With travel becoming a normal part of life again, we’re seeing more and more women decide to adventure on their own. While that’s the case, life on the road can be a bit lonely (not to mention scary). So, whether you’re a seasoned traveler looking for community and connection or are a novice hoping for insider tips to keep you safe, here are 10 of the most helpful communities (mostly in the form of Facebook Groups) for solo female travelers.
1. The Solo Female Travel Network
The Solo Female Travel Network is the biggest online community for solo female travelers. This Facebook group was created in 2016 by Amanda Black with the intention of fostering camaraderie and mutual support among women travelers. Since then, the group has expanded to over 500k+ members and multiple subgroups; they even host meetup tours and (free) membership opportunities off Facebook.
Highlights:
Abundance of resources; just use the search bar for your specific question
Great place for travel stories and inspiration
Plenty of subgroups for additional identities
Abundance of resources; just use the search bar for your specific question
Great place for travel stories and inspiration
Plenty of subgroups for additional identities
2. Host A Sister
Host A Sister is one of my favorite Facebook groups for solo travel. It’s well organized and only allows posts in four formats: being a host, being a guest, looking for a travel buddy, seeking a meet-up. This group is one of the best ways to find free accommodations when traveling (though be warned that those posts tend to be extremely popular and free lodging gets snatched up quite quickly). Occasionally, a sister will share a story about an urgent situation and witnessing the amount of compassion and support offered in response is truly moving.
Highlights:
Good place to find free/exchanged accommodations with trusted individuals
Compassionate and highly engaged community
Organized and optimized for search
Good place to find free/exchanged accommodations with trusted individuals
Compassionate and highly engaged community
Organized and optimized for search
3. Asian Wander Women
Asian Wander Women is a relatively new group that connects location independent Asian women. This is one of the most career-heavy communities that I’ve been a part of and it’s interesting to see such a group address the intersection of so many needs. This group features lots of sub-chats and meet-ups and also gives back to the community with funding for entrepreneurial projects.
Highlights:
Very specific community of location independent English-speaking Asian women
Lots of networking and meetup events
Tech-heavy approach with a focus on moving into web3
Very specific community of location independent English-speaking Asian women
Lots of networking and meetup events
Tech-heavy approach with a focus on moving into web3
4. Digital Nomads – The Solo Female Traveler Network
Digital Nomads – The Solo Female Traveler Network is a subgroup of The Solo Female Travel Network mentioned above. It’s a much smaller group for female travelers who are location independent or are hoping to become digital nomads. I’ve noticed that while questions posed are much more specific (think internet questions, visa questions, etc), the group in general is much less active.
Highlights:
Specific travel community for woman-identifying individuals who are location independent
Good space to begin connecting with individuals who live a similar lifestyle
Specific travel community for woman-identifying individuals who are location independent
Good space to begin connecting with individuals who live a similar lifestyle
Note: In order to maintain the safety and integrity of community spaces, it’s important that we remain respectful of who those spaces are designed for. I am personally not a member of the following groups and therefore will not be sharing specific highlights below. That being said, I’m sharing these in case you identify with the following demographics and are looking for community.
5. Curvy Girls Travel Guide
Curvy Girls Travel Guide is a safe space for curvy and plus-size female travelers! This online community was created in 2017 and currently has over 12.3k members. Their last Instagram post was in 2019 but I’m assuming that the Facebook group is much more active.
6. Black Women Travel
Black Women Travel is a huge community of close to 90k black women travelers. It seems like a fairly active group (15 new posts today, according to Facebook) but there isn’t much information otherwise. The group does not encourage meet-ups but there are other communities for that!
7. Traveling Black Women
If you’re more active on Instagram, Traveling Black Women is for you. While they have over 24k group members on Facebook, the community is much more engaged on the gram. This is a space that shares travel guides, resources, and inspiration for Black women.
8. WOMEN LOVE TRAVEL – A Group For Traveling Women Over 40
WOMEN LOVE TRAVEL – A Group For Traveling Women Over 40 is a subgroup of the larger Women LOVE Travel community. This community has over 14k members and for women over 40 to discuss travel itineraries, places of interest, tips, and photos!
Travel experience can vary greatly depending on how you present and the background you come from, so a community of like-minded individuals makes the experience less lonesome. If you’re a solo female traveler, here are 8 online spaces where you can connect with similar individuals, exchange travel feedback, and gain additional insight into this beautiful world of ours.
One of my goals this year was to be more mindful of my living habits outside of fashion and the first place I started was in daily routines. This year, I actively worked on decreasing my consumption of animal products and was especially cognizant of swapping single-use items for more sustainable options. Along with those changes, I also set the goal of swapping out some of my conventional beauty products for more clean beauty alternatives and that’s where Vegamour comes in.
What is Vegamour?
Vegamour is a vegan hair care company that approaches hair wellness holistically. They blend plant-based ingredients rooted in holistic healing with effective, clinically-tested technology to create products that promote the growth of healthy, beautiful hair without the use of harmful chemicals.
Vegamour approaches hair health comprehensively and strives to provide sustainable, long-term solutions to issues that people might be experiencing right now. They’re best known for their hair growth serums, foams, and oils, but have recently launched a line of products designed to address the different needs of fine, medium, and thick hair types.
I tried out their ENSO 03 Shampoo and Conditioner for Thick Hair and here are my honest thoughts.
Vegamour ENSO Review
Vegamour’s Enso line is a smart hair care system that is designed to address the unique needs of fine, medium or thick hair. Their products use Karmatin, a microencapsulated vegan b-SILK™ protein that physically bonds to hair follicles and remains attached to strands even after rinsing to nourish your hair through the world’s first chemical-free keratin treatment. Learn more about the specifics on how it works here. Because I have thick, straight hair, I opted for their 03 selection for my hair type.
Enso Shampoo
The product is a translucent, light yellow color that lathers well and smells of jasmine, ylang ylang, and yuzu. Because I recently bleached and dyed my hair, I was a little apprehensive about the product potentially being too harsh, but I found that it did a good job of cleaning my hair but not stripping it entirely of natural oils!
Enso Conditioner
The Vegamour Enso 03 Conditioner for Thick Hair smells exactly like the shampoo but feels completely different. This conditioner is thick and creamy and actually did a great job of hydrating my damaged hair! I always have an issue with conditioners being too runny but I genuinely loved the consistency of this product and it felt like I was able to get deep hydration without extraneous residue or weight.
Overall:
I loved the way Vegamour’s Enso products smelled and felt. I plan on cutting and dyeing my hair more over the next few months and am excited to see how this product can support me on my hair journey!
One note of criticism: I wish that they would move away from plastic packaging or at least incorporate some recycled materials into their product design.
Have you tried Vegamour out? What other clean beauty and hair care lines have you tried out or would be interested in learning more about?
If you’re in Taiwan and want to explore some of the outlying islands, Green Island is an approachable first step! Green Island, or Lyudao is a small island off the east coast of the main island of Taiwan. It’s known for its rugged sea cliffs, rolling green meadows, and mysterious sea caves.
Green Island once served as a penal colony for political prisoners during Taiwan’s period of martial law but today, it’s one of the hottest tourist destinations for domestic travel. This small but scenic island offers a good blend of nature and civilization. Because it’s such a popular destination for travelers, the township has put in a lot of infrastructure that supports modern tourism. You’ll have access to convenience stores, easy transportation, and curated experiences (like scuba diving adventures).
Green Island is a travel destination that blends the ease and comfort of modern living within the context of stunning natural landscapes and this guide will cover all the must-see spots on the island.
Best Time To Visit Green Island, Taiwan (Lyudao, Taiwan)
Green Island, Taiwan is appropriate to visit anytime between March and November. The best months are March, April, October and November and the warmest months are May through September. The only drawback to visiting in the summertime is that it also happens to be typhoon season so if you plan on going then, prepare ahead of time and pack your poncho.
It’s best to avoid Green Island in the winter as it gets quite windy and dreary. The ferry schedule is also much more unpredictable because of the weather and a lot of shops will close for the season.
How To Get To Green Island, Taiwan (Lyudao, Taiwan)
Green Island is located 21 miles (33 kilometers) off the eastern coast of the main island of Taiwan and the easiest way to get there is by ferry or boat.
To begin your journey, you’ll have to make your way over to Taitung first. If you’re starting in Taipei, you can either fly directly or take the train (TRA) to Taitung. If you’re starting somewhere else on the west coast, the fastest way would be to take the high speed rail (HSR) to Kaohsiung and then to take the normal train (TRA) over to Taitung.
Once you get to Taitung, you’ll need to get to Fugang (Fukang) Harbor. It’s about a 15-20 minute taxi-ride from the train station. You can also take a local bus but coordinating the schedules there might be a little more complicated.
Regardless of whether you booked your ticket ahead of time or not, you’ll have to go to the counter to check in and get your physical ticket. During the summer, boats run quite frequently (once an hour) and a one-way ticket costs around $450 NT. There is a chance that trips will get canceled depending on the weather so always check beforehand. The ferry ride takes approximately one hour so if you tend to get seasick, make sure to also take a motion sickness pill beforehand.
Another way to get to Green Island is to fly directly from Taitung. The plane is quite small and the turbulence can be atrocious but if you’re really uncomfortable with traveling by ferry, know that there’s an alternative!
How To Get Around Green Island, Taiwan
The first thing you should do when arriving at Green Island is to rent some form of transportation. Electric scooters are extremely popular on the small island and don’t require a license to ride. As long as you have experience and can ride a bike, you’re good to go! You can ask your accommodation to arrange a scooter for you, book one ahead of time on a platform like Klook or KKDay or coordinate directly with one of the rental companies at the harbor.
After you get settled, take some time to scoot around the island and get oriented. I’ve listed the destinations in a clockwise order from Nanliao Harbor just to make things easier.
Lyudao Lighthouse 綠島燈塔:
This historical lighthouse was built in 1939 after one of America’s ships got stranded in the island’s reef en route to the Philippines. This all-white lighthouse is a great spot to watch the sunset and to take photos.
The Wuyouku swimming area is just a quick walk away from the lighthouse and is one of my favorite places to swim on the island. It’s a large seawater pool that is protected from strong tides. The water is generally fairly shallow but you can still snorkel in the area and see lots of little fish. I loved just laying back, floating, and enjoying the soak.
Heads up that it’s best to visit this area during high tide when the water is cleaner. At low tide, there’s very little flow with the ocean and the water can get dirty very quickly.
There are two main snorkeling areas in Green Island, Taiwan. Chaikou Snorkeling Area is on the northern coast of the island and because of the wind patterns, is only ideal to visit during the summer season. I didn’t actually go snorkeling in this area but found the concrete bridge to be picturesque and definitely enjoyed watching the intertidal critters scramble along the coast.
Green Island White Terror Memorial Park 白色恐怖綠島紀念園區
In Taiwan, The White Terror refers to the political repression of civilians during martial law under KMT rule from 1947-1987. It was during this period that the government prosecuted anyone who spoke up against the state. Because Green Island functioned as a penal colony for political dissidents during this time, in 2001, the government created this memorial park in remembrance for all the injustices that happened. The park features several buildings and structures that memorialize the former prisoners and give context to their experiences.
The Taiwanese love to name rocks after structures that they resemble and Elephant Trunk Rock is just another example of that. If you enjoy creative rocky formations, this structure is worth checking out. It also looks over the northern coastline of the island and is a fun spot to take photos at!
One of the most popular hikes on Green Island with vast grasslands, several hills, and panoramic views of the northern coastline. This hike is fairly approachable and well maintained. Just make sure to bring water or some sun coverage because if it’s a sunny day, it can get quite hot!
Just a short ride away from Niutoushan is the sea cave! This cave was naturally eroded by the elements and creates a unique frame that opens out to the ocean. It’s an easy destination to get to and makes for great photos.
Hands down my favorite spot on this entire island. This natural sea cave is the perfect destination for swimming, freediving, and cliff jumping. It boasts clear cerulean waters and plenty of interesting sea creatures to observe. Heads up that most visitors will organize a trip with a tour group as it can be a little bit of a treacherous experience to find so there are definitely moments where it can get pretty noisy and packed. Organize your trip accordingly!
Zhaori Hot Springs is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world. The water source is fed by a combination of seawater and underground water heated by volcanic lava and typically ranges between 60 and 70 degrees celsius.
A bathhouse has been built in the area so that visitors can have a better experience, but if you walk down from the main building, you can still experience some of the springs in a more organic manner.
I watched the sunrise from this spot but it’s also a popular destination for stargazing!
The Fanchuanbi Grassland in the southeast corner of Green Island, Taiwan is just a quick walk from the Zhaori Hot Springs. From the resort’s parking lot, you’ll walk up a set of stairs to access this expansive grassy plateau. This spot offers a beautiful stretch of green against the backdrop of endless blue skies and oceans. Heads up that there are a lot of wild goats here so be careful of the poop!
Dabaisha beach means white sandy beach, which is an accurate name! If you’re looking for a more traditional beach on Green Island, definitely check this one out as it offers fine white sand and gentle blue waters, and is the perfect spot for afternoon lounging. This beach is also a popular entry point for scuba divers and is additionally a great place to watch the sunset.
This is the second of the main snorkeling areas on the island and where I actually did my scuba experience!
I registered with Diving.come Dive Center for approximately $2500 NT. On the day of, you show up to the dive center and fill out a few waivers to get started. Then, you’ll put on the wetsuit and scuba shoes and they’ll talk you through the basics of the gear and underwater communication cues. Once you get to the ocean, the instructor takes their time to make sure that you’re comfortable with breathing and swimming in the ocean. From there, you’ll slowly make your way underwater with the instructor holding on the whole time.
I found that the coaches were extremely professional and did a great job of communicating clearly. The ocean was extremely beautiful and I not only got to see various colorful fish, but also a sea turtle and a baby shark!
If you visit Green Island, definitely take the time to scuba dive. It’s totally worth the experience!
That’s about all that I got to experience on Green Island! There are a few other popular attractions like Little Great Wall 小長城, the Historic Mountain Trail 過山步道, and Sleeping Beautiful Rock 睡美人岩 that I didn’t get to experience because of the time and weather, but if you feel like doing so, you can definitely check them out.
Have you been to Green Island, Taiwan? Are there any other destinations you’d like me to write about?
Location independence and digital nomadism have grown exponentially in the past 10 years with more and more individuals prioritizing work options that offer time and geographical flexibility. With this increase in freedom comes an interesting conversation about global gentrification.
We’re finding hoards of burnt out workers from the global north migrate to the global south to take advantage of lower costs of living, greater access to nature, and a slower pace of life. This mass migration has had a negative impact on communities, with locals being priced out of their ancestral homes and increased costs of living for individuals who are not able to support it.
While it’s certainly on the government to protect local communities with advantageous policies, as individual travelers, we have to also do our part by traveling more responsibly. So here are 7 tips for traveling more consciously and reducing the harm that we potentially cause.
1. Do Your Research
Regardless of where you’re traveling to, consult guides and online resources before you go. Learn about the destination’s environmental, social, and political issues so that you can be a more respectful and responsible traveler. Be culturally sensitive and understand that you are the visitor. Traveling is a privilege and we should respect it as such. Going off of that, of course there are some must-sees when traveling but do your best to explore some spots off the beaten path as well (given that you can safely do so). This will give you insight about what it’s actually like to live there and prevent degradation and erosion due to high-volume tourism.
2. Travel Slower
Slow travel is a luxury but if you have the ability to do so, see if you can spend several weeks or months in a destination instead of jetting from one place to the next. This gives you the opportunity to better understand the culture of a place and reduces the environmental harm of travel.
Slower Travel
Always choose trains and public transportation over flights if you can and if you have to fly, opt for airports that are actively taking steps to be more sustainable. Additionally, if you have the means to do so, consider offsetting your travel impact. Invest in blue carbon ecosystem projects that are more impactful than regular forest offsets.
Sustainable Lodging
If sustainability is a huge priority for you, you can also actively seek out eco-conscious hotels and accommodations. Specifically look for places that prioritize renewable energy and have effective waste management systems. When booking these places, also look to see if they’re giving back to the local community or are owned by someone who is from the place you’re visiting.
3. Stay/Eat/Buy Local
Stay Local
The majority of hotels and resorts are owned by huge conglomerates that extract from the local community so rather than staying at such residences, consider booking locally with individuals or small businesses instead. Not only will you have a more personal experience, but you’ll put money directly back into the local economy.
There’s been a lot of debate over the safety of Airbnb and privately owned residences vs that of corporate hotels lately but I think that if you take the appropriate measures to screen for safety (looking over reviews) and also carry some protective items (wedges for doors, for example), you should be fine.
When booking a local stay, look through listings on booking.com, homestay.com, vrbo.com, and airbnb.com. You can also consider networking through Facebook groups or look into housesitting.
Eat Local
Imported food is more expensive, has a higher environmental cost, and detracts from the local culture. When you can, always opt to eat locally. Purchase from local markets and small restaurants. Seasonal foods tend to not only taste better, but are actually better for the environment!
Buy Locally
When shopping for souvenirs, always buy from local vendors. When booking tours or experiences, look into companies that are locally-owned and are considerate of the environmental impact of their services.
4. Respect Nature
One of the most incredible things about travel is getting the chance to see vastly different natural landscapes. Unfortunately, increased global tourism has also led to environmental degradation and as a responsible and conscious traveler, it’s part of your responsibility to do all that you can to decrease your impact.
When taking hikes or visiting natural bodies of water, follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace. Refrain from taking seashells, coral, and other natural objects. Stay on designated trails and observe wildlife from a distance. Always take your trash with you and avoid introducing anything to existing ecosystems.
5. Continue To Practice Sustainable Living
Although it can be more convenient to just purchase one-off items like toothbrushes and bug spray, do your best to invest in reusable items for travel. By purchasing high-quality items that you can use time and time again, you ultimately decrease the amount of waste that you generate and the negative impact of your visit.
Consider investing in a water filter and opt to fix things instead of throwing them away. Do your best to reduce your carbon footprint and always do your product research beforehand. If you’re exploring a region that is particularly sensitive (such as coral reefs), make sure that the common household items that you’re bringing do not contain harmful chemicals.
6. Engage Ethically
Responsible and conscious travel involves more than just the environment. When we travel, we come into contact with millions of people and animals, and should always remember that they are more than just a side character in your travel story. Everyone and everything that you come into contact with should be treated respectfully and engaged with ethically.
Ask Before Taking A Photo
With the rise of smartphones and social media comes the widespread exchange of images. Photography can be a powerful way to document your experience and create memories without leaving a physical trace, but before you snap that portrait, please remember that your subjects are still people. Be respectful and ask if it’s okay to take someone’s photograph before assuming that you have the right to do so.
Another extension of this is to be mindful of the way that you are photographing things. Don’t engage in poverty porn as it negatively perpetuates the stereotypes about the country and the people you’re engaging with. Aim to empower people with your photos instead.
Never Touch Wildlife
We talked about this briefly in the nature section, but you should never touch, feed, taunt, or play with the wildlife that you encounter.
Avoid Voluntourism & Seek Out Community-Based Alternatives Instead
White Saviorism perpetuates colonial dynamics. You might not be white but if you’re approaching a country or a situation with the privileged mentality of making a situation better simply through your involvement, you’re wrong. Voluntourism negatively impacts a community by taking jobs away from locals and enabling a dependence on outside charity without the discussion of long-term infrastructure and community development.
Instead, if you are looking to make a positive impact within your travels, seek out community-based tourism opportunities. Look into events and movements led by local leaders and offer your presence as someone who can take direction and offer support.
7. Share Your Experiences
The majority of the travel industry only superficially glamorizes experiences. Be a voice in the responsible travel community by sharing your thoughts and experiences while promoting conscious practices in your networks in real life or online. The more that people understand the potential impact of global travel, the more they will be inspired to take action consciously.
While conscious travel is always a journey and there are tradeoffs to be made in the name of safety and security, we can do our best by being as mindful as possible. What are some other tips that you’ve gathered in your time traveling? Share with us in the comments down below!
While shopping consciously can be a great way first step to living more sustainably, individual choices can only take us so far. A mindful decision made by a single person is practically insignificant in comparison to the colossal impact that global corporations have. That’s why it’s all the more important that we organize collectively.
Environmental activism goes beyond our personal choices. It includes getting politically involved and dedicating some time to collective organization so that we can maximize our impact. It’s true—there’s power in numbers and there’s power in unity.
To help you get started, here are 8 organizations that advocate for sustainable fashion.
Fashion Revolution has been in the sustainable fashion game for over a decade now. They were created in response to the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 where an eight-story commercial building used for clothing production in Bangladesh collapsed.
Fashion Revolution strives to raise awareness about worker and environmental rights within the fashion industry. They advocate for a global fashion industry that conserves and restores the environment, and values people over growth and profit. Some of their key campaigns include Fashion Revolution Week; Good Clothes, Fair Pay; and Black Friday.
Fashion Revolution Foundation is a registered charity in the UK and while they primarily rely on community funding for their campaigns, they’re also sponsored by several larger organizations including the British Council, European Union, and Laudes Foundation. Fashion Revolution USA secures all funding through the Social Good Fund.
Remake is a global advocacy organization that is fighting for fair pay and climate justice in the clothing industry. They aim to end poverty wages, unsafe working conditions, and gender-based violence in the garment industry.
Remake is a sustainable and ethical fashion organization that primarily approaches fashion through the lens of workers rights. They believe that by paying garment workers a living wage, we can begin to reduce the social and environmental harm caused by the fashion industry. Some key campaigns include #PayUp, #VictoriasDirtySecret, The FABRIC Act, and International Accord.
Remake is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. They scored an 81% this past year on Charity Navigator and had 15 points taken off because their financial statements were missing. Learn more about the organization by reading their latest impact report.
Clean Clothes Campaign originally started as the Schlone Kleren Campaigne in the Netherlands in 1989 but has since expanded to be a global network consisting of 235 organizations operating in 45 different countries. They operate horizontally, with regional coalitions that move quickly to organize and effectively advocate for urgent concerns in specific geo-political regions. Some key campaigns include Good Clothes, Fair Pay; Ending Uyghur Forced Labor; and Pay Your Workers.
Fair Wear Foundation advocates for garment workers rights. They were founded in 1999 with the mission to fight against low wages, precarious employment conditions, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and many more injustices in the fashion industry.
Their main programming is targeted towards workplace training, pushing for living wages, remediating worker issues, taking action in production countries, and working with brands and influencers to changewhat happens through social dialogue.
Learn more about their organization by reading their annual report.
Sustainable fashion begins with design. The Centre For Sustainable Fashion is a university in London that is working from within to create change. Their curriculum questions and challenges the status quo and investigates existing systems within the fashion industry to transform it into one that recognizes ecological context and honors equity. Some ways in which they fight for sustainable fashion include research, knowledge exchange, policy advocacy, and of course, education.
To truly address sustainability in fashion, we have to look at the rate at which we’re producing and consuming garments. Slow Fashion Movement does just that.
Slow Fashion Movement is a volunteer-led coalition that advocates for sustainable fashion. They aim to unite people globally and locally to take collective action for climate justice. Their most well-known campaign is Slow Fashion Season, an initiative aimed at inspiring individuals to not purchase any new clothes for an extended period of time.
Slow Fashion Movement is an NGO that formed out of the idea of Slow Fashion Season, which I participated in in 2019 and 2020. All their funding comes directly through donations collected by CollAction in the Netherlands.
Slow Factory is an environmental & social justice nonprofit organization. While they’re not exclusively a sustainable fashion organization, a lot of their work does overlap.
With the rise of greenwashing and misinformation even in the slow fashion sphere, Slow Factory strives to empower the masses through education, system redesign, and an open and strategic narrative shift. Some of their main programming includes free education and training on issues in sustainability, an editorial platform for independent research, and incubator challenges for ambitious youth thinking up creative solutions.
The Sustainable Fashion Forum is a media company that organizes conversations within the sustainable fashion space. They aspire to bridge the gap between industry insight and consumer action. Once a year, they host a conference with industry experts to spearhead meaningful conversations at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, ethics, and culture.
This organization is a community-first platform but does take advertisements and sponsorships. While I trust that they’re selective with their partners, please do your own due diligence and always consume with a grain of salt.
As the sustainable fashion industry grows, there’s no doubt that more and more organizations will pop up. For the time being, here are eight organizations to consider when looking to get involved in collective action. A few additional organizations like Fashion For Good, Global Fashion Agenda, and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition came up in my search for this list but I chose not to include them because it looked like a few of their partners were actually huge contributors to the injustices in the fashion industry. I found it to be a conflict of interest but you can certainly do your own research and decide for yourself.
disclosure: this article may include affiliate links in which I receive a small commission for any bookings that you make
Penghu refers to a collection of 90 islands and islets in the Taiwan strait off the west coast of the main island of Taiwan. If you’re looking for a slower pace of life, white sand beaches, delicious seafood, and a blend of culture and nature, then look no further! Here’s my 4-day guide to Penghu.
You can either travel to Penghu either by air or boat. While it’s definitely cheaper to take a ferry, I highly recommend just flying directly because it’s simpler, faster, and more reliable.
Planes leave for the main city of Magong from Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Tainan, and Chiayi and typically run between $4000 NT and $5500 NT roundtrip. A quick search on Google Flights or Booking.Com will help you find the best flight for you.
If you plan on taking a boat, ferries leave from Kaohsung Port, Budai Harbor (Chiayi) and Anping Harbor (Tainan). The ride itself can take anywhere from 1.5 hours to 4 hours depending on the ticket and approximately costs $2000 NT roundtrip. Please note ferry rides can easily be disrupted or canceled depending on weather conditions. If you’re traveling during typhoon season (summer) or in the winter, I’d keep a close eye on the weather forecast and announcements made by the company you booked with.
I usually book my ferry tickets in advance from Klook but you can also purchase them when you get to the harbor. Make sure to check the details on different different operators, prices, and schedules on the official government transport site.
Walking is a perfectly fine choice if you plan on exploring one centralized location (like Magong city or other small villages), but a lot of Penghu’s signature sights are pretty spaced out.
Therefore, the best way to get around would be by car or scooter. Most hotels and hostels can organize this for you, but you can also use third-party operators like Klook or KKDay to book your vehicle beforehand.
As with any car or scooter rental situation, make sure to bring your international driver’s license or local license (if you have a Taiwanese license). Your license type should match up with the vehicle type that you intend to borrow.
If driving or scooting isn’t a viable option, you can take taxis or book a private driving service for the day. You can also consider renting a bicycle but please note that if you’re traveling during the summertime, it gets extremely hot and sunny and the last thing you’ll want to do is bike from destination to destination. (Heads up, it gets pretty hot if you’re scooting in the summer as well; driving is much comfier.)
Where To Stay In Penghu:
If you’re only in Penghu for a little while, I recommend staying in Magong City 馬公市. Magong is the biggest city with the most activities and attractions. It’s where flights land where a good proportion of ferries dock. It’s also centrally-located so that you can access more destinations with ease.
Here are some of my top hotel picks in Magong City:
Itinerary
So, without further ado, here’s a 4-day itinerary of what to do in Penghu!
Day 1: Traveling from Taipei, Checking In To AirBnb, Xiying Rainbow Bridge, Harbor-Side Chilling
Flying From Taipei to Penghu:
My friend and I met at Songshan airport for our flight down to Penghu. It was my first time flying domestically in Taiwan since the Covid scares earlier this year and I really didn’t expect there to be so many people at the airport.
We arrived at the airport about an hour before our flight with Uni Air, checked our bags (they allow one checked bag per passenger), and made our way through security. The flight took about one hour and was approximately 80% full with a mix of families, adult travelers, and Penghu residents.
Arrival, Car Rental, Airbnb Check-In:
Our Airbnb host organized a driver from the car rental place to pick us up and bring us to retrieve our car so with the exchange of a few texts, we met up and arrived at our destination smoothly.
After signing all the appropriate paperwork, we got our cute 5-seat car and made our way to the Airbnb.
Hot tip: make sure that you book your car far in advance (especially during peak travel season in the summer).
We reached out about a week before our travel dates and they initially only had a 7-seater and a 9-seater available for two of our visit dates. Another traveler must have canceled but we lucked out with securing a smaller car for all four days of our trip.
The AirBnb we booked was a small, family-run inn in the heart of Magong. Our receptionist was their 20-something year-old son who went to the local college nearby. The accommodation was clean and had all the essentials like fast wifi and ac. Our host was extremely gracious, gave us lots of local recommendations, and went above and beyond to help us organize activities and make it the best experience possible.
After checking in and chatting with the host, we took a little time to get settled.
At that point, it was getting close to dinner time so we went for a quick bite at Butterfly Cafe. We tried to go to another highly-recommended restaurant but they were already fully reserved.
Hot tip: make reservations for dinner beforehand.
We would discover this during our stay, but all the popular restaurants book out in advance. Because it’s a small island with limited supply, restaurants can only serve a certain number of patrons. Make sure that you get a seat at all the tastiest spots by calling in and booking beforehand.
Additionally, always call and check to see if a restaurant or cafe is open before you make your way over. I’m not sure if it’s simply island culture or if it has to do with the overall decrease in travel because of Covid, but we often found that the hours listed online did not necessarily match up with their hours of business and that restaurants and cafes frequently closed early.
Anyway…after a quick bite, my friend and I decided to check out a nearby attraction: Xiying Rainbow Bridge.
The rainbow bridge is one of Penghu’s top landmarks. In the evening, the rainbow lights glow upon the arch and reflect on the sea below it for a whimsical and stunning experience. This is also where they host the annual Penghu Fireworks Festival in early summer. We unfortunately missed it, but it was still a nice experience to take an evening walk and enjoy the lights.
After a nice post-dinner stroll, we decided to meet up with a friend who was doing a work-exchange on the island. We initially planned to meet at (bar name), but when we arrived, the hosts said that they were all booked out for the night so instead, we grabbed some drinks from 711 and just decided to sit by the harbor for a chat.
Nightlife in Penghu mostly consists of bars and pubs and although a formal atmosphere can certainly be a lot of fun, it isn’t always necessary for a good time. One of the best things about open container laws in Taiwan is that you can basically just grab a drink from the convenience store and settle anywhere for a nice experience. Since we were just catching up with a friend, it was nice to take it easy and enjoy a much more casual, inexpensive, and local night out.
Day 2: Baisha Township, Neian Beach, Cactus Ice Cream, Erkan Historic Village
One of the best things about slow travel is having ample time to fully rest while you vacation. We started the second day slowly with a classic Taiwanese breakfast from a small shop up the street from our AirBnb and stopped by the airport to pick our friend up.
Baisha Township 白沙鄉:
From there, we drove to Baisha Township 白沙鄉 (about a 30-40 min drive) to explore the northern coast. Initially, we thought that there would be a beach for us to lounge at but unfortunately, we were mistaken. We trekked over some really cool coral rock though.
Disappointed in the lack of white sandy beaches as the township’s name would otherwise suggest, we continued our drive down towards the Neian Recreation area. This beachy area is located in Shiyu Township and is another 30 minute drive from Baisha.
We parked near the harbor and walked over towards the beach. Neian 內垵遊憩區 is known as a pretty remote beach and when we went, there were no other visitors. The water was warm and the sand was soft. We spent our afternoon lounging around and sunbathing.
After a long afternoon in the sun, we decided to cool off with some cactus ice cream!
While Penghu is obviously really well-known for its seafood, it’s also really popular for its cactus treats! Because of the (mostly) hot and dry terrain, cactus grows abundantly and a really popular way to consume this fruit is in ice cream form!
We stopped by Yijia on our way back and got a few scoops.
Erkan Historic Village 二崁聚落保存區 is a well-preserved residential neighborhood that almost acts as a living museum for visitors. Because this area was cut off from the rest of Taiwan, it preserves almost 300 years of Southern Min culture which can largely be seen through the architecture of the quaint houses and narrow streets.
This village blends the old with the new and offers an insight into how people used to live on Penghu centuries ago but also offers modern amenities and tasty treats for visitors.
We arrived as the sun was setting and most shops in the village had already closed but we did grab a bite of Aiyu 愛玉, a refreshing jelly dessert made from the seeds of the awkeotsang creeping fig native to Taiwan.
This shop owner offered various toppings and we got some local dragon fruit and passion fruit.
We stayed just until the sun set and then set out to return to Magong for dinner. According to the shop lady, most restaurants in the more remote townships close around 6 or 7 and our best bet for a late dinner would be in the main city.
So we grabbed dinner at a random restaurant in the area and then met our friend by the harbor again to hang out.
Day 3: Exploring Outlying Islands (Qimei and Wangan) and Lintou Park/Beach
We decided to spend our third day exploring islands that were a little further out. As I mentioned earlier, Penghu is a collectionof islands and each of those islands offers something a little different. Because we only had a total of four days, we had to be really selective about seeing only the most notable ones this time around.
Qimei 七美 and Wangan 望安 are typically grouped together for day trips because they’re geographically in the same direction. Qimei 七美 is the southernmost island in the Penghu archipelago and is most known for its Twin Hearts Stone Weir. Wangan 望安 is the second smallest township in the county and features some stunning untouched landscapes and unique architecture that can only be found on Penghu.
To make the most of our time, we signed up for a pre-arranged tour that would take us to these two islands. The arrangement covers ferry rides, an overview of the highlights, and plenty of time to explore on your own. Unfortunately, because nobody in my group had a valid scooter license, we had to join the grandmas and aunties on sightseeing via tour bus.
We got to the South Sea Visitor Center early in the morning to board our ferry and then it was smooth sailing from there! The boarding process was extremely streamlined and the ferry offered comfortable seats and air conditioner. If you get seasick, I’d recommend preparing some medicine beforehand because the journey to Qimei takes roughly 90 minutes and the ride back from Wangan takes 50 minutes.
We settled in and took a nap.
Once we got off, passengers dispersed and those who booked motorbikes went ahead and rented them and we were ushered onto a tour bus.
Our first stop on the tour was the iconic Twin Hearts Stone Weir.
Twin Hearts Stone Weir 七美雙心石滬:
A weir is a low dam built across an upstream body of water for the purpose of trapping fish. The people on Qimei island initially built it as a single-pool stone entrapment but it was rebuilt with two pools in 1937, and then officially made a cultural landmark in 2006.
This destination has been used on many tourism brochures and is a must-see when you come to visit Penghu!
The worst thing about a guided tour is that you’re on a tight schedule and they often just shuttle you from destination to destination without giving you enough time to truly enjoy the views. We spent about 20 minutes admiring the Twin Hearts Stone Weir and then had to hop on the bus to the next stop: Little Taiwan 小台灣.
Little Taiwan is a wave-cut platform off the coast of Qimei. It resembles the shape of Taiwan and therefore was named as such. Somewhat cool, nothing extraordinary, but just one of those things you have to check off the bucket list, ya know?
After snapping photos at Little Taiwan, we stopped by the Great Stone Lion Recreation Center 大獅龍程風景區. It’s essentially a rest stop with small vendors located near an iconic stone lion rock. The rock formation looks like a Chinese guardian lion looking out into the sea.
I tried fish scale jelly for the first time! Fish scales have a high level of extractable collagen so when you boil them down for several hours, you can make them into jelly! This refreshing and mildly sweet dessert was not fishy at all and in fact tasted like any other gelatin dessert.
After our break at the recreation center, we hopped back on the tour bus and then got back on the ferry.
Wangan is the second smallest township in Penghu after Qimei and because of how remote and untouched it is, the nature is truly stunning.
Wangankou Beach 網垵口沙灘
Our first stop on this island was the beach! This spot had some really cute architecture and some of the cleanest beaches I’ve ever seen. The sea was crystal blue and the sand absolutely spotless. Our tour guide said that it was often frequented by sea turtles during their nesting season but obviously we didn’t see any as it was daytime.
Our tour bus driver then took us all the way to the opposite end of the island for Tiantai Hill where we took a trek and got to finally soak in the views!
From there, we headed back to the port and took the hour-long ferry back to the main island.
We got back from the tour around 4pm in the afternoon and decided that because it would be a shame to wrap things up for the day, we’d head out and explore Lintou Park instead!
Lintou Park was really close to where we were staying in Magong and is a beautiful public park with well-maintained facilities and even a cute cafe right on the beach! We took a quick stroll around, grabbed some cake and coffee, and then watched the sunset on the beach.
Heads up that there might be some jellyfish around though…
Day 4: Snorkeling at Dongyuping Island (Nandongyu), Viewing Tongpanyu Geology Park, Dongji Island, Sunset On The Coast
A trip to Penghu isn’t the same if you don’t explore the ocean!
Our Airbnb helped us organize a snorkeling experience for our fourth day.
One thing that I love about Taiwanese travel is that they do such a good job organizing safe adventures that are accessible to people of all ages and experiences. A really popular thing to do in Penghu is to go snorkeling or scuba diving and to do so, you don’t even have to be that great at swimming!
These dive centers have one-off experiences where you get paired with trained instructors that guide you through the entire process. You’re given a life vest and are essentially strapped in a small group to the instructor the whole time. While there isn’t a whole bunch of freedom, this way of running the experience allows first-timers to truly experience the sea and all its wonders. It’s a really safe way to introduce individuals to potentially getting certified and trained on their own.
Ferry to Dongyuping Island 東嶼坪嶼
The ferry ride to Dongyuping island where we had reserved snorkeling lessons took approximately 40 minutes. Once again, we departed from the South Sea Visitor Center and the experience was pretty effortless.
Snorkeling In Dongyuping Island 東嶼坪嶼
When we arrived, the instructors walked with us over to the dive center where they explained all the safety procedures for the snorkeling experience.
One thing that I really appreciated was that they asked us to wash off all sunscreen, including “reef-safe” sunscreen. The coral in the area is extremely sensitive and even the smallest bit of sunscreen in high volumes could cause bleaching.
They gave us wetsuits, took our photos, and then we set out!
During the process, you’re given life vests and gloves and asked to grab onto a large floating board. The instructor then essentially tows you out into the sea and explains all the coral underneath. Our guide was fairly young and allowed us to deviate from the group a little so it was really amazing to be able to swim and explore freely.
After having dived in all the mot popular places across Taiwan I can safely say that the stunning lavender corals of Penghu were a must-see!
After the snorkeling session, the dive center prepared lunch for everyone! They even made a vegetarian version for our friend.
After lunch, we went for a hike up the highest peak on the island on Bagua Mountain 八卦山. Those that didn’t want to go had the option to stay at the dive center while the rest of us explored.
Truly stunning views all around (and lots of goat poop).
After our hike, it was time to say goodbye to Dongyuping island. We hopped back on the ferry and they took us to view the basalt columns of Tongpanyu Geology Park 桶盤地質公園before swinging over to Dongji Island.
The basalt of Penghu was formed by countless inconsecutive volcanic eruptions during which the lava rose up from beneath the sea and cooled once reaching the surface. The basalt in this region tends to form perpendicular columns and after years of weathering and erosion, results in a stunning display of columnar side-by-side joints.
Tongpanyu Geology Park is an entire island surrounded by columnar basalts that form clear lines and has been dubbed the “Yellowstone of Penghu.” Unfortunately, you can’t actually get off and explore the park as it’s off limits to visitors except for researchers but it is stunning to look at from the boat!
Our last stop on the tour was Dongji Island 東吉嶼! The ferry dropped us off and then we were given a few hours to explore either on foot or via scooter. We headed south and walked up a few hills for some stunning views.
Our flights were in the afternoon so we left the morning open for just a delicious breakfast with handmade egg pancakes and then slowly packed up and made our way over to the airport.
Sunsets on Penghu hit differently and if you have the chance to do so, I highly recommend taking some time to explore this collection of islands. I’d love to visit again and spend additional time next year but until then, this is it!
While cotton comes with its fair share of environmental difficulties (namely that it’s an extremely thirsty crop to grow and traditionally requires heavy pesticide use), it still is one of the most accessible natural fibers that we as consumers can get access to. We’ve previously talked about what natural fiber clothing is and why it matters, so naturally, the next step is to examine each of these textiles to better understand how we can support manufacturers that make more environmentally-friendly decisions.
Organic cotton is a more sustainable alternative to conventionally-grown cotton. It is grown without pesticides from seeds that have not been genetically modified but is still far from perfect. Although cutting pesticide-use means dramatically improving workers’ health and keeping agricultural lands fertile for much longer, the crop still uses a lot of water and requires a lot of land to grow.
Therefore, it’s still important that we mindfully purchase these products–only shopping as much as we need to replace the items that we already have or thoughtfully choosing to add garments that we will cherish and wear for years to come.
If you’re considering swapping out some synthetic fast fashion finds for organic cotton brands, here are 8 brands to look into!
1. Organic Basics
Organic Basics is an underwear, activewear, and essentials brand based out of Denmark. They’re one of the leading companies in this space and have taken their corporate environmental responsibility past just production and distribution. Their aesthetic is minimal and the majority of their garments are simple in color and cut. Heads up that they’ve since expanded past just organic cotton, but a large proportion of their collection still uses this textile. For more information, here’s my review of their Tencel Lite and Invisible Cheeky collections.
2. MATE the Label
MATE the Label creates clean essentials from GOTS certified organic fabrics and low-impact dyes right at home in Los Angeles. This US-based company creates organic cotton apparel for individuals of all sizes and does its best to not only produce in an ethical and sustainable way, but also to run its whole operation in an environmentally-conscious manner.
3. Harvest & Mill
Harvest & Mill creates organic cotton clothing for men and women here in the United States. All pieces are milled and sewn domestically and the company really strives to decrease their carbon footprint across the board. Harvest & Mill also works exclusively with small and independent American farms, factories, and mills to give back to local communities. They’re best known for their essentials and basics.
4. No Nasties
No Nasties is an organic and vegan clothing brand based out of Goa, India. They feature bright, fun, designs made thoughtfully by workers who are fairly compensated. The company takes things a step further with carbon offsets so you can rest assured that when you buy from them, you’re doing better for the environment.
5. Infantium Victoria
Infantium Victoria creates sustainably-made garments for children out of Germany. While I’m a huge proponent of secondhand shopping for kids’ clothing, it’s still nice to have an alternative. The majority of their garments are made with GOTS certified organic cotton.
6. Tamga Designs
Tamga Designs creates colorful and sustainable fashion for people of all sizes. Their designs feature lots of print and lots of color and are refreshingly maximalist in comparison to the rest of the minimalist brands on the market. This company creates the majority of their garments out of organic cotton or recycled materials and also gives back to other environmental causes.
7. Mayamiko
Mayamiko offers contemporary clothing, accessories, jewelry, and homeware with organic cotton and other environmentally-friendly textiles. Their designs feature a lot of color and prints and their commitment to fair labor is commendable. There’s a little bit of white saviorism weaved into the story but I think the company truly does aim to make a difference in how they operate.
8. Miakoda
Miakoda makes modern sportswear for women. The majority of their garments are made with organic cotton and I love their commitment to sustainability. You can not only purchase new items on their site, but they also have a preloved section where individual sellers can list their gently-worn Miakoda garments.
So here are 8 clothing brands that create garments out of organic cotton. Which of these have you tried? Are there any others that come to mind when you think of organic cotton? Share with us in the comments below!
Sustainable fashion is a large umbrella term that refers to fashion that is designed, manufactured, and distributed in an environmentally conscious way.
In today’s capitalistic society, there is no such thing as truly sustainable fashion because our reliance on perpetually extractive practices makes any industry inherently unsustainable. BUT we can do our best to work towards regenerative and sustainable models and as individual consumers, the option to rent clothing is an approach that has been gaining popularity lately.
Who might benefit from rented clothing?
The best thing about rented clothing is that it gives people access to certain garments without the commitment of buying garments that they might only wear a handful of times. This approach allows the consumer to swap out their closet more frequently and to experiment with different styles, which can help an individual find their personal style and eventually decrease their overall clothing consumption. Clothing rentals can also be incredibly supportive for consumers who like to chase trends but are hoping to transition out of fast fashion.
What rented clothing is good for:
Clothing rentals extend the life cycle of a garment which helps decrease waste as a whole. In order to address the environmental issues in fashion, we have to move towards slower rates of consumption, but the idea of integrating a shared economy in fashion and using clothing rentals as an intermediary can be pretty useful.
In today’s article, we’ll discuss several factors that impact the sustainability of rented clothing.
Unfortunately, I have no scientific evidence to back up these points as there is very little transparency (and research) in/on the fashion industry, but the conversation around sustainability is nuanced and it is through these discussions that we can better understand the impact that rented clothing has on the environment.
1. Rate of Renting (Rate of Consumption)
Consumption rate is at the core of sustainability.
If you’re constantly swapping your closet out, you may not be generating more waste by purchasing new garments all the time, but that behavior can still be pretty taxing on the environment. Shipping emissions, chemical cleaning, storage maintenance…all adds up. At what point does the environmental costs of rotating your wardrobe across the country overtake the cost of new production?
One thing that can dramatically impact whether or not rented clothing is sustainable or not is the business model that a specific company implements.
There are two primary business models for clothing rentals: rentals for special occasions and rentals for everyday wear.
Special occasion rental companies like Rent the Runway are likely to have a smaller environmental impact than companies that encourage clothing rentals on a monthly (or weekly) basis. Nowadays however, we’re seeing more and more companies lean towards the idea of rentals for everyday wear.
Whether these businesses encourage their customers to swap their closets out on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis, the frequent turnover and high volume makes this model less sustainable.
2. Shipping Emissions
Sustainability pertains to more than just production emissions: we have to consider the bigger picture of how all operations are run.
An inherent cost to running a country-wide clothing rental company is that in order for the garments to reach the consumers, they have to be shipped out. This generates shipping emissions that we have to account for.
Are these clothing rental companies doing their best to streamline sustainability practices on this front? Are they using zero-waste packaging or offsetting their carbon footprint? These practices don’t make a company or service “sustainable,” but certainly do move it in the right direction.
3. Impact of Cleaning
Another inherent cost to running a rental clothing business is the cleaning costs. When the garments aren’t being rented out, the companies are responsible for their upkeep. In order to maintain a hygienic operation, it’s essential for companies to clean the clothes after every wear.
This leads us to question the environmental impact that this frequent washing can have.
Are the companies doing everything they can to ensure that waste water is managed properly? Are they using cleaning products that are non-toxic? What effects do these practices have on the Earth as well as their local communities?
4. Storage & End of Life Treatment
On top of those other operation costs, we have to consider the amount of energy that goes into storing these garments and how the garments are disposed of once they’re no longer rentable. These are both questions that garment rental companies should address if sustainability is a top priority.
There’s no definitive answer to whether or not rented clothing is sustainable as the whole conversation is layered and it depends on what we’re comparing this way of living to.
If we’re comparing a rented clothing model to a fast fashion model, then sure, it’s probably more sustainable. We’re extending the lifespan of those garments and the environmental costs of storage, cleaning, and shipping probably don’t add up to the new production environmental costs. If we’re comparing it to simply slowing down, buying less, and taking care of our existing clothes however, it’s probably not that sustainable. As a whole, it depends on the application of this alternative and how frequently we’re renting clothes.
Rather than choosing rented clothing as an end-all-be-all solution to fast fashion, consider using other lifestyle shifts in tandem: swap clothes with friends and family within your local community, wear your clothes for as long as you can and take care of them, and only rent when you don’t plan on owning a garment long term.
Do you ever read a book and find yourself behaving differently while you’re reading it? For example, maybe you’re reading a spy novel and you find yourself unconsciously adopting the protagonist’s mannerisms. Or perhaps you’ve read a book on nutrition and find yourself subconsciously being more mindful of what you put on your own plate?
The most important part of any lifestyle shift is the practice of taking actions that change your behaviors and habits. While the practice of living slowly is the most effective way to shift your lifestyle for good, I’ve found that reading about related topics and therefore mentally affirming those perspectives, can be a great way to reduce decision fatigue and allow those everyday decisions to happen more intuitively.
I like to ground myself with books on slow living when I get caught up with the busyness of work (and life). If you find reading to be a helpful way of reminding yourself what’s important in life, here are 5 Books on Slow Living written by BIPOC authors to ground and inspire you.
1. The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down by Haemin Sunim
This bestselling book is a collection of reflections on life and love written by an influential Zen Buddhist teacher from South Korea. The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down is structured in short chapters that mirror different aspects of life (work, relationships, ambition, etc) and gently bring in a reminder of how slowing down and moving mindfully can enhance all of these frameworks. Sunim’s book is a soothing read and a welcome break from the daily grind of everyday life.
Description:
A multimillion-copy bestselling book of spiritual wisdom about the importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world. Haemin Sunim, a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
”Is it the world that’s busy, or is it my mind?”
”The world moves fast, but that doesn’t mean we have to. In this bestselling mindfulness guide–it has sold more than three million copies in Korea, where it was a #1 bestseller for forty-one weeks and received multiple Best Book of the Year awards — Haemin Sunim (which means ”spontaneous wisdom”), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
By offering guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas — including relationships, love, and spirituality — Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves.
2. Mindful Simplicity by Yolanda Acree
Mindful Simplicity is a practical, step-by-step guide to simplifying and slowing down your life. Yolanda Acree is the founder of Black Minimalists and through this book, she presents effective strategies to decluttering your space, organizing your finances, and minimizing the amount of time you’re spending on agendas that no longer serve you.
Description:
Get on the path to a simpler life with mindful strategies that work.
Simplifying your life is easier said than done. But, with a little guidance, you’ve got this! Mindful Simplicity delivers simple, mindfulness-based strategies to declutter and organize every facet of your life—at home, at work, in relationships, with money, and more.
This easy-to-read, step-by-step guide presents practical tips, helpful advice, and daily inspiration so you can wrangle the clutter and spend more quality time and energy on the people and things that matter most. Sound good? Take a deep breath and get started on the right path to balance today with Mindful Simplicity.
Inside this exploration of mindful simplicity you’ll find:
Overcome clutter—Start where it’s easiest for you—and improve all areas of your life through mindful simplicity.
Keep confident—Positive affirmations will encourage you every step of the way in your quest to achieve a simpler, more rewarding life.
Easy-to-follow format—This attractive, well-organized guide is easy-to-read and easy-to-understand so you can put mindful simplicity into practice right away.
Overcome clutter—Start where it’s easiest for you—and improve all areas of your life through mindful simplicity.
Keep confident—Positive affirmations will encourage you every step of the way in your quest to achieve a simpler, more rewarding life.
Easy-to-follow format—This attractive, well-organized guide is easy-to-read and easy-to-understand so you can put mindful simplicity into practice right away.
Discover how you can simplify and clarify your life, work, and finances with Mindful Simplicity.
3. Essential Zen Habits By Leo Babauta
Yet another book that draws from Zen Buddhism! Essential Zen Habits is a concise, actionable guide to adding more simplicity, productivity, and happiness to your life. It’s a short read and an easy way to incorporate more mindfulness into your daily life.
Description:
Essential Zen Habits shares a method and a six-week program for changing a habit and outlines steps needed to quit bad habits, deal with life struggles, and find mindfulness. All in a very brief format of “just do this” instructions, no fluff whatsoever.
4. Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
And now, moving away from the practical guides and non-fiction reads into something a little more creative…Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude is a collection of poems that explores Gay’s adoration of nature, life, and loss. This book is a short read but undoubtedly a powerful one because sometimes, we all need a little reminder of just how beautiful things in this world really is.
Description:
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude is a sustained meditation on that which goes away—loved ones, the seasons, the earth as we know it—that tries to find solace in the processes of the garden and the orchard. That is, this is a book that studies the wisdom of the garden and orchard, those places where all—death, sorrow, loss—is converted into what might, with patience, nourish us.
5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo
Okay, okay, I know this book has been referenced a billion times by now, but if you still haven’t read it, it’s worth giving it a go. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up explores the importance of minimizing our lives and cleaning out the clutter that no longer sparks joy. This book addresses more than just the physical act of cleaning and prompts the reader to take a more in-depth reflection at their inner state.
Description:
Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles?
Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole new level, promising that if you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever. The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary category-by-category system, leads to lasting results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed (and she still has a three-month waiting list).
With detailed guidance for determining which items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t), this international bestseller will help you clear your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can inspire.
Which of these books caught your attention? Have you read any of them so far?
Note: it was fairly difficult to find books written by BIPOC authors but I hope that as slow living becomes a more mainstream topic, we’ll be able to highlight an increasingly diverse range of perspectives.
As a practitioner of slow living, I hope that this list of books come in handy as you continue on your journey! Please let me know if there are any updates and new releases as well!
Take a moment to think…what comes to mind when you think of Facebook?
An outdated platform where distant conservative uncles air out their conspiracy theories?
A slow-running app flooded with ads and used only by boomers?
An uncomfortable social media experience flooded with the stories of people that you’ve long lost touch with?
Although Facebook is certainly antiquated when it comes to social media function, it still offers certain features that other social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok don’t offer. I’m talking about Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Groups: both of which are great for shopping for secondhand clothing and lifestyle items.
Today, we’re going to break down Facebook Marketplace and 5 tips on how you can best use it to thrift unique clothes!
What Is Facebook Marketplace?
“Marketplace is an e-commerce platform that connects sellers and buyers through meaningful interactions and unique goods.”
Facebook Marketplace is free to use, gives you access to sellers locally and internationally, and leverages confirmed social media user logins for authenticity and security.
If you’re new to this function on the platform, here are five tips that you should follow for the best thrifting experience!
1. Search Using Keywords, Location, and Listing Date
The best thing about Facebook Marketplace is the locality. You can set your searches to only browse within a specific geographical area, which helps you decrease shipping costs, cut down on emissions, and promote circularity within an existing local community.
From there, further narrowing your search with specific keywords and organizing them by “most recent listings” first will increase your chances at finding the specific item you want from a responsive and active seller.
To take things a step further, you can proactively set keyword notifications for very specific listings so that once something pops up, you’re the first to hear.
2. Double Check For Defects & Clarify Dimensions
As with any sort of online thrifting, it’s important to double-check for any defects and clarify product dimensions.
Look the photos over carefully and explicitly ask the seller if the garment is damaged in any way. If there are minor tears or stains, request photos and then assess whether or not the damage is worth fixing.
Additionally, we all know that clothing sizes can be quite arbitrary and vary drastically from brand to brand. Asking for specific garment measurements (chest, waist, hip, inseam) will help to ensure that the piece fits or drapes on your body the way it was intended to do so.
3. Act With Urgency
Urgency is the name of the game when it comes to thrifting.
If you come across a garment that you really want, message the seller immediately. This gets the conversation started and puts you at the top of the buyers’ list.
Once you’ve been confirmed as a buyer, take that same urgency and apply it to all the steps that follow. Schedule a pickup ASAP; show up with the correct change in an appropriate form of payment; show up to the pickup on time. Remember to be polite and responsive and to express your interest outright.
That being said, once you do arrive at the pickup, inspect the item before paying–double check on the quality, look for imperfections, and check for smells. Just because you’ve shown up to a meeting does not mean that you are obligated to buy the item if it does not match the description. Take your time to look over the physical product before exchanging money. It’s better to be safe than to regret your purchase!
4. Bundle When You Can (But Also Be Mindful Of Unnecessary Purchases)
Bundling is when you purchase multiple items from a single seller at a discounted price. This can be a great way to save money but as with any sort of discount or selling tactic, it’s easy to accidentally purchase too much.
The key here is to browse mindfully with a specific list of garments in mind. If it so happens that a single Facebook Marketplace seller carries multiple items on that list, then you’ve lucked out and can save a great deal.
5. Think Outside Of The box
This is a general thrifting tip, but if a garment doesn’t quite hit the mark of what you’re looking for, don’t give up on it. Maybe the size is off or it’s not the color that you envisioned; would it be worth it to bring the garment to a tailor or to dye the piece?
The thing about thrifting is that you can find really unique pieces but sometimes they don’t fully match your list of qualifications. Take creative liberty here and brainstorm ways to solve the problem.
It might take a bit of trial and error, but once you’ve made the call to upcycle or alter a few pieces, you’ll get a better understanding of what is worth fixing and what is best to just skip.
Have you ever used Facebook Marketplace? With the holiday season right around the corner, it can be a great way to pick up some secondhand items to gift. What are some of your favorite tips and tricks for thrifting through this online platform?