25 articles tagged with travel safety
While I'm writing this from a man's perspective, my daughter Ellie's recent solo adventure to Flores, Guatemala has given me a front-row seat to the unique considerations female travelers face in this stunning lakeside gem. As she video-called me daily...
The air in Kumasi hits differently than anywhere else I've traveled—thick with humidity yet somehow electric with the pulse of Ghana's cultural heartbeat. After spending years exploring the temperate rainforests of Tasmania and the Pacific Northwest, I found myself drawn...
The first time I gazed upon Dal Lake at sunrise, watching the wooden shikaras glide silently across the misty waters, I understood why Kashmir is called 'heaven on earth.' As a researcher of cultural heritage sites, I've traversed many landscapes,...
When my sister announced she was planning her first solo international trip to Puerto Vallarta, I immediately started compiling everything I've learned from my travels there. Having visited multiple times—including once when I helped a fellow traveler navigate a minor...
When I first mentioned to colleagues that I'd be spending a week in Bangui for a career counseling workshop, their reactions ranged from concerned to bewildered. The Central African Republic's capital rarely makes standard travel itineraries, but after seven transformative...
The morning bells of São Francisco de Assis church pulled me from sleep just as they've done for locals for centuries. From my window, the undulating terracotta rooftops of Ouro Preto stretched across the valley, bathed in that distinctive Brazilian...
As someone who's called India home for several years now, I've developed a particular fondness for Mumbai's chaotic symphony. The city exists in fascinating contradictions – ancient temples beside gleaming skyscrapers, extreme wealth alongside humbling poverty, and serene coastal views...
After nearly a dozen visits to Kenya's vibrant capital over the past fifteen years, I've watched Nairobi transform from a city travelers merely passed through en route to safaris into a destination worthy of extended stays. My husband and I...
The pulsing rhythm of samba drums echoed through the narrow streets of Lapa as I wandered alone through Rio's historic bohemian district. The city's energy was electric, reminiscent of those all-night Berlin warehouse parties from my stage design days, but...
The ancient walls of Kano rise like terracotta sentinels around a city that pulses with contrasts – traditional indigo dyeing pits operating beside tech startups, centuries-old markets buzzing with modern commerce. When I told friends I was heading to Northern...
As someone who's navigated high-security situations across the globe, I can tell you that few things rival the efficiency of Helsinki's public transportation system—especially in winter. My first visit to Finland's capital coincided with a joint international security conference, but...
As a psychiatrist who's made cross-cultural exploration a cornerstone of my professional development, I've come to appreciate how travel can be both therapeutic and transformative. While I typically write about my own experiences as a male traveler, I've had numerous...
When most travelers think of photographic destinations, Kinshasa rarely makes their shortlist. That's precisely why it should be on yours. The Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling capital offers a raw, unfiltered energy that few global metropolises can match—a photographer's paradise...
At 64, I've discovered that some of life's most rewarding journeys begin when we venture beyond our comfort zones. After decades of directing travelers at Hawaiian Airlines and settling into my Scottish retirement, Madagascar called to me with its unique...
As someone who's navigated public transit systems across three continents, I can tell you that the Mount Vernon-NYC commute has its own unique rhythm. Moving from Limerick's modest public transport to this intricate network reminded me of my childhood transitions...