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TRAVELAUREL

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

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Tag: pandemic

My Sri Lankan Escape Into the Pandemic

Posted on May 25, 2021 by travelaurel

Reading time 11 minutes

& All The Rest Expat Life

Bye-bye Dubai

Posted on September 19, 2020 by travelaurel

Reading time 3 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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