I’ve dreamed of Kyoto and its thousands of temples for as long as I’ve dreamed of Japan. I love Japanese architecture and Zen gardens. One day, when I own a home, my backyard will be designed as a Japanese Zen garden, complete with pond, koi fish, rock garden, and little waterfall. On my recent visit […]
38 Reasons Why I am Excited to Visit Japan
Next week, I’m going to Japan. It’s my first real visit there. I say “real visit” because back in 2004, on my way home from Thailand, my friend and I stopped in Tokyo for a long layover. After arriving at 6am, we left the airport, saw the imperial palace, realized Tokyo in January is a […]
The Best Thai Food You Can Eat
I know Monday’s post was a bit of a Debbie Downer, but don’t worry, I’m not done writing about travel — just being a permanent nomad. So in a complete 180 from Monday’s post, let’s talk about travel and my love of good Thai food. When I returned to Thailand a few weeks ago from […]
Experiencing Local Cambodian Culture on Bamboo Island
Posted: 03/15/2012 | March 15th, 2012 Last week, I took my own advice about not wasting time and spent my last few days in Cambodia on the seculuded Bamboo Island. I’m glad I did — it turned out to be the highlight of my trip and my first glimpse into Khmer (Cambodian) culture. Bamboo Island […]
The Wonderful Ruins of Angkor Wat
I didn’t make it to Angkor Wat this trip, but I was there in 2007. I’d hoped to go back — not because the ruins are different or because I wanted to deal with the larger crowds. No, I just wanted to take pictures with a better camera. But since I didn’t get do that, […]
This Harsh Reality Destroyed a Dream (But That’s OK!)
I had a dream once. It was a damn good dream too. It began last November. I would land in Asia, the last stop on my nomadic journey, explore everything I hadn’t seen, and re-see all my favorites. I’d visit Hong Kong, finally get to Laos, relax on the islands off Cambodia, trek the jungles […]
The Complete Guide to Diving in Koh Tao
This is a guest post by Alexandra Baackes about her diving experience in Koh Tao, Thailand. Koh Tao is a popular destination for scuba divers, and so in this guide Alexandra gives you the insider scoop for diving schools, prices, and the best areas for seeing sea life. Travelers in Thailand like to label their […]
Phnom Penh, I Love You!
Posted: 02/04/2012 | February 4th, 2012 Note: This story was updated in July 2018 to fix some links and resources but the story is from 2012. The first time I visit Phnom Penh I was only meant to stay three days. In was 2007 and I had less than a month in Cambodia before I […]
The Tragic Death of Phnom Penh’s Lake Area
Posted: 02/01/2012 | February 1st, 2012 In my nearly six years of traveling the world, my days on the lake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, still remain some of my favorite. I had come for a few days and ended up staying for a few weeks. I spent my time in the famous Number 9 Guesthouse […]
How Much a Holiday in Thailand Costs
Thailand can be as expensive or inexpensive a country to visit as you want it to be. This is a country where you can stay in $3 USD rooms or $1,000 USD resorts. Street food for pennies or gourmet dinners for hundreds. Thailand really runs the gamut. When my friends came to visit last December, […]
Why Are Backpackers in Southeast Asia So Stupid?
Posted: 01/19/2012 | January 19th, 2012 Dear backpackers of Southeast Asia, We need to talk. I love you. Truly, I do. I’ve been a backpacker for a long, long time now. I love being one and probably will consider myself one for a long time to come. But while backpacking through Southeast Asia over the […]
The Ultimate Guide to the Full Moon Party
When my friends began planning their trip to Thailand, they had one requirement: that we attend a Full Moon Party. They didn’t know a lot about the party, but they’d heard so much about it over the years, they knew they had to go. After all, the Full Moon Party is infamous. The mere mention […]
