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The story behind Vietnamese egg coffee
The first morning at my Saigon hostel, I headed downstairs at my usual 5:30 am and was surprised to encounter someone else there. Dave is my age and recently retired from a career as a firefighter. I was impressed to learn that he could survive on his pension, and he replied, “I can if I…
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Things to do from Hong Kong Island
With two weeks in Hong Kong, I had plenty of time to explore. In addition to seeing the main sites on the island, I headed out for a few offshore excursions, including a couple small fishing villages and a former Portuguese colony. Lei Yue Mun fishing village Just a short ferry ride from busy Hong…
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Other things to do on Hong Kong island
Because it was so expensive, I only booked three days for my first visit to Hong Kong last year. That meant when a two week pet sit came up over Christmas this year, I jumped at the chance. It gave me plenty of time to explore the compact island that piqued my adventurous curiosity last…
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Photos: Bangkok’s floating art market
Buried on the west side of Bangkok is Khlong Bang Luang, what I like to call Bangkok’s floating art market. Perhaps it’s their version of Talad Noi art district in Bangkok’s Chinatown. Either way, it’s a charming collection of galleries and shops including one where you can make your own art. My favorite discovery was…
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Things not to do in Laos
This isn’t a list of taboos to avoid when visiting Laos but a lesson that sometimes the best thing to do when traveling is to not do anything. One of my favorite quotes from the movie Office Space is “I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything I’d hoped it could be.” Laos in general,…
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The day I accidentally hiked Hong Kong’s 2nd highest mountain, Lantau Peak
Hong Kong has proven to be an unusual mix of frenetic city and island life. The city itself is located on an island divided by a mountainous spine that separates the urban center in the north and a natural landscape in the south. My first hike here was up a ridge called Dragon’s back where…
