Erika Bisbocci
Erika is an avid traveler and explorer of over ninety countries on six different continents. Since 2011, she has spent time studying Arabic in the Middle East, teaching English in Namibia and working as a flight attendant for a major US airline. When not traveling overseas, she loves exploring her own backyard in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
-
Porto and the Douro River Valley
At first glance, the city of Porto in northern Portugal is poorer, dirtier and grittier than Europe’s other popular metropolitan areas. Outside its touristy downtown, once-bustling storefronts lie boarded up and vacant due to years of stagnant economic growth. Its tightly stacked houses lay half crumbling, swallowed by overgrown vines and invasive weeds. But Porto’s charm lies in its faded colors, its peeling paint and its chipped azujuelo tiles. The hardworking city may be less cosmopolitan than Lisbon, but it is no less charming. Its walkable center is crammed with uneven cobbled…
-
Northern Laos: Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi
Laos is a small country that flies largely under the radar due to its lack of big-name attractions. A land of verdant rice fields, spectacular karst formations, temple-speckled towns and friendly people, Laos packs the best that the region has to offer within its landlocked borders. Following my sojourn in Luang Prabang, I’d originally planned to head south, toward the dramatic karst-mountain scenery of Vang Vieng. But after reading about Vang Vieng’s notorious party-till-you-drop atmosphere, I had a change of heart and found myself in the rugged mountains of Nong Khiaw…
-
Two Days in Luang Prabang: A Backpacker’s Utopia
The UNESCO-recognized World Heritage city of Luang Prabang, is the undeniable hub of tourism in the tiny, landlocked nation of Laos. A city of bougainvilleas, baguettes and outstanding natural beauty, this charming Laotian town rests at the convergence of the Nam Khang river and the mighty Mekong—giving Luang Prabang a stunning setting amongst lazy waterways and verdant peaks. Like a smaller version of Chiang Mai, but with a decidedly French flair, it is a place where backpackers come to recharge for a few days, and end up spending weeks. While Laos may…
-
A Perfect Three Day Inle Lake Itinerary
Myanmar may still seem off-the-beaten-path when compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors, but you wouldn’t know it during a visit to Inle Lake. Inle Lake is—along with Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda and Bagan’s temple-strewn plane—a major draw for international travelers to Myanmar. Hemmed by lush green hillsides and picturesque villages, the placid waters of the lake are home to floating gardens, Buddhist stupas, and communities built on stilts. Inle Lake is a place that is at once enchanting and serene, magical and breathtaking. Yet, it is also a place that elicits a…
-
Visiting the Bagan Pagodas in Myanmar
Bagan’s pagoda-studded landscape is a history-lover’s wonderland and a highlight of travel to Southeast Asia. The archeological site a testament to the powerful kingdom that once presided over ancient Myanmar. Bagan’s 26 square miles seem to extend as far as the eye can see. Its towering stupas—numbering in the thousands and scattered about the Bagan plane—rise out of the dense jungle, as if piercing the sky. Bagan isn’t exactly a household name, but it is one that should be on your radar if you’re a lover of ancient history. The…
-
One Day in Yangon Myanmar: Land of Golden Pagodas
Myanmar is a land of shimmering stupas and crumbling pagodas. The country is home to ancient ruins, vibrant cities, friendly people, and beautiful nature. Yet, despite housing some of the great attractions in Southeast Asia, the country has only recently opened its doors to international travelers. For years, Myanmar’s repressive military junta cut the country off from the rest of the world. And as a result, the Land of Golden Pagodas became a sort of black hole on the map of seasoned travelers. But times have changed and the Burmese…
