Asia – The Girl Who Goes

Last Updated on September 8, 2025

How To Eat Gluten-Free in Japan: Japan Gluten Free Restaurants + Guide

I can now officially say that I’ve survived being gluten-free in Japan. Despite the amount of research I did in advance, it certainly wasn’t easy — especially since I only got diagnosed with celiac disease two months before the trip.

While I felt super overwhelmed beforehand, blog posts and videos about visiting Japan as a celiac from my fellow gluten-free travelers made a huge difference in giving me the basics on how to get started. I’m so thankful to the gluten-free community as a whole, because we’re the ones who are always looking out for each other.

As I was planning my trip, there were a few things in particular I wished that I had in advance: a comprehensive Google Map with a clear key/guide, photos of what kinds of foods I should be looking for in convenience stores, and a list of must-visit restaurants — especially ones that needed reservations.

And of course, after I actually arrived in Japan, I learned quite a few things from my own experience that I felt weren’t really talked about online enough.

Since I didn’t have those things, I decided to make them myself. And now I’m happy to share them with you. 🙂 [Read more…]

Last Updated on September 3, 2025

How To Get the Cheapest Shinkansen Tickets for the Train in Japan

Hello from Japan!! At long last, we’ve arrived in East Asia for our honeymoon, celebrating our first anniversary. 🙂 Right now we are in Kyoto, after spending about a week in Tokyo, and we’ll be headed to Osaka in a few days. And I’m so excited about all the new experiences I’m having and will eventually be able to share with you all!

This morning, we took the Shinkansen — Japan’s high-speed train line — from Tokyo to Kyoto. While we actually booked these tickets about a month ago, it took some experimenting to figure out how to actually get the cheapest Shinkansen tickets. So, here’s what you need to know! [Read more…]

Last Updated on October 16, 2024

A Review of Lila Thai Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand

When’s the last time you got a professional massage?

Ok, I’ll go first. Before my trip to Thailand in 2017, and my experience with Lila Thai Massage, I’d had exactly two massages in my life. Both of them had been for free, done by my mom’s friend, Larissa, who was in massage therapy school and needed practice hours. But massages were never something I’d thought about paying for.

Next question: When’s the last time you got a professional massage from a former inmate? [Read more…]

Last Updated on February 3, 2025

Thailand: Elephants and Ethics

“I booked my trip to Thailand,” I told some friends, months before I would share this news with my parents.

“That’s so cool! You have to ride an elephant while you’re there,” one of them said.

“Oh, I totally will.”

I could just imagine it: photos I’d seen of other friends, and celebrities, perched atop the back of these gentle giants, danced in my head. Who wouldn’t want to ride an elephant? [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 25, 2025

7 Reasons You Should Visit Chiang Mai, Thailand

Wat Phra Singh Temple in Chiang Mai

When you think of Thailand, what comes to mind? Probably Bangkok, right? It makes sense — from 2016 to 2019, Bangkok was the world’s most-visited city, edging out cities like London, Paris, Tokyo, and Barcelona.

Next, perhaps you think of Phuket and the all beautiful beaches down south. Maybe you don’t think of Chiang Mai; I’d never even heard of it myself until a month before I went to Thailand. But after spending three busy days in Bangkok, which I enjoyed, I definitely appreciated the quiet charm of Chiang Mai. It quickly became my favorite city I visited during my two-week excursion through Thailand and Cambodia. [Read more…]

Last Updated on February 18, 2025

A Review of Thai Railways: Overnight Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Being planted in the Midwest, I don’t have a ton of practical reasons to take the train in my regular life. When I’m traveling, though, it’s a different story. Rather than shying away from this form of transportation due to unfamiliarity, I embrace the opportunity to move about the world in a different way. I’ve taken it from Berlin to Stuttgart, Copenhagen to Amsterdam, Madrid to Sevilla, and Seattle to Vancouver. [Read more…]

Last Updated on September 14, 2024

Top 3 Things to Know Before Visiting Cambodia

First of all, if you’re planning to visit Cambodia, let me congratulate you. You’re going to get lots of puzzled looks and questions such as, “Where?” and “Why?” from family, friends, and co-workers. But you’ve made an excellent decision to experience a country and culture that many people overlook.

Whether you know a lot or a little about Cambodia, there are three things you absolutely must know before you visit Cambodia. [Read more…]

Last Updated on January 27, 2025

5 Reasons To Visit Cambodia on Your Southeast Asia Trip

Why visit Cambodia? Well, views like these, for one…

Where is Cambodia? If you’re most people, you probably have no idea. That’s okay. We’re going to talk about it. Why should you want to visit Cambodia? We’ll talk about that too.

I was first alerted to the existence of Cambodia on the last day of my sophomore year of college. My Spanish professor, Heidi — who helped grow my love for Spain and international travel — was telling us how much she’d enjoyed teaching us that semester, and the conversation turned to the importance of traveling. She became emotional as she shared some of her most memorable experiences, including her visit to Pol Pot’s Killing Fields in Cambodia.

And in that moment, I could not have told you where Cambodia was. But when I got back to my apartment that afternoon, you already know what Wikipedia page I ended up on. [Read more…]

Last Updated on July 19, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Taxis in Bangkok

There’s no shortage of taxis in Bangkok — you just have to know how they work.

Before going to Thailand, I could probably count on one hand the number of times I’d used an actual taxi. As a Millennial, I’m no stranger to Uber, which is similar in theory but totally different in application. When I’ve traveled abroad before, I’ve usually relied on public transportation. Although it may not be the fastest or most convenient way to travel, it sure is cheap. [Read more…]