About Sonia

Sonia September 22, 2019 24 Comments
🛠️ Editorial Update: The Travel Mishmash Revamp Welcome! Travel Mishmash is currently undergoing an exciting editorial transformation. After seven years of raw digital journaling, I am systematically reviewing, upgrading, and polishing my extensive archive. This comprehensive redesign focuses on elevating the prose, enhancing visual aesthetics, and shifting toward a more structured,...

Overcoming Fears on the Chiang Rai Road Trip – Part 1: The Rental Nightmare & Road Survival Guide

Sonia September 7, 2026 3 Comments
In the past, certain destinations have made me incredibly anxious, leaving me questioning whether I should actually board the plane. It was never anything extreme, but as a solo female traveller, it is dangerously easy to let doubts creep in. Now, Chiang Rai is by no means a dangerous destination, but the prospect of exploring it entirely on my own by car felt genuinely daunting. The exact minute...

Time Capsule with Lono Wild: A Year on the Barefoot Trail

Sonia June 8, 2026 0 Comments
It has been just over a year since my unexpected love affair with the Lono Wild began. In the fluid world of travel writing, twelve months is a lifetime—long enough for lesser gear to disintegrate entirely, yet more than enough time to separate a fleeting obsession from a true staple. Looking back, it is a simple statement of fact: without these shoes, my transitions across changing coordinates...

Okinawa Omakase – Part 3: How Naha Hooked Me on Slow Travel

Sonia May 14, 2026 0 Comments
This post was originally meant to be a glowing review of a sun-drenched holiday on the serene shores of Tokashiki. But as with all travel, we plan, we expect, and the universe politely redirects us. Instead of lounging on a secluded beach, I found myself steered back to Naha. What initially felt like a compromise quickly turned into a revelation. Instead of mourning the lost island itinerary, I...

Bangkok Redefined: How I Finally Tamed the Urban Giant

Sonia March 1, 2026 2 Comments
After my initial bumps on the road of Thai exploration, I never envisioned truly reconnecting with Bangkok. There was always a lingering sense of distance. Even during subsequent visits—which served primarily as brief transit windows to other corners of the country—I felt a growing appreciation for the metropolis, yet a genuine connection remained elusive. The sensory overload of this...
LONO Ezy and Fiery shot while I am standing

My Barefoot LONO Family is Getting Bigger: Honest Reviews, New Styles, and a Sizing Saga

Sonia November 17, 2025 0 Comments
I know I claimed to be an aspiring minimalist about a year ago. But when it comes to shoes—or, more accurately, LONOs—there are really never enough of them! Consequently, this November, my already substantial Lono family welcomed two newcomers: the Ezy Beige and the Lono Flow Fiery. Yes, my barefoot LONO family is getting bigger! I bought the Ezy to see if the promised "hands-free slip-on"...

Chasing Vibrations in Sri Lanka: The Commuter’s Chaos & Coastal Restoration Guide

Sonia September 8, 2025 0 Comments
Sri Lanka and I share a beautifully complex history. For years, this island nation seemed just out of reach—first bypassed during a stint in Malaysia, and later thwarted when a planned departure from Hong Kong was abruptly cancelled. Even after these logistical roadblocks threatened to frame the journey with an aura of hesitation, I refused to let the unexpected twists deter me. On my third...

I fell hard for Lono WILD – Sri Lanka

Sonia June 8, 2025 0 Comments
It was almost depressing. Two pairs of Lono Flow at home, one big love story, a great honeymoon behind us, and it suddenly felt like it's almost over. Could this really be the end of it? But this sulky mood was not supposed to linger for too long. A couple of days into my not-enough-Lono-in-my-life melancholia I woke up to an email. I couldn't believe it! Lono asked me to review another pair!...

Okinawa Omakase – Part 2

Sonia May 15, 2025 0 Comments
While Zamami tapped into my childhood self, Ishigaki reinforced the free animal that resides in me and looks for every opportunity to broaden its horizons. Even though Japanese culture is filled with restrictions and expectations, as a visitor to Ishigaki you will probably not feel this in any significant way. Also this island will greet you with pristine nature, addictive quietness, and...

Okinawa Omakase – Part 1

Sonia April 29, 2025 0 Comments
Acquaintance: 'Ever been to Japan?' Me: 'No, it's not my style'. Talking about travel and inspiring journeys goes on, along with drinking and having fun until it's time to say goodbye to my new random and temporary friends. Acquaintance: 'It was lovely chatting to you. Me: 'Likewise'. Acquaintance leans forward: 'And don't write off Japan completely. I think it could offer you a new...
Lono Flow propped against wooden sticks on the beach

Lono and I are getting serious

Sonia February 9, 2025 2 Comments
It's February and I thought it's high time I revisited my Lono addiction. It is clear that Lono and I are getting serious. As I was thinking which of my two Lono Flow darlings I should take for a photoshoot this time to prepare an honest recap of my Lono dating so far, considering adding another pair to my modest collection, it just occurred to me we haven't really had a proper holiday yet. And...