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Self-growth, Solo Travel

The Life-Changing Power of Solo Travel: 20+ Lessons I’ve Learned From Solo Travelling and How It Transformed My Life

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  • Solo travel benefits solo travel lessons
    Self-growth,  Solo Travel

    The Life-Changing Power of Solo Travel: 20+ Lessons I’ve Learned From Solo Travelling and How It Transformed My Life

    If you are hesitating about trying solo travel or wanting to understand why solo travel can be a life-changing experience, or you find yourself at a stage in life where you are uncertain about what’s next and want to seek…

  • Taipei massage recommendation Relax 33
    Taiwan,  Wellness

    Aesthetic & best Taipei Massage Recommendation: Relax 33 Massage SPA and Lounge Review (near Metro Zhongshan Station)

    As someone who is pretty picky about massages and has high standards for massage technique, service, and overall atmosphere, finding a great massage place in Taipei that I can fully trust and enjoy is a challenge for me. After trying…

  • Grampians Boroka Lookout rainbow
    Australia

    7 Must Visit Grampians Attractions with Ratings for Views, Trail Uniqueness & Difficulty

    Planning a trip to Grampians National Park in Australia? This guide covers 7 must-visit Grampians attractions, including Pinnacle Lookout, Reed Lookout, The Balconies (Jaws of Death), Mackenzie Falls, and Boroka Lookout. For each attraction, you will find ratings for the…

  • Pinnacle Lookout Grampians
    Australia

    Grampians Pinnacle Lookout walk guide: how difficult is it? trail photos & ratings from 5 people with different fitness levels

    Hiking to Pinnacle Lookout is one of the Grampians’ most popular trails, yet it’s also known for being challenging. So how difficult is the Pinnacle walk trail? In this guide, you will see real photos of the route, hiking duration,…

  • Mackenzie Falls photos
    Australia

    Mackenzie Falls walk in Grampians guide: trail difficulty, return trip distance and time, photos along the way.

    According to Visit Grampians, Mackenzie Falls is one of Victoria’s largest waterfalls and a popular attraction in Grampians National Park. This guide covers whether it’s worth visiting, trail difficulty, hiking distance and duration, plus photos along the way. Difficulty rating…

  • Grampians The Balconies (The Jaws of Death) photo
    Australia

    The Balconies and Reed Lookout Grampians Guide: difficulty, views, distance and duration of walk

    Planning a trip to the Grampians National Park? This guide covers The Balconies and Reed Lookout, including trail difficulty, hiking distance and duration, and the stunning views at both lookouts. Use it to plan your visit and decide if these…

  • Grampians Boroka Lookout rainbow photo
    Australia

    Boroka Lookout Grampians Guide: No Hiking Required, Actual Views & Is It Worth Visiting?

    Planning to visit Boroka Lookout in the Grampians? This guide covers actual views, photos, difficulty rating, whether it’s worth visiting, and tours that include Boroka Lookout. Difficulty rating for Boroka Lookout, Grampians Boroka Lookout is the easiest lookout to access…

  • 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Itinerary and Honest Private Tour Review (From Melbourne)
    Australia

    3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Itinerary + Honest Private Tour Review (From Melbourne)

    Traveling to Melbourne, Australia, and want to explore stunning coastal views, mountains, rainforest and wildlife without self-driving? This guide shows you how to enjoy 16 attractions on a relaxed 3-day Great Ocean Road and Grampians itinerary, plus my detailed, honest…

  • Sapa rice terrace trekking photo
    Vietnam

    Vietnam Sapa travel tips: tourist traps to avoid, how to get to Sapa from hanoi & itinerary suggestion

    Planning a trip to Northern Vietnam? If you love nature, mountain views, stunning rice terraces, and want to understand more of Vietnam’s ethnic culture, Sapa is a great destination. The best part? Traveling from Hanoi to Sapa is easier than…

  • Nguyen Van Binh Book Street in Ho Chi Minh City
    Vietnam

    11 aesthetic and cultural things to do in Ho Chi Minh City

    In this article, I will share some of the highlights I think are worth checking out, whether you are interested in Vietnamese history and culture, artistic vibes, or photogenic places, you will find Ho Chi Minh City attractions that suit…

  • Hanoi attraction
    Vietnam

    Hanoi travel guide for first-time visitors: must-try food, attractions, itinerary & currency tips

    Planning a trip to Hanoi and wondering how many days is enough, what are things to do in Hanoi, and what to know before you go? This Hanoi travel guide will share aesthetic, historical, cultural places to go in Hanoi,…

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About Author

solo travel girl

Hello! I’m Samantha, a Taiwanese shorty who unexpectedly took the first solo trip after finishing my summer job in the USA in 2012, and it greatly transformed my life and mindset. Since then, I have explored 21 countries, attained a Master’s degree in the UK, lived in Palau, Shanghai, and Dubai.

I believe that everything starts with an idea and one step. Therefore, I created this blog to share my journey and tips in exploring the world and self-growth. My hope is to connect with like-minded souls & aspiring solo travelers and provide a little help, inspirations for your next adventures.

As I’m crazy about ocean views, rooftop/outdoor bars/cafes, aesthetic vibes, and hidden gems recommended by locals. You’ll easily find information on all of these in my blog.

Let’s explore, grow and heal together! xx

Contact & Work With Me: [email protected]

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October — my month of life and love, always hold October — my month of life and love, always holding a special place in my heart 💙

This year, we even managed a family trip to Australia 🇦🇺 
and I finally made my way back to Shanghai, five years after leaving without a proper goodbye.

Appreciated all the warm wishes & gifts I received,
all the precious moments shared with loved ones,
all the reunions with familiar faces I hadn’t seen in years,
all the long-awaited hugs and catch-ups -
my heart feels full, and I’m grateful beyond words 🥰🩵💙💚
The magic of Greece 🪄 🇬🇷 Just like Otto, The magic of Greece 🪄 🇬🇷 
Just like Otto, the man in my favorite destination advertisement, I too carried the weight of burnout and a weary mind when I arrived in Greece in 2022.

And much like he did, I felt a deep connection to the country despite only spending 10 days in Greece.

The views, the food, the streets, the sea,
The personality, the cats, the energy.
The kind locals’ wise, philosophical and calm mindset.
Even the fellow travelers I encountered carried a unique vibe I truly connected with. 
These are some of the reasons I fell in love with Greece.

It’s been 3 years since I last visited,
everything about Greece kept replaying in my mind.
I know I need to go back to Greece, a place I feel like home and where my healing quietly began.

But unlike last time—just 10 days, visited only Crete and Athens,
next time, I want to stay longer, travel deeper—
because I know there’s still so much more of Greece waiting for me to explore 💫

You? What do you feel about Greece?

📸 📍 Athens & Crete Island, Greece 🇬🇷 

🔔Greece | You Will Want To Stay Forever video credit: Visit Greece 
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgJGX3ldxOg

#greece #visitgreece #greecetravel #greecetravelgr #greecelover #cretegreece #sealover #travelblogger #visitgreece
Hundred of wishes lighting up the night sky 🏮✨
This is the annual Sky Lantern Festival in Taiwan.

Pingxi is famous for its sky lantern. 
You can actually visit any day of the year to write your wishes on a lantern and release it.

But if you want to witness a magical moment like this, when over a hundred lanterns rise into the sky together, you will need to go during the festival which held around the Lantern Festival 元宵節each year (date changes every year).

It was my first time seeing it in person.
Honestly, I came partly because I’ve been watching a little too much news lately and needed something hopeful to look at. And this place really is full of hope. 

Besides the usual wishes for health and prosperity, I noticed many international visitors wrote the same wish: “world peace” this year.

It’s certainly a wish that we all need, and somehow it’s emotional seeing many people do care about the world and others far away.

At the same time, it also feels insane that world peace has became ordinary people’s regular wishes and prayers, while wars are often caused by world leaders.

Still, wishing the world peace. No more war 🧚🏻‍♀️
And for world leaders to become wiser & to care more about people than about their power, ego, profit and entertainment. 🙏🍀🙌

每次看到台灣明信片上的平溪天燈齊放奇景,
都想著哪一年我要去看,但沒有一年有真的特地去一趟。

今年不知哪裡來的勁,可能是看了太多世界負面新聞,覺得很需要看到一些希望和美麗的景吧。
元宵節當天忙完,抓了相機就出發,來回花了五小時
站著淋雨也淋了兩個小時,終於看到也拍到這感動的瞬間!

一百多盞天燈同時升起那刻,像是希望佈滿了整片夜空,很驚艷感人啊,比起中東戰火滿天,我們真的是很幸運欸目前!

可能是多數人都感受到全球的動盪,
願望部分,看到除了大家最常寫的身體健康和發財以外,
今年很多盞天燈上面都寫著「世界和平」,根本超級需要!
看到還是有很多人為世界祝福,以及關心世界上的人,就覺得莫名的很感動哈!

雖然不懂為何世界和平居然變成普通百姓需要常常來祈求的事,而各種戰爭紛亂卻都由世界領導挑起。
但還是要祈求,世界趕快和平啊,不要再有戰爭了!
祈求世界領導都很有智慧、關心人民多過於自己的權力、自我、利益和娛樂。

📸 📍 Shifen Square, Pingxi, New Taipei City, Taiwan
新北市平溪十分廣場
A reminder from my personal experience 👉Even if A reminder from my personal experience 👉Even if you are super busy, don’t forget to do something that makes you happy and helps you maintain good emotional/mental health. 

Remember during months of busy event period in Dubai, there were more than a month I worked almost non-stop 14++ hrs per day and had no chance to take a day off or have a good night sleep without waking up in the middle of the night in shock while still had to be calm and smile the next day to manage and deal with people and things. 

It was a crazy period of time and an interesting challenge, also interesting knowing how much more we can do and push our limits. 

But, was it healthy? Honestly, no. I had a nervous breakdown for the first time in my life(yes even me😑), and had unusual pimples. 

Fortunately, I got to have 1 day off per week for months afterwards. And because that 1 day was so PRECIOUS, every time I had to debate with myself whether to have a proper rest at home to recover from exhaustion OR to go out and explore. 

Always end up choosing the latter one because it is something that makes me feel I am living and happy. Also, to have work-life balance is good for mental/emotional health. Even if I needed to continually do computer work or get more sleep, I forced myself to get out and do it at beaches, cafes or massage places rather than at home.  

💡🧞‍♂️That’s how I managed to visit a few places in Dubai/UAE with very limited time and energy 😬(had to say ❌NO plenty of times to alcohol,🍹parties in order to keep myself sober and have energy to explore the next day though). 

Also that’s one of my ways to release stress, to control my emotions as well as not to bring negativity to people around me. It really helped ❤️‍🩹. 

🫶Do something that makes you happy, and take care of your emotional/mental health, maybe the people around you will feel happier too. I believe when more individuals are healthier and happier, the environment and the world will too. 

What makes you happy❓

📍 Koko Bay, West Beach, Dubai, UAE

A Baliese-inspired beach bar and restaurant I loved going to relax in the city.

#beachbar #travelgram #happysoul #emotionalhealth #wellnesstravel
今年新北三重元宵燈會真的很值得一看耶!
已經好幾年沒想看燈會了,
因為前幾年的燈都很普通,沒什麼特別。
不過今年的這群馬 🐎和其他的燈都很吸引人欸!
整體設計滿有誠意的,細節也做得算精緻,
很多作品都很漂亮!
還沒去看的人,真的可以找時間去看一眼耶!
只到 🗓️ 2026/3/8!快結束了喔!!

Some of the lanterns at the 2026 Lantern Festival in Sanchong, New Taipei City.

They did a pretty great job this year, definitely worth a visit.

I haven’t been to a lantern festival in Taipei or New Taipei City in years because those ones in recent years just didn’t really appeal to me.

But this year is different! ✨The horse 🐎themed lanterns they designed for 2026 caught my eyes. 

Many of them are detailed and beautifully done.

If you haven’t been yet, I’d say gogogo, check it out before it finish on 🗓️ 8 March 2026.

📸 📍 新北大都會公園 New Taipei Metropolitan Park
(三重捷運站 MRT Sanchong Station)
If you are also overwhelmed by so many heartbreaki If you are also overwhelmed by so many heartbreaking news & images of what's going on in the world now, here are some calming vibes for you(I tried), from my favourite, peaceful island this year 🌊 

I’ve lost my mood on writing normal lively travel contents, this week is especially tough🥲

If you also feel our normal daily life has become a little weird now, you are not alone. 

If you feel sad, I'm with you.

If you need a soothing music playlist, or good news, or talk, let me know.

If you didn’t care, I hope you do now.

Yes, we all have our concerns, life to live, and problems to solve.

Yet, many people struggle with even being alive now.

And no, it is not far away from us. 

We all live on the same earth 🌏, we are all linked together.

💙💚

📍 Koh Rong Island, Cambodia 🇰🇭 
🗓 October, 2023
“Follow your dreams” 追夢去吧 With messag “Follow your dreams” 追夢去吧

With messages that inspire dreamers, Sweet Dreams Koh Rong is a picturesque and stunning beachfront resort featuring:

🌊A seafront infinity pool.
🌊Bungalows with panoramic beach views and a minimalist yet aesthetically pleasing interior design.

It offers:

💫 The perfect spot to see the sunrise.
💫A convenient location for exploring the entire Koh Rong Island.
💫Free use of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUP).
💫Tasty, authentic local meals.
💫Reasonable prices.
💫Delightful bright views to wake up to.
💫A cozy, peaceful, and safe environment for a restful night’s sleep.

Some additions I would appreciate more are:

📝A separation between the toilet and shower.
📝Light breakfast options like smoothie bowls, considering the hot weather on the island.

But, overall, we had a very pleasant experience and enjoyed quality rest at Sweet Dreams Koh Rong resort.

💙As a sea view lover who appreciates a bright and comfortable environment, I would not hesitate to recommend it if you plan to visit Koh Rong Island, Cambodia. 

📍 柬埔寨高龍島 Sweet Dreams Koh Rong Resort, Koh Rong Island, Cambodia 🇰🇭 
🫶@sweetdreams_kohrong
“Gratitude drives happiness. Happiness boosts pr “Gratitude drives happiness. Happiness boosts productivity. Productivity reveals mastery, and mastery inspires the world” - Robin Sharma

This year, I've learned a multitude of new things— skills, personal growth, history, people, places and the power of living in the present. 

However, the most significant lesson has been cultivating gratitude for what I already have and appreciating more for people's unconditional help.

It started from witnessing volunteers and monks passionately contribute their energy, time, skills, and knowledge during a week-long meditation retreat at the Buddhist centre I attended. We were so thankful everyday, and made me feel that I was somehow healed.

And then from observing the not rich at all but genuine, beautiful hearts of Cambodian people, who are content and always smile and calm. It stayed in my mind and warmed my soul.

Lastly, following daily contents from the Middle East, seeing the resilience of people facing challenges, sadness beyond what we can imagine, yet many of them continue to have faith, smile and express gratitude for life's small blessings and help each other …..this hits me hard❤️‍🩹.

Considering all these, what's not to appreciate about what I have❓

💕I am more grateful than ever for the opportunities to see and capture beautiful views of the world. 
💕I am grateful for my health and the health of those whom I love. 
💕I am grateful for the food, home, and freedom I get to have. 
💕I am grateful for every little sign that the universe brings to encourage me to keep doing what I love. 
💕I am grateful for the support, friendship, and love from so many of you, as well as the meaningful, inspiring conversations and quality time spent together.

I shall remember this, and keep being grateful for things while pursuing dreams. 

Hope 2024 will be a peaceful, & abundant year for us & the world 🌍
This year, I finally made it back to Europe and ex This year, I finally made it back to Europe and experienced Europe’s Xmas markets I missed for 8 years!!!🎄

This time, I even got to tick off the one at the top of my winter dream list—Colmar 🇫🇷, the Christmas fairytale town! 🌟 I went crazy the moment I stepped onto Colmar‘s streets and couldn’t stop taking photos.

What’s better about it? This magical town has 6 Christmas markets itself! 😍 
No surprise, two of my 128GB SD cards went fulll real fast😂

We came all the way from Warsaw, Poland, driving 13 hours was 1000% worth it (I think). 🚗

If you’re as obsessed with Christmas markets as I am, don’t miss this one! 🎅🏼 ✨

心心念念要再回到歐洲逛聖誕市集的我,
終於在離開歐洲8年後又再度於有夠冷的季節來到歐洲,擁抱我的聖誕市集啦!
這一次有幸能去到我放在冬天旅遊夢想清單上第一名的Colmar科爾馬,真的是太感動了!
除了完全符合預期外,還意外知道原來光這聖誕童話小鎮上就有6個聖誕市集
簡直賺到!一踏入後整個瘋掉,相機128GB記憶卡兩張一下就爆滿。
Colmar根本就是愛聖誕市集、聖誕氛圍人的天堂!
一路從波蘭華沙開13小時的車到這裡,超值得啦!
愛聖誕的人,趕快收藏起來,你絕對會超愛這裡的🎄

📷 📍 Colmar, France 🇫🇷 
🗓 29 November, 2024

#colmaralsace #colmarchristmasmarket #visitcolmar #visitalsace #christmasmarkets #christmasvibes
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