A Shorty Explores

Travel and Self-growth

Alt Sidebar
Random Article
Search
  • World Destinations
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Taiwan
      • China
    • Europe
      • Greece
    • Middle East
      • United Arab Emirates
        • Dubai
  • Ocean View Travel Destination
  • Rooftop and Terrace
  • 中文 (台灣)
  • World Destinations
    • Asia
      • Indonesia
      • Taiwan
      • China
    • Europe
      • Greece
    • Middle East
      • United Arab Emirates
        • Dubai
  • Ocean View Travel Destination
  • Rooftop and Terrace
  • 中文 (台灣)

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

  • Apo Whang Od tattoo photos
    Philippines,  Travel Story

    Apo Whang Od Was Not in Tattoo Village Buscalan: Our Adventurous Journey in Finding the World’s Oldest Tattoo Artist

    This article will share our adventurous journey, how and where we found Apo Whang Od outside of Buscalan, what she is like in person, the Batok tattoo and village homestay experience, and more.

  • buy Angkor wat painting in siem reap
    Cambodia

    13 cultural and artistic things to do in Siem Reap, Cambodia, more than Angkor Wat

    When we hear of Siem Reap, we often associate it with visiting Angkor Wat. However, there are still many more cultural and artistic activities to explore in Siem Reap other than visiting Angkor Wat. If you are art and culture…

  • Kampong Phluk Floating Village Cambodia Tou柬埔寨空邦魯浮村r
    Cambodia

    Unforgettable Kampong Phluk Floating Village Cambodia Tour: A Genuine and Detailed Review

    Discover whether the Kampong Phluk Floating Village tour in Cambodia is truly worth it with this genuine review. And if you are seeking a trustworthy and unforgettable tour where you can immerse yourself in a colourful and unique village rich…

  • Angkor wat temple photo
    Cambodia

    Essential Angkor Wat Guide for First-Timers: Must-See Temples, Photo-Perfect Clothing, Sunrise/Sunset Spots, Best Tour and More

    Angkor Wat is the iconic travel destination in Cambodia, renowned for its rich history and incredible architecture, attracting travellers and photographers from around the world. This article provides essential Angkor Wat guide for your smooth and enjoyable visit to Angkor…

  • Angkor wat temple 吳哥窟一日遊行程
    Cambodia

    Best guided Angkor Wat tour | time and energy-efficient way to visit Angkor Wat Cambodia and understand its history (perfect for first-time visitors)

    Planning to visit Angkor Wat in Cambodia and eager to deepen your understanding of Angkor’s history while looking for a comfortable and easy way to explore the massive Angkor Archaeological Park, especially in the hot weather? Based on my personal…

  • Things to do in Dubai in winter
    Dubai,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Winter Itinerary| 9+ unique things to do in Dubai, UAE, discover winter-exclusive gems now!

    Planning to have a winter getaway to Dubai, UAE? And looking for special things to do in Dubai in winter? This article lists 9+ unique things to do in Dubai, UAE during winter that you might not see anywhere else. …

  • 杜拜阿法迪歷史街區
    Dubai,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Attraction |  Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Sikka Art Festival: Must-Visit Place and Event for Culture, Art, and History Enthusiasts!

    For those who love history, ancient ruins, artistic ambiance, and want to see traditional Arabian architecture,Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood in Dubai is an absolute must-visit. It is one of the oldest sites in the United Arab Emirates and a culturally…

  • Al Seef Dubai Travel Guide
    Dubai,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Attraction | Al Seef: An Artistic Open-Air Market with Aladdin Movie-Like Streets, Perfect for Taking Cultural and Aesthetic Photos! Don’t Miss it!

    If you want to see the allure of traditional Arabic sand-coloured wind towers, immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of a cultural open-air market  that looks like Aladdin movie scenes, and visit a Starbucks with unique Emirati design, then Al…

  • 杜拜香料市集旅遊攻略
    Dubai,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Attraction | Spice Up Your Senses at Dubai Spice Souk: A Journey into a Kaleidoscope of Colours, Flavours, and Culture

    Dubai Spice Souk, located in the old Deira district of Dubai, is a spice market where you can see and explore a wide variety of unique spices commonly used by Arabian people. Each spice has its distinct colour, aroma and…

  • Dubai Souk Madinat Jumeirah Travel Guide 杜拜朱美拉古城市集旅遊攻略
    Aesthetic travel destinations,  Dubai,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Attraction | Souk Madinat Jumeirah, the most beautiful and mysterious souk in Dubai, a must-visit for aesthetic seekers!

    Elegantly situated in the hidden part of the busy city, right next to Dubai’s 7-stars hotel Burj Al Arab and nearby The Palace Of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Souk Madinat Jumeirah is the most stunning souk in Dubai…

 Older Posts

About Author

solo travel girl

Hello! I’m Samantha, a 152 cm tall 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, worked 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]

Instagram

“The EARTH without ART is just EH” 😬😂 S “The EARTH without ART is just EH” 😬😂 So, here are 2 places in Dubai for people who enjoy artistic vibes👉Courtyard & Alserkal Avenue. Courtyard is small but it’s like a little garden, really cute and has cafe, stores, restaurants & galleries. The best part is, it is so close to Alserkal Avenue where you can find more art galleries, unique vendors, cafes, vintage car store & cinema. Loved walking around both places, and getting surprise by what I could encounter. 📍 @courtyarduae & @alserkalavenue 🧚🏻‍♀️ #streetphotography #arts #dubaitourism #courtyard #travelphotography #travelblogger #streetart #aesthetic #dubaitravel #passionpassport #spicollective #dreaminstreets #sheexplores
“We keep moving forward, opening up new doors an “We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we are curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” — Walt Disney . Doors📍 Al Seef & Al Fahidi Historical District, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 @samanthavoila #doorsandwindows #collageedit #travelreels #spicollective #streetfinder #tdmmag #alfahidihistoricalneighbourhood #art #alseefdubai #collage #bbctravel #collageartwork #dreaminstreets #travelphotography #adventure_culture #doorsoftheworld #doorsandwindowsoftheworld #streetphotography #travelblogger #myvisionprecisely
Be careful what you are thinking because, “Thoug Be careful what you are thinking because, “Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source - you.” ― Rhonda Byrne, The Secret All these quotes were the sharp reminders for me when I was in the low mood and thought things were not great. But the day I read 《The Secret》 again at Seva Experience was the day some energy changed. And I even got everything that I asked for the rest of that day, even just tiny little things like “I need to buy a book 《The Power of Now》because I forgot to bring it” and then I randomly found a kiosk on the street that actually had it 🦋🙀 “Remember that you are a magnet, attracting everything to you” 📍 Seva Experience, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 👉A peaceful cafe with lots of great energy, where you can see people coming here alone to read, sketch, think, and recharge. I thought I was entering a secret garden when I visited! And didn’t think I was still in the city at all🚪 🧘‍♀️ They also have a yoga studio and a little wellness shop. #aestheticcafe #dubai #uniquecafe #thesecretgarden #plantcafe #plantaddict #plantdecor #peacefullplace #peacefulmind #mindsetquotes #thesecretbook #mindsetbooks #wellnesstravel #travelblogger #dubaicafe #wellnesstravel #wellnesstravelblogger
To see is to believe, and we can learn so much by To see is to believe, and we can learn so much by exploring places deeper. Want to point out 5 things I learned about the UAE/Dubai that surprised me the most, let me know which ones you’ve already known.  1️⃣The percentage of the expat living in the UAE is high👇 Approximately 85% of the total population in the UAE are expats, and MAJORITY of them are from Asia (India, Pakistan, Philippines etc) & other middle eastern countries. There are also many British people and Africans living there. 
 2️⃣The gap of the salary is HUGE👇 While there are lots of wealthy people, there are also people earning less than 600 USD/month.
 3️⃣The UAE is only 50 year old in December 2021. 👇 And they’ve already become so well known, advanced, achieved lots and have already attracted so many people going there. I personally believe other than having the natural resources, having rulers that are ambitious, strategic, and really care about the development and the future of their country is a crucial factor in this. 
 4️⃣This place has something for everyone, either they are wealthy people or not👇 I heard stories from expats who earn less than 600 USD/month that they are still able to send money back home, pay the rent (for a room that is shared with 8 people), live in Dubai, and SAVE UP(!!??)And you know what? They are already super grateful for what they have now and happy for the SAFETY, the FREEDOM, the OPPORTUNITY and the SALARY that the UAE can offer them which THEIR HOME COUNTRIES FAILED to provide 🥹
 5️⃣The gap between the quality of people is big, probably the biggest I’ve ever experience for one place👇 There are many super kind, generous, ambitious, smart people, and people with high tolerance and always help others/their families, countries, or work hard on their own business/dreams. BUT there are also LOTS of rude (that called waitress like she is a dog), dodgy or shallow ones (that constantly talk about fancy stuff and gossip). Also some weird men on the street randomly asking girls to be their wife 🤷‍♀️ 
. #dubai #travelphotography #traveldeeper #travelblogger #streetphotography #welivetoexplore #unpopularopinion
🍦The most difficult ice cream to get on earth👉Turkish ice cream!!! Luckily (for him) the ice cream tasted good!! Otherwise …🤔 吼，想吃一個冰淇淋那麼難🤡還好很好吃不然這人就完蛋了！ 📍 Souk Madinat Jumeirah #turkishicecream #turkishicecreamtrick #dubai #soukmadinatjumeirah #culture #travelgram #travelreels #travel_drops #travelreels
Martin Garrix’s music has magic power to cheer u Martin Garrix’s music has magic power to cheer us up and make us incredibly happy! 🤩 Let me just save my Martin Garrix Dubai night here. The night that everyone went wild. The night that made my cheeks, jaw, neck sore because of smiling, laughing & moving too much😹 The night I understood that music has healing power. It even made me completely forgot how tired I was and washed away all my stress. @martingarrix fans anyone? Feel free to listen to it x100 times! I still feel it and have goosebump when listening and watching these raw videos. 🎵 1 & 6: High On Life 🎵 2: Poison 🎵 4: I won’t let you go 🎵 5: Lewis Capaldi - Someone you loved (Martin Garrix Remix) 📍: Coca Cola Arena, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 🗓: 17, Dec, 2021 #martingarrix #top100djs #dubai #cocacolaarena #artist #artheals #musicthatinspires #musiclover #musicforhope #musicforlife #art #liveconcert #happymoment #travelmemories #travelgram
When enjoy a cocktail while dining wasn’t as eas When enjoy a cocktail while dining wasn’t as easy as in other countries I’ve been to, finding places that have licenses to sell alcohol became like a treasure hunt 🧞‍♂️ Other than hotel bar/ hotel owned beach bars, Pier 7 in Dubai Marina was one of our favourite places to enjoy dining & have a bit of cocktails 🍹.  At Pier 7, there are 7 restaurants that provide alcohol, each of them is with different vibe & food. And 💫 Mama Zonia was one of my favourite because of their🦜🌿 jungle vibe/interior design and amazing & diverse food options!! All the food and drinks we tried was perfect, honestly! And that’s why this is the place many of us kept going back while we were there.  Highly recommend it if you visit Dubai Marina and are looking for fusion food, great cocktail & jungle vibe.    For the atmosphere you may need to check their account @mamazoniadxb for it, I forgot to capture it 😅 📍 Mama Zonia, Pier 7, Dubai Marina, UAE 🇦🇪 #dubaicocktails #dubai #dubairestaurants #uniquebar #uniquerestaurant #mamazonia #fusionfood #foodietravel #travelphotography #food #alcohol #travelblogger #pier7dubai #expatblogger #dubaitourism #passionpassport #dubaibars #travelguide #exploredubai #worldtraveler
Dining, drinking at beautiful waterfront restauran Dining, drinking at beautiful waterfront restaurants, listening to live music with a modern Arabic vibe & the view of one of the most iconic Dubai landmarks, Burj Al Arab. There are way too many restaurants to choose from, I only got to try 2 - Maria Bonita 🇲🇽 🌮 & The Meat co @themeatcome. Both got great food, especially the steak at the latter one, if you fancy a steak, you know where to go when you come here.   📍 Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 . . #soukmadinatjumeirah #dubairestaurants #visitdubai #burjalarab #dubai #restaurant #middleeast #travel #travelblogger #dubainightlife #travelphotography #vibe #arabictypography #dubaipics #travelgram #arabicarchitecture
💫 “Life is your mirror. What you see as your 💫 “Life is your mirror. What you see as your outside, always comes from your inside”. 🧘‍♀️ 📍 Kite Beach Centre UAQ, Umm Al Quwain, UAE 🇦🇪 #dailyremindertoself #lifequote #tropicalparadise #innergrowth #wellnesss #sheexplores #quoteoftheday #inspirationalquotes #thoughtsbecomethings #higherconsciousness #traveltogrow #growthquotes #mindsetquotes #innerwisdom #tropicalvibes

Instagram

“The EARTH without ART is just EH” 😬😂 S “The EARTH without ART is just EH” 😬😂 So, here are 2 places in Dubai for people who enjoy artistic vibes👉Courtyard & Alserkal Avenue. Courtyard is small but it’s like a little garden, really cute and has cafe, stores, restaurants & galleries. The best part is, it is so close to Alserkal Avenue where you can find more art galleries, unique vendors, cafes, vintage car store & cinema. Loved walking around both places, and getting surprise by what I could encounter. 📍 @courtyarduae & @alserkalavenue 🧚🏻‍♀️ #streetphotography #arts #dubaitourism #courtyard #travelphotography #travelblogger #streetart #aesthetic #dubaitravel #passionpassport #spicollective #dreaminstreets #sheexplores
“We keep moving forward, opening up new doors an “We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we are curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” — Walt Disney . Doors📍 Al Seef & Al Fahidi Historical District, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 @samanthavoila #doorsandwindows #collageedit #travelreels #spicollective #streetfinder #tdmmag #alfahidihistoricalneighbourhood #art #alseefdubai #collage #bbctravel #collageartwork #dreaminstreets #travelphotography #adventure_culture #doorsoftheworld #doorsandwindowsoftheworld #streetphotography #travelblogger #myvisionprecisely
Be careful what you are thinking because, “Thoug Be careful what you are thinking because, “Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the universe, and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source - you.” ― Rhonda Byrne, The Secret All these quotes were the sharp reminders for me when I was in the low mood and thought things were not great. But the day I read 《The Secret》 again at Seva Experience was the day some energy changed. And I even got everything that I asked for the rest of that day, even just tiny little things like “I need to buy a book 《The Power of Now》because I forgot to bring it” and then I randomly found a kiosk on the street that actually had it 🦋🙀 “Remember that you are a magnet, attracting everything to you” 📍 Seva Experience, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 👉A peaceful cafe with lots of great energy, where you can see people coming here alone to read, sketch, think, and recharge. I thought I was entering a secret garden when I visited! And didn’t think I was still in the city at all🚪 🧘‍♀️ They also have a yoga studio and a little wellness shop. #aestheticcafe #dubai #uniquecafe #thesecretgarden #plantcafe #plantaddict #plantdecor #peacefullplace #peacefulmind #mindsetquotes #thesecretbook #mindsetbooks #wellnesstravel #travelblogger #dubaicafe #wellnesstravel #wellnesstravelblogger
To see is to believe, and we can learn so much by To see is to believe, and we can learn so much by exploring places deeper. Want to point out 5 things I learned about the UAE/Dubai that surprised me the most, let me know which ones you’ve already known.  1️⃣The percentage of the expat living in the UAE is high👇 Approximately 85% of the total population in the UAE are expats, and MAJORITY of them are from Asia (India, Pakistan, Philippines etc) & other middle eastern countries. There are also many British people and Africans living there. 
 2️⃣The gap of the salary is HUGE👇 While there are lots of wealthy people, there are also people earning less than 600 USD/month.
 3️⃣The UAE is only 50 year old in December 2021. 👇 And they’ve already become so well known, advanced, achieved lots and have already attracted so many people going there. I personally believe other than having the natural resources, having rulers that are ambitious, strategic, and really care about the development and the future of their country is a crucial factor in this. 
 4️⃣This place has something for everyone, either they are wealthy people or not👇 I heard stories from expats who earn less than 600 USD/month that they are still able to send money back home, pay the rent (for a room that is shared with 8 people), live in Dubai, and SAVE UP(!!??)And you know what? They are already super grateful for what they have now and happy for the SAFETY, the FREEDOM, the OPPORTUNITY and the SALARY that the UAE can offer them which THEIR HOME COUNTRIES FAILED to provide 🥹
 5️⃣The gap between the quality of people is big, probably the biggest I’ve ever experience for one place👇 There are many super kind, generous, ambitious, smart people, and people with high tolerance and always help others/their families, countries, or work hard on their own business/dreams. BUT there are also LOTS of rude (that called waitress like she is a dog), dodgy or shallow ones (that constantly talk about fancy stuff and gossip). Also some weird men on the street randomly asking girls to be their wife 🤷‍♀️ 
. #dubai #travelphotography #traveldeeper #travelblogger #streetphotography #welivetoexplore #unpopularopinion
🍦The most difficult ice cream to get on earth👉Turkish ice cream!!! Luckily (for him) the ice cream tasted good!! Otherwise …🤔 吼，想吃一個冰淇淋那麼難🤡還好很好吃不然這人就完蛋了！ 📍 Souk Madinat Jumeirah #turkishicecream #turkishicecreamtrick #dubai #soukmadinatjumeirah #culture #travelgram #travelreels #travel_drops #travelreels
Martin Garrix’s music has magic power to cheer u Martin Garrix’s music has magic power to cheer us up and make us incredibly happy! 🤩 Let me just save my Martin Garrix Dubai night here. The night that everyone went wild. The night that made my cheeks, jaw, neck sore because of smiling, laughing & moving too much😹 The night I understood that music has healing power. It even made me completely forgot how tired I was and washed away all my stress. @martingarrix fans anyone? Feel free to listen to it x100 times! I still feel it and have goosebump when listening and watching these raw videos. 🎵 1 & 6: High On Life 🎵 2: Poison 🎵 4: I won’t let you go 🎵 5: Lewis Capaldi - Someone you loved (Martin Garrix Remix) 📍: Coca Cola Arena, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 🗓: 17, Dec, 2021 #martingarrix #top100djs #dubai #cocacolaarena #artist #artheals #musicthatinspires #musiclover #musicforhope #musicforlife #art #liveconcert #happymoment #travelmemories #travelgram
When enjoy a cocktail while dining wasn’t as eas When enjoy a cocktail while dining wasn’t as easy as in other countries I’ve been to, finding places that have licenses to sell alcohol became like a treasure hunt 🧞‍♂️ Other than hotel bar/ hotel owned beach bars, Pier 7 in Dubai Marina was one of our favourite places to enjoy dining & have a bit of cocktails 🍹.  At Pier 7, there are 7 restaurants that provide alcohol, each of them is with different vibe & food. And 💫 Mama Zonia was one of my favourite because of their🦜🌿 jungle vibe/interior design and amazing & diverse food options!! All the food and drinks we tried was perfect, honestly! And that’s why this is the place many of us kept going back while we were there.  Highly recommend it if you visit Dubai Marina and are looking for fusion food, great cocktail & jungle vibe.    For the atmosphere you may need to check their account @mamazoniadxb for it, I forgot to capture it 😅 📍 Mama Zonia, Pier 7, Dubai Marina, UAE 🇦🇪 #dubaicocktails #dubai #dubairestaurants #uniquebar #uniquerestaurant #mamazonia #fusionfood #foodietravel #travelphotography #food #alcohol #travelblogger #pier7dubai #expatblogger #dubaitourism #passionpassport #dubaibars #travelguide #exploredubai #worldtraveler
Dining, drinking at beautiful waterfront restauran Dining, drinking at beautiful waterfront restaurants, listening to live music with a modern Arabic vibe & the view of one of the most iconic Dubai landmarks, Burj Al Arab. There are way too many restaurants to choose from, I only got to try 2 - Maria Bonita 🇲🇽 🌮 & The Meat co @themeatcome. Both got great food, especially the steak at the latter one, if you fancy a steak, you know where to go when you come here.   📍 Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE 🇦🇪 . . #soukmadinatjumeirah #dubairestaurants #visitdubai #burjalarab #dubai #restaurant #middleeast #travel #travelblogger #dubainightlife #travelphotography #vibe #arabictypography #dubaipics #travelgram #arabicarchitecture
💫 “Life is your mirror. What you see as your 💫 “Life is your mirror. What you see as your outside, always comes from your inside”. 🧘‍♀️ 📍 Kite Beach Centre UAQ, Umm Al Quwain, UAE 🇦🇪 #dailyremindertoself #lifequote #tropicalparadise #innergrowth #wellnesss #sheexplores #quoteoftheday #inspirationalquotes #thoughtsbecomethings #higherconsciousness #traveltogrow #growthquotes #mindsetquotes #innerwisdom #tropicalvibes
Instagram
A Shorty Explores
© 2024 A Shorty Explores | Bard Theme by WP Royal.