backpacking Archives • Page 5 of 6 • The Bliss Movement

Baker Beach, San Francisco

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea" -Isak Dinesen Soft sand hits your feet, sun caresses your shoulders, and the salty scent of the ocean breeze fills your nose. It is one of my very favorite moments, that moment when you step onto the beach and walk towards the sea. Isak Dinesen was correct when he said that the sea can cure anything. All of my day-to-day worries melt away the instant I see the ocean before me. Foamy white waves crash into the shoreline and the sparkling blue water of the Pacific Ocean goes as far as the eye can see[...]

Asia, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

What Type of Transportation Should You Take?

Buses, planes, trains, oh my! These days there is every possible form of transportation available to the world traveler. Planes tend to be a popular (and necessary) choice for long, overseas flights. But once you've landed on your desired continent or country you have a few other choices jumping into the mix. Two of the most popular methods of transportation are buses and trains. Other options are boat, car, hitch-hiking, motorcycle, or simply trekking long distances, just to name a few. Now in my perfect world people would still ride horses everywhere... but si[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel, United States

City Bus Tours: Are They Worth It?

As a traveler and a travel blogger, I’ve come across a million biased opinions on what might make a person a “tourist” and what might make another person a “traveler.” Honestly, I think it’s all a load of bullshit. If we are going to start classifying “travelers” as a notch higher than “tourists” then I think the whole travel society is going in a strange direction. People are seeing the world and I think we should let people see it however they so choose. Take Hop-On, Hop-Off buses, for example. From the streets, you see these double decker b[...]

Asia, Vietnam

Photo Journey, Driving from Hoi An to Hue.

I am fascinated by the countryside. It doesn't matter what country I'm in, I always feel a pull to be in the country. Open space, fresh air, sky that isn't blocked by tall buildings. So when my friend and I got to Hue, Vietnam, we quickly jumped on the chance to do a tour of the countryside. While it was a tour open to all, it was just the two of us and our guides on our own private tour. We cruised on the back of motorcycles past fields, temples used by small communities, and saw all that the Hue countryside had to offer. Our guides even showed us to their childh[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Packing with Mesh Bags/Clothing Organizers, Yes or No?

Packing a backpack is an art. It takes skill and practice before you figure out how you like your stuff. As it is a backpack that you’re lugging around on your back, packing light is essential. Ditch the cardigan that has been sitting in the back of your closet for a year. Bring only the essential jewelry for a night out, maybe a nice pair of earrings. And honestly, you don’t need six pairs of shoes. Distributing the weight inside your backpack is important. A lot of people think that heavy things should be at the bottom, but that can wreak havoc on your back[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Traveling Without A Cell Phone

And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -- Kahlil Gibran My generation has become accustomed to being constantly connected to technology. Cell phones, apps, iPod, iPhones, iEverything. This world is becoming an iWorld. Constantly connected to the rest of civilization. Everybody’s thoughts and relationship statuses at the tip of our fingers. We see our lives through the screens of our cell phones and we have immediate distraction right there in front of us whenever we are bored. We’ve become unac[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

2 Things You Need To Get In Order Before You Leave For Your Trip

Preparing for a trip can be as much work as the traveling itself. I think that there are generally two types of people. First, there are the ones who seem to always have everything figured out without even trying, who finish packing in no time at all because they just know exactly what they need. Their bags contain only the essentials. These people don’t forget things and if they do, they don’t go back for it. They just shrug it off. I sincerely wish I was one of these people. Then, there are people like me. I don’t mean to stress, I actually enjoy packing[...]

England

Dreaming of London: A London Photo Gallery

I first stepped foot in this city when I was fourteen years old. It was a family trip to visit our relatives in England and I immediately fell in love. To my horror we were only there for a day and we did the tourist thing. A bus tour, walking around to see famous sites like Big Ben. I was young, invigorated and in love with a city I had barely known. Since that day I have been there a few more times and the more I visit, the harder I fall. It is still my dream to someday live in this city and to be lucky enough to call it home.[...]

Asia, Mood and Mindset, Self-Care, Thailand, Travel

Life Lessons from a Monk.

I went to a psychic for the first time when I was sixteen. At the end of the session she gave me her Mary Kay Cosmetics card and I couldn’t believe I had fallen for such a stupid idea. However, that didn’t stop me from going to another and another and to this day I still like going to talk to psychics. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the idea of psychics. Are they real? Are they frauds? I believe some of them know what they’re talking about and I believe others are total scams. My dad thinks it's all a load of B.S and a waste of money. I think it's[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

Solid Shampoos and Conditioners, Do They Live Up To The Hype?

If you know me you will know that I am terrible at packing light. It’s not the clothes that cause the issue it’s all of the hair and body products. I end up thinking that all of them are absolutely crucial. As I don’t usually bring a heat tool to curl or straighten my hair, I’ve usually got two to three products for scrunching along with a hairspray and a nice smoothing serum. On top of that I’ve got my big bottles of shampoo and conditioner to lug around. I’ve even succumbed to bringing a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner to save space which ends up leaving[...]

Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

The Benefits Of Staying In Hostels

“Aren’t you afraid someone is going to steal all of your stuff?” “What if you get murdered in your sleep?” “People there are just so… dirty.” “You’ll end up with bed bugs!” “Haven’t you seen that movie?!” I have heard it all, every negative remark regarding hostels. People think that hostels are dirty, smelly, unsanitary and unsafe. Stained bed sheets, bed bugs, filthy bathrooms; the list goes on. Thankfully, they never stopped me from trying it out myself. When I was planning my first trip, hotels didn’t even cross my mind.[...]

Asia, Tips, Planning and Packing, Travel

10 Things You Will Learn After Traveling in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia has a special place in my heart and I think it always will. When I first decided to try out traveling, I told myself I wouldn't return to a place I had visited before until I had gone to all seven continents. Well, this summer I went back to Thailand for a second time. And during that trip I started to try to plan how I could get myself back there next summer. There is just something about that area that draws you back again and again. It could make you stay forever. Southeast Asia has also taught me many things. About myself, life, other cultures.[...]