Destinations Archives - Page 9 of 13

“Would you like to try something special?”

Wayan, the driver I had hired for my last day in Bali, said with a sly smile. Not quite sure what he was hinting at, and certainly not wanting to commit to something “special” sight unseen, I asked for a bit more info. Read More

Snapshots of Serene Balinese Temples

Asia, Indonesia

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If there was one thing that was clear from my brief time in Ubud, it’s that the people of Bali are very connected to their spiritual side. So it seemed like a worthwhile idea to do some wider sightseeing of at least a few of the many Hindu Balinese temples (referred to locally as “puras”) in the area. Read More

Searching for Balance in Ubud

Asia, Indonesia

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I honestly may have a problem when traveling someplace new, in this case the town of Ubud on the island of Bali. I just find it impossible not to land without some kind of preconceived romanticized idea of what a destination will be like. As you can imagine, this has a tendency to sometimes leave me feeling disappointed after I’ve explored around a bit. Not that I don’t like what I find. Quite the opposite actually. It’s just different.

So when it came time to start planning for Ubud, thoughts of rolling rice fields, healthful organic cuisine, and endless yoga studios began to dance around my head. All very relaxing.

Call me an optimist. Call me a romantic. Call me a…sucker? Read More

Zigzagging Zanzibar: Memories of Stone Town

Africa, Zanzibar

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There was something about Stone Town that really drew me in from the moment I read about it. A cultural mishmash of crumbling buildings, all connected by a honeycomb of impossibly narrow alleyways. It sounded so enticing, so mysterious, so different than the cosmopolitan streets of San Francisco I had grown up around.

As soon as it was clear that we’d be traveling to Zanzibar, I knew I had to see it for myself. Read More

The Spicy Island: Visiting a Zanzibar Spice Farm

Africa, Zanzibar

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If you’re like me, the thought of traveling all the way to Africa and visiting a Zanzibar spice farm seems kind of… mundane. A big plot of land with a ton of different spices on it you say? Maybe next time.

The thing is, spices have historically been and still are an important aspect of existence to everyone living in Zanzibar. The economic and cultural significance of these runs deep. So much so that many people living throughout this area of the world refer to Zanzibar simply as “The Spice Island.” Read More