I’ve done a great deal of exploring the United States in the past year, but only recently started taking a look at my own back yard here in Virginia. Sometimes it takes a foreign visitor to […]
Virginia Back Roads: Finding History, Natural Areas, and Wine Read More »
I just returned from a 3-month trip through Southeast Asia. This was the first time that I traveled while maintaining my blogs, both Bohemian Traveler and GoMadNomad.com. It was a lot of work and I
The Realities of Blogging from the Road Read More »
The Herbal Sauna and Traditional Lao Massage in Vientiane turned out to be one of my best experiences during my almost one month journey through Laos. It was a great way to spend the last
Lao Herbal Sauna and Traditional Massage Read More »
The Lack of Culture What I mean by lack of culture is the outside, in-your-face culture. If you’re a traveler it’s hard to find. Lao food, for example, is not readily available. The majority of
Why I don’t like Laos Read More »
By Stephen Bugno Before visiting Laos I had images of gliding down rivers at an impossibly slow speed all the while enjoying both the view and necessary transportation with friendly locals. That was hardly the
Your Guide to Slow Boats in Laos Read More »
This was the view out the front door of my guesthouse room along the Mekong River in southern Laos. The area is known as Si Phan Don, or 4,000 islands, and is quite popular with
What does the view from my $4/day room look like? Read More »
Tubing in Vang Vieng I’m a traveler who tends to place a lot of importance on the cultural aspects of travel. Let me state first and foremost that tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos, has nothing
Tubing in Vang Vieng: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Read More »
Muang Ngoi is a tiny settlement along the Nam Ou River in the northweast of Laos. It’s set among the karst mountain landscape and can only be reached by river boat. The village is a
Photo from the Road: Muang Ngoi Laos Read More »
By Stephen Bugno Mae Salong is an oddity in Thailand. It is a Chinese village high in the mountains of northern Thailand. Its history is an interesting one, and one that I’ll get to in
Tasting Tea, not Opium in Mae Salong Read More »
By Stephen Bugno Pai, Thailand is the quintessential backpacker town. I’ll try not to be too judgmental and let you decide for yourself if you want to visit. Be warned: it is a small town
By Stephen Bugno There is a reason so many travel bloggers are stopping and staying in Chiang Mai, Thailand for so long: it’s inexpensive, pleasant, culturally interesting, and has most of the amenities you could
Using Chiang Mai as a Remote Workplace Read More »
This is where W. Somerset Maugham stayed on his tour through British Malaysia. He frequented the hotel and bar and must admit is the reason for my stopping here. It served as a coffee break
Photo from the Road: Coliseum Hotel and Café Read More »
By Stephen Bugno It’s not that great either. But the average traveler can find something interesting in KL to fill at least a couple days, even if it’s just relaxing in a nice hotel
Kuala Lumpur’s Not that Bad Read More »
My interest in bridges started in middle school when my older brother began winning a series of bridge building competitions. My dad bought him a big photo book of the world’s most interesting and important
Singapore’s Southern Ridges Read More »
By Stephen Bugno The highlight of many visitors trip to Borneo, and the reason for coming at all, is Gunung Mulu National Park. Mulu holds the largest cave chamber in the world, lush primary rainforest,
Jungle Trekking in Mulu National Park Read More »
If there were a capital city of Borneo, it’d be Kota Kinabalu. KK, as the city is known, is a great base for exploring Sabah, the northern of the two regions of Malaysian Borneo.
Photo from the Road: Kota Kinabalu Night Market Read More »
By Stephen Bugno Niah Caves aren’t the biggest in Malaysia, but they may be the most interesting. Don’t get me wrong, the caves are enormous, likely the biggest you’ll ever walk into (unless you go
Niah Caves National Park Read More »
By Stephen Bugno My first orangutan in the wild “You’re quite lucky,” our guide says from rear of the boat. “This is a good start.” It is a great start. Only five minutes into our
Wildlife on the Kinabatangan River Read More »
I spent a few days in Bangkok with Juno from RunawayJuno.com and we put together this photo-motion video over the course of a whole day. This is the first time I put one of these
A Day in Bangkok Time Lapse Video Read More »
Noel hesitantly agrees to take me to Brunei. He’s Malaysian and thinks it’s no more interesting than his own country, just more expensive. But he’s driving me the 160 km mostly to make me happy.
Road trip to Brunei Read More »
I’m ashamed to admit that before a few weeks ago I didn’t even know Penang existed. After having visited for only one afternoon, I can say it’s one of my favorite places I’ve been to,
Photo from the Road: Penang, Malaysia Walking Tour Read More »
By Stephen Bugno This morning I walked into Malaysia. It is a welcome change from Thailand. I thought I loved Thai food, but whoa, Malaysia is a food-lovers paradise. After I few more weeks I’ll
Crossing into Malaysia Read More »
By Stephen Bugno On the morning of the first day of Songkran I expected to be woken up by firecrackers. Supposedly it chases off the bad luck of the previous year. I was staying in
Getting Soaked at Songkran: the Thai New Year Read More »
Saving money on travel shots I just spend the first morning in Bangkok getting my necessary travel immunizations. Getting these shots here in Bangkok was a strategic move to save money—something I wish I could
My First Day in Bangkok (and where to get travel shots) Read More »