I’m Don, and I grew up in the Midwest never thinking I’d travel internationally. Even in graduate school at 26, studying abroad didn’t register as something for me.

My first international trip was Tulum in 2015. Travel stayed occasional until I planned a solo trip to Japan for March 2020. That didn’t happen. When the world reopened, I made up for lost time, spending weeks in Mexico City, Chile, Germany, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

More than the traveling itself, I love the research and planning. I’m the person who enjoys finding the right neighborhood café or building the ideal three-day itinerary. This blog is where I share what I learn.

You’ll find personal stories and research-based recommendations—restaurants, neighborhoods, and insights from actual experience. Whether you plan meticulously or just want ideas, I hope you find something useful here.