πππ ππππ πππ, I was a little drunk on champagne as my flight to Bangkok took off, just as NYC decided to declare a state of emergency. As I woke up this morning in the magical town of Tepoztlan, Mexico, I recounted what I experienced that fateful day exactly one year ago. I woke up [...]
I am now laying belly down on the bed of my rented apartment on the island of Koh Samui, spending a few days here decompressing from Crystal Island before I head to Bangkok for two days to do some shopping and relax into city life and then moving onwards to Mexico. I sit here revising my photo roll, integrating all of this. Living in the moment is so beautiful and yet here I am, reminded that it is important to take some time to be alone and digest everything.
My first solo travel adventure turned destination quarantine in Thailand has led and is still leading to many adventures and lessons learned. Beyond the usual lessons of 'what/what not to bring', 'how to prepare for long term solo travel', and destination guides, there have been invaluable things I've learned about myself and, in turn, the world during these few months. I'm so grateful to be able to dive deeper in my understanding of how I perceive myself and the environment around me and the people that have assisted in my expansion.
Currently in 'destination quarantine', living in a bungalow on Thailand's second largest island. Some of the other travelers I've met on the road have taken one of two options: return home or stay here in paradise. My choice was easy - ride it out.
I remember the first flight I ever took alone: freshly 19, working a minimum wage job and purchased a 'Name Your Own Price' ticket off an online site headed out to the Wild Wild West Coast - California.
