Allison A Janssen

Tag: A travelers home

  • Aspen, Colorado. Sister travels.

    Aspen, Colorado. Sister travels.

    I am an opportunity grabber, to say the least. It’s seriously like I have some deep intuition that clearly sees doors in front of me, and I always find the right one to open for myself. Yes, of course, having a positive attitude makes almost every door that is opened perfect, but I have to give my intuition a pat on the back. So far, it has guided me to exactly the places I feel I needed to be and luckily I have listened well.

    Over the years, most of the doors I have opened have been far away. They have existed in places such as Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Thailand, Morocco, Switzerland, the list goes on. But, life has a beautiful way of grounding me when I need it; leading me towards a specific door that I NEED to open.

    When Rob went away for basic training, I had my month in the love bubble of YTT, in Koh Lanta, Thailand. When I came back, I felt refreshed, with a new part of myself opened up to the world and ready to walk through dewy new doors.

    With a fresh mind, and the timing being just right, my intuition and I took the shortest trip ever: sealing sisterhood. What the hell do I mean by this? Let me embellish.

    My sister Maeghan is nothing short of beautiful. She is always one to lift others up when they are feeling down; celebrate them when things are going well; listen when others won’t. She is choosy, which I believe is a good thing. Not everyone she meets gets the same deep care that I get as her sister, but I think it is fair. Sisterhood is something unexplainable; it is a bond that cannot be broken. I think the reason for this, especially in our case, is that it hasn’t always been bubbles and rainbows. We have, together, dealt with the tough stuff of life. Yes, everyone goes through something, everyone has a story. But, together, being raised by our incredible Mother, we learned the importance of family and the strength to never to give up. So, Maeghan and I, together as sisters, have never given up; not on small things, not on big things, and certainly not on each other. That’s sisterhood. Even when I have gallivanted in far away places, Maeghan always knew that I would be there for her whenever she needed me. And I, have always known the same. So, the next door was one we walked through together.

    Together we latched on to the opportunity to support each other in previously unexplored ways. I decided to make 2015 the year I would dedicate to helping my sister in the planning of her October 2015 wedding to Paxton; and for Maeghan, well she might have done it unknowingly, because she is always cheering in my corner, but she chose to be there for me in my first year as an Army wife. Both of our support roles had their rewards and challenges, but both ended in sealing sisterhood. The opportunity we took, allowed us to spend time together with no other family members around. Just the two of us, which admeasured time to understand each other more as individuals, which now makes us stronger sisters.

    Now to the photo above. We spent 9 days in Aspen, Colorado together in June. Just the two of us, being free, exploring, hiking, ‘yogaing’, fearing bears, and camping with giants underneath a clear sheath of stars.

    I love you sister.:)

     

     

     

  • The Road Home

    The Road Home

    No matter how fond you are of traveling, how “at home” you feel on a stinky bus with one backpack in between your feet and your other “big guy” backpack stored above you, how strange faces are your familiar, how easily you can sleep most anywhere in the world, how accustomed your belly becomes, you somehow, always, find your feet on the road that leads to home.

    And so, after four and a half months of traveling through South Asia, the road home presented itself. We could have easily taken that flight to Australia and extended our trip for a month or so, but the timing was about right for us and our pockets, especially when we considered the fact that our application for Rob’s immigration to the USA with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should soon be returned to us in Holland. In agreement with our application, was the fact the next few months, from September to November would be the only time we could spend with our family before leaving again and beginning our US adventure. AND, we had a newborn baby niece, Isabeau, to meet! So, all roads led home. Lucky for us, the timing was also just right that we got to join in on Rob’s favorite festival- Reusel Kermis. Many of our friends from our former home in Eindhoven laugh a little bit about our excitement over Reusel Kermis, because to them, it is simply a bunch of village folk and farmers partying their behinds off in costume on the streets of Reusel. They might have a bit of a point. It is exactly that. BUT, that is precisely what makes it a really great time. The children have rides and games and the adults have  great music and cheap beer. It is an awesome four days and I am so glad we traveled the road home to Holland, just in the nick of time for it.

    While Kermis is loads of fun, it was the months that ensued after that brought so much lightness and warmth to our hearts. We spent our days waking up at whatever hour fit us best, going on runs through the forest, taking bike rides, visiting Oma, playing with our nieces, going to Reusel sport games, visiting aunts and uncles, hanging out with our brothers and sisters, chilling with our parents on easy evenings over dinner and really just enjoying life in Reusel without the hustle of a job. It was beautiful and memorable and I am forever grateful that a road will always lead home to Holland.

  • Sabah, Borneo, Magical Land, Dream World, any of these barely suffice.

    Sabah, Borneo, Magical Land, Dream World, any of these barely suffice.

    Ever since watching the Discovery Channel as a young child, I had dreamed of finding my way to Borneo. The Discovery Channel, constantly did episodes on Borneo’s impressive rainforests, which used to be highly protected from human impact. It’s rainforests are home to some of Nature’s most beautiful and elusive plants and animals, such as the Rafflesia flower, the Pygmy Elephant and the Bornean Sunbear. Borneo is also home to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center, which is a facility that provides medical care for orphaned and confiscated orangutans, as well as dozens of other wildlife species.

    It is an amazing region, filled with one of a kind wonder and beauty. And thanks to the Discovery Channel, I was determined to get there.

    Our first stop was in the capital city of Kota Kinabalu. While KK is the capital, it is more like a large village. But, there is still a good bit to do and see! Ever wonder where the first Survivor Episode was taped? Borneo. Yup, on the island of Pulau Tiga, just off the coast of KK. From KK, you can jump to most any island and go snorkeling, hiking and sight seeing. Both fortunately and unfortunately, all the islands are protected and you can therefore not spend overnight anywhere unless you are with a company doing a tour. Even then, I think the limit is two nights. But, KK itself, is a great place to rent a motorbike and simply tour around; there are a few good look out spaces just at the edge of the city line, if you are interested. During the first days of our arrival in KK, we spent most of the time on the back of the motorbike and in cafes, figuring out how to travel inland to both Sepilok and Sukau, to adventure through the wild and trek alongside the Kinabantagan River.

    Regardless of what people say, you can do this trip the backpacker way and catch buses and taxies to each destination. Just be prepared to feel a bit lost at times. The great thing is that East Malays are incredible friendly and truly want to help you get where you want to go! We took shared taxis and buses the whole time we were in Borneo, and everything worked out just fine.

    From KK, there are so many places in Sabah to explore. For us, I had planned this leg of the trip, so our first stop was therefore, of course, the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center. To actually go into this refuge and watch 8 Orangutans swing into sight, eat, chill, sleep and pee was literally one of the most rewarding experiences for me on our trip. I was fulfilling a dream! These animals are so much like us humans it is unreal! And yes, you can say you saw one in a zoo… I promise, it is not the same thing.   The Orangutans at SORC have acres upon acres of wild jungle to explore. They are not in captivity. They actually only come in at feeding times. We heard that there are times that tourists come to see the great animals, and to their dismay, none of them show up for breakfast, finding their own food wherever in the sanctuary they may be! We were incredibly lucky to see eight of them, one being just a baby! Watching their large toes curl around bananas and lift them into their mouths whole, left me with my mouth wide open in a gasp. And when they stand up and walk, hug each other, turn their head side to side, take a nap, pretty much anything they do, they look like humans. Really, I could go on about our similarities forever. But, if i did that, I would never get to talk about trekking and long boating along the Kinabantagan river inside the Borneo Rainforest, one of the oldest rainforests in the world. What a life changing experience it was to watch King Fishers fly into their favorite spots, see anacondas slithering on banks, hear monkeys of all variations jumping and calling across tree lines, observe orangutans perched at tree tops, witness owls flying during daylight hours, feel crocodiles lurking under our boat, be annoyed by mosquitos slamming into us on all fronts, to duck from a bats’ flight, to have to survey every inch of our bodies for leeches as we returned to our rooms and to come lie in bed at the end of the night and think about our shared reality under the beauty of the 140 million year old Bornean Rainforest.

    It is no wonder that Borneo’s Rainforest has been scientifically traced as the center of the evolution and distribution of many endemic species of plants and animals. As a wanderer there, you literally feel like you are in the nucleus of the atom that is our world, feeling shock waves of energy, vibrancy, wholeness and oneness.

    So, call it what you want. Borneo, Sabah, East Malaysia… None of these express the beauty that this region holds. No words can hold the such a powerful vibration.

    All I can really say is, there could be no better last destination for our big 2014 trip. Every moment from May-September 2014, with just Rob and I, was beautiful, whole, meaningful, fulfilling, enlightening and faultless; and Borneo, you gave us the exact epic end we were needing.

  • METAMAN Triathlon in Bintan, Indonesia

    METAMAN Triathlon in Bintan, Indonesia

    As a traveler, some days are so completely relaxed that wicked abberant ideas seep into your brain, similar to sipping a cold coke through a straw after a long bus ride over the hills of Rajasthan. It just goes in and down so smoothly, feeling so refreshing, that every bit of the idea, or the coke for that matter, feels right.

    Our idea to compete in the MetaMan Triathlon in Bintan was precisely a cold coke through a straw. Out of nowhere, we had signed ourselves up for a new, exciting and refreshing challenge. For Rob that meant a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike and a 21.10 km run, the distances for the 1/2 IronMan. For me, a smaller sip, the Blitz Category, which is a 1.2km swim, 55km bike, and a 7km run.

    The setting: Bintan, Indonesia in Lagoi Bay. If you google the area, you can see why I easily went along with this idea. The beaches of Lagoi are gorgeous, resort like for certain. So, our first step was complete, the sign up. Now, as we sat in our warm damp bungalow on a beach in Koh Tao, almost a thousand dollars down, we needed to make a plan. We had exactly 2.5 weeks to train and make it to Indonesia, all while still exploring destinations such as the south of Thailand, Penang, KL and Singapore. The task was not that simple. It actually meant that we needed to give up going to some of the destinations I really wanted to travel to again, like Krabi and Koh Lanta. But, it had to be done. And as you see in my previous blog posts, we still had a lot of fun, in even short spans of time.

    We trained mostly while we were in Malaysia and Singapore. In Penang, Malaysia, we actually found an Olympic sized pool to swim in, which was great, minus its affinity for certain “shower offerings”. Once in Singapore, we had to arrange bikes, the ferry and our stay in Lagoi. This time, our rash coke like decision, came up like heartburn. Lagoi doesn’t just look resorty, it IS resorty. Lagoi is totally the weekend getaway for rich Singaporeans, meaning there are no cheap hotels for backpackers and certainly not a hostel in sight. There are only resorts. We thought we could get a place in Tanjung Penang, in the south of the island, but to trek up North the morning of the race would have been impossible. So we searched and searched for a decent place that was not 300 USD a night. In the end, we found a hotel for $70 a night, still way out of our budget, but it was our only choice, especially being so last-minute.

    Our split decision was beginning to hurt our pocket more than planned. But, our hands were already on the bottle, so we decided that we better make it worth it and kick complete ass at this Triathlon. The day of the race, we ate our protein bars, drank our salty drinks, and headed out to the beach with big smiles and a gut full of both nerves and determination. Rob’s group went first. So I stood nearby, wishing him luck and watching him get all geared up for the long race ahead, jumping up and down with all the other crazies to the beat of electronic music and the enthusiastic voice of our Aussie host. The moment had arrived. Boom. Into the water he went.

    After seeing him off, the realization that I was about to also dive into the ocean with hundreds of others, racing towards the other side of the bay, became very real. Shit, I thought. I hope I don’t get kicked in the mouth. With my nerves rushing vigorously through me, I slowly walked up to the starting gate. I decided that I would stay in the back of the start gate with the other newbies. My goal was simply to finish the race, not to win it. Soon, I heard the twang of our announcer, and saw those in front of me jumping up and down, just as Rob had. I did a little hobble, just to not feel so nervous. And suddenly, I was diving in. Feet at my head, arms at my side, feet behind me, all but four being my own. Now, I regretted staying in the back. Fighting my way forward, I finally came to an open space where I had room to actually swim. One by one, I began passing both men and women. It felt good. To my surprise, I was amongst some of the first contestants out of the water. I swim better than I thought! And then off to throw on my tennis shoes and find my rental bike, whose gears I have no clue how to really work. Perfect. Keeping up a good pace, I hopped on and went for it. For some reason, I had thought that being on an island, the bike part would be rather flat, but it most definitely was not. I was cranking up really long ascents. The bike ride for me was the most difficult part. But, it was also the best because local children and whole families stood on the side of the road, cheering each of us on, with big smiles and warm hearts. A little over an hour and a half later, exhausted, I rode my bike back into the stalling. Now, off to my favorite part, the RUN. Here is where my competitive spirit really kicked in. With every one of the seven miles I ran, I tried to not let anyone pass me. Instead, I tried to only pass others. One by one, I knew I was shedding numbers. And by mile 7, I came in 90th place out of 425 contestants.

    With a ridiculously large smile on my face, I searched for a place to sit. Rob was beginning the run part of his race, which meant time for food, water and rest for me. So, I sat near the finish line, happy, waiting for my fit-ass husband to come running in! Rob came in 49th out of 284 contestants! We did it!

    Thank goodness for coke.

  • Singapore: a squeaky clean whirlwind

    Singapore: a squeaky clean whirlwind

    As we always do, we began our adventure to the next country by first searching from the hostel in our current location for a place to crash after the long days. Of course, as travelers, we heard many times how expensive Singapore is and how a travelers’ few spare dollars cruise a unequaled, rather short distance, in this high-tech, glamorous, squeaky-clean city. We looked in every section of the tinsy tiny country for a decent hostel at a decent price. At the time, the price selection was much higher than what it currently is today on Hostel World. We ended up settling for a place for $17 Singaporian dollars a night for the both of us, in a dormitory room. These prices seemed crazy to us, because in all the other countries we had traveled, $17 between the both of us, normally got us private accommodation with breakfast included. Rob is all about the breakfast included. Anyways, one lazy afternoon, we headed out of KL, by train, for Singapore. We arrived rather late at night to our hostel, which took us a good while to get to and cost us about $14 using the underground. To sleep, to move about, to eat, to drink, to breathe.. well, is expensive in Singapore. But, maybe all this is why the country stays so beautiful? So squeaky-clean. Other than the cost to live, Singapore is actually pretty cool. It boasts cuisines from all of its neighbors (in addition to its own), it has a great nightlife, interesting museums, a really enthusiastic athletic community, beautiful parks and great transit systems. I’d like to think of it as the Asian New York, although I am sure other big Asian cities like Tokyo would disagree. But, its a thought.

    My most memorable experience in Singapore would be the evening that Rob and I snuck into a hoity toity hotel, pretended that we were guests and spent the evening gallivanting around all the hotels’ amenities, such as the hot tub and the pool. Little did they know, we bought cheap liquor and 7-11 cokes and downed them right before we entered. Such is the life of a broke traveling spontaneous couple. It was fun, huh honey?

  • Insight to Malaysia: from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

    Insight to Malaysia: from Penang to Kuala Lumpur

    Malaysia. Sounds like the name of an interesting bird, right? Well, she is. Malaysia an evolved collision of old world traditions, escalating religion, and new world fast paced desires. Our journey by train from Surat Thani, Thailand took us first to Butterworth, an industrial city with seemingly nothing in it, located in North Malaysia. Why stop there? Well, it is the gateway to Penang. From Butterworth train station, we walked to the ferry point and 15 minutes later, we were on our way to Penang. Penang is where this whole “interesting bird” shenanigans began. As we came into port, we walked outside the transit area to find what looked like an old version of London; London-esque architecture with Mandarin shop and hotel signs and red buses (too bad they were not doubly stacked). Not what we expected. And then, as we always do, we began to look for our hostel. Our hostel of choice this time was Kimberly House on Kimberly Street (go figure). This was the first time that Rob and I booked dormitory rooms, simply because the cost of traveling in Penang (hostel wise) was a lot more expensive than what we had been paying previously. It worked out splendidly. The location was great and we only had one other female staying in our room, all for half the costs of competing hostels in town. But, in any event, back to the “interesting bird” part of this story. Penang has a long turbulent history. The short version is, trade began with the Ming dynasty back in the 15th century, it was colonized by the British in the late 1700s, played a role in both world wars, eventually gained independence and today, is an amusing mix for the curious traveler. A backpacker in Penang will first set their sights on visiting Georgetown, situated on the Northeast corner of the island. Georgetown draws in us backpackers for its British architecture, Chinese shophouses, street art, street food, and numerous places of worship of various religions. This appeal is also why UNESCO deemed it a World Heritage Site. I can’t even count the number of selfies I saw taking place.

    Our first few days in Penang, we mostly ventured around Georgetown and since renting a motorbike is impossible in Malaysia, we settled for long transit buses. Georgetown is spread out quite a bit, but by bus, you can pretty much see everything of interest, from Buddhist temples, to stunning landscapes to Chinese temples and Mosques. Only the final couple of days did we discover that the busses also ran to the opposite side of the island, offering beautiful beaches, cliffs and street drinking.

    After our 6 day stay in Penang, we headed further south, by train, to Kuala Lumpur. I was really excited to adventure around KL, for friends of mine from my graduate study days raved over the city. After a few days in KL, I’d have to say that their raving was overcooked. It is really just a big city, and if you are not into shopping and expensive activities, it is not for you. The one thing I did love above KL is previewed in the photo featured on this post. The red diner, on the corner of the China town. Rob and I stayed at a hotel in China town and every morning, passing the array of fluorescent lights and ridiculously bright home decor, we came to eat at our local diner. These moments, I loved. Watching locals read their papers in various languages, drink their coffee, eat their morning soup and be off for their day. Leaving our morning coffee and breakfast, feeling like a true local.

    We only got to see a small flash of her beauty, but she remains a beautiful bird.

  • Same Thailand, new stops, beautiful friendships, and gratitude for it all

    Same Thailand, new stops, beautiful friendships, and gratitude for it all

    [JUST SO YOU KNOW, this is not a normal butterfly story. It is 7 am and I just feel like lazy writing. ]

    When I left Bangkok in 2012, I was not really ready to leave. I just loved living there so much. The simplicity of things, my yoga beginnings, Buddhism, the Thai culture, close friends, the food and the travel opportunities, made me want to make it my permanent home. Looking back, I am so thankful I did indeed leave, for meeting Rob again and many other beautiful parts of my life awaited; but at the time, leaving was really difficult, because I could have also easily stayed. It is funny how when you look back on your life, you can clearly see the energetic forces that were pulling you a certain way. Of course, I would leave. And when I returned, I got to bring my other half with me. Rob too, was supremely excited about Thailand. Thailand was already very special for us both, because when I was living there in 2012, is when we began our very long distance, growing relationship. Messages, calls, random texts, all hints of my future that awaited back in Europe. In any event, excitement filled the air, as we departed from Nepal and headed in a rickety Nepali plane with bad ratings towards Bangkok.

    After our short, somewhat nerve racking flight, we arrived fresh and ready to enjoy some good times with great friends. Three of my dear buddies were still living in BKK and two of our Dutch friends were headed to join us, just a week after our arrival. Good times were surely to come.

    We spent the first week of our three weeks in Thailand, in Bangkok, staying with our friends Dawn and Donovan in the expat part of BKK in their “freaking cool” apartment. It was really great because they live in the same area as I use to during my 2012 stint. So, I got to enjoy revisiting all of my old stomping ground spots with Rob. THIS, I really loved, because visiting local markets and nomming on Thai food is by far two of my most favorite lazy activities. And since Rob loves food and was working out like a maniac, my favorite past times seemed like good choices to him too! Plus, these activities pair well with a large Chang beer, and being we just hiked to EBC, we felt we deserved it. 🙂 So after a few day beers, we would head back to meet Dawn and Donovan. Being the incredibly awesome friends they are, they then took us to many of their favorite spots, mixing in some of the “you just have to do it, since you are here- places”. It was all a blast, and the fact that the fit us in with their busy work schedules, meant a hell of a lot! My best friend from Geneva, who also stayed in Bangkok, also trekked out to downtown BKK to visit me and meet my awesome husband. We have damn good friends.

    After all the traveling we had done, we mostly enjoyed the fact that we were in a HOME again. Dawn and Donovan have a killer set-up and let us really just relax in their home, making us feel at home ourselves (since we didn’t have one), which was amazing for us! Dawn has been a best friend of mine for a very long time, but this time around we got to make a couple friend with Dawn and Donovan. Between the four of us, there is never a dull moment. That is for sure!

    After week one, our friends Jenny and Rein flew over to Thailand from Eindhoven for their three week summer holiday. We began our adventure with them with on a bike tour around the outlying city limit of BKK with Recreational Bangkok Biking. It was a really great time! Firstly because we had the most awkward tour guide ever, who didn’t even know how to change a flat, and secondly because it was my first time to really get to hang out with the two of them! Wandering through some of the slum areas of Bangkok and then through the “Green Lung”, we all got to chat and yeah just begin a whole new couple friendship! And thanks Recreational Bangkok Biking, it really was an awesome tour!

    A few days later, we rejoined down in the Gulf of Thailand in Koh Tao. Together, we spent beach days full of laughter, fun, and Chang. Thailand always captures me in a way that is hard to explain. Her beauty is undeniable, but there is also something in her secrets that keeps me waiting to return.

  • Keepings of Kathmandu

    Keepings of Kathmandu

    Like most capital cities of developing countries, Kathmandu is an incredibly interesting mess. A boggled and miscalculated Gordian knot, that offers the enchanted tourist both confusion and an uncommon opportunity to live weeks in a spiritual hazy dream. A city of interesting dichotomies, Kathmandu relishes between slow OMs and fast paced sellers, new Indie upscale restaurants versus Dal Baht street corners, mystical ancient history facing today’s development race. You can literally feel the tug of war between the city’s desire to follow the lead of its Indian Neighbor versus its plain need to stay true to its elemental roots. Kathmandu is today, as it has always been, an alluring crossroad. The city was so full, so fascinating, that Rob and I found ourselves spending our extra 5 days in Nepal, after EBC, in Kathmandu vs making the trip to Pokhara. Every day we found something new, something beautiful about the city and her outlying villages.

    On our last day in Nepal, we spent the afternoon at the sacred Swayambhunath Temple, west of Kathmandu city. For Buddhists of all sects, the Swayambhunath temple is holds high significance and is either the most important or second most important pilgrimage site, so we simply had to go! The temple sits very high on a hill, with steps ascending to the eyes of Buddha looking over the entirety of Kathmandu and her people. Whether it is because of the climb, the stunning views, the smell of incense or the energy of our earth that surrounds this stupa, it is difficult to leave. It is completely magnetic. In the end, it was the notorious monkeys of the Swayambhunath temple (AKA Monkey Temple) that sent us scurrying down. We had already been through one round of traveling rabies shots, and I was not eager to have to commence another cycle. And so, as evening came around, we rode our moped back through the busy wet streets, with echoes of OMs and motors, and eventually settled in a nest like restaurant with vegetarian burgers and sweet rum. Nepal, a piece of your magic is kept in our heart.

  • Day 8: Periche to Lobuche

    Day 8: Periche to Lobuche

    After a day and a half of rest and relaxation in the soft valley of Periche, we picked the trail head back up early morning on Day 8. According to estimations, Lobuche our next destination, would take us about 4-5 hours to get to, even though it was only 700m away. The reason for the lengthened time, lied solely in the fact that half of the trail that leads to Lobuche resembles the old Agro Clag from Nikolodeon’s game show GUTS, only it is longer. No kidding. The climb has to be at an 80% grade and took us at least an hour to climb. It was tough. But after the steep climb, a surreal moment awaited. A moment that took our mental breath away.

    At the top of the steep climb lies a small, shallow trough that overlooks the valley of Periche, previews the mist towards Louche and is home to the truthful Everest Memorial. I am not sure if it is official, but in this small glen lies the grave stones of all those who lost the epic battle against mother nature, the gravestones of those who lost the battle of Everest.

    From small piles to big piles of stone, lie the memories of courageous people. People from all over the world. People who had the same dream as many others, but were actually brave and determined enough to seek it, even if it meant their end.

    This was a truly captivating moment. A moment that was very hard to remove myself from. But, our destination was calling us onward. So, we rightly left behind the memory filled stones, keeping the recognition of their bravery with us and headed towards our own kismet.

  • Day 6: Tengbouche to Periche

    Day 6: Tengbouche to Periche

    A rooster? All the way up here? Really? Those were my first thoughts in the morning after a too short of night’s sleep in Tengbouche. Must have been the smell of paint that kept me awake. In any event, I rose out of bed with a smile; to the trail we go. But, first, breakfast. Funny enough, being halfway through our ascent, one of the biggest things I noticed outside of nature, was the teasingly long, but limited menu. During high-season, these trails have full-blown English breakfasts, pancakes, noodles, more Dal Bhat, eggs… everything. But, for us, there was only oatmeal and Dal Bhat; which, by this time was starting to get a bit old. Luckily, I had brought with us some dried fruits to add a little something to the monotony of oats and warm water. And when you spend all day hiking, nourishment is nourishment after all. So with a big swallow, Rob and I took in our oatmeal, drank cozy tea, filled our water bottles with our water/tang mixture and headed out for the 3-4 hour hike to Periche.

    This part of the hike was really interesting, because our destination- Periche- lies literally in the middle of nowhere. It is nowhere near the larger cities of Lukla (which connect to Kathmandu) nor is it close to the Himalayas notorious climbing peaks. Periche lies somewhere in the middle. To get there from Tengbouche, we began a most immediate descent, which eventually leveled off into a steady incline for a good couple of hours. An absolutely beautiful day was upon us. The sun was shining lightly on our backs, the roar of the Dudh Kosi river within reach, and displays of the beauty of the Himalayas all around us. At one point, we even saw a wild/stray horse perched underneath a view of Ama Dablam. He/she most likely used to be owned by someone, but we could tell from the protrusion of its ribs and wild hair, that it had been a while since a human cared for it. But, more so that it simply looked free, much in the way I imagined ourselves. Free.

    After around a total of 4 hours, we came upon a point where the Dudh Kosi river made a deep twisting bend, which required us to climb a bit higher to make the turn. Once we made the turn, I stood awestruck and agape at the beauty that lied ahead. Before us lied a valley of small flowers, rock homes and a babbling brook that shook hands with the Dudh Kosi, close to its twisting bend. Views from most all of the famous Himalayan peaks can be seen from the point of Periche; you simply just have to catch a moment in time where God opens up the cloudy gates and allows perfection to be seen.

    Being that it was still early in the afternoon upon our arrival, Rob and I made a point to check out the small village of Periche. To our delight, most everything was closed. Somehow, closure of all of the hotels, shops and so forth, had become a comfort. Somewhere along the line, the periodic closure of the few restaurants and hotels made our experience that much more real. More true. Like we were closer to nature because of it. So, we strolled around Periche, watching the quiet nature of the village unfold.

  • Day 5: Namche to Tengbouche

    Day 5: Namche to Tengbouche

    Perching at a height of 3,867 metres is the incredibly small villiage of Tengbouche (Thyangboche). Tengbouche holds great importance to trekkers, Buddhists and the people of the Himalayas, for it is not only a good place to rest your head, but also is the home to the largest gompa in the Khumbu region, the Tengbouche Monastery. Thinking back, I believe the Tengbouche Monastery is even mentioned in Peter Matthiessen’s 1978 book, The Snow Lepoard. Which, by the way trekkers, is a great book to read in preparation for your trekking adventures in Nepal. It helps you to begin thinking in “butterfly detail”, noticing every light flicker in the forest, the crunch of the rocks under your feet, the sturdy nature of the mountain- it simply helps you to conciously awaken your senses.

    In any event, Tengbouche is about a 5-6 hour hike from Namche. As soon as we left the villiage of Namche, roughly around 8 am, we began a rolling descent/ascent scheme. Rob and I kept saying, it seems so counter intuitive that we just hiked an pretty intense upward climb to get to Namche, only to descend the same distance a day later. But, we were too elated to be back on the trail to whine. After around an hour or so, we found ourselves much closer to the Dudh Kosi river. Then, at some point, Rakesh said that we would now begin the ascent to Tengbouche. He said it would take around 2 hours or so. Give or take. And so we began an endless amount of switch backs.

    I took only about 12 pounds with me in my pack. Mostly carrying water, snacks, extra socks, a small shovel, jackets, lighters, medicines and eco-friendly toilet paper. (Another thing trekkers, if you need to use the restroom, which you will, because you need to stay hydrated during your trek, the most environmentally sustainable way to use the restroom is to find a spot in the woods, dig a little hole, use the restroom, cover your tracks and then burn your toilet paper. True statement.) BUT 12 pounds on these switchbacks was not easy, I won’t lie about it. My shoulders were achy from the weight and my lower back was ill-thrilled from the hunching I was doing. I did bring Tiger Balm from India with me, which saved me during times like these. Just enough relief to get through it. After a seemingly infinte number of switchbacks, we walked through the gates to Tengbouche. Funny enough, after feeling the aches in my shoulders, it was ironic to see a man carrying up a full trunk of a tree on his shoulders, Nepali style, balanced by a head band and rope. I immediantly forgot about my shoulders. P1060443

    Wouldn’t you?

    After standing astounded, with my jaw wide open, Rakesh moved us onward towards our tea house for the night. Mostly all of them were actually closed, but one remained open for the few trekkers who would be on the trails during “off-season”. We were warmly welcomed with the smell of paint (they were also doing some remodeling) and a pot of tea. They asked us if we would like cold bucket shower… and we declined. Wipees would do with the cold temperatures outside. After getting a bit more settled in and ordering what we would like for dinner in the evening, Rob and I went to explore the Tengbouche Monastery. I had been really looking forward to seeing it in full swing, imagining the bells chiming, incense flowing, the harmony of the chanting monks and the sounds of dongs ringing loudly. But, to our disappointment, the monks had left to hold a gathering in a neighboring village and were not present; only a single monk and his two dogs were left to keep the Monastery afloat. Lucky for us, we were allowed inside to take a look around and read the stories on the walls. Escaping a bit into the simplicity of Monastic life. It was absolutly beautiful. Regardless of how empty it was, I could feel the life within the walls, the prayers and truths revealing themselves as I grazed the painted stories with my hands.

    After around thirty minutes inside, we were led out by the guarding monk, and returned back to the tea house for an evening of Dal Bhat, cards and tea.

    Life in the Himalayas is both simple and compounded. Once I released myself from the hectic nature of my mind’s creation, I found peace, and through this peace, my mind found that in the simple things, life is its most full. Like taking in a full breath of air, noticing how it tastes, smells, feels, reenergizes my body; imagining the rush of blood through my veins and the expansion created by the sip of oxygen. And the most wonderous part was to then open my eyes and see the panoramic views of the Himalayas, including the well-known peaks of Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Tawache, Nuptse and Everest.

    I am extremely thankful to be alive.

  • Day 3: Diamox and Namche

    Day 3: Diamox and Namche

    We sauntered lightly over deep trails, trails slicked by mountain dew and sodden green moss; trails that without a doubt hundreds of thousands of villagers and Asian wayfarers have once treaded. In my day dreams, built by the tales of time’s trekkers, story tellers, Kathmandu villagers and today’s bloggers, Namche was a busy trading point, where people from across Asia met to trade a melange of goods. It was supposed to be the gathering point of Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese mountain villagers. A place where most any good could be bought or traded. I imagined it being crazily busy, hazy, similar to the scene set underneath the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu. To my surprise, and later delight, Namche was anything but hustling. It was quite quiet actually. Upon arrival, my eyes kept searching for what my imagination believed was the reality of Namche. But, almost every store seemed to be dark, shut, and unwelcoming to the wandering trekker. People were absent. Gone. Our previous destination of Phakding seemed more awake than this sleepy city. But of course, it is “off-season”.

    After around a ten minute walk through the village, seeing only a few children playing in a wet field and one woman fetching water, Rakesh told us to unload our bags. Apparently, we had arrived to our hotel for the next two nights.  Expecting that the tea house owners would come out of the front door of the building our bags set on, I faced against the mountain’s view. Then, I suddenly heard a small, happy voice right behind me. As I turned around, I saw the cutest woman and another shy soul behind her. I am kicking myself for forgetting her name right now, but I remember her name didn’t seem fitting. I remember thinking, no, your name should be “Happy”. Her hello even held a giggle. After a few exchanges in Nepalese with Rakesh, she took us to a room on the bottom floor of the incredibly large building. It seemed strange because upstairs looked much nicer than the room she showed us to. Later, we would learn that being it was off-season, they were in the middle of some remodeling. Happy offered us the only room she felt suitable; two twin beds, a toilet, and enough rain water held in buckets to provide a shower if we wished and enough water to flush down what was necessary. Good is good, we said. So, we settled in, changing clothes, adding more layers on, and waiting for Rakesh to tell us the plans. And what were the plans? Basically, the game plan was to acclimatize. To spend the evening and the full next day getting use to the elevation we were at and the decreased oxygen levels. So, we spent the first evening playing cards, eating spaghetti (that was cooked in a temporary kitchen built for us), and reading. After, setting into our sleeping bags, we drifted off to a soft slumber together. While Rob slept like a bear in hibernation, I woke up in the middle of the night gasping for air.

    Literally, gasping.

    Fear rose inside of me, as I walked to the bathroom, looking for a light. Where is my “Rough Guide: Nepal”? I know they said something about this, I thought. I was panicking. I quickly shut the bathroom door behind me, so that the light would not wake my soundless husband. I sat on the toilet, flipped through my “Rough Guide: Nepal” book and tried to catch my breath. In through my nose, out through my mouth, I kept telling myself. Though this calmed me, I was still short of breath. Finally, I found the page on acclamating to the elevation differences throughout the Himalayas. Words like helicopter, throw-up, diarhreea, expensive, and death POPPED out to me on the page. But, somewhere inside, I was determined not to need DIAMOX. Though almost every former trekker whose blog I read had taken diamox to help them acclimate, I somehow thought I would be different; that my body would adjust to nature’s grip around me. But, as the night grew colder, and my gasps grew louder, I gave in. I took a half a Diamox and stuck out the rest of the night. By morning, I told Rob what happened to me in the middle of the night. He obviously did not have the same experience. But, since I was taking the Diamox now, he would too. Long story short, we acclimated to the elevation of Namche, and with Diamox floating in our systems, the uphill climb we faced in the coming days would be much more oxygenated. Thankfully.

    Lesson learned: Why try to beat the odds when the risk is high? Simply take the dang Diamox and get on with it.

    Lastly trekkers, don’t worry about purchasing diamox or any other medicines in advance. Get them all in Kathmandu. It is both cheaper and easier.

  • De Kempen, The Netherlands

    De Kempen, The Netherlands

    De Kempen is an area in the south of the Netherlands, near the Belgian border. It is a collection of the most pleasantly quaint and beautifully created villages, such as Resuel, Eersel, Bladel, Steensel, and Duizel. This part of the country holds so much importance to me. Firstly, it is where Rob and his family come from, Reusel and Eersel to be exact. Secondly, upon my move to the Netherlands, I first needed to register with the gemeente Eindhoven and the IND (Dutch Immigration) in order to obtain residency and be able to legally work in the country. And in comparison to many other countries, their process is really fast, but it still did require around a two month wait period. Without a job, a had a good bit of time on my hands. Though I did a fair bit of cleaning, cooking, organizing, getting to know Eindhoven, I always jumped at the chance to go to Reusel and spend time with my second family (Rob’s family).

    Therefore, I spent many days traveling from Eindhoven to Reusel by bus, seeing the country’s lowland views. Between cottages, farms, horses, flowers, cows, sheep and the greeness that brightens my soul; these rides to Reusel inspire every part of my heart to become even lighter.

    And though my blog is more often about the places I explore, I cannot write without mentioning how wonderful my second family is and how lucky I am to have them in my life. Not only did they, along with Rob, make my transition from Switzerland to the Netherlands smoothe, they helped me to do it all with a titter in my belly and a free heart; and for that and loving me along the way, I am also forever thankful.

  • Kasteel de Haar, Utrecht

    Kasteel de Haar, Utrecht

    So, your line of thinking probably just went something like this… 1) Pretty Castle like thing, 2) Who is that man?, and 3) Oh, it’s slippery.

    Yes, it is a beautiful castle, Kasteel de Haar of Utrecht. The oldest historical record of the castle dates back to 1391 and was last restored in 1892. It has been passed through a number of royal Dutch families. In 2000, the Van Zuylen van Nyevelt famiy passed ownership to the Kasteel de Haar foundation. It can now be rented out for events, weddings and is just a really beautiful place to visit, rain or shine.

    To your second thought. That’s my uncle. Kent. He is an incredible person. He made this photo because, as I am soon about to share, he along with my Mother, Father, Sister, Grandfather and Gramma all came to the Netherlands to be part of mine and Rob’s small Dutch Wedding. In the days leading to our wedding, we all got to spend some time together. One of the things we did was to visit this beautiful castle and the city of Utrecht.

    And to your third though, yes, it was slippery. Good thing we are from Texas and always have sturdy boots on!

  • Argeles-sur-mer, France

    Argeles-sur-mer, France

    For around two weeks between late June and July, we spent sweltry sweet days in Argeles-sur-Mer with the Janssen side of our family. The days mostly encompassed retrieving the morning baguettes, preparing to go to the beach, down-time, sangria, soup, sweat, cards, cold showers, dinner, more sangria and loads of family laughs. I hope that every year, we get to join our family on the trip. The photo above was taken on a day around the area on motorbikes with Rob’s brothers and cousins. The Mediterranean never disappoints; especially for me. Just as the Caribbean feels like home, the Mediterranean sparks my inquisitiveness. The culture is a unique mix between a French breakfast and a Spanish dinner. It’s posh, yet quirky and when you add in the many Dutch campers who flock to these sites and sights during summer, opportunities for fun are endless.

  • Cherry Farm, Azle, Texas

    Cherry Farm, Azle, Texas

    Outside of Ft. Worth, Texas, there lies a little city called Azle. Azle might not seem so important to many people, but to me and my family it holds a piece of heaven; a piece of Cherry history. Now, my grandmother has done extensive research on our ancestry, but the intricacies are not needed here. What I want you to know that the Cherry Farm and family history could be a book in itself. It is laced with tales from our Cherokee ancestors, our dairy farming tradition, red neck living and a whole lot of loving kindess from our angel Mom Cherry (Lela Cherry). And this picture encapsulates the view from our little house on the hill, prarie if you will.

  • Playa del Secreto, Mexico

    Playa del Secreto, Mexico

    It seems that I refer to “Homes” quite often and again, I will do the same here. Another familiar place, a place I can also call home, is the Riviera Maya; more specifically, Hacienda del Secreto on the beach of Playa Secreto. I think I have already posted a pic or two of this location, but being that I am a frequent returner, I guess I can’t help it.

    So often, I find myself telling people how the beach and location of Playa Secreto is unparallelled. But, seriously, the more I travel, the more I do sincerely believe that the best beach in the world is Playa Secreto of the Caribbean Sea. I mean, say you go to Thailand.. from expereince, I know how incredibly beautiful the beaches are, but the kicker is that the water isn’t that refreshing; actually, quite often, it is warm. Or say you venture to the North Sea, or to the Atlantic or Pacific? From experience, I can also say that the sand is more rough, brown, and not as easy to lay on, not to mention getting in your “jores”. Plus, sharks… hello? But, yes, of course, this is my advantage.. that I know these things. That I have gotten the chance to experience all of this: it’s what this blog is all about. And when it comes to my sanity, nothing beats traveling. But, when it comes to what waters I want to soak in or what sand I don’t mind in my swimsuite bottoms.. Playa Secreto takes the cake.:)

  • The North Sea of the Netherlands

    The North Sea of the Netherlands

    In celebration of an incredible whirlwind of happiness, Rob and I took his old red car to the North Sea for the weekend. , We spent the afternoon to early evening at the sea and then the dunes. Just a short walk from our splendid little hotel, lied the dunes. Upon entering the dunes, a sense of utter tranquility arises. Rob explained to me why the dunes were made and how; also the importance of them in concerns to preservation of their land. For horseback riders, bikers and walkers alike, the dunes provide a shelter from the hard winds of the North Sea. In the dunes, birds sing their sweet melodies and work to interwine them with the rhythem the grass’ rustle makes. The whole scene is simple and beautiful. After a good long walk in the dunes, we met the sea. To be honest, while the looks of it is gorgeous, the harshness of the wind makes it hard to really enjoy it face first. We were there in May, so maybe that has something to do with it. So, instead of dipping our toes in the water and sitting on the Sea’s edge, we sought peace in a small dune on the soft cliff. We drank light wine, talked to seagulls and eachother and enjoyed the beautiful moment.

  • Dommelstraat 23B, Our Home

    Dommelstraat 23B, Our Home

    Dommelstraat 23B, our home; the place where so many memories were made. You often hear songs about first homes and I guess until you have that “first” home with the one you truly love, you don’t get it. But now we do. Our memories will remain strong and the love we grew there will hold steadfast.  And on May 1st, we set out for our big trip, set to see so many beautiful places and incredible moments, leaving behind “our home”, telling ourselves that we must move forward, yet appreaciate all the memories we made. Happiness bloomed in the Dommelstraat, but the seed of the flower we will replant in every place we are together, leaving a trail of flowers.

  • Konings dag, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Konings dag, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    In celebration of the birth of our King Willem Alexandar, we wear orange, drink loads, laugh with friends and dance dance dance. Last Konings Dag, I was tormented by a terrible stomach flu, so this year, we went all out. Inviting friends over to start the day with Mojitos and snacks, the day turned into night and the party still went on! Waterguns, pints, loompjes, and orange everything, oh yeah- our party pants!:) So much fun and I am so thankful for the amazing friends we have. Shout out to Dames Twee and Pusphaira.