Five Apps for Happier Trips

I’ve been hitting the road now for over a decade, and navigating unknown lands has changed immensely. Gone are the days of walkmans and small CD cases packed to the brim, of hand-held journals, paper maps, and books you can actually hold in your hands and rip the pages from. And while some of us … Continue reading Five Apps for Happier Trips

15 Christmas Gifts Female Travelers Will Love

We all have our lists of things we'd love to have. But let's admit it, everyone is into different things, and some people are more difficult to buy for. If there is an avid female traveler in your life, chances are she doesn't want another box of lotions or pair of stilettos she'd only wear … Continue reading 15 Christmas Gifts Female Travelers Will Love

The Dangers of a Domestic Life

When I was young, I promised myself I wouldn't learn to cook because I didn't want to be a housewife. The majority of my existence, I suppose, has revolved around wanting to be free, wanting to avoid domesticity. I haven't wanted to be tied down by possessions, relationships, or negative thoughts that I couldn't do … Continue reading The Dangers of a Domestic Life

Travel Talk Tuesdays 4/8: Worst Travel Experiences

Today's Topic: Worst Experiences! 1) What do you hate the most about traveling? I hate repacking my backpack. The moment I get to a hostel (or any other kind of accommodation), things come flying out of my bag as I rush to see my surroundings. It's like this everyday. Things- clothes, toiletries, shoes, books, towels, etc.- almost never return … Continue reading Travel Talk Tuesdays 4/8: Worst Travel Experiences

13 Unforgettable Moments in 2013

Admittedly, the beginning of 2013 was quite a dreary one. As I wrote in the past, the months of February and March meant the end of an engagement, but also the beginning of a completely new life for me. I realized what it truly meant to love myself, and what I had been giving up in a futile attempt to … Continue reading 13 Unforgettable Moments in 2013

Taiwan: The Call of Liberation

The thought of international travel seemed a wicked, impossible taunt just months ago. My passport lay abandoned and forlorn in my nightstand drawer, gathering dust as I struggled to crack the mold of weariness that enveloped me. I had spent over a month in LA working and visiting old friends, rearranging my life's unrecognizably morphed puzzle … Continue reading Taiwan: The Call of Liberation

The Truth about Travel Addiction

Addiction. It's a strong word. It is also very, very much overused and, in my opinion, not taken seriously enough anymore. People commonly refer to themselves playfully as "shopaholics", "chocoholics", and so on. "I'm so addicted to that show!" "I'm totally addicted to cat memes!" "OMG, I have a major shoe addiction!" Sure. You like something- … Continue reading The Truth about Travel Addiction

Traveling Vegetarian: How to Stay Satiated (and Sane)

I admit it. When I was young and impressionable, seeking the easiest route, I gave up vegetarianism to see the world. It was a very naïve, pitiful decision. The very first country I traveled to was Mexico. Aside from that one weekend of debauchery in Tijuana while at UCLA, this experience took place in Zihuatanejo and Monterrey, Mexico. Overwhelmed … Continue reading Traveling Vegetarian: How to Stay Satiated (and Sane)

Returning to the City of Lost Angels

One night at the condo in Lake Tahoe, after being surrounded by the stark beauty of snow, I gathered my toiletries and headed downstairs to brush up for bed. As I looked into the mirror, I stared at my reflection with utter detachment. Sure, there was the same long brown hair I was used to, the … Continue reading Returning to the City of Lost Angels