As we welcome home our team across Southeast Asia, the UK, and the US from annual inspections and travel conferences, we reflect on the things we’ve learned, the experiences we’ve had, the new friends we’ve made, and ponder one of the most disputed travel musings to have ever been pondered…how should one prepare and pack for an intercontinental journey?
We’ve concluded that there is no one-size-fits all method because all people have different priorities while traveling. However, we asked some of our team how they packed this year, and provided below are a few examples of packing by personality type. Follow the links for full packing details.
How do you prepare for travel? What are the items you can’t live without while traveling? Share your tips in the comments or share this post with your travel tips to your social media platform of choice with the hashtag #JourneysWithin. Follow us for more information about travel in Southeast Asia on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram. … Read more »
A few years ago the Son Doong and Tu Lan Caves were discovered in central Vietnam and my bucket list got a new #1 must-do item.
This past August, those dreams became a reality and I boarded a flight to Saigon, Vietnam, followed by a connection to Dong Hoi and a short drive to Phong Nha, which serves as the home base for Oxalis Adventure Tours – the outfitter for my caving adventure.
Located five hours north of Hue in central Vietnam, the Phong Nha area is perhaps the most beautiful part of Vietnam I’ve seen yet. With rice paddies stretching out to the horizon, limestone cliffs stretching up to the sky, and rivers running through all of it, the views that first morning made my trip worthwhile all by themselves.
The view from Phong Nha, Vietnam was worth the trip by itself.
In Phong Nha, I also met up with the lovely Anna Baldwin – our London-based Journeys Within Tour Consultant – who would be accompanying me on this adventure… An adventure that was about to get real!
Anna and I took a minibus to the Oxalis staging area and got the gear we would need for our next three days of exploring: hiking boots, headlamps and waterproof bags. Once we were all geared up we headed out through the rice paddies – getting strange looks from the spectating water buffalo along the way – towards the towering mountains in the distance and the amazing caverns hiding amidst their peaks.
Entering many of the caves in this system required a swim.
Our first underground experience in Secret Cave really brought to life this adventure and how grateful we should be to be there. Squeezing through small holes and then entering giant caverns, it felt like we had stepped into another world. And it was only the beginning.
Now, while this other world was indeed amazing, the journey through it didn’t happen without some effort. We trekked for much of the day, literally up and over a mountain – an experience that felt like a combination of a Stairmaster workout and Bikram yoga. I don’t think I’ve ever sweat so much in my life!
However, the reward was worth the effort when we trekked into camp that night and were greeted with a cool swim in a natural pool complete with a shower from the waterfall overhead. After an amazing meal cooked by our porters, we spent the night in hammocks, the brilliant sky framed by lush jungle foliage.
The size and diversity of the many caverns was something best witnessed first-hand.
The next day was dedicated to swimming… through caves! Many of the caves in the Tu Lan system can only be accessed by swimming and it was by far my favorite day… Floating in a pitch black cave as bats swoop over your head and your headlamp beam catches the shimmer of stalactites hanging above you is a surreal and magical experience.
We hiked and swam and felt like true explorers, and at the end of the day we once again arrived at a camp surrounded on one side by thick jungle and on the other a beautiful pool shadowed by towering limestone cliffs.
The last day was definitely the toughest – it started out hot and it didn’t cool down. We hiked up and over “Papa” Mountain and forded multiple rivers. We saw centipedes and snakes and again marveled at the underground worlds we entered and left.
As we crossed back over the rice paddies and past the sleeping buffalo in their mud holes, the entire experience felt like a surreal dream, only my bruises and sore muscles confirmed the reality of the amazing three-day experience.
Gazing out of one of the caves in the Tu Lan system.
All photos in this blog post by Anna Baldwin.… Read more »
In early 2015, Journeys Within guests Orlando and Danielle traveled to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They returned with this guest review…
Making paper flowers in Hue, Vietnam.
We cannot fully express with words how wonderful our trip through these beautiful countries was. We were so moved by everything we experienced. So much contrast all coexisting at once – beautiful landscapes and comfortable travels contrasted with the stark reality of what life is really like for so many (including some of our guides); such a dark history of oppression and war contrasted – all the reason to be angry – with the beauty that is the Buddhist culture – inherently peaceful and positive; the most delicious food we’ve ever eaten contrasted with the apparent lack of food for so many. Most of all, we were moved by all the smiles – the countless smiles we encountered and the clear inability of people to hold them back.
We are convinced that Journeys Within made this trip that much richer. And while we enjoyed the service, the beautiful hotels, etc., it was those activities that introduced us to the villages and local life (the trip down the Mekong and the Baci ceremony, meeting Sothy’s family, the transformative trip to the Tonle Sap and Konpog Phluk) that will stay with us for a long time. We highly recommend these activities as a counter part to the “beaten path attractions.” And while kayaking through the dirty waters of the Tonle Sap was very tough (and I don’t mean the exercise), I think it was such an important thing to see.
Danielle and I would like to learn a bit more about supporting some the work the Journeys Within does, and are also looking into our employer matching contributions – we weren’t on your site’s list, but are sure the company will match 1 for 1.
Thanks!
Warm regards,
Orlando and Danielle
Cooking class in Hoi An, VietnamThe Imperial City in Hue, VietnamFlower making in Hue, Vietnam
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Guests Julia Cuthbertson and Carlos Jimenez share their experience in Bai Tu Long Bay (the peaceful northern part of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, commonly overlooked by most visitors) while on their honeymoon:
On board the Dragon’s Pearl Junk
I just wanted to emphasize that we LOVED our 2 night/3 day boat trip to Bai Tu Long Bay – amazing to be the only boat within sight for almost the entire time. The scenery was stunning and we really loved the boat itself – we expected the rooms to be as small, but we didn’t expect them (and the bathroom) to be so nice! I still think about our dinner in the cave our second night – so awesome! I would highly encourage other travelers to do this tour.
For that matter, we thought our entire itinerary was perfect – we really thought it was the perfect mix of nature, city and temples. We actually have multiple friends and some family who are so amazed by our pictures that they want us to send them over all the details so they can do the same exact trip!
Relaxing on the upper deck
Information about the Dragon’s Pearl Cruises: The Dragon’s Pearl Junk Cruise offers 2- and 3-day cruises, and includes delicious multiple-course meals. Admire the hundreds of fascinating rock formations rising from the emerald green water as you cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay. You’ll have the opportunity to visit a few of these islands, explore Thien Canh Son Cave, relax on the beach, swim, kayak or relax in the comfortable sun chairs on the top deck. You’ll also have the chance to visit the local floating village of Cong Dam that survives from fishing in Ha Long Bay and learn about their daily lives, the floating school and their fish farms.
Our CabinAn arch in one of the many islandsJulia and Carlos kayaking in Baid Tu Long BayKayaking into a caveA delicious dinner in Thien Canh Son CaveBai Tu Long BayThe Dragon’s Pearl Junk
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Booking Coordinator, Courtney Ridgel traveled to Vietnam last May and reflects back on her interactive experience at The Truc Mai Music House:
Courtney tries her hand at playing the Ðàn Klôngpút, a rare instrument from the mountains of Vietnam
Taking the time to listen and watch traditional music being performed is one of the best ways to really gain insight into a local culture. For the Vietnamese, many stories and melodies are passed on and nurtured as part of their cultural identity.
Our hosts played a duet on bamboo xylophones, also known as ‘T’rung’ The stone lithophone, or Ðàn Ðá, is an ancient instrument that is believed to date back more than 3,000 years
One of the most unique and personal experiences for us in Vietnam was a visit the Truc Mai Music House in Saigon. This family specializes in traditional Vietnamese music and performs all over the world. They have a large collection of traditional instruments such as the monochord zither, bamboo xylophone, and stone lithophone in their home. We were warmly welcomed inside and served hot tea, which we sipped while our hosts performed a private show for us in their living room. This family studies and performs melodies from all across Vietnam and they really enjoyed explaining the origins and significance of each instrument. As both of us come from a musical background, we were blown away when our hosts offered to let us try out the instruments ourselves after the performance!
