
13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013: Β Β North Shore’s Pipeline, Hawaii
.
2013 was a hot year, literally and figuratively. It’s like the whole year I was sweating.
Not only did I travel during summer’s peak heat, but it goes without saying that Β 2013 was a rough year for me. Β Humbling, cruel, grueling… Β It was as if hell turned up the thermostat for my roast and this affected my travels, financially. Due to my roughtransition back to Hawaii and sliding income, travel wasn’t quite possible, but necessary. With an emergency travel fund and some slight budget crunches, I made it happen.
So what were myΒ 13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013 ? You might be surprised.
Table of Contents: My 13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013
- 1 #1 Β Hottest Drinking Experience
- 2 #2 Β Fiery Medical Tourism Moment
- 3 #3 Β Spiciest Food Discovery
- 4 #4 Β Blazing Solo Hobo Challenge
- 5 # 5 Β Red Hot Solo Travel Destination
- 6 #6 Β Β Boiling Culture Shock Situation
- 7 #7 Β Β Steamiest Moment in Solo Travel
- 8 #8 Β Β Bubbling Spa Discovery
- 9 #9 Β Sweatiest Ancient Hike
- 10 #10 Β Spiciest Social Event in Travel Blogging
- 11 #11 Β Sultriest Luxury Room with a View
- 12 #12 Β Splashy Adventure Stay
- 13 #13 Β Sexiest Work-Travel Location
#1 Β Hottest Drinking Experience
Drinking soda out of a bag in Myanmar.
Β I’ve seen tourists suck drinks out of plastic bags before. Usually, there’s alcohol in it and it’s all a part of the pretentious novelties of a nightclub or bar. But my experience was due to make-shift sales in a rural environment.
Visiting a small village in Old Bagan, I’d just bought locally-made soda, when I Β abruptly had to leave. The vendor needed the glass bottle returned in order to re-fill them, so I couldn’t leave with mine. Before I knew it, the village salesgirl whisked my bottle from my hands, turned its contents over into a plastic bag, stuck a straw in it and handed it back to me.
Anyone can pay $6.00 to drink alcohol from a bag at a bar. How many get to pay 30 cents to drink locally-made soda from a plastic bag in a rural village?
#2 Β Fiery Medical Tourism Moment
Medical tourism in Thailand
In New York City, my dentist’s office looked like a stereotypical third world country office and they consistently took me in an hour late. In Hawaii, each dental visit was a $1,000+ Β expense to a nagging mom, who complained about my bad oral care and practically sealed my crowns with watery glue. Β I don’t need to sweat costs or time like that.
Read my postΒ Guide to Medical Tourism in Thailand
These days, I try to combine my travels with medical purposes and this results in what feels like, aΒ free vacation!Β Β Abroad, I canΒ slice my dental costs by half; sometimes, by 2/3. For instance, in the U.S., without insurance, I’d pay $1,200 for a porcelain crown. In Thailand, it’s costed me $400-550 on average. My savings is the cost of a plane ticket! Β In Bangkok, my dentist clinic’s office is nicer, professional, filled with specialists, state-of-the-art equipment and free WiFi. Best of all, my dentists are quiet, pleasant, do a solid job and always take me in promptly.
Medical tourism in Thailand
#3 Β Spiciest Food Discovery
Pickled Tea Leaf Salad in Myanmar
Pickled Tea Salad or Laphet Thote is a common delicacy in Burma /Myanmar and I found it heavenly. There’s no way to describe the complex flavor other than nutty, citrusy and crunchy and it’s refreshing on a hot Burmese summer day. It’s made from actual fermented tea leaves and you’ll want to eat it more than once.

13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights od 2013: Β Pickled Tea Leaf Salad
#4 Β Blazing Solo Hobo Challenge
Spending a week at Korean jjimjilbangs, South Korea
I’ve always hadΒ a sweet spot for KoreanΒ jjimjilbangsΒ (24 hour spa/overnight stays). But they’re not exactly meant to be hotels.Β However, with an anorexic travel budget, there were times I didn’t want to book a hostel or motel. And in Korea, why should I, when jjimjilbangs offer some of the finest herbal baths, heat lamps, sauna rooms, a place to sleep,Β free group exercise classes and occasionally, free WiFi. Β How tempting is that for $8-10 a night?
I spent an entire week j-bang hopping in Seoul, Incheon and Suwon. Β It wasn’t easy living out of that and train station lockers, but I wasn’t crawling for sympathy, either. It was a splashy and steamy way to spend my evenings. Β Β Bear Grylls move over, there’s a new type of travel survivalist out there and it’s a chick!

Sleeping out of Korean jjimjilbangs for a week, Korea
# 5 Β Red Hot Solo Travel Destination
Myanmar / Burma
In 2013, I re-visitedΒ South Korea, Thailand andΒ Japan. They’re fantastic countries to visit over and over, which is why I do. But my red hot solo travel destination of the year was Myanmar/ Burma. Myanmar is currently the flaming ticket in Southeast Asia. It’s a place many travelers have targeted to visit soon, even if they’re not sure why.
As far as Southeast Asian mottos go, it’s the one destination that doesn’t feel, “Same same,..” . It’s got an Indian and Nepalese bite to it and prices are a bit higher than its neighbors. But the big reason I think Myanmar is great for female solo travelers is that crime is low and the Burmese lifestyle is laid back. Solo travelers should feel relatively safe in this country.
For more read : 19 Things you should know about Myanmar before you go.

Red Hot Solo Travel Destination : Myanmar
#6 Β Β Boiling Culture Shock Situation
Catching a night bus without knowing the language
#7 Β Β Steamiest Moment in Solo Travel
Inle Lake, Myanmar
Solo travel has its steamy moments too. Β Β The more I travel solo, the more I surprise myself, by going to places I neverΒ dreamtΒ I’d go alone. Β Seeing these legendary Burmese fishermen paddling oars with their feet onΒ Inle LakeΒ was something I’d only seen in aΒ National GeographicΒ photo and worlds away from where I thought my travel confidence would go. It took two weeks of indecision and a split minute of panic to book myself a flight for the following week! Β I’ll tell you a secret– when IΒ act out ofΒ spontaneity, it’s rarely due to bravery. Occasionally, it’s a temporarily open window in my schedule, a long struggle with self-doubt, frustration and indecision and a shot gun reaction of panic, due to rising flight prices. But once I take that unalterable leap, I have no choice Β but to find my wings. Traveling alone, I often struggle with moments of not knowing what my wants are. Solo travel teaches me to find my travel g-spot and when I do, that knowledge brings a high that leads me to believe I can do anything. GRRR!
Read:  Solo Travel G-spots and ME-gasms⦠experienced any lately?

13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013: Finding my GRRR on Inle Lake, Myanmar
#8 Β Β Bubbling Spa Discovery
Erawan Falls, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
If you don’t see the video below, click here:Β http://youtu.be/9YbQPmJZY3o. This part II of a two part video.
#9 Β Sweatiest Ancient Hike
Hiking Suwon Fortress Walls, Β South Korea
Okay, soΒ hiking with skinny jeans in searing summer weatherΒ probably wasn’t too smart. But upon seeing the Suwon’s ancient fortress walls, how could I not? Β The walls wrap around the perimeter of the city’s heart. Β A three hour scenic hike, passing fortress gates and military towers, there was much time to reflect on the history and the tactical warfare strategy of a Joseon period.

13 Hottest Solo Travel HIghlights: Β Β Suwon fortress walls
#10 Β Spiciest Social Event in Travel Blogging
Digital Innovation Asia Conference, Β Bangkok
Many think that travel bloggers just travel and party, write a little post about their experience and then go back to the beach. Β True, there’s some of that going on. What isn’t apparent are the hours spentΒ hunched over a laptop in your cave-like room, bleeding eyes dry while writing, editing video, resizing photos,Β tweeting, Instagraming, FacebookingΒ and documenting experiences to share.
So what better thanΒ meeting travel bloggers and travel industry folk at theΒ Digital Innovation Asia Conference in spicy Bangkok, Thailand. Not only did I meet, compare notes and make friends with a concoction of travel blogging’s finest, but thanks to the conferenceΒ and Khiri Travel, I enjoyed my first press trip too! Β Β How would I rank this event? Let’s just say, that being directed byΒ Peter WellerΒ (yes, the actor-turned-director)Β ,Β being on set withΒ Bradley Cooper and talking toΒ Emma Stone (also part of my 2013)… Β fall secondΒ to this event.Β This was the kick-ass social gala of my year.

13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013: Β Digital Innovation Asia Conference
#11 Β Sultriest Luxury Room with a View
Lebua at State Tower Hotel, Bangkok
Let me tell you what happens when two hot, forty-something solo travel chicas get together for a sleepover in a sexy luxury suite in Bangkok… insta-sizzle! Stories, gossip, boy-oggling, hair… it all goes flying, but no longer in spunky ‘twenties’ manner. It’s more like fortiess ‘Goddess‘ style. Thanks to my friend, Jeannie of Nomadic Chick, I got to stay a couple of nights on the 57th floor of the sultryΒ Lebua Hotel in BangkokΒ (check out Jeannie’sΒ Lebua review). Β Home of the fashionably coolΒ Sky Bar, the rooms have a stunning 180 degree balcony view and a mini condo layout . The hotel is decked out in savory Thai style and guaranteed to turn those sweltering summer nights, into the coolest Bangkok can offer.
Advice on the Sky Bar: Don’t forget to pack your sandals and shoes. Dress code is strict when it comes to footwear and Β flip flops aren’t allowed.

Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013: Β Lebua Hotel, Bangkok
#12 Β Splashy Adventure Stay
Spending a night on a floating hotel, Kanchanaburi, Β Thailand
What is it like staying at a floating hotel on the Kwai river, waking with elephants bathing in the morning and going to sleep with gas lanterns at night for electricity? As a child I used to love Disneyland’s Jungle Safari ride and the River Kwai Jungle Rafts floatel reminded me of just, with one exception… living the adventure was much, much better. Β If you’re not seeing the video below, read myΒ review onΒ it.
Also, if you’re visiting the area:Β Kanchanaburi Guide : Things to See & DoΒ .
#13 Β Sexiest Work-Travel Location
Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Hawaii

13 Hottest Solo Travel Highlights of 2013: Β #13 Β Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Hawaii
How about you? What were your hottest travel highlights in 2013?
.
.
17 Comments. Leave new
[…] and friends through phone or Internet anytime of the day. Solo travel will give you some of the greatest travel experiences of your […]
Nice, looks like you had a pretty epic year, despite the financial crunches. Press trips are amazing, aren’t they? I haven’t done any in SEA yet but am hoping to this year, now that I’m permanently stuck country-hopping around this corner of the globe (I only say permanently b/c I didn’t go to all that work to learn Bahasa Indonesia / Malay just to go back to speaking Spanish while trekking through C.&S.Amer)
Plus I feel I learned a lot more about you in this post. For example I never knew you were in the TV production industry. Or that you loved Japan (my old home!) and also have had dental work done abroad.
I’m not a fan of drinking stuff out of plastic bags though. That is *everywhere* in Indonesia but they aren’t alcoholic, mostly teas and juices. However the amount of waste that it generates is what really irks me, especially b/c Indonesia already has enough problems with trash as it is. Anyway, sorry for rambling on (I have a tendency to do that LOL)
@Derek: Thanks for reading. Yeah, as bad as my year was, I needed my travels to be extra good.
You must have a talent for learning languages quickly. That’s an impressive lot of languages in a short amount of time. I love languages and I know enough to get around but fluency is hard. I feel like it takes longer for me to get that confidence under my belt. Are you conversationally fluent in them too? Any tips? How long were in Japan for? I think I vaguely remember you saying that a while back, but the Holi-daze always makes me think of India.
Great post! The pickled tea leaf salad looks kind of delicious in a very strange way…
Thank you @Lucy! It is strangely delicious. =)
Wow looks like you’ve had such an amazing 2013! Hope you keep it up in 2014! π And that’s so cool with the Koran jjimjilbangs! I’ve slept in too many airport in the worst sleeping conditions possible! haha.
Seem like you had a awesome 2013
Hope 2014 will be the same.
It seems like you had a really great year 2013 and almost covered all of south east asia and I wish you a lot more successful travel trips in 2014 year ahead. Cheers!
Awesomely hot reads. I have to say for #1 though, next time you’re in Southeast Asia, and at a local restaurant, order a hot drink (like coffee or tea or even Milo) to go. They’ll just as readily pack it up into a plastic bag as well and toss a straw in there. How’s That! for a hot adventure in the heat =)
First of all, you have had an amazing year full of travel adventures! I’m super impressed by your videos and photography. You really inspired me to travel to Burma and I hope to make it these soon!
Sorry to hear that your 2013 was a bit rough Christine, but it’s great that you still managed to make travels happen, and did some pretty cool stuff. Here’s hoping for an ace 2014 for you!
You did an impressive amount of sizzling hot things on an anemic travel budget! I’m kicking myself for not getting to Burma while I was in Asia. Hopefully it will still be just as awesome when I finally make it back that way.
@Heather: I feel like if you go off-peak when there are less tourists, it will be!
Nice to be included in your hot 13. π I gotta get myself to Burma, you make it look really interesting! So on the list.
@Nomadic Chick: Thanks for some good memories of 2013, Jeannie! <3
I loved everything about Burma. I just recently came back and I’m already planning my next trip back! Did you manage to hike the whole of Suwon Fortress? I attempted to while I was there, but it was just so long! Looks like you’ve had an awesome 2013 – I hope 2014 is the same! =)
Thanks @Lily. Wishing you the same back! Hiked the whole thing. It looks intimidatingly long, but the view of the city or areas around the walls make it interesting and it makes time pass. I squeezed in a lot of stuff that day. Did the city bus tour before that.