Taj Mahal Photography Tips for a Short Visit
An Aunt, a Niece, and India
I instinctively held my breath and my whole body was clenched into a knot as I looked out the front window of the taxi. “Brake, brake brake!” was swirling around in my head wanting to scream it’s way out just as we swerved at the last minute avoiding the car in front of us and […]
Packing for India’s Monsoon Season
It was as if I had walked into a brick wall. It startled me and I rocked back a couple of steps until I could get my feet underneath me again. The thick wall of heat and humidity that is in India in August is real, and it will knock you on your ass. I […]
Too Scared to Travel To India? I Have a Solution…
Fear is a weird and powerful thing. It controls our decisions and can hold us hostage. I have plenty of fears – too many. However, travel is not one of them luckily. When I talk to people about traveling around the world the one fear that seems to be the same for everyone is that […]
The Last Niece Project Goes To…
I surveyed the menu; I felt as if I was under a lot of pressure to choose exactly the right dishes. After all, a big life decision would be made based on this meal specifically. My youngest niece, Erin, was choosing her destination for her Niece Project, the very last Niece Project. She had the […]
Facing My Fears on a Bike in Thailand
In an effort to bring you some new voices on Ottsworld, here is a guest post from a fellow adventurer and biker, Jennifer Coleman. As a side note, I will be taking off on my first bike tour this year – so I soaked up all of her recommendations on how to overcome biking fears! […]
Why You Should Travel to Vietnam in Rainy Season
It arrives in Vietnam with a vengeance; the rainy season. No rain for months and then it just starts; daily downpours that relieve you from the heat and make you run for cover. Most people hear the words “Vietnam rainy season” and immediately start looking at other vacation alternatives. But I say embrace the rainy […]
Same Same and Something Different in Shanghai
“It’s like China town…but it’s in China,” Ling my Shanghai guide said in a bit of a disappointed tone. I wondered if she had heard that from a former guest, as I doubt she had ever been to a China town in another country. But I laughed and agreed whole-heartedly with her. I surveyed the […]
What to Eat in China
THWAK! The thick menu felt like an earthquake when it was put on the table. I looked at it in astonishment; it was the size of a Sears Catalog that I remember receiving when I was a kid! When I landed in China for my 8-day trip, I was excited about one thing – I […]
Travel Through New China and Old Traditions
I cringe when I hear the speaker crackle and pop as a high-pitched voice blares through the square in Xi’an. The speaker should have probably been retired 10 years ago, but it lives on and no one seems to care that it’s past its prime. I try to listen through the crackling and come to […]
