Roamers Report #12 January 30, 2025

Dear Fellow Travel Enthusiasts,

Welcome to the 12th installment of the Roamers' Report!

We are on the "back nine" of our globetrotting adventure and while I am sure it will go by so fast, on paper we still have quite a few countries to go yet and more fun adventures to be had.  Overall the mood meter is high - it was really fun spending time with Francesca's relatives in the Philippines for a month and now we have been reuniting in Vietnam with some of our friends we met at the Worldschool Hub in Koh Lanta, Thailand back in November.  We are gearing up to celebrate the Tet Lunar New Year celebration here in Hoi An which is exciting.

If any of you are fans of our Travel Story section, just a heads up that we have two new stories this time.  And I want to call your attention to one entitled "The Fruit Seller's Daughter" which, for the first time, is a 100% fictional travel story - ie not based on something that happened to us on our trip. I know the real life ones are often more interesting, but I was inspired by something I saw to put forth this creative writing effort.  I hope you enjoy it. Take a read by clicking here!

(An overview of the countries and cities we've been since the last newsletter and an update on where we are currently)

We've covered some ground since our last Roamers Report.  After leaving Thailand we spent a month in the Philippines traveling around a few of the 7,641 islands that make up the archipeligo including Cebu, Luzon and El Nido. We spent Christmas and New Years there before heading to Taipei, Taiwan for a few days and Hong Kong for a quick 1 day layover on our way to Hoi An, Vietnam where we'll be spending the next month. After Vietnam we'll be flying off to Bali, Indonesia for a month of rice paddies and yoga followed by three weeks in Nepal trying to catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest.  Here are some select photos from the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

Banaue

Banaue was stop one on our amazing weekend in the mountains of North-Central Luzon in the Philippines.  We had to trek about 20 minutes through rice terraces to get to our lodging.  The next morning we got up early to trek an hour through the rice terraces to get to the Bogyah Hot Springs. The terraces are a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines and were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. 

Sagada

Very cool descent into the Samuguing Caves in the mountain province of Segada (aka Ganduyan) in Northern Luzon, Philippines. Followed by lunch at a restaurant specializing in delicious smoked meats, a local pottery class and a visit to the famous "hanging coffins". And finally a quick stop at a museum where we learned a lot about the indigenous people of the area - tribes collectively called igorrote ("mountain people" ) by the Spanish explorers.

A big thanks to Francesca's relatives Cocoy C. Jr. Ignacio and Mai Ignacio for arranging it all for us and lending us their kids for the day!

Atok

Atok: The final stop on our northern Luzon (Philippines) tour.  Sun, fun, flowers and horses.  A delightful spot to conclude our glamping weekend organized by Franceca's cousins Mai Mai and Cocoy C. Jr. Ignacio. 

We only had 3 days in Taipei, Taiwan. It rained a bit, but we were able to walk around a lot and hit some of the major attractions including Longshan Temple, Taipei 101 tower, Raohe St. Night Market, Sun Yat Sen Memorial and attend an awesome cooking class.

Of course two of the most memorable experiences for the kids were two unplanned (and free) experiences; an impromptu stop at Daan Park and a getting lost in the bowels of an underground mall area got us an invite to an adult drawing class (Art Gong), when the art teacher saw the kids, she pushed the adults off to the side and sat us down and had us draw still life scenes of cakes from the famous bakery 95 Degrees (which our kids remember from our LA days).  

The kids did such a good job she put them on ther Instagram feed.  Okay, maybe it was just due to the rarity of American kids finding their way to her studio, but in any case the kids loved it.  We spent 2 hours drawing, oh and they got to eat the cakes at the end.  Sorry other adult students!

We only had a very short time in Taipei, but definitely a place I'd like to return to and explore more.

Around 30 years ago I lived in Hong Kong for several years and so I asked Francesca to engineer a one day layover on our way from Taiwan to Vietnam so I could show her and the kids where I used to live, work and play in my mid 20s.  

We crammed a lot into a little time including seeing my old office, my old apartment, taking the escalator up to the midlevels, riding the tram to the top of The Peak for some amazing night views, eating dim sum (the kind with the trolley carts), taking the Star Ferry over to the Kowloon side and running around in Kowloon Park. 

While I was not able to connect with my former HK roommate or my other friends living there (I waited too late to put the word out) it was fun being back in that vibrant city that I remember so fondly.

(Hopefully humorous stories about real events that happened to us on our trip)

I have two new Travel Stories for this edition.  One is called "Running Into Culture" and it's about how my runs while traveling serve not only for exercise and thinking time, but for exploring and seeking out cultural encounters.  

RUNNING INTO CULTURE

As the sun casts its first rays over the horizon, painting the world in soft gold, I lace up my running shoes and step out into the unknown. For me, running is not just about movement—it’s my sanctuary, my meditation in motion. And as we travel through country after country, it has also become one of the most surprising ways I’ve connected with the cultures we’re exploring. On these runs, I’m not just passing through; I’m observing, interacting, and sometimes even exchanging something as simple and profound as a smile.... Click to read the full story.

The second one is called "The Fruit Seller's Daughter" and it is my FIRST attempt at a 100% fictional travel story.  Well some of my travel experiences influenced some of it, but the overall story is purely fictional.  It is about a bittersweet romance between an expat in the Philippines and a local girl. 

THE FRUIT SELLER'S DAUGHTER

The salty breeze carried whispers of the sea as James strolled through the bustling outdoor market of a remote island in Palawan, Philippines. The young British man, in his early 30s, had sought solace from the fast-paced life in London and found himself drawn to the untouched beauty of this island. It was here, amidst the vibrant chaos of stalls brimming with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and the laughter of locals, that his eyes met hers.... Click here to read the full short story.

In case you missed the previous Travel Stories, here they are.....

When Adventure Becomes Peril: A Traveler's Reckoning (Koh Lanta, Thailand) December 2024

Finding Shangri-La (Chiang Mai, Thailand), November 2024

The Bad Shepherds (S, Moroccos), November 2024

Hamam-a-jama! (Sidi Allal el Bahraoui), Morocco) October 2024 

Trapped: Parking Garage Escape Room! (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain) September 2024 

Birthday Bust in Slovenia (Kanal, Slovenia) September 2024

To the Bat Cave Ryan (Vyrises, Greece) August 2024

Gentlemen Start Your Bouzoukis (Anatoli, Greece) August 2024

Between Some Rocks and a Hot Place (Myrtos, Greece) July 2024

The Myth of Traveling Kindness (Crete, Greece) July 2024

The Sugar Spoon Caper (Chania, Greece) June 2024

(Many of you may not care about the home schooling portion of this, but since it's ostensibly the reason we are doing this, I will provide a brief update during these Newsletters.)

We took a substantial break from Homeschooling over the holidays primarily because we were too busy meeting Francesca's relatives and fast traveling around the Philippines.  Now that we are settled in Vietnam for the month we have resumed our normal homeschool schedule.  

Because we prioritize travel experiences over academic ones, we sometimes skip the schooling on a weekday, but now that we are rounding third base and heading home we realize how much of each kids' cirriculum we still need to get through so we have instituted make up days on Saturdays if we missed a day during the week.  Needless to say the kids are "not feeling" this new policy.  

I am not sure this goes with this section, but since it's education adjacent, I'll park it here for now.  BT (Before Travel) Francesca and I did not have much time for pleasure reading.  Francesca had a long driving commute and I was busy with work, kids, school activities, coaching soccer, running our little movie theater, etc.  So one of the things we were eager to do DT (During Travel) was to make time for pleasure reading. It's been such a joy to be able to gobble up books (well as fast as slow readers like Francesca and me can gobble), both online via the Libby App (a must for folks traveling super light) and phsyical books (we've been able to find used bookstores in most of the countries we've visited and have been sneaking one or two into our luggage). 

My reading covers several genres including Memoirs, Travel Writing, Fiction and Classic Literature. I've enjoyed rereading some of the novels I read (or was supposed to read) in high school ("To Kill a Mockingbird", "Catcher in the Rye", "The Scarlet Letter", "Of Mice and Men") as well as some NY Times Best Seller Fiction ("Then She Was Gone" by Lisa Jewell).  But I have also enjoyed discovering some fiction that has not been on the NY Times best seller list - at least not yet - like Laura Pearson's "Nobody's Wife", "Banyan Moon" by Thao Thai and "The Library of Borrowed Hearts" by Lucy Gilmore (ALL HIGHLY RECOMMENDED).  And just for topical good measure, I threw in some Travel Writing here and there.  

I have also tried to read stories that take place in or have something to do with the countires we are visiting for example, "Heart of Darkness" and "Banyan Moon" (Vietnam), the former qualifies as it was the inspiration for the film Apocalypse Now even though the book is set in Africa, Siddhartha (Thailand) - the Bhuddhist connection, and XX  Bosnia (I just started reading this one so it's not on the list). 

Below is my reading list as well as what I have on deck in case you're curious. 

Books Read (Dan) (19):

• "Your Story Starts Here: A Year on the Brink with Gen Z" by Jim Zervanos (Memior)

• "Nobody's Wife" by Laura Pearson (Book Club Fiction)

• "The Library of Borrowed Hearts" by Lucy Gilmore (Book Club Fiction) 

• "Shanghai Baby" by Wei Hui (Memoir)

• "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathanial Hawthorne (Classic Literature)

• "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (Classic Literature)

• "Red Dust" by Gillian Slovo (Current Fiction)

• "Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger (Classic Literature)

• "The Pearl" by John Steinbeck (Classic Literature)

• "The Magic Teashop" by Angela Carter (Fiction)

• "Memories of my Melancholy Whores" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Modern Fiction)

• "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck (Classic Literature)

• "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad (Classic Literature)

• "Then She Was Gone" by Lisa Jewell (Book Club Fiction)

• "Jaguars Ripped My Flesh" by Tim Cahill (Travel Writing/Memoir)

• "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse (Classic Literature)

• "The Last Thing He Told Me" by Laura Dave (Book Club Fiction)

• "Last Chance to See" by Douglas Adams (Travel Writing/Memoir)

• "Banyan Moon" by Thao Thai (Fiction)

Books in the queue:

• "Taiwan Traveloque" by Yang Shuang-Zi

• "Lost Soul" by Ahmet M. Rahmanovic

• "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel DeFoe

• :"Galapagos" by Kurt Vonnegut  - I have never read any Vonnegut, but I feel that I should :)

• "Only Time Will Tell" by Jeffrey Archer - One of my favorite authors

• "And Thereby Hangs a Tale" by Jeffery Archer

• "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig

• "Apples Never Fall" by Liane Moriarty

• "Neither Here Nor There" by Bill Bryson - Love him!

• "Normal People" by Sally Rooney

(Blog Posts Published since the last newsletter - in case you missed them on social media)

I am behind on my blog posting - I still have Manila, Northern Luzon and El Nido to do from the Philippines as well as Taipei and Hong Kong.  I plan to crank them out in the next week or two. 

Philippines:

Cebu is Crying

Thailand:

One Day in Bangkok

Koh Lanta: Worldschool Hub

Muay Thai Boxing for Dummies!

Mu Ko Lanta National Park 

Following Giants: A Day in an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary

Snokeling in Koh Ha and Koh Rok

Buddhism and its Many Mudra

Chiang Mai: Fire in the Sky (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

The Life of Pai (Pai, Thailand)

(A dose of truth about some of the things that did not go according to plan or worries that we've had about the trip)

I guess the only thing I have for the Truth Serum section is something I have been noddling about in my head ever since we arrived in Vietnam.  We're living in a beautiful city called Hoi An with an enchanting Old Town (known for it's colorful lanterns) and an amazing beach coastline dotted with palm trees.  Objectively you could put Hoi An and indeed many other beach cities in Vietnam up against some of the nicer beach areas of the world like Thailand or Bali.  

So why is it that when I think of Vietnam it doesn't conjure up a beach paradise for me?  Well, I believe that if you grew up in the late 60s and early 70s (during the time of the Vietnam War - which, quite understandably, they call The American War here - and during the time of the Cold War with the former Soviet Union) there is something....a pall that hangs over the word Vietnam.  It's not negative and certainly nothing on a conscious level, but it's there all the same.  And I'm not gonna lie, the Vietnam flag with it's red background and yellow star and even more so the Socialist flag with the yellow hammer and sicle against a red backdrop (reminiscient of the old Soviet Union flag) leaves a little unsettling feeling among some older Americans.  Indeed, when I told Francesca I purchased a Vietnam flag to display for the Tet holiday she replied "Geez, that's a little intense don't you think?"

But what I have been trying to figure out - by asking our friends from other countries - is do non Americans have that subconscious bias about Vietnam? A few people I asked seemed confused like they didn't understand the question, but others did acknowledge while there is no personal animosity, the word Vietnam for them also conjures up the Vietnam War by association even though their country was not involved.  Not that it keeps any/many tourists from coming here, but it's still a bum deal that there is any potential negative association based on an imperialist countrty (France) and the World's (former) policeman (USA) butting their noses into domestic affairs, all due to the boogeyman that was communism which turned out to not have such a domino effect as had been feared. 

Anyway, it's neither here nor there and I want to reiterate that I harbor no ill will to the country of Vietnam and it's people - who have been fanastic all 3 times I have lived here - but I just wanted to air a thought that occurred to me and wondered if others maybe had a similar experience. 

(I'm a little reluctant about this section because this trip is supposed to be more about quality and experience than sheer quantity, but I find stats like this interesting nonetheless) 

I am getting a bit more comfortable with keeping the trip stats.  As time goes by and the stats grow, it is getting fun to track the various cities we've been to and the modes of transport we've taken, etc. 

Here is a quick list of countries we've been to so far on this trip. They are places we have stayed overnight for at least one night. The bold ones are places we've lived in for an extended period of time (over 3 weeks). 

• United States

• United Kingdom

• Greece

• Croatia

• Bosnia and Hercegovina

• Slovenia

• Austria

• Italy

• Spain

• Portugal

• Morocco

• Romania

• Thailand

• Philiippines

• Taiwan

• Hong Kong

• Vietnam

Here is the link to the full trip stats page.

Thanks for joining us on our journey. I have tried to keep to my self imposed routine of sending a Roamers' Report every 2 weeks, but it hasn't always worked out that way. But I do post more regularly on social media (mostly FB, but some Instagram too) so if you want more real time updates please follow our Five Tickets to Roam FB page .

Regards,

The Roamers - Dan, Francesca, Ryan, Austen & Finley