october 30, 2013

1. That all good things come to an end.

2. Independent travel is not as intimidating or scary as I once believed.

3. Smile swapping instantly sparks something in me.  Perhaps, the gift of a simple moment of connection.

4. Perception of beauty is so varied among cultures. After admiring the appearance of my new Vietnamese friend, I realized she was doing the same of me - a reoccurring exchange throughout my trip.

5. Good listeners teach me about myself. They are patient enough to hear me out to the point in which I come to my own realizations. Invaluable and so appreciated.

6. Mot, hai, ba...yo! = 1, 2, 3 "bottoms up" in Vietnamese.  Jul moy = cheers in Khmer.

7. I am Wednesday evening born - symbolized by an elephant (no tusks).

8. Being completely open and vulnerable with another person- friend or lover - is what creates the depth in our relationships.

9. I sort of love SE Asia and fully intend to return one day.

10. “The best journeys answers questions that in the beginning you didn't even think to ask.” Yvon Chouinard

october 5, 2013

1. Always ask why.

2. That I prefer a New Zealand accent to a British accent any day.

3. The smiles of Khmer people are possibly the warmest on the planet.

4. To me, traveling is finding my way off the beaten path - at home or abroad.

5. The best bonding happens when there is a shared goal.

6. Perhaps cliche, but time really does heal.

7. Bucket showers are not so bad after all.

8. That I must remember to jump in, fully clothed, from time to time.  

A spontaneous swim is the best kind.

9. "We must be our own before we can be another's." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

10. Rainy season in Cambodia should be called "flooding season." 

I've witnessed the most intense rain that I've ever seen this week.