Ever since I started this travel blog in 2008, I've been writing a wrap-up post at the end of each year. It's that time of the year again, to reflect and look back at where I've traveled and what...
Last Updated on December 29, 2023 by Nellie Huang
Ever since I started this travel blog in 2008, I’ve been writing a wrap-up post at the end of each year. It’s that time of the year again, to reflect and look back at where I’ve traveled and what I’ve done this year.
2023 has been a great year for me in every sense of the word. I wrote another guidebook for Lonely Planet, started monetizing my second site, traveled to five new countries, brought Kaleya to our favorite places in South America, and reunited with family in both Spain and Singapore.
The biggest change in my life this year was leaving our laidback life in Playa del Carmen and moving to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico! Just last week, we packed our stuff up and drove five days across Mexico to reach our new home. I’ll be sharing more on our new life below, here’s a look at where I traveled and what I got up to in 2023.
2023: My Year in Photos
January: Belize
On the first day of 2023, we took off on a road trip to Belize, which was just a 4-hour drive from us! Our first trip to Belize was more than 13 years ago and we were eager to revisit the places we loved. This time our friends joined us, and we had a great time chilling out on the laidback isle of Caye Caulker and snorkeling with nurse sharks in Hol-Chan Marine Reserve. We also drove inland to San Ignacio and were so impressed by the large-scale Xunantunich and Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins. Belize remains one of our favorite spots in Central America.
February: Alberta, Canada
In February, it was finally time for our winter trip in Alberta! Banff was indeed the winter wonderland I’d imagined, with the whole town and surrounding mountains covered in white. We did so much exploring in and around Banff, but the highlight for us was riding the Banff Gondola up to the top of the mountain and soaking in the hot springs after. Ice skating on the frozen Lake Louise was another major highlight, and so was drinking at the Ice Bar at Fairmont. In Jasper, we spent our days skiing and even spotted a herd of moose just outside our hotel!
February: Isla Holbox, Mexico
After returning to Mexico, we scooted off to Isla Holbox on a weekend trip (just 2 hours from Playa del Carmen). Holbox turned out to be my favorite spot in the Yucatan Peninsula! The dreamy island is gloriously car-free and largely undeveloped. Only a small part of the island is inhabited, and even then, it never feels overrun with visitors. No paved roads, no cars, no hassling. Just miles and miles of spearmint water and powder-puff white sand beach. Despite being in a touristy region, Holbox has retained its sleepy, laidback island vibes and small-town feel.
March: Bacalar, Mexico
In March, we revisited Bacalar with our friends. Bacalar Lagoon (or Laguna Bacalar) is known for its crystal clear, spearmint blue waters, and swinging hammocks hanging from overwater palapa. In recent years, Laguna Bacalar earned the nickname “the Maldives of Mexico” and is drawing travelers seeking offbeat destinations. The lagoon is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend a visit here if you’re ever in Cancun or Tulum.
April: Ecuador
To celebrate Kaleya’s birthday, we went on an epic trip to Ecuador and Galapagos Islands! We first backpacked around Ecuador 15 years ago, and haven’t been back since then. We first spent a few days wandering the historic center of Quito, then we drove to the Andean town of Otavalo and eventually the Cotopaxi National Park. Unfortunately we weren’t so lucky with the weather and it was too foggy for us to hike up to the refugio of Mount Cotopaxi. The clouds finally cleared up on our last day there to see Ecuador’s second highest peak in its full glory. After that, we flew to the Galapagos Islands and met up with my sister and nephew, and had an amazing time island-hopping and seeing the wildlife up close and personal.
May: Florida
Just two weeks later, we headed off to Florida on a road trip that we’d planned since pre-covid days (but got canceled again and again during the pandemic). Orlando was a hit with Kaleya of course; the highlight for me was swimming with manatees in Crystal River which turned out to be one of the coolest wildlife experiences I’ve had. We also got to spend a few days in Miami, revisiting many old haunts that we used to hang out at and the university where Alberto and I met. It was so nice to take a walk down memory lane.
June: Suriname
In mid-June, it was time for a solo adventure! I flew to Suriname (my country #146) and met up with my friend Janet to explore the capital city, Paramaribo, and the surrounding fort, plantations and reserves. Visiting the sloth sanctuary was the highlight for me; we met a sloth who had been rehabilitated into the jungle but kept returning to the sanctuary for food (and comfort!).
June: Guyana
From Suriname, we continued our journey to Guyana (country #147) where we were joined by my old friend, Hannah. Sadly we only got to explore Georgetown, the capital city, as we had to wait around for our flight to Kaieteur Falls to get filled. Thankfully we did manage to visit Kaieteur Falls and it turned out to one of the most impressive waterfalls I’ve seen.
June: Trinidad
Then our journey continued on to Trinidad (country #148), where my friend Hannah is from. I’ve been wanting to visit Hannah in Trinidad since we met in 2008! It was amazing to meet her family and get to know her country and culture. Trinidadian food completely blew me away; I particularly loved the roti and curry goat! Trinidad was nothing like what I’d imagined and I loved being able to experience it through my local friend.
July: Singapore
In July, I was commissioned to write Lonely Planet’s new Singapore guidebook, so I flew home to Singapore to do some on-the-ground research for the book. I was born and raised in Singapore; I know it better than any other country. It was such a special assignment for me, being able to share my home country with the world. On this trip, I got to check out lots of new spots, revisit old haunts and dig deeper than usual. Keep a lookout for the book which will be published in April 2024!
August: Spain
In summer, we finally went on our much-anticipated 6-week trip back to Europe! Spain is like a second home for us (Alberto is from Spain and we lived in Spain together for 8+ years). We were excited to spend summer there, see family and explore the region. Our summer trip started with a week in Madrid, a city we used to call home. The Spanish capital city has changed so much since the last time we were there and I absolutely loved the long summer days and glorious culinary scene there. Thereafter, we stayed for a couple of nights in a castle hotel in Salamanca, and spent a week in Granada with Alberto’s family, enjoying tapas and bar-hopping in the lazy summer evenings.
August: Greece
While Kaleya spent the rest of summer with her grandparents in Spain, Alberto and I flew off to Corfu island to sail the Greek Islands with Yacht Getaways. It’d been years since we went on a trip without Kaleya, and this was the perfect couples retreat for us. Our days onboard the catamaran involved swimming in turquoise waters, napping under the sail with the wind in our face, hiking up to spectacular viewpoints, wandering around beautiful little villages eating the freshest seafood and sipping the most delicious wine. We honestly loved every minute of our Greece sailing holiday. It showed us a side of Greece we didn’t know existed — secret coves, empty beaches and ridiculously charming fishing villages that only Greeks visit.
August: Albania
From Greece, I continued onto Albania to travel solo for a week while Alberto went back to Spain. I’d actually been to Albania a long time ago, but Albania had changed so much I could hardly recognise it. It’s become very popular with young backpackers (it’s no wonder, with the beautiful sights and low cost), and there’s a lot more tourism infrastructure in place now. I also made a good friend on the trip and had a blast with her in Tirana. Then I traveled solo to Berat and Gjirokaster, two places that I absolutely loved and highly recommend visiting!
September: Portugal
After Albania, I met up with Alberto and Kaleya in Madrid for the last leg of our trip. Alberto rented a Tesla for our road trip to Portugal, and I’d booked a beautiful Airbnb in the countryside of Porto. The French couple who owned the place, not only made the place so gorgeous, they also made us feel extremely welcomed and prepared an amazing spread of breakfast for us each morning. We enjoyed the down time, but also did quite a bit of exploring: wandering around the antiquated streets of Porto, visiting vineyards in the stunning Douro Valley, and cruising the waters of Aveiro. This region was so spectacular we wanna come back and live here someday!
September: Paraguay
At the end of September, I flew to Asuncion, Paraguay, to travel with one of my best friends Melinda. Honestly, I wasn’t blown away by Paraguay (my country #149); we struggled to find anything interesting to see in the capital city and the surroundings. Asuncion, unlike most capital cities in South America, didn’t have much going for it. Granted, we didn’t spend enough time in Paraguay, but we were eager to move onto Uruguay.
September: Uruguay
Montevideo was a huge contrast to Asuncion; the lively city had an old-world flair, with lots of colonial architecture, historical monuments and amazing restaurants. We wandered the markets in the day, strolled the waterfront boulevard by sunset and indulged in good wine and steak each night. From there, it was an easy 2-hour bus ride to Punta del Este, a small but charming beach town also with wide, windswept beaches. My favorite spot was definitely Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest towns in Uruguay with cobblestoned streets and restored whitewashed houses. Uruguay (country #150) definitely swept me off my feet.
October: Guadalajara, Mexico
At the end of October, we flew to Guadalajara for the most magical time of the year in Mexico: Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. It’s one of the biggest Mexican holidays and it’s celebrated in fervor all over the country. Elaborate ofrendas and altars are set up at major squares, while people dance on the streets in parades. In Guadalajara, we visited the Calaverandia (a Day of the Dead themed park), which was such a contrast to the traditional celebrations that we’d seen in Oaxaca but it was still a fun experience.
November: Michoacan, Mexico
From Guadalajara, it was just a short drive to Michoacan, the state known for its deeply-rooted Dia de Muertos traditions. On the night of 1 November, a candlelit procession leads from the pueblo mágico of Pátzcuaro to the nearby island of Janitzio. This event, known as “Noche de Muertos,” features colorful canoes and boats adorned with candles and flowers. Hundreds of flickering candle, the scent of burning copal incense, and the sound of music made it such a spiritual and moving sight.
November: Singapore
After we returned home, I received news that my father needed surgery urgently. In the midst of our move, I had to drop everything and fly back to Singapore to see my dad. It was probably one of the most stressful trips I’ve done. It didn’t help that Singapore was a 24-hour flight away from Mexico! Thank goodness everything went well and the surgery was a success. My father came out of surgery looking great and he’s now in recovery.
December: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Just two weeks after flying back to Mexico, it was time to move! We loved living in Playa del Carmen, exploring the cenotes, beaches and Mayan ruins in the area. We made great friends there and definitely felt like it left a mark in our lives. But after 2.5 years in Playa del Carmen, it was time for a change. So we packed up our stuff, said goodbye to all our friends, and drove five days across Mexico to finally arrive at our new home in San Miguel de Allende.
Christmas in San Miguel is a magical time; the historic center is clad in Christmas decorations and glowing under the beautiful lights. We’ve been doing Christmassy things like cooking and watching Christmas movies. But we’re also exploring San Miguel and the surrounding nature. Can’t wait to see what the new year has in store for us here!
What’s Next?
In 2024, we’re looking forward to exploring our backyard in central Mexico. But we already have lots of travel plans, including a weekend trip to see the Monarch Butterfly migration in January, ski trip to Colorado in February, Baja California in March for Kaleya’s birthday, and Tulum in April to get the keys for our investment property! For our six-week summer trip, we’re thinking of heading further, perhaps to South Africa and Namibia. In the new year, I also hope to travel to the last few places in the Americas that I haven’t been, including Venezuela, Grenada and Dominica.
Here’s wishing that 2024 will be a year of adventure for all of you! Don’t stop exploring!
Interesting in reading more?
