Matt Morgante
Nusa Lembongan

Even the trip to Nusa Lembongan was a scene of astounding tropical beauty. Turquoise waters shimmered in the morning light and the sun lit up forested hillsides with bright shades of green. Wide, shallow bays ended in a number of sandy coves, proving that we had arrived in another relaxing tropical destination.

Nusa Lembongan
Matt Morgante
Nusa Penida

A small island off the Southwest tip of Bali that is home to rugged coastlines, jaw-dropping scenery, and mesmerizing beaches, Nusa Penida is quickly surging as a popular destination for adventurous travelers. It was soon clear why: we had found a largely undiscovered slice of paradise.

Nusa Penida
Matt Morgante
Canggu

I returned to Bali 3 years after my original trip there. Stefje and I spent 5 weeks in Canggu, an exploding village on the island of Bali. Life in Canggu is the easiest it has ever been.

Canggu
Matt Morgante
Singapore

At the nearby Boat Quay neighborhood, we found a relaxed bar with an outdoor pool table and posted up with PBR’s, happy to watch the endless parade of pedestrians come strolling by. While locals and western expats brushed shoulders in the bar, it became apparent that Singapore is a true melting pot of cultures. Reflecting on the day, Stefje and I noticed that we had see books written in Mandarin, Muslim women shopping for produce in headscarves, Indian construction workers, and massive Christian churches in just a small slice of the city.

Singapore
Matt Morgante
Beijing

We stared in awe at the long, snaking wall, which expanded far further in the distance than our eyes could see. Our minds were boggled to learn that we were exposed to less than 1% of the entire structure, which was used to repel Mongol invaders and was built, enhanced, and refurbished throughout the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Beijing

Patagonia

Lovin' Los Lagos

Lovin' Los Lagos

Just beyond was La Junta, our scheduled destination for the night. We had no idea what to expect upon arrival. Would there be dry campsites? Other people? Thankfully, it was the good kind of surprise othis time. From thirty yards away we could see a roofed building with smoke billowing out, signaling the end of our soaking hike. A few kindred souls had started a fire, and all five of us immediately wrenched off our soaked gear and huddled around the warmth, infinitely grateful for a dry place to rest. Our relief was palpable. You could see it in our eyes, hear it in our voices, as we exchanged pleasantries with the crowd and hung layer of soaked clothing above the crackling flames to dry.

Gateway to Patagonia

Gateway to Patagonia

At this point we concluded that due to the morning’s poor weather - which had long since given way to luxurious sunshine - no one else had even entered the park that day. We were the only two souls, enraptured in a mythical wonderland. Just when I thought the views couldn’t get any better, we saw one more surprise: snow! We had gained enough elevation throughout the course of the day that we were now above the snow line. It was a harbinger of a cold night ahead, but added another level of serene beauty to our environment.