Author: Jenia Ustinova

All Posts Asia Destinations Itineraries Laos

Thakhek Loop: Day 1

Sergey and I were sitting on the dock, enjoying a nondescript Southeast Asian beer – probably a Cambodian one, since local brands tend to be cheaper. The lakeshore guesthouse camps in Kampot, Cambodia are a backpacker mecca; travelers come down to relax, party, and swap stories. A fellow backpacker put down a Beer Lao next to […]

Read More
All Posts Musings Wanderlust Friday

Jenia’s Perfect Travel Day

Washington D.C. winter 2014-2015 has been brutal. It’s March 6, and we are covered in a blanket of snow. To distract myself from this nonsense, I have been doing lots of daydreaming – and maybe a little planning – for some travel adventures. And since it’s Wanderlust Friday — I get to share these daydreams […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Laos

Celebrating Songkran in Laos

Sabadee Pee Mai! Splash…the water – as if in slow motion – drains down my shirt. Before I know it, my face is smeared in talcum powder. Not that I expected to be spared. In fact, I had hoped I wouldn’t be. It’s just that first trickle of water was a bit jarring, that’s all. […]

Read More
Tibetan horseman riding out into the sunrise outside Tagong Village with Mt. Yala on the horizon. Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of western Sichuan Province, China.
All Posts Musings Wanderlust Friday

Wanderlust Friday

Happy (almost) weekend guys! We are starting a new series: Wanderlust Fridays. There is so much neat travel inspiration out there, I am constantly pinning, bookmarking, and saving to my pocket. Starting this week, we will either share a travel link roundup, run an interview with a fellow adventure seeker, feature a guest post, or […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Travel Tips & Tricks Vietnam

Vietnam: Travel Tips, Tricks & Resources

We don’t pick favorites, but ahem…Vietnam is definitely a must destination in southeast Asia. The nature is varied and beautiful, the people are welcoming and curious, the culture is fascinating, the history is long and storied. Vietnam has something to offer whatever you are in the mood for – beach holiday, cruises, motorbike adventures, city […]

Read More
All Posts Musings

Happy Friday!

Congratulations – you’ve made it. Now head over to our facebook page to check out wanderlust inspiring videos that we post at the end of every work week. Cause if you are in an office, you need a reward. And if you are not, well, then you need something to help you mark the days. […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Itineraries Vietnam

72 Hours in Hanoi

There are travelers who have never picked up a guidebook in their life, or, did so once and promptly put it back down (ahem, Sergey). Then, there are travelers who like to know the destination like the back of their hand before they arrive (who, me?) Coming from the opposite ends of the spectrum on travel […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Itineraries Vietnam

Hanoi to Hoi An by Motorcycle

Ubiquitous in Vietnam, once exotic to us, we won’t hesitate to say that motorbikes are the way to go when exploring Vietnam.  We got our first taste of the open road with EasyRiders. Once that happened, we never looked back on our ‘scooter short-term rent’ days. En route, Vietnam.  We are working on putting together […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Reviews Vietnam

Paradise Found – Thien Duong 7km Tour Review

The 7-kilometer trek into the depths of the Thien Duong, better known as the Paradise Cave was one of the coolest adventures we’ve had. Ever. Not even in Vietnam, just ever – in life. We’ve done some cool stuff in our travels, but this was pick-your-jaw-off-the-floor astounding. And we aren’t even all that into caves. […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Vietnam

Hai Van Pass Trip Report

Remember how we did this epic 5-day motorbike tour with EasyRiders from Saigon to Nha Trang, Vietnam? It was a magical experience and we would highly recommend spending a few days on the bike to get a whole lot better feel for the country. Motorbikes = Vietnam, and Vietnam = motorbikes. Highway 1, Hai Van […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Reviews Vietnam

Hoi An Tailor Shop Guide – Part II

We’ve had a selection of items tailor made in Hoi An, Vietnam. We went with a few different shops, so we thought it would be fun to show you what we got, where we got it from, and how we like the items now, ten months (!) after. Jenia – silk blouse by Ha Na, shorts […]

Read More
All Posts Asia Destinations Vietnam

Hoi An Tailor Shop Guide – Part I

So. A lot of people come to Hoi An to get themselves a nice suite made, or you know update their wardrobe with a whole lot of tailor made clothes. Or they come thinking they won’t be getting anything made, but that nice persistent lady on a bike just happened to lead them to her […]

Read More