pico iyer helps me articulate home.
it’s no secret that i had an adjustment period upon our return last year. it was really hard for me to explain how i…
it’s no secret that i had an adjustment period upon our return last year. it was really hard for me to explain how i…
we’ve stayed in touch with the fellow travelers we met during our two day cruise down the mekong river in laos. lisa and eric are on…
you know that feeling when you wake up on a saturday… “so what do you want to do today?” that’s how i’ve felt every…
our time in cambodia was wonderful. the people. the countryside. angkor wat. the history. that one night at the circus. we didn’t have a…
after my brother’s wedding in san diego, we flew to tucson for some QT with danny’s family. it was our final stop before arriving…
early on during our travels we realized this and never will forget it. no matter where you are in the world or how different…
while i soak up the last bit of this sabbatical, my goal is to organize/back up our trip’s photos, finalize videos and create a…
“what was your favorite place?” we’re both getting asked this multiple times a day. and it’s a fair question. probably one that i’d ask…
wouldn’t it be so nice to have your very own photographer / videographer on vacation with you? lurking behind the scenes to capture all…
a few months into our trip, we decided to skip mainland china and replace the month of may with indonesia and japan instead. we wanted…
probably due to the continent’s key religious based principle of karma, throughout our travels in asia we never felt unsafe, scammed or threatened (well,…
remember the canadian friends we made in uluwatu, bali? steve & emily — our surf crew? well, they’re from vancouver and we just so happened…
unpacking this week, i stumbled upon a bunch of friendship bracelets shoved in the bottom of a bag. it made me laugh when i…
planning a backpacking trip through asia? not sure where to start? the best advice i can give you is to book a ticket and…
…now in my dreams… we’d see each other for the first time in almost six months and his eyes would get wide, his ears…
a planner at heart, i initially struggled with the idea of an open itinerary but i’m so glad i through most planning to the wind and…
THE TING’S TOP TRAVEL RESOURCES Throughout our travels, we didn’t have cell phone service and never once got a SIM card. There were those…
{click to enlarge} we flew from denpasar, indonesia to osaka, japan on AirAsia X route: denpasar –> kuala lumpur –> osaka 10+ hours in…
and i’m not just talking about the bidet feature (water that splashes your rear). i’m talking about japanese smart toilets : heated seats :…
the streets of shibuya are always alive. hip cafes & restaurants everywhere the famous shibuya crossing {via} our last stop in japan (and asia)…
or so we’re being forced to accept. how is it june? june! weren’t we just packing for this adventure? and now we’re back. not…
leading up to japan, all danny and i could think about was endless, fresh & inexpensive sushi. melt in your mouth nigiri and crazy…
one of the fastest commercial trains in the world, danny was pretty pumped to take a ride on japan’s shinkansen n700 bullet train. it’s…
after plenty of fast casual, vending machine style ramen meals, we were happy to find gogya in kyoto for a proper sit-down, long dinner…
after we added japan to our route, one of danny’s “must do” items was to stay at a japanese capsule hotel. the capsule concept…
kyoto is to japan what hoi an is to vietnam. the city has maintained its traditional Japanese architecture and culture which is a striking juxtaposition…
okonomiyaki is called “japanese pizza” or “japanese pancakes” and it’s officially one of my new favorite hearty meals. (“yaki” means “what you like/want” –…
fifteen years ago, i spent a summer on an exchange program in southern japan (fukuoka with exploration in nagasaki and hiroshima). a high school…
no, for real. they’re delicious. takoyaki is a signature street food snack in japan (read more here on wiki). a few friends told us…
we ate a lot of ramen in japan. probably more than we should admit. and much to our surprise, most ramen shops were synonymous with…
Step 1. Roll into Tokyo strapped into double-sided backpacks holding a map Step 2. Attempt to make your backpack full of practical, worn-out clothes…
our route: DPS Airport –> Seminyak –> Uluwatu –> Seminyak –> Ubud our complete bali travel guide can be found here.
i wrote this post about wishing for a personal travel concierge while we were in seminyak, bali. with japan just days away and no…
that time we showed up at Padang Padang Beach extra early for a surf session and stumbled upon a traditional religious/cultural ceremony. there were…
We spent our last three Bali nights in the jungle town of Ubud made famous by Eat, Pray, Love. Overwhelmed by hotel options, we again…
{click to enlarge} suns out, buns out. That was pretty much our mantra for our time at the pool villa. Our Uluwatu reservation…
After Seminyak, we headed to Uluwatu to explore a much more laid back part of the island and to give Danny some time in…
Our first five nights in Bali were spent in Seminyak (our overview here). We took the advice of some Aussie friends we met in Cambodia…
always has been and always will be my favorite fruit. and after this trip it’s at the top of danny’s list, too.
a few friends warned us it was likely… and they were right. apparently bali is infamous for its corrupt police force. they’ll find any excuse…
One of Indonesia’s 7,000 islands, Bali is undoubtedly the most popular among tourists and has been developed accordingly. While it may look like a…
skins only surf! naked cowabunga! a perfectly placed water spot on the GoPro made for an excellent capture.
I’m sure you’ve got the point by now: there was so much we loved about Hong Kong. Perhaps it was in part because it…
I didn’t really know what was wrong with me. Our first day in Hong Kong I was kind of quiet. I couldn’t shake the…
Where to stay in Hong Kong? It’s one of the most densely populated places on earth, so we knew the accommodations would be small,…
{click map to enlarge} I’ll admit – I was still kind of confused until we got there. And the answer: well, not technically. Even…
dim sum :: a style of eating chinese/cantonese food that’s all small, bite-size portions and usually served in bamboo steamer baskets. in some cases,…
Something I never considered was how much time we’d spend during our trip planning our trip. It’s a lot of work. And at times,…
As we were de-boarding our Halong Bay cruise, I struck up a conversation with a couple of Spaniards that had just come from Sa…
(that blue dot is us) “what’s that purple line?” “i think that’s china.” “wanna go check it out?” “yeah, let’s cruise.” and what…
it’s the capital of vietnam, but we didn’t find a real compelling reason to visit hanoi besides it being a hub for travel to…
you never really know what you’re going to get with the overnight trains. and after surviving our “cozy” ride in india, we felt like…
pho: pronounced “fuh” like, “what the f$%#?” or you’re so much “FUn” easy, right? no more PHOne, people. pho is the most popular vietnamese…
in bed. d snoozing next to me. at our pool villa. it’s a glorious thing when your hotel reservation gets screwed up so your…
01. Four Hour Workweek – fantastic read for those looking to balance career with a leisurely lifestyle. everyone at my office has read it….
Sitting up against the border of mainland china, Sa Pa is about as far north as you can get in Vietnam (see on map…
Vietnam is expansive and there’s plenty to do and see no matter what you’re into: big cities, beaches, national parks, caves, history and mountains….
{found this lurking in my draft folder. now that we’re back on an island, it feels appropriate to post} our last stop in the…
{found this lurking in my draft folder. now that we’re back on an island, it’s getting posted} — while we were in thailand, it…
we loved our week in hong kong. and if we hadn’t already been committed to onward flights, we probably would have stuck around for…
kidding. but for reals. but we’re not. however we totally would. {huntie, you’d love it} hong kong is rad. we’ve been moving around this…
it’s time for a shoutout to this guy | (i think my favorite photo of him from this trip. never ever before so cool,…
once you start researching a trip to southeast asia, images of halong bay become your go-to daydream place. it did for me. google it…
if you’ve ever closed your eyes and pictured what romanticized asia would look like, it’s probably hoi an, vietnam smack dab in the central…
when going to hoi an, you have to decide if you want to stay a) in the town, b) in the country/riverside or c)…
one of those nights where a post-shopping happy hour cocktail turns into a three-hour dinner in an alleyway of hoi an, vietnam. our buzzed…
one of the very first things you’ll notice in vietnam is that everyone dines on the sidewalk on miniature stools. tiny little plastic or wooden stools…
besides being romantic, historic and situated on both a river and a the ocean, hoi an (more here) is known for custom tailoring. there…
click to enlarge. for visuals: we took a bus from Phnom Penh, Cambodia —> Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam —> Dalat, Vietnam the “town…
… said no one ever. yes, folks. this is what most toilets look like. that bucket of water is for you to flush with….
a highlight of dalat are its waterfalls. based on the recommendation of our guesthouse owner, we skipped the popular elephant falls for thac pongour…
when leaving the pine tree covered mountain town of dalat, vietnam we had three choices of transportation to our next destination: a. 1.5 hour…
in light of the recent pop culture / tabloid news about kim kardashian’s attempt at a “selfie” with an elephant (more here if you’re…
knowing we only had the morning time to explore dalat (before the rain would come), our second day there we were up bright and…
our first night in dalat we grabbed an umbrella and set off for a comfort food meal. we found V’s Cafe and sat down…
From Ho Chi Minh City we took a 7-hour bus ride to the mountain town of Dalat (“7” seems to be our lucky number…
our two-week itinerary in cambodia siem reap —> battambang —> phnom penh other cambodian places to consider visiting: sihanoukville, kampot, kep & koh…
Since we started this adventure, Danny hadn’t purchased anything that wasn’t a major necessity (toiletry refills & a pair of knock-off CK underwear to…
the spontaneous nights are always the best. and that’s what this was. while having beers at a bar in phnom penh, a guy walked…
hello! we’re alive and well, just been on the mooooove a lot lately. still working our way through the big ‘ole country of vietnam! we…
ho chi minh city or saigon? depends on who you’re talking to, but both are totally acceptable ways to refer to vietnam’s hectic southern…
I’d love to know the total number of hours I’ve spent on the back of a motorbike since starting this adventure. It’s a lot….
we were surprised by how big cambodia’s capital was. situated on a river, phnom penh was a proper big city with high rises, busy…
one balmy night in the capital of cambodia we were craving dinner and movie. so after a bowl of noodle soup, we got two…
^above is a fun video i found to showcase the motorbikes & energy in ho chi minh city, vietnam^ the bees! that’s what me…
while getting your hair cut in vietnam. then really, a photo example is worth its weight in gold. {see the iPhone in there?} mr….
i swear it was. he swears it wasn’t. let me present the evidence. this is our hotel “lobby” aka the bar. no joke, we…
although it’s the fourth largest city in cambodia, there ain’t a whole lot to do in battambang. we knew this going into the city,…
after three bliss filled nights at The Landing Point Boutique Hotel, we wanted to stay another, but all nine rooms were completely booked. so,…
i’m not going to pretend we knew anything about cambodia’s politics or history before it was added to our travel itinerary. but once our…
{Photos & Story brought to you by Danny Bockting! Round of applause for our guest blogger.} Two weeks into our trip I was pheening…
we’re just about a week into our voyage through vietnam. we’re making our way from the south to the north, and anticipate spending…
when we’re asked about our favorite stops, siem reap will definitely be on the list. with angkor wat just outside of the city, siem…
^our three week itinerary // southern thailand march 2014^ if you’re planning a trip to southern thailand and have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to ask….
i’m not gonna lie. i’m smitten with this little video. watching it now makes me so happy, so i can only imagine how i’ll…
arguably the heart of cambodia is angkor archaeological park, 400 square-kilometers (250 sq. miles) of forested area featuring hundreds of remaining hindu and buddhist…
the little big top tent for phare, the cambodian circus. it’s organization that trains cambodian students in a variety of performing arts skills. we…
Siem Reap was our first stop in Cambodia. And just like it’s neighbors Thailand and Laos, we quickly learned that it only took traveling…
at home our mouth’s water for this cambodian restaurant, so we were super pumped to get our fill of authentic cambodian fare. sadly, the only thing…
the first notable thing we did in the town of battambang, cambodia was take a ride on the famed bamboo train, known in Khmer…
definition / flashpacker: someone who travels like a backpacker but with a bigger budget. we aren’t talking wall-street bonuses here, but flashpackers have enough…
When our friend Wes from college emailed a couple of months ago to tell us he’d bought a one-way ticket to Thailand to start…
from the minute mr. bean the tuk tuk driver picked us up at the airport, we’ve been continually blown away by cambodia. for starters,…
That’s probably what the lovely Muslim owners at Khum Laanta Resort thought when each morning we’d arrive for iced coffee and ask if we…
on this trip, we find ourselves watching a lot of things we’d typically miss — a spider weaving his web, schools of fish moving…
it all started when we made the decision to explore one of the lesser traveled thai islands. there are so many islands and we have the…
a 15 minute long tail boat gets you from ao nang beach to railay east beach. from railay east, it’s a 5 minute walk…
while waiting in line for a kebab & fruit shake right in railay, a fellow american spotted our Osprey packs and struck up a…
we will not stand on the toilet seat. we will not shave our legs with a machete. we will not use a broom/light…
with very little research, we booked our one-way ticket from india to krabi, thailand. it was that or puhket, which we haven’t heard anything…
danny really wanted a good seafood dinner while we were in the thai islands. so once he discovered a place of his liking, we…
in addition to fun stuff, we’re reading notable novels that take place in the countries we’re visiting. it’s a great way to learn about…
{freedom beach on koh tao island} after three weeks of R&R on the beaches of thailand and a total of six weeks in this…
india is huge. And there’s not a whole lot between each city except really rural villages. it’s kind of like constantly driving from Phoenix…
after a week at dawn of happiness, our next beach stop was tonsai, and it was one of our favorite stops in southern thailand. tonsai…
{above: video highlights from our incredible india adventure. can’t view? click here.} Dear, India: You’re colorful. You’re intense. You’re frustrating. You’re home to some…
we find ourselves thinking and talking a lot about india. the individual experiences themselves, our observances, how our time in the country has impacted…
we miss hunter so much. if you’ve ever hung out with us, you know that we have a distinct voice for huntie and talk…
{above: a quick video tour of our village digs in orchha, india. can’t see? click here.} towards the end of our india adventure, we…
there once was a king in khajuraho, india who wanted to build his empire. and his strategy to do so was to encourage people to…
forts and temples are to india what cathedrals are to europe. they’re beautiful, but after you’ve seen one or two – you’ve seen them…
The minute we arrived in India, I asked locals where the best place to see a Bollywood film would be. I was so curious…
{a later-post that slipped through the cracks} let’s be real. a lot of people have no idea that laos is a country. in…
following india, we flew directly to the southern thailand province of krabi. although it feels like an island, it’s not. krabi province is a…
{this was a day-trip train ride} For the journey from Khajuaro to Varanasi, we opted for the 12 hour overnight train – a common…
one of Rajesthan’s smaller cities, Bikaner is home to Rat Temple (seen here) and the Camel Breeding Farm & Research Center (seen here). After…
a recap of our time in india’s “pink city” – jaipur. the city got its nickname when a british reporter back in the day…
life is good. in fact, it’s surreal good. — if we’re all being honest here, india rocked our world and took a toll on…
a video compilation to give you a taste of the sights & especially the sounds of driving through india. can’t view the video? click…
The city of Varanasi (var-ah-nah-see) is right up there with Jerusalem for the “Holiest City Award.” The Christians and Jews get Jerusalem and the…
Hands down, India wins the best food award. We couldn’t enough. Unlike everywhere else we’ve been, we didn’t crave diversity once. Every day was…
{can’t view the video? click here to play it.} While we were in Jaisalmer, India I saw this Coachella-looking poster for the Ragasthan Music…
after 6 airports in 26 hours and no sleep, we made it from varanasi, india to krabi, thailand. it’s paradise. if you need us,…
Like camels (seen here), it never gets old to see monkeys roaming freely. We could sit and watch monkeys for hours. They’re hilarious with…
India’s desert state of Rajesthan is known for it’s picturesque monuments and authentic Indian beauty. The queen of them all is Udaipur, City of…
Our first stop after Delhi was the town of Mandawa, population 30,000, in the Shekhavati region of India known for its old havelis. A…
here’s a long & wobbly home video of our two-week journey through the country of laos. enjoy.
Hard to believe that in a city of 20+ million, we flagged down a tuk tuk driver who we later realized was wearing an…
doing some backtrack blog posting. we’re still in india, but here’s some more from our time in luang prabang, laos. As mentioned here, Luang…
Today we went to the Taj Mahal and something happened that I wasn’t expecting. I got really emotional. As we approached the east gate…
It’s funny. You’d assume that after seeing about 30 camels a day, the novelty would wear off, but it doesn’t. I still smile each…
For reals. The Hindu religion recognizes cows as holy animals and it’s illegal to eat or sell beef in the country of India. Cows…
Not religious folks ourselves, we’ve got a pretty open mind when it comes to religion. I tend to get pretty intrigued by different faiths…
after we left luang prabang, we made our way to the town of Vang Vieng, Laos (said: vang v-en). the town gets mixed reviews,…
spending every waking moment with someone requires a certain level of patience, love and flexibility. and what comes with a 24/7 schedule is becoming…
It’s a daily battle. Because it’s not rainy season, there aren’t swarms of mosquitos, but the ones that are around don’t have a fighting…
i’m quite certain we’ll never be able to accurately describe day one in delhi, a city of 22 million. the contradicting emotions we felt,…
and india has made us work for our visit. getting an indian visa is no joke. after re-arranging our travel plans to quickly…
when we arrived in luang prabang, the city was still pretty chilly in the mornings and evenings, so we decided to save the famed…
A popular way to get from Northern Thailand into Laos is by a boat ride down the Mekong River, a major river in Southeast…
We left Pai on a 5am Aya van for a 6-hour ride to Chiang Rai, Thailand as we inched towards the Laos border. We…
Not originally on our radar, Pai’s been a highlight so far (especially for D) despite the chilly temperatures (it was so cold mornings and nights!)….
no really, go ahead, the toilet is in the shower. strange, but a typical asian “wet room” we’ve had a few times. wet toilet…
here’s a little footage from right after i received my first lesson. the stop-go-freak-out wasn’t caught on camera. my teacher was more focused on…
after a couple of days on buses & vans, and a two-day boat ride down the mighty mekong river, we officially departed thailand and…
Street dogs aka “soi dogs” are everywhere. They’re a part of the culture and the community takes care of them – in fact, they’re…
you read all about our spicy villa experience here, and now a video to really bring it to life. enjoy!
if you’re super lucky, that’s the end of a traditional two-week vacation getaway. you’ve had a relaxing time, packed in some adventure, but your…
Spicy Villa was one of two places we booked in advance of leaving the US. As we sat on our plush couch in the…
i’m a little embarrassed to admit that i really couldn’t have picked out the thai language before i landed here. the thai language is…
a couple of days ago we took a van from chiang mai three hours north to the mountain town of pai (said: pie). immediately upon…
that friday night when your husband plans a surprise date in the middle of thailand. and it’s pizza perfect. street pizza in chiang mai…
today’s our last day in chiang mai and the first “solo” day of the trip. danny’s off on a full-day mountain biking adventure and…
since arriving in thailand, i’ve wanted to do a cooking class (food, weird). we looked at a few in bangkok, but missed out on…
we’re back. and after four nights of camping in the jungle of northern thailand (for real), we’re so very happy to be back in…
if you’re having trouble viewing the video, click here to watch.
in case your world geography is a little foggy, here’s a purple star to show you where we’re currently located: chiang mai in northern…
our week in thailand’s capital and most populated city (8+ million people) has come to an end. in many ways, bangkok is very similar…
it’s got everything a backpacker could want: cheap hostels, bars with drink specials, massages by the minute and tons of on-trend souvenirs. we ventured…
after day number five in bangkok, we were looking for fresh things to do, so i researched some activities and stumbled upon the highly…
“oh, look! it must be like fourth of july or something!” – said teri, the clueless american tourist. all i saw were tons of…
it’s amazing how quickly you can establish a routine and become part of a neighborhood in just a week. airbnb home: private room rental…
danny and i are pretty bad tourists. the “top 10 things to do in bangkok” are probably not where you’ll find us spending much…
Chatuchak Weekend Market is the largest market in Thailand and the world’s largest weekend market. It covers more than 35 acres and contains 15,000…
for massage #2, we decided to get more than just a foot rub and go for a traditional thai massage. after having our feet…
day one was a major, sensory overload, success. we left the house without a map or a plan and had a mellow day in…
the high and excitement of it all? perhaps, but no. for the first time ever on an international flight, we flew business class (thanks…
the start of our 24 hour journey to bangkok begins now. {via}
:: UPDATE :: after our adventure, this list absolutely has some modifications to it. if you’re going on an adventure and want updated tips, feel…
another common question. and i promise i’m not trying to be a badass when i say, “no, not really.” here’s the deal. we want to…
one of the most surreal moments of this prep process was recording my office voice message and publishing my out of office reply. “thanks…
it’s like being engaged all over again. people are so excited for our big adventure and have tons of questions. yes, we’re super excited. but…
despite trying to avoid all asian-related food items leading up to our trip (per the tip of multiple friends), we indulged a craving for…
As we started to clue people in on our plan to fall off the grid for a backpacking trip to asia, we were overwhelmed…
not the vodka kind. yesterday we finished our series of travel immunizations! i absolutely hate shots & needles. not like how most people do, i really…
don’t you just love this quote? when i said this new mantra to my dad, he quickly reminded his favorite dweller that neither…
We’re fulfilling a dream & going to explore the world! We. Are. So. Excited. You know those reoccurring conversations that happen after a few cocktails? When…