Breaking the silence of the early morning light, the first of five daily adzan is heard; not sleep disturbing, but accessorizing the urban beat of a waking city. This was my introduction to Kuala Lumpur. Not often am I surprised about the places I visit, but the former tin colony was a delightful shock to the system.

Cuba was a massive eye-opening experience for me. As a place that wasn’t high on my list of places to visit, it captured my attention with its old-world charm, culture, food, and grit.

This is part two of “I should have blogged about this a long time ago”.

My visit to Cape Town, South Africa was one of those times when I caught myself saying that “I could probably have a vacation or second home here”.

After two years of sitting on it, I was finally in the frame of mind to finish writing about my trip to South Africa..from the beginning of 2017. After a tumultuous two years, I feel like I can finish what I started what seems like aeons ago now. First on the list is Johannesburg, South Africa. A bustling city with an out-sized personality.

Mexico City was not a place that was front of mind when considering where to travel for vacation.

I never thought I’d find myself in the Pocono Mountains.

There are many reasons to travel with a group of people. Camaraderie, socializing, safety. However, traveling alone is the most liberating experience for someone like me.

A few months ago, I wrote about my trip to Cartagena de Indias immediately after I returned to the US. Now that I’ve had ample time to reflect on that excursion, I’d like to suggest a few general things to do while visiting the gorgeous coastal city:

If you know me, you know that I like a certain caliber of accommodation when I travel if I’m not staying with acquaintances. The Hotel Intercontinental satisfied that requirement.

Where do I even begin when talking about a place like Cartagena, Colombia?

I arrived at Rafael Núñez International Airport at around 1 PM CST after a chilly morning trying to get to LaGuardia on time for my 6 AM Delta flight (thank goodness for Pre-check). As I walked off the plane at my destination (after a short layover in Atlanta), I was met with a virtual wall of moisture in the form of a fine mist of water hovering in the air.

That face you make when your sweat has sweat.

A coastal city near the equator, the humidity in Cartagena was off the charts, but not unpleasant and sticky, unlike New York City during the summer months. The consistent gentle ocean breeze keeps the air from becoming stagnant, and whatever dry skin issues I was dealing with in New York quickly disappeared as I made my way to the customs entrance at the airport.

Getting through immigration and customs was a chore; it always is no matter what when you travel internationally. Long lines and clearly disinterested workers make for a burdensome experience every time.

I finally got through the line and exchanged my funds, that’s when the REAL pimping began, starting with a seemingly friendly porter who took my luggage literally five feet and wanted a tip. I gave him a few dollars, but be warned. Insist on taking your own luggage to the cab.

The cab driver and I settled on a price (extraordinarily reasonable) and I was off to my home for the next 2.5 days; the Hotel Intercontinental in the Bocagrande section of Cartagena. I talk more about my hotel experience here, but needless to say, it was the right choice for a luxury and creature comfort monster like me. The trip down the coast really made an impression on me. It’s one thing to go to Miami and see this, but to be in a foreign country where beach = life, smartphones aren’t prominent, and kids are genuinely having fun running around was refreshing.