I was hit with the distinct smell of fish that had been sitting in the sun too long as the ocean breeze whipped across my face. Combined with the shade from the canopy of trees above me, I almost remembered what it felt like to be cool. It was the first time since I arrived in […]
Finding Calm in Chaos: My Month in Myanmar
My life in New York was a series of scheduled moments. Wake up, walk the dog, go to the gym, shower, eat breakfast, go to work, come home for lunch, walk the dog, back to work, grocery shop, eat dinner, walk the dog, watch tv, sleep, repeat. Weekends weren’t much different. Every second was scheduled […]
Speaking English in Yangon, Myanmar
One of the reasons I traveled halfway across the world was to understand cultures that were so different than my own. I’d see photos of people living in what we would consider a shack and smiling. They looked genuinely happy. Meanwhile, in my world, people would have everything and still seemed so miserable. So what […]
The 8 Hour Cave Trek in Pai, Thailand: What it’s like
My time in Pai has been, well, interesting. Arriving here is like stepping back in time. Women with dreads, kombucha on tap, and an array of vibrant color packed stores. In a country known for its modesty, the rules don’t seem to apply here as westerners walk around in swimsuits, and oddly, the locals don’t look […]
Taking a Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai
If you know me, you’re probably already laughing at the title of this post. Let’s get this part out of the way first… No, I didn’t burn anything, and yes, it was edible (mostly). Before setting out on my trip, I decided it would be fun to try to take a cooking class in each […]
Swimming with Elephants in Thailand at a Sanctuary
My day started out in a blur. I’d mixed up my schedule, didn’t set my alarm, and was barely moving around the room when the tour bus came to pick me up. I sprinted out the door, hair undone, teeth unbrushed, and shoes slipped on my feet in a rush. I did manage to grab […]
Visiting the Grand Canyon in Winter: What it’s like
Last January, I went to a desert for the very first time. After returning home from a week-long vacation in Phoenix, Arizona everyone’s first question was, “How was your trip?” All I could do was laugh and say, “It was interesting.” To be honest, it seemed like a complete dud, but one year later my boyfriend […]
Conquering an Aerial Ropes Course: What it’s like
Have you ever seen someone do something and they make it look so easy that you’re absolutely convinced that you could do it too, only to find out later that what they were doing was insanely hard? That pretty much sums up my Saturday. After watching one too many episodes of American Ninja Warrior, I […]
Stepping Back in Time at The Jazz Age Lawn Party
It was an average sweltering hot day in New York City. The streets were filled with girls wearing short shorts, and the pungent smell of garbage waiting to be picked up filled the air. It was the kind of day where nothing spectacular happens. Unless, you found yourself on Governors Island in which case it […]
Dinner in the Dark in NYC: What it’s like
I shuffled my hands around the table as I heard metal hitting glass all around me. A sound that normally goes unnoticed in a restaurant, but was now one of the most prevalent sounds in the room. My right hand stumbled over the silverware as I tried to distinguish which was the fork. I began […]