Asia
How to Spend 3 Days in Luang Prabang, Laos (Temples, Waterfalls, Elephants, and More!
I stared out the window of my shuttle van into the streets of Luang Prabang, the ‘New York City’ of Laos. As I watched the locals slowly setting up for the nightly market and the tourists strolling hand in hand past the shops with fresh fruit shakes in hand, I didn’t quite understand the NYC…
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Vietnamese Street Food: My Must-Try Favourites
There were a million and one reasons why I thought I would fall in love with Vietnam. Vietnamese steeet food was not one of them. It’s not that I didn’t expect to like the food, more that food usually doesn’t rank really high on my travel radar, especially in places like Southeast Asia. Don’t get…
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Solo Travel in Vietnam: Tips and What to Expect
Vietnam seems to be one of those places that people either fall in love with or end up disliking. I know several people who fall on both sides but I’m happy to say I was one of the lucky ones who fell in love with Vietnam. That being said, compared to other destinations in Southeast…
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Vietnam Itinerary: Get The Most Out of 2 Weeks in Vietnam
I didn’t really know how I would feel about Vietnam. It seemed to be one of those places that people either love or hate. I was worried about the traffic, intrigued by the food, and looking forward to the natural beauty. I didn’t expect to fall in love with it, but over my time in…
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Angkor Wat in 1 Day? Here’s How to See The Best Temples of Angkor
Visiting Cambodia to see the famous temples of Angkor was a dream for me. The ancient city had been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember and I was definitely willing to hang my Indiana Jones hat up for a day and embrace my inner tomb raider. But with only 3…
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3 Days in Hong Kong: A Hong Kong Itinerary for First Time Visitors
I’ll be honest; I didn’t think that I’d like Hong Kong. I was worried that it would be too big, too busy, too modern. After spending so much time travelling through small villages and towns in Southeast Asia where I couldn’t drink the tap water or flush toilet paper, I thought that being in Hong…
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1 Day in Macau: Hong Kong to Macau Day Trip
I had a 4-day layover in Hong Kong after coming back from my most recent trip to Southeast Asia. I planned 3 days in Hong Kong but due to flight times, actually ended up having 4. So, I figured I may as well try somewhere new and spend 1 day in Macau. A day trip…
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Uzbekistan Itinerary: How to Spend 7 Magical Days in Uzbekistan
I didn’t know what to expect from Uzbekistan. I knew it had pretty buildings and was somewhere I wanted to see someday but, to be honest, if you had asked me to point it out on an unlabelled map, I would have struggled. However, having now been, I can only rave about this country. About…
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Uzbekistan Souvenirs: What to Buy, Where to Buy, and Haggling Tips
Looking to shop in Uzbekistan? From silk to suzani, steel to paint, here are the best Uzbekistan souvenirs with tips on where to get them and how much to pay.
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What to Wear in Uzbekistan: Packing Tips for Women
If you are anything like me, packing stresses you out. Not just for the fear of forgetting to bring something, but also the pressure of making sure that you pack the right things. For the climate, for the activities planned, and to be respectful. When it came to what to wear in Uzbekistan I wasn’t…
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The Best Things to do in Mandalay (and What to Avoid!)
I visited Myanmar in 2015 but only had a week which meant I really only had time for two cities. Bagan was a must- there was no way I was missing those temples and sunrise moments that I had been dreaming about for years. My other option was either Yangon or Mandalay. Yangon was the…
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The Best of Bagan in 2 Days
Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been one of those mysterious countries that most people know very little about and few people choose to travel to. In the past, the military control of the country had most tourists afraid or unwilling to venture into the South East Asian country, and those that did dare to…
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The Best of Ho Chi Minh City in 1 Day
When I stepped down from the bus I took from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh city I was ready to hate it. To be honest, I originally planned on avoiding this Vietnamese city, for what I thought was good reason. I had been told over and over again that it was overrated, too hectic…
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Scuba Diving in Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park is best known for it’s unique inhabitants, the Komodo dragons, but those who scuba dive know that this part of the world is also home to some absolutely incredible dive sites as well. I visited Komodo early on as a diver. I only had 12 dives under my belt and most of…
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Solo Travel in Thailand: Tips, Thoughts, and What to Expect
After four years of trips to Europe, 2015 was my time to change it up and visit a new continent, starting with a long-time backpacker favourite: Thailand. I was excited to visit, after all, who doesn’t want to go to Thailand. But, I was also a little bit skeptical. Was solo travel in Thailand safe?…
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Why the Ladyboy Show in Chaing Mai is a Must See
I can still remember the first ladyboy I saw in Thailand. She was beautiful. Her black hair was silky smooth, not a strand out of place. Her makeup was flawless, complete with the perfect winged eye liner that I can never manage get just right. A form fitting white dress hugged her curves and she rocked…
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Solo Travel in Bali: Why I Didn’t Love it
When I booked my fights to Bali I was beyond excited. I imagined sandy beaches, beautiful rice terraces, tropical drinks, exotic temples, and first class dive sites. It didn’t disappoint. The beaches were busy, but nice. The rice terraces were gorgeous to walk through (when it wasn’t pouring rain). The temples were great to explore and…
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Skip the Crowds: The Best Place for Sunrise in Bagan
Edit: Due to recent changes in Bagan, access to my secret temple (and every temple) is no longer permitted. Please take a look at my 2 days in Bagan guide for an updated version on where you can see sunrise in Bagan. I’ve chosen to keep this blog post up for my own memories but…
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The Best of Siem Reap in 3 Days
Motorbikes, cars, and trucks whizzed past me on the dusty roads as I sat in my Cambodian tuktuk on the way to my hostel. It was hot and sticky but the breeze kept me cool and my excitement at being in Cambodia distracted from the heat. I had dreamed of visiting the famous Angkor temples…
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Hong Kong Foodie: A Michelin Rated Local Secret
When I reached out to friends, family, and other travellers for suggestions on where to go and what to do in Hong Kong, I was flooded with amazing ideas. But one in particular kept popping up: go for dim sum at Tim Ho Wan. For those unfamiliar with the name, Tim Ho Wan is famous…
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Best Tips for Eating Street Food Without Getting Sick
The idea of street food usually brings two reactions. The first is the excitement at cheap, good food. The second is the terrified thought of getting sick from it and spending precious days of your vacation holed up in a bathroom feeling like you are going to die. Unfortunately, both can be a reality and…
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MandaLao Tours: Responsible Tourism with Elephants in Laos
It is said that Laos is the land of a million elephants.The story comes from a long time ago, when the local people in the south of the country witnessed what seemed to be an endless herd of elephants in Laos crossing the Mekong river. If the legend is to be believed, there were enough…
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My Thirty Minutes with a Balinese Magic Man
“Just one moment please.” I stood outside a colourful house about 25 minutes outside of Ubud. My friends and I were the only foreigners around, watching as local children played badminton in the street, laughing and giggling in the warm sun. Unlike in other non-tourist places, these children paid us no attention, no doubt used…
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Girls’ Getaway Bali: Villa Bliss in Stylish Seminyak
`It took 3 flights, 42 hours, and a time change of twelve hours for me to arrive in Bali, but it was oh so worth it. Not just because I was in Bali, but because I was meeting two friends, Robyn and Chantae, for a three day girl getaway. It had been nearly a year…
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