Jean Nguyen

  • Oregon

    Crater Lake

    September 29, 2015 - By 

    Unlike South America there doesn’t seem to be too many lake-filled calderas in the United States.  Although we hiked along Ecuador’s Quilotoa and Laguna Cuicocha in Otavalo not too long ago, our breaths were still taken away by the majestic beauty of Oregon’s only national park, Crater Lake National Park.  Another plus was its vicinity to the California state line, so the drive didn’t take long at all coming from Mount Shasta. Most people will only need 1 full day to explore what the park has to offer, but I easily filled two days by spending the first day hiking and the…

  • California

    Mount Shasta

    September 25, 2015 - By 

    Having been born and raised in California, I still can’t believe that I waited until I was 30 to visit the quaint, little town and peak of Mount Shasta.  The beauty of the serene woods, tranquil lakes, abundance of outdoor activities, and the stunning peak triggers an adoration similar to my fondness of Lake Tahoe. Unlike Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta is nestled remotely between similarly-sized towns with the nearest “major” city being depressing Redding.  You can either love or hate that about Mount Shasta, but I believe the people live there due to its distance from city life.  A friend’s father grew up in…

  • Budgeting

    How To Make Long-Term Travel Possible

    September 17, 2015 - By 

    I don’t mind when people curiously ask me, “So what did you have to do in order to live this lifestyle?” I do however mind when people make the ignorant claim, “You’re so lucky you get to travel.” I’ve been asked by my own family members, friends, and people I’ve met while traveling the same question, so I figure it’s time I dive into an honest, detailed response. First of all, it’s not luck. I’m not living off a trust fund that Daddy gave me. The job fairy didn’t magically appear and give Chris his own company, skills, and customers.…

  • Budgeting

    Budgeting 5 Months in Latin America

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    Although the cost of living and traveling in Latin America is far cheaper than the cost of living in San Francisco, I knew that the total cost of 5+ months in Latin America would be exponentially higher than my total cost for 5 months in Southeast Asia.  It is still the Americas after all. Parts of South America such as Chile and Argentina are modern, and the costs of living and travel in those countries are comparable to small towns in the United States. Remote and/or isolated areas such as Easter Island, the Galapagos, and Cuba are labeled with hefty price tags due…

  • Cuba

    Leaving Cuba and No Fucks Given

    September 3, 2015 - By 

    Logistics in Cuba always deserve its own story, and so our adventure of simply traveling from Santiago to Havana and departing Cuba gets its own post. Having already dealt with the nightmarish scenario of purchasing domestic plane tickets from Santiago de Cuba to Havana, all we had to do was return to Santiago from Baracoa by bus for a plane ride out to Havana. Our 5-hour bus ride to Santiago was fortunately non-incidental. Upon our arrival to the Santiago bus terminal we waved down all the $5-$10 rip-off taxis and hopped onto a horse cart for $2 CUP each (8¢) that…

  • Cuba

    Baracoa

    September 1, 2015 - By 

    On the far west end of Cuba lies the countryside of Viñales, and on the far east end of Cuba lies the small city and countryside of Baracoa. The history of Cuba’s oldest city is fascinating; the slave rebellion of Haiti in the 1700s resulted in the westward flee of the French to Cuba. Since Cuba is only ~70 km off the coast of Haiti, it wasn’t far nor difficult for the French to set foot upon its shores. The French then established Baracoa and cultivated their coffee, coconut, and cocoa farms. Prior to the ‘60s, Baracoa was isolated from the…

  • Cuba

    Santiago de Cuba

    August 27, 2015 - By 

    It really wasn’t until Santiago de Cuba when we finally got a feel for the real Cuba. Not because the city seems to see fewer tourists than Havana, or because its cultural influences come from primarily Jamaica, Haiti, and Africa, or because its revolutionary history has helped influence Cuba’s music, art, architecture, and politics. Around the charming plaza: The busy streets of Santiago: Like in Havana, it was refreshing to see children and teens playing soccer barefoot in the streets at dusk. By the time we arrived to Santiago, we had finally begun to understand the gist of Cuba after having…

  • Cuba

    Trinidad

    August 26, 2015 - By 

    Even with the busloads of tourists and hustlers, I was able to sample the time-warp of Trinidad merely by strolling through the quaint cobblestone historic center and biking gently through the hot and dusty narrow streets. The well-preserved colonial architecture set behind the classic cars and numerous horse carts made for colorful backdrops for the perfect photo. It is easy to assume that the picturesque historic center is all for show, but even beyond the historic center and deep into the shabbier neighborhoods one will easily find more photo opportunities of locals milling about their homes. Strolling through the streets:…

  • Cuba

    Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron)

    August 25, 2015 - By 

    Yes, it was quite the fiasco back in 1961 when the Kennedy administration attempted and failed to overthrow Cuba and Fidel.  Now to our amusement the former Bay of Pigs battle site is home to Cuba’s most accessible dive sites.  Although not the best dives in the country, its accessibility and low cost ($25 per dive, all equipment included) made it too hard to pass up. The premier dive sites in Cuba are Isla de la Juventud and Maria la Gorda, but they require too much time and money to get there. Diving in the Bay of Pigs it was!…

  • Cuba

    Viñales

    August 24, 2015 - By 

    In the far west of Cuba in the Pinar del Rio province lie the 11km x 5km limestone karst mountains of Valle de Viñales similar to those of Vietnam and Laos.  Apparently this is the best place in the world to grow tobacco, and the lush, green countryside is filled with tobacco fields, farmland, and the oxen working them. After a couple hectic days in fast-paced Havana, Viñales was the perfect getaway for natural beauty, nature hikes, and countryside relaxation. From Havana, it was only a 4-hour $12 bus ride via Viazul, or a 2-hour $15 shared taxi ride. First…