15 Things to Know Before Traveling to Myanmar

/ lifeafter9to5 / 1 Comment

GOPR7173

Myanmar (pronounced me-ann-mar) has become a traveler’s hot spot in recent years, and will get even more popular now that they’ve held democratic elections.  Their new found political freedom shined the spotlight, and brought a surge of people into the once isolated country. Hotel and infrastructure are being built to support the rapid growth as the country moves towards becoming the next must-visit Asian destination. Things are changing fast and information on the web gets quickly outdated. Here are a list of  things we learned from our trip (taken at the end of Nov, 2015) that will hopefully make your planning easier: Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Fountain

/ lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

IMG_4087Versailles, France

The magnificent Palace of Versailles was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV at the height of the French monarchy. The enormous palace complex has manicured lawns, intricate sculptures, and ornate fountains located throughout the property. The centerpiece of the garden is the elaborate Latona fountain, which inspired Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

Photo of the Week: Railroad

/ lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

IMG_4490New York City, USA

This photo was taken at the train station on 125th street in Harlem.  A lot of commuter trains from Connecticut pass through this hub on their way into the city.  The lines of the railroad tracks are very beautiful to me.  I love sitting here watching the trains zoom off until they are a tiny dot in the distance.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

6 Things NOT to do in Rio

/ lifeafter9to5 / 2 Comments

IMG_3764

Travel involves a lot of uncertainty, where things like cancelled flights or theft can really put a damper on your vacation.  Some things are out of your control – like weather, while others just require some common sense.  Don’t let Rio’s reputation for being unsafe deter you from visiting this beautiful city.  However, be aware of your surroundings, and don’t draw unwanted attention to yourself.  Based on our experience, we put together a short list of things NOT to do: Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Descending Dragon

/ lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

IMG_3385Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam

This picture really captured the scene for me with a mystical quality that makes the seascape looks like a watercolor painting.  Designated a World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay archipelago is made up of around 2,000 islands of various sizes.  It is well known for its towering limestone pillars rising out of the emerald water as seen above. Arguably, one of Vietnam’s most famous and stunning locales, it attracts many visitors each year.  For two days, we cruised around the bay, appreciating my country’s natural beauty.

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.

10 Things to do in Rio

/ lifeafter9to5 / 1 Comment

IMG_3508

Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest cities in South America, known for many things:  its world famous beaches, magnificent natural landscapes, and its iconic landmarks. This sprawling metropolis has everything you’ll need for a good time.  Naturally, we were excited and looked forward to our first trip to Brazil.  We booked months in advance and planned out all the places we wanted to see.  Unfortunately all of that planning did not ensure a drama-free trip as we found out that our flight was canceled two hours before take-off and rescheduled to the next day – our already short trip became even shorter.  When we finally made it there, we were greeted with crappy weather.  Ironically, it rained every single day that we were there during the hottest and driest year in the country’s recent history.  Even with all the problems, we still had a great time.  Here are a few things that we did and a few things that we didn’t get to do due to weather:

Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Snow

/ lifeafter9to5 / Leave a comment

IMG_4134New York City, USA

This picture was taken last year after one of the many snow storms in the New York area.  The ground was blanketed by a fresh layer of soft white powder making everything shiny and bright again.  The busy promenade at Bryant Park was uncharacteristically quiet.  This year, however,  the weather has been pretty mild.  It’s already the end of February, and there haven’t been too many cold days which makes me optimistic that spring will come earlier.  

Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.