Just a one-hour flight can whisk you away to an entirely different world. My last post left off as the wheels of our plane lifted off the ground of the Holy Land during the latest war with Iran. As they touched ground again, we arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus. The view as we flew into the airport looked like paradise. We flew over vibrant blue Mediterranean waters and sunny shores. As a bus drove us along the tarmac from the plane to the airport, people marveled over the flamingos

There comes a point when war becomes boring, if not mundane; and there comes another point when it becomes annoying. Two weeks of being in the same city, running up and down and up and down into the same miklat, going for walks in the same neighborhood square...Whereas it was good to have downtime and familiarity in those spaces between missile attacks the first week or so, it began to feel very same-y, especially in Rishon LeZion, a comfortable, quiet, and residential city.

The following are entries from my journal during the second week of the war with Iran. If you'd like to read the first installment of this series, click here. 3/7/26 Last night was terrible. Here’s what the night looked like: 19:16 Incoming missile pre-alert 19:19 Rocket & missile fire 20:41 Rocket & missile fire 21:54 Pre-alert 21:56 Rocket & missile fire 00:32 Pre-alert 00:37 Rocket & missile fire 00:50 Event ends 4:56 Pre-alert 5:00 Rocket & missile fire 5:14 Event ends

Miklat (Hebrew: מקלט): A reinforced public bomb shelter, usually underground, intended to protect civilians from rocket and missile fire. Derived from a biblical translation meaning “shelter.” In a week of war, my neighbors have quickly become characters in a story that none of us wanted. Here, I present to you a photo essay detailing the people of my building, who have gathered in our miklat under our building alert after alert, throughout any and every hour of the day thi

This morning, I attended a topical and fascinating Zoom lecture about Iran’s geopolitical strategy and the shifting balance of power in the Middle East. The lecturer was Ido Freund, an expert in the Arabic language, a Middle East intelligence analyst, and a trust & safety strategist. He has an extensive background as a researcher of the Middle East and Islam. I took a ton of notes during the talk. The following is a paraphrased summary of the main ideas that were discussed. I

A collection of Israeli newspapers in a box of Purim accessories. The front page headline translates to, "Iran is the most disturbing arena right now." There’s been a tension boiling in the air since January. It seemed so likely that we would go to war then. At the time, I was dog-sitting for a week in a home without a bomb shelter. (Whereas this is normal in the rest of the world, it is not normal here.) I’d had a talking-to with Beauty, the aptly-named husky I was dog-sitti

An overnight trip through the Negev desert in Israel took us from sweeping crater views in Mitzpe Ramon to the quiet, daily work of care, agriculture, and advocacy. Through visits to Sde Boker, ADI Negev Rehab Center, Bedouin agricultural projects, and a Bedouin woman’s home, this journey became less about landscapes and more about the people shaping life in a place often misunderstood as empty.

Every year, I make a video in review, like a video scrapbook of all the little moments and big adventures of the year. 2025: A year across Asia, Europe, the U.S., and Israel Last year, I completed a year of teaching in Vietnam, backpacked across continents, reunited with family and friends, and made a major move to Israel. This video is all about the places I met, the people in my life, and the transitions of the past year! If you’re interested in long-term travel, living abr

Welcome back to mystical, magical Jerusalem. Forget day trips! This time, we're here for four full days, baby! Over four days, I wandered Jerusalem with my camera, focusing on street photography, from the Old City’s quarters to the crowded aisles of Mahane Yehuda. We begin in the Old City. I returned to deliver photo prints to my new friend, Khamis , in the Muslim Quarter. Once that mission was complete, I was free to wander with my camera around the ancient walls and the bus

Paris. The streets smell like bread. The city simultaneously gives me a creative itch and scratches it. It is May 2024. A brisk breeze wraps around the streets, which are lined by lovely, fashionable architecture; shops that beckon with colorful macarons and a limitless variety of cheeses; and a burst of movement, liveliness, chic fashion, and creativity. This was my "revenge" trip, a return to Paris seven years after my original trip there. In 2017, I'd come to run a 10k and

A slow walk from the chaos of the shuk to the calm of the shoreline reveals a Tel Aviv most people rush past. These photos capture the small, everyday moments that give the city its pulse. No itinerary, no agenda. Just Tel Aviv as it looks when you’re paying attention.

Jerusalem’s Old City is full of history, but it’s the people who bring it to life. During Sukkot, I wandered through the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Quarters, with my camera in hand, meeting locals and travelers. Come see the faces and moments that tell the real story of Jerusalem.

Just days before the hostages came home, I photographed the roadsides of Israel — rallies, posters, and handmade signs that turned highways into galleries of solidarity. These images capture a country holding its breath, waiting for a moment that felt almost impossible to believe.

On Monday morning at Hostage Square, the air was thick with relief, hope, and quiet celebration. With each announcement of a safe return, hearts lifted and tears were shared among strangers united by fear, grief, and finally, the joy of homecomings. Through my lens, I captured these fleeting, tender moments, these snapshots of a nation slowly breathing again.

From Georgetown’s colorful mansions and street art to the misty tea fields of the Cameron Highlands, the wild trails of Taman Negara, and the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia offers an unforgettable journey. Join me as I share stories, photos, and adventures from each stop!

Last fall, I fulfilled a dream I've always had -- to join a dance class and learn some smooth Latin dance moves. Then, I fell and broke my arm (not while dancing, at least) and swapped dance classes for physiotherapy (after finishing the month, dancing one-armed with [not-so-very] chic shoulder immobilizer fashion). But several months later, on May 31, 2025, I was invited back to the dance scene, this time in an art much better suited to my talents -- as a photographer for a

Join a homemade tofu-making workshop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Discover traditional techniques, view my travel photos, and enjoy an authentic culinary tour.

To understand the magnitude of this story of fate/coincidence, you may want to read up on my philosophy of The River of Life. Before I left Korea for my grand backpacking journey, I had a farewell lunch with my Spanish-teacher-turned-best-friend, Lorena. She passed me a book, Siddhartha, with a handwritten note inscribed in the cover. The book is about The River, she promised, and she hoped it would accompany me well on my upcoming journey. The memory of my five-month backpa

One night in Bangkok, and I was three hours into perching on a piano bench in a living room that had been turned into a board game club, surrounded by a lively family trio: mom, dad, and teenage son. "In Thailand, we say we love four things: our food, funny, competition, and gambling," the dad declared with a grin. "I love competition -- any chance to beat my son." I hadn't expected to stumble into this unique board game haven. My original mission had been to find a piano. I'

We're about to visit the most popular and touristy street in Bangkok to see what this water festival is all about, but don't worry: I got soaked so you could stay dry! Songkran is a celebration of the Thai New Year with roots in Buddhism, and over the years, it's evolved into a huge water fight on the streets! No one is safe. Water gun nozzles are aimed outside open bus windows. People spray hoses at passersby on the streets (pedestrian or vehicle -- it doesn't matter). Famil