Starting the Life of a Digital Nomad
I was one of those super-organized, life planning kinda people. I could tell you what I was doing 5 Tuesdays from now at 10 am. I had a ridiculous daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, 5 year, 10 year and 15 year plan. I had an amazing job working with the most influential surgeons in Canada., Keep Reading…
Liberation Through Bedbugs in my Backpack
I had one fear traveling. It wasn’t getting kidnapped, forcibly hooked on heroin and sold into the Russian sex trade. It wasn’t having everything stolen, stuck in a developing country alone and unable to communicate. It wasn’t sinking in a long boat trying to get to an island in Monsoon season.
It was bedbugs. Tiny little vampires that crawl into your bed like an uninvited lover and proceed to devour you in the exact opposite way you want to be ravaged in bed. Regular readers will know I do not have a fear of insects, reptiles, rodents. It was an unfounded fear and not one that was going to stop me from my journey. It was, however, an insidious little thought that would creep into my head, alone in the dark. Keep Reading…
Tips on Market Bartering
Battling it out in souks and markets can be intimidating for a newbie. Voices are raised, pressure is laid, rip-offs commence. But it can also be an incredibly rewarding experience. Shared teas, photos of children, charades and stories of the world. It all depends on how you start. These tips are applicable for anything from postcards to Persian rugs
Top Tips for Market Bartering Keep Reading…
Moroccan Travel Destinations in a Nutshell
Q~ I need some recommendations for a sample itinerary for a 10-12 day visit to Morocco. I’d like a combination of do-nothing beach relaxation as well as historical stuff. What are the must-visit cities?
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Awesome choice, Morocco was one of my favorite countries. Marrakesh is the obvious must-see. Pretty touristy, but great restaurants, traditional Riads (homes converted into hotels) and restaurants. That’s where you’ll find the snake charmers, spice stalls, trained monkeys and kiosk tooth extractions. The shopping is incredible, the souks (markets) go on forever. It’s a great jumping off point for day or overnight trips to see some great ruins or Sahara treks. You can wait til you’re there and book the day trips.
Street Stall Eats & Losing my Pants
I live on street food. I love almost anything that comes out of a stall. The faded stained umbrella shading the meats, veggies and greasy cook tops pique my curiosity and the smoky heat makes my mouth water. Great big vats of steaming noodles, batters being poured out in big swirls.
Mystery meats covered in spicy sauces, strange weedy greens piled wetly on the side. The fish sauces, the chilies, the vinegars. Soft french baguette sandwiches. Crispy falafels, messy donairs, the random things with a raw egg cracked over it. Plates of rice and red beans with everything. Fruits bought by the handful that I clean on my jeans and lick the juices from my fingers. Roasted nuts, steamed corn on the cob. Keep reading..
The Magic of Don Det, Laos
Dec 14, 2008 — 25 pictures
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The Mekong river winds a natural border between Cambodia and Laos. In the Mekong sit tiny islands, slightly off the beaten path. One of my favorite places in all of SEA was one of these tiny islands called Don Det. There are no motorized vehicles and the generators hum the power into the few restaurants and the internet cafe after sunset. In the dark, swinging in my hammock, I light candles and listen to the roaring silence. Too dark to read, too peaceful for music, I settle in and count the quivering stars. Keep reading…
Gut Instinct and Solo Travel
The first 7 months of my trip pretty much consisted of “coming down” from my old 80 hour work week life. I hung out in hammocks, I watched sunsets and sunrises while digging my toes in the sand and counting the waves. I danced til dawn in bamboo shacks with others decked out in fisherman pants and bare feet.
– Chillaxin on the beach at Gili T
I ate fresh fish, an abundance of new fruits, drank veggie shakes and veggie meals. I practiced yoga, I hiked, I laughed, I slept, I read, I meditated, I balanced. I got massages every day, indulgent in the mind-body connection. I let go, I softened, and I loved…everyone and everything. I saw the lessons and the purpose of it all. I learned to live in the moment, and what glorious moments to wallow in. Nearing the end of my 7 months is SEA, I participated in a 10 day silent meditation retreat. In that deafening silence, I tamed my monkey mind. I learned to sit and be. That’s all. I didn’t realize until I was driving in Paris with my parents a month later that my mind had in fact, stopped. Blessed mental silence! How I’ve missed you! Keep Reading…
Culture Shock and Frog Shows
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Oct 6,2008… Backtrack to the first day of my trip….Day One of my Adventure Extraordinaire! Visiting the country of Thailand a second time changes the perspective somewhat. I am more easily adapting to their style this time. I’m not stressed sitting in smoggy traffic and I no longer pee on my feet in the squat toilets. I’m not shy to fold my hands in front of my forehead, bow deeply with a sawadee-ka or kawpkoon-ka. (hello and thank you) I am slowly being reminded the intricate details of travel and how very different it is from vacationing. I have been here now for 3 sleeps, into my fourth day and its coming back to me in snippets and flashes. Keep Reading…
Bhutan Photos
The beautiful indigenous country of Bhutan is tucked high up in the Himalayas. There is no independent travel there, so this Buddhist country is virtually untouched by tourism.
Confused Drive in Morocco
I met my friend Simo in a market in Casablanca. He approached me very graciously and asked if he and his friend could walk with me to learn about my country and practice English. I agreed and a beautiful friendship was born. He invited me to stay with his family, and I quickly adopted them all. This beautiful family opened up their home to me for over a week. They taught me to cook Moroccan foods, taught me the art of henna, trips to the markets, trips to the sea. In this video, Simo asks me some questions that I’m clearly not getting. We’re on our way to the beach at Mohammadean when this confused exchange goes on.
