They say that Bangkok is the Backpacker Capital of the World, but I think that title belongs to Chiang Mai. There are so many things to do in Chiang Mai, especially bucket list items. Below are top ten tours and activities that you should put on your list; you may just have to extend your stay 🙂
Tag Archives: southeast asia
The Boring Side of Backpacking: Killing Time, Being Productive, and Relaxing for a Second
The day after I left my hostel job, I used some points on a hotel and absolutely crashed. I had plans to go to a Firefly Park with friends, but I was overwhelmed and retreated. The moment my head hit the (four!) pillows (luxury!), I realized that I was completely, utterly exhausted. I could barely move. I didn’t leave the building for the next 24 hours…I extended my stay another night because I needed to get my energy back and make a game plan. My flight to Australia wasn’t until the 12th of October…and it was the 23rd of September. I had originally booked a trip to Bali, but fears of Mt. Agung’s possible eruption kept me in Malaysia. (The alert level for the airport was one step away from completely shutting down, and I had a cat to sit. Honestly, if I didn’t have obligations in Australia, I might have risked getting stuck in the world of the Yoga Barn.) I had a very limited budget, a weak source of freelancing income, over two weeks before my flight to Australia, and no plan…so I had to kill some time.
Ladies’ Night and Rooftop Bars: Your Guide to Kuala Lumpur’s Nightlife
If you’re traveling through Southeast Asia, you may have a layover or a pit stop in Kuala Lumpur. You’ll find that Malaysia’s capital city has it all, from nature parks to shopping malls to great nightclubs with cheap drinks.
If you have a day in the city, use this great Kuala Lumpur guide to plan your itinerary. Once you’ve had dinner and a drink at Jalan Alor, however, it’s time to explore Kuala Lumpur’s exciting nightlife.
Review: Table9
Travel Does Not Cure Anxiety.
Backpacking is booking a flight to Bali on a whim, dreaming of The Yoga Barn and walking through the Monkey Forest. Everyone at the yoga retreat in Cambodia encouraged a trip to Bali. Your mom wants you to go. You haven’t read Eat, Pray, Love, but you know a thing about heartbreak and could use a chat with a monk and a juice cleanse. Your Instagram following could use a boost and what’s $3 a night for accommodation? Sigh. Shrug. Pleasant ‘mmm.’
Backpacking is uncontrollable sobbing in your hostel dorm, sending a flurry of contradictory messages to people who are on the other side of the world, who are ready to go to bed or go out for the night. Something, which you’ve been sure was ‘hormones’ the past two days, has a grip on each of your lungs and each of your eyes, relentless. You’re out of balance and out of control and wondering at what point you’re going to have to accept your personal definition of “failure” and book the flight back home.
Backpacking is both of these events happening at the same time.
Can Vegetarians Visit Southeast Asia? An Herbivore’s Guide
Anyone with a dietary restriction may be hesitant before traveling to a new place, especially if you’re already dealing with new languages, new cultures, and new traditions.
I stuck to a plant-based diet while traveling through Europe, but I was unsure of what I would find when I got to Southeast Asia. All I saw on Instagram are people eating scorpions off the street, and I couldn’t find too much information on how easy it was to stick to a vegetarian diet. I’ve been in Southeast Asia for three months now, and here’s what I’ve learned…
Everything You Need to Know About Visiting The Batu Caves
If you’re heading to Kuala Lumpur, you might have the Batu Caves on your bucket list. Hostel guests always ask a few different questions about the Batu Caves, so here’s a quick guide with everything you need to know about heading to the Batu Caves for a half-day trip!
The Best and Worst Things About Living in a Hostel, As Told By RuPaul’s Drag Race GIFs
This post is for a bit of a niche audience, eh?
For the past few weeks, I’ve been living and Workaway-ing in a hostel in Kuala Lumpur. Hostel life is definitely a unique experience, whether you’re working for accommodation or just staying for a few nights. Every hostel is different, and every night is different depending on the people that are staying for the night, but in general, you’ll find great things (and not so great things) at every hostel. To make things fun, I added GIFs from Drag Race. No reason. I just miss watching Drag Race every week.
All images are via RuPaul’s Drag Race, in case you were not aware. Just feel like I had to say it.
Five Strange Things I Ate and Drank in Da Lat, Vietnam (And Other Terrifying Experiences)
Looking for things to do in Da Lat? Get your stomach ready. This is going to be a wild ride.
Andrew and IÂ didn’t know much about Da Lat when we decided to add it to our itinerary. It’s a few hours away from Saigon, and another place in Vietnam to check out. Â We had heard about canyoning and experiencing cold weather (for once,) but that’s about it. We were in for a surprise.
The Beat, Broke, Backpacking Southeast Asia Packing List!
Wondering what to pack for Southeast Asia? Look no further. Yogis, techies, and backpackers, welcome!