Wading into the coolness, the temperate and refreshing water rippling in waves of periwinkle as I went, I floated into a perfect little bay, surrounded by those iconic Thai rocks that jut up dramatically, perfectly framing the little beach cove. Islets of various sizes and shapes are scattered along the horizon, like a giant walked […]
Tips From the Banker: The True Cost of Travel in the Philippines
I knew that I had completely blown my typical Southeast Asia budget when traveling through the Philippines. I tried to mentally tally each day, quietly ignoring the fact that yes, I was over-spending way past my first year of traveling’s goal of $30/day (which I did pretty well at!). When I finally added up all […]
Hidden Thailand: 8 Amazing Day Trips From Chiang Mai
After spending a cumulative five months in Thailand over the past few years, sampling the backpacker’s favorites and finding a few places that were just budding on the tourist radar, it felt like time to go back with a different intention. This time, I wanted to go more local and see things that I hadn’t […]
A Guide to Hiking Doi Luang Chiang Dao
2019 Update: To do this hike you MUST get a guide. The entrance now has guards and those who attempt the hike without getting a guide risk getting arrested. The info in this post is still good and useful for prepping for the hike. Have fun! Doi Luang Chiang Dao is Thailand’s third tallest peak, […]
Emerald Lake: A Cenote in Thailand?!
I remember a few years ago when I posted on Facebook that I was looking for off the beaten path places to see in Southeast Asia. One of my acquaintances remarked that if I really wanted to head off the beaten path, I’d need to, “get out of Southeast Asia.” I’d like to take this […]