13 Apr 2016 13 Comments
Snorkeling, Fishing, and the Best Hostel on Koh Lanta
Speeding across the Andaman Sea in a shiny new powerboat, my hair whipping wildly in the warm tropical wind, my every sense is engaged. I feel the hot sun on my face, I hear the slap-slap-slap of the boat flying across the waves. I smell and taste the salty sea air as fine mists of water dapple my skin. I soak in the deep blue and emerald green water, craggy rock islands soaring from its surface and giving a teasing glimpse of the powder-soft sand lining the shore where I’m heading for a day of snorkeling.
Koh Lanta boasts many small tour companies that offer a wide variety of day trips. I was lucky to have one of the best little companies sitting directly across the road from Paulee’s House, my hostel on Koh Lanta and home for the next twelve days.
The snorkeling on Koh Lanta is fantastic. The warm, tropical waters are as clear as a fresh spring morning. Lush underwater tropical foliage and vibrant, colorful coral make a home to the incredible variety of bright, colorful fish. Huge clams lined with puffy lips of Continue reading
05 Dec 2016 14 Comments
Amazing, Wondrous, Unexpected Vietnam
It is April 2016. I leave the overwhelming heat of Cambodia by cruising down the Mekong River on a comfortable yet noisy speedboat for three hours and head into the just-as-overwhelming heat of Vietnam. At least it is cooler on the river. The boat pulls to the shore in the middle of nowhere. We step off the boat and trek a few dozen yards to a little ramshackle building tucked into the jungle where a tiny Cambodian man in a tiny hut stamps our exit visas. We walk another few dozen yards up the bank of the river and get our Vietnam visas checked and stamped by a tiny Vietnamese man in a tiny hut, who spends his entire day checking and stamping visas in the middle of the jungle.
Boating from Cambodia to Vietnam
We all pile back onto the boat, and a couple of hours later I check into the Floating Hotel in Chau Doc, Vietnam. Right away I meet Steven, the owner of the hotel. Steven is Vietnamese and lived in California for many years before returning to Vietnam in 2003. He has become a successful business owner, having opened the Floating Hotel, two restaurants, and a large tour company, among other ventures.
The Floating Hotel, Chau Doc, Vietnam
As we chat, one topic of conversation leads to another, and I end up agreeing to Continue reading
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by Vagabond Queen in Around the world, freelance travel, Long-term travel, Mekong Delta, Mekong River, RTW travel, Solo female travel, Southeast Asia, Travel blog, vagabonding, Vietnam, Wanderlust, World travel Tags: Vietnam