Travel Archives • Page 10 of 10 • The Bliss Movement

17 Unspoken Rules Of Staying In A Hostel

There is not a single person alive who can say that their favorite part about staying in a hostel is the quality of sleep. For me specifically, attempting to sleep in a hostel is always a struggle and I usually have to resort to wearing headphones or earplugs and an eye mask. While every traveler is different and their opinions about hostel etiquette will differ, I've compiled a list of the main rules of staying in a hostel that, in my opinon, are the most important. While not many declares them, they are certainly an unspoken code of hostel living, and should b[...]

Thailand, Travel

Blessing Trees in Chiang Mai

I've mentioned numerous times in my previous posts, I volunteered at a place called Elephant Nature Park while I was in Thailand. During that time, my volunteer coordinators took us on a few extra outings and I had the unique opportunity to take a walk down the road from the sanctuary and bless trees within the vicinity. You might be wondering how a non-religious person/a person not religiously qualified (monk, priest, shaman, etc.) could possibly bless a tree on their own, and you wouldn't be alone. Before we departed, a group of us stood in the elephant kitchen[...]

Thailand, Travel

Volunteering at Muangkud School, Thailand

My half-day excursion to Muangkud School, located in Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai, came as a wonderful surprise to me. When applying to become a volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park, there was no mention in the application or on the website about the extras that the volunteers got to do. Going on a half-day outing to a local school was one of those extras. Volunteering at an orphange, teaching English overseas and assisting in a school environment has been a huge dream of mine since I was very young and when I was told I would be spending a day at a local T[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

The 5 Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made While Travelling (and How To Avoid Them)

I'd like to think that I'm a well-seasoned traveler, but I'm really not. At eighteen years old, I spent five months backpacking around Europe to see Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, and the majority of Italy, and now at twenty years old I went to Thailand for a mere three weeks. However, I do think that these experiences have made me consciously aware of things that I should and should not be doing while in a foreign country, alone. I know I shouldn't keep my money all in one place, that I should keep my bag close at all times, make mu[...]

Thailand, Travel

Volunteering At The Elephant Nature Park In Thailand

The Elephant Nature Park truly is a heaven on earth not only for elephants but cats, dogs, horses, water buffalo and a single moon bear. Lek, the founder of ENP has devoted her life to rescuing Thailand's mistreated animals, teaching better care techniques, delivering medicines for the hill tribes and village animals putting an end to the abuse of animals in Thailand. Many people consider Lek to be the Jane Goodall of Thailand. "Welcome to Jurassic Park," our driver jokes as we drive down the winding road, surrounded by trees, mountains and, in the distance, el[...]