We have left the land of a million backpackers (aka Southeast Asia) and have arrived in China! We will miss the backpacker culture and some of the things that come with a well-traveled route, but we’re excited for a new challenge. And China can definitely be challenging. We recently spent a week in Shanghai, and …
If I believed in jinxes, I’d be worried right now because I’m starting this post on booking the Etihad Apartment from Australia to Abu Dhabi before I’ve completed the booking. But whatever happens, this post will either be a tale of epic success in travel hacking (okay, that might be overstating it) or epic fail. …
I didn’t think I ever really cared about monkeys that much until I came to Thailand. I’ve had more hands-on experiences with monkeys during a month in Thailand than I ever thought I’d have in my entire life. These charismatic and energetic little cuties have completely stolen my heart and cracked my top three favorite …
Angkor Wat calls to backpackers like Paris calls to lovers. I understand that it’s not only backpackers who go to Angkor Wat (in fact, they’re probably the minority, especially given the price tag lately), but it feels like a rite of passage. You have not completed the “Banana Pancake” Southeast Asia circuit if you haven’t …
Having finished up our stay in Hanoi (including an awesome two-day one-night Bhaya Cruise on Ha Long Bay), it was time to see the rest of Vietnam. We have been consistently impressed by the quality and efficiency of trains in Vietnam, and highly recommend it as a transport option as you make your way through …
After a few lovely nights in Hoi An, it was time to continue our southward journey through Vietnam. Next up was Nha Trang, a beach destination (with great snorkeling!) about ten hours south by train. In this post, we cover how we got from Hoi An to Da Nang (the nearest train station) and then …
As we approach the end of our two months in Southeast Asia, we’ve arrived at our last new country in the region: Cambodia. I feel a bit bad for my assessment on Cambodia because it comes on the heels of Vietnam, a country we absolutely adored. Vietnam was right up there with Seoul as far …
Let’s get this over with. You’re going to say “You love Starbucks and you love credit cards! You must love the new Starbucks credit card!” And when you do, I’m going to roll my eyes and tell you to read this post (but also fully appreciate the fact that you think of me when you …
If you don’t think of beach paradise when you think of Vietnam (I wouldn’t blame you, but …), you’d be missing out on so much of what the amazing country of Vietnam has to offer. Vietnam has something for everyone, from the metropolitan hub of Ho Chi Minh City to the spastic streets of Hanoi, …
Our interest in saving money for and on this trip runs deep. We were intense budgeters before we even had the idea to travel the world (making the decision that much easier with some money already in the bank), and that carried over into our trip planning and everyday life abroad. We’re always looking for …