Our daily schedule in Chaing Mai closely resembled that of hobbits. In between our busy days of second lunch and pre-dinner we explored museums and beautiful temples.
Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai
The ancient city of Angkor
Over one thousand years ago, an ancient king established Angkor as the capital city of the Khmer Empire. The city would grow to be the largest in the pre-industrial world, home to about one million and covering an area the size of Los Angeles. Today, the ruins lay hidden in the forest near Siem Reap, Cambodia. Temples straight out of adventure novels are in various states of ruin, which often adds to the aesthetic; tree roots envelop entire temple walls, proving that nature always wins out over time. This was our first stop in Southeast Asia that was on everyone’s bucket list, however we (mostly) managed to avoid the hordes of tourists and find peace and beauty while exploring the temples.
First stop: Bangkok
On our first stop in Southeast Asia, we stayed a couple days in Bangkok and ate (and cooked!) some of the best food of our entire trip so far. We saw some sights, like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Chinatown, and of course the backpacker filled Khao San Road.
Kanazawa
Our decision to go to Kanazawa was rather spontaneous but so worth it! After getting shut down in the Alps in the rain, we decided that rain can’t stop culture. We booked two nights in the city and set out to explore.
The Japanese Alps: still on our bucket list
After getting citied-out in Tokyo, we were eager to get into the mountains. The skies were grey on our train ride out of the city, but we were optimistic about adventures! Climbing and hiking in “the Yosemite of Japan” were on the agenda, but mother nature had other ideas.
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Japan Part 1 – Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara
After a long journey taking us through Dubai, we arrived in Tokyo. The sprawling metropolis swallowed us whole as we stepped into the neon craziness of Shinjuku and walked to our hotel. In the following 10 days, we explored Tokyo, and then Kyoto, and Nara with Dan and Jake who were visiting from LA.