by Matthew Allison | Jun 4, 2023 | Asia
May 2023: I first fell in love with the Buddhist regions of the Himalayas in 1998, when I visited Ladakh and Zanskar in northern India, spending several months traveling and trekking in the region. Since then, I’ve returned to trek in Bhutan (2005) and in Tibet...
by Matthew Allison | May 30, 2023 | Middle East
A Brief Return to Iraq: Baghdad, Babylon, and Beyond May 2023: With only a few days to spare before heading to Nepal for a two-week trek in the Mustang Valley, I decided to squeeze in another visit to Iraq. My previous journeys had introduced me to some incredible...
by Matthew Allison | May 14, 2023 | North America
Short Trip into the Canadian Rockies June 2023: For our final “babymoon” trip, my wife, her mom, and I took advantage of the direct flights from San Diego to Alberta, Canada, to explore what I consider the wildest and most breathtaking part of the Rocky...
by Matthew Allison | Apr 23, 2023 | Australia & Pacific
March 2023: As part of a larger Pacific Island trip and a ‘babymoon’, my wife and I chose to end our journey by relaxing in the Yasawa Islands of Fiji at the rustic yet tranquil Barefoot Manta beach bungalow resort. It was the perfect way to conclude our...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 17, 2023 | Australia & Pacific
March 2023: Before this trip, I knew next to nothing about Tuvalu, and I imagine the same goes for most of the world. It’s rare for Tuvalu to make headlines, and if it does, it’s usually about the threat of rising sea levels that could one day submerge the...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 16, 2023 | Australia & Pacific
March 2023: As part of a larger multi-country trip on our babymoon, Paula and I spent four days on Tarawa, a remote island in the Pacific that witnessed one of the fiercest WWII battles. Tarawa’s landscape still holds numerous relics from the battle, including...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 15, 2023 | Australia & Pacific
March 2023: In my quest to visit every country in the world, Nauru was one that I admittedly kept putting off. It promised to be difficult and costly, with a fair chance of getting stranded due to flight delays. Additionally, it lacked the usual draws that pull me to...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 12, 2023 | Australia & Pacific
March 2023: As part of our larger Pacific Island adventure and our “babymoon,” Paula and I spent three days in Tasmania, the wild and beautiful island state south of mainland Australia. Tasmania is famed for its stunning landscapes, rugged wilderness, and...
by Matthew Allison | Mar 10, 2023 | Asia
March 2023: As part of a larger “babymoon” trip through the Pacific Islands, my pregnant wife, Paula, and I spent three days in Taiwan. I had only experienced Taiwan during layovers in the past, so this was my first proper visit. A major motivation for the...
by Matthew Allison | Jan 19, 2023 | Africa
Cabo Verde & the Azores: A Birthday Trip and a Milestone January 2023 – Celebrating Paula and Completing My African Journey For Paula’s birthday, we traveled to the stunning Portuguese-speaking islands of Cabo Verde and the Azores—a seamless trip made possible by...
