A Guide On How To Plan Your Trip.

This post is in reference to the trips I took to Moscow and St. Petersburg sometime last year.

It was my first time organising a (any, actually) trip all by myself. And it was all last-minute.

It was a Monday, I remember. Woke up on the best side of the bed! 🙂 And decided that I wanted to go to Moscow the next day. So I went ahead and bought my ticket… right away in fact! I had no idea where I was gonna stay. Had no itinerary. Hadn’t packed. Nothing! All I knew was that I wanted to head to St. Petersburg as well after a short stay in Moscow. Ha! 🙂

I thought everything would magically fall into place within 24 hours. You know…

Let’s just say that the hours until my departure were an emotional turmoil.

There were times when I got frustrated because I wasn’t getting immediate email replies to confirm my accommodation. Teared up once or twice. Thought of cancelling the whole thing. But I’m so glad I didn’t.

Because it turned out to be the best time I’ve ever had! 🙂

So here are a couple of pointers to help you plan your next trip:

1. Destination.

First of all you need to determine which place(s) you want to visit. Town, City, Country. Find out if you need to apply for a visa if you’re planning to fly out of the country.

2. Date.

Then choose the precise dates for you trip. Because you need them for the step below.

3. Accommodation.

Now figure out where you’ll be staying. Hostel, hotel or home? For how long? Call or email them to make a reservation. ALWAYS make a reservation.

4. Transport.

Time to book your ticket. Plane, train or bus? You pick. 🙂

5. Itinerary.

And the fun part begins… planning your activities! Find out what amazing things the new town/country has to offer, list them down and schedule them for the number of days you’re going to be there. Make sure to spread them out evenly.

Any more tips you’d love to share? Please do write them in the comment section below. I’d love to hear your opinions. 🙂

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

A Guide On Staying Healthy.

There are a number of things that I’m passionate about. And this blog is all about sharing those little things that put a smile on my face with you.

So, let’s talk about health today, shall we? 🙂

Living a healthy life means more that just being disease-free. It is a holistic term used to define physical, emotional, spiritual, mental and social well-being.

It’s very important to take time out for yourself. To nurture. To forgive. To love. To complement. To improve. To correct. To reward yourself.

And always remember to be your biggest fan! 🙂

Here are a couple of ways to take care of yourself:

1. Physically.

Try to have a balanced diet with just enough portions of food throughout your day. Exercise daily. Walking counts (I love walking! 🙂 ). Have enough rest and sleep, because your body needs it. Also, avoid bad habits like smoking and drinking.

2. Emotionally.

NOTHING is worth stressing over, because there’s always, ALWAYS somebody elsewhere having it rougher than you. So instead of feeling sorry for yourself, count all your blessings. Being alive. Breathing without support. Walking without aid. Being able to see. Count them all and watch yourself slowly smile at the realization of how lucky you are.

3. Spiritually.

Clear your mind. Meditate. Be thankful. Forgive. Be at peace.

4. Mentally.

Be occupied in productive work. I normally sleep much better after a fruitful day. Plus avoid unnecessary stress.

5. Socially.

Never ever feel like you have to conform to social norms. Be confidently and unapologetically different. Embrace yourself. Love yourself. Flaws and all. Those are what make you unique. Those are what make you, YOU.

Are there any other tips you’d love to share? Please write them down in the comment section below. I’d love to read them.

Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

How To Save Money While Travelling.

Being frugal comes naturally when you’re a student. Especially if your income is limited yet you have dreams of seeing the whole freaking world.

So when you finally save up just enough cash to make that trip you’ve been planning for months, you need to be extra careful with how you spend each penny.

Here are a couple of ways to help you minimise your expenditure during your trip:

1. Live at the centre.

Saves you lots of time and money since you don’t need to commute as opposed to living at the outskirts of a town.

2. Walk.

It’s the best way to see new places and experience new things.

3. Picnic.

Buy yourself a bunch of fruits, water, some healthy packed food and head out to the park. That should cost you around $5. Plus views and fresh air.

4. Partner up.

For those deals and discounts. You know. 😉

5. Take the overnight bus.

It’s the cheapest way to travel between two cities and you also get a free “bed” for the night.

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

How To Plan The Perfect Road Trip.

When it comes to road trips, my most favourite things are the views! 🙂

It’s almost as if you are going through countless mini-destinations before getting to THE ONE. You know, like the appetizer before the main course. A lil’ extra side dish, if you will. Okay, okay… Hahah! I’m gonna stop now. 🙂

Here are a couple of pointers to help you plan your next road trip:

1. Good company.

If you have a say in this, make sure you pick people who bring out the best in you and vice versa.

2. Comfort is key.

Go for loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. And remember to keep warm if it’s cold, especially during the morning and evening hours.

3. Cue the music.

Carry your favourite playlists along with you because you can’t always rely on the radio.

4. Stock the snacks.

Potato crisps, banana crisps, apples, grapes, passion fruits, groundnuts, water, juice… pretty much everything you can carry.

5. Camera…check.

Lastly, you’ll need to find a way to keep the memories of your trip. And what better way to do that than to take lots of pictures. So make sure your cameras and phones are fully charged and ready to go! 🙂

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

How To Maximize Your Vacation Days.

If you are a full-time student or have a full-time job, then you’ve at one time or the other felt like you need more vacation days. It’s so easy for you to feel like you are always working or studying since you only get a month or two or, if you’re lucky, three months off annually to kick back and relax.

Well, lemme help you make those couple of weeks seem more than just that:

1. Study or work abroad. 

By abroad here, I mean any place that’s not your hometown or even home country. There’s always opportunities to take a course or go for a conference someplace new to you. Grab that. This automatically gives you a chance to explore a new environment either temporarily or long-term.

2. Travel to new destinations.

There are places that we’d love to visit over and over again. But then that restricts us from experiencing what other destinations have to offer. So as much as you love that sandy beach, or that rocky mountain, book yourself a ticket to a fresh new location every once in a while.

3. Maximize your weekends and public holidays.

Use these days to travel to places that are close to where you live and around your country hence saving your vacation days for further destinations.

4. Work from the center outwards.

Explore your hometown first. And the neighbourhood. Then work your way around your country and region because those will be way cheaper to travel to. And I’m pretty sure that there are a bunch of gems close to you that you take for granted. Find out what attracts tourists to the place you live and then go find out why. 🙂

5. Plan out each vacation day.

Having an itinerary helps you organise your time. Also, having a bucket list for each town/city prior to your visit enables you to make the most of your time there.

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

How To Haggle Like A Pro.

We all love markets, don’t we? 🙂

Thing is, markets also come with very flexible prices and at times sellers exaggerate them way too much. Especially if you look foreign. Or a little naive. So here are a couple of tips and tricks to help you with that:

1. Engage the seller in simple conversation.

Be kind. Find out how they are doing. How long they’ve been in the business. Whether or not they made the goods they are selling by themselves. If so, a compliment won’t hurt. 🙂

2. Make it look like you are just casually looking around even though you have something specific in mind.

If they notice that you are being a specific in any way, they’ll assume that you must have come prepared (financially) and that you’ll leave with whatever it is that you’re eyeing at any cost.

3. Ask for the price of the item you are interested in.

Very, very, very casually.

4. Gasp a little and ask if they can sell it for half the amount they mentioned.

You know. Because that’s all you have to spare. And because what you’ll be left with will be your transport money or something like that.

5. Meet them in the middle.

As they slowly reduce their price, increase yours a little. Until you settle on a price that both parties are okay with.

There you go! Now you have whatever it is that you really wanted to buy and a few extra coins in your pocket for lunch too! 🙂

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤

What To Wear: On Safari.

I love safaris. I love adventure. But most of all, I love nature. Just the other day, while studying for my pediatrics class, I drifted off and started daydreaming about the gorgeous mountains in Canada surrounding pretty little lakes, the amazing landscapes in Iceland filled with breathtaking waterfalls, the beautifully sculptured canyons in the USA…

I’d love to see all these places one day.

Ok, now back to this post. There are a couple of things to note when it comes to dressing right for a safari. One: You need to be comfortable. Like very comfortable. Two: You need to blend in with the environment (think browns and greens) to avoid disrupting wild animals. It’s for your safety as well. Three: You need to be well fed and hydrated because safaris are exhausting.

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to wear:

1. Hats & sunglasses

To protect yourself from the sun.

2. Tops

If you’re planning a morning or evening trip, you’ll need to layer up since it’s most probably going to be chilly. Otherwise, a t-shirt will do for the day.

3. Bottoms

Keep these long to avoid scratches and bites.

4. Shoes

Sneakers are the best option.

5. Bags

Just a small backpack to hold your essentials like water and cameras.

Always be kind.

Dee.

❤