Tag: Southeast Asia

Indonesia days 1-3: beginnings in jungle village Bukit Lawang, Sumatra

July 31, 2022

And so begins the second chapter of my gap year travels. My first few days were filled with looong travel days and reaching a jungle village on Sumatra Island. I decided to spend my entire month in Sumatra because of its reputation for being an adventure-lover’s paradise and being more off-the-beaten-path. So far, I’ve been … More Indonesia days 1-3: beginnings in jungle village Bukit Lawang, Sumatra

Sri Lanka days 16-21: vacation mode in southern beach town of Mirissa + Joe is here!

April 3, 2022

Hey friends! This past week has been the best week of my entire trip, and that’s because Joe is here!! We are so excited to be together again after 2 months apart. We have two weeks together in Sri Lanka and have been making the most of it with quality time in this new country. … More Sri Lanka days 16-21: vacation mode in southern beach town of Mirissa + Joe is here!

Sri Lanka days 11-15: Nuwara Eliya continued + waterfalls, hikes, and gardens galore + tea plantation tour + horse ride through the countryside

March 26, 2022

This past week, I grew even more in love in Nuwara Eliya, a small town in Sri Lanka’s tea country (see a recap of my first 3 days here). After 7 days, I can say this is my favorite spot in Sri Lanka so far from its picturesque sites and feeling at home in my … More Sri Lanka days 11-15: Nuwara Eliya continued + waterfalls, hikes, and gardens galore + tea plantation tour + horse ride through the countryside

Sri Lanka days 1-2: Beginnings in bustling beach town of Negombo

March 14, 2022

It feels surreal to be in Sri Lanka as I’ve had my eye on Sri Lanka for last few years. I’ve always preferred smaller countries where you can see “everything” in a few weeks, and I love that Sri Lanka has the mountains, the beaches, and everything in between. So many backpackers I talked to … More Sri Lanka days 1-2: Beginnings in bustling beach town of Negombo

Cambodia days 27-30: final days in Kampot & Phnom Penh + day trip to Kep feat. crab market + last river day + trip reflection

March 11, 2022

I can’t believe this is my last Cambodia post! My final days in Cambodia were just lovely, filled with spending time with great people and doing some final activities in Kampot and Phnom Penh. Day 27: Day trip to Kep + Kep National Park + Kep Beach + crab market + small home dinner My … More Cambodia days 27-30: final days in Kampot & Phnom Penh + day trip to Kep feat. crab market + last river day + trip reflection

Cambodia days 24-26: spooky Bokor Mountain + riverside chilling in Kampot + feeling like a regular

March 9, 2022

As time goes on, I’ve fallen even more in love with this town and find myself continuing to extend my stay in Kampot. The last 3 days have been a mix of continuing to explore key sites on my moto, basking in the riverside scenery, and encountering familiar faces around town that has made me … More Cambodia days 24-26: spooky Bokor Mountain + riverside chilling in Kampot + feeling like a regular

Cambodia days 20-23: Lively Kampot + salt & pepper farms + riverside sunsets + countryside by motorbike

March 7, 2022

Hello hello! After my time on the islands, I headed to Kampot, a lively riverside town in the south of Cambodia. Kampot is a major hot spot for backpackers right now, and people I met all over Cambodia have been buzzing about Kampot. I’m loving it here as this has been my favorite spot in … More Cambodia days 20-23: Lively Kampot + salt & pepper farms + riverside sunsets + countryside by motorbike

Cambodia days 15-19: same island, different vibes in Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem + snorkeling & fishing boat trip + jungle hike

March 1, 2022

Hello friends! I’m writing to you back on mainland Cambodia after another set of relaxation days on the islands. After my time in M’Pai Bay, a rugged hippie village on Koh Rong Sanloem, I took a boat to the other side of the island called Saracen Bay, which is known for its more upscale vibes … More Cambodia days 15-19: same island, different vibes in Saracen Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem + snorkeling & fishing boat trip + jungle hike

Cambodia days 10-14: rugged hippie village of M’Pai Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem

February 25, 2022

After two weeks of big cities, I was excited to move onto the next chapter of my trip: Cambodia’s islands. When deciding which island to visit, I chose Koh Rong Sanloem – the smaller, less “party” spot of the two key islands. Within the island, I started my visit in a chill village called M’Pai … More Cambodia days 10-14: rugged hippie village of M’Pai Bay, Koh Rong Sanloem

Cambodia days 6-9: Battambang + Cambodia’s dark history + village visits feat. bamboo train and bat cave

February 19, 2022

After an awesome start to Cambodia in Siem Reap, I headed to Battambang next. Battambang is like Siem Reap’s little sister – still a city, but much less touristy and know for its colonial buildings, artsy scene, and humble surrounding villages. Many tourists don’t make it here on their Cambodia itinerary, so there was definitely … More Cambodia days 6-9: Battambang + Cambodia’s dark history + village visits feat. bamboo train and bat cave