Temples

The temples in Bangkok are plentiful and beautiful. The one problem: We only got one day people! So if you’re dying to see a temple, here are some of the most popular options:

Wat Arun

This temple, or wat, is located on the Chao Phraya River. It has unique tower structures and a view from the top balcony of the city and river.

Grand Palace

This is probably one of the most visited what’s in the country. Even just roaming the gardens outside this massive structure is breathtaking. If you’re up for shelling out a few hundred baht, you can get a glimpse of the famous Emerald Buddha. I, personally, don’t think it’s super worth it; the outdoors are beautiful enough.

Wat Saket

I love this temple because you get some nice views and a work out. Clammer up some steps, hit a few of the bells along the way, and at the top is a huge chedi with balcony for some amazing vistas of Bangkok.

Wat Pho

This is the world’s largest reclining Buddha and that’s it’s claim to fame.

Market

Eat at a market. Seriously, it’s impossible to leave the streets of Bangkok without wandering through that market that’s attacking all of your senses to the max. You have to eat anyway, make it market food.

For traditional markets, Nang Loeng and Sriyan are two of the best. Hang out with the cool university kids while noshing on some excellent Thai favorites, Isaan dishes, and southern Thai food at Ramkhamhaeng. Yaowarat, Chinatown, is also a simply delicious choice as well with more than just mouth-salivating food being offered, but good shopping too.

Massage

Do I need to say anything else? This is the land of massages, and whether you want to relax with an oil massage or get twisted and stretched with a Thai massage, everyone has an hour to spare for an incredible and very cheap massage.

Shop

Holy shopping. Bangkok is a haven for the shopaholics, and really, you could spend over a week shopping here, but with only one day, where do you go? I would suggest keeping it on the streets. Do you really care to shop in a huge mall? I’m sure you have one back home. Not to mention the price differences.

Pratunam Market is an excellent spot with tons of stalls selling everything from souvenirs to wholesale clothing, there’s trendy clothes and electronics a Wang Lang Market, and if you’re here on the weekend, Chatuchak (JJ) Market is a must. It’s the largest weekend market in the world, requires a map to navigate, and you could spend days here and not see everything. Keep an eye on that watch!

Nightlife

Elegant Resorts will certainly provide you with a sweet spot to lay your head down at night, but you’re in Bangkok. This is the city to do anything and everything but spend time in your hotel room!

Before you hightail it to any bars or clubs, you MUST go to a sky bar. Bangkok is known for having some of the coolest sky bars in the world. Vertigo and Moon Bar and Sirocco are at the top. Be sure to come around sunset for day and night pictures.

After that, you’re ready for a real party I’m sure…

The backpackers hang out on the infamous Khao San Road, where drinking buckets on the street and stumbling from bar to bar is an every night occurrence. If you’re feeling a bit fancier, the Silom and Sukhumvit areas are a bit more trendy and classy. For the naughty types, Soi Cowboy and Nana Place are giving you the red light.

Last Minute Remarks…

The exact itinerary is up to you. if you can squeeze in more, then go for it! These are the main spots to go see, and one or two options from each category are totally doable in one day. I would suggest using a metered taxi only. You might have to ask a few before one agrees, but it’s worth it.

Buses take forever and you don’t have time for that. If you haven’t rode on a tuk-tuk yet and want the experience, I would suggest going only a short distance; ask someone else about how much it should be for a base price. They over charge and Bangkok’s pollution in your face the whole drive isn’t really fun, so I wouldn’t use one all day. Use the cheap and easy BTS system when you can to save time, and use a motorbike taxi if you’re running low on time, and don’t mind a pretty terrifying drive. They cut through Bangkok traffic like no other.

Photos by Marcus and Baron Reznik

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A Very Brief Intro to North Thailand

Mae Hong Son

The main highlights for this province is its trekking and hilltribe villages. There are gorgeous views from the mountain tops, often of the neighbor, Myanmar, in the distance. The border town has a few notable temples, waterfalls, and the long-necked Karen village.

Pai

This spot is a little haven. It’s a down to earth, natural, chill town with hippie vibes and good people. Definitely not off the tourist map, yet still not overly touristy and crowded. The town is very small and quaint, just enough. Natural beauty is everywhere. Waterfalls, mountains, rivers, hot springs and more. You can get lost for days (/months) here.

Chiang Mai

Tons and tons of culture and history here. It’s the second largest city, but it’s nothing like a huge city. It somehow still feels close and connected. Chiang Mai is great for city and nature lovers alike. Some of the most notable temples are here, like Doi Suthep. Hiking, climbing, caves and city parks. The food is exceptional and abundant.

Possible day trips from Chiang Mai:

Doi Inthanon is the tallest mountain in the country and is a national park with chedis, waterfalls, caves and a beautiful garden.

Chiang Dao National Park has caving, camping, trekking, hot springs, and waterfalls.

Chiang Rai

This spot is most famous for the white temple, Wat Rong Khun. A stunning, sparkly and stark white temple. Here you can also get the chance to see the border between Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, known as the Golden Triangle. Day trips from Chiang Mai are available to save on time.

Possible Itineraries in Under 7 Days

There are plenty of things to do, but not every traveler is the same. So here are a few ways you can mix things up in the north of Thailand. There are also companies, such as First Choice, who can assist in making your travel plans.

Chill out:

You could get lost in Pai, a wise choice in my opinion, and spend a few days in Chiang Mai…If you want. Whatever.

Maximize your time here:

• Day 1-2: Use Chiang Mai as your base. I would take two or so days to experience Chiang Mai, walk around, go the markets, see the million temples and have a fun night out.
• Day 3: Take a day trip to Doi Inthanon.
• Day 4: Take a day trip to Chiang Rai.
• Day 5-6: Chill in Pai
• Day 7: Travel back to Chiang Mai

Adventurer:

If you love riding on a motorbike, then try out the Mae Hong Son Loop. You will start and end in Chiang Mai while seeing Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, and Pai. If you don’t stop and enjoy, the loop takes around four days. So this will be a tight squeeze, but it is possible in seven days.

More Culture:

• Day 1-3: Chiang Mai
• Day 4-6: Mae Hong Son
• Day 7: Travel back to Chiang Mai

Less than a week:

If you have less than 7 days it might be best to stay put in the Chiang Mai area as a base. See as much of the city as you want and then take day trips. This way there’s no time being wasted moving to a new town and getting accommodation.

Photos by Claire Backhouse, Dennis Jarvis and n1kw

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Going to Thailand by….

By Land

Many people will receive either a 30 day or 15 day visa on arrival. This visa can be obtained on arrival without a prior application. The visa is free. You can enter Thailand by land from the following countries:

• Myanmar (Burma) to the west.
• Laos and Cambodia to the East.
• Malaysia from the south.

What to expect: A land border crossing is rather straight forward. You will be required to exit the vehicle that you arrived in with your passport in hand. You will exit the country you’re coming from by getting your passport stamped. Depending on the border, you may drive or walk in to Thailand to get stamped in.

By Air

Most countries get a free 30 days on arrival. Walk through, get stamped, and you’re in.

What to expect: The standard. Go through customs, get stamped in, and go along your merry way.

For both land and air crossings: You will be required to provide a hotel address in Thailand on the arrival/departure card.

Tourist Visa

What is a tourist visa?

A tourist visa is a visa obtained by a person wanting to stay in the country for 60-90 days as a tourist.

Where do you get one?

You must obtain a tourist visa at a Thai embassy. You can get it before your travels in your home country, or you can obtain it at a Thai embassy while on the road in another country. The surrounding countries all have embassies that issue Thai tourist visas.

How many days do I get and can I get more? How much is it?

When you initially apply for a tourist visa you will receive 60 days for 1900B ($60 USD). If you wish to extend, you may do so for a fee of 1000B ($30 USD). This will get you another 30 days for a total of 90 days. You will need to go to an immigration office to apply for this extension.

Can I leave the country and come back?

Yes and no. If you get the single entry visa, the one I am talking about and that most people get, once you leave the country, it’s finished. Be sure that you get the multiple entry tourist visa if you plan on leaving and coming back.

What to expect: As mentioned, there are quite a few places you can obtain a tourist visa. I can provide my personal experience doing this is in Vientiane, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur. There is the same overall process. You must enter the Thai Embassy during the morning hours. Usually between 8 AM and 12 PM. I would recommended getting there as early as possible, and certainly before 11-11:30AM. They might not take more people in if you arrive too close to lunch time. Keep in mind during the high tourist seasons, it can get really crowded.

You will fill out a paper and queue up. Once you’re called up, you will have one person review the documents and passport and another person will collect your money. You are given a receipt and they keep your passport overnight. You return the next day, usually after 1-2 PM, to pick up your passport. Picking up your passport is relatively quick. You show your receipt, you get your passport. Done. Always check that they properly placed your visa in the passport with the correct dates before leaving.

Things you need for your tourist visa:

• You will need at least one photo for a tourist visa. The size is usually 4 x 6 cm.
• You will need Thai Baht to pay despite being in another country. While you may able to pay in the local currency, it’s better to pay in baht as the conversion can get a bit hazy and you may end up paying more.
• Bring a black pen. Don’t even attempt to go there without one. It’s a hassle to get one once you are there.
• The forms needed will be at the embassy. It’s only one piece of paper with straightforward questions.
• Make sure to have the address of a hotel you will be staying at in Thailand. It’s one of the questions on the application.

Paying someone to get your tourist visa:

There is an option to avoid the hassle and pay someone to get you the tourist visa. It’s offered in a few places and the prices vary. If you want to save a buck, do it yourself. But if you get lazy, like I did Penang, then just pay someone. My personal experience was great. I have done it twice in Penang. For $10 I got a trustworthy local who worked at my guesthouse to make the run for me. I handed over the documents, my passport, and money, and within hours they were back, all finished. No waiting in line, no taxi to the embassy, no waiting until the next day to get your passport. It’s really nice, but if you are a backpacker wanting to save money, doing it yourself really isn’t that bad.

Visa Runs

A visa run is where you cross the Thailand border to another country, just to turn around and go back to Thailand.

Why would someone need to do this?

They do it so they can “refresh” their visa. Whether you came in on a free visa, or a tourist visa, if you’re time is running out, you can do a visa run to get more time in the Kingdom.

What does it involve?

Hours on a bus, queuing to stamp out of Thailand, stamp in to the next country, stamp out of that country, and then getting stamped back in to Thailand, and then a few more hours on a bus back to the town you started from. Fun, right?

How much is it?

To go on a visa run the fee is around 950B + ($30 USD). It’s all depending on your starting city and the border you are “running” to. Essentially you’re just paying for the bus ride and back.

How many times can I do it?

These runs are meant for people to get their last few weeks of touring the country in. Recently, there have been announcements of getting stricter on the runs. If you do a border run once, it’s no big deal. Twice? They might start questioning your intentions of staying in the country.

How many days do I get?

See “Going by land” above. The same rules apply.

Tips:

• Make sure you have enough pages. Keep in mind Laos and Cambodia visa’s are large stickers that take up an entire page. This doesn’t include the stamps you will get as well. Thai tourist visas also take up a whole page.
• Make sure you have six months validity left before leaving your home country. If you are already abroad, make sure you know there is a chance they can deny you entry to a country until you get a new passport. This will be a bad surprise to find out at the border.
• It’s in your best interest to dress appropriately when going to the embassy. It’s not that you have to dress up, but wearing your Full Moon party gear, the dirtiest hippy clothes you own, or something very revealing is something you want to avoid.
• Alway have a pen on you.
• Keep track of the date in your passport. An overstay of just one night will cost 500B ($15 USD).
• It’s a good idea to have a copy of your recent bank statement to show that you have funds. There has been a recent crackdown on this rule. It couldn’t hurt to bring it.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. I’m a U.S. citizen, but many countries share the same rules.
2. I’m someone speaking about my extensive experiences along with some research.
3. Rules, regulations, prices…etc are subject to change at any time.
4. ALWAYS check the Thai Embassy website, and the particular rules for your home country before jet-setting.
5. At the time of writing there has been a discussion on whether or not to start charging for visas, therefore eliminating the free visas all together (for some countries), as well as more rules and regulation for the tourist visa. Please, again, check all information prior to departing.

Well that’s about it! There’s a whole bunch more visa stuff to talk about if you’re coming for business, to work, or possibly even retire, but this is the basics for anyone coming at a tourist. Enjoy your time in Thailand!

Photo by Trey Ratcliff 

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It feels really nice to have people care for you and your wellbeing, however doesn’t it make you wonder, why do people think that a female traveling alone is so scary or dangerous? It made me wonder why it’s generally OK for a guy to wander the world, but not for a woman? While I do know there are some parts of the world that are a certainly more sketchy, whether you’re a dude or a chick, overall I think traveling solo, especially for a woman, has a bad rap.

What constitutes a place as safe? What’s the crime is like your city? Many people would rather leave travelers alone as tourism is a huge part of the industry. If tons of people died, get robbed constantly, and who knows what else, do you think tourists will be coming around for much longer? Not a fat chance.

Personally, I have felt very safe while traveling and living abroad. I’ve been living in Thailand for nearly three years now and I have traveled to the surrounding neighbors like Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Sometimes I was alone, sometimes with a friend, and sometimes I was alone, but made a friend along the way. Traveling alone doesn’t always mean you’re alone.

So what does is take to travel as a solo female abroad? What does one do to make sure they are safe and nothing bad happens to them? It’s actually super simple. There is a secret way to ensure this happens and I’m going to give it to you here.

Be smart. Stay out of sketchy situations. Be aware.

Not the answer you were expecting, huh? My point is, it’s not hard to travel as a solo female traveler, you just need to be careful and make smarter decisions.

So I think you might want some real tips on making it around the world as a solo female traveler. If that’s so, after three years on my own I have a collected a massive list of awesome tips for you ladies out there who want to do traveling right and safe. Feel free to check out my top solo female travel tips and anything else you find around the site.

Are you a solo female traveler already? What responses have you got? What do you do to make sure you have an awesome, but safe time while traveling?

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Under the Sea

Shipwrecks like Friars Crag are an excellent place to explore. The sunken vessel has its deep resting spot 55 feet below. There are more ship wreck experiences around Carlisle Bay as well. Expect to get up close and personal with eels, seahorse, and colorful fish.

If you haven’t cooled down enough you can keep yourself underwater at Shark Bank. This spot is teeming with cute sea turtles. At Bell Buoy there is a spectacular dome reef and Dottins shows off marine life like colorful corals and barracudas.

Swimming in the clear blue sea is great but what about swimming through a cave? If that sounds exciting, head to the Animal Flower Cave. This place is a cool spot to relax, swim and enjoy this unique experience. The water is truly crystal clear and certainly a great way to cool off.

On Top of the Sands

Boasting some pretty rad waves are the beaches in the southern and eastern parts of the island. Head to these spots for some epic swells and breaks. One of the best and most popular places on the island is the Soup Bowl. You might think of food when people mention the place, but it’s actually home to some legendary right breaks; some of the best in the world. So grab your board and try out it out, but only if you’re a confident surfer. Sea urchins and shallow reef breaks makes this a spot for surfers who are up for a challenge.

For a chance to just chill under the Barbados sun after all this adventure, there’s Accra Beach. A popular spot, but that’s because of its amazing palm tree lines coasts and turquoise waters. For a more secluded spot with equally amazing sand and sea, Bottom Bay is a good choice. The beaches in Barbados are fantastic for surf, swim, and sun, so choose any and just enjoy this paradise.

Photo credit: 1

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Daring the Depths

You have been staring at the water all day and perhaps have even gone for a swim, but what’s below the crystal blue waters? Get PADI certified and dive down to find out. There are spectacular caves and ship wrecks all of which can be seen on either a day or night dive.

See the Slopes

If winter sports are your thing, then don’t think Cyprus can’t offer you a great holiday. There aren’t only beaches here. The Troodos mountains are there for you to ski and board down its slopes. Mount Olympus overseas all the other mountains topping up at 1,952 meters.

During the first quarter of the year this spot is covered in snow. Snow boarding and ski lovers can slide down any of the 6 different runs in the area all varying in length. A few of the cross country trails offer some really nice views including the Coast of Limassol and the Salt Lake.

Wine and Dine

When in Cyprus, you eat a meze. This is a traditional and popular dish to have and there are tons to try. A meze is a small selection of many things on the menu and are an excellent way to start your meal. So great in fact, you might not make to to dessert. There is a lot of food!

Your meal wouldn’t be complete without some fabulous wine, right? Cyprus was actually the first European country to produce wine and things today remain the same. There is even the Commandaria Museum to help you with the timeline of decades of wine making and pleasing. There are several wineries all ranging from your mom and pop wineries to top sellers and producers. Enjoy a glass or bottle.

Go to Church

Literally, go to church. There are a group of Byzantine Painted Churches north of Troodos that are magnificent. Although sometimes worn and humbled looking from the outside, these churches on the inside are holding something awesome. Incredible paintings and murals line the walls of these churches. It is said it’s almost as spectacular as the Sistine Chapel. Ten of these churches are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. When going to these churches be aware they some are a bit difficult to get to, however definitely worth the effort. You can check out http://www.thomascook.com/lp/1×7-last-minute-holidays/ for getting your last minute deals booked soon.

Coastal Stroll

For sometime on the beach, taking a stroll on the Limassol Coastal Walk. It’s a fantastic to explore while going for your walk. You will begin at the towns castle, pass the Ancient Amathus, and wander through gardens. There are sculptures along the walkway and when you need a bit of a break, just stop in a cute cafe nearby or do a bit of shopping at the markets.

Photos credit 1 and 2

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Manuel Antonio

World-class beaches, hiking, surfing, and wildlife are just a few things to describe the beautiful Manuel Antonio. Come here for white sand beaches and blue waters. See an array of monkeys, sloths and other animals. It’s surrounded by dramatic cliffs, has an amazing nightlife and accessibility to the trails of Manuel Antonio National Park. This is a pristine spot and is sure to please any beach goer and adventure seeker.

Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

A once mistakenly dormant volcano, the Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968. It’s now considered to be one of the country’s most active volcanoes, and yet still so beautiful. It’s cone-shaped body and lush green surroundings make this a hot tourist spot.

Just around the corner is the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos. La Fortuna is a lovely and peaceful town with some great nature just outside its doorstep. There are stunning waterfalls nearby which makes for a picture perfect moment. Take a hike through lush rainforest, see rare flowers and plants, and take a dip in the hot springs. There are canopy tours, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and more to be enjoyed in the beautiful outdoors.

Santa Teresa and Mai Pais

This is the hottest surf spot in Costa Rica. There are some world-renowned waves crashing on these shores, and people from around the world come to surf in these waters. Pro to beginners can learn in this area and the conditions are fantastic nearly year around. Other activities can be enjoyed, such as horseback riding and hiking. Should you want to take a break, the beaches are there for you to relax on.

Just a bit south is the popular Mai Pais. This is not too far from the epic surfing spot of Santa Teresa so you bet you can enjoy more waves down here as well. Should you want to take a dive down to check out the marine life, there is plenty to see. Kite surfing and snorkelling are fanatic here too. To get a break from the water, try hiking or biking through the great nature trails in the area.

Rincon de la Vieja

This once dense and lush rainforest is now mostly used for cattle farming. There are some protected areas such as Rincon de la Vieja National Park and other places on the outskirts. Around the town is an active volcano and therefore produces hot springs and mud pools. Take a dip the therapeutic water and mud and see how it makes you feel, especially after a day of horseback riding, swimming, tubing, mountain biking, and even adventuring to a waterfall.

Costa Rica is full of thrilling, gorgeous, and fantastic scenery and activities. What else would be on your top places to adventure to in Costa Rica?

Photos by 1 and 2

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However, Krabi isn’t all just sand and water. The incredible karst mountains that jet out from the ground and ocean below provide people seeking adventure with the perfect climbing conditions. Jagged limestone, craggy cliffs, and boulders are begging to be conquered. It’s simply a climbers dream, period.

Krabi

So where can you climb in Krabi?

To climb with the cool kids, there are two awesome spots located on the mainland of Thailand. In the bustling coastal town of Ao Nang you can bask under the sun and then catch a long-tail boat to Ton Sai or Railay. Again, both are on the mainland, however you do need to take a boat to reach these places.

Railay Beach at Sunrise

Railay Beach is a beautiful spot with nearby limestone islands sitting quietly in the distance as you ascend up the huge cliffs above all the lackluster sunbathers. There is a nearby lagoon that requires some free climbing to get to, so anyone can really do it. Should you want a fantastic new experience that’s rewarding and challenging, sign up for a deep water solo climb. This form of climbing doesn’t involve ropes, so when you fall, only the clear ocean water is there to catch you.

If you want to tone it down a bit, the nearby Ton Sai Beach offers climbing as well and is for the more avid climbers who have a sense of living simply. Most of the accommodation are simple bungalow style huts with a few exceptions, if you’re willing to pay the price, and almost the entire area runs on generators at night (which if you haven’t guessed, means no electricity during the day). The scene is equally as spectacular on Ton Sai and you are surrounded by mountains of rock. Pick one and climb!

Ton Sai Bay

Perhaps the busiest, yet also equally beautiful spot for climbing, is Koh Phi Phi. That’s right, Krabi’s little darling gem that receives visitors from around the world and serves as one of iconic images of Thailand, can also be climbed. So if you are just stopping by to get a glimpse of that famous view, feel free to get a good climb in as well for even more amazing scenery and of course, bragging rights.

Alright, so you are now ready for a secret spot, the newer climbing spot on the scene, the spot that many might not know about… If that’s what you’re craving, then Koh Yao Noi is your place. Let’s hope this ideal climbing location doesn’t get too big because right now, it’s just perfect for getting away from the high season crowds on the mainland climbing spots. Be aware this island is not exactly equipt for tourists. It’s most definitely still under the radar so don’t come here expecting the infrastructure and conveniences you might have on the mainland. You come here, climb, beach it, sleep, and repeat the next day. Enjoy and climb on.

Photos by Benjamin, Mark Fischer and Will McElwain

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Unlike any other activity you have probably ever done before is Phuket’s Upside-Down House and Maze! Also known in Thai as Baan Teelanka. So what exactly is this crazy thing we are speaking about? Exactly what it sounds like…

Imagine walking into a seemingly normal home only to find out literally everything is upside-down. Well, that’s essentially what Upside-Down House is like except, the house from the outside is actually upside down too. What a concept! This house is excellent for something new to do, a rainy day, a break from the sun, a unique experience, or just because.

The whimsical house is designed upside-down so when you walk in, it feels like you are walking on the ceiling. What is like to walk under a table? A sofa? Or perhaps look outside an upside-down window? Find out for yourself at the Upside-Down House in Phuket. This crazy house is a three-level, modern Western style house that is exactly what you expect a normal house to look like, but upside down.

What else does this super fun place have to offer its guests? Perhaps your mind is a big boggled from roaming around a house with furniture hovering above your head. It sounds like it’s time to walk outside for some fresh air. However don’t think this quirky house will have a normal outside either. Walk out to the back garden and you will find yourself in a 1,000 square meter garden maze. Think about the childhood movie, “The Labyrinth.” That’s essentially what’s recreated here for your pure enjoyment. You know you have also wanted to know what it would be like to roam about a maze of hedges. Now you can!

Get lost in the maze and have fun finding your way out. It was designed by the incredible and imaginative Adrian Fisher Design Ltd United Kingdom Company. They made this labyrinth fun and entertaining for all ages, and are excited for everyone to experience this unique garden.

Alright, so perhaps you have had enough of the upside-down, topsy-turvey, twisted maze and house, but don’t leave yet. There is a bit more to see here, but no worries, you can give your brain a rest this time. No tricks and puzzles to figure out at the coffee shop. Take a seat and enjoy a cup of your favorite coffee or tea and wander the souvenir shop for something special to bring home from your time at the Upside-Down House and Maze. Wasn’t it fun? Bet you haven’t experienced anything like this before, now go tell your friends all about it.

Time, Tickets, Contact and Private Event Info:

The Upside-Down House and Maze is open daily from 10:00 – 18:30.

Tickets for both activities are:
250B for adults and 170 for children 4-11 years old.

Tickets for Upside-Down House only:
250B for adults and 150B for children 4-11 years old.

Tickets for the Maze only:
150B for adults and 100B for children 4-11 years old.

The Upside-Down House and Maze is great for anyone on holiday looking for something different, parties and events, and company team building days. If you would like to reserve the premises for a private event, kindly contact Upside-Down House by:

Phone – Alex Riva +66 (0)84 456 5279
Tiwa Yodying +66 (0)86 267 5262

Email – [email protected]. You can also find them in Facebook.

The Upside-Down House and Maze is located at:

R.A.W Co., Ltd.
20/20 Thepkrasattri Rd. Moo 5
Koh Kaew, Muang, Phuket 83000

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Awesome lights….

It had been a bit more than a year and half since I had been on the road and over a year and half that I had not seen a concert. I was needing a show in my life and I was willing to do whatever it took to get it in my life. Some might say I am crazy, but I literally planned a vacation around a music concert I found. Let’s go back and see how this came about…

I was looking for a concert somewhere in Southeast Asia, I really didn’t care where. My friend was coming to visit me during the month of December back in 2012 and we were going to travel around Indonesia for one month. I found an electronic music concert in Jakarta. This was not on the itinerary, in fact, the island of Java was not on the list at all for this trip. I had planned and roughly mapped out our route around Indonesia already, but when I found this concert, those plans hit the fan.

I completely scraped my plans and started over just to fit in this concert. Yes, that’s how badly I wanted to go to a concert. I rerouted our holiday plans and made it so that we were flying into Jakarta the night before the concert and then flying out the next day after the concert. You might be asking who is crazy enough to buy plane tickets to fly into a city JUST for a concert? Well, that’s me and I couldn’t have been any happier with the decision.

The concert was one of the most spectacular shows I had even been to. The Jakarta skyline was a magnificent backdrop to the three stages that were set up in the center of this megalopolis; it only added to the awesomeness. The concert was featuring some huge names such as: Avicii, Markus Shulz, Gesaffelstein, Paul Van Dyk, Porter Robinson, Knife Party, and Nina Kravitz along with plenty of other great local and international DJ’s.

Each stage was completely decked out with the most incredible light systems. As the DJ’s took their spot on stage the lights would dance around with the music providing a entertaining and spectacular show to go along with their sweet tunes.

As my friend and I jumped up and down with the music, yelled the words to the songs we knew, and sweated every ounce of liquid out of our systems, we knew it was the best decision ever to make it to this show. It’s the single best show I have been to till this day and going out of our way to make it here was totally worth it. Call me crazy, but for the love of god, don’t deprive me of my music.

If you want to checkout the concert I went to, go to the ISMAYA website . I went to the DJakarta Warehouse Party, they have one every year along with other amazing concerts and parties. Don’t miss it if you’re around…

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There are numerous beaches to enjoy on this beauty of an island. Some of them are unspoilt and nearly deserted, and some are full of a crowd of like-minded travelers.

There are plenty of amazing viewpoints, like this one!

Lonely Beach

Despite it’s name, Lonely Beach, or Tha Nam beach, is most certainly not lonely. There is a bushy jungle that extends it’s palms towards the beaches where there are an array of accommodations, restaurants, and bars. This the the popular spot for backpackers and people looking to just simply chill.

Just 20 minute towards the south of Lonely Beach is Bailan Bay which is the least developed on the West side of the island. The bay is a bit rocky but it’s a perfect spot to enjoy peace and serenity in your own beautiful paradise.

Long Beach

One of the loneliest beaches on Koh Chang, and it won’t be that way for must longer, is Long Beach. Located on the southern East coast of the island, this almost untouched beach is absolutely stunning. While there are only a few choices for accommodation, a few more are on the way.

It’s a beauty, isn’t it?

White Sand Beach

There are plenty of places to stay on this popular beach anywhere from backpacker huts to plush resorts. The southern part of this beach is not recommended because it’s a bit rocky, but the middle and northern parts of the island are simply beautiful. There are places to eat, umbrellas to lay under, nice games of badminton or volleyball can be enjoyed on the beach, and the swimming is refreshing. Just sit back and relax on this beauty of a beach.

Klong Prao Beach

Near to White Sand Beach is this unique and gorgeous sectioned-off beach. It’s divided up into three sections by the Klong Plu Waterfall river estuary and because if this, this beach is far from ordinary. There are magnificent views of the river and beaches from here and because of its location there are plenty of activities like canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing, and more. This is the island’s largest beach and there is a plethora of accommodation to choose from.

Riding an elephant is a rare experience. Take it!

Besides awesome beaches, there are tons of lovely waterfalls to visit on the island such as Klong Plu, Klong Nonsi, and Klong Nueng, said to be the most beautiful waterfall. Koh Chang means ‘elephant island’ so you can also expect to see quite a few elephant camps. Be sure to pick a reputable one and have an enjoyable elephant ride through the thick jungle. Koh Chang is a lovely island to lose yourself on and forget about time.

Photo by Photodiary of an Endless Summer and Ryan Latta

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Teaching in Thailand

Are you the right person?

There are certainly some questions to be answered before you hop on that plane and plan to teach.

First, why are you going? It can’t just be because you don’t know what else to do with your life right now. You have to be wanting and willing to learn about another culture, completely immerse yourself, have the ability and desire to speak and teach others and have patients doing so.

Are you open minded? Things will certainly be different in your new country. Let’s not think it won’t be at least slightly shocking once you get there. Be open about everything and take things as they come. Not everything will always go 100% according to plan and that’s OK. Just work it out.

Make sure you have all of your bases covered back home. Get your bills paid off, sell off what you need, and don’t bring over a worry or responsibility. It will only stress you out and inhibit you from being yourself and giving this your all.

How do you start?

So how do you get the ball rolling on nailing a teaching position? Most places require or at least strongly prefer teachers to have the following:

• Native English speaker
• Bachelors degree in any subject.
• TESOL certification

Some other requirements that might need to be met:

• Some institutions require a background check.
• Under the age of 60.
• Experience in the classroom

Just to quickly expand on the TESOL requirement, this is a certification that you will likely want to obtain. It certifies you to teach English as a second language. Look for a reputable website and receive this certification online or go through a certification abroad program and receive your certificate in another country.

As for the requirements- It all depends on the country, and then the actual institution that you end up working for. It’s also important to keep in mind that you will likely need your original documents. Order another official copy of your degree from your university to bring along with you. It will get tattered and torn, but it’s often necessary to have with you for work permit reasons.

Brief run down on salary and cost of living

Here are the three most popular destinations for ESL teachers in Southeast Asia. Keep in mind when you are reading that the amounts paid per month might seem minimal, but the cost of living in these countries is too. The amount paid is usually enough to live on and even save a bit. It all depends on your lifestyle as well. You might have a hard time saving if you are the type that wants a lavish dinner every night along with a few drinks. So depending on how you live, you can put a decent amount of money away for your future travels if you budget carefully. All the amounts listed below are in USD.

Thailand

In the “Land of Smiles” is where I started my ESL teaching experience. You can get jobs anywhere from $500 to around $1500 per month. The average I would say is around $1000 per month.

Just to give you an idea:
Milk – $1.50
Bread – $1.30
Dozen eggs – $1.45

In city public transport – $.60

Apartment in the city / outside the city – $400+/ $250+ per month

Draught beer – $1.50
Coke – $.50
Local meal – $1-2
Mid-range restaurant – $5-8

Random notes on Thailand:

• The people are Buddhist and respect for their temples and other religious objects should be observed at all times.
• No loosing your cool. They are pretty chill people so take a step back and figure things out with a cool head.
• Thai food can get spicy! They often will tone it down when they see a foreigner, but sometimes they want you to have it just the way they like it. Learning “mai pet” (not spicy) would probably be a good thing if a kick in the mouth isn’t your thing.
• You will have the opportunity to wander about ancient temple ruins in numerous cities, walk on the some of the nicest beaches in the country in Krabi and Trang provinces, camp and hike in any of their stunning national parks, rage all night at a Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, dive in Koh Tao, trek in the mountains and meet hill tribe people in the Northern regions, experience Bangkok city life, and much more.

Indonesia

ESL teachers average between $1000- $2000. There are thousands of islands to choose from. Pretty much anywhere would be considered a paradise!

Just to give you an idea:
Milk – $1.30
Bread – $1
Dozen eggs – $1.45

In city public transport – $.50

Apartment in the city / outside the city – $400+/ $200+ per month

Draught beer – $2
Coke – $.70
Local meal – $2-3
Mid-range restaurant – $5-8

Random notes on Indonesia:

• Eat and pass your food with your right hand only.
• Speaking of hands, it’s not uncommon for people to eat with their hands here.
• Check out their world-class beaches and surf before you leave, go to Sumatra to see the indigenous Orangutans, climb volcanoes, trek through their lush jungles, visit untouched Borneo, and eat some fresh caught fish while on the beach.

Vietnam

Growing in popularity, many ESL teachers are coming to Vietnam for work. Here you can expect an average of $1200- $2000+ per month.

Just to give you an idea:
Milk – $1.40
Bread – $1.10
Dozen eggs – $1.40

In city public transport – $.30

Apartment in the city / outside the city – $460+/ $270+ per month

Draught beer – $1
Coke – $.50
Local meal – $2.50
Mid-range restaurant – $6-8

Random notes on Vietnam:

• While eating soup, hold your spoon in your left hand.
• Yellow flowers and anything colored black are not to be given as a gift.
• Let the oldest person sit first at the table. Wait to be shown your seat.
• The famous Pho soup is a must try, wander the beautiful beaches of Hoi An, float across the water while admiring Halong Bay, get in deep with the rich history and make sure to see a sunrise before leaving.

Keep in mind there is a possibility other benefits are offered. Check each job to see if they include paid holidays, a plane ticket, reimbursement for work permit costs….etc. Each school is also different. There are opportunities at public schools, private school, universities, language schools, international schools, private tutoring, and business tutoring. If you have other skills, that could be beneficial, such as a degree in math or sciences, that’s great. Some schools want other subjects taught in English as well. There are plenty of opportunities and each school and country is different.

What’s teaching like?

So you might want to know what a teachers life is like in another country. Well, the main difference that you might notice is that your job will likely be a lot less crazy and stressful then your current job. It’s not to say teaching English is an easy job, it gets challenging at times, but there aren’t demanding and strict guidelines or expectations. English learning should be fun and games are very much a part of what you will be doing. Make your classes light and not too serious or you will lose your students interest.

Most likely you will be focusing on conversational English. You can’t throw a worksheet at the students and call it day. Make sure you get them talking. Speaking of talking, don’t talk to them like you do with your friends. Speak nice and clear. Speak slowly and don’t use crazy vocabulary.

Your classes could consist of 40, 50, and possibly 60 students. You could have completely free reign over what to teach, which sounds great but can also be challenging when you are given no guidance or a starting point. Some schools will provide workbooks, or some kind of program and some won’t. Some classes you will only see once a week, some more. Again, it all depends on the school. The bottom line is to be prepared for anything.

A popular teacher schedule will usually consist of 20-25 teaching hours per week. This isn’t to say those are the only hours you work. Some school make you come in and stay for the day regardless of how many classes you have. Some schools might have a bit of an odd schedule like giving you a three hour gap in between classes. It’s important to remember to use your time wisely. So try getting some idea downs and lessons planned during those down hours to take advantage of your time at and out of school.

This is again only an idea of what teaching could be like. Hours differ depending on the schools, requirements may not be the same, and classes could be smaller or larger. It’s a good idea to always ask questions all the time. Before you start the job and while you are working the job. Sometimes things can be a bit too laid-back in these countries and you may have an unexpected surprise here and there.

Day-to-day teacher life

After making your lessons plans for the week and getting your schedule down, just live like a normal local. Go to the markets and try new food, visit their shopping malls and wander the streets. Get to know your surroundings and get acquainted to your new town. Try to look out for familiar faces around town so you can start making friends. Go to the local cafes and restaurants, you will be guaranteed to run into another teacher in town.

Once you make some friends, get to know them, take in their advice and start taking this useful information and putting it in to action. Get the lowdown on the nearby activities you can do on the weekends to get away, find out where the best local produce can be bought, the cheapest fried rice in town, or any other awesome tips they might be willing to divulge to you.

Your every day will be pretty low key as your responsibilities are minimal. It’s popular to have holidays off; they have holidays often and you can probably expect at least one long weekend every month. Go off and travel a bit, that’s a big part of the reason why you’re there anyway.

Checklist for teaching abroad:

Here are just a few things to make sure you have checked off before leaving your life behind and going to a far away land to start teaching!

• Documents- It couldn’t hurt to bring your transcripts just in case, bring your original certification and degree. Make copies of your passport, ID, and all documents to give at interviews. You originals will be needed for visa purposes, however a school could request to see it as well.
• Don’t bring everything with you. You might be moving for a decent period of time but there is no reason to bring most of your closet, 12 pairs of high heels, your jewelry collection, and 10 pictures frames of you and your friends and family. Tone it down, be minimal. If there is something you really want, you will likely be able to find it there. Don’t regret bringing too much because it could be expensive to send it home when you realize you don’t need it.
• Bring some teacher appropriate clothes to start you off. Again, nothing too crazy or too much. Just a few outfits that can be mixed and matched. Make sure it’s comfortable and appropriate for the weather in that country. Ladies should stick to knee-length or long skirts and dresses, nothing showing too much skin. Nice blouses that cover the shoulder and aren’t too low. Men should wear nice button down shirts and slacks with a belt. A tie or two would be smart to bring as well.
• Open mind for everything. Things will be confusing, weird, new, and challenging at first but also fun, exciting, and adventurous. Just be sure to chill and take a breath first. Everything will work out just fine.
• You might have came here to teach, but you also came to travel! If you go to the country, live in the country, and work in the country, you better make time to travel it too. Don’t come all this way and only see the one city you lived in. Make sure you leave time for exploring the country and possibly it’s neighbors.

Now that you have read a bit about what teaching is like, what your responsibilities might be, what you might earn and what it would cost to live abroad, do you think this is for you? Can you be an English teacher abroad? Are you open minded enough to do this? Do you need a job that is rewarding and allows you the opportunity to travel? Think about everything and let it marinate. Don’t make any rash decision, there is plenty of time. These opportunities aren’t going anywhere. Good luck!

Great websites for finding ESL jobs around the world:

Thailand job board: Ajarn.com

ESL Cafe’s International Job Board: www.eslcafe.com/joblist
Mark’s ESL World: www.marksesl.com
ESL Job Feed: www.esljobfeed.com
ESL Connections: www.eslconnections.com
TESall.com’s Worldwide Job Board: www.tesall.com
TEFL.net’s ESL Job Offers: www.tefl.net
TotalESL: www.totalesl.com
TEFL.com: www.tefl.com
ESL Job Find: www.esljobfind.com
ESL Employment: www.eslemployment.com

Photo by Official U.S. Navy Imagery

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