Yangon (Rangoon) is an incredibly lively, somewhat bizarre Southeast Asian locale. With a population of over five million people, it is Myanmar’s largest, most established hub. Swatches of the city have been influenced by British architecture, Indian flair, Chinese tastes, and Burmese traditions. A trip to the nation’s former capital would surely leave a lasting impression on travelers seeking to engage with its red-spitting, thanaka-we...

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...

Visiting Paris? Or perhaps you’re intending to spend a little more time than a cursory few days in the City of Lights? Would you like to delve beneath the surface, and discover the behaviours, habits, and customs that will have you fitting in like a local? From the etiquette of baguette-buying; to navigating the city like a pro; people-watching in the sidewalk cafe’s; to pedalling the streets on the popular Vélib bike-share system, this article w...

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...

Discovery Channel’s Shark Week has been on air for 26 years, airing mid-summer with millions of viewers tuning in to see the latest footage of Great White Sharks breaching the South African waters as they swallow seals between their gleaming teeth-filled jaws. The general consensus these days is that sharks are bloodthirsty killing machines that are increasingly hunting down humans, but in reality we are the ones who should be feared.  There...

California is one of the largest, and also most diverse states in the USA, both ethnically and topographically. California is home to the hottest place in the USA, some of the tallest mountains, tallest trees, and some of the most varied coastline available when traveling, studying, or working in this part of the world. The following are 15 of the most unbelievable landscapes in California:   1) Death Valley     Located in Eas...

It is an inherent part of human nature to compare ourselves to others, be it our skills, experiences, or relationships. What this means for travelers, is that before, during and after your journeys, you will face several moments of comparison to others, potentially resulting in unnecessary pressure, discomfort and even major doubt that you are doing things ‘the right way’. It may be your hostel bunk mate exclaiming how cheap they got the room, le...

What Slovenia lacks in size, it makes up for with an abundance of amazing places to visit within the Central European country’s tiny confines. From the whimsical fairytale capital of Ljubljana to medieval towns to Alpine beauty to climbing into earth’s belly and the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, Slovenia offers a potpourri of places and things to do, appealing to a broad spectrum of travelers.   For culture     Forget...

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, ...

If you’re considering studying, interning, or working abroad in California, congratulations! You’ve made a great choice. The most populated and one of the largest states in the United States, California is home to all kinds of different industries and excellent institutions of higher education. But in a state with a population of 38.3 million people, covering an area of 423,970 square kilometers, choosing which part of the state to settle in...