Expanding horizons
Travel began as a professional necessity and quietly became a passion for discovery. Journeys from bustling cities to factory districts, and on to the rural hometowns of the people I have worked with, have sharpened my understanding of global markets and diverse cultures.
I went to Tokyo to see a friend who lives there — Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ginza, and food that was excellent and surprisingly affordable. On the train from the airport I noticed how muted the buildings were; the reason is the climate, as humid summers, the rainy season and typhoons quickly stain bright walls. Clean streets, punctual trains and a real sense of safety made it an easy city to love.
My first trip to Quebec was to visit a friend; I've since returned many times, often by car — in through Niagara Falls, then Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, with a stop at the Thousand Islands. Economical, easy and full of scenery. Out west, I have also taken in the Canadian Rockies at Banff; Vancouver is next.
A spontaneous detour during a Spain trip made me fall for Porto; I later organized a golf trip through Lisbon and the Algarve. Warm people and costs around a third of New York's — English is limited outside Lisbon, but that's part of the authentic charm.
I've been to more than 30 Chinese cities for work and leisure — from Shanghai and Guangzhou to Ürümqi — through their markets and kitchens: Beijing's landmarks, Chengdu hotpot, Shanghai soup dumplings. China now feels like a second home.
I went to Bali to translate for a friend's swimwear influencer shoot and found an island shaped by tourism and foreign investment — luxury at a fraction of U.S. prices, English everywhere, and hundreds of motorbikes at every crossing.
A city I've visited often — like a compact New York, with the Peak, Stanley Market and Lan Kwai Fong nightlife, left-hand traffic that still catches me out, and quiet outlying islands for hiking and temples.
Hanoi was a work trip spent mostly in industrial zones — tropical heat, rivers of motorbikes, conical hats and banknotes that make you a millionaire. The pace of industrialization impressed me; Ho Chi Minh City is next.
A dinner cruise on the Seine under the sparkling Eiffel Tower was unforgettable. Parisians' pride in their language, the food, the architecture and the beauty shops made the city feel both historic and modern.
A friend's business on Oxford Street took me to London and I stayed on for Buckingham Palace and the Queen's Guard, the Thames, the London Eye and the British Museum. Unforgettable — though the prices and weather made me appreciate home.
I went as a translator for friends and came back with memories of Bangkok nights, Pattaya sunsets and speedboats, an elephant ride through the jungle and golden pagodas.
From Barcelona and Montserrat to Madrid, Toledo, Granada's Alhambra and Seville — flamenco, Moorish architecture, jamón and tapas along the way.
Seoul through friends' eyes — Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung, Korean barbecue and street-food markets — plus golf courses set between mountains and sea.
An all-inclusive beachfront stay with golf, evening shows and my first surfing lesson. The clear water and beaches were a world away from New York — I'll be back to see more of Mexico.
The Jungfrau Railway climbs from spring meadows to a snowstorm at 3,454 m — two seasons in one ride. Swiss watches, alpine scenery straight out of a film, and infrastructure that impressed me throughout.
Venice, Rome, Florence and Milan — Michelangelo's David, gondolas, ancient monuments and fashion — and the ruins of Pompeii frozen in time. Easy-going people and food that felt close to Korean cooking.
Musikmesse in Frankfurt, historic streets, a wide range of beer and Haxe, cuckoo clocks in the Black Forest and a quiet boat ride on a lake.
