A tram curving past the illuminated Court of Final Appeal building at night in Central Hong Kong.

One Day in Hong Kong - Hong Kong

One day in Hong Kong. From one side of the island to the other, ending at the harbour before heading out.

The Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River on a clear winter afternoon, the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower dominating the view.

A Month in Shanghai - Shanghai, China

Spent a month in Shanghai. Enjoyed my time there, loved the museums, the skyline. One of those cities that just have everything.

The Xi'an Drum Tower glowing gold against a dark snowy night sky, snowflakes visible in the air.

Chasing Snow Through the Ancient Capitals - Xi'an & Luoyang, China

Last trip before leaving Shanghai after a month. Took the overnight train to Xi'an, saw snow for the first time on this trip, then stopped through Luoyang on the way back.

Traditional wooden boats gliding through a narrow canal at West Lake, hills and bare trees reflected in the still water.

The Accidental Detour - Hangzhou, China

Fell asleep on the HSR and woke up in Liyang, a town I'd never heard of and definitely wasn't planning to stop at. Spent the night there and decided to make a detour through Hangzhou on the way back to Shanghai and stumbled into one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

A long narrow alley on Gulangyu at night, lit by warm lamplight fading into darkness.

By the Sea - Xiamen, China

Landed in Xiamen and went straight to Gulangyu. Spent the night wandering the island, ate everything, then took a boat out toward Kinmen the next day before catching the HSR out.

Bare silver-barked trees leaning over a long grey wall, casting shadows in the winter afternoon sun.

15 Hours in Nanjing - Nanjing, China

Had a 15 hours layover in Nanjing on a flight from Shanghai to Xiamen. Hiked Purple Mountain in the middle of the night in subzero temperatures, almost didn't make it back to the airport in time.

Commuters crossing a zebra crossing at golden hour in Zhuhai, palm trees silhouetted against a warm sunrise sky.

Casinos, Coastline & Colonial Streets - Macao & Zhuhai, China

Was transiting through Macao on the way to Shanghai. Crossed the border into Zhuhai for the night, woke up to one of the best mornings of the year, then came back to squeeze in a few hours of Macao before the flight.

The Petronas Twin Towers lit up against a dark KL skyline, shot from the top of KL Tower.

The Cloudy Waypoint - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Went back to KL for the first time in a while. Hit Grumpy Bagels twice, went to an art space, failed to watch the Geminids, and ended the trip staring down at my own city from the top of KL Tower.

A large fluffy black and white Husky lying on a light wood floor looking at the camera.

The Impromptu Escape - A Slow Morning in Ari

Every impromptu trip needs a breather. After the overnight train and the neon-soaked nights in Chinatown, I headed over to Ari for a change of pace. It’s a much quieter side of Bangkok, full of hidden cafes and lush residential lanes.

The Wat Arun spire glowing bright purple

The Impromptu Escape — Part II: The Neon Lights

Trading the rhythmic hum of the tracks for the neon glow of the city. A blur of all-night markets and purple temples, followed by a slow morning in Song Wat—it's a really trendy place now, before catching the flight home.

A silver KTM train engine stopped at a small rural station, framed by a massive limestone cliff.

The Impromptu Escape - Part 1: The Jungle Railway

Teaching week was finally over, so I booked a ticket and just left. Took the overnight Jungle Railway through the heart of Malaysia, but had to pivot once I hit the border. Trading the train for a flight to Bangkok after a few too many military checkpoints.

Silhouettes of five friends sitting together on a low wall

Friends, Cats & Stars - Bintan, Indonesia

Headed back to Bintan after a year and a half for another round of stargazing with friends. Caught the meteor showers again, definitely worth the zero hours of sleep. I spent the entire night looking up, then went straight for some trails and hung out with the local cats. That last shot of everyone on the beach just watching the sunrise? That's the whole vibe of the trip right there.

The white dome of an observatory open to the night sky

The Eagle Island - Langkawi, Malaysia

Traded the city lights for a few days of quiet in Langkawi. It’s a completely different energy when you aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers, just some macaques hanging out on the cliffs and natural views. The highlight is definitely the stars, It’s rare to see a sky this clear without all the city glare getting in the way. Just a nice, simple reminder of how big the world actually is.