(This delayed report is from my 2023 trip to The Philippines…) Top of the Charts People always ask me—after checking every box on the “countries of the world” list—where I’d go back to. Top of the pile? The Philippines. In my 20s, it was Brasil that stole my heart. In my 40s, it’s the Philippines…
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Keeps Pulling me Back The Philippines might just be my next Brasil. You know, that place that gets under your skin, sticks in your brain, and refuses to let go. For me, Brasil was that intoxicating first love—the kind that leaves you haunted when you’re apart. Back in my 20s, it hooked me good, reeled…
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Alone Again, Naturally Over the years, I’ve fallen hard for solo travel—so much so that it’s not just a preference; it’s a necessity. Honestly, I avoid traveling with others like the plague. Some people get it. Others think it’s weird. Maybe it’s a little selfish—I won’t argue that. But here’s the thing: when you’re on…
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The More Balls Than Brains Tour – Reunion! After I checked off “193,” everyone—friends, family, co-workers—figured my days of hitting up “risky” spots were behind me. Why would I ever go back to some of those sketchier corners of the world? Surely now I’d just stick to the safe, sun-soaked resorts. Cabo, Ibiza, Tahiti—sounds logical,…
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…How’s That for Initialism!? The red-eye out of San Diego seemed like a brilliant move. A 9PM departure, landing in New York at 5:26AM—plenty of time to connect to my flight to Casablanca. Simple, right? Only we landed early, and for once, that wasn’t a good thing. I staggered over to Terminal One, bleary-eyed at…
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Marking my Territory I wanted to see Guernsey for the same reason I wanted to see Jersey – please refer back to my Jersey blog and I’ll explain there. Guernsey, while not it’s own “country” per se, is one of the UK’s Channel Islands and one in a group of English territories I’d been itching…
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Not a Country, But… While the United Kingdom‘s Jersey island is technically not its own independent country, it is classified as a “self-governing British Crown Dependency.” It’s also one of a handful of European territories included on one of my favorite apps, “Been.” Been is a super simple phone app that lists every country (and…
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I’m So Excited…And I Just Can’t Hide It If I had to pick just one word to describe how I am feeling at this very moment – the first day back from NATO – I would say grateful. Grateful, that in my late 40s, I continue to experience such absolutely epic adventures: things I couldn’t…
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