Ayutthaya Day Trip Itinerary and How to Plan

January 29, 2021January 24, 2021 Somewhere in the WorldLeave a comment

A Day in Ayutthaya

Thailand, will always be very dear to my heart. While it was one of the first places I backpacked alone! As I think about my next solo adventure Thailand speaks out to me! It is truly a hub to access additional flights to neighbouring countries! Not to mention it is such an easy way to find cheap flights out of there.

Today’s post, I share some photos of the beautiful Ayutthaya, Thailand. I am also going to discuss a bit how to plan a day trip with two options. Booking with your hostel/ experience guide or independently. Thus, this post will break down how you can do a cycling tour or take it by foot like I did!

I highly recommend spending a full day here, but 5 hours will do fine as well. With trains departing every hour from both Bangkok and Ayutthaya, I will leave the exact timing of this trip down to you, but I would suggest giving yourself a minimum of five hours in Ayutthaya as there are some amazing sights to see! When, I tell you that you will get absolutely lost on this trip believe and the place is fantastic.

Must See’s on a Day Trip to Ayutthaya

There is loads to do in Ayutthaya, and most of the key sites are fairly close together. To be honest, if you rented a bike you could easily see everything quickly. But, i liked to sit down and observe the environment and really take it all in.

Here is a general map of the place:

For those who like a bit more structure: I’ve listed the tops see’s.

I am not aiming to give a full historical background to Ayutthaya in this article, just a list of the best places to visit.

If you want more background on the city: I’ve posted a brief description at the bottom.

All of the temples below costed 50฿ = $2.12 entry fee unless otherwise listed. The prices may have changed since I last went so be sure to double check.

1) Wat Maha That (Buddha’s Head in Tree Roots)

This temple is famous for having the head of a Buddha statue that has been consumed by a tree. No-one really knows how it ended up here, and it's just one of those mysteries of how the head was left behind after the city was raided and its destruction by the Burmese army in 1767. Legend, has it that the head was left behind and a tree started growing around it.

**Travel-hack do not take a picture with your toes facing the Buddha it is considered as disrespectful

2) Wat Ratchaburana

3) Wat Thammikarat (Temple of the Roosters & Giant Buddha)

Ayutthaya: Touring the Ruins of an Ancient Island Capital - Sailingstone Travel — This temple is a little different from the rest, because it’s filled with Roosters. Which local people bring as offerings.

4) Wat Phra Si Sanphet (The Most Important Temple)

I thoroughly enjoyed just getting lost here.

5) Wat Phra Ram (Tranquil Gardens)

This was located very close to the gardens

6) Wat Lokkayasutharam

Overall…

The experience here was immeasurable, the history behind the ruins are of course sad but to see a piece of history still standing today was such an honour and experience. I reccomend you go. Below you will find any photos i didnt get to post as of yet, and further down you will find “How to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok” 🙂

Bangkok to Ayutthaya Train Ticket

Tickets are easy to book. Go to the ticket booths at Hua Lamphong station, the cashiers speak good English, and will spin round their computer screen to show you your booking, so you can confirm it is correct.
There is two booths. Go to the one on the left. One booth sells advance tickets and the other day tickets. Be sure to go to the one selling day tickets.
Tickets cost 15฿ = .64 CAD per person. Yes you read that righttttt ! .
You will be issued with a 3rd class ticket. There is no other option for this train and the train ride is great!
You will not be issued with a seat as your journey is too short.
The cashier will tell you which platform to go to.

If you are not confident enough to just turn up at the station and order a ticket, you can book in advance using the fantastic site 12Go.Asia.

I used 12Go.Asia to book transport right across Southeast Asia, from sleeper trains along the coast. I used this website religiously throughout Thailand, and it worked fine. It is quick, efficient and it takes out the worry of booking at the station.

If you’ve made it this far, I love you and thank you for the continued support. I can wait to take you on my next adventure. With Love, xoxo

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10 Countries with Level 1: Covid Risk or Lower

December 3, 2020November 17, 2020 Somewhere in the World2 Comments

I am going to start off by saying, in no way am I encouraging you to travel during these times. That just simply wouldn’t sit well with me. I think it is very important that we be responsible during these unprecedented times. Despite, all the benefits that solo back-packing has, its important that your health comes first!

That being said; perhaps when things calm down you can head on over to visit these gorgeous countries. So of these I have already done, but there is more on my bucket list! These countries/islands are also Black/women friendly!

If there is ever a week where I missed a post, please dont worry one will be coming! I am currently teaching Grade 1 Virtually and its a learning curve for all. Not to mention my nights look like a never ending Christmas carol.

This week I am bringing you 10 Countries/Islands with Level 1: Covid Risk or Lower.

1. Cayman Islands

2. New Caledonia

New Caledonia is a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific.

3. New Zealand

4. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

5. Thailand

6. American Samoa

7. Berumda

8. Fiji

9. Loas

10. Micronesia

If you made it this far in the post.. I appreciate you! I decided to give a bonus two

11. Montserrat

12. Palau

Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post. With Love, xoxo

8 Places That the Canadian Dollar Goes Far

October 8, 2020September 2, 2020 Somewhere in the WorldLeave a comment

I was speaking with a friend the other day, and he advised “I can’t travel man, our dollar sucks everywhere i don’t know.. what do you think is the cheapest place to go?” This question stuck with me because it didn’t come down to where was necessarily cheaper, but the concept we were talking about was called ‘currency arbitrage’ which means “making your money go further by using a strong currency in a country with a weaker one“.

Let’s face it.. If you’re Canadian you already know the struggle of our dollar.. IT SUCKS VIRTUALLY/PHYSICALLY EVERYWHERE lmao.. Okay, maybe I am being extra but our dollar really does suck in most places. Thus, I’ve done deep research, and talk amongst my backpacker friends and here are 12 places where Our Canadian Dollar surprisingly goes far. This list is in no particular order.. I am just listing places.

One thing, I wanted to stress is that I don’t believe there is such a thing as, ‘poor’ countries and ‘rich countries’ because CLEARY during this pandemic we have seen big countries do absolutely nothing for their people. So there’s that myth.. BUSTED. That is not to say that there isn’t many people living in poverty. Globally people are facing a myriad of difficulties in their lives however, I just wanted to disclose that identifying a country as ‘poor’ vs ‘rich’ just doesn’t sit well with me.

Below you’ll find a collection of 12 countries that may not be the cheapest in the world, but that represent the best value for our dollar – and thus are worth visiting. I wanted to give a combination of back-packer friendly and travel friendly countries. If you need help finding cheap flights to these places, take a read of my post of finding cheap flights. Surely, it will help.

Please, leave a comment if you’re not sure which country to visit based on your style or send me a email 🙂

1/10

Romania

$1 CAD = 3.13 leu

100 Romanian leu = $31.94 CAD

Romania is an ancient land, full of castles and historical antiquities, and the exchange rate presents some serious bargains for Canadians. For example, a typical meal for two in the capital of Bucharest will run you under $35 Canadian, the cost of living is estimated to be nearly 40 per cent lower than living in Toronto. Imagine that!

2/10

Croatia

1$ CAD = 4.87 Kuna

100 Kuna = $20.53 CAD

Croatia is just a phenomenal and easy country to back-pack for two. Not, to mention how romantic some parts of the country can be. A typical meal for two in the capital will run you about 289.80 kn which is just under $60.00. Keep in mind, Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive cities in Croatia and will double in price for basic things. Thanks to Games of Thrones attractions.

3/10

Cambodia

$1 CAD = 2740.42 riel

100,000 Riel = $36.51 CAD

Asia is a destination hot spot for Canadian travellers and I can see why. The cost of travelling is cheaper in these countries and the people are the most friendliest you’ll ever met. If visiting Phnom Penh, a domestic beer will cost about a buck and a half, while an average dinner for two will run less than $23 CAD.

4/10

Belize

$1 CAD = 1.54 (BZD)

100 BZD = $64.76 CAD

Average Hotel Price: $40

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $23 / for two: $55

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $78

Belize is the only country in (mainland) Central and South America where English is the official language! As such, it’s an easy place to travel to. This may not be the number pick for backpackers, but for travellers alike our money will go far.

5/10

Argentina

$1 CAD = 56.92 ARS

5692.42 ARS = $100 CAD

Average Hostel/Hotel Price: $20-25 / $51

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $12

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $76

6/10

Belarus

$1 CAD = 2.03 BYN

203.36 BYN = $100 CAD

Average Hotel/Hostel Price: $14-$25

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $7

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $25

Belarus is considered one of the gems of Central and Eastern Europe; visiting museum towns like Mir and Nesvizh will take you back in time, and they’re both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Vitebsk is the place to be in the summertime with lots of arts festivals. Trekking fans will love the ancient forests of Belavezhskaya Puscha National Park, which is home to 212 species of birds.

And because Belarus is one of the few European countries that didn’t adopt the Euro, our dollar goes farrr HUNNTYYY.

7/10

Indonesia

$1 CAD = 11307.52 IDR

1130751.62 IDR = $100 CAD

Average Hostel Price: $10-35

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $15

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $30

Honestly: I think people get clouded by ‘instagram photos of lavish life’ and assuming it costs an organ. In Indonesia you can ejoy the finest things because prices are super low and our money goes far !

Also, most people have no idea just how big and diverse Indonesia is as a country. Many also don’t realize that the popular tourist destination of Bali is just one of many (as in, 17,000!) Indonesian islands, each with their own flavour and sometimes culture.

8/10

Philippines

$1 CAD = 37.30 PHP

3729.58 PHP = $100 CAD

Average Hostel Price: $20

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $12

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $20

9/10

Thailand

$1 CAD = 24.00 Baht

2400.22 Baht = $100 CAD

Average Hostel Price: $14

Average Cost of Food for a Day: $10

Average Daily Cost (Per Person, Per Day): $25

Thailand is a very easy place to visit, and has been a backpacker haven for decades. It’s easy not only because it’s cheap (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket all made the 2016 Price of Travel Index’s list of cheapest Asian cities), but also because it’s incredibly friendly it’s the ‘land of smiles’ thats for sure. I survived in Thailand for one month with $300 CAD!! Cant you believe that!

10/10

Chile

$1 CAD = 591.05 CL

59104.95 Chilean Peso = $100

Average price of dinner for two is 35,000 CL

If hiking through Patagonia is on your bucket list, now could be the time to go as every dollar is worth 18% more. Peak season in Patagonia lasts from November until March, when temperatures are perfect for exploring the wonderlands of Torres del Paine, Laguna San Rafael and Bernardo O’Higgins National Parks. Of course when your travelling it is always recommended you download apps, just to help you situate yourself in countries that are more spread apart in terms of activities in different cities.

Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post, xoxo.

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HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

July 30, 2020July 12, 2020 Somewhere in the World9 Comments

I always wondered what were the tricks to cheap flights? Was it having a buddy pass? Working as a flight attendant? or COVID (you know before, anyone knew what would happen). While, those are all things that could get you cheap flights. I’ve found over time these hacks Im sharing today have helped me get some steals to get away.

In this post i’m giving you all my hacks I use, to get cheap flights. Through my experience with my brothers ‘last minute’ flights to my ‘get me out this country flights’ and ‘I just need to save coin’ moments . I’ve found all these tricks have helped me secure flights for the low low.

Apps

SkyScanner

If you haven’t read ‘My Favourite Travel Apps’, I talk about this app here. Basically, it’s a great tool to have to secure cheap flights. The only con is: You will typically get flights with layovers.

2. Hopper

This App is basically a two-for one, I love Hopper! I use this religiously and i mean RELIGIOUSLY. This app predicts prices for flights and hotels, with 95% accuracy up to 1 year in advance. It also shows you the dates where flights are the most expensive. This helps me with my planning process which I talk about in this post (See Number #1) on “How to Start a Solo Adventure’

General Hacks

Fly Budget

Honestly, a lot of people are afraid to fly budget but to me the risks are equal in comparison to bigger airlines.

Below is a list of budget Airlines:

2. Don’t Always Fly Direct

Not only does it help to be flexible with dates and destinations but being flexible with the route you take is another way to get a cheap flights. For example, sometimes it’s cheaper to fly to a major city than search for another flight. See an example below

I did precisely this when I was going to Bali. The flight from the CA was $1300 CAD, but I could fly to Thailand for $700 and get a $60 flight to Bali (round-trip). It meant more flying time, but savings were added to food and activities that my girl Alexis made me do lol.

To use this method, send me a comment or email and I’ll help you through the process.

3. Newsletters

Before you start looking for specific lights, make sure you’ve signed up for some newsletters. As annoying as it can be, when you know you’re going to be travelling soon I recommend signing up so that you don’t miss any deals.

**HACK – Secret Flying is a great tool I use to find cheap flights and deals. You can also catch nice 5-day specials from time to time.

4. Search Multiple Sites

Honestly, not all sites are the same and sometimes they can search you over. Below are my top three for flight searching:

Skyscanner

Momondo

Flighthub

5. Search Incognito

Now, some people say this is a myth but honestly, not for me! It has taken me a long time to figure this out but I realized the longer you use the same browser, same sites they track your interest. Much like an Algorithm therefore, they KNOW you want this flight and when time is ticking eventually you’ll select whatever is available.

By using Incognito, I’ve been able to snag some cheap flights without the computer jacking up the price.

6. Take Advantage of Discounts

Typically, companies/ employeers may have a ‘discount’ for their employee’s. Dont pass this up, as a Teacher I commonly look at the discounts and monitor what is available to me.

For Students, (or if you’re under 26) here are many, many discounts available to you. You can usually find prices 20-30% off the standard fare. Travel agencies usually offer this at times. So just take a quick look at those options.

7. Use Points and Miles

I rarely use this (Credit Card Point Wise), but it is worth mentioning to check your Airmiles card. The KEY to this I found is making sure your Air-miles card is set-up to add points to your *Travel* points verses Free Items, etc.

8. Book Early But Not Too Early

Play it smart! I like to think of finding flights as playing Russian roulette. Airline fares will keep rising the closer you get to departure, but there is a sweet spot when the airlines begin to either lower or increase fares based on demand. Don’t wait until the last second but don’t book far, far in advance either.

9. Book between Monday-Wednesday

Airlines post new prices on Monday. Book your flight Monday-Wednesday because price changes come after Wednesday into the weekend. Usually for the worse, lol.

10. Check your fly out dates.

Flying out Tuesday/Thursday and returning Sunday, Tuesday, or Wednesday are the cheapest days to fly, typically.

Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll see you in my next post.

Don’t forget to leave a comment, xoxo.

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My Favourite Travel Apps

July 16, 2020August 3, 2020 Somewhere in the World5 Comments

In most cases, you can use a phone app to do just about anything – from booking a flight to buying a house, finding your partner, and getting WOKE. I can’t remember the last time I actually had to sign-on to a direct website or a bank’s website to actually do something since apps have replaced opening up a web browser. I mean, unless the app is just absolutely useless. Which I’ve come across a few haha.

Travel apps are amazing – from airlines, to hostels, to transportation, to storing documents it makes travelling so much easier. Especially as a backpacker, you really have to save space when traveling as a minimalist.

This post contains a list of the BEST free travel apps out there, for an even better travel experience in 2021.

I’ve listed the apps in order starting with Hostelworld.

Hostelworld

This app is great for booking hostels on the go when you’re travelling place to place. It is also a good app to use if you know you’re going to one place and just want to book through here. They also show if the hostel offers any day-trips or excursions which makes it a lot easier on you.

2. Google

Google is a good app to have when travelling or backpacking. I find the safari searches better then using the one meant for my Apple products. It can also redirect you quickly to Google Doc’s which is also very important to have on your phone.

3. Skyscanner

Is a great app for finding cheap apps, you just have to be sure that you’re also looking at the ‘layovers’ at times, you can have a long layover/short layover/ or no layover. There are benefits to all of them. But, I will save that for another post.

4. Maps.Me

Is a offline mobile site that offers Maps for virtually anywhere in the world. The only thing you have to do, is download the country/city map you will be using when you have wifi and then you can use it whenever you’re ready!

5. Airbnb

This app is great for looking up alternatives to hostels/hotels and you can read reviews and see overall ratings. ** Just be mindful, that some hosts will do ANYTHING to get a good review. Therefore, look for both the good and the bad.

You can also use this app to book excursions, which me and my friend have used and I’ve used a few times and I have run into any problems yet.

If this is your first time using Airbnb to book your vacation here is a code for $45 CAD off your first booking plus you get $17 to use towards an experience booked through Airbnb as well.

6. XE Currency

This is an awesome tool for currency exchange without being bombarded with ad’s. Add the currencies of the countries you are visiting before you leave home! or when you have wifi. You will be able to put a price in and see it in your currency almost instantly.

7. Google Translate

This is probably, my favourite app I recommend you download when visiting another country. It helps support you with language barriers and allows you to read signs when you’re trying to figure out your location and how to get to a specific location.

8. Worldpackers

Is a “collaborative network for those looking for a unique travel experience. Develop skills, learn languages and meet others through cultural immersion with local hosts”. It’s an awesome way to travel and learn new skills, or simply to volunteer within countries local communities and learn the true culture outside of touristy attractions.

9. Audible

On audible you can download audiobooks for your kids or even yourself for long flight, drives, train rides, or even when you have that morning coffee alone at a cafe.

10. Your bank institution.

Typically whatever bank you’re associated with will have an app and it is very important that you monitor your spending on your trip as you can get carried away fast with all the excitement.

If you’ve made it this far in the post, I decided to give a hack which I found while travelling Europe.

11. Rick Steves Audio Europe

Okay.. Rick gives the most corny jokes on this app. But it’s TOTALLY FREE with NO AD’s and it’s honestly, the best thing I ever found. He provides FREE walking tours with maps which is great for parents as well as older kids. Included in the app is: various tours, maps, historical sites, museum you name it. Just download everything you need while you have wifi. This app got me through the Vatican City without having to pay for a tour.

Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you in my next post!