Melissa Ann Maida

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.

By: Melissa Ann Maida May 3, 2018

Haircuts in Chinatown

As soon as the group at The Oasis Hostel in Chinatown found out I was a hairstylist, several haircut requests were made- I really wasn’t expecting that. I mean, I know I’m good at what I do, but they had just met me, they had no reason to trust me.

By: Melissa Ann Maida May 1, 2018

Songkran PART TWO: Chinatown Redemption

I came barreling into The Oasis Hostel in Chinatown, dripping sweat. I didn’t expect anyone to be there because I’d received an email saying the front desk would be closed from 12pm to 4pm, for a Songkran celebration. It must not be noon yet? I thought, when about ten people greeted me upon arrival.

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About Me

My name is Melissa. I am a nomad. I prefer the mountains over the beach ... Until I'm back at the beach and am reminded of how glorious sunrise yoga beside the ocean is! My hair is always a different color, I'm usually wearing a bandanna on my head, no make-up, mismatched clothes and a beat up pair of Birks. Everything I own fits in a backpack. But this hasn't always been my life... At the start of 2014, I lived in a nice house in the suburbs, drove a brand new car, and had a successful cosmetology career. Recently engaged, I was in the thick of wedding planning. That spring, everything started to change. My dad passed away, I opened a salon, and my sister got married. The chaos of so many major life events, in such a short time, put pressure on my relationship. That July, I called off my wedding. In the midst of all the chaos, I turned to the internet looking for a blog or a book by someone who'd had a similar experience. I desperately wanted to know there was someone out there who survived what I was going through- and maybe get some tips on how they did it? After incessant searching, I found a few fluff pieces but nothing that was exceptionally raw or honest. In that moment I told myself- "If I ever get to the other side of this, I'm going to write my story down to help the next person who finds herself here"... Well, I'm on the other side and am writing down my story...