Monthly Archive: October 2015

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

Oct

2015

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

Oct

2015

Thailand Impressions

Melissa Kaplan0

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

Oct

2015

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

Oct

2015

My Favorite Happy Places

Melissa Kaplan0

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

Oct

2015