For such a small little town in the middle of a country no one talks much about, there are a number of social enterprises doing big things in Luang Prabang. One of these important businesses is Laos Buffalo Dairy.
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An eco-tourism haven, Nahm Dong Park is an oasis you’ve probably never even heard about right outside the city limits of Luang Prabang. Don’t worry, I knew nothing about it either! Until one day, paint fumes of a newly renovated office space dizzying my head and fingers hurting from whipping out writing work, it was suggested that I hop on the back of a motorbike and head to Nahm Dong.
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Hamilton, New Zealand, is filled with cafés serving up fantastic coffee in aesthetic settings. Here are the city’s 10 best cafés and coffee shops.
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The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of those quintessential New Zealand treks all travelers hear about and backpackers flock to. Despite its popularity and reputation for stunning views, and the years I’ve cumulatively spent in New Zealand, I hadn’t ever made my way to hike it. Until my recent return!
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Mount Maunganui is a hike I’ve heard people talk about for ages. While I was living in Auckland particularly, people would always recommend I make the trip to Tauranga to do the walk and peep the view from the top. I simply never made the trip or had the time. It wasn’t that far up my priority list. Luckily for me, a day of good weather and no work brought together a few of my favourite humans for a trip to the Mount to mark it off all our lists!
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Gardens tend to be popular attractions in big cities— Auckland, Sydney, and New York City all have their respective botanic gardens, London has Kew and Sky Garden, and let’s not over look the Cloud Forest in Singapore. Kuala Lumpur, like other great cities, has gardens for its visitors and residents to enjoy— the Perdana Botanical Gardens.
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I found Kuala Lumpur full of hidden treasures, easy to navigate, and oozing with art. Instagram, Culture Trip, Pinterest, and stumbling onto the right streets lead me to amazing photo opportunities. Now, I’m here to pass on my favourite places for pictures in Malaysia’s capital city. To keep things fun, I thought I’d include some of the outtake photos from my most recent stay in Kuala Lumpur, including a picture with my eyes closed in Perdana Gardens and a picture with me and everyone else in front of the Petronas Towers.
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Arriving at the DoubleTree Resort in Penang after a 4 AM wake up in Kuala Lumpur for a 5 AM flight, I was more than a little ready to devour pancakes and down copious amounts of coffee. I walked through the stunning front lobby where I was given a warm welcome cookie by the smiling staff. The concierge grabbed my carry-on to escort it to my room and kindly pointed me in the direction of caffeine and carbs. Here’s the skinny on my stay!
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Have you ever wondered where your food comes from? Maybe you make the effort to buy organic fruits and pesticide-free vegetables? But what about your rice? Do you know where it comes from? I didn’t. More than that, I didn’t know how much work it was to grow it, harvest it, and get it on my plate.
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I pull another leech off my leg as Lan, my guide, sprays it with a lemongrass and water mixture he carried in a fanny pack. “You just donated blood to nature,” he says, laughing. I’m unbothered by the little leech. I’m walking in the jungle of Laos on a day when the heat isn’t insufferable…next to elephants. And all thanks to the conservation efforts of Mandalao.
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People come to Southeast Asia for a variety of reasons: the gorgeous natural landscapes, the exotic food, the unique cultures, and, it goes without saying, the low cost. Months in certain destinations can cost you as much as days or weeks other places, especially if you’re a tight budget traveler. Despite the already low cost of Laos, I’m always looking for the best deals and free attractions, events, and general goings-on happening in the city.
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Bao’en Temple was by far my favourite temple I visited while living in mainland China. And, by all accounts, it was the most unusual. I arrived on a breezy spring day and while there were two school tour groups visiting at the same time, the place felt nearly empty; a rarity in China. The entrance fee wasn’t outrageous and the history mixed with strange statue homages to Hans Christian Andersen made Bao’en as odd as it did beautiful to me.
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If you look close, you will stumble upon jewels hidden among the grimy skyscrapers and black pavement of Nanjing. History, modern art, and beautiful vantage points are around every corner if you're willing to take the time to look.
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Thailand offers a lot of Western comforts, famous Thai hospitality and food, and glorious, glorious temples. Today, I’m sharing my favourite temples in Bangkok and everything you need to know about them before visiting!
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I was surprised for my birthday with my inaugural night back in Laos spent at My Dream Boutique Resort. The little jungle getaway lies away from the tourist side of town and right on the river, making it feel like a hidden oasis. The driver that picked us up from the airport asked if it was our first time in Luang Prabang and we both kind of laughed to one another. No, it definitely was not. Upon learning that Luke formerly worked at the free Children's hospital and that it was my birthday, the man insisted that our accommodation be upgraded. And that's what lead to me having a Mowgli-style birthday.
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If you’re contemplating a move to China {more specifically, Nanjing}, this one’s for you! I’ve put together a list of pros and cons {as balanced as I could honestly make it} for those looking to shake things up and venture to the mainland.
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I headed to Yuejiang Temple, a USD$1.75 cab ride from my flat. Sitting high on the top of a hill, I braved the many sets of stone stairs in the middle of a 38C day to see what Yuejiang had to offer. I was impressed. Here’s what you should know before you visit!
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Temple experiences in China have been the complete opposite to temple experiences in Laos and quite different from those I've visited in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Now a veteran of Chinese temple visits, I've compiled this guide so that your expectations can be set appropriately for the Confucian Temple in Nanjing.
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Cafes often provide unique places to grab delicious food in a space I feel happy to curl up in. I have mentioned that, while not nearly as wonderful or as easy to find as the coffee culture that exists in Australia or New Zealand, there are cafes worth visiting in Nanjing.
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There is so much I've learned in my first 90 days in mainland China. Here are 50 facts about life here as observed by me and my foreign friends.
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