I have stayed in hostels a handful of times and have always had pleasant experiences. The people I met were nice. The accommodations, while sometimes sparse, were doable. The facilities were clean. Until…December 14, 2016.
On this day, I was faced with the worst hostel I could imagine (well, minus the horror movie type), at Common Grounds, in Pai, Thailand. I knew from the second I walked in that I was not going to be happy there. Reluctantly, I paid $18 for the three nights I’d signed up for (hey, it had good reviews online!).
Walking past the many stoners hanging out on beanbags in the outdoor verandah, the staff led me to my room: a 4-bed room with an in-room bathroom. The room was shabby, and I had flashes of bedbugs in my mind. As I was unpacking, I heard many other patrons being led to their rooms and one piece of instruction was a little different than what I’d gotten:
I moved back from Hong Kong in 2012. I loved my life there and have regretted very little, though I have slightly chastised myself the past 4.5 years for not being more adventurous with food. Specifically, I wish I had gone to more Hong Kong style local cafes and tried the cuisine for which they’re famous. Sure I ate Chinese food, including yum cha (dim sum), but I rarely went and definitely never went alone. So this time when I visited HK, I made it my mission to try just 2 things I always wanted to have but never did: milk tea and egg waffles. I’m not sure if I didn’t have these when I lived here because I was scared, but this time I was going to conquer whatever it was that held me back and I was going to do it alone, by golly!
So, on my last day in Hong Kong, I yelped the best place for milk tea near me and an indoor market right down the street from my old house popped up. It was a place I’d walked by hundreds of times and never stopped in. I walked in, was the only white person, sat down at a communal table and ordered myself a cold milk tea. I took in my surroundings and sipped away.
With five days in Chiang Mai, there’s plenty to do to keep you happy, full, and having fun.
Markets
As most Asian cities promise, there are all sorts of markets in Chiang Mai. The Saturday market and Sunday market offer delicious and inexpensive street food, as well as cheap souvenir shopping. Both can get super packed, so go early!
Sunday Market
A hidden giant gem is the Wararot Market. While there are markets all over Chiang Mai on Google maps, choose this one for every single item you could ever want. From scarves and backpacks to spices and kitchenware, you can find it all at super cheap prices. This market runs during the day; at night you can catch the food stall vendors. There’s no need to buy an expensive dinner at a restaurant when there’s a market around.
On Monday, I leave for my next trip to Asia! I have been on an innumerable amount of 16+ hour flights, so I’ve made myself a checklist of what to put in my carry-on. The list looks long, but trust me, I need all of these things!
Compression socks & tie shoes – At the end of my first flight to Hong Kong when I’d moved there, I couldn’t stick my feet back in my shoes (thank goodness I’d also packed flip flops!). Even on short flights, I pack compression socks; they keep my feet from swelling, plus they help keep me warm. I prefer shoes you tie also just in case there is any swelling and I can still fit my feet in shoes with laces.
Chapstick & moisturizer – Airplanes are super dry, so moisturizing methods are a must.
Deodorant – Pretty basic!
Entertainment – Magazines, books, a fully-charged phone with podcasts, music, and headphones are a must. I also always pack my phone charger because most long-haul flights now have plug-ins at your seat.
Neck pillow – I choose window seats every time if I can so that I can lean against the airplane wall and nap away. I don’t typically need the neck pillow for my neck, but it’s extra cushion that I enjoy!
Eye mask & melatonin – With 15-hours on a cramped plane, there isn’t much to do besides read, watch movies, and sleep, so I choose the latter as much as possible. Packed to aid me in this are my eye mask and melatonin.
Water bottle – Instead of waiting for the tiny cup of water every time the flight attendant trundles past, I fill my own water bottle up right before boarding time.
Snacks – As most of my friends and family can attest, I eat every 2 hours or thereabouts. Airplane peanuts can only last so long.
Pen – Whether for the People magazine crossword or for immigration papers, I keep a pen with me at all times on plane rides.
Gum – Good for take-off, landing, and breath-freshening.
Toothpaste/brush – And when #10 doesn’t work, I brush my teeth in the small bathroom aboard.
Sweater/long sleeve – I’m typically cold on flights, so I pack a comfy long-sleeve without a hood.
Passport/visas – Most importantly, my passport! You can’t get on the plane or into another country without it, so I make sure it’s stowed in a safe place (I’ve had more than 1 friend leave it on the plane).
Restaurant for Two: a feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. My friend, John, and I went on a brewery tour at Dovetail in Ravenswood.
Newly-opened brewery, Dovetail, offers excellent 90-minute tours of their craft brewery located in the Ravenswood Corridor. Master brewers, Hagen Dost and Bill Wesselink, studied beer making in Munich and traveled throughout Europe to refine their selections. Their beers are designed for all of the senses so they encourage you to check out the color and take a whiff before you taste.
Having been opened for nearly 6 months, the two owners met in 2011, started dreaming about opening a brewery a year later, and incorporated Dovetail in 2014. The brewery is in its infancy stages, and the owners treat it as such. While there is a startup feel to the business, Dost and Wesselink have a passionate, approachable take on beer.
An easy 75-mile drive from Chicago, Milwaukee is the perfect weekend getaway from the bustling city. While MKE is a city in its own right, it’s more spread out and the traffic is lighter, making it more manageable to get around.
Here’s an itinerary for 24 hours in Milwaukee. Eat your greek yogurt at home, then hop in the car for a whirlwind tour of Brew City.
Originally started as a brewery, Sprecher is now most well-known for their tasty root beer. This 30-minute tour is short, sweet, and offers 4 tasters with your $6 ticket. Drafts include radlers, seasonal beers, hard craft sodas, alcohol-free sodas, and all sorts of your regular brew taps.
New City Life Adventure 