I slept on the top bunk in the sleeping car of a passenger train bound for Varanasi, India, an ancient city on the banks of the Ganges in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. My friend slept below me on the lower bunk. Something had woken me up in the middle of the night, a movement near my feet, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting I made out two huddled figures at the end of my bunk; two women wrapped in saris sharing the tiny space with...

Bali, the surfer’s dreamland and Aussie get-away of Indonesia, is an international destination that draws thousands of travelers every year. Each island in the chain that makes up this expansive country has a distinct culture and ethnic background and Bali is a fine example. The language, food, holidays, and traditions of the Balinese developed independently from the neighboring islands, which gives this little piece of paradise an undeniable app...

My first day in Kolkata, India, consisted of exiting a plane at the dingy international airport on one side of the city, hailing a cab to take us through the mess of disconnected streets and traffic that included everything from bikers to horse drawn carts to free-ranging cows, and wandering into the largest railway station in all of India. I had been here before. I knew what I was doing. We just needed to book a train north. Sounds easy enough, ...

Hawaii: the palm tree beach playground of America. The majority of people who visit these islands come for a week, maybe two, and some are lucky enough to visit every year, but very few people can imagine calling this place home. The ancient culture, utterly unique flora, and perfectly balanced climate call out to travelers looking for an exotic vacation without having to hassle with different currency and language barriers. Water, sun, and surf;...