My Favorite Places of 2016

34 plane rides, 12 countries, 45 cities, and countless memories later, 2016 is coming to an end. I can hardly believe it. I feel like I say this every year, but 2016 has been the quickest year yet. And it’s time to reflect on my favorite places of 2016. I was able to travel extensively through Asia with new friends, my two best friends from college, and my Mom. It was an amazing experience.

My Favorite Places of 2016

Koh Rong, Cambodia

I think this may have been the most beautiful place I’ve ever stepped foot (I know I say that a lot, but I mean it this time…at least for now). It was barely inhabited, and the part of the island that was, was filled with adorable guest houses, delicious restaurants, smoothie stands, and hostels. The water was clear blue, and the beaches had the whitest sand. But, perhaps my favorite part, were the people (and this goes for all of Cambodia). Everyone was so friendly, kind, and always smiling. I really want to get back there!

Uluwatu, Bali

Bali was a place that I know I will return to at some point in the future. And one of my favorite areas of the island was Uluwatu. It wasn’t touristy like Seminyak, and it wasn’t super western like Canggu. It was what I imagined Bali would look like. Dramatic cliffs, beautiful blue water, and stunning sunsets. And possibly the best place to spend your Sunday on — Single Fin. Go there, you won’t be disappointed! Pretty much everyone on the island heads there on Sundays and it’s a huge party.

Wat Pha Sor Kaew, Thailand

I visited a ton of temples during my time living in Thailand. And each one of them were very different. My favorite one, and by far the most magical one, is Wat Pha Sor Kaew. It’s the most colorful temple I have ever seen. Plus, it’s covered with hundreds of thousands of pieces of mosaic glass pieces. And it’s in the middle of nowhere in Central Thailand. It’s a little bit hard to get to, but it’s so worth it.

Gili T, Indonesia

Another one of my favorite places was Gili T. Gili T was so much fun. I stayed at a wonderful hostel, La Boheme. And I met some amazing people and saw the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. I laid on beautiful white sand beaches, and I danced in the streets until the sunrise. This is a place that I will have to get back to!

Kyoto, Japan

I have mixed feelings about my trip to Japan. Because we had a bit of trouble communicating with some of the people, it was a little stressful at first. But, Kyoto was incredible. There is so much history and so much beauty in that city. From the Bamboo Forest, to the Fushimi-Inari, to the Geisha District. It was so interesting to see the culture (I used to read so many books about Japan during the time of Geishas, so this was a real treat for me).

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