Over the weekend I went on a two day trip to the charming city of Hakodate in Hokkaido, Japan! This town has been on my travel list for a while because of its famous dancing squid dish and gorgeous views from the top of Mt. Hakodate. Why I chose to go this weekend is because Nakata Yasutaka played a show at Riviera (in Sapporo), so I figured it would be the perfect combination of sightseeing and listening to my favorite music.
The first place on my list was Yunokawa Onsen to see the hot-tubbing monkeys! This was very close to the airport and inexpensive to travel to by taxi. I was happy to skip town for this scenic view:
Seeing monkeys bathe was definitely an experience. Though you can’t bathe with them, there are a number of hotels that are part of Yunokawa where you can use onsen! Here is a comprehensive list, including those that are available to day trippers. I took a very relaxing bath at Hotel Banso which had an amazing aroma sauna, then took the tram to Mt. Hakodate to see this glistening view of the city:
A lot of people say that the city lights of Hakodate glisten like a jewelry box, and it’s very true! You can take a cable car to the top of the mountain from 10am to 10pm to witness this breathtaking view. The sensation that I got from being up here was truly amazing–I felt like I could finally clear my head after being in Tokyo for so long.
This town is very peaceful and is probably the closest place that I’ve been to in Japan that resembles the countryside where I grew up in America (minus the squid, monkeys, and mountains). It’s very quiet, the people are friendly, and there are a lot of parks and rivers. However, I think Hakodate is definitely more fun! A lot of towns in America are suburbs, but Hakodate has a lot of nature so it is better for sightseeing.
After my wonderful experience on the mountain, I went to Bar Jey’s in central Hakodate and was whipped up an impressive cocktail:
There is not a lot of nightlife in Hakodate, but there are a number of fantastic bars! Because I am a budget traveler, I stayed at Hakodate’s only net cafe called Eye Cafe. It is cheap and close to Fort Goryokaku and is very convenient. I will cover the rest of my adventures in my next post! Please look forward to it.
Recently Japanese citizens, tourists, and foreign residents alike are saying that temples in Japan are becoming overly crowded. I, however, am not one to complain! In every town, there lies a hidden gem or area off the beaten path that you can discover. Since I have been to all the major temples in Kyoto already, I decided to check out Daigoji for their yearly festival in February: The Godai Rikison Ninnoe Festival.
Daigoji is a beautiful Buddhist temple located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, approximately 30 minutes from Kyoto Station. It is famous for its red architecture (which looks most alluring in the fall with the autumn leaves), and also the golden Buddha statue you can see in one of the smaller pavilions. The Godai Rikison Ninnoe Festival is held on February 23rd every year (I was lucky because this year it was on a Saturday), where monks pray in a public ceremony for “peace, health, and happiness of the country and people”.
What I liked about this temple was that it wasn’t overly crowded, and most of the people there were Japanese families praying and partaking in the festival activities. Traveling here felt like a journey because the temple itself was located approximately 15 mins uphill from where the station is. Though it wasn’t a long hike, it is just the right amount of time for people who want to go multiple places in the city.
I arrived around 11:30am and was just in time to see the monks delivering their prayer ceremony! I was very happy to witness such an event. Though I didn’t fully understand the cultural significance of everything, people treated me with a lot of kindness. One monk asked (in English) where I was from and what I thought of the festival. I responded that I had been to a similar festival at Mt. Takao, but it was refreshing to get out of the city and be at peace here.
Though this is the biggest event at Godaiji, there are numerous seasonal events too! I recommend this temple for those who want to get away from the crowds.
Last weekend, I traveled all the way from Tokyo to Kyoto to attend a thrilling electronic music event called LARGE SIZE at the underground music club Kyoto Metro. LARGE SIZE not only featured Japanese indie artists from the Kansai region (Kyoto and Osaka), but also Trekkie Trax Crew from Tokyo, and isagen (the event organizer) from Shizuoka, Japan, along with a selection of other talented music producers from around the area.
Located in the basement Jingu-Marutamachi Station of Kyoto City, this was a highly-anticipated event that united many music fans from all over Japan because it showcased talent from some of the most well-known independent record labels and underground artists that are currently trackmaking and producing music. In this article, I aim to introduce the artists I saw and write recommendations of their music in English.
The original timetable for this event was listed below (note that “Carpainter” is actually the correct spelling of the artist listed at 17:30). The event lasted for approximately 5 hours, and tickets were originally sold at 2800 yen (purchasable online, and for extra money at the door):
Arriving at close to the start of the event, I was luckily able to see the majority of isagen’s 50 minute set. isagen produces his own desktop music, DJs at events, and also is the trackmaker for his band unit called POLPTOM. In 2018, isagen released an EP on Trekkie Trax called c.b.a.g, which you can listen to on his Soundcloud below:
Though this EP is tagged as dance and EDM, you can tell from the very beginning that it is not the typical kind of dance music you expect! isagen’s music really has a unique vibe sounding both progressive and abstract at the same time. As the event organizer, he did an amazing job of making the crowd excited and earning the respect of other artists, even though he was the opener! I was surprised to see the club was already crowded at opening time, and the majority of people there had their full attention directed at his performance. Though I have seen isagen perform in Tokyo before, I could tell that he put a lot of work into ensuring that this was one of his best performances yet!
The next artist was one of my personal favorites, in the blue shirt from Kyoto City. Having previously announced the release of his new album in April via Twitter, everyone was surprised to see him open with his own banger remix of “If I ain’t got you” by Alicia Keys and then mix his newly produced music into it:
in the blue shirt will always be one of my top artists because he puts so much of himself into his music, and each time her performs he plays exclusive and unreleased songs that you can only hear during his performances. His music will make you feel nostalgic, energized, moved, and inspired at the same time. Using a complex range of samples and chords, below is one of my favorite mixes he has uploaded to his Soundcloud:
Another reason I love in the blue shirt is because he designs a lot of his own merchandise. His sticker is an adorable digital drawn mascot that resembles Parappa the Rapper, and his clothes feature a blue shirt logo he created himself with Adobe Illustrator:
Since his performances are relatively rare, I always pick up his merchandise whenever I get the chance! Not only is it fashionable, but it is also comfortable and a truly magnificent display of aesthetic art. I was extremely grateful to see this set before the official promotion of his new album!
Next up was Pasocon Music Club (パソコン音楽クラブ) who played an absolutely amazing acid techno set. They are a duo that write a lot of desktop music resembling nostalgic game music, but recently they have been trying out a variety of styles. People around me went really hard during their set and I enjoyed seeing them for the 2nd time! Previously I saw them at an event called STRUCT in Osaka, and it was amazing because people remembered me (as one of the few foreigners) that attended! Here is one of my favorite releases Pasocon Music Club has had on Maltine Records:
Though I was already mindblown from the high quality of music I had already witnessed, this was still just the very beginning of the fantastic sets I was about to hear. Carpainter‘s live set featuring songs from his recently released Declare Victory EP (which was officially on-sale the day before LARGE SIZE), was absolutely earth-shattering! I will write a separate review for Declare Victory at a later time, but for now here is the featured track which I recorded below:
Though this EP was just recently released, Carpainter has had this music produced for a while now. During Trekkie Trax’s 6th Anniversary on the weekend of Halloween, he played a set that was entirely breakbeat, techno, and old school rave-styled with a bunch of tracks that he would later release February of 2019. What’s even more amazing is that Virtual Self dropped Carpainter’s “Sylenth Warrior” along with Otira’s remix of “Mission Accepted” at their set in the US just less than a week before they came out:
Watching this all unfold at an underground club outside of Tokyo was an amazing experience! I enjoyed the change of scenery and also meeting new friends that shared similar tastes and feelings about these artists. I connect to Japanese people best by listening to music and sharing these exciting experiences with them!
After Carpainter, batsu, an artist from Osaka, began his set with Carpainter’s “EXCITE” and immediately set the crowd into a unanimous cheer:
Batsu is a producer that is really good at mixing and engaging the audience. I have seen him perform various times in both Tokyo and Kansai, and his mixes are always upbeat and easy to dance to while paying homage to various artists. Just recently he posted his own WIP of “Face my Fears” from Kingdom Hearts, and also did a mix for Trekkie Trax Radio featuring a ton of artists from this event. He was overall an essential artist in making this event a huge success!
After Batsu’s energized set, everyone’s favorite crew, Trekkie Trax, made their appearance onstage (consisting of andrew, Carpainter, Seimei, and futatsuki):
In this set, Trekkie Trax played a lot of music from their own artists including Carpainter Qrion, Cola Splash, and also premiered part of their label’s upcoming release of “Trip” by Native Rapper. My personal favorite part of their set was when andrew mixed a KiNK song into “Quick Turn” by Qrion. By this time, everyone was jumping up and down and cheering, because this was the first time that Trekkie Trax has ever played at Kyoto Metro, and it was an extremely memorable set!
The last artist that performed was metome, an original music producer from Osaka. This was my very first time listening to them so it is difficult for me to write a proper review, but similar to isagen, they seem to produce a lot of abstract music with unique sampling that bends your mind. It was neat because the event ended with a similar vibe to how it started. This is my favorite song from their Soundcloud:
Overall, I really enjoyed this event because it was very organized, all of the artists played with their maximum effort, and it was easy to talk to people and make friends. I love to go to events outside of Tokyo as much as I can so I can be exposed to different types of music and learn more about the world around me. I will definitely come back to Metro and travel to other underground clubs in Japan in the near future. Please stay tuned for more music news and adventures!
As a free-spirited traveler, I go wherever the wind blows me. Upon returning to Tokyo from Thailand, I learned that my friends at Trekkie Trax were playing a show at an underground club in Takasaki called WOAL, so immediately I started planning my weekend trip there. I had been through this area before on my way to Niigata for Fuji Rock this summer, but have never gotten off to explore the area, so this was definitely on my bucket list.
Takasaki, the city of luck, is located about 2 hours from Tokyo in Gunma prefecture and is known for its dumplings, daruma dolls, and hotsprings. The easiest way to get there is by the Joetsu Shinkansen, so I took the very last one from Omiya Station equipped with umeshu and Strong Zeroes to pregame for this all night show (that lasted from 10pm – 5am). I decided I would stay at a net cafe called Link’s Cafe (for the sole fact that I love Zelda) then immediately go to Kusatsu Onsen when I woke up because that was the cheapest move. Though there are many onsen scattered around Gunma, Kusatsu is by far the most famous and prettiest!
The atmosphere of WOAL was very friendly and inviting. It was about an 8 minute walk from the station, but very easy to locate. As I descended the stairs, I was immediately lost in a world of vibrant rotating neon lights and a boastful sound system. The bar was conveniently located near the entryway, and by chance I met all of Trekkie Trax there as soon as I walked in! I was so happy I could make it to their first show of the year, which was located outside of Tokyo (a rare event)!
it’s a spirtual thing. a body thing. a soul thing. A lo-fi image of my favorite DJ from Trekkie Trax: Carpainter playing in Takasaki, Japan.
At the time I arrived, a Gunma native DJ called Amps was playing. He is a longtime member of Trekkie Trax and I’ve heard him play juke sets in Tokyo before, but due to the chaos of Tokyo clubs, I had never really got to know him before. It was wonderful to hear him play in his element. An example of some of his tracks can be found below, or on his Soundcloud:
Each DJ had one hour to play, and it was great because the club wasn’t very crowded so there was a lot of room to dance! I had a chance to get to talk to each artist, meet some of the Takasaki locals, and also became friends with one of the resident DJs called Momo who kindly bought me a tequila shot. I liked this event because all of the artists played the music they wanted and didn’t try to please the crowd. Everyone here came for the music and it was a great atmosphere.
This whole night felt like a dream to me because in the middle of Carpainter’s set, Andrew brought out a tray of tequila shots, Seimei brought out pizza, and Momo and I were dancing at the very front in this sea of neon lights and banging techno music, so it all just felt unreal. Tokyo club events like this are usually very crowded and sometimes noisy, but I was able to lose myself completely within the music here at WOAL which is why I love traveling for these smaller shows. The feeling that I felt here, I will never forget!
What’s funny is the vibration caused from the speakers makes the toilet paper in the restroom fall to the floor, and it’s become somewhat of a meme in the Japan music scene online:
Feeling completely mindblown and fulfilled, the next morning I took the local JR train to Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station, then took a bus to Kusatsu Onsen and was amazed at this beautiful natural hotspring in the middle of the village:
Much like Takasaki, the atmosphere of this town was friendly and very inviting. Dozens of street vendors were giving free samples of tea, dumplings, and local sake. Though there was snow on the ground, the steam from the local onsen was enough to keep me farm. Feeling hungry, I decided to wander around and find some food first. There are dumpling shops everywhere, so I decided to try the black sesame ones. I also found an udon shop called Matsumoto, and tried the udon and mushrooms that Kusatsu is very famous for in tempura form:
After feeling full, I wandered to Sainokawara Park and paid 600 yen to go inside the natural hotspring. The water was very tepid, but it relaxed my muscles and made my body feel amazing. I highly recommend this onsen for day trippers, because it is very affordable for those who cannot afford an inn. Additionally, you can feel very in-tune with nature by sitting on the rocks and watching the moon rise. Witnessing amazing music followed by bathing in an onsen is the perfect feeling!
Scattered throughout the town, there are many free footbaths that you can use! Additionally, a friend of mine runs a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) called Hotel Miyuki Annex, so I would recommend staying there, because they are local and quite affordable (my friend is Japanese but speaks nearly perfect English). At night, the town becomes illuminated and beautiful! Another recommendation I have is coming during winter, because I think the water in other seasons would be too hot for most people otherwise. I only stayed here for the day, but most people stay here overnight. Most of the town you can access on foot, and there are an endless amount of hotsprings for you to try!
Before I took one of the final buses back to civilization, I stopped at a local liquor shop. They had amazing grape liquor as well as amusing sake and award-winning beer, so I picked up a couple souvenirs for my friends. You really can’t go wrong with the food and drinks here!
I am now back in Tokyo, but I will never forget the vivid memories I have from this trip. The people of Gunma treated me with extreme kindness, and the views of the mountains, steamy hotsprings, and neon lights are permanently etched within my mind! I am grateful I had this as my first trip of 2019!
With a bridge crossing a tranquil lake and a display of hundreds of outreaching stone hands leading to the gate of heaven, Wat Rong Khun is easily the most aesthetic temple I have ever laid eyes on. The way this temple is structured symbolizes the Buddhist teaching of withholding your desires to reach true happiness and enlightenment.
On my last day in Thailand, I flew from Phuket to Chiang Mai and decided to embark on a long journey to witness the beauty of Wat Rong Khun–a famous Buddhist temple that is also known as the “White Temple” among travelers. My fascination with this temple first started when I was at the Unicorn Pub in Hanoi, Vietnam, and a bartender told me about this beautiful white temple with golden toilets. For aesthetic purposes, I knew I needed to come here! I booked my tour in advance through KKDay, who came and picked me up at my hostel on a bus with other backpackers. Wat Rong Khun is located in Chang Rai and it took about 2 hours to get there, but trust me, this was definitely worth the trip.
This temple is both awe-inspiring and quite horrific at the same time. The outreaching hands definitely made me think of all the corrupt people in the world that value their egos and material things more than helping others. These people definitely fall victim to themselves in the end because at death they have nothing left. However, after I crossed the bridge and reached the inner chamber, the beautiful art, intricate statues, and gleaming white architecture made me realize that finding peace and happiness is in this crazy world is definitely possible–just don’t try to take any shortcuts or else you’ll just end up as another hand!
What’s both confusing and hilarious is that the murals depict both popular eastern and western characters like Hello Kitty, Superman, and Harry Potter, as well as western singers like Michael Jackson (unfortunately no photography was allowed inside so I did not take any pictures, but there are likely pictures floating online). According to Slate, juxtaposing these pop culture figures with Buddhist figures has sparked controversy from the Thai government, but I honestly see this display more as modern art than defamation or blasphemy. The golden toilets are also worth a trip to. You will definitely never see anything else in the world like this!
I would highly recommend coming to Chiang Mai and Rai on your trip to Thailand, because much like Kyoto and surrounding areas in Japan, these towns are filled with temples, unique art, nature, and are more relaxing than other huge cities like Phuket and Bangkok. The major con to coming to this temple was there are a lot of tourists and staff with megaphones rushing us through because the bridge is quite narrow for people pass through on. However, there are many temples in Thailand to choose from! The road to heaven is not an easy one, but coming here reminded me that letting go of your personal desires and working towards a greater concept is a very important lesson in life.
From December 29th – January 7th, I will be going on an absolutely insane solo trip to Thailand to kick off 2019. This trip will have psychopath levels of traveling, but after spending many hours in the office and being exhausted from partying until sunrise, this will be a much needed-break.
Image Credit: iStock
This will be the 8th country I have traveled to this year. Since the start of 2018, I have traveled to Hong Kong, Macau, Korea (two times), Japan, America, Vietnam, and soon Thailand. I rarely get nervous about traveling by myself, but sometimes I fear the potential flight or ferry delays the weather could cause. Regardless, in the case that I do miss a flight or a ferry, I am more than happy to spend an extra day on the beach as most Asian countries are very accommodating to foreigners who respect their culture. I am excited to try new food, meet people of different cultures from all over the world, and gain new insight and ideas from the experiences I have.
I used to be a very introverted gamer, but now that I’ve gained confidence in myself I like traveling to new countries because it feels like I’m starting a new save file in real life. Going to a new country is like being born again because everything is so different and by the end of each trip, I feel fulfilled and ready to work harder towards my goals. My planned itinerary (so far) is listed below:
Tokyo bassline party on Dec 28th (#RIP1228) → Narita Airport (international flight is around 11am on the 29th) → Bangkok → Full Moon Rave Island for NYE (Koh Phangan) → Koh Samui → Koh Tan → Phuket → Phi Phi Islands → James Bond Island (overrated, but I want to take my own pictures here) → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai → Bangkok ↺ Tokyo (on January 7th).
Image Credit: iStock
My friends that have been to Thailand have already told me that this is too much to fit in for the 10 days I am here, but I am a highly motivated person who doesn’t sleep a lot and likes to see and experience as many things as possible, so I feel like this is the perfect challenge for me. There is no better feeling than the satisfaction that comes with pulling off a crazy trip like this.
Here are the current things that I am planning to do (gathered from my research so far):
December 28th: (RIP Party in Tokyo)
The night of the 28th will be the ultimate pre-New Years celebration for me, because my friends are throwing a UK Garage and bassline party in central Tokyo called #RIP1228. My friend Carpainter, who is UK Garage and techno artist in Tokyo, is headlining, and I am also excited to Genick perform, who is young and upcoming bassline/garage artist there. The party will go from around midnight ~ 5am, so immediately after it finishes I will be taking a train to Narita International Airport to board my flight at 11am. Though I will be very tired, I am thankful for this final opportunity to say goodbye to all of my Japanese friends for a while:
After hopefully getting some rest during the flight, I will arrive to Bangkok around 4pm and begin my adventure around the city! The first stop I wish to make straight from the airport is the infamous Unicorn Cafe. A quick Google search comes up with hilarious results:
The next day (30th), I plan on waking up early and doing some running around the city. The Totoro Cafe (May’s Garden House) is where I want to have lunch, and I also want to try some sticky mango rice somewhere! As for sightseeing, currently the Airplane Graveyard, the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun are at the top of my list. If there is time, I will also check out the Sathorn Unique Tower (which is an abandoned skyscraper you can climb) and the Contemporary Art Museum. It is likely I will not have time for all of these things, but I will be sure to make the most of my experience! On the morning of the 31st, I will be making my way to my next destination: Koh Phangan.
There is also a hilarious bar I found online called “Krystal Club Thonglor 25” where I wish to drink out of the crystal skull flasks that they have on their website. Too funny. Hunting for aesthetic things and having unforgettable memories is what I’m after (even if they are somewhat tacky)!
The next day (December 30th), I plan on waking up early and doing some running around the city. The Totoro Cafe (May’s Garden House) is where I want to have lunch, and I also want to try some sticky mango rice somewhere! As for sightseeing, currently the Airplane Graveyard, the Grand Palace, and Wat Arun are at the top of my list. If there is time, I will also check out the Sathorn Unique Tower (which is an abandoned skyscraper you can climb) and the Contemporary Art Museum. It is likely I will not have time for all of these things, but I will be sure to make the most of my experience! On the morning of the 31st, I will be making my way to my next destination: Koh Phangan.
31st – 1st: Koh Phangan
Ah, the infamous full moon rave island! As an avid partier, this is one place I cannot ignore. I have read mixed reviews of these parties being overrated and overcrowded, but I’m from Tokyo so that is nothing new to me. The biggest con of going here for NYE is most accommodations are overpriced, and the cheap hostels require a 4-5 night stay (which is too long for an island that is relatively small in my opinion), so I am just going to enjoy the party for the evening and take the first ferry back.
I am taking a bus from Bangkok booked from 12go Asia at 6am on December 31st, then taking a ferry to arrive at Koh Phangan around 4pm. That will give me just enough time to get food, maybe go for a swim, and start barhopping. The only thing I’m worried about is storing my luggage, but hopefully I will find a locker or will be able to bribe a hostel to let me store my suitcase there.
If you’ve watched the comedic Travels with My Father on Netflix, there is an episode where the son takes his father to Koh Phangan where his father stares at his son in disbelief as he dances (quite hilariously) through the drunk hoards of people and mingles with the locals. After drinking out of a bucket of alcohol with his son, he then proceeds to read ‘Reporting on Hitler’ with noise-reducing headphones.
Thanks @jackwhitehall for carrying ‘Reporting on Hitler’ around Asia for your father… first time it’s been read at a Full Moon party! pic.twitter.com/Fqw0Enn6Yn
Your reaction to the full moon parties will either be one or the other from other blogs I’ve read (I’m hoping I can enjoy it as much as the son). If not, I will perhaps nurse a cheap bottle of wine and try to camp on the beach, or just go swimming somewhere in Haad Beach until sunrise. I am not very worried about staying out all night, because in Japan, Korea, and other European countries, parties go well on past 6am. I am going to try my best to enjoy the time with the people I have around me, because that is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life.
After ringing in the new year with random strangers who become my friends, I will take a ferry to Koh Samui (which looks more beautiful than this island) to start my new year!
January 1st – January 3rd: Koh Samui
Happy new year! The first thing I’m doing when I get to my bungalow hut (hopefully it’s the pink one) in Koh Samui is sleeping. This will be the day that I likely sleep the most, but as soon as I wake up I am going for a dip in Lamai Beach. The location of my beach hut is ideal because I am very close to both Lamai and Silver Beach, that are two of the most beautiful in Koh Samui. Afterwards, I wish to see the Grandfather’s Grandmother’s Rocks for hilarious photo opportunities, and maybe grab some Cafe 69 near the Bophut’s fisherman village for lunch to top it off (haha, puns)!
If I have energy, The Secret Buddha Garden and the Na Mueang Waterful look like wonderful destinations for the adventure-loving me. If I can find a moonlit bar somewhere near the pier then that is likely where I will end my night, else I will just take a bottle of wine back to my hut and prepare for the next activity: The Pink Dolphin Tour.
Image Credit: International Packages (I will hopefully have my own original images soon)!
When I realized pink dolphins were real, I knew I absolutely had to see them!! Everyone in my life knows that I love things that are pink, aesthetic, and awesome, so this tour will be the ideal adventure for me. I am so stoked to see these dolphins and go scuba diving near one of the islands where they live. I am excited to travel to Koh Tan by speedboat to get some nice pictures of them and then enjoy some snorkeling. What a way to kick off 2019!
Continuing this crazy quest, at 8:15 on January 3rd, I will be flying to Phuket for more shenanigans!
January 3rd – January 5th: Phuket
People tell me that Phuket is overrated and “polluted” with expats, but I don’t think that’s true at all. I don’t mind going on tours with other people because I usually meet someone I enjoy talking with, and if not, I can just listen to my favorite music and stare at the aesthetic scenery so that makes me content. Phuket has some amazing beaches. I am staying at a hotel on the coast of Patong Beach because I am interested in experiencing the nightlife, but the southern beaches such as Karon and Yanui are very remote and perfect for those getaway vacations. However, I am not trying to “getaway” in Phuket–I am staying in the central area because I want to experience the main attractions and nightlife.
Image Credit: iStock
Upon arriving, I will first be exploring the Upside Down House, then going to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary to feed and hopefully take care of these precious animals. I read online that they have been harmed by people riding them as a tourist attraction, and that going to this sanctuary is a good way to interact with them without hurting them. I am excited to do things listed on the Afternoon Visit itinerary such as bathe and walk in the jungle with them! I am not sure what to expect, but regardless, it looks like an amazing time!
Image Credit: iStock
The next day (January 4th), I have 3 activities planned: The Tiger Kingdom, a tour to James Bond Island through Phuket Sail Tours during the sunset hours, and finally a dazzling night at the theme park Phuket Fantasea! I am going to be absolutely exhausted by the end of the night, but I will get to experience so much wildlife and swim at so many beaches so I’m absolutely stoked for this!
On January 5th, I booked a tour to the Phi Phi Islands through Voyagin because it was fair-priced and included a lot of destinations that I wanted to see. Although there are a lot of options available, I am most looking forward to exploring Viking Cave, swimming in Maya Bay, and witnessing the monkeys on Monkey Beach. Regardless of if I am by myself, I already know that I’m going to have a great time!
At 7:20pm, I will be leaving and heading to Chiang Mai for the final, and perhaps most aesthetic part of this tour!
January 5th – January 7th: Chiang Mai
While I was in Vietnam, a bartender at the Unicorn Pub was telling me about a temple that had golden toilets. For aesthetic purpose, I had to seek this temple out. The name of this temple is Wat Rong Koon, and its intricate design is absolutely breathtaking:
Image Credit: KKDay
I have booked the Package B Tour through KKDay and am so excited to learn more about it! During this tour, I will be going to a hotspring, visiting this glistening temple, going to the Black House museum of architecture, and ending my trip by seeing the traditional lifestyle of the Chiang Rai Hilltribe village people.
At the end of the tour, I have requested to be dropped off directly at the Chiang Mai airport, and then will fly back to Bangkok to catch my overnight flight back to Tokyo. I have put around 30+ hours of research into this trip and have booked all of my flights and tours about 2 months in advance, so I am absolutely thrilled to finally go to Thailand!
In the case of poor weather or flight delays, I am hoping I can quickly think on my feet and find alternative activities to do. I love beaches, photography, night markets, and going to bars, so I expect to have the time of my life while I’m here. I am excited to open my heart and mind to a brand new culture so I can continue to grow and connect with others.
Look forward to hearing from me soon! I want to share my experience with everyone!
