Back by the pool at Sandat Bali in Ubud! Coming back to Bali is a bit like coming home. I love the culture, the energy and warmth of the people and the family feel of being in Sandat Bali. This is home to my Balinese family! After several months of planning, details, bus scheduled, coordinating […]
Taking a Travel Break, relaxing in Bali Read More »
Laos Reflections…. My final day here in Vientiane before flying to Bali tomorrow morning! What a month it has been! I’m a bit weary from some parts of my experience and looking forward to relaxing with my Bali family before heading home. Years ago, before I went to Vietnam, I was warned that locals treated
Final days in Laos…Traveling to Bali next! Read More »
I suspected Laos was changing quickly after the high-speed train went in. It was completed in December 0f 2021. This is the beginning of the third year of operation and already the change is dramatic. I’m shocked by how quickly and how much it has changed. Shocking!.From a quiet warm friendly personable country, it now
Travel shock: Disney meets Laos! Crazy changes! Read More »
Immersion and now rest! Hello again! It’s been a while since I wrote. I’ve been immersed in traveling, exploring, planning, making coffee, and savoring a culture. Leaving Luang Prabang by bus to go to Nong Khiaw, we traveled through neighborhoods untouched by the tourist invasion. Foreigners tend to congregate in known and highlighted areas. We
Traveling to Nong Khiaw: Beyond and Back in Laos Read More »
Luang Prabang is much changed! About 20 kilometers before the town, a new dam will eventually interrupt the flow of the Mekong River. Shut off! Perhaps they will have some sort of lock system for the little boats to pass but no one knows. In the morning, on the street bordering the Mekong,
Travel to Revisit Luang Prabang after 9 years Read More »
Shuttle driver assistant! Booked days in advance, today was my morning to go to the bus station early. I would be picked up at 8:00 for the 9:00 bus. I wasn’t the only one, there were 8 other people. All but two or three were early, the others 10 minutes late! No worries! And then….we
More Flexible Travel and some Great People! Read More »
Flowing along, learning from experience being here rather than what I read from afar, and adapting constantly it seems. Such a good practice! I remember reading years ago, in the ages when people still traveled with “Lonely Planet”, about how current information was in the most current travel edition for a country. A photographer who
Travel Adaptability In Luang Namtha, Laos Read More »
It feels like yesterday, cold and sitting inside my closed-up home staying wary, I was looking at images of restaurants on the short of the Mekong River. Now, suddenly, I am in that image! Cool! Awesome!Yesterday I explored Chiang Rai and got details for the bus travel for today. Or, so I thought! More on
On the Mekong, a dream now an experience! Read More »
Language exhaustion! Yes, it is a thing! What is it? Intense concentration on listening and trying to communicate with people who speak, pronounce, and use language differently! I realize that is part of what happened on my brutal and extremely painful trekking experience. I communicated, clarified, made a video expressing my intentions and still…the experience was
Flexible travel and Adaptability: Better Living Daily! Read More »
Police stopping Tourist, a bit targeted enforcement. From the natural jungle to the concrete jungle! I am in Chiang Mai! The town had changed a great deal since I was here. Many more businesses, hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. And, more “zombies” or whatever they are! My trip here was good and very logn! My
Concrete jungle, a different travel experience! Read More »
Another day of amazing connections and flowing experiences. Early this morning, I sat listening to the birds and then doing my doing my quiet meditation. Simply, I breathe, intend to still my mind and body by feeling a calmness, and centeredness take over. After that, I contemplate five words I choose for my experience that
Intention! Daily practice and Travel Magic Connect! Read More »
Stay in traditional Minangkabu housing, Padi Ecolodge Full days that are going fast! It feels like it was ages ago when I was planning this trip. Reading travel information, YouTube video research, and trip reports, sorting through the information I found some gems. After a lot of input, I settled on five key priorities I wanted
Cow Racing and Travel exploration around Bukittinggi Read More »
Celebrity Tour Today! I saw one tourist today, a bule (foreigner) like me. He was clearly drawn into himself and not interacting with anyone else! He looked a little out of balance and not approachable.Me, on the other hand, seem to draw attention from everyone! Motorbikes slowed as they pulled up beside me on the
Celebrity Tour Traveling Today, Respect! Read More »
Intention setting and meditation!I start each day with a meditation. I like the idea and feeling of beginning with a quiet mind and quiet body. From that place, after 15 minutes or so, I “feel” forward into the day and literally intend or design how I would imagine things to flow that work best for me.Some
Intentional Travel Update from Padang, maybe? Read More »
Made it smoothly! Good travel connections! Travel dream come true! I made it. It was a great trip. And I’m reminded of the constant need to remain flexible. For example, I wrote an update post yesterday but it didn’t save so, I’m starting over! Flexible…in good ways and challenging ways. The seat next to me
Travel dreams Live! I made it and it’s been great! Read More »
Travel overview video for you… https://youtu.be/lOU4fbb2EuE?si=yNH4akCWbuw9Koua Forecasts are predicting low temperatures around 16°F in the morning. Temperatures on arrival in Kuala Lumpur will be around 90°F with rain and high humidity. What a transition!The months since I purchased my ticket have flown by! Now, I have my final packing and preparation with plenty of down
Final Count Down to SE Asia Travel Adventures! Read More »
A friend recently sent this to me. I resonate with the message very strongly. Today is November 29th. I returned to the US from my trip to Indonesia and Malaysia March 15th. The shock of returning was more disruptive than I had imagined. Everything here in the US is so rushed. People are constantly running
Appreciation, “being” and a cool video – Copy Read More »
Flexibility and adaptability! I have been in contact with my place in Ubud, Bali since starting to plan this trip. I gave them approximate dates and told them I would contact them as the dates got closer. They said that was OK. When the dates got closer, I wrote them. They had only one room
Plans…Fail! Staying flexible in travel and the Three “non’s”. Read More »
My morning spot at Sandat Bali in Ubud with Nyoman and Wayan. Off tourist path but close enough to walk there in moments. All the travel challenges were worth it…I WAS in BALI! Daily life in Ubud. This is how women carry everything! Even tables! Or, 40 pounds of water in 5 gallon jugs. That
Reflections on Backpack Travel in Malaysia Read More »
