✦ Tap a glowing light to see where Ben was.
Europe — the trip he planned himself
Summer 2025 · nine cities, every flight and museum charted by Ben
Madrid
The first stop of the Europe trip he planned himself — the Royal Palace, El Retiro Park, the Prado, and (of course) the Museum of Aeronautics. First order of business: eat “Madrid Pho.” His note to his little brother in every city: don’t get lost — for Ryan.
Barcelona
Mass at the Cathedral of Barcelona, the Arc de Triomf, the cable car up Montjuïc — and a plane-model shop he’d circled twice on the plan. “Eat Barcelona Pho.”
Rome
Evening Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Italian Air Force Museum — and a whole day set aside just to “explore Vatican City.”
Venice
The floating city — a stop on the grand European journey he mapped out himself.
Hamburg
Germany’s great harbor city, north on the itinerary he built.
Berlin
The German capital — another city he charted, flight and all.
Zurich
The Swiss Alps — the sun-dappled café and the green mountains from his photographs, an easy afternoon with his brother.
Paris
The City of Light, near the end of the great loop he drew across Europe.
Lourdes
The Marian shrine at the foot of the Pyrenees, where the faithful and the suffering come to pray at the grotto. A holy place, near the journey’s end.
Thanksgiving in Asia
Vancouver, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Chengdu — his last great adventure
Vancouver
The first hop of the Thanksgiving trip — up the Pacific coast before crossing the ocean.
Hong Kong
The dazzling harbor city — the longest days of the Thanksgiving Asia trip.
Shanghai
The Bund and the great river — east across China on his last big adventure.
Family journeys
Bangkok
The blue aquarium tunnels of SEA LIFE Bangkok — a bright, easy day with Dad, Mom, and Ryan.
London
The great city on the Thames — a stop his travels reached.
New York
Manhattan — the city that never sleeps.
Dubai
The gleaming desert city of the Emirates.
Tokyo
Japan’s dazzling capital.
Busan
The Korean port city, cradled by mountains and sea.
Da Nang
Central Vietnam — the Golden Bridge held aloft in the clouds at Bà Nà Hills.
Ha Long Bay
The emerald bay of limestone islands in northern Vietnam.
Utah
The red-rock canyon country of the American West.
Seoul
The Korean capital — palaces and neon, mountains at its back.
Hanoi
Vietnam’s ancient capital — the Old Quarter and the lake.
Yosemite
The granite cathedrals of Yosemite Valley.
Santa Fe
The high-desert art city of New Mexico.
Roswell
The New Mexico plains — a fitting stop for a boy who loved planes and the stars.
Yellowstone
Geysers and wide-open country in the American Rockies.
Lake Tahoe
The great blue alpine lake of the Sierra.
Joshua Tree
The desert of twisted trees and boulders under enormous skies.
Las Vegas
The bright desert city of lights.
San Diego
Easy California sunshine, close to home.
Honolulu
Abu Dhabi
The gleaming white Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with his mom and brother Ryan.
Catalina Island
The island off the California coast — Avalon harbor and the blue Pacific.
Big Bear
The mountain lake and pines above the desert — a Southern California getaway.
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Houston
Irvine
Saint Polycarp Church
Beijing
Vinpearl Land
Switzerland
Cancun
Lake Arrowhead
Da Lat
Florida
His roots
Nha Trang
His family's roots, on the South China Sea — the Nha Trang shore that fills so many of the songs written for him.
Home
Home
Where every journey began — and every journey came home. By the ocean he loved.
Every trip, Ben came home. This time he has gone on ahead — to the one destination that needs no map, and no reminder not to get lost.