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A Koh Chang Travel Guide for Getting Off the Beaten Path

September 26, 2017 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Koh Chang, Thailand, is the perfect island to get a bit off the beaten path. While Lonely Beach is a popular backpacking destination, the southern beaches of Bangbao and Klong Kloi are more secluded. Diving and snorkeling, as well as hiking, are the top things to do in Koh Chang. This complete travel guide has everything you need to know about Koh Chang, including what to do, where to stay, and how to visit the other islands of eastern Thailand.

Want to visit a not-too-touristy beach in Thailand? Head to the southern tip of Koh Chang. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling to the island.

Filed Under: Asia, Off the Beaten Path, Thailand Tagged With: Southeast Asia

A Guide to Cambodia’s Burgeoning Craft Beer Scene

September 10, 2017 By Ryan Victor 23 Comments

When you think of travel in Cambodia, what comes to mind is probably Angkor Wat or maybe just the Southeast Asia backpacking trail - but probably not craft beer. As it turns out, there’s a lot more in Cambodia than just Angkor beer - the country has six breweries! If you visit Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, or Kampot, consider stopping at one for some interesting Cambodian beer and a unique experience.

You probably wouldn’t expect Cambodia to have any microbreweries – but it turns out there’s six! Ryan visited them all, and now he’s sharing the highlights (and lowlights) of each, including where to find the best IPA, take a date you want to impress, and have an interesting local experience.

Filed Under: Asia, Cambodia, Foodie Travel Tagged With: craft breweries, Kampot, Southeast Asia

Everything You Need to Know About Washing Clothes While Traveling

August 24, 2017 By Ryan Victor 12 Comments

Washing clothes while traveling is a necessity for long-term travel. Whether you’re backpacking Southeast Asia, taking a road trip in the U.S., or traveling elsewhere, here are the best options for getting your laundry done.

When we left the U.S. to adopt a nomadic lifestyle, people asked us about how we’d deal with the mundane things that are second-nature at home – and one of them was laundry. Here are all the laundry options we’ve found on the road, plus our best tips for washing your clothes while you travel.

Filed Under: Gear and Packing, Long-Term Travel Tagged With: travel tips

Getting Back Underwater: Scuba Diving in Koh Chang, Thailand

August 8, 2017 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Koh Chang may not be the top spot for diving in Thailand, but this huge island has a lot to offer. After visiting Koh Tao to do a PADI open water diving certification five years ago, Koh Chang was a great place to get back into scuba. It’s known for wreck diving, but the waters are also full of tropical fish and colorful coral accessible to divers of all levels.

When we arrived in Thailand, it’d been five years since the first (and only) time I went scuba diving. The island of Koh Chang turned out to be the perfect place to get back underwater and kick off our life of travel.

Filed Under: Asia, Nature and Outdoors, Scuba Diving, Thailand Tagged With: Southeast Asia

A Motorcycle Adventure to Cambodia’s Bokor Hill Station

July 7, 2017 By Ryan Victor 12 Comments

Cambodia is ripe with opportunities for adventure travel, and Kampot is no exception. Just 20 miles away is the Bokor Hill Station, a now-abandoned hill station developed by French colonists in the 1920s. Today, it’s a renowned spot for urban exploration, and it makes a great day trip from Kampot. There are plenty of organized tours to Bokor, but you can also rent a motorcycle in town and ride up independently for more adventure. Either way, you’ll enjoy the refreshing cooler temperatures and stunning views of southern Cambodia.

Bokor Hill Staton in Cambodia had been on my radar as a top urban exploration site for a while before we visited. It’s full of interesting abandoned old buildings, including what used to be a luxurious French hotel, and it makes a great motorcycle trip from Kampot.

Filed Under: Asia, Cambodia, Motorcycling, Nature and Outdoors Tagged With: abandoned places, Kampot, Southeast Asia, urban exploration

Spend Summer Outside: The Best Hiking Near Boston

July 1, 2017 By Ryan Victor 4 Comments

To make the most of the Fourth of July in New England (or any summer weekend), head outside! Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont all have some great hikes for various levels. These five trails are some of the best hiking near Boston, including the Mt. Washington hike and other trails in the White Mountains.

The Boston Pops, a huge fireworks show, and all that history make Boston one of the best places to celebrate the Fourth of July. But to get the most out of the holiday weekend in New England, consider spending part of it outdoors. Here’s five of the area’s best hikes to get you started.

Filed Under: Hiking, Maine, Massachusetts, Nature and Outdoors, New Hampshire, North America, U.S., Vermont Tagged With: Boston, New England

In Honor of Canada Day: A Guide to Fundy National Park

June 29, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

Fundy National Park in New Brunswick makes a great road trip or long weekend getaway, especially if you live on the East Coast of the U.S. or Canada. This guide covers all the best hiking, camping, and other activities the park has to offer, including the unique Hopewell Rocks in the Bay of Fundy.

In honor of Canada Day 2017, we’re highlighting one of Canada’s smallest and least-visited national parks. Fundy offers great hiking, stunning campsites, and unique landscapes, all without the crowds. Plus, it’s super accessible from the East Coast.

Filed Under: Camping, Canada, Hiking, Nature and Outdoors, North America, Off the Beaten Path Tagged With: national parks

Seeing History Repeat Itself: An Alabama Road Trip

June 7, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

This Alabama road trip was the final segment of a longer trip through the Deep South, focused on human rights and social justice. A historical itinerary like this one is a great way to travel through Alabama. Birmingham, Montgomery, and all Selma offer great museums and opportunities to learn about the Civil War, the history of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement.

The final state on our road trip through the South was Alabama, home of a gigantic steel statue, some delicious bagels, and several amazing museums. From protests to voting rights to immigration, it turns out Alabama has a lot to teach us about history and about issues facing the country today.

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

Learning about History and Culture on a Mississippi Road Trip

June 3, 2017 By Ryan Victor Leave a Comment

As part of a longer route through the Deep South, our Mississippi road trip included historical sites and museums that taught us all about slavery, race issues, the Civil Rights Movement, and even Muslim culture. This historical road trip itinerary includes Natchez and Jackson, MS, and follows part of the famed Natchez Trace.

Mississippi might not be high on your bucket list, but it’s a great place to learn about civil rights history. The state’s capital of Jackson also surprised us in a lot of ways, from its museum on Muslim culture to its delicious vegan restaurant.

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

The Ghost Town of Rodney, MS: A Photo Essay of Stories in Ruins

April 28, 2017 By Ryan Victor 10 Comments

What’s a road trip through the American South without a stop at a ghost town? This photo essay tells the story of Rodney, Mississippi, a formerly important port town with some interesting Civil War history. Today, it offers a unique and quiet beauty to the few visitors who head that way. But at only an hour from Natchez, a visit to Rodney is a fun thing to do if you’re in the area.

The ruins of Rodney, Mississippi, tell the story of a thriving Southern town decimated by the Civil War and the changing course of a nearby river. The churches and houses are abandoned now, and we loved experiencing their quiet beauty.

Filed Under: Mississippi, North America, Off the Beaten Path, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, American South, ghost towns, photo essay

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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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