Traveling for 4 months straight is...

If I told you that traveling for 4 straight months was easy I'd be lying.  Of course, I know that my way of traveling is a lot more easy compared to a lot of other backpackers who are doing the very same thing.  I have really covered some ground though in 4 months.  Starting out in South Africa - gosh that seems like ages ago - then flying back to the states and doing a weekend in Jamaica (yeh mon forgot about that trip) then flying to the Middle East and covering my head for 3.5 weeks.  Oh and then there were the former USSR countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan (random places that everyone frowns when I tell them I went here).  My long layover in Istanbul where I spent a grand at the bazaar getting home furnishings for that house someday when I finally settle down.  Wedding in Pakistan, yup that was a great experience.  Followed by the clearest bluest sandiest and most awesome hotel in the Maldives.  Sri Lanka - yup that was next where I finally entered Asia and wished I had two more weeks to spend my time.  Now over to my future home some day singapore - myanmar and now here I am in bali, Indonesia relaxing - working on my tan on a daily basis and practicing yoga.  I have visited 17 new countries since I started!  17!  That brings my country total to 76!  The goal still being 100 before I'm 30 next November.  The whole trip has had its ups and downs - and overall has been such an amazing experience that I will never forget.  

Some tips I'd like to share or things that I've learned on this trip:

1).  Always have USD$ on you, all denominations.  No matter what country you visit everyone knows dollars and in a lot of countries, even the menus have usd prices and they even charge you in usd and sometimes it's a hassle if you give them local currency!  

2).  Don't travel with a good friend for longer then 1-2 months at a time.  Shit gets old, fights happen, friendships end - period.

3).  Call home often.  Yeh I'm working on this, but luckily I have free texting in a lot of countries and Facebook to tell my parents and sister that I'm still alive.

4).  Take breaks.  Yeh it's ok, the other day I didn't do anything.  I watched 4 movies.  It was awesome.

5).  Keep in touch with friends.  Just because I'm not in the US I've been still trying to keep in contact with old co workers and my friends.  It's important.  I think people forget that I'm only a text away.  Gotta love t-mobile - and that's number 6!

6).  Get t-mobile unlimited data/text plan - 88$ with taxes out the door.  Best phone plan ever for international traveling

7).  Make friends, add them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.  touch base meet up again.  Sounds easy but it's not.  I've already ran into and met so many people but I always forget to ask to connect.  You never know when you might visit their country and need a place to crash or a friend to show you around

8).  Check bank accounts daily!  Or as much as you can.  I have a good habit of this, especially when I'm taking money out of a foreign atm.  I always like to keep track of the exchange rate used.  I also want to closely monitor my accounts because you never know if someone is watching you and reading your cc numbers especially when traveling.  Anyways you should do this all the time regardless.

9).  No brainer here, but keep track of your miles!  I've flown a ton since I've started and a lot of my flights have been booked on miles.  But when they aren't, I'm making sure to fly with a carrier that is affiliated with united, or ba etc.  

10).  I'm struggling to find 10 tips, shall I just say enjoy the ride?  Don't think about the future and focus on the present.  I'm always telling myself not to worry about finding a job when I'm finally done traveling, but gosh I find it hard not to check in every other day on LinkedIn and make sure my resume is all up to date.  Not sure why?!!!

Balinese spa day

Well my yoga studio was closed on both Sunday and Monday for staff outing.  I decided to make the most of this bad situation and get a lot of sunshine and lots of pampering!!  The spas here are incredibly cheap I must say.  You can get a lot for a little basically.  On Sunday I had my first experience of a true Balinese massage.  The massage was really good too and these women know what they are doing.  It's a full both massage with oil.  The massage cost itself is about $4-5 and with tip you can easily spend still under $10!  For an hour!  I had my massage after lunch at this great raw food cafe.  I told the woman that I would be back tomorrow and sure enough same time same place on Monday.  However on Monday I splurged and decided to not only get this 1 hour fab massage, I also got a facial, and a hair cream bath which is basically a facial for your hair.  3 hours of pampering and before I knew it my bus back to my hotel was leaving.  All of this cost about $28 and that was with the tip.  I can't believe it.  Not only is the service affordable but it's also very clean at this salon, the women are friendly, and it's good quality!

Before I leave I'm sure to get many more massages, another facial, mani and pedi and some waxing.  

So far bali is treating me very well, outside of bali belly!  I love it here!!

Valentine's Day - World+Amanda=true love forever!

It's now February 15th here in Bali and I'm reminded of one thing, getting that text message early in the morning much earlier then my flight to Tahoe was supposed to leave and getting told that grandma quietly passed away during the night.  It was something that I've never experienced or at least not remembering (I was super young when my moms dad passed and not born when her mom passed).  Losing a grandparent is hard and I can say this as I wasn't even that close to grandma or at least couldn't spent as much time with her as I wanted to always living really far away etc.  but I made sure that every time I was home I made a visit to G&G.  I just remember the good times playing checkers and her letting me win.  And then the endless hours playing trouble and card games!!  I know you are looking down on me now grams.  

And I'll never forget the horrible drive from Chicago back home to michigan for the funeral.  Ugh!  Not missing that snow right now

Well today my yoga place is closed and also tomorrow. I guess it's yoga In the room!  So I slept in and went for breakfast and then stayed by the pool for 90 Minutes.  That's honestly all my skin can take without sunscreen and it's super hot out and finally not raining.  I'm going to venture into town today and grab lunch and maybe do some shopping!

So Valentine's Day!  Yes I hope all of you with your significant other had a great day.  I know my significant other is the world and yes we're having a lovely time.  We love each other and love getting to spend time together everyday.  World + Amanda = forever.  Nothing can take away these experiences!

Bali Day 1 & 2

Bali!  Finally here - I've really been looking forward to coming here since I booked my flight from Myanmar here.  Oh that seems forever ago.  

I have stayed two nights so far and am now approaching my third.  Needless to say time is already flying. For the first two nights I stayed in a very local guesthouse very near by to the place where I'm practicing yoga, yoga barn.  I only booked two nights to get myself acclimated etc.  I got in real late the first night and the next morning I venture off to the yoga barn and did 3 classes.  Enjoyed some coconut water and some healthy salads.  This morning I took a nice sleep in, and checked out and moved into my new space!  I'm at this really nice resort actually and I got a great deal where it works out to be about $16 a night for this $65 place!  I'm so lucky.  I will stay here for 15 days at least and then I have two more nights and I may just stay here!  The staff is so friendly, they have free bikes that I can use to bike into yoga, and the food is amazing and very reasonably priced.  I have really no reason to leave because they also have yoga classes, restaurant and spa !  I'm definently getting a facial and a massage one of these days!

As for the yoga vibe here, it's really good.  On the first day my first class was vinyasa. Typical style and the instructor was from the states.  The second class was called nada yoga.  I have never tried this style so I thought that I would give it a go.  This class is based all on sounds and it's actually a really mediation style of yoga. Needless to say that your mind adjusts to the sounds which in turn create vibrations for mediation.  This was the first half of the class and the rest was more personal where you got very close to others in the room and looked them in the eyes etc.  very intimidating ... Not sure that I will do this style again but it was fun to try.  My third class was restorative yoga which is even more slow paced then yin.  Great way to end my first day.  Today since my morning was spent having a lay in, and then checking out, I laid out by the pool until he rain came and then of course when the rain came it was time for me to bike to class.  I enjoyed a yin class tonight and my hips are hurting now!  Most of the people at these classes are westerners, a lot of people actually from the states and UK.  Very few locals practice here but I've seen a few.  The vibe is good, everyone is very hippie style (no offense to anyone) and I wish that I could actually try and dress like more of the people here.  I just don't have that style.  And seeing all these cute tattoos that resemble yoga on all these girls is making me want one!  I've never had one, so I'll be thinking this over and over and over again!

Tomorrow I will make it up for sunrise flow yoga!  No sleeping in!  

Everyone needs to experience bali at least once in their life.  It's really cheap here considering its a huge resort area, and the people are friendly and the weather is good.  Come ALL!

What's next? Thoughts, ramblings, experiences!

Bali bound tomorrow.  I can hardly contain myself.  My flight leaves tomorrow at 830 which means I have to leave here around 530, but I'm up writing this blog.  

I had a lot of time to think today and after talking to a lot of fellow travelers I've made up my mind on a few things.  First of all, every single person I talk to says 'go to new Zealand' including one of my best friends who is constantly telling me what to do (I mean this is a good way Diane).  Anyways, I met this awesome American couple who were in their early 60s maybe and they were from Montana.  Who would think that I meet such awesome people from there.  They were on my night bus last night and I throughly enjoyed speaking to them.  They have been everywhere I swear!  And now they are leaving Myanmar tomorrow as well and going to Bhutan!  So awesome that these two retired individuals can enjoy life and travel!  I only hope that I find a soul mate who wishes to do that same one day!  Anyways, amongst our many discussions about travel I discovered they have lived in Africa, New Zealand, and a few other places.  They have taken their children when they were small all over the South Pacific and to some really remote islands.  How awesome?!!!  Long story now shorter, they begged me to go to New Zealand and work.  Seriously were like 'you would be foolish not to go'.  They have been there over 10 times and love it!  Wow who goes to New Zealand 10 times?  It's so far away.  Must be good!  Then today I met a German girl who is going to NZ to work!  Actually her next stop is there!  Ironic?  I think something is telling me something,  

Then I met another girl in my hostel from France who is going to India to do her yoga teacher training course in March. Seriously are all these coincidences happening to me in the last 24 hours?  She gave me the name of the place in Kerala India and it looks really good on paper.  I wanna keep in touch with her to get her reactions on this yoga shala.

So there's my thinking wrapped up into what is next?  And then there's my love for singapore!!  I'm always thinking ahead in fact I'm always anxious and actually quite impatient.  Although I'm having a wonderful time traveling I do often think about what it would be like to not be living out of a backpack?  For those of you with a closet, feel lucky right now!  

I booked a really nice guest house in ubud for nights 3-17.  I got an amazing deal through Expedia.  They have free bikes so I can bike to yoga and there is a pool and it's very secluded.  I'm stoked!  Can't wait to get there and get my yogi groove on!  I'm also considering avoiding Facebook for a week.  See what it's like?  Really get my zen on?  I don't know if I've ever gone one week let alone 24 hours without Facebook but I'm hoping to give it a try.  Wish me luck and more when I arrive in Bali !

Myanmar

Myanmar the land of undiscovered territory.  I've quite enjoyed my time here considering after going to Singapore and changing my flight and not initially even wanting to come here, it's been great!

On the first day/night - I stayed in Yangon.  There is quite a bit to see in Yangon so I knew that I needed to get started.  There are these really nice pagodas which are covered in gold.  I went to see the main one at first starting around 4pm so that I could catch the dusk setting.  Wow, seriously there is so much gold that it's hurting my eyes.  I went back to my hotel after spending some time here and actually met a nice taxi driver who turned out to be my driver to the bus station the next day.  On the next morning I ventured out quite a bit despite my foot still hurting.  I went to the market, sule pagoda and the lake with a palace which kind of reminded me of the summer palace in Beijing.  At the market, I bought some thanaka face wash, and these jade beaded cup coasters. I also got to experience the true thanaka experience where this woman out it on my cheeks.  The Burmese believe that this is great for the skin and also protects against the sun.  Very cool experience.  At night I headed towards the bus station which literally is only 12 miles away but took over an hour and half!  I got to the bus and looked inside and witnessed the best upcoming bus journey of my life.  This coach was 3 rows, 3 single rows.  All of the seats reclined back and all the passengers were given a blanket, head pillow, water, and other toiletries.  I couldn't believe that I was riding this awesome bus in Myanmar!!  The bus journey was about 9 hours to Bagan and I managed to watch a couple of movies and fall asleep for a few hours.  

When I got to bagan I met these two Irish girls who were also traveling and we happened to be staying in the same hotel in bagan.  We shared a taxi there and went to the only open cafe at 5am and basically waited for sunrise and a chance to freshen up before we took on the day.  We rented bikes from a nearby woman renting them for 2$.  So cheap!  We biked around bagan and stopped at a few temples/pagodas on the way to 'old bagan'.  My foot seriously wasn't having too much more of this biking or walking nonsense so after biking for a few hours we went back and I called it a day pretty much.  I took a long bear nap and rested then had some dinner at a near by restaurant.  

The next day in bagan, I rented an electric bike this time in hopes to let my foot rest.  I literally drove around everywhere in fact I wore that electric bike right out that I had to change around mid-day to a new one because the battery died on the other one.  Scary situation!!  In the afternoon, I rode my bike to a nearby really posh hotel.  Not staying at this posh hotel, but it sure seemed like I was.  I found the awesome looking infinity pool and laid out my stuff and immediately was given a beach towel and menu by the staff.  I ordered a drink and some lunch and literally hung out all afternoon here!  The pool was nice and it had a great view of some nearby pagodas which wasn't a bad view.  I got some sun and continued to nurse my foot.  Later I went back to the hotel and said by to my Irish friends who were taking the overnight bus to inle lake, in which I would join them the next day as I decided to take the day bus to inle.  

The bus to inle wasn't quite as posh as the other one, but still rather nice.  The bus ride was supposed to be about 7 hours but turned out to be closer to 9.  The road from bagan to inle was a winding one through the mountains, but the views were amazing.  A nice journey to take during the day.  I arrived at inle around  5pm and just settled in for the evening.  I booked another night for this hotel in inle and then booked my overnight bus back to bagan for the 9th arriving on the 10th.  The Internet was actually working in my room here.  First place!  The Internet in Myanmar is not that good and if it actually works it's really slow.  That ok though.  So then yesterday I booked a boat tour from my hotel for someone to take me out on the inle lake for about 6 hours.  The boat ride was amazing.  The views at morning were awesome and I got to see many Burmese fishing which was a neat experience.  We then stopped off at many local shops and handi craft stores where I got to see how the wooden boats were made, umbrellas protecting against the sun, cigars, silver and gold, and lotus/silk scarf etc making.  I'm sure they were hoping that I bought a bunch of stuff but I managed away with a little bit.  Inle lake is also really known for its floating temples and floating gardens.  Very interesting!  After the boat ride I was tired and just hung out at the hotel and saw my friends.  The rest of my time here is spent staying off my foot as much as possible and taking an overnight bus back to Yangon.  

Bali bound in less then 48 hours!!

2016 home?

I'm currently sitting in my king size bed overlooking the window to my hotel room on the 24th floor overlooking the city of Singapore and the marina bay. I'm so lucky really I am!  Not many people get a chance to experience this!  I'm really happy today, probably the happiest day this week.  I've been busy in Singapore just exploring the food, culture and yoga.  I've done 9 yoga classes in just 5 days and plan to finish up tomorrow with 2 more.  My foot is still hurting unfortunately, it even appears to be feeling worse!! I really shouldn't walk anywhere, but really how feasible is this?!  

I'm sad that I'm leaving here soon.  It really went by too fast.  I'm not even excited about Myanmar because I know it's going to be hard there - hard in a way of the country is behind on a lot of things.  I know that after a week there though I will be in Bali!  That is something to look forward too!  Gosh I hope that my foot is feeling better before I go to bali!  

I'm already planning my return here.  Gosh it's just too good!!!