The Kindness of Strangers

After meeting many wonderful local people in Laos and Indonesia I was inspired to make a concious effort to surround myself with as many locals as possible. I did this by couchsurfing, hitchhiking, taking local transport and interacting with locals in bars and resturants. The months of May and June took me to new parts...

The People You Meet in Indonesia

I spent a month galavanting around Indonesia with two of my closes friends. Ross, Darcy and I met working in Nicaragua and when Ross said he would be in Indonesia in May. Darcy and I took it as an invitation to join him & explore this vast archipelago. Long storey short. Darcy and I flew...

So Apparently it can be Cold in Indonesia – Hiking Mt Rinjani

It was the beginning of the dry season in Indonesia when I found myself in a sleeping bag. with multiple layers of clothing on. along with five people in a group huddle for body warmth and I still couldn't feel my feet. That's not the 30+ degree days I had in mind when planning my...

New Years in April

I stepped off the bus and began to walk the streets of Savannakhet when SPLASH! I was soaked from head to toe. A local family ran towards me with a hose and buckets of water yelling SOK DEE PI MAI! It was April 14 and the first day of Lao New Year. The buckets of...

Chasin’ Waterfalls

All work and no play makes Ashlee a dull girl. Luckily within a few hours drive of Pakse there are many adventures to be had!  Bolaven Plateau  About 40km from Pakse you start to climb in altitude as you've hit the wonderful plateau which is the home of coffee, waterfalls and cooler weather! Most people...

What defines a ‘real’ traveler?

I often hear people comment on other peoples travel styles with remarks such as 'oh if they haven't done that then they are not a real traveler' or 'only real travelers can say they have been there' etc etc (heck if I'm being honest I've even been the person to make those remarks) And it...

I am not afraid of the world, but I am afraid of people who are afraid of the world. I want to live in a society filled with people who are curious and concerned about each other rather than afraid of each other. I want to live in a world full of brave people who...

She’s traveling again?!

This post is for everyone who wonders what I am actually doing here in Laos. I am situated in Pakse, Laos which is a small city located on the Mekong River. Tourists come here but rarely stay more than a coupe of days. The expat population is virtually non existent and if you find someone...

Eating like a Lao Local

Eating is a community event in Lao. People do not eat alone & if you try to order traditional Lao cuisine on your own you'll end up with enough to feed a small army!  If you are coming to Lao and want to know how to eat local, this is the perfect guide for you!...

Get high in Pakse

A caffeine high that is 😉 The southern parts of Laos are home to world famous coffee plantations. The high mountains, fertile land and stable climate provide for perfect coffee growing conditions. If you have read my previous posts you'll know that I love coffee. Australia is a pioneer in the coffee industry and growing...