During a recent trip to China, I visited with Melvin, the owner of Mountain Wave Winery. This property is about a 45 minute drive from the center of Yinchuan, the largest city in the immediate region. The property is located on gravelly soils at the base of the Helan mountains in the autonomous region of Ningxia, China. Grapes were first planted on the property in 2016 and the winery was built in 2022/2023. The original vineyard is planted to 2.5 … [Read more...]
It Stopped Feeling Like Travelling and Started Feeling Like Surviving
The brutal reality check that hits every backpacker flying from SE Asia into Australia. The barman at the first pub I walked into after dropping my bag slid a schooner across the bar and said nine dollars. I handed over a tenner and stood there waiting for change that wasn't coming. He'd already moved on. I picked up the glass and did the maths in my head the way you do when you already know the answer isn't good. Here's what Southeast … [Read more...]
How Electric Bikes Are Changing Adventure Travel
Adventure travel has changed dramatically over the last decade, and I have had the privilege of witnessing that transformation firsthand. As someone who has spent more than 10 years riding traditional bicycles and electric bikes across trails, mountain passes, coastal routes, and remote countryside roads, I can confidently say that electric bikes have reshaped what is possible for modern explorers. When electric bikes first entered the market, … [Read more...]
Fighting off Jetlag, a Quick Trip to Yinchuan, China
We arrived in at Beijing International, always an overwhelming airport based on its immense girth. But our gate was very close to immigration and we breezed through without much delay as officials kept opening new lanes as the lines swelled from the arriving flights. We discovered a small short-stay airport hotel and without hesitation spent the $40 for a two hour stay. Showers after long flights are one of the best things one can gift one's body … [Read more...]
Sébastien Thépénier, French Oenologist and Winemaker
Sébastien Thépénier is a French oenologist and the winemaker behind Vin de Tahiti in Rangiroa, an atoll in French Polynesia. Originally from Burgundy of France, he moved to Tahiti in 2002 to oversee Domaine Dominique Auroy, a pioneering vineyard and wine estate on coral soil in the Pacific. He has since played a central role in developing and refining its unique tropical winemaking. Q. You are originally an oenologist from France. What drew … [Read more...]
Tuscany Above the Clouds: A Guide to the Glacial Lakes and Ridges of the Northern Apennines
The wind hit the ridge hard enough that I leaned forward to keep my balance. Ahead of me, a narrow path followed the crest of the mountain like a thread pulled tight between two regions of Italy. On one side lay Tuscany. On the other, Emilia-Romagna. As the clouds shifted, a deep blue circle suddenly appeared below the ridge: Lago Scaffaiolo. At that moment it was hard to believe I was still in Tuscany. Most travelers imagine Tuscany as … [Read more...]
Painting My Way Through Portugal With a Travel Watercolor Kit
The cafe owner set down a tiny cup of espresso and said something in Portuguese I did not quite catch. I smiled, nodded, and turned back to my sketchbook. Across the narrow street in Lisbon's Alfama district, a woman was hanging laundry from a wrought iron balcony, and the morning light was doing something to the yellowed tiles on the building behind her that I knew a phone camera would never get right. So I painted it instead. I have … [Read more...]
The Organized Explorer’s Guide to Experiencing Europe
Traveling through Europe can feel overwhelming at first, especially with how much is packed into a relatively small space. Cities shift quickly, languages change, and each region follows its own rhythm. For travelers who prefer a bit of structure, that variety becomes much easier to navigate with a clear plan. This guide focuses on a selection of destinations where thoughtful planning goes a long way. These are places where routes are easy to … [Read more...]
5 Sunny European Destinations for Relaxing and Luxurious Exploration
Warm weather changes how a destination feels. Days start earlier, afternoons stretch without urgency, and evenings linger long enough to enjoy being outdoors without watching the clock. Across Europe, there are destinations where climate naturally pairs with comfortable stays and well-kept surroundings. Think coastal towns where the sea is always within reach, islands where villas sit just beyond the busiest spots, and inland regions where travel … [Read more...]
Why Mt. Daraitan is the Ultimate Wake-Up Call for New Hikers
In the Philippine mountaineering community, there is a notorious concept known as the budol climb. It usually starts with a friend messaging you: "Let's hike this weekend! It’s just a minor climb, rated 4/9. We’ll be down by lunch." For thousands of unsuspecting beginners, that budol happens at Mt. Daraitan. Sitting on the windward edge of the Sierra Madre range in Tanay, Rizal, Mt. Daraitan has built a reputation that heavily contradicts its … [Read more...]
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