Voices In My Head

***Hi All, so there will be more Vietnam to come, I can’t not tell you how I may have gone a little over board when having clothes made for me in Hoi An or how a woman shoved meat skewers into my mouth, vegan doesn’t translate in Vietnamese. But I thought I would get some up to date blogs posted. So stay tuned.

Voices were pounding in my head, news feed after news feed all the reporter could do was talk of death, remembrance of those we had lost and constant cut ins with presidential address updates. More images, the President speaks, and then we jump back to the morning news show and some man is jumping around with the newest dance moves, while everyone else is painfully trying to imitate him. My head was spinning; this was my introduction back into US news and television. I’d been home for a week but my assimilation process was a slow one. When I walked off the plane in Los Angeles and through customs I wanted to kiss the ground, what can I say being abroad has both negative and positive affects on your beliefs of you own country. But reading the customs sign Thank You and Welcome to the United States had me brimming with joy. When the customs agent asked, “why were you traveling in India, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam?” I smiled and said, “I was trying to figure out my life.” Ok yes the smile held a hint of sarcasm and my response earned me a confused look, but then he said, “welcome home,” and it felt so right.

So after the tearful embrace and love from my parents and Lulu I was whisked home where I enjoyed a veggie meal and after 30 hours of travel and very little sleep I fell into bed ready to crash for what I had hopped would be about two days worth of shuteye. Lying in bed wide-awake at 3 am I realized it was going to take time to adjust. So after a week of very little interaction with the outside world I decided to watch my favorite morning news show, Good Morning America with my favorite morning news anchor, Josh Elliott, he is just so dreamy, gotta love those really tall men. Dreamy-ness aside, I was overwhelmed by the images, sounds and entertainment. As I tried to process the fact that my travels had sealed me in a bubble of protection from all things US, my protective layer was now popped. First realization, I’ve missed a lot; see, I used to have a reputation of being the entertainment queen, ask me a question about Hollywood I could tell you who, where and when. Now I was at a loss, but the weird part was I wasn’t that concerned about getting caught up. Instead I became completely overwhelmed with questions of my own unsteady future, as well as images, media reports and social media updates of injustices of the present. While abroad there were many behaviors I experienced that I had to accept because this was “their” culture. Well honey not anymore this is my culture and I was blatantly aware that everything was wrong. All of this culminated into a completely irrational battle of wills in my head. As I drove along trying to process all of these emotions and thoughts I realized I was surrounded by silence, there was no honking, no chaos, and no people. I realized that I while the chaos of the streets, sounds and experiences of South East Asia were gone, I now was facing a new chaos. While the world around me was no longer new and unknown, the chaos was now in my mind and I didn’t know if there was anyway to be free of it.

At that very thought, I realized that the chaos in my mind was all self induced. A major theme in the yoga philosophy is to gain purification through the mind with the right attitude. In yoga attitude is acceptance, and a major part of acceptance is that we need to understand and accept what we can and cannot control. I cannot change the world around me; I cannot change the way that my neighbors treat their neighbors (figuratively). All I can change and control is myself. So first things first, maybe limit my television news time. While I can’t become ignorant to what is happening in this world, I can be more particular about where I get my information from. Second, I can take a breath, relax, and maybe take another breath, and then smile, because I’m home.

 

All My Bags Are Packed… But I’m Not Sure

So my travel time has come to an end and I’ve been trying to process my feelings. I’ve really been all over the board of emotions. Pure elation at the thought of seeing my family and friends. Feeling their hugging embrace, I’ve missed hugs. Seeing my beautiful baby Lulu whose face is on every iProduct screen I own. And of course the creature comforts that the US holds, hair products, bagels and tofutti cream cheese, the cold bite of autumn air that indicates a change in seasons.

But my travels have changed my life, I left as a cautious, high maintenance by choice woman and I’ve laughed in the face of bed bugs, cockroaches, muck slick streets and who knew, but I may be the better for it. A deeper analysis of how this has affected me is to come but for now I am most focusing on the transition.

Life is about to change and while in Hoi An I was slapped in the face by everything that I had left behind and everything I was hoping to change. Its truly my fault I stated to think about bills, mortgages and money and then came… resumes, cover letters, applications, searching, searching, searching. I screamed at my self “WAIT, your in Vietnam and your consuming your time with all of this.” So I am obviously having a internal struggle. Half of me is frantically racing through employment listings trying to find the perfect future for myself and the other half of me is shaking her head fuming because I am waisting what little time I have in my last week focusing on the future and not being present.

What is a girl to do. I know I am about to face a huge transitional shift between this leisurely life of travel and exploration to a life of income, mortgages and calendar updates and I don’t know what to do. While I am anxiously awaiting wearing a pair of jeans and some type of footwear other then my rusty now dusty Keens, I also feel the anxiety boiling in my stomach fearing, “what if I’m not happy?” Life on the road has not been easy, but its been the most rewarding time of my life. How do I transition that feeling of fulfillment into a life dictated by “grown-up affairs”.

I read through my notes from the ashram and found this little quote from Mata Ji ” Does wealth lead to security, no, those who are wealthy have the most to lose. The baker gets a good nights sleep because he has nothing to lose.” Yes while I know consumerism and business would laugh in the face of this philosophy it actually made me smile. I knew right then that money can’t dictate my life. Yes while I need some to survive, and I’ve made financial commitments to people and institutions therefore I need to uphold those contracts, I can’t let money be the reason for work, career and life. It has always stressed me out, and I just want t good nights sleep. This may be naive, but right then and there I shut off all my searching and headed into town to enjoy my last few days. 

And so here I am, I am freaked out about heading home, while a loving embrace will make tears spill out of me, I also have no idea how this transition is going to go. While I don’t think this trip was a way to run away from my past. It was a way to leave it all behind and get perspective. The perspective I got was life changing I just don’t know if it translates in to US living. So there you have it, I will walk on the plane with excitement that keeps me from sleeping, but anxiety of what lays ahead. I just need to remind myself to “be the baker.”

Culture, Cuisine and Cambodia

If you can’t tell I am fascinated by cooking and cuisine. This isn’t anything new, I remember when I was young and my parents would come home from their date nights and I would make them tell me in detail what they ordered for dinner. I love food especially the preparation and cultural influence that goes into every meal. While yes, I don’t eat meat, I still appreciate all types of food and the celebration that surrounds every bite.

With that I signed up for another cooking adventure while in Cambodia. I knew nothing of Cambodian cuisine before I arrived but the cover of my cook book that was presented to me during class read this:

“Thank you for taking part in our cooking class. Cambodia’s tragic past has resulted in the loss of many recipes, and poverty means many families are unable to buy the ingredients needed for Khmer dishes. By participating in our class you are helping rebuild Cambodia’s culinary reputation and knowledge. Cambodian cuisine is not hot and spicy like its neighbors, but rather relies on layers of flavors from fresh herbs and spices. We hope you go home and share these dishes with your family and friends.”

So family and friends here are some of my favorites:
Khmer Mango Salad, a new competitor to my favorite papaya salad. This salad is made with green mango and a sauce that is the perfect balance of sweet, sour and salty a wonderfully refreshing experience in every bite.
Amok is a classic Khmer dish that is eaten during times of celebration. A savory, creamy curry that is the perfect balance of flavors. Because most families are too poor to purchase the ingredients for Amok it is only eaten during special occasions. It usually has fish in it, but I also had one with tofu that was just as good.

I learned how to properly roll fresh spring rolls. While the wonderful veggie combination inside provides for a healthy snack, the amazing dipping sauce that accompanies the dish is a must.
Finally look at what I made. As many of you know baking is a favorite pass time of mine and now I have a new treat to share with you all. Nom Tong Noun is a light thin cookie that reminded me of a really good cake ice cream cone. You use a special flat waffle iron to cook the cookies so I’ll have to find that but the fun design makes them ever so fancy.

Our class started with visiting a local village family. I was a little uncomfortable being in this families home because I felt as if they were on display for us or that we were intruding in their privacy. With every visit to this family’s home the class provides a pound of rice which helps the family immensely. I later asked my tour guide about my concerns and he told me that they enjoy meeting western people because they have never been exposed to western cultures, therefore it is an experience for them as well. He did give me three other factors to know when visiting a Cambodian home:

1. When offered food or drink you must always accept, even if you are vegetarian and they offer you a meat dish you must take a small bite as a sign of respect. It is incredibly disrespectful to say no to something that is offered to you.

2. Cambodians believe that if a meal is created it should be shared with everyone, therefore if you have left overs that you give as a hand out it is very disgraceful towards them.

3. If you want to bring gifts or candy for the village children don’t throw them on the ground or into the air for the children to gather. The parents see this as animal behavior and don’t want the children scavenging for the food off the ground.

As many of you know I have talked of adoption for some time. I had thought about visiting an orphanage while in Cambodia and then I saw this. I was so embarrassed that I hadn’t thought of that myself. Rather then going to an orphanage I found this restaurant Haven their mission states, “Haven is a training restaurant & sanctuary for young adult orphans in Cambodia who have to leave the orphanage and have nowhere to go. We offer these young people accommodation, food, medical treatment as well as a place to work and train in gastronomy. After they finish their training we help them find a permanent position. Our aim is to support these young people in their emotional and professional development and give them a real chance in life – and we believe that helping them to help themselves is the best form of support.”
The food was fantastic and supporting this cause is very important to me.

And so my time in Cambodia has come to an end. While it was a hard visit emotionally, I did learn a lot about the culture, history and myself. I will cherish my experience and time here.

Step Back In Time Through Cambodian Temples

Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples are a sites so historic and grand I do hope that everyone has a chance to visit them some day. Here is my three day adventure and what I saw and experienced at this UNESCO world heritage site.

Evening Before Day One: My Tuk Tuk driver took me to the ticketing office which opens at 4:45pm for tickets for the following day. By purchasing your ticket that evening you get admittance into the temples right then to watch the sun set. A three day pass will cost $40 (make sure it is for three non-consecutive days), while some were surprised by this price I do recommend giving yourself the flexibility of three days, that way you don’t become too overwhelmed with the sites and the crowds of people. Plus any organized tours that you choose to do do not include a pass so you will need to have purchased your own. The sunset temple is Phnom Bakheng. While the crowds of people can be heavy, they slowly start to dissipate as the evening continues so wait until the guards tell you the site is closed before heading down. The peacefulness of the site once the crowd has cleared is calming.

Day One:
A local Tuk Tuk driver will take you around the ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom for about $12. I used the same driver from the night before. We started at the gates of Angkor Thom. Then he took me to Bayon and told me to take my time wandering through the surrounding temples and to meet him near the Terrace of the Leper King. Bayon is a collection of 54 Gothic-style towers decorated with 216 smiling enormous faces that are said to resemble the king who created the city King Jayavarman VII.

After Bayon you’ll come across Baphuon, this temple is still active and therefore you need to dress accordingly. My outfit was not temple appropriate as my shoulders and knees where showing so I wandered to the next temple. This actually turned out to be a blessing as there is no way to avoid the crowds of bused in tourists. They seem to be everywhere and in every photo. Leaving the crowd behind I came across Phimeanakas a small temple, where if you are brave enough you can climb to the top. While the views and fresh air are spectacular, my legs were jelly and the descent was a slow one. I then wandered through the Terrace of the Elephants but I knew all along that I would be coming back to explore the area on bike later that week.
My driver asked if I wanted lunch but I knew that with everyone else eating I’d be able to avoid some of the crowds by heading straight to Angkor Wat. I wandered the temple for a couple hours bathing in the silence and the lack of people. I’m not sure whether it was the size of the temple or time of day but I loved every minute of the silence, I would recommend spending time in the temples between 12 and 3 it seems the time for people to take a break from their tours giving you an expansive area to explore in quiet. Again the top of Angkor Wat is an active temple and therefore you need to be dressed appropriately to climb the stairs.
After about four hours of wandering the temples, the heat and crowds wore me down and I was ready to head back to my hotel. It was nice knowing I didn’t have to rush through my exploration because I had more time.

Day Two:
This day I took advantage of a tour of the outside temples with the tour group Beyond Unique Escapes. My tour guide was a wealth of knowledge and there were only two of us on the tour so it felt very private. The out lying temples are just as interesting as the more well known temples, some are over 900. You’ll also get to see this Wat which was used as a prison camp for the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot, it is said that they found 20,000 skulls buried behind this temple.
The day ends with the Tomb Raider temple Ta Prohm where scenes from Tomb Raider were filmed. There is something incredible about seeing this temple being swallowed by the jungles. The trees almost look fake or petrified as they intertwine their way throughout the temple. Again the crowds of people can wear on your nerves but our tour guide knew of areas to take us away from the crowds.
Day Three:
Not to be missed is the sunrise tour of Angkor Wat. Again I used Beyond Unique Escapes for this tour. A tuk tuk picks you up at 4:50am driving you to where you pick up a bike to begin your peddle to Angkor Wat. While you could do this trip yourself or with a tuk tuk driver my guide knew the perfect spots for every moment of the sunrise. You should note that even though you are arriving in the early morning hours, the ticketing people are still there and they will make you get a ticket if you don’t already have one.
Later that day around noon I used a bike from my hotel and headed back to the temples, even though the heat of the day can be intense I rarely came across groups of people which was a nice break from the crowds earlier in the week. I started at Angkor Wat and headed straight into the area I had missed the first time. Walking around the high rise seeing the sprawling jungle below was magnificent. I next peddled to Baphuon, the view from the top can’t be missed. I sat up there for about 30 minutes just taking in the peace of it all. Riding by bike I took time to stop wherever I felt I had missed out and by the end of the day I felt as if I had truly fulfilled my three day pass.
I most enjoyed the mix of Hindu and Buddhist religious influences within the architecture of the ruins. You may see a image of the God Shiva which is next to a image of the Buddha. While I enjoyed my tours they can be a lot of information to take in, but I did enjoy walking the ruins alone guided only by my Lonely Planet reading the descriptions and maps was a nice break from a organized tour.

Cambodian Expectations

Expectations can ruin everything. I should have known as I had been told this time and again, and the outcome always seems to be the same, disappointment. But I was naive, and so I told people “I have a feeling I’m going to love Cambodia and actually want to spend my final two weeks there rather than Vietnam like I planned.” With that train of thought I arrived to the country on a cloud of optimism which was greeted by a tuk tuk driver with my name on his sign. There really isn’t anything better than arriving to a foreign airport stressed with fear of the unknown and then to be greeted by a smiling face and your name in writing. The owner of the Victory Guesthouse greeted me at the door and welcomed me to their home. After dropping my bags in my room I was handed a pineapple shake and I settled into a chair to shake off the heavy day of travel I had just experienced.

The next morning I decided to explore Siem Reap, after walking down the road no more then one minute I heard “Lady, Lady want a tuk tuk, Lady Lady want a message.” This continued for the rest of my day. Trying to be as polite as possible I said no and continued my exploration. Siem Reap is a confusing contradiction of shops, hotels and restaurants. You’ll be walking by a run down shop or see a home that resembles a hut but it is flanked on both sides by a glamorous hotel and a mall type building advertising Gucci. Shops after shops are over flowing with junk, handbags, toys, scarves and other touristy items that make your suitcase cringe. It got to the point where I tried not to make eye contact with anyone for fear I’d have to say no yet again to whatever they were hawking on the street.

Day two, my airport tuk tuk driver took me around the ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. While trying to immerse myself in the grander of these ancient temples I was swarmed by children pushing bracelets and postcards into my hands. When a simple no wouldn’t deter them they would start to haggle with themselves, “one dollar for ten, ok I give you deal, 50 cents for 10.” This has been my first heavy interaction with begging on this trip, while I’ve heard horror stories of begging in India and Thailand, most of my travel was during the peak of the heat season therefore I rarely encountered it. So now these innocent, dirt covered faces are looking at me and I have to glaze over my eyes and my emotions and say no. Now I am not heartless and a penny pincher, but I am following the guidelines based on the travel books suggestion that the country is trying to limit begging and therefore it is best not to aid these children.
Therefore by day three with my patience frayed all I wanted to do was lash out and scream. Adding to the pressure was the descriptive reading material that was weighing on my subconscious. I have been reading First They Killed My Father, by Loung Ung. The story of a five year old and her life during the genocide and massacre of her country by the Khmer Rouge. I like many of my fellow travel companions I’ve met in Cambodia knew very little about the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia and the struggle they have lived with for the last forty years. As I read deeper and deeper into the story of starvation, mass murder and evil that very few may ever begin to imagine, I realized that I was living in the shambles of this history. But without more research I didn’t realize that Cambodia had yet to fully recover from their massacre, and therefore I presented a front of tough love thinking that this was what they needed to become strong (yes my misguided, naive assumption is almost too embarrassing to write.)

And so on the third day: “In my next life I want to be born in your country” he said pointing to me with a giant smile on his face. Not clearly understanding what he was trying to say, I replied “oh you want to come visit the United States, what part of the country do you want to come visit?” “Oh no I will never be able to visit your country in this life, but in my next I hope to be born in your country.” While his statement should have made me proud and patriotic, it had the opposite effect and became the final straw that broke my patience completely. He explained how wonderful my country was in comparison to his, he gave two specific examples; one that from 6 to 26 people in the US have the ability to go to school and university. Two that in our country people retire between the ages of 50 and 60 where as he explained, people in Cambodia work until death. With a forceful tone that was fueled by disappointment and anger I clearly explained that what he was describing was not the majority of our country. Yes, while some have the ability to go to school and some have the ability to retire around 50, the majority of the country goes into great debt for their education and most people work until their 70’s. While my response may have been a slight exaggeration, it fell on deaf ears because to him my country represents so much more then he will ever have. I should of known when he started the tour raving about Angelina Jolie and how wonderful she was to the Cambodian country that there was no reasoning with him. The temple they used in the film Tomb Raider has been nicknamed the Tomb Raider Temple or more fondly recognized as the Angelina Jolie Temple. While her charity work and monetary donations have been great aid to this country, I wanted to reiterate that Angelina doesn’t have the same discretionary income as the rest of the country. I couldn’t help but feel that they saw us all as Angelina Jolie’s or as if I were simply a walking dollar sign. While they take much pride in their temples it feels like they would sell them to the highest bidder. In that train of thought I feel as if I am surrounded by a country obsessed with tourists trying to take them for all they are worth.

But then I continued my reading, page after page described Loung’s struggle with life, watching her family be separated, her sister’s death and then watching her father be taken by two guards never to be seen again. Yet at five years old while she struggled with fear and starvation, she stayed strong through anger and hate of what these men were doing to her family. I began to do more research realizing that even though the Khmer Rouge lost full control four years after they invaded Phonm Penh (April 17,1975, the day they marched into the city) their power has never fully disappeared. I only truly realized this when I read that several of the current Cambodian leaders were previously members of the Khmer Rouge, including Prime Minister Hun Sen and Head of the Senate Chea Sim, although there is no evidence to implicate them in the mass killings it is well known that they were apart of the group that massacred 3 million people. With that knowledge I realized my reaction of tough love and glacier eyes was not what these people needed. They are barely surviving with a government that has employed the people who have ruined their lives with murder and fear, they now are only trying to simply survive.

My week in Cambodia went from glacier cold to warm and gooey, trying to exude kindness to everyone I meet. But deep down I am a mess of emotions. I have an overwhelming sadness for this country. I have a greater sense of guilt that while my country wasn’t the only perpetrator in supporting the Khmer Rouge we did help their rise, and worse we did not slow their fall and even though many of the political players at that time from the US have since passed away I am having a hard time trying to understand humanity mixed with political power. But I now see the beauty and strength that I am surrounded by. The Cambodian people are hustling through life to provide for their families. So while I find it an inconvenience to say no time and again, I now know that they don’t see me as a dollar sign, rather a economic surge to help feed their family.

I did have the pleasure of meeting my tour guide for a second tour two days later. His response was, “Oh it’s you again.” I smiled and realized I deserved every innuendo of that statement. As we biked through the ruins watching the sunrise I became more comfortable to ask about his background and history. I had done the math and knew he had to have been two or three in 1975. He told me that he lost his father and two brothers to the Khmer Rouge. He then told me a memory of the food rationing, how daily he and his mother would be given one tablespoon of rice. His mother would take their rice mix it with water and boil it with banana root to prevent them from starving. He explained that she was so sad they had to eat banana root because it was as if they were animals, but they needed to do whatever they could to survive. While his story resonated the reality of the past he also told me that because of the government control few children are taught about their history. Therefore the newer generations say they don’t believe that this genocide occurred because there is very little visual proof. The thought that this history may be forgotten just like the graves of so many that we’re murdered makes me the most sad.

If you want to make donations to Cambodia make sure to make them to either the Red Cross or any NGO (Non-Government Organization). It is unknown how much corruption is occurring in the government today so the biggest assistance you can have is to these organizations who will make sure that the Cambodian people see your aid.

En Route Mid Air

I’m interrupting my chronology of events by giving you all a update on my current travels and whereabouts. I am about two weeks behind on my posts but get ready they will be coming over the next week daily. Currently I am en route to Vietnam for my last two weeks of travel. With that comes the realization and acceptance that heading home is just around the corner.

It is amazing what a hot shower and shaving your legs for the first time in two weeks can do for your state of mind. While I am eagerly looking forward to my hair straightener, make-up and non-travel clothing and footwear, this lifestyle of “non-vanity” has been a time saver. But when you are covered in bruises, remnants of blistered bed bug bites and a head full of frizzy hair, you start to miss the comforts and beauty regimes of home.

In the last couple of days with Britta (my friend from Chicago who has joined me for two weeks) in Thailand’s southern islands my heart was weighted with sadness as I realized that my time with my travel companion was rapidly coming to an end. The comfort of traveling with a friend gave me a confidence in exploring and interacting with our surroundings that I hadn’t had in Cambodia. I was sad our time was ending, I was sad that my trip was beginning it’s final leg and I was starting to feel the stress that my return trip held within it. Not the travel, but the reality that this “travel freedom” is in it’s final chapter and it is now time to embrace life and my responsibilities in the US. Most importantly the question of what my career holds for me. Feeling a suffocating panic with these thoughts I tried to push them from my mind. But I realized that embracing these fears and accepting them for what they are is a better way to handle the stress. 

What I have learned about solo travel is that while you have the ability to go with the wind, eat, sleep and be however you want without having to check in with others it is also a lonely experience. Not in a bad way, but you experience everything by yourself, which leads to many funny conversations with yourself. Myself and I will be even closer by the end if that is possible. Needless to say I am about to enter two weeks of solitary travel and while I was first saddened by this I have now come to embrace the freedom it offers and spend the time focusing on what’s next. Don’t get me wrong I have met wonderful people from all over the world while on my own. I find doing day trips and classes is the best way to spend time with strangers, but after being with my Chicago comfort for two weeks I now know it is not the same. While it is nice to not have to consider someone else’s needs while you travel, it is not as much fun to laugh by yourself, eat by yourself, or even experience new worlds by yourself. Knowing this would I have changed my mind about my travels? No. While alone may be an entirely different experience, it does teach you a lot, and you do become stronger and more independent for it. Therefore I woke this morning clean from my shower with silky soft legs and a feeling of excitement as I venture into the final chapter of this journey.

I have said from the beginning that I didn’t want to focus on the future that awaits me back home for fear the stress would somehow ruin my present experience. But the thoughts of “what is next” are never far from reach and I have started to brainstorm a plan for my return. While I am not ready to put my thoughts in writing, I do realize that much of my fear about the future lies within the fact that I will be taking risks and starting new things. But with great risk comes great reward, right? While my greatest fear is failure itself, I have learned that if I accept failure like I accept success I won’t have anything to fear. Maybe that is what this trip has taught me, that even when the road is bumpy, full of tears and bruises and blisters I still seem to learn and gain more then I ever would had I stayed in the comforts of my air conditioned Chicago condo.

Thoughts to work on and process while we land into my final country and leg of my travels. Now its time to send you back a couple of weeks to my Cambodian experience, one part of my journey that was full of many bumps.

Travel Itinerary

Pure.Simple.Bliss is about to embark on an international adventure. Join me as I travel through four countries on a nine-week exploration of culture, food, history and self.

Now you may read my itinerary and think wow this is very Eat Pray Love esque. Yes, I do plan to Pray in India, Eat my way through Thailand and while I am never one to turn my nose up at love I don’t need to put any pressure on that area of my life. I want this to be my own journey, maybe not the most original of itineraries but one I created to challenge, search and explore myself. While I never got past the first few chapters of Elisabeth Gilbert’s book I commend her for making changes to her life in pursuit of her own happiness. I do know there may be some parallels between our travels but I do take comfort in the fact that this is my own experience and we shall see what outcomes lie ahead.

So I will begin my travels in India, I have sporadically practiced yoga for the last ten years. And while I love the idea of meditation I’ve never been able to clear my mind of the endless chatter, even for the two minutes at the end of a yoga class. I knew that a program at an Ashram in India where I would learn the basic structure of yoga and the philosophy and technique of meditation would be a perfect opportunity.

My checklist of “must see destinations” has always included Thailand. I don’t know where the fascination lies, maybe just in the fact that the Thai food delivery guy knows me after so many deliveries. Or maybe it has to do with the magnificent island footage from many movies and TV shows such as Lost and The Beach. Needless to say Thailand was the driving force, which brought my attention to South East Asia.

Vietnam is a location that I know little about; I have only read what our history books have told us about the country. But I am mesmerized by the photos of the scenery and by the fact that the country only started allowing tourists to visit in 1991. There is something exciting about exploring a country that hasn’t been over saturated with western tourists.

Cambodia was the last area that I added to my itinerary. A country that has suffered so much from the cruelty of war and genocide. I am fascinated by their strength as a country and I am very eager to learn more about their history and culture.

So with that knowledge I put together a rough itinerary, which may change as I travel further along the way. Join me for stories about all of my challenges and adventures; I hope to keep you as entertained as I am sure I will be.

The Itinerary:

 

June 26^th to June 30^th – arrive in Delhi, India

July 1^st to July 14^th – Rishikesh, India “Birth Place of Yoga” – Yoga and Meditation stay at the Ashram – Parmarth Niketan Ashram

July 15^th – Bangkok Thailand

July 16^th to July 21^st – Elephant Sanctuary – Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuar

July 22^nd to July 29^th – Chiang Mai, Thailand

July 30^th to August 5^th – Cambodi

August 6^th to August 19^th – Southern Thailand

August 20^th to September 2^nd – Vietnam

Below is a little piece of the heaven I’ve been living in for the last three weeks.