On my first evening in Maafushi, I ran into another Russian-speaking lady from Moscow. After a brief chat, she asked me if I’ve been here before.
Oh, It’s your first time in Maafushi? It’s even better than Male! In fact, I love Maafushi so much that it’s my sixth time here…
Sixth time?! I asked her with a surprised expression.
That’s right. I’m sure you’ll love it too. And with a smile, she disappeared into the souvenir shop.
Was Maafushi all that it was cracked up to be?
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2018 was my biggest year yet: I moved abroad, traveled to 14 countries, and had more adventures that I’ve ever had before.
I took planes, trains, and automobiles (plus a few ferries, cable cars, speedboats, and seaplanes!)
I tried everything from crispy silkworms (1/5, would not recommend) to Michelin-starred meals (slightly better 
) and everything in between.
I swam with pigs, had champagne under the Eiffel Tower, danced with Portuguese fans during FIFA 2018, rode The Most Scenic Train in the World, gotten lost in Seoul at 3 am, and so much more…
And I lived to tell you about it – here’s my 2018 in review! *drumroll* 
For many travelers, the Maldives is an elusive destination that has so many stereotypes: it’s a hard to reach country only for the super-rich who can afford to stay in overwater villas – but that’s not true (at all)! There are so many misconceptions about the Maldives, and I want to set them straight.
I created this post about the best Maldives travel tips because there was such a lack of information when I was planning my trip. I wanted to make sure other travelers could feel comfortable before they visit the country.
You might be wondering, Why is there a lack of information? That’s because the Maldives is fairly new to tourism – it opened its doors for tourists in the 1970s by creating villa resorts, and regular guesthouses only became legal 10 years ago! Tourism simply hasn’t caught up to the level of other major island destinations, like Bali or the Dominican Republic, which means it’s the perfect time to visit.
So without further ado, here’s everything you need to know before traveling to the Maldives — from travel advice, what to do, and what to avoid in the Maldives. Let’s check it out!
Let’s face it, at one point or another we’ve all wanted to try sailing on a boat… but some of us have seasickness (*cough* don’t ask me about that fishing trip in the Dominican Republic). Or don’t have friends with yachts (Leo DiCaprio, where are you?) Or don’t want to end up in the next Life of Pi movie. Whatever your reason, I have just the thing to put on your bucket list: staying at a botel!
The Botel Dunajský Pivovar is one of the most unique hotels in Bratislava, Slovakia. It’s perfectly located near the center; has modern and on-theme decor, and comes with a beautiful view that you can’t find anywhere else!
Keep reading and see if it’ll float your boat ;) har har
Have you heard of a daruma before? No? You’re in luck (literally)!
These lucky charms are an important part of Japanese society, and today we’re going to the birthplace of the Daruma — the Shorinzan Darumaji Temple in Takasaki, Japan. Let’s check it out!
HAPPY 2019!
How was your guys’ New Year? Did you already start working on your goals for 2019? Even though I tend to procrastinate all the time, this year I started planning my goals for the new year way in advance– all the way at the start of December!
The new year is one of my favorite times because it gives us a chance to look back at the previous year and see how far we’ve come, and to write our hopes, wishes, and plans for the upcoming year. I’ve already written my goals in my new planner (check out the cute design!) and colored in my Daruma doll – now all that’s left is to achieve them!
