Between the malls, pizzerias, and international schools, Bangkok feels like a rather European part of Asia. Like Toyko or Seoul, but smaller. It’s one of the most expensive places to live in Thailand, but also the most convenient for visitors. If you’re looking to keep your Bangkok travel costs low, it’s a good idea to …

Thailand is hot. Even in the dead of winter, the south is sticky, melty hot. It’s not the kind of hot you normally associate with chocolate, but Thailand has actually been growing cacao— the raw material for chocolate— for over a century. Over the last few years, this fruit has been cropping up across southern …

When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a singer and a circus performer. I had never been to the circus, but I knew that it looked fun. Floating through my mind were images of colorful costumes, striking face makeup, and exotic animals dominating a massive stage. But I found the Cambodian circus to …

It’s taken awhile to finish worrying about Cambodia. Scattered across the country are monks and temples and farms and Killing Caves and further details of a tragic past that’s hard to comprehend no matter how many times you hear about it. A visit to the Angkor temples has become a hallmark of the modern “bucket …

It would be offensive to send you to a Godiva Chocolate in Vietnam. It really would be. After all that I’ve seen of the chocolate and cacao production in this country, imported chocolates are not the focus in Vietnam— though the country has more than its fair share. High-quality, home-grown chocolate (sôcôla in Vietnamese) is …

I have so many feelings about South Korea. Two weeks in Korea? Try three years. That’s how long I’ve lived here by now, discovering the country’s beautiful places and the people who live there. So while I could write a South Korea itinerary centered only on Seoul and Busan, maybe even Jeju, and most people …

“You come all this way just to see my farm, and I must show you it.” When the owner & operator of TL Chocolates & Cacao Farm said this to us, we paused for a moment and reflected on how weird the situation might seem to him. These two American girls had asked to see …

Spending 7 days in Taiwan is perfect for seeing the country’s varied landscapes, sampling local dishes, and getting a handle on the island’s complex history. While most people start & end their visit in Taipei, I’d actually recommend getting off the beaten path and skipping Taipei entirely. If I hadn’t planned my first Taiwan itinerary …

Have you ever wanted to wander through a lavender field in full bloom, and then lamented not being in Europe in the summertime? Enter: Hani Lavender Farm. Welcome to the late springtime flower fields of your dreams, located just south of the DMZ, in Goseong County! If you’re coming to Korea in May, June or …

This inexhaustive list of things to do in Korea, a bucket list if you will, was compiled based on recommendations from friends & fellow bloggers, as well as personal experiences & misadventures. I hope it helps you get ideas of what to do in Korea no matter where your interests lay, whether you’re going to Seoul …