Recent content by Amelie

That's true. A large piggy bank could amount to hundreds of dollars already. That's pocket money right there. Me, I do odd jobs online like teaching, and the money that comes to my account is not to be touched. It's separate from my account for expenses and stuff. That auto-debit tactic is a...

I don't think I'll ever try this too. Even if the host were kind and gracious and trustworthy, even if I can be assured of safety for the duration of my stay, I'd still be too uncomfortable - like I'm imposing and taking advantage of others. This appeals to those with a highly adventurous...

I'm not really someone who's good at entrusting myself to the kindness of strangers (because let's face it, even if we're also paying at guest houses, there are still a lot more risks involved, and we're banking on the hosts' kindness and decency), so I usually spring for a hotel room. Yes, it's...

I just watched a documentary about this. It seems like a pretty legit operation (I don't know what else to call it), and it operates on the honor system, I guess. Like, the host will trust that you will provide them with a glowing reference and help them get excellent word-of-mouth, and you will...

I agree with briannagodess. You can give her the partial truth, so to speak, and avoid hurting her feelings altogether. You do want to travel by yourself, and take everything in without having to worry about someone else, right? Or you could even take it a step further and describe to her...

I recently just learned about this from a friend (I'm not an owner of any Apple products). The poor dear fell asleep on the subway and woke up without her bag. Some kind soul covered her with newspaper, but some other not-so-kind one stole from her! She used Apple Pay to survive the weekend. The...

I'm with you, @freddi. I also can't imagine myself being so passionately involved in something that I'll sacrifice even LIFE for it. I remember reading something disturbing, though, about how some of these terrorists/freedom fighters have been groomed since birth specifically for these tasks...

It depends on the area you're going to. If it's a place that's frequented by a lot of westerners, then wearing a bikini is perfectly acceptable, although you have to make sure that you don't wear this outside of the premises. In places that are mostly visited by locals, you may want to keep that...

I think in some temples it's actually required that you wear one before entering the premises, although of course they will be provided by the management. You just need to drape them over your clothes before offering your prayers, kind of like when some restaurants lend men neckties if they're...

Yes, definitely read tons of reviews before committing to a hotel, or else bringing home those hotel bedbugs will be the gift that keeps on giving (shudder!). But in my experience, some pictures can be terribly misleading - unless the price point matches those impressive photos. So yes, "you get...

I'm also not terribly fond of those dried banana chips. I'm lucky to get even a hint of banana taste after a whole bag (yes, I still finish the entire pack even when I don't like the taste of something - I'm incredibly dedicated, haha). @RBean is right, it does taste like artificial banana...

I saw a Youtube channel that promoted this place, and I haven't forgotten it since. It's a remote village that can be accessed by trekking, with the help of porters and mules. It's just so beautiful - and untouched! Has anyone had the privilege of traveling there? I'd love to hear some stories.

You're right, we shouldn't let the origin of the food take away our enjoyment of it. The best thing about living in this crazy world of ours is we all have different ways of doing things, and most of the time our experiences can be enhanced by adapting something from another culture and tweaking...

Yes, it can even get a bit overwhelming because you want to take it all in and savor everything, all while taking snapshots so you can hopefully preserve the moment, even just in pictures. I like to experience how the locals live too, and generally avoid the tourist-y places.

Happy New Year! I've never been lucky enough to ring in the New Year in India as well, but I hear the celebrations are pretty similar to those in other countries. Some attend parties, while others opt to stay indoors to watch the televised celebrations. And yes, the adventurous crowd go to the...