// November 28th, 2011 // 8 Comments » // America
From passing a hurricane in Florida to rain and hail storms in the Grand Canyon, we hit a lot of bad weather on our US Road Trip. And, Utah was no exception. I ended up hiking in the rain in Bryce Canyon and feeling chilled to the bone. Was it worth it? Well, it’s amazing how much recovering in a hot tub will do wonders for minimizing painful memories :) (more…)
// November 26th, 2011 // 8 Comments » // America
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde National Park is one of the most interesting parks I’ve visited to date. It is the first national park of its kind, established by Theodore Roosevelt, to ‘preserve the works of man’. Ancestral Puebloans lived in this area approximately 550-1300 AD. There are over 4,000 cliff dwellings and mesa top sites in this park. Incredible. The video shown at the Visitors Center was chock full of interesting information on the life and times of the cliff dwellers. (more…)
// November 21st, 2011 // 17 Comments » // Africa, Travel Review
When Easy Canvas Prints contacted me to do a review of their custom canvas prints as well as give one away, I was thrilled. Not only does this giveaway come just in time for the holidays, but I had been eying canvas prints for quite some time. The DC office of my employer this summer had a canvas print of a Kenya scene, and I loved the visual texture and uniqueness of it. (more…)
// November 20th, 2011 // 9 Comments » // Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
Yesterday’s Southeast Asia recap focusing on food and transport shows two of the more typical blog topics when it comes to travel. Often, I find that I take pictures of signage and random things (like funny looking dogs) and forget to compile and post them. In reality, these little oddities and humorous mistranslations are one my favorite parts of travel. There’s nothing better than having fits of laughter at a train station while locals look at you and your friend as those crazy Americans.
Really, it’s free. How generous.
// November 19th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Bali, Cambodia, Food, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
Last week, my friend Lauren (aka my southeast Asia travel buddy) and I caught up over lunch. We first traveled abroad together in Africa in 2008 and then in southeast Asia in 2010. We threw out ideas for a future trip (maybe in 2012… see a pattern?) but mostly reminisced about ridiculous times and favorite places. I think for both of us, southeast Asia is a place we would love to return to at some point. So, what’s to love about southeast Asia?…..
Lauren and I largely stuck to street eats and local food joints. We could purchase pad thai on the streets of Bangkok for as little as $1, have a meal with meat for about $2, or dine in a restaurant on nicer food for less than $5. One of our favorite restaurants we ate at was in Dalat, Vietnam. Our guesthouse recommended it, and the place was packed full of locals.
One of the best meals we had in Dalat, Vietnam
// November 16th, 2011 // 5 Comments » // America, Food
OST: The best restaurant in town
Between San Antonio and Austin is a nice drive on Highway 16 that goes through small, historic towns. Our favorite of these towns is the self-proclaimed ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’: Bandera. Even more than the name, I think what excited me most is that they have a restaurant that is known for it’s chicken fried steak. And I certainly couldn’t take Stella on a tour of the south without feeding her properly. (more…)
I love to travel, run, volunteer, and explore this crazy world! If it involves an adventure or a passport, count me in! For more about me, click here.
