Author Profile: Michelle Della Giovanna

The great thing about staying in a place for too long is that you get to hear whenever someone has a great experience. If I hadn’t stayed here a whole week, I would have missed out on the beauty that Phnom Penh...   view more

The people of Cambodia have chosen to display these images and remains so that people can learn their history, and so that history never repeats itself. Hearing stories is one thing, but being faced with the images allows you to feel the weight and gravity of Cambodia’s dark...   view more

If you’ve ever thought of visiting Singapore, you probably heard of Gardens by the Bay. You know that area with the really weird giant trees, and the waterfall inside a round building, and that other building with a boat on top? Yea, that area! Well that my friends is Gardens by the...   view more

Munnar, India was unlike any city I’d ever been to and there was never a lack of things to do. So if you find yourself in Munnar, India and think there’s a lack of things to do, check out this...   view more

Kochi, a small city on the coast of southern India goes overlooked on most itineraries. Although a popular hub for northerners, it’s not often visited by foreigners who prefer to see monuments like the Taj Mahal in the...   view more

My two days spent hunting down temples definitely made me fall in love with this crazy, exciting, and somewhat overwhelming...   view more

Williamsburg is one of the few areas in New York City that I have always wanted to visit but never seem to get around to. In fact, I had several plans to go, which were disrupted by a minor surgery and other things that kept popping...   view more

How did I end up in Essen, a small city not found on many travel itineraries? I was there for a board game convention. Yup, you read that...   view more

Last year, one of my friends asked me to meet her at the last stop of the 7 train. We were headed out to Long Island, and she was going to pick me up there in her car. I stepped out of the train and was sure that I must have gone the wrong...   view more

I’m so excited to share the adventures I had this weekend after having to cancel it the last two weekends because of bad weather. I used the NY Pass for another adventure about 2 months ago. Last time I focused on midtown, and this weekend I focused on...   view more

Phoenix is currently the sixth largest city in the United States, which you wouldn’t know from looking at it. Everything is so spread out that it actually feels like a small town. Not to mention, the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever...   view more

How many attractions can you see in one day in New York City? Four? Five? Nine? The only thing stopping me from trying was...   view more

Midtown is arguably one of the best places to go sightseeing in New York City. It’s also one of the easiest places to visit on a budget since so many things are...   view more

This weeks day on a dime post took place in my very own neighborhood, the Upper East Side. It’s full of lively bars, restaurants, and young adults making it the hip new neighborhood (Brooklyn...   view more

Spending a day in New York City and only spending $30 is challenging (to say the least), however this week I decided to focus on Chinatown. If there is one area in NYC that is cheap, this is...   view more

The hardest thing about saving money for my future travels is that I am living in New York City. The land where a yoga class costs $30 and a mixed drink costs...   view more

Kathmandu has quickly become my second home. Having spent weeks at a time there over the course of several months, I’ve had the chance to really explore the...   view more

When I thought about all the things Austin is known for, and what I wanted to explore, it seemed like food was the obvious choice. I decided I wanted to go on a food tour including a myriad of desserts and food...   view more

A hand full of my Nepali friends love to go out and party, and some of them are DJs, so I tagged along a few nights while they showed me the best of Kathmandu night...   view more

Out of all the Asian countries I’ve visited, Nepal has some of the best restaurants and the most diversified types of cuisine. Had it not been for my local friends taking me to all their favorite spots, I never would have found any of these places to...   view more

It seems like everyone goes to the same three or four places in Thamel and considers that the entire city. But Kathmandu has so much more to offer than cheap souvenirs and a few popular temples that are flooded with tourists. The list of places to visit in Kathmandu is...   view more

Most people don’t know what to expect of the food scene in Kathmandu. What does one eat in Nepal? Curries, lentil soups, and rice are pretty prominent, however, nothing is really out of...   view more

Pokhara is one of those places with an endless list of things to do. Pretty much walk in any direction, and you’re surrounded by beauty. The best part, it’s not expensive. Below is a list of all the things I was able to do during my time in...   view more

For me, Patan is a great place to do non-touristy stuff. Yes, there’s beautiful architecture, temples, etc. But, it’s also full of really interesting experiences that aren’t typically thought of when people visit...   view more

Patan, a small city, just a half hour drive outside of Kathmandu is known for its beautiful architecture. Its little windy alleyways and colorful shops draw visitors from all over Nepal. But, when I looked online for restaurant recommendations, the lists seemed repetitive and to be honest, not that great. Most recommended the same five restaurants that surround the popular Patan Durbar Square. After eating a less than mediocre meal at a few, I decided to investigate and find some better options....   view more

It seems that most lists of things to do in Patan, Nepal consist of seeing every temple in the famous Durbar Square, and that’s it. Yes, there are some great temples, but Patan has so much more to...   view more

Nusa Lembongan (a small island off the coast of Bali) felt like a mystery to me. Not only is this little island perfect for beach bums, it’s great for adventurers as well. Water sports come in all forms...   view more

My mom and I decided to visit Nusa Lembongan after looking at a map of Bali for hours. We spent most of our two weeks on the main beach (Jungut Batu) trying almost every...   view more

Tam Coc seems to be the less touristed version of Sapa. Approximately two hours south of Hanoi, this little town has been deemed the “hidden gem” of Vietnam. Although the town itself is small, it holds an unsurpassable amount of...   view more

Panauti is a small city full of history and charm. Back in the early 1700’s, the King of Bhaktapur gave the small state to his sister as part of her...   view more

The history behind the Namo Buddha Monastery is an interesting one. The story is a bit long, so I’m just going to share the highlights. In ancient times, there was a king who had three...   view more

Dhulikhel, a small city in Nepal, is known for its spectacular views and culture. While most tourists flock to Nagarkot to see the Himalaya, locals spend their weekends enjoying the view from...   view more

Bhaktapur, a small city on the outskirts of Kathmandu, is a cultural hub. It’s been coined “the cultural capital of Nepal” and certainly lives up to the...   view more

Bhaktapur, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated destinations in Nepal. The city comes from an extremely rich culture dating back to the 8th...   view more

I thought that the cable car was the only thing to see and do in Chandragiri, but you can actually spend a few hours at the top. There’s a beautiful temple (as mentioned above) and several lookout points including a view...   view more

Pharping has more things to do in it than Kathmandu! I honestly couldn’t believe it. We arrived and immediately felt at home. Within minutes, we had booked a second night at our...   view more

The owners of the Solid Rock Lodge offered us a few different day hikes so that we could walk and see everything at once without having to go to the dusty highway that cuts through the center of...   view more

The Rani Mahal in Palpa, or Ranighat Palace, is often referred to as the “Taj Mahal of Nepal.” Although it doesn’t resemble the famous Taj Mahal visually, it does have a similar back story full of love and...   view more

Tansen remains off the beaten path for foreign tourists, but it is a destination among locals and those coming from Northern India who want relief from the summer heat. At an altitude just above 1,600m, the climate is gorgeous in the...   view more

While my mom’s house was being built, we ended up staying right on the beach in one of the hotels. The state park beaches are generally nicer, but Myrtle Beach is free to...   view more

Off the coast of Bali lies the small island of Nusa Lembongan. I can honestly describe Nusa Lembongan as paradise. Whether you’re looking to snorkel, scuba, sunbathe, swim or just chill, this island is a mecca for relaxation and water...   view more

When I think of Austin, Texas, I think of food trucks and bright painted murals. That pretty much sums up my time there. I went to Austin for a travel blogging conference and spent my free time eating my way through the city. I decided to check out the highest rated food trucks in...   view more

Recently, I’ve had a few friends ask me what to buy for Nepal souvenirs to take home with them. I feel like I’ve spent a lifetime in Thamel and Lakeside walking by the hundreds of shops selling...   view more

Bandipur, Nepal is one of those places you hear about all the time, and you think there is no way it will live up to the hype. Yet, my visit there somehow exceeded my...   view more

As someone who loves coffee and as a digital nomad, it’s a no brainer that I tend to hang out in coffee shops a lot. Prior to living in Kathmandu, I considered coffee shops to be my interchangeable offices each day, but there’s always a few that become my...   view more

Kathmandu has tons of great restaurants to choose from with unlimited types of cuisine, but finding a place that the whole family will enjoy can be a...   view more

While most people might complain about the lack of trees and the amount of dust flying around Kathmandu, one of the things I find amazing is how there are still beautiful garden cafes in the capital...   view more

I’ve spent a lot of time in Pokhara during my travels since it’s a major hub for tourism in Nepal, not to mention the starting point for several treks. Suraj and I like to frequent certain restaurants while there, and I finally decided to compile a list of the best restaurants in Pokhara. This time, we spent a month in Pokhara trying a different restaurant for lunch and dinner every day including revisiting our...   view more

Seeing as we only went to Dubai for one week, I won’t pretend to know all the best places or all the best things to do. But I did want to share some of our favorite experiences we had while there. A lot of our friends go to Dubai in the winter because it’s a short flight from Kathmandu, and it’s not too difficult to get a visa with a Nepali passport. Since a few friends have asked us for tips, I figured I’d share what we did in our week there. Here’s what we loved in...   view more

Bangkok is such a vibrant city full of interesting things to do. I’ve been to Bangkok a few times now. The first time was back in 2017. It was my first stop on my solo trip in Asia and my first time ever traveling solo. Later, I flew in and out of Bangkok quickly without much time to see things. But this year, I went back with my husband and mom and we spent a few days checking off all the best things to do in Bangkok. Here’s the ones we loved the...   view more

This year, I got to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand for the second time. It was my husband and my mom’s first time visiting the city, and I honestly couldn’t remember what I had done there the last time. It was fun to go back with them and remember some of the things I did, but also discover new things this time around. From markets to cabaret shows, the city is an amazing juxtaposition of traditional and modern. Here are my top 10 things to do in Chiang Mai,...   view more

If you’re new to Kathmandu, you may be wondering where to try the best dal bhat. The first thing you need to know is that most Nepalese will agree that Thakali’s make the best dal bhat in Nepal. Thakali is an ethnic group often found in the Annapurna region and Mustang district which is why the treks in that area are also known for their food. While only a small percentage of Nepalese are Thakali, their food has become an all-time favorite in...   view more