Tristan's Expeditions

Wildlife Trekking in Costa Rica

I spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica this past January and visited many of country’s national parks (Arenal, Monteverde, Cahuita, etc.) and they were all beautiful. BUT The best experience I had was a 4-day trek with OsaWild through Corcovado N.P.— a national park accessible by tour only. If you do nothing else in Costa…

Taking a Vegan Swahili Cooking Class

The island paradise of Zanzibar is known for its eclectic Swahili cuisine, a fusion of Bantu, Arab and Indian dishes and styles. The food is as diverse as its people, who are also a mix of Bantu, Omani, Indian, and to some extent, British and Chinese ethnicities as well. I spent two weeks in this…

‘Bird Safari’ on Lake Diluti, Arusha

Most safaris in Tanzania are focused on the ‘Big 5’: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. Just outside of Arusha, Lake Diluti offers a quiet and relaxing ‘bird safari’ which is a great way to get a taste of the adventure before the big expedition, or after, in case you didn’t get your fill. Tanzania…

Welcome to the Good Life: San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

During the height of the COVID-epidemic in March, I was in Nicaragua. I’d left New York City for Spring Break, and never made it back! With the borders I traveled around the country for two months before settling down in San Juan del Sur for two more months. A lot of travelers skip San Juan…

Accessible Only by Boat: The Weaving Village of Ban Sop Jam

Most travelers visit Laos as part of the “Banana Pancakes Trail” loop— the scenic route from Southern Thai islands to Angkor Wat, Cambodia via Laos and Vietnam. When they do, they typically only visit Vang Vieng (the party town) and Luang Prabang (the former colonial capital ) before flying or taking an overnight bus to…

Making Traditional Chocolate in Costa Rica

I spent this past January in Costa Rica, driving around the country in search of wildlife and indigenous culture. One of the best things I did during my trip was make traditional chocolate– it was so delicious the first time I decided to do it again. So I made chocolate twice– once with members of…

Nicaraguan Food for Vegetarians on a Budget

The most common complaint I heard from travelers in Nicaragua was that they didn’t like the food. Many stuck to overpriced pizza, burritos, and sandwiches, though some of them had never even tried Nica food! DON’T fall into this— You’ll not only blow through your money, but also be missing out on some the cleanest…

Don’t Skip Managua, Nicaragua!

Travelers tend to gloss over capital cities for some reason. Many assume that there’s nothing to see other than government buildings — and who wants to see those anyway? Managua, however, is worth at least one day of your time in Nicaragua. There are plenty of fascinating museums, bustling markets, and unusual churches to keep…

From Sandino to Sandinista: Comparing Nicaraguan Revolutionary Movements

I wrote this during my four-month accidental-study-abroad in Nicaragua. My footnotes won’t transfer, but all my sources are at the bottom. If you have any questions send me an email! From Sandino to Sandinista: Comparing Nicaraguan Revolutionary Movements Introduction The Central American republic of Nicaragua has had a tumultuous history, rife with occupations, revolutions, and…

The Quebec City Winter Carnaval

For some reason, I’ve lived in New York City for 3 years and never visited Canada. Two weeks ago, I decided to change that, and traveled up on a whim for the Quebec City Winter Carnaval. A last-minute $100 overnight greyhound bus ticket took me from Penn Station to the border, then to Montreal, where…

10 Things You Must Do in Myanmar

Myanmar is a largely-undiscoved gem of Southeast Asia, where experiences unlike any other await you. Below are some the best cultural activities to do in Myanmar, some of which are tried-and-true, and the others my personal favorites. (For the classic ‘best of Myanmar’ itinerary click here: 10 Things You Must Do in Myanmar) Motorbike around…