welcome to MY VISUAL TRAVEL JOURNAL.

way back when traveling was still a thing, i maximized every opportunity i had to see the world. and yes, i realize just how privileged i really was, but it made me a much better storyteller. the ability to observe culture and exist in spaces where language, religion, status, and accessibility all feel *so new* is the greatest human experience i have ever had in this life. & i want to have it again and over, again and again.
THIS IS MY VISUAL TRAVEL JOURNAL. THESE IMAGES ARE MY STORY.
(turn your phone sideways for the panoramic experience, friend.)

SINGAPORE, A CULTURAL SPEAKEASY

IT’S SO SHINY AND BEAUTIFUL ON THE SURFACE. BUT BEHIND-THE-SCENES, BROWN PEOPLE ARE KEEPING UP APPEARANCES IN EVERY BUSINESS AND AROUND EVERY CORNER. SINGAPORE WAS A PICTURESQUE SEA OF (FAUX) LUXURY, FILLED WITH TEACHABLE MOMENTS.

just look at it…

LEMME TELL YOU ABOUT THat one time i SELFISHLY WENT TO BALI TO REDISCOVER INNER PEACE—AND IT WORKED.

TWO FRIENDS AND I SPENT 10 DAYS IN SELECTIVE SILENCE AT A VILLA IN BALI, REDISCOVERING OURSELVES BETWEEN CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. WE ATE WITH THE LOCALS ON THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN, WE BOUGHT ART FROM A PAINTER’S HOME GALLERY. WE SAW TEMPLES, RAN IN RAIN, AND QUIETLY OBSERVED THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT SURROUNDED US WITH ALL OF THEIR BEAUTY. AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, I STAYED IN MY ROOM AND JOURNALED MY WAY BACK TO SELF LOVE. MAGICALLY, I FOUND MYSELF AGAIN.

BANGKOK

WAS A FULL EMOTIONAL RESET

I FELL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN WHILE IN BANGKOK. THIS TRIP EXPOSED MY HUSBAND’S CAPACITY FOR LOVE IN WAYS I NEVER KNEW WERE POSSIBLE. I WAS IN A TRANSITIONAL PLACE IN LIFE, AND ON THIS TRIP HE LOVED ME THROUGH MY PERSONAL GROWING PAINS. WE VISITED THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES, EXPERIENCED ART AND TEMPLES AND ATE THE BEST FOOD. WE SHOPPED THE BEST MALL, THEN HEADED TO BROWN TOWN AND SHOPPED THE SWAP MEETS AND FLEA MARKETS (WHICH FELT LIKE WE WERE AMONG FAMILY). WE TOOK IT ALL IN, AND IT HELPED ME TO SEE US AGAIN.

HONG KONG

I WALKED THE NARROW, BUSY STREETS OF HONG KONG ALONE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, AND GOT LOST IN WAYS I’D NEVER BEEN LOST BEFORE — EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I SAW THE RICH LIFE, SHOPPED HIGH FASHION, AND THEN FOUND MY WAY TO THE BEAUTIFUL SLUMS THAT ARE FILLED WITH SO MUCH PROMISE. EACH TIME I WENT TO HONG KONG I WAS REMINDED OF THE CONTRASTS IN LIFE, AND I WAS REMINDED OF MY OWN NEED TO STAY GROUNDED IN HUMILITY.

PARIS IS burning. jk.

OH, PARIS... OF COURSE PARIS IS INCREDIBLE, BUT IT IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THE CULTURAL CONTRASTS ARE JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME. I’VE STAYED AT GORGEOUS HOTELS IN THE POSH PART OF TOWN, AND HAD AFRICAN MAIDS GASP IN MY FACE WHEN THEY SEE A BLACK WOMAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR. AND THEN, I’VE STAYED IN AREAS WHERE LOCALS WON’T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE MY EXISTENCE. PARIS IS PARIS — IT’S NOT MY DREAM CITY, BUT IT DOES REMIND ME TO ALWAYS DREAM BIG.

MALAYSIA

IS BEAUTIFUL, DIMENSIONAL, AND BROWN. I LOVE IT HERE.

MALAYSIA FEELS SO GOOD TO ME. IT’S IMPERFECT, IT’S NOT ANNOYINGLY RICH, AND IT IS SO FULL OF CULTURE. RELIGION INFLUENCES EVERYTHING IN THIS PLACE IN WAYS THAT ARE SO INCREDIBLE. KUALA LUMPUR AND THE ADJACENT CITIES ARE NOT THE TOURIST DESTINATIONS ONE WOULD EXPECT, BUT THE LAYERS OF BEAUTY ON EVERY CORNER CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS TRANSCENDENT.

AMSTERDAM IS WHERE CLARITY CAN BE FOUND BETWEEN NARROW STREETS AND WALKING OVER WATER.

FREEDOM. BICYCLES. WEED, IF THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE INTO. EPIC VINTAGE SHOPS, GREAT RECORD STORES. ZERO LIFE EPIPHANIES. oh, and i got a bucket of water thrown on my head in the red light district. total random occurrence.