Weddings, Reunions, & Birthdays!

Arriving in North America marked the end of summer and the beginning of a hectic travel schedule that lasts until the holidays.  The first stop was home, but only for 2 days to quickly get my stuff together and drive to Maine with my parents.  Next stop Canada!  I decided that a change of scenery in North America wouldn't be too bad and will be living in Summerside, Prince Edward Island until May. (See my last post if this is news.) I had about two weeks to find an apartment and get things set up in PEI and then I was off to Kathryn's wedding in Atlanta for a mini Italia reunion!  The wedding was beautiful, it was at Serenbe, an intentional, sustainable, community outside the city.  All of the weekend events took place within Serenbe, and I can't think of a single thing that could have been improved.  The food was local, organic, and delicious!  Kathryn's ceremony was outside in a small clearing among tall trees and the reception close by under a huge tent.  Luckily, most of the girls were able to make it to the rehearsal dinner too and we even had a day in downtown Atlanta to explore. While in the city we ate at The Terrace, also a farm to table establishment in the Ellis hotel.  The food there was fantastic as well, not to mention the breezy view of the neighborhood.  It's located not far from the Centennial Olympic Park.

The weekend in Atlanta ended quickly.  I'm looking forward to seeing the girls again in February, this time in Boston for Meg's wedding!  I'll be celebrating my birthday that weekend as well so it's likely to be just as hectic.  My Dad's 75th birthday is coming up soon, and I'll have a few weeks at home for the festivities.  Then I'm back in Canada for two weeks, followed by a visit to Kaohsiung for three weeks and then back to Lexington again for Thanksgiving!

Canada, eh?

After spending almost three years in Asia teaching English and traveling it was time to move on to the next adventure, which happens to be Canada.  My experiences of this country before embarking on my asian journeys were few.  There was that New Year's Eve we were able to get a car from rent-a-wreck the morning of and drove to Montreal. Actually only one of us could drive as the rest were under 21 at the time, thanks Melanie!  What I remember about Canada from this trip was there was a lot more snow, and to be careful whose driveway you pulled into in the middle of the night (in the middle of nowhere).  We had a small mishap on an icy sloped driveway that resulted in the driving through the owner's farmland to reach the road again.

Later, I found myself in Taiwan among many Canadians including my roommate, Adriana. She quickly realized the myth that Americans know nothing of their northern neighbor was true and took it upon herself to educate me as quickly as possible about the basic geography and politics of her country. Now I know where Toronto is! My future home in Canada is not quite so populated.  I'll be living on Prince Edward Island until late May, and not in the capital city Charlottetown, (population 64,000 - approximately half of the island) but in Summerside which is considered the second largest "city" on the island (population 14,000). It's hard not to laugh when people talk about urban vs. rural living here, because to a Bostonian everything on PEI is more rural than western mass. Even so, I am looking forward to having a few months of adjusting to life back in North America before returning to Boston.  It will also give me the much needed time to apply for a job!

Appreciating Silence

I've just finished a week long visit to Nilambe, a meditation center in the mountains of southern Sri Lanka.  I could not have discovered this place at a more opportunistic time!  My Ashtanga yoga instructor in Bali heard great things about it, but hadn't had the chance to visit yet.  I took her word for it and contacted them.  As some of you may know, Sri Lanka was not originally in my travel plans, but due to complications (and serious overpricing) getting my visa for India while in Indonesia was unrealistic. I needed to make an additional stop somewhere for at least one week to apply.  I was lucky, because it just so happened that there are tons of Hindi holidays and of course, the embassy is closed for all of them.  There were four official holidays in the seven business days following the date I applied, so in reality it almost took two weeks to finally get my visa, but it was well worth it because I saved $250 by avoiding Bali bureaucracy!

My experience at Nilambe could not have been better.  This summer was a major transition, from living and traveling in Asia for more than two years to readjusting to life in North America.  I had plenty of time to relax, rejuvenate, and focus on what my next moves in life would be.  Additionally, it was very convenient to go there immediately following my intensive yoga program as it gave me the much needed time to continue my daily practice.  Developing a daily yoga practice is a challenge, and becomes even more difficult to maintain when you're always on the move.  The schedule at Nilambe included "Mindfulness in Motion" which was time set aside every day for a physical meditation practice.

There are many meditation centers in North America that offer similar retreats.  Although I have not participated in the well known 10 day silent Vipassana retreats, it is something I'm open minded to now after having such a positive experience at Nilambe.  Shambala is another worldwide organization that has many resources for anyone interested in developing a meditation practice.  My advice is just try it, on your own, with a group, or at a retreat. Your only loss might be a few minutes or hours of the day that you might have spent watching TV.

On the move again

After a few days in the Gili Islands and a coastal road trip we're not quite ready to say goodbye to Bali.  The Gili Islands were absolutely beautiful, relaxing, and quiet.  There are three of them and we spent our time on Gili Meno at Meno Dream where the roof of our bungalow opened up so you could see all the stars at night!  It's known as the quieter island and is often referred to as deserted, which it is most defiantly not.  There were plenty of restaurants on the beach to eat at and overall the food was pretty good. It is easy to walk the full circumference of the island and especially a good idea if you stay on the side with the pier which was considerably more expensive than the side facing Gili Tra. I do not however recommend staying on Gili T where we had a short visit while waiting for our ferry back to the mainland.  Gili Tra was noisy, crowded, and reminded me of the party islands in Thailand except they have lots of horses instead of motorbikes.

There are only two dive shops on Gili Meno and we chose to dive with Divine Divers.  I would definitely recommend this shop, we did five dives with them and saw quite a few octopus and turtles! There are a lot of people getting their divemaster certification of the islands, who wouldn't want to spend a month in paradise diving everyday?

Next, we are headed to Malaysia for a few more days of relaxation before I head to Sri Lanka and Orlando to LA and Vegas!

Ubud, Bali: Health Mecca

I arrived in Bali at the end of June.  I was on a late flight coming in and didn't arrive in Ubud until about 1am.  I was lucky to find On's Bed & Breakfast at that hour and I ended up staying there for the duration of my time in Ubud. The owners were sweet, and super helpful with everything.  One of them even brought me to the local banjar to ask for my mysteriously missing package in the mail, but I digress... I can easily say this is one of the most unique places I have visited.  I was a bit skeptical at first when I saw the Ashtanga Center was in a inland city (I was expecting the beach) and wondered if there was going to be anything going on there at all.  I had no idea! Ubud has everything and anything you could imagine and the food is amazing!  Organic, vegetarian, vegan, raw, and gluten free dishes are standard in many restaurants - it is so easy to be healthy here.  There are endless options for every type of yoga and massage you can think of, and various other alternative healing therapies readily available from singing circles to writing groups.


I started yoga the next day despite my late arrival.  Little did I know I was in for another surprise.  I've been practicing standard Vinyassa flow yoga since college and though I was well prepared for my one month intensive practice.  Well, it could have been worse (if I had never done any yoga at all!)  It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for, which was to learn the skills neccesary to develop an everyday self practice.  Funny thing was I did not realize that Mysore style Ashtanga was a self led class. Probably should have done a bit more reading on this before I showed up but luckily I landed in the right place :)

As you can see, (we didn't) they are
already trying to eat the seat!

I had quite the scooter experience in Ubud.  First, let me explain about riding a scooter in Asia, whatever you do don't think about what you are doing!  This is the #1 reason foreigners get into accidents.  Because everyone else on the road is thinking about everything and anything but driving.  Especially in Bali, where you frequently see someone eating, talking on their cell phone, and carrying a baby all while operating a two wheeled vehicle. And if you are lucky there will be 2-3 passengers.  Did I mention they drive on the wrong side of the road as well?  If you are going to overcome the challenge of riding a scooter in Bali, keep this advice in mind: drive slow, trust your instinct (unless it's telling you to stay to the right!) and never forget that the larger (more dangerous) vehicle and/or driver always have the right of way!  Anyways, my scooter story has nothing to do with driving because I wasn't even on it when this incident occurred.  I was staying near the Sacred Monkey Forest, a popular tourist spot in Ubud and had to drive through the foot path on my way in and out of town.  On the way, I saw my yogi friend Sue and stopped to say hello.  

Now, I know you that if you dont want trouble with monkeys you dont feed them but in this instance I chose to ignore my better instincts and decided that we had strength in numbers. (Yea right there were two of us and dozens of them!) As soon as I reached for the bag containing the rest of my fruit salad lunch they were all over the place.  Our reaction was scream, laugh, and take pictures, in that order.  Until we wanted to get going and realized the monkeys were really interested in my scooter, in fact they started baring their teeth at us when we tried to even get close to it.  Then one ran off with the helmet.  And then we realized they were eating the seat cushion. Now I know why people put bricks on their seats when they park in here. And WHY didn't the scooter rental guy tell me this! After a lot more screaming, running away, and enlisting the help of some foreign males (the Balinese were too busy laughing to help) we did regain possession of the scooter and helmet, minus the half eaten seat cushion. The scooter company was not happy with us.

One Hundred Days of Travel

Max Brenner Chocolate Shop

Everyone should travel alone once. I think experiencing freedom from our daily responsibilities to others, to time, and to our own schedules is rejuvenating. Today, that meant aimlessly wandering around Singapore and not worrying that I forgot my watch because I had no where to be. Sometimes I get bored of travelling alone, but there's always new people to meet in every place you go. I have one hundred days of travel left before returning home. I often use a day calculator to estimate my per-day spending budget when traveling. Better to save now and spend later than be eating crackers for a month at the end of my trip.

Singapore is fairly easy to get around. I found a green hostel on the internet, so of course I had to check it out. It's called Tree In Lodge and has a great central location.

The Fantastic Popsicle Chocolate Fondue

The city is very aesthetic although I get the feeling that I might get fined for walking on the grass or crossing the street before the walk light turns green! For readers unfamiliar with politics here there are very strict laws about everything from chewing gum and smoking in public to mandatory death sentencing for drug traffickers. The result is an efficient city with virtually no unemployment or poverty. (And I haven't seen any stray cats or dogs either!)

I could not resist the temptation of dessert at the Max Brenner Chocolate Shop.

The Visayas

Two weeks was just enough time to relax and dive in Cebu. We decided not to go to Bohol because it looked pretty expensive comparatively.

Our first destination was Malapacua island. After a long intercontinental flight from Paris to Bahrain to Manila we continued on to Cebu city and finally arrived in Maya around 11pm. As expected there were no public boats going to the island at that hour and when we saw two guys arranging an overpriced 'special trip' on a boat that looked like it might sink we chose to spend the night and go in the morning. Total saved: 1500 pesos plus the possibility of swimming if the boat didn't make it.

We only spent three nights in Malapascua, since we hadn't decided how many other places we would visit afterward. It was a quiet, laid back island and I wouldn't have minded staying another night.

The diving was our best yet - I saw a white tip shark that was sleeping under a rock and we were successful in seeing Thrusher sharks as well. (This is the main reason divers go to Malapascua) additionally, we had our first wreck dive which was awesome but I had terrible air consumption due to being overweighted and overexcited during the dive. Our dive shop was Evolution and I would highly recommend them. Great price and the guides were very thorough and experienced.

Moal Boal wasn't bad but there was way too much concrete for my liking. We did see a big manta ray at Pedcador Island and lots of sea turtles as well. Our last few days we rented a bike so we were able to get a but further from the town and drove along the coast which was beautiful.

A hidden gem in Paris

If there is one thing the French are great at it's cooking (and eating!).  There are many places in Paris where you can enjoy traditional French cuisine, especially at the sidewalk cafes.  But my favorite place we ate all week was at L'Entrecôte near the Champs-Élysées.  When we mentioned we were heading to the area for dinner our apartment manager tipped us off about this place.  She warned us to arrive before 8:30pm.  We arrived at 7:30 and were promptly seated.  Shortly after a waitress dressed in the traditional french attire of black and white asked us how we would like our steak cooked and brought us salads of greens and walnuts.  They are so well known for their contre-filet that they don't even present a menu.  And just when you think it's over they refill your plate with another serving!  If you find yourself in Paris craving a steak this place is not to be missed.  Just don't tell too many people ... the line was around the block by the time we left.

On a side note, I am a big supporter of the vegetarian lifestyle and think meat should be eaten sparingly, but I don't feel bad about a changing it up every once in awhile either.  Think of it as being a Flexitarian.  Good for your health, good for the planet, and good karma :)

Check out the website of L'Entrecôte by clicking here.

Insider tip: Locals know to eat at the one on Rue Marbeuf.

Another delicacy I couldn't get enough of.
I made sure to try as many varieties of Macaroons as possible!

Great museums, long lines

Paris is of course, amazing.  There are so many beautiful historical buildings that have been very well kept up and the museums are fantastic. Unsurprisingly I have been eating way too much bread and pastries!  But, the lines!  If you visit Paris be prepared, you will wait in line for everything.  To buy a drink, to use the toilet, and for every museum and tourist attraction you visit.  The French do not rush.  That said, there are a few things you can do to avoid wasting too much time getting tired in the sun.  Did I mention you'll be waiting in all these lines in the sun?  First, get there early, as in before they open.  Second, consider buying either the Museum Pass or the Paris Pass, the latter of which we had.  These passes wont get you out of every line but they do help a lot and are a pretty good value if you use them in enough places.

View from the Luxumberg Gardens, taken this afternoon.

Dinner Friday night, near our apartment.

We've been here for 10 days and have seen a lot of the city.  Today we walked around the 6th arrondissement and ate lots of delicious food there.  Asia has really rubbed off on me because I always find myself wanting to take pictures of food now when I travel.  Tomorrow is our last full day in the city so we'll try to squeeze in the last few things we'd like to do. We have been very lucky with the weather here - lots of sun all week so far!

A few more suggestions if you'll be traveling in the area.  Say hello!  This is a big one here and if you can manage a few words of French when you greet someone your service will improve 200%.  Also, don't miss the Musée de l'Orangerie.  They have two large oval rooms containing Monet's beautiful water lily paintings.

My Mom and I before the tour of Opéra Garnier.

Leaving Taiwan was a bit of a mad rush the last day, because although I was very organized and started preparing to leave more than a month ahead I seriously underestimated the amount of things I had to wrap up before departing.  And in the end I missed my flight and wasn't allowed to bring any luggage on the plane!  So, I'll be going back for a visit in the fall to collect my tax refund and the rest of my stuff.

After Paris, I'm heading to the Visayas which will mark the beginning of a four month backpacking trip around Asia.  Two summers ago I did a similar trip but did not have time to visit all the countries on my list.  This time around I'll be heading to the Philippines, Singapore, Bali, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and finally India.  Im looking forward to diving the South Pacific, yoga in Bali, and volunteering at Navdanya near the Himalayas in northern India.

Backpacking Essentials

It's pretty ironic that I am blogging about packing, because when I studied abroad in Florence I brought three large rolling duffles and additional baggage totaling over 200lbs!  I could not even make it off the train platform until one of my friends arrived to help me.  To make matters worse, I vacuum packed everything so it was even harder to get it all home.  One lesson I have learned (the hard way) is how to pack.  It is possible to pack light and fit everything you need along with some comfort items!  You should be able to walk at minimum of 30 minutes carrying your fully packed backpack.

You dont want to end up like these guys ...

What to bring, and what to leave at home ...

Choosing a backpack. I recommend buying your pack online.  Websites like backcountry or sierra trading post are a good place to start looking.  I have even ordered multiple bags and then mailed back the ones I didn't like.  Personally, I look for a bag that has an access zipper to the main compartment because I think it is easier to stay organized that way.  Look for something you will be comfortable living out of and carrying for the next month, or year.  Another easy way to organize your pack is with stuff sacks or dry bags.  These little bags are relatively inexpensive, come in all different sizes, and some will protect your stuff even if they are submerged in water. Also, consider a dry pack cover to protect form the elements and theft.

A rain jacket. It rains everywhere, invest in a jacket appropriate for the climate! At home you can sprint to your car and drive away, but when you're backpacking you spend a lot more time walking to and from and will be outdoors much more in general.  You should be able to get away with only one item of outerwear, two at the most if you are traveling in colder areas.

A variety of clothing that is easily layered and will dry quickly. Sorry guys, but this is a little bias towards women.  A few weeks before any trip I start to put aside clothing items Im planning on bringing.  This avoids chaotic packing at the last minute.  Tops and bottoms should match the majority of items you choose.  Don't bring anything that requires a specific article of clothing to go with it.

I avoid bringing too many pairs of shorts because many cultures do not wear them and they are less versatile than capris.  I generally bring one or two dresses (if you wear them) for warmer climates because they are comfortable and will keep you cool.  I suggest 5-6 bottoms, and 7-9 tops, that way you can get away with doing laundry about every other week.

My advice is not to bring anything white, light colored clothing turns grey when you wash it with the rest of your (very dirty) clothing.  A specific article of clothing I recommend is a pair of black leggings.  I often wear them when hiking to protect my legs from bugs, plants, and the sun and they are also great to sleep in or layer under a skirt.  Skip something specifically for sleeping because it's not an efficient use of space if you can't wear it during the day.

1-2 bathing suits. Unless you are going to Antarctica, bring them.  I have made the mistake of not bringing one (who needs a bathing suit in land locked Bolivia?) and finding out the hard way that a bathing suit may be the most difficult thing to purchase in a foreign country.  These can double as shorts or underware, and they are so small you can let your self splurge and bring two :)

Sunblock and bugspray. As mentioned above, expect to be outside in the elements for the majority of the day (and at night if you're camping).  Effective sunscreen and bug repellant can be hard to find and/or very expensive in other countries for a variety of reasons - most often because the locals dont use it.  So stock up at home and bring it with you.

Earth friendly water bottle. Even if you never use this at home, it will come in handy while traveling.  Many places will allow you to fill it up for free and it can be easilly attached to your pack with a mini carabiner.  I recommend the 27 oz Kleen Kanteen.

Expensive electronics. With the exception of a DSLR camera or electronic reader, leave these at home.  You don't need your laptop when you're traveling.  International phones are expensive (think $2-$3 per minute) and if staying in hostels it can be difficult to find a place to charge your stuff without worrying about someone stealing it.  Getting robbed is no fun, but sometimes you can't avoid it.  That's why you should leave all non-essential valuables at home! Rule of thumb here: if you would be upset to lose it, don't bring it. If you must bring something (mp3 player, reader, etc) choose one that gets wifi, this way you can stay connected without carrying too much.

Pack Towel. It's definately worth buying one of these.  Look for one that has soft, quick-drying fabric and an antimicrobial treatment to help prevent mold.

Basic First Aid Kit. You can buy band aids in pretty much every country, but if you need medical supplies it is much easier if you already have a small supply in your pack instead of having to locate the nearest pharmacy and purchase everything asap. You can easily make this from stuff your probably already have at home:  variety of different size band aids, antibiotic ointment, antibacterial wipes, medical tape, gauze, benadryl, ibuprofen, imodium.

Comfortable bedding. If you can squeeze one more item in your pack, this is it.  Whether it be a small travel pillow, an easilly foldable sheet or blanket, a hammock, or a sleep sack - pick one of the above and bring it along.  Bus rides can be cold if the ac is blasting or you're driving thourght the mountains and although most hostels provide some type of bedding you never know what you'll get or how clean it will be.  These items come in handy for last minute camping as well!

Books. If you read a lot and/or are traveling solo go ahead and bring a few.  Many hostels have book exchanges and most travelers are willing to swap as long as you've got something interesting.  English bookstores are hard to find in some places (and usually expensive) but places frequented by backpackers often accept trades.

Shoes. I find this item to be one of the most difficult choices when packing.  Shoes take up a lot of space, but are one of the most important items because you will be on your feet all day, everyday.  If you will be doing a lot of trekking bring hiking shoes.  Tie them on the outside of your pack or use a stuff sack if necessary.  For women, Land's End makes a variety of durable and comfortable mary jane style shoes.  These types of shoes are great because you can wear them for light hiking, city walking, and even with a casual dress or skirt.  If you bring flip flops along with something like these you should be set.  You do not need more than three pairs of shoes.  Depending on what else you might be doing, bring a pair of flats or a second pair of flip flops that are a bit dressier.  If you cant comfortably walk two miles in it don't bring it.

Anything that plugs into the wall for your hair. Leave it at home.  When your new friends at the hostel invite you out for drinks at the bar and you tell them you need to blow dry your hair they will probably laugh at you.  Chances are it will break when you plug it into the wall anyways.  Think no more than fifteen minutes to get ready, and you'll be in a dorm full of 20 people, probably without a mirror.  Bring a few items of makeup but leave the hair stuff at home with your high heels.  They take up a lot of space and stilettos and unpaved roads to not mix.

But what will I wear to the club/bar/disco? The solution here is to bring (or buy while you're traveling) one or two nicer shirts and pair them with something you're already bringing or bring a necklace to dress something else up.  I try to bring a dressier top that is not revealing, or that can be worn under something else during the day.  Jewelry is small and easily packed so even if you only dress up once or twice it's easier than bringing a whole new outfit or a pair of heels. Just don't bring anything too flashy or valuable.

Easily purchased items (and relatively inexpensive) in every country I've been to: clothing, sunglasses, purses/bags, flip flops, headphones, any and all toiletries.

Difficult to find or expensive when you do: sunblock, bugspray, sport/outdoor clothing and accessories (brands like North Face, Nike, etc).

That's all I've got for now :)
Feel free to add your own packing and travel tips in the comments!

It's so cool what you're doing, but I could never ...

A lot of people ask how I finance traveling, and are curious about teaching abroad in Asia. The most common response when I talk to people about my experiences traveling is wow that's so cool, I wish I could do it! Well, what's stopping you?

You're scared.

So is everyone else. The unknown makes everyone nervous, but that's what makes it exciting too! And if you want to travel you probably are looking forward to something different so get over it :D

You don't speak another language.

Luckily for us English speakers our language is spoken by people all over the world, which is kind of ironic because Americans do less international travel than all other developed countries. There is such a high demand for English teachers in Asia because everyone is learning it. Many people in cities speak some English and there is always someone around to help translate. It doesn't hurt to learn some of the local language as well.

You have no savings or are unemployed.

How are you living? Can you save $100-$200 a month? Cut back wherever you can, and book your flight on a credit card. If you work at least 25 hours a week you'll have your flight paid off in a month and can start saving. The cost of living (especially housing expenses and food) is extremely cheap here and you will be getting paid the equivalent of a US salary.

What will you do with your stuff?

Get rid of it! How much is it worth? What will it cost you to put everything in storage? You could probably buy new furniture for the cost of storing it. Sell everything you can bear to part with and ask a friend or relative to store a few boxes of your personal items or look for a super cheap and small storage unit.

How will you meet people?

You're not the only person going to Asia to teach English! Make friends with other teachers at your school, take a yoga class, join a gym, or do one of the many other activities available in your city and if you notice another foreigner on the street just say "Hello" you already have something in common with them :)

How will you find an apartment?

Most real estate agencies like foreigners because they know you're coming here to work and will probably pay your rent on time. Every country is different, but generally you can contact an agency before you arrive or right away when you get there and they will show you a variety of furnished apartments to choose from. You can easily find a place within one week. Then you just need a cell phone and a bike and you're ready to work! Check out cheap hostels online before you go - also a good way to meet people.

How will you find a job?

The easiest way is to pay an agency to find you one before you go. They will negotiate salary and hours for you ahead of time. You can also just go and visit schools when you arrive. Realistically, allow at least 2 weeks to find a school and start working. Often it is easy to find subbing hours immediately.  This will also allow you to get an idea of what it's like to work at different schools - there is a very wide range of expectations of foreign employees in Asia. Most schools will help you through the visa process. Many communities in Asia have message boards where you can look for jobs for free. The two I have used frequently in Taiwan are Kaohsiung Living and Forumosa.

Now, what are you waiting for? ;)

My afternoon class at Live ABC, L4-K