A travel "guide" (more like journal) from a young girl's perspective. The blog will include preparations, vlogs, reviews and tips for the many destinations as I make my way around the globe.
Saying goodbye can be the hardest part about traveling. Often, when traveling, relationships and trust are built in a short period of time. We meet people who are like-minded, unique and inspiring. I, for one, probably cannot tell you the life story of most of my "best friends" at home. Yet, I could tell the life story of many who I meet on my travels. This level of closeness is hard to match. Now, I'm not saying that I do not appreciate the relationships that I share with my loved ones back home, I am just expressing that I appreciate them differently. In my experience, this is very common and I'm not some overly attached freak; friendships bloom abroad.
Conner and I have lived in this house for two weeks now. Rosío and Wilder opened their home to us and allowed us to live through an experience like no other. We were treated like adults, while still enjoying some comforts of home (home-cooked Peruvian and Spanish style meals, laundry, cleaning, and someone to take care of us). I cannot express how thankful I am to these two genuine people. They put up with a lot on a regular basis and sometimes their kindness is abused, but Conner and I wouldn't have wanted our home in Peru to be any different.
Thank you, Rosío, for the medicine, the advice, the food and the fun.
Thank you, Wilder, for putting up with us while you attempt to study, for the games and for the experience.
Thank you, housemates, for showing us the ropes in Cusco, for being so kind an welcoming, for helping us out when needed and for being you. You are just as much a part of our Peruvian experience as anyone else in Peru. (But seriously, y'all rock).
The hardest goodbye (as it always is for me) was to my group of munchkins. Now, if you know me, you know I'm not the most emotional person ever and I don't get attached to people easily. Well, throw all of that aside when it comes to my volunteering abroad. I become so attached to the children, it might be unhealthy. In the Maximo Nivel office I read a sign that summed my feelings up perfectly, it said "We taught them English, they taught us about life." I could not say this better myself; these children show me what it actually means to be strong and determined and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude.
I don't want to leave, but I have to. So, for now, I say farewell and I hope to be back before they forget. They have made my life better just by allowing me to be a part of theirs.
Making me cry is like an accomplishment; it means that you have touched my heart and will hold a piece of it forever,
This is the post I'm most certain everyone has been dying to read. Today, is the post about teaching.
Profesores Conner y Meeca con Eduardo
We were placed at "Las Cositas" to teach English as a foreign language. Las Cositas is essentially a mother-run trade center. Back in 2008, this trade center was ran by a Dutch NGO and was meant to teach single mothers trades so they could provide for their families. Because of the lack of funds, the NGO shut down the project. A group of eight mothers banded together and are now continuing their trades in a house they have rented communally.
Up this hill, up the first flight of stairs, around the corner and up two more flights of stairs, a small building can be found. Here, there are women creating fabulous hand-crafted jewelry and children causing a ruckus.
Our project was to teach the children of these women basic English skills. The women had been taking business English classes through Maximo Nivel, and requested that their children learn English as well. We were their first English teachers, ever.
After a quick visit and a crash TEFL course we were off to teach our wonderful language!
José-Antonio learning to count in English.
(With twins Gerardo and Eduardo standing by, awaiting their turn at the white board.)
Conner and I are teaching children between the ages 1 and 12, who are clearly all at different levels. Our class size can range from three students to a maximum of sixteen. This may seem small; however, with the range in levels of abilities, the task was a bit more difficult. We decided to divide the children into three groups: the unspeakables, the basic and the advanced.
Creating three separate learning plans.
The unspeakables are those children who have yet to learn to speak in Spanish yet. They understand basic Spanish commands, but are not quite ready to be grouped into an English class. These are my babies.
Daniel and Vanessa: sisters in mean-mugging crime.
Daniel and my nameless one year old. Too much cute to handle!
The basics are pretty much the rest of my class. These children range from 3 to 9 and are keen learners. They have a functioning understanding of Spanish and are ready to tackle learning a new language. Although the skill level within this group continues to range, this group is closer together.
Cinthia, José-Ba, Gerardo and Jean-Franco goofing off at the end of a long lesson.
All my lovelies hard at work learning the colours!
Last, we have Conner's group: the advanced. This is basically a private tutor session. Here, is our only 12 year old, Luis-Michel, who knows basic English and is flying through our far-too-easy exercises. Conner, instead, is teaching him parts of speech and beginning English grammar.
It can get a bit chaotic at times, considering so many young children are stuffed in a small classroom after a long day of school.
Just letting off some steam.
Sometimes, though, kids just need a chance to goof off and have fun!
Today is our last day of teaching, unfortunately. Due to a Cusco festival known as Corpus Christi, our classes have been cancelled both Thursday and Friday. I'm pretty bummed. No matter how much trouble these munchkins give me sometimes, I'm going to miss all the struggles and silliness.
Shameless selfies. These are my munchkins. <3
I want to come back and continue this project, because I feel as though it's our baby. These are actually our students, we laid the ground work and now we have to leave. Whether I am able to come back or not, I wish these children the best of luck. Their kind hearts and determined minds are beautiful. They deserve all the help they can receive.
And in the end, I'll miss the smiles the most,
Meeca
PS: I'd like to give a shout-out to the creator of Toms shoes. You, kind sir, are an amazing person. If anyone has ever doubted the Toms philosophy, now is the time to stop. I have never been so proud to be the owner of a pair of Toms shoes. Nor have I ever been so touched by a materialistic object; my munchkins wear Toms!
I'm a little bit behind, so bear with me here; I'm doing my best, but the days are packed! Please enjoy this picture as a distraction:
Cusco!
On Sunday, as I said in my previous post we decided to visit Pisac (a quaint village in the Sacred Valley). We found that the best way to travel to and from Pisac is by bus because it's much cheaper than a taxi (only s./ 5 per person) and they travel to and from rather frequently. As far as I could tell, no one is ever waiting for a bus for long. The views during the bus ride are spectacular, so we advise a window seat (if possible) and staying awake. The mountains, small towns and valleys are not something anyone would want to miss.
When we got to Pisac, we were dropped off just over the bridge on the main road (pretty much the only road for traffic within the center of town), it was just a short walk uphill until our eyes were met with the beauties of the Plaza de Armas de Pisaq. In the center is a food market, where you can find hundreds of potatoes, beans and fruits and vegetables in large woven sacs lining the ground. Women (mostly) sit with their produce all day! (That's dedication!) We were lucky to have time on an official market day (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday), so the selection was not lacking; however, there is a market daily. Just walking around, we really got a feel for the atmosphere. It's a beautiful town. Be sure to go beyond the market and check out some of the walking paths and views. It's incredible BUT it is all up hill! Wear good shoes, bring lots of water and push the limits; now's not the time to get lazy.
Conner's awesome panoramic shot from those ghastly stairs (when you go, you'll get it)
The market, as I said, is huge and the selection isn't lacking. So, we found it best to shop around before buying. In Pisac, they try to charge way more than anywhere else because they get so much tourist traffic. Don't be silly though, bargain! Never take the initial price, it's definitely too high, but don't be too stingy; these people need to make a living too.
A lane in the Pisac Market Place
Photo credits: Conner
My favourite thing about Pisac, though, was all the adorable children running around while their parents bargained. I did the creepy thing and attempted to take pictures. I'm sorry, but they're just too cute!
Last, I have to mention all the goodies around! I had read about this place called Horno Típico de Santa Lucía, well, it turns out that these are two separate restaurants. We opted for Horno Típico because it had this charming clay oven lined with empanadas, and I simply could not resist! We ordered 1 jambón con queso (s./4), 1 pollo (s./3) and 1 queso (s./3) and they were all delicious. I suppose they resemble something close to pizza pockets, but they are definitely much better than that. We also ordered two mango juices, but it was more like mango yoghurt sipped through a straw. Just keep that in mind! Also, we didn't really know how to ask for a menu, so be sure to have a relatively good working knowledge of Spanish. The young boy tries his best, but there's only so much he can understand.
Not that it's common knowledge or anything, but I like food. I like food, a lot. So one and a half empanadas didn't quite do it for me, I was still hungry. For just s./3 we were able to buy myself some giant corn on the cob with a side of cheese (sounds weird, I know, but just try it!). The corn had a taste that was somewhat like creamed corn- but better. The kernels were huge. We had to pick them off with our fingers to eat. Also, for all you Quebecers who want a slice of home, the cheese they serve it with is like poutine cheese! It comes in a triangle, but it's salty, squeaky and yummy. Don't pass the opportunity up, the smell of corn throughout the market is tempting enough.
Panorama in front of the corn fields.
Photo credits: Conner
It didn't take us long to feel tired, so it was time to head home after three hours within the village. We seem to just be really tired often, so we were bound to take a nap. Don't worry though, we're not wasting valuable Peruvian time. Siestas are normal!
I have so much to say about the food, our teaching placement and Cusco in general, but it'll have to wait, as I have Spanish homework and teaching activities to plan!
This little piggy went wee wee wee, all the way home,
Meeca
PS: I got my luggage! Bring on the peanut butter, baby!
Upon leaving Quito, my heart was heavy and I was purely filled with frustration and anger. I was arriving in Cusco luggageless and exhausted, it did not seem to be good news. Thankfully, TACA Airlines makes up for United being such shitty assholes, we got French toast AND Suits (Mmm Mike) in just a two hour ride. So thank you TACA, you made my traveling to Peru a little less terrible. I can't tell you much about the flight to Lima, because I was out cold. All around good time.
Arriving in Cusco is an experience like no other. The views out my plane window were all around spectacular; the surrounding mountains, the hilltop sanctuaries and the half-built houses. Each of these things made me realize that no matter what, Cusco was the right choice. Everywhere you look, no matter where you are in the city, the views are absolutely captivating. It's incomparable; it's a beauty of it's own.
This picture is taken from Central Cusco.
(First successful iPhone panorama shot!)
Unfortunately, my luggage has yet to make it to Cusco. Thankfully, my mom has been hard at work hassling United Airlines and it's already in Lima. I just have to go to the airport to sign some papers and voila! customs with send it my way! THANKS MOMMY <3 I'll keep y'all updated!
Upon our arrival in Cusco we were met by some absolutely lovely representatives from Maximo Nivel. They gave us a quick run down of how to use taxis, showed us to the headquarters and finally, brought us to the our volunteer home stay. I have to say that I love this house! Rosío and Wilder are the best Peruvian padres I could've asked for. But that's not even the best part, there are 11 other volunteers here; all super cool, down to earth and friendly. We couldn't have asked for better people to show us the ropes! We love our placement! (Especially with hot water, good food and comfy beds).
Since we arrived on a Friday, we spent the majority of it sleeping, and by Saturday, everyone else was headed to Machu Picchu. So, we decided to explore the city ourselves! We made our way down to central Cusco in a taxi for only s./ 3. Then we stopped by for a quick tour of Maximo Nivel (they have awesome staff) and we were on our own to explore! Conner was beyond hungry, so the first thing on the list was to find food. We stumbled upon a cute little Peruvian restaurant near the Waterfall Monument. The restaurant was full of Peruvians eating pescado con arroz, so we knew it was a good choice! Unfortunately, neither of us were in an adventurous mood, so fish was not on our menu, but, the food was delicious and we both practically chugged our limonada frossen. We'd recommend it if we ever knew the name. Just look for the hole in the wall behind the handicrafts market!
Next, we checked out the handicrafts market, here are some of our sweet purchases:
An Inca chess set, my alpaca sweater at s./ 30, alpaca socks at s./ 8 and Conner's sweater (purchased in Pisac) at s./ 50. Everything is super cheap and crazy nice! I will definitely be returning for more alpaca swag, particularly a blanket! Watch for news and pictures. :)
We also came across the convent and Iglesia Santo Domingo. With an ISIC card it's only a s./ 5 entry (as opposed to s./ 10), so if you're a student, get on that! This place was also spectacular! The history of the Inca empire was ever present, the artwork was beyond amazing and the views from the lookout were to die for. We'd love to share with you what we were lucky enough to see with our own eyes.
Iglesia Santo Domingo & the two sides of the Waterfall Monument
We were then noticing that the altitude was starting to take its toll. We have been taking altitude sickness pills and had not really felt any effects (aside from some tingling in our fingertips and feet), but a full day of walking the streets exhausted us. We had some delicious local ice cream (try the lúcuma and maro flavours!) and headed back home to Majesteria.
When we got home, it was time for a siesta followed by a delicious home cooked meal. Conner then received a chance to try the local alcohol, Pisco, and fully embraced it. One of the boys, Austin, made me some delicious Coca tea (yes, tea made from cocaine leaves) for my headache and we took the night pretty low-key.
The next day we headed out to Pisac and today we had our project orientation. Unfortunately, I'm exhausted from such a long day and have an early rise for a quick airport run. Keep checking, I won't fail to tell you every detail!
Yes, it was a minor electrification, just remember not to but your hands too close to the shower head,
Meeca
PS: United owes me a 250$ clothing voucher. Right on!
No clever quotes, no sentimental posts, no fun. Tonight, I'm not beating around the bush, I'm going to give it to everyone nice and clear.
First things first, I'm a terrible blogger and I apologize greatly for neglecting my blogging responsibilities. I will try to do better in the future.
Secondly, I am "en route" to Peru. At this moment, I am sitting, enjoying a nice creamy vanilla milkshake at Johnny Rockets in the Quito Airport (Ecuador). This is a pleasant pick-me-up, seeing as my experience has been pretty horrific so far.
My biggest fear while traveling has always been that somewhere, some company would lose my luggage; not to crash, not for my plane to be hijacked and not even to get kidnapped. Bless my heart, this hadn't happened to me in the past. However, on this trip, I have not been so lucky. Somewhere between Montreal, Houston and Quito my luggage has disappeared. Not cool United Airlines. Now, I'm not going to point fingers or anything, but I'm totally blaming the mishap in Houston for my luggage not being transferred. We, "apparently" collided with a bird upon our initial lift off in Houston, Texas. So, the pilot thought it would be best to land the plane and have airport maintenance check everything out. Which was fine by me. What I was not to happy about was the three hour delay, attendant change and plane transfer. I understand planes a big flying machines, but common'! People had places to go. Thankfully, I was not one of these people (my layover was supposed to last 8 hours), but apparently my luggage didn't have anywhere to go either. As it is, most probably, still in Houston.
It's been a long day; I'm grumpy and scummy, so I might be overreacting, but I would like to give United Airlines two GIANT middle fingers. The staff, generally, was twice as grumpy as I am now. The two plane rides were rocky. We didn't get fed. We were initially supposed to pay 8$ for in-flight television. And now they lost my luggage. I am not impressed, and most probably will not fly United again. It has been the worst flying experience thus far (and I've been on a plane that literally bounced and lift-off and landing).
On the bright side, if you remember my last post, I wrote about the people we meet while traveling. Well, I met this lovely girl who goes by the name Nicole on my flight. She was seated with my boyfriend and I, and was absolutely kind and delightful. I cannot put it any other way. In only a few short hours, I felt completely comfortable around this woman. She is also quite the traveler and I think she can offer more insight than I can in a few areas, so, check out her blog:
www.bradfieldsadventure.blogspot.com
That is my silver lining. I'm just counting on seeing those cute little Peruvian faces, hearing the adorable Spanish accents and just taking the entire experience in.
In the meantime, I'll be posting whenever I have Internet and the time! If you want updates and news, check here! You can also follow me on Instagram (@sqeeks). I'll surely be posting pictures!
"One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are." - Edith Wharton
While traveling, especially with a group, you encounter all different kinds of people. You are faced with those who you are traveling with, those you meet along the way, and those whose home you are visiting; all of whom are going to be blurred faces or long time friends. Either way, they have helped to make your visit unique. The people I met in Thailand are sincerely some of the greatest people I have ever met. From all different backgrounds, these people are what made my trip worth while. I am glad to call the my friends and acquaintances. Thank you, to all those who I encountered on my journey in Thailand, for helping me experience the Land of Smiles.
Look forward to my next post about International Student Volunteers, their service, the accommodations, the food and review of the actual activities I took part in. In the mean time, check out my Bucket Listto read about some of the activities ahead of time!
The people you meet abroad are the people who helped make your trip memorable,
"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things." - Henry Miller
During the two weeks following my boyfriend's visit, I volunteered with International Student Volunteers. Watching my boyfriend get on an airplane was just as hard as leaving him behind in Canada for the first time. I was not in the mood to socialize with a whole new group of people again. However, ISV participants are, in my experience, very welcoming and easy to be around. That being said, I want to mention how much I loved my volunteer group.
Lauren, a tough girl from Jersey who really knows how to tell it like it is. Realistic and down to earth, she really helped the group. She was hard working, open minded but still knew how to express herself and not let what's on her mind bother her. I really appreciated her honesty, as it added a touch of realism and made me more comfortable to be uncomfortable with the position we were put in at the time.
Paige, my Colorado fun-loving co-volunteer. She was just so nice, but not too nice, like when it gets annoying. She took the time to always try to be optimistic and clearly had a smile on her face as often as possible. She often lifted the spirit of our situation when times were rough, seeing both sides of an argument and making the best out of most situations. Having her around helped me reflect and do the same. She added a sort of cohesiveness to the group dynamism. Well thought out ISV!
Samantha, a singer like there's no tomorrow! My fellow Canadian volunteer. She was often full of energy and just wanted to get the work done. Often trying to keep spirits up through song or socializing, she really helped keep us all from throwing the towel. On hard days, this girl right here, was a saviour. Although I wanted to shoot her sometimes, because I'm just not that musical, her spirit was whole-heartedly good, and I appreciated it.
Samantha, an optimist like no one could believe. A true Southern Sweetheart. Always seeing the bright side and refusing to complain, because after all, we were in Thailand. Smiley and full of spunk, she could keep me going. She helped the group through her optimism, but also through her curiosity. She isn't shy and was always full of questions. The group truly benefitted from her wandering mind. If you were every looking for a specific answer, Sam knew what question to ask!
Andrew, just about the nicest guy you'll ever meet. Although he looked like a serial killer sometimes, he was a good soul. Optimist, yet again, but showed it in another kind of way. He would often make parallels to home or tell analogies to make the time pass. He was also always willing to lend a helping hand, which I couldn't appreciate more. I had the opportunity to take-on Andrew has my teaching partner during the volunteering. To say the least, I'm bosy. So, I'm rather happy Andrew was so flexible and didn't let my controlling habits stand in his way or ruin his time!
Gillian, a girl with power. This girl didn't take anything from anyone. Tough, powerful and she knew how to voice her opinions. Unfortunately, she continuously was struck with misfortunes, but she kept working through them! I cannot believe how strong this girl is! Definitely part of the group muscle.
Behn, a man you is clearly misunderstood. Although I often gave him a hard time with the brutal truth and my harsh opinions, he was definitely needed in our group. He injured himself early on in the volunteering, but still wanted to participate and help out any way he could. This kind of show of determination help the group dynamism.
Kaptan! Our group leader. He was truly wonderful. He was full of worldly knowledge, beyond his years, and he was full of sarcasm. His dry humour always left the group will a good chuckle and lightened the mood. However, he was very straight forward and realistic. This is the kind of group leader we needed. Not one filled with blind optimism and fakeness. Kaptan had to be the best leader we could have asked for, really.
We volunteered at the DEPDC school, in Mae Sai, Thailand, teaching English to all levels and building a stone wall (more like the foundation of a stone wall) around the compound.
Teaching was an absolutely eye-opening experience. It was difficult, don't misread me, but it was beyond rewarding. The children at this center are children without passports, birth certificates and other essential documents. They, in other words, cannot venture beyond established checkpoints, where most of the state schools would be situated. They come from poor homes in North Thailand and Burma, with little to no opportunity to escape. Some of these children are even at risk of being sold to the human trafficking trade, and would eventually be untraceable. This center gives the children something to look forward to; an education, friends, family, activities, smiles, and mostly, a way out. Some children would come to school wearing the same thing every day, some can't talk, some have physical deformities and some have deep internal struggles. Yet, they come to school every day, with smiles and high hopes. These children were inspiring. They were a group of kids who truly wanted to learn, hanging on almost every word we said, and just wanted the chance to play. It was because of this experience that I want to teach English as a second language for the rest of my life. These are the children who taught me appreciation. These children showed me how to love life, no matter what hand it has dealt me.
We also helped to build a wall around the compound. Unfortunately, we were only able to establish one part of the foundation on a small part of one side while we were there. The work was rigorous and everything was made from scratch. We helped build the skeleton through bending wires with old-school tools. We also helped mix cement by hand and carry it in buckets to where we needed to fill. We experienced a life without advanced construction technology. I would have to say that this hard, hands-on work offered me a sense of appreciation for what I have at home. The workers are incredibly skilled and talented, not to mention determined. I am sincerely glad I had the opportunity to work with such a fantastic group of Thai and Burmese people.
I truly enjoyed my experience with ISV. That being said, when volunteering, one must always keep an open mind and leave a little wiggle room. Things aren't always going to go as expected, but you're in beautiful place, with lovely people who appreciate what you are doing beyond what you can comprehend. Keep smiling and don't let anything get you down. You're doing what is needed for people who actually need it, and that is worth every ounce of your work alone.
My eyes have seen what it's like to be on the other side. I'll thank the universe everyday for being blessed with the eyes I have, and not the eyes of another,
"To travel is to follow your bliss." - Julia Taylor
For the second stint of my trip, by boyfriend did this spontaneous thing and traveled 13418 kilometers (8338 miles) just to see me- I'll allow myself to think that, even though it was to the exotic land of smiles. We decided that we would do a lot of the major places since he only had a short amount of time in this mystery country. We began in Bangkok, where he met up with my Free and Easy group. From this point, we decided to take the night train back down to Surat Thani to venture to Railay and Koh Phi Phi. Then, it was back up to Bangkok to see the temples and Ayutthaya charms.
Lookout in Koh Phi Phi
Sunset in West Beach, Railay
Chilling on the temple ruins in Ayutthaya
Wat Pho in Bangkok
My time with my boyfriend, Conner, was absolutely amazing. I wouldn't have changed a single thing. The knowledge I had gained about the country with my Free and Easy family allowed me to make traveling on a whim less scary for him, and this made our experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would have to admit that he is my favourite travel companion, hands down, and I look forward to our time in Peru.
My favourite thing to do is go where I've never been.
-Diane Arbus
As a young woman, it's always difficult to take off on a new adventure. As I am sure this is true for all travelers, I think that much time is invested in deterring young females to travel alone which makes the planning more difficult. I'd love to say to take off without a plan is how I'd do it, but that's not in my personality and safety first, right?
With all this in mind, I knew I wanted to get away and see the world beyond my door step, but I was fearful about traveling alone. Thankfully, I found the great company Free and Easy Traveler. They were great for solo travelers because with the group, you never feel lonely but it's also possible to get out and experience the country (to an extent) on your own. All the worries of booking and planning are taken care of; in-country travel, hotels, some excursions and most drinking nights are all planned out for you, and you have the choice whether to participate or not.
Your leaders are less like babysitters and more like really awesome friends. I have to give props to Sean and Shaye for making the trip worth while. My leaders were young, fun, active people willing to go that extra mile to make the trip memorable for all and I couldn't thank them more. Mama Wolf and Papa Sean helped keep our FnEz family together.
Which brings me to another great point about my Free and Easy experience; my Thai Family. Usually when spending a rather fair duration of time with the same people in close proximity, feeling are developed. Now, I'm not talking love; I didn't meet the love of my life on this trip or anything like that, but I did meet some of the most amazing people. Because of all the time spent with these clearly-more-awesome-than-I-am folks, I was forced to get to know them on a more personal scale in a short period of time. Their perks are what made them different, but Free and Easy is what brought us together. I made some of the greatest friends from all over North America and I couldn't be more happy about it (except for when we re-entered real life, I realized they live so freaking far away). We shared an experience together and we will always have that to remember and to connect us as a group.
Accommodations: Bangkok - Wild Orchid Villa (***)
This hotel is steps away from the famous Khan San Road. With it's cute Thai decor, it's the home to many-a-backpacker. I stayed in an airconditioned room which had two single beds; totally worth every penny. And the bathroom? Can we say "MORE ROOM FOR ACTIVITIES!" A Thai shower is where it's at. Overall though, it was clean, bug-free and great for your dollar.
Railay- Diamond Cave Resort (***)
These little bungalows are extremely nice. The bathroom is a little less pleasant than those in Bangkok, but it's cheap, so I can't really complain. There was airconditioning and a nice comfy, clean bed. Sitting on East Beach, Railay, only moments away from the famous Last Bar. My only advice is: try not to get lost on the way home!
(This place was good enough that when I returned to Railay, I stayed here with my boyfriend.)
Koh Phi Phi- Tropical Garden Bungalows(**)
Ah, Tropical Garden. Let's just say my experience here was less than perfect. Basically, think of it as sleeping in a hot, muggy garden. There's no airconditioning (for that matter, the fan in our bungalow didn't even work), and bugs will be joining you for a solid night of not-sleeping. A bug net is provided, but they are old and have some holes. If you plan to stay here, keep an open mind and beware of bedbugs. I'm probably making it sound way scarier than it was, but be careful and don't fret too much; you're on beautiful and bustling Koh Phi Phi, so take the time to enjoy every minute of it!
Khao Sok- Smileys Bungalows (***)
This place is too cute to be real. Sitting in the middle of Khao Sok (there's not much going on here, so don't get too excited), these tree houses are absolutely fantastic. In these little houses connected by a bridge, sitting relatively high up off the ground, you can't help but feel like you're a monkey. Not to mention the amazing view! You're in Thailand's core and you can see the jungle all around. The people who run it are also extremely friendly and welcoming, ESPECIALLY to the Free and Easy family.
We also ventured to their "Smileys Bungalows Floating Bungalows" on the Lake in Khao Sok National Park. Can you say "AMAZING?" With no electricity during the day, these floating houses are quite the re-treat. Even though it rained the entire time I was there, the water is warm, the place is exotic and there is definitely fun to be had on this picturesque man-made lake.
Koh Phangan (Haad Yuan)- Barcelona Resort (***)
I cannot get over how beautiful the view was on this private little beach. Barcelona sits on the coast of Haad Yuan, with few other hotels and business along the beach, you feel as though you are in your own little paradise. The rooms are nothing special; no airconditioning, bug nets and cold showers (beware of centipedes), but the view and the beach make up for it all. You're also only a short boat ride away from the famous Haad Rin where the original Full Moon Party takes place. Oh, did I mention the only way to Haad Yuan is via taxi-boat? That's how paradise is meant to be accessed. Don't get me wrong though, you're not in Tom Hanks in Castaway here, you're still within civilization with lots to do; internet cafe, restaurants, bars, tattoo parlour, mini-general store etc. But nothing beats the beach.
Bangkok- Khao San Holiday Guest House (****)
Another one of my favourite accommodations! Situated in the heart of Khaosan Road, this place is a backpackers dream. First of all, I absolutely loved the staff; they were polite, kind and very accommodating. Every time I went, I received superior service. The rooms are super clean and really nice as well; comfy beds, airconditioning, nice showers and great english television (this was important for my sick boyfriend for two days of our trip). I think my best experience was here and it was pretty cheap! About the same I had paid at the Wild Orchid Villa or Diamond Cave, but I found this hotel nicer.
(I returned here with my boyfriend and then again when I was alone.)
***The stars are in relation to EACH OTHER, not in relation to western accommodations***
This, without the bar reviews (look forward to a post dedicated to my experience in Thai bars), is my Free and Easy experience. I don't think I would've changed a thing, the people, the travel and the time spent with FnEz showed me a Thailand that I could've have discovered on my own.
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