Taking Off: The Pre-Travel Jitters

There are a lot of reasons why traveling might make you nervous. Maybe you're leaving your home country for the first time. Maybe you're about to embark on your first solo trip ever. Maybe you're traveling to a country that speaks a different language than you. Whatever the reasons may be, you are about to travel, and with the excitement that comes with traveling, you might be feeling a bit of anxiety as well.


At least for me, this is what I've experienced in the past before going on a big trip. In fact, I'm feeling it right now as I'm waiting at the gate to my first flight to Europe. I always experience a lot of anxiety prior to a trip, and I call it the pre-travel jitters. No matter how often I travel, I always find myself dealing with them, and after talking to other friends that travel as well, I've found that I'm not alone. Even the most seasoned of travelers experience a bit of anxiety before a new trip. It's a totally natural response to the unknown. If you are about to travel, and you've been feeling some sort of anxiety about your trip, worry no more! Here's some tips for turning your fear and anxiety into excitement.



1) Don't over think this decision. 

You know you want to travel. You know you want to get out there. So, don't think too much about it. Book that flight you've been looking at. If you've already booked your flight, then just roll with what's to come. Try not to have too many expectations; having expectations brings way too many thoughts and feelings. If you've booked your trip, theres really no turning back, and the only thing that is going to stop you is, well, yourself. Keep your mind open and keep your thoughts clear about the journey ahead.



2). Be Prepared: Money, Medication, and Mindset. 

There is where things can get confusing. You don't want to over think your trip, but you still want to make sure that you're fully prepared for when things go wrong (and nobody ever has a perfect trip, something always goes wrong). Every trip, or at least the ones I've experienced, has a low point where something does not go according to plan. Maybe you get really sick, or maybe someone has gotten a hold of your bag when you were caught off guard and stole your belongings. Whatever the case may be, you want to make sure that you're in the best position for when shit hits the fan.

Money:

Try to save up enough money so that you're comfortable throughout the trip. You don't want money to be a constant worry. Something like that can get in the way of you enjoying yourself. If you go out to a bar or a club, try not to bring all of your bank cards just in case something gets stolen or misplaced. Always have a bit of cash with you, some places don't always accept foreign bank cards.

Medication:

If you are traveling to, say for example, a country in southeast Asia like Thailand or Vietnam, make sure you visit a travel doctor to get the necessary shots or medications before leaving. Trust me, you don't want to get Typhoid while you're traveling. Or at least just make sure you're up to date on any shots or vaccinations you need. It's good to not have to worry about that stuff. If encountered some travelers who had gotten really sick during their stay, and it's never a good story.

Mindset:

Keep your guard up, use your common sense, and don't leave your things lying around. Don't put yourself in a position to be vulnerable. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and belongings, you will be just fine.




3) Pack Lightly


Even if you are traveling for a couple of months, don't go overboard with the packing. Really, just a couple of shirts and pants are fine. Ideally, its great to just bring a backpack with you, and you definitely want to stuff it with extra pairs of socks and undergarments. The rest of the clothes you think you'll need, you probably don't. And the less shit you bring with you, the less shit you have to worry about. Its very simple. If you run out of clothes, you can always buy more while you're traveling.



4) Enjoy yourself

I know all of the thinking and preparation seems overwhelming, but once you get to your destination, you realize that you really didn't have much to worry about after all. Arranging your trip seems stressful and everything leading up to your departure kind of seems like a crazy whirlwind of frantic nerves and anxiety, but actually arriving and beginning your journey is one of the most rewarding things life has to offer. So go with the flow and have fun. That's the whole point, isn't it?

Out of the Comfort Zone: Language Barriers

I am a huge advocator for doing things that bring you out of your comfort zone. Whether it's starting a new job, learning a new skill, or just doing something that you normally wouldn't, chances are, if it makes you uncomfortable, it's probably good for you.

Throughout my travels I have been in many situations that have forced me out of my comfort zone, but the one thing that probably stands out the most is traveling to a country where I experienced a language barrier.

It's probably one of the most uncomfortable things ever. Imagine going to a country where you can't understand anyone and they can't understand you. It sounds challenging, and it definitely is at first, but I can't express how important it is to travel to at least one place that speaks a language that you don't speak as well. Here's why:

1). You adapt surprisingly fast

I'm not going to lie, at first it is a bit awkward. But once you're thrown in the fire and you have to interact with people, order food, and read street signs in this new unknown language, you become flooded with new information. And surprisingly, it sticks.

When I was in Peru, I found myself in many situations where the local people tried to make small talk with me. In the beginning, I knew absolutely no Spanish, so I was constantly lost in conversation, and "No entiendo," became the go-to phrase for me. However, after a couple of weeks, I began understanding some of the questions people were asking me. At a restaurant, one of the waiters began talking to me and we ended up talking for more than an hour and playing Jenga. When I couldn't figure out a word in Spanish I would say it in English, and if he understood he would give me the translation. It was honestly a great way to improve my Spanish, and I learned so much in that one conversation. The more you interact with people, the faster you learn.

I'm definitely far from fluent in Spanish, but after a month in Peru I felt confident that I could get around and knew the essentials of the language. If I spent one more month there, I think I could be fluent. It is true that the best way to learn a new language is to go to the country itself.


2). You appreciate everything more.

Once you begin to pick up this new language while visiting a new country, you learn to have a whole new appreciation for the country, the language, and the culture. I often found that because it was difficult to do simple everyday things like order food and talk to a taxi driver, it just felt so rewarding when I could successfully do these things.

And most of the time people will go out of their way to help you if you are seriously struggling. Usually, people are very tolerant and understanding, and it's always nice to find genuine people that are willing to help you.



3). You learn to trust your instincts

When you can't understand what people are saying, it is true that you need to rely a bit on your common sense to get you through certain situations. For example, when I was in Vietnam, I experienced a lot of problems with the language barrier. And because Vietnamese isn't the easiest language to learn, I struggled in a lot of situations, mostly with the taxi drivers.

A lot of taxis in Vietnam are known for scamming tourists, simply because they don't know the language. They increase their taxi meters at a very fast rate, so after a 5 minute drive one of the taxi drivers was asking me to pay nearly $100 for the fare. If I knew Vietnamese, this definitely wouldn't have happened, but because I knew something wasn't quite right, I saw it coming and knew to be more careful for the next time.

Sometimes not knowing the language can make situations very difficult, and the locals will oftentimes try and take advantage of that. So, you always need to have your guard up and watch out for scammers and people who will try and fuck you over because it will happen. But just because you can't understand what people are saying doesn't mean that you can't understand what is happening. You need to rely on your self sometimes, which is a great trait to have, especially traveling solo.


4). It sets you apart from others.

Not many people are usually willing to go to a country where they know there will be some sort of language barrier. The thought is very unsettling for most people, so if you do choose to go to a country that speaks another language, it really sets you apart from other people. It is a brave thing to do, and I think people, especially potential employers, will look at that as something that makes you different from everyone else. It's definitely a conversation starter and a great thing to bring up in job interviews.


Breaking out of your comfort zone is never easy, but it is always rewarding. Actually, that is the best word for me to describe traveling to a country with a language barrier: rewarding. You learn all of these new personal and social skills, and on top of that, learning a new language is always a plus. So don't let the  uncomfortable thought of a language barrier discourage you from traveling, it's all the more reason why you should do it.

South America At A Glance: Peru

Out of all of the countries I have traveled to, Peru is by far one of the most unique. It seems to have everything in terms of landscape: the coast, the towering sand dunes of the desert, the jungle and Amazon river, and the most majestic mountains you will ever find. To add to that, the food, the culture, and the people will be the reason you will want to stay. Seriously, I have never felt so welcomed in a foreign country before.


The Highlights:


Huacachina: The Desert Oasis

I had arrived here at night, so when I awoke the next day to step outside to have a cup of coffee, I was absolutely mesmerized. I was surrounded by giant sand dunes, which was so crazy to me because I had never been in the desert before. Huacachina is definitely a tourist trap, but it's a unique tourist trap, so it's definitely worth seeing. 

Things to do: Definitely go sand boarding. Most hostels there will have boards that are free to use, just make sure someone gives you wax, otherwise you'll just be stuck in the sand. 

The dune-buggy trip is also something I reluctantly recommend doing. It costs less than $10, and basically an underage driver drives like an absolute madman through the desert while you and a group of 15 other people hold on for dear life in a dune-buggy with rusted old seat belts that don't always work (and sure enough, mine didn't). I could compare it to a roller coaster, but I think I'd feel a little safer on a roller coaster. Still, it was definitely an experience. 

Cusco

Cusco is one of those cities where you plan to stay for a few days, and then end up staying for a couple of weeks. There's just so much to do in and around the city that it's hard to find a reason to leave. The food is fantastic and the markets are so beautifully colorful (and cheap), so it's a great place to souvenir shop. The Sacred Valley is also located here, but unfortunately I didn't get the chance to visit.

 Because Machu Picchu is relatively close to Cusco, it's a necessary stop. Just take some time to get used to the altitude. Cusco lies at 11,152 ft above sea level, and after walking around for about 20 minutes, I fucking felt it. Altitude sickness was a common problem for me on this trip, and Cusco was the start of it all. So, stay hydrated and drink a lot of cocoa tea. That stuff is magical, so keeping it handy throughout a backpacking trip through Peru is strongly recommended. 

Place to stay: Pariwana Backpacker's Hostel.

Reasons to stay:

1. They have a ping pong table.

2. They have karaoke night every monday and wednesday. 

3. It's a party hostel, but only at the bar, so if you want to spend a quiet night in the room, it's still entirely possible. And the beds are super comfortable. 

I can't express in words how much I loved this hostel. Totally worth the price (which was about $12). 

Machu Picchu

For many people, Machu Picchu is the high point of their trip, and usually the reason tourists even visit Peru in the first place. However, though it is magnificent, mysterious, and beautiful, Machu Picchu is a pain in the ass to get to and it way overpriced (It costs about $50 just to get in). Still, not going is just not an option.

Getting there: I opted to take a bus there because it was clearly the cheaper option, however, after driving for 5 hours on steep mountainous windy roads and stopping several times for people to get out of the van to vomit, in hindsight I would totally spend the extra money to take a train there and back. It costs over $100, but it's definitely a smoother ride. 

What I did, and what most people do, is stay in Auguas Calientes (which is the small town located at the base of Machu Picchu) overnight. Then, you wake up at 3:30am and either take a bus to the top ($30 roundtrip) or walk up the stairs to the entrance of Machu Picchu. 

And at last, you reach the postcard perfect setting of the Incan ruins. Get there as early as you can, otherwise you'll be swarmed by mobs of tour guided groups wielding dangerous selfie sticks that will be sure to smack you in the face. 

Rainbow Mountain (Montana de Colores)

It was at this point in the trip that I finally realized that Peru wasn't going to be some walk in the park, laid back vacation. No, in fact, this specific trek made me realize that if I wanted to see something amazing that I had never seen before, I had to fucking work for it. And that's exactly what I did.

For starters, the altitude is at 16, 466 ft. Yeah, just let that sink in for a second. 

Even though I was fairly acclimated to the altitude from my stay in Cusco, this trek was a struggle to say the least. The one-day trek that I had joined took nearly 6 hours to summit the mountain, and that's not because of the distance, but because for every 10 steps I took, I was gasping for breath for nearly 10 minutes until I could continue. Not everyone can do a trek like this, and it is especially important to go very slow and not try to keep up with the group if people are ahead of you. 

At one point, I did lose consciousness. My vision got all blurry and I saw all of these black spots and when I woke up I realized I was on the ground with a bunch of people surrounding me. No worries though, someone gave me some oxygen and someone else gave me some cocoa leaves and I was as good as new.

This is me summiting the mountain shortly after I passed out, weee. 

From what I could understand from our guide, the rainbow mountain looks the way it does from the result of different layers of rocks forming on top of each other, somehow creating this multicolored mountain range. The trek has been a long kept secret for a while, but it has just recently opened up to tourism. It is likely that this trek will become very popular in the near future, so being able to trek it before it becomes widely popular seemed like a privilege to say the least, especially after spending time at Machu Picchu. It's truly magnificent, so if you're in decent physical shape and are up for a challenge, I highly recommend this trek.

Arequipa

Nicknamed "The White City", Arequipa is a beautiful colonial-esque city. The city is overlooked by misty mountains and volcanos. In fact, many of the buildings are even made from white volcanic stone. If you feel like having authentic Peruvian cuisine, this is the place to do it. 

Mount Chachani

This was the figurative and literal high point of my trip: summiting Mount Chachani. At 19,872 ft, Chachani was the highest point that I have ever reached, and making it to the top was worth every gasp of breath and every painful step. 

The bouncy, three hour car ride led us to the start of the trek. We hiked for about an hour until we reached the base camp, and already I was struggling to keep up with the group. We helped set up the tents, had dinner, and went to bed around 6pm. The night was cold and we hardly slept, and at 3am we got up and began our ascent up the mountain. We walked slow and steady, but I still struggled the whole time. However, we still managed to summit the mountain around 9am. I have no pictures from the view of the top because it was so cold that both my phone and camera died, but the moment of finally reaching the top after so much physical and mental turmoil was enough for me to remember for the rest of my life. It was one of the most rewarding feelings ever. 

Overall:

Peru is a fantastic and beautiful country and I can definitely say with confidence that I will be back there soon. There were so many things to see and do in the short amount of time that I was there, but the local Peruvians were the reason that I really loved it there. The people were just so helpful. Even though I don't speak much Spanish, the people always went out of their way to try and figure out what exactly it was that I needed. I actually found myself wishing I knew more Spanish, not because I needed it to get around, but because I desperately wanted to make small talk with these lovely people and not just say, "No entiendo," the whole time. 

The food, the culture, and the language are all reasons why I will return to Peru in the near future. I will continue practicing Spanish here in the states, and hopefully one day I can live in Peru in the hopes of becoming fluent. The country is vast, beautiful, and unique, and so far it is one of my favorite places in the world. 

Back To Reality: What it's like to return after a big trip

You can read countless articles about the benefits of traveling. You can talk to many people about their travels and I'm sure that they will tell you that their trip changed their life for the better. You can go to wherever you want and I guarantee that your travels will make you happier and more open minded, and though you may be homesick, you're having such a good time that the thought of going home is unsettling.

But you have to go back eventually, right? And this is when traveling gets tough. Many label this as the part of traveling that nobody talks about, and that's because it's painful.

It's the return from your trip that hurts. It's misleading at first, because though you are sad to leave your travels and return home, you are excited to see your family and friends. You are happy to catch up with the loved ones that you haven't seen in months. You have many souvenirs to give and countless stories to tell. And people have many questions to ask you, which is great because all you want to do is talk about it.

But after about a week or so, that allure of being home quickly turns to dust. You think of the people you met when you traveled and that makes you sad. You're homesick for the new places you've visited, especially if you've stayed in one place for a long amount of time. You begin having this sort of travel withdrawal, and yet no matter what you try and do at home to make your life seem more interesting, you end up feeling let down because nothing really compares to the fun you had when you were away. You try to keep talking about your experience, anything to hold on to that last bit of happiness that traveling has brought you, but your friends and family have stopped listening ages ago. Basically, everything makes you sad.

I can tell you from experience, it's just as bad as a break-up. In fact, it is a break-up. And like any break-up, it takes some time to get over.

However, if you have returned from a big trip and feel this "travel break-up" type of pain, there are things that you can do to help cope.

Focus on the things that make you happy, and change the things that don't. 

When you return from your trip, it'll be easy to pick out the things that are making you unhappy. For me personally, it was school. I'm aware that education is important and in America most entry level jobs require a bachelors degree. However, my decision to go to college was stemmed from the pressure of society that stated that school is the only way you can be successful, and so I felt I had to go to school, pick a career, and finish as soon as possible. I felt rushed in my decision, and never felt 100% set on a major or specific career path.

So, when I returned studying abroad at the end of my sophmore year of college, it was very clear that school was making me very unhappy. For the steep cost of my education, I felt as if I wasn't getting my money's worth because I personally wasn't mature enough to pick a set career path. So, I stopped going.

I realized that traveling makes me happy, and I continued to work hard and travel more, and now that I know more about myself and what I want to do, school now seems like a better option for me.


Don't use travel as a way to escape your current life, but as a way to open your mind. 

This is definitely a mistake that I have made. I don't have an ideal home life, school has gotten me into a lot of debt, and I don't have a job that I can brag about. There are many things that make me unhappy here at home, but choosing to travel as a way to escape these things is useless. These things: debt, bad relationships, cold weather, they are all going to still be waiting for you when you come home. So, if you travel just to escape these things, returning home just becomes much harder on you.

Use traveling as a way to learn about yourself and the world, and then you can return to your home life with a positive attitude and new experiences that have strengthened you so that you can affectively deal with the struggles of being home.

Fuel your sadness into creativity.

This is exactly why I have started this blog. I had so many stories, pictures, and emotions about my travels that I couldn't exactly articulate with words, so I decided to take something that I enjoy and create an outlet for it. This makes the sadness of missing your trip bearable. Writing about my experiences allows me to reflect on how traveling has made me happier.


Of course, if you really dislike your home life that much, then you should leave. But don't forget your roots. Always know that there is that one place that you can return to if you come to a roadblock with your travels.

And if you find that you love traveling and never want to come back home, I advise that you should still return home at least once. I believe that coming home is a necessary part of traveling, and dealing with the withdrawals and sadness of being home gets easier the more you do it.

My Solo Road Trip Through New Zealand

Many picture a road trip as a fun thing to do with a group of close friends. You all pack up your snacks and pillows, get Google Maps ready, and have multiple playlists set up to enjoy a musically pleasing ride. Traveling for a long distance in a car is a cathartic and usually a great experience to spend with your friends. All you've got is the open road and any destination virtually waiting for you at your steering wheel.

But what is it like to go on a road trip on your own? More importantly, what is it like to go on a road trip on your own in a foreign country that you've never been to...and drive on the other side of the road?!?

I'll tell you what it's like. It's absolutely terrifying, but only at first.

I originally planned to travel through New Zealand with a friend. We had arranged to rent a car with a dealership and planned to road trip around the north island for two weeks (rookie mistake on our part; apparently the south island is much more beautiful. And you need much more than just two weeks to see New Zealand). Things went sour with my friend before I even got to New Zealand, so when I arrived in Auckland, I decided to just go along with the rental by myself and embark on a solo road trip. And it was fantastic.

I can remember taking the bus to the dealership, racked with nervousness. When I got there and checked in with the lady at the front desk and took care of the payment, she handed me the keys, which I reluctantly took with shaking hands.

She led me outside to the parking lot.

"Here you are," she said as she stopped in front of a beat up, white, soccer-mom style camper van that looked much too big for me. She showed me around and took notes on the damage that was already done to the car so that I would not be charged upon returning it. The back of the van consisted of a bed, a sink, and even a small gas powered grill that I could cook on. I literally had mobile accommodation for the next two weeks. She handed me a guide full of campsites that I could park at overnight without any issues.

"It's just you?" she asked.

"Yupp," I said, trying my best to sound confident.

"Well, safe travels then," she said as she walked away.

Above is my vehicle at one of the many beautiful and deserted campsites I stayed at. I called her Shelly the Swagwagon. 




And so it began, my solo road trip, driving in a foreign country on the other side of the road. And for the record, nothing can explain the fear of driving on the other side of the road for the first time, going to turn on your turn signal, and then realizing that your turn signal is on the other side as well and you actually just turned on the windshield wipers while you turned, causing cars to blare their horns at you.

But as it turns out, driving on the left side of the road isn't too bad after the first twenty minutes. I actually ended up liking it better. And New Zealand is a lovely country to drive through. The rolling hills and beautiful beaches are breathtaking, and there were many moments where I had to pull over just to take pictures or sit outside of the car to take it all in. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention..THE SHEEP!

These are just a few pictures of campsites and beautiful views I saw along the way. New Zealand is a beautiful and picturesque country to drive through.

Highlights of the North Island



The Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata:

If you're a fan of Lord of the Rings, then this a definitely for you. Actually, New Zealand is definitely for you. It costs about $50 US dollars to do the tour, and you can't go on to the movie set without a guide so there's no way to get around the cost. But, if you're an avid LOTR fan, don't worry about the money, just go.

Mount Maunganui, Tauranga

This is an awesome mountain to hike, with amazing views of Maunganui Beach. Also, the beach city of Tauranga below is a great place to stay for a few days. This place was incredibly beautiful, and hiking this mountain was my main source of exercise for the three days that I was here (seriously, it's super steep).



Taupo:

Huka falls (above) located near lake Taupo.

Taupo is a small town located at the edge of the great lake Taupo, which as I understand is the largest lake in New Zealand. The town itself is a lot of fun, there are many adorable shops and restaurants, and there are great bars as well. In fact, it was the only place I found that had a decent night life. I met some great people while I was there.

There are many other outdoorsy things to do in Taupo as well. There are many hiking trails nearby as well as natural (and free) hot springs that you can fully take advantage of.


Tongariro Alpine Crossing

This is one of the most amazing hiking treks I've ever done. You could go alone, but I paid for a guide to drive me there because it's about an hour and a half from Taupo and the bus picked me up at around 5am, so paying for a guide gave me incentive to get up early. The trek itself takes about six hours, but you can choose to summit some mountains and volcanos. (I would specifically recommend Mount Doom, LOTR fans) Summiting a mountain would add an extra 3 hours at the least to the trek, so I opted out because six hours of hiking was enough for me. 

To do this trek you'll need hiking boots for sure. Don't do it in sneakers. There was still some snow when I went in October, so you'll need some sturdy waterproof shoes. You will also need sunblock (Don't forget this, I got so burned) and a couple of snacks for when you take breaks. 

I highly recommend this trek. It is absolutely stunning, especially the emerald lakes. 

Downsides to Road Tripping Alone: 

1). First and foremost, it can get really lonely. You spend most of the time in the car, so there's not many opportunities to meet people. I never really felt the need to stay in hostels and spend the extra money when I had the car to sleep in, so I didn't have the opportunity to meet many people. 

2.) It's expensive as shit! Actually, the total cost of renting the car for two weeks was $450 US, which is actually a bargain. But when you factor in the cost of gas (which of course, is super expensive in New Zealand; it cost me about $70 to fill up my tank) speeding tickets, the occasional parking ticket, and other miscellaneous costs that you could normally split up with friends, I spent in total about $1200 US for the duration of my road trip. With friends, you can obviously split up the costs. 

3.) You're on your own. This is terrifying. No one's gonna help you with navigation or music or places to stay and camp. It's all on you.

Positives to Road Tripping Alone:

1). You're on your own. This is terrifyingly amazing. You have your own vehicle to go on your own adventure to virtually anywhere in a country you've never been to! The possibilities are endless. You choose the music, you choose the destination, you choose the bathroom breaks. 

Overall: I wouldn't recommend a road trip alone, it's not for everyone. And it's definitely even ballsier to do it in a foreign country. But, if you're independent and reasonably responsible, you'll be just fine. 

Though it might seem lonely, I did meet some lovely people along the way in bars and at campsites. I even picked up a couple of hitchhikers (which is not something I'd recommend. It was purely situational). 

This experience truly proved to be a maturing experience for me. Dealing with the loneliness in a positive way proved that I could literally be comfortable on my own without losing my mind. Also, I didn't crash the car, YAY ME! Traveling on this road trip alone tested my maturity, and I think I passed the test.

Also, New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, and I'll be back one day for a south island road trip. 

A Backpacker's Dream: My Crash Course Through Thailand

Thailand. What a magnificent and chaotic place. It's a place where anything goes; where you can negotiate prices at markets, where you can fit nearly 8 people in a tuk tuk through the busy streets of Bangkok without anyone stopping you, and where you can learn to drive a motorbike without even needing a driver's license.

I would often find myself sitting on a beautiful hot beach, drinking a $2 freshly chopped coconut, not a worry in the world. And what should you worry about? This place is not only beautiful, but dirt cheap.

When I told people I was going to Thailand, I was told by many that it was a backpacker's dream. It's beautiful, cheap, and easy to get around. And as soon as I arrived, I realized how true that statement was.
 

I started my journey in Thailand in the island of Phuket. I was warned that Phuket was flooded with tourists, but looking back, it was a great place to warm up to Thailand. It was also where I took my first motorbike taxi, which shouldn't cost you more than $7 (I got ripped off big time in the beginning).

Place to stay: Fin Hostel.
This hostel was a fantastic social hostel which was amazingly fun to stay at. Also, it's air conditioned, which is a massive plus. It's quite hot in Phuket. There's a small street market around the corner where you can practice negotiating prices and eat some awesome street food (which is the safest food to eat, I haven't met anyone that's gotten food poisoning from street food).


Koh Phi Phi

After hearing so many stories from other travelers, I knew that my next destination had to be the island of Koh Phi Phi Don.
 




It's true what they say, Koh Phi Phi is indeed a party island (and a great place to spend your birthday). Enjoy a bucket of whichever alcohol you choose with a mixer (apparently it's equivalent to about 5 shots..sometimes a bit stronger) for maybe $7. Choose whichever beach bar you want to lounge on, most of the bars have fire shows that start when the sun sets. My favorite fire show was at the Stone Bar. Try not to burn your legs when they bring the fire jump ropes out.

Place to stay: Sunset Hostel. This hostel isn't much to brag about in terms of cleanliness, but it's about $3 per night and shows a great view of the island from the deck. Also, theres a wonderful bar called the Sunset Bar right above it, which would be great for a first bucket experience. However, you will be sleeping in a room with about 24 other people. That's not a turn off, is it?

Must Do: Take a longtail boat trip to monkey beach and go snorkeling. I only did a half day trip, so I was back in about 4 hours, but you can do a full day trip if you like, just be careful with the monkeys. They give you a plastic bag full of bread and a monkey went right up to me, snatched the bread out of my hands, and ate straight through the plastic.






Koh Phangan





Koh Phangan is the island known for the famous full-moon festival, and yes, that's exactly why I went there. The island itself it quite small, but diverse; ranging in beaches and desolate rainforests alike. If you rent a motorbike, be careful. The roads can be very steep at times and are known for being very dangerous.

The Full Moon Festival




The full moon party takes place on the main beach on the island (unfortunately, I can't remember the name. I was pretty drunk). If you go to Koh Phangan for the party, which everybody does, you'll find the beach just fine. The florescent party itself is massive, but I found that you can't fully enjoy it unless you are very intoxicated or on an absurd amount of drugs (neither of which I was). It can also be quite dangerous. I rolled my eyes when people told me that girls get drugged at the party like it's nothing, but I actually saw it happen, and so did many others. I also witnessed someone from my hostel get hit by a taxi and break his arm. Apparently, another girl fell off the main stage and broke her leg. Also, I think someone may have gotten fatally stabbed. It could just be a rumor but if you go, be careful! These things do happen, especially there.

There's a jungle party that takes place the night before the full moon party, and it is in fact a bit better than the full moon party. And yes, the moon is really full during the full moon party. It's beautiful.

Where to stay: Echo Beach Backpackers.

This hostel was absolutely lovely. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but on the inside it opens up into a chilled out atmosphere that faces the beach, surrounded with comfy couches and hammocks that you could sleep in if you're too drunk to reach your bed. It is a social hostel, but not quite a "party" hostel. It is run by British expats but a Thai family lives there and cooks the most amazing food ever. Also, when hostels say they have free breakfast, usually it's just toast and instant coffee. But not this place, they give you a full course meal of cereal, sausage, eggs, bacon, fruit, yogurt, and an assortment of juices. This is critical!! I loved this hostel so much.



Chiang Mai




This is one of my favorite places in the world! It's hard to describe it in words...other than ELEPHANTS!! But there's so much more as well: canyons, temples galore, and dope tattoo shops. Its a great city. If you're in Thailand, it would be a shame not to go to Chiang Mai.

Where to stay: Baan Khun Hostel.

This place is just brilliant. It's another chilled out social hostel where I met some amazing people (mostly Americans). It's run by (I think) a Thai family that are friendly and helpful. Also, they advertise the Jungle Elephant Sanctuary; a sanctuary dedicated to the safe and productive practice of raising and taking care of healthy elephants (with absolutely no riding). If you every go to Thailand, don't ride the elephants. There's a history of elephants being severely mistreated throughout the trekking tours in Thailand. But this sanctuary is known for safe practices for taking care of the elephants that don't include trekking. It will cost you about $80 for a full day trip, but it's worth the money.




The tour includes a ride up to the mountain village to feed and bathe the elephants, and then you play in the mud with them afterwards (I know, it seems semi-counterproductive). The elephants truly seem happy and healthy, and why wouldn't they, they've pretty much got it made. It honestly was a truly profound experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life (literally, I got a tattoo of an elephant the day after the tour).

Other sights to see:

Temples

Chiang Mai is chock full of temples, and they are all beautiful. It's definitely worth it to go check out a few of them.
 











Muy Thai Fighting


I'm not a fan of fighting or boxing or anything of the sort, but seriously, it's really really entertaining. Worth the $10.

The Markets

There's markets every night to find anything you could ever want to possibly buy. Also, Chiang Mai was my favorite place for street food. It's very yummy.


Pai



Pai is a small mountain town in northern Thailand; about a three hour drive away from Chiang Mai. If you take a motorbike, drive safely. If you take a bus and are prone to motion sickness..take some kind of medication. It's not a very comfortable ride.

Pai is the type of place where people say they will go for a few days, and end up staying for a few weeks. You get sucked into the kind of chilled, laid back lifestyle. With herb infused cafes and live music bars, this place had a type of vibe that you can't really find anywhere else. Also, it's surrounded by beautiful mountains, a grand canyon, and waterfalls.

 Place to stay: Purple Monkey Backpackers.
It's nice. It's chill. There's puppies. Any other questions?

Hostel to party at: Circus Backpackers.

This hostel is definitely unique. With an infinity pool overlooking the misty mountains and people messing about with juggling, tightrope walking, and other "circus" activities, it's a place that is unlike any other hostel I've stayed. Go there to socialize and do circus stuff and use the pool. Don't stay there. The bamboo huts aren't comfortable, the roosters next door will keep you up all morning, and there's only two bathrooms and no where to charge your stuff. For what you pay for, the accommodation doesn't really add up. You're paying for the lifestyle, so just party there for free.





Bar to check out: Sunset Bar

Try the mushroom milkshakes. Enjoy your walk home. The military is known to raid the bar from time to time, so just make sure you don't have any joints or drugs on you.



**Other places worth mentioning that I didn't have the energy to write about in detail**

Ao Nang: This place is just dope. You'll meet some awesome people and go on crazy pub crawls.

Railay Beach: This is an awesome, reggae inspired island. Apparently it's awesome for rock climbing, but I was too sick at the time to go.

Koh Samui: What a wonderful island. I had one of my best nights here. Just don't take photos of the people on the beaches with exotic animals, it's totally wrong and illegal. And the Thai kids will go on the beach and hustle with you. It seems funny and innocent at first, but after a while you realize that Thailand is a different world, and these young children are trying to get a buck by fucking with drunk tourists. It felt kind of sad and wrong.

Koh Tao: Unfortunately, I was only here for one day. I wish I could've stayed longer but I chose to go to the full moon festival instead. I'll go back there one day. Apparently it's the best place to get your scuba diving license, so that's on my bucket list for when I go back.

Tip: Don't go swimming when you go to the bar. You will get your cash stolen (this applies everywhere).

Bangkok: I don't like big cities. I especially don't like big dirty cities where women are exploited to shoot ping pongs and other various items out of their vaginas. If you're curious, then go, but I don't suggest it by any means.




Overall: I loved Thailand so much. I consider it a magical place that I can't wait to visit again. The locals prove that it truly is "The Land of Smiles" and you will never get sick of your craving for pad Thai (and you will never find it as satisfying as when you eat it in Thailand). If you have never backpacked alone before, it's definitely a wonderful place to start. It is cheap and easy to get around, nearly everyone speaks English, and anyone will literally give an arm and leg just to help you find your hostel or find a cab driver willing to pick you up.

However, Thailand is somewhat devoted to it's catering of tourism. I believe that is why it has become so developed in recent years. The Thais literally serve us tourists, and we come in drunken herds that hand them fuck tons of money so we can do touristy things in their beautiful country. This is fine, but of course, I wish that I hung out with less backpackers. They were quite hard to escape, and I found it frustrating after a month of backpacking through Thailand to be only acquainted with backpackers like myself. It was when I made friends with my tattoo artist and my good friend who owns the shop where I got it done that I really got a sense of what hanging out with local Thai people was like, and it frustrated me that it took nearly a month for that to happen. The Thai locals are lovely, and my next trip to Thailand will be devoted to making more connections with locals.


Also, if you want a tattoo done, go to BLACK CANDY TATTOO in Chiang Mai. The guy that owns the shop is named Peak, he's the man.