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TRAVELAUREL

Laurel Munshower | Travel Writer & Editor in Abu Dhabi & Dubai

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Author: travelaurel

Pittsburgh, PA native now residing in Dubai, UAE as an American expat and travel journalist

Africa Morocco Published Writing

Hotel review: The Oberoi, Marrakech

Posted on May 5, 2020 by travelaurel

Reading time 9 minutes

& All The Rest Culture

The best music for armchair travel

Posted on April 15, 2020 by travelaurel

Reading time 8 minutes

Middle East Published Writing Turkey

Hotel review: Museum Hotel Antakya, Turkey

Posted on March 13, 2020 by travelaurel

Reading time 9 minutes

Middle East Turkey

What to see, do & eat in Antakya, Turkey

Posted on January 24, 2020 by travelaurel

Reading time 20 minutes

Africa Published Writing Tunisia

Hotel review: Anantara Tozeur Resort, Tunisia

Posted on December 5, 2019 by travelaurel

Reading time 9 minutes

Asia Maldives Published Writing

Hotel review: The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah

Posted on August 1, 2019 by travelaurel

Reading time 8 minutes

Dubai Middle East Published Writing UAE

A Bedouin experience in Dubai

Posted on June 1, 2019 by travelaurel

Reading time 9 minutes

Asia India Published Writing

Hotel review: Roseate Ganges Rishikesh, India

Posted on April 1, 2019 by travelaurel

Reading time 9 minutes

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Naxos, the peaceful retreat
How to explore ancient Carthage in just 2 hours

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My phone is reminding me that 2 years ago today I was in one of my favorite places, Sri Lanka. It was mid-pandemic and my plans to explore fell through because a quarantine was put in place right before I arrived, meaning I could not leave my hotel. Normally, I hate a sit-around holiday, but this ended up being one of my most memorable escapes. Camped out in my private bungalow—complete with its own pool—perched on the hill of a tea plantation/boutique hotel, @kahandakanda, I spent a week just watching the natural world go by from a sun lounger (and eating the most delicious local food). I rose each morning to monkeys running riot in the mango trees above, came to know the daily patterns of the resident mongooses and monitor lizards that lived in my garden, and watched birds dive-bomb my pool in the heat of each afternoon, with frogs taking their place after sunset. It was thoroughly peaceful without there ever being a dull moment.

So wildflower season in Texas hill country is pretty spectacular. Hiking through Pedernales Falls State Park, technicolor blooms stretch as far as the eye can see. Definitely a place to return for a picnic day—snagging some wine from the hill country vineyards on the way.

It’s been a while. If you’ve not been following my Stories, I decamped from Philly and moved to Austin, TX, at the tail-end of 2022. All things considered, a pretty spontaneous decision, but so far one I’m pleased with.

A year ago today I shared snaps of autumnal Philadelphia. So here, have some more for autumn 2022.

Top Posts & Pages

A weekend in Bahrain, the Pearl of Arabia
Bye-bye Dubai
An epic Paris tour by foot; or, Walking 15 miles in my shoes
Yokoso Nippon at the 2016 St. Moritz Gourmet Festival
5 of the best temples to visit in Angkor (that aren’t Angkor Wat)

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