The music was rising in this art museum in Maputo, Mozambique, the metropolis that I had been informed was unclean and violent. I had heard a lot of things, but by this point I was practically sobbing with glee, shaking hands with my new friend Ella as we danced in a circle with some of the locals. Their motions were so realistic, I was astounded! That was just my first night in Mozambique, a location I had intended to visit with someone else who backed out at the last minute. I had been fairly frightened about travelling somewhere that I

Do you want to visit Easter Island? Are you seeking for the sense of humility that comes with seeing the massive Moai sculptures that loom over us poor mortals? It was just what I was hoping for when I went there in April of this year. Seeing the Moai in person is just as wonderful as I had imagined. Although no one completely understands the narrative because there are few original Rapa Nui ancestors remaining, the story of the Moai is one of tremendous human creativity and sorrow, and it is a powerful experience to walk among them and ponder

I was perusing the internet from a modest flat in Bologna a few years back when an email advertising a cheap airfare to the Maldives came. Is it really only $100 to fly to my ideal destination? Yeah, yeah, yeah! I was in the second year of my indefinite travel at the time, and my income was close to nothing. But I’d wanted to dive in the Maldives for as long as I could remember and was convinced that I’d be able to do it. I had to figure something out. Just about a month and a half later, I

I’ve always thought there was a big secret that everyone who takes great low-light, long-exposure photos knew that I didn’t. I figured that was probably a tricky technique or maybe something only fancy cameras could do, until I did some research and played around with my camera settings and I realize it wasn’t rocket science at all. There’s no big secret, and taking great low-light shots comes down to two things: the right settings and the right gear. For any kind of low light shots you of course need a camera (<– captain obvious). Phones don’t work very well in low light

Most long-term travelers know that a hostel kitchen can be a hit or a total miss. Some (okay, most ) hostels will have functional appliances and a decent selection of pots, pans, and other cooking utensils, but some will have a 1985 oven and a rusty knife for the whole kitchen. You don’t have to stick to take-out or only eat pre-made pasta and sauce when you’re trying to save a few bucks by cooking at “home.” After countless hostels in over a dozen countries, I think I’ve mastered the art of having a delicious (and cheap!) home-cooked meal, no matter the kitchen situation.

I’ve been a little silent recently regarding my ideas and the workings of my girlish brain. I’d rather write guides, show your gorgeous images, and tell you how great the last beach I visited was (and it was! ), but that’s not the point of this essay. Today I’m feeling strange. People ask me why I have these seasonal lows as if it’s something I should be able to dig inside and cure, and I’m like if I knew why, I’d simply release this anxiety that not so politely wears, but because I don’t, we uncomfortably stare at each other