Chances are you’ve booked your trip to Siem Reap with the intention of watching the sunrise over famed Angkor Wat. It’s an experience on just about every traveler’s bucket list and for good reason. Afterall, it’s located in not only the largest temple complex in Southeast Asia, but the largest temple complex in the world! … Continue Reading
Did you know that Siem Reap contains the largest freshwater lake in all of Southeast Asia, called the Tonle Sap Lake? It’s one of the richest inland fishing grounds in the world, home to not only over 200 different species of fish but also to over one million people. In fact, the majority of these … Continue Reading
While conducting some preliminary research before heading to Siem Reap, I couldn’t seem to figure out what exactly to wear to Angkor Wat. I knew I needed to wear temple appropriate clothing, but I didn’t know how strict it would be. Well, I’m here to tell you that the dress code for Angkor Wat and … Continue Reading
George Town is Malaysia’s second largest city next to Kuala Lumpur and the capital of Penang, but it doesn’t feel anything like a big city. In fact, George Town’s city center was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008 for its preservation of culture and the many historical buildings in the area. Once a … Continue Reading
About equidistant from Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the Cameron Highlands are the perfect stop to make on your way either north or south to one of these major cities. Set 5,250 feet above sea level, the highlands have a completely different terrain and an average temperature of 65 degrees F, also making it the ideal reprieve … Continue Reading
Langkawi is an island off the west coast of the Malaysian Peninsula that draws in foreign and Malaysian tourists alike for its beaches and fun water sports. Although I didn’t partake in any water sports, I did find the beaches to be beautiful, the nightlife to be fun, and the views of the island from … Continue Reading
Kuala Lumpur may be most known for its famous Petronas Twin Towers, but I can assure you that this city has much more to offer than its skyline. With an estimated population of 1.7 million, this bustling metropolitan city is a melting pot of predominantly Malays, Chinese, and Indians that have all contributed to the … Continue Reading
I’ve had a few people reach out to me about their upcoming travels to Vietnam and whether or not they need a visa to go there. A lot of places in Southeast Asia grant you a visa upon arrival for free up to three months, but if there’s one place you’re going to run into visa … Continue Reading
Just 30 min north of the surf-side, backpacker’s heaven town of Canggu by car, the famed (and rightfully so) Pura Tanah Lot is there, seemingly floating in the ocean for all to see. Pura Tanah Lot is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to the gods of the sea with origins back to the fifteenth century, that … Continue Reading
Made uber famous by Julia Roberts where she did the majority of her loving from “Eat Pray Love,” Ubud is a gorgeous part of central Bali that can’t be missed. Besides it being the greenest place I’ve ever been, it also boasts elements of relaxation and peace that are seldom found elsewhere. Watch the monkeys … Continue Reading
Ho Chi Minh City, or more commonly known as Saigon, was hands down my favorite city in Vietnam. Not only was it my first ever experience in this country, but I had a good friend living there that hosted me and was able to show me the true local experience. To me there’s this chaotic … Continue Reading
Thanks to the amazing overnight bus system in Vietnam, I didn’t lose a single day traveling during my 20-day trip, which enabled non-stop adventuring each and everyday. As you can imagine, by the time I made it to Hanoi from Ho Chi Minh City, I was exhausted. (The best kind of exhausted, of course.) I … Continue Reading
There are certain experiences while solo-traveling that genuinely change you as a person. It can range from meeting people who touch your soul, overcoming difficult situations on your own, to connecting with nature, but most importantly connecting with yourself. While traveling in Thailand, I decided to participate in a 2-day silent mediation retreat out of … Continue Reading
After enduring a three-hour ride north of Chiang Mai complete with 700 vomit-inducing turns, you will find yourself in Pai. And at only a few hours from Thailand’s largest northern city, it’s the perfect weekend trip to see a little more of what Northern Thailand has to offer. Pai is Chiang Mai’s earthy crunchy sister, … Continue Reading
When talking about Thailand, I’ve always heard people say “get out of Bangkok as fast as you can” or “don’t spend too much time in Bangkok.” I heard it was big, loud, smelly, crazy, and overrun by tourists. Here’s what I found; it is big, loud, smelly, and crazy…AND I LOVED IT. Bangkok gets a … Continue Reading
Known as the northern capital of Thailand, Chiang Mai has plenty going on just without the hustle, bustle, and crazy traffic of Bangkok. It’s a beautiful town known for its markets, close proximity to elephants, awesome cafes, and incredible food. Guys, elephants though… Getting There: Since I was coming from Khao Sok, I took a … Continue Reading
Said to be one of the oldest evergreen forests in the world, Khao Sok National Park is most certainly a special place. This 160 million year-old rainforest is filled with natural wonders from deep-water caves, cascading waterfalls, and countless native species. What it’s not full of, are tourists. Don’t get me wrong I am a tourist, … Continue Reading
Koh Phi Phi Don is the only inhabitable island of the Phi Phi Islands, and is known for its beautiful beaches, gorgeous viewpoints, and wild nightlife. If you’re not partying, there’s plenty to do and plenty of places to stay away from the madness of Tonsai village, just prepare yourself for a wild party throughout … Continue Reading
With the allure of the full moon party in Koh Phangan, scuba diving in Koh Tao, and pristine beaches of the Phi Phi Islands, Krabi’s coastal towns are often overlooked, especially the small underdeveloped town of Tonsai. Need a reason to go? I’ll give you four!
Sapa is a magical place. The landscape itself is reason enough to make the 7-hour trek from Hanoi, but this place is much more than just a beautiful landscape. This mountainous town is home to five ethnic minority hill tribes who still dress in traditional garb and speak in their own dialects. The coolest part? … Continue Reading
Whenever there’s a conversation about Vietnam, it is pretty much expected that you’ll be visiting Ha Long Bay. As a UNESCO World Heritage site and recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, it’s Vietnam’s star attraction. However, I had heard mixed reviews from multiple different people: That Ha Long Bay is overcrowded, … Continue Reading
Just two hours from Hanoi is the Ninh Binh region of Vietnam that is home to stunning landscapes, historical monuments and is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to Tam Coc which is known as the Ha Long Bay on Land. Tam Coc is a must-see while visiting Hanoi and can easily … Continue Reading
Similar to Hue, I only had one day in Da Nang, so I wanted to make it count. I heard that this was a city that most people skipped on their way from Hoi An to Hanoi, but I wanted to see what was going on in the fourth largest city in Vietnam. … Continue Reading
From Hoi An, I headed North to check out Hue, a city that was once the nation’s capital. Known as one of the top spots for sampling some of the best food that Vietnam has to offer, there was no way I was skipping out on Hue. With only a day and a night designated to … Continue Reading
Hoi An is a tourists dream, as it offers the picturesque Ancient City where every street is strung with colorful lanterns, as well as beautiful An Bang Beach only a 25 minute bike ride away. I really enjoyed my two days in Hoi An, but was a bit surprised to find it as touristy as … Continue Reading
Set in the Southern Central Highlands of Vietnam, Da Lat is a beautiful mountain town known for its flowers, coffee, strawberries, and fresh air. Da Lat has so much to offer by the way of food, culture, scenery, and adventure, that it would be a shame if overlooked. I spent three days exploring this gorgeous part … Continue Reading
If you’re looking for a less touristy, less developed, more authentic version of Bali, then head to its neighbor, Lombok (mentioned in the last post). Lombok is an island east of Bali with the Gili Islands just off of the coast. If you’re coming from the Gilis, it’s an easy 10-15 minute boat ride to … Continue Reading
Although Bali and its neighbor Lombok are predominantly known for their beaches, I headed inland to check out a few of the gorgeous active volcanoes. There’s three on Bali (Batur, Bratan & Agung) and one on Lombok (Rinjani).
I usually have some sort of itinerary or list of what I want to do or see in each place I visit, but for The Gili Islands, the only thing on my list was to kick back, relax, and enjoy the sun. The Gili Islands are made up of three small islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili … Continue Reading
