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 …
In this post, we review taking the train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, particularly Thai Railways #13, including how we booked our ride and our (sometimes a little rough) experiences on the train itself. Having started our two months in Southeast Asia in Bangkok, we decided to make our way north through Chiang Mai and …
We were in Chiang Rai for less than five hours before we decided that we had to extend our planned stay here. We had originally only planned to be here for three nights, but after a quick walk through the night bazaar, a dinner in a lively street market and the cheapest patio beers we’ve …
During our year-long backpack trip around the world, we spent Christmas in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I recall that Christmas morning quite vividly. I was drinking a peppermint mocha and watching “A Christmas Story” on my laptop in a cafe. I knew that somewhere on the other side of the world, it was still Christmas Eve …
I was planning on making soup in Cartagena, but since it was a million degrees when we got there, I pulled an audible. We didn’t have any spices or ingredients in our Airbnb, so I wanted something with few ingredients. Since it was so hot and only our bedroom had AC, I wanted something that …
I started working at Starbucks when I was 16 years old. I didn’t even like coffee when I started, but I had passed enough mall coffee shops with pigtail-braided baristas to know it was what I wanted to do. When I wasn’t working (or at school or at sports’ practice), I loved cuddling up in …
Lately, every time we tell someone we’re traveling long term, they always ask about two things: “What do you do about money?” and “What did you do with your stuff?” They’re both fine questions; they both actually seem to be major reasons why people don’t go on these long-term trips that often. While the money …
It’s easy to forget that after you’ve picked your flights and chosen your hotels, you still need a way to pay for things overseas. This post covers the basics of money overseas, including getting cash and what credit cards to use. Cash Is (Sort of) King When I first wrote this post almost a decade …
Back in 1383, the temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep was built on the top of Doi Suthep Mountain just outside of modern day Chiang Mai. Monks had to hike up Doi Suthep to get to the temple, and Wat Pha Lat was later built as a resting place for those Monks. Today, you can still …
We are officially on the Southeast Asia (SEA) backpacker trail, having taken our first overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Right now, we’re basking in the glory of cheap travel, amazing food (loved the Pad Thai in Bangkok), and no schedule. Guys – we don’t even have a place to stay five days from …