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. 

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.

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.  

Attending a silent meditation retreat could be one of the most rewarding experiences in your life. I’d never thought I’d join a meditation retreat. I can’t imagine eating only two meals a day, sleeping in a temple, and not talking and being away from my phone for days! But it turned out to be the best days of my life!

I had always practiced yoga. They include some breathing work every once in a while. But my mind is far from silent. In fact, I loved hearing things when I “meditated” – taking it as God or the Universe whispering wisdom to me. At times, it’s really wisdom coming to me. At times, it’s wishful thinking. But learning to meditate is how I learn to be quiet. Rather, my mind learns to be quiet.
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My experience with the silent meditation retreat was with Wat Maheyong in Ayutthaya. It was amazing. The main work was purely on observing your breath. There were both sitting and walking meditation. I loved how everything was principle-based, and there were no strict forms of what you should do. As long as it quiets your mind, it doesn’t matter what mantras you use. And I will be returning when I need more silent meditation!

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. 

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. 

Who doesn't love to travel? But as college application deadlines are approaching, with so little time, how can you afford to travel? 

But maybe you should! 

I wanted to travel the world too when I was in high school. While grades are undeniably important, your essays will be a big part of your application. And travelling can be a great way to help you form outstanding college essays that will get you into top colleges! 

Your essay shows who you are as a person, what you've experienced, and what your worldviews are!

And there are many destinations to choose from!

It's also very easy to find the right destination and accommodation these days. There are many travel resources that are available just clicks away. 

This post will show you how I turned my travel experience into powerful travel college essays that got me into an Ivy League school.  Here we go!