Noe Turns Two
Hard to believe, but the Mister is two years old! We celebrate Noe’s landmark birthday, then our anniversary, two days later.
Asia
Buddha Park: The Hidden Gem of Greater Vientiane
Looking for something a bit different to discover around Vientiane? The mysterious “spirit city” of Xieng Khuan (commonly known as Buddha Park) is quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
Is Lao Airlines Safe (and Reliable?)
Are you concerned about Lao Airlines safety and reliability? Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision for your next trip (or move) to Laos.
Green View in Green Season
Returning in the rainy season to one of our Central Laos favorites for a relaxing Father’s Day weekend in this serene and beautiful place.
Daily Life, 16 May – 5 June
Sliding back into rainy season and home base routines—but not without new discoveries, capital city adventures, and a handful of big milestones on the horizon.
20 Essential Facebook Groups for Vientiane Expats
Vientiane can be a tough nut to crack for newcomers. Here are 20 game-changing English-language Facebook groups to help you get the most out of living in this unique and perplexing city.
Sala Keoku: The Other Buddha Park
Exploring sculpter Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat’s even more ambitious and enigmatic Thai sculpture park follow-up to his famed Buddha Park just across the river in Laos.
Udon’s Quirky Nong Bua Lake
A fun morning spent exploring newly refurbished and uniquely Chinese Nong Bua Lake and Chalom Phrakiat Park on our way out of Udon Thani.
Udon Thani
A rare skip across the Mekong to Thailand for BB2’s 20-week anatomy ultrasound—and a weekend of sampling oddities of the industrialized world…
Daily Life, 22 April – 10 May
Hot town, summer in the city—back in the People’s Democratic Republic. Baby yoga, baby bumps, swimming pool brewery, baby’s first jazz club, and…a Communist-themed night out.
Pulau Pandan Island
A 3km paddle from Bigfin gets us to the beautiful little uninhabited island of Pandan. Uninhabited, yes—but far from deserted, as we quickly discover.
Pantai Merakit & Bigfin Dive Camp
Back in paradise. Rounding out our two weeks in Malaysia with—you guessed it, more Borneo beach time!—at a remote, off-the-grid dive camp.
Adventures on the Kinabatangan
Three days exploring one of the most diverse habitats in the world—the Kinabatangan river basin—home to Borneo’s highest concentration of wildlife.
I Get Chased by an Orangutan (Seriously)
A morning at world-famous Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre offers a close-up view of these amazing apes—which turns out to be a bit too close for some of us.
Sandakan Town
Sandakan is Sabah’s gateway to the jungle. Not known for much else these days, this unassuming town’s myriad trekking agencies and backpacker hostels belie Sandakan’s unique history and quirky offerings.
Taking a Bush Plane into the Jungle
Choosing between 10 hours on curvy roads vs. 40 minutes in a plane? Easy. Fighting with ghost flyers for tickets and helping my son overcome a fear of flying? Not so much.
Kudat: Secret Beach
Kicking things into high gear, as the search for the perfect beach continues. Today’s contender, a little-known beach in the extreme north of Borneo.
Kudat: Tip of Borneo
A last minute change in plans takes us to the north of Borneo—and by north, I mean the tippy-top north—rumored home to the island’s most beautiful beaches [and sunsets].
