Crammed into the plane with hardly an inch of personal space, tears streamed down my cheeks. Heading to a new continent, I knew I should be happy, excited, and eager for this new adventure. But the feelings were mixed and a bitterness rested on my tongue. I never wanted to go to Africa alone.… Continue reading The Real Reason I’m Traveling Africa Alone
Tag: Adventures
Conquering Fears & Flying to Milford Sound
Considering I’ve traveled to 31 countries and only some of them via boat, it might surprise you that for the past few years I’ve dealt with serious plane anxiety. I sit in the chair staring out the window at the tarmac with sweaty palms and a racing heart, and as the plane takes off I’m… Continue reading Conquering Fears & Flying to Milford Sound
A Fashionably Late Review of 2015
I know, I know, it’s halfway into January and those new year resolutions are as far gone as that bag of cookies you I just demolished, but it didn’t seem fair to let 2015 pass without writing an ode to what was certainly the most exciting year of my life. I debated keeping with tradition… Continue reading A Fashionably Late Review of 2015
When Travel and Real Life Collide: A Story of Love, Chaos, & Change
There is a commonly held belief that long-term travel is not “real life.” After embarking on a round the world trip 10 months ago, I can’t count the number of people who have asked me when I’m going to return to “real life” or what my plans are when I come back to “reality.” It… Continue reading When Travel and Real Life Collide: A Story of Love, Chaos, & Change
Monthly Recap: October (AKA Couchsurfing Through Australia)
While friends back home were reveling in all things pumpkin and planning out their six Halloween costumes, I was finding Nemo and trying not to get eaten by things in Australia. On October 3 I finally left Indonesia; after two months in the country I was more than ready to leave, but it was emotional… Continue reading Monthly Recap: October (AKA Couchsurfing Through Australia)
Mother of Dragons: A Journey To Komodo Island
I do a lot of pretty crazy things: unusual, unorthodox, exciting, fun things. But occasionally I do something and then look back on it and think, whoa, that was actually REALLY crazy. My 4-day boat trip to Komodo Island, Indonesia was like that. To summarize, I spent four days on an old, old wooden ship… Continue reading Mother of Dragons: A Journey To Komodo Island
What I’ve Learned in 6 Months of Solo Travel
“The pumpkin spice flavors are coming out,” a friend back home told me over the phone. Caught off guard, I looked at the calendar asking, “Wait, what month is it?!” I’ve been living in perpetual summer since I started traveling and without a changing of seasons—or any kind of schedule, really—I’ve lost track of… Continue reading What I’ve Learned in 6 Months of Solo Travel
What It’s Like to Learn Muay Thai in Thailand
A few weeks ago I didn’t know much about Muay Thai other than it’s some kind of martial art similar to kickboxing. Today, after two weeks of training in Muay Thai, I could punch you in the face, kick you in the ribs, and tell you all about it. (Just please don’t hit me back,… Continue reading What It’s Like to Learn Muay Thai in Thailand
Canyoning (AKA Jumping Off Waterfalls) in Dalat
Have you ever wanted to jump off of a perfectly good cliff? Have you ever been inclined to hurl yourself into the churning base of an 80 foot waterfall? Have you ever seen a ledge and thought, gosh, I really want to hold on to a rope and lean backwards into the abyss? No? Well,… Continue reading Canyoning (AKA Jumping Off Waterfalls) in Dalat
Mermaid Life: Shipwreck Diving in Coron, Philippines
Like most little girls of my generation, I was moderately obsessed with The Little Mermaid. Splashing around in the pool pretending to have fins, arguing over who got to be Ariel, and passionately belting the words to Part of Your World was a staple of my childhood. But unlike most others, I never quite outgrew… Continue reading Mermaid Life: Shipwreck Diving in Coron, Philippines
Monthly Recap: April 2015
April has been a month of stuffing my face and adventuring through the country of Vietnam. I worked my way north to south, from trekking in the highlands to lounging on the beaches and everything in between. My body has inflated like a balloon and I’m like a walking cup of jiggly jello, but every… Continue reading Monthly Recap: April 2015
The Best Way to Go Trekking in Sapa
I hunched over for Mae to put the final touch, a heavy silver chain necklace, over my head. She brought her arms back down to her tiny four-foot frame and smiled up at me with a pleased glimmer in her eyes. I was now decked out in her clothes, the traditional garb of the Black… Continue reading The Best Way to Go Trekking in Sapa