One backpack, Five Unforgettable Journeys

Hey everyone! 

Happy Winter or Summer, wherever you are in the world. Welcome back to my blog and thank you for taking the time to read! 

Waaay back in 2015 and 2016 when I already knew I wanted to spend my Australian winter in American summer at a summer camp, I was wondering about other countries to visit as a young solo traveller. It is daunting knowing there’s a whole massive world out there for you to explore, but you don’t know where to go… or where to start. As some of you may know, I was hoping to visit the Philippines and take a trip to the famous Boracay Island, but the Island actually closed for a few years and I ended up visiting Lisbon in Portugal in 2017. It was one of the best experiences and I always recommend Europe to a lot of solo travellers (it’s also an incredibly popular destination for Aussies) but in this post, I wanted to discuss some other places and countries that you may not have thought of for your travels. Now don’t get me wrong, you don’t HAVE to be a solo traveller, you can travel to any of these places with friends and family. I’m writing this as a guide for ideas and inspiration for younger me and hopefully to help someone on their own journey, as I would have been so grateful if someone had given me these recommendations when I was thinking of places to go. 

1. Madeira, Portugal 

I’ve got to start off with somewhere that is slowly becoming more well known in Europe, but I think it’s still such an underrated place that is perfect for a laid back, island life vibe or exhilarating solo adventure. Flying from England was so simple- direct and affordable flights- but you can also fly pretty easily from anywhere, especially if you’re already in Europe or United Kingdom. Madeira can be a trip in its own or slotted into your other travel plans. Funchal is the capital of Madeira and it’s great as a “base,” you’ve got a mix of city vibes, right on the beach, with the backdrop of the mountains. The weather is warm year round and there are plenty of things to see and do in Funchal, from a variety of food markets, city night life, swimming at the local beaches, botanic gardens, historical buildings and landmarks as well as the Funchal cable car up to Monte. You can also get public transport up to one of my favourite viewpoints Eira do Serrado. There are multiple and spectacular hikes to do around Madeira, as well as day trips, diving, tobogganing and more viewpoints to marvel at which is great for depending on how you want your itinerary to look and how long you want to stay. 

2. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala 

I speak about Lake Atitlan in Guatemala A LOT, as it was a place (and country) that always left me in absolute awe. It’s one of my favourite countries I’ve ever visited and what I loved about Lake Atitlan, besides how beautiful it is, was actually how easy it is to travel to and around. We crossed the border on land from Mexico and got a shuttle bus to Panajachel, but you can simply fly into Guatemala City and get a shuttle bus to Lake Atitlan. Panajachel is known as the “gateway” to Lake Atitlan and is the transport hub. You can get boats to the different towns of Lake Atitlan and each town on the Lake has a range of activities and spots to explore with so much rich culture and history to learn about, with incredibly welcoming and friendly communities. You can either choose to stay in Pana and do day trips to other parts of Lake Atitlan or you can stay in another town such as San Pedro, San Marcos, San Juan, Santa Cruz or Solola to name a few. There’s everything from paragliding, hiking mountains and volcanoes, learning Spanish at a local school, food markets, textile shops, viewpoints, swimming spots, water activities and even hot thermal pools! I found Lake Atitlan an ideal spot for slow travel and Guatemala's remaining regions are incredibly breathtaking, so I must add Antigua, Flores and Tikal as must-see destinations for future travels. Alternatively, you can even border hop into Mexico or fly to another country in Central America. 

3. Puerto Escondido, Mexico 

Puerto Escondido was such an interesting and unique place that I’m so glad I got to visit on my travels, and somewhere I’d recommend to everyone. Mexico in general is another country that holds a special place in my heart. I loved travelling around the diverse and breathtaking cities and towns of Mexico. Puerto Escondido is a picturesque beach town on the coast of Oaxaca. Besides the centre of Puerto, some other popular spots include Zicatela, known for its famous pipeline surf, Carrizalillo beach which is set in a cove backed by steep cliffs and La Punta, located at the southern end of Zicatela with smaller waves. There are plenty of food and clothing markets to visit, beaches to swim in and nightlife to enjoy. You can also learn Spanish at one of the local schools,  take day trips to different areas of Puerto, learn to surf, hike around the rocks at some of the beaches and catch colectivos (which was my favourite part!) a pickup truck that you can flag down on the side of the road. The weather is lovely and warm year round and accommodation is affordable for any type of traveller. Puerto Escondido was another place I found great for slow travel, unless you’re on a time schedule, you can continue your travels either down the coast to another stunning beach town called Mazunte or even further into San Cristobal de las Casas. Otherwise, you can travel back up into the mainland of Oaxaca, Puebla and even Mexico City. 

4. Tokyo, Japan 

Tokyo is one of the most brilliant cities I’ve ever been too and Japan is a country I’d highly recommend for first time travellers. It is such a vibrant and unique city, so accessible and simple to get about on public transport and there is a variety of accommodation that are all very reasonably priced, from capsule inns, hostels and hotels. The food scene in Tokyo is phenomenal and the shopping is unmatched. As well as learning Japanese, there is also a ton of things to see and do in Tokyo. From popular landmarks such as Shibuya Crossing and the famous giant 3D cat in Shinjuku, shrines and temples, museums and art galleries, historical buildings and cozy parks, Tokyo nightlife and even Disneyland to name a few. It is possible to even get a bus up to the fifth station of Mount Fuji to either sight see or hike it, depending on the time of year! The historic legacies and deep rooted traditions are such an integral part of Japan, mixed with the futuristic and bustling vibes from the fashion to the technology the atmosphere will blow your mind. You can continue your travels to anywhere in Japan, popular places south of Tokyo such as Kamakura, Kyoto and Osaka are perfect to get to by train or bullet train. 

5. Bangkok, Thailand

Last but not least. Bangkok Thailand. Up there with Tokyo in my favourite cities category. A city of contrasts where traditional Thai life coexists with modern urban development, creating such an incomparable and noteworthy atmosphere. Accommodation is affordable for both short or longer stays (as this was another city I felt was perfect for slow travel), the public transport throughout Bangkok is some of the best in my opinion with a massive range of buses, trains and canal boats to get around. Not to mention, the famous grab app that is a must during your stay. From the remarkable Buddhist temples and shrines that shower the city and show so much important history and culture, there’s also places like Chinatown, Lumpinee Stadium and Park, Chatuchak weekend market and park and Rajadamnern Stadium that hold a lot of legacy. Furthermore, the shopping in Bangkok is truly out of this world from places like the MBK centre, Icon Siam, Central World and Siam Paragon. Thailand is the home of Muay Thai, one of my favourite sports and activities that I got to do in Bangkok, it was an epic experience. For future travel plans, I’d suggest anywhere in Thailand or obviously other countries in Asia, leading one awesome trip. 

Happy travels everyone!If you like this sort of blog post, or have more recommendations for readers, feel free to comment below! Otherwise DM me on my instagram: the_runawayredhead. 

Talk Soon, 

The Runaway Redhead

Big and Bold, Bangkok is Gold

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! It’s been a while. 

Back in February this year, Deejay and I got on a one way flight to Thailand and spent just under two months exploring different parts of Thailand, training Muay Thai, riding about on mopeds and eating delicious food. I had no expectations going to Thailand, besides that fact I was so excited to be travelling around somewhere new. I’ve heard nothing but good things, it’s definitely a country that gets a lot of hype and as it’s a popular place for Aussies to travel to, so naturally, Thailand has always sparked my curiosity. I was also pumped to get stuck into some Muay Thai after training at Boonch Gym on the Gold Coast with the legends John Wayne Parr, his wife Angie and their three kids Jazzy, Jesse and Jemma. 

I can one hundred percent say I get the hype around Thailand. It was truly extraordinary and has left a special place in my heart. Also known as “the land of smiles” everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, kind and generous. The scenery and landscapes around Thailand were so diverse and impressive, the food was unique and delicious every time. It’s a place that I’d highly recommend travelling to. 

Bangkok, the vibrant and fascinating metropolis that was our first and last destination, is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities I have ever visited. Bangkok captivated me with its bustling streets, vibrant marketplaces, and tall skyscrapers contrasted with magnificent temples, rich cultural history, and historic customs and architecture. So, without further ado, here are…

Five things to see and do in Bangkok:

Chatuchak Market and Park: 

The world’s largest weekend market, with over two hundred, thousand people visiting Chatuchak Market every weekend! It’s a fun and energetic atmosphere, a little overwhelming but so worth a visit. It’s open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm and home to fifteen thousand different stalls ranging from food, art, antiques, fashion, souvenirs and more.

Chatuchak Park is just opposite the market and a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s green, serene and free to walk around. You get these beautiful views of the expansive lawns of nature or tree lined canals with the city in the background. 

Chinatown: 

The world’s largest Chinatown and my favourite part of Bangkok! You can visit any time of the day, but I highly recommend visiting in the evening when a lot of the food vendors and family run restaurants come to life. The crispy gyozas, pork buns and spring rolls are to this day, the best I’ve EVER had. Yaowarat Road is a flurry of activity and liveliness, jam packed with neon lights, shops, restaurants, bars and live music, vendors and stalls offering an array of jewellery, trinkets, textiles, souvenirs, local foods and ingredients and fashion. You can also walk around the narrow alleyways and soak up the atmosphere. 

MBK Centre: 

The MBK centre is enormous and Bangkok’s most popular destination for shopping. It offers everything you could possible think of from supermarkets to clothing and shoes, bags and luggage, to a mobile and IT zone, entertainment zone as well as jewellery, cosmetics and beauty zones! There’s also a dining area that offers a wide variety of cafes, coffee shops, restaurants and food stalls. You can also go and watch open Muay Thai fights that happen every first and last Wednesday of the month which is free to attend. 

Wat Pho: 

The breathtaking temple known as the “Reclining Buddha” is a prominent Buddhist temple and among Bangkok’s biggest sights. The temple complex is remarkable to explore and walk around, the entire place is rich in history, culture and gives you an insight into the religion of Buddhism. Wat Pho is also renowned for its Thai massage school, preserving traditional Thai medicine and has historically served as a centre of learning for the general public. Open for, 8am- 6pm, the entry fee is 300 TBH per person and there is a dress code for everyone visiting, covering shoulders and knees as a sign of respect. 

Lumpinee Park: 

Lumpinee Park was one of my favourite parks in Bangkok, I love finding places of peace in busy cities. This park is a popular place for people doing outdoor leisure activities such as exercising, Thai Chi, playing games and music learning social dancing and reading books, furthermore, it serves as a place for having parties, ballroom dancing and concerts. Lumpinee Park is full of beautiful scenery and views of the gardens, the lake and the city in the background. Also home to Monitor Lizards which are seen either relaxing and basking on the banks, up in the trees or swimming in the Lake. 

I hope this guide can give you some inspiration or ideas for your own travels! I am beyond grateful for everything I got to see, do and experience whilst being in Bangkok. It’s a city I can’t wait to go back to, somewhere I highly recommend visiting and a true favourite of mine. If you like this sort of blog post, or have more recommendations for readers, feel free to comment below! Otherwise DM me on my instagram: the_runawayredhead. 

Talk Soon, 

The Runaway Redhead