The first glimpse of Palawan takes your breath away—a slender island province in the Philippines stretching like an emerald jewel between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. As my small propeller plane descended into Puerto Princesa, the capital city, I knew this journey would be unlike any other. Palawan is not just a destination; it's a living, breathing testament to the raw beauty of nature, a place where limestone cliffs rise from … [Read more...]
Komodo Island Scuba Diving at Sixty – A Hotel, a Liveaboard, and What I’d Change
I taught high school chemistry in Modesto for twenty-nine years, and I've carried the same dive logbook since 1989, a green vinyl binder with a Monterey dive shop's sticker peeling off the front cover. My first entry is a forty-one-foot dive off Breakwater Cove in a seven-millimeter wetsuit I can still smell. I turned sixty in February. My wife Linda doesn't dive, and when she asked what I wanted to mark the year, I said Komodo before she'd … [Read more...]
Why I Went to Lamjung Instead of the Annapurna Circuit
We were at the junction in Besisahar where the road splits, and everyone else in the vehicle was going north, up the Marsyangdi, toward the Annapurna Circuit and the teahouses and the pass at 5,416 metres that people fly across the world to walk over. I asked to be let out at the turn for Hugdi. The driver repeated the name back to me twice. Then he shrugged in the way Nepali drivers shrug at foreigners and at locals who are behaving like … [Read more...]
Minalungao National Park: A Scenic Nueva Ecija Escape for Nature Lovers
Nueva Ecija is often known for rice fields, peaceful towns, and wide provincial roads, but hidden within General Tinio is one of Central Luzon’s most photogenic nature destinations: Minalungao National Park. With its emerald river, towering limestone cliffs, bamboo rafts, hanging bridge, caves, and scenic hilltop views, Minalungao has become one of the most visited nature spots in Nueva Ecija. It is a favorite day-trip destination for travelers … [Read more...]
Where to Stay in Sanur Bali: The Calmest Base on the Island
After enough time in Bali, I've come to think the biggest decision you make there isn't which temples to see or how long to stay. It's where to base yourself. Pick the right spot and the island feels gentle and easy. Pick the wrong one and you spend the trip stuck in traffic and heat, hunting for somewhere without a flight of stairs. I've spent a good deal of time in the quieter parts of Bali, and one town keeps pulling me back: Sanur, on the … [Read more...]
Flying Out of Kuala Lumpur? Smart Transit Routes from Singapore and Johor Bahru to KL & KLIA
Catching a flight out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport does not have to mean an expensive domestic flight or a stressful scramble the morning of. If you live in Singapore or Johor Bahru and you are chasing cheaper KLIA fares, going overland is usually the better call, and for a lot of travellers it starts with a JB to KL bus. It is not the only way in, but it is the one that turns a plain transfer into something worth doing. So which … [Read more...]
How to Choose a Family Stay You’ll Actually Enjoy
Planning a good vacation often comes down to one simple thing: making the logistics feel easy. Where you stay affects how much time you spend driving, how well everyone rests, and how smoothly the day fits together. That matters in Branson, Missouri, where visitor volume stays high. Explore Branson reported about 6.96 million visitor trips and more than 20.1 million visitor days in its 2025 second-quarter marketing report. With that much … [Read more...]
Why Malapascua Island Is Still One of Cebu’s Most Rewarding Island Trips
Malapascua Island is one of the most memorable island destinations in Cebu, especially for travelers who want something more purposeful than a normal beach vacation. Many people know it because of thresher shark diving, but the island is also worth visiting for slow travel, snorkeling, quiet beach walks, local food, and simple island life. Located in Daanbantayan, Cebu, Malapascua sits off the northern tip of Cebu Island. It is not as easy to … [Read more...]
How to Prepare for Mt. Whitney: Permits, Training, and Gear
Mt. Whitney doesn't ease you into anything. The standard route is a 22-mile round trip with more than 6,000 feet of elevation gain, done in a single push by most hikers who start well before sunrise and finish well after dark. At 14,505 feet, it's the highest peak in the contiguous United States, and the trail treats that fact seriously. People who show up undertrained, unpermitted, or under-geared don't summit, and some of them get hurt trying. … [Read more...]
A Practical Guide to Planning a Batangas Beach and Island Getaway
Batangas is one of the easiest provinces to recommend for travelers who want a quick escape from Metro Manila without booking a flight. It has beaches, diving spots, mountain trails, island-hopping routes, religious landmarks, and weekend-friendly road trips. But the best way to enjoy Batangas is not to treat it as one single destination. Each area has a different travel style. Some parts of Batangas are better for diving. Some are better for … [Read more...]
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