Posts

Caribbean Series 2: Dominica & Dominican Republic

Image
Two Islands, Two Lessons: Reflections from Dominica and the Dominican Republic People often confuse Dominica with the Dominican Republic, but they’re two different countries that offer very different experiences. Dominica: Letting Nature Lead My first visit was to Dominica — often called the Nature Island. I arrived, admittedly, with a familiar Caribbean image in mind: white sand beaches and calm turquoise water. Instead, I found black sand — volcanic, dramatic, and unexpected. At first, I felt a quiet disappointment. The beaches didn’t match the postcard in my head. But that initial reaction became its own lesson: sometimes we miss the power of a place because we are comparing it to something else. Dominica is not curated for comfort. It is shaped by volcanoes, rain, rivers, and time. Rain kept me from hiking deep into Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rugged volcanic terrain and dense rainforest. The closest I reached was Trafalgar Falls, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Caribbean Series 1: The ABC Islands

Image
Trading Peaks for Palms: My ABC Island Reset My 2025 travels took me all over the world—30 countries in total. It was a year defined by adventure and challenge: rock-climbing my way up to the legendary “church in the sky,” participating in the America’s Cup 12-meter yacht regatta, and intentionally visiting places that pushed me far outside my comfort zone. After a year like that, I knew what I wanted in 2026.  Softer travels. More water than altitude. Fewer logistics, more beach days. Tropical islands instead of tough climbs. And I got a head start on this gentler chapter by visiting the ABC Islands of the Netherlands Antilles: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Each island had its own rhythm—and together, they set the tone for the year ahead. Aruba: Familiar Shores, New Perspectives I’ve been to Aruba three  times, and each visit has revealed something different. On my first trip, I did the classic island tour—driving along the rugged northern coast to see the California Li...
Post a Comment
Read more

Berlin, Germany

Image
Beyond Oktoberfest: A Journey Through Berlin’s History  I thought I was headed for another Oktoberfest — the kind with overflowing beer steins, sizzling bratwurst, and the joyful chaos I once experienced in Munich. The real Oktoberfest there is pure exuberance: laughter echoing through crowded tents, brass bands playing endlessly, the air thick with the smell of roasted nuts and grilled sausages. It’s loud, carefree, and gloriously indulgent — the sort of celebration where you lose track of time in the swirl of songs and steins. But Berlin’s “Oktoberfest ” couldn’t have been more different. Berlin: A City Steeped in History In Berlin, I quickly realized this trip wasn’t about holding a beer mug high — it was about holding history close. The city wears its past openly, in ways that are both haunting and humbling. Every street, every monument, every fragment of wall seems to whisper stories of courage, loss, and rebirth. At the Reichstag , often called the People’s House, I stood in ...
Post a Comment
Read more