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Unexpected Adventures in Nan, Thailand
Working in a Thai school as an English Teacher and volleyball coach has its perks. One of these perks just happens to be opportunities to explore the neighboring provinces during school events. This past year, I was blessed with the chance to go on adventures in Nan, Thailand. My volleyball team was heading there for a week long tournament and my school asked me to join. I didn’t hesitate, even though I knew it was going to be volleyball 24-7, but it wasn’t all volleyball. There were several unique experiences and adventures in Nan; none of which I knew anything about. Nan is the capital city in its namesake province,…
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Ultimate Guide to Lampang, Thailand
Lampang is the capital of its name-shared province in northern Thailand. It borders several provinces including Chiang Mai province and is the second to third largest city in the North; right next to Chiang Rai. Lampang is located about 60 km south of Chiang Mai and is home to the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center. This ultimate guide to Lampang, will detail everything you need to know; from getting there to nightlife. For a complete list about What to Eat in Thailand, Click Here Getting There From Chiang Mai Because of its size and relativity to Chiang Mai, there is an abundance of transportation options, including the train, buses, and taxis.…
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A Weekend Getaway in Phayao, Thailand
When three-day weekends happening, traveling outside of Lampang can be difficult. Flights, trains and buses tend to book up QUICKLY and it becomes such a hassle. However, for a weekend getaway in July, a few friends and I decided to catch a Green Bus to a sister city, 190km to the northeast, called Phayao, Thailand. Phayao is not a famously known city, nor is it a popular travel destination. However, being a teacher, you hear a bit about neighboring provinces and this particular location intrigued us. Accommodations While Phayao is a small town there were several options for accommodation. Many places were located along the main road off of Phayao Lake. It’s…
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Koh Phangan | More Than the Half Moon Festival
After an amazing few days of diving and exploring Koh Tao, it was time to move on to the next island. This time for one main reason, the Half Moon Festival on Koh Phangan. The Full Moon Party and Half Moon Festival are famous in Koh Phangan. Backpackers and travelers alike plan entire vacations around these parties. They are one of the main reasons people venture to Koh Phangan on their vacations. They aren’t the only “big” parties that Koh Phangan offers. There are also Jungle Parties and Waterfall parties. Basically, ever week, sometimes twice a week, there is some massive party somewhere on the island. Although the Full Moon…
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Scuba Diving in Koh Tao…and a list of things to do
Scuba diving in Koh Tao, Thailand might not have happened if it wasn’t for visa issues. As a teacher here in Thailand, I’m tied to my visa. I didn’t want to pay for another re-entry permit at 1000 baht to visit another country. That meant I had two weeks left of my school holiday and I needed to go somewhere within Thailand. As a scuba diver, it was a pretty easy decision. I cannot tell you how many friends and other travelers who have said “You have to go Scuba Diving in Koh Tao.” I knew I would regret not going scuba diving in Koh Tao if I ever left…
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Experiencing Songkran Festival for the First Time
I’m usual sad about leaving somewhere and moving on to the next place. However, this time was different. I was getting ready to start my journey from Penang Island back to my home of Lampang, Thailand for the Thai New Year Celebration called Songkran Festival. Getting Home The time finally came for me to fly from Penang to Bangkok to catch my over night train. I was ecstatic. Ecstatic to be returning to my closet with all my clothes. Ecstatic to be able to sleep and shower in my own apartment. It’s these little things I forget about when traveling for a long period of time. I understand for some…
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Penang Island | Beyond the Street Art
After an amazing time in Kuala Lumpur, I headed north to the city of Georgetown, Penang Island. Penang Island is a popular destination when traveling within Malaysia. I was intrigued to go because many friends and backpackers told me about beautiful street art and the UNESCO World Heritage Site label. I couldn’t pass up a lovely city filled with street art. Getting There Traveling within Malaysia is identical to other Southeast Asian countries, bus or plane. I was limited on time so I decided to take the quickest route and fly. However, be aware that there is tons of bus availability between these two cities. If you have time, busing…
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What it was Like Living Like a Local in Kuala Lumpur
I always knew I wanted to head to Malaysia and roughly planned a visit back in February. When I shared my tentative plans with my family, I didn’t know what it was going to result in. It ended up being the best decision ever as I got the experience to live like a local in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This was all thanks to my aunt’s friend, who had friends living in Kuala Lumpur. She connected me with this family and they offered to host me during my few days and it was more special than I could have imagined. Getting to Kuala Lumpur Getting from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is…
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Three Days in Singapore
I had bittersweet emotions leaving Cambodia because I truly fell in love with the country. Twelve days wasn’t enough time. I felt like I barely touched the surface. There was plenty more to see, but I also felt this pull to see as much of southeast Asia as possible. It’s part of why after my days in Cambodia, I was ready for my next stop on my southeast Asia backpacking adventure, the city-state of Singapore. Singapore is unlike any other city I’ve experienced, and that includes cities in the States and Europe. There was plenty to eat and drink and several tourist attractions to see, but the culture is what…
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Living the Island Life on Koh Rong Samloem
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links. This means that I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and companies I use personally. My friends and I woke up the next morning excited for our next destination, Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia. I was ready to get back on an island and the boys were just as ready. We didn’t want to waste a full day traveling from Kampot to Koh Rong Samloem. With small amount of research we’d done and with the help of our hostel, we had a goal of making the 11:30…