Kate McCulley
Pioneering solo female travel voice with safety advice, destination insights, and thoughtful trend takes
Consistent Index Investing Beats Market Timing Every Time
Time in market > timing the market I don’t freak out over stock market dips. I don’t buy dips, either, or change my behavior whatsoever. Every time that revenue hits my account (around 10 days per month), I immediately invest a set percentage of it in low-cost index funds. And then I don’t touch it. That’s it. Do the same and you’ll likely come out ahead of every financial advisor. It’s boring but it’s effective.
One Bold Look Stands Out Amid Safe Met Gala
Is it just me, or was this year’s Met Gala pretty underwhelming? Everyone was playing it way too safe. This is the only outfit that held my attention.
Drop “Gypsy” From Usernames—Stop the Harmful Stereotype
This is yet another reminder to my colleagues to remove “Gypsy” from their username. It’s not cute, it’s not free-spirited, and it makes you seem like the opposite of what you’re claiming to be. The writing has been on the wall...
Arrive 2.5 Hours Early for Tashkent International Flights
Word to the wise if you’re flying internationally out of Tashkent: My flight was at 6:05. I arrived at 3:50 (gross). It took me one hour and 19 minutes to get through check-in, passport control, and security. I had five minutes...
US Healthcare Lags Behind Global Systems, Worst Experience
Countries where I’ve experienced the healthcare system: Czech Republic, UK, France, Italy, Bhutan, Thailand, Mauritius, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Germany. Also, the US as a Czech resident. Some were doctor’s visits. Some were hospital visits. Trust me, the US system does it the worst...
Yandex Go Urges Buckling up Where Seatbelts Are Unavailable
The irony of Yandex Go telling you to “Please Buckle Up” when nearly every car in Uzbekistan has an inaccessible seatbelt…
Why Great Memoirs Click—And Two Buzzers Miss
I read a lot of memoirs. This is an excellent discussion on what makes memoirs work, and why two of the buzzier ones at the moment haven’t quite clicked.
Spring in Almaty: Blooming Beauty, Heartfelt Goodbye
Springtime in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It’s 22C (72F), the skies are blue, flowers are blooming, outdoor cafes are popping, snow-capped mountains are idling in the background. What a city. I love it here and am a bit heartbroken to leave for Uzbekistan tomorrow.
Lufthansa Strike Friday—Verify Flights, Many Delayed
There is a Lufthansa cabin crew strikes taking place Friday. If you’re flying via Germanythat day, double-check that you still have a flight. My flight to Kazakhstan was moved to Saturday.
Overlooked Design Work Makes “Wicked: For Good” Unduly Ignored
I will say that I get why Wicked: For Good wasn’t as well received as the first film. But to not nominate it for makeup, costumes, and production design, at the very least, seems a bit cruel.
No Trains on Amalfi Coast—Building One Is Absurd
Another great reason to ignore travel-related AI slop — There are no trains on the Amalfi Coast. It makes zero sense to build a train line on the Amalfi Coast. Trains can go as far as Sorrento, which is very much...