Travel Stories
Collection

Girls trip in NC with Victoria, Rachel, and Jessy. A trip back to the States? Who would’ve thought! Not me, that’s for sure. I had been avoiding my country of origin for some years feeling like there was nothing pulling me there anymore. From the other side of the world, there’d need to be something pretty substantial and non-negotiable for me to go back and there was: An application for a visa and a new passport. Well, one does not fly to the other side of the world, crossin

This is a story about a musical instrument. For years, I have been wondering which instrument was the one for me. When I was a child, I was attracted to the guitar, but my fingers always hurt from the metal strings. When it came time to choose an instrument for my middle school band club, I wanted the trombone to be like my grandfather, but my arms weren’t long enough, so I ended up with the flute. In my music lessons, my teacher always said that I was very gifted, but neede

It was March 2022. I found myself based in a small town nestled in the lush, rain-forest hills of the Talamanca Mountains of Costa Rica. Most of my days in Ojochal were spent at the river or doing volunteer work, but things were getting too predictable. Walking down the street, I held out my thumb to the few passing cars hoping to catch a lift out of town. That’s when a taxi stopped to offer me a ride. “No, no,” I said, waving him away. I wasn’t trying to pay for a ride. I wa

Have you ever considered visiting Malaysia? Yeah, me neither. Most people don’t think about visiting Malaysia until their visa in a neighboring country is about to expire. That’s the main reason I decided to visit. When it was time to leave Thailand, I considered a few options, but Malaysia offers American passport holders a free tourist visa on arrival so I decided to go there. First Impression My first impression of Malaysia was mixed. The people are extremely kind and the

It’s been a while since I’ve written. This season in Pai was an emotional roller coaster with telenovela level drama. Fortunately, my season ended feeling secure and accomplished. Maybe I’ll write another post about the drama later, but for now, I want to celebrate an amazing and calm conclusion. Nomadic Lifestyle First, you might be wondering why I’m leaving Pai. Well, I’ve been traveling since May 1, 2021 and the nomadic lifestyle has kind of adopted me. When I left the Un

We’re not always honest with ourselves are we? Sometimes, it’s hard to see the truth or we just choose not to see it. What does it mean to step into our truth? Is it radical honesty? Is it embodying your values and standing in integrity? Recently, I had to check myself. Coming back to Pai, has be nourishing in some ways and completely exhausting in others. High season is upon us and it’s only going to get more intense from here. There are certain intentions that I set for my

Have you ever heard of this place called Pai? (Pronunciation: pie) It’s a magical wonderland where circus hippies from the future spin fire at night and nerd out in earthy cafes by day. Yes, this place actually exists. It’s my favorite in the world. “What’s your favorite country?” non-travelers usually ask me. The answer has never been clear, but last year, I found Pai which means the answer is Pai. The Basics Pai isn’t technically its own country, but it is its own world. Th

On my way back to Thailand, I had an idea to stop in Turkey. Neil had the same thought so we decided to make it a date and go together....

If you haven’t heard of the Louvre, it’s apparently one of the most famous museums in the world. Home to the Mona Lisa and known for its...

I’ve been in France for a month now. In addition to staying on a farm and in a hotel, I’ve also stayed in some airbnbs. As a seasoned...

Summer in Europe continues to inspire me. Last time, I stumbled upon a hippie festival in the UK and this time, I found myself knee deep...

Have you ever found out that you were pregnant and not pregnant at the same moment? Miscarriages are more common than you’d think. It...

Recently, I completed my first trip to India. The country is enormous! In my three weeks, I only visited 3 places in the northern part,...

I knew it was going to be a mess… I knew it. I knew it! When I first left for Asia, I put India on the top of my list, but after some...

The first time that I visited Bangkok, Thailand, I could’ve sworn I would never be back. Last December, I came to the city for three...

Recently, I satisfied a childhood dream by trekking through the Himalayas. When I was a kid, I was always fascinated by the pictures I...

When I first arrived in Thailand, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do. After some hitchhiking/camping in the south and working...

Disclaimer: If you didn’t already read the article on my time in the temple , maybe go have a gander at that. Reading it isn’t essential...

When I decided that I’d come to Asia, I knew that I’d spend some time in a temple to expand my spiritual practice. Meditation and...

A few years ago, in the early days of 2022, I was walking home from the market with another volunteer, Lorena. We were in the middle of...