At this very moment, I’m sitting at a hightop table at a coffee shop. The exposed brick wall is lined with black and white photos of coffee beans and inspirational quotes that say things like “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” I’m halfway through my iced coffee, and I’ve been eyeing …
New Year’s Eve in Chiang Rai, Thailand was easily one of my all-time favorite trip memories and one of the best New Year’s I’ve ever had. It was festive, but so relaxed. There were lanterns and fireworks, Thai food and beer, and really, what more do you need to ring in the new year on …
If you’ve heard about Vang Vieng, it’s because you’ve heard about Tubing in Vang Vieng. And if you’ve heard about tubing in Vang Vieng, you’re either incredibly worried about us or have heard about how it has changed. While it’s nowhere near the experience it used to be, it’s still a great stop if you’re …
While there apparently used to be a ferry, the only way to cross the Chiang Khong (Thailand) – Huay Xai (Laos) border these days is via the Friendship Bridge, which has a pretty specific series of steps for crossing. Here’s our step-by-step instructions for crossing from Chiang Khong into Huay Xai. 1. Getting to Friendship …
One of the most fun parts of the Southeast Asia backpacker trail is the slow boat from the border town of Huay Xai, Laos to the tourist hotspot Luang Prabang, Laos. The two-day trip totals about 14 hours with an overnight stop on Pakbeng, Laos. Note: Some sources refer to this same ride as the …
We started the Backpacker’s Route Through Southeast Asia in Thailand. We made our way north through from Bangkok, to Chiang Mai, to Chiang Rai, and have finally made our way into our next country: Laos! Laos was the country in Southeast Asia that I was most excited about and for no good reason. I just …
If you’re heading from Thailand to Laos, there’s a good chance you’ll be following a rough route of Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong is where you’ll find the Chiang Khong / Huay Xais border between Thailand and Laos, which is in turn the jumping off point for the Two-Day Slow …
On Christmas Eve morning, we laced up our Nikes and headed to the starting line of the Chiang Mai Marathon in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was our second marathon of this trip and our seventh ever. The race was definitely more of a cultural experience than it was a quality marathon, so having a good …
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been on the road for six months now. I knew this day would come faster than I expected, but it somehow managed to get here even faster than I could have possibly imagined. It’s been an incredible journey so far. We’ve stayed in 12-bed hostels and Club Level at …
Wat Rong Khun, better known to travelers as the “White Temple” is a temple structure (Wikipedia refers to it as an art exhibit) a few miles outside of central Chiang Rai, Thailand. (If you’re looking for a “real” temple experience in the region, check out the hike to Wat Pha Lat and Wat Phra That …