Ethical Wildlife Tourism: My Experience at the Elephant Conservation Centre in Laos

Most people venturing to Southeast Asian countries want to “experience” the wildlife. Whether that’s by swimming with whales, dolphins or sharks, riding elephants, or petting snakes…most (if not all) of these practices are unethical. As a wildlife lover, I was too aware of this, but I'm not going to lie and pretend... I also wanted … Continue reading Ethical Wildlife Tourism: My Experience at the Elephant Conservation Centre in Laos →

Exploring Kuang Si Falls and Pak Ou Caves: A Day Tour from Luang Prabang

I spent about five days in Luang Prabang. As I mentioned in my first post about the ancient capital of Laos, this is a good place to slow down, and take in all the natural and cultural sights the town has to offer. But there are also some activities not too far from the city … Continue reading Exploring Kuang Si Falls and Pak Ou Caves: A Day Tour from Luang Prabang →

Luang Prabang: exploring the spiritual ancient capital of Laos

Another cold welcoming Laos. A country that is still relatively under the radar, but perhaps for that reason it attracted me so. I landed in Luang Prabang shortly after 6pm, but the sun had set already and it was a dark night. During the late hours, the temperatures were also some of the lowest I’d … Continue reading Luang Prabang: exploring the spiritual ancient capital of Laos →

Siem Reap and Kampong Phluk: Contrasts of Privilege and Reality

Siem Reap can be a sleepy town or a complete madness, depending on the hour of the day. It’s definitely far from the busy Phnom Penh, but as the sun starts to set, with a slight drop in temperature, the pub street opens with its loud music and blinding lights, all the massage parlours start … Continue reading Siem Reap and Kampong Phluk: Contrasts of Privilege and Reality →

Angkor Wat from Sunrise: Cultural Education & Nature’s Triumph

After my bad experience in Phnom Penh, I arrived in Siem Reap feeling mentally exhausted. I had decided to stay at an Ibis, a chain hotel, hoping that’d give me some resemblance to the cleaning standards from back home, hoping I could have a good night’s sleep, and praying for a window. The moment I … Continue reading Angkor Wat from Sunrise: Cultural Education & Nature’s Triumph →