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Experiencing Both Sides of Siem Reap: History & Nightlife
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. While in Siem Reap, I found out that twice a year, the sun rises directly behind the middle tower at Angkor Wat. This sunrise occurs in March and September, which corresponds with the Spring Equinox and Fall Equinox. I just happened to be exploring Angkor Wat around this time in March. Talk a truly special yet totally unexpected sunrise. The rumor was that this event was going to occur Friday, March…
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Things to do in Siem Reap Outside of Angkor Wat
After two days of super early mornings and temples, I knew I needed a break. I wasn’t done exploring Angkor Wat, but I needed a break. There was more to Siem Reap than just the temples. I was excited and ready to go sightseeing around the town. If you know me, then you know I love being active. Whether it’s playing volleyball, hiking, kayaking, or bicycling, I want to be outside, enjoying nature and sightseeing. When researching “Things to Do in Siem Reap,” I was looking for something non-temple related. Thanks to the knowledge from a travel facebook group I am in, South East Asia Backpacker Community, I found a…
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A Day on the Grand Circuit at Angkor Wat
Several people told me that one day is enough time for Angkor Wat, especially if you are on a budget. But, Angkor Wat has so many temples divided into two route; small circuit and grand circuit. Wouldn’t I miss a bunch temples if I only went for one day? Although I was on a budget, I knew that I was me going to want to go back so I purchased the $62 3-day pass ticket in advance. I can tell you now, with a high level of certainty, that ONE DAY is not enough. Tuk-Tuk vs. Group Tour My first experience at Angkor Wat was far from perfect with the…
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First Time Experiencing Angkor Wat | Pros and Cons
I don’t even know where to start when I think back to my week in Siem Reap, Cambodia. During the initial planning phase of my adventure, I only intended in staying three full days with Angkor Wat as a top priority. Instead, I ended up staying for six days and LOVED every second of it! It was plenty of days to see both sides of the city, without one spoiling the other! I knew I wanted to visit Siem Reap because I really wanted to see Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several travelers said that it’s effortless to cross the border between Thailand and Cambodia. It was a…
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Traveling Phuket to Bangkok
It’s hard to believe how quickly a week vacation went with my friend Chris, but all good thing must come to an end, right? (okay, maybe not always) Thankfully, it wasn’t quite over. We were all set to fly from Phuket to Bangkok in the afternoon. Chris’s return flight to America, however, was not until Sunday afternoon. So, technically, we had another day and a half, which between the two of us, was plenty of time to do a few more things!We did allow ourselves to sleep-in Saturday morning, which was much needed before we wandered Patong Beach to find breakfast. After breakfast, we ended up finding smoothies and a…
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One Day Around the Phi Phi Islands
Today was one of those days where we had no plans on what we wanted to do. I had a semi-rough idea of what we could do, but I didn’t want to set anything in stone, unti I was with Chris. Together, after a few options were discussed, we decided on another boat day. Except, instead of a sunset cruise, we decided on a sunrise speed boat tour to the Phi Phi Islands. The particular tour we decided on was called The Beach Sea Trips. I’m pretty sure we found it at the stand where we rented our motor scooters. The Beach Sea Trips Tour The Phi Phi Islands are…
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Phuket: Visit Big Buddha and Phang Nga Bay in One Day
We knew we were going to have a long afternoon and evening in Phang Nga Bay, but we didn’t want to waste our morning. We had a few more hours left with our scooters and wanted to do more exploring. We decided to start our morning watching sunrise at the famous Phuket landmark, The Great Buddha of Phuket, or Big Buddha. Big Buddha Big Buddha is a beautifully built, 18-meter tall statue located high on a mountain facing east, towards Ao Chalong Bay. Although it is still under construction, it was easy to see why Big Buddha is a popular tourist destination. We left Bearpackers Hostel and started heading towards…
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Renting Scooters in Phuket
Our morning started a little later than our normal day, but we didn’t mind. We didn’t have set plans but knew we wanted to explore. Thanks to our hostel, Bearpacker Hostel, we ultimately made the decision of renting scooters in Phuket for the day. They assisted with locating a motor scooter rental place right near the hostel, which made the process seamless. Renting Scooters in Phuket When renting scooters in Phuket the prices range anywhere from 250-400 depending on the rental company. Most places require some form of written document with a select amount of personal details. They also require a deposit. I have found that in Thailand, companies require…
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Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket, Thailand
Homesick is a real thing. Although I don’t get homesick often, it hits me hard when I do. When one of my friends, Chris, texted me saying he was thinking of stopping in Thailand for a week on his way home from his Nepal trip, most of the homesickness turned into excitement. Excitement for not just planning a whole week vacation but also for getting to show off Thailand. Even more excited to share a piece of my heart to my good friend, who has been ever so supportive of my crazy, Mapless Adventures!! The Planning Stage During the initial phase of our planning, my friend, Chris told me that…
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How to Spend 5 Days in Pai, Thailand
On a long weekend in December, a few of friends and I attempted to make the journey from our home in Lampang to town called Pai. Pai, a smaller town in northwest Thailand, has become a popular travel destination for many travelers and backpackers. We were all intrigued and really hoped we could make a trip during the school year. However, those plans did not happen according to plan. Thankfully, as the school year ended, I knew I’d have a little gap before my friend from America got here for a week visit. It was the perfect opportunity to take the crazy route from Lampang to Pai, Thailand. Getting There…
