Vietnam

Bali

Canggu

​Although Canggu is considered to have more of a surfer vibe because of the beaches, the influx of Aussies, and it being a little less authentic, Canggu was my favorite! Despite the reviews, I still felt the authenticity of Bali culture within the city.

​Much of that was due to the celebration of Galungan and Kuningan, the victory of good against evil. There were spiritual celebrations with people dressed in traditional clothes, visits to the temples, and performances in the streets. One of the traditions that I looked forward to seeing each morning was watching the locals prepare Canangs (a daily offering) to give thanks and honor to the Hindu Gods; I couldn't help but feel the spirit of faith and thankfulness. 

​The festivities and celebrations consisted of beautiful arrays of color and Balinese music with every road lined with penjors - bamboo poles with offerings extended at the end. There was an overwhelming sense of spiritual awareness during my entire stay. It is a rare occurrence to travel to a country and be able to connect with a culture on a spiritual level...how phenomenal is that!

This summer I embarked on a journey of peace, relaxation, mindfulness, and pure silence in the Land of Gods and beautiful smiles....Bali, Indonesia! Between the sunsets, black sand beaches, waterfalls, and food that made my taste buds go haywire, I was literally in pure paradise. 

​To avoid the possibility of getting burned out in one place during my 11-day stay in Bali, I split my trip into 3 parts.  I spent 3 nights in Canggu, 5 nights in Ubud, and 3 nights in Tabanan at the Bali Silent Retreat for Prayer and Meditation. It was the perfect mix! The only thing I would have done different was spend more time at the silent retreat.

Ubud

​My next stop was Ubud, which was only a 45 minute drive from Canggu. Upon arriving, I felt my energy shift to one of calmness and bliss. It wasn't until then I realized the distinct difference between the cities that were perfect in their own way. My villa in Ubud came with a private entry and pool and my very own cook that prepared my choice of breakfast each morning.  I was truly living the life!! 

A few of my days were filled with simple poolside relaxation; however, the others were everything but. Majestic waterfalls, rice and coffee plantations, swing rides in the jungle that literally took my breath away, and a visit to a Balinese Healer and Holy Bathing ritual were all cleansing to my soul. The day I visited the Healer and experienced the Holy Bathing, I was drained with an over stimulation of emotion. To be able to describe that experience in words has been challenging to say the least. It was one of those encounters that you won't understand until you've personally experienced it.

Bali Silent Retreat

Last, but definitely not least, I spent the final three days of my excursion at the Bali Silent Retreat for Prayer and Meditation. As I was planning my trip, I knew I wanted to have an intimate experience where I could focus only on mindfulness and prayer. Needless to say, the silent retreat offered me so much more. 

The retreat held true to the name. Over the course of the 3 days to follow everyone; guests and staff, was to remain in complete silence unless you were in the chat zone which was quite a walk away. There were no outlets in any of the rooms and Wi-Fi was only available in designated areas, which again, was quite a walk away.  The one thing I loved the most, aside from the silence, was the simplicity of it all. It was a time of self-reflection and introspection. No one cared what you were wearing or if your make-up was done; it was a time to be alone and listen. Throughout the day, there were yoga and meditation classes and trips to the hot springs and nearby temples. Guests had the personal responsibility of cleaning theirs rooms and washing/drying their dishes...true Ashram living!
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Although I am still working to master the art and mindfulness of meditating, I have come to appreciate the beauty of being still. There is so much strength and grace that lies within each of us and sometimes we often lose ourselves in things and/or people. And, without us being cognizant, we allow other people to determine who we are and who we're supposed to be; which are both detrimental to us being our true and authentic selves.  It is in those moments, we must take a step back, do some self-inventory, and recognize who we are and proceed accordingly. If you are at the point in your life where everything is a blur, it is time to venture out on your own personal journey to peace!

Click here to read more about my journey to Bali!

Beijing

We got an opportunity to see an amazing beauty, April, 2019. The Great Wall of China! Breathtaking is an understatement as you step foot on "the wall that bears many souls." When I heard about the number of people that died and was buried inside the wall during its' construction, I knew I had to visit this jewel. There were two parts of the wall that we visited. The first one, Mutianyu, which was my favorite. We got to the wall pretty early and although there was an abundant amount of fog, it seems like we had the wall to ourselves. It was so peaceful! Badaling was the other part of the wall we visited the next day. This is known as the more touristy part. Even though it wasn't my favorite because of the crowd, it definitely gave me an opportunity to see the wall without the denseness of the fog and to challenge myself to reach the highest point, which stands over 3,000 feet above sea level! It was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I had ever done. I was damn near in tears getting there and going back because of the steepness. If you ever have the opportunity, it is a must see! I plan to revisit Mutianyu and add two other parts of the wall, Jinshanling and Simatai, to the list. The Summer Palace was another site we had the pleasure of visiting. It was as if we were walking through a never ending park with a beautiful view of Kunming Lake. Beijing is an old city, the more traditional part of China that I hadn't experienced in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Two of our days were guided tours and the other two we explored on our own. Beijing in another city that is easy to maneuver and the subway system is magical. If you ever get a chance to visit one of the 7 Wonders of the World, please don't hesitate at the opportunity! One of the reasons I love being China is the travel. Who would have known that a little, shy girl from Alexandria, Louisiana, would one day be able to say she walked the Great Wall of China. These are the experiences I live for; and to be able to share them with my son is an honor. I pray that once this journey ends, he will continue to have a love for travel and exploring the world. Traveling will change your life!

Thailand

Our first non-traditional Christmas was spent in Phuket (poo-ket), Thailand, December 2018! A week full of mud baths with elephants, zip-lining and ATV rides through the jungle, taking speedboat rides to some of the most beautiful islands I had ever seen, experiencing a live Thai boxing match, and watching many sunsets on the breathtaking Patong Beach. The time we spent in Phuket was nothing less than amazing. Anytime I travel, I make it a point to take in the culture and try new things; no matter how terrifying or nervous I may be. That one thing on this trip was zip-ling. Being of mother of two boys, that exhibits zero ounce of fear, have taught me to put my big-girl panties on and just roll with it!

​The great thing about that is that my boys truly think I am fearless; but the Lord know better! It makes me feel some kind of way when they think I am brave enough to be a part of their craziness. That is a part of our bond that no one can change! Okay, sorry, I was having a moment; anyways...Phuket is one of those places, if your hotel is in the right place, that is extremely easy to maneuver. The beach, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife were within walking distance. The people were also extremely nice; aside from the women on the streets soliciting "massages" grabbing my 12 year old son's arms. I was like what the hell, lol! Phuket is definitely worth a do-over with my girls or my honey-dew (when I get one of those)!

Hong Kong

I took full advantage of a business trip to Hong Kong and visited the Tian Tan Buddha, one of the largest seated Buddha statues in the world! The climb was a bit over 250 steps and well worth it. Near the Tian Tan Buddha, we came across the wisdom path and found ourselves on an unexpected hike and discovered views that are simply indescribable. We also visited The Peak, where we were able to see a glimpse of the harbor and indulge in Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Hong Kong is one of those cities that makes you forget that you're in China. There are many expats and nearly everyone spoke English. Oh and let me not forget our little taste of Louisiana we found, Popeyes! We nearly went crazy when we saw it!

The Ladies Night Market was a treat; filled with miles of handbags, leather goods, and tons of souvenirs. They bargain hard! Once you make eye contact or show an interest in an item, it was on...my son became a pro negotiating prices. It was a great experience and a much needed dose of westernized culture at that time. I am looking forward to our next visit!

“To Travel is to Live"
~ Hans Christian Andersen