ITALY & LAOS
ITALY
1 month, June & July
Things to do:
-Go anywhere in Tuscany and enjoy the views and wine.
-In Cinque Terre, there is a restaurant called Da Eraldo. Get the antipasto platter, it will change your life.
-I spent two weeks working on a farm in north eastern Italy for the most sweet family. It was magical and some of the best time I had on my trip. Italy is a great spot to do any sort of help exchange and get to see some of the smaller villages.
Tips:
-I had great experiences with Airbnb while in Italy. I would recommend them over most of the hostels I stayed in.
-Trains are probably the best way to get around Italy. If you know your travel plans ahead of time, book them in advance and they will be cheaper.
-Unfortunately, while I was in Rome, many of the “sites” I wanted to see were under construction. Do some research before you go to make sure the things you would like to see are available to the public.
LAOS
2 weeks, March
Things to do:
-Go to Kuang Si Waterfalls in Luang Prabang. The lower area allows swimming so bring your bathing suite. About five minutes away from the waterfalls, is a butterfly pavilionwhich is worth the trip as well.
-It could have been the months of East Asian food, but the sandwiches at the food carts in Luang Prabang were fantastic. Laos used to be a French colony and has delicious bakeries.
-Take a cooking class while in Laos, it is inexpensive and a great way to get to know the food and culture.
Tips:
-If you want to experience a bizarre phenomenon, the city of Vang Vieng is so oriented towards young backpackers they have various restaurants that have large screens playing episodes of Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and Spongebob all day long.
-If you travel from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng prepare yourself for a five hour very bumpy ride by bus.
-Rent a scooter and visit the Blue Lagoon in Vang Vieng.
To ask me any advice or questions, contact me here. I would love to hear from you!