One Week of Hiking and Relaxation in Sapa, Vietnam
October 6, 2021
After a breathtaking five-day tour of Ha Giang, our journey through Northern Vietnam continued in Sapa. We would do some hiking with Sapa O’Chau, followed by some much-needed R&R at Sapa Clay House. Night Bus Ride from Ha Giang to Sapa We boarded a rather uncomfortable night bus in Ha Giang around 8pm, and it led us to Sapa in…
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Five-Day Car Tour to Discover Vietnam’s Ha Giang Region with YESD
June 22, 2021
While researching our journey in the Ha Giang region in Northern Vietnam, motorbike tours appeared popular. Yet, some friends who’ve visited the area recommended against motorbike tours, citing frequent accidents. My research led me to YESD, a social enterprise focusing on responsible tourism that provides tours in the region. The company offers a motorbike tour, where each adult rides on…
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Surviving Taiwan’s Mandatory COVID-19 Quarantine at Aloft Beitou
December 13, 2020
Upon making Taiwan the next move, our first hurdle was figuring out paperwork and the mandatory two-week Quarantine. The Taiwanese border is still closed at this time (October 2020). Only Taiwanese passport-holders or those with a special permit are allowed entry. Fortunately, my Taiwanese passport saved the day, and we applied for a special family visit visa for my Frenchie. …
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Relaxing Three-Day Stay at La Vie Vu Linh Ecolodge
October 7, 2020
The first stop of our Northern Vietnam tour is Vu Linh, a village half way between Hanoi and Ha Giang. We had decided to stop here as a way to break up the long 8+ hour drive. A quick search led us to La Vie Vu Linh, an eco-lodge on the Thac Ba Lake. Founded by a French guy who…
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Things to Do in Paris for the Non-First Timer
July 24, 2020
One of the perks of having a French partner is the privilege to visit Paris on the regular. The luxury of being in a city not for the first time is the zero pressure to check out top sites. I’m free to roam the streets and do as I please. In my late teens/the early twenties, the movie Before Sunset was one…
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Things to Do in London for the Non-First Timer
July 16, 2020
London holds a special place in my heart. It’s the city that really kicked off my desire to live a global life. I’ve lived in the city three different times, totally nearly two years. The first time, on a semester abroad program, living in a dingy basement flat near Earl’s Court. The second time, I returned the following summer to…
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One Year of Around-the-World Travel on $55 a Day
July 3, 2020
This week marked a year since we concluded our one year of around-the-world travel. Over this past year, we’ve had time to properly digest all that we’ve experienced. Our itinerary has been retold dozens of times. People seem to have a great interest at how we had structured our route, so here I share how we had planned our around-the-world…
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Engage in Sustainable Tourism from Your Couch
June 25, 2020
I’ve always loved traveling to learn about a culture and gain perspective on different ways of life. Typically, I dislike tours and prefer to be away from tourist traps. Somehow, I never connected the dots between my two passions: community development and travel. That is, until I met Ameer Virani, who works in sustainable tourism. He showed me that, in…
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US Midwestern Charm: Rediscover St. Louis, Missouri
June 18, 2020
After spending six of my formative years in St. Charles, a St. Louis suburb, I moved into the city. For four years, I discovered the city as an undergraduate at Saint Louis University. The idea of a college town didn’t appeal to me. I wanted to go to school in an urban setting, and enjoy non-campus-based student life. While I…
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US Midwestern Charm: Rediscover St. Charles, Missouri
June 7, 2020
In 1998, I landed from Taichung, Taiwan, to St. Charles, Missouri, as a 12-year-old awkward girl who didn’t speak much English. I was confused at the people-less streets. I hated the need to drive everywhere that took away my freedom to walk and bike places. A city girl somehow found herself in a small suburban town. In the six years…
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