Our first day in Rotterdam, Netherlands has left us utterly exhausted. We walked around the city all day long and jet lag is catching up to us. As I type this, my body thinks its 3:30 a.m. even though it is 9:30 p.m. I hope this makes sense through my delirium. It had been 7 […]
Let the Summer Eurotrip Begin! Read More »
The sun hadn’t yet started its gentle rise by the time we awoke. Rubbing the sleep from our eyes Martin and I briskly walked to the metro station in the drizzling rain. With our two French friends, we caught the first subway to the train station and the second train to Xiamen, a city 3 hours by
Ancient Chinese Communes – Fujian Tulou Read More »
We hadn’t slept at all when we landed in Tokyo at 8:00 a.m. Was it a mistake to take the 4-hour red-eye flight from Hong Kong? Then, I spotted a coffee shop. The world always looks better after a cup of coffee. When Martin and I travel, we don’t necessarily need to see all the
Naked and Alone in a Japanese Hot Tub Read More »
I had three whole days off. I had forgotten how precious three days off in a row could be. With working overtime and taking on two extra projects, I desperately needed a break. We decided to go to Macau! Macau is only a 60-90 minute ferry ride from Shenzhen, which is about the same distance
Macau: Am I in China or Portugal? Read More »
Our brains naturally gravitate toward routines. We like patterns. It makes life easier, which leaves more energy for non-routine things, like navigating to a new destination or solving a complex problem. When Martin and I decided to embark on a traveling adventure, I desperately wanted to break out of my routines, some of which I
The Allure and Trap of Routines Read More »
Sweat dripped down my back and coated my arms. The sun beat down relentlessly as I searched for the shady part of the sidewalk. I had only been outside a few minutes; already, I was drenched. Air temperatures in Malaysia usually hover around 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit with 80-90% humidity. After spending a week sweating in
Langkawi Island Paradise Read More »
No matter how many different countries I visit, I’m always surprised at how different they are from each other. Each country has its own rhythm. It is difficult to put into words. While Vietnam reminded me a lot of Guatemala, it was also uniquely Vietnam. The borders between countries often feel arbitrary to me, and
I have no concept of time anymore. One week on the road can feel like a lifetime. Martin and I spent nearly eight weeks in Vietnam; six of those weeks were on motorbikes. I have no idea what that means. I do know that coming back to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was like coming
The Pain and Pleasure of Vietnam Read More »
It has been nearly 5 weeks since Martin and I arrived in Vietnam, strapped on helmets, and hit the road on motorbikes. In those 5 weeks, we’ve only made it to the center of the country! Vietnam is long! But we’ve also fallen into a sort of routine. First stop: coffee. Vietnamese coffee is crazy
On the Road in Vietnam Read More »
After two weeks in Vietnam, culture shock has finally kicked in. Cravings for the familiar instead of the novel are running rampant. I found avocados and almost started crying for joy. I have PB&J sandwiches planned for breakfast tomorrow; I can hardly wait. People told me Vietnam would be different. I believed them, and now
That’s Different, Vietnam! Read More »