A few summers ago, I laced up my hiking boots for the first time in years, dragged by a friend to a trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I was skeptical—sweaty climbs and bug bites didn’t scream “fun” to my city-dwelling self. But halfway up, surrounded by whispering pines and a view that made my … Read more
Remember that crisp autumn morning when I laced up my boots and headed out to the Auburn State Recreation Area, the fog still clinging to the American River like a reluctant goodbye? The air smelled of pine and earth, and as I crested a ridge, the canyon unfolded below – a patchwork of gold-tipped oaks … Read more
I still remember the first time I strapped on crampons and gazed up at Mont Blanc’s jagged face, heart pounding like a drum in my chest. That was back in my early twenties, a wide-eyed Aussie chasing winter thrills across the globe, landing in Chamonix by sheer luck and a cheap flight. France wasn’t just … Read more
There’s something undeniably electric about the air in Idukki – that crisp, mist-kissed mountain breeze whispering promises of discovery around every bend in the Western Ghats. As a travel enthusiast who’s laced up boots for countless treks and chased sunsets from cliff edges, I can tell you this: Idukki isn’t just Kerala’s spice garden; it’s … Read more
Picture this: You’re perched on the edge of an active volcano, the first rays of dawn painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, while below you stretches a caldera lake shimmering like a hidden jewel. That’s the raw thrill I chased on my first trip to Bali back in 2018—a sunrise hike up … Read more