Iran has been officially known as "The Islamic Republic of Iran" since 1979. Even though today it's commonly known for it's strict Islamic laws, those that know even a tad bit of Iran, know of it's richer, more vibrant history. Iran has an estimated population of 83 million people, ranking it 18th largest in the [...]
"Can Americans even travel to Iran?" is the second most commonly asked question after whether Iran is safe to travel to at all. The answer is yes, it is safe. And yes, Americans can legally travel to Iran though it takes a longer Visa process than most. It will also cost more because you'll have to [...]
Persian literature is a significant element of the Persian culture. Its influence on the Islamic culture of the Middle East is vast. These writers and poets are highly regarded not only in Western Asia but also around the world. Rumi has definitely brought the popularity of Persian poetry into the world. But there are many [...]
One of the top reasons I have been wanting to visit Iran is to taste it's rich, savory cuisine first hand. I am fortunate to live within 15 minutes from Westwood in Southern California. Also known as "Tehrangeles" where the largest Iranian population outside of Iran has resided and thrived for the past 40 years. [...]
Yoga has become very popular throughout the past few years in Lebanon. Many younger (and older) Lebanese people are setting aside their religious and ethnic differences in a country/region that is still often torn by these trivial matters for a step towards oneness. The best yoga teachers do a phenomenal job in bringing a diverse range [...]
View of Jounieh and Beirut from atop the Lady of the Sky in Harissa I just returned from my 2nd trip to Lebanon after going for the first time 2 years ago. I actually felt emotional the day I was departing. After 2.5 weeks in Lebanon, I landed in the beautiful, orderly city [...]
Is it Safe to Travel to Lebanon? "What!? Is it safe to travel to Lebanon?" is the most common question asked by people (mainly Americans) when they hear that I'm going. So let's address this first: Yes, it is safe. I will say it's even safer than being in the United States. Well what about for [...]
Lebanon left a nostalgic impression on me. Mainly because I spent 7 of my 10 days in Batroun, a laid back beach town an hour north of Beirut. There, I spent my days in a beach wrap, riding bikes, sipping freshly squeezed lemonade, learning about the local culture and consuming copious amounts of delicious, fresh [...]
Late last year, I had the fateful opportunity to meet the lovely Amrita Thadani over some Rosé on a Friday Jazz night at LACMA. Amrita is the founder of an ethical, fair trade and locally branded clothing company which employs refugee women and women of domestic violence. Neococo was founded in Fall 2017 as a [...]
Should Travel Bloggers "get political" on their Travel and Social Media posts? Should writers, influencers, celebrities, doctors or teachers? Frankly, I think this is a silly, even stupid question. To be candid, I'm not one that necessarily believes that there are no 'stupid questions' in life. But I'm here to answer why I think that [...]
