Unexpectedly moving to Bangkok was spontaneous and exhilarating, but it had a few setbacks. For example; my clothing. My selection was a backpackers dream but a city slickers worst nightmare. In Vancouver I was bored of my clothing and I was constantly dreaming of a hella badass wardrobe. Now that I literally have 2 pairs of pants, 1 skirt, 3 dresses and a handful of T-shirts. I want to go back in time and slap my whiny self. 

Shopping in Bangkok is exciting. There are several massive malls filled with anything you could be looking for. One of my favourite places in Union Mall. The entire top level is used clothing with great prices. Ive decided that with my budget, my style and ethics; I am trying to mostly purchase used clothing. Strictly shopping second hand it is a really great way to build and interesting wardrobe and style. It takes some time and serious sifting to find the good pieces but its worth it. Sometimes you have to look beyond what is being offered to you. 

I love shopping for tops, shoes and accessories but when I need to go bottom shopping I have to be in a realistically positive mood. My mind must be in a place where I can walk away from trying on 12 pairs of pants, with not one pair working without having a freak out from frustration. Finding jeans that fit and accent my beautiful booty is such a challenge. When I find the magical pair, I covet them and wear them well.

At Union Mall I found a great pair of high wasted denim. My favourite part of them is the high yolk in the back. Seeing as I have mostly basic tops, my outfits with these jeans were looking a little drab. I decided to alter them and I am going to show you how!

I was inspired by The Ragged Priest, a UK brand that specialises in painted and destroyed denim. I decided that I wanted to transform my jeans into something simple that I can wear with basic tees or dress up with patterned blouses. 

What you’ll need:

Quick Drying oil paint (I used black)

Paint brush

Turpentine (for cleaning)

Masking tape

Measuring tape

Razor Blade or Exacto knife

Scissors

A piece of cardboard or plastic

First try on the jeans and mark where you want the cut outs to be. I had someone help me mark where my knees were exactly so I didn’t eff it up and have the holes too high or too low. 

Draw the shape you want, then place the cardboard or plastic in the leg and cut with the razor blade. To make sure that both sides were equal, I used the denim cut out from the previous leg and placed it on the other knee to cut it out perfectly. I used the razor blade to score short lines around the hole. When I wash my jeans, it will cause the holes to fray a little and it will look less perfect and more rugged and distressed.

Next run masking tape down half an inch away from the outside seem. Use a measuring tape to be exact. Do the same on the other side of the seem. You’ll have two pieces of masking tape protecting your jeans from the oil paint to create a long black stripe. Do this on each leg.

Now its time to paint! Place the cardboard or plastic in the pant leg again. This will ensure that the paint wont bleed on to the other side of the jeans while you paint. Shake the oil paint before you use it, then carefully start painting on the inside of the tape lines. I had a couple drops on my pants outside of the tape. I liked the way it looked, so I wasn't mad about it. Do this to both legs.

I let the paint dry a little, then checked to see if I missed any pieces. I ended up painting two coats just to be sure.

To finish, hang up the jeans with a pant hanger and putthem in a place where they wont touch anything else. Clean your brush, with turpentine.

In a few hours you'll have a revamped, hella cool new pair of jeans. 

Bangkok is such a busy, booming city that I'm finding the need for a vacation from my vacation every now and then. There are moments where I am dreaming of inhaling crisp forest air, or sinking my toes into white, soft sand. In Vancouver was so easy to escape. There were beaches and mountains surrounding that young city of mine. After living there for 4 years, I knew all the sweet spots that made for the perfect staycation. 

Thailand has so many wonderful destination spots. Headed North, there is tropical Pai which is surrounded by jungles and mountains. South, are many stunning beaches with turquoise water and plenty of coconuts. I try not to travel in backpacker areas. I want to see Thailand like a local but with traveller goggles on. Luckily, I’ve made great friends who have suggested many places to see. Ive recently took an adventure to Koh Lipe island. I was invited to go with Go Grrrls  (check out my post on Go Grrrls!). These incredibly talented ladies were asked to play a gig for Valentines day. The travel posse included Dookie, Mae, Cleo and her boyfriend Richard. 

I was so excited to get to the beach, bask in the sunshine and practise mermaiding in the crystal clear waters. But before that dream could take place we had to travel.  From Bangkok we took a 2 hour flight to Hat Yai, a 2 hour bus to Pak Bara,  THEN a two hour boat ride to Koh Lipe. The milk run was worth it. My breath was stolen the moment we approached the island. White beaches, turquoise blue water, and traditional Thai boats decorated in neon fabrics, #nofilter needed for sure. 

We checked into our rooms, and set out to explore the island. First we stopped at Pooh Bar, this is where the Grrrls would be playing for the next 3 nights. Pooh bar is named “the friendliest place on Koh lipe” I would agree. The staff and owners were so welcoming and ensured that we were having a great time. 

Pooh Bar is located in the middle of the island. Not only is it a bar, but a restaurant, a bakery, bungalows and dive shop. It really has everything you could need. Including hilarious playful cats. Pooh’s isn’t your typical island bar, the drink menu ranges from Chang beer to signature hand crafted cocktails. Watching the mixologists create was fascinating. I kept ordering more just to see what show would happen next. Plus, I wasn't mad about the mid day buzz I had going on. My favourite creation was a torched pineapple, rum drink garnished with a smoking cinnamon stick.

The next day we woke up early and headed to the beach. I was really looking forward to wading into the cool water and float the day away. I pride myself on being a beach bum. I can sunbathe for hours, get a little pink but walk away with a glowing tan. I wasn’t thinking about how strong the sun was, and It didn’t occur to me how southern Koh Lipe is. Adding to this, it was the first time I didn’t use SPF at the beach. I bet you know where I am going with this. My dreams of flawlessly emerging from the sea a golden goddess were crushed. I was more like a dehydrated lobster crawling into the shade begging for aloe. It took me a few days to recover from the burn, and I am sad to say that my tan is peeling off one skin chip at a time. 

At last the party day had arrived. The island was decorated with pink and red ribbons, people were selling flowers and I was hunting down chocolate. For myself. No sharing. There were even Go Grrrls posters and banners hung to promote the Pooh Bar event. The Dj’s of Go Grrls faces were all over the island. I was so excited to see my friends blowing in the tropical wind. I am pretty sure I was more excited then they were. The Go Grrrls Valentines Day party was a success. People were feeling festive and dancing the night away. Couples were dancing together, people were flirting and one women was solo grinding on a pole. Who says Valentines day is just for lovers? 

With one full day left, Cleo organised a boat trip to check out snorkeling and private beaches. Every day on Koh Lipe was fantastic, but this was the highlight of the adventure. We snorkeled small reefs. I saw so many beautiful tropical fishes. I showed off my diver skills off by playing with large purple clams and I even spotted a Nemo (clown fish) family chilling in their anemone home. We spent the afternoon relaxing on a private beach. Richard took advantage of the peaceful surroundings to take photos for his brand WG Trunk Co.

All fun adventures must come to an end. We had the same long journey ahead of us. A boat, a bus and a flight, and before we knew it we were back in smokey Bangkok. Despite the sunburn I was taking home, the Koh Lipe adventure was amazing and much need. I was sad to leave the beach and the chill island vibes but it was time to go home and hide in the shade for a while. If you get a chance, take the long journey to Koh Lipe. Its worth the trip, especially if you have SPF in tow.

I’ve been extremely lucky to meet some crazy, cool and talented people in Bangkok so far.

Not only am I lucky because the new people in my life are really rad, but because making new friends after moving can be a challenging adventure. Moving can make it really hard to find your place. It takes time and some questioning. Where are the cool coffee shops? Where are the hipsters? Where are my future sweet ass friends? 

Making friends or finding your group of like minded people isn't as easy as it used to be. You can’t just walk into a establishment and ask the guy next to you if he wants a sip of your adult juice box and then become best friends for ever and ever. There are 8.5 million people (Thats right, I said a MILLY) in Bangkok, which poses a challenge in the friend department. As grown ups we need to do a little research. Wether it be a meet up website, instagram creeping or shamelessly downloading Tinder. Tinder is a win win; friends, flirting and maybe something more for when the adult juice box gets empty. 

I met a extra wonderful woman on Tinder who introduced me to all her friends. These amazing people range from DJ’s, artists, designers, business owners and photographers. You can imagine how busy they are. I may not get to see them often and truthfully I don’t remember all of their names, but I can count on seeing or re-meeting them at Go Grrrls. 

Go Grrrls a party crew and a monthly badass queer event in Bangkok. Its a hub for anything indie and underground. If you think that Go Grrrls is a strictly gay night, your wrong.  Although the event is labeled queer; its for anyone who loves partying and indie music. The word queer can be skewed. A lot of people think it simply means gay, but it really it is an umbrella term for the LGBT community. Many people have their own definitions of queer. When I asked Go Grrls what their definition was they explained to me that they see queer as anything that isn't mainstream. If you're listening to a band no one has ever heard of, wearing your best finds from the local thrift store, and not drinking a pumpkin spice latte, you might be able to describe your self as queer.. or a hipster. You choose. 

Go Grrrls is made up of 3 extra bad ass ladies. DJ Dookie (AKA Lady Soma), DJ Cleo P, and DJ Mae Happyair (Click their names to listen!). Each of them are specialized in their own genre. Dookie is Queen of indie-rock, Cleo P throws down with hip-hop and trap, Mae Happyair gets weird to electro and tech-house. The party has been running successfully for 2 years, each one being themed with a new killer style, and some parties have special guests.  On March 4th Go Grrls and another local party crew called Powderpuff are taking the stage with Rich White Ladies at Live RCA in Bangkok! A guaranteed fun night, you must stop by!

Feeling apart of an open community where I can dance my face off, meet new interesting and inspiring people and know that I have a place in Bangkok at least once a month is such a comfort. If you're in Bangkok and you’ve never been to a Go Grrrls event, I strongly urge you to check it out. You’ll have a great time and walk away with a great new selection of music and potential new pals.

You're invited to a party by your incredibly intelligent scientist friend. He tells you that the party you'll be attending is full of his super smart and some ultra geeky fellow scientists. They are Physicists, Microbiologists, Astrophysicists  and some type of “ists” you didn’t know existed.   Between them they are speaking of terms and concepts you’ve never heard of. With the acceptation of dead give away words like “earth”, “equation”, and maybe “biochemistry” you have no idea what they are talking about. At this moment you're kicking yourself wishing that you spent less time doodling your crushes name on your binders in Biology 11. Your incredibly intelligent scientist friend can see that your struggling to keep up, and is translating their jargon into something a little more simple for you to stay involved. Although its confusing you're still smiling and surprisingly enjoying yourself. At the end of the night you’re happy you went to the party, but excited to go home and fall into your world of vocabulary and conversational topics with your cat, roommates or significant other.

My daily life is like a this scientist party. Except its a Thai party. Obviously, I am surrounded by a new culture and a language I've never been exposed to before coming to Thailand. When I first arrived here, the dialect of the Thai language confused me and I could barely get any words out. I  enjoyed being surrounded with a world that was so exotic to me. I quickly learned how to greet and thank people.I learned how to ask for my meals with no meat. Which worked 70% of the time. Then I was lucky enough to meet some local people. My vocabulary slowly grew and and with some help from an app I could say a little more and more everyday. Being a foreigner in a new group of Thai friends has been good for me. I can start to pick up common words and tones. Although I have no idea what they are directly saying, I can slightly pick up the topic of the conversation.

I am ashamed to admit this, but there was a moment for me where I was permanently frustrated. I wanted to be able to go into a restaurant and order exactly what I wanted, or walk into a room full of new people and be able to communicate and show my personal character. I am incredibly independent and outgoing, facing this barrier; I started feeling really lonely. The first moment I felt this was while riding in a late night cab. The two women I was riding with are very close friends. They were talking about work. I was overwhelmed with frustration and that pertinent pang of missing my friends. I flashed back to nights where my friends and I would pile into a cab and talk about the nights events. I really wanted to be apart of it, but because of the language I spoke, rather, couldn't speak; I was unable to be apart of the conversation.

Selfishly, I was annoyed. I so badly wanted to be able to speak for myself, and not have to be translated. I felt why whit and sass was lost in translation, and who am I without those charming attributes? Luckily, this moment only lasted a few days and I started to loose the single minded way of thinking.

I cant go around demanding people speak english because of my feelings. I made the decision to fly myself into a country where the culture and language unfamiliar. I need to deal with the frustrations myself or sharing them with third party observers; the cats. When faced with these situations I've learned to talk slowly, smile and attempted my best at any Thai. I try and speak to everyone, wether its English or Thai. By nature I love to talk, when the opportunity presents its self, I am like motor. Barely stoping for a breath. When it looks like I am being faced with a weekend of pure Thai, I try to wear a permeant smile and make up stories about what people are talking about based off body language and tones I discovered to be positive or negative. With my imagination, this sometimes can get a little out of hand.

I will be starting thai lessons in the foreseeable future, but for now I'm learning how to be myself without language. Its challenging, and I do have my selfish moments. The devils advocate that plays in my head always reminds me to relax and that my Chatty Cathy time will come. For now flashing peace signs and the Thai bow will do just fine.

    

Accepting the changes of a new home.

We really enjoyed our adventures in Phong Nha, but something about Vietnam wasn't winning us over. We knew that we had to give it more then a week before we formed a solid opinion. We were having a hard time fitting in. That may be a strange way of explaining it, because we aren't brace faced teenagers trying to win the hearts of the popular kids. It was very simple transition from Canada to Thailand. We were having a hard time finding our place as backpackers from Thailand to Vietnam.

After Phong Nha, we traveled to Hue by sleeper bus. The bus was over filled. People were laying on the floor and amongst those people was courageous Jenika. She graciously let me have the seat as a noble knight does for any diva.  It's common for the busses to be over crowded. I've seen bus drivers ask locals to leave their seats so tourists can have them. Which may seem like a kind gesture, I find it uncomfortable and awkward. 

When we arrived in Hue, we sat down for breakfast and tried to somewhat plan the rest of our trip. We planned things that we wanted to see, and tried to alter our beachy expectation of Vietnam. I should have known better, my plans rarely stick and are ever changing. During breakfast we kept talking about Thailand. We tried not to compare the two countries but we were having a hard time. We really love Thailand. With one familiar look from Jen, I knew she had a game plan. If you don't know already, Jenika is a Make-It-Happen wizard. I've seen this girl turn a piece of fabric into a fabulous birthday dress, a cheap can of soup into a main course masterpiece and now she was going to turn Vietnam into Thailand.

First we made a pros and cons list. We didn't want to leave Vietnam because we missed Thailand. It didn't seem like a valid enough reason.  We worked through our finances, flights, visas and carefully weighed our options. This deliberation took hours. We didn't want to be rash, and we sure weren't going to back out because Vietnam wasn't what we planned it to be. All in all, it's not Vietnam's fault. It was our poor planning that ultimately lead us to this moment. We ended up flying from Hue to Ho Chi Minh City that night. We adjusted all our flights, sorted out visa issues. Instead of flying home on the 27th, we'd be BKK-ing on the 13th. 

We had 5 days in Ho Chi Minh city before we flew out. We really enjoyed our time there. We even made it to a beach. We took a bus to Vung Tau, and laid like lizards for hours. We found wonderful vegetarian restaurants and tried new Vietnamese food. We started feeling like backpackers again, and not like annoying dumb tourists. We even made a few new local friends. One night we decided to check out Ben Thanh Market in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. We were walking though a park when a smiley young woman approached us and asked if we had a minute to talk. We said yes, because as backpackers we have an infinite amount of time to simply chat. We were greeted by 2 other women. They asked us to sit on the ground with them. I thought they were going to ask me a few questions, and that would be it. We ended up talking for an hour and a half. We swapped stories about our countries, what we did for work, our hobbies and passions. I found out that these lovely women were practicing english for an exam. Before we knew it more people started sitting around us. At one point we had an audience of 10 people wanting to talk to us and practice their english. It was a little overwhelming, but I really enjoyed meeting new people who were so eager to learn.

As the days passed Jen and I were starting to get anxious. We so badly wanted to get back to Thailand. We had a couple dangerous moments that only pushed our desire back to Thailand. One being that I nearly saw Jenika get hit by a scooter. It was such a close call. We looked both ways, and took our first steps to cross the road when this pink scooter piled high with people whipped around the corner and nearly whipped out guava snacking Jenika. We retreated safely to the side walk and were dead silent. Which is saying something cause we are always talking, singing, or shouting. Then to top it off, we saw a dead cat and Jen walked through human urine. That was a full day.

Our time in Nam came to a close, and with some really great experiences and some not really great experiences; we are happy with the decision we made to leave early. We also decided that those 13 days weren’t our last time in Vietnam. I would totally go back there, now that I know what to expect and acknowledge that there needs to be some sort of planning to have an optimal experience.