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Passions and Places

A travel + outdoors blog

  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Laos
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      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
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      • Iceland
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    • North America
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  • Activities
    • Camping
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    • Motorcycling
    • Scuba Diving
    • 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

Our 4th & 5th Years of (Not Really) Traveling: Making the Best of Unprecedented Times

May 1, 2022 By Jen Ambrose Leave a Comment

Two-lane highway curving between mountains, with a yellow 45MPH sign pointing around the corner.

The last two years have been…nothing like the three that preceded them. But we’ve done our best to find the silver linings, and are so grateful that we’ve stayed healthy and still managed to find some adventures.

Filed Under: Long-Term Travel, Reflections Tagged With: annual review, Travel Styles

The Third Year on the Road: Reflecting on the Highs and Lows

April 21, 2020 By Jen Ambrose 4 Comments

View of blue water and a blue sky with clouds, with lush greenery and red-roofed buildings in the foreground.

We’ve (somehow!) been traveling full-time and living as digital nomads for three full years now. From diving with sea turtles in Indonesia to having an unexpected surgery in Thailand, this recap covers all our highs and lows of the past year.

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

A Sunfish & A Shipwreck: Diving in Tulamben, Bali

January 25, 2020 By Ryan Victor 16 Comments

Underwater photo of a sunfish next to a scuba diver blowing bubbles.

A dive to more than 100 feet below the surface? A sighting of a rare gigantic fish? A famous World War II-era shipwreck? Ryan’s Advanced Open Water course in Bali had a little bit of everything, and all of it was memorable.

Filed Under: Asia, Indonesia, Nature and Outdoors, Scuba Diving Tagged With: Advanced Open Water, bali, Travel Styles, tulamben, wreck diving

49 Couples Travel Quotes to Inspire Love and Adventure

January 11, 2020 By Jen Ambrose 22 Comments

A couple standing under a black umbrella in the middle of a green field.

We’ve seen a lot of quotes about couples travel, and these are some of our favorites – from sweet and inspirational to silly and cheesy.

Filed Under: Couples Travel Tagged With: quotes, Travel Styles

Bisbee, Arizona: The Funkiest Town You’ve Never Heard Of

January 3, 2020 By Ryan Victor 105 Comments

White brick exterior wall with tan mural reading “Historic Bisbee Est. 1880. Shoppes, Restaurants, Galleries, Museums, Lodging, RV Park, Queen Mine Underground Tour.”

Love funky artistic communities, laid-back hippie vibes, and lots of interesting history? Believe us when we say – Bisbee, AZ, is the town for you!

Filed Under: Arizona, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips, U.S. Tagged With: abandoned places, bisbee, erie street, ghost towns, lowell, tombstone, Travel Styles, Tucson

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

Exploring the Best and Quirkiest Attractions in Jerome, AZ

July 19, 2019 By Ryan Victor 10 Comments

If you like offbeat towns, you’ll love Jerome, AZ. It’s home to a Claymation-esque museum and a massive stockpile of rusted out cars, among other unusual things – oh, and the town is purported to be haunted. It’s a quintessential road trip stop and an easy day trip from Phoenix, too.

Filed Under: Arizona, North America, Off the Beaten Path, Road Trips Tagged With: abandoned places, ghost towns, Jerome, Phoenix, Travel Styles

Hanoi Free Walking Tours: Exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi Without Spending a Dime (or Dong)

July 9, 2019 By Ryan Victor 6 Comments

Free tours can be hit or miss, but this one in Hanoi was top-notch! This walking tour of the Old Quarter covers many of Hanoi’s most fascinating sights and offers a chance to dive into their context. (Plus, the guides provide expert navigation through what must be one of the world’s most confusing and chaotic neighborhoods.)

Filed Under: Asia, Educational and Experiential, Vietnam Tagged With: Guild Streets, Hanoi, Travel Styles, walking tour

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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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