Skip to content
Backpack & Bike
  • Destinations
    • Canada
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • Sri Lanka
    • Japan
    • South East Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Indonesia
      • Thailand
      • Malaysia
      • Singapore
      • Vietnam
  • Before You Leave
  • Budget Travel
  • Cycling
  • About Us

Matti

Why I Cycle – Why Your Next Trip Should Be A Cycling Trip | Planning a cycling trip? Learn why I chose to bike across Canada and the UK and discover some of the benefits associated with touring a country by bike.

Why I Cycle – Why Your Next Trip Should Be A Cycling Trip

Planning a cycling trip? Learn why I chose to bike across Canada and the UK and discover some of the benefits associated with touring a country by bike.

Posted on February 27, 2017August 30, 2017 by Matti Continue reading
Is Couch Surfing safe? Does it cost any money? How do I meet locals in new countries? Both surfers and hosts tell all answering these questions and more!

Couch Surfing – How To Sleep For Free And Make Local Friends

If you’re reading this blog, there’s a fairly high chance that you’ve heard of the website Couch Surfing. I was introduced to this service in 2012 when I cycled across Canada with a friend, and was blown away by the openness and generosity shown by its members. Note: While the following may […]

Posted on October 10, 2016October 20, 2017 by Matti Continue reading
Visiting Angkor Wat | 6 Things You Didn't Know | So you're in (or planning a visit to) Southeast Asia. Have you considered a trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia to visit Angkor Archeological Park (Angkor Wat)?

Visiting Angkor Wat – 6 Things You Didn’t Know

Ah, Angkor Wat – Cambodia’s pride and jewel. While Southeast Asia is home to thousands of awe inspiring temples, there arguably none so enchanted as as the impressive Angkor Wat temple grounds in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. Temple tourism gets exhausting, and can often be underwhelming as [despite their varied histories] only […]

Posted on September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 by Matti Continue reading
From Egg to Poop Coffee | Examining Asian Coffee (and tea!) | Taking a look at the wild coffee and tea styles of Southeast Asia that a foodie must try during your travels!

Egg & Poop Coffee – Examining Asian Coffee (and Tea!)

Examining the wild coffee and tea styles of Southeast Asia…

Posted on August 16, 2016September 20, 2016 by Matti Continue reading
Sri Lanka | Hidden gems amongst chaos | A backpacker's guide | Part 1

Sri Lanka: A Backpacker’s Guide Part 1 – Hidden Gems Amongst the Chaos

About a year ago, I designed a lemon-mango Kolsch beer for my good friend Sanjay. He was preparing to leave Canada to work for an NGO in Sri Lanka – where he was born – and was hosting a going away party. Sara helped with the label design which featured […]

Posted on June 19, 2016March 29, 2017 by Matti Continue reading
Enjoying Pirate Beer with Malaysian elders

Enjoying Pirate Beer With Malaysian Elders

Whereas Papa Yong hails from the bustling city Kuala Lumpur, Momma Yong grew up much quieter town of Kota Kinabalu. There’s an unending rivalry between the two cities between them, so it’s dangerous for me to pick a favourite. When we arrived in Kota Kinabalu it was early evening. We […]

Posted on June 14, 2016January 16, 2017 by Matti Continue reading
What happens when a Canadian boy tries Durian for the first time?

The Progression of Eating Durian

What on God’s green earth is this monstrosity of a fruit, and who decided that humanity would be better off eating it?

Posted on May 16, 2016April 6, 2017 by Matti Continue reading
Monkey Forest Ubud Bali

Alcoholic Monkey Forest, Bali

Prior to even stepping foot into the Alcoholic Monkey Forest, an aggressive alpha male threw himself onto my back, and swung from one arm to the next in a desperate, alcohol induced attempt to steal my Bali Hai Lager for himself. Little did he know that I too am an […]

Posted on April 27, 2016October 31, 2016 by Matti Continue reading

The Volcano That Erupted Garbage

How to hike a beautiful volcano of garbage, with an amazing view…

Posted on April 18, 2016September 21, 2016 by Matti Continue reading

Not Your Father’s Shadow Puppets…

During my years as an undergraduate at University of Guelph, I enrolled in a course entitled Theatre Cultures (THST 3540). In it we examined a really fascinating form of shadow puppet theatre called Wayang Kulit (translated literally as: puppets made from [buffalo] skin). This form of ancient puppetry originated in […]

Posted on April 7, 2016September 21, 2016 by Matti Continue reading

Posts navigation

Older posts

search

about us

We are Sara and Matti, from Toronto, Canada, and believe life has more to offer than working 9 to 5. We prefer to see the world on a bike or out of a backpack and it never has to break the bank.

More on us & our past adventures

pinterest

search

Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: West by aThemes.