Happiness Is Just Around The Bend

It was time for me to take on my third continent of the year: Africa.  We were off to a country that was a blend of languages, foods, and cultures.  We were off to Morocco!  But little did we know, we were about to experience a Moroccan sandstorm – but literally and metaphorically.

It’s likely you’ve heard of the West Coast Trail – a multi-day trek on the West Coast of Vancouver Island that weaves its way along 75 kilometres of towering rainforests, slick sandstone shelfs, and pebbled beaches, with numerous ladders and boardwalks.  Coastal hiking is something that BC is known for, but most people think it’s something that you can only do as a backpacking trip and that you have to travel to Vancouver Island to do it. Did you know you can go coastal hiking in Vancouver?  It’s true!  And actually there are a few of them.  In Vancouver we do most of our hiking in the mountains and the rainforest.  But if you want a different kind of hike, try one that’s coastal.  Here are my top picks for coastal hikes in Metro Vancouver.  Unlike the West Coast trail, none of these are very long or very challenging, but they will give you a taste of coastal hiking.  To approximate the real experience, pack along a small backpacking stove and make yourself a hot lunch or cup of tea i

The smell of fresh baked bread and lush, rich chocolate. Quiet classical music.  A high arched ceiling, dark exposed wooden beams against bright white. Artistically placed vintage treasures. A tiny, carefully selected menu, changing from day to day: artisanal bread with cream cheese; coffee from a local farm; thick fudgy oat cookies; gooey brownies baked with fresh cacao, also from a local farm. Are we in San Francisco? No, we’re in an artisanal bakery in  Minca, Colombia : a tiny village in the midst of jungle-covered mountains, an hour outside of Santa Marta and 6 hours from Cartagena, Colombia. Duni is a foodie find in little Minca that would fit into most modern city settings. With its carefully curated, locally sourced farm to table menu, it would fit perfectly into a New York, San Francisco, or London setting: a quiet reprieve for the busy hipster to enjoy a coffee and some truly outstanding fresh-baked bread while browsing the internet. As it is, the only hipsters

I panted as I raced through the airport terminal, the weight of my hand-luggage baring me down. How much further? I wondered despairingly. Beside me, the rest of my family were also pelting through Heathrow airport as we desperately raced to reach our connection. Outside the terminal windows, faintly visible behind the bright reflection of the gleaming airport, I could see the dark sky as evening set in. We were gradually nearing the end of the terminal where our plane was boarding for Dubai. A woman stood at the now-empty gate. Had we made it in time? We skidded to a halt and I took a moment to catch my breath as my parents spoke to the gate staff. “We are closing the gate.” The woman announced. I stared, horrified. Did this mean we were too late? Unlock Full Post By Becoming a Patreon

In the past year, I’ve really grown fond of making videos. It’s one of those things that I can do for hours on end without getting bored… And on the plus side, it makes me feel more accomplished than binging on Netflix. It took me well over a month to stitch together the hundreds of clips I took during my Europe trip . Finishing it was really bittersweet because although I was happy with the final result, it was a sad, sad reminder that the trip was over. Like they say though, all good things must come to an end, and having this video to look back on brings back a lot of wonderful memories.

On the Spanish Steps in Rome with Lisa during our semester abroad. While I was studying abroad in Florence, my friend Lisa was studying in Rome.  This was perfect, since we got to meet up a few times during the semester! Lisa and I had a blast together when she visited me in Florence.  We went dancing at Maracana, the best Brazilian/hip-hop club in the city.  We shopped for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio.  We attempted to cook.  And we ate a few times at Le Colonnine, the wonderful restaurant across the street from my apartment. (If you’re ever in Florence, I highly recommend Le Colonnine, on the corner of Borgo Santa Croce and Via de Benci, right by Santa Croce.  It’s a very affordable restaurant and they have FANTASTIC pizza and tiramisu.) But most importantly, there was always this very tall, very attractive man who worked the register at Le Colonnine.  It didn’t hurt that he was exactly the type of guy we both go for: very tall, dark, lean and Italian.  And unlike his coworkers,

With the year 2020 all but ruled out for international travel, it is time to start looking ahead to the future. Blue skies are coming, I promise! If you’ve cancelled or postponed a trip you were due to take this year, you might be wondering when you will be able to travel again. It’s the million-dollar question and the truth is, nobody knows. So with that, it is time to start considering where to travel in 2021. Travel is going to look different post-corona virus, but this may not be a bad thing. Cities that were once crowded will suddenly be enjoyable again, though it is likely many travellers will opt for more isolated escapes. But no matter what, we will be back in the skies next year. So the question becomes, where should you travel in 2021? Where to travel in 2021 Road trip in the USA With country borders opening up at their own speed, now is a great time to start exploring your own backyard. If you reside in the USA, there are plenty of adventures waiting to

Getting Into Gear for a Gap Year “My motto is simple,” says Felix Starck, a 24-year-old from Germany who has just spent his gap year cycling around the world, “the journey, not the destination, is the reward.” Like so many others, Felix had always had a faint inkling he wanted to travel, to meet people and experience new cultures – he just wasn’t sure how to go about it. Up until early last year his life had been running like clockwork. School followed by college followed by university followed by a well-paid job at Mercedes. But something was missing, and after an evening with his friends during which he joked about cycling across the world, the next day the idea suddenly seemed not only plausible but irresistible. A journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single pedal Three months later Felix was pedalling east from Germany to Turkey on a 3,000km journey that would take 12 weeks and form the first section of his epic adventure. Over the next year he would cycle the South East Asia

Crackdown on naked selfies and streaking at Machu Picchu  Too many tourists are getting their balls and boobs out for the camera  The new regional director of culture in Cusco, Ricardo Ruiz Caro, has said they will be increasing surveillance to 'avoid these unfortunate events that threaten cultural heritage'. The site may have survived over 500 years of conquest, earthquakes, landslides and globetrotters, but the integrity is under threat from wayward willies.  In 2013 an 18-year-old Australian and a 30-year-old New Zealander were detained by guards after getting their kit of and posting the footage on social media. Too little too late, as the world had seen it already, but they were held in custody and forced to delete the raw footage from their camera.  They were made aware that it is totally forbidden to take photographs of this magnitude,' the report, obtained by local travel agency Fertur Peru Travel, added. In February this year two streakers were

Checking In: Rivertown Guest House in Hudson Rivertown Guest House is as close as you can come to living the upstate dream. This exclusive property in the city of Hudson in upstate New York is the work of Brigitte, a Swiss expat who has lived all over the world fixing up homes and now resides in Hudson on the ground floor of the accommodation, renting out the top floor to guests visiting the Hudson Valley. Hudson is often considered the heart of upstate, with thanks to its huge creative community and flourishing businesses that line the main street, Warren Street, with concept stores, cute cafes and vintage thrifts stores galore. We checked in to the upstairs apartment for two nights – complete with a bedroom each, a front living room, dining room, kitchen and garden access from our upstairs retreat. Brigitte also rents out the ground floor apartment when she is travelling, which has its own unique charm and identity. The apartment is beautifully appointed with vintage furnitur

With the same design team responsible for Soho House Berlin and Babington House in the UK, The Williamsburg Hotel is one of the chicest new hotels in New York City. The hotel has become a hot spot for the neighbourhood with a local bar, restaurant, rooftop pool and incredible views toward Manhattan. Checking In: The Williamsburg Hotel Checking in to The Williamsburg Hotel  has been on my list since it opened in January 2017, now approaching its second year of operation in one of New York’s trendiest neighbourhoods. Aptly named after the neighbourhood in which it resides, The Williamsburg Hotel pays tribute to the industrious history of the neighbourhood while bringing a 1920’s Gatsby flair to their interior design (think playful teals mixed with rich burnt oranges, textures on overdrive and endless hints of brass). The hotel houses 150 rooms over 8 floors and for the best room views you’re going to want to be on the 6th floor or higher with a room facing Manhattan. Many of the roo

There’s no denying my heart is in many ways left in Europe. From the moment I stepped foot on the continent to my first time biting in to a croissant in Le Marais, there are so many times I have scattered pieces of my heart around this continent and I’m convinced it is always calling me home. Europe is full of fascinating cities – from capitals like Budapest and Prague to the smaller cities of Verona and Bruges, there are so many defining moments and “aha!” moments I’ve had on my solo adventures across Europe. If you’re anything like me (I’m a sucker for a good visual) and want to see the best Europe has to offer, these are the most beautiful cities in Europe. 1. Florence, Italy The capital of Italy’s region of Tuscany is commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and after visiting a handful of times over the years, I’ve gotta say I wholeheartedly agree. Florence is home to so much living history from the Renaissance period that you’ll be forgiven for g