Over the past several years, the majority of my travel has been in Central America. Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Belize have all topped the list the past few years, but I was ready for something totally new: Southeast Asia.

My colleagues have raved; my friends have sung the praises; family members have drooled over the photos and memories of their …

I love exploring cities on my own. It can be a little overwhelming not knowing exactly where to go, but I do like to just walk and get a feel for the city. Hanoi has a wonderfully charming feel. The clash of French influence and Vietnamese styles makes for some interesting juxtapositions in the architecture but maybe more interestingly in the …

Ha Long Bay is one of the incredible natural wonders of Vietnam. I was looking forward to our 2-day, 1-night cruise on a junk boat to get the full experience.

First, I have to say, if you have an extra day, opt for the 3-day/2-night cruise on the Bay. The transfer time from Hanoi is long, and I felt like I spent about as much time getting to and …

Can I just start by saying, I love Laos! It is an often overlooked destination in SE Asia, not having any beaches, but do yourself a favor and schedule a few days in Laos.

Our first day was spent in the city with our wonderful guide. Walking through the markets alone was an education. There were so many new vegetables, fruits, spices and meat …

You simply can't meet more pleasant people anywhere in the world than in SE Asia. Laos in particular was full of smiling faces and welcoming individuals. Two interactions stand out among the rest.

The first was a Baci ceremony on our last night in Luang Prabang. We walked with our guide into an area with more houses and arrived at a community …

It took a little doing but we managed to squeeze in a side trip to Siem Reap at the end of our trip. Angkor Wat gets all the love, but the temple complexes in this region are vast and varied.

Of course Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are the most well-known. They've also been the best excavated and maintained, so, despite thousands of tourists …