SOLO TRAVEL

After thinking heavily about whether or not to renew my contract with EPIK, I’ve decided to return home in August. Signing on for a second year would offer me several enticing financial benefits and mouthwatering travel opportunities. And I’ve had a positive experience at my school, where I would continue to work if I were to renew. But during my time in Korea, I’ve learned or re-learned four life lessons, and made some new discoveries about myself, that have persuaded me to wrap things up at the one-year mark.

Below is a detailed list of how my budget shook out while traveling for 11 days in Thailand from February 14-25, 2015! When looking at the expenses, keep in mind that I was solo traveling (so all expenditures are for 1 person), it was Lunar New Year (one of the busiest times of the high season in Southeast Asia), and that the hostels/resorts where I stayed were priced in the mid-range of what I could find. I didn’t have the money for 5-star accomodations, but I didn’t need/want to rough it too much either. And while I didn’t go too crazy on food and drinks, I did spend quite a bit on activities in Koh Lanta a few times (not realizing Koh Lanta was such a tourist/resort island ahead of time, it was a bit more expensive than I was expecting). In Bangkok, I opted for the free sightseeing and just exploring the city, rather than the paid attractions, because of the prices and crowds.

Reading for pleasure has never been a consistent thing for me. In fact, it usually takes a lot to get me to pick up a book, and then quite a bit more to finish it. But, while preparing for my solo trip to Cambodia, I kept coming across a few titles that people were recommending. So I thought, ‘What the heck. I’ll bite.’

I have no intention of making you jealous, but I have to inform you that I am writing this blog post from a beach chair 4 feet from the water on the small island of Koh Samet in Thailand. It is late afternoon and the beach area in front of my resort (My bungalow is $20 a night!) is starting to clear out for the day. I personally think dusk is the best part of a beach day. The sky’s color is spectacular, the sun isn’t as intense as it was a few hours prior and I can finally tell by looking at my skin that yes, I in fact did manage to tan and not burn after hours of frolicking in the surf.