Istanbul Uncovered: Unveiling ancient architecture and modern art
∞ Originally Published in the Vancouver Province on August, 13, 2018. ∞ Down a set of stone stairs below the busy streets of Istanbul, artist Coskun Uzunkaya sits in a corridor of the Caferaga Medresesi — a circa 1559 Islamic school turned artists’ studio — lashing...
Tea and Trumpets: Elephant sightings and tea plantations in surprising Sri Lanka
∞ Originally published in the Vancouver Sun May 28, 2018 ∞ Wandering down a red-dirt road lined with emerald palms in Sri Lanka’s Anuradhapura district, I look in vain for a promised transportation hub to lead us further into the heart of village life. Our guide,...
The Natural Wonders of the Riviera Nayarit: Eco-adventures on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
∞Originally published in the Vancouver Sun April 27, 2018∞ High in the hills of Punta de Mita on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit coast, I’m sitting on the patio of a bougainvillea-draped hacienda, pondering a local dining dilemma. What pairs best with my pre-dinner drink:...
Vietnam: A peasant food pilgrimage
∞Originally published in the Vancouver Sun, March 18, 2018∞ Cycling through Vietnam’s steamy Mekong Delta, sweat drenching our backs as we ride under coconut palm canopies, we’re astonished by sights at every turn: men fighting rooster cocks in a clearing, acres of...
About me
Elaine O'Connor
I’m a different kind of travel writer. I craft long-form, cover-worthy feature-length travel articles with style and substance. I tell travellers not just what to do, but why. Find out how to work with me.