Blog posts about our experiences as a lesbian couple.
As part of a blog carnival for Save Elephant Foundation, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Elephant Nature Park, we’ve put together our respective top 10 bucket list items. Of course, if you’ve read about us, you’re aware that our goal is to visit every country in the world, but that bucket list is already in […]
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Manila, with its dense population of 17 million, constant traffic congestion and brightly painted jeepneys (imagine the offspring of a school bus and a pick-up truck), can be an overwhelming city when taken as a whole. When dividing Manila into bite-sized pieces, however, the idiosyncrasies of the city become more manageable as you uncover Manila’s hidden gems. […]
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Wat Phra Doi Suthep, otherwise known in Chiang Mai as “the temple at the top of the mountain” sits 1,676 meters (5499 feet) above the city of Chiang Mai. Of course, Lonely Planet will explain how you can take a shared taxi up the road full of switchbacks or, if you want more of an […]
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When traveling, the topic of being “out of the closet” comes into play again and again with each new country we visit. Regardless of where homosexuality lies on a country’s legal scale, we often find this doesn’t give an indication of how locals will react. So, we simply have to trust our gut when choosing […]
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The Grand Palace is not only the official residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the longest current reigning monarch in the world, but arguably one of the most visited spots in all of Thailand. The complex includes beautiful statues, murals and temples, including the famous Buddhist chapel Wat Phrae Kaow, dating back to 1782. In addition, […]
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It was late January when rumors started swirling that Save Elephant Foundation was getting ready to rescue another elephant. A few months earlier, during my trip to Surin province to witness Dao Tong’s rescue, my fear of throwing up on the truck due to my crippling motion sickness kept me from fully experiencing this momentous […]
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I traveled from the monkey town of Lopburi to Ayuthaya via a one hour train ride, which took us through gorgeous scenery of lush green fields with a backdrop of not-so distant mountains, whose color was ever changing due to the setting sun. The train itself was rather unlike the upscale Special Express train I […]
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Leaving Bangkok, heading northbound, the two hour bouncy train ride starts by taking you through small neighborhoods. With make-shift houses, made of pieces of grooved metal and occasional slabs of wood, built almost on top of the tracks, my eyes had plenty to focus on. I particularly liked a colorfully-painted library train, permanently stationed on […]
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From the moment you step off the train it is clear that monkeys are the main focus of Lopburi, for residents and visitors alike. Small enough to walk all around in 30 to 45 minutes, it is easy to navigate on foot. We recommend using the bathroom at the train station (3 Baht, bring your […]
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Most international flights land at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), however, many domestic flights and shorter international flights land at Don Mueang (DMK). When making bookings be sure to double check at which airport you will be arriving. There are several options to get to downtown Bangkok, all ranging in price. The once popular airport bus […]
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Visiting the Black House (Baan Dam in Thai) in Chiang Rai left us wondering if the Vikings had made it all the way to Thailand. What we saw here, in the heart of northern Thailand, transported us back to our visits to Norway, reminding us of stave churches and stubbors. The architect, Thawan Duchanee, is […]
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Without a doubt the most popular attraction in Chiang Rai is the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun in Thai). Even if you’ve seen hundreds of temples while traveling throughout Southeast Asia, we guarantee that you’ve seen nothing like this and so it is definitely well worth the trip. The architect, Chalermchai Kisitpipa, is known throughout Thailand […]
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Chiang Rai is a small town, offering a quieter version of Chiang Mai, with narrow streets and shops that close early. The air is cooler and no one seems to be rushed. Guesthouses are abundant so be sure to keep looking if you are not completely satisfied. It is easy to find a double room […]
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So, you’re planning on traveling the popular route from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Without a doubt, the Green Bus service, which monopolizes this well-trodden route, is convenient and quite painless. In Chiang Mai, Green Bus operates out of the newly renovated Arcade Bus Station. Walking through the main entrance, the shiny, green ticket counter […]
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Boon Si Ta, located on Pra Sop Suk Road just a bit southeast of the bus station on the right-hand side (opposite the bus station), is reportedly the only vegetarian restaurant in Chiang Rai. This small cafeteria-style restaurant seems to be a one-woman operation with no menus. There is a large banner on the wall […]
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As you may know, since we volunteered at Elephant Nature Park in May 2012, the foundation that runs it (Save Elephant Foundation), its people and especially the animals it cares for have become very dear to our hearts. In late 2010, two Australians similarly volunteered and their lives immediately changed as well. During their week […]
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It’s difficult to spend any time in Thailand without seeing pictures of and tributes to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-serving head of state and Thailand’s longest-reigning monarch. Having sat on the throne since 1946, he has been in power for 66 years. So what does all this have to do with Father’s Day? Thais […]
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Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Surin Elephant Roundup, a government-sanctioned festival celebrating Thailand’s revered Asian elephant. The multi-day event draws large crowds all eager to witness elephants showcasing their amazing abilities. Elephants dancing to Gangnam Style, throwing darts to pop balloons, playing an organized game of soccer and even walking upright to […]
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