https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home daily 1.0 2017-09-16 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/5/17/hiking-kauai monthly 0.5 2017-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495255993914-5S45XHVXB48NGXKQPHFG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai We set off on a 4ish mile roundtrip hike overlooking the bay this afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495256765305-PCXFECHNKYVOCLFYTQ6U/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495256786853-HI084YGL9D4XLU71PHDQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai The trail was super muddy and relatively steep, but view just kept getting better and better the further we went. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495256956774-G0YN6KZT8QLI1Z5S4038/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai Taro fields to one side... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495256995660-0N6Y8XR6NZMGGFOMFBSV/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai ... and the bay on the other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495257046516-I9KWAZ24ECYC7N2OOUVM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai After the 1.5 mile mark, the hike got both steeper and muddier and involved some rope assists to keep from sliding off the hill. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495257121516-CJMKE1VMVLWSIQXDV0DX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai By the time we turned around, the weather had started rolling in. We got a little rained on. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495257151002-BW8UE4RZMPNYYZY91ISK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hiking Kauai Obviously it didn't put much of a damper on our spirits though! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/5/16/hanalei-bay monthly 0.5 2017-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495255457708-Y7EBUAOR4OXCS99ZZCLF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hanalei Bay After an uneventful red-eye flight on Saturday night from Brisbane into Kauai by way of Honolulu, we picked up our white Jeep Wrangler rental and drove the scenic hour up the coast to Hanalei Bay. We are unbelievably fortunate to have a friend with a house *literally* on the bay, and are spending the week surfing, paddleboarding, reading on the beach, and eating too much at Bar Acuda (Ginger & Smoke margaritas ftw). It doesn't get better than this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495255711232-QFSUYPOXTEIJWMXHPW3D/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hanalei Bay We've even seen a rainbow or two :) https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/5/17/fern-gully monthly 0.5 2017-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495252411920-Z1DK1753U5EBM5GTBE40/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully About a 45 minute drive out of Byron is Nick's aunt Carol's property, Fern Gully (like from the movie!). We spent a few days in this idyllic rainforest farmland catching our breaths and talking philosophy and spirituality. Jules and B, the original owners of the property (B created Fern Gully) still live there and cooked us delicious vegetarian feasts every night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254833484-VQBFAKX5H5ZL1GBV7OJK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495253951690-YQDI4A2YF8WZ5OLUI3RQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully The cottage we stayed in was beautifully decorated, had a wood-burning fireplace, and was haunted by a ghost named Kieth. It also required some creative cellphone positioning to get the wifi hotspot to work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254874941-FUS0K5QI035ZQY075VWF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254624869-DMS3HYBZMG0VNEN00X75/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully We took daily walks down the country road. This is the view from the top of the property. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254745950-NPH75FJ4QBPO1CKL2MSO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254673763-T82RFCI6ORR1BD1KUPJ4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully We made some goat friends along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254907326-Z6PKPA4GNTZ5CC0TAIIK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495254957020-293BBUPYVUNO9BMKDZ7B/image-asset.jpeg Home - Fern Gully Our only outings off the property were to the farmer's market in Mullumbimby and to the cute shops in Bangalow. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/5/17/byron-bay monthly 0.5 2017-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495133729365-OIEGMQ21IBAGUORSWC8J/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay In our last minute planning, we briefly toyed with trying to swing through Melbourne before heading to Byron Bay, but in the end, we realized that we were tired of spending just a night or two in every location and opted to spend a week in Byron instead. Our AirBnB was pretty plush, and only about a 10-15 minute bike ride to the center of town. This is a picture of one of the wild turkeys that hung around the property. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084004187-N53DNMCL3GA80E596BZN/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay There was all kinds of bird life around actually. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495133792976-GMB6041YUN48SPIBKRA8/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay We rented bikes our first full day in town, and did a short but surprisingly strenuous ride to the lighthouse on the point. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495133822549-H67023PS1JYTT80H0PFB/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay The beaches were lovely. Neither of us got out surfing, but Nick did take a few kiteboarding lessons while we were in town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495255308383-T6N0DEPCPP9MQ803Q0DP/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay We ventured out of town once to check out a waterfall. It was a short, very muddy hike, and I had a surprisingly severe panic attack for no good reason pertaining to my knee, prompting me to later learn that there is a form of PTSD commonly associated with orthopedic injuries. Who knew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495133844360-LEPUILBU90OZCZJ1WTQE/image-asset.jpeg Home - Byron Bay We found a few great restaurants for lunches and dinners - Byron Fresh, The Beet (a vegan restaurant), Combi, and the Roadhouse where we ate breakfast basically every morning. It was nice to become a regular at a spot after so many days on the road. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/30/wellington-blackwater-rafting-and-a-very-rushed-north-island-road-trip monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495085020855-8042Y5PE3XFSWJ4LOTZ4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip We opted to stay in Wellington an extra night, and end up doing the Makara beach hike. It was a bit windy, but we didn't see a single soul for nearly the entirety of our 2+ hour hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084799004-EHC2B89KBXCPQT3QFJHU/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084822842-MAS140YQM9ICT028JIAT/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084843970-0Y4CS8KSCHGGSP61KU9Q/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084868146-S7J1GJ2YG9PHX54BOFKM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084896596-TW184CUWYIC7JJ0TMMDK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495085153277-6HCG67HL4EKA2O2B4UL2/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip After our hike, we wandered around downtown and then had another spectacular dinner at Charley Noble. Bigger cities do have their perks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495085211918-F1XPUTDZDCAD9S2JASE8/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wellington, Blackwater Rafting, and A Very Rushed North Island Road Trip The next day was a bit of blur of crappy weather and too much driving so that we could get up to Hamilton where we'd have easier access to the Waitomo Caves. Nick convinced me to commit to the Blackwater Rafting Company adventure on Saturday involving a substantial rappel, tubing through caves full of glowworms, and a lot of spelunking. The water was COLD but the caves were absolute magic. We had a guide who made the experience really special and as freeze as I was, I loved every minute. Finally, on Sunday, we limped into Auckland, returned our crappy car, and hopped a flight for warmer climates. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/26/north-island-ferry monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084150902-1M7HKLINMBHT5PC46P6F/image-asset.jpeg Home - North Island Ferry We'd heard about a way to rent a car for free doing something called a "rental car relocation". We were granted 5 free days to take a car from Christchurch to Auckland and a discounted rate for any additional days. The car was a complete beater (you get what you pay for, I guess), and we were completely convinced that we were unwitting drug mules since the car reeked of weed. No matter, we jumped in the car Tuesday and drove up to Picton where the interisland ferry runs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084371981-54IRUY06ZS9NXFIC7Y8M/image-asset.jpeg Home - North Island Ferry It was a little chilly out, but the ferry was super easy to navigate and surprisingly luxurious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495084427745-ZYYXRYN2NDCQPBFM4FBX/image-asset.jpeg Home - North Island Ferry The ferry dropped us in Wellington where we met up with an old friend, had great drinks at Hippopotamus and CGR Merchant & Co., and ate an amazing seafood dinner at Ortega. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/24/aurora-chasing monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495083335195-1HXLADFK9X5BKYIPPUKA/image-asset.jpeg Home - Aurora Chasing I've always wanted to see the northern/southern lights and had been keeping a close eye on the forecasts the whole time we'd been traveling through NZ. Finally, on Sunday, it looked like we might get lucky. We drove a few hours to a freedom campground we thought would be well placed for a decent south-facing view. I took the wild sky on our drive as a good omen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495083315777-OV0I4EM8S5S0UIWCNBQG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Aurora Chasing We made sure to prepare all the important supplies for a night of star-gazing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495083355007-P7T7XMJJ2N43L8U2ZQ0V/IMG_20170423_223015.jpg Home - Aurora Chasing Then I finally got my wish! I was surprised to find that my Huawei Mate9's camera in "advanced" mode was good enough to pick up the colors. So awesome! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495083295520-DRUJH5YL2AZ678VRO2OF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Aurora Chasing The next morning, we made the last leg of our campervan journey back to Christchurch. We dropped off the van and broke our 2-month vegetarian stint with a succulent, dry-aged, grass-fed steak and a bottle of great New Zealand pinot noir at a spectacular steakhouse called Bessie. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/5/17/kayak-adventure monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495081120118-T7TXI68FK1MYE05PMBDC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kayaking with Baby Otters in Abel Tasman Saturday we booked a full day kayak adventure along the Abel Tasman National Park coastline. The day started early when they loaded us onto a boat which was towed by a tractor from the kayak shop to the boat entry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080993961-TNMPVTCCXXHFH43O90GJ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kayaking with Baby Otters in Abel Tasman The weather was gorgeous, despite the season, though I was quite happy we had splash skirts since the water was chilly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495081011777-4M6YPJZ8DEC0DJ22AYX8/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kayaking with Baby Otters in Abel Tasman A few other couples joined us for the first half of the day, but we had the guide all to ourselves in the afternoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495081028656-37TX38NCGUEEJUI29RTZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kayaking with Baby Otters in Abel Tasman Check out that beard! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/21/wanaka-franz-josef-pancake-rocks monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495079641224-1LRQUJ6LGUVQQNB95R4A/IMG_20170417_104104.jpg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks We spent a couple days in Wanaka in a hotel because Nick got sick. It was nice to have a bit of luxury in the form of a real bed and a hot shower. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495079549679-ET9PBTOP9WKVH8RV46W6/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495079844692-2SLJN9EILD9E5RPLI2QS/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495079876077-VQYGYV4FFH5JGK3YWOI2/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks From Wanaka, we drove north to Franz Josef glacier where we did a super short hike and stopped into the wildlife center to catch a glimpse of two kiwi birds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080052587-H5COZLQS5O35X1HJF9F5/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks After a night at Franz Josef, we made our way up the stunning coastline toward Westport. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080310296-K7Q6A6N6XFIIGJDN4UIU/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks Around every bend was some new breathtaking view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080206990-3EKN8AF5UX3UC0RHEXXO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks Along the way, we stopped at Pancake Rock, which was a bizarre rock formation that looked like stacks of pancakes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080274563-K7KQ1CQINRO5H410Z4CQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks Also featured were some ocean blowholes - pretty spectacular at high tide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495080459747-IK60EV3NCJAX4BTXRRCK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Wanaka, Franz Josef, Pancake Rocks By this point, I was starting to feel sick (thanks, Nick) so we opted for a motel near Westport to lay our heads. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/16/boating-with-dolphins-in-milford-sound monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069154854-ZEQ8LUOKSXGAIGDLFX5Z/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound Our drive North from the Southern-most point of our New Zealand adventure was, per usual, full of extraordinary vistas like this hill dotted with grazing sheep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069278593-VE3GW8KIC8ZMKJXJSSMG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound We were booked in a holiday park in Milford on Saturday night - there's unfortunately no freedom camping in the area - and we'd heard we should plan to make plenty of stops along the scenic drive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069570112-YQ07Z498PUWAY0E3T0JC/IMG_3297.jpg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound The whole valley we were driving along was carved out by a glacier. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069502458-28URF4ANOZ6D872JI0EU/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound There were loads of rain-induced waterfalls coming down the black rocks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069630657-RSIDPBPFZMO6D38ULH6R/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound Before checking in to the holiday park, we wanted to get our first glimpse of Milford Sound. It did not disappoint, and we decided to book a boat trip for Easter Sunday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069726280-RJ85N7IWUUWPIMYM01MA/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound The boat ride was fantastic. We had perfect weather - blue skies, not too hot or cold - and the nature guide on board our boat was knowledgable and funny. We even got to drink fresh glacier water that they "caught" from one of the many waterfalls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069779988-ILDI976AA03T4M9GPDOG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069800448-YQROUBHLX7CZEBEWNGOL/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495069834613-XXVV72999OSTGEWRV5RM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound This was a spot where a "tree avalanche" ripped all the foliage off the face of the rock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495070007535-M9QWRV2VSDTAEMT0VL6N/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound We went out a short ways into the Tasman, and looking back into the Sound, it's not at all evident how deep inland the channel goes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495070074254-AUU85WO3PRLUDVVP7K08/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound On our way back to the dock, we stopped at the research and education center where we got to see a nice variety of underwater flora and fauna including this Black Coral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1495070139900-PCA25AYT0DFV65PX1P3U/image-asset.jpeg Home - Boating with Dolphins in Milford Sound When we did finally catch a boat back to the dock, we were joined by a pod of 3 dolphins who were having a blast swimming in front of the catamaran's current. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/14/sundown-at-463005300 monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491741969-AYIBEQ69JOYGIH55L1GK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sundown at - 46.3005300° Sundown at - 46.3005300° https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491897426-UC2NL6VTO69ZILU8CEFW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sundown at - 46.3005300° Too overcast to see the Aurora Australis, sadly. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/14/30daysofkbs monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491613255-QT82TLVC69834CFCCQ7T/image-asset.jpeg Home - #30DaysOfKBs https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/13/roadtrip-snacking monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491485836-SKJYC37WJT80GNXFSQ2D/image-asset.jpeg Home - Roadtrip Snacking Nutella straight from the jar. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/13/food-wine-near-queenstown monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490515909-YA8Q848G64JW4MR8IX84/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown We spent the last couple days in and around Queenstown tasting wine, eating too much cheese, and taking in the scenery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490735149-ZCB4CQPDUYIKBQTHNHGX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490757404-JI0GPXQZUF4OOJDT9F09/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490793229-C0GE7VBOMEDD0BLDGOKA/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490599055-2OJ7V0X9IZIIOCUL7CAJ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown We bought wine from Aurum, Chard Farms, and Wet Jacket, plus a bunch of cheese from the cheesery that shares Wet Jacket's shearing shed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490878272-X8XAQETUZQF05DTBYW6D/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown We were introduced to a friend of a friend who hosted us for a delicious home cooked meal (they went out of their way to accommodate our gluten-free vegan silliness) and let us camp in their driveway for the night. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491100458-ZW9UO4QYJELJ4AO9AV1U/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown In the morning, after a tasty brunch at Bespoke Kitchen, we took the Skyline Gondola to the top of the hill overlooking Queenstown. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490974776-PX8KYONBM8V5PKAEMBUQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490999365-N2C0QK63FCPH7Z6AFXSS/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491050189-G4GVH1308YYQ20KTP4LF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown We drove surprisingly terrifying luge carts around a track, watched some bungee jumpers, and had a pleasant hike back down through the woods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491348756-C0DB73KHE27ERGK3TH4J/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492491255801-F99KI9OBUEQ71PLOV3WL/image-asset.jpeg Home - Food + Wine near Queenstown We weren't allowed to freedom camp in Queenstown, but it sure was gorgeous. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/11/todays-office monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490247908-MZLG5GKSULJ7534K7ZFI/image-asset.jpeg Home - Today's Office... Today's office: A campervan. Power provided by: cigarette lighter inverter. Wifi provided by: mobile hotspot. View provided by: Lake Pukaki, New Zealand. In other words, life is good. #vanlife https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/17 monthly 0.5 2017-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489361295-IWQU3ROY9D1M2MD3KY7J/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife After a pleasant evening in Christchurch, we picked up our campervan yesterday. Nick fearlessly took the (right-side-of-the-car) wheel and drove us a few hours to our first campsite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489459415-S0T33MUAFECJ97GD4XC8/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife Not a huge van, but equipped with a kitchen and a seating area that folds into a bed and a surprising amount of storage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489586434-U3YUJHQXFK07CY3GUBBG/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife True to the hype, every turn of our drive was stunning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489640663-XUYFN77TLRP2WO6SXR14/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489682521-3IKI1V4NTDPCYCSWML7A/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489717796-9KNR75CABTRI18ZLNG47/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife Full moon... (Nick's iPhone camera) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489754463-LCPWOMWJ0LRJERCE4GAH/IMG_20170410_183723.jpg Home - #vanlife ... or rising sun? (Char's Huawei Mate9 camera) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489874623-Q6YTOUJ4FYZ4N1NL3I6M/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife We found a pretty epic campsite for our first night on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492489974821-8QQJUVNSTGJS7MTR9TKO/image-asset.jpeg Home - #vanlife The view from our bed in the morning was unbeatable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492490038918-2SXL9TMAQAMLQRNN816U/IMG-20170411-WA0001.jpg Home - #vanlife Plus we got the best table in the house for breakfast. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/16/a-week-in-sydney monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408455666-IVTII3135312SOTSNDMJ/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney We took a red-eye flight from Denpasar to Sydney, but thankfully when we got to Sheraton on the Park early in the morning on the 2nd, the room was ready for us. We relaxed and tried not to nap for a few hours before heading to dinner at Yullis, one of Syndey's veggie-only restaurants. Dinner was delicious, but I had some serious sticker shock when we got the bill. After a couple months in Vietnam and Indonesia, Sydney sure feels expensive. Needless to say, we moved to an AirBnB for the rest of our stay, and even that was pricey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492407289410-SP1DAQNXEI91KZVVB73Z/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney We spent the next few days wandering around Sydney, which is a really lovely city. We walked around the park, visited a cool cathedral, found a vegan dim sum restaurant called Bodhi, and visited the Australian Museum which had a rad exhibition on spiders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492407734581-AWR9XVDHVA78U3HXYSYR/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney We took a really pleasant walk along the Bondi to Bronte beach trail. I was particularly impressed by the pool that fills with ocean water and the ballsy surfers taking on the rough-looking (and freezing cold) water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492416116808-2CI5WEKODO4OHOW7B13R/IMG-20170404-WA0003.jpg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492407777646-4WF8LORE7DOC1UEUFA31/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492407809247-N84VCZTW260UVUQY4NCK/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492407978074-96GL1PPN2ZQYV6ZPP10T/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408379732-Z9J4G23J2U1TFROLV0NQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney We spent part of an afternoon taking a ferry boat from Watsons bay back to Circular Quay, enjoying gorgeous views of the sailboats, opera house, and the harbor bridge from the water. Nick also humored me by walking through the botanical gardens and along the shoreline to hunt down a store that sold natural deodorant (you know what they say: you can take the hippie out of Boulder...). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408200735-JIA8WTIM3OEXIU966P07/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408240584-1LSKKQ3CI1J2YP4JZTBW/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408407282-79OV5R1ZSBJJLUSJ3XJA/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408489790-5RTLZFLR1H0Y2794JC8F/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney Naturally I took the opportunity of being in a big cosmopolitan center to get my hair done (at Raw Anthony Nader - fantastic cut and color), and Nick caught a candid of me on the street staring at my phone. Dinner was at a fabulous vegetarian haute-cuisine restaurant called Yellow. Yum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408547859-T63PTV68YTXYTOMWWQ6T/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney One of our last days in Sydney, we took an uber up to Manly for lunch at Ora. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492408603861-8HQJPEKGXFT6J59YDL7C/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney I suggested we walk out to Fairfax Lookout, which was on the tip of the peninsula. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492488812974-N5YEIS11MBD9KZ7V8IIW/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney Little did I know that the trail was going to take several hours... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492409078371-YXH2VGX6YWJVTCQLESC3/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney It was worth it though! We were treated to sweeping views of the city and all the sailboats in the harbor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492409618621-U762UV71R2J8PGAOUC8X/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492488908557-0TVHLX7GTRAV3Y6BTCND/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492488758069-HB1YJYHYCJ5ZB6KRIOKV/image-asset.jpeg Home - A Week In Sydney After getting the all clear from the doc, we last-minute booked 2 weeks in a camper van out of Christchurch, found a decently-priced Emirates flight and left the city in search of more nature. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/4/16/abbreviated-stay-in-paradise monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492405806203-9DHNWB1VFKSTVHHOZUBX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise From our first scooter ride around Kuta Lombok, we absolutely fell in love with the small surf town. It's super sleepy, with just one short "main drag", but it's clear by the number of developments under construction that it's up-and-coming. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492404617600-616IFG6EISBLWM2IF1NZ/IMG_3071.jpg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise There are two yoga places in town, one of which (Ashtari - pictured) has an incredible view from their outdoor studio platform. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492404702358-68VFFLB2ID7RP8514VO4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise There aren't many restaurants, particularly ones that cater to our stupid no-meat, no-eggs, and no-gluten diet, but the two standouts (which, no coincidence, happen to have the same owner) were El Bazaar and KRNK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492405669884-XOW6Y1SZKFJ3ENS4JYSJ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise Nick spent our first full day in Kuta surfing, but he hurt his rib in Canggu which made surfing (particularly in the more aggressive conditions) tough. So we took it easy, reading on the beach, enjoying the facilities at the Novotel (for which you can pay 100,000 rupiah, aka ~$7 / day). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492404572829-3LYBK3MEAGO7IZH0P4OE/IMG_20170329_061323.jpg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise We stayed at a really sweet little 2-room villa called Villa Joey, owned by a fascinating Australian guy and operated by the friendliest staff I've ever come across. We could see the ocean from the pool and the sunrise view made taking my 6am phone calls a little less painful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1492404466540-GE9BLTZH92NXHK8QXFF1/image-asset.jpeg Home - Abbreviated Stay in Paradise We probably would have stayed a couple weeks in Kuta, we loved it so much, and we really only scratched the surface of what Lombok had to offer after 5 nights. Unfortunately, even after 2 mostly-incompetent doctors' visits (Jakarta, Java & Mataram, Lombok) and a couple different types of medicine, Nick still wasn't 100%, so we decided to cut our stay short and fly to Sydney earlier than planned to see a western doctor. Kuta, we'll be back! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/3/28/beach-life monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490737736981-S1V4E121XT02MX99GWK9/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life We had scheduled 2 weeks in Canggu after our Vipassana at a surf and yoga retreat called "Pelan Pelan". Canggu the town was awesome, but within a day of being at Pelan Pelan, we felt we'd made a big mistake. It turned out to be extortionately expensive for what you got - the surf lessons weren't any better than you could get paying a couple dollars to a local on the beach, the yoga part of the retreat consisted of a total of 3 afternoon yoga sessions per week, the massages included were lazy at best (our masseuses were texting pretty much the whole time), and we couldn't eat any of the food. So we ended up scrapping all the resort activities and building our own "retreat" from the amazing yoga, health food, and surf spots in town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490738035002-1K0LLD96X2GIFGG4ERZU/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life I tried surfing the first day, but my knee just felt too unstable, so I ended up yoga-ing at Samadi (which is where we *should* have booked for our yoga retreat). Nick, meanwhile, surfed every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490738006143-QQTDNYR02RBNRLRE6BRM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life Our favorite food haunt was the Shady Shack (awesome vegetarian fare), but Canggu had plenty of incredible vegetarian / gluten-free food options. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490739146721-ACPWJCAO42ZUDGFCI78X/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life We spent a lot of time at Finn's beach club - from the day beds by the beach, I could read and watch Nick surf. Great hangout spot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490738248342-AIUDN1NW65E660EKVO36/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life We made some new friends (a couple of German guys going to business school, a chick who I had met at Vipassana and who had moved to Canggu to start a business, and a Brit taking a few months off work to travel). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1490739174231-R6I6NE8T4YLIMUEWTQPK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Beach Life "Silent Day" (scheduled for March 28 this year) is a part of the Nyepi (Hindu New Year) celebrations, and it's a day on which the entire island goes dark - no electricity, no motor vehicles, all the beaches and stores are closed, and you're basically confined to your hotel. Given Pelan Pelan's bad juju, we opted to head out by fast boat to explore Lombok a week early. On our last night in town, we ate at Deus Ex Machina, where there was fantastic live music. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/3/18/green-juice-yoga monthly 0.5 2017-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489879392796-WFTPUUNJFX8L5JEJQTN2/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga Despite our expulsion from meditation school, we decided to keep "mindfulness March" alive by heading to Ubud on Bali, where no one drinks, everyone is a vegan, and there's a yoga studio on every block. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489879099229-ZVMAW1B5L829OELVAI35/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga Our AirBnB pointed due East, for a perfect view of the sunrise over the rice paddies (and our private infinity pool). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489879590286-4RHXWYIGZX5242DQMXU7/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga We had a chance meeting with a Norwegian ex-pat while eating at Moksa (an awesome vegan restaurant) our first night in town, and he gave us a list of fantastic recommendations. We spent the next 5 days practicing yoga while admiring an expansive jungle view at Intuitive Flow; drinking cold-pressed green juice from Alchemy; eating salads at The Elephant; eaves-dropping on the new-age-y "workshops" on offer at the beautifully-designed, burning-man-esque Akasha (pictured); trying "aerial yoga" and getting our asses kicked by the large Russian teacher who didn't speak any English; admiring the expansive compound owned by the Ritz Carlton from their Library Bar and Sawah restaurant; experiencing a 10+ course, 3-hour, Michelin-star-worthy, vegetarian tasting menu at Locavore; and shopping for linen shirts and ankle bracelets in all the adorable boutiques. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489880110350-CX5GZZ3E834SCX0QIX5H/IMG_3001.jpg Home - Green Juice + Yoga We also couldn't resist renting scooters to ride around the rice paddies with. Seriously, there's no better way to see the countryside and sunsets over rice fields are just the best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489880281277-XZOWYQ2M7FD9I3OEJRFG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489880317364-14NQ32NGP27WKTJ7KDUZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489880394605-M947FDPHD20E772W5D0Y/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga As luck would have it, Fletcher and his buddy Jack happened to be in Bali too, so they came up to Ubud for a day to visit with us and the monkeys that inhabit the sacred monkey forest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489880494464-FFD0MTZG2YIXECG6Q1S3/image-asset.jpeg Home - Green Juice + Yoga Fletcher repp-ing Colorado while getting up close and personal with a monkey. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/3/18/disturbing-the-dhamma-vibrations monthly 0.5 2017-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489877980989-WHTHEQNE8YUVUXG4EFEI/%21dhamma2.jpg Home - "Disturbing the Dhamma Vibrations" After one quick night in Jakarta, we caught a cab to Bogor where the Dhamma Java Vipassana Meditation Center is located. We had registered for the challenging 10-day silent meditation retreat from March 8-19. They took away our books and electronics, put us in jail-cell-like rooms (thankfully Nick and I each had singles - some rooms had as many as 4 people in them), and instructed us that for the next 10 full days, we were not to speak, gesture, or even make eye contact with other people. Other rules included no killing (so the surprisingly-tasty food was all vegetarian), no lying, and segregation of the sexes. We were woken up every morning at 4am, and aside from a couple of meals (dinner was just tea and a piece of fruit), and an instructional video, the rest of the day (10+ hours) was spent on our cushions, trying not to move or think or pay attention to the pain in our aching shoulders, backs, and knees. To say it was hard is an understatement. Unfortunately, Nick got really sick on day 2 and after suffering for a couple miserable days and sleepless nights, got in contact with me to get some medicine. Given that we both missed a mandatory meditation at the same time, the staff put two and two together, and the next morning (day 5), we were kicked out for "disturbing the dhamma vibrations" (aka violating the rules). So we made our way back to Jakarta (by way of a doctor) and stayed in the luxe Grand Hyatt for a night to recover. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/3/4/siem-reap-and-angkor-wat monthly 0.5 2017-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489875323201-144NW4Z507BM96LQT0Q4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat We landed in Siem Reap late on Friday night (March 3) and were picked up by a tuk tuk sent by our hotel. Starving, we made our way to a student-run restaurant called "Love U" and had our first taste of Chicken Amok and Beef Lok Lak for dinner. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489875481878-G7SI36RRGFLBBHHZQB5F/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat The next day, we wandered around downtown, checked out Pub St and the central market, and ate a great healthy lunch at Sister Srey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876037301-0XKQMXB2WCYTBDB5JCX5/image-asset.png Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat After lunch, we went to the Angkor National Museum to get an overview of the history of the Angkor temple complex we were going to see the next day. The audio tour was long, but totally worth it, and the cafe had tasty juices made from fruits I'd never heard of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876262133-0MPUHCYVOC07FAAKYMJ6/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat Sunday morning we were picked up from our hotel in the pre-dawn darkness to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Totally worth the lack of sleep. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876367708-6VIGGVXXJ3OBKA5CJV7H/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876569744-38WCH4ODPF2QBYI0H7T0/IMG_20170305_064110.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876480952-R45F33SMDVGCMQQDMQAQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876600349-HZAX6PLTW4AC0CAOIXTM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876682802-YV941TQDFRYMUW3LVVL4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat After a guided tour through Angkor Wat, we hopped on mountain bikes and toured two other famous temples, Bayon and Ta Prohm, as well as a few other minor temples, all of which were very different but equally fascinating. The tour group we used was Grasshopper tours and overall the day was very well run - the group was small (only 6 of us), the tour guide was knowledgable, and they kept us mostly off the beaten path and away from a lot of the massive tour buses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876855807-FFKYUWSBBITZ2QFWON4E/IMG_2894.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876857308-PYZ5HEHXM4X00OVBXPC7/IMG_2905.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876878664-G2YEUH0X0K0FVEGLNGAO/IMG_2926.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489877269717-22HJJI3TZO9HKZXOAH0B/IMG_2922.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876881373-4F9JB99KKXECZ6UO30AS/IMG_2929.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876901496-BISX5900YJQEARM596S8/IMG_2934.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876901645-MC0O94579ZLF2POEJU15/IMG_2940.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876916056-RXYJO55I81POSI09V7BI/IMG_2945.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876919332-D6W5A8UBDAKYXATRLFP4/IMG_2946.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876934901-E2O46LC2ZVBS5TIXPM9B/IMG_2970.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876937906-Z1KHSRLPNSU8V5FFGD7Q/IMG_2973.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876957266-C4SVK8D4H1Q3K4KIAI6S/IMG_2975.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876961438-CEHZAFF2MSSYCO6GRMYZ/IMG_2977.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876976228-U4DTYSPAO5TERSC0W601/IMG_2983.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876979863-8OLO48PKM0GRO8NR1WVP/IMG_2987.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489876983648-KXLVOQF3MFWQND8ON7G4/IMG_2994.jpg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1489875100903-NJ8ZSXYOGKK4XCWSCILF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Siem Reap and Angkor Wat The night of our mountain biking tour, we ate at a delicious restaurant which, as luck would have it, gave me terrible food poisoning. Thankfully I was mostly recovered by morning, and after a day of bed rest was able to make it to "Phare", the Cambodian Circus. The performance was awesome - lots of acrobatics, a cool story, and live musicians. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/goodbye-vietnam monthly 0.5 2017-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488562387034-MQDIZYWVHWF2UDA29GXD/image-asset.jpeg Home - Goodbye Vietnam! Our last morning in Vietnam was spent, of all places, at an ex-pat restaurant in Tay Ho (West Lake) called Maison De Tet, eating fresh salad, drinking cold-pressed green juice, and working/reading before our afternoon flight to Siem Reap. I figured I would pull together a list of stats and resources we found helpful as reference in case anyone asks in the future. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/3/3/hookah-funky-balls monthly 0.5 2017-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488587871299-V7JYI36N4SWAIG9EISRZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls We spent a couple of lovely days wandering around Hanoi and saying goodbye to Vietnam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488589355664-AMRVZE1P7Y2CBJWYEX50/IMG_2848.jpg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls We ate at some delicious restaurants, which was a delight after the tourist crap in Cat Ba. Highlights included Cha Ca Thang Long (which only had one thing on the menu: Cha Ca, a fish dish served in a sautee pan at your table), a delicious Bun Cha joint, and Chim Sao (where we tried cured sausages made by the Northern ethnic groups and a great banana flower salad). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488589187718-7MNWM3JAM0KI0BOM7G4U/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls We went to a very bizarre "water puppet" show, which involved elaborately decorated puppets dancing over the water to live music. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488594070758-DZDBXSF8CWR4ACJ8APY5/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls We stopped by Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and saw a changing of the guards. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488594212544-VNZB7VXRK7ZV0GE9QT0L/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls We managed to sell our motorbikes, albeit at a terrible price. As if I needed confirmation, my bike was a total piece of shit so we effectively had to give the buyer a "buy one get one free" discount on the pair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488851750197-6LJNP1XUIMR90RC6EJAC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls A very nice Korean tourist caught a candid picture of me doing a little work by the lake. Proof that I'm still working while traveling! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488594702027-ULUCXMNKWKSU79Y9UMGX/IMG_2829.jpg Home - Hookah + Funky Balls Finally, we decided to say farewell to Vietnam with a fancy dinner at the famous Press Club, followed up with a stop at one of the many cafes we passed where young Vietnamese were smoking hookah and enjoying "Funky Balls" (aka, balloons filled with nitrous). As they say, "when in Rome"... https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/27/motorbike-death-throes monthly 0.5 2017-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488561694890-277FVZFC9OVTF35R550F/image-asset.jpeg Home - Motorbike Death Throes Only 2 ferries and about 150km of motorbiking stood between us and Hanoi. To this point, our bikes had been finicky, but hadn't really "broken down" per se. But as we boarded the first ferry, some kind non-English-speaking locals pointed out that my front tire had gone flat. They took us to the first "repair" shop on the other side: specifically, a curmudgeonly old man whose shop appeared to fix bicycles. Convinced he could fix the tire, he proceeded to pull the thing off the wheel only to realize it was a tubeless tire, and then throw up his hands in despair. We limped to 3 more shops before we found a guy who installed a tube into the tubeless tire as a workaround solution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488561617190-K186NPF02O1A6B63BSWY/image-asset.png Home - Motorbike Death Throes With the exception of a very delicious street food lunch in Hai Phong (Bun Cha and fried crab-filled spring rolls!), what ensued was 120ish kilometers of terror on my part. We were in the thick of it on a big main artery into Hanoi; massive trucks were barreling down the highway within inches of us, and meanwhile, my brakes were starting to fail and my bike's engine would sometimes just cut out at random times. By the time we got to Hanoi, I was a wreck, and I can't say that I handled it with as much grace as I should have. I was just grateful to be off that death machine. But we made it safe, and in one piece, and ended up having dinner at a stellar restaurant called Duong's Restaurant and Cooking School. Delicious (upscale) Vietnamese food, super friendly staff, and a good wine list to boot, so I can't complain! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/25/cat-ba monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560067955-B1KBPDSLXS1GAWOZZW9L/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba We weren't sure where to go after our cruise, and I wasn't up for a big day of riding since I needed to get some work done, so we opted to take the ferry with our motorbikes over to Cat Ba Island. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560187316-31V06MIUWP860OMA7LIO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba The view from the ferry was almost better than our cruise - fewer other boats! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560229515-PHPR7MY2H0H142RK5F9H/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba The ferry stops at the north end of Cat Ba, so we had about a 20km motorbike ride through the jungle to get to our hotel on the southern end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560302618-01RA565FKPN4FLAW8XOB/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba While our hotel couldn't compare the Paradise Suites beds, we did have a stellar view of the harbor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488594318964-P0ND3J17ZIVK7JFOMPEB/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba We also had a great view of the terrifying scaffolding that was set up for construction on the building next to us. Those are metal ladders hanging from bamboo poles being held down by sand bags on the roof! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488561033481-8ZQFVVIYOCZLN3TYMZ2O/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba We didn't eat at the famous "floating restaurants" since it seemed like they were largely very gimmicky. Most of the food we had in Cat Ba was crappy, tourist-centric western food. It had us missing the street food vendors and small mom-and-pop Vietnamese places we'd been eating at up until now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560389534-CAX09QTYXCJL6JJ72SRZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560528400-PN9UAUNAL9KX8LTJYIJV/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560615292-76ZQJUW01C8J2RQQHLIK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba The next day, we decided to take a short hike in the national park. It wasn't terribly strenuous, but we could see the whole island from the top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560839150-M15DW8PAOEG4UZABVSZQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488560972134-97AEPXGTDRYY7L7LMH37/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488561287310-0OH097CAVP70CWW2AGG6/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488561346764-DHNRWBSIUEVR1O8LCA0Y/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cat Ba After our hike, we took the long way back to our hotel by way of the (unfinished and unpaved) costal road. We saw what looked like a whole village working on paving the road, some scenic coastal cliffs, and a few farms along the way. After a few days of cruising, it felt good to be back on the bike again. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/23/ha-long-part-2 monthly 0.5 2017-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559298321-06D3O3QQKU4P52XJQ5JH/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) The next morning, we were transferred to a day boat for the day's activities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559342701-M2PPMXDJDZL8H6X30J7P/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) We started by hiking up 400 steps to the pagoda perched on the top of this island. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559394020-DS0MWRH0Y78BY3HEFGD7/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) The view from up top was pretty fantastic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559460314-VTR0JMN2NHT7KWUIIGQF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) We got there just in time, because as we were going down the stairs, the hoards of tourists started getting dropped off en masse by their respective cruise ships. By the time we left, it was almost impossible to maneuver up or down on the stairs up to the pagoda. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559578519-IVGM3IONRHJD6974B2OB/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) The next activity (a boat to an island with some monkeys on it) looked just as touristy, so I stayed on the boat and read a book while Nick went and scoped it out. The highlight was apparently when their boat hit another boat and knocked the other boat's oarsman into the water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559687079-46YB1SRPPIAW4QB0AFWT/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559710517-LIXIKVQ5X7OU70HG6ZC3/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559762562-I9NJ3QW0Q24HEWFOR50C/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559792724-OSN25PCB5WD7SZ7H9MPY/image-asset.jpeg Home - Ha Long (Part 2) Our last activity was way less busy - we kayaked through a cave and into a secluded inlet with no other people but those in our group. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/25/were-on-a-boat monthly 0.5 2017-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558195992-26PTQIHIDC7X9TQSYWVP/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! Despite neither of us ever having taken a cruise before, we splurged on a 2-night excursion into Ha Long Bay. We knew we were in for it when they dropped rose petals onto us from the upper deck as we boarded. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558422340-H24RABMBGBC6DD45XKSN/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! Our ship was the Paradise Elegance. It's owned by the same hotel we stayed at the night before, which meant they were the same great beds, which was quite the luxury. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558698279-HGU0QHX7S2GR439N8HKB/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! The overcast weather didn't take away from the majesty of the karsts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558323308-X7PXUR2HSPZ6OIYK6T6N/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! Not a bad view from the sun deck, eh? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558840959-MY66L7K2BUDZVNPNHUEI/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! Our activity for the afternoon was to kayak around the "largest floating village" in Ha Long. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488558908675-S088AW5YMBYGVKY0K2SD/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! The village, as you can see, was not actually very big. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559017840-ZA69D6G9R173V44A8KZW/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! There were some sweet-looking house boats though. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488559133968-626BFUR89S2UKUXO2WH2/IMG_2675.jpg Home - We're On A Boat! Plus, we got hustled by a woman on a boat selling beer. Total negotiation failure on our part, but it was worth it to sip a "bia" in the middle of the bay while on a kayak. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080688906-BECFRJI7BTH2G8QXRAM7/image-asset.jpeg Home - We're On A Boat! We hunkered down for the night in a part of the bay where apparently all the cruise ships hang at night. The fog between the karsts made for an eerily beautiful scene. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/industrial-ride-to-ha-long monthly 0.5 2017-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720863170-HQ8GFIXS3PY7DX8ABPV1/image-asset.png Home - Industrial Ride To Ha Long Grimy, industrial ride today. We arrived at our hotel covered in road dirt. Our hotel, Paradise Suites, was really nice (most comfortable beds we've slept on in Vietnam) but the island it's located on has a deserted theme park vibe to it. Super weird. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/river-caves-and-temples monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488079947172-55Y1B3L13C3Q864EXP0N/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples I woke up feeling a bit better, so we decided to do one of the river cave tours. It looked a little like Disneyland at first with hundreds of boats holding 5 orange-life-vested tourists each, but it was actually super cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080058849-DXZ9IMD9D6JTXPRV183L/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples Some of the caves were super low, and we had to duck down for the boat to pass through them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080160451-0XMFTFXALQMX7GLQYSCE/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples There were old structures nestled high among the karsts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080230372-YN7MZPRDNMCUD2LZUC5F/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples There were two other Vietnamese guys in our boat, who were super friendly. We stopped at 3 temples along the way, and at one of them, they bought Nick a "Bird's Nest White Fungus" drink. Needless to say, with my very recent, not-entirely-cured bout of illness, I did not have any interest in trying it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080271452-OVT92LALFV02YRC2XQ77/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples The temples were really cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488080520110-H2MLBJXW2A3C2HPT7UZM/image-asset.jpeg Home - River Caves and Temples By the end of our 2.5+ hour boat ride, I was feeling pretty exhausted and back to being sick again. We went home, and I crawled feverishly back into bed to spend one more night sick as a dog. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/sunset-in-ninh-binh monthly 0.5 2017-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488079381923-11I0OIO9Z1YTQ2SAZGAW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sunset in Ninh Binh Right when we got to our homestay in Ninh Binh, I started feeling really feverish. We climbed right into bed and slept for several hours, but when we woke up later that afternoon, I wasn't feeling much better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488079556273-NWBQZGJ13EWFQ0TBST3K/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sunset in Ninh Binh I took a few advil and went back to sleep, and Nick went out for a solo sunset ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488079588434-C5HUL0GQHZ5G6QE4MHCC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sunset in Ninh Binh Sad I missed this! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488079635456-8QZL04X13R0B2VKEWKU9/image-asset.jpeg Home - Sunset in Ninh Binh https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/living-hell-is-an-understatement monthly 0.5 2017-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077858624-9AOKM32ZW39W76F4LHZN/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" We left our cozy farmstay to drive the handful of kilometers to Phong Nha town with intentions of catching the overnight sleeper bus with our bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077983458-Y1YAID8FG7VXQH61O50K/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" We had to cross the river 3 times. Two of the times were over gorgeous (if slightly vertigo inducing) suspension bridges. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488078077907-EUYVDMVCLX0TVGZ9MH8C/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" The third river crossing was on a "ferry", which really meant a tiny wooden boat loaded up with people and their bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488078154283-RNNVJ0X93JDR1SEZ0D7Z/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" Here's the "ferry" from another angle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720633537-NYPY0OIR5O97STKEZ7UD/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" We were initially told the bus was going to leave around 9pm, but it actually left at 6:30pm. Given that it was about an 8 hour drive to Ninh Binh, where we were heading, this severely skewed our estimated time of arrival. Oh well, I thought, at least I'll be able to get some sleep since we had the whole back seat to ourselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720657871-GE1PMXYHGA31CO6GND3Q/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" Wrong. Turns out our sleeper bus turns into a party bus, complete with colored lights, risque music videos, and loud, dirty house music. And to top it off, I'm pretty sure our bus driver was auditioning for a part in Mad Max, given the way he was driving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487723104879-4AZE1ISC48ZTIG5Y6ZVX/image-asset.png Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" Guess we should have read the reviews *before* getting on the bus? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720767549-OSVZRVVGM0UFPNG2912T/image-asset.jpeg Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" No matter. We were dropped off on the side of the road at a gas station just outside Ninh Binh at about 2:30am. The drive to our homestay was deserted and eerie, and tragically no one was awake at 4am when we arrived. We had to huddle together in the cold outside the house until about 6am when someone finally woke up. Not the best way to spend a night, but still better than the brothel in Buon Ho. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720584153-OQO3PME71N6O8R27X3ZC/image-asset.png Home - "Living Hell Is An Understatement" The silver lining was that the bus did cut out a substantial number of kilometers that would have taken us 2 full days of riding to do. Plus, we didn't have to pay for a hotel! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/cave-adventure monthly 0.5 2017-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488065393142-063FYE4QPFYMV9KD8L4X/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure We'd read that the caves in Phong Nha national park were worth seeing and that the company to do it with was Oxalis, so we booked a last minute 2-day, 1-night excursion into the jungle to see Hang Tien. I was a little nervous about how my knee was going to hold up on a hike full of mud, rock scrambles, and river crossings, so we booked a private tour so that I could go at my own pace. We'd barely left Oxalis HQ (en route to the trailhead) before our pickup lost traction in the mud and slid off the road. Good times! (Also of interest in this photo is the pile of rocks which is someone's grave - the people who live out here bury their loved ones in the field when they die.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488066122089-P060BNS9KPRXKV2AZ1A8/IMG_2206.jpg Home - Cave Adventure Our lead guide, Tha, was the best. Super friendly and knowledgable, and a lot of fun to talk to. We also had a tail guide (who didn't speak much English and seemed to be part mountain goat judging by how easily he ran up the rock scrambles in his sandals), a couple porters who carried all the camping gear, food, etc, and a chef. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488067417398-HAUC4PY9UNII9PY53ZBW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure The jungle scenery was stunning, but the 4km trail into camp was *super* muddy. My knee held up, but a walking stick was a massive help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488067623192-A723BPNF8O5DN6PE7O8I/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure Instead of attempting a slippery rock-hopping river crossing, I opted to swim. After a hot hike in the jungle, the cold water was a welcome respite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488069728514-QALU1TNW5TSOCBWQ3XMR/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure We camped right next to the river. The chef cooked us a BBQ feast. There were hundreds of frogs that started their croaking at dusk and didn't stop until morning. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488070131941-O0AJVKFM2MMZTW69JVXL/IMG_2360.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488070104195-TCS44DJGR262ER5VC060/IMG_2361.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488070144917-S2JH9HPXRMOHBJQAGJ1Q/IMG_2363.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488070151210-7QO6UTJOGODI626C5XPH/IMG_2368.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488071518632-O5OLLH0Y2SXWP3QNUICX/IMG_2265.jpg Home - Cave Adventure We saw 3 very different caves over the course of the two days. We saw hoards of bats, spiders bigger than both my hands combined, and some beautiful rock formations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488073340190-US9ZBML3FTZV91NZIHLC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488073533711-YPQSRITPJRHKHM4TCS62/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488074074521-202FG4X8I5ESJWVBW4IR/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488075847135-ESPGQPOT4V3J8N7RJRLK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure Our guide was pretty obsessed with getting us the perfect cave shot so we took more pictures here than we have on pretty much the whole rest of the trip so far. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076117430-H0TM7K4TL86EHBTVBECO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076151934-3H35JQFLX5ZJQKOLJ7U6/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076290157-CO3DNT1U0J8PFLQGOAMM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076567079-AFZ4A1FJ03VXVUXEH0L1/IMG_2447.jpg Home - Cave Adventure It was really a fantastic adventure, and a great first test of my knee under relatively challenging conditions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076701707-H5I04KK66MFD56JOHJUD/aIMG_2201.jpg Home - Cave Adventure Our safety guide https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076693251-SJZZO4G604G9VQKQDW7A/aIMG_2210.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076744122-D7E3N4SWIOGCUL106HL1/aIMG_2219.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076738297-ZT35R2QPIV4K32VWGWTQ/aIMG_2223.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076766409-YROEONIFLWIPYXS5RJKA/aIMG_2230.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076779088-62ON4SCQ2HKC57DD0FA3/aIMG_2262.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076786784-H4P32U7JQQAGSNEWI2DF/aIMG_2264.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076798128-E7GKRJ91DOENL1BXDN7E/aIMG_2273.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076811621-N8TQ6J63TGC9PXRRL2CE/aIMG_2275.jpg Home - Cave Adventure MASSIVE spider https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076817554-2WNMM994TG22LPPHC7T3/aIMG_2292.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076832777-UPSHIIEF372OJW3S1GLU/aIMG_2306.jpg Home - Cave Adventure See if you can find the spider lurking in this "squid" formation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076834565-AFU86KJ4G2VLCGEL1G88/aIMG_2342.jpg Home - Cave Adventure hee hee hee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076859267-JULN5F013XJB93BED53D/aIMG_2350.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076859266-M9XO3A731Z3ZZUEF9GKX/aIMG_2354.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076892545-4054NTTHS2Z6CV2WKBLX/aIMG_2357.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076903756-37PGXK4RDV9MIJR113BN/aIMG_2377.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076934288-ZKKE1CU42H4W1ARTJ3MG/aIMG_2378.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076933624-6XV1JO1JVHSLSF2X1JTB/aIMG_2398.jpg Home - Cave Adventure Neat naturally formed rock pools https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076954553-K1Y03EN7O1CB38Z4HE9G/aIMG_2401.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076957935-2110ODBHHFKNFTZJ8D3U/aIMG_2403.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076967628-M2DMGZ6X30GAZ4WZ06PP/aIMG_2424.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076979241-S8952BWQ4R13LG4MET55/aIMG_2430.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488076998684-0DFXK89MZKHR3XMFBIFA/aIMG_2445.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077029514-33ZX926T3I71RV077H07/aIMG_2457.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077023379-A32LTAROP8CGFTZB41HL/aIMG_2462.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077042708-9D7A44S8AKA2KYSDHUBZ/aIMG_2476.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077038205-EW26SKRKJBGCHNU06UVI/aIMG_2492.jpg Home - Cave Adventure https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488077049116-SQG3ANVCN39U2D55F551/aIMG_2509.jpg Home - Cave Adventure A lone tree growing in the cave https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/phong-nha-national-park monthly 0.5 2017-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487740337440-VDFCXPWQKK8LJB4A92U2/image-asset.jpeg Home - Phong Nha National Park After lunch in Dong Hoi, we hopped back on our bikes to ride to our hotel near Phong Nha national park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720424718-E0NE2EDGWNY8EK36VLFW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Phong Nha National Park Nick made good use of the sweet scarf (made in one of the nearby ethnic villages) he'd bought from Treehugger Cafe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488851440833-M8SUYY9Z0WY7240Q3AZV/image-asset.jpeg Home - Phong Nha National Park We saw ingenuitive floating houses. Apparently the flooding gets so bad, the local villagers invented these "safe houses" for their families to go when the river rises too much. The barrels under the house float, pushing the whole structure up along the poles along the outside. Super clever! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487740407590-BIBAQDU3KF2PL52FMNMH/image-asset.jpeg Home - Phong Nha National Park We saw what looked like a funeral procession taking place among the rice paddies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488064895887-OKDRJRQXL18E7YUF0U9H/IMG_2175.jpg Home - Phong Nha National Park Two of my favorite things to do in other countries are visit grocery stores and cemeteries. This one was particularly beautiful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1488065019130-PRXMHLHESREQC7PQQGX5/IMG_2194.jpg Home - Phong Nha National Park Our lodging for the night was Chay Lap Farmstay, a cute little farm-resort nestled next to the huge limestone karsts. We were the only ones staying at the hotel that night, so we had a good time drinking champagne, chatting with the staff, and challenging one of our sweet waitresses to a pepper challenge with the homegrown thai chilis (she was not as pleased by it as we were!). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720322041-AKVKCYTZLK4MWQFU1DQR/image-asset.png Home - Phong Nha National Park Just a short 50km afternoon motorbike ride. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/bus-to-dong-hoi monthly 0.5 2017-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487720251414-07Y9Q4I1QHZUFWYZ6NQA/image-asset.png Home - Bus to Dong Hoi We really didn't want to do another long drive in the rain, so after reading it was possible to ride the train on our motorbikes, we headed to the station the day before we were set to leave Hue to buy our tickets. The lady at the ticket office turned us away, but after a few minutes of despair (on my part) that we were going to have to drive in the rain and a latte to calm my nerves, we went back to the station and were approached by a Vietnamese guy offering to help us with the booking. Unfortunately, the staff at the station said it would take 4-5 days for our motorbikes to get to Dong Hoi, which didn't make much sense given that we could wait out the rain and make it to Dong Hoi faster than that. Not to worry, the Vietnamese guy said he'd call around and find us a bus. We were charged an extortionate price and told to meet him at the train station at 7:15am the next morning, and he would take us to the bus. We gave it 50-50 odds he'd actually show. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487739017081-EYBXBC7QZC7RXVGD76D2/image-asset.jpeg Home - Bus to Dong Hoi But he showed up (30 minutes late, reeking of booze, after we called to wake him up, but still!)! And more importantly, he made sure we actually got on the bus with our bikes, so the extortionate prices were totally worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487739507242-FS9R6L2TTKRGBHIYME2Q/image-asset.jpeg Home - Bus to Dong Hoi The accommodations were actually better than most flights we take, and the whole trip only took about 3 hours, putting us in Dong Hoi right around lunch time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487739570162-AYDG1NKM8CGSGFFHVSIS/IMG_2144.jpg Home - Bus to Dong Hoi The bus dropped us off on the side of the road just outside of Dong Hoi. We gathered all our bags, put gas back in our tanks, and made our way to the Treehugger Cafe where we met owners Thinh and Anna. The cafe was super cute, located right on the street facing the water. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487739706096-DEQ1ZTNKWLVUDZ3A860F/image-asset.jpeg Home - Bus to Dong Hoi After a quick coffee, Thinh and Anna took us to a local lunch spot where we gorged on Ban Khoai. Dong Hoi looked like a really nice town, and I wish we'd spent a night there, but we said our goodbyes after lunch and hopped back on the bikes bound for Phong Nha... https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/hue-in-the-rain monthly 0.5 2017-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722192802-S0OH0QCGZVBJWIUS57CG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hue in the Rain It rained pretty heavily for our entire stay in Hue, so we didn't do as much exploring as we would have liked. On our last day in town, the weather cleared enough that doing a little sight-seeing wasn't completely miserable. We visited the tomb of Tu Duc, an old American bunker, and of course, the Citadel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722396298-3R2951ZGZ71ZRBN1MZ54/IMG_2054.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722399465-YHEIT7OIVXNCE7YTLGAP/IMG_2059.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722411723-IWGXT9NGCR9YYE804THD/IMG_2063.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722422244-SQCV6OMFJ3ZYTPE9NFLH/IMG_2068.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722433066-FVHO5GG8EKAF5RVUP96N/IMG_2077.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722431739-F8NNQCVPTSEUWAACG1XO/IMG_2102.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722450544-3QI1USU5EZMFXFAZSNK7/IMG_2107.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722453147-MVCHNMS2Z8Z5NNXIYT12/IMG_2108.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722469963-684GTNJBSBJVDDQBFX9K/IMG_2110.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722467502-QMT6YXW1Z1Y738QHAQ5D/IMG_2119.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722482072-ZZC6MU92QWQY4DDZTLKF/IMG_2126.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722495137-TABHKBNU4EZG5V0ALM56/IMG_2127.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487722497851-THPO8268GGIZRWSTP2WV/IMG_2131.jpg Home - Hue in the Rain https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/hai-van-pass monthly 0.5 2017-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487718702635-YECET8DDIG8NHIQT128B/image-asset.png Home - Hai Van Pass It was overcast and threatening to rain the day we left Hoi An. The drive to Da Nang was super windy and trafficky and generally unpleasant, so we weren't sure whether it was wise to attempt the Hai Van Pass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487718966804-UHSVPE5520K0O0O9WPYE/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hai Van Pass After a bit of waffling, we decided on the adventure line, and we were glad we did. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487719122762-R6XS9P2M5O4Q01BYCE9J/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hai Van Pass The rain stopped long enough for us to be able to enjoy the stunning vistas. Around every turn there was some new jaw-dropping view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487719055414-0KI9WD8MLB0JO3DSB6SU/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hai Van Pass Nick even called in a table for 2 with the best view in the house :) Fried instant noodles have never tasted so good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487719011180-XNW0RRFQSLFKCIKEI87C/IMG_2002.jpg Home - Hai Van Pass The rest of the drive after the pass was decidedly more rainy and more miserable. We were soaking wet when we arrived in Hue, only to find our room wouldn't be ready for another couple hours. The drive in the rain didn't help my cough (acquired during our epic rain drive to escape of Buon Ho), but a couple of cocktails at the local backpacker bar did wonders to lift our spirits! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/21/cooking-school monthly 0.5 2017-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717608063-GSEBBVCUVFXSR7VZXM9C/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cooking School Another thing Hoi An is known for is its food. Cooking schools are on every corner, so obviously we had to take one. We opted for Red Bridge Cooking School. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717701474-JYK5BPFFZPNF2GG9QFX1/IMG_1948.jpg Home - Cooking School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717704596-TKJ90IFUEWORBWU89P1L/IMG_1950.jpg Home - Cooking School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717715230-X1JZ08J40PJHDSSS1ZK7/IMG_1964.jpg Home - Cooking School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717715690-Q0JPP2INQ81C25731LME/IMG_1972.jpg Home - Cooking School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487717663856-8ZFTQMYIO0LHUEKJYUWQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cooking School It was an awesome experience. We learned how to make fresh rice paper from scratch, Ban Xeo, fresh spring rolls, green papaya seafood salad, and a chicken claypot dish. Super delicious and surprisingly easy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1487718131491-QBFWNLMM5CXME8R3GU44/image-asset.jpeg Home - Cooking School We opted to stay one extra night in Hoi An so that we could see the Lantern Festival for the full moon. It was tough to take pictures in the low light, but we took a really pleasant (if tourist-y) boat ride on the river and released paper lanterns with candles in them with our intentions for the new year. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/8/hoi-an monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486617681049-0AT94G1ETZDQ1B62A47V/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An We arrived in Hoi An last night, which was a spectacular introduction to a city known for its lanterns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486617753545-TT54585WL1IC65RBU32H/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An Hoi An is a charming little old trading port town that has an interesting blend of architectures and cuisines. This is the Japanese covered bridge joining the old Japanese quarter with the Chinese neighborhood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486617894667-UV7VWSZF3EO6BNVLHZBW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An The central part of town is lined with tons of shops selling made-to-order silk and leather goods, coffee and tea, and all kinds of souvenirs and trinkets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486617962779-5YID14V1NWXVYX1QAN6U/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An We had the absolute best Banh Mi at a little shop called Banh Mi Phuong. Pork + Pate + a fried egg FTW. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618023621-VGKP25VJ65RS8B7AB21H/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An We spent the late afternoon on An Bang Beach at Soul Kitchen, drinking cocktails and vegging out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618074224-3IVB3DOM0EJ9WMPLVHT5/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An We had to be careful not to have *too* many cocktails, since we still had to scoot to dinner... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618118137-AD34CVXRRP45TPJOZHRA/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An Yet again, we were rewarded with some absolutely stunning views of the sunset on our ride back to town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618205316-45IML2WSEVPELDLV3OF9/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An Seriously, does it get any better than this? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618237570-6SYCL189JKO3X9FF0LCJ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An On our way to dinner, we saw tons of locals chowing down on these skewers being sold on the side of the road. Naturally we had to stop and eat a couple. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618332618-W07L79ZIKOYHJEMOF62S/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An After dinner, we took a walk along the river and came across these stunning lantern displays. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486618359658-2R6NS5OPJU0D9KT35FTL/image-asset.jpeg Home - Hoi An Across the lake, we saw what looked like a pretty big outdoor concert happening, complete with a massive stage and a laser light show. When we got there, it turned out to be dozens of tiny, 5-ish-year-old Vietnamese children in wild costumes dancing to English and Vietnamese pop music. Of particular note was the number where the little boys were paired up dancing with the little girls to the Venga Boys "Boom Boom Boom Boom". Supremely weird, hilarious, and pretty much the highlight of the whole trip so far. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/8/absolutely-epic-day monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486611548710-MHNCZAYCMR1YG3COBN0O/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day We had read that this stretch of the Ho Chi Minh Highway was the absolute hits, so we started the day super excited. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486614920632-1CSCI0WDN7Q8S0WGS7PP/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day We were lucky to have perfect weather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486614994762-IOVT0W7U0P3H17AB4DX4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day It was hard not to stop on every bridge and take pictures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615074963-2CILHT93L1HJUXP2WSN7/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day All the stopping probably added several hours to our long drive, but it was worth it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615657078-P4X9AH8LWM9XD0NU8Y4U/IMG_1773.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615652086-8092IHUWC71QC9IQQNLV/IMG_1779.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615675096-0975Q6TR98W1YN16UZ26/zIMG_1770.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615686196-D3IXBDFIZPEXGHFKH2A6/zIMG_1765.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615647836-NCH2OXVCBWJ0NJ0SFBQF/zIMG_1765.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615695489-N6SQJKPDI9W645VGVF0F/zIMG_1770.jpg Home - Absolutely Epic Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615711142-EKZ30S0LNGPHWLKNM8YX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day We finally started seeing a few other motorbiking travelers along this route, mostly going the other direction. There were also so many locals - kids in particular, but adults too - who waved at us or yelled "Hello!" when we drove by. We felt so welcome! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615780598-MJE8E6BKOHS1VHLYME2M/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day We couldn't resist taking a selfie in front of this stunning view. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615810834-XMNKT1J7INVW4WHJPIDQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day Google Maps sent us down a smaller road that skirted a river along the way to Hoi An. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486615885579-TBQ2JZRE57G0GYVSNAL6/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day The road might have had a few more potholes, but we couldn't have been more pleased by the scenery. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616027876-L8NXJIHZF0XY24WQTZD4/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day Three kids on a motorbike pulled up alongside us and started trying to chat and take selfies with us while driving. We eventually pulled over and took a bunch of pictures with them, and had them take this one of us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616089002-YSW9ZCG6MF24JDPR88CX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day We pulled off onto a little road to watch the sunset over a rice field. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616208682-70ZL91KE2JWWKZN02Q9I/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day Talk about a gorgeous view... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616253630-0ASP9TQKLKTHHN1DP2VM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day Every 2 minutes, we'd round a bend to an even better angle of the sunset. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616335481-1N04T1TFGA4YP3FUQN4I/image-asset.jpeg Home - Absolutely Epic Day Having to drive for a couple harrowing hours in the dark was well worth catching the golden hour in the rice fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616414181-9WXY8W8VU16AX5X8VPB3/image-asset.png Home - Absolutely Epic Day Super long 280km day (that took nearly 12 hours with all the stopping), but well worth it to be in Hoi An. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/8/hill-tribe-villages monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486652362473-ZAHBXZUMBLAWE9JOQP79/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kon Tum We spent one brief day/night in Kon Tum, mostly so we could have a short day. Kon Tum was more interesting than Pleiku, and we had a very pleasant joyride around the villages outside of town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486652480113-UMJJZRMF7R1HX7O83QMK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Kon Tum The main attraction was a narrow suspension bridge over which the local villagers were driving water buffalo drawn carts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486617517212-AA1VEMVTL04L12NB292J/image-asset.png Home - Kon Tum A super short moto along very well-paved roads made for a quick journey. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/5/pleiku monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616658292-MAWHOHKF2XQOAX57GWQC/IMG_20170205_134413.jpg Home - Pleiku After a couple of days of downtime at the beach, we hopped back in the saddle for a very reasonable day of riding to Pleiku. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616486114-MWFW0DT7IFOWY7C451ZN/image-asset.png Home - Pleiku Pleiku itself is pretty boring. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486616791888-MA7ICRJGDEDDTUR9XRQM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Pleiku The only moderately interesting thing we did was go to a restaurant where we sat cross-legged at low tables and they served us whole roasted chicken (including head and feet) and sticky rice in bamboo. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/6/lifes-a-beach monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486609350581-JPE23VA5RTKW7BESJGDG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Life's A Beach We decided to stay an extra night in the Quy Nonh area at a little beach hostel, Life's A Beach. The location was prime, and the beach-front bungalow we slept in was surprisingly comfortable. The communal dinner with the other guests was both delicious and a lot of fun! Plus we got to see this sweet fishing boat: https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/6/birthday-spa-day monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486607413523-LZHB96UBB8O5CYVUVBAZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Birthday Spa Day We spent my birthday getting an afternoon of spa treatments at the Avani Resort and Spa just outside of Quy Nonh. If I can't be skiing in Japan, this is the next best thing :) https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/8/8-hours-in-the-pouring-rain monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486607616811-HUSRGT6PTWQY81DQZUK0/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain Needless to say, after spending the night on the floor of a brothel, we needed to get out of town ASAP, rain forecast be damned! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486607727822-5B2TK5GPMYQOVXBHEOE9/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain At first, it wasn't too bad. Mostly drizzling rain as we got out of Buon Ho and into the countryside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486607826557-HDMO689T7UKIWTD0RFNL/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain Plus, the views were pretty nice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486607961829-FZZ0R1UUAPHITBU10A7R/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain We navigated windy roads that opened up into beautiful green vistas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486608032914-LQGK3NVE6VH3OXRMHWAX/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain It was freezing, though. And we made the mistake of assuming our rain jackets alone (vs wearing a full poncho) would keep us dry. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486608092164-34P5R2D1FRWKLC859DS9/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain At least our bags were protected. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486608219081-EH1YVZ9AT1Q07BFMCA3L/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain By the time we made it to highway 1, it was a full on downpour. We spent over an hour driving the last 40km in torrential rain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486608290795-K4ZPJEDGVM3L6TLO5181/image-asset.jpeg Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain By the time we got to our resort on the beach, we were completely soaked to the bone and nearly hypothermic. Nothing a hot shower and 12 hours of good sleep in a real bed with clean sheets couldn't fix! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486608950833-TUTJ6PX1KR8KYZ9FMSKV/image-asset.png Home - 8 Hours in the Pouring Rain Google claimed the 224km would only take 5 hours, but clearly it didn't take into account the dirt roads and torrential rain. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/6/where-not-to-stay-in-vietnam monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486606257905-28V7FIHY9V668718SUA5/image-asset.png Home - Brothels and Murder Hotels Just a short 110km day along some meandering dirt roads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486604940020-N6QZAXA1IW0EB60KXYJC/image-asset.jpeg Home - Brothels and Murder Hotels Murder hotel. This picture hardly does the creepiness justice. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/6/lak-tented-camp monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486604412296-COE8CKZB1PX0AGLO72FI/image-asset.jpeg Home - Lak Tented Camp Our first motorbike destination was Lak Lake, and we booked a last-minute room (tent) at an eco-resort called Lak Tented Camp. "Glamping" at it's finest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486604484139-VXG8JW7CTJJEU964S9A5/image-asset.jpeg Home - Lak Tented Camp We had to take a boat across the lake to get there, which was a bit of a surprise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486604385443-08XHBWBPQMT88OC1BOEO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Lak Tented Camp But we were rewarded with one of the most beautiful sunsets to cap off our first day on the backs of our bikes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486604605841-IFCCK6VRN12D7UBIFVIQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Lak Tented Camp We loved the place so much we opted to stay an extra night and enjoy some down time (and laundry, which by this point was sorely needed)! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/2/6/open-road monthly 0.5 2017-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486601929461-P1UJ8FDE0JF1PWPEE96W/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road Well, we did it. We bought motorbikes! Best decision ever. Here's the sweet couple who sold them to us in Dalat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486602027761-PPCRYJB8UWBA5LK60S3G/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road There really is no better way to see Vietnam than by scooter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486602422721-BV6B197FLWOP9HN76LYA/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road The weather couldn't have been better for our first day on the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486602655772-O7DK5QNX2V909LCKO2I3/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road The views were unbeatable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486603520460-D5E6MR7WDX26HTECADOY/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road We ate the best pho ever for lunch from a tiny roadside cafe in the middle of nowhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486603664289-VJRNLYKYMGVLG95JO9QS/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road We passed water buffalo traffic jams. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486603731547-I8NS72COLAMLWQL6O5TR/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road We saw cows grazing and dogs playing in the fields. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486603775750-RR6FRGZNJ9I5JOUDOWP9/image-asset.jpeg Home - Open Road And we hiked to the top of a monument on the side of the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486606038276-JBS0RXQVSBYJA4G3934F/image-asset.png Home - Open Road All in all, a 161km great first day (that took us a lot longer than the 4 hours Google estimated)! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/28/dalat-palace monthly 0.5 2017-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1486547775287-Q7L46M58V2P9H6N3H9Z7/image-asset.jpeg Home - Dalat Palace Drinks at the 5-star Dalat Palace Hotel was a welcome oasis from the bustle of the town center. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/26/freedom monthly 0.5 2017-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485485034067-OLWBF2MQ8TJCLUH1AULY/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom Nick and I rented motorbikes today and drove a few kilometers out of Da Lat. We stumbled across a huge lake surrounded by pine trees. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486284585-ASWXTVMC3043CEDI1329/IMG_0035.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486283936-Z8AI16GYUVX09XG547OI/IMG_0036.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486314702-6EJMULNYJVR7ZQUFSKGT/IMG_0037.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486324689-O1FD2NUWB10K6BYCHLJ4/IMG_0038.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486334701-FRVVOB2NU2XEJ8K8YW98/IMG_0039.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486348791-5AHWLHQNN41XOWQMRDDT/IMG_0040.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486348362-X4POG30BMOLMT770S16W/IMG_0041.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486365036-OBTQTKQC21QEENTHEN9R/IMG_0042.jpg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486472580-VNEYIGC9KKJ01J7LF6J5/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom After a bit of hiking, a stop for some spring rolls at a beautiful lakeside resort, and a visit to a local monastery, we splurged on tickets for an alpine slide that ends at the Datanla waterfall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486537732-JEHJ76F8K6U24SX94WFW/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486508949-5HY2YWEPHNYRLFDO96JF/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485486565318-0WYLJJC70MWG658K0UT9/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485606109750-X5UIHVLDMKMZ6SV9QWEB/image-asset.jpeg Home - Freedom P.S. For having been a French colony, Da Lat sure sucks at making wine. After much testing and tasting, I'd recommend sticking to beer. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/26/crazy-house monthly 0.5 2017-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485482577341-LUJ6RW0W8SGD3B4QB1TO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Crazy House Built by a Vietnamese architect, Crazy House is definitely one of the weirder things we've seen in Vietnam so far. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485482647583-7ACMAHQVDZJPNFY7SEEK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Crazy House It's more like a theme park than a house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485482741198-CR58GYSLI7WUBF8Y8I6F/image-asset.jpeg Home - Crazy House There's a maze of steps and ladders and corridors leading to bizarrely themed rooms. It's technically a hotel, so you can book a room if kitchy-weird is your thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485483110768-IDGZ3XPSXNGOYUH40EHP/IMG_0033.jpg Home - Crazy House Undeniably beautiful views of the city here, though, and well worth the couple of dollars admission fee to appreciate the weirdness. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/24/french-colonial-resort-town monthly 0.5 2017-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481106275-BR99RXXK9QSZSGKXFX6J/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town After a few hours of research, we decided to make Da Lat our next stop. A couple short flights and a terrifying 30-min taxi ride and we arrived at our AirBnB in the old French colonial resort town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481195569-06S4EF4BDR8F6WRWXEG9/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town Our host, Thomas, and his family are coffee roasters. They treated us more like family than guests and let us partake in their Tet (Lunar New Year) festivities. The only minor issue was the chicken farm outside our window. Good thing we have ear plugs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481238241-U8197TM20Q8U0MP75EWE/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town On our first night, Thomas drove us into downtown, helped us negotiate the purchase of SIM cards, and dropped us off near the central market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481398961-TUDQG242NNGTJ1P0YE5R/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town We ate some delicious quail from a street vendor, and wandered around. There was a lot of casual campfire-building happening in the streets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481430686-B38SU6BX4UF7R0LYCQZU/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town The market was wild. So many people buying everything you could possibly want. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481468238-T42LXJG3B2W2JP6VU75J/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town From dried fruits and candy... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481499153-3R7Z60R8S4L9B6J4F3CM/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town ... to every type of fruit under the sun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485481523713-68JIIR2E8TTYAZRP5K2H/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town I haggled (with mediocre success) to buy my new favorite fruit: the sapodilla. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485482486665-64U3RJ9IXWEPM6IONBP5/image-asset.jpeg Home - French Colonial Resort Town After a long walk past the lake and the old Cathedral, we stumbled into an amazing BBQ restaurant (Mo Te BBQ) where we were the only non-Vietnamese. While cooking various meats on a grill at our table (Korean-barbeque-style), we were befriended by some non-English-speaking locals at the table next to us who started ordering us various sauces, feeding us dishes from their table so we could taste them, and showing us how to (properly) eat all the things we'd ordered. Beer and smiles overcame the language barrier and before long we were toasting, chugging beers with them, and exchanging Facebook information. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/23/todays-office monthly 0.5 2017-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485158661431-HJNXJKHYAK0EJ021N4ZS/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time A couple days in Phu Quoc is just what the doctor ordered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480312758-AQJ1EN2MTY6PGSONP3JO/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time We booked a couple nights at a cute little resort called Mango Beach on the opposite side of the island from the main touristy area. They had a whole fleet of small dogs that hung out on the property. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480567603-Z5J1G9SB1OOZ8REL1MBD/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time The resort had a row of beautiful wood bungalows that face the ocean. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480391183-245ZSXAYBFBKFTI8BLK1/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time Our bungalow opened directly East onto a beautiful view of the sunrise over the dock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480651893-DUE9LN02JL6IU8M70H6A/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time They only had one motorbike available for rent, so I hung on to the back while Nick drove us into town to go exploring. We made the ill-conceived decision to circumnavigate the island, not realizing that most of the road down our side of the island was not just unpaved, but replete with deep ruts and potholes. It was a harrowing, bumpy, multi-hour adventure that left us both a little drained. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480808359-SV869LA8SIQ8RUW88HRH/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time We opted to spend our last full day on Phu Quoc reading, relaxing, and planning our next travel move. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485480869276-T6TFDJYXL8CWPQAT4LTX/image-asset.jpeg Home - Island Time And of course, watching the sunset. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/21/street-food monthly 0.5 2017-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047088794-3G7DZ9PTV7LVZL6O1CIP/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! The two young college students who drove us around on the backs of their motorbikes were fluent in English and they taught us about Vietnamese history and culture in between stops. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047330185-OKJ0SGSC77BX24TTY2CQ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! We got out of the tourist areas and saw parts of town where locals live and eat. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047445225-HFTB672N5O0GQJH32BV7/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! We drank home-brewed rice wine that was made and sold by a street vendor. Those water bottles are full of potent moonshine-esque liquor! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047669277-MU3F7KS7UJKZQ8EMUVIZ/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! We ate several varieties of noodle soup, grilled frog, grilled chicken's feet, pork skewers, and wrapped our own spring rolls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047853772-MCZFIZYKDJLLL0Z68HUL/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! They even let Nick cook some of the rice pancakes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047916098-XEXQ8NEZ7GQ2TTX1PVQG/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! The weirdest thing I ate was Hot Vit Lon (aka, fetal duck egg...). Surprisingly less disgusting than it sounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485047989521-9WA9O7XCJRJA3KOK3MVM/image-asset.jpeg Home - Street Food! Our full menu for the evening! https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/21/hcmc monthly 0.5 2017-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485478875858-9GQJ93A1RHLALF735ITV/image-asset.jpeg Home - HCMC Despite also being a major city, Saigon feels nothing like Hong Kong. The chaos of the motorbikes and the abundance of street food vendors is almost overwhelming. After a delicious breakfast of pho at the restaurant Propaganda, we wandered around the sights in District 1. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485478938375-XWYZPRJ6Q7OS2RLTOVID/image-asset.jpeg Home - HCMC In addition to the central post office (which was designed by Gustave Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame) and the Notre Dame Cathedral, we went into the War Remnants museum. It was fascinating getting the opposing side's perspective on the Vietnam war. It has some really brutal war / Agent Orange photography though, very much not for the faint of heart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485479042419-2FDSVI8BA6OTL66BVI1G/image-asset.jpeg Home - HCMC Before dinner, we stopped at Chill Sky Bar to get a bird's eye view of the city and watch the sun set. Great vistas, terrible drinks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485479097500-EGKSMZAUU2HOLG0T72PC/image-asset.jpeg Home - HCMC Dinner was at a vegetarian restaurant called Hum. Super delicious vegetarian fare, great cocktails, and a very attentive, friendly staff to boot. Highly recommend it. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/18/a-city-of-dumplings-and-skyscrapers monthly 0.5 2017-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485478487069-RYLLUFVBI47B5BHX1J4X/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers Gorgeous day of sight-seeing. We saw Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens juxtaposed with Hong Kong sky-rises. Old vs. New. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1485478665662-JI6BAOAK3K0NL8CV4SX6/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484987007236-0ON35W83UCRZER0B6NT1/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers We admired all the sea creatures in Lei Yu Mun Fish Market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484987130860-A5776G5W4PPCN8INIYDP/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers We had two great meals in HK. Din Tai Fung serves the best dumplings, while Tim Ho Wan takes the gold for dim sum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484987233446-810OAZIRIFP5OXIQUW04/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers We had a very weird street food meal at the Temple Street Night Market that included skewered octopus, tripe, and chicken kidney. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484987322062-PJ287TQ72UNMQ95KSR6B/image-asset.jpeg Home - A City of Dumplings and Skyscrapers And, of course, no first visit to Hong Kong would be complete without watching the skyline light show from posh (and pricey) restaurant Aqua in Kowloon. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/16/the-peak monthly 0.5 2017-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484981890869-3MDKVY7X57CKZKV6BIRB/image-asset.jpeg Home - The Peak https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/14/false-start monthly 0.5 2017-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484981833509-IZWGZEPP5YUUAQ2EWZ30/image-asset.png Home - False Start https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/7/farewell-dear-acl monthly 0.5 2017-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173820854-376H0T6QWOJY6TXHBEUY/IMG_0058.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173830604-TV8VN0NLEBMXHBFIREKZ/IMG_0062+%281%29.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173833282-ND9UFTRUNUPCY28OBBCN/IMG_0063+%281%29.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173782782-M7XDWYH5492S1DE8J0D8/IMG_0027.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173845366-6TI77QBGDKL1OJZDJ81V/IMG_0076+%281%29.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173821893-IESX1NL6OURESOKFSUQS/D-BCRV17-1-7-338.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173860831-SF9A5ZBYXVSH8VPXV1S0/Kyles+group_6.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173850960-MR94WHWARHE39HT0YCEA/IMG_0111.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173856739-5BD9JUEUO2QR1PC1Z5P9/IMG_0114.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173862698-6LKXS1VR7W6NJ7JN0I8Z/IMG_0119.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173858833-HB9L2VHC9NPMDNUEEWYF/Kyles+group+2.jpg Home - Farewell, Dear ACL https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/6/that-day-we-almost-spent-the-night-in-the-field monthly 0.5 2017-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172975105-4OK5ZD1PD3FHLODCVMI2/IMG_0022.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173051814-1JVQXQP4EUL8ET2R2H69/IMG_0101.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172979037-PEWBR5MJ5087CJ4RJNLZ/IMG_0051+%281%29.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172981429-F7JBERR555QAM3W1PLLI/D-BCRV17-1-7-3.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172972285-Y0WND0EU012J6HOKQ4RV/IMG_0021.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172977191-ZVFSQMWKL97BSJH0QTH7/IMG_0033.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173049758-QJZU3DA64N8HZC9EYLTD/IMG_0086.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173050774-IR8AEZ3RK9V5Q36AW999/IMG_0098.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484173077616-YQ7YT7LLHVG6J9C6MTGJ/IMG_0074.jpg Home - That Day We Almost Spent The Night In The Field... https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/5/girls-and-guys-ski-day monthly 0.5 2017-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171511196-IHNPTA95I606I1OO9XUV/D-BCRV17-1-7-98.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171512088-FUF2ZD55XE1SKP33Z3QP/D-BCRV17-1-7-97.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171529318-TVXCYT6OOVRQLAH68DFI/D-BCRV17-1-7-100.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171540860-5Q64WIO86CFBU9JPPI5H/D-BCRV17-1-7-105.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171526612-10QMZ542VO300I33MX3T/D-BCRV17-1-7-104.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171546050-8ASKKNWZNJ18IB6LM76P/D-BCRV17-1-7-108.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171569441-RFBB6P66L13DFPJ04EX5/D-BCRV17-1-7-117.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171571232-UH0WERTAPM5J4NE7DQ3O/D-BCRV17-1-7-116.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171496879-V5UTUZBV3A2WSLJ04U4Y/D-BCRV17-1-7-91.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171495789-WN8BSWOA7VHIDDW2SW9N/D-BCRV17-1-7-90.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171479194-UOFQBQGPB4GZNUV0WKVY/D-BCRV17-1-7-81.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171558961-6OBR6DDSSMXXBM6SP8VK/D-BCRV17-1-7-113.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171554725-6G5WU0XZ4FXTG5XSVJBB/D-BCRV17-1-7-112.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171481451-T2MFJ4PUOSUYFLQ8DO1R/D-BCRV17-1-7-79.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484172576225-EKV7F1PKGCJCGI8B5GS8/IMG_0038+%281%29.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171402561-2UHQVMQKU579G7HUUAGX/D-BCRV17-1-7-46.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171418442-KJ0OWYCKII416E8U5039/D-BCRV17-1-7-58.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171433007-GBWPN5V0GFQ0YRUALBIW/D-BCRV17-1-7-64.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171430589-DZIJAKJ1JR6L5Y458PSG/D-BCRV17-1-7-60.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171416596-8WT042QUBPVR80VAYKXJ/D-BCRV17-1-7-57.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171404793-Q0CJELFRW5S92NPN9Y6Q/D-BCRV17-1-7-56.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171389123-MUOQF3LKH9T11V7FCKMS/D-BCRV17-1-7-44.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171374947-R9YOXDXEDEWE5H61R3AN/D-BCRV17-1-7-43.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171463962-SOY2DUWICN2AO51QO7OH/D-BCRV17-1-7-72.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171388222-C0IWGBSKMA9QDIDNAMHZ/D-BCRV17-1-7-45.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171462911-CF3YTQV0NEXS5COJHH5S/D-BCRV17-1-7-71.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171453860-Q1QV2LSULEK9Y4BYV376/D-BCRV17-1-7-66.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171451775-5V9EN5M2FGIZ6NLU46ES/D-BCRV17-1-7-65.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484171375775-CPS8BMRCVJTOQE9GID0M/D-BCRV17-1-7-42.jpg Home - Girls' and Guys' Ski Day https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/4/gfd monthly 0.5 2017-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170557584-BM1B4GV12WND8G1K4Q15/IMG_0072.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170791323-E3ROI0T00ITD8AYY66KF/D-BCRV17-1-7-240.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170689815-INEE24V37P9ZNSYZLBDD/D-BCRV17-1-7-121.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170584240-GGY7QL1NBXYWVU61YA6X/IMG_0018+%281%29.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170693267-22FB977CP4WCL3BEZ21C/D-BCRV17-1-7-164.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170722121-4DV4CUBM9M1CGRBXQVEP/D-BCRV17-1-7-165.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170731832-K2JW67SLW6IG60FZN4GG/D-BCRV17-1-7-193.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170721902-YJSL4YIS42WVN4FVLIOY/D-BCRV17-1-7-191.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170732263-0KXE7AMOUIVYEZ2948AZ/D-BCRV17-1-7-194.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170703722-SD9LSBGBL0CCDSDQ91KR/D-BCRV17-1-7-184.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170632471-89ZH0A8CIGXFCWSR0DVW/IMG_0026.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170746615-87E9XCWZSSRLRQA3JPG1/D-BCRV17-1-7-198.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170757102-8C87QCZMZYXGPSUMBAVT/D-BCRV17-1-7-201.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170743640-LGL9E2EEQ8FSI8UX7IZZ/D-BCRV17-1-7-200.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170583763-I1TA2XIDIJN701334YK5/IMG_0015+%281%29.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170757767-LS4BGXZ4YTBWQUDEFWCQ/D-BCRV17-1-7-215.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170780115-110LSGTS0UXWABTA8HBL/D-BCRV17-1-7-219.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170776487-V4G023DH1N55QJZ4OG3A/D-BCRV17-1-7-230.jpg Home - GFD https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170788992-DE5M99IQ5D7Q1NPF7945/D-BCRV17-1-7-233.jpg Home - GFD https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/3/cmh-revelstoke-day-1 monthly 0.5 2017-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170156507-4BTTWJU05P7K859L8R8K/D-BCRV17-1-7-285.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170147347-T1WDTGWVQ97331H96PI6/D-BCRV17-1-7-266.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170151848-KEOS98DVNP05YFMLXNXI/D-BCRV17-1-7-268.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170140739-VGMUT14EI52AMGJANSMW/D-BCRV17-1-7-250.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170189198-SY47HN0X6DKA5KPFGUAC/IMG_0031+%281%29.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170214419-KHEMPFMLEJ90GV9U5DGW/IMG_0009.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1484170269218-OU12XWJHRL2FI2WNH5W3/IMG_0122.jpg Home - CMH Revelstoke Day 1 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/3/love-believe-do-mostly-live monthly 0.5 2017-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1483541856022-BDQH3TCVQDFOGSJIVHE6/upload.jpg Home - Love, Believe, Do, and Mostly Live The sign next to Lane's front door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1483507036224-I0ZO0QLASXOZTDCT3XK0/upload.jpg Home - Love, Believe, Do, and Mostly Live Sunset from the Mission Hills winery in Kelowna. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2017/1/1/it-begins monthly 0.5 2017-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1483270279817-YDUJTLK7YKWKSBSIU9ZU/upload.jpg Home - It Begins... 4am on January 1st. First stop: Canada. Not pictured: All our ski gear... https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/12/25/njsd monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482971544800-AT47MZOSWP5L8Q3IVS07/image1.JPG Home - NJSD Froze our asses off in our vintage onesies while skiing deep pow on Christmas/NJSD/Vail Powder Guides' first cat day of the year. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/11/24/farm-life monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482972045994-DBXRKF0KWAX26AGRJ2ZK/image-asset.jpeg Home - Farm Life Another beautiful Thanksgiving on the Eastern shore. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/11/3/rooftop-view monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482968684355-ZZK9KCOX69KUCPW5V1TV/image-asset.jpeg Home - Rooftop View Top of the Park View Hotel. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/11/1/vlr-con-santa-lucia monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482968964946-WNDK0MNS7G397U8GJABU/image-asset.jpeg Home - VLR Con Santa Lucia Wild day trippin' around Havana https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/11/1/rum-sunset-fort-view monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482969149947-AQB2FP65YMA1HL6V485P/image-asset.jpeg Home - Rum + Sunset Fort View Drinking sticky-sweet rum with our crazy alcoholic guide from the top of the fort https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/10/30/landed-in-havana monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482969328970-VD3GWSDGGELE396PTJIR/image-asset.jpeg Home - Landed in Havana After a 30 minute interrogation, Cuban immigration let us in. 5 miles of walking later, we found the perfect casa particular in downtown Havana. https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/10/7/hurricane-matthew monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482966401518-WFOTE1G8SKAC5QGAEWFJ/20161006_155658.jpg Home - Hurricane Matthew Destruction from Hurricane Matthew https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/2016/10/5/sunrise-at-north-point monthly 0.5 2016-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/586442fd37c58187117c6720/1482966056322-JY08928CQW2O6USVSJ16/20161001_071114-EFFECTS.jpg Home - Sunrise at North Point Sunrise view from North Point https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Hong+Kong monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Cambodia monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Hawaii+USA monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Maryland+USA monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Colorado+USA monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Bahamas monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/New+Zealand monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Cuba monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Canada monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Vietnam monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Arizona+USA monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Australia monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Indonesia monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/New+York+USA monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/Norway monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/category/France monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Wine monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Bali monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Cambodia monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Meditation monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Vail monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Lak+Lake monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Da+Lat monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Paddleboard monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Phu+Quoc monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Bahamas monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Pleiku monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Aurora monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Surf monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Beach monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Hai+Phong monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Hai+Van+Pass monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Hike monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Angkor+Wat monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Wellington monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Space monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Revelstoke monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Hoi+An monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Fern+Gully monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Boulder monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Buon+Ho monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/South+Island monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Hanoi monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Bogor monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Lombok monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Ho+Chi+Minh+City monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Love+Motel monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/New+Zealand monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Canada monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Ninh+Binh monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/North+Point monthly 0.5 https://www.conjuredadventures.com/home/tag/Wanaka monthly 0.5 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