Each month I take some time to reflect not just what I’m doing, but how I’m doing. You can read my previous roundups here, here, here, and here. Reading through my Month 5 Roundup and my Cambodia vs. Vietnam comparison, it’s no secret that Vietnam didn’t “speak to me” the way that Cambodia did. I had…

Today I watched a rain storm come towards me. I was working on the porch and heard the distinct sound of rain, though the ground in front of me was dry. I stepped outside and could see a sheet of rain pouring over the mountains in front of me. Not just a gray cloud in the…

I’m having some separation anxiety related to wrapping up the coverage of our six-week tour through Cambodia and Vietnam. This was my longest stretch ever of straight-up non-stop travel, and I learned a lot about both myself and the countries I was in. I can’t seem to let go, so here’s one more post to say…

I can think of very few countries that inspire as passionately varied reactions from travelers as Vietnam does. Its fans wax poetic about the breathtaking landscape, the intriguing culture and the resilient population. Its detractors spew bitterly about the traffic, the crime, and most of all: the unfriendly people. I’m fascinated by this. What is it…

Are you looking for a fun, family friendly activity or attraction in Ho Chi Minh City? Let me give you some hard-earned travel advice: Do not go to the Ho Chi Minh City Zoo. In our last few days in Vietnam we were back in Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, as I often refer to…

This week was defined by (1) recovering from the illness I mentioned last week, (2) celebrating a dear friend’s birthday, and (3) going on my first ever visa run. The first demanded no photos, and evidence of the second is not meant for the internet. So that means Photo of the Week was taken on my…