Allison A Janssen

Tag: backpacking

  • Valladolid, Mexico

    Valladolid, Mexico

    Since I was about 10 years old,  I have been hopping on planes from the United States to a singular destination in Mexico, Cancun International, with direct transportation to Hacienda del Secreto. You know the spot, right? I have already spoken so much about it and the beauty of the Mayan Riviera in my previous posts. Not to mention, it is the home of The Butterfly Landing Yoga and Wellness Studio, my home studio and happy place!

    But, okay, to the point.

    If I was going to travel to Mexico, I was headed to #HDS. From ages 10 to 28, Mexico for me meant the state of Quintana Roo. Though I always packed grand intentions of exploring greater Mexico, I always ended up finding myself content with the area surrounding Hacienda del Secreto, never unpacking the action to travel somewhere outside the magical state. Therefore, for around 18 years, I stayed within the harbor of Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Playa Secreto, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. Today, I know these places like the back of my hand. My limited travel of Mexico, also had a lot to do with the fact that the family and friends I had traveled to HDS with in the past, never really cared to leave HDS. I could say, “let’s go to Tulum or Holbox,” but that meant leaving the most beautiful place on earth, and who would do that in exchange for a cheap hostel and an unknown city.

    There is only a few thousand people on this planet who would make the exchange, I have come to think.

    But, eventually, as in all things, the timing for a taste of greater Mexico came. In June 2015, a group of my girl friends from the Netherlands flew into Cancun International for what would be about a month long trip for them! Their first stop, Hacienda del Secreto. Their second stop, Valladolid. And me, yup, I joined in.:)

    As we took the bus from Playa Del Carmen to Valladolid, I kind of amazed myself. I had been explaining the how-to’s of Mexico travel for some time, but had yet to adventure it on my own, but there I was feeling like I knew the ropes. Valladolid is only about a 4 hours bus trip with one stop in Tulum. Easy.

    When we arrived, I really could not believe that we were only 4 hours away from Hacienda del Secreto. The city, also known as the Sultaness of the East, is beautiful, filled with colorful Spanish style architecture and quite, laid-back streets. One of my favorite moments is pictured above, when a few of us woke up extra early to see the town’s market at sunrise. The market itself was less than spectacular, but I think that is exactly what made it so perfect. Just simple people like you and me, selling their goods. No big money in mind, just some bananas here, cactus there, watermelon juice over there, and pork hung somewhere around the corner.

    I would stay in the provincial town at least a few days, as it makes a great hub for visits to Chichén Itzá, Ek’ Balam and a number of nearby cenotes. As for us, we ventured to
    Chichén Itzá for a full day of self-guided exploration. It did not disappoint.

    In the end, the lesson I learned from little Valladolid, is that sometimes, you just love where you are. Sometimes, you may see no need to adventure. But, always, truly-always, there is something beautiful and rewarding, waiting for you around the bend. You just have to unpack your intention to explore, make an opportunity and go for it.

    2017, for me, is going to be a year of going for it! I promise you will not only see posts from my upcoming trip to Asia again, but also in the lively states of Mexico.

  • 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 love bubble. YTT in Koh Lanta, Thailand

    The love bubble. YTT in Koh Lanta, Thailand

    I can’t really remember when I began saying…’When I see myself as an old woman, I see me in a black swim suite top, a flowing green sarong, the curls in my hair have been let loose, and there is glowing energy around me. I think I am a yoga teacher, a writer. I bear age lines of laughter, worldly experiences and I seem really content with my life. I’ve obviously lived a full life-bearing witness to both beauty and harsh realities. My husband is there, and so are like 6 of our grandchildren. I can’t see them, but I hear them all giggling and playing around in the living room. I myself am by the kitchen sink, in front of a sun filled window, hand washing dishes and smiling with an ear towards the living room.’

    I guess I started picturing (manifesting) the older, wiser version of myself somewhere in college. Early twenties for sure.

    And this is where the power of thought, the power of our minds comes into play. Back when I was living in Geneva, had someone told me where my life would travel over the next five years, I would have probably said to them, ‘perfect, yay, how did I do it?’

    Even now, writer seems way far out there. Let’s be real. I blog. I journal. I write for companies. And luckily, I write for a newspaper. It does make me a writer, but not an author- at least not an author in the sense I hope to one day be.

    So this picture in my head. It’s there. I think about it. And maybe by doing so, I have created circumstances for myself that link, or follow on the same path to my picture. Moving to Geneva, meeting my soul mate-Rob-in the streets of Barcelona (of all places), moving to Thailand, moving back to Geneva, completing my MASTERS, moving to Holland to be with Rob, traveling to foreign lands together, moving back to the USA together, and when he leaves for Army basic training… there somehow being an open window to create something new for myself. To accomplish something my soul was seeking.

    It was late March. I officially had over a month left to go of no communication with Rob. The window was there. I had narrowed my choices down to either reaching for my Yoga Teacher 200hr certificate or volunteering in Costa Rica at a homestead. Both options were great, but there was only one real choice-Yoga Teacher Training. Of course, I wanted to learn more about living off the land; but, my heart was leading me to yoga. My self-practice was strong, my mind was ready and my soul was already waiting there.

    So, I spent the next four hours googling. (Don’t you freaking love google!) Google sent me so many directions. My window became the world and I could travel most anywhere and become a yoga teacher. And then it happened. I saw ‘YTT 200 Intensive, Koh Lanta Thailand’. 

    ‘Sold,’ I thought.

    I literally danced in the living room, yelling over to my Mom… ‘Mom, I am going back to Thailand’.

    A one month program, 200 hours of training in Koh Lanta. In two months, I would become a certified yoga teacher! Whoop whoop!

    My excitement must have lasted a whole of 4 minutes.

    Minute number five, I sat back down at my computer. Minute six, I saw the price. Minute 6.15 my internal excitement came to a screeching halt.

    How in the hell could I make such a big financial decision without talking to my husband. Yes, he gave me the green light before he left on any trips or any decision that would lighten the load of being left at home. To do something that I always wanted to do. But, still… to have to make this decision about spending so much of OUR money alone. It was difficult.

    I of course, went back to my Mom. Told her my thoughts and we talked through it all. (Mom’s are better than google). I will spare you the details, because I obviously made the decision to go.

    The flight was lengthy. First stop, Moscow. Second stop, Singapore. Third stop, Bangkok (where I got to hang out with two dear friends of mine).

    Last stop, Krabi.

    The love bubble began to grow.

    Our hosts, Kate and Farrah (owners of Oasis Yoga of Koh Lanta), told me via email that I would meet one other YTT participant at the airport and that together we would be taken by car to Koh Lanta. Norbert was sitting on the side of the airport, patiently waiting. As I walked out with my luggage, our driver signaled Norbert with one hand and waved his ‘Allison Janssen’ sign at me with the other.

    Our long ride to Koh Lanta, was mostly filled with silence. A big inward journey had just taken flight.

    Once we arrived, we checked into our rooms and were told that everyone would be meeting in just a few hours for dinner.

    I quickly settled in, washed up and anxiously waited for 6:00.

    I think it would take me a whole book to actually explain to you the depths of YTT and our experience as Jai Yoga Arts trainees/graduates. So, I won’t do that. This post is already long enough.

    But, what I do what to say, I guess, can be felt through the review I gave Ella, just a month after the completion of our training.

    It went something like this…

    “Every time I reflect upon my Jai YTT experience, my heart begins to swell with both love and gratitude. The entire month of Jai YTT was simply ethereal, beautiful in every possible way. Ella Luckett constructed a course so entirely practical, truthful, challenging and engaging, both physically and philosophically. She completely filled it with her heart and soul. In the first days of the course, one of the questions Ella asked us, was what did we hope to gain out of this training. In my reply, I answered that I was seeking a sense of quiet confidence, confidence in myself as a yoga teacher. If I walked away with anything, quiet confidence was what I really needed. Now, a month later, I can honestly say I gained that sense of quiet confidence that I was pursuing and so much more! I walked away with knowledge of my Self that I will carry with me for the rest of this life, I gained peace in who I am on my yoga journey and how I can best share my passion and purpose with others. I learned to better appreciate every moment, to more sincerely realize that yoga is a journey that requires patience, and the beautiful part of the journey is the small singular moments we each take as individuals in a cosmic whole. While I genuinely cherish every moment we all shared during our month long experience, the silent mornings hold a special place in my heart. Every morning, accompanied by silence, I could feel the energies of my comrades around me. Together we built a love bubble; moving, breathing and growing in silence. It was magical. I am incredibly thankful to Ella as my guru, for the inspiration she is, and to the other sixteen beautiful individuals, all who I now proudly call friends.”

    Last words:

    Our thoughts are powerful. See where you want to be. Place that picture of yourself in your head and hold onto it. Edit it if you need to. When you act, question if your actions are leading you towards that place. Watch your soul open windows for you and jump through. Don’t let fear stop you. Move forward with kindness, trust and love.

    I know I am no where near that picture of myself. There is a lot of time and experiences still to come. I trust there is. But, I know that image I have in my head is me. I know that laugh in the other room… it’s Rob’s. Those childish giggles, I have no clue who they are, but I know I will one day. I love my journey. I trust it, whatever comes. But mostly, I am so thrilled to experience every little unfolding, every manifestation come into existence.

     

  • 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 2: Phakding to Namche

    Day 2: Phakding to Namche

    The day awaited us. I could feel my bones rise, sparks fire between the neurons in my brain, the hairs on my arms surge, my feet twitching – anticipating the moment they would get to slide into my hiking boots. I was beyond excited. I thought to myself, okay, what all should I wear? It feels quite cold, but today is supposed to be THE toughest part of the hike. So, on went my sports bra, a breathable T-shirt, khaki hiking shorts, my North Face rain jacket, wool socks and my North Face Boots. I swept my hair back, brushed my teeth, and quickly packed my bag, Rob’s bag and Saroj’s bag (for it was our extra stuff he was carrying). Once we were all packed up, we headed down stairs, just before 7:00 am. A full breakfast of oatmeal, tea and more tea, warmed us right up. So, with warm bellies, the four of us set off for Namche. Rakesh, our plugged in and knowledgeable guide from Good Karma Trekking, had warned us a bit ahead of time that Day 2 would be the toughest day. Namche Bazar sits at an elevation of 3,450m or 4,413 feet, which on average should take around 6 hours to get to from Phakding. Pretty much as soon as you walk out of the village of Phakding, you begin a slow ascent. Step by step, as the air got lighter, less dense- so did I. I FELT ALIVE. SO AWARE. SO CONNECTED. My blood pumping through my body, hearing the light thud of my heart, the rushing sounds of the Dudh Kosi River, feeling the cold sweat on my forehead and almost touching the songs of neighboring birds. LIFE WAS ALL AROUND US. WE were part of it. It was an incredible feeling. At around 11, we stopped to take a break and have some lunch. This was our second time to order off of an ‘off-season’ menu, which basically means that almost everything on the menu is not available. In actuality, you can get dumplings, dal baht or soup. We went for Dal Baht. And honestly trekkers, just go with Dal Baht almost every time you eat. You are guaranteed to be filled with enough nutrition to sustain you for the hours of climbing ahead, you most certainly will not get sick from it, and well, it tastes really good! Oh another thing, make sure you packed some kind of water aid. We packed TANG. It can change your normal Puni Pani (water) into something new, and tasty, for any other kind of refreshment on the mountain besides water and tea is expensive! Don’t forget it. You will want something to change the monotony of water on your taste buds. Now, where was I?

    After lunch, we got right back on the trail. We were quick on time, so Rakesh said we did not need to leave right away, but we were eager! So, we did anyways. From Phakding to Lukla, you cross the majority of the cable bridges that suspend high between mountain passes. Feeling our muscles beneath us, we climbed an incredibly long, mostly straight lined ascent. And as we entered through the holy passageway to Namche, slightly out of breath, we smiled from our heart to our lips.

  • Breathing for the second time: Lukla to Phakding

    Breathing for the second time: Lukla to Phakding

    If my first breath was a second after my birth, then my second true breath would have to be the moment we started walking towards our destination- Everest Base Camp. Day one, of eleven days of walking, wiggling my toes, groping trees, asking for Puni Pani, widening my eyes, smelling crisp evergreens, feeling small rocks slide beneath my feet, hearing – literally hearing the wind blow in twisting streams past my ears, and climbing to the steady pat of my heart had begun. I felt so completely alive. Conscious. Aware. Thrilled. And so eager. I could feel my heart smiling. After setting our bags on our backs, Rakesh and our lovely porter Saroj from Good Karma Trekking, led us through the “busy” streets of Lukla towards our next destination: Phakding. From Lukla to Phakding is only about a 3 hour walk; an easy “climb”. But, it seriously might as well have been 24 hours, in so far as in 3 hours, I experienced a days worth of imagery, beauty, enchantings. Within the first five hours, from flight to foot, the EBC trekker is already witnessing waterfalls, donkeys on trails, cows on trails, the refreshing effulgent Dudh Kosi River whipping rapidly through the Himalayan Valleys, and entrancing lower valley life. It is a bit funny, because there is a visible difference between lower valley folk and those in Kathmandu. It is almost tangible. Nothing better or anything, just different. You see this difference in the warmth of their smiles. The lack of city worry. But, beware trekkers: do not let your competitiveness think that you can walk faster than a small Nepali girl carrying fifty pounds of luggage. She might be chatting with her friend behind her, playing music from her small phone, wearing flip-flops and carrying a hell of a lot more weight than you, but, my friend, she is faster. Her feet know these steps like the back of her hand. Wherever she is going, she will most likely get there before you do. Funny enough, she doesn’t notice it. She is just being herself, within herself, completely bare of your path, your plans and your intentions. She will give you a shy smile and be on her way, most likely wishing you a small “go well” in her head. Don’t try to keep up with her, watch her, watch her go forward in lightness and imagine the home she is waiting to find. You may even see her again, for the trails of the Himalayas are forever intertwining with one another, letting some go and pushing others forward, yet always allowing any soul to sit still.

  • Dubai for 12 hours

    Dubai for 12 hours

    Without a minute to spare, we headed for Dubai from Sharjah Airport. Did you know that you can get gold bars out of an ATM in Dubai? How crazy is that. Of course, has we had the chance to spend more time there, the city probably would have found a way to keep me interested. But, in all reality, I was glad we only had 12 hours- especially because on a backpackers budget, you can’t go far in Dubai. So, we walked in the blazing 45 degree heat. We saw skyscapers and more skyscrapers, roof top pools, gold glimmer, and a lot of money (without actually seeing it in exchange). We ended the day with a Iranian dinner and felt atleast pleased that we made the stop. And unless someday we have ungodly amounts of money to spend, I don’t see us returning.

    With all of that said, there was a beautiful highlight: the port. The port was filled literally tons worth of shipments, men hard at work and men waiting for work. The port captured what I imagine Dubai would look like, what it did look like before money grew wings and flew its way to Duabi.

  • Istanbul, Turkey

    Istanbul, Turkey

    So, Istanbul, Turkey; the historical crossroads between Europe and Asia and the starting point of our big 4-6 month trip. The city holds 14.1 million people, stradling the Bospohorus , the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. It’s well thought position or location has led it to prosper throughout history, with being the capital of four different empires. Today, it has become truly big and metropolitian, though old world Istanbul can still be found by seeking out religious monuments, bazaars, listening for the calls to prayer and tiny nooks and crannies holding colorful favorites, such as the Blue Eye.

    In total, we spent 9 days in Istanbul and found the city absolutely incredible. Almost every one of the 9 days, we spent walking somewhere between 10-30 miles; and the reward was the fact that we got to see so much of Istanbul. From Taksin square, to Kadikoy, to most every religious house of worship, we saw so much. The photograph above is of the inside of the Sutan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque. While, I would have loved to capture this moment at the time of prayer, it seemed a bit too invasive, so I opted for an off time. The Mosque itself is absolutly beautiful, with tiles and colors that keep your eyes amused.

    Istanbul is a truly captivating city where every one of your human senses is intrigued and then rewarded.

  • Firenze, Italy

    Firenze, Italy

    My first time in Florence was back in 2010, when Anastasia and I first backpacked Europe. So, in early March, when Rob suprised me with a weekend trip to Florence to see Mumford and Sons play, I was absolutely thrilled to return to the historically rich city of Florence. What is really quite funny about this trip for me, was the fact that I intended to try and relive some of what Anastasia and I experienced with Rob. And, of course, that happened a bit, but I was totally taken aback at how big the city actually is and how little we saw before. It could also be the fact that this time around, Rob and I rented bikes, which just make a huge difference. You get to cover so much more by discovering a city by bike than you do by foot! In all, we spent three full days exploring the city, eating incredibly delicious food and drinking cheap but really tasty wine. The city was bustling and filled with life in every corner. Shopping, is of course the activity most tourist endeavor, but being on a budget we depressed my love for fashion and instead sought to see every corner of the city; which in the end, gave us both much more enthusiasm for life and this view from Piazza Michelangelo.

  • Jungfrau, where I fell in love with the world

    Jungfrau, where I fell in love with the world

    At the end of our incredible journey as Mother and Daughter, I had to head back to work. :/ But, my Mom still had a few days to do some exploring herself. So- I sent her to no other destination than the Swiss Alps, for a view she just had to see. Jungfrau- The top of Europe. And though it took her from 7am-12am to complete the journey, I know she felt its worth.

    It’s a powerful rush and an enticing call to take a long stare into the beauty of the Swiss Alps. White crystals dancing on masses that can move even the most dim of all souls. Mother nature at her finest.

    Back in 2011, it was these same mountains that moved me to a new explorative level. After seeing this sight, just as my Mom did on this day, a love for nature and the world bloomed inside of me. A spring that never fades into fall.

  • Prague, The Czech Republic

    Prague, The Czech Republic

    Prague is a city for wayfarers; a city with boundless beauty best discovered by wandering up and down hills, through small alleys, amongst trees, and speaking to statues in frozen silence. What is still from the outside, is more than lively in its sentiments. Small dark windows with candles, shadows sitting next to mulled wine. It is captivating in its history and how entwined it once was with the now western world; Hitlers hideaway once he captured what he wanted.  Today the veil is off and its beauty is for the world.

  • Budapesht, Hungary

    Budapesht, Hungary

    rriving in Budapesht was, in hindsight, really funny. First, let me say, that besides booking our hostel and getting tips from my Hungarian friend (Andrea), I really didn’t prepare for Budapesht. Like all of my travels, I expected it to be pretty simple to figure our way around. But, Budapesht was different. Well, our arrival anyways.

    Upon arrival, like any other time, we stepped off the train and into the station, bags and directions in hand.  So, I lead my Mom and we start following the directions step by step. The station is the oldest in Europe, we know now, so it was decrepit and a little scary. People were screaming at one another and gypsies, in their abundancy, were begging for money. We were told by Andrea not to flag down a taxi and Budapesht, as it is unsafe and we are most likely to get ripped off. So, we found the bus stop and hopped on. It all happened really fast, so I just supposed that it was headed into the city. But, it definitely was not. All of the sudden, we were way far outside the city and I had no clue what to do. I said to my Mom, “hey we are going the wrong way, let’s get off”. So, we did. As follows, we ended up sitting on the side of the road, lost, with no hungarian language skills- not even a self-help language book. My Mom did not like the idea, but I decided to ask a woman if she could help us find our way to our hostel. Not that either of us are judgemental, but it was a creepy part of town. Luckily, the woman was extremely helpful and called us a taxi to our destination. Of course, I didn’t have enough Forints to pay… gratefully the cabby accepted Euros. The whole experience tripped my Mom up a good bit. She hadn’t been to a city so tarnished before. Post-communism and the realities it created are still very real and felt. We did end up making it to our hostel, but it itself was unlike any other that I had ever stayed at before. It was a huge historic building, atramentous and blood curling. But, once we found the “front desk”, we did start to feel a bit better. Then we rushed off to dinner, having the receptionist order us a cab. The cab got us lost and drove for 45 minutes like lighting, for what would have been a ten minute drive. Eventually, we made it to the underground cave restaurant we had booked. Dinner, wine, and the good company all made our long day very worth it.

    The picture above is of the Szechenyi Bathhouse. It is one of the largest Turkish bathhouses in Europe and located in the heart of the city; equipped with 15 indoor pools, 3 outdoor pools and 10 saunas. It was built in 1913. Szechenyi made for the perfect day of relaxation with my Mom. We loved it and we loved Hungary.

  • Wachau Valley, Vienna countryside, Austria

    Wachau Valley, Vienna countryside, Austria

    After spending a couple days in the city of Vienna, it was time to see what the outskirts had to offer. And we were definitely not disappointed. I always find that these days capture my soul. Being in nature, amidst the trees and wind; and on this day the Danube River.

    We woke up early, around 6:30 am, got dressed and then went searching for the tour spot. After finding the group, we headed on a train to the Wachau valley. Once we had arrived, our group was led to a random building that held our bikes. We all suited up with bikes, helmets, rain gear and big smiles. The day was ours to make. In all, we rode probably about 20 miles on roads like the picture depicts, stopped at 3 small wineries (all family owned), and saw tons of incredible viewpoints of the Danube. Oh, and we hiked to the castle where Richard the LionHeart was held captive. History stories in nature. Such a wonderful day spent with my Mom and good friends.

  • Vienna, Austria

    Vienna, Austria

    After a day of exploring Vienna by foot, we decided to go to the famous Viennese Philahamonic Opera! It was sensational. The Opera House was completed in 1869 and in its opening premier, Mozart played Don Giovanni with Emporer Franz Jospeh and Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) present. You could feel the history present in the walls, the seats and in every note.

  • Toledo, Spain

    Toledo, Spain

    Toledo- said to have been populated since the Bronze Age, and one of the oldest fortified cities in Spain. The whole city is surrounded by water, with impressive castles and and churches galore. Some of the streets are so small, you need to form a line to get through. The best part about our visit to Toledo, was the fact that my friend Lucas, who is originally from the Toledo area, showed us around the city. We ate, we drank, we walked, we all talked, and by the evening time, we got to settle in a bar near Lucas’ home. Oh yeah, PS- the stories are true. Tapas are free if you buy drinks!