Most of us travelers know that no travel app can guarantee you won’t get sick. And that washing your hands frequently may be one of the most important ways to combat diarrhea, as well as eating off clean plates, cups, and utensils. We’ve talked about this at length in the free book, ” The Top Three Risks When Traveling Overseas”( www.dontgetstuckoverseas.com) because dirty dishes, or those washed in dirty water can get you sick just as fast as bad food. As a traveler, you know that the risk of getting kidnapped or having your plane go down over water, or of a new Mount Vesuvius blowing up while you are visiting “Pompeii” is pretty remote, BUT the risk of getting a serious case of food poisoning or getting hit by a car while snapping a photo or having something traveling down the road (or tied to a vehicle traveling down the road) striking you while you are minding your own business on the sidewalk is a very real concern (or should be!).

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I hadn’t heard about this before. But I guess it’s a well-known truism. PRI even did a report on the belief in Korea that leaving a fan on overnight could cause death and many fans in Korea have timers to make sure no one forgets before going to sleep.

As PRI says, “A number of websites espouse theories about the origins of fan death. One way Koreans believe your fan can kill you is hypothermia. As the theory goes, if there’s a fan blowing all night, it may cause your body temperature to cool down enough to cause death.

They also worry about suffocation: that a fan left on in a sealed room just circulates the heat and prevents proper breathing. There’s even a theory that the South Korean government concocted the idea fan death to persuade citizens to decrease electrical use during an energy crisis in the ’70s. Of course, there’s no evidence to support any of these theories.”

Of course, even more popular is the idea that putting ice in...

When thinking of spring, blooming flowers are an enduring symbol of the new life blossoming out of the cold. No doubt, one of the most iconic spring flowers are cherry blossoms. With their delicate pink groupings encompassing the entire trees, these flowers have been a celebrated passage into spring for ages. 

What is Hanami?

Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, has been a vital spring ritual in Japan for over a thousand years. The custom is said to have started in the Nara period (around 710) and has evolved into a central piece of Japanese culture over the centuries. 

In honor of Hanami many local festivals have sprung up celebrating the coming of spring through cherry blossom viewing internationally- including festivals in Washington, D.C., San Diego, Copenhagen, Vancouver, Jinhae, and Sydney. These local festivals all feature groupings of the cherry trees, local crafts and...

As you may know, a novel coronavirus outbreak has swept the country of China with cases reaching every corner of the globe. Like previous outbreaks, this strain of virus has never before been seen in humans therefore no effective treatment or vaccine has been developed. As of today many countries, especially in Asia, have issued travel restrictions and quarantine measures to prevent further infection in the general public. 

UPDATE: New travel advisories and cancelations due to Coronavirus spread- 03.03.2020

Challenging news regarding the spread of the coronavirus has continued to surface. With well over 80,000 cases appearing in more than 50 countries, this outbreak appears to be gaining steam as an international health crisis.

For real time statistics about the coronavirus and its spread visit: ...