New York Calling

One week NYC to visit one of my besties <3

It was the best spontaneous thing I had done the last months. In the middle of the night I woke up and decided to fly to New York the next day. No sooner sad than done! Flight booked, ready to go. That’s the good thing when your bestie lives in NYC and accepts your spontaneousness. Maike and I actually met in NYC when we were Au Pairs seven years ago. It’s that kind of friendship that lasts forever. We don’t talk every day not to mention seeing each other very often, but it’s not necessary. Another friend of us Sandra, who we met in NYC too, just started her own Au Pair agency, if you are looking for an adventure of a lifetime UNITED BY CHOICE is the right contact.

Did I mention that I am in love with New York? I am! Landing at JFK feels like coming home. The city and the people are so inspiring and motivating. I am not very keen about sightseeing or long city tours but I could walk through the streets of NYC the whole day. Especially when it comes to fashion, Streetstyle in NYC is more inspiring than reading the VOGUE or scrolling through fashion blogger’s instagram feeds. Though New York is so fast-paced, there are some must-do’s and all-time favorite spots I am visiting every time.

6 NYC must-do’s

1. Partying in 1Oak
2. Boozy Weekend brunch
3. Eating a Bagel with cream cheese
4. Running the Brooklyn bridge
5. Shopping
6. A cupcake from Magnolia Bakery

5 NYC all-time favorite spots

1. The high line
2. Greenwich Village
3. The second bench along the Battery Park waterfront
4. PHD rooftop
5. MoMA

NYC See you in 10 hours!

Flashpacking Thailand

The better way to travel

19 days, 7 islands, 1 city – let the fun begin. 

When I went backpacking for the first time, my friends and family made fun of me saying “Meli do you even know what backpacking means? One pair of shoes, hostels, bunk beds etc.” Well it turned out I was the most relaxed backpacker ever – 8 kg luggage in my backpack for 2 months, almost no-make-up,  bunk beds, dorms, hammocks, bungalows with mouse, cockroaches – well spiders and iguanas were pretty normal. The fun thing it seemed I left my inner princess at home and went backpacking through Vietnam and Indonesia as a different Meli. Even one of my best friends I travelled with was surprised by my backpacking skills.

After my successful backpacking trip I knew I want to do this again. Since then I try to convince my boyfriend to travel with me that way once in his life. Although he is not the typical backpacker either I am sure he will love it. After discussing pros and cons and coming to a destination agreement, we finally booked our flight to Bangkok last months. Philippines, Cambodia or Sri Lanka made it to the top of my list but in the end we thought Thailand is a good mix and one of the easiest places for backpacking newbies. Although he was fine with the idea of travelling with a backpack we agreed not to sleep in hostels or dormitories. Honestly that’s totally fine for me. I was never amused to share a room with about 10 people – snoring, fucking and whatsoever. But I can play the cool kid who doesn’t care and he takes over the princess role.

Two years ago before the backpacking trip I lived in Shanghai for half a year and was inured about literally everything disgusting – accommodation, toilets, food, dirtiness and ill-kempt people. I think that’s why I was so relaxed. So I am actually very happy that he is the picky one and we are going to be flashpacker instead of backpacker #notsorry

Flashpacking= Whereas backpacking is traditionally associated with budget travel and destinations that are relatively cheap, flashpacking has an association of more disposable income while traveling and has been defined simply as backpacking with a bigger budget – or backpacking with style.

We fly out from Vienna via Dubai to Bangkok tonight. The only thing we booked is our first hotel in Bangkok - in the middle of Khao San Road. 

Thailand route 18 days:

Bangkok

Koh Tao

Ko Pha-Ngan

Koh Samui

Krabi

Railay Beach/Tonsai Beach

Maybe: Phi Phi Islands

Bangkok

See you in 3 weeks!