Sapporo Snow Festival: A Winter Wonderland in Hokkaido, Japan
Read here about the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido, Japan, where you can see hundreds of amazing snow and ice sculptures.
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Traveling by Train in Japan: 8 tips
For those of us who do not know Japanese, traveling by train in Japan can be a bit daunting, to say the least. Here are some tips for Japan travel that will allow you to…
Gion Corner: The Simplicity of Japanese Musical Art
A show that’s produced for foreign tourists can be an insulting oversimplification of local culture, or it can be an interesting peek into that culture. I wasn’t sure which I was getting when I agreed…
A day trip to Matsumoto, Japan
While the main attraction is the 16th-century Matsumoto Castle, there are other things to see as well on a day trip to Matsumoto.
A baseball game in Japan
When I took a group of Dutch students to the US a few years ago, I insisted that we attend a professional baseball game, something they were distinctly unenthusiastic about. They said it was a…
Barefoot in Japan: A bumbling fool
Much of the time that I was in Japan I felt like a bumbling fool, and shoes were a big part of it. The Japanese have a lot of rules regarding footwear. Basically, you are…
4 Barcelona bike routes + biking tips
Barcelona is a great place to explore by bike. Here are the unmissable highlights of 4 Barcelona bike routes, plus some useful bicycling tips!
10 Places to stay in Bangkok (where I have actually stayed)
A list of places to stay in Bangkok in a variety of star and price categories, all of which I can recommend because I’ve actually stayed at them all.
Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit: A review
A thorough review of the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit including its rooms, restaurants and facilities, plus honest recommendations.
The Cambodian War Museum and Killing Fields, Siem Reap
Two places to learn about the violent 20th-century history of Cambodia: the Cambodian War Museum and the Killing Fields in Siem Reap.
A compelling WWII tour of the Thai-Burma Railway
The building of the Thai-Burma Railway in WWII is a story of resilience, heroism, cruelty, and tragedy. Read this review of a tour visiting the railway line and honoring the forced laborers who built it.
16 best temples in Bangkok, Thailand
This extensive list of Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand includes advice to help you choose and plan your visit.
Finding your way in Schiphol Airport Amsterdam
Flying out of Schiphol? Read here all the steps to finding your way in Schiphol easily, and lots of ideas for things to do at Schiphol Airport while you wait for your flight.
How to choose a destination: Tips to consider before travel
Sometimes it’s hard to choose a travel destination. Say you have only two weeks’ vacation, and you want to get the most out of it. Here’s some advice.
How to visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (Busan)
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple may be the most beautiful temple in South Korea, unusual because it is right on the coast instead of on a mountain.
A weekend in Portland, Oregon: A 3-day itinerary
A weekend in Portland, Oregon: here’s a 3-day itinerary that covers what to see, where to stay, where to eat, things to do … everything!
SCOTTeVEST: a review (revised and updated)
An update of an old review of a SCOTTeVEST travel vest, this version adds reviews of a jacket and a hoodie, and gets much more positive in the process.
28 Practical Tips for Women Traveling Alone
Truly practical advice for women traveling alone. Tips for sleeping, eating, socializing and lots more travel advice for solo female travel!
Minimalist packing tips: How to travel light!
These minimalist packing tips give you a step-by-step guide: everything you need to know and do to travel with carry-on luggage only!
The Liberation Route Europe: WWII battlefields and more
The Liberation Route Europe, its WWII battlefields and museums: it’s important to stop and acknowledge the world-changing events of WWII.
The Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland, Sweden
A collection of farmhouses with unique interiors filled with folk art decorations.
3-week Iceland itinerary: the best Iceland road trip!
This comprehensive, extremely detailed 3-week Iceland itinerary is all you need for the best Iceland road trip!
Things to do in Heimaey island, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Things to do in Heimaey island, off the southern coast of Iceland: a small place with dramatic scenery and a dramatic history to match.
MOCA New York City (Museum of Chinese in America)
With so much focus on #BlackLivesMatter, it can be illuminating to look at other ethnic groups in the US. I visited MOCA New York City last year, and it’s high time I published my review….
Travel-addicted but can’t travel? 3 ways to deal with your wanderlust
Written during the pandemic, but still useful for anyone who loves travel but has to stay home a while.
Ruminations on an Auschwitz Tour
Ruminations on a tour of Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, where Nazis turned genocide into an industrial enterprise, efficiently turning over a million souls to ashes.
Gammelstad church town UNESCO site in Sweden
Back in the 17th century, not long after the Reformation turned Sweden Protestant, a new law required church attendance, depending on one’s distance from the church. People up in the cold north of Sweden, despite…
Sightseeing in Ankara, Turkey
The last time I tried to visit Turkey was more than 30 years ago, and my attempt failed. I’ll tell that story at the end of this article. I will tell you, though, that I…
USS Pampanito and SS Jeremiah O’Brien: WWII maritime history in San Francisco
After learning about how “Rosie the Riveter” constructed Liberty Ships in the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond, across the bay from San Francisco, it seemed to me that the obvious next step was to tour an…
Moco Museum: Contemporary art in Amsterdam
Read here about MOCO Museum, a little art museum in Amsterdam with an outstanding exhibition of Banksy works and other modern and contemporary art.
Yotel Hotel at Schiphol: A Review
A review of Yotel Hotel Schiphol (a.k.a. YotelAir): inspired by capsule hotels, it’s worth considering if you have an early flight and little luggage.
How to Use Hotwire: Tips for Booking Hotels
In my post about Arolithos “Traditional Cretan Village”, I described how I reserved my hotel room through Hotwire, and how Hotwire is a bit of a gamble. (Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you…