32 articles tagged with authentic travel
As I stepped off the ferry at Tagbilaran Port, the familiar buzz of tricycles and the warm Filipino greeting of 'Maayong buntag!' (Good morning!) reminded me why Bohol has become my favorite training ground for international marathons. This island province...
The taxi driver looked at me with genuine confusion when I told him I'd traveled to Brunei specifically to explore Kuala Belait. 'But why?' he asked, 'There's nothing there but oil fields.' His bewilderment only confirmed I'd made the right...
The moment I stepped off the plane in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), I knew this wouldn't be just another consulting trip. Having visited over 40 countries for work, I've developed a knack for peeling back the tourist veneer of destinations. But...
The first time I visited Chile in my early fifties, I made the classic tourist mistake of never venturing beyond Santiago's polished streets. But last fall, while planning my third Chilean adventure, my Korean childhood friend Mi-ja (who relocated to...
The taxi lurches forward on a road flanked by royal palms, their silhouettes cutting dramatic shapes against the Caribbean sky. My sketchbook balanced precariously on my lap, I'm hastily capturing the play of light on weathered colonial facades as we...
When most travelers think of Negril, Jamaica, images of pristine Seven Mile Beach and all-inclusive resort buffets likely come to mind. But as someone who believes travel should be as educational as it is enjoyable, I've discovered that the real...
Singapore's gleaming skyscrapers and iconic attractions draw millions of visitors yearly, but beneath this polished veneer lies a Singapore that most tourists never experience. As someone with Korean heritage who's traveled extensively throughout Asia, I've developed a knack for uncovering...
Shanghai often conjures images of futuristic skylines and the historic waterfront Bund, but the soul of this megacity lies in its cultural contrasts and hidden corners. During my recent fall excursion with my law school friend Lin, whose family emigrated...
When most travelers hit Mexico City, they make a beeline for Zócalo, Frida's house, and Chapultepec Park. Don't get me wrong—these spots are iconic for a reason. But after five visits to CDMX (including a three-week sourcing trip for our...
At 62, I've learned that the most valuable travel experiences rarely come with a premium price tag. My recent autumn sojourn to Liberta, a modest village nestled in Antigua's southern hills, confirmed this wisdom yet again. After three decades scrutinizing...
When most travelers think of Trinidad's nightlife, their minds immediately race to the pulsing soca beats and bustling streets of Port of Spain. But as someone who's spent countless evenings exploring Trinidad's southern gem, I can tell you that San...
The sensory overload of Marrakech hits you like the first moments in an emergency room – chaotic, intense, and demanding your complete attention. Yet unlike the ER, this controlled chaos is precisely what makes Morocco's Red City so captivating. After...
At 62, I've traveled to forty-three countries across six continents, yet Shanghai continues to fascinate me with its remarkable duality. The city presents a captivating juxtaposition where ancient traditions dance alongside futuristic innovation—a place where centuries-old temples stand in the...
When most people think of Mauritius, they picture pristine beaches and luxury resorts that cost more than my entire retail buyer's monthly budget. But after spending a week in Vacoas—a bustling inland town that most tourists bypass—I discovered the beating...
Rome wasn't built in a day, and trust me, you won't see the real Rome in one either. Seven years ago, when I first brought my son Leo to the Eternal City, we did the standard tourist circuit—Colosseum, Vatican, throw...
