Thirty Things I Learned Traveling Alone in Thailand

1. There's no such thing as traveling alone. Unless maybe you are going somewhere where there are no people.

2. If you try to be nice people notice they are usually nice to you. This is the best way to get what you want and life is more beautiful and enjoyable this way.

3. Travel light

4. No seriously, travel lighter. I brought a 40 liter pack that weighed 10 kg full for a 6 week trip and I would have been happier with way less stuff. A good rule of thumb, if you’re only planning on using it a couple of times, you probably don't need to bring it.

5. Almost anything can be a pillow. I have found sweatshirts to be the most comfortable, but an empty water bottle is not bad either. Books are so-so.

6. Speaking of books, most touristy places sell used books cheap. If you’re lucky you can even trade the book you just finished for a new one. Plus if you’re doing stuff every day you don't have as much time to read as you might think. Don't bring more than two books plus a guidebook.

7. Socks get smelly faster than any other article of clothing, but you can do laundry almost anywhere for a dollar or two. I should start hand washing things myself..

8. Never buy food at the airport. Walk five minutes around the corner and get the best meal of your life for a dollar from a street vendor.

9. Everything's an adventure if you have the right mindset and everything happens for a reason.

10. Most things take longer than expected, some things take less.

11. Traveling restores your faith in humanity and generosity.

12. It takes 2-3 days to get the hang of a place; it helps if there are rivers or mountains for orientation purposes.

13. You can just go to the airport and buy a ticket and get on a plane a couple hours later. It really works, and is often the cheapest way to travel. Especially recommended for flexible people who wouldn’t really mind spending an extra night in the amazing city they're already in (see rule 9)

14. Making friends is easy; it starts with a smile :)

15. There's good and bad in everything, what’s more important is what’s in you.

16. You can sleep anywhere if you’re tired enough, but you don't really need as much sleep as you think. Or as much anything as you think really. That being said listen to your body, it usually knows best.

17. When keeping a journal, it can be useful to write your pages in order rather than just opening the book and writing on the first blank page you find. This way you have a chronological record and it’s easier to find stuff if you want to add or change something. Adding dates can also be helpful.

18. It’s much better to write in a non-bumpy environment

19. Most of the good live music is up north, specifically: they play the same shitty mix of 90s/2000s pop music every night at most bars in Kho Tao but in Pai they have a different live musician every night.

20. Keeping a diary is good for memory and clarifying ones thoughts, smoking weed is good for pattern recognition and modification.

21. There are no wrong decisions, just different choices and options.

22. Always check out on time.

23. Sometimes, inexplicably, buses stop running at 5 o’clock.

24. Wandering around and asking prices is the best way to get a good deal on a hostel. Finding a good restaurant can be more challenging; you gotta trust your gut.

25. The coolest hippy bars on the islands are way off the beaten paths to avoid the cops. Somehow Tonsai and Pai seem to have gotten a free pass.

26. Always bring papers; they're the only smoking device that can’t get you arrested #allcigarettesaregoodfor

27. They don't pronounced the h that some fool added when Romanizing Thai script. Phang is pronounced pang (a sound as in restaurant)

28. Always keep a journal and try to write and read every day, or whenever possible

29. Having a hostel close to the loud bars is good if you want to party till they close and then stumble home, but not if you plan on going to bed early. One night it Kho Tao I fell also asleep to chirping crickets blending with Don Saco Duro thinking: at least I can’t smell the gasoline they are no doubt burning for the fire shows and flaming jump rope/limbo contests.

30. The places that no one has ever heard of were some of my favorites.