Valen Dawson

Date A Girl Who Eats. | elephant journal

One thing is certain, if you’re wondering where to eat in Istanbul, you won’t have to wonder long. Istanbul is filled with delicious restaurants that beckon you to come try the many varieties of incredible Turkish food. Turkish food is inspired by so many different cultures and generations, that you will definitely have the ultimate foodie experience. It will be hard to choose, so I’ve narrowed it down to my favorites. Here you go, the ultimate food guide to Istanbul:
The Ultimate Food Guide ...

Meet Christina And William, The Owners
I was greeted by the very friendly Christina and William, and I immediately felt like I was being welcomed into their home, rather than their small Vietnamese restaurant. They were so friendly that I decided to ask them about their story. It’s a story that is theirs. But, I’m sure it’s a story that belongs to so many other immigrant restaurant owners as well. And it leaves me wanting to do all I can to make sure that people’s fear doesn’t shut off the Am...

Sifnos was one of my favorite Greek islands that I visited, and a big part of that reason was because of the Sifnos food. Sifnos is known for its pottery and clay ovens, and much of the food is cooked this way which provides a culinary experience that you just won’t find on the other Greek islands. The Greeks on the ships have a saying that if the cook on your ship is from Sifnos, then you are very lucky indeed. I am inclined to agree. Here were my favorite Sifnos restaurants.
Where To Find The Best...

Brittney Borjeson first went to Sayulita on Mexico’s Pacific coast to learn how to surf. That was back in 2012, and as soon as the plane touched down, she felt like she had come home.
“I was hooked from my first wave. I remember thinking, I could give everything up for this,” Brittney recalls.
Coming from New York, with its hectic pace, Brittney found the slower pace of Sayulita to be a complete contrast. The small fishing village has become popular with surfers and now has an artsy, bohemian...

My absolute favorite thing about living in Florida so far has been exploring the Florida Springs. They are absolutely breathtaking. The deep colors and the clear waters make for an otherworldly experience, and I have seen so much wildlife on these excursions. I’ve seen manatees, alligators, more turtles than I can count, roseate spoonbills, and so many other birds. Florida has over 1,000 springs, so I still have many more to explore, but these have been my favorite Florida Springs so far.
Exp...

What had I just done? I no longer felt like my heart was inside of me.
Instead, I felt like I was inside of my heart.
It felt like my heart was exploding, like the me I knew was disappearing, and all that mattered was this love. This love looked like a rainbow in my heart and felt like the most blissful thing I had ever known.
For the first time in my life I felt truly loved, and I realized this love wasn’t coming from someone else, but it was coming from me!
I had drunk a strain of ayahuasca...

You don’t have to have expensive camera equipment to take incredible photos on your next vacation. But, there are a travel photography tips that you can use to make your photos really stand out. Here are the ones I use to create amazing photos.
Travel Photography Tips For Your Next Trip
1. Notice The Light
The way the light shines can make all the difference in your photos. I often look to see where the light is streaming in and take a picture of that. Also, photos taken at sunrise or sunset ...

Lulumahu Falls is definitely one of the most adventurous Hawaii hikes that I did. Not because it was long or difficult. At 2 miles, it’s a pretty short hike. But, the beginning was extremely muddy, and I almost turned back! It was so muddy that someone even lost a shoe, though, I’m not sure who thought they could make it through this hike in heels!
Technically, the hike is on private government property and you are supposed to get a permit, but no one ever seems to abide by this rule. You can...

Sometimes, you find a hike so beautiful, it makes you cry. That’s what Buck Creek Falls, located near White Salmon in Washington, did to me. Even better, I was the only one on the trail the day that I went. Of all the Washington hikes I’ve done, this one has been my favorite. I hiked the Buck Creek Falls Trail in the spring, the best time, as there were beautiful wildflowers blooming and a good amount of water flowing from the falls.
I hiked the longer six-mile hike from Buck Creek Trailhead ...

When the first Polynesians arrived on Oahu, Hawaii, it was mainly forest. Most people who don’t live in Hawaii or who haven’t visited don’t realize that there is still tropical rainforest on Oahu. The forest of Oahu is full of eucalyptus trees, Koa hardwoods, Norfolk pine trees, banana trees, ginger, coffee shrubs, and so much more. The Manoa Falls hike is a remarkable hike that lets you explore a part of this rainforest.

Why You Will Love Manoa Falls

The hike to Manoa Falls is lush and full ...

You don’t have to quit your job to travel the world. There are many jobs that involve traveling. Here are jobs you can do, so that you get paid to travel, and get to see the world at the same time.
The Best Jobs That Involve Traveling
1. Flight Attendant Or Pilot
You get to spend your life flying as a pilot or flight attendant, and the world is yours to explore. Of course, many hours of study are required to be a pilot, but you don’t need a special degree to become a flight attendant. Of cour...

I’ve now been lucky to find myself living in Hawaii twice in my lifetime, and even though I felt it was too expensive for my budget to stay there forever, I still feel the ways that it has touched me every day. You don’t have to move there to let it touch you. You can definitely feel the energy of Hawaii and let it touch you by going for a visit. That’s the beauty of travel. Here’s what I learned from living in Hawaii.

10 Things You Should Know Before Quitting Your Job To Travel The World

How to be a perfect host and make your house-sitter...