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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Lessons I Learned from Teaching English in Thailand
I was fresh off the bus from Chiang Mai to Lampang. I had no idea what was in store for me. Would I like my new town? Would I like my new school? I was slightly terrified but I had no choice. This was it. Expect the unexpected, right? I was about to begin my teaching abroad in Thailand experience. I’m not going to sit here ramble on about how, “I’m a different person than I was when I started.” Or “my life has changed so much since I moved and began teaching abroad in Thailand.” If these statements weren’t true, I haven’t done this whole live and work-abroad thing…
Reality of Teaching English in Thailand
I decided I was going take a brief step back from Speech Language Pathology. At the time, I wasn’t fully prepared but knew it needed to happen. I ultimately landed on the decision to move halfway around the world and teach English in Thailand. But what exactly does teaching English in Thailand entail? I immediately began to scour the internet for any resource I could get my hands on. What clothes do I pack for Thailand? What shoes do I bring? Are there novelties from America I should bring with me? Travel essentials for Thailand? Where is better to live? North vs. South? City vs. country? You get the idea.…
Things to Know about Lampang Thailand
I didn’t know Lampang, Thailand my going to be my home until I got my teacher placement from XploreAsia. However, the placement wasn’t a complete mystery to me either. You see, moving to Thailand with a recruitment company, like Greenheart Travel, has its benefits. One of them is the amount of information they provide before you take off. They provide information about budgeting, living abroad, and previous teacher-placement locations. For me, this was hugely important because I love doing research. I didn’t know much about the various regions of Thailand prior to my departure. The information provided was helpful in looking at the past placement cities and photos. It also…
