thejadeparade

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In December, Justin and I went on a quick weekend trip to Barcelona, Spain, a place I had been dreaming about going for awhile.  Check out my latest vlog on our experiences there! https://youtu.be/FKAPO_ffv3k

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Interested in what my apartment looks like in Malta?  Here is a quick tour of the place! https://youtu.be/W8hAwYAGBBk

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On my way to Malta, I made a pit stop in Belgium where I got to visit my friend Erin for the week!  We took the train to so many unique places in Belgium and even made a day trip out to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.  Hear more about my trip here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s0VJ-5vx6U

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Interested in hearing about the application process I went through to receive my Fulbright scholarship?  Watch this short video about my application timeline and the application components. https://youtu.be/85wHzmqubzk

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Here is a short compilation video of our two weeks spent backpacking around Cambodia.

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Siem Reap, Cambodia is a popular tourist attraction for the temples and the night life.  We like to try the touristy things, but usually find unique things to do that we end up enjoying more.  We found four "off the beaten path" things that we absolutely loved in Siem Reap.  Check them out! https://youtu.be/ba-qJ0tavXk

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Justin and I were blessed by a Buddhist monk in Angkor Wat, Cambodia. The monk tied a bracelet around each of our wrists, symbolizing good luck and fortune. Watch this quick video of the blessing here! https://youtu.be/HtLxxw99Zv4

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Most of our time in Cambodia was spent hopping around to different temples.  My top 3 moments were: watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat, being blessed by a monk, and visiting the Bayon Temple.  Find out more here! https://youtu.be/XdVriC5bqnY

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I'm finally getting around to catching up on my last few vlogs for this trip!  Watch this short video to get a glimpse of island life in Cambodia.  https://youtu.be/Tl4-TWA1Zuo

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Laos is not on everyone's radar to travel to, but it should be. From exploring the bustling night markets to ziplining through the trees with the gibbons to having a religious experience at one of the many temples, it has something for everyone. Check out how we spent our month in Laos in this short promo video.

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We took some "interesting" transportation down to visit some of the less touristy places in Southern Laos, stopping for some river tubing in Vang Vieng along the way. We visited an ancient Hindu temple (Wat Phou) in Champasak and relaxed on our own island in the 4,000 islands.

https://youtu.be/jCj6FQjcXw4

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For my birthday week, I got to live out one of my dreams. We slept in a treehouse deep in the rainforest that was only accessible by zipline, and it was the HIGHLIGHT of our entire 6-month journey so far.  Listen to the full story about our time at The Gibbon Experience here! https://youtu.be/kooSmJKbZPA

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Nam Et-Phou Louey is a National Protected Area in the Northeast of Laos. They usually shut down the trekking excursions during rainy season, but Justin and I managed to snag a spot on their last 3 day hike of the season. By the end of the 3 days, we were covered with mud, sweat, and leeches! Listen to my full version of the story here. Spoiler alert: I'm really not good at this whole hiking thing. https://youtu.be/wQ-F0dXPhQg

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One of my favorite excursions we have done so far was to the Elephant Conservation Center in Laos. Watch this short 1 minute video on the center, which welcomes visitors to come and observe elephants in their natural habitat and support their efforts to protect and preserve Asian elephants from extinction. https://youtu.be/lqfzDTt7vus

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Luang Prabang is a must-see when visiting Laos! There are so many delicious foods to try, beautiful temples to explore, and waterfalls to swim in.  There are even "out-of-the-box" excursions like "blacksmithing" which I learned I am very bad at. https://youtu.be/lL9w4L6Y0Ko

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Saying goodbye to one country and entering another is always the hardest part of traveling. Listen to the string of problems we had on our first day and our first impressions of Laos here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kG9CIZ7tm0

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After 3 months of backpacking through Vietnam, it was so difficult to leave. Check out this compilation video I made of some of the highlights of our trip. Next up, LAOS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4RI5xjhlMk