I have a thing for quirky travel destinations so when I found out that Hue was home to a creepy abandoned water park, I just had to go. The water park opened in 2004 and was operational for a few years before mysteriously shutting down, despite the fact that it cost millions to develop. It’s…
Being a vegetarian in Southeast Asia isn’t always easy, but luckily Vietnam is a super vegetarian and vegan-friendly country. Because of the large Buddhist influence here, most big cities in Vietnam have an abundance of “chay” restaurants, which are pure vegetarian (and mostly vegan) eateries. (Chay means vegetarian in Vietnamese.) Coming from Saigon, I wasn’t…
To be perfectly honest, I was hesitant to go back to Hoi An. I last visited 12 long years ago. My memory of what is now one of Vietnam’s most touristy destinations is a sleepy riverside village complete with picture-perfect French colonial buildings, cute little cafes and tons of fishing boats bobbing in the river….
Before I moved to Beijing in 2016 I was really, really nervous. I was in desperate need of helpful Beijing travel tips because I was very confused about what it would be like. I expected to experience major culture shock, apocalyptic pollution and insane crowds. But the moment I landed in China’s capital, I was…
Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) is a daunting destination for first-time visitors. Not only is this place massive – it has an estimated population of 12-13 million – but it’s chaotic and frenetic. On top of that, it’s not always easy to get information about what to actually do in this city. When I…
I’m just going to come right out and say it – being a vegetarian in Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon) rocks. Sometimes traveling as a vegetarian in Southeast Asia can be brutal, but that’s not in the case in Saigon. Thanks to Vietnam’s sizeable Buddhist population, there are tons of vegetarian restaurants in Ho…
*Note: I visited Kuta Lombok again in February 2019, following the devastating earthquakes that hit Lombok in the summer of 2018. I’m happy to report it’s business as usual in Kuta. I love Kuta Lombok. I didn’t think I would but that beautiful little corner of the world totally managed to steal my heart. I’d…
I’ve traveled to Bali a lot. During past four years I’ve visited eight cities, stayed in 18 hotels and rented three apartments in Bali. I don’t consider myself a complete expert, but I’ve learned a thing or two about renting a villa in Bali over the past few years. Because my current trips to Bali…
There’s a reason why Gili Trawangan is becoming an increasingly popular stop on Indonesia travel itineraries – the island is incredible. From its postcard-perfect beaches to its amazingly chilled-out vibe to its unreal sunsets, Gili T is an ideal place to while the days away. Trust me, I’ve done so on more than one occasion….
Over the years Bali has become my home away from home. In fact, I’m currently planning my 2-month stint there this summer. Because I’ve had the chance to spend so much time on Indonesia’s most popular little island I’ve come to know Bali fairly well. Despite the fact that Bali is a relatively small island, there are…