Travel

Click left to see the highlights
of all the countries
I have been to.

Austria

When I finally got to visit Austria, my idea that the country was magical was confirmed. I loved that I was walking in the same streets that some of the most extraordinary musicians and composers walked in decades and centuries ago. I ate what Mozart would have eaten, spoke the language that Schubert would have spoken, and admired the architecture that Strauss would have admired.

What stood out to me most about Vienna was that the community was defined by its love of the arts. The architecture was beautiful, from the museums to the palace to the Opera House. Everywhere I went, there were advertisements for classical music festivals, Opera shows, and street performers playing the violin or cello. The perfectly cooked schnitzels was the cherry on top.

Australia

From Sydney to Brisbane, I was holding koalas and feeding kangaroos. I loved seeing wombats and platypuses for the first time. We spent days snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and exploring the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Touring the Kuranda Village in the rainforest was a great way to learn about the aboriginal people of Australia and their unique culture and arts.

Bahamas

The water was pristine and the beaches were word class. The marine habitat from the Atlantis is impressive. Nassau, the capital, was extremely rich with history, from the Queen's Staircase to Fort Charlotte to other historical buildings. 

Belgium

I was prepared to be treating myself with Belgium chocolate and waffles, but their frites (French fires) were surprisingly delicious. The city of Brussels offers stunning architecture and beautiful examples of art nouveau, like the statue of Manneken Pis that was dressed in a different costume everyday.  From the guild buildings lining the Grand Place to the secret gardens of the royal palace, and from Palais des Beaux-Arts to the little Europe and Atomium, this is a great city to explore.

Canada

The tranquility of St. John in New Brunswick made for a great setting to take peaceful walks. We explored the 24 blocks of Trinity Royal Preservative Area and saw cute little shops and stands left and right. I had a street artist make me a caricature, which I have displayed in my room.

Halifax in Nova Scotia was was one of the first cities in Canada.  It is another extremely artistic town, as seen in its public art displays, waterfront Dolphin Parade,  many art festivals, and talented street performances.

Vancouver is unique and beautiful. Its modern skyscrapers were complemented by gardens and water. The extremely ethnically diverse city offered some of the best food I’ve ever eaten.

Caribbean Islands

The Caribbean islands are synonymous with Eden; its warm blue waters and white sand beaches were heavenly. The islands were the perfect places for relaxation.

China

Visiting China was an extremely memorable experience, especially because I got to see where my parents grew up. China was like a kaleidoscope of culture, from the financial centered Hong Kong and the bustling cities of Shanghai  to the many world wonders, including the Great Wall in Beijing and the Terra Cotta Soldiers in Xi’An.  Of course I had to go see the pandas in Chengdu and the ancient gardens in Suzhou. Chinese people are as diversified as their culinary arts and their architectural styles.  My month-long trip was too short to explore all the rich culture and art of such a wonderfully large country.

Czech Republic

Prague is a spectacular city. We would walk from the Old Town Square, across Charles Bridge, along Mostecka, past St Nicholas Church to Nerudova, and arrive at the Prague Castle. Every turn I took brought me face to face with yet another beautiful building or sculpture. Unsurprisingly, I saw at least 4 couple getting married in the beautiful city.

Český Krumlov is a charming Bohemian town that I especially enjoyed. It is bisected by the Vitava River and crowned with its medieval castle. It is like a fairytale town with cobblestone streets, Renaissance architecture, Baroque buildings, and many restaurants along the beautiful bank of the Vltava River.

Denmark

Home to mermaids, Copenhagen was an enchanting city. We strolled along picturesque Nyhavn with its renowned straight colored houses and tiny street-side cafes. Guards paraded around the castle and palace, and the cobble stone streets led us to elaborate buildings rich with Danish history.

Estonia

Tallin is a charming city on the Baltic sea. The medieval walled old town has a vibrant vibe which isolates it from the surrounding modern city. This mysterious place is comprised of ancient church spires, glass skyscrapers, baroque palaces, appealing eateries, brooding battlements, shiny shopping malls, rundown wooden houses and cafes set in sunny squares.

France

Paris and its music, art, architecture, food and people are beautiful and stylish. Paris is romantic and relaxing; the French lifestyle is represented by the street-side cafes, open squares, museums, and parks. There is much more to the city than meets the eye.

Germany

The small country of Germany is home to a slew of history. From Berlin to Bavaria, there are signs of both past and present, from WWII memorials to the BMW museum to traditional sausage feasts. Munich and Kiel contrasted with the fairytale castles and whimsical Christmas markets in the Barbarian Mountains. My favorite part of Germany was the Neuschwanstein Castle, the model for the Cinderella Castle, set in a picturesque medieval town that allowed me to escape from reality.

Greece

I visited many of the ancient sites in Greece, including Athens, Mycenae, Corinth, Olympia, Delphia, and the magical Meteora Monasteries. These ancient acropolises and Greek god monuments contrasted with the resort-like islands, from Santorini to Mykonos to Rhodes and Lindo. The deep blue Aegean Sea complimented the bright white buildings. Each and every Greek person I met had great hospitality; as they say in Greece, “Opa!”

Hungary

What I loved most about Budapest was the architecture and Turkish baths. The Turkish baths were both indoor and outdoor swimming pools/hot tubs set in intricately designed buildings. Crossing the Danube River brought me from Buda to Pest, 2 very different sides in 1 very unique city.

Iceland

Iceland is extremely special for its natural beauty. The people believe in fairies, which is unsurprising considering how magical the country is. The Blue Lagoon was a hot spring with extremely hot bright blue water, a very fascinating sight among the black volcanic rock. The small city of Reykjavik contains quaint and  colorful buildings surrounded by the blue sea. It is easy to imagine the Vikings that used to inhabit this lava town. People in Iceland are creative in their art, architectural design, fashion, and food.  

Israel

The trip to the Holy cities in Israel like Jerusalem and Galilee is a trip that I will never forget. Visiting such a religiously important country was very mind-opening and educational. We walked around the desert, from the top of the scorching Masada mountain top to the hot, stinging waters of the Dead Sea. It was extremely interesting talking to the inhabitants of Old Town, whether they be Christian, Muslim, or Jewish, which presented many diverse perspectives. Surprisingly, the Tel Aviv beach was one of the best beaches I’d been to. 

Italy

Italy is fascinating. Its history, art, and beauty had a huge presence everywhere we went, including Rome, Florence, Pompeii, Pisa, Livorno, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Sicily, Tuscany, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. This land is the epicenter of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of the Renaissance. It's a cultural conundrum as thrilling as it is overwhelming. In Venice, we watched the world’s best glass- blowers create masterpieces in minutes and went to an Opera with a small audience of 30 people. And of course, nothing beats Italian food.

The Netherlands

I loved walking around the winding water canals of Amsterdam. The people in Amsterdam live quite lives, where everyone travels on bike along the quite canals. It was apparent why artists like Van Gogh were so inspired by the town. A highlight of the trip was waiting for hours to visit the Anne Frank house, a truly humbling experience.

Spain

Barcelona was an extremely special city for me because it was where I could practice my Spanish- speaking skills. Each block, there was a different square nestled between buildings, where the sound of guitars radiates. Walking the streets where Picasso walked was amazing, and seeing the grandiose Sagrada Familia was fascinating. We ate tapas and paella and just enjoyed our time walking around the large city and getting lost.

Sweden

Stockholm is a beautiful city on water. It has the perfect blend of modern culture and history. Time stopped when walking in the maze of winding medieval alleyways, soaking in the sun while watching the changing of the guard. We visited the ancient churches, royal palace, the small squares, and one of the many museums.

Malaysia

The Malay Peninsula and the island of Borne are known for its beaches, rainforests, and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European cultural influences. Penang's George Town is an urban center that seems like it’s from a different decade. Treshaws pedal by and the buildings are all small and old. Melaka was another interesting city marked by its Dutch, Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and Portuguese cultures. The blend of the Malacca Sultanate Palace, Chinatown, Little India and the Portuguese Settlement show how diverse the city is. Langkawi was one of the prettiest places I’ve seen. It is an archipelago of 104 islands in the Andaman Sea. It is a tropical paradise surrounded by white beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, bizarre rock formations, and jungles with a wide variety of wildlife. We took a relaxing boat ride through the breathtaking KILIM Geoforest Park, where we were immersed into the habitat of monkeys, mangroves, and eagles.

Mexico

Although I was young at the time, the perfect beaches, beautiful warm water and the delicious Mexican food in Cancun is still vivid in my mind. We visited Cabo San Lucas, Purerto Vallarta, and Cozumel as well, and each place was rich with friendly people, lively culture, and great food.

Monaco

Monaco is tiny and luxurious. Parked outside the casinos were bright exotic cars, from Ferraris to Lamborghinis to Bugattis. The whole country is monitored by surveillance cameras. I was in awe as I walked through the rich country.

New Zealand

The landscape of New Zealand is amazing, from the lush green rolling hills to the magical, mysterious morning fog. The whole country smells like minerals from hot springs and sprouting geysers, and everywhere there are signs of aboriginal culture. From Rotorua to Wai-O- Tapu and from Auckland to Bay of Islands, we learned about the culture of the Maori people. My favorite part of the trip was visiting Hobbiton, where the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings were filmed.

Norway

Norway was a very unique country. The cities are extremely clean and modern, yet there are subtle hints that show the past presence of Vikings. In Oslo, we read the stories in the Nobel Peace Museum. We saw ancient ships left behind by the Vikings, and we learned about the ghost stories of the Akershus Slott castle. At the National Museum, I admired Munch’s masterpieces, and at Aker Brygge, I overlooked the fjords.

Russia

The grand city of St. Petersburg was a perfect representation of the grand country of Russia. The city has been sculpted by past Russian Tsars, as seen in the attention-grabbing architecture of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, the overwhelming 140 fountains of Peterhof, the elaborate interior of the Catherine Palace, and endless hallways of the huge Hermitage. Everything we saw was large and impressive, especially the Winter Palace, the largest palace in the world.

Singapore

Singapore is the epitome of modern development. The Marina Bay’s clean modern architecture and the huge Merlion statue were very unique to the country. There was very abstract sculptures in the botanic gardens, and Sentosa was like Disneyland.

South Korea

In South Korea, it is clear that the people have a deep pride in their country. In the middle of the very technologically advanced city was a perfectly preserved royal palace and Hanok Village. It was interesting seeing the Gwanghwamun Gate Guards do a performance, something very different from the changing-of-guard performances in many European countries. The soul of Seoul is fashion and technology forward but also deeply traditional. This dynamic city mashes up temples, palaces, cutting- edge design, innovative cosmetics, and of course K-Pop.

Thailand

We rode tuk-tuks from one golden temple to another in Bangkok, and rode tiny boats around the floating market to buy souveniers. At the Elephant Conservatory, we fed baby elephants, and at Phuket we relaxed on the pristine beaches. The suffocating humidity was made bearable by the beautiful Buddha temples.

Turkey

Turkey is the magical meeting place of Eastern and Western culture. Whereas we visited the home of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, we also entered the many grandiose mosques in Istanbul. The Grand Bazaar was a very unique place, where people bargain for spices, candies, souvenirs, and knock-off designer products.

United Kingdom

London has some of the greatest museums and art galleries in the world. We of course also had to visit the famous landmarks of Big Ben, Tower of London, Tower Bride, Thames, the London Eye, and of course Buckingham Palace and Parliament. Female horse guards roam the city, and businesspeople in suits rush by the medieval palaces. I’d never eaten so much Fish and Chips as I did in London.

Vatican City

I was amazed by how much this smallest country can offer. We stood in St. Peter’s Square and gazed at famous Michelangelo art in the Vatican Museums. The Basilica of St. Peter and Sistine Chapel were breathtaking. It was a very special experience standing in the city that is the center of the Catholic faith and the home to the Pope.

Vietnam

From the western styled Ho Chi Minh city to the ancient town of Hoi An and from the temple of My Son Holy See to the beautiful beach town of Vung Tau, Vietnam has so much to offer. Vietnamese people are kind and hard working. Old ladies carry baskets of fruit as motorcycles and scooters speed by. At the fish market, the smell of fish is overwhelming, and at art workshops, unique Vietnamese lacquer paintings are on display.

United States