It was only my first weekend in Koh Tao, and I was already on a boat chugging away from it. We were heading to Ang Thong National Marine Park, a protected area of islands in the Gulf of Thailand and also the setting for the infamous Alex Garland backpacking novel, The Beach. The park is mostly…

I didn’t get as many participants in last week’s Photo of the Week poll, but I’m trying it again, because I’m indecisive! You guys have really surprised me with your favorites in the past, so its fun for me to see the results. Photo A Our friend Nadia arrived in Koh Tao and quickly earned the…

Flying from Istanbul to Bangkok was one of the most emotional journeys of my life. I reflected on the fact that Istanbul, lying between two continents, had been the perfect place to bridge the gap between my summer in Europe and what would be my new existence in Asia. I imagined this reunion, between my favorite…

Like any of the world’s great cities, Istanbul has more to do than there are hours in the day. Unless you have the luxury of a super long visit or the willpower to forgo sleep, you’ll never see it all. Here are eight must-dos that should top your list of Istanbul attractions. 1. Shop Till You…

Once we settled into our plush digs, we decided to explore the city in the same way I had explored London earlier in the summer- by bus and by boat. Istanbul is broken in to three major districts, all divided by water. Our hotel was in Cihangir, which is in the Beyoglu district, known for its…