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

Everything we own packed in four matching Eagle Creek rolling suitcases
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…”

Nobody likes me, everybody hates me. Guess I’ll just eat… grubs

I'm going to eat what?
I’m going to eat what?

HANOI, VIETNAM – OK, I’ll admit that title isn’t entirely accurate. Not everyone hates me, and I’m sure there must be a couple people who actually like me… at least a little. And I know my wife likes me (most of the time anyway).

But I did eat a grub the other day. Several of them, in fact.
Continue reading “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me. Guess I’ll just eat… grubs”

Why we prefer independent travel

We booked a private tour to the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides
We booked a private tour to the Callanish Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides

HANOI, VIETNAM – John and I “never” travel with a tour, except for those rare occasions when we do…

Tours tend to hustle you along from point A to point B to point C with a limited amount of time at each one. We, however, might want to spend a little more time at point A, don’t really care about point B, and think point C looks like it should take a whole day.
Continue reading “Why we prefer independent travel”

Our traditional Tet lunch experience

An array of traditional Vietnamese food for Lunar New Year (Tet)
An array of traditional Vietnamese food for Lunar New Year (Tet)

HANOI, VIETNAM – As slow travelers, John and I always try to connect with the local culture, so we were thrilled to be invited recently to join a family for their traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) family lunch in a rural village just outside of Hanoi.

We really did not know what to expect, besides lots of food, so we saved the entire day for the experience, and brought a box of chocolates for our host, Khai, the number two son in the family.
Continue reading “Our traditional Tet lunch experience”

Christmas and New Year’s in Hanoi

Tet decorations can be really over the top in Hanoi
Tet holiday decorations can be really over the top in Hanoi

HANOI, VIETNAM – Our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were certainly a bit different this year. We don’t usually do much, sometimes go to a movie, usually fix ourselves a nice dinner, but we’re not big gift-givers.

We both hate that in the U.S. the “Christmas season” seems to start even before summer ends. Continue reading “Christmas and New Year’s in Hanoi”