Trouvaille Travel

05/07/2026

Mosques, Minarets, Madrassahs and Mausoleums: it’s been a crazy and intense week of trying to get a handle on Uzbekistan. I will never understand the complicated history of Central Asia and the Silk Road. Khans, Shahs, Amirs, all battling for control over vast swaths of land through which all of the goods went from China, India, Europe, and so on. It’s still a complicated crossroads of ethnic Uzbek, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Mongolians, Russians. Going “off-the-beaten-path” means very little English language anything (Russian is the second language of choice here), spending an hour with a driver searching for a working ATM, trying to work with the uniformly glacially slow wifi. And the food: well, as a vegetarian it’s been a challenge but if you like beef kebabs, you are in luck. It’s beautiful and incomprehensible at the same time. (I have a book on the history waiting for me at home; the new Temur movie didn’t help much).

04/28/2026

04/28/2026

People always ask why I keep returning to Vietnam. First, I’m not a country-counter, traveling just to tick off places. Visiting once is never enough to sink into a place, get into its rhythms, and feel at ease enough to relax into a place. Second, SE Asia always feels both relaxing and wildly exhilarating at the same time. It’s chaotic and overwhelming at times (on the back of a motorbike in Saigon!) but it’s easy to also find serenity, peace and quiet. The heat forces you to slow down in the middle of the day, to relish its sensual languor. And then, bam! the nighttime hits you with excitement, thrills, and sensory stimulation as the cities come alive with music, food and markets. And there is so much beauty here. Forget beige and gray minimalism: every corner is a riot of color and texture, scent and flavors. There are relics and new skyscrapers, seamlessly interwoven, with both faded and bright colors everywhere. It’s not a place for travelers who want to float in a bubble, sealed off from smells and sounds; rather, it’s for the curious and adventurous, who want to dive in and get swept up in the senses, who will relish the cacophony of motorcycle beeps and the wafting scents of food stalls, and still find peace in the stillness of the rivers and beaches.

03/11/2026

Thrilled and honored to be selected as a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist again for 2026! Grateful to have been first recognized in 2025 after only 4 years in the industry, and to all of my clients who have placed their trust in me. I could not have hoped for more when I changed careers!

03/11/2026

Thrilled and honored to be selected as a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist again for 2026!

03/10/2026

Thrilled and honored to be selected as a Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialist again this year!

12/01/2025

China was an overwhelming experience in the best possible way. With 1.4 billion people, the diversity and vastness (of both land and population) are staggering. Ancient and modern, natural yet intensely urban - every moment was a curious blend of contrasts. Back home, I've been devouring books on its history and culture, and I'm desperate to learn and see more of one of the most fascinating places I have ever been.

11/06/2025

My favorite!

And it's not where you think it is. Get the details at the link below. 👀