I’m quiet on the drive to Dulles from my house. I’ve already cried saying goodbye to the pups, and now, staring out the window as the suns rays just begin to kiss the tops of the trees, I hold back tears. I’m leaving America. I am leaving the life I know. I don’t take myContinue reading “Goodbye, America”
Category Archives: Asia
‘Twas the night before Expat Life
“You’re moving to Thailand?” It’s been since February when I knew my future would take me to Thailand and I would become an expat. For nearly five months, my life has been in this stop-wait-move pattern. Stop. Wait. Move. Stop. Wait. Move. It gets tiresome after awhile. And severely emotionally draining. Five months is aContinue reading “‘Twas the night before Expat Life”
The first sign
The blinking red of my Blackberry alerting me to a new e-mail catches my attention as I sit on my couch, only a few days after returning from Red Mountain Resort. I’m still happy. Still blissfully happy. I pull up the e-mail on my phone and scan it quickly. Holy. Shit. It’s from Elephant NatureContinue reading “The first sign”
Screw you, jet lag
It’s 3:14 a.m. I’m wide awake. My heart is racing. My stomach is turning. I’ve been awake for an hour. Every time I close my eyes and try to sleep, my mind sets off on a wild tangent. It curses my body for not being able to fall asleep. It relives my time with theContinue reading “Screw you, jet lag”
Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai was my first experience in Southeast Asia, and one I will always remember for countless reasons. It’s the city where Katie surprised me with an early visit, forcing me to power through my jet lag. The city which was my home base after a week with the elephants at Elephant Nature Park. And,Continue reading “Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai, Thailand”
I’m not ready … and other excuses to stay put
Despite the threat of rain and the gray clouds hanging low to our heads, Katie and I have no problem dipping into the luxurious pool at Rachamankha on my first full day at the property. It’s east coast hot and humid. “What’s your plan?” Katie asks me as we cool our bodies in the water.Continue reading “I’m not ready … and other excuses to stay put”
Sexpats, expats and bathroom blowjobs
//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js // <![CDATA[ (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); // ]]> My foot taps to the beat of the band as I wait in the tiny outdoor area behind Interbar in Chiang Mai. It seems like I’ve been standing in front of this dingy little mirror and dirty sink for more than five minutes. I’m notContinue reading “Sexpats, expats and bathroom blowjobs”
Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai’s Wat Doi Suthep
It’s hard to look up at the slick stairs of Wat Doi Suthep, it’s raining so hard. I blink back the water and squint my eyes up, up, up, trying not to get distracted by the gorgeously tiled dragon at the base of the stairs. It’s a long way to the top. “Ready?” I ask,Continue reading “Escape of the Week: Chiang Mai’s Wat Doi Suthep”
From hut to haute: checking in to the Rachamankha Hotel
The dirt embedded under my nails is thick. Despite having been “clean.” I guess, after a week at Elephant Nature Park as a volunteer with elephants, “clean” is relative. When the Elephant Nature Park van arrives to the Rachamankha Hotel, an elegant boutique hotel inside the old city of Chiang Mai, and I catch aContinue reading “From hut to haute: checking in to the Rachamankha Hotel”
Photo Essay: Life at Elephant Nature Park
For about one week, I was a volunteer at Elephant Nature Park. During that time, I did everything from shoveling poo to being blessed by a shaman to becoming part of the heard and spending time with elephants up-close, to singing “Que Sera, Sera” as they fell asleep. There were tears of joy and tearsContinue reading “Photo Essay: Life at Elephant Nature Park”
D Travels 'Round 