Erika Bisbocci
Erika is an avid traveler and explorer of over ninety countries on six different continents. Since 2011, she has spent time studying Arabic in the Middle East, teaching English in Namibia and working as a flight attendant for a major US airline. When not traveling overseas, she loves exploring her own backyard in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
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Volunteering with All Hands and Hearts in the USVI
Though the media has long stopped paying attention to the damages that hurricanes Irma and Maria inflicted on the people of the Caribbean, rebuilding efforts in the region are far from over. On many islands, power lines are still down, houses are still uninhabitable and businesses are still closed. Puerto Rico received much of the media attention in the months following the deadly storms. And rightly so; the island suffered over 3,000 casualties. But the twin hurricanes also devastated the nearby United States Virgin Islands (USVI)–flattening shops and hotels and…
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7 Unforgettable Days in Cuba: A One Week Itinerary
Seductive and secretive, Cuba has captured the imagination of American travelers for decades—not least because it has been shrouded in mystery for so long. The birthplace of salsa and producer of coveted Cuban cigars, it is a small country that has made a large splash around the globe both culturally and politically. For years, Cuba was closed off to American tourists. And though people still found ways to visit the country illegally via Mexico or Canada, Cuba managed to avoid the levels of mass tourism found elsewhere in the Caribbean.…
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Seoul in Winter: Two Chilly Days in South Korea’s Capital
After a week in Cambodia’s sweltering tropical heat, Seoul’s winter weather hit me like a slap in the face. I had bundled in layers from head to toe and braced myself for freezing temperatures, but nothing quite prepared me for the rush of cold air that met me as I stepped off the plane at the Incheon International Airport. Temperatures hovered around ten degrees Farenheit and the fierce wind sliced at my bones. It was a stark reminder that we were no longer in the tropics. And that winter in…
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Visiting Angkor Wat: Travel Guide and Itinerary
Angkor Wat is an enduring example of humanity’s devotion to its deities. A sprawling temple complex of crumbling palaces, ruined sculptures and holy places of worship, it is the largest religious structure on Earth. There are few places on the planet that rival the staggering and mysterious beauty of Angkor Wat. The glorious temple is the heart and soul of Cambodia: it is the country’s premier tourist attraction, its national symbol, and the epicenter of Khmer civilization. THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR Angkor Wat is the undeniable highlight of travel…
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One Day in Phnom Penh: Dark Tourism in the Pearl of Asia
Cambodia is a small, landlocked country with a rich heritage and a dark past. Both home to one of the world’s greatest civilizations and one of the 20th century’s greatest tragedies, the country’s history is at once proud, multi-layered, complex and heartbreaking. In Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, the country’s rich heritage and tragic past collide. The city can be an assault on the senses, like a mellower version of Bangkok. With gleaming golden temples and lush vegetation lining its frenetic streets, it is vibrant and intoxicating. In Phnom Penh, motorbikes whiz through…
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Easter Island 5 Day Itinerary: Things to Do and See
Few places in the world can rival Easter Island when it comes to capturing the imagination of travelers. Known locally as Rapa Nui, this small speck of land—sitting smack in the middle of the wild Pacific—is like no other places on Earth. The island’s wild beauty and mysterious history have inspired dreamers, enthralled travelers and baffled historians. Easter Island is Polynesia at its best—still untouched by the masses, still untarnished by overdevelopment and still clinging to a slow-paced lifestyle that runs on island time. Forget cruise ships, mass tourism and…
