Moorea: The Island That Made Me Addicted

lush mountains beside tranquil blue water Moorea

The German man from Fiji had warned me. “Moorea is beautiful, Andi. But be careful. It can make you addicted.” When he said that on the phone in Germany, I smiled. It sounded nice, of course. A good sentence for a travel brochure. But after my first morning on Moorea, after the salty catamaran crossing …

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Sri Lanka, Where the Sun Still Rises With Hope

Serene beach at sunrise with palm trees in Sri Lanka

This photo was taken only a few months ago, in Tangalle, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. But for me, it could just as well have been taken more than three decades ago. The wide beach, the long empty shoreline, the soft morning light, the footprints in the sand, and the ocean breathing calmly …

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Marco Polo Hotel Davao: Our Oasis and Our Memories

Modern glass building of the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao in an urban setting

There are places we visit that leave a brief, fleeting impression, but then there are extraordinary spots that linger in our hearts long after we’ve departed. For me, one such place is the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City. This hotel is not merely a landmark; it exudes a distinctive calmness and charm that draws …

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A Moment in a Frame: Hungry in the Quartier Latin, Paris

Charming restaurant with outdoor seating in the Quartier Latin in Paris

We both love Paris. Not only because of the big names like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe or Versailles — of course, they are part of the magic too. But what we love most is the Parisian flair: the small streets, the cafés, the restaurants with handwritten menus outside, the smell …

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