LifePart2AndBeyond.com Travel Blog
Three Years Already! What an Amazing Retirement Adventure
Three years ago today I began the adventure I call LifePart2. During that time I have resided in three different countries and traveled in more than a dozen others. I have been transported on everything from private airplanes to ox carts and I have slept in...
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces of Bali, Indonesia
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces of Bali, Indonesia Time was passing really fast and Sarah and I were looking for one last adventure to have before we left Bali and we hadn't even been to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Even though we had been in Bali a month there were still...
Nusa Lembongan Seaweed Farming Photo Essay
Farming Seaweed on Lembongan Island, Indonesia Photographing Nusa Lembongan Seaweed Farming There are times when you see a scene, and you know it would make an amazing photo story and knew this right away with Nusa Lembongan Seaweed Farming. Last fall, when I was...
Wreck of the Peter Iredale
Skeleton of the Peter Iredale on the Coast of Oregon, USA. The 275 foot long Liverpool, 275 foot long Liverpool sailing ship wrecked at the mouth of the Columbia River in 1906.
Photo: Ubine Bridge in Mandalay, Burma
The Ubine Bridge (U Bein Bridge) is one of the most photographed sights in Myanmar and with good reason. Not only is it beautiful the traffic that crosses the old teak structure is fascinating to watch as is the life that goes on around the lake at its base.
Eating Live, or Dancing Shrimp in Thailand
A Bowl of Dancing Shrimp or Goong Ten in Thailand Eating Live Shrimp in Thailand I love fresh seafood – the fresher, the better. I have had more than my fair share of sweet Maine lobster straight from the sea to the pot or spicy Louisiana crawfish fresh from the boil....
23 Images of Mrauk U, Myanmar, People, Temples and Pagodas
About Mrauk U A visit to the ruins of Mruak U, Myanmar, once one of the richest cities in Asia, is both a source of wonder and a cautionary tale. The Mrauk U temples are incredibly beautiful but abandoned and many of them are ruins. There was once talk of making the...
Tirta Empul Temple, the Holy Springs in Bali
Holy Springs of Tirta Empul Temple in Bali For over a thousand years Balinese Hindu worshipers have been drawn to a mysterious place, that is also one of Bali attractions, the Tirta Empul Temple. Known to the Balinese as Pura Tirta Empul and more casually as Holy...
Ubud Monkey Forest Bali, Indonesia
A Family of Monkeys at Monkey Forest in Bali Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali, near the town of Ubud, consists of three 11th-century Balinese Hindu temples on 27 acres dedicated to (again) monkeys. Around 600 of these sassy simians, monkeys otherwise known as Balinese...
Photo | Hoi An, Vietnam’s Waterfront
What Does $65 a Night Get You on Lombok Island?
My birthday was coming around so we decided to leave the peaceful little villa in the rice fields of Ubud, for a few days and visit the beach on another Indonesian island — Lombok. For $65 USD a night we were able to get a nice second floor room, overlooking the...
Photos of Ducks Cleaning Rice Fields in Bali, Indonesia
Ducks With a Mission There is a hidden army in the rice fields of Bali. Although small in stature the soldiers in this army perform a big job —protecting the paddies from invasion. For little glory these little fighters battle, the field of insects, weeds and garner...
Visit to the Temples of Bagan, Myanmar with Photos
Bagan History Located on a scenic bend on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar (Burma) the temples of Bagan are an enigma. Marco Polo called it, “one of the finest sights in the world” and I have to humbly agree. At its height, Bagan’s various rulers called for over 4,000...
Fair Warung Bale is Our Favorite Restaurant in Ubud, Bali
Fair Warung Bale in Ubud Bali Ubud, Bail, Indonesia is a town rich with great restaurants but Fair Warung Bale is my favorite. Bail's cosmopolitan makeup ensures there is great food available no matter what you are craving and over the last few weeks we have...
Fixing A Prayer Wheel in Bhutan
Prayer Flags by a Prayer Wheel Before I went to Bhutan I had never noticed a water powered prayer wheel before. Perhaps my awareness was low, I didn’t know what I was looking at or the places I have been visiting hadn’t had the right mix of Buddhism and free-flowing...
What Does $65 USD a Night Get You on Lembongan?
It was my friend Sarah’s birthday and we wanted to do something special to celebrate, but when you are already living your dreams finding something more special than day-to-day living can be difficult. It is also kind of hard to beat the time we are having in Ubud but...
San Kamphaeng Hot Springs Near Chiang Mai
One of the things I like most about living in Chiang Mai, Thailand are the numerous mini-adventures that can be had near town. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, less than 45 minutes away, is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Make no mistake, this is not a luxury spa...
A Delicate Operation
I knew my old “genuine knock-off” Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses had about outlived their usefulness when I put them on and one of the arms fell off. It was a little frustrating because I knew that my $6 USD polarized investment was reaching an end. I liked the style and...
How I Afford My Travel Lifestyle
Since I retired three years ago I have had a lot of people ask how much it costs to fund my travel lifestyle. I have always been hesitant to answer that because what a person “needs” is a very personal thing and the way I live may seem, depending on where you are...
Photo | Petronas Towers in Malaysia
Jon & Sarah
It seemed almost inevitable that we, Jonathan and Sarah, would one day meet: two independent travellers from different corners of the globe, we shared a bond that many travellers experience, a mutual love of adventure and a belief that the planet is a better place when people leave their comfort zones and discover new lands and cultures. So, when our paths finally