Uncategorized

Keir Alexa
  • Keir Alexa
  • No Comments

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

Thailand Keir Alexa

Akyra Manor Hotel Suite

Keir Alexa Chiang Mai

Akyra Hotel Suite Bath

Keir Alexa

Akyra Manor Keir_Aexa

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
  • Keir Alexa
  • No Comments

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!! 
  • Keir Alexa
  • 1 Comment

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.
  • Keir Alexa
  • 2 Comments

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. 
  • Keir Alexa
  • No Comments

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
  • Keir Alexa
  • No Comments

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

 
  • Keir Alexa
  • No Comments

Blood Sacrifice in Sumba
Blood Sacrifice in Sumba 3840 2560 Keir Alexa

This blog post might not be for everyone. It discusses real animal sacrifices that are still happening in another part of the world. But for those who want to learn about the ancient traditions of Sumba, an island located in Eastern Indonesia, this post is for you.

Sumba Island is the only island of Indonesia where a majority of the population still practices the same traditional beliefs and rituals as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. They are one of the poorest parts of Indonesia.

I was staying at Nihiwatu, a luxury resort on Sumba Island. It was our first dinner when Terry Simmons (a world-renowned surf coach) told us, “We have been invited to a funeral at one of the villages close by. The funerals are super gnarly with lots of blood every where! They sacrifice buffalo, pigs, and sometimes horses.”

Our invitation came because the grandfather of Canella, one of the girls who works at Nihiwatu, had passed away.

As a traveler I always like to experience new things, but at the same time I was really nervous about this all. The idea of seeing animals slaughtered in front of me was scary. I am an animal lover!

But I decided I could not turn down the chance to learn more about an ancient culture. The funeral was on Monday and we found out about it on Thursday. I had only a few days to mentally prepare.

*          *          *

THE FUNERAL

The day of the funeral it was all I could think about. We had to dress in traditional Sumbanese attire. Men had to wear skirts and carry Sumba swords. I had to wear a long skirt and make sure my shoulders were covered. Dressed this way, we got in a car and drove to the funeral. The smooth paved roads turned into bumpy rocks and as I looked out the window I saw untouched land full of plush greenery. It was a 15 minute ride, full of beautiful scenery, before we arrived at the village.

The moment we got out of our car I sensed everyone staring at us. It was all local villagers. We had to walk up a hill, and then we were greeted by a man who was dancing. His eyes were blazing and his mouth, bright red from betel nut. He whipped out his sword with a grin, hoping back and forth on each foot. I couldn’t look away!

After his dance the man led us to the village. It was packed with people staring at us. It felt a bit strange, but don’t worry, they were just curious. There are not many tourists in Sumba. This means you sometimes get more attention than you want, but you also get to experience a village that is true to its nature.
sumba-island-village

I felt very honored to be there.

I remember Terry warned me that the head of the village would offer us interesting tea and betel nut. “Its an absolute insult if you do not accept it so just take it.” Most of the people chewing the betel nut had bright red teeth, or no teeth at all. Luckily I was not offered any.

Quickly, everyone started to huddle around in this center ring. They had us hop up on stones, which I later found out were tomb stones filled with dead bodies. Tinus, our Mori Uma (Butler) from Nihiwatu told us that the horse was first to be sacrificed.

sumba-island-funeral
I could feel my heart beating in my chest. Ah man, why does the horse have to be first? I thought. I love horses.

It turns out the horse is sacrificed for people that are high up in the rankings. They sacrifice the horse so that the diseased can ride the horse to heaven.

As we awaited the sacrifice I looked around and noticed that it was all men standing around us. The women stayed in their villages with the children. Some curious kids would jump up and sneak around the sacrifice grounds see what was going on.

sumbanese-villagers
Still there was no sight of any horse, and I was beginning to feel tense. Maybe this had been a bad idea? I thought. I looked behind me. I was standing on a tomb stone, and there was a small rock cliff behind me. I wanted to be able to make a quick escape. But it didn’t look like that would be possible.

Next thing I know three men were corralling a beautiful light brown horse dressed in a traditional hand-woven ikat textile. The horse had a red headdress on that reminded me of a Mexican piñata.

The man with the red mouth who had greeted us started to dance again. Back and forth on one foot, and then the other. I felt my heart beat faster with each step he took. And then in a rapid movement he cut the horses neck, and blood began to squirt everywhere.

 Woaaaaaah! What the hell did I just witness?

 I had to look away. It was a bit traumatizing.

It wasn’t over yet though. A group of young men started leading water buffalo’s into the ring of people. I’m going to save you the details of what happened next because it was brutal. But all around me men were cheering. This was very exciting for them!

I later learned that most of them eat rice and vegetables every day. So a sacrifice was a chance to eat meat, and this adds to the excitement. They use every part of the buffalo.

In the end there was the slaughter of one horse and nine water buffalo. It was one of the most barbaric things I have witnessed and it was very intense.

 

Still I want to share this story so that you can learn something new about a culture very different from our own. It is horrible to witness the slaughter of innocent animals. But these are ancient traditions with a lot of meaning behind them. It also means that very malnourished people get a chance to eat meat. In the end everyone has their own perspectives on life (what is good and what is bad). I am grateful for the chance to experience something so different from my own culture.

It was an experience I will truly never forget.

What are your thoughts on animal sacrifices? Should animal cruelty be stopped or is it important to respect ancient traditions?

Start Typing

Pin It on Pinterest