It’s cool in the lounge where Daniel (my friend who has flown to Bali to meet me for the weekend) and I sit, awaiting our keys to our suite at the Grand Mirage Resort. “Would you like a drink?” Asks one of the hotel’s staff, clad in a skirt, button-up shirt and heels. “We haveContinue reading “Blissing out at Bali’s Grand Mirage Resort”
Category Archives: Blog
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: the day trip
The early morning rays of the sun are barely creeping through my apartment window when my alarm buzzes. Time to get up. It’s a Saturday, and I am awake at 6 a.m. for a good reason: I am going on my first journey outside of Chiang Mai. Today, I’m hopping into a Top North minivanContinue reading “Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: the day trip”
My dirty little expat confession
For two weeks, I am in Thailand Expat Bliss. I wake up when it gets light (because for the first two weeks in Chiang Mai the sun refuses to glow) with a huge smile on my face. The smile never leaves. I walk to work like a child seeing the world for the first time. HugeContinue reading “My dirty little expat confession”
In memory of Rajah Gajah
The day I arrive to Chiang Mai, I am greeted with beautiful news: Elephant Nature Park has a newborn baby boy. Instantly, I feel my heart flutter at the idea of meeting a baby elephant and spending time with him, getting to know him. The first time I head back to the elephants, I standContinue reading “In memory of Rajah Gajah”
Daily Wanderlust: Hauling goods in Chiang Mai
In many ways, life in Chiang Mai is far simpler than in America. For example, I don’t have a car here. I walk nearly everywhere. And, so do others. On the way home from a day spend at Save Elephant Foundation, I came across this man who was hauling a cart full of wooden chairsContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: Hauling goods in Chiang Mai”
Daily Wanderlust: Vendors in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul provides no shortage of ways to spend your money. There is the Grand Bazaar, where the whirl of colors, maze of ancient halls and vendors hawking their goods makes it easy to part with cash to the Spice Bazaar and the impending assault you know want to inflict on your tastebuds, playing tourist inContinue reading “Daily Wanderlust: Vendors in Istanbul, Turkey”
Back to the elephants
I can hardly sleep, even in my new apartment in Chiang Mai. My heart races and when I close my eyes, images of elephants dance under my lids. I am going back to Save Elephant Foundation’s Elephant Nature Park. Back to where it all started a year ago. Funny how much can change in aContinue reading “Back to the elephants”
The ease of the Chiang Mai apartment search
When I arrive to Chiang Mai, I am handed a bronze keyring of the Eiffel Tower. I roll it around in my hands as we head from the airport to my new home. I have an apartment and I haven’t even had to look. I don’t know what I am expecting. I have many friendsContinue reading “The ease of the Chiang Mai apartment search”
How Mr. Lucky got lucky
I have a bleeding heart. If you know me, you know this. And, on my third day in Chiang Mai, this bleeding little heart is tested. “Hi,” a couple says, walking up quietly to the large crop of desks inside the Elephant Nature Park office. “We found a kitten and wanted to let you knowContinue reading “How Mr. Lucky got lucky”
When travel sucks
Flight One: Chatty Seatmate Suck “We’ve just had two days from hell,” an older woman says, hovering over my seat in the bulkhead as I fumble (too late) to get my headphones in my ears. “You just wouldn’t believe what happened to us. First, our flight has issues, then we get stuck on the tarmac,Continue reading “When travel sucks”
D Travels 'Round 