You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT visit Phuket without going to the Phi Phi islands!!! The views are unbelievable and the whole day is great. I went here while on a girls trip around SE Asia. We booked an all day tour to Phi Phi Islands through My Island Tours. For about $50 it includes shuttle pick up from your hotel to the pier, a speedboat ride to the Phi Phi Islands, a buffet lunch, and snorkeling gear. We were picked up around 8am from our hotel near Patong Beach and headed to the pier. As the last group to get on the speedboat, we had no choice but to sit at the front of the boat. At first we didn’t like that because there was nothing to block the sun, but it ended up being the best seats on the boat! The people sitting inside eventually started to realize what they were missing out on. Stops on the tour included: • Maya Bay, the backdrop for the movie The Beach-Swimming and photo ops • Pileh Lagoon-Snorkeling •Phi Phi Don- Lunch •Monkey Beach- For the monkeys of course! •Khai Nok- Swimming and snacks We headed back to the pier around 4:30 pm and got on the shuttle back to our hotel. I will definitely make another trip to Phi Phi Islands to see everything else it has to offer!

The Kingdom of Wonder is…wonderful! Going to see the temples of Angkor Wat and Bayon are obviously a must. For another way to learn about the culture, travel like the locals on a motor bike tour of the countryside. Some stops along the way included spending time with children at a primary school and watching a family make woven baskets from the stem of a palm. You definitely don't want to miss a performance at the Cambodian Circus either. It’s a mix of theater, music, dance, and acrobatics all in one. Buy tickets in advance because they sell out quick.

I only spent 1 night in Hanoi before traveling around SE Asia. Some tips for a quick trip. Of course you need to taste the coffee and any street food you can get your hands on. There are also streets dedicated to specific stores like silk, shoes, and books that are worth checking out. I highly suggest going to train street. Located in a narrow street surrounded by homes, lies a train track. Twice a day, a speeding train headed for Ho Chi Minh City passes through here. If you're there at that time, you literally have to become one with the buildings when the train passes. Unfortunately, I missed the train that day but the street is still something to see.

The Hawaiian island of Oahu is amazing and there are so many things to do. Call me crazy but, 2 out of the 8 days I was there, I stayed up all day because I wanted to do everything! Here’s what I loved the most during my trip: Luau I went to a Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village hotel. It was on a rooftop and as soon as you enter, you can take a picture with two of the performers. A complimentary drink is given before being seated at a table. There was a buffet style dinner of different Hawaiian foods. The show was great and the dances were from Hawaii, Polynesia and the Pacific. There was a lot of audience participation including a conch shell blowing challenge, fashion show, and dance lessons. I was even pulled on stage to learn a dance! Diamond Head Hiking Diamond Head, an extinct volcano, at sunrise is unreal!!! The views from the top definitely make the journey to get there worth it. You can get there by car, a tour or the local bus. I recommend the bus because it’s quick and easy. Just be prepared to walk from the bus stop basically in pitch black, unless you bring a flashlight (the one on my phone didn’t help at all). The hike to the top is pretty rough but not difficult. There are a lot of rocks, potholes, and stairs along the way. You’ll forget about all of that though once you see the views. Hanauma Bay Hanauma Bay is absolutely breathtaking! It is a nature preserve that is formed in a volcanic cone. I decided to go here at the last minute and every tour was booked. I managed to find a great last minute one with Ike’s Hanauma Bay Tour. It was $25 for 1/2 the day, he picked me up from my hotel and provided snorkeling gear. I only had to pay a $7.50 entrance fee for the preserve. The bay is mainly for snorkeling or just relaxing. Manoa Trails and Falls Manoa Trails is a hike that leads to a beautiful waterfall. The trail is surrounded by a rainforest where scenes for Jurassic Park and Lost were filmed. The hike is said to be for beginners but is rocky and can become muddy/slippery. Depending on the recent rainfall, the size of the falls can change. There are signs around the falls that say not to go in because of bacteria but some people still do. I chose to take a group tour there but the local bus or car work well too.