Thank you, Thailand!

Facebook memories reminded me that right about this time three years ago I moved to Chiang Mai and was in the process of adapting to my new life - trying out new food, discovering the city on a rented pink bicycle and having mango shakes for breakfast.

When I think about that period of my life, I feel so many mixed emotions. It was one of the craziest experiences ever, and I have to be honest - it didn't go that smoothly in the beginning. Moving to another part of the world all on your own is not easy sometimes, especially if you're moving with lots of hopes, dreams and fears.

That's why I'm writing this post to say thank you to this amazing country. Thank you, Thailand!

Thank you for being so beautiful, happy and welcoming!

The sense of HOME: back to Sicily again

You know all those overly used phrases? "Home is where your heart is", "home is not a place, but people", etc.?

Well, of course those words are used way too much, but only because they are true. What no one usually tells you is that your heart has an ability to be at two, three, twenty places at once.

It doesn't mean less love for your first home though.

It just means that when you are happy, your heart grows. Infinitely.

When I started this blog, I was living in Kyiv, Ukraine - the beautiful and charming city, where I was born and raised. I was working from home, so really needed a sort of a creative outlet – something that will motivate me to write, to take photos, to dress up once in a while and tell someone about my life.
For example, about going to Pyrohiv (in Kyiv)…

How to... - pack for a long trip to Asia, part 2

Now I want to focus on a few mistakes I've made while packing. You can't avoid those mistakes and you have to learn from them (and I actually want you to learn from my mistakes, because this way you'll be able to avoid some of them).

1. Less dresses, more separates

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you've noticed that I'm a hopeless dress girl. Honestly, when I'm at home in Kyiv, where I have a huge wardrobe and many things to choose from, I always choose dresses. But while you're living out of your suitcase and have very limited space and budget to add to your travel wardrobe, I'd suggest you leave your dresses behind. You can take one amazing dress that can save you on a date night or some other occasion, but other dresses should stay at home.

I'm actually thinking about mailing two out of three dresses I've brought with me home, because I simply never wear them. I'd be much happy if I packed more shorts and skirts.

2. Versatility is the key

If you've read my previous post on packing for a long trip to Asia, you noticed that I've brought only two skirts. I regret packing that black floral skirt every single day. I'm be much more happy if it stayed at home and I'd packed something more casual and versatile instead. I should've just pack that white and purple skirt (this one is perfect and usually saves me when I have a date of a holiday to go to) and something grey or black. This Isabel Marant skirt would've been PERFECT:

Bohemian Chic also wore in on her trip around Asia)

For now I'm just thinking about trying out this tutorial and making a wrap skirt out of a piece of jersy.

3. Be practical

Don't pack any clothes that doesn't fit. I've made a mistake of taking a pair of shorts that were quite roomy, and as a result they fall off me after two weeks. I also know a few people who packed lots of items that were too small in hope to lose weight here, and ended up buying almost an entire wardrobe instead because they had nothing to wear. So know your size and be practical. You probably will lose some weight here due to much healthier living, but still it's better to pack for your current size and shape.

These probably are the best advices I can give you right now. I also thought that I should say something about evening clothes - I haven't worn any of my evening tops or my wedge shoes. But I'm planning on spending almost a month in Bangkok, so I may still wear them after all)

Stay tuned for the part 3 - the essentials you can buy on arrival)