Melissa Ann Maida

By: Melissa Ann Maida September 4, 2018

The Journey is Part of the Experience: Ho Chi Minh to Phu Quoc

One night, I overheard guys in my dorm room talking about Starfish Beach. Having never heard of it before, I looked it up. I quickly discovered it was on Phu Quoc- a Vietnamese island I’d also never heard of before. Between the mystery of an unknown place and my longing to get out of the city again, I wanted to go.

By: Melissa Ann Maida July 3, 2018

7 Yoga Lessons That Directly Apply to Life as a Long-term Traveler

Yoga has made me stronger, more physically fit, and more flexible. But it’s also had a profound impact on my mental and emotional health. It amazes me how lessons learned in yoga directly apply to other aspects of my life. It’s as if by magic, when I work through something on the mat, I work through a correlating issue in my life simultaneously. While at a yoga retreat in Chiang Mai Thailand, I discovered 7 yoga lessons that directly apply to life as a long-term traveler.

By: Melissa Ann Maida June 30, 2018

So really, how much money do I need to backpack Southeast Asia?

At times I have spent as little as $10 USD per week by staying in the same place for weeks at a time, working and volunteering. This isn’t always an option for short-term travelers though. So, asking me how much money I brought with me isn’t going to help you backpack Southeast Asia- but I have info that will!

By: Melissa Ann Maida June 23, 2018

Skyscanner to “Everywhere”: When I Couldn’t Decide Where to Go Next

Can’t decide where to go? Select “Everywhere” as your destination on Skyscanner.net! You will get a list of the cheapest flights leaving your selected location. This, my friends, is how I ended up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!

By: Melissa Ann Maida June 19, 2018

Sweet Home Suan Sati

I had been traveling for over a month when I arrived at Suan Sati- a yoga and meditation retreat outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. After 12 days in Bangkok, 5 days in Singapore, one night in Chiang Rai and two weeks bouncing around Chiang Mai, I needed a break. A break from city life and a break from my own mind.

By: Melissa Ann Maida June 11, 2018

The Art of Travel Hacking

Travel hacking is finding ways to support a travel lifestyle without being independently wealthy (as I am not). It took a lot of research and travel experience to understand how to travel hack successfully. I wrote the following article to help people better understand how I’m doing what I’m doing, financially, and to help other travelers travel hack! Oh, and so I’m more prepared the next time someone straight up asks me “how much money do you have?”

By: Melissa Ann Maida June 7, 2018

Visit Elephant Nature Park!

In present day Thailand, the use of elephants in street begging and logging has been banned, but riding elephants still happens all over Thailand, legally. If you take nothing else away from this post, just remember this: DO NOT EVER RIDE AN ELEPHANT OR USE AN ELEPHANT FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT. EVER. PERIOD.

By: Melissa Ann Maida May 23, 2018

So… Let me tell you about Singapore!

Getting to Singapore from Bangkok was a blur. Transportation to and from the airport, as well as my flight, were quick and smooth. That, mixed with being deliriously tired from staying up late and waking up early, made me feel like I’d been teleported into an alternate universe.

By: Melissa Ann Maida May 20, 2018

A Lesson on Pre-Booking

Singapore hadn’t even been on my radar, but it didn’t take me long to get excited about it! Before I left the states we researched activities, pre-booked flights, accommodations and even arranged for my friend to come back to Thailand with me after Singapore. While making these plans I had no idea what a lesson they would teach me about pre-booking.