Unexpected mini trips, Christmas, computer problems…the past few weeks have kind of been odd and now I need to get back on the blogging bandwagon and figure out what I’m doing and where I’m going in 2013.  A quick look about what’s been going on lately… Northern Thailand is filled with mountains and jungles – […]

One of my favorite discoveries in Bangkok is a large amulet market found close to the Grand Palace (about a 10-minute walk) on Prachan Road.  It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before and increased my interest to know more about the fascination with Buddhist amulets in Thailand.  Why do so many people wear them?  What do […]

I have an issue with taking pictures of people when traveling. In the past year and half going through Thailand, India, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam I’ve come across several situations of travelers snapping away at locals.  Sometimes it’s in a situation that I find okay – like, say, with a tour guide who really makes […]

Oof. A lot has happened between when I first published this post and now, and I am definitely not with the same person. While I should update the post, let’s be honest, I’m not getting around to it anytime soon, and there are still a lot of relevant points. so, enjoy. There’s a stereotype in […]

It always seems like there’s some cool celebration, festival or holiday going on…somewhere else.  I’ve never been to Oktoberfest, Holi, the running of the bulls or Glastonbury, BUT for once I’m in the right place at the right time: celebrating Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai! Every year on the full moon of the 12th lunar […]

I’ve always appreciated the old and natural over the new and plastic.  I like old buildings, old cars, old clothes.  I majored in history and have often felt like I should be living in a different decade.  I prefer making things with my hands than working online.  I don’t have a smartphone. When I first […]

During my last visit to Bangkok, I took a day trip to the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya.  About an hour (well, technically one hour, but more like three due to traffic…) outside of Bangkok, Ayutthaya  existed from 1350 – 1767 when the Burmese invaded and took the city. In its heyday, Ayutthaya boasted three palaces […]

When I first came to Thailand I thought I might be gone for about a year – teach a little bit and travel around SE Asia, then head to Australia and New Zealand, and ideally make my way home via Europe.  That was in May 2011. Instead, I haven’t even managed to get out of […]

I did it. I started my own blog. I have mixed feelings about this, and blogs in general to be quite honest, but here I am. If you’ve been following me at Wanderlust and Lipstick, you already know that I’m originally from Seattle but have been living and traveling around Southeast Asia for the past […]