Road Trip in Numbers
After 56 days on the road, I’m back home again. I set off with fellow travel blogger Juno Kim of RunawayJuno.com at the end of July. She’s from Korea and had never been to the […]
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Destinations
Off Season at the Jersey Shore
New Jersey often gets a bum rap. But let’s not forget it’s the Garden State—so named for fine produce. Every summer thousands from Pennsylvania, New York, and around New Jersey descend upon its beaches, known
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Photo from the Road: Scenic Connecticut
When you look at a map of Connecticut, so much of it is yellow, the color of urban areas. I’ve always thought of it as only being this, with lots cities and wealthy New York
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Photo from the Road: New England Village
I didn’t plan on visiting Stark Village in New Hampshire. In fact, I drove right past it. Then I slowed the car down and pulled a U-turn, recognizing it was a special place. To me
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Photo from the Road: Hanover Farmer’s Market
Stopping at Farmers’ Markets was one of the recurring themes of this summer’s road trip through the northeastern US. From smaller ones like that of Bristol, Vermont to larger ones in the likes of Brattleboro,
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Photo from the Road: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire is one of those cities that everyone seems to love. It’s the perfect size—big enough to have the culture, entertain ment, and dining you want, but small enough to be friendly
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Greetings from the North of New Hampshire
It just keeps getting better the further north you go. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are excellent for hiking and multiday treks, but on our road trip we went beyond the Whites to the
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Photo from the Road: New Hampshire Mushrooms
New Hampshire’s Great North Woods is a paradise for any outdoor enthusiast. But while most are casting a fishing line, paddling their canoe, listening to the sounds of the loon, gazing out at the surrounding
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Driving to New York State
While road tripping through the U.S., I try to make a point of staying off the interstate highways. They are great for making good time, but you don’t really get to see any of the
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Photo from the Road: Philadelphia Public Art
Philadelphia is best known for its groundbreaking Mural Arts Program, which has produced some 3,000 murals city-wide and led to the city being called Mural City USA. I will talk more about the Mural Arts
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Photo from the Road: Reading Terminal Market, Philadelphia
Recently I’ve been through so many colorful markets of Southeast Asia. It’s great to see some of the finest markets back home in the US. This one’s in Philadelphia: The Reading Terminal Market. One of
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Three months in Southeast Asia in Review
Overall my Southeast Asia trip was a great success. I witnessed incredible experiences, met extraordinarily friendly people, and saw how people live life in places that are very different from where I’m from. What went
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Virginia Back Roads: Finding History, Natural Areas, and Wine
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
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Lao Herbal Sauna and Traditional Massage
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
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Why I don’t like Laos
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
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Your Guide to Slow Boats in Laos
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
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What does the view from my $4/day room look like?
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
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Tubing in Vang Vieng: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
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
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Photo from the Road: Muang Ngoi Laos
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
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Tasting Tea, not Opium in Mae Salong
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
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Life in Pai
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
Using Chiang Mai as a Remote Workplace
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
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Photo from the Road: Coliseum Hotel and Café
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
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Kuala Lumpur’s Not that Bad
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
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