Backpacking | Etched In Adventure

My Costa Rica Bucket List

December 27, 2019 by Shaun Li Stoffer

Costa Rica was originally supposed to be my senior trip back in 2009, but not enough students in my graduating class wanted to go and so the trip never happened. Frankly, going as an adult ten years later was indefinitely a better idea as I had the freedom and life experience to do it the right way as opposed to just going on tours with chaperones and staying in touristy hotels. Costa Rica is a country where you can do […]

Categories: Backpacking, Central America, Costa Rica, Travel, Travel Writing • Tags: Backpacking, Central America, Costa Rica, Monteverde, San Jose, Travel Photography, Traveling

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My Guatemala Bucket List

November 20, 2019 by Shaun Li Stoffer

Why did I go to Guatemala? Because I wanted to find the beauty in the countries that most people would either fly over or stay in a luxury hotel on the beach or lake their entire stay. I wanted to meet locals, eat local, drink local, and see all the hidden gems Guatemala had to offer. I wanted to immerse myself in their culture and another way of living. In simpler terms, I wanted to become more cultured. […]

Categories: Antigua, Backpacking, Central America, Guatemala, Travel, Travel Writing • Tags: Antigua, Central America, Guatemala, Lake Atitlan, San Marco, San Pedro, Santa Cruz, Volcan Pacaya

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My Siem Reap Bucket List

February 16, 2019 by Shaun Li Stoffer

1. Crocodile Farm: Went on a road trip with some friends from Siem Reap to Battambang, Cambodia. One of our stops was a crocodile farm where crocs are bred and raised for their meat and skin. Straightaway the owner showed us his baby crocs and offered to let us pick anyone of them up to hold. I didn’t hesitate but misunderstood him when he said, “they don’t bite if you hold them,” he meant to say, “they won’t bite if […]

Categories: Asia, Backpacking, Battambang, Bucket List, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Southeast Asia, Travel, Travel Writing • Tags: Angkor Wat, Asia, Backpacking, Battambang, Cambodia, Siem Reap, Southeast Asia, Temples, Travel

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Exiting Japan: Tokyo

August 4, 2018 by Shaun Li Stoffer

Tokyo was my last stop for my Japan trip and I had some reservations about going. I was growing tired of big cities, debating an over-packed itinerary, and was worried about being overwhelmed by a city even bigger than my old home of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. So, I just stuck with my instincts: check out a neighborhood a day at a time, relax at night, and just ride the wave. It was also the first time I decided to […]

Categories: Asia, Backpacking, Itineraries, Itinerary, Japan, Museum, Museums, Tokyo, Travel, Travel Writing • Tags: Asia, Backpacking, Ginza, Japan, Taiwan, Tokyo, Travel Writing

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Entering Japan: Osaka

July 8, 2018 by Shaun Li Stoffer

I left the school I worked at in Vietnam to start a new journey backpacking Japan, visiting my family in Singapore, and to live and teach in Taiwan. I didn’t dislike Vietnam but couldn’t get past some of the cons that made me not want to extend my stay past my fifteen months of living in Ho Chi Minh City. Some of the things I do and don’t miss about living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: The corruption: My […]

Categories: Alcohol, Asia, Backpacking, Creative Writing, Ho Chi Minh City, Japan, Osaka, Singapore, Tips, Travel • Tags: Asia, Backpacking, Japan, Osaka, Survival Japanese, Travel, World Travel

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The Best of Da Lat

May 14, 2018 by Shaun Li Stoffer

With three days off from work thanks to Vietnam’s Kings’ Commemoration Day I booked a ticket from my home in Ho Chi Minh City, better know as Saigon, to explore the small, mountain town of Da Lat, Vietnam. A glance into my daily life in Saigon consisting of traffic jams, Vietnamese food, rudimentary construction sights, and teaching. Join in on the live music, despite the horrendous bar service, at V Sky Bar: Buy a round of Vietnamese rice wine […]

Categories: Asia, Backpacking, Ho Chi Minh City, Southeast Asia, Travel, Vietnam • Tags: Asia, Backpacking, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Southeast Asia, Travel, Vietnam

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Five Non-Touristy Things to Do in Langkawi

February 28, 2018 by Shaun Li Stoffer

I came to Langkawi during Chinese New Year as a solo backpacker. Bringing only one small backpack, a hostel reservation, and a “just wing it” itinerary. I wanted to avoid all the touristy spots such as the popular Sky Bridge and Cable Car that were overpriced, brimming with rude tourists, and queues hours upon hours long. So, I did what I always do, I simply got lost and stumbled upon hidden adventures. 1. Visit Eagle Square then take the local […]

Categories: Asia, Backpacking, Langkawi, Malaysia, Penang, Southeast Asia, Travel • Tags: Beach Hopping, Fishing, Georgetown, Island Hopping, Langkawi, Malaysia, Muay Thai, Penang, Saltwater Fishing

My Thailand Bucket List

August 23, 2017 by Shaun Li Stoffer

I went to Thailand for a few simple reasons: to ride elephants, play with tigers, and see glorious temples. I was accompanied by my buddy from Miami, Florida who shared the travel bug. We spent two days in Bangkok and three days in Chiang Mai. Here is our bucket list of the best things we saw and did! Visit an Elephant Sanctuary: We visited Ran Tong Elephant Rescue for a cheap 1,600 baht or $50 each for a half day […]

Categories: Backpacking, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Travel • Tags: Asia, Backpacking, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Elephant Rescue, Elephants Rescue, Grand Palace, Khan San Road, Long Necks, Muay Thai, Ram Bar, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand, Tiger Kingdom, Travel, Tuk Tuk, Wat Arun

How to Spend a Weekend in Krakow

March 27, 2017 by Shaun Li Stoffer

Krakow, Poland was a place I came to for one reason, to see Auschwitz-Birkenau. Why? Because I love history and for whatever reason I’ve always had a fascination with World War 2 from playing first-person shooter games like Medal of Honor on Playstation 1 to re-watching films like Inglorious Bastards and The Pianist multiple times throughout the years. Quite simply learning about what people are capable of doing and enduring, good and bad, intrigues me in every way. Krakow is […]

Categories: Auschiwtz, Backpacking, Birkenau, Budget Travel, Central Europe, Europe, Krakow, Poland, Travel, Warsaw, Zakopane • Tags: Auschiwtz, Backpacking, Birkenau, Budget Travel, Central Europe, Day Trip, Eastern Europe, Europe, Eurotrip, Krakow, Poland, Tatra Mountains, Travel, Warsaw, Zakopane

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Etched In Adventure

"I wanted to disappear, to get so lost that nobody ever found me, and in doing so I found myself."

Category Archives: Backpacking

My Costa Rica Bucket List

My Guatemala Bucket List

My Siem Reap Bucket List

Exiting Japan: Tokyo

Entering Japan: Osaka

The Best of Da Lat

Five Non-Touristy Things to Do in Langkawi

My Thailand Bucket List

How to Spend a Weekend in Krakow