On The Road Now

April 23, 2018July 24, 2018

The Life Aquatic – Vietnam Style (Watch the video)

HANOI, VIETNAM – Vietnam’s Halong Bay is world renowned for its picturesque limestone karsts jutting skyward from the clear blue sea. Thousands of these impossible islands dot the waters off Vietnam’s northern coast.

Adjoining Halong Bay is Lan Ha Bay, less traveled by tour boats and every bit as beautiful. But the bays are not just home to lovely scenery. Thousands of people make their homes and livelihoods on the waters there. Continue reading “The Life Aquatic – Vietnam Style (Watch the video)”

April 17, 2018July 24, 2018

Cambodia – Make mine champagne

Champagne - our favorite libation — Champagne – our favorite libation (Wynan Van Niekerk/FreeImages.com)

HANOI, VIETNAM – During a recent boat tour around Lan Ha Bay we met a group of women visiting from Spain. They were traveling together around Southeast Asia and had recently visited Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

In talking with them about their adventures, I was reminded of our own trip to Angkor several years back and an amusing experience that happened one evening at our hotel. Salud!
Continue reading “Cambodia – Make mine champagne”

April 7, 2018July 24, 2018

Even in Hanoi I find money on the street…

Vietnamese spirit money... Too bad it's not the real thing — Vietnamese spirit money… Too bad it’s not the real thing

HANOI, VIETNAM – Back in the United States I often found coins on the ground… pennies mostly, sometimes a nickel, occasionally a dime or even a quarter. And one time I found a $20 bill. Whoo-Hoo!

Being the frugal person that I am, I’ve always picked up the coins (as long as I could do it safely, that is) – even the pennies that were so banged-up you could barely tell what they were (OK, I admit it; I’m a cheapskate).
Continue reading “Even in Hanoi I find money on the street…”

March 30, 2018July 24, 2018

Japanese Culture in Hanoi (watch the video)

Watch our video tour of the recent Japanese Culture Festival in Hanoi, Vietnam

HANOI, VIETNAM – We recently spent a day at the Japanese Culture Exchange Festival, held March 23-26 near Hoan Kiem Lake in downtown Hanoi.
Continue reading “Japanese Culture in Hanoi (watch the video)”

March 21, 2018December 6, 2018

Everything we own in just one bag? Yeah, right…

Everything we own packed in four matching Eagle Creek rolling suitcases

HANOI, VIETNAM – When Melanie and I first started planning to sell everything and travel the world, we thought we would each take just one carry-on suitcase so we’d never have to worry about lost luggage or hauling around too much stuff.

We read everything we could find about traveling light, and what you really need to bring when you travel. Continue reading “Everything we own in just one bag? Yeah, right…”