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How to Visit Nias

2025-06-02T00:00:00Z

Palm trees near the sea on Nias Island

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Nias is an island off the coast of Sumatra, that over the years has become difficult to access. We stayed on the little island for one week, volunteering through Worldpackers.

Wing Airline ATR 72 before takeoff

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How to Get There

Getting to Nias requires a bit of preplanning since it can only be accessed via ferry or plane. The port of entry is in Gunungsitoli, the largest city in Nias, but there seems to be a ferry running once a week to Tuluk Dalam in the south.

Plane: Fly from Medan

The only route goes back and forth from Medan to Gunungsitoli four times a day, on a smaller propeller plane (an ATR 72, if anyone asks). Prices can vary quite significantly, depending on the season. We flew for $100 CAD round trip/passenger, but they can be over double. Also, there is limited space for baggage so it is recommended to pack light. However, it is possible to bring surfboards and extra baggage for a fee.

Ferry: From Sibolga

Sibolga is on the other side of Sumatra, and takes 12 hours from Medan - there are night buses available on 12go.asia or BookMeBus, departing at 8pm. Once in Sibolga, there are supposed to be daily speed ferries to Gunungsitoli, and it is recommended to be there before 8am. Additionally, there are overnight ferries to Gunungsitoli, every day except for Sunday, which depart at 8pm (if you would prefer to go direct to Taluk Dalam, there are ferries running once a week on Monday). You can book overnight ferries with the company Wira Jaya Logitama Lines.

⚠ Warning: This is information we acquired through asking around and other travelers, so it may no longer be true!

The majority of people we spoke to (including us) flew into Gunungsitoli. Only one couple took the overnight ferry because they were already near Sibolga. They said it cost them 200,000 IDR per person (approx $17 CAD) plus another 200,000 IDR for a private cabin onboard.

Additionally, from Nias you can get to the Batu Islands by ferry, but unfortunately the only information we were able to find is that it leaves from Taluk Dalam.

Local fishing boats, docked at the end of a long day

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How to Get Around

Once on the island, options for getting around are limited. From the airport to the southern tip cost 600,000 IDR when we asked the taxi drivers, and they would not budge. The place we stayed at, Harus Damai Inn offered it for 500,000 IDR.

We decided to try to get there by local bus for only 30,000 IDR per person, which did work, but it quite a process:

There is one bus per day, leaving at 3pm, but it often leaves late
Does a loop of Gunungsitoli
Then heads to Faekhu Bus Terminal where it departs from, but costs 200,000 IDR to get there from airport
You can hail the bus along the route, which drives past the road leading to the airport
Takes about 3.5 hours to get to Taluk Dalam

This saved us a bit of money, since our accommodation said they would pick us up from the town, but failed to tell us it would cost an additional 150,000 IDR. So we saved 90,000 IDR by doing this compared to what our accommodation offered. Was it worth it? We’ll let you decide.

On the way back, we had a flight leaving at 6:30am, so we took a shared car back the day before that our accommodation arranged for 150,000 IDR per person plus one night at a homestay for another 150,000 IDR. This was cheaper than the 600,000 IDR we were quoted by someone else at our accommodation to drive us at night (100,000 IDR surcharge because “the road is less busy”).

❕ Note: Some of these prices are for volunteers, so you may get charged more if you are staying as a guest.

Another way to get around is by motorbike, most accommodations offer rentals, and there are rental places available in Gunungsitoli. We tried to rent one from a couple places before we got there, but they all required a deposit beforehand and we did not feel comfortable doing so.

How Much to Spend

Nias is not the most affordable island in Indonesia and information can be limited online. Here is a breakdown of information we were able to find in person.

Transportation	Motorbike	Surfboard	Food	Accommodation
$100-250 CAD roundtrip flight	70,000-100,000 IDR per day	100,000-150,000 IDR per day	150,000-300,000 IDR per day	25-150 CAD per night
$10-15 CAD overnight bus ticket
200,000 IDR overnight ferry ticket
200,000 IDR taxi rides
30,000 IDR local bus trip

Old foundations near the pro surfing side of the island

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How Many Days

For the amount of work required to get to Nias, we suggest staying at minimum of 5 days. We stayed for 7 and it went by really quick. There are also a couple other spots along the island you can visit, which would add more time to your stay.

Where to Stay

There are a variety of places you can stay on Nias, if you are there to surf, staying at The Point is the best for catching waves. For the rest of us beginners, the Lagoon Taluk is good for learning. There are a few places to stay right on the beach (we stayed at Harus Dami Inn), but you can also stay in Taluk Dalam if you want to stay in town.

Will surfing

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What to Do

Surfing: Both beginners looking to learn and experienced surfers would have a great time. Plus the water was nice and warm, so you can be out there for hours without getting cold.

Traditional Villages: Bawömataluo (King’s Village) is the most well known, but charges a fee to foreign visitors (sometimes). There are others scattered throughout the island. We did not end up going unfortunately, so we cannot give a proper review.

Waterfalls: Our host told us about two waterfalls we could swim at, but unfortunately it rained too much and he said the road was washed out and the waterfall would be brown.

Hinako Islands: Just off the West coast of Nias, there is a small archipelago that is accessible by ferry. Your accommodation should be able to help arrange private transfers to the islands.

Volunteering

We found a beach conservation volunteering program at Harus Dami on Worldpackers. We cleaned up the beach each morning for about an hour or so and then we had the whole day to ourselves. They charged a fee of $10 USD per volunteer or $16 USD for a couple, per day. This helped cover food, accommodation, and kept their project going. Just make sure everyone is on the same page when it gets converted into Indonesia Rupiah. They told us they had plans to expand their program to include teaching English to the local kids and surf lessons over the coming year.

The surfboards were offered at a discounted price for 70,000 IDR per day and motorbikes for 100,000 IDR per day, which they had right on the property.

We rented surfboards for 5 of the days we were there, and feel that we have significantly improved! The waves would cycle quite a bit, so the waves weren’t super strong all day in the Lagoon Taluk, but at The Point, the waves are much bigger consistently.

We had a really fun and relaxing time while volunteering, plus we were happy that we helped keep the beach clean.

Lombok by Motorbike

2025-05-12T00:00:00Z

Mt. Rinjani rising over a beach between the clouds

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While we don’t think our Lombok Loop will get ever as popular as the Ha Giang Loop (and honestly, we hope it won’t), here is the best way to travel around the island of Lombok and experience everything it has to offer.

The view from one of the many ferries in Bali

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How to Get There

You can get to Lombok via plane or boat. We recommend arriving via ferry from Bali, since it is quicker and significantly cheaper. Ferry tickets from Padbangi Port (Bali) to Bangsal Port (Lombok), can be purchased online from 12go Asia. You can choose from speedboats (which get you there in under an hour) or ferries (which take around three). There is also the option to leave from Benoa or Sanur Ports (in Bali), and tickets can also be purchased from 12go Asia, however we have no experience with this journey.

⚠ Warning: Both the Padbangi and Benoa/Sanur Ports are significantly outside of the main cities on Bali, so make sure you leave adequate time (and money) for a Grab or Gojek ride through the traffic.

When departing from Padbangi, your Grab or Gojek driver will need to drop you off outside of the entrance to the port, since there is a local taxi mafia that will extract a hefty fee from outside drivers. Once inside the port, Google Maps is your friend to find the office of your chosen ferry company. When arriving back to Padbangi, the taxi mafia will try to scam you into hoping in one of their overpriced cars back to Denpasar, saying things like “the shuttle bus will take four hours” or “you have to walk sixteen kilometers to the Grab pickup point”. Do not fall for this - take your bags, exit the port, and walk to the nearby tourist police station, where you can then order a Grab or Gojek, and will not be hassled… hopefully.

If you choose to arrive via plane, flights will arrive at Lombok’s only airport: Lombok International Airport in the Praya District. Flights can be expensive due to the small airport size. If you do end up flying, you can pay an additional fee to have your motorbike brought to/from the airport, and then can start your loop from there.

❕ Tip: If flying, start your loop at the airport, head down to Koeta, and then go counter-clockwise, ending up at the airport again to catch your flight out.

Our trusty, fuel efficient motorbike along the coast

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How to Get Around

The best way to get around Lombok is via motorbike - they are fuel efficient, go at a decent speed, and let you enjoy the scenery while on the move. We took a ferry to and from Lombok, arriving at the Bangsal Port. There are a bunch of motorbike rental places nearby:

We rented from Bangsal Rent Car + Scooter and had a great experience. The owner was willing to hold on to our bags for us, was flexible when our plans changed on the last day, and even arranged our ferry back at a discount from the price online. We had no mechanical trouble with the Honda Vario we received, and it was powerful enough to get around the entire island while also being good on fuel.

❕ Tip: Roads throughout Lombok were good quality, except for the road going down to the Semeti Hills.

How Many Days

The amount of time you spend on the Lombok Loop is very flexible, with only a minimum requirement of days. We recommend spending 3 nights, 4 days at a minimum traveling around Lombok. However, you can add more depending on how many days your itinerary allows, and what activities you want to do.

While we spent one night in each of the major spots listed on our route, we think these locations could definitely do with some more time:

Senggigi - stay here longer if you want to do any of the 7 peaks on Lombok
Mt. Rinjani - the famous mountain on Lombok, hiking to the top can take anywhere from 2-4 days
Tetebatu - many waterfalls and hikes to explore nearby, plus a pleasant village atmosphere
Koeta/Kuta - the party area of Lombok, also a well known spot for surfing and beautiful beaches
Praya - many beaches nearby, with a more laid-back atmosphere

There are also 26 Gillies around Lombok. The most famous are Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, which can be visited on your way to or from Lombok, when ferrying from Bali. We unfortunately did not have enough time to go to ANY Gilis, so we cannot give a personal recommendation. However, had we gone, we would have most likely gone to the the Secrete Gilis instead, which are a group of islands on the East coast of Lombok, located in Sekotong Bay or to the Gilis in the Southeast, by Pink Beach.

Beautiful blue waves crashing over the Semeti Hills

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Where to Stay

Staying in homestays while on your loop gives you the best opportunity to visit the more rural parts of Lombok, learn from the locals, and in most cases, experience great company and food! Here are the places we stayed while on our loop:

de Travelodge Homestay, near Desa Anjar, a perfect stop on your first night
Tetebatu Sunrise Homestay, in Tetebatu, delicous food and close to multiple waterfalls

If you are staying a night (or more) in Koeta, homestays are no longer your best option due to the large number of tourists. We opted for the quiet Puri Rinjani resort, minutes away from the beach, with a pool and buffet breakfast.

What to Bring

Motorbike
Helmet: make sure it fits well
Clothes: take items that layer
Rain Jacket: it can get wet at any time
Towel
Bathing Suit
Toiletries
Sunscreen: even if it’s cloudy
Charger(s): don’t forget this
Power Bank: you will need it if using your phone for GPS
Water Bottle with Filter: optional, but handy
First Aid Kit

One of the beautiful, multi-level waterfalls you will see

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The Route

Day 1

Pick up your bike from Bangsal or the airport
Jawirem Beach
- Free
- Black sand beach
- Many locals bathing and fishing nearby
Sedang Gile Waterfall
- 20,000 IDR per person
- No need for a guide, the monkeys are not that scary
Tiu Kelep Waterfall
- Continue on to this waterfall from Sedan Gile
Stay overnight in Desa Anjar

Day 2

Hike up Pergasingan Hill
- 25,000 IDR per person
- No need for a guide, find the route on AllTrails
- 1-2 hours
- Beautiful views of farmland and Mt. Rinjani volcano
- We planned to do this activity, but were unable to due to some poorly timed injuries
Tetebatu Waterfall
- 20,000 IDR per person
- No need for a guide, follow (Will’s) directions on Google Maps
- Enjoy the picturesque walk through the rice fields before cooling off in the falls
Sarang Walet Waterfall
- No entrance fee, follow directions on Google Maps
- 5,000 IDR for parking
- A unique waterfall inside of a cave, wading through water is necessary to access
Stay overnight in Tetebatu

❕ Tip: You may also consider splitting this day up or adding additional days near Mt. Rinjani if you plan on doing an overnight trek of any of the Seven Peaks on Lombok.

Day 3

Get up early to visit the first waterfalls uninterrupted, and get a head start on the long drive down south!

Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfalls
- 160,000 IDR per person (for four waterfalls)
- Guide is mandatory, though not necessary
- Do not pay for parking the first time, just head straight to the ticket booth on your bike
- Lots of opportunities to swim and get amazing pictures
Tanjung Aan Beach
- Free
- Popular beach for swimming, with beautiful sand
Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit
- Free
- Open on non-race days to the public
- Home of the MotoGP
Stay overnight in busy Koeta/Kuta
- Theres lots of Western and Indonesian restaurants, we were intrigued by the “Mexican Pizza” at the Cantina Mexicana Kuta Lombok

❕ Tip: If you like the beach or want to try surfing, Koeta is another great place to spend a couple of nights.

Day 4

Get up early (again), so you have enough time to visit all the sights and drive back to the port up north!

Lancing Beach
- Free
- Beautiful, peaceful beach, great for swimming
Semeti Hills
- Free, but some enterprising locals might try to charge you
- Difficult road to traverse, but slowly you can make it down!
- Cool cliffs nearby that can be climbed over
Selong Belanak Beach
- Free
- Peaceful beach with little to no people
Nambung Beach
- Free
- Another beautiful, peaceful beach
- Far on the right of the beach, there is a “waterfall” created by the incoming tide
Head back up to Bangsal to catch your ferry back, or to the airport

Hope this guide gives you the inspiration to book that Lombok trip! Thanks for reading, and as always, this is based on our personal experiences and observations. Feel free to message us on Instagram if you have any questions or comments!

Komodo Island Tour

2025-05-08T00:00:00Z

Everything you need to know BEFORE going to Komodo National Park!

Beautiful arial shot of the Komodo Islands

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How to Get There

There is no way to arrive directly in Komodo - instead you will need to fly or ferry into Labuan Bajo, a city on a nearby island. There are many flight options available, leaving from Jakarta, Bali, or Lombok, so pick whatever fits best with your itinerary. If you are up for more of an adventure, there are also ferries that take you from Bali or Lombok to Labuan Bajo, however, these can take anywhere from two to three nights! They do usually come in at a lower cost, but it depends how much you value your time (and potential for seasickness).

❕ Tip: Arrive in Labuan Bajo at least one day before with enough time to get everything you need sorted - no later than 2pm is our advice.

What to Look for in a Tour

Head down near the port and along the main street, and you will find many shops offering tours. Make sure you shop around and visit multiple stalls, as well as ask at your accommodation to find the best price. Prices in person are much better than online - just make sure you have enough cash. We ended up getting an overnight, semi-private tour for 1,600,000 IDR per person. Check online to make sure the company you are thinking of traveling with is reputable.

The entry fee to Komodo National Park helps preserve the environment and protect the Komodo Dragons, but is also quite steep at 600,000 IDR per person. Check to see if it is included in the price of your tour before booking.

If you can, try to book a tour that has your overnight accommodation on the boat. We arrived too late in the evening in Lauban Bajo and missed all the tours with this option, so we had to wake up at 3:30am to get on the boat. You will want to see Padar Island thanks to its beautiful lighting during the sunrise.

Here are some tours from GetYourGuide as a reference or if you like to plan ahead:

Beautiful sunset near Komodo from our tour boat

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How Many Days

There are usually two options when choosing a length for the tour: one day or overnight. Ask for both prices - we found the price of a two day tour to be a better deal once we factored in the cost of staying another night in Labuan Bajo - but your mileage may vary.

One day might feel more rushed, and you will miss out on sunset views.
Overnight tours have stunning views of the milky way at night and bats!
Depending on the departure time of a one day tour you may see the sunrise on Padar Island.
You are guaranteed to see the sunrise on your second morning of the overnight tour.

❕ Tip: If you take a two day tour, ensure you are visiting the Rinca and Komodo Islands on the same day to avoid paying the National Park fee twice.

The Route

We booked a tour that took us to nine locations where we got to snorkel, swim with manta rays and turtles, see a large colony of bats, and of course, look for the Komodo Dragons.

Make sure your tour includes at least some of these locations!

Rinca Island
Komodo Island
Padar Island
Pink Beach
Manta Point
Pulau Kelor
Pulau Kalong

Daniela enjoying the pink sand beach

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What to Bring

Clothes that layer (including, but not limited to):
- Sweater (it gets cold at night)
- Rain jacket
Towel
Bathing Suit
Snorkel + Goggles: the boats will have these in case you forget
Toiletries
Motion Sickness Pills
Pepto Bismol: better safe than sorry
Sunscreen: ALWAYS! Even if it’s cloudy
Camera: A zoom lense is helpful for getting up close
Charger(s): don’t forget this
Power Bank: not all boats and homestays have sockets
Book/Kindle: the long boat rides can get boring
Water Bottle with Filter: optional, but handy

Close up of a Komodo Dragon

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The Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragons are amazing creatures, but they are wild animals, and seeing one is never 100% guaranteed. They can be especially hard to find during the mating season, which runs from June to August.

If you do see a Komodo, keep your distance, and ALWAYS listen to the park rangers. Komodo Dragons are dangerous and can run up to 20km per hour!

Here are some other fun facts about the Komodo Dragon:

They’re incredibly long-lived: Komodo dragons can live for 40-60 years. They have been around for millions of years and have adapted to their tropical environment.
They’re apex predators: Komodo Dragons are considered the top predators in their region, and are incredibly powerful, able to take down large prey like deer, and water buffalo.
They have a unique, complex tongue: Their tongue is incredibly long and muscular and helps detect prey hidden in the sand.

There you have it! Thanks for reading our guide to Komodo National Park. This is based on our personal experiences and observations, so feel free to message us on Instagram if you have any questions or comments!

All About VPNs

2025-04-20T00:00:00Z

While it may sound like an advertisement, a VPN really is super important while abroad. Let me break down what a VPN is, what it allows you to do, and why you should get one!

What is a VPN?

VPN stand for Virtual Private Network.
It takes your network data - search queries, photos, videos - and encrypts them before passing it on to a server in a location you select. It then passes that data through to the website you are trying to visit, making it look like you are in that location.
Using encryption, using a VPN hides all network traffic, so no one can see what you are looking at.

❕ Tip: You can test to see if your VPN is working by going to www.whatismyip.com before and after connecting to your VPN, and making sure that the IP Addresses are different.

What does a VPN allow you to do?

Switching your location allow you to access region blocked content:
- Streaming services do not always have the same catalog of content in all territories
- Local websites (like banks) will not always allow you to access their services outside of your country of residence
- Some workplaces may region lock their accounts for security - I ran into this while in Asia
Some countries (such as Vietnam), block access to certain websites (in Vietnam’s case, Reddit)
If you use unsecured WiFi networks while traveling (like in a cafe or airport), the data passing over the internet is not always encrypted and can be “listened” to
If you are someone who likes to sail the high seas to download Linux ISOs, then a VPN protects you and your landlord from receiving DMCA complaints
VPNs can also make it more difficult for advertisers to track you online, but this also requires good cookie hygiene

❕ Tip: If you plan on using a VPN to access region blocked media, look for a VPN service that has special servers for this purpose.

What to Look for in a VPN?

When you choose a VPN, make sure it does not keep any logs, meaning there is no information about what sites you have visited ever stored.
You also want to make sure you are paying for it. If you ever use a free service, you are the product - and this is one service where you do not want to be the product.

❕ Tip: Try to look for a VPN with a “killswitch” - it will cut off all internet activity if the VPN becomes disconnected

❕ Tip: VPNs with built-in ad blocking are also available, if that is your thing

We recommend using Windscribe as your VPN - and we were not paid to say that. They have a low-cost “all you can eat” plan, locations all over the world, and a strict no logging policy. You can check them out here: windscribe.com.

We also recommend trying out Private Internet Access, in case Windscribe does not meet your needs. You can check them out here: PIA.

Check out this map of VPN relationshsips:

How to Use the Planning Sheets

2025-04-20T00:00:00Z

I recently posted about how we use our budget spreadsheet, so I thought I might continue with that theme and talk about how we track and share our itinerary through another spreadsheet.

On our last two trips I have made a spreadsheet to outline our itinerary - check them out on the tools page. While the files you download from our site are Microsoft Excel worksheets, you can easily upload them to Google Drive and have them work with Google Sheets - which we recommend in this case. With Google Sheets, it is much easier to share your spreadsheet with anyone who might be curious about your itinerary, and then they can follow along with your travels!

❕ Tip: This works great for sharing your itinerary with older family members since Google Sheets apps are available for all mobile phones and tablets.

⚠ Note: Be careful with your sharing settings and who you send the link to when doing this - protecting your location is important!

When we went to Europe, the spreadsheet was split up into three columns, because of hopping in and out of the Schengen zone - but this time in Asia, it’s just one long column. Let’s break it down into the two main types of sheets.

The Main Page

I suggest starting with a main or table of contents style sheet, which lists the arrival and departure dates for each country/state/territory you are going to visit, the name (obviously), and how long you are going to spend there.

❕ Tip: If you want to get fancy with your Excel/Google Sheet skills, you can link the place name on the “Main Sheet” to the “Individual Place” sheets (which we talk about below).

Individual Places

Next, I would make individual sheets for each place, where you can break it down into a day-by-day itinerary. I suggest using the following columns:

City
Date
Number of Days
- 1 would symbolize a whole day in a city
- 0.5 would be for spending half a day in one city, and half in another
Activities
- use this to list any day trips, or your itinerary for the day
Accommodation
Transportation
- use this space to show how you are getting from location to location
- when doing a day trip, we use the space to list the train lines or bus routes we need to take

❕ Tip: You can link the start and end dates on the “Individual Place” sheets to the “Main Sheet” if you want to get really fancy.

As we travel, we try to update the planning document ahead of time so our family and friends can see where we are going, and then go back and update the activities column with what we did during the day.

If you want, you can get fancy by adding formulas that will calculate the start and end dates based on how many days you are in a country. When we did the Europe itinerary, this was set up, but for a shorter trip, it is not necessary. The itinerary sheet was also linked to the budgeting sheet, but that is a whole other story…

Let us know how you use the itinerary spreadsheet or the way that you have been planning your trips! Or, if you have any questions or suggestions, we would love to hear them and might incorporate them into our future trips.

How to Use the Budget Sheets

2025-04-20T00:00:00Z

When completing long trips it is important to create a budget and stick to it. When we travel, we start by figuring out how much money we have and subtract initial expenses. Then we can use the rest of the money to determine how long to spend in each place. More expensive places, unfortunately, mean less time (and money) to spend, while cheaper places allow us to go slow.

It might sound difficult, but it is all very easy to understand once it is down in a spreadsheet! Your spreadsheet can be as simple or as complicated as necessary. On our last two trips I made a spreadsheet to outline our expenses - check them out on the tools page. They are currently Microsoft Excel worksheets, but if you prefer Google Drive, just upload them, and they should automatically convert. If you are having any trouble, let us know!

The spreadsheet also helps us split costs between the two of us when one person pays for something that we share. While that is something you need to figure out with your travel partner (if necessary), we try to always split the costs of everything equally since it is likely that we will both benefit from all purchases.

Breaking Down the Spreadsheet

I created three separate sheets, to organize our before and during the trip, and to provide an overview of who owes who what. They are each broken down below:

Budget by Country

The first sheet lists all of the countries, and creates a budget for each one. There are five different categories of expenses, each one with a sub-item for whether Daniela or I bought it.

You can add the total amount of money you have budgeted for the trip at the bottom of the sheet, and then customize how many days you will be in each country, to come up with a per-country budget. While we travel, we usually divide this up once more by the number of days, so we know how much we can spend per day, and then convert that into the local currency.

Split by Person

This sheet is only necessary for those that are traveling with multiple people, since it takes the values from the first sheet, divides them by two, and tells you how much each person owes the other. We then figure out who pays who, based on who has the largest outstanding balance.

❕ Tip: If you are traveling with more people, add more columns to this sheet, and more rows to the “Budget by Country” sheet!

Initial Expenses

The sheet lets you see what expenses you have before the start of the trip (flights, travel insurance, vaccinations) and allows you to divide them fairly. These could also be added to the top row on the first sheet, but we found it easier to move them to a separate one. Just do not forget to subtract any initial expenses from your total budget calculations so you do not end up running out of money while you are traveling!

❕ Tip: This sheet is only useful before you leave on your trip, which is why we have moved it to the end of the list - feel free to drag it around as you feel fit.

Hopefully, the templates are useful to some people, and since they are spreadsheets you can edit and customize them with fancy formulas to your heart’s content.

I have also seen some apps that will allow you to manage budgeting for travel or make it easy to split costs between friends, which might work better for some people. We prefer working with spreadsheets since we can have total control over our budgeting needs.

Let us know how you use the spreadsheets, or if you had any great changes you made to them - we might want to incorporate them for our future trips!

One Month LTT Commuter Backpack Review

2025-04-02T00:00:00Z

I embarked on our Southeast Asia trip armed with my LTT Commuter Backpack. I kept notes for the first month on my experiences with it, and thought they deserved a write up!

Obviously, the main point of a commuter backpack is not to travel to SEA for four months, but I thought it was a pretty great way to check to see what this backpack can handle just a few days after getting it.

I received my bag on January 17, 2025 (the beauty of living in Langley, BC), and left for Japan on January 20.

The bag at a Japanese temple

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Loadout

Tech Area

13" Dell XPS
Small Wacom tablet
2x Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (5th generation)
Elastic pockets: iPhone/Apple Watch chargers, USB-C dongle, tablet pen
Zippered pocket: nothing, but became a postcard holder as I traveled

Pocket of Holding

Zippered pocket: 2x AirPods, cards, sunscreen, bug spray, tiny 7-Eleven yogurt spoons, camping utensils, assorted knickknacks
Magnet pocket: portable charger, two sets of charging cables
Elastic pocket: mini wipes
Screwdriver pocket: umbrella
AirTag pocket: AirTag
GoPro kit/case
DJI Neo
First aid kit
Toilet Paper roll
Laptop charger
Travel adapter
Scarf
Snacks

Side Pockets

1 40oz Hydroflask
1 40oz Grayl
Sunglasses pocket: sunglasses, small Lidl tissue pack, gum, motion sickness pills, chapstick, assorted hair ties

Storage

A backpack is mainly for storing things, so I thought it would be best to start with this.

The laptop pocket fit my 13" Dell XPS perfectly. I will test with more laptops when I get home, but this was great (as to be expected). The pocket directly in front of the laptop pocket was great for a Wacom tablet, but I can see myself switching it to an iPad pocket while using the backpack for school. The zippered pocket at the bottom is a nice-to-have feature, however, I do not really see how I will use it in my daily life. Two Amazon Kindles fit perfectly at the bottom of the tech area, a great place to store them while on the go. The elastic pockets at the top are the perfect size for chargers, adapters, and dongles, and they are super easy to access on the go. They do not stick in to your back when wearing the bag, which is a big plus.

I have not used the screwdriver storage pocket for its intended purpose yet, but the zipper looks like it will come in handy. Right now it is holding an umbrella, and it honestly might stay that way when I am back on the rainy Wet Coast of Canada. I will test it with the screwdriver, and see how it fits, and which one I use more in my daily life before making a final decision, however.

The AirTag pocket was a little hard to find (and that seems to be the consensus on Reddit), but hopefully, that works the way it was intended to! Additionally, the zippered hold-everything pocket is very nice, and I found it serves its purpose best as a catch-all pocket.

The bag in Singapore's Central Library

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Design

While I am by no means a clothing designer, I found the design of this backpack to be really nice, and I like it a lot more than the other one. The other backpack was great as a piece of luggage, but I could not use it for school unless I wanted to take up all the space on public transportation. This backpack is much more of an everyday carry and is much less of a statement. No one gave me weird looks on the Tokyo Metro for having a gigantic bag, and Flair will actually be ok with this being an under-seat bag.

I love the orange accents on the inside, and so the colour is an added bonus for me when picking this backpack. I do see how that could turn some people off, but I find it quite subdued, especially when coupled with the minimal branding. On the subject of branding, it is nonchalant, and I only had one person recognize the bag while visiting Plaza Low Yat in Malaysia.

That being said, I do wish that the zipper pulls were slightly shorter, especially the one on the sunglasses pocket. I find that it can get stuck in the main Pocket of Holding zipper if you are not careful.

For traveling, I thought I would take advantage of the passport holder more often, but I found it to be in an inconvenient spot. It is difficult to swing the bag around and get at the pocket without stopping to set the bag down somewhere. The integrated suitcase strap is a great improvement on this bag.

Having the freedom to use the side pockets for a water bottle or the zippered pocket is awesome. Despite my partner’s insistence, we (I) do not need to carry two water bottles all day, so having the freedom to use the other one as a secure pocket is super.

Fit

As a 180cm guy who likes to wear their backpacks slightly lower, with the bottom around the waistline, this backpack fit well and was comfortable fully loaded. I had to let out the straps quite a bit, and it took a week or so of adjusting them based on load to get it to the way I wanted it. I also had to move the chest strap down to the lowest “setting”, to get it across a comfortable part of my chest.

Durability

The backpack has been in daily use while walking through the city, going to the beach, hiking, and doing volunteer work - usually for 8+ hours a day on my back and it’s held up amazingly. It definitely gets dirty, but was returned to a clean state by having it take a shower. I will test out how it holds in the washing machine when I get back from the trip and properly clean everything inside and out.

I previously traveled with a black Herschel backpack, and after four months that when from being black to a weird brown - people used to ask me how I got the “custom colourway”. So far, there has been no discolouration here - and I have spent a lot more time in the sun on this trip in Southeast Asia than going through Europe…

The only other gripe is that when closing the tech pocket, sometimes the extra side fabric that makes the pockets be pockets can get stuck in the zipper, which makes me worried that there could be tears in the future. I usually fix this by running my finger along that part as I pull up the zipper.

In Conclusion

I will continue to use the backpack daily for the remaining months of the trip, and will most likely do another post at the conclusion, so I can document how it held up over the entire period.

Finally, a request - please make a rain cover for this bag ASAP, since the rainy season is approaching in Southeast Asia, and there is a rainy forever on the west coast of BC. The bag wicks off water pretty decently in the light rain I’ve seen, but with a heavy downpour I don’t think it’s going to hold off a lot.

This post originally appeared on my personal blog.

DIY the Ha Giang Loop

2025-04-02T00:00:00Z

Road carving through the mountains

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Everything you need to know before doing this incredible ride on your own.

Windy road carving through the mountains

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How to Get There

Odds are if you’re reading this, you already know how to get there and are most likely coming from Hanoi or Sa Pa. Both have buses going directly to Ha Giang, use 12go.asia.

❕ Tip: Arrive at least one day before with enough time to get everything you need sorted - no later than 4pm is our advice.

Daniela hanging over the Death Rock

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Tour vs DIY

Many people opt to take an EasyRider tour to make things easier and leave the planning to someone else. If you are not comfortable riding a motorbike, this may be the choice for you. But if you are on the fence, we had a fantastic time doing it ourselves. Just make sure you have a bit of motorcycle riding experience. If you don’t, another good option is to rent the bike a day or two beforehand and get some practice runs in around Ha Giang - even more so if you do not have experience with a semi-automatic motorbike.

Tour Pros + Cons

Pros	Cons
No riding experience required	A significant investment
Local insight from tour leader	No flexibility in itinerary
No interaction with police	Tour groups can have 60+ people
Meet new people	This is a “party loop”
No planning required	Language barrier with guides/drivers

DIY Pros + Cons

Pros	Cons
Less touristy spots	Can be dangerous if riding carelessly
Can get popular spots to yourself	Strongly recommended to get a semi-automatic motorbike
Go at your own pace	More planning required
Significantly cheaper (however more likely to get fined)	Less photo opportunities while on the bike
Cultural immersion	Will be very tired at the end of the day/loop

How Many Days

There are three length options to choose from when doing the Ha Giang Loop:

2 days, 1 night - if you only have an extremely short amount of time, but this option is honestly not worth it
3 days, 2 nights - best if you are in an EasyRider tour, or for those on a very tight budget
4 days, 3 nights - overall the best option, allows you to really enjoy the ride and the sights

We chose to do it in 4 days and 3 nights since, as somewhat inexperienced riders, we thought it would give us a chance to go at our own pace, and really experience all that the loop had to offer. We found that we were 100% right!

Motorbike Info

When renting a motorbike to complete the Ha Giang Loop, you have two options: semi-automatic or fully automatic. Most people (including us) will recommend that you get a semi-automatic, since it combines the benefits of a manual motorbike with that of an automatic.

A semi-automatic bike cannot stall, like an automatic, but it allows you to select which gear you want to use, like a manual, perfect for going up and down all the hills on the Ha Giang Loop. The ability to change gears also allows you to engine brake while going down steep hills.

If this will be your first time riding a motorbike, make sure to check out some YouTube videos on changing gears, engine braking, and how to make minor repairs.

We recommend getting a Honda Blade, which is a 110CC, semi-automatic bike. It is rated for 160kg, something to keep in mind if you plan on putting multiple people + gear on the bike.

Rental Options in Ha Giang

We rented from QT Motorbike, but there are many other reputable shops out there. Do a quick search on Google Maps and check for good reviews:

It cost us 180,000 VND per day (in 2025)
Plus, 80,000 VND per day for insurance (which we recommend for peace of mind)
You can find all the bikes on their website, and they also have an online reservation system
They will give you GIGANTIC plastic bags for your backpack, and a free poncho

❕ Tip: Don’t forget a helmet that fits properly! Take your time when picking one out since you are pretty much stuck with it after you leave. Check out Style Motorbike if you need an option in Ha Giang.

❕ Tip: Petrolimex gas stations usually have English speaking attendants, and they all take credit card!

Police

One of the negatives of DIYing the Ha Giang Loop is that you will most likely interact with the local traffic police. Vietnam requires foreign drivers to hold an International Driving Permit (IDP), and it must be from 1968, anything else is not valid. The IDP allows you to legally drive in Vietnam. If you do not have one, the police may issue fines, and you could be asked to stop driving.

⚠ Warning: Unfortunately, we are not lawyers, and so this information can not be considered counsel or legal advice.

There are checkpoints along the Ha Giang Loop, where police may stop you to check for documentation, including your IDP. These checkpoints are commonly set up just outside of larger towns and cities, and are usually only manned between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with (sometimes) a break for lunch between 12:00 and 1:00 PM. They also usually have white police cars parked outside, and some are equipped with strobe lights.

Here are some tips if you do encounter the police:

Hide any extra cash, only keep around 2,000,000 VND
Have a couple of photocopies of your passport in case they ask for it
If you have a Ha Giang Permit, display that as well
If you get fined, make sure to get a receipt - they are usually a pamphlet with the date scribbled on it

If you are stopped, you will likely be asked to pay a fine (bribe). They will tell you that the fine is a maximum of 6,000,000 VND, but if you argue for a while, they will usually bring it down to roughly 2,000,000 VND. They can also impound the bike for 10 days if you do not have the money. We did hear some reports that depending on the power level of your bike, they may raise or lower the fine arbitrarily.

❕ Tip: Always wear a helmet, as it is required by law in Vietnam - you will notice considerably more people wearing helmets in the big cities due to this law.

Small wooden huts on the side of a mountain

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What to Bring

Motorbike
Helmet: make sure it fits well
Clothes that layer (including, but not limited to):
- Base layer top and bottoms
- Sweater
- Rain jacket
- Thicker pants: we don’t recommend riding in shorts, even in the summer
Gloves: necessary in the winter
Rain Pants/Poncho: it can get wet at any time, also bring spares
Towel
Bathing Suit
Toiletries
SUNSCREEN: even if it’s cloudy
Charger(s): don’t forget this
Power Bank: you will need it if using your phone for GPS
SIM Card: both Vittel and Mobifone have enough coverage, but Vittel’s is near perfect
Water Bottle with Filter: optional, but handy
First Aid Kit

Road carving through the mountains

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The Route

Day 1 - Ha Giang to Yen Minh

83km, plus 53km for detours

Tham Luong Cave - lights on at 9am
- 5km detour
- 30,000 VND entry per person
- 20-30 minutes
Bac Sum Pass - there was a police checkpoint after this
Khau Lan Waterfall
- 15 minutes detour
- Free
- 45 minutes
- Google Maps directions work well
Heaven’s Gate
Fairy Bosom Lookout - great spot to use a GoPro or drone
- Lookout on the side of the road
- Free
Lung Khuy Cave
- 20 minutes detour
- 30,000 VND entry per person, 5,000 VND to park bike
- 2km hike up, 1.5 hours
Arrive in Yen Minh

Day 2 - Yen Minh to Dong Van

46km, plus 52km for detours

Chin Khoanh Ramp
- Lookout along the road
- Free
- 5 minutes
Lung Cu Flagpole - very popular, so try to arrive early
- 10km detour
- 40,000 VND per person
- 30 minutes
- Only go if it is clear, the flag is not always up
Northernmost Point of Vietnam
- 10km detour
- Free
- 1.5 hours
- The Google Maps directions are wrong, make sure to take the route through the town of Xeo Lung
Dong Cao/Dong Van Viewpoint
- 1km detour
- Free
- 5 minutes
Arrive in Dong Van

Day 3 - Dong Van to Du Gia

98km, plus 10km for detours - this is the most difficult leg of the trip, but is also the most iconic.

Ma Pi Leng Pass - aka “Death Road”
- Along the route
- Free
- 1 hour
- You are allowed to ride scooters on the road, regardless of the sign
- The scenery is very beautiful, but if you are not confident enough to ride it, just walk
- We walked it, and honestly it was better since we had more time to take photos
Mỏm Đá Tử Thần - aka “Death Rock”
- On the Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Free
- 30 minutes
- Go early, this is the most iconic photo on the loop
Skypath - great place to bring a drone
- Hiking trail accessible via Death Road
- 3km one way, 6km round trip
- Free, parking is 5,000 VND per bike
- 1.5 hours to hike
- This is a beautiful hike, make sure to bring your camera
Arrive in Du Gia
- The road between the Skypath and Du Gia is not well maintained, be extremely careful for potholes

Day 4 - Du Gia to Ha Giang

72km, plus 10km for detours - avoid DT176 south of Du Gia - there are reports of the road being horrific.

Du Gia Falls 1
- Can park right at the falls
- Free
- 30 minutes
- Do not follow the Google Maps directions, follow the tour groups, or check out this review on Google Maps
Du Gia Falls 2
- Access from the same parking lot as Du Gia Falls 1
- Free
- Additional 30 minutes, plus time for swimming
- Check out this review on Google Maps for directions
- This is a much more private place to swim
Aboong “Secret” Waterfall
- 4.5km ahead of the Aboong Waterfall
- Free
- Not so secret anymore, the tour groups now stop here
- 5 minutes
- There is no coverage here from either Vittel or Mobifone
Aboong Waterfall
- Along the route
- Free
- 30 minutes
- Great place to get a video jumping into the waterfall
- There is no coverage here from either Vittel or Mobifone
Little Ma Pi Leng Canyon
- Along the route
- Free
- 5 minutes
- Great place to stop for photos, if you want to do a cruise, do the half tour since it is cheaper
Arrive in Ha Giang
- If you have extra time, you can visit the Waterfall near Ha Giang
- Or, the Ha Giang Viewpoint

❕ Tip: Another blog you can check out (and that was super useful in our planning) is TheBrowneTown’s Complete Ha Giang Loop Guide.

One Week Japan Itinerary

2025-03-10T00:00:00Z

Shinto Temple in Tokyo

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Japan has become THE travel destination of the year, with everyone and their dog pining for a chance to go. We had the privilege to visit early this year in January and managed to do it without breaking the bank.

Visa + Arrival Card

Regardless of where you are coming from, odds are the best deals bring you to Tokyo or Osaka - which is PERFECT for this itinerary. Getting from the airport to the city center can be a bit of a hassle, here are the cheapest options:

❕ Tip: Make sure to double check which airport!

Tokyo Narita Airport:

Keisei Mainline Rapid, from the Terminal 2/3 Station to Tokyo Station
From there, switch onto the Tokyo Metro to get to your specific location

Tokyo Haneda Airport:

Keikyu Airport Line, from Terminal 3 to Tokyo Station
There are limited “Airport Limited Express” trains, but local trains work as well

Osaka Kansai Airport:

Nankai Express or Nankai Limited Express from the Kansai Airport Station to Namba Station
From there, switch onto the Osaka Metro to get to your specific location, or to Osaka/Umeda or Shin-Osaka Station

❕ Tip: Bring Yen before you arrive. When we arrived at the Tokyo Narita airport they only accepted cash into the city.

Where to Go

Tokyo

The energetic Shibuya Crossing

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Spend 2 full days exploring the city, plus the first day and push through the jet lag
Here are some districts to check out:
- Tokyo Station + Area - lots of good restaurants, some museums
- Imperial Palace Area - surrounded by several interesting parks, gardens and shrines
- Ginza - the high-end shopping district
- Harajuku - home to the largest shrine in Tokyo
- Shibuya - shopping district for the young people with great restaurants
- Akihabara - the tech and pop-culture center
- Ueno - home to a large park, the city’s best museum, a zoo, and a shrine
- Asakusa - home to the city’s most popular temple
Take a look at the Top 10 Places to Stay

Fuji

Majestic Mt. Fuji

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Mount Fuji is Japan’s iconic peak, offering breathtaking views that captivate visitors year-round. Whether you’re hiking its trails or admiring its beauty from afar, the mountain’s serene presence never fails to leave a lasting impression.

Option 1: Day trip from Tokyo - this will give you enough time to get some beautiful pictures and even check out an onsen
Option 2: Stay a night nearby - in a room with an onsen

Soaking in the natural hot springs offers a deeply relaxing experience, promoting both physical and mental well-being while surrounded by stunning landscapes. An onsen offers a unique cultural experience and a chance to immerse yourself in traditional Japanese relaxation.

Kyoto

Sake offering barrels at a temple

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Kyoto offers a beautiful blend of temples, gardens, and if you have the time (and the budget), a traditional tea ceremony.

Here are some of the best places:

Fushimi Inari Taisha - famous for its iconic red torii gates leading up Mount Inari, this shrine is one of the most visited
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) - a Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, set beside a reflective pond.
Gion District - Kyoto’s historic geisha district, where you can stroll through traditional wooden teahouses and possibly try your hand at a matcha tea ceremony
Philosopher’s Path - a scenic walk along the canal lined with cherry blossoms and peaceful temples
To-ji Temple - home to Kyoto’s tallest pagoda and a tranquil spot for those seeking peace and architectural marvels
Spend two nights here, which should be enough if you are ok walking around the city

Nara

Cute deer at the Deer Park

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Japan’s first permanent capital, is a charming city renowned for its friendly, free-roaming deer and ancient temples.

Nara Deer Park - spend half a day frolicking with the deer
Todai-ji Temple - home to a giant Buddha statue
We spent 1 night here to avoid backtracking, but can easily be done as a day trip from either Kyoto or Osaka

Osaka

The Osaka Tower

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Spend a day and a half exploring Osaka, Japan’s vibrant culinary and entertainment capital, which blends skyscrapers and historic landmarks.

Here are some awesome places:

Osaka Castle - a symbol of the city, this iconic castle is surrounded by lush parks and offers panoramic views
Dotonbori - neon lights, street food stalls, and lively atmosphere
Namba Yasaka Shrine - lesser known shrine, with a massive lion-head-shaped building

Kobe

Old sake barrels in Kobe

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Can spend either a full day or half day from Osaka - Local, Limited, Rapid, and Express trains all stop in Kobe
As vegetarians, we spent half a day. Heard the beef is nice, we only tried the Sake and visited a sake museum.

And there you have it, a simple itinerary to help guide your trip to Japan.

Budget

We averaged $170 per day for 2 people. So not shoestring, but definitely NOT luxury. You can keep your costs low by booking hotels in advance, and walking around most of the cities.

⚠ Note: this does not include flight to Japan. That round trip flight will set you back a tad bit more.

Accommodation

We use Booking.com 99% of the time. We sort price lowest to highest and see what comes up. Make sure that the ratings look good before you book. We averaged $40 per night, but prices fluctuate depending on the season.

Keep in mind that if you find a cheaper location outside of the center, you may need to spend more time walking/take public transportation, which could add up over time.

Cash

Make sure to bring Yen ¥ before arriving in Japan. Credit cards are widely accepted, but most markets and smaller restaurants will only take cash. You can also use your Suica or Passmo card to pay at most places (including 7-Eleven).

If you didn’t bring any Yen or run out, ATMs are widely available, we recommend the 7-Eleven (technically 7-Bank) ATM.

One of our best bowls of ramen, near Shibuya Crossing

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Food

Sushi - most restaurants let you order with a tablet
Revolving sushi - technically this is fast food but we think it’s ✨cool✨
Udon
Yam balls
Mochi
Mr. Donut - please check out this song
Ramen
7-Eleven - the BEST, you could honestly eat every meal from there

Transportation

Shinkansen/Bullet Train (Tokyo-Kyoto)
Local trains (Kyoto-Nara, Nara-Osaka)
Metro is useful in Tokyo and Osaka, not very useful in Kyoto
Buses are useful in Kyoto and Nara

⚠ Note: For this specific itinerary, to keep costs low, we don’t recommend getting a JR pass. The local trains can get you a lot further than you think if you have the patience for it.

❕ Tip: Google Maps is your friend here. Everything we needed, like transit directions, station locations, and train wait times was up to date.

Suica and Passmo: These are cards you can add to your Apple wallet. Android users can get physical cards cause Japan ✨hates✨ you. They are super useful and most public transport accepts them. The Shinkansen tickets can also be bought ahead of time using these.

⚠ Note: If you buy a Shinkansen ticket ahead of time with your Suica or Passmo card, your paper ticket will automatically print from the station gates - just make sure to enter through the specified Shinkansen gates!

Data

As we are on a budget, we opted for no SIM card. We found many free WiFi hotspots scattered throughout the country. Most metro and train stations have them, and all the cities we visited had hotspots in the center.

But if you insist, you can get an e-SIM with Airalo, using our code WILLIA1097.

The famous Golden Temple glittering in the sun

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Best Time to Visit

Spring - cherry blossoms, higher prices

Summer - warm

Winter - cold, but affordable

Fall - shoulder, may be less expensive but not as cold

If you have extra time:

Tech stops
- Tsukuba Space Center (1 hour train ride outside Tokyo)
- Miraikan National Science Museum
Car stops
- Nissan Crossing (located in the Ginza District)
- Yokohama
Disneyland
Universal Studios (in Osaka)
Go to the North for Skiing!
Okinawa
Hiroshima/Nagasaki

Nine Months in Europe

2025-02-16T00:00:00Z

Planning a long trip is no easy feat, it requires weeks of research and preparation, all in hope that everything works out. This article aims to ease the stress that comes along with planning a multi-month trip to Europe, specifically nine months as we did in 2022-2023.

Orange sunset over Norwegian Harbour

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How Long to Stay

Of course this is wholly up to you, but if you have the time, let me explain why we think nine months is an ideal amount of time – if your goal is to cover as much of Europe as possible.

With the Schengen Zone (which I will go into further detail next) affecting all of us who reside outside of the EU, you get three months to explore as much of Europe as you can, before being forced to leave for three months, before you can come back for another three – totalling nine months.

View of the London Bridge

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The first three months are not enough to fully explore (and I say fully quite generously) all the countries that make up this zone. It would most definitely be possible to travel through a large portion of Europe within this period, but you will be forced to either skip quite a few countries or be extremely rushed.

Visas and the Schengen Zone

What is the Schengen Zone, you may ask? It is a borderless area that allows visitors to stay a total of 90 out of 180 days. The 90 days do not necessarily have to be consecutive, but you cannot exceed the limit within the period. From the moment you arrive in a country that is part of the Schengen Zone, the countdown begins. Once the 180 days have passed you can re-enter the Schengen Zone for another 90 days.

❕ Tip: Likely to start in 2025, everyone entering the Schengen Zone is required to pay an EITAS fee, however, it should only cost roughly $7 USD. This will allow you to move freely in all the countries that have banded together to facilitate travel within this area. Here is a list of all the counties that are included.

As for the countries that are not, they will make a nine-month trip to Europe possible. The list of countries outside the Schengen Zone are listed here, so you will have to make sure you do not require any additional visas (Canadians did not need any in 2023). The list of countries outside the Schengen Zone are listed here, so you will have to make sure you do not require any additional visas.

European Countries Outside of the Schengen Zone

Albania
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Cyprus
Ireland
Macedonia
Moldova
Montenegro
Serbia
Ukraine
United Kingdom

This trip will be weaving in and out of the Schengen Zone, so you don’t get yourself banned, and you will be able to maximize the time abroad.

Budget

Money makes the world go round, so the saying goes. But it is possible to keep costs low while traveling, so you can explore Europe without totally breaking the bank. I will be writing another article disusing all our money saving strategies in depth, but for now this list will do:

Public Transport: Avoid taxis at all cost
Walk: On a similar note, your legs are free, walk instead of always paying for transit
Minimal Alcohol: Those cheap German beers add up
Make your own food: I know, this one sucks. However, eating out for every meal gets expensive. Look for accommodation with a kitchen or at least a fridge and a microwave.
Pick and choose paid activities: Nothing’s cheaper than free

Of course, we still ate out, we did sometimes take transit when we could have walked (sometimes it was raining…) and splurged here and there, BUT not every time. We saved thousands of dollars following these “rules”.

Save money on hotels with Booking.com.

Delicious Afternoon Tea in England

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⚠ Note: Europe is not cheap, we saved for about 2 years in high school to save this kind of money for such a long trip.

What to Bring

Packing can be quite the challenge for such an extensive period of time. Since we spent a large part of our trip during the colder months, we had to bring enough warm clothing in addition to the clothes we needed for the summer. Once the weather turned warm, we shipped a box worth of clothes home, so we no longer had to lug around our big winter jackets in the heat of the summer.

This is a relatively general and “genderless” list if you will. If you are reading this as a guy, you don’t really need to bring 2 pairs of leggings.

Our winter clothes for Estonia

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Winter

Winter jacket
3x long sleeves
1x hoodie
1x base-layer/thermal layer
2x leggings
2x long socks
1x jeans
1x sweatpants
1x trousers
Gloves and toque

Our summer clothes for Spain

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Summer

4x shirts
3x tank tops
1x light jacket
3-5x shorts
2x summer dresses
Sunglasses
Hat
2x bathing suit

Essentials

Underwear
Bras
7x socks
Flip-flops
Runners
Casual shoes (Vans, AF1s, Converse, etc.)
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Shaver
Day pack

Tech + Misc

Laptop
Camera/GoPro
Phone (duh)
Watch
eReader
Chargers
Earbuds (wired and wireless)
Adapter
Microfiber towel
Water bottle
Passport and Visas
Cash, credit, and debit cards

⚠ Note: I brought every single pair of underwear I own, because when that ran out it meant it was time to do laundry.

⚠ Note: Make sure you bring both wired and wireless headphones, since most airlines are now charging to give you them on flights.

Where to go

Each country is very different from the next, with their own unique respective cultures and experiences. If your goal is to visit them all, it might be too difficult to achieve all 50 – we unfortunately missed out on 5, but we will come back one day to complete the continent. I would recommend doing your research on which ones are a MUST for you and how long you wish to spend there. We’ll share our itinerary below so you can use it for inspiration. Keep in mind that if you are subject to the Schengen Zone, you may end up with more or less time in an area that originally hoped.

View from above of the City of Lucerne

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How to get around

For most of Europe, you can get around quite easily by train. For Western Europe, we highly recommend getting the Eurail Global Pass (Iceland is the exception as there are no trains). However, the majority of Eastern Europe relies mainly on buses, so the Eurail is NOT worth it there at all. Once you have an outline, we would suggest planning what Eurail pass is the most worthwhile.

A beautiful view on one of our Scandinavian flights

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For example, if you start in Iceland like we did, don’t get one until you reach the mainland. From there, if you are splitting up the 90 days in the Schengen zone, it might be worth it to buy a regional pass instead of the global one or a global pass with a shorter duration.

For transportation once you have reached your destination, most European cities have a very well-connected local transit system, usually consisting of metros, subways, trams, and buses.

❕ Tip: Some regional trains/metro trains are even included with Eurail, such as the S-Bahn line in Germany. You can see all of them on the Eurail Website.

Aside from the Netherlands, each part of each country uses a slightly different transit system. This will require additional research, especially if you plan on using the bus. Metro/subway systems tend to be easier to purchase tickets from as they always have a little ticket booth at the station.

❕ Tip: Make sure to always get a ticket! The last thing you need is a fine - and they are steep in Europe.

Overall, you can rely on public transportation for the majority of destinations, especially if it is especially touristy. However, not everything can be reached without a car. Due to our age, we were unable to rent cars while we were abroad, so we ended up taking a few tours. With a smaller group, it can be more affordable to take these tours than to fully DIY it, but if you are traveling with more people (and one who is of car rental age) it can be less expensive to rent a car.

The final way of getting around is plane. We tried to avoid that whenever possible as train or bus travel was usually much more affordable. We usually flew with Ryanair, a very budget airline that had quite good deals.

⚠ Note: Ryanair is infamously strict with their policies, especially their baggage regulations. Always make sure to plan accordingly so you don’t end up being charged extra fees at the airport.

Quick Itinerary

Schengen Zone 1	Days	Non-Schengen	Days	Schengen Zone 2	Days
Iceland	5
Norway	6
Sweden	6
Finland	6
Estonia	4
Latvia	3
Lithuania	4
		England	24
		Scotland	16
		North Ireland	5
		Ireland	10
The Netherlands	11
Belgium	5
Denmark	7
Germany (North)	9
Czech Republic	3
Germany (South)	7
Austria	7
Slovakia	2
Hungary	3
		Romania	6
		Bulgaria	6
		Serbia	5
		Bosnia-Herzegovina	6
		Montenegro	5
		Albania	6
		Macedonia	5
				Greece	9
				Italy (South)	14
				Malta	1 (from Sicily)
				Slovenia	2
				Italy (North)	6
				Switzerland	5
				Liechtenstein	1 (from Switzerland)
				France	18
				Spain	17
				Portugal	13
Total	88	Total	94	Total	86

Four Months in Southeast Asia

2025-02-16T00:00:00Z

Relaxing off the coast of Cambodia

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Asia quite literally takes us to the other side of the world, since Canada is home. This trip has just begun, and we plan to explore this part of the globe over the next 4-5 months. Here we will document our current plan and update as we go along, as well as adding any tips and recommendations we learn.

How Long to Stay

View from above in Chiang Mai

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This one is hard to answer, Southeast Asia is so big and has so much to offer (plus we quickly visited Japan, which is another country we could have stayed in MUCH longer). We have chosen to travel about four to five months after much research on expenses, what do, and where to go. We plan to visit nine countries in Southeast Asia + Japan, staying about two weeks in each, some significantly less where we will only stay a couple days, to other where we will stay almost a month. All these were planned out via a spreadsheet, shared below.

Why add Japan? Well, it was in the area and Will was dying to visit. Plus, there were some pretty solid (and cheap) direct flights from YVR.

Visas

Most counties in this area require most travelers to apply for a visa, which can either be done at the border or online as an e-visa. If you apply for an e-visa, it is often cheaper, but you must make sure the border crossing you are entering from accepts them.

This table gives some basic information (as of 2025) on visas and e-visas for Canadian travel. It is always best to check with the Government of Canada for travel advice and advisories, or if you are American, check with the Department of State.

Country	Visa?	E-Visa?	Issued on Arrival	Cost (CAD)
Brunei	❌	❌	✔	$0
Cambodia	✔	✔	❌	$40
India	✔	✔	❌	$140
Indonesia	✔	❌	✔	$45
Japan	❌	❌	✔	$0
Laos	✔	✔	❌	$68
Malaysia	❌	❌	✔	$0
Maldives	❌	❌	✔	$0
Nepal	✔	❌	✔	$70
Philippines	✔	❌	✔	$94
Singapore	❌	❌	✔	$0
Sri Lanka	✔	❌	✔	$68
Thailand	❌	❌	✔	$0
Timor-Leste	✔	❌	✔	$40
Vietnam	✔	✔	❌	$60

Check out our visa spreadsheet on Google Sheets.

Vaccines

Vaccines are necessary for places like this

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Southeast Asia is a very tropical climate, and with that comes disease. It is best to be prepared JUST IN CASE. We visited a travel clinic before we left to get all the necessary shots and boosters to stay safe. We also made sure all routine vaccinations were up to date.

⚠ Note: We are NOT doctors in any way shape or form, so take this list as a guide.

SEA Vaccines

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Cholera
Japanese Encephalitis
Polio (booster for Canadians over age 18)
Typhoid
Malaria Pills
Rabies (travel clinic suggested, but due to the high cost ($700 CAD) we decided to risk it)

Routine Vaccinations

You should already have these as part of routine vaccination schedules in most Western countries.

Chicken Pox
MMR
HPV
Tetanus

Budget

Traveling in this area should be relatively affordable, as long as you spend money wisely (Japan and probably Singapore are the exception). Accommodation and food will take up a large portion of our budget, so here are some tips to save money:

Hostels and guesthouses over hotels - try Booking.com
Street food = cheap, sit down restaurant = expensive
Grab breakfast from grocery stores and pack lunch + snacks
DIY excursions: Save money and gain freedom
Walk whenever possible
Be picky with what ‘tourist attractions’ you pay to visit - some are totally worth it, others are less so
Pack light - nothing sucks more than having to pay big bucks for extra baggage fees

We once again created a spreadsheet (you can see it on Google Sheets)with our estimated expenses per day for two people, and we are tracking how much money we have and spend via the sheets. We are trying our best to stick to our ‘rules’ but sometimes it is worth it to splurge here and there.

What to Bring

A practical outfit for temple hopping

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When traveling for long periods, you have to master the art of bringing just the right amount of clothes. For some it is easier than for others. This list is more so for people who are more into hiking/outdoorsy stuff. If that’s not really your thing, you might not need a pair of runners or zip-off pants and can likely get away with some good walking shoes and leggings/shorts.

Also, keep in mind temples and many other historical sites have a dress code and it is important to have something to cover both knees and shoulders – both for men and women.

Women

2x athletic shirts
5x tank tops
2x shorts
1x jean shorts
2x linen pants
1x zip off pants
2-4x bikini bathing suits
1x one-piece bathing suit
1x leggings
3-5x bras
1-2 maxi dress(es)
1-2 maxi skirt(s)

Men

6x shirts
1-2 linen shirt(s)
4x shorts
1-2 x zip off pant(s)
1x light sweatpants
1x light hoodie
2-3x bathing suit

Essentials

Underwear
Bras
5x socks
Flip-flops
Runners
Sandals
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Mosquito repellent
Shaver
Day pack (small backpack)
Sarong (or another cover)

Tech + Misc

Laptop
Camera/GoPro
Phone (duh)
Watch
eReader
Chargers
Earbuds (wired and wireless)
Adapter
Microfiber towel
Water bottle with filter
Passport and Visas
Cash, credit, and debit cards

⚠ Note: It’s better to under-pack than over because you will likely end up buying a few things as you travel.

Data

It is important to stay connected with family and friends while traveling – for safety reasons. But that is not the only reason you should consider having data. Looking up directions, additional things to do, where to eat, are all conveniences that come with having a data plan. Additionally, it can be quite useful to have for emergencies.

There are two options for affordable data in Asia: a physical SIM vs an e-SIM.

Physical SIMs work on all devices. Be sure that your provider at home did not lock your phone, as that would be quite unfortunate. They are usually cheaper than e-SIMs if you buy them from the right place. Typically, airports are not the cheapest and you have to make your way into your destination to get the best deal.

e-SIMs are extremely convenient, you are able to purchase one before arriving to a new country and activate it once you arrive. There are usually a variety of plans to choose from to best fit your travel needs. Be sure to check that your phone is compatible with them, as some older phones will not work. We recommend Airalo, and you can use our code WILLIA1097 to get a sweet discount!

How to get around

Right before we got on our flight to Thailand

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Each county has their own transportation system, all with varying degrees of efficiency. It is important to make sure that you can get to your new destination from where you are staying before, as not all cities have good connections.

Japan is obviously well known for their public transportation. High speed bullet trains, local trains, metro and buses leave everything well connected and easy to access via public transport. Most can be paid using the Suica or Passamo card.
Thailand has one train line from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, everything else must be reached by bus. Many can be booked online via 12Go.asia or BookMeBus in advance. The local buses can be paid onboard the bus with cash. In order to reach tourist attractions outside the city, you can usually take a songthaew or tuktuk. If not, renting a scooter is a great option.
Laos also has one train line, funded by China, it runs from the North to South of Laos. The main cities of Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane can be reached via this line. Everything else can be reached by bus. Be aware that many popular destinations in Laos are VERY far from each other and take over 8h.
Cambodia has one train line, which we took from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, which took 7h at a very slow pace. Traveling anywhere else requires the use of minivans or busses. Many of these can be booked online via 12Go.asia or BookMeBus in advance.
Vietnam: we’re still traveling here
Malaysia: we’re still traveling here
Singapore: we’re still traveling here
Indonesia: we’re still traveling here
Philippines: we’re still traveling here
Timor-Leste: we’re still traveling here
Brunei: we’re still traveling here

Quick Itinerary

Our current plan was devised with much research, we are also very aware that it is likely to change. We have gone through multiple revisions as we factor in the rainy seasons, burning seasons, and peak seasons.

You can see the entire one (with ✨interactive✨ updates) on Google Sheets!

Country	Number of Days	~Cost/Day	Shoulder Months	Peak Months	Wet Season
Japan	8	$250	Jan + Sept	March-May	June-July
Thailand (North)	20	$70	March-April	Dec-Feb	May-Oct
Laos	14	$40	Jan, May-July	Nov-Jan, April	May-Sept
Cambodia	10	$50	April-June	Jan-March	May-Oct
Vietnam	24	$60	April-June	July-Aug, Jan	Aug-Sept
Malaysia	14	$70	March-Nov	Dec-Feb	East: Nov-March, West: May-Sept
Singapore	4	$150	Feb-May	June-July, Jan	Dec-Jan
Indonesia	25	$50	March-June	July-Aug	Jan-Feb
Timor-Leste	7	$60	April-May	May-Nov	Dec-April
Brunei	3	$90	Jan-May	June-Sept	Sept-Dec
Philippines	22	$50	May	Nov-April, Jan	Jun-Sept

⚠ Note: The cost per day is for two people, and in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Five Days in Reykjavik

2025-02-07T00:00:00Z

The world’s largest volcanic island, Iceland is a land of fire and ice. With things to do in every corner of this tiny country, a visit to Iceland will not be soon forgotten.

Here is what we did in our time in Iceland, along with some tips based on our experience.

Arriving in Iceland

The only way to arrive in Iceland is by plane… unless you’re coming from Greenland in the summer. Reykjavik Keflavik (RKV) is the only international airport in the country, about an hour and a half from Reykjavik. If you don’t have a car (like us), you have two options: bus or taxi. We took an Airport Direct bus to the city center. Airport Direct has a booth in the arrival’s hall of the airport, so you can book your ride there once you have landed and gotten organized.
When you get off the Airport Direct bus, most accommodation is a bus ride or short walk away. If you haven’t had time to pick up a city bus pass, don’t worry, as you can pay your fare in cash with the bus driver.

❕ Tip: the Reykjavik City Card allows you to visit 16 museums and eight thermal pools, plus free public transit for the duration of the card. We found that 24h was enough to see the museums we were interested in. In the post, starred museums and attractions aren’t included in the card.

Iceland At a Glance:

Explore Reykjavik
Hike Mt. Esja
Golden Circle Tour
Sky Lagoon
Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

What We Did

We started off our trip by exploring Reykjavik, visiting a variety of museums and attractions. Near our hostel was the Botanical Garden, where we actually saw some flowers blooming. Once we made it to the city centre, our first stop was an odd one, the Phallic Museum*, which was filled with all sorts of weird yet interesting facts.

Us at Reykjavik Harbor

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We continued to the harbour, then began our ambitious attempt to maximize the value in our Reykjavik City Card by visiting as many museums as we could during the 24h period. Starting at the National Museum of Iceland, we then visited the National Gallery of Iceland, followed by the Reykjavik Art Museum, the Reykjavik Museum of Photography, and lastly to the Maritime Museum. We also snapped some photos of Hallgrimskirja (a very cool, concrete church) as we walked by, and then again at night – where it had been brightly lit in neon pink.

Beautiful lights on the Hallgrimskirja

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After exploring the city, we had a little adventure and hiked up Mt. Esja the following day. Local busses can be found by searching for “Mt. Esja” on Google Maps, and they drop you off about 2km from the base of the mountain (where we made a new friend from Australia). The hike to the ‘Steinn’ was a moderate level hike, approximately 7km out and back from the base, where we gained approximately 600m of elevation. There is a path to summit the mountain, where it does get steeper, however we would have run out of daylight, and we did NOT want to make our way down the mountain in the dark. Oh, and we had to catch the bus back, so we only made it to the base of the peak…one day perhaps. If you choose to do this hike, make sure you check the bus timetables before leaving, so you can plan your hiking speed and route accordingly – the busses don’t run all day, especially in the winter off-season.

Steinn nameplate congratulating you on making it up

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⚠ Note: The bus timetables can usually be found on the bus stop you get dropped off at, near the base of Mt. Esja.

❕ Tip: there are two paths to Steinn, take the harder one on the way up and the easier one on the way down. Or go the easy way in both directions.

Golden Circle Route

A trip to Iceland would not be complete without touring the many natural attractions on the Golden Circle Route. You can either take a tour, or drive through the route yourself. Since we were without a car, we embarked on the GetYourGuide Golden Circle Tour with 4 main stops:

Þingvellir National Park: Where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates are slowly separating.
Icelandic Horses: Side stop where we gave “candy” to Icelandic Horses.
Fun fact: Once an Icelandic horse leaves the country it can never return.
Gullfoss Waterfall: Many rushing cascades with a double tiered waterfall with a height of 31m – we even saw a rainbow.
The Great Geysir: The active Strokkur hot springs shoots water up to 30m up every 8-ish minutes. Across the street to the Geysir Restaurant and Cafe, where we tried traditional Icelandic ‘Happy Marriage Cake’ (rhubarb cake) and a blueberry cheesecake.
Fun fact: This geyser is where the word itself originates, meaning ‘to gush’. Notice the difference between the spelling, “The Great Geysir” versus “geyser” for the natural feature in general.
Kerið Crater: Daniela’s person favourite, the stunning sapphire coloured lake is contrasted by the red slopes caused by iron oxide.
Fun fact: It is theorized by geologists that the caldera was formed when a volcano erupted and collapsed onto itself about 6,500 years ago.
Celio Corner Store: We stopped for a quick bathroom break before the hour-long drive back to Reykjavik. There were quite a variety of Icelandic goodies, including Icelandic chocolate!

Gulfoss Waterfall from above

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Puddles at the Geysir hot spring

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Will sitting on the edge of the Kerid crater

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Some additional stops that could have been done by driving include:

Bruarfoss Waterfall: Bright blue waterfalls that are more out of the way, and therefore attract less tourists.
Reykjadalur Hot Springs: A cheaper alternative to the lagoons close by the city. The 3km hike to get there begins about 40 minutes outside the city, ending with scenic views and relaxing springs.
Tomato Farm: Visit a local Icelandic tomato farm that also has a restaurant for tasting the tomatoes! They produce thousands of tomatoes every day and ship them to supermarkets all over Iceland.

Geothermal Spas

Finally, our stay in Iceland would have been lacking if we did not experience at least one geothermal spa. We decided to try Reykjavik’s newest addition, the Sky Lagoon. Crystal clear waters, a warm waterfall, and views of the ocean as far as the eye can see… and did we mention a swim up bar? We went first thing in the morning, and it really lived up to our expectations. There were three different packages available: the Pure Lite, Pure, and Sky. If you have the cash to spend, we recommend the Pure package, however the Pure Lite was sufficient for us. If the Sky Lagoon wasn’t enough to get a full hot spring experience, make sure to check out the classic Blue Lagoon.

Daniela at Sky Lagoon

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❕ Tip If you want an even more aesthetic time, go about 1h before the sun sets.

We then headed over to the Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, where the locals go. There was an outdoor hot tub heated with geothermal water and a sandy beach where you can cool off in the ocean - it was absolutely frigid. The funny part was, it was separated from the main ocean, so the water was a tiny bit less icy. Locals on the other hand waded right into the ocean itself and floated along the coast. There were even people doing a swimming workout; however, we did notice they brought along insulated gloves and little booties – might be a good idea for next time.

❕ Tip: In hindsight, we should have gone to the Geothermal Beach first and then to the Sky Lagoon.

Our 5 days in Iceland were packed with so many sights to see and things to do. Iceland has so much to offer, we barely made a dent. We recommend renting a car for this island to better explore, including the Golden Circle so you can go to all of the places that interest you, on your own time. Renting a car also allows you to get out of the city center late at night, away from the light pollution, to increase your chances of getting a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Finally, if you have some extra time, here is a list of places we wished we had time to visit:

Blue Lagoon
Secret Lagoon
Fjords
Vik
The Northern Lights

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How to Visit Nias

Table of Contents

How to Get There

Plane: Fly from Medan

Ferry: From Sibolga

How to Get Around

How Much to Spend

How Many Days

Where to Stay

What to Do

Volunteering

Lombok by Motorbike

Table of Contents

How to Get There

How to Get Around

How Many Days

Where to Stay

What to Bring

The Route

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Komodo Island Tour

Table of Contents

How to Get There

What to Look for in a Tour

How Many Days

The Route

What to Bring

The Komodo Dragon

All About VPNs

What is a VPN?

What does a VPN allow you to do?

What to Look for in a VPN?

How to Use the Planning Sheets

The Main Page

Individual Places

How to Use the Budget Sheets

Breaking Down the Spreadsheet

Budget by Country

Split by Person

Initial Expenses

One Month LTT Commuter Backpack Review

Loadout

Storage

Design

Fit

Durability

In Conclusion

DIY the Ha Giang Loop

Table of Contents

How to Get There

Tour vs DIY

Tour Pros + Cons

DIY Pros + Cons

How Many Days

Motorbike Info

Rental Options in Ha Giang

Police

What to Bring

The Route

Day 1 - Ha Giang to Yen Minh

Day 2 - Yen Minh to Dong Van

Day 3 - Dong Van to Du Gia

Day 4 - Du Gia to Ha Giang

One Week Japan Itinerary

Table of Contents

Visa + Arrival Card

Where to Go

Tokyo

Fuji

Kyoto

Nara

Osaka

Kobe

Budget

Accommodation

Cash