Destinations

Keir Alexa
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Akyra Manor Hotel in Chiang Mai (Photo Diary)
Akyra Manor Hotel in Chiang Mai (Photo Diary) 1707 2560 Keir Alexa

Akyra Hotel Suite Travel Keir Alexa

Akyra Manor Bedroom

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Akyra Manor Hotel Suite

Keir Alexa Chiang Mai

Akyra Hotel Suite Bath

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Akyra Manor Hotel

ChiangMai Hotel

Italics Restaurant

Akyra Manor Hotel in Chiang Mai (Photo Diary)

The beautiful Akyra Manor Hotel in Chiang Mai Thailand. I had the most wonderful time there and I still can’t get over how stunning the decor was. Everything was perfect! I felt at home and relaxed there. Let me know in the comments below if you have been to this hotels and some of your favorite hotel recommendations.

Hanoi Travel
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That One Time I Got Drunk in Hanoi
That One Time I Got Drunk in Hanoi 1024 765 Keir Alexa

Hanoi Travel

BACKPACKER / NIGHTLIFE IN HANOI

 

I hear my alarm clock go off… 6am.  You know what that means. – time to hit the snooze bar!  Yeah, that only lasts about, what, 10 minutes?  So it goes off again.  Didn’t you get the message the first time, alarm clock?!  I hit the snooze again.  So me and my alarm clock do this special dance for what was probably a couple hours until I finally won and turned it off.

All I wanted to do was go back to sleep for another 2 to 24 hours.

But I have to wake up.  As soon as I do though, I immediately feel my head pounding and my mouth is dry as the Burning Man desert. I look around my room and see empty food containers and clothes every where. My best friend Shaun is passed out next to me. I look at my phone and see 10 missed calls from the driver who decided to come 30 mins early to pick us up to go on our luxury cruise to Halong Bay with Paradise Cruises.

I wake Shaun up and we scramble like fighter pilots.  I throw random things in my suitcase, vaguely hoping they’ll actually come in handy on a cruise.  I’m barely able to process words thanks to an otherworldly hangover from a night of debauchery. And lots of eating, apparently.  But for now, we need to get to Halong Bay where we’ll cruise the seas for two days.

But this blog’s not about the cruise.  It’s about the hangover and the acquisition of said hangover.

During my trip to Asia, I’ve been laying pretty low from a party perspective because I wanted to take a break from partying.  Okay, not really, but I didn’t want to look like the “Ugly American Lush who comes 12,000 miles to take advantage of cheap alcoholic drinks.”  But the booze out here is really cheap!  And I’m on vacation, so don’t judge!  And I’m with my best friend.  All this adds up to one night of insanity. Or two.  And Hanoi has a reputation as a popular place for backpackers who like to party (or those who pretend to be backpackers).

It all begins with an all you can eat sushi buffet, which kinda sounded yuck since I’m a bit of a sushi snob (Nobu or nothing).  But “sushi” means “sake” – even at a sushi buffet. And nothing is better than hot sake.

Shaun and I meet up with a big group from Remote Year. We start ordering sake and one thing leads to another. We end up at a private room at a Karaoke club that is all tricked out. We order a bottle of vodka and pound some beers. I rarely drink beer. And I even rarelier mix it with vodka.  That’s the kind of night it’s turning into.  The kind of night where I say things like “rarelier.”Nightlife Hanoi Vietnam
We are singing, dancing to all of my favorite 90’s songs and then we decide to head to Old Quarter. Ironically we end up at a bar called Hangover, and the place is completely empty. I hear a balloon tank go off and see a lonely stripper pole in the back. Shaun and I b-line to the bar and grab ourselves a vodka soda.

The music was good house music.. but no one is there so we start to leave. One of the workers says, “Don’t leave now. Just wait until after 11pm.  That’s when everyone shows up.”  “Who’s everyone?” I ask.  He laughs and says, “All the drunken backpackers.”

He was right.  At about 11:15pm, a group of about 40 people come bulldozing in, most already completely shit faced wearing flip flops and t-shirts.

My friend Shaun and I grab a giant balloon and do what the natives do – inhale… whaaapp whaaap whaaaap.   Apparently, this is a big thing in Hanoi.  The balloon tank is quickly a popular target for the horde of backpackers.

One guy takes his hit, then instantly falls on the floor.  As people rush to help him, he quickly pops back up and goes to hit on some uninterested girls.

Backpackers are getting lit, and the music is bumping. House and Hip Hop. Two of my favorites.

The place felt like a college party with people going completely insane. One girl was sitting on a table thrusting the air – while quite possibly being blacked out. The guys loved it.

Shaun and I continue to do one balloon hits while dancing our asses off, making friends with anyone who dances next to us.Nightlife Hanoi Vietnam Travel

I see one girl inhale a balloon for one minute straight. I yell at her to stop.  She looks at me, piercing through my soul, and then face plants on the ground. One of the natives helps her up, looks at me with no emotion and says. “Happens all the time.”

As the club lights turn on, everyone exits the club, yelling ready to keep partying.  Shaun and I walk down the street looking for food.  I see a restaurant that looks like a storage unit with one of those huge doors that rolls up.  It’s halfway down. All I can see are feet and legs moving. I duck down and see that there is a full illegal bar going on. We duck under and enter – and see a lot of the same people from the Hangover! One of the security guys recognizes me, summons me to the poor, and without speaking a lick of English, pours me a whiskey shot.  The international language of cheap alcohol.

At this point, I’m way too hungry to keep partying and our Paradise Cruises driver is arriving in four hours. We end up going to a café called Xofa. It was packed with people sleeping so we get it to go.  At least, I think we do because we ended up with a lot of Xofa containers in our room the next morning.  Which reminds me – I gotta go catch a cruise!

If you read the Nightlife section of this blog post from The Partying Traveler you can see what the clubs look like on the outside in the Old Quarter and read more about the crazy shenanigans that go on in Hanoi.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRAZY NIGHT OUT IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORY – PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!! 
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Checking In: Four Seasons Bora Bora
Checking In: Four Seasons Bora Bora 1200 857 Keir Alexa

With gorgeous waters and so much to explore, Bora Bora makes for a great escape.

We took a redeye, LA to Tahiti, then connected on a 45 minute flight to Bora Bora.  On the boat ride from the plane to the Four Seasons, I found myself closing my eyes and opening them again.  Lulled by the crystal waters lightly sprinkling against my face as we sailed.  Amazed by the scenery, I felt like I was in a dream.

No pollution.  A pristine environment.  Paradise

The island was named Pora Pora by its original Polynesian settlers, meaning “first born.” The European settlers got the name wrong, heard b’s instead of p’s, but the original name fits. The world feels untouched, hopeful, and loved.

ALL ABOUT THE HOTEL

Bora Bora is paradise and The Four Seasons is complete luxury. Not a bad combination.

The Four Seasons is located on its own island, Maru, in the shadow of  Mount Otemanu. Travel around the island is by foot or golf cart and boats are arranged for travel to the other islands.  A boat even picks guests up from the Bora Bora’s small airport and before immediately sweeping them away to the resort.

The accommodations consist mainly of over-water bungalows.  These private floating villas are built (as you could guess form the name) right over the water.

The resort is great for couples or families, with gorgeous decor, restaurants, spa, an extremely helpful staff, and, my favorite part, a private lagoon sanctuary.

THE BUNGALOW

Bora Bora is known for these over-water dwellings, but the Four Seasons adds a touch more paradise. Glass windows are built right into the floor so guests can glance down into the sea life below.  Snorkel gear is also included in the room so you can easily explore the environment firsthand.

We booked an Otemanu one-bedroom which included a private plunge pool and incredible ocean views.  The room was a sanctuary, with calming whites and wood floors, colored by patches of turquoise from the ocean viewing windows.

I felt worlds away, almost as if the room itself were submerged underwater!  Such a cool way to connect to the surrounding environment and feel part of the ocean experience.

THE ACTIVITIES

The island has a lot to do — jet skis, tennis, kayaking, paddle boarding and on and on. So many actives it’s hard to decide which to pick!

Our first morning began with a helicopter ride, gazing down at Bora Bora from the sky.  It was an incredible way to begin the trip, providing some perspective to the area we were visiting.  Plus the lush green and aquamarine views were breathtaking.

Underwater activities are especially popular, and I recommend taking advantage of them while on your stay.  You can do a million things, from helmet dives to underwater scooters.  We took a private diving session with Top Dive.  Now, I love diving, but that never stops me from getting nervous.  The staff put my mind at ease, really making sure I felt comfortable.  Our instructor even held my hand until I was ready to explore on my own! After the initial nerves subsided, I challenged my fears even more.  We swam with lemon sharks!  The dive was insane — so gorgeous, thrilling and educational.  The waters suck you right in with their inviting warmth.  You have to jump in!

With so much beauty to take in, pictures are necessary.  We booked a private photographer with Bora Bora Dream Pictures to help out capturing our experience.  A photographer accompanies you on a boat ride, taking shots all around Bora Bora.  It’s a great idea for couples looking for some professional photos.

My favorite spot on the island had to be the Lagoon Sanctuary.  Right within the resort, there is a private lagoon filled with all sorts of marine life.   Over 100 different species thrive in this ecosystem including the octopus, spotted puffer fish, unicorn fish, sea urchins and clownfish!  Its colorful and exotic, a great spot to snorkel and really witness underwater life.

Finally, there’s no better place to day drink… sipping on piña coladas is definitely considered an activity and one I highly recommend.  Kick back and get a day buzz!!

THE RESTAURANTS

 The resort has four restaurants, with a ranging menu and atmosphere. There’s Arii Moana for a finer dining experience, focusing on Polynesian and French cuisine, and Fare Hoa Beach Bar & Grill, built right on the beach, featuring Polynesian BBQ, kebabs and table-side grilling.

But my personal favorites were the Sunset Restaurant & Bar and Tere Nui.

For dinner try Sunset Restaurant & Bar — an overwater restaurant serving Japanese inspired food, which I love! Enjoy Sushi and sake (my favorite liquor!) and watch the sunset over the island.

Delicious breakfast is served from 6:30 AM to 11AM at Tere Nui.  A buffet with an omelette station, freshly baked goods, and an Acai corner. I could not get enough of their coconut marinated raw tuna.  Sometimes I even had it twice a day. Tere Nui is also worth a stop later on for dinner, with a casual menu and fire dancers scheduled a couple times a week.

Then of course, there is Bungalow dining — an appealing option as it can get difficult to leave the luxury of your room.  A great menu can be delivered to your door for a lazy or romantic night… whichever mood you find yourself in!

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATIONS

  •  Bring a book, bring your significant other (especially honeymooners)
  • Get PADI-certified before your trip! You will not want to miss out on the diving.
  • If you do stay at the Four Seasons, check out the other hotels for some of your meals.  We had dinner at the St. Regis.  Compare and contrast hotels to see where you’d want to stay for your next visit.
  • Wear flowers — the leis they place around your neck upon arrival, but also put flowers behind the ear.  Left ear for ladies in a relationship, and right ear for ladies single and looking.
  • Most importantly, keep your bathing suit on under your clothes.  You’ll immediately want to dive in.  Relax and play, snorkel and explore.
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Beauty Behind The Madness: Life in Hanoi
Beauty Behind The Madness: Life in Hanoi 1200 1024 Keir Alexa

Oy, Hanoi.  What a place!

Hanoi is an amazing city.  It is equal parts chaotic and charming all at the same time. Since this was my first time in Vietnam, I decided to travel with Remote Year who helped organize my stay here.  They hooked me up with a super cute studio apartment in a building next to the military base.

To get to my apartment, I have to go through a garage where this lady that sleeps on a cot bed.  When I roll in late at night, it reminds me of high school when I would sneak in all hours of the night trying not to wake my mom up – even though she was probably awake but pretending to be asleep.

Anyways, the studio is super clean and nice and, most importantly, I feel safe. When I walk past the military base in the morning, there’s this awkward smile between the guards and me and wave that happens between us.

The first week I spent exploring the city. The streets are colorful and the pace is insane!  What I discovered very quickly is that when walking the streets it’s every man for himself. Most intersections don’t have stop lights and the right-of-way goes to, well, everyone.  First come, first serve, I guess.  Or maybe it’s “he who is most aggressive.” Just know that if you’re walking in Hanoi – BE CAREFUL!  Yeah, even more than New York.


On the first day, I stood on the side of the street for 5 minutes as cars and motorbikes zoomed past me. I felt like I was playing human Frogger, waiting for that log to come by at just the right speed.  Luckily, a local walked up and started crossing and I ran up and walked next to him. He laughed and helped me cross the street. After a while, I started to get the hang of it (except for a few intersections.) One girl I met said just clothes my eyes and walk across. That is the best way!

It helps that I’m literally the tallest person ever in the city of Hanoi.  I can just hold up my hand and say, “Stop!” and cars come screeching to a halt and people scream, “Godzilla!”  No, actually, people are quite nice about my comparatively enormous height.  They mostly come up and ask to take a picture with me.  I’ve never been Snapchatted into a cat so many times in my life.

Later, I went on my first motorbike. I think I set a personal record for most prayers said in a single minute. It was fun but also scary when you’re driving in between buses on a little motorbike. I have seen an entire family of 5 on a motorbike. I have seen dogs on the back of motorbikes and even a guy holding a giant fan in one hand. Lets just say there is never a dull moment when you step onto the streets in Hanoi.


I love getting lost here. Every time I get lost I discover something new. I have ended up at random cafes that look like the back room of the pawn shop in Pulp Fiction, but the people are so warm and welcoming, and I have become a lot more thankful for the little things in life.

 

Hanoi, like many Asian cities, is known for their exotic street food. You name it, they’ll cook it.  (Well, hopefully they’re more discerning than that.) While walking the streets, I’ve seen people cooking weird shit like snails, frogs, quail heads and even red meat in the middle of a 95 degree day.  Yeah….. pass!!!

A people from Remote Year got together and watched a documentary called “The last days in Vietnam” which shows the last days of the Vietnam war. I highly recommend it especially if you’re planning to travel to Vietnam or if you love history. It is so crazy to think less than 50 year ago this place was ravaged by war.

I’ve seen a lot of beauty in Hanoi and I’ve seen a lot of weird things. Overall, I am incredibly grateful this experience!


Ps. I took these photos during a photography tour provided by Kim and Binh from WITHLOCALS.COM. If you’re ever traveling definitely use this site to find cool things to do with the locals. 
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Why I Joined Remote Year
Why I Joined Remote Year 3413 2730 Keir Alexa

WHY I JOINED REMOTE YEAR

Break ups are world changing. Everyone knows this, but no one can fully comprehend until they’ve experienced one. I jumped into a relationship at 19 which lasted six years. My early adulthood formed surrounded by this person and our way of life together. For those of you that have read my blog before, you know I’ve focused on luxury travel, but it’s been a reallllly long time since I posted last. 2017 was a year to regroup, recharge and remember who I am. It’s time for something new.

HOW DID I HEAR ABOUT REMOTE YEAR

Right after my breakup, ads started popping up for Remote Year. Spend a year abroad working remotely with a group of adventurous professionals! The program exists in twenty five cities and five continents. I was intrigued.

Travel and escape sounded very appealing. Any new experience excited me. I was dying to leave Los Angeles.

Still, a year away from family and friends would be difficult, especially considering my emotional state at the time. I was accepted into the program, but I pushed the idea aside. I needed to heal my broken heart.

Until now.

Remote Year added a four-month program located in Asia. I was sold. Not only have I always dreamed of living in Asia, but I felt ready to move forward and on to somewhere new. I was no longer trying to run from something, but towards something.

“What are you running away from?” Everyone in the Remote Year program keeps joking with each other.

Myself and 34 others from all walks of life are traveling together — professionals spanning from early twenties to late forties. We are running towards the world together, excited to broaden our horizons, our perspectives, and find fun and friendship along our journey.

My journey now is within.

A few months ago I saw a natural doctor, Dr. Sadeghi who told me my current journey is within. His words struck me and I’ve held on to them.

Since I was 19 I have been privileged enough to travel the world in luxury. I lived a fancy lifestyle filled with drivers and security, house keepers and beautiful destinations, gorgeous hotels. But an emptiness often accompanies all the things. I watched others chasing the next big thing, the next party, running to nothing and no real satisfaction or happiness. They keep chasing something they will never find. They explore and travel without, but not within.

It is so easy to slip into routine. The same people, the same restaurants, the same travel locations. The world is enormous. There are 7 billion people out there! There is so much value in taking solo adventures to the places you’ve never even imagined. Explore the unknown! A long time ago I made a promise to myself to live out of my comfort zone. So here I go!!!!

Living in Asia for four months is the complete opposite of what I have previously written about, but whenever I have traveled to third world countries, I’ve always grown and learned so much.

Recently I told a friend I’d be blogging on my Remote Year. He asked me, “Why would you blog when there are so many bloggers, it is so hard to become successful in that space.”

I say, so what? If you go into any industry already comparing yourself to others, what’s the point? The work must come from a place of love and belief. Once again, it’s all about the journey!! You can’t obsess with the end result.

I’ve loved writing since I was in high school. It’s just another way to explore your own thoughts, tell stories and hope that maybe someone else will find value in your experience. Writing is sharing and learning from each other. I want to share with my family, my friends, and I want to share with you.

I’m writing and meditating every morning now.  I’ve made a vow to myself to limit my social media time. Remain in the real world and not get sucked back into the fake.

It’s invigorating.

My upcoming posts are definitely going to be more on the raw and authentic side. Talking about breakups, vulnerability, change, etc.

Stay tuned for more stories and more videos of my Eat Pray Love adventures, and I encourage you to do the same. Explore and live and jump out of your comfort zone. Comment below if you’ve ever wanted to escape your daily life and travel the world. Where would you go??

I can’t wait to share this adventure with you!!!

Xoxo,

Keir
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TOP INSTAGRAM TRAVEL MOMENTS!
TOP INSTAGRAM TRAVEL MOMENTS! 1568 1048 Keir Alexa


Top Travel


Tulum Mexico Travel Keir AlexaNORTH CAROLINA Keir AlexaBurning Man Nevada Keir AlexaBali Indonesia Keir AlexaItaly Positano Capri Travel Keir AlexaFrench Polynesia Keir AlexaLooking back on all the memorable Instagram travel moments with my new blog series. I’m hoping to inspire you to plan your next trip emojis and all!  Let me know below or post a link with your top Instagram travel moments. Follow my Instagram travel adventures including Instagram stories ? KEIRALEXA and Snapchat ? KeirAlexaKeir Snap

Keir Alexa Travel Bora Bora
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10 MUST-HAVE CARRY-ON TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
10 MUST-HAVE CARRY-ON TRAVEL ESSENTIALS 588 587 Keir Alexa

must have travel essentials carry on packing

must-have-travel-blog-essentials-carry-on-packing

Traveling the world is very fulfilling, but it can be hectic when it’s a last-minute trip and you have to pack fast. My #1 tip is to always make a short “Must-Have Items” list before packing. Here are my top 10 products to throw in your carry-on for a smooth trip. Let me know in the comments below what are your must-have products to throw in your carry-on.

TRAVEL TIPS

  • Don’t overpack! Make a list of items you can’t live without, take outfits that are comfortable, and are easy to mix & match.
  • Always hydrate by drinking lots of water before and during your trip. This helps keep your energy up especially for long flights and long road trips.
  • Bring small healthy snacks like raw bars, bananas/fruit, and dry fruit free from added sugar to keep a steady energy all day.
  • Click here for more travel tips from my “Fly Away: 8 Travel & Beauty Tips” post!

 

CARRY-ON ESSENTIALS

Click on the bottom links to shop.

1 Backpack – Tumi

2 Lip Balm – C.O. Bigelow

3 Travel Size Strong Hand Cream – Keihl’s

4 Electronics Especially Chargers – WattzUp Power

5 Wear It – Sneakers (Opening Ceremony) + Comfy Sweater (Zara) + Compression Socks  

6 Face Cream – Lancer

7  Travel Snacks – Healthy Raw Bars Two Moms In The Raw

8 GoPro Waterproof  Video Camera

9 Hand Sanitizer – Purell

10 Organic Wipes for Hands, Face & Body

 

“Travel is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer.”

Love Keir

 

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