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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
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      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
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  • Activities
    • Camping
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    • Skiing
    • Yoga
  • Planning
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting
    • Gear and Packing
  • Travel Styles
    • Active and Healthy
    • Couples Travel
    • Educational and Experiential
    • Foodie Travel
    • Long-Term Travel
    • Nature and Outdoors
    • Off the Beaten Path
    • Road Trips
  • Responsible Travel

Aboard the Dragon Legend: An Unforgettable Bai Tu Long Bay Cruise

November 18, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 2 Comments

Boats rowing toward small overwater buildings, in front of tree-covered karst mountains and a gray sky.

The Dragon Legend cruise was hands-down one of our coolest travel experiences ever. It was a taste of luxury, a chance to unplug, and a sustainable way to see Vietnam’s most iconic scenery.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Off the Beaten Path, Responsible Travel, Vietnam Tagged With: Bai Tu Long Bay, cruise, Halong Bay, Travel Styles

Movies and Mountains: The Dharamshala International Film Festival

November 12, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 2 Comments

We spent last weekend at a film festival high in the Himalayas of northern India – and it was a blast! We got to see some fascinating independent films from all over the world, and we loved being part of a cultural event that set the town abuzz.

Filed Under: Asia, Educational and Experiential, India Tagged With: Dharamshala, festival, film festival, McLeod Ganj, Travel Styles

Why Bai Tu Long Bay Is a More Sustainable Halong Bay Alternative

November 4, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 14 Comments

Cruising through Halong Bay is a major bucket list item in Vietnam – but it’s as crowded and polluted as it is beautiful. So we were thrilled to discover its more sustainable neighbor, Bai Tu Long Bay.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Off the Beaten Path, Responsible Travel, Vietnam Tagged With: Bai Tu Long Bay, Halong Bay, sustainability, Travel Styles

A One-Day Itinerary: The Best Things to Do in Whitefish, MT

June 30, 2019 By Jen Ambrose 28 Comments

“Whitefish, MT” Amtrak sign in front of a metal fence, with a snow-covered yellow train car reading “Great Northern Railway” in the background.

If you visit Glacier National Park or go skiing at Whitefish Mountain Resort, you’ll probably have to pass through Whitefish. Here’s exactly how to make the most of one day in this charming town.

Filed Under: Montana, North America Tagged With: Whitefish

Our Second Year on the Road: Reflecting on the Highs and Lows

February 26, 2019 By Jen Ambrose Leave a Comment

Tip of a yellow kayak on the water, with pine trees, mountains, and hazy blue sky in the background.

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been traveling for two whole years! In honor of this milestone, we’re looking back at where we’ve been in the past twelve months and reflecting on the highest highs and lowest lows.

Filed Under: Long-Term Travel, Reflections Tagged With: annual review, digital nomads, Southeast Asia, Travel Styles

Backpacking Singapore: Tips to Help You Travel Cheap

July 3, 2018 By Jen Ambrose 13 Comments

Singapore is the world’s most expensive city, but we found some ways to save money there. Use these tips to stay within your budget when you visit.

Filed Under: Asia, Singapore Tagged With: budget travel, Southeast Asia

How We’ve Funded A Year of Full-Time Travel

March 7, 2018 By Jen Ambrose 30 Comments

Full-time travel costs less than you think, especially in regions like Southeast Asia. After a year of traveling and working as digital nomads, this is how we’re funding our lifestyle. We saved up before we left, and remote work in freelance writing offsets some of our travel costs. But traveling on a budget and visiting affordable countries like Thailand and Vietnam keeps our expenses low, and work exchange and housesitting positions cut them even further.

After one full year on the road, here’s everything we’re doing to afford full-time travel and make this lifestyle work.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Long-Term Travel Tagged With: budget travel, housesitting, remote work, Southeast Asia, Travel Styles, work exchange

A Year on the Road: Reflecting on the Highs and Lows

February 11, 2018 By Jen Ambrose 12 Comments

We’ve officially been on the road for a whole year! Today, we’re looking back on the highs and lows of the past twelve months, including our most exciting adventures and the biggest challenges of working while traveling.

Filed Under: Long-Term Travel, Reflections Tagged With: annual review, digital nomad, full-time travel, Southeast Asia, Travel Styles

Exploring the Quiet Thai Island of Koh Kood

October 14, 2017 By Jen Ambrose Leave a Comment

Koh Kood is one of the most accessible islands near Bangkok, but it's still a relatively undeveloped travel destination. But with beautiful beaches, stunning vistas, and few crowds, it's the perfect place to relax and get off the beaten path. If you want to visit one of the quiet islands in Thailand, Koh Kood is the place to go.

We visited Koh Kood hoping for a quiet, laid-back Thai island without too many crowds. It delivered just that.

Filed Under: Asia, Off the Beaten Path, Thailand Tagged With: Koh Kood, Travel Styles

Reflections on a Yoga Retreat in Thailand

September 18, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 20 Comments

The Whole & Happy Yoga Retreat in Thailand was an amazing week of self-exploration, adventure, and relaxation all in one. Attending a yoga and meditation retreat while you travel is a truly unique experience, and you can find affordable yoga retreats all over Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.

If you’re an avid yogi, or even just a curious beginner, maybe you’ve thought about doing a yoga retreat. Jen’s reliving her time at the Whole & Happy Retreat in southeastern Thailand, a magical week full of yoga classes, relaxation, introspection, and wonderful community.

Filed Under: Active and Healthy, Asia, Thailand, Yoga Tagged With: activities, chanthaburi, meditation, Travel Styles, yoga retreat

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Close-up of a white man and woman both wearing black with trees in the background, and an overlaying green banner that says "Welcome!"

Hi! We’re Jen and Ryan, an American couple on a journey to travel the world while working from the road. We’re passionate about outdoor adventure, responsible travel, and getting off the beaten path. Passions and Places is a space for us to share our stories and tips with you, but most importantly, we hope to inspire you to seek your own adventure.

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