One of my favorite parts of Ubud is that in the chaos there are these little pockets of serenity from the temples to hidden rice fields in the middle of town. Ten minutes from the center of Ubud where cars are aplenty is the Campuhan Ridge Walk. It is popular with locals and tourists alike. The walk through famous can hold moments of emptiness depending on the time of day. Sean and I found ourselves walking on this path often due to the picturesqueness of it but also it was an easy walk and a way for us to walk on a path without having to pay attention to any scooters or cars around us because there were none! Making it a fantastic way to mentally check out and enjoy the views while getting a little exercise. Plus, sweeping hilltop views are always a go-to and Campuhan Ridge Walk always delivered those every time.

How To Get There

Almost every taxi driver will know how to get there. If you are getting there yourself on scooter or Bike, head to the Ibah Resort and Spa. When you turn into it you will see a road to your left, go down there and you will see two parking lots that you can use. I’d recommend the bottom one as the taxis tend to use the first one and will move your bike if it’s in the way.  Then you will walk down the hill and stay to the right and go down the stairs under the bridge (Away from the temple) and then you will see a sign. Follow the clearly marked path and after about 5-10 minutes of a gradual incline, you will be on the ridge!

Don’t Gotta Be In Shape For This Walk

This walk is doable by almost all ages and fitness levels. What will really get you is the heat and sun as there is no shade on the 2 km walk. Make sure to either go early morning or early evening. You can wear whatever you want really thus, why it is the perfect Instagram spot but I do recommend shoes a bit sturdier than plastic flip-flops.  Don’t forget water and sunscreen either. The sun is very unforgiving if you are walking in the middle of the day!

Fun fact: I have a bit of history with Singapore despite never being there before this trip. When I worked at Influence, I worked on a year-long campaign with the Singapore Tourism Board and Thomas Cook Media and Partnerships. So, despite convincing others to go visit Singapore I, myself had never been. I finally was able to visit a place I wrote so much about a few years ago and loved every moment of it.

Ya Girl Went On Holiday Which Meant All The Calories 

Despite what many think, my life is not a permanent holiday. There is a difference between long-term traveling like Sean and I do and holidays. Which is why when we go on short weekend trips we treat it like a holiday. This allows us to switch off from work, justify spending a bit more money on food, experiences and just to have fun. I will admit, we get to go on holidays a bit more than the average person but when you are so close to so many incredible destinations you gotta embrace it! Plus being your own boss has gotta have its perks for all the long weeks and hours.

One of my favorite parts of being on holiday is, of course, the ability to indulge a bit. Long-term traveling means we stick to a budget but when on holiday we kinda just go for it. Though, I am such a prude when it comes to spending money whereas Sean is better about it. Together we balance each other out! Which is why Singapore though, not budget-friendly is an affordable place to go on the well-traveled path.

I loved Hoi An. I wrote all about that love and how I got my groove back here. If you are heading to the picturesque Hoi An whether it be for just a few days or longer then here are 8 musts that you have to do or eat while there.

My Son Sanctuary

If you have time than visiting what is affectionately known as Vietnam’s Angor Wat is a must. I would recommend going early morning in a private car. For $35 we got a driver and a car to take us which meant we arrived before the tour groups. The price to get in is expensive at 115,000 dong but worth every penny. By arriving at 6 AM (when the temple opens) it also meant fewer crowds and the heat wasn’t as bad. Cause let me tell you, even at 7 AM we were SWEATING.

True love is when your partner covers your back sweat with his arm so that you can take a cute couple picture.

The temples of My Son were built between the 4th and 13th centuries by the king of Champa and they were dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. Today they are partially ruined (in due part to bombings done by the US during the war) but also they were abandoned. It takes about an hour to get there from Hoi An and the drive in beautiful. The sight of the temple is small and can be done in an hour but we took an hour and a half (cause pictures).

Many of temples were damaged during the war and are somewhat small compared to Angor Wat (the same builders) but are breathtaking in their own right. My Son was a burial place for kinds and national heroes during the 4th-13th centuries and at its peak had over 70 temples. Today there is just a handful and you can get up close and personal to the temples. Seeing the Sanskrit and intricate details. It was an experience to explore on our own.

Dinner at Claypot Restaurant and Water Puppet Show

A few times a week Hoi An there is a Water Puppet Show. Water puppetry is unique to Vietnam and can be expensive. In Hoi An it was just a few dollars and a 30-minute show (versus an hour and a half shows in the bigger cities). It was interesting… I’m glad we did it but once was enough. The theatre is walking distance from the Ancient Town. There are about 7 acts and before each one there is a prerecorded recording that explains a basic gist of what you are about to watch. The skill of the pupperty is incredible and it is a unique experience but I’m glad it was just 30 minutes.

After enjoying your culture part of the evening,  just a ten-minute walk away from the theatre is one of the best meals you’ll have in Hoi An. Claypot Restaurant became one of my favorite places to eat and we ate there 6 times during our three weeks in Hoi An. The woman who runs it makes every single dish by herself. Which means, don’t expect quick service but it is worth it. If you do go make sure to order the dish the restaurant is named after a clay pot. My favorite was the aubergine/eggplant and pork claypot. In addition, you HAVE to get the chicken curry. It was the unique dish I had while traveling. In fact, I still dream of it. In addition, they offer fresh beer for pennies and homemade peanuts.

Beach Homestay

The beach isn’t that far away from Ancient Town but embrace your inner beach bum and stay in a homestay for 2 days. Not only do you get a different experience but you will be feet away from the blue waters of a private beach. Our last 4 days in Hoi An we spent our afternoons on a lounger, reading, and dipping in the warm waters for $20 a night PLUS breakfast. It was also here where we discovered the deliciousness of Mangosteens.

Top Tip: If you end up going to the beach for a day and want to rent a lounger, walk away from the “beachfront” where the restaurants are. All the loungers out front are being rented for 100,000 Dong for the day. Just a 5 minute walk away you will see more chairs that cost a mere 7,000 Dong instead. Plus, it won’t be as crowded!

Lunch with a view and fresh seafood…

2-4-1 Cocktails and Nu Eatery

It doesn’t matter the time of year but Hoi An loves a good Happy Hour. No matter what side you are on in Ancient Town, expect 2-4-1 cocktails. So go on, have a fun night out but before you do make sure to eat at the incredible Nu Eatery.

With two locations, expect a line at the one in Ancient Town. Nu Eatery offers a modern and fusion twist on classic Vietnamese dishes, this place was an Instagrammer and Foodie dream. With A+ aesthetic and ingredients, this place is a MUST. In fact, Sean ordered the same dish TWICE the two times we went. That never happens.

Marble Mountain Day Tour

My only regret about doing this excursion as that I didn’t have enough time to truly explore all that it offers. My dad and stepmom came for a long weekend so once again, we got a private car. For a big car and driver, it cost us $50. This also included a drive of Hai Van Pass.

Marble Mountains is closer to the city of Da Nang but well worth the drive. It is a cluster of five marble and limestone hills and were named after the 5 elements. All the mountains have cave entrances and tunnels. Fun fact is there are also several Buddhist sanctuaries that can be found in the mountains.

Before going make sure you have a water bottle because you will be climbing and walking a lot. Do yourself a favor and pay to take the elevator up. Save your energy for the other steep stairs to be had. We only had about an hour and a half to explore and it was not nearly enough. What we were able to see was so beautiful and incredible. Including views of the sea. PS make sure to combine this trip with a visit to the Giant Buddha!

Fun Story: I went against my better judgment and climbed up the stairs called “Heavens Gate.” In my experience whenever an activity or path is called Heaven anything it always means expect a whole lot of steep stairs and I was right. 5 minutes of steep incline I did see heaven as I almost died from a combo of heatstroke and out of shapeness but the view was very pretty (not pictured because I was dying and sweaty in that picture). So enjoy this one instead.

Renting a Bike

Hoi An does get a little chaotic but compared to other cities in Vietnam is calm. Which is why you will see plenty of foreigners and locals on a bike to get around. Taxies are hard to get even though there are plenty of them, they want the big ticket prices. If you haven’t ridden a bike in awhile, don’t worry it really does come back to you. That and the locals know to give you a bit of space but be aware of your surroundings and the scooters. I got burnt by an exhaust engine from a scooter in a mishap but that’s because he wasn’t paying attention. When he noticed he was extremely apologetic but it was a little too late.

There are plenty of bike tours that you can do and some go as far as Hue but that didn’t sound like my kind of fun. We rented bikes for a dollar a day or .50 if it was just a half day and it took about 5-10 minute ride into Ancient Town versus a 30-40 minute walk. For me, I loved riding a bike after the first day. Yes, my body was sore and boy did my bum hurt but there was something about being on that bike that had my confidence grow. It also helped that it was affordable and even if my bum hurt a little, it was much quicker than walking which after a big meal of Rose Dumplings and cocktails!

Also, don’t be surprised if a person on a bike tries to get you to follow them to a tailor. Just say no and keep peddling away.

Stay at Jade Hotel

Okay so this is biased and I know I already talked about my love of this hotel here but I honestly loved this place. Rooms were basic but clean and the bed was the best one we slept on during our travels in Asia. That and the customer service was A++. Anything we needed the Front Desk or Sally arranged from recommendations to cars and tours plus they had a pretty decent burger!

There Breakfast was delicious and the pool was the nicest one we’ve had. Its location is also perfect if you want to go to the beach or Ancient Town. Both being a fairly equal distance to one or the other.

Hai Van Pass

The next time Sean and I see Hai Van Pass I want to do it on a scooter as we saw it by car and train and it was stunning. This is considered one of the most scenic drives in Vietnam with breathtaking views. If you have time, scooter it all the way from Hue or Vice Versa. If you don’t book a private car like we did with my Dad and do it. It’s gorgeous and make sure to read up on the history of the region to fully appreciate it.

When in doubt, just walk and explore a new place. Some of my favorite moments were just wandering the streets of Hoi An and looking at all the colors. So take a stroll, grab a drink and soak up the beauty that is Hoi An. I adored it and I hope you will too. Any questions put them below!

Beautiful Islands are plenty in Thailand and there is one for almost every traveler. It can hard to narrow down which one you should go to. After a few weeks of research, I decided that Koh Lanta would be home base for our month in Thailand. It provided 3 weeks of relaxation and rejuvenation at a great price. See why Koh Lanta might work for you and just some of the perks that off-season travel can provide on the Island.

Where Is Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is an island district that requires a ferry to reach. The closest airport would be Krabi which is on Thailand’s Andaman coast. The island is known for its mangroves, rainforests and the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. It is also considered one of the more chill islands with very laid back vibes and has a Digital Nomad community. If you had come here a few years ago this Island would have been essentially closed during the off-season with very little being open. Now, it is much easier to visit due to demand of tourists coming and going at all times of the year.

Why Off-Season

Price is one of the main factors. Almost everywhere from tour groups to hotels will offer significantly lower rates. Now add in long-term stays and you are looking at sometimes up to 40-50% off rates. Another reason why off-season travel is becoming more and more common is it means fewer people so places that are normally crowded are a notably less so.

The downside of off-season travel is its off-season for a reason. It could be really hot, really wet or a mixture of the two. Yet due to weather constantly changing (hello climate change) you can end up with some incredible days. You have to be willing to take the risk that it might rain every single day or it might not. Some days, it might just rain in the morning and the rest the sun is up and you are good to go. When I was in Koh Lanta we had more sunny days than rainy days but we also had some massive storms that made it impossible to do anything. It is a risk you must weigh and ask what are you hoping to experience in your time there.

Off-Season Activities

Be prepared that everything won’t be open or they will have limited supplies such as less Happy Hours and or just a few dishes on a menu. Fewer people means fewer incentives for a business to stay open at its normal times or days. The double-edged sword is that it can be mainly tourist places open. Which means tourist prices.

If you are hoping to do a certain activity like diving, make sure to research and check that the water conditions are safe enough to do so. When we got to the Island we heard mixed things about being able to dive. Luckily for us, it wasn’t on our agenda but I could imagine the immense disappointment if it had been. As far as activities go if you are hoping to do a certain activity like diving, make sure to do your research.

Where We Stayed

There are all sorts of accommodation on the Island and range in prices from just a few dollars a night to hundreds and hundreds of dollars. We were lucky that we stayed at the incredible Escape Cabins for 21 days of luxury at a price that we could afford. This was in part due to off-season prices but also we stayed 3 weeks meaning we got an additional discount.

When we were looking for a place to stay in Thailand I knew I wanted two things. I wanted to not clean and a pool. I also wanted a kitchen which is how we were extremely lucky to get a room with a little kitchen just steps away from a pool. Better yet, the hotel was small with just a few rooms and as such we also made some great friends. One of whom, I still talk with on the regular (Hi Emma!!).

View from the pool of the property grounds at Escape Cabins. They were kept very well and it was so green and lush because of the rain.

Escape Cabin was minutes away from a few great restaurants and has a little mini-mart that provides basics and cheap ice cream (which we may have eaten too much of). It is also about ten minutes away from Long Beach and the Monday Market.

Activities To Do

There is very much a community feels here from expats as quite a few arrived on holiday and never left. As such there are a few activities that will remind one of home. As a long-term traveler, it was really nice to have some of these activities around.

Quiz Night at the Irish Embassy Pub

Irish Embassy Pub is one you should check out for a little pub quiz fun! I would confirm when you are there but every Monday at 7 there was one. It ranged in hardness but always provided a laugh. Drinks are at tourist prices but it also provides a taste of home, if you’re from the UK. With a range of menu items from steak pies to curries! I personally can vouch for the fries and gravy.

The pub quiz is free to do and the prizes are quite good ranging in Bar Tab to activities on the island. It lasts about 3 hours. I would recommend taking a tuk-tuk as you don’t want to be driving the dark roads that late. Especially after a few beers or ciders!

Lanta Parklife

Due to coming in second to the previously mentioned pub quiz night we got a free round of mini-gold at Lanta Parklife. It is a bit out-of-the-way so you can expect to pay about 400 baht overall to take a taxi there and back. It’s worth it though!

The setting is beautiful and along with mini golf, you can fish or even play boules. Full-disclosure it is a little pricey but in my opinion, I would have happily paid to do it as well. I would recommend going early evening to avoid the heat and make sure to wear bug spray! The course has 18 holes and takes anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on skills and how many people are there.

The grounds at Lanta Parklike are beautiful!

Renting a Scooter

If you are like me you have never ever been on a scooter much less driven one then Koh Lanta during the off-season is the perfect place to start. Now, it is risky driving one and you should always wear a helmet. Not to mention actual shoes. I can’t tell you how many idiots I saw in flip-flops. Not smart!

There will be a variety of places you can rent a scooter for a day or week or however long you’re on the island. Some hotels and hostels will even have a few you can rent from them directly. They are all pretty much the same. We booked our through a hostel down the road from where we were staying. They will need to hold on to your passport so make sure to take pictures of them so if you need the info to book later flights or accommodation you have it. I was a bit nervous about it but it worked out in the end.

Safety first and always ride with a helmet on!

Scootering On The Island

Now, most places don’t want you to be a first-time rider and some will say no (even the places on the street). I just said it had been a very long time and needed a refresher. Before getting on the scooter make sure to take pictures of the bike, just in case of any accidents but also in case they try to charge you for something. I do this whenever I rent a car from anyone. It’ s just smart practice. The guy will give you a little run down on the bike and how it works. It is fairly simple but it can be easy to gun it the first few times. The only time I came even close to an accident was the first ride but luckily my Birks and feet helped me from having the bike go out from underneath me.

It took us two weeks until we worked up the courage to rent one and I am so glad we did. I loved every minute of it. We originally only booked it for a day but ended up extending it for a week. We paid 200 baht a day. It was worth it especially when we went adventuring into old town as the price alone would be around 800 baht there and back on a taxi. Just be smart and don’t go too fast. Mainly because the roads have a few bumps in them.  Just go at the speed you are comfortable at and stick to the outside of the road. Trust me, you will get no one rushing you to go faster.

Old Town

One of my favorite days we had was when we were dodging the rain storms and exploring Old Town. We took a long way around and basically ended up doing a loop of the Island on our scooters. It was a slow day as it was a Sunday but also Ramadan. As such, the roads were pretty empty making it the perfect time to drive and have a little fun.

It took us about 40 minutes to reach old town and a few hills and sea views along the way. Old Town itself is very small and a few shops were closed. We stumbled upon this temple in-between two restaurants and it was stunning. Especially as the bright pink contrasted against the storm clouds rolling in.

There is not a lot to see in Old Town but it’s worth the trip as the building are beautiful. There are lots of restaurants on the water and few have swings that go out over the water (which was hella fun). We were there dodging storms, but I easily could have spent all day on the deck drinking fresh coconuts.

Snorkeling

I am totally being honest but this was probably my least favorite thing we did while on Koh Lanta. I was super excited about snorkeling but was let down by it. There are multiple types of day trips you can do from visiting 4-5 different islands or just going to one Island. I didn’t want to spend more time in a boat than in the water so we went with a Long Tail Boat half-day boat tour.

Long Tail Boats are beautiful and full of history as they used to be the main source of fishing. Now they are mainly used for tourists attractions. The motor is very loud so try to sit towards the front of the boat and make sure to wear sunscreen. I’m not sure if it was the tour company we went with or the people we were with or what, but, I did not really enjoy much of the day. It was a scenic ride and we were the only people in the area where we snorkeled but there were not a lot of colorful or fun fish to see. They don’t give you flippers so fighting against the current is a bit of extra work and you kind of just spend 30 minutes in the water.

Snorkeling While Fat

If you are a fat person using the long tail boat expect to be made very aware of every pound on you whenever you leave or get on the boat. When you snorkel you climb up a little ladder and the boat will almost come all the way down. It can be traumatizing, especially if other people are on the boat already. It also felt like the guides were rude to me about it which just put me in an off mood.

I will say we did get to spend some time on a beautiful beach (picture at the bottom of the post). That was exactly what I was imaging Long Beach to be. The water was warm, blue and for an hour we were the only people there. It was fantastic.

Cooking Class

This was one of our FAVORITE things that we did on Koh Lanta. We took a morning cooking class and probably ate some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had. There are a few to choose from and I’m sure your hotel will recommend one as well. We went with Lanta Thai Cooking School and am so glad we did.

They provide free pickup and the class starts at 10. You will pick 4 dishes to cook with the class and learn all about the spices and what makes Thai food so unique. A lot of the same core ingredients are used in almost all Thai dishes, it was just a matter of how one used them that makes the difference! Our teacher was a young woman who knew a lot and had a lot of talent. She was patient and you could tell they knew what they were doing. There was a reason they were one of the top 5 cooking classes.

It is a bit expensive but was worth every single penny. You are also given a recipe book with the dishes you made. They are extremely easy to follow and Sean and I still use it today.

Just call me the Martha Stewart of Pad Thai!

Sunset Watching

Man, watching the sunset from the beach, the pool or even just on the side of the road was such a treat. My pictures don’t truly do it justice but the sunsets on Koh Lanta were splendid and a must.

Reality Check

Long Beach in Ko Lanta well, it isn’t that pretty off-season. The water was rough but also it was full of trash. I learned that during high-season the resorts and restaurants on the water will clean the beach in the morning for guests. Off-season many of these places are closed and as such, trash takes over. It sort of ruins the vibe of watching a stellar sunset when ten feet behind you is mounds of trash.

Koh Lanta is a quiet island. So if you are someone who needs to have constant activity it might not be the place for you. Sean and I loved it, we wish the beach had been nicer but it was the perfect place to rejuvenate and get ready for what was to be a bustling time in Vietnam. I look forward to coming back once more and making it to the National Park and Time For Lime Animal sanctuary.

Coming soon… Where and what to eat when in Koh Lanta!

Bonus Picture!

 See how I make traveling with my partner work here.