The area around the small towns of Dominical and Uvita, on the Pacific coast of southern Costa Rica, is one of my favorite places in the world. I’ve visited the region four separate times over the course of six years, and although through that period of time there has been many changes, the overall energy of the magical region remains untouched. More hotels and restaurants are popping up constantly; …
It’s all about the little things. Yes, it’s easy to live fully in the moment and be bubbling over with happiness during a travel excursion, but how does one maintain that sense of adventure the rest of the time? It’s all about appreciating the small things, and setting positive events in motion. It’s about having fun and making life a never ending celebration. It’s about learning, growing, and …
We see millions of images every day. Every moment we see is a small picture that flashes through our brain and into our core. Some images rush out of our minds forever, and some will never leave us. These fleeting memory portraits can become distorted over time, turning some into facades on inflated pedestals, and unfairly demoting others. However a minority of these moments are lucky enough to be captured …
In 2010 my friend Jodie sporadically decided to put her stuff in storage and travel to Australia for a few months. A few months grew quickly into a year and right before the start of 2012 she set foot on American soil for the first time since she left. I was excited to see her again, but to be quite honest I almost didn’t recognize her. Never mind …
What does it mean to me to be a modern hippie girl? It means I feel as comfortable barefoot as I do in heels. It means I can spend the night at a 5-star resort one night and the next night camp on the beach. It means I am independent and self reliant. It means even if I enjoy wearing it, I don’t need makeup to feel sexy. It means …
I spent my weekend surrounded by jungle. I saw a white faced capuchin during my morning walk. I ate lunch with an iguana beside me. I swam under a waterfall in the afternoon. I did yoga with tropical birds. I watched the sunset over the ocean as I ate dinner. The best part? I didn’t even leave my hotel. Travelettes, I have a terrible confession …
Tortillas are actually pretty easy to make from scratch, but no one ever suspects that. So when I do decide to take the extra time to make them they are perceived as an impressive delicacy. I mastered the art while living on an organic farm on the foothills of the Talamanca Mountains in Costa Rica, where they are as much of a staple in everyday meals as rice and beans. …
The Sky Mall catalog is always one of the most interesting ways I find to occupy my time during long plane rides. I have this game I play with myself where I choose what item I would give to what friend. You know, if I was the kind of person who wanted to spend money on totally useful products like a cell phone wrist carrier instead of …
Envision this: You are gently awakened by the distant sound of waves, and the near sounds of birds chirping in the trees above you. You unzip your tent and step out into a tropical wonderland. After getting dressed and drinking a morning coconut, it’s time for yoga. After yoga you take a quick swim in the ocean, grab some breakfast and then rush out to …
There is no real way to capture or understand the enchantment of a Balinese immersion. There is something subliminal and sacred about the way all the elements of Balinese life flow together. Yes, even those scary ass dogs.
At the present moment I have a few friends heading to Bali, and as the January rain pours down here in San Francisco, I wish so badly on the stars in the …
