I can’t believe I’ve been traveling for ten whole years now! While these days traveling is my full-time job, I traveled a lot on my own for a long time, even before starting Hippie in Heels. Throughout the years and numerous countries, not to mention living in Goa for half of this time, I’ve picked up a lot of travel hacks.

These are both practical things (like little ways to save money) to big lessons learned from experience, and I wanted to share them with you! So below are my favorite travel hacks after a decade of wandering the world.

My 10 Favorite Travel Hacks After 10 Years

Mykonos in 2009

2. Packing cubes are very much worth the hype

Why did it take me so long to get them!? I can’t imagine just putting my things in my luggage loose, without packing cubes, anymore. This keeps thing so orgnaized and as I get older I somehow am getting even more OCD. I have three sets because I wanted all sorts of size options.

Check out some packing cube options below:

Uganda, 2010

3. Stay local as much as possible.

I was always a fan of Airbnb, but the past two years, I look at the housing options there before I even look at hotels. From a $30 apartment in Tulum to a $200 MANSION in Merida, I’ve been loving staying in people’s homes. I love to cook breakfast, make my own coffee, and it has saved me so much money on accomodation. I’ve used it in India, England, Mexico, Ireland, and 10 other countries so far and not had one issue. I tend to go for whole houses, not rooms or apartments and actually have a guide coming out soon with tips on using Airbnb. This is a way to get MUCH more into the real life of the place you stay and will honestly change the way you travel. You’ll never go back to booking random hotels.

Get $40 off with Airbnb here if you’re a new user

Some of my Airbnb posts:

• 5 Reasons to Choose Airbnb
• Airbnb in Merida, Mexico
• Cutest Luxury & Budget Airbnbs in Goa

Taj Mahal, 2012

4. Get an incredible travel credit card

I’m about to turn 29 and just got my first real credit card! I went with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The main reason I decided to get one was that this particular card covers you up to 75,000 in car rental insurance. This means you can decline it at the rental counter no matter how hard they try to upsell you. The other reason is that I want to finally get into points and they give you 3x points on travel spends. The third and coolest reason I got this card, is it gives you a Priority Pass (for you and a guest). This pass allows you into a lounge in nearly every airport in the world – and the airports that don’t have a lounge for you often have a restaurant you can dine with $30 or $40 credit. I actually added Ben to my account and then he can rent a car under his credit card (under my account) and use the car rental insurance, too. No more paying for a second driver!

Koh Samui, 2013

5. Planning your own travel itinerary is usually better than going on group tours, but not always.

90% of the time, I’m down to plan my own itinerary and avoid the cost of tours. When I plan it myself, I really research deeply (I’m talking reading dozens of posts for each city I’ll be in, checking IG hashtags, and Pinterest, too). I cater the trip to what I like in terms of food, sight-seeing, adventures, shopping, and hotels. While I prefer this, there are times a tour can really be helpful and mostly that is in India. I have done some really cool tours here in rural areas and learned SO much in just a week on a tour about India that I didn’t living here as an expat or traveling as a tourist. I think that doing a tour is a great way to go even deeper into a place you are traveling – you just have to pick the right one. If you are going somewhere that stresses you out, it’s best to look into a tour so you can relax and enjoy the trip. My biggest tip here is that before you go on a trip, PLAN IT. I used to wing it, and have traveled all over Europe and even India winging it. The perfect example of why NOT to do this is my Rajasthan trip. When I compare visiting there as a backpacker winging it 6 years ago to planning ahead when I went this Fall, it’s like a completely new place – I saw so much more and loved every second without the stress since it was planned ahead.

Check out some of my itinerary & planning posts:

• How to plan a trip from scratch
• Two Weeks in Rajasthan
• One Week in Goa
• Why You Should Add an “ME” Day to Your Itinerary

Bandung, 2014

6. Sometimes renting a car is the best and cheapest option.

Ben and I rent cars basically everywhere we go. We figure, if we can drive in India, we can drive anywhere. Like I said above, I now have a credit card with insurance which is huge in keeping the rental car cost down. You can rent for under $10 a day most places if you decline all the insurance. It’s not just my credit card, but loads of them offer this – call yours and see if they do! I look on rentalcars.com when I start searching and don’t have a favorite company: I use Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and so far haven’t had any issues. I always take photos and video of the car when I pick it up and we are careful to clean it well before returning it. In places like England, for example, we spend so much less having our own car than if we took trains, taxis, and the underground everywhere we went. It saves us hundreds of bucks on nearly every trip.

Istanbul, 2015

7. It’s better to buy high-quality items than to just buy cheap and throw away.

My H&M and Forever 21 days are pretty behind me – and I don’t really buy clothing that is really “trendy”. I shop thinking about travel and where I could wear things. I also buy a LOT less although spend about the same amount. Quality over quantity is what I go by and if that means paying $200 for a leather jacket I’ll wear for 8 years (so far!) or a $100 for a pair of linen travel pants I’ll where on every single trip I take, it’s worth it! I did break that while i was in the UK: I was so cold and bought like 5 sweaters at H&M and Zara which I already regret doing! I should have bought one or two awesome ones instead. When you travel, you should feel good in what you wear and wear “real life” items, not “traveling” pieces that you wouldn’t wear at home. If you dress “normal”, you’ll feel much more intune with the place you visit. Here is a post on where I like to shop.

Some of my favorite quality brands:

• Studio TIA
• FARA
• TopShop Jamie Jeans
• Melissa Odabash
• Free People
• L*Space
• Uggs

Finland, 2016

8. You can start small in trying to be more eco-friendly as a traveler

You might not be able to go from not thinking about your effect on the environment to being a eco-warrior overnight but you can start just doing small things to help as a traveler. Even just not using straws or using reef-friendly sunscreen when you go snorkeling is helpful. This year, I have thought a lot more about sustainable travel and wish I would have been thinking this way a lot sooner. Ben is helpful with this because he literally builds reefs and is very environmentally-friendly so I’m always learning. Alex in Wanderland has a great post on this from earth day. This isn’t really a “hack” but learning how to be more eco-friendly while you travel is something we should all keep in mind.

Morocco, 2017

9. If you want to go somewhere but aren’t sure where think about the experiences

Instead of thinking about how a place looks, what the beach is like, or where your friends are going, plan your trips based on the experiences you want. After 10 years, I look back and remember not checking Budapest and Prague off my bucket list but instead, I remember flying in a helicopter in Maui, rafting in the Nile, and dog sledding in Finland. I remember learning to surf in Bali and shopping my heart out in Morocco. I try to really choose the places I go based on the experiences I want to have there. Have you always wanted to surf in Hawaii? Have you wanted to take a baking class in Paris? Think about activities you want to do in your life and make a list of them…. then start checking them off rather than checking off a place.

Goa, 2018

10. It’s sometimes who you’re with and not the destination at all

My biggest tip is that you shouldn’t just travel for travel’s sake. As a blogger, I could literally be traveling NON-STOP all year to anywhere I wanted. But we only get this one life and as much as I love to travel, I love other things: my dogs, family, boyfriend, and my home. I am careful to not get travel burn-out where I stop appreciating the new places I go. I also try to balance having a normal home life. I would rather go to Florida (again) with my mom than go off on a solo trip to somewhere new because the first one is memories I’ll always cherish – it’s not always about where you go but who you choose to go with, or even who you choose to stay home with instead of bouncing off on another trip.

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Travel expenses in Southeast Asia are known to be relatively low when compared to those incurred whilst traveling in other regions of the world, so it is no surprise that Southeast Asia is one of the most popular take-off destinations for long-term travelers. But how much does it cost to travel Southeast Asia exactly and is it as cheap as you might think?

Many travelers look at starting off their travels in countries where travel expenses can be kept low, until they find a footing with respect to both their budget and their sanity (sometimes). Planning a budget for long-term travel is no mean feat especially when funds are limited and travel plans are still a work in progress. With cheap accommodation and cheap food available, keeping travel expenses in Southeast Asia low is not usually very difficult, making it a starting travel destination of choice.

Our own adventure kicked off with a commitment to save as much as possible, whilst we were still working full-time in our respective offices from Malta. We don’t have many tips for saving money since we weren’t particularly good at it, and actually wish that we had accumulated some more savings before we left! However, knowing that the travel expenses in Southeast Asia would not be particularly high, we kept up a very busy social lifestyle until the very day we were set to leave!

How Much Does it Cost to Travel Southeast Asia – Our budget and expenses so far

Despite not saving up much, we did not leave home with $500 in our pockets either. Having worked at professional jobs for over 15 years ensured that we had a good chunk of our travel expenses sorted before we left home. We were aware that we could travel on a pre-determined (if rather low) budget for a good number of months if necessary, and any money we made on the road would serve in contributing some “luxury” (usually in the form of better accommodation or an occasional glass of wine) to our travels.

We have now been traveling in Southeast Asia for 8 months and we’ve been to the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor-Leste and we’re currently on our fourth month Indonesia. We have noted down every single expense that we made every day in each of these countries in an attempt to monitor our travel expenses in Southeast Asia and minimize costs where possible.

In spite of the fact that we are traveling on a restricted budget, not only are we doing our best to experience as many things and exciting places as possible, but we are also making that we do not miss out on destinations which are known to be expensive. So yes, a restricted budget, but not to the point where we feel that we are missing out on experiences.

So, what’s a restricted budget with respect to travel expenses in Southeast Asia?

Beyond a basic minimum limit, your travel expenses in Southeast Asia can be as high or as low as you choose. Southeast Asia is perfect this way, in that most of the region caters to budget backpackers as well as to those looking for luxury. You can even travel on a budget and have a “luxury break” if you so wish!

Our pre-determined budget is €30 (around $35) per person per day. That covers ALL expenses including accommodation, transport costs, food, toiletries, sim cards, and internet connectivity and any entrance fees, excursions or activities.

We do not stick to this budget religiously every single day. In cases of interesting activities or excursions (or restaurants) which are expensive we do at times go over-budget. Some other times when traveling in a relatively cheaper area we spend less and save some $$$. We average out our expenses per country and hope that the final average figure is lower than €30 per day in any country!

We’ve had all kind of comments regarding our budget from people telling us that a €30/day budget is sheer luxury to others saying that we’re “tramping” our way around. There’s no universal “right” way of spending your money. Adjusting to a budget mostly depends on the lifestyle you have been used to living and what you’re ready to give up.

For us, the term ‘restricted’ means that when traveling full-time, we are no longer traveling in the same manner as we did when going on shorter trips. Gone are the restaurants dinners, wine and mid-range hotels. In come the street food and local eateries, plastic chairs besides street-side barbeques and hawkers, budget guesthouses and hostels, and overcrowded vans.

We have outgrown dorms at this point in our travels. We tend to look for accommodation with a private bathroom, though we can be flexible on occasions. Mandi-style (bucket) cold-water showers and squat toilets are perfectly fine with us. Although we like to have a functional a/c unit to counteract the Asian heat and humidity at night, we don’t mind using fans instead either.

Tips for minimizing travel expenses in Southeast Asia

Planning

Although being spontaneous tends to be more fun, there’s little doubt that it is more expensive too. Planning your trip beforehand allows for better research into accommodation options, choosing more convenient transport options (don’t miss the twice weekly ferry or long-distance bus if it’s half the price of a flight to the same destination!) and even choosing the right area to stay in to minimize travel costs even further.

If you are traveling during peak season or during local holidays, for example, you should most definitely book accommodation and transport beforehand where possible. During Easter time in the Philippines, it was impossible to find an empty room on the more popular islands whilst during the days of Hari Raya in Malaysia, long-distance buses to many destinations were fully booked from weeks before.

If you’re traveling long-term, planning too much for long stretches of time is not always possible or advisable. We usually like to look into transport and accommodation options for particular destinations about 2 weeks before getting there. If we get the feeling that the place is not particularly busy we will book 1-2 nights stay and monitor transportation out but not book that, so as to have the liberty of staying as little or as long as we like.

If on the other hand, we realize that many rooms have already been taken up and transport options are few, we will book everything beforehand at once so as not to miss out on going there, or have to stay at a resort which costs three times as much as a budget room. This has happened a couple of times and our lack of proper planning was a definite culprit!

Transport

One of the cheapest ways in which to travel long distances in most Southeast Asian countries is by using buses. Some are more comfortable than others (even in economy) with very little difference in price, so we do suggest that you search online and use companies with the newest and most comfortable buses.

Flights in Southeast Asia also tend to be affordable, so you should look at flight prices for any given route before using a bus or a ferry. For example, flying from Ambon to Bandaneira (one of the Spice islands in Indonesia) is cheaper than using the ferry (though more prone to cancellation). All too often though, flights are double or triple the cost of using land transportation and here is where it makes a lot of budgetary sense to go for the cheaper option.

When traveling short distances, it is almost always possible to find some kind of local van to take you to different parts of town, rather than using more expensive taxis. The vans (locally called, bemos, angkots, bisons, jeepneys amongst others) can be very uncomfortable (think people sitting on your lap uncomfortable) but really affordable, probably 10-20 times cheaper than a taxi.

Food

Choosing affordable food options is one of the easier ways in which to minimize travel expenses in Southeast Asia. Local food tends to be very cheap in the region and, with a very tasty wide selection of dishes available, it rarely gets boring.

Very often we eat street food or dine at local eateries and stalls thus ensuring that we stick to our budget. Once a week, we make it a point to eat at a better restaurant with no budget restrictions as a “treat”. We find that this works well since some local dishes might not be available at cheaper places. After some months traveling in Southeast Asia, we also get western food cravings on occasions, which we know will eventually need to be satisfied.

Accommodation

We like to research accommodation options beforehand and even book online if we find a good deal. Some long-term travelers prefer to just turn up and ask around for cheaper stays and accommodation. Whilst this does work out cheaper sometimes, we find it to be a waste of time, and booking online also gives you access to reviews about the place!

Online booking also give you the opportunity to compare price vs quality (cleanliness, facilities and location). Although most times we can get a good room that fits our requirements for less than €20 (around $23)/ night in the main part of town or beach, this is not always the case.

Such budget options in Singapore or in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste were inexistent. Other times, in more remote and undeveloped areas, the only accommodation option available only included shared bathrooms. They had to do!

Activities

Travel expenses in Southeast Asia can be truly minimized by going on few organized activities. There are actually many activities which can be done for free, though some of the best ones are rarely so. We don’t recommend being too stingy with activities and entrance fees as some experiences may be unique to that region only, although this is of course a personal choice.

Diving in different parts of Southeast Asia is world class, the more expensive temples in Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia are the most stunning, whilst cruising around El Nido and Coron in the Philippines will give you access to dream beaches and islands. Going on a balloon ride over the temples of Bagan in Myanmar is an experience we will never forget, and the country itself has plenty of things to do for couples, solo travelers, families, and more.. None of these activities are free (or cheap for that matter) but they are surely worth every penny.

Are some countries in Southeast Asia more expensive than others?

Singapore, Brunei and Timor-Leste are known to be more expensive than other countries in this region. Travel expenses in Cambodia and Vietnam are among the lowest whilst Thailand and Myanmar used to be a lot more budget-friendly than they are now. The travel costs in the Philippines and Indonesia depend a lot on how far you travel and what islands you go to.

Read More: A Vietnam Itinerary for 2 Weeks

Keep an eye on your transportation costs. It is good to point out that although services and amenities may be more expensive in some places, it may be possible to travel around by long-distance bus, thus reducing flying costs, and the average transport expense may turn out to be less than the travel costs for a country where food and accommodation is cheap but transportation expenses are higher.

The latter is true if you intend traveling around countries with many islands such as the Philippines and Indonesia. Although it was way more expensive to eat and to stay in Timor-Leste than it is in Indonesia or the Philippines, it was possible (although difficult) to get around Timor-Leste via long-distance buses, so the average cost of traveling in the country turned out to be less than the average costs of traveling within Indonesia and the Philippines.

Of course, if you choose to spend most of your time on only one or two of Indonesia’s and Philippines’ many islands, travel costs can be considerably reduced. This was never the case for us! We like to experience as much as possible and go off the beaten track, so limiting ourselves to a couple of islands was never a solution.

Traveling and exploring remote islands with limited infrastructure is usually more expensive than spending time in places with considerably more tourist facilities. Traveling within Sumba island, Alor Island and West Timor in Indonesia costs more than going down the well-trodden routes of Java, Bali and Flores. But the opportunity of experiencing places with a little more authenticity and uniqueness and a lot less tourists is priceless!

Our travel expenses in Malaysia averaged out lowest of the countries we have been to so far. Thanks to a very well organized bus and train network, we never needed to catch a flight and only used long-distance buses and ferries. Although we found accommodation costs to be higher in Malaysia than in neighboring Indonesia, the fact that we dined on very tasty street food at hawker stalls, and the fact that the transportation system was so easy to use and reliable, meant that we only spent an average of €22 each/day in Malaysia as opposed to an average of about €30 each/day in the Philippines and €27 in Indonesia.

Singapore costs were by far the highest with an average of €40 each/day which is over our budget. We felt that three days in this little country was enough for a quick overview of the main sites though and the “extra” cost of traveling to Singapore were easily be balanced out by lower costs in neighbouring countries, to ensure that we stuck to our budget.

Surprisingly, the Philippines was a more expensive destination than we expected. We averaged €30 each/day with very little comforts. No expensive or celebratory meals, very basic accommodation and street food almost every day. We thought that activities and boat trips in the Philippines are a little more expensive than they are in the other countries. Furthermore, flights are often an unavoidable evil, as the only means of traveling between different parts of the country, i.e. if you intend exploring much of the territory rather than sticking to one or two touristic islands. In fact, we spent an average of €9.50 each/day on transport as opposed to only €3 each/day in Malaysia.

So far, we feel that we have managed our travel expenses in Southeast Asia pretty well, traveling mostly on a budget but still experiencing as much as possible and pampering ourselves with some comforts every once in a while. It has been increasingly easier to make financial decisions during our travels as we gain more experience with living this lifestyle!

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I hadn’t even heard of Bandung before I got invited there on a press trip over a year ago. I’ve been to 7 more countries since then, and Bandung still stands out as one of the most interesting places I visited! There are so many things to do in Bandung, Indonesia that I recommend you spend at least 5 days there as you’ll have to drive both North and South of the city.

5 Things to do in Bandung (you can’t miss!)

1. Kawah Ratu

This is the biggest attraction in the North: a volcanic crater! Tangkuban Parahu is the mountain (or area) and it is an active volcano. You can hike around here as well. At Kawah Ratu you’ll be able to see one of the most breathtaking sights I’ve seen on my travels. You can also ride a pony! Tip: make sure to buy and eat some berries here. They grow all around these region. You can even visit their farms. Read more about North Bandung here.

2. Kawah Putih

The “white crater” is my favorite of the things to do in Bandung on this list. It’s another volcanic crater than is now a sulfur lake. This one is in Souther Bandung. The color of the water changes between white and green as the sulfur concentrations changes. Many people were wearing masks here, but the smell wasn’t that bad. What an amazing place!

3. Walini Ranca

These are the famous tea fields of the area. You will drive past many but this specific spot is perfect to get out and wander around. The rock in the middle makes for a perfect place to take a photo. The strawberry fields were just down the street. I think this was my second favorite place. I have to say though, I had never seen a tea field like this so was really excited. If you’ve explored them before you might find it less exciting. Read more about South Bandung here.

4. The Food!

Because you’re not in the city you get to eat very traditional style. Sindang Reret in the South served up traditional Sundanese food in the little huts pictured. Sari Ater, North of the city, which is one of the hotels where you can enjoy hot springs, also had amazing food. To try more street style and snack food you can also hit up the floating market in the North for a huge variety.

5. The fantastic Trans Luxury complex

The Trans Luxury hotel is the only 6 star hotel in Indonesia and is in the perfect location in the city. You can book hotels in Indonesia at good rates using local site traveloka.com. This complex has more than just a hotel. It has one of the best spas I’ve been to and has an amusement park! While you’re in the main city be sure to check out the famous outlet stores that people comes from all over to find famous brand names at very low prices. Check out this post for more on the town center.

I was on this trip finding these wonderful things to do in Bandung thanks to Wonderful Indonesia, Pesona Bandung, and all those involved in the Asian African Conference, and this post is sponsored by Traveloka.

The post 5 Reasons You Have to Visit Bandung, Indonesia appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I have been meaning to write a post about how to make money from travel blogging for a while. Other than “what do you do all day” (asked with a tone of “I bet nothing”) and questions about coming to Goa, another question I get asked from soon to be bloggers or readers, is how do you make money from travel blogging? how do you get paid to travel? and how can I make money traveling?

• 14 ways to make money while you travel (only one is travel blogging!)

Although, I could live in India off my blog alone, I couldn’t afford to live in say, Hawaii. Last year I also made spending money from ISLA candles and thai yoga massage, but blogging is my main source of income. Lots of people ask if I do my taxes (why they ask I don’t know…), but yes I do taxes! Bloggers from the US that live abroad still have to pay dollas to the US. I do mine with H&R Block India who specialize in expat taxes.

So, I wrote last year on my ONE year blogging anniversary (eww that sounds so lame) what it was like blogging and gave a few tips, but really just rambled per usual.

Now, it’s been TWO years I’ve had this crazy blog. So, this year I wanted to share the answers of how I make money. Basically, if you weren’t reading this, I wouldn’t make money at all! So thank you! I love writing this blog but it’s a lot of work, so I hope you don’t hate me for wanting to cash out sometimes.

How to get paid to travel… it’s not so easy!

There are SO many good posts to explain how to make money travel blogging, and they’ll probably be way more organized than mine and make less spelling errors, but since I get asked about this- I’m going to answer. Bear with me! and THANK YOU for reading (some of you for the whole two years, crazy!!) I’ll link to some other bloggers articles below.

how to make money from travel blogging

The first thing to know is that it can’t happen overnight, but it CAN happen if you work really hard at it. Blogs that make money have usually built up quality content over a year before they start making money, sometimes 6 months if they are working extra hard. Another thing to know is that in general travel blogging makes way less money than fashion or beauty bloggers, so if you want to make money blogging but don’t care about what type of blogging, maybe choose another thing you love.

A few things the blog needs to succeed:

1) engaged readers who trust you… you already knew that I’m sure ;) I find that just talking on my blog the way I do in person works best and the articles where I *attempt to be funny usually get the most reads. I don’t consider myself a great writer, so just try to type like I’m talking to a friend. You have to find what works for you.

2) self hosted site. I used to use godaddy and it was terrible. I switched to siteground and love it. My site started running faster, it was cheaper, and they back everything up for me fo free. I have renewed with them for the next two years. They are great if you have decent traffic already. If you want the cheapest option ever, go with Bluehost who are way better than Godaddy. This link will give you 2.95/month with Bluehost.

3) a niche, brand, and unique blog name… know “something” well. For me that is travel to India, Goa, luxury/girly travel. You might fall into a niche later you weren’t even expecting. If you are new to blogging, you can take a course to have a little shortcut on everything. I recommend Nomadic Matts super star blogging course.

4) social media followers… you can’t avoid SM as a blogger. People have written hundreds of posts on this, so I’m not going to go into it. But just google social media for travel bloggers and you’ll see.

5) Unique, fun content uploaded at a regular schedule. I started out posting 6x a week, then took it down to 5x but wish I was only posting 3x per week. I just have too much content that piles up.

6. A site that is easy to look at. I think this is more important than people want to think. A pretty site makes people want to stay on it. A messy site will have people clicking away. My blog is built on the Avada theme.

7) a media kit (blogging resume) to show off how great your blog is.

8) a product I have an ebook with five years of knowledge of Goa called the Insider’s Guide to Goa. Click here to buy it if you’re coming to Goa. Having an ebook is good passive income while also helping people. Win-win.

Another thing to note is that some bloggers post 1x a MONTH, promote like crazy, and make the same amount of money as someone who posts daily. Some people get all their traffic from Pinterest, and some people kick ass at SEO and get theirs organically from Google even though they don’t understand SEO (aka me). Some people make money just off social media, and some people with huge numbers of followers make hardly any money. Some people make nothing on affiliates, while others make 200 bucks a day. It’s different for everyone and learning the in’s and out’s of making money blogging really just takes trial and error. There are loads of articles about how other bloggers make money.

• How we make money travel blogging by YTravel
• So you want to be a travel blogger by Young Adventuress
• This is how I get paid to travel the world by Expert Vegabond
• How to find success & make money from a travel blog by BreatheDreamGo

Does traffic matter?

Some will say it doesn’t… but in my experience, as traffic goes up so do opportunities which means, so does money. Of course this blog isn’t all about making money, but if you’re going into travel blogging as a possible career, you’ll want to have monetizing on the brain. At about a year in, I had 65,000 page views monthly and now at year 2 (ah, I’ve had this blog 2 years!) I have about 130,000 page views. Hippie in Heels was in the top 50 travel blogs in the world, but has dropped off in the last quarter (hoping to get back on the list).

Some top bloggers (as in very well-known) have less than 20,000 page views but make WAY more money than I do, so it doesn’t necessarily matter.

Where the traffic comes from matters. My blog is about “glamorous travel” (which I completely made up) or travel in India but my readers are mostly American by a long shot, then Indian, UK, and AUS. If I had only Indian readers because I write about India, that would limit brands targeting foreigners coming to India. It’s important to have a business mindset and keep balance on a site with a smaller niche.

Ok so…. how I make money travel blogging

1. Traveling (press trips/campaigns)

This is the best way to make money blogging but will not happen first, it will most likely be the last type of income you get. This is where you are paid a per diem for going on a press trip. Often times, press trips take 20 bloggers at once, don’t pay and you get your airfare, hotels, and food (well everything) included in exchange for coverage of the trip on your blog. You have the freedom to write anything you want. But, if you are going on a trip within your niche and have a loyal readership, you should be paid a fair rate and discuss how to personalize the trip for your readers. To be transparent, an example of this is my trip with Bandung tourism where I was paid a per diem + the trip for 4 days covered and in return I was meant to write 2 articles. I wrote 3 because Bandung was amazing & I still continue to share about it on social media.

2. Sponsored posts/reviews

If a company contacts me asking if I will tell you guys (readers) about their amazing product, I check out the product and see if it’s cool. Usually, they send it to me and I try it out then decide if I’ll write about it. 90% of emails asking for reviews or mentions of their company go in the trash folder (I mean, do you want me to review swimming goggles, because that was today’s lol) but some are amazing so I share about them. An example of this would be Pinrose or GlobeIn. Usually when a company asks me to do a review, I ask them to give the product to a reader as well. It doesn’t cost them too much to do that, and it is a present for you guys!

I would guess over 90% (maybe even 95%) of my posts are just written by me, promoting no companies, and just giving travel tips. I only work with companies I love and I always say I was paid by them for the post. It’s fun to work with companies like a tour I’ve taken or fashion designers I love and am happy to share with you guys. In fact, most companies I work with, I have reached out to myself and asked them.

3. Ambassadorship

This is my second favorite way after travel to make money on the blog. This is where I work with a company I love (usually I’ve pitched and asked them to work with me) and we set up ways to promote for a specified fee. Usually on my end that means an article about them, a sidebar ad, and x amount of social media posts. Recently, I did a big campaign with Trover. Clinique has yet to get back to me about working together ;) haha. It’s important to be honest when you do a review.

After I worked with goMowgli last year, I wrote a review where I said the Pro’s and Con’s. I loved the company but wanted to share about it like I would to a friend and even when you love something there can be “cons”. They are my favorite company here in India, and after going on a trip with them last year, than invited me back this year (as well as any of my readers at cost value aka they make no money on it) which is great because you’re building a relationship with a company you really trust and feel good about promoting. Then, it’s not work.

4. Social media

Some people don’t even have blogs but are “social media stars” and make a killing on Instagram! I met some on my trip to Bandung actually. With my twitter, Instragram, and Facebook combined I have over 40,000 followers. This number is good for blogging, but actually not that good compared to the big shots. It means I can promote companies through social media, and sometimes not even mention them on my blog. This can work for a product where they want me to photograph it and link to their page. I charge less for this, so it’s good for companies that don’t have a large budget & I love doing fun shots for Instagram.

Below is a collage I made for an article on beachy things I love & and the images are from those companies websites. Whether they sell sunscreen or shampoo, they know what works on Instagram (which includes pineapples & bums more often than not). You have to figure out what works for yours. Usually an IG has a theme. By the way, I wasn’t paid by those companies just loved their stuff in Hawaii so wrote about it.

You can sign up for sites like socialpubli to earn money by tweeting and Instagramming things they want promoted. So far, I have done just 3 projects but it was easy cash.

5. Affiliates

I am signed up for Amazon Affiliates and when I talk about my favorite new makeup or what travel products I use, I often link to Amazon. If someone wants to buy the product, I get a small commission at no extra cost to them. This isn’t a huge income, but is a little cushion each month. I also have affiliates though commission junction for flights and hotel bookings, and while these make me almost nothing (because I don’t know how to best utilize them), they make some people huge amounts each day.

Update: I recently signed up for Affiliate Window and am making decent affiliates from their Etsy and Agoda programs. So, will probably try to switch everything over to here.

I’m a siteground affiliate, so that link up there was a commission link. The SocialPubli link was also an affiliate link! Normally, I would state that at the bottom of the post, but I’m saying it now so won’t.

6. Ads

I take side bar ads for companies I like and actually charge less for ad space for a month than a sponsored post. I also use ads from google adsense and Sovrn; there are two in my side bar and one at the bottom of the page. Similar to the affiliates, these are a passive income. Some bloggers are really good about reaching out and selling ad space, but I am not one of them.

7. Travel planning

I love travel planning for India! If you email me asking a questions and 90% of the time I just answer it. But if you ask every single question known to man about India and want help booking, I will tell you I charge for travel planning. I talk with people over Skype, get an idea of what they want, and send them an itinerary.

8. Freelance writing

Writing for other websites is a fun way to make extra cash. If I had more patience I would email pitches to travel websites, but I really only do freelance if the company reaches out to me. Recent partners are Bindi and Jeans  & Happy Trips. My newest job is writing for a TV channel, but I don’t want to say which one and jinx it! I try to share these in my Friday Roundups before the “This is India” stories.

9. Related text links (sort of)

This used to be the #1 way to make money blogging and was so easy (just add a random link to the blog post, even if it has nothing to do with the post). Then Google said it was illegal and bloggers stopped doing it. You can do it now and it’s legal if they are “nofollow” as in they won’t be tracked by Google (I know, it sounds confusing). I might do one of these 3x a year if they offer a lot of money and I always say at the bottom that there’s a link in the post to __ company and I was paid for it. It’s really too easy of money to pass up on and when you write 5 posts a week for free, it’s nice to make a little cash for a link.

10. Consulting

I help companies who are new and unsure how to utilize social media get started. I do this mostly in Goa, in person, and teach them how to use social media. I also may help with content creation for their websites, or even run their IG and FB pages.

I want to get started on Fiverr making Pinterest images for people and such, but haven’t yet. I do buy things on there from people and love it. There are so many talented graphic designers on there. I’m also getting in SEO and would love to take some classes on it and start helping people with that.

So, that’s it! Blogging doesn’t seem like a real job to a lot of people, but it does bring in the cash and could be a viable option for you. Just know, it’s a LOT of work and you will work hard for maybe a year or more before you start making money.

It also costs money to pay for hosting (I recently switched because my site was getting too much traffic for my old host to handle) and other things that will pop up, for example I just paid someone to optimize my site to run faster so people can read it easier. I also just bought a Mac book Pro with extra RAM, space, and processing speed which is not something I would have spent money on if I wasn’t blogging.

There are more ways to make money on blogging and ebooks seem to be a great way to make money passively. I’d love to write one about Goa as I know it inside and out, but you’ll see once you start blogging that you’ll have a list a mile long of things you know you should do but just can’t find the time.

I answer about 60 emails a day. That takes a lot of time, and it’s time you aren’t paid for… just like writing and editing photos… but you are building a relationship with your readers which is why companies will want to work with you. You have to keep your readers as the #1 priority and that means always telling them when you’re getting paid to share about something, even if you love the company. I would never say it’s too hard to start a blog, but I will say if you’re thinking about it, do it now and do lots of research before so you get it right the first time!

So, these are some of the ways to make money from travel blogging, or “how to get paid to travel”.  Do you want to start a blog? Do you have one and have more tips to share? Tell us!

The post How I Make Money from Travel Blogging AKA What IS My job? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Jakarta

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Jakarta.

Hi!  I’m Justine, a backpacker turned expat.  I actually just moved to Phnom Penh where I work as a freelance writer.  But before I moved to Cambodia I had the opportunity to live in Jakarta, Indonesia, for a full year.  A lot of people don’t really know this but Jakarta is a great city for indulging in all things luxury.  From 5-star hotels to fancy spas to trendy shops, Jakarta seriously has it all.  The sky really is the limit there!

What makes Jakarta a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

When most people think of Jakarta the word “glamorous” isn’t the first word to pop into their minds…at least it wasn’t for me.  But when I moved there I realized that I had been seriously mistaken.  Hidden beneath the chaotic surface is all the glitz and glamour you could ever want.  It’s possible to dine at French bistros, book a night in a $15,000 a night presidential suite (no joke!), or drink the night away at an amazing rooftop bar.  Seriously, if you’ve got the money Jakarta is the place to spend it!

What 5 star hotel is the best in your town?

When I first moved to Jakarta my boyfriend and I were put up in the Pullman Jakarta Central Park, a super swank 5-star hotel located in the heart of the city.  Our room had floor-to-ceiling windows, and the views of the city were pretty incredible.  What I liked about the Pullman was that it was really modern and full of funky art, and it pretty much had the best international buffet restaurant ever, offering everything from sushi to traditional Indonesian foods to ultra-fancy desserts.  But this city is loaded with really nice hotels, the Hotel Mulia Senayan and Hotel Indonesia Kempinski are where a lot of VIPs and celebrities stay (rooms go for around $250+ a night). 

What about boutique hotels, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

The ARTOTEL is mid-range boutique hotel that I’m obsessed with.  I never got the chance to stay there but I did frequent its great rooftop bar, BART.  (FYI, they make a killer old fashioned!)  What I love about the ARTOTEL is that it’s one of the few quality boutique hotels in the Jakarta.  Every room is unique and the walls are decorated by some of the city’s most renowned street artists.  It’s really nice, really affordable and it offers something truly unique – a quality I always appreciate in hotels. (Rooms start at around $65)

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler?

The first thing that pops into my mind is either taking a day trip to the botanical gardens of nearby Bogor or visiting neighboring Bandung to check out the otherworldly crater lake, Kawah Putih.  But for anyone who’s looking for a bit of adventure within the city center, I wrote a whole guide all about the fun and weird things to do in Jakarta.  There are tons of options for anyone who’s looking for a little adventure! 

Where are the best hang outs during the day?

Jakarta is a city of malls.  And most of them are really, really high end.  Two of the most famous malls are Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia.  They are filled with every designer store imaginable.  And they are so big they can keep you entertained for an entire day.  Jakarta is pretty much a shopper’s paradise.  Or, if you’re just looking for a place to hang out, the malls are home to some of the city’s best restaurants.  Another great place to hang out is Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), a beachside area that has tons of great cafes and restaurants. 

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Jakarta and what are their best dishes?

This is tough because Jakarta is full of really, really great restaurants, so I’ll just name a couple!  Namaaz is a molecular gastronomy restaurant and it’s all the rage in Jakarta right now.  It’s so exclusive it can only accommodate 28 people per night.  They serve a 17-course meal, which is constantly changing depending on the season.  It’s progressive Indonesian food, so they serve up dishes like sate klopo (satay with charcoal-smoke infused cassava), wedang jahe (a sweet ginger soup) and nitrogen ice cream.  Potato Head Garage is another Jakarta favorite.  It’s sort of like a modern twist on a steakhouse.  Their menu has things like Asian Beef Tartare, spiced with galangal and kaffir lime, and is famous for all things beef. 

Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?

Indonesians love desserts so there is no shortage of great dessert spots in the city.  Probably the best place to get crème brulee is at Labruletory (located in a funky “anti-mall” called Pasar Santa).  It almost looks more like a science project than a dessert but it is fantastic – they even have a green tea version!  My favorite place for cupcakes is Twelve Cupcakes.  It’s actually a Singaporean company but there are shops sprinkled around Jakarta.  The red velvet and peanut butter chocolate are to die for!  The Nutella martabak (like a thick pancake) from Martabak Boss is probably my favorite dessert in the city!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Anyone who knowns me knows that I’m not the most fashion-savvy person.  But because I worked as a lifestyle writer for The Jakarta Post, it allowed me to meet some up-and-coming Jakarta-based designers.  One of my favorite young designers is named Martha Ellen.  As a traveler I’m always fond of designers who incorporate traditional elements into their work.  She is a British-native based out of Jakarta and uses a traditional Indonesian fabric called ikat to create colorful and cute dresses, skirts, tops…you name it.  The Goods Dept is also the place to find all of Indonesia’s trendy local designers.

What are a couple of the best salons and spas in Jakarta?

Jakarta has so many salons, it honestly isn’t even possible to walk a block without running into one.  But when it comes to massages, Kneads to Know is a great new place.  SPA Intercontinental is an excellent place to splurge on a rubdown.  They are famous for their red wine wrap!

Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?

That’s easy.  Anyone who’s visiting Jakarta needs to visit Skye Bar at least once.  It’s a great place to grab a drink and because it’s on the 59th floor it easily has the best view in the city.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

BART (located in the ARTOTEL) was my go-to spot to get a drink, mainly because it had a good vibe, great music and I just have a thing for rooftop bars!  The Safehouse is also a fun place to go for a cocktail. 

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

Jakarta is famous for its nightclubs.  There are honestly tons to choose from.  Immigrants is great because it has a killer view of the city, and I hear great things about Dragonfly and Colosseum too.

Justine Lopez is a California girl who always seems to take the unconventional route in life.  She also suffers from a serious case of wanderlust.  In 2013, she set out on a yearlong journey that took her from Southeast Asia to South America.  After a crazy turn of events she’s now living and working as a freelance writer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  As she meanders her way through her backyard of Southeast Asia she’s always seeking out great food, budget travel deals and amazing new travel destinations.  Follow Justine on her blog Travel Lush and Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ & Bloglovin’.

The post Luxury Guide to Jakarta appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Maui is not a place to sit around on the beach. It’s a place to go play and be active! Everyone else around will be, so why not join in? Even if you have a budget of 20 bucks you can rent a SUP (stand up paddleboard) and look into the clear blue ocean for turtles! And remember, you can always kill two birds with one stone. For example, in whale watching season don’t book a whale tour. Book a snorkeling tour instead, and you’ll see whales while you’re out there. Here are my 10 favorite adventure activities to do in Maui Hawaii.

Tips for Visiting Maui, Hawaii

• For flights to Maui, check out Kiwi to get the cheapest options. I use it now for all my flight bookings (you can see a full post here), whether it’s domestic or international.
• If you’re not a US Citizen, make sure you check out any visa requirements to visit. I use iVisa for everything related to tourist visas.
• Also, US Healthcare is expensive (take it from a former nurse!). One small, broken ankle could wind up costing more than your whole trip if you don’t have insurance. I highly recommend World Nomads while you’re here, especially with these activities. You can easily get a quote in the box on my sidebar or clicking here.
• For a full guide to Maui beyond these activities, check out my little guide here.
• If you want to look through all the tours you can do, Viator has a huge list!

10 Adventurous Activities to do in Maui Hawaii

1. Helicopter Ride over Maui

My tour with Air Maui really topped the charts of “coolest shit I did in Hawaii.” I think it’s absolutely worth the money. The trip is short and sweet, takes up hardly any of your day, and you get to see a glimpse into so many areas of the island. You can even do the Road to Hana by helicopter in an hour rather than drive it which takes all day.

Check out Helicopter Tours on Viator here

2. Canopy Zipline Tour

I’d only ever been once before back in Ohio at Hocking Hills with my parents. If you’re an Ohioan, the ones in Maui are a little bigger but no scarier. I chose Piiholo Ranch Zipline. It’s located in the cowboy town of Makawao (779 Piiholo Road) in what they call “upcountry Maui”; I suggest going early to the town, exploring and having lunch before your tour.

See all similar Zipline tours here

Tip for Families: If you’re looking for free activities to do in Maui Hawaii, or things to do with kids, this is free for kids under 12 with an adult accompanying them. They have a couple different options and both seemed pretty in the middle on a scale of hiking to skydiving.

There was a drop after one zip where you have to just walk off the platform and a suspension cable will catch you part way and slow you down to the ground – with this part, I got the same adrenaline as bungee jumping! So, pretty cool.

This is the drop part that I loved, and below you see the staff pulling another zipper (is that a word) in. He was a blast as a tour guide! 

The ranch itself goes back all the way to 1830 when missionaries came. During the tour, you’ll hear stories and see the forests of Haleakala. I did the 5 line which was $190 USD. You must wear closed-toe shoes, long pants work best, you can take a camera with a safety strap, and you must be over 8 years old and over 50 pounds (max 275). Tours are rain or shine. I had some rain; they gave us coats and I actually enjoyed the showers.

3. Snorkeling from a catamaran

You HAVE to go snorkeling while in Maui. The coral reefs are cooler than any I’ve seen in places like Thailand, and the water has such good visibility. I chose “luxury sailing charters” Alii Nui and was not disappointed.

See similar snorkeling tours here

When we showed up, it seemed like there were too many people for the boat and they said: “just wait until we’re out and you’ll see there is loads of space…” They were right. When you arrive, it’s early, cold, and breakfast is piled high for everyone, so of course, people jam into the bottom of the boat to eat. As soon as we took off, people spread out over the trampolines and outside the edges of the catamaran. They never take more than 60 people.

Other than the snorkeling being amazing (we went to two locations, gear was great, and wetsuit tops provided), staff was funny and helpful, they were fully stocked with sunscreen, towels, blankets, and fresh water hoses to rinse off, and the FOOD was amazing – even though goPro’s don’t do it justice.

Granted, I just got in from a year in India, but I devoured everything. Full breakfasts with bacon, eggs, croissant, bagels, fruit and more), to snack time (one of my favorite times of day lol) which were veggies, pita and dips, and cookies, to a yummy Hawaiian lunch of pulled Kalua pork, macaroni salad, and more. It was a six-hour tour which was just right to snorkel, lay out and enjoy the boat, eat and mingle. You can also scuba or huka dive from the boat at an extra fee.

I did the morning snorkel deluxe. Arrive at 6:30 am at Ma’alaea Harbor (slip #56, parking is free). The cost is $165 USD and you can book online through the link above.  Tip: bring clothing for COLD weather. It was freezing in the morning. Also, yes, booze is included in the price!

4. Surf like a local!

I really wish my photos would have turned out better for this, but sadly most are blurry as the zoom was messed up on my camera, or actually, I think I just need a new camera.I went surfing with Nancy Emerson Surf Clinic. She is a pro surfer herself and has been a Hollywood stunt double. She has schools in Oahu, Maui, and the Gold Coast. She’s not only the first school to open in Maui, but she focuses on safety and teaching people about the ocean instead of just throwing loads of people in the sea on boards and collecting cash.

It’s individualized attention from the pros and the most there would ever be are 5 people if you choose the least expensive option. My instructor was huge and could probably have blocked a wave for me with his body if he tried haha, but he was like a lifeguard and also gave me a push for each wave since at first people can’t really paddle hard enough to catch the fast waves.

If spots are booked up during your stay, check out more surfing places here

sad these are blurry :(

We had a land lesson first then spent over 2 hours in the water even though my lesson was only two hours (my instructor was a really good surfer, and I think just loved being in the water so neither of us was keeping time). We only stopped because I literally couldn’t paddle anymore. My arms were so tired and my legs were shaky. But, thanks to snowboarding almost my whole life, I got up on the first wave and by the third was turning. It was amazing, and I’ve been daydreaming about surfing ever since.

Their lessons were one of the most memorable parts of my trip, and I highly recommend taking lessons through her clinic. Lessons start at $95 for two hours. Also, while doing land lessons I looked over and saw THIS GUY:

5. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) & Kayaking

Something that anyone can do! You just need to get used to balancing on the board and start out in really, really calm water. We saw a turtle go by and since the water is so clear, you can see all the cute fish underneath. It’s also a great workout! Renting was once as cheap as $10 so it’s easy to just do on a whim anywhere. One well-known company to rent from is called Hawaiian Paddle Sports who you can also get kayaks from.

make sure to wear sunscreen!

If you want some more guidance, check here for SUP lessons

6. Road to Hana

This road starts near Paia and goes up to the small isolated town of Hana on the east coast. We weren’t in AWE of the road to Hana, but it was very cool. Luckily, our hotel Paia Inn gave us a printed out personalized guide of what to stop and see because the signage isn’t great. Alternatively, you can buy CDs that explain the stops along the way. You’re going to need something to tell you which mile markers to slow down at. Also, they make it out like you need a lunch, and there’s NOTHING on the way, but there were loads of stalls selling food. Still, we took a lunch because we didn’t know. Mana food is amazing and has delicious sandwiches and salads. For car rentals, check rentalcars.com; they compare all the major car hire sites.

If you’d prefer, there are tons of different tours for the Road to Hana.

We stayed in Paia, but if you aren’t, then save time to see this cool little town. Also, go to Ho’okipa to watch the kite-surfers (most famous windy surf place in the world). The first bits are Twin Falls, a Bamboo Forest, and painted Eucalyptus trees. Basically, after that, we just drove. We didn’t stop for, well anything until we got to Hana Bay. To be honest, it was raining and all the cars were driving slow, so we got kind of bored. The views were covered by clouds. We’re used to Indian traffic, and it was exhausting not to be able to pass people ;)

You need 3 hours to drive out there. If you make stops, then you need a whole day dedicated to this drive and you should get started early in the morning.

7. Bike to the beach

I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was a kid, and Ben sort of hates riding bikes, but we did it anyways ha! Our apartment at Spreck’s Plantation had a few lying around so we went to the beach, and it was really fun. There are bike rentals all over the island and bike lanes making it safe.

If you want, you can even go on bike or mountain bike tours

(and now a few things we didn’t do, but are great options for your trip to Maui!)

8. Horseback riding

I really wanted to do this but didn’t have time. I was looking at Mendes Ranch because it is in the mountains and views of the ocean too. Most of the ranches in Makawao don’t have sea views.

Check out other horseback riding tours here

9. Scuba diving

We didn’t have it in our budget to do it while out on our Alli Nui tour, but you could on that boat or you can use a variety of companies. Actually, if you want to snorkel, but with a smaller group of people, like 6-8, you can look into Snorkel Safari, a company I wanted to try but didn’t have time.

Here are some scuba diving tours

10. Drive up and hike Haleakala

This is a volcanic crater that’s famous to see at sunrise, and it’s a drive… which means waking up at 4:30 am. I’d just been to Bandung seeing huge craters that were amazing, and we didn’t want to get up early, so skipped. I know people will think that’s crazy, but sometimes when you travel you have to do what you feel like. I have a feeling I’ll be back and able to do this another time. You can mountain bike down from this!

Check out the different Haleakala tours here

If you’re going to be on the island a while, it’s worth taking the time to read up on the local secrets in Maui and find some ways to get off the beaten path – we hired a local guy one day to show us some secret places and it’s one of our favorite memories. You can read my whole guide to Maui here.

Pin 10 Maui Adventures for later so you never run out of things to do in Maui while you’re there!

Disclosure: Some of these activities invited me in exchange for a review and exposure on my blog- all opinions are always my own! This post also contains affiliate links.

The post My Top 10 Adventure Activities to Do in Maui Hawaii appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

After seeing so much in Northern Bandung, I was really excited to see what the South has in store. So, here’s what to do in Southern Bandung, or at least what I did.

Everyone talked about the “White Crater” and I didn’t google it because I really wanted a surprise. I was not disappointed. By the time we toured around the Walini Ranca, I was overwhelmed with all the beauty… you probably know if you saw my Instagram lately! The shots were incredible. If you missed the article on why I was in Bandung, check that link out.

Kawah Putih

Upon arriving we were given masks for the smell of the sulfur. Most of us decided we didn’t need them, but it did affect us a little by making us cough. This is a volcanic crater and the name means “white crater” although with changes in the sulfur concentration, it’s not always white, sometimes it’s green.

There was another cool blogger there who had one a purple dress that just looked amazing with the water. She became our model! Follow her on Instagram if you’d like, it’s @imazahraa. There was a fog over the water (or maybe it was due to the sulfur) that made it have a little spooky feel. It was very cool. I’ve never seen anything like it.

**tip: for somewhere to stay nearby check out the hot springs at Patuha Resort. Be sure to dress warm! Here are a few photos from there as well…

Sindang Reret

This hotel and restaurant serves up amazing food! We went for a traditional Sundanese lunch and ate til we were way too stuffed. The place is set up to look like the tents that workers would use in the tea fields and the food is similar to the food they would eat, just way more varieties served all at once. They had employees that walked on the stilts and men who played traditional music. The whole afternoon there was lovely and I highly recommend stopping here. In case you want to stay here, rooms start at 400,000 rupiah (or about 31 USD).

Some of my favorite things on the menu were karedok (mixed veg with peanut sauce), a very specialized dish called arem arem kacang endul (saute red ben with chili sauce), perkedel jagung (corn fritters), kasreng (traditional crackers), and of course sambal sauce on everything! I also loved the flowery tea they served, but couldn’t tell you what it was unfortunately.

Walini Ranca

Although there are tea fields all over the mountains, this is a famous place to take photographs. It’s close to the hotel I mentioned above and a cool place to stop. There are a couple of people selling snacks there but it’s not a real tourist attraction. It’s very free and open and you can stay as long as you like. Feel free to walk around in the fields as well. I didn’t stop at the strawberry fields because of time, but I will if I go back again, which I hope I do.

I was on this trip thanks to Wonderful Indonesia, Pesona Bandung, and all those involved in the Asian African Conference, but all opinions are my own.

The post Southern Bandung | sulfur lakes and tea fields appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I didn’t know what to expect at all when I got to Bandung, least of all what to do in Northern Bandung. I was there on a trip with Indonesia and Bandung tourism, and didn’t have much time to research the area. I was BLOWN AWAY with the sights.

Some of the best parts were just seeing the big clouds over the mountains. How was the sky so blue and the tea leaves so green?! It was like it had been photoshopped.. in fact, my photos almost look photoshopped! But as you can imagine, I’m not that techy. I also loved the donkeys and horses, the rice fields all over the countryside, the random guys helping with traffic (were they hired or just helping, because their clothes were just normal!), the sunsets, the fog, the cold mornings, and the clean feeling in the air.

I wish I could have taken photos of the drive to Tangkuban Parahu, but the windy roads were making me feel a little sick… plus the fact breakfast was rice and noodles, no kidding! On your way up north, you should maybe take motion sickness pills. I’ll share a little bit about Tangkuban Parahu, the floating market, and learning to play the angklung.

Sari Ater

This hotel has huge hot springs that they boast as some of the best in the world. Your showers will actually have the hot spring water coming out. It’s a great resort and the swimming pools have been built into the spring! They have off-road go-karts, horses, and awesome 4 wheel drive adventures.

Tangkuban Parahu

Bandung was actually a lake a long time ago, but is now a huge city with something like 2 million people living there. Although some parts are prone to flooding, the lake is long gone. Now, the volcanoes and mountains that surround make for a great view from the city. If you drive north to Tangkuban Parahu which is an active volcano, you’ll get to see a HUGE volcanic crater called Kawah Ratu (Queen Crater). It’s amazing.

There are vendors dotted around and people giving donkey (or mule? or small horse?) rides. You’ll also see everyone selling the locally grown blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries. It’s kind of perfect. No one hassles you to shop either.

Bandung Floating Market

The floating market is a great place to try local food. You can have a real lunch first, then snack if you like. You’ll switch money from tokens to make it easy. I don’t suggest taking the boat out and seeing the different floating stalls, but rather it’s easier to taste from land on the other side. Plus, rowing the boats is a work out and makes photography hard.

Definitely taste the “crepes”, dim sum, banana cake (so cute!), and all the varieties of delicious fried food. I even got a lollipop I saved for the parade.

Saung Angklung Udjo

In West Java, the Sundanese still play their traditional instrument, the angklung. It’s made of bamboo and different sizes are different octaves. I wish I could have gotten more photos from the center, Saung Angklung Udjo, where we saw a performance and also a traditional play. You will want to tap along to the play’s music, but trust me, it’s impossible to follow the beat!

Have you ever heard the quote from actress Kristen Bell, “if I’m not on a 3-7 on an emotional scale, I’m crying”. That is so me! I tear up sometimes with sad commercials, and I have teared up more times than I can count in India when something sweet happens.

I was sitting in the stands feeling so lucky to see their art form and to be on the trip in general, and the kids started playing Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. I started to tear up! I cheered so loud when it was over and the kids took us out to dance with them. We got to play our own angklungs which was pretty damn cool!

I was on this trip thanks to Wonderful Indonesia, Pesona Bandung, and all those involved in the Asian African Conference, but all opinions are my own. If you want to read more, check out my article on what to do in Southern Bandung.

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As we raced down the highway, I curled up in the front seat with my Harry Potter audio book playing (while Harry was first discovering his hidden Quidditch talents) on the way to the airport to leave Indonesia. I’d been in Bandung for 5 days and weirdly felt like I was in America on the highway.

It was a mixture of the A/C SUV, the actual lines on the highway… and the people following the lines, using their blinkers, and NOT honking their horn to pass. The bright green grass and fluffy trees all along the highway were just like in Ohio. There were no decorated trucks, no rickshaws, and no local buses or trucks with people hanging out the back and sides.

I’m sure most people coming from America to Indonesia for the first time wouldn’t notice similarities, and this made me realize how far removed I was from my American life in India. Another reason that Indonesia reminded me of home is that everyone was smiling and friendly; a true staple of American people. I love India, but it was so nice to experience another culture.

us bloggers posing with the police per their request

Why was I in Bandung and where is Bandung?

I went to celebrate and document the 60th commemoration of the Asia African conference with a group of Asian bloggers. I think I was an honorary Asian ;) because of all my Indian readers. I didn’t know where Bandung was at first and had never been to Indonesia, so here’s a little information in case you were as clueless as me:

• Bandung is the capital of West Java, Indonesia – called the “Paris of Java”
• The city lies in a basin surrounded by volcanic mountains!
• It’s also known for tea plantations, started by the Dutch
• The Dutch left in 1945 when Indonesia became independent
• The city is incredibly modern, but traffic is crazy!
• It’s full of creative, smart youth and the people from Jakarta come here to see the art, music, painting, and fashion on the weekend. It’s a university town.

The conference is a sort of platform for all the countries to come together in Asia and Africa that have achieved independence from their previous rulers.

What to do in Bandung

I’ll be telling you more about Bandung, later but here’s a peak at the highlights:

Highlights in North Bandung: touring hot springs (and showering in them!), seeing the huge volcanic crater Kawah Ratu and mountains of Tangkuban Parahu, trying local food at the floating market, and learning to play the local instrument, angklung, and watching a cultural performance at Saung Angklung Udjo.

Highlights of South Bandung: were the white crater called Kawah Putih, traditional lunch at Sindang Reret, and the tea plantations of Walini Ranca.

The main city itself also boasts the largest indoor theme park in the world, the only 6 star resort in Asia, the Tran Luxury Hotel, massive shopping malls, and famed factory outlet stores. It was a really cool city and perfect to host the parade for the conference.

Trans Studio Theme Park… clearly like a kid in a candy store. Perks of being a blogger.. cutting in lines, WHAT! I know! We rode a roller coaster than went up 90 degrees and then dropped backwards. 

Trans Luxury 6 star hotel… I had never been in a 6 star hotel before, so clearly the nicest places I’ve ever stayed. So amazing! More later.

with Mei and Dawn, two fellow bloggers from Malaysia and Singapore

The Parade from the 60th commemoration of Asia Africa Conference

In 1955, 29 countries came to Bandung to discuss peace, security, and economic development, where issues were mostly caused by conflict between East and West. Although quite a serious event where delegates talk about their partnerships between each country, there was some fun: a huge parade in the city, and everyone in town came for it… actually 2x more people than they expected, so they made the parade even bigger!

nicest volunteers showing us around & local food.. hey guys!!

We had top row seats on a “media” double-decker bus to take photos… but I’m not going to lie, it was my first time seeing selfie sticks and I was blown away by the number of people in groups taking shots with their GoPros or iPhones on a stick. So, let me just show you what it was like looking at people taking selfies in every direction:

The news called for rain and I asked this girl Melody who worked in management with IBIS hotel (and was so sweet!) if they were worried. She explained that a “rain man” came and hopefully can make it not rain! I thought that was pretty cool.

Here are a few professional photos from the tourism board, since I’m sure you all know I am no professional photographer (or writer!), ha ha.

A few extra tips for Bandung:

Do not miss the Trans Studio theme park. If you want to know where to stay in Bandung, I can verify that the Ibis hotel was amazing and affordable. The connecting Trans Luxury hotel was over the top incredible with amazing food, a Swarovski crystal dragon, and a pool with sand!

four girls demolished all this food! mmm!

There is a huge mall attached (great for expats with a Wendy’s and Starbucks- haha I can’t help myself!). It’s a central location. OH PLUS, the massages were insane at the Trans Luxury!!! I loved the spa facility.

Also to check out the Pasar Baru a 7 floor shopping and trading center. Famous buildings you can see on city bus tours are Heritage Building, Gedung Merdaka, and Gedung State. Feel free to walk around “old Bandung” as well at Braga street. I had a blast in Bandung and can’t wait to tell you more. There will be two more posts coming up.

I was on this trip thanks to Wonderful Indonesia, Pesona Bandung, and all those involved in the Asian African Conference, but all opinions are my own.

The post Why I Was in Bandung + What to do in Bandung? appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

What I was up to other than here:

• I have a blast in Indonesia with some fellow bloggers checking out Bandung and the Asian African conference.. more on that later, but I’ve been posting lots of pics on my instagram and facebook.
• So, the blog has been mentioned on a few things over the past two weeks but I won’t always be sharing that anymore because I’ve come to realize some people link to blogs in order to get them to link back! Weird blogging logic… but unless it’s something really cool, it won’t be on here :)
• I’m back in Goa for a week then off to Hawaii next week. Ben has a job out there so I am tagging along and going to explore Maui while he works. If you have tips, please shoot them over. I’ve been so busy that I haven’t googled it at all and am completely winging it!

Now your story,

Have you ever heard of a “dry day”? I was familiar with some alcohol laws in the US because I used to be a cashier at a grocery store. If I remember correctly, on Sunday you can’t buy alcohol before 12 noon in Ohio.

In India there are many alcohol laws. They keep trying to make it banned in Kerala, a state which has a very high rate of alcoholism. In Kerala, they don’t allow sales of booze on the 1st of the month because people will blow their whole paycheck… or as least I’ve heard that’s the logic.

Most or all holidays are “dry days” and it’s taken very seriously. Actually even restaurants like Thalassa clear the bar and take away all the alcohol on these days. In supermarkets, there will be a blanket over the booze with a sign explaining it’s a dry day.

Alcohol is prohibited in some states like Gujarat, Manipur, Nagaland, and Lakshwadeep (an island). Technically, you’re supposed to be 25 to drink liquor in Mumbai, but I think you’re allowed wine with a meal or something like this. But, to be fair I have never seen someone be carded EVER in India. The age varies state to state. I told what happened when I went to a wine shop in Kerala as a female!

The last time they tried an alcohol ban in Kerala that I can remember, they said liquor can only be sold in 5 star resorts. A clever Indian saw around this and put a sign that said “5 star hotel” on his little street side shack, but I can’t find the photo online anywhere!

This is India!

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

feature image: source

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This list will be ever-growing & ever-changing as I cross things off and meet new people who inspire me. I am a little obsessed with making lists. When I met my now best friend back in college, she came into my dorm room and saw my academic planner. She started to flip through it. Each day was what tv show I was going to watch and what time it was on. Monday: 90210 and Gossip Girl. I make lists for what I need to do, what my boyfriend needs to do (he really hates that ha ha), and what I want to eat next time I’m back in the U.S. Lists are life, people.

It is only natural I make a list of place I want to go and things I want to see.

PS: I’ve made one specific to India as well: My India Travel Bucket

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