Soles of a Nomad

Forget the misleading blog budget claims. Here’s how we traveled Southeast Asia for a year on $100/day—with all the real costs and strategies included.

Practical travel tips for Luang Prabang, Laos—including how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and how to enjoy this beautiful tourist trap without falling into common pitfalls.

Luang Prabang is a tourist trap—and that’s OK. Between the kitschy night market, Western restaurants, and surprisingly good cheese, this little Lao town offers a charming, if touristy, escape

Vang Vieng, Laos was once the epicenter of booze-fueled tubing mayhem, but after a string of tourist tragedies, the party ended. Now it’s a peaceful spot for rock climbing, kayaking, and lazy river days with family. Because travel.

Our family’s journey to Kanchanaburi included floating guesthouses, WWII history, waterfalls, and a few monkey-related mishaps. Here’s how to make the most of Kanchanaburi—plus travel lessons we won’t forget. Because travel.

Looking for a floating market with more locals than tourists? Head to Amphawa! Here’s everything you need to know, from how to get there to the joys of boat noodles, fireflies, and the infamous swimming monkeys. Because travel.

In the quiet pre-dawn light of Amphawa, I watched monks paddle gently down the canal collecting morning alms. This timeless ritual of merit-making offered both beauty and a lesson in humility. I stood back with my camera, wondering—as I often do—if capturing these moments adds meaning or takes it away. Because travel.

While in Bangkok, I joined an NGO helping refugees at the Immigration Detention Center. What seemed like a small gesture turned into a powerful lesson in humanity. Even a few hours of your time can make a real difference.

A family’s nuts-and-bolts guide to Chiang Mai: weather, transportation, where to stay, how to get around, and top things to do—plus plenty of food advice.

We travel to eat—and no place does food better than Bangkok. Here’s my guide to the best street food, storefront restaurants, and must-eat dishes in the city.

Returning to Bangkok felt like a homecoming—and we celebrated with a feast at Boat Noodle Alley, near Victory Monument. Here’s how to find it and what to order.

Mae Chaem is the quiet northern Thailand town that stole our hearts—green rice fields, friendly locals, noodle soup, and not a tour group in sight.

We left Mae La Oop thinking the journey to Mae Chaem would be simple. Instead, it involved standing on a truck bumper, climbing onto the roof, and riding through a mountain storm.

We thought planting rice in a Karen village would be simple. It wasn’t. Our backs gave out, the world spun, and we walked away muddy, sore, and deeply grateful. Because travel.

Ever hunted eels barefoot in a flooded rice paddy? In Mae La Oop, Thailand, I got muddy, met a snake, and earned a delicious dinner. Another adventure brought to you by travel.

In a Karen village in northern Thailand, I learned how to shower using a pink bucket of cold river water—and how not to inhale it up my nose. Another lesson in barely managed chaos. Because travel.

Our family of five spent five days sweating, wandering, and snacking our way through Georgetown, Penang. Here’s what worked — and what wasn’t worth it.

We took the night train from KL to Penang for the romance, the legroom, and the savings. The ferry was smooth. The walk? Let’s just say… sweaty.

Among the rubble and grime of KL’s riverside, we stood watching the sun set behind Masjid Jamek as the call to prayer rose. A moment worth the chaos.

Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur greeted us with noise, confusion, and a sandal full of something best forgotten. It only got weirder from there.