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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The Colorful San Juan del Sur Nicaragua
Once a sleepy fishing village on the Pacific Ocean, San Juan del Sur has become a popular surfing mecca for young backpackers. San Juan del Sur’s colorful clapboard houses line an expansive crescent of silvery sand. They sit in the shadow of rolling mountains, under the watchful gaze of the world’s second tallest Jesus statue. In recent years, backpackers and surfers have changed the face of San Juan del Sur. The popular tourist destination houses an eclectic mix of locals and bleached-blonde surfers. Fancy fish restaurants line the city’s beach.…
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Wind and Rain in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest
Monteverde is the Costa Rica of travel brochures and its very name conjures images of cloud-shrouded forests, swinging skybridges and elusive quetzals. It is the Costa Rica that has drawn millions of tourists to its rainforest canopies for wildlife viewing and zip-lining. I’d heard nothing but rave reviews about zip-lining above the canopies of the Santa Elena Cloud Forest and I, too, was hoping to partake in one of Costa Rica’s most sought-after activities. I couldn’t wait to observe life high above the treetops. But, as much as we can plan…
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Wildlife in Corcovado National Park
Deemed by National Geographic as the most biologically intense place on Earth in terms of biodiversity, Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park is home to 2.5% of the species found on the planet. The park houses thirteen major ecosystems, including cloud forest, lowland rainforest, palm forest, mangrove swamps and coastal and underwater habitats. It is due to the park’s diversity of habitats, that tourists visiting Corcovado can view animals ranging from playful monkeys and elusive tapirs, to deadly fer-de-lance snakes, radiant macaws and elegant angelfish. COSTA RICA’S CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK…
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Manuel Antonio National Park
“Pura vida!” We heard it as we stepped off the plane. And again when we entered the cab. And again at the bus stop. And again at the hostel. And again when we ordered food. And again and again from strangers on the street. Costa Rica’s motto—pura vida—permeates every aspect of life in the countrys. The slogan is embedded into the very fabric of the small nation’s character. Translated into English as “pure life,” pura vida is the law of the land in Costa Rica. It is at once a…
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Visiting the Ayutthaya Temples as a Day Trip
Ayutthaya was once Thailand’s primary hub of tourism and trade. The island capital of Siam, it prospered as one of the world’s largest and richest cities during its heyday. From the 14th century until its conquest by the Burmese in 1767, Ayutthaya had over 1 million inhabitants—with merchants and dignitaries from all over the world calling the cosmopolitan capital home. In recent history, however, Bangkok has emerged as Thailand’s economic and political center. Meanwhile, Ayutthaya has all but faded into the background. But enigmatic ruins still lie scattered across the…
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Visiting Chiang Mai during the Loi Krathong Festival
Chiang Mai has long been the heart of Thailand’s backpacker culture–a sanctuary of sorts that captures the hearts of travelers with its rich cultural heritage and laid-back vibe. Chiang Mai is northern Thailand’s largest city, as well as its most culturally and architecturally significant. The sheer number of temples and shrines packed into a tiny radius is simply astounding and it became immediately apparent to me why so many people in my hostel had come to Chiang Mai for a few days and ended up staying weeks. The city sits…
