The Japanese tea ceremony, known as “chanoyu” or “sado,” has profound cultural significance, embodying the essence of Japanese aesthetics, spirituality, and social etiquette. So when I visited Japan, experiencing an authentic, traditional Japanese tea ceremony in Kyoto was at the top of my very long Japan must-do list. Why? Because the tea ceremony goes way […]

Wondering where to stay in Hoi An, Vietnam? Picture this: You step out of your quaint, sunny bed and breakfast to the bright green countryside. You’re about to take a gentle bike ride, lazily waving wildflowers and rice fields flashing past, into the charming ancient town down the street. You may take a walk on […]

Is Japan expensive? Let’s dive right in, because Japan is so trendy right now.  It’s no wonder why– of all the countries that I’ve visited, Japan caught me off guard the most. I’ve fallen in love with what once seemed like a fishy (I’m not a fish eater), tacky, and unrelatably foreign place. Not only […]

Looking for a travel guide to Hoi An? You’re in the right place! I’ll be honest: Vietnam was never any where near the top of my travel bucket list, but now it’s one of my favorite countries (and one I can’t wait to go back to, especially after this trip to its south France-esq countryside)! […]

An ancient, lizard-like stone structure that rises out of the mist of the jungle, Angkor Wat (the “City of Temples”) is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site in Siem Reap, Cambodia. And if you’re visiting Angkor Wat, Cambodia, there’s a lot you need to know before you go! What is Angkor Wat? It’s the largest […]

The Mekong River in Cambodia breathes with mystery and spirituality. The river has long been revered by the Khmer people, and its sandy banks are dotted with ancient temples and shrines. Local legends abound about the river, from stories of mysterious creatures lurking beneath the surface (like the Mekong giant catfish, which is real and […]

Before I got to Thailand, I thought that Khlong Toei was a street food market. I pictured little bamboo stalls with fresh pad thai, steamed buns, mango sticky rice, fresh basil, spicy eggplant curry- all of the romanticized imagery that I saw watching Anthony Bourdain when I was growing up. But one morning during our […]