Destinations
Vivid stories, helpful guides, and colorful photography from my journeys far and wide.
Hanoi, Vietnam: A One-Day Budget Guide
Hanoi is a swirl of sweet chaos. Motorbikes dart through the streets like schools of buzzing fish. Steam, smoke, and alluring aromas pour out of restaurants and onto the sidewalks. Art, music, and memories of war reverberate everywhere, and I felt it all the moment my boots hit pavement. Exploring Hanoi on a budget […]
Chengdu’s Wenshu Monastery Neighborhood: A One Day Budget Guide
I’ve just returned from the Wenshu Monastery neighborhood, and I’m already itching to go back. When I arrived two days ago, I did so with no expectations and zero research. I simply dropped my bags at the hostel and started walking. Bustling markets, fragrant Sichuan cuisine, fascinating people, ancient history, and a vibrant culture — […]
Braving Tepito: My Visit to Mexico City’s Sprawling Black Market
“Don’t go to Tepito. You’ll get robbed.” This was the popular advice given to me by taxi drivers and hostel managers when I asked about Mexico City’s most infamous neighborhood. I’m usually great at listening to advice from locals, but this particular day I decided to keep asking until I got the answer I […]
A One Day Budget Guide to Denver: the Mile High City
Ah, Colorado. Home, sweet home. I’ve spent the majority of my 31 years in Colorful Colorado — a state known long and far for South Park, skiing, and legal weed. It’s no secret: these things are all wonderful, but, I know first-hand that Colorado, (and its capitol, Denver) have much more to offer than just […]