I have been traveling the world since I was 15. If you're thinking of going traveling solo, and it's making you nervous, just know that that is totally normal. In fact, even though I've traveled solo countless times, I started getting a bit of trepidation before every single solo trip, because there are so many questions playing on your mind, right? It feels like a first day in a new school, it feels like you might get lonely, you might not make friends, you might get sick and have nobody to take care of you. Anything could happen.
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But here is what actually happens. The second you get on that plane, or that bus, or that train, taking you to your first destination, about half of your worries disappear immediately. As for the remaining 50%, let's tackle those now with my solo female travel tips. 

Packing light
The first solo female travel tip: I use a 45 liter backpack from Osprey. I've left the link below. It's super cool and sustainably produced. But the main reason why I purchased this one is that it is small and it challenges me to pack even lighter than I normally would. 

To be fair, packing light means different things for different people. I’m five-foot-two. So packing light for me genuinely needs to be quite light, because I need to be able to lift and I need to be able to carry it comfortably for extended periods of time.

Also, it’s important that there is nothing in it that I couldn't bear to lose.

And they are not items of sentimental value. If you're not prepared to lose it, do not bring it because you won't have somebody with you will be guarding your bags at all times. So you need to be prepared for like worst case scenario.

Check out the Osprey bag here >> ​https://amzn.to/34SBsAn

Make sure you have access to offline maps

Tip number three of my solo female travel tips is to make sure you have access to offline maps of the places you're traveling to. grab your phone and open up the Google Maps app. Click on your little face offline maps, and then select your map and then pick the place you'll be traveling to. Then just download it. Also, make sure you have a portable charger with you.

​Get travel insurance
I know it seems like a needless expense. But you never know what may happen. Just look at the world around us nowadays. COVID madness that has enveloped the globe. None of us could have seen that one coming.
Some governments have services whereby you can sign up for message or email alerts, if something were to happen in that country whilst you're there. 

Choose the right accommodation

If you're traveling solo, accommodation might be the dividing line between feeling lonely on your travels, or not feeling lonely. Some people can get around the loneliness issue by staying in hostels.

For me, I prefer to stay in single rooms so I won’t have to worry about my belongings too much. I’m also a light sleeper and if someone snores, I will not be able to sleep.  

You can also opt to stay locally by which I mean homestays. And Airbnb is directly run by local people. What you'll be doing by doing that, is having a lot of fun, meeting locals, quite possibly eating a lot of delicious food, getting some insider knowledge.

And, and this one's really important to me, and I think a lot of you as well supporting the local economy.

You can also turn to social media to ease the loneliness from solo travel

Personally, I have used my Instagram for this in the past. So I can tap into that network. If you don't have that network, you can use Facebook groups, you can use different forums, meetup.com, and websites like that, which are a great resource when you're traveling.

Don't drink too much

Ladies, people can try to take advantage of you when you’re drunk. I know it happens in other places around the world. I don't want to overstate the dangers of travel at all. Because having been to some supposedly super dangerous places, I have to say I felt very, very safe there.

But do keep in mind that when you're traveling solo, no one is really looking out for you as much as they would be if you were with a group of friends. And whilst it's never anyone's fault, if horrible things happen to them anywhere in the world, it is important that you be proactive and just make sure that you're being safe.
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So, don’t drink too much. Make sure you are safe, wherever you are, whether you're on the road or just hitting up next door. 

Don’t be too flashy

My next solo female travel tip is don't be too flashy. And don't be too visibly different. I know that can’t be helped in certain countries by virtue of who you are and your ethnicity and stuff like that. But what I'm trying to say is, don't make yourself look like an easy target. I have found traveling with my parents more dangerous than traveling solo, simply because it’s so easy to tell we were tourists. While I have travelled to many more dangerous places by myself, and people might just assume I’m another international student, and I never had a problem.
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Also if you try and blend in with the locals, you will have a nicer experience, you will have less scaring and you will most likely be safer. For example, if you're traveling to a conservative country don't wear tubes, crop tops and short shorts. Because people will a be kind of shocked by that. And  they might pick you out as an easy target for different scams. And the other aspect of it is not wearing super flashy jewelry or waving your cash around. Something you should be doing anyway. 

Don’t be afraid to get guided tours

Just because you're traveling by yourself doesn't mean you have to do everything on your own. Organized tour groups exist and you don't need to join them before you go on your trip. You might also be able to find ones that happen on the ground.

If you're staying in a hostel, quite often they have different tours that you can join. These organized tours especially for young people have a lot of other solo travelers on them. So they're a great way to meet other people but they're also a great way to understand more of the local culture.
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 Because, let's be real, when you're traveling on your own, do you really get that much cultural context of you know what you're doing and seeing? Not necessarily. So taking a few guided tours here and there meeting other people, especially locals, can be incredibly helpful and incredibly fun. 

keep your itinerary flexible

This solo female travel tip is possibly my favorite that I'm going to share with you today. And it is to keep your itinerary fluid. There are so many things to do in any given place that you are almost guaranteed to not have heard of until you actually get there. And the last thing you want is to be really eager to try some of them and not be able to because of time constraints.

So make sure that you are being a bit laid back. It's easier for some personality types than others. I know there are a lot of people that love being organized. And there is a lot to be said for doing that, especially with flights and accommodation, getting good deals.
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But when it comes to activities, my advice would definitely be to keep it cool. Just you know, go with the flow of it

​Go at your own pace

If you've never traveled solo before, maybe you shouldn't be diving headfirst into a year long trip around the world. Maybe you should dip your foot and by traveling locally or just to your neighboring country starter destinations that are not too challenging to visit.
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For example, if you're American, you might want to go to UK first or Canada or Australia because you can really speak the language. Or maybe you just want to start off with easy laid back trips to the beach, go to Thailand, instead of a full on hiking trip in the wilderness. You can check out some great things to do in Thailand here. Wherever your comfort zone lies. If you're not ready to do that. Take that first baby. 

Have fun and document at all.

The last solo female travel tip is to have fun and document all. By which I don't mean having your phone or camera out at every given moment. Because there is a lot to be said for living in the moment. And I think travel is really going to teach you how to do that.

Maybe at the end of every day, write down a few paragraphs in a travel journal. Maybe just call your friends or your parents write them a message of amazing things that you've experienced that day for make sure that those memories stay with you. 

​So, Those are all my solo female travel tips 

​Let me know in the comments below. What is your favorite part of traveling solo? Or if you've never done it? What’s holding you back?

I finished my teacher training with Trika Yog, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2019. It’s been a while, and it was a long journey from picking the right yoga teacher training school, choosing the location, to finally getting on-board. When people around me found out I was taking the yoga teacher training in Bangkok, I got a lot of questions. So I’ll list them here and tell you about my absolutely wonderful journey in my yoga teacher training with Trika Yog in Bangkok.

Is yoga teacher training worth it?

Absolutely! Yoga teacher training has definitely deepened my yoga practice. I have taught my friends and family since the training ended. During lockdown because of COVID, practicing yoga at home was possible because I had been taught the proper alignments already. That means I was more aware if my hips are squared in poses, and definitely being more careful of my lower back in all poses, and much more. I wouldn’t have known all this without the teacher training. Even if you don’t intend to become a yoga teacher, I still encourage the yoga teacher training as a good investment in yourself.

Do you have to be good at yoga to do a teacher training program?

I’d say no you don't necessarily have to be good. (Although my yoga master might disagree lol)There are so many different aspects of yoga, whether it's the physical practice or the Asana or more spiritual practice which some people choose to get into. And you really don't have to be an expert in anything. I mean, obviously, you're going into a teacher training program which is designed for being an entry level yoga teacher.
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With that being said you obviously need to have a desire to learn. And you also need to have some level of experience, so if you've never taken yoga before, you're not going to sign up for teacher training program anyway. And most programs will have listed on their website, which required at least a few months of yoga practice just so you have some familiarity when you start the training. For example, you should probably know what downward facing dog is and a few other basic postures. 

So for my background, I've been practicing yoga on-and-off for many years, and then consistently for about a year when I started to do teacher training program. And in terms of physical practice, I would consider myself as an intermediate practitioner. I can do some arm balances like crow, side crow, got myself into pincha and handstand with the wall. But my body was very stiff. I could barely do splits when I started. And there were also many students that are already very advanced who could do all the postures beautifully. There was a woman who was already an amazing yoga teacher who joined our class to refresh her knowledge.

So I’d say in a class where I did the teacher training program, the levels varied. Some could do more postures than others. And that was totally okay because at the end of the day, it's not really about getting the postures; it's about teaching people how to move in their bodies and to become more comfortable with their bodies, maybe get something mentally from it as well.

At the end of the day, as long as you have a desire to learn, you’ll be okay in the yoga teacher training program.  Most people in my program, including myself, already had a full time job and they were just doing it sort of to deepen their own practice and learn more about the foundations of yoga, that you couldn't get from a yoga class itself.

Where to do your yoga teacher training? How do you pick the yoga teacher training program? how long is it going to be and how much does yoga teacher training cost?
It really varies, which is actually good because then you get to pick the program that works best for you
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I've been interested in doing teacher training for a while, but honestly never worked with my schedule as a full-time employee. I wanted to do a full-time training in India but beining away for one month just isn’t possible.
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So Trika Yog is the perfect solution for yoga teacher training in Bangkok for me because :

• They have one of the best yoga masters from India teaching the yoga teacher training in Bangkok. Aman is definitely one of the best yoga teachers you will ever meet.
• They offer it part-time, which I took only on Sundays for about 6-7 months.
• They also offer 5 practice teach sessions where I got to teach students who came into their studios (free classes). The experience was totally invaluable, and the feedback from real students were helpful.
• They teach pincha, handstand and many other advanced poses at the 200-Hour training. Most other places will not teach these poses at this level.
• We had a yoga teacher retreat for one weekend. It was a lot of fun. You got to meditate before the sun rose, and practiced yoga by the sea. And the group got so much closer from the retreat.  
• The best part is the friendship that you developped over the time you spent so much together during the yoga teacher training in Bangkok. You ended up with a new circle of friends. We still stay in touch even it’s been over a year after training ended. So that’s a big plus because if I had done my training abroad, it’d be difficult to keep in touch with one another. 

Anyways, typically most Yoga 200 hour programs, which is the entry level, offer either a 10 week period where you need a few times a week over 10 weeks, or there are intensive programs. The intensive programs are more destination trainings where you might go to India, Bali or Southern Thailand.

Obviously you're going to do what works best for your schedule. However, I’d still advocate for a one-month immersion program if you have that time luxury. Personally, it’s really hard for me to stay focused when I have to still work on weekdays and get ready for class on weekends. But doing the yoga teacher training in Bangkok part-time was the best option given my constraints.
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But I know some people who would enjoy doing a longer format so there’s time to digest the information instead of constantly being in class and just being flooded with information. So, it really depends on your preferences as well.

There are definitely different options. Just look at local studios that are near you or if you don't have a studio near you, that you particularly enjoy and maybe you look for more of those destination for costs of a program. I would say, generally, it's going to be between $2000 and $4,000, or somewhere in that range.

Most programs have payment options, so you don't have to pay it all at once at the front. But, if you do, you don't really get a discount. And you can choose to pay it monthly over a certain period of time. You can also choose to volunteer at the studio; maybe work at the front desk or do some cleaning and organizing and then you'll get an additional discount off of your training. My training didn’t have this option, but I did get a discount for early-birds. 

Finally, the most important thing, I think, when choosing a program is choosing one that works for you. So like I said, there are so many different realms of yoga styles of yoga, you generally are going to be pretty familiar with yoga and want to learn more before you go into a training.

For me, I wanted to learn how to do pincha and handstand – as most studios in Thailand don’t teach this. Most 200-hr yoga teacher training programs in Bangkok that I found don’t teach this either; they typically save it for 300-Hr advanced training. So, when I called Trika Yog, and they teach this, I immediately signed up.
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So, I think it’s important to know what you personally want in a training and ask for more information from the school. Some yoga teacher trainings might focus more on the physical aspects and really go deep into anatomy. Other programs might be more spiritually-based, so they go back into the foundations of yoga. Yoga is 5000 years old, and it started mostly as meditation or a mental practice, and then the physical awesome is only around 200 or 300 years old.

At Trika Yog, the asana practice is rigorous, and it’s the main focus. There was one Sunday where we spent almost two hours practicing handstand and falling out of it into a wheel. That was the most rigorous practice of my life! They do teach spiritual practice along the way, but I wouldn’t say it was the focus. It worked fine for me because I think if you want to learn about meditation, you might as well join a meditation retreat; we have that everywhere in Thailand. You can read about my experience about meditation retreat here.  

Whether Chiang Mai is your only destination in Thailand or you’re just stopping by for a few days, and you don't know where to start with your plan. I've got some tips for the best things and activities to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand and the largest city in northern Thailand, and there are so many things to do. So if you come in here for as long as I've been here, or if you're just coming for a few days, here are my recommendations of the best things to do in Chiang Mai for you to pursue,
 

Lantern Festival Chiang Mai (Yee Peng Festival) 

First off, if you're planning your trip around November around Thanksgiving, you might want to consider the Yee Pen festival. This is truly a beautiful event that I planned my entire trip around, and it was well worth it to see all these floating lanterns go up into the sky them all at once. Not only is it just visually stunning but Chiang Mai is really truly alive during that time. There are so many people coming in from all over the world to see this festival.
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And if you're involved in an experience that might be difficult to you, or if you want to send up thoughts and prayers for someone or something or some hope or some dream. This is really the event. I highly recommend planning your trip around that time.  

Sunday Night Markets
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While we're talking about timing, make sure that when you're here you include a Sunday in your itinerary because when on Sunday nights, there's a huge market, they basically shut down the central streets of the Old City. You can find so much stuff here. I really enjoy some of the stuff you can find at the other night markets here 

Night Bazaar
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The night bazaar has countless stalls packed along the sidewalks. Here you can find vendors selling almost anything you can think of. The selection is simply staggering and items on offer include CDs, DVDs, clothes, shoes, Thai silk, handicrafts, purses, wallets, watches, video games, luggage, housewares, furniture, statues of aliens made from auto parts, spices, souvenirs. Quality varies from vendor to vendor but low prices mean you get good value for your money. The best goods on offer here are usually clothes, from hand-tailored Thai silk to the latest 'designer' fashions to the ubiquitous Red Bull t-shirts. I enjoyed walking around, window shopping, buying a few things here and there, and of course, tasting the local street food! 

Pai
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I think what makes Chiang Mai exceptional, is that there are a ton of things to do outside of Chiang Mai. There's tons of nature and small little towns, just hours away for you to go and visit.  So I highly recommend that if you're visiting Chiang Mai, maybe you give up to go over to Pai, which is a small mountain town, about three hours away. Now the tricky part is that it is super windy, you're in a minivan and it’s going to be rocky. So it's not for the faint of heart. But when you get there, it's beautiful.  This is one of the best things to do while you're in Chiang Mai, and not to be missed.
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I'm not saying that you're going to be totally safe from there because there's tons of tourists who come there and injure themselves because they think they can go do it. There's a lot to see, and it would make for a good overnight trip if not a few days. 

The Chiang Mai Grand Canyon
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Also, it makes for a good trip is the Grand Canyon of Thailand. It's really just a reservoir, it's just really beautiful. This was where I experienced a little bit of fear of heights and it left me with this desire to conquer any challenge, moving forward so I loved it. It was super fun.
 

Nimman Road

I find this excerpt a great description of the place, so I’ll put it here as well.

“Nimman Road and the surrounding side streets are at the heart of the trendiest part of Chiang Mai. Occasionally known by its full name of Nimmanhaemin Road, the place is alive with fashionable restaurants, cafés, bars, shops and boutique hotels. It definitely gives Chiang Mai a new angle, far removed from the traditional Thai sensibilities found in other areas of Thailand’s so-called ‘Rose of the North’” – Chiang Mai by Hotels.com

Back to the main city, there's a ton of things to do in the Old City. But I would recommend branching out from there. There's a really cool neighborhood called Nimman. This place is where all the university students hang out. There are tons of really cool restaurants and bars and lots of different little cafes for you to slip into. There are a lot of expats live in this neighborhood, so if you're looking for a place to stay a little bit more long term basis, you can find apartments here.
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I really love this neighborhood, and it's cool to visit too, so check it out. Also there are a lot of great restaurants here where you can have local Thai food. There's a unique quality about Thai food that you don't necessarily get in the time that we do in the West. 

 Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
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You'll love that you walk around Chiang Mai, you'll really notice the high density of temples. There are temples everywhere. The most famous one is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. There is a temple up there that has fantastic views of Chiang Mai, and the Chinese, or the stupa is magical. It's very very special, and is usually full of tourists. But this was my favorite, so we saved the best for last because I love this experience. 

Visit the Elephants

Elephants are the symbol of the city. it's a tremendous experience. But make sure you visit sancutaries where they’re ethical and treat elephants nicely. Check out this site  for more details of where you can meet these friendly elephants!

Is Chiang Mai safe for solo travel?

The questions I get asked a lot is do you feel safe walking around at night in Chiang Mai, especially when you're a foreigner in a new country. The answer to that question is YES. Thailand is a pretty safe country. Generally, there might be some theft, robberies and some break ins. So you have to watch your possessions carefully. But there’s less to worry about when it comes to serious crimes against foreigners.

So anyway let me know in the comments down below if you visited Chiang Mai, and if there's something I'm missing that you really enjoy, because I really want to come back here and have new experiences, and I'm sure other people will find it helpful. 

Where to Stay in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is quite a large place, with a lot of choice when it comes to hotels. Narrowing a choice of hundreds of properties down to just the one that’s perfect for you can be a challenge, but we think we can make it easier for you. We’ve picked out the best places in Chiang Mai according to a variety of budgets, locations and styles, so you can find the best hotel for your needs and preferences.

Agoda offers great rates in Asia hotels.
Click here or the banner below to book your stay in Chiang Mai to enjoy your trip now! 

I love Bangkok! This city has so much to offer. Bangkok has some of the best street food on earth. Also, comparing to other places in the world, Bangkok is rather affordable! You can get a meal for as little as $2 ! 
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If you're traveling in Asia, Bangkok is probably one of your destinations as it's quite in a prime location. Whether you're traveling to other parts of Thailand or using it as a base to travel further to other countries in South East Asia, Bangkok is a great place to stay. So you should choose to stay in the area that suits you and your life style.

Here are the best neighborhoods in Bangkok! 

I have also written a post on best hotels in Bangkok here. 

Siam

I love Siam! It is a great neighborhood. This area is at the center, near huge shopping malls and lots of activities to do, and home to great hotels and hostels. You'll find that most people around here are teenagers as it's located near universities and lots of tutoring schools. 

In the Siam region, there's a big shopping mall called Siam Paragon with lots of delicious food. And with more affordable food choices in its food court.  It's connected to the SkyTrain. Hint: with a great nail salon called "Nail It" inside the station. Make sure you book in advance because the place is always crowded since 8 in the morning! 

This would be my recommendation of where to stay in Bangkok. I know  some people have different preferences. Some love ThongLor area. Some love Khao San area, but some people would find it too touristy. It's up to what you'd like to experience where you stay. 
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The only downside to staying here is that it's quite commercial. Things can be very expensive and overpriced because the rent is super high. It can be very crowded so it's not totally ideal if you're looking for a quiet and serene stay in Bangkok. 

​Best Siam Hotels :

• Luxury: Siam Kempinski
• Midrange: Mercure Siam Hotel
• Budget: Ibis Siam Hotel 
• Find deals on Siam hotels here.

Pratunam

If you want to be around shopping destinations in Bangkok, the Pratunam neighborhood is for you! I can say it is the best Bangkok neighborhood for shopping. You're a short walk from the Platinum Shopping center, the Central World, and Pantip  — home to five stories of computers and electronic stuffs!

Across from Central World is a huge BigC Supermarket, very well known among Chinese tourists. They often come here at night from 7 pm onwards to buy food souvenirs back for friends and family. You can expect it to be very crowded and lively at that time.

Most tourists have heard of Chatuchak market, but that only opens on weekends. If you want to shop during the week as well, Pratunam is definitely the best neighborhood in Bangkok for you.
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Pratunam is also my top recommendation for where to stay in Bangkok if you''d like a convenient trip to and from the airport. You can take the Airport Link directly from BKK Air terminal to Ratchapraprop. This way you don't have to deal with Bangkok's traffic.
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Best Pratunam Hotels :

• Luxury: Centara Grand 
• Midrange: Arnoma Grand
• Budget: Twin Tower Hotel
• Find deals on Pratunam hotels here.

Khao San Street

I lived near Khao San area for years. And I'd recommend that you consider staying in the Khao San Street area. It can be one of the best neighborhoods in Bangkok if you're here for the first time. There are lots of bars and restaurants, nail salons; lots of things to shop for from swimsuits to bracelets; lots of  street food; and lodgings, guesthouses, and hotels.
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Khao san is located in the Banglamphu neighborhood, If it's your first time in Bangkok, you'll likely show up feeling overwhelmed, and it's easier to stay in a place where the locals are already very familiar with foreigners.

Khao San Street is also very close to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, and you can take a ferry across to Wat Arun. It's a great place to stay and use it as a base to visit these must-see sights.
 
The downside is that there is no MRT or Skytrain close to this area. There is an MRT Sanam Chai Station near the grand palace. It's quite new and just open in 2020. From there you can take a cab for a few minutes. Or walk to dine at one of the best restaurants in Bangkok called "Rongros" 

Best Khao San Hotels :

• Luxury:  Raweekanlaya Hotel
• Midrange: Ibis Style Bangkok Khao San
• Budget: ​Khao San Palace Hotel
• Find deals on Khao San hotels here.​

​Ari
 
In case you're searching for the coolest neighborhood with the best bistros and eateries, , Ari is the Bangkok neighborhood for you. For quite a long time, Ari was fundamentally a private neighborhood for white collar class Thais with no attractions — but recently many new eateries and bistros have opened, making it one of the more popular neighborhood to stay in Bangkok.
 
Ari has a lot of restaurants, shops, and luxurious places also. It has its own night market in case you're hoping to eat for as little as possible.
Ari is strategically placed with its own Skytrain, giving you access everywhere on over the city, and it's near Chatuchak Weekend Market.
 
The greatest downside? There aren't a huge amount of hotels in Ari right now. Numerous individuals who stay here will in general stay in home rentals through Airbnb. 

​Victory Monument
 
Victory Monument is one of the best neighborhood for foodies! With lots of local street food that all foodies will love. If you're a foodie, this is the neighborhood to consider.  Although you can find street food almost everywhere in Bangkok, it's usually quite off-the-beaten path and not on tourist guidebooks. Victory Monument has a lot of street food you can easily find such as places near Soi Rang Nam. 
 
Victory Monument is also one of the biggest travel hubs in Bangkok. Many buses and transportation will leave from the Victory Monument, making it a great neighborhood to stay if you'd like to travel to many other destinations around Bangkok. 

Best Victory Monument Hotels :

• Luxury:  Pullman King Power Hotel
• Midrange: Le Tada Parkview Hotel
• Budget:​ Fynn Hotel
• Find deals on Victory Monument hotels here.​

​Sukhumvit 
 
A lot of foreigners and travelers absolutely adore the Sukhumvit neighborhood! It's where you can hang out in bars and restaurants and meet other foreigners and travelers. Sukhumvit is also the best neighborhood for nightlife in Bangkok with more luxurious and upscale restaurants. 

Sukhumvit also offers some “interesting” places for those who want a bit of naughty fun, such as Soi Cowboy. It can be a great shopping destination and there are many shopping malls in the area. Terminal 21 is great with inexpensive food at its food court. Make sure you check this out with you stay in the neighborhood!

There's also SkyTrain and MRT in the neighborhood so you have easy access to transportation that can take you anywhere in Bangkok.

Best Sukhumvit Hotels :

• Luxury: Hotel Icon Bangkok Sukhumvit
• Midrange: Holiday Inn Sukhumvit
• Budget: Grand Business Inn  Sukhumvit 
• Find deals on Sukhumvit hotels here

Silom
 
If you look for a quiet place to stay, Silom is the best neighborhood in Bangkok for you.  Silom has easy access to Lumpini Park. It’s like the Central Park of Bangkok where people come here to run, walk with friends, and do some exercises.  

A short walk from Lumpini Park is Silom Complex - a small shopping mall with lots of restaurants. It's connected to the MRT, making it very convenient to travel around Bangkok. 

There is an alley called "Lalai Sap Market," literally meaning "melting your money" in Thai. This is where you can shop for local stuff and have street food at local prices. 

Best Sukhumvit Hotels :

• Luxury: Bangkok Mariott Hotel Surawongse 
• Midrange:  Pullman Bangkok G
• Budget: ​iSleep Silom Hotel
• Find deals on Silom hotels here.​

FAQs About Where to Stay in Bangkok

Is Bangkok safe?
Bangkok is an incredibly safe city. As long as you don’t wander around at narrow streets and dark corners at night, you will have a safe trip in Thailand. 
 
Where's the best neighborhood to stay in Bangkok?
 
My recommendation for the best neighborhoods in Bangkok are Siam and Pratunam; they are the in the center of the city with lots of things and activities to do. Some of the best hotels and restaurants are in this area. Not to mention, they're home to top shopping destinations in Bangkok.
 
Where is the place to stay in Bangkok if you're on a budget?
 
Khao San area has lots of these places for travelers on budget – and there are great street food and manicure salons around!  
 
Where is the  most romantic place to stay in Bangkok?
 
I’d recommend hotels by the river and those with romantic rooftop bars. Okura Prestige, Shangrila, Mandarin Oriental, and Eastin Grand Sathorn are my top choices.

There are millions of books out there marketing as life-changing books these days.

Not sure which ones are worth your time or if they will change your life?

Here are some recommendations that you might enjoy! 

• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz
• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chavalier
• Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

I love reading. I read a lot during my travels, on the plane, on the beach – pretty much whenver I have the time.

Not that I was hoping that reading books can change my life, but miracurously and unexpectedlly, it often does turn out to have life-changing power.

Of all the hundreds of books that I read, I have to admit that only a selected few changed my life, my narrative, and how I see things.

Some books have led me to make life-changing decisions.

If you have an Amazon Kindle or its Kindle App, you can easily get these books online in just one click.
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I have linked them here as well. Check it out, download, and enjoy your reading right away! 

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Easily made the top of my travel book list. 

I have read it three times since I first got it in 2011. Bought multiple copies for my friends, and three copies for myself so I have it available in all my homes and apartments!

Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer.

It’s so  beautifully written you will love every single sentence that she writes.

I meditated for the first time in a long time because I read her book, and it sort of got me on a spiritual path. Her stories resonated with everyone at some point in their lives.

If you’re healing from a broken heart or learning about self-love, definitely one I’d recommend!

The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (A Toltec Wisdom Book) by Don Miguel Ruiz 

This book was recommended to me by one of my favorite yoga teachers in London.

It will change the way you see yourself and the world. It emphasize so much on how your perception makes your reality.

Everything about your “assumptions” matters.

It’s soothing, calming and philosophical. It is spiritual and life-changing without being dogmatic.

This book is a sequel to the Fourth Agreement. You can just jump to reading this one as most of the texts is kind of a repetition. 

The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chavalier

What I love about Chavelier’s work is her talent in making an object come to life by adding stories and meaning into it.

This book is about a historical masterpiece – a tapestry. The tapestry is already beautiful to look at.

But it becomes so magical and enchanting once you are able to imagine how so much effort and struggles went behind it

It was an artwork that took years in the making.

I never look at historical arts the same way again after reading this book.   

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo 

I read all of his books; all of them are spiritual and life-changing books.

But the Alchemist is his best-seller and justifiably so.

It’s about following your heart, trusting in signs from God, and taking that first step of faith. A contemporary spiritual classic book.
 
Twenties Girl & The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella

To say it's life-changing might be an overstatement. But I absolutely adore Sophie Kinsella’s work.

I actually read all of her books because her writing is magical.

It’s contemporary writing with the storylines that are simply addictive.

So charming, witty, and humorous. I recommend getting one to read on a long trip, and you will not want to put it down!
 
That's it for now for my travel book list.

Oh, and I’d totally recommendgetting an Amazon Kindle, if you don't already have it. 

It’s one of the best investments I’ve made.

I bought mine three years ago, and it still stays strong.

I’m using it almost everyday. It’s friendly to the environment. And I love how I can change the fonts! 

 I’m writing this from the balcony of my hotel room at U Jomtien Pattaya. Everything around here is so alive. The smell of the ocean. The sea breeze gently brushing against my skin. The sound of the sea waves crushing against the sand. The sight of the glistening turquoise water and the blue sky. The seagulls flying past.The silhouette of the mountains lining the horizon, embracing the vast ocean as it flaunts majestic grandiosity.

This trip is slightly different from how I ususally do it.  My vacation often tends to be about action: wandering around to see places, checking out attractions in the neighborhood, and looking for things to do. 

But in this trip, it’s pure relaxation at this Pattaya beach hotel.

I have to admit: it’s quite nice.

Starting from the wonderful breakfast. As I stepped into the dining room, I was greeted by friendly staffs who brought me to a table next to the window where I could have full view of the ocean. The breakfast buffet was delicious. I ordered an eggs benedict, and helped myself to pastries, cereals and a nice cup of cappucino. The coffee was so delicious and fragrant that I had to look up what the brand of the coffee machine was.  Their tea selection was an amazing collection of Dilmah. The peppermint tea was so soothing. This place knows how to perfectly pamper their guests!

As the sun got stronger into the afternoon, I came back to the hotel and basically lounged around in the hotel rooftop almost all day. Thanks to whoever so brilliantly designed the place, it has the perfect rooftop bar where I could sit in the shades looking over the infinity of the ocean, and read a good book. When it got too hot, I simply jumped into the pool.

Hours easily flew by. And before I knew it, the whole day had gone by.

I watched the sky changing colors from pale blue to soft pink before the sun disappeared into the horizon, leaving me to the darkness of the night. The ocean became littered with green lights from fisherman boats. And I was just lazily lying in my beach couch before falling asleep to the ocean breeze, only waking up minutes before the rooftop bar closed for the night.

I packed up my stuff, came back to my room and retired to bed.

I woke up to the soft ray of the sun and the sound of the sea.

That pretty much summed up my beach vacation in Pattaya at U Jomtien. 

Perfection is simple. 

1) Be mindful of every moment as you travel

Every single moment has the potential to become your next essay topic. Don't underestimate the power of one small and seemingly insignificant moment. You want to take in as much detail as possible. Engage all your senses. Some of the questions to get you started are:

How do you feel at that precise moment?
Who's talking to you?
What's that person wearing?
What's your perception of that moment? 

For example, I was on my high school trip to the Grand Canyon. We were pedaling in the water when suddenly the waves became so strong. I did not let this moment pass me. This has a potential to be a travel college essay!

I was already forming sentences in my head as I pedaled! It went like this:

"As the waves came over us, we were pedaling in trepidation. We could have tipped over at any moment. We could've drowned. I heard my kayaking partner shouting over the sound of the wind, "keep going! we have to keep going!"  This is just like life. There will always be moments when storms will knock us over, but all we can do is to keep going...."

There we go. 

2) Ask yourself: what lesson can be learned from this experience? 

There are lessons to be learned in every single moment. Don't take the smallest detail for granted. The stranger you met could teach you a lesson on kindness. The squirrel running past could teach you about the harmony in all beings. The sight of the mountain could teach you how small we are in this universe. 

Everything around you teaches you. Pick a moment that speaks to you and weave it into writing.  

If you run into challenges as you travel the world, great! write about it! And mention how you overcame them. This can make a very powerful travel college essay!

Life isn't supposed to be all smooth and carefree. Bad stuff happens. People make mistakes. But how do you learn and rise from them? 

This shows your character. 

3) Make sure your essay reflects your character

Sometimes we can get carried away writing about what we've experienced. Perhaps you're writing into detail how beautiful Paris is and how it blows your mind. But always ask yourself:

Does your essay show who you are? 

This is very important!

One of my essays, I wrote into great detail about my late grandmother. So many  beautiful and delicate details about her. But the comment from my counselor was: "This is beautiful. But do you think it tells the reader enough about you?"  

He was right! This essay was all about my grandmother! Everyone would walk away knowing her. But not me!  Of course it remained in my computer. I never submitted it anywhere.  

Make sure not to repeat this mistake. No matter how beautiful Paris is, make sure your travel essay reveals enough about you. 

4) Read a lot

As you travel the world, you will have a lot of time to yourself. Pick up a good book and read. 

Not only is this relaxing - nothing beats reading on the beach! - reading will improve your writing and clarify your thoughts tremendously. 

As you work on your travel college essays, you might want to read books that are descriptive. Don't read thrillers.... read memoirs, travel books, historical fiction, for example. These books tend to be describe the scenes into detail, and you want to incorporate that technique into your writing. 

In my next post, I will write about some of the books that I have found very helpful in writing any college essays.. well basically, anything!