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Okennas Odyssey

  • Destinations

    Unique Bangkok: a day in the fascinating Bang Rak area

    February 13, 2019 Read More
  • Europe Ireland

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way : Kilkee Cliffs to Connemara

    December 4, 2017 Read More
  • Europe Ireland

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way: Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula

    November 16, 2017 Read More
  • Europe Ireland

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way: Kinsale to Kenmare

    October 31, 2017 Read More
  • Wat Yannawa, Bang Rak, Bangkok

    Unique Bangkok: a day in the fascinating Bang Rak area

    Bangkok is one of our favorite cities in the world. We have visited five times, spending a total of two months in the SE Asian metropolis. On our last visit, we spent quite a…

  • Leenaun, Ireland in Connemara is a beautiful place to watch sunset.

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way : Kilkee Cliffs to Connemara

    It was time to add dramatic seaside cliffs to our road trip, so after leaving the Dingle Peninsula we drove north crossing the Shannon River into County Clare.  Here we would discover the Kilkee…

  • Dunmore Head at the tip of the Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way.

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way: Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula

    When you research things to do in Ireland, the Ring of Kerry is always at the top of the list.  We were already blown away by what we had seen on our first week…

  • Ballydonegan Bay on the Beara Peninsula is a great place for a swim and a jumping off point for several hikes. It's also a good place to camp in the campervan.

    Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way: Kinsale to Kenmare

    We had loose plans to drive part of the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, but didn’t know where to start. That changed as we walked down an alleyway in Cork with our friends Abby…

  • Roman Sauna at Spa Land

    Baring it all in a Korean Jimjilbang

    If you look up a list of top things to do in South Korea, heading to a traditional jimjilbang is a must.  For those not in the know, they are Korean bathhouses. It is…

  • Pag Island, Croatia has beautiful seaside views, otherworldly landscapes and gorgeous sunsets.

    Tips for campervanning Europe after 3 months on the road

    We just hit our halfway point on our six month road trip through Europe in a campervan we got with Happy Campers Europe. Vanlife has had its ups and downs for sure, but overall…

  • Ayutthaya has row upon rows of buddhas to photograph.

    Ancient Ayutthaya: temples galore and a killer night market

    Sukhothai was our first foray into Thai temple ruins, but we still wanted more. So we headed south to see the Ayutthaya temples. We arrived at the station in Sukhothai and booked VIP tickets. …

  • Buddha feet.

    Two days in Sukhothai: diving into Thailand’s temple ruins

    Between Chiang Mai and Bangkok lie two cities of ruins from old kingdoms. Both Sukhothai and Ayutthaya were capitals of Thailand at one point in time and thus have a huge historical significance.  We…

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Who Are We?

Who Are We?

We are Todd and Mairin - the past three have seen us leave the US, backpack through parts of Asia, take a camper van around Europe for 7 months and live in Vietnam and Thailand for a year while teaching English. We are currently teaching English online and traveling in Eastern Europe. We are passionate about responsible travel and love to eat, hike and drink the local hooch while conversing with locals. Cheers!

Where are We?

Current Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

okennasodyssey

Todd and Mairin
🌎 Avid travelers and housesitters
📍Currently exploring Plovdiv, Bulgaria
👨🏻‍🏫👩‍🏫 Online ESL teachers
All 📷 are our own #okennasodyssey

Okennas Odyssey
We’re in favor of skipping the roses and chocola We’re in favor of skipping the roses and chocolates and instead taking your loved one for a hike on a bluff (preferably near a 🏰 in Scotland). Love your life, love yourself, show your loved ones how you feel. And not just on Valentine’s Day, but everyday! ❤️ #valentinesday #bemine #love #myvalentine #okennasodyssey #showthelove #hikingisfun #scottishcastles #scotlandtourism #coupletravel #housesittinglife #loveisallyouneed
Sometimes plans go awry, but in the best way. A co Sometimes plans go awry, but in the best way. A couple of weeks ago we headed out on our ‘spa and ski’ getaway. The spa was fabulous, however, the ski season here has been less than stellar. It was pretty icy and we aren’t regular skiers so we passed.Luckily for us though, a few Women’s World Cup Ski races were in Bansko the same weekend and we scored tickets! We got to see the Super G event, which was loads of fun. As Olympic nerds, it was pretty awesome being at the finish line and seeing these athletes shred down the mountain.And really, the races are just part of the fun. There were a lot of companies out and about with games, food and free beverages on offer, so we did get to wear our ski suits and play around in the snow after all!#changeofplans #worldcupskiing #okennasodyssey #banskoski #giantslalom #skiracing #winterfun #bulgariatourism #winterinbulgaria #outdooradventure #sunnydays #instatravel #expatcouple #winterbreak
The blue hour in one of Sofia’s many parks.#bl The blue hour in one of Sofia’s many parks.#bluehour #sofiabulgaria #okennasodyssey #cityparks #easterneurope #discoverbulgaria #statuesofinstagram #sofiaparks #europeanadventure #slowtravelling #shadowsandlight
We’ve been wanting to go horseback riding togeth We’ve been wanting to go horseback riding together for years. For one reason or another, it simply hasn’t worked out.However, during our recent holiday we took a break from the spa to saddle up. The experience was one we won’t soon forget. It made for a magical afternoon trotting along peacefully under the winter sun.And, while Mairin is the huge Harry Potter fan, it was Todd who got to ride the horse named after the boy wizard from Hogwarts.... #horsebackriding #bulgariatravels #okennasodyssey #holidayadventures #bulgariatourism #velingrad #coupletravel #getoutsideandplay #instapic #saddleup #horseback #harrypotter
The Rila Monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox The Rila Monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most revered cultural sights. Nestled in the mountains along a river, the atmosphere is breathtaking.It was founded in the 10th century by the students of St. John of Rila, a hermit who lived in a cave nearby. He was a healer and is known as the Patron saint of Bulgarians.The monastery has been important throughout history - as a religious institution and a school. It even had the first printing press in the country, a fact we learned in the museum on site.Make sure to take the time to see this UNESCO landmark when visiting Bulgaria. Although we went independently, we hear that Traventuria has a great tour from Sofia.#rilamonastery #orthodoxchurch #discoverbulgaria #bulgariaofficial #okennasodyssey #historylesson #architecture_photography #balkans #europeanadventures #expatlife #frescoes #religiousart
Last Sunday on our way back from Bansko, we ‘cal Last Sunday on our way back from Bansko, we ‘called an audible’ and stopped at the Rila Monastery. We did have plans to go there at some point - most likely with a tour. The monastery is tucked into the mountains and in the winter the roads can be a bit sketchy, but it wasn’t too far out of our way.However, we got a beautiful day and it’s been a mild winter so there weren’t any issues with the route (unlike our hike last week! See previous post). We knew going in that it is one of the most visited sights in Bulgaria and a source of national pride. And boy did it live up to its expectations....in addition to a gorgeous setting, the frescoes are colorful and stunning. We also got to check out a museum and an Icon gallery.Stay tuned for some more detailed photos to come!#rilamonastery #bulgaria🇧🇬 #monasteries #unescoheritagesite #historicalsite #okennasodyssey #winteradventures #architecturelovers #easterneurope #discoverthebalkans #roadtrips #churchesofinstagram #bulgariatourism #livingabroad
So we decided to go on a sweet little hike to a wa So we decided to go on a sweet little hike to a waterfall the other day. It wasn’t long compared to others we have done and it was a beautiful winter’s day. We read the path was a bit rocky but accessible.Fast forward two hours later to us blazing our own trail over snow covered hills as the main path was solid ice. At this point we were less than a quarter mile from the falls.Probably not the smartest moment in our lives but as we trekked onward we ran into several other groups doing the same thing (proving were weren’t the only crazy ones?!). Needless to say, we made it and the end result was worth it. Although the picture shows mostly ice, we could hear and see the water rushing down behind.Not gonna lie - we are still nursing sore knees and quads from all of that delicate negotiating of ice on the way back down!#winterhiking #outdooradventures #waterfallsofinstagram #winterwonderland #okennasodyssey #dontgochasingwaterfalls #bulgaria #mtvitosha #boyanafalls #iceicebaby #getoutsidemore #lovelynatureshots #naturephotography📷 #icywaterfall #sofiabulgaria #coupletravels #expatliving #discoverthebalkans
Paisley Abbey in all its glory.#abbeysofscotland Paisley Abbey in all its glory.#abbeysofscotland #paisley #scotlandtravels #abbeys #historicalplace #historynerds #okennasodyssey #scottishadventures #architecturephotography #instaarchitecture #coupletravels #instatravel
One of our best last minute decisions in Scotland One of our best last minute decisions in Scotland was to head to the Paisley Abbey on Christmas Eve. Although we were stuffed from a traditional Scottish breakfast with friends, we went ahead and hopped on the bus.As we arrived in town, the sun suddenly appeared and we were able to capture this shot and see the abbey’s stained glass windows in all their glory. And though we aren’t religious, there is something about hearing carols in the setting of a 12th century abbey, which is exactly what we did.If in Glasgow, take the time to head to Paisley! It’s only one train stop away from Central Station (a 10 minute trip!) and besides the abbey you can stroll around town to search for the perfect paisley pattern in all sorts of goods. And also drool over the rest of the Victorian architecture!#daytripper #paisleyscotland #paisley #discoverscotland #okennasodyssey #architecturephotography #sunbreak #abbeys #victorianera #coupletravel #livingabroad #housesittinglife
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Come see what we’re up to this week!

Come see what we’re up to this week!
We’re in favor of skipping the roses and chocola We’re in favor of skipping the roses and chocolates and instead taking your loved one for a hike on a bluff (preferably near a 🏰 in Scotland). Love your life, love yourself, show your loved ones how you feel. And not just on Valentine’s Day, but everyday! ❤️ #valentinesday #bemine #love #myvalentine #okennasodyssey #showthelove #hikingisfun #scottishcastles #scotlandtourism #coupletravel #housesittinglife #loveisallyouneed
Sometimes plans go awry, but in the best way. A co Sometimes plans go awry, but in the best way. A couple of weeks ago we headed out on our ‘spa and ski’ getaway. The spa was fabulous, however, the ski season here has been less than stellar. It was pretty icy and we aren’t regular skiers so we passed.Luckily for us though, a few Women’s World Cup Ski races were in Bansko the same weekend and we scored tickets! We got to see the Super G event, which was loads of fun. As Olympic nerds, it was pretty awesome being at the finish line and seeing these athletes shred down the mountain.And really, the races are just part of the fun. There were a lot of companies out and about with games, food and free beverages on offer, so we did get to wear our ski suits and play around in the snow after all!#changeofplans #worldcupskiing #okennasodyssey #banskoski #giantslalom #skiracing #winterfun #bulgariatourism #winterinbulgaria #outdooradventure #sunnydays #instatravel #expatcouple #winterbreak
The blue hour in one of Sofia’s many parks.#bl The blue hour in one of Sofia’s many parks.#bluehour #sofiabulgaria #okennasodyssey #cityparks #easterneurope #discoverbulgaria #statuesofinstagram #sofiaparks #europeanadventure #slowtravelling #shadowsandlight
We’ve been wanting to go horseback riding togeth We’ve been wanting to go horseback riding together for years. For one reason or another, it simply hasn’t worked out.However, during our recent holiday we took a break from the spa to saddle up. The experience was one we won’t soon forget. It made for a magical afternoon trotting along peacefully under the winter sun.And, while Mairin is the huge Harry Potter fan, it was Todd who got to ride the horse named after the boy wizard from Hogwarts.... #horsebackriding #bulgariatravels #okennasodyssey #holidayadventures #bulgariatourism #velingrad #coupletravel #getoutsideandplay #instapic #saddleup #horseback #harrypotter
The Rila Monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox The Rila Monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most revered cultural sights. Nestled in the mountains along a river, the atmosphere is breathtaking.It was founded in the 10th century by the students of St. John of Rila, a hermit who lived in a cave nearby. He was a healer and is known as the Patron saint of Bulgarians.The monastery has been important throughout history - as a religious institution and a school. It even had the first printing press in the country, a fact we learned in the museum on site.Make sure to take the time to see this UNESCO landmark when visiting Bulgaria. Although we went independently, we hear that Traventuria has a great tour from Sofia.#rilamonastery #orthodoxchurch #discoverbulgaria #bulgariaofficial #okennasodyssey #historylesson #architecture_photography #balkans #europeanadventures #expatlife #frescoes #religiousart
Last Sunday on our way back from Bansko, we ‘cal Last Sunday on our way back from Bansko, we ‘called an audible’ and stopped at the Rila Monastery. We did have plans to go there at some point - most likely with a tour. The monastery is tucked into the mountains and in the winter the roads can be a bit sketchy, but it wasn’t too far out of our way.However, we got a beautiful day and it’s been a mild winter so there weren’t any issues with the route (unlike our hike last week! See previous post). We knew going in that it is one of the most visited sights in Bulgaria and a source of national pride. And boy did it live up to its expectations....in addition to a gorgeous setting, the frescoes are colorful and stunning. We also got to check out a museum and an Icon gallery.Stay tuned for some more detailed photos to come!#rilamonastery #bulgaria🇧🇬 #monasteries #unescoheritagesite #historicalsite #okennasodyssey #winteradventures #architecturelovers #easterneurope #discoverthebalkans #roadtrips #churchesofinstagram #bulgariatourism #livingabroad
So we decided to go on a sweet little hike to a wa So we decided to go on a sweet little hike to a waterfall the other day. It wasn’t long compared to others we have done and it was a beautiful winter’s day. We read the path was a bit rocky but accessible.Fast forward two hours later to us blazing our own trail over snow covered hills as the main path was solid ice. At this point we were less than a quarter mile from the falls.Probably not the smartest moment in our lives but as we trekked onward we ran into several other groups doing the same thing (proving were weren’t the only crazy ones?!). Needless to say, we made it and the end result was worth it. Although the picture shows mostly ice, we could hear and see the water rushing down behind.Not gonna lie - we are still nursing sore knees and quads from all of that delicate negotiating of ice on the way back down!#winterhiking #outdooradventures #waterfallsofinstagram #winterwonderland #okennasodyssey #dontgochasingwaterfalls #bulgaria #mtvitosha #boyanafalls #iceicebaby #getoutsidemore #lovelynatureshots #naturephotography📷 #icywaterfall #sofiabulgaria #coupletravels #expatliving #discoverthebalkans
Paisley Abbey in all its glory.#abbeysofscotland Paisley Abbey in all its glory.#abbeysofscotland #paisley #scotlandtravels #abbeys #historicalplace #historynerds #okennasodyssey #scottishadventures #architecturephotography #instaarchitecture #coupletravels #instatravel
One of our best last minute decisions in Scotland One of our best last minute decisions in Scotland was to head to the Paisley Abbey on Christmas Eve. Although we were stuffed from a traditional Scottish breakfast with friends, we went ahead and hopped on the bus.As we arrived in town, the sun suddenly appeared and we were able to capture this shot and see the abbey’s stained glass windows in all their glory. And though we aren’t religious, there is something about hearing carols in the setting of a 12th century abbey, which is exactly what we did.If in Glasgow, take the time to head to Paisley! It’s only one train stop away from Central Station (a 10 minute trip!) and besides the abbey you can stroll around town to search for the perfect paisley pattern in all sorts of goods. And also drool over the rest of the Victorian architecture!#daytripper #paisleyscotland #paisley #discoverscotland #okennasodyssey #architecturephotography #sunbreak #abbeys #victorianera #coupletravel #livingabroad #housesittinglife

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