I just got a call that my wedding dress has arrived and is ready for my fitting! Ahhh! Not only is this thrilling, but it is also highly relevant to this article about royal palaces around the world. Why? Because my dress is white-ish, and so are most royal and governmental buildings in Europe and… [Read More]
Thailand
8 Great Cities of RTW Travel to Actually Move To and Live
I had a lot of reasons for leaving my career and home to travel around the world in August of 2009, and one of them was a vision of starting a new life abroad. For the first eight months of my voyage, I was convinced that (after rockin’ out Asia and Africa) I would find… [Read More]
Illegal Thai Fruit, Odd NYC Veggie, and Ghana Intensity
Exactly one year ago, I was almost arrested in Bangkok, Thailand for bringing an illegally smelly fruit onto a public train. You can read the whole dramatic story by clicking here, but the short version is that durians (giant, monstrously spiky fruits common in Asia) smell so horrifically bad that there are signs all over… [Read More]
Bangkok to Rome, Via Dubai!
I have just woken up in a drafty high-ceilinged room in Rome, surrounded by five fifteen year old Italian boys and one sweet college lad from Hong Kong named Himmy. Did you know that “Mixed Gender Hostel Dorm” actually means, “Lots-a Boys”? The Italian fellows are gesturing wildly as they explain to us how they… [Read More]
Bangkok Signs to Make You Smile While I Fly to Italy
Happy Holidays, all! Right now I’m freaking out. In exactly twelve hours, as this article is auto-published, I will be flying through the air from Bangkok to Rome, via Dubai. This will be a CRAZY shift after nearly five months in Southeast Asia! How to take this in?! How to process this?! Here’s how I’ve… [Read More]
X-Mas Eve: Stopped by Police for a Fruit
It was Christmas Eve in Bangkok when the Skytrain policeman strode up to me and pointed to the plastic bag I held. “NO,” he commanded. So it was true! It IS illegal to carry durian fruit on the train! After some protesting on my part, the policeman finally took four plastic bags and wrapped them… [Read More]
