, being constantly in motion, the experience of something new and discovering something… not here. It beacons me and us to take the first step. You know the quote, “Not Until We Are Lost Do We Begin to Find Ourselves.” What is it about finding ourselves that makes us want to explore or travel? What happens…
