Author Archive: Melissa Kaplan

My Experiences Bucket List

Recently I posted about my top ten bucket list of countries and regions I most want to visit. For me, the whole concept of “bucket list” tends to revolve around travel, because that’s the thing I’m most passionate about and which brings me the greatest degree of happiness.

But of course, travel doesn’t need to be the only type of life goal to find its way onto such a list. And believe it or not, there are other things I want to do with my life in addition to travel! Lately, I’ve been thinking more and more about new types of activities or experiences I’d like to try, believing that doing so will not only be fun and exciting but also open up new worlds and help make me a more well-rounded and interesting person.

I’m a firm believer that we should never stop learning, growing, or seeking new experiences as long as we’re alive. That’s what keeps life from getting stale and routine, and helps us keep evolving into the people we want to be.

But of course, this being me we’re talking about, I can’t completely take travel out of the equation. There are certain things I want to learn or do or discover that I’ve attached to certain places. I mean, you can learn to cook pasta anywhere, but wouldn’t it be more fun in Italy?

So in that spirit, here’s my current bucket list of activities, experiences, and adventures I want to make happen for myself in the future, and where I see each of them taking place.

Melissa’s Bucket List of Global Experiences and Adventures:

Learning to Ski And/Or Snowboard in New Zealand: I’ve never really been a winter sports person (unless you count ice skating), but lately I’ve been inundated by views of New Zealand’s wintry mountains that have stoked my wanderlust to insane levels. And since skiing is something I’ve never yet done but always kind of wanted to try, why not combine a wintertime trip to New Zealand with my first ski lessons? Either Queenstown or Wanaka seem like good candidates for this: if I’m going to try a new activity and likely fall down a lot, might as well do it someplace with amazing scenery!

Learning to Scuba Dive in Koh Tao, Thailand: I’ve loved snorkeling since I was a kid, but scuba diving has always attracted and terrified me in equal measures. The idea of being so far below water with an oxygen tank makes me nervous, but the tales spun by those who’ve tried it (not to mention the underwater photos they’ve shared) have convinced me it’s worth doing. Koh Tao, the scuba diver’s mecca, seems like a perfect place to start. Lots of options for where to learn, plenty of instructors to help me through the beginning stages, and loads of other diving newbies like me to help me get over my nerves (hopefully). And oh yes, it’s in Thailand. What’s not to love?

Yoga on the Beach in India: I’ll be honest, Bali would do for this activity too, but there’s something especially magical about the idea of practicing one of my favorite activities in a place that holds yoga so sacred and contains so much ancient wisdom and expertise on the practice. Yoga on a beach has been a dream of mine for a while (and one thing I didn’t manage to do on my recent trip to Thailand). Could be a job for Goa….

Riding the Trans-Siberian Express: This one is obviously location specific—Russia, Mongolia, and China. And I love that. Riding the Trans-Siberian has been one of my big life goals for at least a decade, basically since I discovered it existed. A week-long train ride through Russia! The chance to explore not just its amazing cities, but its lesser-known, off-the-beaten-path destinations and get a real feel for what life is like there. And I cannot wait to dip into Lake Baikal, which, let’s face it, is about 90 percent of the reason I’m so excited to make this journey. The world’s deepest lake?

Perfecting my French in Provence: It’s a little-known fact about me that one of my secret (well, not anymore) ambitions is to retire to the south of France. By the time I reach retirement age, I’ll have spent most of my life living in cities, which is fine because I love city life. But I think in a few decades, I’ll be ready for a slower pace of life, and a new overseas adventure in my senior years sounds like the perfect way to begin that new chapter. I want to find a small village in Provence where virtually no one speaks English, and work to improve my mediocre French while shopping at outdoor markets every day for fresh bread, cheese, and fruit, whiling away afternoons reading in cafes over chocolate chaud and pastries, and, should I need a city or ocean fix, hopping on a fast train to Paris or the Mediterranean for a quick getaway. Does life get better than that? I don’t think so.

Do you have a bucket list of experiences you want to try? Does it involve travel in some way? Share!

Asia, France, Thailand, Travel Musings

Nov

Gullfoss and the Blue Lagoon: The Power of Deeper Experiences

Over the past few years, social media has exploded in popularity and importance, and has worked its way into virtually every aspect of our lives. It even (and perhaps especially) affects how we travel.

And lately, there seems to be a growing backlash movement against the record-every-second, constantly-upload-photos-from-your-iphone mentality that has gripped so many travelers. More and more, people are stepping back and re-evaluating whether everything we see and do really needs to be documented, or whether it’s more valuable to live in the moment and collect experiences rather than Instagram photos.

I like photos. I like Facebook and Instagram, and sometimes twitter. But lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to be online less and present in the moment more, realizing the value in making this effort to appreciate life as it’s happening, rather than frantically scrambling to record it while it whizzes by.

This new attitude is really important to me, and I think I’ve made a lot of progress towards “living in the moment.” But that raises the question: what does living in the moment really mean? Is it even possible to always be in the moment, or do some moments simply not quite happen in the way we imagine, or rush by us too fast for us to really take them in?

A Traveler’s Conundrum

I find that this dilemma especially applies to us travelers. We are always driven to seek out a new place, a new sight, a new memory to carry with us as we move from one part of the globe to another. It’s part of who we are. So surely we, of all people, should be slowing down and doing our very best to “be present” and savor the moments we worked so hard and journeyed so far to experience?

I thought a lot about this during my recent trip to Iceland. As much as I adored Reykavik, where I spent two days, the highlights of the trip for me were getting out and seeing the country beyond its charming capital. My two favorite sights, without question, were Gullfoss waterfall and the legendary Blue Lagoon. Both were incredible, but I experienced them in very different ways.

Gullfoss was one of the marquee sights I saw on my day-long excursion into the Golden Circle surrounding Reykavik. A waterfall enormous almost beyond imagining, it crashed and thundered and roared, dazzling its audience with mist and rainbows (two at once!) It was stunning, and I felt I could look at it forever, just trying to take it all in.

But unfortunately, I didn’t have forever. I had approximately half an hour before I had to head back to the tour bus. I needed to squeeze in my experience pretty damn fast. And frankly, that sucked.

I walked around Gullfoss, taking in its majesty from all possible angles, and kept telling myself to savor this. Experience this. Feel it now, because in ten minutes you need to leave.

That’s a lot of pressure.

I really did love Gullfoss: it was stunning and one of my very favorite sights in Iceland. But as I gazed out at it, feeling the spray of the water on my face and trying to make the most of my limited time, I kept waiting for a big moment, a connection with this stunning place. And it didn’t quite come. There just wasn’t enough time, and I was too aware of how quickly the time was passing to be able to fully enjoy Gullfoss the way I wanted. I left impressed, but at the same time, a little disappointed, and feeling almost like a failure as a traveler. I hadn’t experienced! I hadn’t been in the moment enough! Damn it.

A More Leisurely Experience

The next day, I was up at the crack of dawn to see the place in Iceland I’d been most eager to experience: the Blue Lagoon. I awoke ridiculously early, took a shuttle bus from Reykavik to the lagoon, figured out the logistics of showering and changing and storing my suitcase, and by nine o’clock I was wading into the milky blue water I’d seen on a million postcards and Instagram photos.

The day was cloudy and grey. The water was warm, soothing, and enveloped me immediately, relaxing me. I moved slowly, parting the water in a cross between swimming and walking, and found a niche over in the corner, where few people had yet arrived. It was almost empty. It was perfect.

I leaned back against the edge of the lagoon, feeling the warmth of the water and watching the steam rise up from it, creating a virtual fairy-tale land. I realized I was falling for this place, as it’s meant to be done when we travel; slowly, without haste, without undue pressure. I didn’t need to remind myself to be in the moment. I had two whole hours, which was more than enough time to take it all in, float around the entire lagoon to explore every corner, and then return to my favorite spot to lean back, breathe in the steamy mist, and marvel at the beauty of this place.

I didn’t bring my camera with me (mostly because I couldn’t figure out the logistics of how to hold it and keep it dry while swimming) so I didn’t get the obligatory “Iook at me I’m in the Blue Lagoon” selfie so many other people were taking. And that was absolutely fine. I didn’t need it. I didn’t even want it. Not being able to take photos gave me more freedom to take in what I was seeing and, as we travelers love to say, “be in the moment.”

Now, when I see a photo of the Blue Lagoon, I can actually pinpoint the place I spent the most time, the little tucked away corner on the right side of that enormous milky teal pool. I remember being there, what it looked like, how I felt. And I will have that memory forever.

Lessons Learned

What’s the moral of the story? For me, it’s the importance of slowing down, traveling at a more leisurely pace, giving myself time to really absorb a place before I have to move on. I’ve done a lot of rapid-fire travel in my life (the world is so big and there’s so much to see!) but I think I’m done with that now. I want to travel more slowly, explore more deeply, and give myself time to enjoy experiences rather than race through them in hopes that something will somehow stick.

This is how I’m going to approach travel from now on, and I think I’ll be a much happier and more fulfilled traveler as a result. Because while there’s much to see in the world, there’s just as much that’s worth slowing down for.

Have you been to Gulfloss or the Blue Lagoon? What was your experience like? How do you feel about slower-paced travel?

Iceland, Travel Musings

The (Inevitable) Bucket List

Melissa Kaplan1

Sometimes, when I get bored, I play a little game: I ask myself if I could only visit ten more countries ever in my life, which ones would I choose?

Gah! That is a way more difficult decision for me than it probably is for most people. While I’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot of amazing places around the world, I’m by no means finished, and narrowing down my aspirations to just ten countries is downright wrenching. But it does provide some good entertainment and food for thought, as well as help me shine a light on where my travel dreams, and priorities, really lie. I suppose you could call my chosen ten countries an abbreviated version of my bucket list.

In the travel world, the whole concept of the bucket list can be quite controversial. Some people swear by them; others decry them as an artificial construct that reduces travel to nothing but checking items off a list rather than seeking out surprising new places, being spontaneous, and having authentic experiences. Those criticisms are fair enough; that said, I’m a bucket list girl, myself. I can’t help it. I have always been kind of an obsessive orderer of my universe, and I love to have a plan. For me, planning a voyage is half as much fun as going on one!

So yes, I have a bucket list of sorts (which may or may not be written down in my Iphone notes section just so I don’t ever forget the places I want to see). But believe me, it’s a lot longer than ten countries. So, playing along for a few minutes—if I did have to limit myself to this number, which places would make the cut?

Melissa’s (Inevitable and Abbreviated) Bucket List—In Reverse Order, Because That’s More Exciting…

10) East Africa

This is probably a bit of an odd choice for me, because I’m one of those weird travelers who has absolutely no desire to go on a safari. I mean, if the opportunity arose I wouldn’t turn it down, but I’ve never particularly wanted to get into a jeep and stalk wild animals on a dusty road in the middle of nowhere. Not my scene.

However, since I visited South Africa last year, I’ve developed a much deeper interest in Africa and I really want to go back and explore more of the continent—different countries, a different region altogether. I’d be interested in Kenya or Ethiopia, but if I had to pick just one country as per the game, I’d go with Tanzania, since the photos I’ve seen of Zanzibar island look too magical to be real. Someday!

9) Brazil—But not at Carnevale, thanks. Loud partying crowds stress me out and I’m not 21 anymore. But I’m all for discovering the legendary beaches, waterfalls, and fruit juices. And no major time zone change! Hurray!

8) Costa Rica—This one has been on my list for a while. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it, most of them revolving around nature, animals, jungle and ziplining, all of which sound interesting. But I must admit it’s the beaches that draw me most. And the relative proximity; it’s one of the few places on my list that aren’t halfway across the globe. So I’m saving it for when I want a relatively easy and painless but still amazing and exotic trip.

7) India—Mysterious, complex, loud, overwhelming, frustrating, fascinating, and exotic. So exotic. India doesn’t top my personal bucket list, but it’s solidly in the middle. I want to go when I have at least a few weeks to really explore and do it justice—Rajastan, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa. A nice long, luxurious train ride through some epic scenery. And of course, the Taj Mahal, and lots and lots of (Indian) food and yoga.

6) New Zealand—I owe my newfound desire to explore New Zealand from top to bottom solely to one person: Young Adventuress. Seriously, until I stumbled on her blog a few months ago, I had zero interest in going to New Zealand (so far away, and how different could it be from Australia anyway?) Well, I am now ashamed of my former profound ignorance about New Zealand, and am rapidly devouring YA’s website posts about Kiwi life, most of which feature so-staggering-they-look-fake snowcapped mountain ranges and big blue pools in the middle of nowhere. I’m a convert. I’m going!

5) Australia—Great Barrier Reef. Enough said. (Except for the Whitsunday Islands. Got to check those out too).

4) Vietnam—Vietnam is another country that’s only recently popped onto my radar and seems determined to stay in the upper tier of my bucket list till I actually make my visit happen (which if all goes as planned, will hopefully be next year). I’ve heard about the charming cities, the affordable luxury, the kind-hearted people and the incredible food. But what really pulls me in and won’t let go is Ha Long Bay. Those giant rocks rising out of the sea, amid a screen of fog that casts everything in the light of mystery and undiscovered beauty. If I see nothing else in Vietnam (and don’t worry, I will), I will absolutely experience that magical spot.

3) Slovenia—Ah, Slovenia. How has this trip not happened yet? I’ve come so close so many times! I’ve traveled through Italy and Croatia, your next-door neighbors. I almost pulled the trigger and booked a weekend trip to Ljubljana while I was living in London, but decided on Krakow at the last minute (not that I regret this, as Krakow is wonderful). But somehow, I’ve still never made it to this beautiful jewel of a land in Central Europe where lakes and mountains and waterfalls and beaches and wine abound, where the photographs are so beautiful they almost hurt my eyes, where there are apparently so many shades of blue in the water that you could spend your entire time there sitting back and counting them all. I’ve decided, as with Vietnam, that next year is the year for Slovenia. No more excuses. This is happening. I’m coming, Slovenia!

2) Bali—A lush, beautiful, mysterious island loaded with gorgeous beaches, magical foliage, and spas. So many spas. I am a craven lover of luxury, so you better believe that if there’s a spa involved, I’m in. That being said, the natural beauty and culture of Bali have already tugged at my heart, and while I’d like to explore even more of Indonesia, Bali is at the top of the list. I don’t care if it’s a cliché by now…if I haven’t been there, it’s new to me. This is one trip that’s got a solid timeframe on it: my next milestone birthday, I’m there. (Not on my actual birthday because that’s too close to a major holiday. But right afterward!)

`1) Russia/China/Mongolia and the Trans-Siberian Express

I know, I know, that’s cheating because it’s technically three countries, but so what? Is there any adventure more legendary, epic, or enticing than hopping on the Trans-Siberian Express and crossing nearly half the world’s land surface on a six-day train ride? I can’t think of one. Russia has been calling to me for years—it’s my “I’m so embarrassed I haven’t been there yet” country—but as much as I want to see Moscow and St. Petersburg, why stop there? Why not just take a train journey across the whole country, stopping off in little villages from European Russia to Siberia and popping into Lake Baikal for a dip? I can’t even write about it any more without making myself hopelessly travel-lusty, so I’ll stop there. For me, the Trans-Siberian Express will always be the ultimate bucket list item—so much so that I’ll be almost sorry to complete it. But not quite.

What’s on your bucket list, if you have one? Share all the where’s and why’s, please!

Asia, Eastern/Central Europe, Slovenia, South America, Travel Musings

Thailand Impressions

For some reason—probably just laziness—I put off recording my impressions of Thailand. But now that I’ve been back from my trip for a while and have re-entered normal life, I think the time has come. There is definitely much to share, both my thoughts on the country and of my own reactions to it and how it impacted the bigger picture of my life.

Overall impression: Thailand is pretty amazing. Temples, beaches, stunning natural beauty abounds pretty much everywhere. That said, there were some parts I enjoyed more than others, and some that burned themselves into my brain for all different sorts of reasons.

I really thought I was going to die in Bangkok. The first day, I couldn’t believe how dangerous every street crossing seemed to be: endless lanes of cars and motorcycles and tuk-tuks whizzing by with no apparent regard for pedestrian life. I was terrified to cross every street, truly feeling I was taking my life into my hands and wondering if I would ever live to see the beaches I’d come to Thailand for. In the end, I learned to be more aggressive and fearless and simply jump out with others when there was a brief break in car traffic, but it was an unsettling experience for sure.

My main impression of Bangkok: it was hot. Really, really hot. I have never been hotter in my life than in the day we spent tramping through the city’s temples, which should have impressed me much more and instead, sadly, just felt like impediments to my getting inside to air conditioning. I could admire them, but my physical discomfort was so strong that it sapped a lot of the excitement out of what I was seeing. Also, the crowds…at least at the Grand Palace, the first sight we saw, were out of control. Wat Pho temple proved much quieter, which was a welcome relief, as was the air conditioned massage pavilion where I got a foot massage for $9. Sweet.

On to Phuket. This exceeded my expectations in every way. So many people told me I would hate it because it was trashy, touristy, etc. But the truth is, Phuket has a natural beauty that nothing can really diminish. It also helped that our beach, Kata, was gorgeous and largely unpeopled, so we didn’t have to fight the crowds to enjoy it.

Koh Phi Phi, sadly, was a different story. Almost surreally beautiful, but largely dominated (at least the parts we saw) by selfie-stick wielding tourists who seemed not to want to take in the beautiful place they were seeing, but to snag their latest facebook profile picture there. I did my best to ignore them and appreciate how stunning the water and beaches were, but much like the Bangkok heat, my distaste for them seeped into my bones and marred the experience for me a bit. Looking at my photos, I can appreciate Phi Phi’s beauty far more than I was able to while I was actually standing in the middle of it. Oh, irony.

My big adventure of the trip was riding an elephant, which was quite an amazing yet frightening experience. It’s one of those things that sounds cool in theory; then you’re actually seated in a rickety seat a story off the ground on the back of an animal and you realize just how dicey a proposition it really is. Clearly, I was the only one who felt this way; everyone else on our trip seemed to have a wonderful time and not fear death-by-elephant-ride at all, which made me question my own fears…bringing up another subject I’ll detail a bit more below.

On my last day in Phuket, I decided to dedicate myself to pampering. I began with a five-star spa experience—1 ½ hours of apricot body scrub and massage at one of the fanciest hotels on the island. And oh, it was worth it. Not only was the massage incredibly relaxing, but the setting—lying in an open room with the sun-dappled trees and birdsong outside, just feet from the ocean—was divine. Then I went and had lunch at the hotel restaurant, with a view of the ocean that, in the words of one friend, looked like the kind of panorama that would inspire people to change their life plans and remain on vacation forever. I kept looking around at the awesome sea and beach view, grinning from ear to ear, just wanting to take it all in and remember for as long as I could how stunningly beautiful a vista it was. I want to be able to draw on that view of Phuket for the rest of my life whenever I need a pick me up, a reminder of how much beauty there truly is in the world.

It’s my new happy place.

So, those are my big impressions and memories of my Thailand adventure. But I also encountered a few revelations (to be dramatic) about myself, my travel style, and my life. Here they are, summed up briefly:

I realized that, the older I get, the more I feel the impact of external factors on my enjoyment of a place. Crowds, heat, tired aching feet; even long plane rides bother me more than they used to (though I did survive 40 hours roundtrip in economy class). I think I need to accept that I don’t have the same pluck or determination to power through things that I did as a twenty-something hostel stayer, and accommodate my travel plans accordingly. Shorter flights (when possible), nicer hotel rooms, and lots of AC are necessities for me now. And that’s okay.

One thing that struck me—and frankly, bothered me—on this trip was how scared I became by a number of the relatively routine experiences that everyone else seemed to love. I’ve always considered myself a fairly adventurous person, at least in some ways—what with my habit of traveling around the world solo and all that. But riding an elephant terrified me, even if I was able to enjoy it in a perverse way by the end of the ride. I wouldn’t even get near the baby tigers, as everyone else was happily petting them (kids included). Even snorkeling, which I always loved, proved scary when I was dropped off a boat in the middle of deep water with rolling waves I felt were about to suck me under. That day on the boat in Koh Phi Phi was the second time, post-Bangkok traffic, I really thought I could die on this trip—and I realized I was the only one in the group who had these worries. All my traveling companions seemed totally fine. This really unsettled me. I don’t like thinking of myself as a fearful person, especially if those fears could potentially interfere with something I really want to do. I’ve decided that, to counteract the fears that bubbled up on my Thailand trip, I need to make a conscious effort to do something that I’ve always been curious about but which has always scared me. I need to look my fears in the face and conquer them, to regain my self-respect and image of myself as strong and capable. So what’s the answer? Scuba diving! I’ve always been curious about it but the idea of being submerged under water with an oxygen tank makes me deeply uncomfortable. Time to do something about that. The next chance I get, I plan to take a vacation someplace where I can get certified and learn to scuba dive. It should be terrifying yet thrilling at once. Time to conquer my fear and woman up!

My biggest revelation came while lying on a beach in Koh Phi Phi at the end of the day. I was relaxed, happy, feeling great. The day had been full of madding crowds, but the beach was lovely and I’d had time to swim and snorkel and was now lying in a deck chair, eating watermelon and looking out at the beautiful water and shoreline and observing the bubbling activity around me. A pretty perfect Wednesday afternoon. Relaxing on that beach, I realized how fortunate I am to have had the opportunity to be there, to travel halfway around the world to Thailand and experience this stunning place. I had the good luck to have had experiences and privileges that 99 percent of the people in the history of the world cannot even imagine. And I am very, very appreciative of that. But lying there on the beach in Koh Phi Phi, I also realized the importance of balance—not just in the traditional meaning of work and life, but in what we give and what we get. Travel, I realized, is what I get from the world; the opportunity to explore this amazing planet we live on, which is an incredible privilege I know how fortunate I am to have. But in exchange for this, I need to give the world back as much as I can in return. Whether it’s through a job where I get to help people (hopefully) in some small way, or volunteering, or just doing my utmost to be the best person and version of myself I can be, I need to keep striving to contribute something meaningful to the world, and not give up even when the work gets hard and I get discouraged. Travel is a wonderful break from reality, but it needs to be more than that; it can and should be an impetus for us to want to give the best of ourselves to the world. And going forward, that’s just what I intend to do.

Anyway, the moral of this story is—go to Thailand! Revelations and resolves aside, it was a fantastic trip, and I feel I only scratched the surface of this fascinating country. I’m already planning a return visit someday (something I very rarely do!) and hope to hit up some new places, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao (scuba diving mecca!) among them. I don’t know when it will happen, but I am already happily anticipating another chance to explore the Land of Smiles, peel back more layers, and experience even more of its wonder and beauty. And if you’re anything like me, I can’t encourage you strongly enough to do the same.

Thailand, Travel Musings

The Challenges of Short-Term Travel

Melissa Kaplan2

Today I stumbled upon a blog post about a small country in Southeast Asia. The blogger began by noting that, sadly, she “only” had a month to spend in this particular place, and wished she could have stayed longer (it did sound quite lovely). But I couldn’t help shaking my head a bit at this statement: four weeks in one country?! I could probably see (at least the highlights of) Southeast Asia in four weeks!

I’ve long been a traveler who takes lots of super-quick trips. This is not particularly because I like them, but because that’s just the way my travel life has worked out. I never spent a summer backpacking through Europe as a teenager, or saved up for a six-month leisurely Southeast Asia trek in my twenties. I had no idea, for years, that either of these were viable options.

Growing up, I traveled a fair amount with my family—Bermuda every summer; Europe a few times to see family; trips in the U.S. to Boston, California, Atlanta, Cape Cod. I wasn’t travel-deprived, but neither did I consider long-term travel as something I might be able to do as an adult. I was twenty-four when I first heard the expression “backpacking through Europe” on a TV show I was watching. I was in my thirties before it even occurred to me that South America or Southeast Asia might be worth a look.

The travel bug hit me relatively late in life. And by the time it did, I had a career I couldn’t just pick up and leave easily. I did finally quit my job in my late twenties to move overseas, living in Prague and London for two years, both of which were amazing experiences and allowed me to squeeze in lots of side trips to other interesting European hot spots; but again, these were short weekend trips. The longest continuous trip I’ve ever taken lasted two weeks (Italy and Croatia). Usually, my overseas travels are squeezed into a week (if I’m lucky) or even a long weekend, if I have to be especially mindful of using up vacation days.

Despite all this, I’ve managed to visit nearly thirty countries. I’ve found a way to make short-term travel feasible for myself and have packed a lot of destinations into the past decade. I certainly can’t complain.

Yet reading this particular blog post made me feel a bit wistful. How wonderful would it be to have months on end to explore a new continent or country—to really get to dig in, uncover hidden secrets, not feel rushed, and truly get to slow down and enjoy the journey?

Making a Change

Not long ago, I decided I wanted to check out a new country in South America (which shall remain nameless until my plans firm up—there have to be some surprises, after all!) At first I thought I could fit it into an extra-long weekend and only take three days off work—saving up those precious vacation days, woohoo!

But the more I considered my potential itinerary, the more exhausted it made me feel, which is possibly a sign that I’m getting old, but whatever. Did I really want to fly twelve hours each way to be in a new city and country for only three days? The more I thought about it, the less fun it sounded to me.

On my most recent trip to Iceland, I only spent three days in the country. For Iceland, this actually worked out okay, because it’s compact enough that you can see a lot in that period and the flight time and jet lag aren’t prohibitive. Still, as much as I enjoyed my trip, it was rather exhausting to head to the airport straight from a full day of work (still answering work emails on the way to catch my flight), fly overnight, then three days later be back on the plane so I could repeat the journey and be at work again the next morning. In fact, several colleagues who are facebook friends and had been following my trip online were shocked to see me back already when I’d been posting photos of my visit to the Blue Lagoon literally the day before!

All this has made me realize something: I need to slow down. I love travel, I love seeing as many new places as I can possibly find the means to explore. But I need to do it at a more sane pace. I need more time to relax and unwind and truly enjoy the places I’m seeing. This may mean fewer trips, but longer, slower-paced, and ultimately, more rewarding ones.

I’m still planning to go to South America in the spring, but not for a quickie trip. Instead, I want to take off a whole week (hey, it’s not a month but it’s the best I can do), have several days to explore the capitol and surrounding countryside, and actually have a full recovery day on the other end when I get home. Planning a trip that way feels like a wonderful luxury, and I’m excited (rather than exhausted) just thinking about how great it will be.

I may never be able to while away half a year in Europe or Asia, but I think those who can are both very fortunate and onto something important. Slower, deeper, and more relaxing travel has all kinds of benefits, not the least of which is that it makes travel feel like a pleasure rather than a chore. And that’s the way it should be.

Are you a slow traveler, or do you prefer shorter trips? How do you fit travel into the rest of your life? Any tips or suggestions?

Iceland, South America, Travel Musings

My Favorite Happy Places

It’s a cold, gray, rainy day outside…looks like fall is finally here for real. As I sit and watch the rain come down outside my window, I can’t help but think there are a few other places I’d like to be today. Nothing better for inciting wanderlust than crappy weather!

So, if I had a magic wand or the ability to transport myself instantly around the globe (please, scientists, tell me you’re working hard on this technology), where would I go? What places call out to me the most on cold, rainy days, and bring back my happiest travel memories?

Here are a few of my favorite candidates—my ultimate list of happy places. (No coincidence that almost all of them involve plenty of sunshine).

Melissa’s Happy Places

Bermuda

I spent a week in St. George, Bermuda every summer in as a kid, and I can’t count how many happy, beach-filled memories I have from those days. Soaking up sun by a pool facing out over the ocean; snorkeling in the crystal-clear blue waters; running back and forth between the beach restaurant and our spot on the pink-hued sands all day long; admiring beautiful sunsets that seemed too glorious to be real. And there were also excursions into the pastel-hued capital city of Hamilton for lunch, shopping, and soaking in the essence of this very British tropical paradise in the mid-Atlantic. Take me back right now!

Paris

I don’t think it’s possible to be unhappy in Paris. Some trips have been better than others, but it’s always a magical place. If I had my way, I’d spend today strolling through the Louvre all morning (after a breakfast of chocolate croissants), then head to Angelina’s for the World’s Best Hot Chocolate, followed by an afternoon in the gardens of the Tuilleries, strolling around the 6^tharrondissement to pop into the multitude of cafes Fitzgerald and Hemingway once frequented, and finishing up with a steak and frites dinner at Le Relais De L’Entrecote. Books, art, food, cafes, and chocolate: this city has everything I need to live life to the fullest.

Barcelona

Barcelona is beautiful, lively, sunny, and above all, fun. Fun! Yes, there are museums and famous works of architecture and other such serious travel fodder, but honestly, my best memories of this magical Catalan city are of strolling through La Boqueria market picking out my lunch for the day, relaxing on the Placa Reial under the palm trees, and exploring the tapas offerings in the wonderful restaurants while drinking sangria and cava. It’s a place that offers temptations and delights around every corner, and reaffirms just how enjoyable travel, and life, can really be. And it was sunny each time I visited!

Andaman Coast, Thailand

I visited Thailand for the first time this year, and fell hard for the Andaman Coast. It’s one of the most beautiful corners of the planet I’ve ever seen, with seemingly endless stretches of golden beach, calm blue water, and an overall vibe that’s blissfully relaxed and welcoming. How can you not love a place that offers both $9 massages and an endless variety of fruit smoothies?

Cape Town, South Africa

I’ve only been to Cape Town once, but it was an incredible week of exploring places that still bring back fond memories and make me excited to return. I loved wine tasting in nearby Stellenbosch, and would give just about anything to be in the warm sunshine (when it’s chilly January weather back home) gazing out over a panoramic spread of green vineyards and bright blue sky as far as I can see. Not to mention the beaches, the view from Table Mountain, the great restaurants surrounding the harbor, the charming brightly colored houses of Bo Kap…it goes on and on, and I can’t wait to go back and see even more sometime soon. Cape Town, and South Africa, are one of my newest happy places on this magical planet.

Where are your happy places? Have you been to any of these—if so, what do you think?

France, Spain, Thailand, Travel Musings

Nine Reasons Reykavik Rocks

I’m a city person; I always have been. When I plan my travels, it’s almost always the lure of exploring a new city that draws me in first: Cafes! Museums! Restaurants! Architecture! What can I say, I’m like that.

Although I was excited to explore the natural wonders (and of course the Blue Lagoon) on my recent trip to Iceland, I was also eagerly anticipating the two days I’d spend in Reykavik. I’d heard great things about this little city in the middle of the North Atlantic, and I couldn’t wait to check it out for myself.

Reykavik, happily, did not disappoint. It’s one of the most enjoyable smaller cities I’ve ever spent time in. Here’s a list of the things I liked most about Reykavik (aka Nine Reasons Reykavik Rocks):

Hot dogs! This seems an odd thing to mention, but anyone who visits Reykavik will inevitably try a hot dog or two. Or more. I can attest that they’re indeed delicious; deeply flavorful, with unusual Iceland-style toppings including remoulade sauce (YUM) and crunchy onions. Oh, how I wish I were eating one right now! Iceland has succeeded in raising the humble hot dog to another level entirely.

Art galleries: Reykavik is full of art. I love this in a city. But in Reykavik, the art isn’t confined solely to museums; it’s also on the streets and in the galleries, which anyone can pop into on a whim to discover some of the outstanding talent this country has produced. The fact that a lot of the art features the beautiful Icelandic countryside doesn’t hurt either. I spent hours wandering into one gallery after another, and I was consistently impressed with the quality of the art, as well as the friendliness and helpfulness of the gallery owners. My one souvenir from my trip was a photograph of the countryside I bought from a gallery I visited a few times. Artwork, in my opinion, often makes the best mementos, and Reykavik provides tons of great options to see and to buy it.

Laugavegur street shopping: This is, quite possibly, my new favorite street in the world. It’s seemingly endless (in a good way) and lined with shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants. The best part is there are no big chains here, just lots of unique boutiques and cute, quirky stores selling clothes, artwork, crafts, food, and touristy items that don’t feel too touristy. Unfortunately it comes at a price (as with much in Iceland): after admiring a lovely wool sweater and discovering it cost approximately $200, I realized I was not going to be making any substantial purchases in Reykavik. But for browsing, which I love to do, this street is unsurpassed.

Colorful houses: Having spent childhood summers (parts of them anyway) in Bermuda, I’ve always had a strong appreciation for beautiful pastel-colored houses. Reykavik has loads of these, and they brighten up the city even on gloomy fog-filled days. The houses reminded me of a colorful string of gumdrops. Cue childhood nostalgia.

Tiu Dropar: I can’t believe I almost missed this place. It was listed in my guidebook but I hadn’t paid it any particular notice, until I flipped through the in-flight magazine to learn more about the city’s cafes and restaurants and heard that Tiu Droppar’s hot chocolate was considered by many the best in the city. Challenge accepted. I have something of a hot chocolate obsession so my standards are really high, but I LOVED the hot chocolate at Tiu Droppar, rich and beautifully smothered in whipped cream. Oh, and it’s also a charming, basement café perfect for reading a book or chatting with friends over hot drinks during the day, which transforms itself into a wine bar with live music at night. Of course I went back for that, and had a great time. Why can’t more cities have cool places like this?

The Laundromat: On the opposite end of the spectrum from Tiu Dropar, which was a happy surprise to me, The Laundromat was one place I was really determined to visit (and specifically, brunch at). It’s a café/restaurant lined with books (is a better combination possible?) and was the absolute perfect stop on a rainy day for brunch at a not-totally-outrageous price (hard to find in Reykavik, I must say). I had eggs, bacon, and toast, forsaking the enormous Dirty Brunch (which includes that and just about every other breakfast food you can think of) as I feared I wouldn’t be able to eat for the rest of the day if I went with that. Next time! (Oh, and apparently you can actually do laundry here, though I didn’t try this out).

Sea views: You can see water from plenty of places in Iceland, and Reykavik is no exception. As I walked around, one of my favorite things to do was turn down a random street so I could gaze in awe at the view of the sea just down the hill. It was a lovely counterpoint to the city’s chic urban-ness.

Vegamot: Another restaurant hyped to the sky by guidebooks and bloggers, which I decided I just had to try for myself. And yes, it’s really good! I ordered an enormous plate of chicken nachos that could have fed three people, and was sorry I wasn’t able to finish it off. Meanwhile, other patrons around me were tucking into an assortment of appetizers, sandwiches, burgers and the like which looked equally delicious, and made me a bit sad that I’d decided to dine there on my last night in town so I wouldn’t be able to return…at least for a while. But next time I’m in Iceland, I’ll definitely be back!

The people: The Icelanders I met were uniformly friendly, courteous, and helpful. It can be hard to be a tourist finding your way around a new city on your own, and while I didn’t get to have many in-depth chats with local folks during my brief stay, I was nothing but delighted with every single interaction I had with Reykavik residents. Another reason Iceland is a great spot for first-time travelers, as I’ve written before: welcoming people always helps make a new city feel a bit more like home.

Have you visited Reykavik? Any places or items to add to this list? Share!

Iceland

Sep

Iceland: The Perfect Country for First-Time Travelers

When it comes to traveling, many of my friends fall at two different ends of the spectrum. I have some friends who are incessant globe-trotters with passport stamp counts that far exceed mine. On the other hand, I have friends who don’t own passports at all, and have never traveled outside of the U.S.

From the latter camp, several have told me lately that they really want to travel overseas. I know that this can be a rather intimidating prospect when you’re doing it for the first time, especially if you decide to go solo. So for travelers planning a first foreign trip, the choice of destination can be very important.

All of this got me thinking, on my recent trip to Iceland, that this country would be an absolute perfect locale for someone taking their first overseas trip, and hopefully kick off a lifetime of exotic adventures (or at least a few more down the road).

Why is Iceland such a great choice for a first trip outside of the U.S.? Plenty of reasons!

It’s easy. I’m not one to say that every trip needs to be to an “easy” country…there are loads of fascinating destinations off the beaten track which are hugely rewarding and worth seeing, despite some bumps and discomfort along the way. But that’s not the ideal way to begin with your first overseas trip. It’s fine—even desirable—to go someplace easy and slowly adjust to the rhythm of travel and life outside your usual comfort zone. Iceland fits the bill here. Its capital city, Reykavik, is easy to navigate; the people are friendly and helpful; and everyone (or just about everyone) speaks English (at least in Reykavik and the surrounding area). All this ease can help smooth the way for first-timers, and let them focus less on logistics and making themselves understood and more on enjoying their trip to the fullest.

Quick flight, minimal jet lag. Flights to Reykavik from Washington, DC are about five hours (slightly longer coming back). There are cheap direct flights on WOW air, and Icelandair also offers reasonable fares, as well as their famous offer of a seven-day stopover on the way to or from another destination. Additionally, the time difference is four hours—not nothing, but roughly comparable to the experience of flying from the East to West coasts in America. For a first trip overseas, this can help minimize the painful aspects of adjusting to a new time zone after a sleepless night on a plane (or maybe that’s just me). Iceland is very doable, even for those who aren’t used to long-haul flights. If you can handle a flight to California, you can manage a trip to Iceland.

Reykavik. I fell hard for Reykavik (blog post coming on this soon). It’s one of the most enjoyable cities I’ve ever spent time in, and as one who loves cities and has visited plenty, I don’t say that lightly. Reykavik has just about everything a first-time overseas traveler (or anyone, really) could want: ease of navigation, friendly English-speaking locals, lots of great restaurants, good (if expensive) shopping, and even some fantastic sea views to remind you that yes, you are in Iceland. I really loved it and can’t wait to go back. I suspect many newer travelers would be enchanted by Reykavik too.

The countryside. Of course, Iceland isn’t all about its (medium-sized) city. Once you leave Reykavik behind, whether in a rental car or on a tour bus, you’ll discover an amazingly diverse landscape of geysers, parks, and my favorite, waterfalls. It’s easy to get out of the city to explore these natural wonders, which provide a great counterpoint to Reykavik’s urban delights. And of course, before you head to the airport for your return flight, you can spend a few hours basking in the Blue Lagoon, which may just be my new happy place. So much natural beauty and unique attractions within striking distance of the city limits? It’s just another plus for travelers who want to see as much as possible before heading home. Any first overseas trip should be filled with a multitude of special memories; Iceland makes that incredibly easy.

A sample of Europe, without going all the way. Iceland—particularly Reykavik—reminded me quite a bit of Europe (which technically, it is, but situated conveniently in the Atlantic halfway between the Old and New world landmasses). But Reykavik often felt like a very Central European city to me: streets lined with fascinating architecture, plenty of unique shops and restaurants, loads of charming cafes, some great museums…pretty much all the things I love and miss about Europe were right here. While I would strongly encourage all travelers to visit Europe at least once in their lives (and hopefully more!), Iceland is a really great place to get a feel for Europe without having to go all the way over there. It’s a great “European sampler” before taking the plunge to explore the continent.

Of course, Iceland has some drawbacks, the main one being that it’s really rather expensive—though cheap flights help balance things out and it CAN be done on a budget. But no country is perfect. And when I think about possible destinations to recommend to my friends who are about to dive into the exciting world of foreign travel, I can think of no better place than Iceland for them to start.

Happy travels!

Iceland, Travel Musings

Sep

Why People Don’t Travel

Melissa Kaplan3

Lately, I’ve been immersed in the excited flush of planning several different trips, both imminent and long-term. I’ve been riding the high that comes from knowing that soon, I’ll be somewhere new, exotic, and exciting, on the verge discovering a new country and corner of the globe. This feeling thrills me like no other.

As I’ve been making my plans, I’ve also been talking with friends about theirs. Some of my traveler friends are off on extraordinary journeys of their own soon, inspiring me to consider adding new locales to my ever-expanding bucket list.

But not all my friends or family members are avid travelers. Some barely travel at all. And when I take a moment to pull myself away from the whirl of travel planning, writing, and reading the latest stories from the travel blogging community, I’m reminded that, in fact, this is life for the vast majority of people in the world. Limited travel, if any at all.

Why is that?

I have a few thoughts on this, which have been crystalizing in my mind as I’ve considered this question. Of course, we can start by eliminating the very obvious reasons people don’t travel: they’re flat broke, they’re ill or incapacitated, or they’ve recently landed in jail. Not everyone can travel all the time, as much as they may want to do so. I get that. And some people just have zero desire to explore the world. I absolutely don’t get that, but everyone is different, and that’s okay. Not everyone needs to be a travel junkie.

But I know a lot of other people who fit into a different category. They’re young, healthy, have time and enough money to get out and see the world…but they don’t. Why not?

Here are a few of my thoughts on why people who can travel, and say they want to, end up never following through:

They Want to Travel, But Only if They Can Do it in Luxury: I’ve written before about how many people seem to conflate travel and vacations, assuming that if they’re traveling they will be staying in luxurious surroundings, and if they can’t afford to do that, they should just stay home. Travel CAN be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be as expensive as people think. You could probably spend a month in rural Vietnam for what a few days in a fancy Parisian hotel would cost you. But a lot of people I know aren’t interested in leaving their house if they can’t go someplace nicer. Their desire to travel and see the world seems to be inextricably linked to being able to partake in fancy meals and hotel suites. Nothing wrong with that, if you can afford it. But I think that’s where a lot of people get stuck: they have visions of themselves ensconced in luxury and when they are told they could have a great trip in a budget hotel or a hostel while taking buses, they’re suddenly not that excited about seeing the world anymore. It’s a mismatch between the kind of travel they want and the kind they can actually afford, which causes them to throw in the towel on travel entirely.

They Only Want to Go to Certain Places (Which Probably Cost A Lot): Who doesn’t dream of going to Italy? I love Italy. I completely understand why people who haven’t traveled a lot have it, or Paris or London, at the top of their wish lists. Those are amazing places with tons of history, culture, beauty, and amazing food. Everyone should see them if at all possible. But none of those places are all that cheap—they can be done on a budget, of course, but they’re not really ideal budget travel locations. For the type of trip most people want to have (see above), Italy, France, and England require shelling out quite a bit of cash. There are plenty of destinations to be seen for much, much less money—Southeast Asia and Central America, for example, could be seen over a few months in what many people would pay for a week or two in London. But most people who aren’t die-hard travelers wouldn’t think of going to those places, and aren’t really that interested in seeing them. They want London, Paris, or Italy. And when they can’t find a way to finance that in the style they like, rather than checking out another much cheaper (and fascinating!) corner of the planet, they instead choose to stay home. What a shame.

They Want to Travel, But Only if It’s Easy: Travel requires a certain amount of work, especially when one is on a budget. I can recall flying eight hours to get to Copenhagen (not even all that challenging a destination), then having to find my way to the train station before dragging my suitcase to my hotel. At the train station, all the signs were in Danish, no one I met spoke any English (my guidebook led me astray here, and my two memorized words of Danish weren’t any help). Everything worked out fine, but it wasn’t an ideal start to my trip, and I can imagine it would have frazzled a lot of people who aren’t used to navigating foreign cities on their own. It’s not always easy to travel. You have to be willing to put up with annoyances and inconveniences, and step out of your (English-speaking) comfort zone. Not everyone is prepared to do that.

They’re Waiting for the Stars to Align: I know a lot of people with travel dreams. They always have some place in mind they’d like to visit someday: Greece, Africa, Russia, France, Australia. Some big, larger-than-life travel dream they’ve packed away for the day they’ll be able to do it because everything they need will magically come together. They’ll win the lottery; their spouse or friend will finally be ready to go; they’ll be through with this enormous project at work that keeps dragging on; the value of the dollar will rise; they’ll finally get around to taking that language class. Someday, all the stars will align and then, and only then, will this trip happen. I’m sorry, but this is no way to live. I’ve traveled to almost thirty countries on five continents and I did not manage this by waiting for the stars to align. Just do it! Save some money, buy a flight, secure the needed vacation time, buy a guidebook, and go. Yes, even if you have to travel solo (which I think is another major reason people don’t travel—they only want to embark on a voyage if they have a travel companion). Life is short. If you have the time and the money, or can find a way to get either, just go on your dream trip this year. Waiting for the stars to align is rarely a successful strategy, in travel or in life.

They Don’t Prioritize Travel: “I want to travel, but it’s expensive/I’m so busy/I’ll get to it once I buy a house/get a promotion/finish this chapter of the book I’m reading.” I’ve heard these statements a lot. In other words, people say they want to travel, but for one reason or another they’re just not making it a priority in their lives. The money that could have purchased a plane ticket to Istanbul instead gets spent on a new Ipad or a shopping spree at the mall or dinners out with friends. This ties in closely with the stars aligning: people often wait for travel to happen to them, as if it were a gift that was going to be given out at Christmas instead of something you need to work towards and keep as a goal in your life. The world isn’t going to come to you, and you’ll never get to it if you don’t put travel at or near the top of your priority list.

They Think They Will Always Have Time to Travel “Someday”: Something that has always baffled me is people who say they want to travel, so they’ll do it after they retire. Really? If you’re in your twenties or thirties, why would you postpone something you really want to do for another four decades or so? Most jobs do provide vacation days—use them! That’s what they’re for! And how do you know you’ll still be physically able to travel, or still have the desire to do so, when you’re in your seventies? Personally I think it’s insane to delay your travel dreams that way, and it dims the likelihood that they will ever actually come true. Maybe you can’t travel this month or next year, but please, if you want to travel, get out there and do it as soon as you can make it happen. There are no guarantees in life, and we can’t always count on an endless stretch of time in the future to see the world. So don’t wait around. Take control. Do it now.

Any other thoughts on why people don’t travel, despite saying they want to? Share!

Travel Musings

Sep