After earning a degree in Medical Biochemistry, 23-year-old Raisa Grech decided to embark on a solo travel trip to Asia, one volunteer and travel experience at a time.

From volunteering in French eco-villages to teaching English to girls rescued from trafficking in Thailand, Grech's "gap year" became a solo-travel journey of adventure across continents.

When Raisa Grech graduated from the University of Malta in 2022, she did not follow the traditional path many might expect.

After working for around two years, she decided to take a break - what she called her "gap year" - to travel, volunteer, and explore the world before returning to her academic ambitions.

Grech was highly active during her student years, juggling University with work and participation in organisations.

But when the pandemic hit, everything came to a halt. A sociable person by nature, Grech said that she struggled with the isolation and disruption.

Despite these personal challenges, she progressed professionally, eventually becoming a supervisor in the catering industry, after working as a waitress since she was 15 years old.

She experienced a defining and proud moment while working at a Michelin-star restaurant in Malta.

"The restaurant got another Michelin star while I was there. That was a very proud moment for me," she said. Yet, she knew she didn't want to stay in Malta.

"No place is perfect, and each country has its own problems, but the number one thing I dislike in Malta is the lack of greenery and nature," she said.

"The world is too big and beautiful to not explore it, to only know our own culture. I am proud to be Maltese and of the Maltese language, but at the same time, I want to see the world. I felt that Malta was too small for me," Grech said.

Her journey began with volunteer work across Europe. In the south of France, she helped a couple tend to their garden in an eco-village, a 45-minute drive away from the nearest town.

"It was very beautiful, an escape in nature," she recalled. Next came Lyon, Switzerland, and Italy, where she visited friends and attended a wedding.

Returning to Malta for Christmas, she described the five-week visit as "the longest five weeks of my life," having grown used to the rhythm of travel.

It was during this time that the idea of going to Thailand was planted, Grech said.

"Around this time last year, I was losing my mind, and I was tired of the traffic," she said.

"I thought to myself, I might as well go to Thailand by myself," Grech said. She's been on the move since mid-January of this year in South East Asia.

Her first major experience in Asia was in northern Thailand, volunteering with an anti-trafficking NGO in the Golden Triangle region - where Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos converge.

The NGO, Friends of Thai Daughters, runs two homes for 15 girls each, and supports young girls from disadvantaged, impoverished backgrounds, many of whom are vulnerable to exploitation, or have no access to education.

"Some come from families who believe that educating girls is useless, and that a woman can make money with her body," Grech said.

For five weeks, she helped the girls improve their English through informal lessons, while joining them in day-to-day activities like playing pickleball and visiting markets.

"It was so much fun. I was also next to mountains. I would go for jogs and the locals would look at me strangely. It's not in their culture to run in the mountains," Grech pointed out.

From Thailand, she crossed into Laos, spending a month traveling north to south. There, she met people from all over the world and took part in many spontaneous, unplanned adventures.

While she encountered cultural and environmental challenges, like the lack of soap in bathrooms and widespread litter, she said she remained adaptable.

"I've seen people wash their hair in the river, and throw plastic in that same river," she said, adding that there is a general lack of environmental awareness.

Despite these drawbacks, Grech said she found Thailand to be incredibly safe, and its people deeply respectful.

"They bow down to you when greeting you," she noted, adding that she hasn't felt unsafe, though she avoids walking alone at night, save for the occasional midnight snack run to 7/11.

Currently staying in Surat Thani - the "City of Good People," Grech said she has continued to immerse herself in local life.

"The locals look at us like aliens or cartoon characters," she said, laughing. While the language barrier exists, she has picked up enough Thai to get by.

"One can see that they appreciate that I can say a few words in their language," Grech said.

Travelling on a budget, Grech said she's been careful with her finances.

"When I was volunteering, I only spent around a few hundred euros a month. I did not pack many clothes so that I could buy clothes in the area," she said.

Back when she was working, she would split her salary into savings and a travel fund, aiming to live on just 40%.

"The smarter I am with my money, the longer I can travel. That is kind of my motivation," Grech said. She also said she opts for local experiences over pricey tours.

"I want to travel with the locals in minivans. I'm finding myself surrounded by only Thai people, and it is so much fun," she said.

Her longest journey so far? A €7 night train from Bangkok to Surat Thani. "It was super uncomfortable... no cushions, just a flat seat, and you're sharing that seat with someone else for 10 hours," she said.

Eventually, Grech plans return to Europe for work and study. She said she plans to move back to Europe at the end of this year to pursue a Masters degree.

She said that she has met several solo travellers who also work remotely, and the idea of remote work is something which she has definitely piqued her interest.

"My goal is still to continue studying, but later, I will definitely try to travel and work at the same time," she said.

Grech said she was eager to return to Asia, as it still calls to her. "I love Asia and I've only been to two countries," Grech said.

Australia, New Zealand, and South America are also on her wish list, Grech said.

"If I start missing home, I'd probably go to Spain - for the beaches and the Mediterranean warmth. This is, after all, part of my identity. I'm from Malta, and I'm used to the sun, the beach," Grech said.

Asked what advice she'd give to anyone considering solo travel, but is hesitant, especially beyond Europe, Grech did not hesitate.

"I believe that most of our limitations are in our heads. I think being alone is something we should all be comfortable with, to have our own meanings of life. If the thought runs through your mind once, twice, three times - it's a sign you really want to do it. So, you might as well go for it," Grech said.

Originally, she only planned to stay in Thailand for a month, however, the distance made her reconsider, Grech said.

"If I'm going that far, might as well stay longer," she reasoned.

As a solo female traveller, Grech said she's felt mostly safe. "There's a nice community of people traveling here, and the locals are always kind," she said.

"My grandmother calls me each week, asking when I am returning, when I am going back to studying, as I kept postponing it," she said, laughing.

"However, I'm enjoying my break. I don't feel like returning to Europe - it's so much more expensive there," Grech said.

She said that she feels that she is in no rush. "I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing now in a country in Europe," she said. "Everything is cheaper here," Grech said.