Leaving On A Jet Plane

First of all, thank you to everyone for all of your well wishes and support. This is a huge and intimidating transition for Tanner and I but we can’t wait to experience it.

I will be using this blog as a way to track my experiences, thoughts, and photos while traveling to and throughout Southeast Asia. I cannot promise I will keep it up or even have internet while I am away. I promise to do my best though.

For some background information to those newcomers:

I am 28 and just dropped everything - left my job and moved out of our apartment in California - to backpack in Southeast Asia for 3 months with my husband, Tanner.

Our plan? Well, it's quite simple. Volunteer and work on an island and travel through Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines. A loose itinerary we put together will guide us through our travels. We may stick to it or we may change course. Who knows. Wherever the wind takes us we will go, I suppose.

For those of you who are interested in how we planned for our trip or how you can plan one yourself, I've included some links below with more information and some additional resources. If you are interested in our journey, please do it! You can do it if you commit to it and really want it. Feel free to email me with any questions. I would love to help!

Here is where we applied for our visa (only necessary in Cambodia):
http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/

The organization we're volunteering with:
http://www.marineconservationcambodia.org

The insurance company we signed up with (to also cover our extreme adventures):
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/

And some other resources we used to plan our trip:
http://www.kayak.com to find cheap flights.
http://www.tripadvisor.com and
http://www.hostelworld.com to scope out or accommodation options.
http://www.couchsurfing.org to find people to stay with while abroad.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/ and
http://www.virtualtourist.com to seek travel advice.
http://www.budgetyourtrip.com to calculate our budget.
http://www.onebag.com for packing checklists.

We used Lonely Planet guides for travel information and purchased most of our gear at REI and Amazon.com.

Know that this was not a whim or a quick endeavor. We have been slowly paying off debt, saving and planning for this for almost a year. It was challenging at times but it is real now. We did it!

Our flight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia departs in 2 hours. I'll write again when we arrive on the other side of the world.

The most important rule of backpacking is to...

PACK LIGHT! Case in point...

All of our belongings for 3 months of traveling

My belongings

Underwater camera cases and accessories

My clothes neatly rolled into packing cubes

For when I'm feeling crafty...

Big bag of medicine

My money belt and bra money pouch

Sir Darwinius The Gray, Prince of Westlake

All packed and my bag weighs no more than 20 lbs!

Tanner's belongings 

Tanner's clothes 

Some of the essentials 

3oz bottles of sunblock and insect repellant to pass TSA carry-on requirements

Tanner carrying more of the weight at 25 lbs

Yay! All packed and our adventure begins in 24 hours! :D

What a wonderful world indeed!

Southeast Asia Itinerary: At A Glance

Just a few of our destinations for our upcoming 11 week trip through Southeast Asia.

Unspoiled island of Koh Rong, Cambodia

Temples of Angkor, Cambodia

Trang, Thailand

Koh Lanta National Park, Thailand

Diving Hin Daeng/Hin Muang, Thailand

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand

Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

Big Falls in Sagada, Philippines

Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines

Salagdoong Beach, Siquijor, Philippines

Diving Apo Island, Philippines

White Island, Camiguin, Philippines

Just a week and a half away. Yikes. Better get back to packing!

Looking back...

On Wednesday, March 26, 2008, at the peak of my quarter life crisis, I blogged on my current state of affairs:

• My week-long solo adventure in Costa Rica begins on Saturday.
• My lovebirds, Misty and Smoothie, birthed a new lovebird on March 12 whom I call Anastasia.
• I haven’t been in a serious relationship in 2+ years and I’m ok with that.
• The last few men I’ve expressed interest in have subsequently fled and traveled thousands of miles away.
• I still live with my parents and I still don’t have a car let alone a driver’s license.
• I’m on an ongoing search to discover my life’s passion and purpose.
• I’m moderately bored.
• I think I may have ADD.

Now:

• My life is constantly in flux.
• I moved to California less than 2 years ago, met the love of my life, and married him earlier this year.
• In one month my husband and I are embarking on a 2.5 month long journey through Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines.
• I’m the proud mama of a very handsome kitty we named Sir Darwinius the Gray, Prince of Westlake. 
• I have a California driver’s license but I still don’t drive. Instead, I ride my bike.
• I am funemployed and looking for an exciting career change away from a desk. During our travels, we will be volunteering in marine conservation and I’m hoping this experience will lead me to new career paths in conservation or ecotourism/travel.
• Wanderlust has completely taken over. My insatiable desire to meet the world’s people, visit their countries, embrace their culture, art, antiquities, spirituality, and beliefs has taken me on many unforgettable adventures and I don’t intend to stop anytime soon.
• I anticipate that I will discover my life’s passion and purpose as I travel.
• I may have ADD but I’ve learned the secret to my peace of mind lies in my husband’s embrace.

Some things never change.

Marine Conservation Cambodia

Here's a great video shot by some of the volunteers of Marine Conservation Cambodia, a project that is devoted to protecting and conserving Cambodia's marine environment and the livelihoods of the island communities that rely on its resources. Tanner and I will be participating in marine research, conservation and teaching in Cambodia starting January 2012 and we couldn't be more excited!

And some images of the island of Koh Rong where we will be residing for a few weeks through the duration of our involvement with the project:

Learn more about the project:

http://www.marineconservationcambodia.org/

The beginning stages of our travel planning…

Destination: Southeast Asia

As some of you may know, my husband, Tanner, and I have been working hard and saving money to travel and volunteer abroad for quite some time. Over the last few days, we’ve made tremendous strides in our plans.

We’ve decided to focus our first trip in Southeast Asia to suit our smaller budget, our love for natural settings, tropical weather and diving, and to take a much needed break from the western lifestyle and go off the beaten path to observe new cultures. I’ve wanted to revisit the coral reefs in the Philippines and to share the unforgettable diving experience with Tanner. Also, I have extended family in the Philippines who I can't wait to visit and introduce to my new husband. :)  And I’ve always wanted to volunteer in marine conservation, see the stone temples of Angkor Wat, experience a Full Moon party on the beach in Thailand, and to get back into travel photography. And Tanner simply can’t wait to learn and travel overseas.

So we took all of this into account and put together a rough itinerary according to our budget. We will be on the road starting January 2012 for at least 3 months. We plan to volunteer and participate in marine research and conservation for at least 4 weeks on the island of Koh Rong, Cambodia with Marine Conservation Cambodia; then continue our adventures through Southeast Asia; spending up to 4 weeks in Thailand, and 4 weeks in the Philippines.

There are many things to consider when planning a trip so every few days or so I will post updates and share what we’ve learned along the way. So expect to see more travel oriented posts in weeks to come!

I can fly!!!

Working towards my dreams of becoming a Cirque Du Soleil peacock performer…

You Are An Explorer

You are an explorer.

Your mission is to document and observe the world around you as if you’ve never seen it before. Take notes. Collect things you find on your travels. Document your findings. Notice patterns. Copy. Trace. Focus on one thing at a time. Record what you are drawn to. Take photos.

We are all visitors to this time, this place – we are just passing through. Our purpose is to observe, learn, grow and love. And then, we return home.

All I ever want is to live in a little shack by the sea…no car, no TV… just you and me.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

This year sure flew by fast while at the same time it feels as though I’ve been in California for years. I had no problem assimilating to my new home, I had always known I was made for California. No doubt, this was a year of tremendous growth and change. A transition year, if you will, because 2011 is sure to bring new opportunities and even bigger changes. It’s already in the works. But first, here’s 2010 in review

This year I (in no specific order):

Turned 27.
Followed my heart.
Packed my bags and bid farewell to all my dearest friends and family.
Started my new life and new job in California.
Cried myself to sleep.
Fatefully opened an account with Chase which is where I...
Fell in love with a boy and quickly discovered that he was the one.
Made plans to marry him... but all of this not til after I...
Had my heart broken.
Gave him another chance.
Let go of regrets.
Got matching origami crane tattoos with my best friend.
Tattooed another cherry blossom behind my ear.
Pierced my lip 3 times til it finally healed properly.
Attended 5 big outdoor music festivals and too many concerts to count.
Saw over 50 bands/musicians live.
Took an epic road trip down the Pacific coastline on highway 1.
Camped for 3 days in Indio, CA for the ultimate Coachella experience.
Heard Thom Yorke perform "Everything In Its Right Place" for the second time.
Danced like no one was watching.
Snorkeled with leopard sharks and sea lions in La Jolla Cove.
Visited Lake Tahoe 3 times.
Took a spectacular 72 mile drive around Lake Tahoe.
Witnessed a double rainbow over Lake Tahoe and pondered what it meant.
Witnessed a shooting star with someone special from inside a tent.
Saw dozens of whales in the ocean off the coast of Monterey.
Camped in the Sequoia National Forest and gawked at the largest living things on Earth.
Watched the most beautiful sunset I've seen to date from the top of Moro Rock.
Watched many beautiful sunsets over the Pacific.
Learned to paddleboard in Half Moon Bay.
Conquered Class III rapids in the American River.
Watched the Star Wars series in its entirety.
Paid off my credit card debt.
Fulfilled my real life Incubus music video on the beach.
Got spit in the face by a very belligerent llama named Ula.
Raised a snail family.
Adopted a new family member and named him Sir Darwinius the Gray, Prince of Westlake.
Viewed original Banksy street art in the Mission just a few days after he visited.
Dressed as a super hero and partied with other crime fighters at a street fair.
Moved in with my fiancee in the city... Daly City, that is.
Learned to play "New Slang" and other favorites on the ukelele.
"Visited" DC for the first time.
Attended the Future of Web Design conference in NYC.
Took a nap on a park bench saturated among autumn leaves in Central Park.
Visited Texas for the first time.
Shot a gun for the first time.
Met my fiancee's friends and fell in love with my future in-laws.
Established a sense of "home" on the west coast with my extended family and my new family...

In 2011, I am...
Arriving in Maui within 12 hours.
Marrying my true love.
Seeking a career in marine/wildlife conservation.
Moving abroad.

When there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire.

Truer words were never spoken. I can’t tell you all how liberated I feel. Knowing that the last few months I’ve taken some huge risks. It took me so long to get over the fear of other people’s perceptions and expectations. I spent far too many years trying to fit into some sort of model that wasn’t me. A business casual job, relationships that I knew wouldn’t make me happy, but I stayed regardless. It took so long but once you let go of the fear and just embrace what it is you love, everything becomes so clear. I am not sure why it took til this past year to figure all of this out but I know that I have been on cloud nine since my move to California. It’s not as hard as you think. Let go of the fear, the rest will follow. I just knew that I just wasn’t cut out for DC and I was sick of banging my head against the wall to make it work. I knew there had to be more to life than the false sense of security I found in shallow relationships and the endless rat race to climb the corporate ladder. Life is so short, I want to do so many things and I know that I will and I’ve already begun… and I have never been happier.

My Good Luck Charm

I may have "settled" meaning I have a job and I have unpacked my bags for the time being but that sense of wanderlust is never far away and it rears its beautiful, glorious head at all times reminding of the world that is waiting out there for me.

So where are we going?

Life Lessons

Every day on my way to work, I walk past a cute little quaint art and paper store. Each time I pass the window, I notice a canvas bag hanging on display with the following quote:

"Find life experiences and swallow them whole. Travel. Meet many people. Go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. Try everything. Exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life."
- Lawrence K. Fish

I've always been drawn to such greeting cards, magnets, mugs etc. These items are simplistic as simplistic can be, the back drops are black or white and the writings are in the opposite color but what draws me to them are the words written on them... such beautiful words.

Most of the words come in the form of quotes and some of them have really touched my heart. This is because not only could I relate to the simplistic beauty of the words written on these things but I could also learn from these words.

I am definitely going through a stage of my life where I am learning so much about myself and the world around me. Even though this stage can be trying at times I am happy. I am happy because I see so much developing in my life. Only a few months ago I had no idea where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. This is such a departure from where I am right now.

Although I have been reminded lately that my path is not one that is "traditional" whatever that may mean I could not imagine a better path than the one I am on. When I started this blog and this new found spirit of adventure less than 2 years ago the reason behind it all was because I always have known there was something bigger out there for me than the natural American progression through life and this has proved more and more true for me as time moves on.

There are so many experiences I have yet to engage in, so many places I have yet to see... I hunger to participate in this life of mine... to taste every experience to its fullest. And this is exactly what I will search out until this ache of mine has dissipated.

California Sun by Jem

Well I feel like I'm lost in time
Watching the world go by
Everything looks the same
Tired of playing games

It's been getting me down
I know what I need, what I need
California sun
California sun
California sun is calling, is calling me

Now I don't know what I'll find
Just want to get in the car and drive
It's time to escape the shade
Been living too long this way

It's getting me down
I know what I need, what I need
California sun
California sun
California sun is calling, is calling me

Leave my worries behind
Start a new life
Where no one knows me
It's just what I need

California sun (12 times)

My New Origami Crane Tattoo!

I chose the origami crane tattoo as a symbol that inspires creativity. You can fold a square sheet of paper into any shape you want, giving it form and dimension. Something so simple and seemingly uninteresting may be transformed, with the help of your imagination, into something beautiful and meaningful. Folding a crane takes time, patience, and understanding, qualities that are also required in order to transform one’s life.
Legend says that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will have their wish come true. The origami crane has become a symbol of peace because of this legend, and because of a young Japanese girl named Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was exposed to the radiation of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as an infant, and it took its inevitable toll on her health. By the time she was twelve in 1955, she was dying of leukemia. Hearing the legend, she decided to fold one thousand origami cranes so that she could live. However, when she saw that the other children in her ward were dying, she realized that she would not survive and wished instead for world peace and an end to suffering.
My best friend has the same tattoo symbol, different design. :)

Personal Reinvention 2010

My new life in California is well underway. This calls for a personal reinvention…

1. Stop complaining. Think more positively.

2. Get fit. Get back into yoga.

3. Get out of debt. Pay off my credit card and then curb credit card use.

4. Get organized. Keep my room and office neat.

5. Learn a new trade. Something that can parlay into a side job. Something like photography.

6. Plan small vacations. Explore the west coast.

7. Plan a big vacation for Fall/Winter 2010. Peru, anyone?

8. Buy a new feathered friend.

9. Volunteer.

10. Update my look to suit my new lifestyle. Hair, wardrobe, etc.

11. Ride a bike.

12. Learn something new. Maybe take a class in cooking, painting, boxing, Italian.

13. Talk to strangers. Make new friends more often.

14. Spend more time with friends. Less time on Facebook, Twitter, Crackberry.

15. Keep in touch with family and friends. Better yet, convince them to move to the west side. :)

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

This year I... (in no particular order)

Turned 26.
Got a new tattoo on my wrist.
Rocked a faux hawk.
Dyed my hair purple.
Got dumped.
Had my heart broken in the worst way.
Had my palm read and was told I had a love curse.
Lost my job.
Was homeless.
Hit rock bottom.
Moved back in with my parents.
Bonded with my mother like never before.
Lived in DC part time.
Made the most of being funemployed.
Saw my first broadway musical.
Saw one of my favorite bands in concert (Incubus).
Witnessed a Brady to Moss pass completion in FedEx field.
Reunited with my extended family for the first time since I was 3.
Traveled the Philippines for 3 weeks.
Dove 12 meters into the coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean.
Ascended and peeked into the crater of a volcano.
Attended a wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Watched fireworks over the Niagara Falls, Canada.
Experienced Chicago for the first time.
Visited Philly 3 times.
Relaunched my design portfolio.
Landed a dream job in California.
Entered a limbo contest and won first place.
Got my driver's license for the first time.
Converted to a smartphone for the first time.
Modeled for a hair and fashion show.
Partied my ass off.
Had a memorable summer.
Shifted social circles.
Met some great people.

In 2010 I am...

Starting over in Calfornia.
Going to miss everyone.

the mystery of houdini's disappearance revealed!

so my sister, kat, and i had a pet hermit crab named houdini. her boyfriend, mark, made him a nice little house in a box where he lived rather lavishly and comfortably, or so we thought.

then one day, he mysteriously disappeared. we weren't surprised, his name was houdini after all. we were sure he'd turn up.

around the same time, kat was hospitalized while she was in school. shes a pretty sickly lil pup, so its not really unusual. but in her backpack, she unknowingly brought home a nice little present.

she told me that that night, when she was getting ready for bed, she heard something rustling around inside of her backpack. she went over and saw that something was trying to unzip itself out. she peered in and saw a rat looking back at her. mortified, she zipped him back him and climbed back into bed but again she heard him unzip himself out. rats are pretty smart, i suppose. i mean, they outsmarted kat.

but he couldn't outsmart the mousetrap. the jif peanut butter did him in.

today, my sister was bidding a final farewell to houdini, accepting that he must have decomposed and scattered himself among the rest of the house dust, and putting away his house. that's when she found little brown pellets at the bottom. it was safe to assume that it was rat poop.

so that solves the mystery of houdini's disappearance. the rat ate houdini.