How to pack lightly for a long trip

Reading Time: 7 minutes I write this article with a smile, the kind that rises slowly, irresistibly, and unapologetically — the same one that overcame me as I drove up to the Emirates Palace; the same smile that had me glowing when I was upgraded to business class while flying Etihad Airways; and the same one that marks my satisfaction every time I review photos from my trip. Abu Dhabi, you win. I adore you, and I can honestly say that I am fascinated by your culture, politics, economy, architecture, people, and of course, shockingly exponential growth. Quite frankly, I didn’t know much about Abu Dhabi before my arrival. All I knew was that I could at least capture great symmetry at the Grand Shiekh Zayhed Mosque — a bucket list *check.* In my home base community, I have never met an Emirati. I knew little about Muslim culture and the Middle East outside of the war and controversy portrayed by the media. Given that media portraits of Islam are not always cohesive, I thought I would...

Reading Time: 5 minutes The best part of traveling isn’t always the where, but the who. You have to meet new people… that’s the best part! As a typically outgoing person, I still hit a brick wall while traveling solo. I’ve tried a few different techniques and hope some of them work for you too. Here’s what’s worked for me: 1. Carry a deck of cards. “Hey, have you ever played King’s Cup?” I’m serious. There’s nothing like getting a group of people together and suggesting a drinking game or non-alcoholic card game (I like the game “Bullsh*t” too). You can teach them a game from your country, and they can teach you a game from theirs. Before you know it, the ice is broken and everyone is laughing. From backpacker bars in Rio, trains in Eastern Europe, and organizing Aussie road trips for people who don’t know each other, this has been my #1 conversation starter. 2. Everyone loves food, so why not love food together…  “Hey, what are you doing for dinner t...