Why I must fly window seats

Magnificent view of the snow-capped Alps on the flight from Berlin to Barcelona, March 2014

Most travel fanatics like me will understand, it is out of the question, why I must fly window seats. ☺

Boracay island – February 2015

First of all, it’s the amazing feeling of flying high up in the sky like a free bird, awakened by almost all senses: touch – the altitude change lifting the whole body up, sight – the views over the window, smell – the deep breath taken out of excitement, sound – the engine roaring in the wind and air pressure up high. ☺

Athens, May 2015

Second, the spectacular views over the window, during the epic journey are undeniable. I was fascinated the first time I flew in 2008, to see the white heavenly clouds and feel I was touching the sky, which I only imagined in movies. Since then, flying has become my favorite choice of transportation.  I have even considered taking a flying course, once I have time and money. ☺

Magnificent view of the snow-capped Alps on the flight from Berlin to Vienna, December 2015

Third, it’s exciting to see places from another angle – high altitude, a unique angle. It’s interesting to see the departure cities/airports getting smaller and disappearing as the plane sours into the clouds. It’s thrilling to see the first sight of the arrival destination, its panoramic beauty and to approach it with a closer touch.

Paris by night, 2015

Fourth, dreams are realized when you see how the lively whole ‘real’ city or country looks a hundred times more beautiful than the most colorful and descriptive world map or google images. ☺ Just like how the Maldives looks like in this picture.

The Maldives, December 2014

There are endless unexplainable reasons why I must fly window seats. I just know I will pay more or try any other necessary measures in order to sit by the window when I fly (like begging, nagging, bugging, ect. when the flight is too full, for instance, haha). ☺

Magnificent sunset from the flight from Barcelona to Asturias, November 2012

Do you also like window seats? Tell me why you do. 😀

Flight from Berlin to Marrakech, January 2014

Travel guide – Japan on a budget – practical tips to save big on your dream trip to Japan

 

Bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan, May 2016

Japan is an amazing country! Breathtaking nature, rich and unique culture, picturesque architectures, friendly and kind people, mouthwatering and diverse cuisine… My trip in Japan this May was really a dream came true. Japan has always been in my bucket list, but the perception that it’s a super expensive country had prevented me from going there earlier than I had always wished. Having experienced Japan myself and discovered multiple ways to save big, I’d like to share some tips with the fellow globetrotters out there with this dream to see the best of Japan!

Koyasan, Japan, May 2016

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Planning:

Book flights:

The earlier the better. Sometimes it is cheaper to book from local Japanese website, such as expedia.co.jp. This is my case where I got the return tickets from Berlin-Tokyo for €300. If you live in Germany or Europe, use urlaubspiraten.com (mobile app also available) which has amazing unbeatable deals for tickets/trips from Europe to the world on a basis as frequent as daily.

“Japanese beauties” May 2016

Book accommodations:

• Rule of thumb: Location location location: The best location is probably near JR line/central station as this offers you 3 distinct advantages: 1) Save money on local transportation (in case the city is small) by traveling free with local trains operated by JR, 2) Save money on luggage locker (average 3.5-5EUR/day depending on city and size) and 3) Save time of commuting therefore having more time to explore the destination.
• Book in advance in touristic city: It is advisable to book in advance depending on how popular the city is and if it is high season.

A beautiful temple in Nara, Japan, May 2016

• Check-in/check-out time condition: Important to note is that many small hotels/guest houses/hostels in Japan have very early check-in closing time. We even experienced a guest house where last check-in is at only 6p.m. You may even want to save time by taking evening trains to your destination and have a full day next day to explore it. Therefore, pay particular attention to the check-in condition in order not to have to look for a last minute hotel with 24 hour reception (definitely more costly!) and at the same time have to pay for cancellation fee of your booked accommodation. Finally, it is also noteworthy that some hotels have very early checkout time (10a.m) and impose a fine on late check-out.
• Use fare-compare website such as: trivago.com, booking.com or hotwire.com to compare and find the good deals. These websites also have information about the location (distance to city center, ect.) which is useful for the ‘rule of thumb’ mentioned beforehand.

Feeding the hungry and friendly deer in Nara deer park, Japan May 2016

Buy JR pass exchange order:

The JR pass is an unbeatable offer for short term tourists that local residents can only dream of. When you go to Japan under the short term tourist visa, you can buy the JR pass, starting from 1 week at 230EUR, 2 week at 330 EUR, ect. You must buy the exchange order for the JP pass BEFORE coming to Japan and exchange it with the JR pass once you are in JP. The JR pass is not only an unbeatable deal, but also offers you a lot of freedom of movement while in Japan. It is absolutely a no brainer to buy the JR pass.

Kamakura, Japan, May 2015

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While in Japan 

Local transport: The most expensive cost while in JP is probably the local transportation which isn’t covered by the JR pass. This means private regional trains and local trains and buses not operated by JR. What is always true is that – It is more expensive to buy individual tickets (sometimes MUCH more expensive) as compared to special offers such as regional passes and city passes.

• Regional passes: Some destinations are not reachable by JR lines and therefore are not covered with the JR pass. Similarly, all local means of transportation not operated by JR are not covered by JR pass. In big cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, JR pass is certainly not sufficient and not efficient to reach many places and therefore local metros, trains or buses are required. Buying individual tickets for non JR local transports could be extremely costly. Fortunately, the regional passes can save you a lot of money and give you much more freedom and flexibility.

Hida Folk Village in Takayama, Japan May 2016

• City transport pass: Regional passes are usually valid for minimum 3 days, so in case you are not in the same region for 3 days, the 1 day city transport pass is perhaps a better option. In all the cities I’ve been to, there are 1 day transport passes which cost about the same price as 2 rides on local transportation. This definitely pays off as you usually need to use public transport more than twice a day to make the best out of your visit.
• IC card: IC card is a multi-functional rechargeable card with which you can pay for your transport (with small discounts) and even shop in kiosks and stores. It gives you flexibility and saves time and money queuing to buy – for instance – your metro ticket every time. Just a swipe and there you go!

With the famous Japanish Irish in Kanazawa garden, May 2016

Duration:

As a rule of thumb, longer trips are always more economical than short trips. Moreover, you have the opportunity to see the best of the destination and don’t have to run with lightning speed yet missing out a lot of things. For such an amazing country as Japan, it is highly recommended to spend minimum 2-3 weeks to see all the highlights. Just look at it, the JR pass costs about 300+ EUR for 2 weeks, and 200+ EUR for 1 week – so by paying just 100 EUR more for transport and perhaps 200EUR for accommodation, you get to see Japan for 1 more week! Compare that with a return flight tickets from Europe which usually cost 700EUR+! You know what I mean!

A very friendly local vendor in Tokyo fish market, in front of her ice-cream shop, May 2016

Food:

Food is perhaps the only thing that is quite ‘cheap’ in comparison to living costs/income in Japan. A meal may cost you just 7-10 EUR, and a mouthwatering Ramen just 3 EUR. Of course if you want to try some regional/local specialties like Kobe beef, it’s a different story. But Japan is really the heaven for food and you can spend weeks or months eating different dishes and never stop being amazed! I have my 3 pieces of advice here: 1) Ask a local for places to eat – you’ll get to try the most authentic, tasty and value for money food; 2) If you have no specific idea about where to eat, go to the mall and scan the options and 3) If you’re into Sashimi go to the fish markets! My trip to Japan has been an amazing culinary pilgrimage and I know I’ll be back soon just to eat and eat!

Shirakawago, Japan, May 2016

Alrighty! I hope my post is somewhat useful for those who read it! My parting bonus tip – don’t miss my top 3 recommended destinations in Japan 1) Koyasan 2) Shirakawago and 3) Nara! Enjoy your dream trip in Japan and ‘matane’!

Apulia and South East Italy, where I learned 3 new lessons about kindness

I made a promise to myself to write a blog about this short trip in Apulia and South East Italy for the people I met there really touched my heart, with kindness, warmth and hospitality.

Traveling alone is one of my favorite things, because that way I can focus on experiencing the culture, the hospitality and embracing every aspect of life in the places I visit. Of course traveling with friends and family is great fun too, but for the many advantages of solo-traveling, I always maintain a fair share of solo trips.

Having been to 50+ countries across 4 continents, I am very used to being open-minded about people and different cultures. Yet to my big surprise, I have experienced kindness like nowhere else in Apulia and this 5 day trip, as short as it is, has influenced me in many positive ways. This entry is about what I learned from the kindness of the people I met in this amazing region of Bella Italia!

Alberobello, a UNESCO world heritage town, January 2016

KINDNESS SPEAKS ONLY ONE LANGUAGE! Yes it does!

I got in a wrong bus in Bari, while figuring out my way to the train station to catch a bus to Alberobello. I speak almost no Italian but quite ok Spanish and tried to communicate to the bus driver so he could drop me at the stop nearest to the train station. A nice middle-aged lady told me (in Italian) she’d show me the station (I understood the body language, and some basic words!). To my surprise, she insisted on walking me all the way to the station, even though I told her a few times that I could figure out my way, since I had google map (no data, but the offline map worked) and at a certain street, I knew the way. On the way, we were talking in Italian and my broken Italian/Spanish and I discovered she never left her hometown and only spoke Italian.

I told her I needed to find the bus to Alberobello since there’s no train due to public holiday, and the bus stop was not well-known/identified on Googlemap. She didn’t know where the bus was herself, and even though I insisted that I could talk to the English speaking staff at the train station to ask for direction, she insisted on helping me, by asking all the people she could at and around the train station. After a few unsuccessful efforts to tell her I could manage things on my own (because I felt it was taking too much time of her and I didn’t wanna bother her, and of course I was sure I could manage it since I’ve traveled alone in more than 50 countries!), I realized it made her happy to just help me. So I just let her be, let her enjoy the happiness of helping a lost traveler in her hometown. In the end, she spent more than half an hour to help me find the right bus stop. And I knew she was happy with that big smile on her face when I thanked her, the warm and firm hug she gave me, and the 2 kisses she placed on my 2 cheeks. I learned so much from her, a simple kind woman who never left her hometown or speaks another language other than her mother tongue. She taught me that kindness speaks only one language, and to some, being kind to others is a simple source of happiness.

Lecce, Venice of the South, January 2016

KINDNESS BRINGS FRIENDSHIPS. Yes, it does! I made a few new friends, unexpectedly, for they were kind to me, and I returned their kindness by sincerely appreciating it and being sincerely friendly.

Anna is a totally sweet lady whom I met in a bar in Bari when I was trying unsuccessfully to order my cocktail since the bar tender only spoke Italian and didn’t understand my Spanish. She helped me translate my order and, to my pleasant surprise, invited me to join her boyfriend and her for a drink. We talked until midnight, told each other endless stories and discovered our shared interests for fashion. Enzo, her boyfriend, who hardly spoke any English, was more than accommodating and interested in our conversations. In the end, Anna insisted on inviting me for the drinks and sending me safely back to my hotel with their car. We agreed to meet again on my last day in Bari when I came back from touring the region. And we did keep our words. This time, Anna brought her lovely son who is just a total sweetheart like his mom, and a good friend of hers, Roberto. We had brief but lovely conversations and Anna invited me to visit her next time, saying she’d take me around her beautiful region.

Matera, a UNESCO world heritage town, worth to be Game of Thrones shooting site, January 2016

Tiziana and Valerie are two young girls in their early twenties who gave me a ride from Martina Franca to Ostuni. My bus never showed up and I wanted to try something fun and adventurous so I decided to hitchhike (the taxi would have cost about 40EUR so it wasn’t a big deal and my only driver for hitchhiking was “adventure” and “fun”). A few people stopped but either they didn’t go my way or I didn’t choose them. Then Tiziana and Valerie stopped and I chose them, just as they chose me (they told me they would trust a girl more than a guy). We had very fun conversations on the way which was short and to my surprise, they decided to delay their plan to go home (another town further than Ostuni) by showing me the best places in Ostuni. We had lovely walks and laughs and talked endlessly about our shared “wanderlust”. I told them I could host or show them around when they visit Berlin.

Marie and her boyfriend were a lovely American-Italian couple whom I met on the train from Ostuni to Lecce. They were so nice to take me to my hotel when the train arrived, show me a nice restaurant for dinner and take me to the best cocktail bar in town. I had such a fun evening with them, with great conversations, lovely food, great cocktails and nice music. They then invited me to their home for home-made lunch the next day which was another great time we had together!

Lecce, January 2016

Simple acts of KINDNESS create JOY and it’s CONTAGIOUS!

I met a group of young Italian friends traveling together in Alberobello (there were about 10 of them!) randomly. I was looking through the glass door of their rented apartment and mistook it for a gallery or something as everything in this lovely town looked romantic and artistic. Then they waved me to come in and join them and I did. 😀 We ended up having very fun chats and laughs, taking some cool selfies together and they invited me to try some cake. It was so much fun!

On my check-out day in Bari, the receptionist girl insisted on my driving me to the train station to catch my train to the airport. Though the station was only 5 minutes walk from the hotel and my luggage was almost nothing, I couldn’t say no because of her insistence. Just as I learned from the the lady in the first story, to some people helping others make them happy so I wanted to make this girl feel good by accepting her help. What’s cooler? I told her I love Andrea Boccelli and she played Vivo per lei for me. 😀

A guy I met in Lecce showed me around the town and even bought me a photo guidebook explaining the landmarks of the city. He also helped me carry my baggage to the train station.

Another guy I met in Bari showed me around the city for a few hours and invited me for a nice coffee and try some traditional cookies…

Matera, January 2016

This trip taught me so many wonderful things that kindness can offer, not only to the people who receive if, but also to the people who give it. I have made a promise to myself, to smile and say something kind and true to at least one person I meet a day. This new habit has magically made me a happier person every day. 😀 So my message to you: Travel more and be kind, then be pleasantly surprised! 🙂

5 lessons I learned in pursuit of happiness

I’ve been once in a while asking myself ‘What’s the real meaning of life?’- I bet many people asked themselves the same question sometimes too. When I was a little girl, people around me made me think the meaning of life was to be successful, and success was to be defined by wealth. Now after having seen and experienced a lot, for me the true meaning of life is happiness.

Alberobello, Puglia, Italy, January 2016

How can we achieve happiness? I bet many people want an answer to this question, as many are in the pursuit of ‘happiness’, like myself. I believe each person has their own way to find happiness, and I believe sustainable happiness should derive from inside, regardless of the circumstances and environment we are in or forced to be in. It is a state of mind which you and only yourself can decide on. The surrounding is often not in your control and it’s unpredictable and ever changing. There are many other people and things which play a role in the surrounding and make it roll, but your attitude and state of mind is something ‘completely’ in your control, and that decides whether you are happy or not. I bet almost everyone heard this saying ‘If you can’t change the circumstances, change your attitude’. It is simple, but true, easy to say, easy to remember, but hard to implement, consistently. I have learned a long way through tough times, to be in a state where I am much more in control of my happiness. I am definitely not a philosopher, or a writer or anything like that, just a simple happy person who wants to share the lessons she learned in her pursuit of happiness…

Jaffa beach, Israel, November 2015

Lesson 1: Focus on what you want to achieve:

I am a result-oriented person, and I think it’s a blessing. I am quite good at knowing what I want (short term, medium term and long term), write it down and make plans to make it happen. Thanks to the creation of Excel, I have a user-friendly and effective tool to support me in structuring goals, analyzing pros and cons, evaluating options, prioritizing and making decisions. Now what does this have to do with happiness? I believe getting the things you want and expect definitely makes you happy. I believe not getting the things you want but having considered it as a calculated risk and knowing the probability of failure makes it easier for you to accept failure and move on to focus on bigger success. Of course, we are all humans – we all have emotions and when something we planned doesn’t happen as planned, it disappoints us. However, prepared disappointment goes away faster and positivity revives faster than unprepared one. If you are caught in a situation in which you are unpreparedly disappointed, then you should learn…

Berlin Fall, November 2015

Lesson 2: Accept that things ‘always have two sides’ but focus on the positive side:

Things always have two sides, certainly it is a no-brainer. But as humans, we are naturally ‘risk averse’ and ‘vulnerable’ to negativity. Knowing and accepting things have two sides doesn’t necessarily means being immune to negativity. But as you master this, it’s getting easier and easier to accept negativity and get it out of your system faster and faster with practice. But what is even more effective is focusing on positivity. The first question you should ask when something you don’t want happens is ‘what could have been worse?’. Then you will find ‘yeah, it’s not too bad’. Next, ask yourself ‘What are the great things I have left around me regardless what happened’ and make a list, even write it down if necessary and you will slowly find ‘life is beautiful after all’. People tend to take what they have for granted, and don’t find positivity in the multiple wonderful things around them, because they are always around. This is a totally wrong attitude and one should learn to appreciate little meaningful things and especially ‘sustainable sources of positivity’ which are always there but not to be taken for granted. Family and true friends are good examples, they are always there for you, and they are the only ones always by your side even when you fail, but they may not be there if you continuously take them for granted.

Another tip is always telling and reminding yourself how ‘lucky’ you are, by knowing how people in the world live their lives and have access to freedom of choices. This worked really well on me, but it became extremely impactful when I traveled more and more, especially to exotic places such as India and Egypt where I saw many people living under basic level of comfort. I am good with math and obsessed with statistics so it is always interesting for me to know how many % or people in this world are living in which kind of condition. In time of negativity I just have to remind myself that I am certainly luckier than perhaps 90% of the world population to have access to basic human needs and rights.

Poznan, July 2015

Lesson 3: Love yourself regardless what happens:

It is easier said and done, because many of us are afraid to be our true selves, we need external validation, we need other people to like us, and for that we believe we have to behave in certain ways. There is nothing wrong with wanting people to like you, and making them like you, it starts do get wrong when you do it out of fear or insecurity, not because that makes you happy. And let me tell you a blunt truth that you can’t help but agree – ‘ideally’ only your parents love you unconditionally, no matter what happens, others love/like you ‘always’ for a reason. Therefore, there is no need to make every one like you, in fact, it is rather ‘impossible’. The only one single person who can love you completely unconditionally and for always is you – yourself. So learn to love yourself and do things that make you happy, without intentionally making others unhappy (of course – because they may go around to ruin your happiness later and it’s morally wrong to achieve happiness by causing others unhappiness ☺). Don’t misunderstand this has anything to do with ‘selfishness’ – it does not, at all. It is about being tolerant to yourself when you make mistakes, believing in yourself regardless of external discouragement, enjoying and doing the things which truly make you happy, and ‘filtering’ the things which annoy you, effectively, out of your system.

Blue Lagoon, Iceland, November 2015

Lesson 4: When there are negative feelings, immediately do things you know for sure will make you happy:

Again, we are humans, however positive we are, there are certainly moments when we are down. It works for me when I refocus on the fundamental things which I know for sure will  make me happy and do them immediately to pump positivity as quickly as possible into my system. For example, I just turn on my music and sing all the positive songs that I know, learn and practice some new songs. Or I’ll just spontaneously go for a short escape somewhere because traveling always makes me happy. Or I’ll simply go shopping and buy me a super nice dress and feel ‘life is beautiful’ again. Whatever you do, do it immediately, because trust me, negative feelings are much more impactful than positive feelings, especially when you nibble them. So act on them, and kick their asses right away by a massive immediate pump of positivity. ☺

Lecce, Italy, January 2016

Lesson 5: Live in the now, not the past, or the future

We are sometimes too busy chasing dreams that we forget to ‘enjoy chasing dreams’. This doesn’t conflict with my first point of ‘focusing on the end goal’, but rather complements it. In fact, while focusing on achieving what you want, you should enjoy doing it, and know how to celebrate small wins and progress without being overconfident and losing focus. The way to get to your goal is rather a long way, if you only celebrate when you win, the moment is rather short (unless you are not a constant winner and too overwhelmed by rare wins). And win or lose is a 50% chance, so why don’t you enjoy the journey to get there, because you are always learning something, regardless of the results and you are becoming your better self when you progress in your journey to your dreams?

Secondly, don’t let the past bother you. You can’t undo what happened, you can’t change the past. What you can change is the future and the present (how you look at the present). Get quickly back on your feet and refocus on ‘positivity’, ‘your dreams’ and ‘what truly makes you happy’ and leave the past rest in peace.

I’m a very happy person nowadays, because I’ve learned these 5 lessons, through hard times and it worked for me. I have of course not mastered them, I am in fact still learning every day to consistently implementing them effectively. Writing down is a good way for me to remind and reflect myself and relearn the theory. At the same time I hope it may help some people (which makes me happy too), or at least I hope you have fun reading. ☺

How to get permanent resident permit in Germany in 21 months?

Guide to permanent residence in Europe for non-European citizens

Heidelberg, October 2015

You’re a non-European citizen and you want to live and work in Germany long term? Wonder how and what is the fastest way to get your permanent residence in Germany? This post will provide you detailed guide on how to get your permanent residence permit in Germany after just 21 months, based on my own little success story. 🙂

Fall in Berlin, October 2015

1. What are the qualifications needed for an expedited permanent residence?

In order to qualify for this, you need to be a highly qualified professional with an adequate proficiency of German. The specific requirements include:

• Holder of an EU blue card which is valid for 21 months at the time of application for permanent residence permit.
• Holder of a bachelor (or higher education) degree.
• Holder of a German B1 certificate.

Fall in Berlin, October 2015

2. What is an EU blue card and how to obtain it?

An EU blue card is a residence permit for highly qualified non-European professionals who meet the following requirements:

• He or she has a German or an accredited foreign or a university degree that is comparable to a German one.
• He or she has a working contract with a gross annual compensation of at least €48.400 (4.034 Euros per month), a contract in the so-called shortage occupation (scientists, mathematics, engineers, doctors and IT- skilled workers) with the amount of €37.752 (3.146 Euros per month).

For more information about the EU blue card, please have a look at my previous post on this link: https://wordpress.com/post/50210365/197/.

For detailed guide on how to apply for an EU blue card, before and after arriving Germany and other related processes, please follow my previous post on this topic: https://wordpress.com/post/50210365/546/.

For officially updated information about the EU blue card in Germany, please follow this link: http://www.bluecard-eu.de/eu-blue-card-germany/.

Fall in Berlin, October 2015

3. What is the application process for the permanent residence permit in Germany?

The application process is very straightforward, starting with scheduling an appointment at the immigration office (use think link: https://formular.berlin.de/xima-forms-29/get/14443770309460000?mandantid=/OTVBerlin_LABO_XIMA/000-01/instantiationTasks.properties), preparing the required documents and applying in person at the immigration office. You will know the result of your application on the same day, and get your electronic residence permit after 6-8 weeks). The application fee as of October 2015 (when I applied) is 135 EUR. Please note that all documents need to be in German (except for your passport). Below is the full list of the required documents:

• Filled and signed application form for permanent residence permit
• Your passport and EU blue card (or limited residence permit)
• Evidence of your education qualifications (certificates or other official evidence of completion of your qualification)
• Your future address/place of residence in Germany
• Rental agreement and address registration from the city Burgeramt
• Your German B1 certificate
• Confirmation of pension insurance (http://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/Allgemein/en/Navigation/englisch_index_node.html)
• Your employment certificate from your employer (Arbeitsgeberbescheinigung)
• Your employment contract
• Your past 3 months pay slips
• A passport size picture of yourself in color taken in the past 3 months
• Application fee of 135 EUR (either paid in cash or by EC card – German direct debit card)
• Your CV or job description in German (I was not asked for this at the office even though my HR advised to bring both, so bring them just in case).

For more information about German law on immigration, please follow this link: http://www.bmi.bund.de/EN/Topics/Migration-Integration/Law-Foreigners/law-foreigners_node.html

Fall in Berlin, October 2015

I set foot on Germany on December 2013 and applied for my permanent residence permit this month (October 2015) – 22 months after my arrival (since I didn’t know about the process and didn’t manage to book the appointment for the EU blue card application right after my arrival). I wish you all the success in pursuing your permanent residence in Europe and particularly in Germany. 🙂 Hope you enjoyed my blog and found it useful. 🙂

The dilemma of a globetrotter – Write for myself, on an emotional day

Stratford upon Avon, UK, August 2015

You’re a globetrotter. You’re free-spirited. Your life is awesome and flavorful and you’re always on the go. People envy you, admire you, dream to be like you. You “seem” always happy, high-spirited and full of life. Your facebook is full of awesome pictures and you check in everywhere you go. You have a lot of “fans” and you’re proud of that. But sometimes, just sometimes…

Bath, UK, August 2015

You just wanna go home

but you start to ask yourself, where is home? Is that where you were born and grew up, your hometown with your family and childhood friends? You know it is always good to be back “home”, but you know well it is good to be there, just… for a week or two. You will get bored, the place is not the same (or you are not the same), your friends are not the same (or you are not the same), your family has changed so much (or you have changed so much). You are extremely happy to see your family and friends after a long time, but you don’t seem to be able to have endless conversations and unlimited topics to talk to them forever, just like old times…

And after a week or two, you wanna go back to your “real home”, this awesome foreign city where you’ve been living for a year or two. Yes, it is your home because that’s where your life is, and you identify yourself there, better than at your childhood home. You have a lot of friends there, yet… they’ve come and gone, they’ve been your friends for a few months, a year, and they will be gone in a few months, or a year, or you will be gone, to another exciting city. They’ve shared your laughters (a lot of laughters) and pain, because they are or have been in your same shoes, a foreigner in a foreign country. Yet, sadly they’ll leave you soon enough, or you will leave them…

Windsor, UK, August 2015

You wanna settle down

but you don’t know where and how to start. You’ve lived in a few countries and cities. Each of them you’ve liked a lot, each you have disliked for some reasons. You can’t seem to find a place where you’re 100% sure you wanna spend the rest of your life. You’re not sure if you will be happy forever, if you settle down now, in this very city which has been your home for a year or two, which has given you more ups than downs, which has been the best place you’ve lived in, just like other cities which have been the best place of its time. You’ve finally found someone nice, after having various short term relationships due to your constant move. You somehow don’t wanna lose them, but you’re not entirely sure you will be happy forever in this very city, just because you choose them. And then that special someone ends up not being “that special” anymore, you find the need to move on to the next awesome city, so your heart can take a break from these bittersweet memories of that “not so special” someone.

Stralsund, Germany, August 2015

You wonder what your next big goal is

and you struggle to find the answer. Traveling to 60 countries and living in 6 countries by the age of 30, yes you’ve done it. In fact, you’ve overachieved it, so what? You’ve been mostly everywhere you wanna go. There are of course twice as many countries in this whole wide world where you have not been to, yet many of them are of low interest to you. You start to question whether traveling is really your “biggest passion” in life? You’ve taken a few steps back in your career, to pursue your globetrotting lifestyle. You’ve compromised some highly qualified and high paid job for a lesser one which allows you to live your international lifestyle. Yet now that you’ve looked back and found yourself somewhat having achieved your “globetrotting goals”, you feel short on your career goal. “What are the next meaningful things I wanna do in life? Have I missed a lot? Or have I not?”

Stockholm, August 2015

You just wanna relax, and you want peace of mind

because you’re not 20 something anymore. Traveling every weekend makes you more exhausting than excited. You never ever thought your body would be tired of moving, yet you start to realize your body is not following your will anymore. You’re sick of staying in lousy hostels and partying all night long. You just wanna relax by the swimming pool of your 5 star hotel doing nothing. You’re tired of walking miles in the heat and crowd exploring the “real local hidden gems”. Instead you prefer to sit down in a high-street cafe reading your book, sipping your prosecco and watching people passing by. You’re not so adventurous to go to dirt cheap places and try the most exotic street food you can find. On the opposite, you prefer to go fine dining in a classy place where you find your private peaceful corner or share it with your beloved friend/partner. The noisy teen party clubs with all these young hot looking students don’t appeal to you anymore. You instead wanna go to a sky bar in high streets enjoying your cocktails and seeing some “mature” classy people.

Stonehenge, UK, August 2015

Yet sometimes you yearn to be young and energetic again… 

and you try to be just like that. You tried to mingle in with younger people in places only the youth would go. For one moment, you feel so young again and you tell yourself “age is just a number, I am still young and awesome”. For the next moment when you wake up after your  hangover and your body aches everywhere, you start to realize either your body is lying to you or vice versa. Your globetrotting spirit fights against the natural process of aging or what you name “growing up”. You’re in a constant fight between growing up or being young. And that fight is rather a long lasting one…

Stockholm, August 2015

And on and on it goes, the fight between the awesome life of a globetrotter and its periodic dilemmas. All you need is keep the wheel moving and you’ll discover all over again that you are meant to be on the move, which is not always roses, but which defines you…

Travel guide: Maldives on a budget – Maafushi island – Diving and beyond

Maldives on a budget – it may sound like a foreign idea to many, since the Maldives has long been known as a honeymoon and 5 star resort country with serene white powdery beaches against crystal clear azure water, that only the phrase “heaven on earth” can describe its surreal beauty.

Not long ago, only rich businesses are allowed by the government to open up high-end resorts for honeymooners, romance seekers and the same. However, in recent years, with the effort to tighten the gap between the rich and the poor, the Maldivian government has approved policies to boost tourism and encourage locals to open small businesses such as guest houses, hostels and restaurants in locally inhabited islands, making backpacking in the Maldives possible.

Maldives from the sky, December 2014

Maafushi is a small locally inhabited island in South Male Atoll, which stretches just over 1 km in length and less than 300m in width. The island is only 15 minutes by speed boat from Indira Gandhi airport, the single gateway to the Maldives from any international destination. Heavily damaged by the tsunami in 2004, Maafushi was rebuilt and since then the rapid construction and opening of new guest houses have enabled backpackers to travel on a budget to the Maldives. The growing infrastructure coupled with the strategic location with proximity and convenience from Indira Gandhi airport makes Maafushi a perfect choice for first time visitors with limited budget to the Maldives.

Sunset on Maafushi, January 2015

1. Getting to Maafushi island

To get to Maafushi island, you first need to fly to Indira Gandhi airport (MLE), as mentioned the only gateway to the Maldives from any country. From there, the cheapest option to get to Maafushi is by taking the local ferry to Male, the capital city, which costs 10MVR (or approximately 1$) and takes only 5-10 minutes. You then need to take a taxi to Viligili ferry terminal (5-10 minutes, 10-15MVR) or walk for half an hour and see the capital city (my preferred option!), where another local ferry will take you to Maafushi island. The ferry departs one time a day only at 15:30, every day except Friday (since it is a holiday in Muslim, the main religion in the Maldives). The ferry from Maafushi back to MLE airport leaves every day at 7:30a.m, except Friday. The local ferry takes around 2 hours (and maybe more, depending on weather condition) and costs only 35 MVR (about 4$)/one way. It is advisable to buy the ticket the day before or latest 2 hours in advance, especially during high season, since last minute tickets may not be available when all seats are sold out. And certainly you don’t want to wait another 24 hours for the next ferry.

Clear azure water on Maafushi, January 2015

There is another option to take the fast boat which costs 20$, departing at the same time every day except Friday, which takes only less than 30 minutes, is much more comfortable and safer than the local ferry. Moreover, you can go directly from the airport to Maafushi with the fast boat, without having to go first to Male and transfer to Viligili terminal. You should ask your guest house/hotel/hostel or dive center to advise you where to buy the ticket (since I didn’t use this option to get to Maafushi but only used it on the way back to MLE airport) or even get it in advance for you, if you plan to arrive to Maafushi on the same day as your flight. The local ferry is of course a nice experience if you want to go dirt cheap and mingle with the locals, but having tried both the local ferry and fast boat, I highly recommend the fast boat for the comfortability, safety, speed and convenience, which in my opinion is well worth the price difference.

The final option is when you must go to Maafushi on the same day as your flight but the ferry and fast boat schedule doesn’t meet your need, you can book a private transfer from your guest house/hotel/hostel, which costs a few hundreds USD. You may want to opt for staying in the capital Male for one night while waiting for the next day ferry as it costs much less for a hostel in Male.

Maafushi beach in the afternoon (not the right time, the morning will look like heaven!), January 2015

2. Staying in Maafushi island

Maafushi is getting more and more popular among backpackers (though there is only limited, scattered and not comprehensive information on the Internet about this island), therefore there is plenty of accommodation options. A double room can cost as low as 30$ during low season (April to November, and if booked in advance) and can cost from 60$ during high season (Christmas, New Year, December to March). It is highly advisable to book in advance (2 months+ for high season), even in low season for the better price (and for the number of tourists are increasing faster than the new built hostels!). Not booking in advance in high season may be risky and much more costly (in my case, I was checking prices regularly in different times and the rooms filled out quickly and ended up 2 times more expensive 1 month before my date of travel (New Year time) compared to 2 months in advance. It may be cheaper to book directly with the guest house or ask your dive center to help you book. I ended up paying 55$ for a double room (last minute booking!), instead of 75$ as advertised on agoda.com or booking.com at Yellow Rehendhi guest house.

There are 2 types of accommodation: beach front and non-beach front, which the former costs about 1.5 times the latter. One of the most popular beach front accommodations is Arena Logde (which is also the first hostel on the island), which was sold out 2 months before my trip (I checked a few times and regretted I hadn’t booked it!). Arena sometimes has DJ parties so it is good for party-goers and may not be ideal for light sleepers. If you must go dirt cheap, it doesn’t really matter to stay in a non-beach front accommodation, as the beach will just be steps or minutes walk away. 🙂

Colorful houses and doors are easy to find in Maafushi, January 2015

3. Eating in Maafushi island:

Food is probably the cheapest thing in this expensive country! Of course it is not dirt cheap like in South East Asia or Mexico, but compared to the prices you are paying for any other things, food is quite affordable there. You can get on well with 6$ a meal including a (non-alcoholic) drink. Apart from restaurants run by your hotels/guest houses/hostels, you have a few local restaurants (my favorite ones are Roket and Sunset). I have tried different places every meal, and it seems the price range is quite similar (3-6$ for a main dish) and the food quality does not largely differ from one place to another. The signature dish of the Maldives is White Fish Curry which I have tried in a few places and though the taste differs, I love the dish everywhere! Maldivian food is spicy and since I love spicy food and am an adventurous diner, Roket is my favorite place. The restaurant offers authentic dishes and is frequented by locals. The best time to go there is for the evening meal, when they offer 3 types of authentic freshly made local curries. Their curries run out quickly so it is best to go there before 6p.m (or even 5.30p.m) if you are keen on trying the local food. The staff was extremely friendly when I asked to try all the curries and decided to take 2 half portions, they happily fulfilled my special request and didn’t charge me any extra money for that. Sunset is another favorite place of mine as their food is also quite authentic. I tried the fish curry and the mixed fried rice (which I forgot the local name) and both were delicious! I have tried a few hotel/guest house restaurants and the food was not bad but quite “made for tourists’ tastes” and were not my favorite. The biggest restaurant on the island, according to my dive instructor is Yellow Rehendhi, run by my guest house. You can sit by the breezy beach on the powdery sand watching the moon and the stars in this restaurant or plenty of others on the island.

Father and son, Maafushi, January 2015

4. Drinking in Maafushi island:

Alcohol is not allowed on this island (due to the Muslim religion). This applies to all locally inhabited islands in the Maldives and if you want to buy alcohol, you can only get it from resort islands (officially!, but I am sure there are ways you can get some small amount from your local friend ;)). I am not an alcohol fan (except champagne!) therefore I cannot advise you further. On the other hand I am a fresh juice drinker and must advise you to try the pineapple juice! It is extremely good and better than anywhere else I have tried! It typically costs about 2.5-3.5$ for a fresh juice of any kind.

Tap water is not drinkable, however bottled water can be bought cheaply from any mini-market for 8MVR (80$ cent) per 1L bottle.

There is a nice beach side bar with lovely covered live music run by a hotel (forgot the name) very near the ferry terminal. Just ask the locals what’s happening on the island and you will get all the information you need from friendly Maldivians. 🙂

A deserted boat on Maafushi beach, January 2015

3. What to do in Maafushi:

Diving, diving, diving is definitely the first thing you should do while on Maafushi. The ideal temperature all year around plus good visibility and amazing dive sites with opportunity to see diverse ocean life and big fish like sharks and manta rays make the Maldives in general and Maafushi on particular an attractive destination for divers. It is however challenging to dive in the Maldives given strong currents occur quite frequently. The Maldives is best for fun dives, just as Gili islands are famous as world’s top diving teaching and you can try different dive sites every day. There are 2 big dive centers in Maafushi and during my stay I dived with Maafushi Dive, which I enjoyed a lot. The cost for a fun dive is 50$ and if you dive 5 times or more, you get the discounted price of 45$ per dive, all inclusive of equipment rentals (even dive computer) and dive master. Having dived in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines also, I must say Maldives is definitely the most expensive place so far, but the experience is fantastic and well worth the price. I have gone to 5 dive sites during my stay which and they are all amazing but I highly recommend Maafushi Cave, awesome experience!

Snorkeling: If you don’t have yet your Open Water Diver Certificate or Advanced Open Water Diver Certificate but are still fascinated with the amazing marine life in the Maldives, try “Discover Scuba Diving course” or go snorkeling. You can also book your snorkeling trip with the dive centers, or your hotels/guest houses. It is advisable to go directly to the dive centers, which are just minutes walk away and the attentive staff will be more than happy to advise you how to make the best out of your snorkeling trip.

Other sea sports: You can also try other sea sports in Maafushi such as windsurfing, ect.

Island hopping: If you have time, also take an island hopping tour (esp. to the resort islands to experience the 5 star honeymoon accommodation standard which will certainly wow you!). You can book with your hotel/guest house. My experience is Maldivians are very friendly and honest, hospitable and want to make tourists happy. Therefore I think you don’t need to hesitate to ask your hotels/guest houses if you need anything. 🙂

Chilling on the white powdery beach/swimming: Bikinis are only allowed on the tourist beach, not the local beach. The tourist beach is beautiful, yet quite small and short. However, it’s good enough to chill there or take a few slaps in the azure water. Snorkeling is also possible near the beach.

Strolling around the tiny island: It takes just about an hour to stroll through this tiny island. There are colorful small houses besides guest houses/hotels, the beautiful long sandy beach (local beach) and interestingly a prison which houses all inmates from over the Maldives. You can buy some handcrafted wooden art pieces made by inmates in various souvenir shops on the island.

Cute waste bin on Maafushi, January 2015

Stay safe:

Maafushi is a very safe island with friendly locals and hardly any crimes (even petty crimes, as people are quite honest there!). The only risk I can foresee is accidents while doing your sports activities or rip currents while swimming. So take cautions and useful advices from locals while doing your sports activities.

Respect:

The Maldives is a Muslim country, therefore it is advisable to respect the local religion and dress conservatively, especially when you are a women traveler. By conservative I mean no bikinis outside of the tourist beach, as based on my observations and experience, you can wear any other beachwear you would wear elsewhere. It is because Maafushi has opened up to many tourists. But if you go to a more local island which is not frequented by tourists, dress more conservatively to respect the culture! What I really like about the Maldives is I didn’t experience “disgusting staring” from local men, as in other “male dominated” countries I have been to such as India, Egypt, Turkey, or Morocco, or even Qatar and Dubai airports.

Maafushi beach, January 2015

Stay connected:

You can easily get freedom wifi/internet connection from your hotels/guests houses or some restaurants on the island. The speed is not extremely good, but not bad either.

Roaming is extremely expensive in the Maldives (it could also be because my Singapore provider is ridiculously expensive that I paid 200SGD for 5 day pay as you roam by making more than 10mins of call and sending more than 10 text messages! Won’t make the same mistake again!). Therefore if you need to use your phone, it is highly recommended to buy a local sim card. 🙂

Maafushi island, January 2015

Caution – Cash problem:

It is advisable to calculate and bring enough cash or withdraw enough cash for your need. It is because apart from hotels which accept credit cards, mostly other places only accept cash. Credit cards normally have a surcharge of 3%, which in my opinion is enormous, therefore cash is the best payment option. Many services are charged directly in USD, therefore you don’t need to change so much MVR, just have your USD, and you’ll be fine. ATMs are available on the island…

Alright, I hope this travel guide is useful for you when planning your trip to Maafushi island. If you have any further questions, please leave a comment and I’ll be more than happy to answer you with my best knowledge and experience. 🙂

50 shades of pureness

My nieces, nephew and cousin, Tet 2015

The best cure to all sorrows is children’s smiles. That’s the way I think about children. ☺ I am not yet a mother, neither am I a children fanatic. In fact, I am easily annoyed by their endless questions, exhausted by their unlimited energy to cry and play, mad by their sometimes misbehaving. Contradictorily, their smiles of pureness and innocence can take away all negative feelings caused by any known and unknown sources. 😀

Cambodian kid I met in Angkor, 2013, too cute with his double V

I am not a photographer, just someone who loves photography.   But capturing children’s pureness and genuine emotions is my favorite photography challenge. It would be a miss to travel somewhere without having a picture of a child – with his or her own shade of pureness. Here shares some of my favorite photos, almost no photoshop, mainly pure and raw, of the children I’ve encounter in many countries I’ve lived and visited in the last 7 years, when I set on my first trip abroad. ☺

My ex roommate’s daughter – Mimi, super cute, sometimes in 2013

Children don’t fake, I wish adults didn’t too. The world would be a much better place if everyone is honest, genuine, equal to each other regardless where they come from and all cultures would be cultures of awesomeness and kindness, not racism, sexism or nationalism.

Lovely kid in Thailand, sometimes in 2011

Children make friends easily without reasons, I wish adults did too. I saw children who didn’t know each other quickly make friends and play together and have so much fun. The world would be a much better place if adults are all friendly and befriend each other because we are all human and will have a great time, not because of races, looks, money, social status or other superficial things.

Friendly Korean kids asking to take a photo with me 🙂 August 2013

Children have fun, I wish adults did too. The world would be a much better place if all parents let children follow their passions and guide them, instead of forcing them to follow one defined way to success (and in the end, success does not necessarily mean happiness!). No teenagers would have to suicide because of academic pressure. Managers would respect employees’ holiday time. People would work because they have fun and productivity and job satisfaction would be at peak. ☺

My nephew playing in the ball house, February 2015

Children are optimistic, I wish adults were too. When asked about one thing they would like to change about themselves, children said ‘I want to have wings so I can fly’ and adults said ‘I wish I were skinner’. The world would be a much happier place if all adults are optimistic and care less about superficial things.

Happy kids I met in Egypt December 2010

Children are, of course, sometimes annoying too. But let’s not talk about it here. Let’s focus on what we, as adults, can learn from children, from their shades of pureness: Be honest, be genuine, be friendly, have fun, and be optimistic. May the world be a better and happier place, for adults and children alike. ☺

Lovely siblings I met in Phu Quoc island 2013

Travel guide: my top 10 picks of cheapest yet awesome cities to travel in Europe

Prague, July 2015

It is really a misperception that it is expensive to travel in Europe. In fact, there are many countries and cities in the Eastern and Southern part of Europe which are as cheap as South East Asia, yet have great nature, architecture, history, culture and food. In fact, Prague, Budapest, Lisbon, 3 of the most beautiful cities in the world, are in this list.

Prague, July 2015

Prague: 15-25 EUR/day: charming capital of Czech Republic with magnificent architecture, a poetic old town, charming bridges, irresistible beauty in all seasons! You can get by for as low as 15 EUR a day: 7-10 EUR for a hostel bed, 2-4 EUR for a budget meal, 1 EUR for a drink in a budget bar, 0,9 EUR for a bus ticket (though you don’t need it if you stay in the city center). You can also experience medium luxury for a very affordable price: 20-25EUR/person/night/4 star hotel (double or twin room sharing basis – applicable for all the following cities when mentioning about medium luxury) in the city center, 10-12 EUR for a very nice dinner in a stylish restaurant in the city center with drinks included.

Krakow, April 2014

Krakow: 15-25 EUR/day: amazing student city in Poland with an impressive small old town easily covered by foot and where many bars and restaurants locate, a beautiful park next to the old town where you can have a picnic or relax. You can easily get along comfortably for as low as 15EUR too: 7-10 EUR for a hostel bed, 2-4EUR for a budget meal, 1 EUR or even less for a drink in any bars in the city, no need to pay for public transport if you only stay in the old town. Medium luxury is also very affordable: 20-25EUR/person/night/4 star hotel, 8-12 EUR for a very nice dinner with drinks included.

Budapest, April 2014

Budapest: 20-30 EUR/day: enchanting capital of Hungary, with 2 parts of the city lying charmingly along the river Danube – Buda and Pest, many viewpoints with breathtaking panoramic views of the city, many sunset watching points which will take your breath away. Budapest is not as dirt cheap as Prague or Krakow (you call it dirt cheap if you compare to average European standard and exorbitant cities in Scandinavia, Switzerland or the UK, where a hostel bed can cost you 60, 70EUR!) but also very cheap compared to European standard: 10-15 EUR for a hostel bed, 3-5 EUR for a budget meal, 1-2EUR for a drink, 0,9 EUR for 1 trip on public transport when buying 10 tickets (Budapest is huge so you need public transport to get around!). Medium luxury is also affordable here: 25-30EUR/person/4 star hotel, 8-12 EUR for a very nice dinner with drinks included.

Lisbon May 2015

Lisbon: 25-35 EUR/day: the magnificent capital of Portugal is undeniably one of my favorite cities in world – the city of 7 hills with breathtaking views, wonderful bridges (including the sister Golden Gate Bridge), melting spot of cultures reflected in architectures, cuisines, arts which charmed me and stole my heart. I paid for a private room in a guest house in the city center for only 15EUR/night, but you can easily get by with 25 EUR/day: 10-15EUR for a hostel bed, 5-7 EUR for a budget meal, 2-3 EUR for a drink in a bar (it’s the most expensive city in Portugal I’ve been to so you can even go lower in other wonderful places in Portugal!), 1,4EUR for 1 trip on public transport. It’s also very affordable to travel in medium luxury here: 25-35EUR/person/night/4 star hotel, 10-15EUR for a very nice dinner with drinks.

Porto May 2015

Porto: 25-35EUR/day: you may think I ‘have a thing’ for Portugal that I included 2 of its cities in my top 10 pick lists, but it was really impossible for me to choose between Lisbon or Porto as both won my heart in a uniquely different way. Porto is not simply just a small version of Lisbon, it is much more than that. Take a free walking tour with Porto Walkers and hear awesome stories about the cities’ history and you will love it more. Porto also took my breath away with amazing views from different bridges and viewpoints, from the old city walls, with its charming old town, beautiful tile buildings. I paid 22EUR/night for a modern studio apartment in Campanha (main train station, 3-4 metro stops from the center and super accessible from anywhere), but one can easily get by with 25 EUR/day: 10-15 EUR for a hostel bed, 4-6 EUR for a budget meal, 1-3 EUR for a drink in a bar, 1,4 EUR for 1 trip on public transport. It’s also very affordable to travel in medium luxury here: 25-35EUR/person/night/4 star hotel, 10-15EUR for a very nice dinner with drinks.

Riga, May 2015

Riga: 15-25EUR/day: not as impressive as Prague, Budapest or Lisbon, but Riga has its own unique charm and should definitely be in my pick list as the best representative for Baltic countries. Riga has a nice old town which is easily accessible on food with enough beautiful old houses, stylish restaurants and bars and a moderately active night life. I paid 40 EUR for a 4 star hotel for myself, and only about 30-35 EUR for a fine dining meal in a 5 star hotel’s restaurant with the fish (normally in the higher price range than meat) main dish and white wine. ☺ Based on my research, you can get by comfortably with 20 EUR there: 5-10 EUR for a hostel bed, 3-5 EUR for a budget meal (go to the central market and eat like a local and you pay 2-3 EUR!), 1-2EUR for a drink and there is no need to use public transport in the old town or even to walk to other attractions outside of the old town.

Istanbul June 2014

Istanbul: 20-30EUR/day: the melting spot of oriental and western cultures, where Europe and Asia meet, Istanbul just has so much to offer. The hustle bustle city of Istanbul which many people mistake as the capital of Turkey (Ankara is indeed the capital) is among the most interesting cities I’ve been to: beautiful blue mosque, charming old town, vibrant day and night life alike, to die for mouthwatering food, various exotic shopping opportunity and also a lot of hassle and fun alike dealing with the overcrowded city and stressful culture (esp. when you are a solo women traveler like me!). Needless to say, it is a must see and it is also affordable, you can get by with 20EUR/day: 10-15EUR/hostel bed (I wouldn’t recommend solo women travelers to get a hostel or use couchsurfing at all because of the culture there, get yourself a decent hotel!), 3-5 EUR for a budget (but super delicious meal!), 1 EUR for a freshly squeezed orange juice, 0,73EUR for 1 trip on public transport using the Istanbulkart. Alcohol is generally prohibited in Muslim countries but I recalled I could drink beers in a bar in the most vibrant Istiklal street. Medium luxury is very affordable in Istanbul too: 20-25EUR/person/night/4 star hotel, and a super good dinner for 8-12EUR including drinks.

Athens May 2014

Athens: 25-35 EUR/day: Acropolis, Greek mythology, thousands of years of history, the birthplace of Western civilization, the capital of Greece has always been in my bucket list. Partially due to the financial crisis, prices in Athens got somewhat cheaper (this didn’t happen in popular islands like Mykonos or Santorini when I visited last May and people from these islands told me – there is no crisis on the islands ☺). I got a private hotel room very near the city center for 20EUR, and a hostel bed would cost about 10-15EUR, a budget meal costs between 4-7 EUR, a drink for 1.5-3 EUR and transport ticket cost 1,2 EUR. Athens is big so you do need public transport to get around. Medium luxury can be afforded for a low price: 25-35 EUR/person/night/4 star hotel, 10-15 EUR for a very nice meal including drinks.

Florence September 2011

Florence: 25-35EUR/day: Florence is a must-visit place for any first time visitor to Italy, together with Rome and Venice. Of course, it has so much to offer to gain that title – mesmerizingly charming old town with the impressive cathedral and many other beautiful buildings, amazing art galleries and museums, best place to buy handmade leather products in Italy, and mouthwatering food just as anywhere else in the country. Another plus is Florence is cheaper than overcrowded and touristy Rome and Venice. You can get along with 30 EUR a day: 10-15 EUR/hostel bed, 5-7EUR for a budget meal, 2-3 EUR for a drink. The city center is compact enough to be accessible by foot and there’s no need to pay for transportation (though it is cheap: 1,2 EUR/1 trip on public transport). You can also afford medium luxury in Florence at an acceptable price: I paid 60EUR for a 4 star hotel in the city center for myself, and a very good dinner with drink will cost you between 15-20 EUR.

Barcelona 2013

Barcelona: 30-40EUR/day: ‘Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona’ – one of my favorite movies which inspired me to pursue an MBA in this awesome city. Barcelona has all that a ‘dream city’ has to offer: architecture, history, arts, shopping, beach, mountains, night life, food and drinks. What else can you dream of a city? And the plus is, it is quite affordable: 15-20 EUR for a hostel bed in a central location, 5-7 EUR for a budget meal, 2-3 EUR for a drink, about 1 EUR for 1 trip ticket (valid 1 hour, 1 zone, when buying the T-10 ticket). If you are a big fan of seafood, go to Port Olympic on weekdays and get the sumptuous lunch menu for 10 EUR with 3 course menu and a bottle of wine for which you don’t even need a dinner (assuming you are a girl, and eat lunch at 2 or 3p.m ☺) – various restaurants offer such a great deal. Medium luxury in Barcelona is also affordable: 30-35EUR/person/nigh/4 star hotel, a very good dinner for 15-20 EUR including drinks.

Sofia June 2014

Apart from my top 10 pick-list (which is based not only just on prices, but also truly on awesomeness), there are plenty of cities in Europe which are interesting, yet very affordable and provide you a great snapshot of the country’s culture and history. The general tip is go east and south. ☺ Below are some examples.

Sofia: 15-25 EUR/day

Bucharest: 15-25 EUR/day

Bratislava: 20-30 EUR/day

Warsaw: 15-25 EUR/day

Vilnius: 15-25 EUR/day

Dubrovnik: 30-40EUR/day

* Disclaimer: The pick list is based on personal preference and experience. The estimated prices are based on latest research in July 2015 which verified recent own traveling experience (the oldest trip was in April 2014 and most recent trip in July 2015). 

Travel guide – The best of Vietnam itineraries

Hanoi, lotus blossom, 2012

Having been to more than 50 countries and seen many beauties which took my breath away, there’s an urge for me to introduce the beauty of my motherland – Vietnam to friends over the world. The biggest country in the Indochina peninsular with the area of approximately 333, 000 km2, but with the 13^th biggest population in the world of approximately 90 million inhabitants, Vietnam has more than 4,000 years of history and a diverse ecology system with many natural wonders which will take your breath away. From the endless northern mountains and valleys layering in the clowds and frost, the UNESCO heritage Ha Long Bay, to the serene white sandy islands of Phu Quoc and Con Dao, and the exotic Mekong River provinces in the south, Vietnam has so much to offer, beyond its fame for the wars with America, French, Japan and China. Needless to mention the largest known cave passage cross-section in the world in Son Dong cave which became accessible to a limited number of tourists per year since just 2013.

Hanoi, Tet, February 2015

1 week Northern Vietnam:

Hanoi 

The romantic, peaceful, charming and laid back capital city of Vietnam since more than a thousand year, still maintain its French influence due to the French colonization from late 19^th century to mid 20^th century. Narrow streets with old and ruined French style apartments nested back to back each other, the street food culture which will astonish you with the diversity, tastes, creativity and prices, romantic Sword Lake in the middle of the city where you can stroll many rounds and observe the lively vibrant parts of the city. Street artists (not really artists, they are not that talented like those in Europe) like to gather and play music, middle-aged and old people work out in early mornings, sportive youngsters jog, street sellers sell their snacks, young couples date, friends gather for a cup of tea – Sword Lake is the favorite spot of Hanoians and migrants in this city. Allow yourself at least 2 (recommended 3) days in this great city.

The food is one of the highlights of Hanoi. For a listing of my favorites eateries, please check my previous blog on Hanoi, following this link:

Some must see places in Hanoi include: Sword Lake, West Lake, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tong Duy Tan street (street food street) and many small streets in the Old Quarter, History Museum.

Hanoi cherry blossom, January 2012

Sapa

Beautiful town in the northern mountain province of Lao Cai, which is best accessible by night sleeping train from Hanoi (costs approximately 30 EUR return ticket for good quality trains – not as high quality as in Europe but very high quality for Vietnamese standard). You will be charmed by the breathtaking views of the stepped rice fields, endless mountain ranges layering in the clowds, frost and sunshines. You will love the friendly people in vibrant traditional costumes with constant smiles on their happy faces. Trek the mountains and stepped rice fields, home-stay with locals and eat the mountainous food, chase sunrises and sunsets on the mountains or over the rice paddy fields, shop exotic handmade products in the local market, I am sure Sapa will take your breath away. It is highly recommended to spend at least 3 days in Sapa. If time allows (if you have 2 extra days), and you are up to an adventure, use Sapa as the base to climb the highest mountain in Vietnam – Phan Xi Phang (3,143 m above sea level) for breathtaking views and sceneries. Alternatively, take a trip to Dong Van traditional market in the neighboring town of Ha Giang to get a local touch of Vietnamese minorities’ culture in Northern Vietnam.

Sapa, February 2012

Ha Long Bay

Many tourists visiting the North of Vietnam put Ha Long Bay into their must-do list, of course there is a reason for it. It is undeniably beautiful, especially when cruising through magnificient views of endless island ranges in the middle of the ocean. It is, on the other hand, touristy and therefore not for everyone. The best way to see Ha Long bay is to book a 2 day all inclusive cruise (recommended Thesinhtourist as a reliable quality travel agent for tours across Vietnam) which starts from 60EUR/person on a twin sharing basis. The tour includes everything such as pick-up from your hotel, transfer, meals (drinks normally not included, only 1 bottle of water a day I suppose), twin sharing cabin, ect.

Halong Bay August 2013

1 week Southern Vietnam

If you are into night life, busy cities, a little touch of rural Vietnam, and some beaches you may want to start your Vietnam trip in Ho Chi Minh city and explore the south.

Ho Chi Minh city:

While Hanoi is the administrative, political and cultural hub of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh city is the business and financial hub. It is overcrowed, busy, vibrant and never sleeps. It is a good representative for ‘developing South East Asian capital city – though it is not the capital of Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh city is not my favorite place as I don’t enjoy the food there (just personal preference) but for sure you can find many kinds of food there to fulfill your taste. At the same time, it is not as safe as Hanoi, there are quite some violent ‘robbing’ on the street and I was once a victim. So please be extra careful with your belongings while walking on the street. Spend most of your time in district 1 and district 3, which is basically the city center. 2 days should be enough for the city, and you can take a half day trip to Cu Chi tunnel which many people do.

Ho Chi Minh City, February 2012

Mekong Delta:

Not so far from Ho Chi Minh city (100+ km away) is the peaceful, rural area of Mekong Delta with many different provinces you may visit. If you have limited time, go to Can Tho, and try to go to Cai Rang floating market. Stay in a garden resort by the Mekong river and enjoy the peacefulness you may desire after visiting busy Ho Chi Minh city. Try the fresh catches from the river and many nice local fruits. Mekong Delta has a favorable temperature which makes farming and fishing the main occupations for the residents there. In fact, most of the fruit supply within Vietnam comes from this region. It is recommended to spend at least 2 days in Can Tho. You can easily get to Can Tho by buses from Ho Chi Minh city. Recommended bus companies are Phuong Trang, Mai Linh and The Sinh Tourist.

Cai Rang floating market, June 2013

Phu Quoc or Con Dao islands:

Only more than 1 hour flight from Ho Chi Minh city (approximately 150-200 EUR return air ticket), Phu Quoc island offers serene beaches (White Beach was once ranked in the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world), mouthwatering fresh delicious seafood, an escape to serenity and nature and great hospitality from friendly locals. The Dinh Cau night market is a must-visit place in Phu Quoc, where you can try a great variety of freshly caught of the day ‘eat it if it swims’ seafood, prepared by the vendors in front of your eyes like Tepanyaki. ☺ There are also many types of drinks, deserts and street food in the market which can definitely satisfy your hungry stomach. The many vendors offering handmade local handicrafts (esp. jewelleries from shells and corals) are also worth a visit. Apart from that, relax on the serene beaches, go on a boat trip, snorkeling or diving trip or wandering in the rainforests on this beautiful island. I have not been to Con Dao, but was recommended by many friends who have been there that the island is also amazing, comparable to Phu Quoc, or even better thanks to being more ‘untouched’. It is recommended to spend at least 3-4 days on each of these 2 islands. However, if you are on a budget and would like to be more flexible, at the same time still want to see beautiful beaches, then Nha Trang or Mui Ne is a good alternative.

Phu Quoc island, July 2013

Nha Trang is a beautiful beach city with friendly and nice locals, great seafood, a lot of trendy restaurants and beach bars, and many beach sports options to keep your day busy. It takes a night bus from Ho Chi Minh city to get there, so it is worth to spend at least 3 days to make up for the long journey. Use Phuong Trang, The Sinh tourist or Mai Linh bus to get to Nha Trang. They are the best bus companies in the south of Vietnam. There are also flights to Nha Trang which could cost you 5-10 more than the bus but for sure is way more comfortable (as a personal preference, I always fly when bus or train takes longer than 5 hours). Rest assured that night buses in Vietnam are way better than those in Europe or the US as you have reclining single bed (very small though) on the night buses.

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Da Lat February 2010

Mui Ne is just 3 hours bus drive from Ho Chi Minh city (use the same bus companies as recommended) and offers beautiful sand dunes, white sandy beaches, numerous restaurants and bars for a fun getaway. It is not my favorite as it has too many Russian tourists (of whom I am not a big fan!) so I would not recommend Mui Ne for a romantic or quiet getaway, but rather for a fun party trip with friends. If you are this type, you will enjoy Mui Ne a lot. ☺

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Mui Ne November 2009

2 week best of Vietnam itinerary:

If you have 2 weeks and you want to experience the best of Vietnam, I recommend you do the Northern Vietnam, adding Phu Quoc, Hoi An, and Hue and 1 day in Ho Chi Minh city if you must see it. ☺

Hoi An

A lovely old town in central Vietnam with beautiful old houses, romantic and peaceful atmosphere, great cuisine and is especially beautiful in the evening when the streets are lighted with lanterns. The town can be easily covered on foot or by bike, which may be a better option if you’d like to go to one of the many beautiful beaches nearby. Hoi An is also a famous and good place to get your tailored dresses, suits or traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai (traditional female dress – elegant, sexy and charming). Your order can be done in as fast as 1 day, with good quality and great prices (this varies by shop but generally speaking you get what you pay, so pay a bit more for better quality).

U Minh rainforest July 2013

Hue

Only 1-2 hours by bus from Hoi An (there are dirt-cheap local buses, but highly recommended tour bus like Thesinhtourist) so Hue can be nicely combined with Hoi An in a 3-4 day trip, or done as a day trip from Hoi An (though it would be nice to see Hue and the beautiful Perfume river in the night). Hue was once the capital of Vietnam, where the Nguyen dynasty dwelled and despite the wars still keeps some of the ruins of an ancient capital. The ancient capital and palace, as well as city wall are the main sights of this city. However, Hue is also a very lovely and romantic city with the Perfume river and many nice bridges connecting its 2 banks. As mentioned, it is more beautiful at night especially when local people put floating candle lanterns in the river. Hue cuisine is different from other regions in Vietnam and is extremely delicious, spicy and ‘spiceful’, as some Vietnamese put it ‘Hue’s cuisine is the cuisine of the kings’.

Buon Ma Thuot, February 2012

3 week best of Vietnam itenerary:

3 weeks are the minimum time required for you to have a glance of the best that Vietnam has to offer. What’s even nicer, you don’t have to suffer too much making choices and priorities. You can include the most highlighted places, even though you can see much more exotic beauties if you have more time to go ‘further’ and ‘deeper’. I would recommend the following for your 3 week itinerary: 1 week North of Vietnam, 1 week South of Vietnam, 3-4 days Hue and Hoi An and 3-4 days central highlands (Pleiku and Buon Me Thuot – for the best coffee in Vietnam and a much closer touch of nature). Alternatively, if you prefer less commuting and are into a romantic getaway, you can replace Pleiku and Buon Me Thuot with Da Lat, a lovely highland town (manmade French style villa town!) a night bus ride from Ho Chi Minh city. Otherwise you can do all the islands and beaches (Phu Quoc/Con Dao, Nha Trang/ Mui Ne). Have fun planning your trip to Vietnam and have a great time in my beautiful country!

Pleiku, February 2012

Parting words

Vietnamese people are in general friendly (though may not seem so smiley and nice like Thai or Burmese), especially those not living in big cities but villages, mountains, islands and the countryside. You may experience less friendly people in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh city and even scams or pickpocketing (like any big city in the world, even in Europe!) or sometimes street robbing in Ho Chi Minh city (I never experienced this in any other places in Vietnam) if you leave your belongings unattended or in easy reach. If you are a backpacker, you are perhaps always cautious about ‘being cheap’ and have perceptions that people try to ‘rip you off’, but it is not true. Almost (if not all) restaurants and bars have menus with prices (even food stalls have prices sometimes), taxi from big reliable companies have meter – take only taxis from these companies (Mai Linh taxi and Vinasun in Ho Chi Minh city and across Vietnam, and any taxi in Hanoi). There are unreliable taxis or drivers who would rather agree on a fixed price (which is normally more expensive than metered taxi), but this happens everywhere in the world, even in Europe! An alternative is Uber which is surprisingly more reliable and cheaper than normal taxis. Take precautions of your belongings when you are in big cities as you would in any other big cities in the world and you’ll have a wonderful experience! I’ve sometimes heard complaints from backpackers about scamming in some big cities in Vietnam, but I’ve only heard wonderful experience from non-budget travelers esp. cultural tourists (middle-aged, comfort-seeking or affluent travelers). Take my advice and I hope you’ll have unforgettably amazing experience in Vietnam!