Sarah and I obsess about happiness. We read, and we scheme, and we make deliberate decisions about how to be happy. After lots of reading and scheming, we left our Washington, DC jobs in February 2017. We moved out of our apartment, drove across the country, got married, and launched an around-the-world honeymoon. We budgeted…
In total, Sarah and I spent $7,556.35 USD and 160,000 airline points. This was our total spending for two people, including flights to and from Africa. Prior to our 2017 Southern Africa trip, we received several nervous questions about “what is this going to cost?” To answer that question, we meticulously tracked each Rand, Rupee,…
Sarah would tell you the highlight of our trip to Indonesia was seeing orangutans in Borneo. We got engaged in Indonesia, but still—orangutans in Borneo. In Indonesia, we visited Borobudur, Mount Bromo, and Komodo Island. None compare to mythical Borneo. More specifically, Tanjung Puting National Park—possibly the coolest place in the world to see orangutans….
May 4, 2017
Sterling Laudon
4 comments
Each May during Passport DC, embassies in Washington, D.C. host free open houses on consecutive Saturdays. In 2017, May 6 is “Around the World Embassy Tour” and May 13 is European Union Open House. The best embassies have cool exhibits, native food and drinks, and short lines for admission (see cheat sheet below). The event…
May 3, 2017
Sterling Laudon
4 comments
Sarah and I are spending four months in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, and the Yukon. With help from a world weather guide: Weather to Travel, we have loosely planned our itinerary around weather. April to June should be sunny and dry in southern Africa. June to August should be warm with…
November 1, 2016
Sarah
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In 2016, we failed to buy camping passes for Firefly Music Festival. A few days before the festival, we realized they were sold out (oops). We tried everything we could think of: Craigslist, message boards, Reddit. This is the story of how we accidentally ended up with the BEST camping spot ever for Firefly Music Festival—and why…
October 2, 2016
Sterling Laudon
2 comments
Where: Port Rexton, Newfoundland When: Spring – fall (June – August are nicest) Round trip: 5.3 km What sets the Skerwink Trail apart? The Skerwink Trail is the Holy Grail of hiking: world-class scenery, uncrowded, and easy. Less famous than some other hikes, the Skerwink Trail punches well above its weight. In 5.3 short kilometers, the Skerwink…
July 9, 2016
Sarah
20 comments
In Indonesia, water is the cleanser of choice. Toilet paper is rare. Wipe options will vary. You may see a hose, a bucket and water, or toilet paper. In many cases, wiping is a hands-on affair, with a preference for using the left hand over the right. After traveling to nine of Indonesia’s islands and…
June 15, 2016
Sarah
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Following the tragedy in Orlando, DC’s Capital Pride Festival provided a resounding counterpoint: love conquers hate. Thousands gathered to celebrate love, support the LGBT community, and remember those lost. Despite advancements in recent years, the fight for a more tolerant and just society continues. Capital Pride sponsors numerous celebrations throughout June, with big highlights including the parade and festival. This year,…
June 12, 2016
Sterling Laudon
2 comments
Colin Scott died in Yellowstone National Park last week after stepping off the boardwalks and falling into a hot spring. His death follows a string of recent news articles involving tourists breaking rules in Yellowstone, either by getting too close to animals or leaving marked pathways. Each incident invokes the same sanctimonious reactions: “Stupid tourist!/I’m…
