Phnom Penh Weekend
Stepping back from the housing search a bit to enjoy our first full weekend in our new adoptive city.
What’s the Catch!?
The hunt continues, as we expand our search, make up games to cope with our burgeoning insanity, and pay a visit to Phnom Penh’s biggest party hostel.
House Hunters
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go house hunting in Phnom Penh? Of course you have! Exciting highlights from the search for our just-good-enough-to-inhabitat home!
Phnom Penh: A New Adventure Begins
It’s official! After months of planning and anticipation, our Cambodia move is finally upon us. We touch down in Phnom Penh and go about the business of getting settled in a new country.
Vientiane Streetscapes
A quick post highlighting the unique structures and streetscapes across Vientiane, captured over several Sunday mornings in 2019.
Hello [Again], Vientiane!
Back in Vientiane for a week-long work seminar and finishing up our goodbyes, before skipping town for a good long while.
Tropical Spice Garden & Tanjung Bungah
A full day exploring more of the north shore of the island, with a hike through a spice garden in the jungle and a visit to Penang’s other beach city, Tanjung Bungah.
Entopia by Penang Butterfly Farm
It’s impossible to plan a family vacation to Penang and not at least consider visiting Penang Butterfly Farm’s award-winning new project. We’ll see if Entopia lives up to the hype.
Beach Time in Batu Ferringhi
Kicking off the beach portion of our stay on Penang in weird and wacky Batu Ferringhi, in the third and final week of our 2019 Malaysia trip.
Penang Street Art & Georgetown Wrap-Up
On top of being a major food and history draw, Penang is also widely visited for its street art. Our final post on Georgetown before hitting the beach.
Exploring the Temples of George Town, Penang
A short post highlighting a sampling of the interesting and photogenic religious structures across Old Town George Town.
George Town Clan Jetties
Originally settled by Chinese laborers over a century ago, George Town’s Clan Jetties remain home to a vibrant community living over the water.
Penang Hill Day Trip
Just 5 miles from George Town’s bustling city center, Penang Hill rises 2,700 feet, offering stunning island views and a respite from the lowland heat.
George Town, Penang
Devoting 8 days to exploring atmospheric Georgetown on Penang Island — historic UNESCO settlement and foodie capital of Malaysia.
Riley Turns One in Malaysia
Our final full day in Kuala Lumpur AND an extra special day at that! We celebrate Riley’s first birthday in style…or at least in Malaysia.
Batu Caves: Kuala Lumpur Day Trip
We ascend 272 neon-colored steps to explore sacred Batu Caves. It’s crowded, it’s kitsch, but a fun day trip by train with little ones from Kuala Lumpur.
Kick-Around Days in Kuala Lumpur
Visits to amazing KLCC park, a short jungle hike in the middle of the city, a stroll along the River of Life, and dinner at a couple of our favorite KL eateries.
Three Weeks of R&R in Malaysia
Kicking off our three-week inter-relocation vacation in Malaysia! The first stop? Five days in one of our favorite world capitals: Kuala Lumpur.
Moving Week
Our final week living in Laos is upon us! Saying goodbyes, packing up, and moving out of our house in Vientiane, and gearing up for new adventures ahead.
Forty in Laos
A weekend doing stuff, then reflecting on that stuff. Because, you know, forty trips around the sun.
Laos Life: 3-20 September 2019
Highlights from September 2019, a surprisingly subdued month considering what lay on the horizon. A relaxing month with amazing weather. The calm before the storm.
Laos Life: August 2019
Updates and adventures from our every day life in Vientiane, Laos with the boys this past August.
Leaving Laos After 3 Years
Our time living in Vientiane is rapidly coming to an end. Which begs the question: Where to next?
Vang Vieng, One More Time
One final weekend road trip with the boys to beautiful Vang Vieng before we pack up and say goodbye to Laos.
Full Circle
Returning with Noe to one of the places where it all began for us in Vientiane, and we are amazed once again at the difference three short years make.
Urban Trekking
Taking advantage of drought conditions in rainy season to get out and about with the boys…when it’s not miserably hot, that is.
Under Construction
How can a city be constantly changing and not really changing at all — all at the very same time? We set out with Noe and Riley to answer that very same question, with astonishingly unsurprising results.
Laos Life: 24-30 June 2019
Closing out the month of June, here’s a look back at the highlights of the final week.
7 Years Hitched
Hard to believe it’s been seven years since diving off the deep end together. Time flies when you’re having fun, I guess! A quick recap on a perfect anniversary weekend with and without the boys.
3 Years Old in Laos
That’s right! Our little Mister just turned THREE. Hard to believe it’s already been three years since we carted the little nugget home with us for the first time. Here are the highlights from an eventful day. Happy Birthday, Noe!
Crazy Train: Hanoi Train Street
Our top tips and trip report for visiting this one-of-a-kind, must-see place on your own, including a detailed map and considerations for experiencing Hanoi Train Street with young children.
Laos Life: Watnak House
Now into our sixth month of living in the “new” house in Laos, we thought it might finally be time for a virtual tour.
Mekong Zone & Bo Ice Factory Walk
Enjoying a break in the extreme heat and frequent rain with a lazy evening on the river and walking our last unexplored stretch of Mekong in Vientiane.
Laos Life: May 2019
Jazz, rainstorms, sweltering heat, tuk tuks, more new eateries, a whole lot of hoofin’ it, staying local, and a crawler on our hands defined our third May living in Vientiane.
Return of the Daddy Days
With Riley off to nursery school, I suddenly have extra time to spend with Noe. So, what do the two of us do in Laos’ laid-back capital? Find out!
Laos Life: April 2019
Riley tries out nursery school and solid foods, I try out days without kids and three new coffee shops, and Lori and Noe try their best to stay out of trouble.
A [Slightly] Unorthodox Food & Coffee Tour of Hanoi
7 days eating and caffeinating our way through the historic center of Hanoi and beyond — from Hanoi food essentials to less-covered international surprises.
Going Native in Hanoi: Our First Airbnb
We leap into the 21st Century with a 7-night stay in an Airbnb in the heart of Hanoi. Just a one-off? Find out!
One Week in Hanoi: Seeing the Sights
7 days soaking up the sights and sounds of the vibrant and historic center of Hanoi — basing ourselves out of a French Quarter flat with the boys.
Next Stop is Viet Nam
This year’s Lao New Year break takes us back to Hanoi, Vietnam for a week with the boys. Looking forward to hunkering down and relaxing as much as an infant, toddler, and city of 8 million allows.
Laos Life: March 2019
From killer smog, to potty training, first weekend away, to 3/4 of the fam getting sick, March had a little something for everyone. Here’s a look back at an eventful month here in Vientiane.
Toxic
What’s it like to live with the worst air quality in the world? Little did we know, we were about to find out.
Lao Lake House Weekend
Lao Lake House may have been the very first Vientiane weekend trip we heard of when we moved to Laos. 2.5 years later, we finally make the trip to the serene estate on Nam Houm Lake.
Champa Garden Restaurant
A 10km drive north of the city center, Champa Garden offers excellent Lao food in a unique aquatic setting, along with a sprawling Champa flower garden in a city where gardens are few and far between.
Just Another Saturday Night…
It’s Saturday night again in Vientiane. Riley and I have just made it to the drop zone, and have just 90 minutes to rendezvous with the rest of our party at the designated extraction point. Will we make it in time, or get waylaid by cold beer?
Hiking Wealth Coffee Nature Trails
Who says there aren’t any hiking trails around Vientiane? Today, we’re exploring a little-known corner of the area, with a unique coffee shop and miles of semi-shaded nature trails.