The Monsoon Diaries: How to travel the world with no time or money -

Getting Away With Robbinsville: The Akshardham Redemption

by Calvin Sun | October 6, 2025 | Camping, Layovers, New Jersey | 0 Comments

One of my more unique camping trips to have monsooned; this is what happens when you plan a camping trip months in advance just to visit a temple arguably worth seeing as a world-class destination. I was stuck at work all day Friday as Eddie took the initiative...

A Quick Halifax Check

by Calvin Sun | September 12, 2025 | Layovers, Lessons Learned, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Walking Tours | 0 Comments

After two days in Saint-Pierre (and a turbulent ferry ride to Miquelon and back), we boarded an hour-and-a-half direct Air Saint-Pierre 9am flight to Halifax, landing around 9:30am local time (Halifax runs an hour behind Saint-Pierre), Our onward...

Miquelon Impossible

by Calvin Sun | September 11, 2025 | Doctor in the House, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

Sometimes the most spontaneous detours leave the strongest impressions. That morning in Saint Pierre, we hadn't planned on leaving the island. But after completing two walking tours around St. Pierre and checking the ferry schedule, we realized we could still...

48 Hours in a Little Saint-Pierre-ce of France

by Calvin Sun | September 11, 2025 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

After three days soaking in St. John's charm, we dropped off our rental car at YYT Saint John's airport to catch the rare 5pm direct flight (PH1127) via Air Saint-Pierre to Saint-Pierre & Miquelon: one of the few weekly connections between Newfoundland and...

Don’t Be Dildo-Dallying

by Calvin Sun | September 9, 2025 | Canada, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

While based in St. John's, we took a spontaneous day trip by rental car to the now-famous town of Dildo. You'll know when you arrive; they're incredibly proud of their distinctive name. Though a vocal minority has repeatedly raised referendums to...

St. John’s: The Eastern Edge of Everything Everywhere All At Once

by Calvin Sun | September 9, 2025 | Canada, September 2025: Newfoundland to Saint Pierre & Miquelon, Way Way Off the Beaten Path | 0 Comments

Months ago I decided to gift myself a week off after Labor Day...simply because I could. After a year as wild as this past one, I craved actual and intentional self-prioritization to restore some balance. Finding fares under $200, I booked a morning departure:...

Singapore Airlines Business Class FRA-JFK

by Calvin Sun | August 5, 2025 | Flying Fancy, Germany, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin | 0 Comments

After a slow morning walk and talking about our villain (antihero?) origin stories in Berlin, I hugged Daniela and Gabe goodbye, hopped on the tram for a few stops, went underground for the metro, and made it back to the hostel in time for a 1:30pm check out. Nisha,...

When You’ve Never Been to Berlin

by Calvin Sun | August 4, 2025 | Let me tell you a Story..., Serendipitous!, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin, The Nightlife, Walking Tours | 0 Comments

If it's not already playing, press play. And then start reading. After 3 days in Amsterdam, Nisha, Sujay, Priscilla, Kenny, and myself boarded a 2pm direct train bound for Berlin. It was a 7.5-hour journey that gave us just enough time to reflect...

I Amsterdand We’re Back in Amsterdam!

by Calvin Sun | July 31, 2025 | How Did You Do That?, Let me tell you a Story..., Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin, The Netherlands | 0 Comments

From Tomorrowland, because apparently we still weren’t done, 7 of us rerouted north for one last hurrah in Amsterdam, linking up with Anthony Lui and his Dutch crew. While most of the group boarded planes home to brave the dreaded post-festival blues, we...

Tomorrowland After The Fire

by Calvin Sun | July 29, 2025 | Belgium, Festivals, Fit for Foodies, Serendipitous!, Summer 2025: The Long Road to Berlin | 0 Comments

How’s my ankle holding up before Tomorrowland.... This is Day 0 — right after a 1500-lb bull stepped on it: Day 8: Day 4: Day 17: Not bad, right? Turns out I can be pretty decent at wound care when the stakes are high. Last year was cancer, this year...

You’ll Never Be “A-Lone”don!

by Calvin Sun | May 27, 2022 | Fit for Foodies, May 2022: Wales, Serendipitous!, United Kingdom, Walking Tours

Can you believe it? Nearly 160+ countries around the world in the past 12 years and I still have no real posts on London! And I think that's because to even start writing a post about London is to try to do my home city of NYC justice in a...

You’re Going to Miss … The French Polynesia

by Calvin Sun | May 23, 2022 | French Polynesia, You're Going to Miss It...

PRESS play and read the post with the music . . . You're going to miss almost, just almost, normalizing paradise now. Paradise on earth. Paradise never-to-lose because you've already tasted it so early in your life. When society tells you to...

Why Did the Chichen Itza Cross the Road?

by Calvin Sun | May 15, 2022 | Blitzkrieg!!!, How Did You Do That?, Mexico, Mo' Money Mo' Problems, Serendipitous!, Weekend Trips

Probably the most visited site in the world that I have never been, until this weekend. Upon a destination wedding invitation last year by my friend Norman Chen, whom I last saw when we stopped in Chicago on our USA Road Trip back in August 2020....

Meet The Wale-rs!

by Calvin Sun | May 12, 2022 | Introductions, November 2020: Baja California Sur

I miss the freedom and chaos of the open road. And from the USA, we jump the pond for an off-the-beaten drive across Wales. Our return monsooners: Jeanette “Chief Risky Driver” Wong: previous 4 time monsooner to Cyprus, The Balearic Islands, Sardinia, and...

“Port”land-of-Call

by Calvin Sun | May 2, 2022 | Fit for Foodies, Layovers, Oregon

On our roadtrip a year and half ago, we missed Portland while driving from Washington State through Oregon and I had decided it would be added to the list of "what should have been." On my way back from Polynesia, I felt that a layover involving Portland would...

The Yacht Week x The Monsoon Diaries: French Polynesia Days 7: Returning to Raiatea

by Calvin Sun | Apr 30, 2022 | April 2022: French Polynesia, Crisis, French Polynesia, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

Today from Bora Bora we set sail back to the main islands at 10am. And for 3 hours we braved the rocky seas as I watched the whole boat except me and our skipper Borna fall like flies. I hope my Disney and 90s throwback music helped. Hakuna Matata. ...

The Yacht Week x The Monsoon Diaries: French Polynesia Days 5 & 6: It’s Never a “Bor-a Bora!”

by Calvin Sun | Apr 28, 2022 | April 2022: French Polynesia, Crisis, Fit for Foodies, French Polynesia, How's the weather?, Serendipitous!, What Dreams May Come

After an epic regatta run, we made sure to stay up on deck to take in the view of our approach to the legendary and iconic island of Bora Bora. After all, a warm welcome from the dolphins at the reef pass is more than enough of a reason to stay outdoors. ...

The Yacht Week x The Monsoon Diaries: French Polynesia Day 4: T”a-ha’a!, We Found It!”

by Calvin Sun | Apr 26, 2022 | April 2022: French Polynesia, French Polynesia, Way Way Off the Beaten Path

Today we headed back from Huahine on a 4 hour sail for the two main islands for another free day. By 1pm we reached Taha'a island where life slows down; this charmingly quiet island sweeps you deep into the typical Polynesians' easygoing life. If...

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