This blog is dedicated to all my travels around the world. You will gain insight on my feelings as I visit different places. I will share my preparations and tips for making the best of international travel. I hope that I will inspire you. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section of each post.
"The widely and extensively traveled is wiser and more knowledgeable than the gray haired (who scarcely traveled)."
Back in the day (early 90s), there was a computer game and PBS game show called, "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" Carmen and her "henchmen" were villains who pulled heists and caused mayhem around the globe. Carmen always seemed to be one step ahead of the authorities, so the ace detectives (kids) were needed to capture her. It was really a show about geography, culture, and history, and my little nerd heart loved it!
My year started with adventure, and more adventure awaits me.
Several years ago, I had a dream of leaving my normal life and traveling the world. I researched different teaching programs and international degrees. I thought about how I would support myself during that time away and I started making financial decisions that would put me in the best position. Instead of stepping out and fulfilling that travel dream, I put my dream on hold and married a man (who didn't have a passport). I didn't totally give up on the idea, but I knew it would probably not happen the way that I hoped. After the marriage ended, I committed to myself that I would finally take that journey, and set a bold goal to do it in 2018. I wasn't exactly sure of how I would do it - I just knew it was going to happen.
I took a step in early 2017 that shocks most people who know me. I became a host with Airbnb, an online platform that matches property owners with travelers looking for inexpensive, local lodging. I live near the airport, so my home is very convenient for guests with delayed/cancelled flights, long layovers, and interviews/business at the airport. I decided to be an Airbnb host for 2 reasons: 1) to make extra money for travel and 2) to become more comfortable with people in my space. I knew that I would probably be renting out my house while traveling, so I needed to ease into having strangers in my house. I also thought ahead about my discomfort with potentially sharing lodging with other travelers, so I shared my home to become more comfortable being around other people. I have had some really great experiences and met very interesting people from around the world. In fact, I have maintained my Super Host status for over a year, which means I provide a superior lodging experience to my guests.
Even after making the decision to travel the world and taking some action toward the goal, I started losing heart toward the end of 2017. I felt like it was a crazy dream, and I was too stable to just take off and travel the world. That's something for kids that have just graduated, not for a single woman approaching 40 with a good job and a great life. I started doubting myself and my dream and pretty much gave up until I had a conversation with one of my mentors at the beginning of 2018. I shared my dream with her and my doubts and fears, and she told me to do it before it was too late. Her faith in me was exactly what I needed to hear at that very moment. I was also inspired by a few other women in my life who walked away from what was comfortable and stepped out on faith to do the impossible. I decided to make it happen in 2018, and I made a verbal commitment to start my journey in July. A few weeks later, I picked a date and circled it on the calendar as a visual reminder of my commitment to myself. A couple of months later, I did one of the scariest things I have ever done. I went to Skyscanner, and I entered my departure airport and the departure date that I circled on the calendar. In the destination field, I typed "Everywhere", and scanned the list of locations from lowest to highest price. I bought a one-way ticket to Thailand! I felt my heart racing. Did I really just do that? I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and tears began to flow. I was excited and scared at the same time. That's what my friend, Charlotte, calls "doing it afraid".
I'm calling my worldwide journey, "Operation Let Go". I have a list of places that I would like to visit and basic entry requirements for those countries, but I'm not locking myself into a set schedule. A couple of people have asked me if this trip is my version of Eat, Pray, Love. Am I trying to find myself? Am I trying to get over heartbreak? Am I depressed? The answer is no to all of those questions. I am whole and I am well. This journey is about me fulfilling a dream at a time when I have the opportunity, the resources, and the good health to do so.
I have 2 objectives:
1) I will be open to the experience and what the universe has to offer. I will just live in the moment.
2) I will help other people in the capacity that they need, both as an individual and by partnering with charitable organizations.
My experience with ziplining and the Tarzan Swing earlier this year in Costa Rica is symbolic of the next chapter in my life. It might be scary, but at the end, I'll be able to say, "I did it!"
I will share more about my preparation for the trip in the coming weeks. Subscribe to this blog to ride along on this "Fantastic Voyage" and read about my adventures.
I started the year by doing something I never thought I would do voluntarily. When I booked my birthday trip to Costa Rica, the package at the Blue River Resort included 4 excursions - hiking to a waterfall, tubing, touring a dino park, and ziplining. I decided that I would finally give ziplining a try after saying for years that I wanted to keep my feet firmly on the ground.
On the morning of the tour, I walked to the front office at the designated time to meet my guides. When I arrived, they told me I would be the only person on the tour that morning. I later realized that was the perfect scenario for a newbie like me, because all of their attention to safety was focused on me and I could go at my own pace without feeling rushed by other guests. I signed the waiver, and we boarded the van to the starting point. I was given a helmet, a glove, a harness, and instructions on how to hold on to the line and stop. One guide went ahead of me to stand on the platform, and the other guide stayed on the platform behind me setting me up in the harness and sending me off to meet guide #1 on the other side. There were 9 lines with a Tarzan swing at the end.
I hung on the way that they told me to, and I zipped over the Costa Rican rainforest screaming and with a racing heart. One of the lines required that I flip over and hang upside down from the line. Wait, what? After the initial shock of being suspended in the air, I would relax into it for a couple of seconds and look out over the canopy at the luscious green earth below, and then it was over.
Today, is my 37th birthday.I woke up to rain hitting the roof of my
cabana in the Costa Rican rainforest.I’m supposed to go for a hike in a couple of hours, and later, I will
zipline for the first time.After
ziplining, I’m going to do a mudbath and massage.All of these things are new to me (except the
massage), and I would not want do them normally.This is my year of stepping out of the box
and doing things that make me uncomfortable.I will walk into my fears and discomfort, and do IT anyway.I am grateful to God for all that I’ve
experienced so far, and I know that there is even more in store for me.
On my half birthday, July 28, 2017, I declared that would
not be alone on my birthday.Although I
didn’t have a travel companion, I met a couple at the resort, and we’ve been
hanging out together.It didn’t manifest
the way that I expected, but I still received the companionship that I desired.
I am enjoying the natural beauty all around me.I know that the same God that created the
rain, the volcano, the flowers and plants, animals, butterflies, hot springs,
etc.also created beauty within me, I
radiate the beauty and light of God.
1/29/18
Today, is my last full day in Costa Rica.I woke up the sound of the rain pounding on
the roof and the birds chirping in the distance.It has been the same ritual for the past 4
days.I fall asleep early (before
10pm).Rain pours down every night, and
I am awakened by its clamor on the roof in the middle of the night and each
morning between 6 and 6:30am.The
workers said it’s the same every day of the year.Thus, the term rain forest.It rains off and on throughout the morning
and then stops midday for the sun to make an appearance for a few hours.I painted my toenails with a polish that
changes colors in the sun, but I haven’t seen much of the color transition
since I’ve arrived.If sunbathing was my
top priority for coming here, I would be deeply disappointed.However, since it wasn’t, I’m enjoying the
rhythm of the rain and how it bookends each day.
The level of rain determines the activities for the day
too.For example, the plan was to go
tubing with a couple that I met the day before my birthday, but the river was
too high that day.Yesterday, I was
supposed to zipline (canopy), but a limb fell on one of the cables during the
rain, so ziplining was canceled that day.I went tubing instead, and that was an adventure I was not prepared to
do.My idea of tubing was floating
peacefully in the water, like the Lazy River at Wet n’ Wild.The water was rough, and there were big rocks
all along the course.I flipped off the
tube so many times I lost count.No
wonder they gave us kneepads, elbow pads, a helmet, and of course a life
jacket.We also had to sign a liability
waiver before we started.That should
have been a red flag.I walked away with
my adrenaline pumping and bruises covering my hips, legs, and butt from hitting
so many rocks.After that adventure, I returned to the resort to prepare for an afternoon massage
appointment.
I ate a small lunch after tubing and still had some time to
kill before going to the spa.I decided
to go to the natural sauna and mudbath while I waited.The natural sauna is a small wooded shed with
an open floor sitting over a hot spring.The resort recommends staying in the sauna for 15 minutes to relax and
open the pores before stepping out to apply the mineral-rich volcanic mud all
over your body.After the mud dries,
then you wash it off in the outside showers that flow back into the spring.I followed the instructions, and I found the
sunniest space in the clearing to stand and allow the mud to dry.I did a few sun salutations and other yoga
poses while I waited on the mud to dry.After I washed off the mud, I hurried to the spa for my birthday
massage.I signed up for the Swedish
massage, although in hindsight, I probably should have done the deep tissue
massage instead.
This year was all about being open and saying "yes" to new experiences. When I had an epiphany and accepted the fact that my marriage was over, I was at peace. I decided I would be open to the good things that the universe brought to me, especially travel. I traveled more in 2016 than I ever imagined I would. After my epiphany, I traveled to Dallas, Tallahassee, Shreveport, Nicaragua, U. S. Virgin Islands, Washington DC, Rio de Janeiro, and ended in Flint what I called my "Eat, Pray, Love...Drink Tour". After flying home from Michigan, I didn't have any other trips booked at the time, so I used that break in travel to officially change my name, thus ending my self-proclaimed tour. I didn't stop traveling though. After I received my new passport, I booked a trip to Istanbul in October. Then, I spent Christmas in Texas' Hill Country reflecting on the past year and acknowledging that I was exactly where I needed to be.
I didn't start 2016 with the intention of creating my own version of Eat, Pray, Love. I just allowed the spirit to work in my life and I accepted the opportunities that came my way.
The retreat was scheduled to begin on Wednesday, but some of us flew in on Tuesday night. We had a private Facebook group for all the ladies so we could introduce ourselves and share our travel schedules before the retreat began. Those of us who were scheduled to arrive on Tuesday, made arrangements to stay near the airport together. There were 4 of us in our group who were supposed to be at the hotel, but one of the ladies missed her flight from ATL. She booked another flight, so she would arrive on Wednesday morning.
My flight landed after 1am in Managua, and the shuttle driver from Airport X Hotel was waiting at the door as soon as I cleared Customs. After checking in, I was escorted to my room where I showered and immediately fell asleep as soon as I laid down. I woke up the next morning and went to the reception area for breakfast. As I waited for my breakfast to be prepared, I saw a familiar face walk my way. Buttafli and I were students at FAMU at the same time, but we didn't know each other there. We introduced ourselves and began talking about how excited we were to be there and ready to experience the full retreat. A few minutes later, we were joined by Mia. The 3 of us talked and ate breakfast before heading back to our rooms to get ready for the day. We took the hotel shuttle (a worker's car) to the airport and met the rest of our group there where we all boarded the shuttle van from Aqua for the 2 hour drive to the resort.
For the past 2 hours, I've been exploring the resort. It is comprised
of semiprivate tree house villas, a spa, restaurant, beach, and exercise
platform. I was escorted to my room by one of the workers who showed me
all the features of the resort. When we arrived at my villa, I was
pleased to see a small pool right outside my door. I opened the door to
find a bed facing the window with a view of beautiful green foliage
below. There's also an outside shower that I can use for a more natural
experience. There are no phones here. Each person was given a cell
phone by the resort to call reception, housekeeping, etc. There's also
free Wi-Fi. I quickly emailed my mom to let her know that I had
arrived. I unpacked my things and took my time exploring outside.
Walking up and down the steps along the various paths was no easy feat.
I stopped at the spa after walking for about 15 minutes and I was
breathless. Sweat dripped from my face and it felt good cooling my
skin. I'm in pretty good shape, but that felt like a major workout.
This place is not for anyone with a physical impairment.
I am currently sitting on a private beach in Tola, Nicaragua. The waves
are crashing and the sun is setting. All is right in the world.
When I walked down to the beach, two of the other ladies were already there. I took out my camera to take pictures of the setting sun, and they told me I had to take a "Praise the Lord" picture - arms raised to the sky in gratitude. Sitting on the beach reminds me of God's awesome presence. He ordained that I would be in this place at this time to receive all that he has for me. If nothing else happens over the next few days, I know that I already have peace within. I'm grateful to be able to share with the other women on this path with me.
5-24-16 12:05am
The plane is slowly pulling away from the gate, and we are moments from takeoff. I've already completed 2 legs of the journey - Houston to New Orleans then New Orleans to Ft. Lauderdale. In just 2 more hours I will be in Managua. This is my first trip to Central America. I've been eagerly anticipating this trip for months. Back in November, I saw a post on Facebook for the From Stress to Peace Retreat 2016. I knew at that moment that I wanted to participate. As I read the description, my soul cried out and yearned to go. I knew that I wanted the retreat and the peace it would bring, but I had no idea at the time how much I would truly need it at this time in my life.
Between November and May, I experienced the worst time of my life - the end of my marriage. I was angry, hurt, sad, confused, hopeful, disappointed, and on a constant emotional roller coaster for the first few months of 2016. Once everything was settled between us, I knew that I needed to work on making myself better by refilling my spirit with peace, love, and forgiveness. The retreat couldn't have come at a better time. Not only will it allow me to relax and enjoy myself, I will learn skills to help me become more peaceful in every aspect of my life. We will meditate, do yoga, hike, and more all at the fabulous Aqua tree house resort. I am grateful that I have this opportunity to join with other women from all over the US to experience all that is to come over the next few days at the retreat.
I haven't written a blog post in over a year, but I haven't stopped traveling. I plan to pick back up on my travel writing in 2016, so I'm starting today from the comfort of my home just to get back into the flow.
After I returned home from Australia in September 2014, I went to Cancun for my friend's beach-side wedding in October of that year. In November 2014, I went on my first cruise ever for another friend's wedding. The wedding took place on a beach in Key West, which was one of the ports where we stopped. Both weddings were absolutely beautiful, and I pray the marriages grow stronger and more loving each day.
I didn't leave the US borders in 2015, but I did visit and revisit some wonderful places where I created fond memories. In January, I went to Las Vegas for my birthday. It was an interesting experience for someone who doesn't gamble and doesn't think being sloppy drunk is fun. I enjoyed the shows, the food, and the walkability of The Strip. However, my favorite part of the whole trip was the day tour of the Grand Canyon. It was absolutely breathtaking to look out at the natural carving of the hard rock. I stood in amazement at God's handiwork. I was finally "truly American". The tour also stopped at the Hoover Dam and traveled along historic Route 66. I would definitely go to the Grand Canyon again. I also wouldn't mind going back to Vegas with the right company.
In May 2015, I took my mom to NYC for Mother's Day weekend. She tells everyone that is her favorite city, and she enjoys it most when she's with me. We explored the city together and visited with old friends. We saw Black Angels Over Tuskegee, a great show at a small theater that seemed to have lots of wonderful shows in production. After the show, we had a limited amount of time to get across town for massage appointments. We decided to take a pedicab for a different experience since neither my mom nor I had ever done that before. That 10 minute ride cost $60. It was definitely an experience we won't forget.
In July 2015, I went back to New Orleans for the 3rd time. It's close enough to home to travel cheaply, but the city is so very different from anywhere else around. I asked my co-worker who is a native New Orleanian about things to do while there, and she recommended a food tour. Why hadn't I ever thought of that? I love food and I love exploring new places. I took the Magazine St. Food Tour, and I LOVED it! I was a little concerned about the food options, so I called before I booked the tour to ask if they could accommodate my pescetarian diet. The guy asked me, "Do you eat gator?", and I paused for a minute to think before responding, "It tastes like chicken, so I don't think that's considered seafood." That's all I could think of at the time. They made a few changes to the menu, and I was sold. That tour was the best part of the trip. I learned about the food, culture, and history of the area with a very knowledgeable tour guide.
In 2016, I plan to travel more and share my experiences with whomever wants to read about them. I just want to express and inspire myself even if it's just for me to go back and read my own thoughts later.
