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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

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Koh Kood, Thailand: The Charm of a Quiet Thai Island

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: Southeast Asia

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: Asia, Reflections, Thailand, Yoga Tagged With: meditation, retreat, Southeast Asia

Looking Back on Three Months of Travel in Southeast Asia

June 26, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 14 Comments

You could spend years traveling around Southeast Asia, but this post covers slow travel as digital nomads over three months. We’ve traveled to destinations in Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, including Bangkok, Krabi, Kampot, and Georgetown, Penang. Some highlights so far? Scuba diving, housesitting, a yoga retreat, and lots of delicious food!

After our first three months of traveling in Southeast Asia and working from the road, we’re looking back on our experiences so far. Our travels have taken us to Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia, with highlights like housesitting, a yoga retreat, and a little-visited Thai island.

Filed Under: Asia, Cambodia, Long-Term Travel, Malaysia, Reflections, Thailand Tagged With: Bangkok, digital nomad, housesitting, Kampot, Southeast Asia, work exchange

15 Long-Haul Travel Essentials: What to Pack for In-Flight Comfort

May 27, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 14 Comments

For many people, long plane rides are the worst part of travel, especially when you’re in economy class or have a red-eye flight. This packing list has all the airplane essentials you need for surviving long-haul flights. Stay healthy, rested, and entertained on your next trip!

It’s no secret that flying can be pretty miserable, but if you want to travel to distant destinations, there’s no way around it. Fortunately, you can make your next flight at least a little bit more comfortable by packing these items in your carry-on.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing Tagged With: travel tips

What To Do in New Orleans Beyond Bourbon Street

May 6, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 9 Comments

During our human rights and social justice-themed road trip through the American South, we weren’t too sure how New Orleans would fit in. The Big Easy not only gave us a great time, it also turned out to be a really interesting place to explore history, culture, and ecology – a few of the things we’d come to the South to learn about.

Filed Under: Louisiana, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: American South

A Human Rights + Social Justice Road Trip in the American South

April 25, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 18 Comments

Road trips just might be the best way to travel in the American South. Our trip through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama was focused on history, civil rights, human rights, social justice, and the environment. The route included New Orleans, Natchez, Birmingham, Selma, and more, with stops at some of the region’s best museums and monuments. See our full road trip itinerary, and get our best tips to plan your own visit to the South.

The South might not be too touristed, but it’s full of sites all Americans should see. Our Southern road trip taught us so much about this country’s past and about human rights and social justice, both historically and today. Relive the journey with us, and get some tips for planning a trip of your own.

Filed Under: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: American South

A Traveler Celebrates Earth Day: The Top Reads on Sustainable Travel

April 22, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 6 Comments

Whether you call it eco-travel, sustainable travel, green travel, or something else, this link round-up includes some of the best resources on travel, sustainability, and the environment - just in time for Earth Day 2017. This reading list has tips on vacation planning, destinations, animal welfare, and plenty of information on why we should care about how travel affects the planet.

Celebrate Earth Day 2017 with some of our favorite articles on sustainability and eco-friendly travel! Learn how travel impacts the environment, why it matters, and how to do your part to care for Mother Earth from the road.

Filed Under: Responsible Travel Tagged With: sustainability

Becoming “Digital Nomads:” Why We Quit Our Jobs to Travel

March 25, 2017 By Jen Ambrose 15 Comments

We finally quit our jobs in Boston to travel the world as digital nomads! Now we're in Thailand, engaging in long-term travel and working online for ourselves as travel bloggers and freelance writers. This is the story of our lifestyle design choices and why we're planning to travel in Southeast Asia.

We finally took the leap and left our jobs, apartment, and life in the U.S. to travel abroad and work as freelancers. Here’s the story of why we made this lifestyle change and how we’re starting our new lives as digital nomads in Thailand.

Filed Under: Long-Term Travel, Reflections Tagged With: digital nomad, Southeast Asia

Touring the Local Businesses of Vermont

December 10, 2016 By Jen Ambrose 6 Comments

Vermont is known for its locavore movement and commitment to sustainability. The state has a vibrant local business scene, and many of its companies offer public tours. Visit a company like Ben & Jerry’s, Cabot Creamery, or Snow Farm Vineyard next time you travel to Vermont.

The commitment to sustainability and local production runs deep in Vermont, especially at the state’s small businesses. Witness it for yourself by visiting the Ben & Jerry’s Factory, the Cabot Creamery, or one of the many other Vermont businesses that make themselves open to the public.

Filed Under: Foodie Travel, North America, Road Trips, U.S., Vermont Tagged With: Burlington, New England, small businesses

A Guide to the Best Yoga Studios in Boston

November 22, 2016 By Jen Ambrose 28 Comments

Boston is a city that’s conscious about health, wellness, and fitness, and there’s a yoga studio in nearly every neighborhood. Here’s our list of the best yoga studios in the Boston area (including options in the North End, Back Bay, Cambridge, Somerville, Allston, and Brighton), with classes in Vinyasa flow, Iyengar, Ashtanga, restorative yoga, meditation, and more.

Whether you’re an avid yogi visiting Boston or a Bostonian considering your first class, our guide to some of the city’s best yoga studios has everything you need to know.

Filed Under: Massachusetts, North America, U.S., Yoga Tagged With: Boston, meditation, New England

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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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