When people think of Southern Thailand, their first thought seems to be the beautiful islands, scuba diving, and the nightlife scene. It’s exactly what I thought of Southern Thailand too. It seems to be the hottest new tourist destination, and there aren’t a lot of unspoiled spots left. Unless you head to Khao Sok National […]
Thai Railways North Line from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
There are certain things that seem insanely daunting before you start backpacking. For me, one of those things was transportation. On a very limited budget, I’d be forced to take trains and buses everywhere. I never even conquered the New York City bus system, and I lived there eight years. So how would I figure […]
Getting a Sak Yant Tattoo in Thailand
A sak yant tattoo is a type of tattoo given in Buddhist culture by a monk. The tattoo is meant to protect the wearer, however you need to uphold certain ideals once you receive it. To sum it up, you need to be a good human being. If you aren’t, the protection wears off. The […]
14 Things You’ll Do When Backpacking in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is one of the places where you arrive and immediately feel overwhelmed. People tell me they could never live the way I have for the last year, backpacking in Southeast Asia without the comforts of home. It’s definitely an experience, but if you learn to open your mind to everything, it makes one […]
Backpacking Thailand Tips for First Time Visitors
Before leaving to visit Thailand, I did an insane amount of research. I read every blog I could find, and every article that was emailed to me. I read a 1,000 page informational guide on safety in the 10 countries I’d be visiting. Never has a person been more prepared than me in the moment before […]
The 8 Hour Cave Trek in Pai, Thailand: What it’s like
My time in Pai has been, well, interesting. Arriving here is like stepping back in time. Women with dreads, kombucha on tap, and an array of vibrant color packed stores. In a country known for its modesty, the rules don’t seem to apply here as westerners walk around in swimsuits, and oddly, the locals don’t look […]
The Monkeys of Lopburi: Little Humans Without Morals
Lopburi… Gosh where to start. Lopburi was filled with an odd amount of excitement and overall confusion. My day started off fairly normal. I went to the train station and in true Thai custom it was running over an hour late. I spotted another backpacker (Jenny from Germany) close by and introduced myself. We were […]
Taking a Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai
If you know me, you’re probably already laughing at the title of this post. Let’s get this part out of the way first… No, I didn’t burn anything, and yes, it was edible (mostly). Before setting out on my trip, I decided it would be fun to try to take a cooking class in each […]
Swimming with Elephants in Thailand at a Sanctuary
My day started out in a blur. I’d mixed up my schedule, didn’t set my alarm, and was barely moving around the room when the tour bus came to pick me up. I sprinted out the door, hair undone, teeth unbrushed, and shoes slipped on my feet in a rush. I did manage to grab […]
The Ayutthaya Temples & Why You Have to Visit
I’m in Ayutthaya, a small town about two hours north of Bangkok by train. I’d seen photos of the Ayutthaya temples on Instagram, and I have to be honest with you, I wasn’t really sold on it. First of all, everyone took the same three photos, and so I was sure that there were only […]