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Last week, I took a look at my closet and thought - OMG, I have not worn some of these clothes in years. Literal years.
So today, it's #GYSTS and I've purged my closet of all those clothes that I have no idea why I am still hanging on to them.
Read MoreI couldn't stomach spending $1,500 USD or more on a yoga retreat, so I decided to DIY my own - and it wasn't nearly as hard as you might think!
It's a little more work figuring out the what/where/how of things, but with everything essentially walk able in Ubud, it was a really enjoyable experience. Plus relaxing... holy moly, I was relaxed. I'm hoping that the next person who travels to Bali and tries to DIY their own retreat has a little easier time than I, with the help of this post, because you should enjoy and explore every minute of it.
Read MoreBuying an open bus ticket is one of the most convenient and budget conscious ways to make your way backpacking from north to south (or visa versa) through Vietnam. Almost any tour agency offers them, but not all companies are equal.
Read MoreI came back from traveling around the world for 5 months, then one week later, saw a pup online and instantly knew that I needed to meet her. Sure, I’ve always wanted a dog, but there was something about her face that I just knew that we could be there for each other. So, two days later we met, I adopted her on the spot, and the past few weeks have been history.
I may be temporarily insane as a “crazy dog lady” – but coming back, adapting to real life, going back to work, adopting a dog – well, it’s kind of a lot. But every moment of it has been worth it.
This year for New Year's, I'm so tempted to make another resolution about losing weight, getting my finances in order, finally running that marathon, painting more, or truly taking up cooking. Instead, my New Year's Resolution is to continue a promise I made myself back in May and live my life on purpose.
I'm giving myself the resolution of letting go. Letting go of all the expectations that people have for me. Letting go of the typical midwestern life that one should have at 28. Letting go of the societal pressures to stick to the mold. Letting go of the things that don’t bring me happiness and contentment.
Read MoreOnto a city full of adventure with new weather to boot! Time to dig down in that backpack and pull out a jacket. My afternoons were spotted with rain showers, I hope you get luckier than I did.
Arriving in Da Lat after being in the tropics of Southeast Asia is somewhat of a surreal experience. You wind along curvy, narrow, and very steep roads up the mountains until you arrive in the city. At the center of it is a small lake, almost looking like something out of Switzerland or Germany - complete with swan boats! Plus, cool weather! No more sweating from just walking outside - I actually wore pants and a jacket. A first for sure.
Read MoreHoi An was one of the most picturesque towns in Vietnam, with charming colorful old buildings, great food, beautiful beaches, and of course shopping. You can spend anywhere from two days to a week and not run out of places to explore. So, rather than sharing a day by day itinerary for this town, I've decided to share my top ten things to do in Hoi An.
Read MoreWhen I started traveling north from Ho Chi Minh City, the first stop on most of the "open bus" tickets are in Mui Ne. It's about a 4-5 hour bus ride north of Ho Chi Minh, located along the east coast. A lot of backpackers and other travelers stop here because of the famous sand dunes - which is just one of the sights to take in. Though obviously I agree that the sand dunes are a "must-see" in Mui Ne, there are a few other things worth grabbing your attention.
Read MoreWhen flying into Vietnam, there are two major airports - Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Pretty much one of these has to be your starting destination if you're flying in from anywhere but locally. For me, it was Ho Chi Minh City.
Ho Chi Minh City was formerly called Saigon, but was renamed officially after the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, although the name Saigon is still widely used. The city has a rich history, used by the Khmer as a seaport in the 17th century, then under French influence until the mid twentieth century, then became the capital for an independent republic of South Vietnam, but today, still remains the largest city in Vietnam as a whole.
With such a varied history, there is a wide mix of influence that shaped the city, making it worth spending a couple of days here to take in those experiences.
Read MoreWhen planning for Siem Reap, I thought that all there really was to see was Angkor Wat. But, boy was I wrong! We were only in Siem Reap for three days, splitting up the third day to take in different sites, but if I could do it again, I would want to see everything that our group saw collectively. That's why I would say spend three full days in Siem Reap. Most of the time because of flights, you'll end up spending two half days and two full days, so here's what I would consider the quickest itinerary where you can see it all (well, still almost, there's always more that you can find).
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