gapgirlgia-blog

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Tips I Learned Along the Way -

SUPER useful apps: Maps.me, AirVisual, Grab, offline Google Maps, HostelWorld

Bathrooms prob won’t have toilet paper, so keep napkins with you

Always take the single seat or front seat on any 🚌, personal space is rare to come by 

You can get cheap passport photos at tech/camera shops for when you have to cross boarders

Cheap laundry service is at hostels and all over town (it pays to pack light 😉)

Keep your 1.5L water bottles and refill for a few cents

Exchange clothes and books with people at hostels

Just leave it behind if you don’t want it or need it

Be more creative with the questions you ask other backpackers. “Where are you from?” and “Where have you been?” aren’t fun when you hear them 5x a day.

If you’re traveling alone, getting a hostel bed without a reservation is very likely and cheaper than booking online

Know at leassst how to say “hello” and “thank you” in every country you visit 🥰

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Laos (1 week)

I went back and forth for a few weeks on whether or not I wanted to check out Laos, and Im so thankful I did because it might have been my favorite experience in Southeast Asia. I wish I had spent more time there, but I was really looking forward to getting to Vietnam based on everyone raving about it. The determining factor in my decision was honestly the Instagram poll I posted, and Laos won over Vietnam last minute.  Laos a diamond in the rough and a super bang for your buck. 

1. Don Det (4,000 Islands)

(5/10-11) The Last Resort

Newer guesthouse made of teepees and hay-made bungalows, the most basic bathroom/showers made of cement walls and straw roofs. Cute in pictures but very uncomfortable due to the heat. Delicious, fresh food provided but expensive given it being a tiny island (inland). 

(5/12) Overnight Bus to Vang Vieng

Purchased through hostel 

Got a bus from Phnom Penh to the 4,000 Islands which took 1.5 days, including multiple buses, tuk tuks and little boats. Laotians live very simply but accommodate tourists very well considering their lack of resources. The Li Phi Falls / Tat Somphamit Waterfalls in Don Khon is about a 40 minute bicycle ride away and so nice! You can swim in the stream but its not the clearest or cleanest. On the way, there are graveyards with colorful, white, glittering, glassy gravestones. 

2. Vang Vieng

(5/7-9) Nana Backpackers

Party hostel with a pool and bar/restaurant. Someone broke a beer bottle in the room and the staff wouldnt clean anything up, which wasnt cool with me. 

Vang Vieng is situated between insane mountains with cute night markets. You can hire a tuk tuk driver for a couple bucks to take you to the Lagoon (Lagoon #3 is the most beautiful and less crowded than the others). You can also hike up to the view points, it was very green and lush during the month of May, which made it similar but different than northern Thailand. I also went to some nice Yin Yoga classes at Silver Naga (2 classes for $15). And little did I know, Laos is one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest country to ride in a hot air balloon. So dang nabbit I had to do it!! It lasted for only 30-40 minutes, which was disappointing but worth it. 

Silver Naga hotel (after yoga class), Vang Vieng, Laos

Lagoon #3 hike to View Point, Vang Vieng, Laos 

Hot air Balloon, Vang Vieng, Laos

3. Luang Prabang

(5/10-11) Lakangthong II Friendly House

Breakfast provided, $3/night, bathrooms didnt have showerheads, so you had to bathe while kneeling next to toilets which was grossss

(5/12) Overnight bus to Vietnam 

Purchased through hostel ~$40

Absolutely loved Luang Prabang, it reminded me a bit of Kampot. The night markets are a lot bigger than Vang Viengs and the variety of food is plentiful. Another country where you can get .75 cent fruit smoothies. Its a very artistic place with hundreds of handmade craft artists, painters (shown below). Below are the Kuang Si Falls, which are so bright and crystal blue because of the limestone pools. Not shown is a gigantic waterfall which enables the water to flow so heavily.  

Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, Laos 

Artist, P.Noy, most famous female expressionist artistin Laos  

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Cambodia (3 weeks)

Stayed longer than I expected. In hindsight, I loved my time here but would have exchanged one week in Cambodia for another week in Laos. Because of the genocide, unfortunately Cambodia has lost some of its own cultural influence. Because of this, the western side of Cambodia feel much like Thailand, and eastern Cambodia resembles Vietnamese culture. A strange blend, but fascinating to mentally piece together as youre travelling between countries. 

1. Siem Reap 

(4/12-13) Visothe Boutique Hotel

Loved this hotel, big clean A/C rooms with a beautiful salt water pool. Charming, hidden and quaint. Would go back again for sure at $10/night.

 (4/14) Siem Reap Pub Hostel 

The pool, common area and booking accommodations were great, the bedrooms and bathrooms were disgusting. I was able to arrange a day trip to the Floating Villages (shown below). 

Arriving in Siem Reap was surely a change from Thailand, but not a stretch. Immediately, I noticed the major street-trash issue. Siem Reap is not a place I would have gone to if it werent for Angkor Wat. I purchased a 3-day pass to Angkor Wat at 5pm to catch the sunset before the ticket office closed at 6pm. By doing this, youre able to enter the UNESCO site for free and catch the sunrise. Youre also able to avoid the long lines for the next day and see the sunrise at Angkor Wat the very next day! The 3-day ticket was around $65 and I saw so much that first day that I didnt end up using the ticket for the following 2-days. So, personally I would only recommend the 1-day pass. 

Pub Street, Siem Reap, Cambodia 

Preah Khan Temple, Angkor, Cambodia

2. Koh Rong Samleon

(4/15) Overnight bus 

Purchased via hostel 

(4/16-18) The Big Easy

AC broke in 100+ degrees but amazing food (with an actual salad on the menu!?). The common area is the outdoor bar itself, so there was literally no option for AC anywhere on this damn island. I also may have gotten bed bugs from this place, or it might have been sun poisoning. Either way, it was beautiful but this hostel didnt accommodate well. 

(4/19) Onederz

Thankful I switched to this hostel but really pricey! The most incredible happy hour, large/chill outdoor space with hammocks and a pool table in the sand. AC with personal fans at each bed, a lot of cleaning staff :) and cotton swabs provided in the bathrooms (which were gender specific!). 

This is the smaller, cleaner and prettier of the two islands - the other island is Koh Rong, which is known for partying. I ended up arriving through a different pier than I was expecting so trying to find a hostel on a blistering hot beach with 20 pounds of backpack is MISERABLE. But worth it. This island was incredibly serene and I met super chill girlfriends. Awesome seafood BBQ and you can hike over to the other side of the island (20 min) to catch the sunset. I ran into guys I met in Bangkok who live in Austin! Something I love about backpacking is realizing how connected the world is, as youre likely to run into those whove met previously. Unfortunately, my sun poisoning was unbearable and SO itchy, despite all of the aloe juice I drank. Between that, the lack of AirCon, and how expensive it was to stay on the island, I had to get out. I was also getting island fever after three nights. It literally felt like years. 

Eastern Central area, Koh Rong Samleon (daytime)

Eastern Central area, Koh Rong Samleon (nighttime)

3. Kampot 

(4/20-23) Mad Monkey

Party hostel that provides a free mixed drink when you check-in. Filthy pool, still swam in it though... People were drinking in the room at all hours despite the upstairs bar which was annoying and a street dog who jumped in the river somehow got in my bed as I was trying to fall asleep. When the hostel heard my feedback (they insisted I tell them even though I wasnt going to mention anything) they gave me free lunch. The food is delicious and the rooms are clean, those are my two positive thoughts on that place. 

(4/24-28) Karma Traders

Wanted to stay in Kampot but get out of Mad Monkey so I went to the place I had heard so much about, and it was awesome! You can get happy cookies, community dinners and theres also a pool there. Since its a bit outside of Kampot, we were next to an Ostrich farm (!!!). Ended up befriending a local guy who bar-tended here and he helped me learn how to ride a motorbike. This hostel redeemed the days I spent at Mad Monkey. 

Kampot is almost as magical as Pai, Thailand. Its the hippie town of Cambodia with flower gardens/restaurants on boats and mountains to motorbike on. Ohhh my goodness. I spent 8 days here (which is quite long when youre backpacking). Kampot has much french influence through the food, architecture, and even small businesses run by French expats. Kampot has an oudoor park gym that overlooks the river, insaneeee sunsets if youre on the treadmill ;). You can bike out to the salt fields, chili pepper farms and crab markets in Kep. Definitely my favorite place in Cambodia, hands down. 

Floating Gardens, Kampot

Central Kampot Town

4. Phnom Penh

(4/29-5/2) Lovely Jubbly Villa

Decent place with a pool and full restaurant/bar. They processed my Vietnamese 3-month visa since the embassy is in Phnom Penh which can be used via airplane or bus, which is uncommon. This gave me much flexibility in terms of planning my entrance in to Vietnam.

I mainly went to Phnom Pehn to see the Killing Fields and Genocide Museum (shown below) from the Khmer Rouge regime that lasted between 1975-1979. This city actually surprised me because everyone kept saying how its just another city. But in fact, I really enjoyed my time around the unique temples (much different than Thai temples), the free green tea at each street restaurant, the art, the manicured palm trees along the river, and THE MOST INCREDIBLE Azahar Yoga Studio ! 

Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Phnom Penh 

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12 Ways to Afford Backpacking SE Asia -

1. The typical budget is $1000/month ($35/day) or $1500 if you’re going crazy. Think about it like this - if you make at least $1000 a week (which many of you may) you can absolutely afford to take a few months off and do this if you really wanted to.

2. I personally don’t go out at night, I keep really active during the day time and am exhausted by 8pm so I’m not spending money on alcohol!!! Since I’m a solo female traveler, I feel safer not going out at night by myself. Maybeee one or two cocktails a week because they’re cheap and delicious, but this is how I save money and it’s also nice to stay in at night when everyone else is out partying, so you typically have the hostel room to yourself! And TBH I did the party thing when I backpacked Europe eight years ago, I have no interest in doing that again at this point of my life lol

3. Just take a the cheapest transportation option. If it’s a 24 hour bus, just think of it as paying for a tour across the country lol

4. Eat the street food as much as possible (~$2). The restaurants are not as tasty most of the time and way overpriced.

5. Walk, rent a motorbike, or order a motorbike via Grab app (aka Uber) because taxis and tuk tuks can really do you dirty

6. Refill your water bottles for a few cents at refill machines on the street or at your hostel (it’s safe) vs buying a new bottle for $1, you’ll want to drink at least one 1.5 liter bottle per day because of the heat!

7. Buy some fruit on the street for a few cents and eat it for breakfast instead of getting a “western breakfast” everyday

8. Take advantage of the free books, breakfast, coffee/tea, towels, shampoo, body wash, tooth brushes, cotton swabs, body lotion, etc at your hostel or hotel

9. Use the free outdoor workout equipment typically found in larger cities or towns

10. Exchange books for free at your hostel or exchange cafe (you’ll find really cool novels you typically wouldn’t read)

11. Go with a cheap unlocked phone and buy a SIM card/data for a few bucks

12. Find a subleaser who won’t screw you over (easier said than done)

Tom Yum Seafood soup, Chiang Rai, Thailand

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Traveling Solo

A lot of people have been asking me how I’m doing this alone. Now that I’m traveling alone I don’t think I could travel with someone else ever again haha 😅. No, I don’t feel alone very often here, I actually have to make an effort to step aside from everyone to create my own time and space. That may be why I don’t mind the 12-24 hour bus rides; I have so much time to reflect and appreciate this all (with AirCon and a nice view). Life is a lot easier on the road than I was expecting. The backpackers I meet may not be as high-maintenanced as me when it comes to cleanliness and certain values; but energy-wise, I’ve never been around so many people who I’ve felt similar to. I’m someone who really enjoys going, going, going; the destinations aren’t as appealing to me as the anticipation of the next place I’ll see. I think that’s because I actually love connecting the dots to understand how the world fits together like it does. Although this may sound nice, anticipation of the next designation and not focusing on the present is one of my goals that I need to continually keep top of mind. This is a challenge for me that people I’ve met along the way have helped me with. When I meet someone (they’re typically also a solo traveler as it’s easier to connect with him/her), we usually end up creating a memory and learning, experience together. This keeps my present-mind tuned in and I’m so thankful for this. I’ve enjoyed traveling with other solo backpackers but only for a few nights, unless I really vibe with the person. The people I connect with tend to be Pisces ♓️, I’m an Aries ♈️ so this makes a lot of sense! What is making this trip so fun for me is knowing wherever I end up, there will be at least one person I’ll explore the city or country with and I don’t have to hangout with them if I don’t want to! There’s so much freedom in choosing what type of energy you want to surround yourself with, which essentially creates the type of backpacking lifestyle you want to experience. There’s also a certain sense of trust between backpackers that allows us to experience traveling alone if we want. For example, everyone is in the same boat, they may have a little more information than you and sometimes they may need a little more information from you, it’s a simple give and take experience that no one discusses but it’s how we all get by.

Other than fellow backpackers, hostel staff members and town locals help tremendously when traveling alone. The places I’m traveling around have a very healthy market for backpacking. You can easily get bus tickets, tours, motorbike rentals, currency exchange, laundry service and more at the hostel and/or around town. Now, when you’re outside of hostels and alone trying to find your bus terminal for instance, you just gotta approach locals and point to signs when communicating with someone who doesn’t understand English. I was joking with someone here yesterday about how you’ll be looking around for a bus station or hostel or whatever it may be and 70% of the time a local will come up to you and just tell you where to go like an angel from the heavens. It’s hilarious but somehow works out every time. There is no structure or regulations (enacted or implied) when it comes to anything here, so the less you know/assume and the more you go with the flow, the easier your backpacking will be!

Hot air balloon 🎈Vang Vieng, Laos (2019)

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Thailand (3 weeks)

I knew I wanted to start in Thailand because it's capital is one of the cheaper cities to fly into, I heard it's a good starting point culturally speaking, and I've been researching the country for a few years. Now that I've moved on, I DEFINITELY miss the Thai food and Thai tea, I had to limit myself to two glasses per day lol. Something I really admired about Thai temples is the mirrored glass they used on a lot of their statues and architecture (shown below). Here are Thai spots I checked out in this order with my accomodations, photos, and personal feedback/suggestions.

1. Bangkok

(3/23-26) Playground Hostel

Outside of Bangkok proper but a nice break from the bussling city, 30-min walk to the Grand Palace/main center; tried to be a party hostel and saw a roach crawling around the dorm the size of my palm

(3/27) Overnight train to Chiang Mai

Surprisingly a very comfortable 12-hour ride and sleep on the top bunk (bottom bunks are more expensive, I don't know why). You can buy a nicely prepared dinner and breakfast for 200-300 baht ($7-9), pricey but dinner is worth it if you didn't prepare with drinks and snacks.

This city is an ideal starting point to a backpacking trip, especially not having been to Asia before, because it'll still give you some sort of culture shock, but still relatively familiar in terms of communication (many locals speak some English). Bangkok has loads of temples, street food, nice Western-styled establishments, China Town (a must!), India Town, etc. so it incorporates more diverse cultures than other large cities in SE Asia. Tourism is a substantial part of their culture, so take it as you will, but Thailand has continued to build out their foundation around appealing to their tourists. Staying 2-3 nights is enough; I stayed 1-2 nights too long because I had already booked my overnight train to the North before I arrived.

2. Chiang Mai

(3/28-30) Hug Hostel

Five stars!!! I absolutely loved this hostel because it was right outside of Old City, there was a beautiful view of the sunset on the rooftop bar, there were seperate bathrooms for men and women (with showers seperate from the toilet area!), there was a super relaxing common room with air con, the cutest cafe with delicious food and beveratges, cheap laundry service, and super accomodating staff.

After dreaming about going to Chiang Mai for this long, it was definitely different than I had pictured and I don't think I would've been happy if I did end up temporarily moving there post-graduation. Nonethless, it's a very charming, historical city with very rich culture. Temples and monuments are on every corner within and outside of Old City. The cheapest massages I've seen were in Chiang Mai at 100 baht or ~$3. Since I went during the dry season, the air pollution was extremely high in North Thailand so getting a mask was helpful. You can rinse them once they start turning brown from the dirt.

3. Pai

(3/31-4/3) Paitopia

Different than other hostel rooms, this dorm didn't have any bunk beds or dividers, just 8 beds in one giant room. It felt a lot like college, and it was the first hostel where I had to shower in the same room as the toilet. It still grosses me out, but eh that's traveling. The common space was outside with free tea and coffe, a pool and hammocks :)

Wow wow wow... I didn't get stuck in the Pai hole but I was pretty close! Pai is a magical land that has crossed my mind a lot since I left, I think because of the town's energy and of the company I was with. This was my favorite place in Thailand, hands down. Everytime Thailand comes up in conversation, so does Pai, because everyone knows how incredible it is, regardless of how polluted the air may be. It's very quiet, relaxed, easy going and carefree. It's two hours north of Chiang Mai, and I was 99% positive I was going to vomit in the bus ride there because the roads are SOOO windy, but luckily did not. There are'nt many tourists, and now that I think about it, very little families traveling throughout Northern Thailand, which was very nice. It's more locals, backpackers and expats. You can explore rice fields, bamboo bridge, waterfalls, caves and drink mushroom milkshakes. The small town has a lot of boutiques, bars, and cafes with glow in the dark paint all over the walls. It's a hippie spot!

4. Chiang Rai

(4/4-5) Norn Nun Leng

Saw a rat the size of my cat. Next.

Only stopped in Chiang Rai for two nights to see the White Temple, which was MESMORIZING... definitely worth the 3 hour jam-packed, sticky tuk tuk ride to get here. 

5. Phuket

(4/6) 12 Month Hostel

Hidden, but very cute, cheap hostel with large, comfortable, private dorm beds made of wood rather than metal bunk beds which was nice. The showers had shampoo and body wash = super clutch. AND with a waterfall shower! I felt like I was at a spa compared to the other places I had recently stayed at.

Took a boat from Phuket Town, through Phi Phi, to arrive in Krabi. Not much time spent in Phuket Town or Phi Phi, but nothing too special from what I saw, just a bunch of bars and restaurants. You have to travel outside a bit to experience the nice beaches.

6. Krabi (Klong Muang)

(4/7-9) Bliss Beach Resort

I met my girlfriend at this Resort (the friend who I backedpacked with in 2011). Typically I wouldn't stay at a resort since I'm obviously on a budget, but she had already planned her itinerary. Bliss is an adorable, cozier, authentic beach resort than most. It's nestled between other resorts on a quiet side of Krabi, facing many islands with private boats. The buffet breakfast was delicious, the staff was super sweet and the shampoo/body wash smelled amazing.

Klong Muang was extremely relaxing and cleaner than I was used to.  I celebrated my birthday here with my best friend, the best pinacoladas I've ever had and fried pineapple rice. THE BEST. I'm drooling. During the day, we hired a private boat to Hong Island where we swam with gigantic jellyfish, snorkled and tanned on the beach. Just amazing. Take me back!!

7. Khao Lak

(4/10-11) Mana Thai Resort

The nicest hotel I've stayed at in years lol. I guess they noticed my birthday from my passport and secretly delivered a birthday cake to our room!! In the rooms they have bowls of tropical fruit and chili garlic scented toilettries. Oh so Thai. Ther's a huge, refreshing pool overlooking the ocean with pool/beachside service. Not a bad way to say "Kob Khun Kha" to Thailand after THREE INSANELY PACKED, SUPREME WEEKS.

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My 3-6 Month Packing List -

Every single thangggg I stuffed in my 40 liter rucksack and daypack, weighing a total of ~10 kilos or ~22 lbs, with extra room! I tried to keep it practical, people. This list was intended for 3 months but still manageable for up to 6 months, personally. Keep in mind, I’ve left some things behind because I found them unnecessary, and I’ve picked up some items that people have left behind (this is common).

Miami International Airport (2019)

Clothes:

1 Yoga leggings

1 Jean shorts

1 Stretchy shorts (day or bed)

2 Comfy shorts (day or bed)

1 Bathing suit

9 Undies

3 Socks

2 Bralettes

2 Sports bras

1 Tank

2 Crop tanks (day or bed)

1 Romper

2 T-shirts (day or bed)

Shoes:

Black nike sneakers ($10 Poshmark)

Tan leather Tevas (god bless)

Toiletries:

8 oz philosophy shampoo/body wash (taken at airport security halfway thru travels)

12 oz neutrogenia 70 spf (taken at airport security halfway thru travels)

Travel kit for 3oz liquids with: 1 face wash, 1 spf 30, 1 face lotion, 2 conditioners

Face lotion 15 spf

Hand loufah (genius)

Floss

Toothbrush

Mini toothpaste

Eye lash curler

Mascara (never used)

Eye brow pencil

Mini hotel body lotion

Travel brush with mirror

Couple of cotton swabs

Nail clippers

Couple of hair bands

1 head band

Pencil sharpener

Deodorant

Microfiber body towel

1 chapstick 15SPF

1 regular chapstick

1 lipstick

Everyday thin pads (lifesaver)

A handful of tampons

Gum

Retainers

Straightener (out of vanity 😏)

Health Aid:

Couple of different sized bandaids

Hydrocortisone packets

UTI pills

Yeast pills

Cranberry pills

Ibuprofen

CBD oil

Nausea pills

Pepto bismol

Mini bug spray

3 months of birth control

Accessories:

Selfie stick (never used, left behind in hostel)

GoPro tripod (never used)

GoPro

GoPro sim card kit

2 Portable chargers

2 Universal adaptors

2 Locks - backpack and rucksack

1 Nice sunglasses

1 Cheap sunglasses (never used)

Journal

2 USB charger cords (1 never used)

2 Unlocked iPhones in case one gets lost

Headlamp (never used)

Earphones

iPad mini

Misc:

REI 40 liter backpack

Day backpack

Cash

Passport

Copies of my passport, license and bank cards

Head pillow

Sleep eye mask

2 pens

Purchases during Travels:

Tons of Oreos

Flowy pants

3 Tops

Jean skirt

Mini shampoo

Mini body wash

Bathing suit

Tea bags ☕️

Tiger balm (itch remedy/fragrance)

[gapgirlgia-blog]

Putting It Into Play -

So first you panic, it's like getting cold feet before you walk down the aisle (lol jk who knows), but that’s what I felt like as my dad was driving me to the MIA airport. Silently crying and panicking. I didn’t want to let it out because that’s no way to start an adventure! I had worked so hard to set this up smoothly for myself, andd after the anxiety I put myself through this past year, I didn’t want it to influence me any longer. Not many people have six months off from work to travel wherever they please, so crying out of fear was the last thing I wanted to express. CBD oil is a beautiful thing, ya'll (until you learn it’s illegal to travel with). Oops!

Fears:

Missing home and loved ones

Missing structure and repetition

Not having an income

Regretting turning down job opportunities

Feeling clean and comfortable at all times

Bugs

Feeling lonely

Other than loneliness, these are fears I HAD. Past tense. Prior to my travels. I told myself if I were to really prep myself for a positive experience, I’d have to get over these concerns that were only residing in my mind. I put my “life" on hold for a reason, I needed a break from it and I refuse to let fear continue to control me. With that, I’ve slept near roaches the size of my palm and rats the size of kittens, I wash my hair once every 4 days now, there are scents that I hope to never smell again, I can barely breathe at times due to air pollution and all the cigarette smoke, I’ve never felt dirtier in my life… but I don’t miss my bed or all of my unnecessary things because it'll be there when I return; I don’t miss my loved ones because we talk more than usual now; I’m finding repetitive structure in foods I eat and little daily routines I've set; I’ve worked so so hard and saved for years to do this; having a job is the last thing I want right now and there will always be a job because I’ve set myself up for success. Being alone is something I’ve been comfortable with for a few years. I enjoy being alone but... I prefer to be alone around people, I need to feel other's energy. This alone time could easily develop into loneliness after a while, so this fear still resides. TBD ya'll !!!

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To-Do List for the “Life” to “Gap” Transition -

Luckily I had been off-boarding werq projects onto teammates so I had the time to focus on planning my trip. As a contractor at this company, I have a six month break after the two years if I want to return. Regardless of whether I want to go back or not, I’m taking the six months. Having this timeline helped me plan tremendously; backpacking is only one of multiple goals during my “gap”. Work is not life, people! I originally planned to backpack for three months, but now that I’m here I’m thinking it may be longer. Here’s how I prepared myself:

Wrote thank you notes

Had a wine night with my close girlfriends

Went to the doctor and dentist while I still had insurance

Incorporated meat and caffeine back into my diet since I expected to have limited meal options and plenty of tea abroad

Grabbed coffee with my mentors and with people who I’d wanted to get to know

Networked and set myself up for interviews for when I return

Got my shots: typhoid fever, malaria, rabies

Ordered enough birth control/feminine products for the months I’d be away

Replaced strength building with cardio to prep for walking and hiking adventures

Researched 3 month itineraries on Pinterest for a general idea

Watched YouTube videos around solo-traveling as a female

Filed my taxes

Tried selling items on Poshmark

Purchased misc items from Amazon and Poshmark

Had a backpack fitting with weights at REI

Took out American dollars to exchange overseas

Made my banks aware of my travel plans

Sought out advice from those who I knew traveled about Asia before

Asked friends to connect me with their friends who were in SE Asia

Asked around for secondhand supplies (cameras, clothing, etc.)

Arranged apartment sublease

Legally drugged and transported my cat, Ravioli, to my family’s home out of state

Got my TEFL Certification in case I want to teach English

Deleted my bumble 3-months prior because I didn’t want to catch feelings or let ANYONE stop me from doing this

[gapgirlgia-blog]

“This is exactly the place I’ve been looking for forever”

- ‘Kafka on the Shore’ by Haruki Murakami

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Here’s the Deal -

It’s been five weeks since I started my solo backpacking travels, six weeks since I’ve been free of work. I’ve arrived at the point where I’m no longer completely present minded and beginning to crave some personal projects; one being a visual journal I’ve started, another being this public journal. During my first days in Bangkok I attempted a vlog and subsequently dropped my first journal in the world's grossest creek, so I took that as a sign that vlogging just isn’t for me. I don’t write often but when I’m in the mood, I can write. Sometimes too much information. But that’s alright because judging people isn’t even cool anymore!

So far, I’ve been to the following places in this order:

Thailand (3 weeks)

Bangkok

Chiang Mai

Pai

Chiang Rai

Phuket

Krabi

Khao Tao

Cambodia (3 weeks)

Siem Reap

Koh Rong Samlom

Kampot

Phnom Penh

Eight years ago I backpacked for five weeks with my good friend primarily along the Mediterranean Sea of Europe. Unfortunately I don’t remember as much as I’d like because I have the worst memory, but I do remember swearing myself against hostels if I were to backpack again. As much fun as I had, I struggled a lot with managing travel arrangements and having a general understanding of how to get to and from places of interest. Granted it’s been eight years, but I realized traveling across countries (alone) isn’t difficult at all, only after throwing myself into the situation of course.

Chianti, Italia (2011)

It’s been four years since I first had an interest in traveling to Asia long term. As I was wrapping up college, I decided to move to Chiang Mai to teach English, so I interviewed for a temporary position to save money for flights. Rather than pursuing my teaching career abroad, I was offered a full time position in recruiting. Of course I took the route that was most clear and stable. I can’t blame myself for that, especially for how fruitful my career and life became since accepting that offer.

Two years ago, with fate AND hard work, I met an incredible opportunity. A 2-year contract, which essentially paid me to learn everything about technology. All I wanted at this point was to KNOW and be IN that world. The gender discrimination around this industry really frustrated me, which is what made it even more appealing to me. After joining the company, I was given the resources to take in everything that interested me and run with it however I pleased, which included a project around gender inclusivity within tech and staffing. Two years later, I now know the ins and outs of the “tech” industry. More importantly, I now recognize my own professional worth, potential and trajectory.

Google, Austin, TX (2018)

So, I’m finally in Southeast Asia, four years later, with things I needed to learn in order to get here, to feel as confident and self assured as I do. But I want to share my experiences, thoughts and emotions along the way because 1) people have asked, 2) I love a good project, 3) I’m interested to see how vulnerable I can be considering how private of a person I am, 4) vlogging didn’t work out so this better, 5) for as much as I read, it’s only fair to extend my writing capabilities.

Goals:

Meet incredible people

See the world, on my own time

Think present mindedly

Relieve myself of anxiety

[gapgirlgia-blog]

Preface -

If you’re interested in a Type-A germaphobe turning down for a change of pace, or if you know nothing about me and want an insight into a strangers mind, you may fancy this blog via my iPhone. Over these six months, I’ll be backpacking, learning, teaching, sharing, and doing whatever comes my way! I’ll cover situations that come my way, what I needed to do to accomplish goals and overcome challenges, how I put it all into play, what became of it, and how it measures up to my original expectations of myself and the journey. This journal will keep me accountable over the months to ensure I’m intentional, self-reflective, and providing valuable content for others. We’ll also say it’s entertainment for both you and me.

Some topics I’ll cover throughout:

Who I am - more or less

Backpacking: in general, as a female, with and without someone

Where I’ve been/going: accommodations and destinations

Influential things and people

The affect of taking a gap

Book/music recommendations