The Traveler vs The Tourist
“Do you know the difference between a tourist and a traveler?” That was the first question my tour guide, Don Marlon, inquired of our group on the first day (Don means “sir” or “Mr” in Costa...
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Found in Bulgaria
Last year, I decided to diverge from my usual visits to my motherland - Bulgaria. Instead of sitting on the beautiful beaches of the Black Sea, or meandering down the clustered alleyways of Sozopol, I...
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The Gas Station Glance
My watch made another insufferable beep. I counted in my head: three. Three hours of sedentary riding on an itchy seat that had turned travel into a game of scratching and ever-shifting posture. I longed...
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My Second Home: Japan
It didn’t take long to realize the Japanese values-- kindness, gratitude, harmony. The significance of unity and relationships was evident in everything I witnessed. There was a constant undertone of...
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The Magic of Botswana
Botswana, Africa: a place so far away yet now so close to my heart. This country’s name alone conjures up an image of exotic intrigue. From the moment of arrival, the beautiful smiles of people welcomed...
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Art and Travel
As an aspiring artist, one of my favorite things to draw are environments. There's something freeing about being able to create settings from your imagination, or adding an unfamiliar twist to an ordinary...
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Hidden in Plain Sight
The island of Kauai is a home in the sense that, when you visit, you feel the urge to stay. She welcomes you with her gorgeous flowers and calm, and she compels you to simply embrace life. When I met her,...
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The Summit
My ankles ached as we trekked along the dirt path surrounded by towering trees. In front of me my friend’s dad, John, set the pace. I tried to enjoy the miles of untouched nature, but my 25 pound backpack...
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