Myanmar’s Kakku Pagodas showed up on my Instagram feed when I was elbow deep in research for my Myanmar trip. Near-ish to Inle Lake, the Mwe Taw Kakku Pagoda Complex seemed like the perfect off the beaten path alternative to the usual lake and temple tour. Like a corn maze of intricately decorated stupas, varying […]
How to Fly over Bagan in a Hot Air Balloon (+Costs and Where to Book)
When one searches images of Bagan, the most awe-inspiring ones tend to depict the sunrise with hot air balloons all along the horizon, floating above the millennium-old pagodas. This post will help you decide who to book with, and whether to go in a hot air balloon at all while you’re in Bagan. Why Fly […]
Bagan, Myanmar’s Best Sunrise and Sunset Spots
I’m in an open field as the red sun crests the horizon. I feel like I’ve struck Bagan gold because while the hot air balloons float directly overhead, I’ve got a front-row view and I’m not sharing it with anyone else – no selfie stick wielding crowds nor busloads of people. The real adventure, though, […]
El Nido, Philippines is Overtouristed, Here are 8 Amazing Alternatives
In April of 2018, the island of Boracay in the Philippines was closed down by the government due to the ravaging effects of overtourism. The tourism industry was so detrimental to the island, in fact, that the president of the Philippines referred to it as a “cesspool.” Boracay simply could not support the weight of […]
Where in the World to Swim with Whale Sharks
Swimming with whale sharks is one of the most exciting and awe-inspiring aquatic experiences. Apart from swimming with humpback whales, shark swimming is my favorite ocean activity, in part due to how huge they are. Not only are whale sharks the largest sharks in the ocean, they’re second only to some whale species when it comes to […]