I have always dreamed of visiting Chicago for several reasons. As a huge Oprah fan, I had always wanted to attend a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show, but I was never able to get tickets. My husband was born in Chicago and often shared stories about his childhood there. He came from a large…
Yellowstone National Park had been at the top of my bucket list for years. As we left Livingston, Montana, early that morning and headed toward the park, I could hardly contain my excitement. This would be my first visit to a National Park, and I had visions of seeing wildlife everywhere—especially bears. I have always…
Before heading back to Thailand, my sister Judy and I took a road trip through the American Midwest. After flying into Omaha, Nebraska, we rented a car and made our way across the rolling countryside of Iowa to visit family and explore a small part of the state neither of us had seen before. The…
There’s something special about setting out with no real plan beyond “let’s go for a drive.” That’s exactly how this trip began. Early on a Sunday morning, we loaded the dogs into the back of the truck and headed south toward Doi Inthanon National Park — home to the highest mountain in Thailand. The drive…
Some trips begin with excitement.This one began with us showing up at the airport a full day early. After weeks of debating islands, routes, buses, boats, and budgets, Sean, Pink, and I had finally settled on a trip to Koh Tao — one of Thailand’s beautiful southern islands, famous for its snorkeling and turquoise water….
It was time to do a Visa Run. I saw a cheap flight from Bangkok to Bali, and I. thought “Why not go on an adventure?” My trip to Bali began very early in the morning. My flight was scheduled to leave Bangkok at 6:25 a.m., which meant I needed to be at the airport…
A morning in Lovina, Bali — and a reminder that travel rarely unfolds exactly as imagined. I woke up moments before my alarm clock went off at 5:30 in the morning. Another unusually early day for me. Still half asleep, I dressed quickly and headed toward the back gate of the Adirama Hotel where I…
I had imagined my first snorkeling trip in Bali beginning peacefully with coffee by the pool, ocean air, and underwater photography. Instead, it began with someone pounding on my hotel door while I slept through my departure time. Before going to bed I checked my underwater camera goggles one last time. Everything seemed to be…
One of the things I enjoyed most about Bali was simply walking. The moment you stepped outside, someone would usually offer you transportation. “Taxi?” “Motorbike?” “Where you go?” But most of the time I preferred exploring on foot. Walking slowed everything down. It allowed me to notice details I would otherwise miss — small shrines…
After snorkeling I returned to the hotel trying to decide what to do with the rest of my day. I had plans later that afternoon with Wayan to go shopping for baby clothes, but for the moment I had several free hours and no real plan. That was when Ketu, another young Balinese man I…
By the time I returned from the hot springs, I barely had enough time to shower and get ready before Wayan arrived for the next part of the day’s adventure. I still did not really know where we were going. All I knew was that I had mentioned wanting to find baby clothes, and Wayan…
After leaving the marketplace, Wayan suggested we stop by the harbor before heading back. The harbor itself was fairly simple — a small wharf, fishing boats, and a quiet waterfront area looking out over the sea. Nothing particularly grand, but pleasant in its own way. Nearby stood a Chinese temple painted in vivid reds and…
Of all the places I had researched before coming to Bali, Ubud was the one I was most curious about. Everywhere I read described it as the artistic and cultural center of the island — a place filled with galleries, music, temples, markets, and creativity. And of course… monkeys. When Wayon dropped me off Tuesday…
Before leaving for Bali, I had spent countless hours researching the what was available to see and experience. I knew this was probably going to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for me, and I wanted to make the most of every moment. I carefully planned where I wanted to go, what I hoped to see, and…
One of the main reasons I chose to visit Ubud was the Sacred Monkey Forest. I honestly did not know exactly what to expect. I had read about the monkeys, the jungle paths, and the temples hidden within the forest, but beyond that it was still a mystery to me. And somehow that made it…
There are some days while traveling that feel less like sightseeing and more like simply following curiosity. This turned out to be one of those days. I had decided to take Wednesday morning slow. After several busy days of traveling, snorkeling, wandering markets, and adjusting to Bali, it felt nice to wake up without a…
When I arrived at the Lobong Cafe, the place was packed. I was about ready to turn around and go back home, when one of the waiters came up and asked me if I would like a seat. Seeing no places available, he assured me he could find me a seat if I didn’t mind…
My original plan for Bali had been simple: three days in Lovina Beach, three days in Ubud, and my final night in Sanur, a beach town near the airport. Friday morning I found myself reluctant to leave Ubud. I liked my room there. I could easily spend another day wandering the Monkey Forest, catch another…