Where the wild things limp

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Under the watchful eye of an elephant | Photo by Lauren Girardin It’s near impossible to visit Chiang Mai, Thailand and not spend every day checking something off the traveler’s list of must-dos. It seems as lazy and cliché as…

Be not afraid of fermented fish

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Pad thai ingredients | Photo by Lauren Girardin In 2005, Todd’s brother Joshua and our freshly minted sister-in-law Sutay spent over a year on an extended multi-continental honeymoon. When they settled into Chiang Mai, Thailand for a month of tranquilo…

Before I kick your ass, may we dance?

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Teen Muay Thai fighter | Photo by Lauren Girardin What you want, Chiang Mai‘s got, whether it’s mini-skirted, fake-boobed, pool-hustling hookers; the lulling kneading of a three dollar foot massage; a new wardrobe of cheap designer knock offs; a gluttonous…

Missionaries, mercenaries, and misfits

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Stylish street food cart | Photo by Lauren Girardin For most people, Bangkok is their first encounter with Southeast Asia. The months-ago closing of Thailand‘s southern Pattaya airport due to political protests made Todd and I wary of banking on…

We interrupt these global tales to bring you a story about Ohio

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Biggest basket, really more just a building though| Photo by Lauren Girardin Miss us? Blame some intense family time, the social insanity that is San Francisco in August, and the pressure of of searching for a job during a recession…

Know before you go: Responsible travel in Cambodia

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Sign at Angkor Park | Photo by Lauren Girardin Before Todd and I left on our round-the-world trip, we debated whether or not we wanted to visit certain countries, concerned that money we spent would help support a repressive government…

Sihanoukville and Otres Beach, Cambodia travel tips

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Besides our tips below, the best – and really as far as quality goes, only – guide to Otres Beach is on Travelfish.org

Cursed out in paradise

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Fish head at Otres Beach | Photo by Lauren Girardin When we crossed from Laos into Cambodia, Todd and I met a German traveler headed in the opposite direction. This is always a gift, someone who’s been where you want…

10 best photos of the photogenic temples at Angkor

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During our three-day bicycle exploration of the temples of Angkor, Cambodia, I took too many photos. The temples were a photogenic place to play around with my Canon G9 camera’s panorama and macro settings, though I admit I went a…

Angkor and Siem Reap, Cambodia travel tips

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Siem Reap is a pleasant if rather soulless tourist town. Most of what there is to do is focused on nighttime entertainment, when people have returned from touring the Angkor temples.