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.
Laos Life: 11-18 January 2019
Settling into our new digs, slowly getting provisioned, and soaking up the near-perfect weather that is Vientiane in January.
We’re Back!
After reconnecting with family and friends (and disconnecting from the online world) for the past five months, we’re back! — in Laos, and back on AwayGoWe!
Riley’s Introduction to ITECC
By our second full day together, I could tell Riley was getting restless. Only one solution to that in Vientiane. A trip to ITECC! Only problem is it’s no longer a ten minute walk, but a half-day’s journey on foot.
Breaking-in Baby (Pt.3): Homecoming
The third and final installment of our journey back to Laos as a family of four, after five months away in the U.S. on maternity leave.
Breaking-in Baby (Pt.2): Trans-Pacific Air Adventures with Two
15 hours over the Pacific with a toddler and an infant. This is going to be interesting…
Breaking-in Baby (Pt.1): Riley’s First Flight
40 hours, 3 flights, 9,000 miles, 10 pieces of luggage, a 2.5-year-old, and a 3-month-old with his first cold. Here’s the first leg of our journey as a newly-minted expat family of four.
Welcome Riley Ernest
Yep, that’s right! The wait is over and Baby #2 is finally here. And — surprise, surprise — IT’S ANOTHER BOY!
The Waiting Game
With Lori’s brother’s wedding behind us, the countdown begins until Baby #2 decides to grace us with his/her presence. But not before daddy reclaims his own birthday for himself.
Late Summer ’18 Update
We’re quickly approaching the one month mark Stateside and thought it was time for an update. Fun times with family and friends, and awaiting the arrival of Number Two.
Unesco World Heritage Sites
We love UNESCO World Heritage Sites! And make a special effort to seek them out wherever we travel. But what are UNESCO sites, anyway? Read on to find out (including our running list of visited sites).
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.
10 Budget Beach Bungalow Stays to Inspire Your Travels
Feelin’ beachy? Here are 10 of our all-time favorite beach bungalow budget stays to inspire your tropical beach travels!
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.
Laos Life: 16 May – 5 June 2018
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.
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…
Laos Life: 22 April – 10 May 2018
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.
Pandan Pandan Island Day Trip
A 3km paddle from Bigfin gets us to the beautiful little uninhabited island of Pandan 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
Our experience taking a DHC-6 Twin Otter across Borneo’s northernmost region of Sabah, Malaysia from Kudat to Sandakan. 40 minutes in a plane won out over 10 hours in a bus over rugged terrain.
Kudat Day Trip: 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 Peninsula: Sunsets & Beaches
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].
Kota Kinabalu: Arrival in Borneo
Finally arriving on Borneo—just in time to witness one of Sabah, Malaysia’s world-famous sunsets and grab some delicious island eats.
Petronas Towers & Jalan Alor Night Market
We make our necks sore and our tummy’s very happy making our way around some of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic landmarks.
Exploring the World’s Largest Aviary
Comprised of 20 enclosed acres, Kuala Lumpur’s KL Bird Park is home to 3,000 birds representing 200 colorful species, and quite unlike anywhere else on the planet.
Kuala Lumpur
We set off to explore a new country: Malaysia!
Two weeks in Borneo with a stopover in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Bound for Borneo
We’re off to Sabah, on the Malaysia side of the island of Borneo! Last year, we opted to stay Laos-side to experience (i.e. endure) Lao New Year. This year, it’s beaches, baby!
And Then There Were Four!
The cat’s out of the bag and another little travel bun’s bakin’ in the oven…
Out and About in Central Laos
Exploring the rural Lao community around our weekend island retreat with friends.
The Secret Island Hideaway
A traditional Lao house moved, piece-by-piece, to the tranquility of a riverine island — off the grid and completely offline. Yep, this is one special place, and one we’re not divulging the location of any time soon!
Laos Life: 1-20 March 2018
The Garden of Love, a tenacious fern, the gourmet hotdog of death, Houdini strikes again, fountains and dinosaurs, and…a lime.
Buddha Park and HI Get a Facelift
Checking in on one of our favorite area parks and celebrating Lori’s employer’s new name and rebranding, Lao style.