Travel

Reflections (at 25 or 33)

September 23, 2016 by Asia

¡Hola mis queridos amigos!

I cannot tell if time is moving quickly or slowly here. Perhaps this is what living in the moment feels like? In addition to volunteering with Ecuadorian children, building bamboos houses, and going on hikes and adventures the past two months, I’ve also had a birthday! Celebrating a birthday amidst such a wanderlust time in my life was interesting. I knew it was my birthday, but in a lot of ways, it didn’t really matter. Every day here I get to celebrate life. Every day I find myself grateful for the opportunity I have to do this, for the new friends I’ve made, and for all the memories I have yet to make.

Having a birthday in Ecuador at an extreme party beach in Montañita did not do me wrong, however. (I’m also reminded of celebrating my 21st birthday at an iconic party beach by the name of Ibiza…but I digress.) I made a birthday weekend out of it and celebrated (a little too hard) with several volunteers from the All Hands project and my usual Kiwi crew.

When people asked how old I was and I responded with 33, most of them just stared at me in disbelief. I have gotten that I look young for my age most of my life, but even more so here on the road. Perhaps it’s my playful spirit? My face without makeup? My genes? (Thanks mom and dad!) It could also be that so many people down here are in their 20’s and assume that everyone else is too. While it doesn’t matter how old I am, I will say that it was fun to pretend like I was 25 for a bit. That was the most popular age guessed for me over the past few weeks, so at one point I just went with it and never revealed my true age (sorryyyy Max). But again, does age really matter? I don’t think so. I think what matters is as simple as just living your life, and not letting it go to waste, because time waits for no one. For me, right now, that means following my calling to travel.

In the wise words of one of the wandering souls I have met along the way: “If you have the opportunity to travel and don’t do so, you’re an asshole.” Well, I might not call you an asshole, but I will say that I agree to a certain extent. If you have the opportunity to do something in your life that you’ve always wanted to do, that calls to you, and that just feels right…but that is also a little bit scary and perhaps a bit risky…you better do it. Now. Consider it an early birthday present to yourself. Por favor. Reminder – time waits for no one.

And so as I reflect on a new year ahead of me, I feel content. I am reminded of how turning one idea into reality – to drop everything and go travel – has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life so far, at 25 or 33.

xo,

The Ageless Birthday Girl

The Kids of Quito

August 23, 2016 by Asia

The past 3 weeks I had the privilege of working at a children’s summer camp in Quito, Ecuador. I’ve never been a camp counselor, and my experience with children is pretty limited, but for some reason I was really drawn to this opportunity. I knew I would get to speak Spanish and play with Ecuadorian children in various parts of a new city every day. Come on. How fun is that?! There were approximately 100 children, and my age group was 5-6 year olds.

I found the job through an international volunteer site called Workaway and decided it would be a great spot to start my South American travels. I worked as a camp guide (the kids called me “profe” which is short for “profesora”) from 8-1 M-F along with 7 other volunteers in exchange for free lodging and breakfast. It was a great decision since I met so many amazing people! Our group consisted of: Hannah from New Zealand, Ben & Heidi from New Zealand, Joass from Germany, Julius from United States, Lais from Brazil & Merlin from France, and me. Everyone got along really well. The 4 singles/solo travelers shared and room, and the 2 couples had their own rooms. Bunking with two guys wasn’t without its challenges, but it was a good way to ease into the hostel living situation only having 4 to a room versus 10-12 people in some hostels. Let’s just say I’m glad I have noise-cancelling headphones on this trip!

We took the kids to so many places around Quito: parks, pools, amusement parks, museums, movies, and more. We could only speak Spanish with the children, the local Ecuadorian guides, and the drivers. It was a wonderful way to immediately immerse myself in the culture upon arrival. I may not have all of my college level Spanish back yet, but it’s coming to me with practice!

Last week I said goodbye to the kids from camp and tried not to shed a tear as I parted with my favorites, including a girl who lives in an orphanage. Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to visit this foundation. It was my first time visiting such a place so I didn’t know how I would handle it. I held back a some tears and managed to keep myself together and really enjoyed playing with the children. The grounds were nice and there seemed to be an excellent staff and several volunteers. The children were sweet, and each one had a unique story as to why he or she was there. I spent time with a lot of 1-2 year olds in their room, and then played with the older 4+ year old kids outdoors on the playground. The goal for some of these children is to be reunited with their parents one day once they are in a good place. Others have no longer have parents in the picture so they are waiting for new ones. I am no where near ready to have kids in my life right now, but if I do decide to have them one day, I would consider adoption. This experience really opened me to the idea.

I can’t believe my time in Quito is already coming to an end, but there is still so much to see in Ecuador! I could easily spend months here, and maybe I will. (90 days is the maximum allowed for tourism in one stay.) I will be continuing the next part of my journey with 3 of my new friends from New Zealand. First we will be trekking in the mountains around Quilatoa, and then we will be volunteering on the coast of Canoa where the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck back in April. There, I will be sleeping in a tent on the beach and doing manual labor demoing and building bamboo houses. Definitely not city living. My internet will be spotty the next few weeks, but I hope to keep you updated on my travels periodically!

Have you done any international volunteering? Would you consider it?

A Little Town Called Mindo

August 16, 2016 by Asia

Mindo is a beautiful small town located just north of Quito, Ecuador. Nestled in the Andean foothills and surrounded by the Mindo-Nambillo Cloud Forest, it’s the perfect destination for a peaceful getaway. Plus, it’s only a 90 minute $3.10 bus ride from the northern bus terminal in Quito making it quite accessible.

The plaza.

I spent one night in town with four of my new friends from the city. Eager to get away from the hustle and bustle for a bit, we rented a house off the beaten path and brought supplies to make dinner and drinks.

Madeline, Jen, and me playing house.

We started the day walking around the enormous property. There was a river, waterfall, natural pool, and various trails. I felt lucky to have been invited to such a beautiful place! If you don’t have a hookup with the locals, you can stay cheaply for around $10/night in one of the many hostels near the center of town, and there is no shortage of public hiking and waterfalls.

The river on our property.

I immediately got a hippie vibe upon arrival. There were women selling homemade jewelry and families singing in the streets and restaurants for money. Everywhere I looked I saw a sign for a vegetarian restaurant and signs for quinoa this, and quinoa that. Could this be my heaven?

This is Steve, and this was our natural waterfall pool.

After we spent time enjoying nature, we ate and drank at the house before deciding to head into town to check out the “nightlife”. Sadly, this is when I was attacked by a bug…a red ant with very large pincers! When I saw a creature stuck inside my middle toe, I FREAKED OUT. (Don’t ask me why I didn’t wear sneakers.) I started jumping up and down on one foot, yelling “get it off me! get it off me!” I kept pulling on the invader, but it was stuck in between the toe and toenail. I probably looked like such a site to the taxi driver who was not so patiently waiting for us to get inside his pickup truck. Screaming, I straddled my new friend Steve and made him carry me to the truck. He couldn’t pull the ant off my toe either. Finally, Kevin saved the day with his tweezers and pulled the ant sideways out of my bleeding toe. Lovely. Once I was safe from the ants, I laughed hysterically about this for several hours. Mindo has bugs. Many, many bugs. #nature

This is Kevin. Not pictured – his tweezers.

After that debacle, we arrived in town and scoped out a few bars with a mix of locals and tourists. Mindo doesn’t exactly “go off”, but plenty of people are ready to enjoy a cocktail and dance to Latin music. We had a drink, bought yummy late night cake off a street vendor, and enjoyed some tasty thin crust pizza before trying to find a ride back up to our property.

I was pretty set on finding a 4×4 that could take us all the way up to the house, away from the crazy ants. The girls agreed. We’d rather sleep on the streets of Mindo than go through that again! No cabs or trucks to be found, we wandered the streets for nearly an hour trying to find a ride back to our property. (Small town.) A local who worked at one of the bars walked around with us for at least 30 minutes, talking to strangers on the street, telling us which doors to knock on of the unsuspecting sleeping Ecuadorians to see who might have a truck and be willing to drive us back. Yelling into sleeping strangers’ houses in the middle of the night was so foreign to me. These people would actually wake up and have a conversation with you…a stranger, begging for a ride. (Side note: This is also how we bought our vodka in northern Quito at 930am. Keep yelling/pestering/knocking, and eventually someone will open the door.)

We asked the man if he transports cows in this truck, to which he replied “Si. Vacas y gente y todo!”

In the end, we decided to pay a stranger hanging around outside the bar to stand in the back of his truck that normally transports cattle. We knew it wouldn’t make it all the way to the top of the hill, but it would have to do. I didn’t get attacked by ants again, but a large bat did fly into my bedroom and cause me to start shrieking and dive under the covers. Did I mention that Mindo is home to hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife? The animals were just ready to play with me I guess.

Sunday was a bit more low key, with no cocktails and no animal attacks. It mostly consisted of brunch, butterflies, and brownies. Perfect!

The butterfly farm was definitely a highlight. Normally I’d think twice about spending $6 on an activity, but this just felt right. The butterflies were so beautiful! I was like a giddy kid trying to feed them mashed banana on my finger.

On our way out, we grabbed the best chocolate brownie I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously, the best. It’s gooey and perfect. If you ever travel to Mindo, do not miss out on this brownie and head to the restaurant El Quetzal. They also have chocolate tours there and tons of vegetarian food options if you really want a treat. I even took brownie to-go orders for the other volunteers in Quito and brought back several extras! Also, the fresh yuca bread from the street vendors is a must try. Delicious.

pan de yuca

I’ve been to both Mindo and Baños one time each so far, and my initial impression is that Mindo is more laid-back and slightly less touristy than Baños, but both are definitely worth visiting. I hope to return one day!

What is one of your favorite under the radar spots?

My first 72 hours (or so) in Quito

August 2, 2016 by Asia

I made it to South America! My first few days in Quito, I slept, partied, explored, and ate #allthecarbs. I was also verryyy excited to discover that there are no mosquitos here. There is so much to share, but for my initial Quito post, here’s a quick play by play of my first weekend abroad.

Thursday 28/07/2016

11:30: I landed in Quito, breezed through customs (no one asked me for proof of onward travel) and had no problems leaving the airport. In fact, the new airport is quite nice! No one pressured me to use their taxi or car service, which is what I’ve previously been acustomed to in other international airports like Managua and Bangkok. I was the only person in the taxi line and was given the proper going rate taxi price of $25. Yes, I spent the big bucks in order to make it to my friend’s house the quickest, safest way in a new city. I still managed to keep to my $35/day budget, though!

12:30: I arrived at Jen & Jorge’s apartment as a last minute house guest for 3 nights. Jen and I met in the Girls LOVE Travel group on Facebook which has proven to be an amazing resource for me as I navigate solo travel for the first time. I brought them US provisions including Frank’s buffalo sauce and Reese’s peanut butter cups which are impossible to come by in Ecuador. Jen is from NJ and has been teaching English in Quito for 11 months, and Jorge is Ecuadorian, so what better a pair than to show me around the city for the first few days?

14:00: I had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant! Can you believe it?! They have several in Quito, actually. I got all of this for just $3.25. This is a big departure from my $12-15 lunches back home.

16:00: Nap, nap, nap, nap, nap. I nearly slept for 4 hours straight. I think I was worn out from the stress of getting here and then not sleeping much during my red-eye flight. Jen was teaching her night class, and Jorge was busy preparing for a presentation (he’s a law professor) so no one seemed to mind.

20:00: I went out for drinks & a pizza cone with Jen and some of her friends (a combination of English teachers and locals). A pizza cone is this interesting semi-tasty $2.00 carbolicious delicacy in Plaza Foch (the party center of Quito). They even have a vegetarian option. What more can a girl ask for?

Friday 29/07/2016

11:30: I enjoyed a late tigrillo breakfast with the Fulbright English teachers. Tigrillo is an amaaaazing mash of plantains, onions, and peppers severed with fried egg. It’s hearty and delicious. I’m pretty sure all our plates are cleared so you can’t see it here. Also, these are good people.

13:30: I found coffee on the way home and basically forgot where I was because I paid $1.70 for a tiny cup. That is way too much here! I’m finding that good coffee is hard to come by.

15:00: Jen, Jorge, and I took a $0.25 bus (now you can better understand how the $25 taxi compares) to a neighboring town, Cumbaya, for lunch at a friend’s restaurant. I don’t feel comfortable taking my iPhone around with me often (robbery is common here) so I can’t show you the photo of my ridiculousy huge plate of carbs upon carbs upon carbs. The vegetarian option they selected for me included potatoes, plantain, and corn prepared in at least 5 different ways. I also got half of an avocado and was so happy to find that it’s served in abundance in Quito and is quite cheap! Every California girl’s dream.

21:00: Jen, Jorge, and a bunch of Ecuadorian guys and I arrived early for 2 for 1 drinks at Bungalow, the infamous bar and nightclub in Plaza Foch. After enjoying our ridiculously strong cocktails discounted to $1.50 each, we danced until the club closed down.

Saturday 30/07/2016

14:00: After some much needed sleep, we explored Parque Itchimbia and enjoyed a food truck lunch. There was a vegetarian option at nearly every truck which completely blew my mind! The big city is making it fairly easy for me to eat vegetarian so far. The park was full of activities, including free concerts. It was a beautiful day, and I already adore the parks in Quito.

16:00: Next we walked around Parque El Ejido which has local art vendors and is in the Old Centre of Quito. I wish I could buy a painting while I’m here, but I’m traveling too light for that. Everyone who sees my pack comments on how small it is. So far, I am very happy with my decision to minimize although I have to pack and unpack daily. I also tried humitas for the first time. You can get this steamed corn snack sweet (de dulce) or salty (de sal) with a coffee (un cafe). I selected una humita de sal con cafe for $0.75. (Remember how much I paid for a coffee yesterday? Exactly. Also remember how I said I ate all the carbs? Lol. Yesss.)

22:00: I was peer pressured into having my second $2 pizza cone. Don’t judge me. I shook my booty again at Bungalow, this time with another group of friends. They play a mix of Latin and American music at this spot which is quite fun! I also learned that Wednesday is “ladies night” in Quito which means free drinks. I definitely think that fits into my budget while I’m in this city.

Sunday 31/07/2016

13:30: I semi-tried a typical Ecuadorian coastal lunch called “encocado mixto” with fish and chicken at another friend’s house. (Jen and Jorge know a lot of people!) I couldn’t eat much, but was planning to try and eat the fish…until I saw its face. I just couldn’t do it. I took my phone out with me since we took taxis everywhere that day (which is safer than walking), so here’s a photo of the group! The chef and host is to my right.

16:00: Parque Itchimbia take two. I can’t get enough of this place, and I wanted some more pictures. In addition to live music, they also had a DJ playing and hula hoops set out everywhere! Fun for the entire family.

18:00: After a whirlwind weekend, I arrived at my hostel and home for the next 3 weeks while I volunteer as a guide for a local kids’ summer camp. I have ages 5 & 6. Eek! Wish me luck! More to come on the camp, how it feels to speak Spanish again, and volunteering abroad soon. (Less to come on partying and napping.)

As they say in Ecuador, ciao!

Travel hiccups & how to show proof of travel “onward”

July 28, 2016 by Asia

(Skip down 3 paragraphs to get straight to the advice! Or read my story here first.)

I haven’t even touched down in Quito yet, and this trip is already an adventure. A few days ago, I found out my ride from the airport was no longer picking me up, and the place I was supposed to stay beginning Thursday isn’t ready to host me until Sunday…maybe. Cue mini panic attack. Instead of having a major stressed induced meltdown, I reached out to my network and found a place to stay with a new friend for the first few nights. (Thanks, Jennifer! Even though we haven’t met IRL yet, I can already tell you are awesome!) As far as transportation goes, I will find my own ride from the Quito airport ($2 bus, $8 bus, or $25 taxi) and start putting my Spanish to the test upon arrival. Airports are always the most stressful part of a trip for me. I remember in 2009 when my BFF Nicole and I landed in Bangkok at midnight and a stranger offered to share a taxi with us to our hostel. Stranger danger! Haven’t you seen Taken, sir? Now I am extra happy I decided to land in the afternoon during daylight hours since my plans completely fell through. (Now can you begin to understand why there isn’t much of a point to planning in South America? Ha.)

Last night when I arrived to check-in for my flight at LAX, the woman behind the counter pleasantly informed me that she could not let me on this plane. Excuse me? Since I didn’t have proof that I am ever leaving the country (Ecuador has a 90 day maximum stay), they aren’t supposed to let me in! She told me not to worry; I had 45 minutes to book something and show her proof of my plan to exit the country. (And no she could not help me.) So, sweating profusely and trying to book a bus or a plane on my iPhone (with help from Rebeca from home & from the amazing ladies from my Girls LOVE Travel Facebook group) I finally bought something, thinking it was fully refundable and just a “placeholder” ticket. It turns out that wasn’t the case and I just threw away $370 on a one-way ticket from Quito to Bogota before even leaving the country! There goes my $35/day budget…

Normally I would let these things shake me. A lot. Since I know this trip is a lot of exploration and trial and error, I’m instead trying to take these hiccups as lessons. I am trying to worry less, and live more. I said I wanted adventure and cultural immersion. Well, I’m just chalking this up to all part of the Ecuadorian and backpacker experience. I still don’t technically know when and where I’m supposed to be for my volunteer opportunity on Sunday, and if for some reason it falls through, I know I will be OK. I will find something else to do. I’m on my own timeline and making my own decisions after all! Perspective.

Here are some options** if you need to provide proof of when you will exit a country, even if you don’t know when you plan to leave. (I know I am going to need these options time and time again as I hop from country to country without a plan or end date in sight!)

Book a flight on Orbitz and cancel within 24 hours (…just make sure you book a flight that is actually refundable, unlike me! Read the fine print.)
Rent an onward ticket for just $9.99 with FlyOnward! This service books and cancels your airfare for you! I also tried to use this service but unfortunately it took about 1 hour for them to get my ticket to me, so I ended up using the Orbit option in the meantime since I was under a major time crunch. Plan ahead!
Book a cheap bus fare (or train, etc.) and use it…or not.
“Hold” a ticket for free through Copa Airlines; they will send you a confirmation email without asking for any payment information and hold a valid ticket for 48 hours. Just screenshot it or print a copy to show officials.

**Disclaimer: Consider having a valid ticket purchased in advance (refundable, or not) in order to avoid problems at immigration. Every country and each passport has different requirements, so be sure to do your research before getting on that flight!

Final parting thoughts as I embark on my journey:

What the heck am I getting myself into?
This is going to be such an adventure!
Are my 3 tubes of tinted SPF lip balm, 2 Sunbum flavored lip balms, and 2 generic SPF balms excessive? (I’m obsessed with keeping my lips protected and hydrated.)
I can’t believe I got my backpack to weigh under 10 kilos (22lbs) per Copa Airlines carry-on restrictions! Success!

I’m going to miss kale salads and green juice.
Again, what am I getting myself into…
I’m going to miss my friends and family.
I am so excited to meet like-minded travelers!
¿Todavía puedo hablar espanol?

Thank you for listening to my rambling from my layover in the Panama airport. In a few short hours I will be in Quito continuing this adventure!

Sendoff from some of my nearest and dearest

Besos,

Asia Dawn

Ready to Wander!

July 17, 2016 by Asia

over the shoulder look

It is tiiiiime! The past several weeks have been all about taking the final BIG steps before my life changes significantly. Before I say more, allow me to put things into perspective.

In October 2014, I was a blushing bride in a poofy designer wedding gown. A few months later, my new husband said we had made a mistake to get married, and things were never the same. I will spare you the details of heartbreak and betrayal during those months…months that were depressing, confusing, and challenging to say the least. 2015 was a year of transition and growth, and that growth set me up for a life I never would have imagined two short years ago. My divorce was officially final in May 2016, even though the separation and damage occurred months before that. Now, officially on my own with no ties or desire to stay in one place, I feel free and ready to put myself first.

I recently bought a one-way ticket to Ecuador and quit my corporate job. (Mic drop.) As a type A, resident overachiever, MBA, and planner, this is very out of the box for me, and while most people have been supportive of my decision, it has definitely raised a few eyebrows. “How can you do this?” “Soooo what’s your life plan?” “What will you do when you get back?” “WHEN are you coming back?” I get it. My lack of structure and fitting inside the box of what a 30-something year old should be doing (according to a few) makes some people uncomfortable. It’s ok. They aren’t me! 🙂 Here’s my response: I am doing what makes me happy right now. I am striving to live in the moment and be fully present. I no longer want to dwell on the past or worry about the future. I want to explore other cultures, use my Spanish, and share una cerveza with the locals. I want to volunteer. I want to explore. I want to learn more about myself as a single unit, no longer as a girl who co-existed with someone else for nearly 10 years.

The launch of my new site, Wandering Dawn, was inspired by my quest to live a more fulfilling life. Don’t get me wrong, I never thought that life was bad before. The difference is that last year changed me. You don’t come out of an experience like that the same person. Now, I am living a life solo and getting to know Asia 2.0. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the series of events I endured put me on a path towards something much greater than I can even fully comprehend. I don’t know exactly where this one-way ticket to Quito will take me, but I am ready to find out. The possibilities are endless, and I hope you will join me on this journey!

walking on water 2

A final parting thought. This question was recently posed in a yoga class and it resonated with me: Are you living your life out of fear or curiosity?

Asia Dawn

Why you need to go to Nicaragua (right now!)

December 29, 2015 by Asia

I recently got back from a girls’ trip to Nicaragua and have never felt more refreshed.

Travel is my passion. I try to get abroad at least once a year and am actively working towards my goal of number of countries visited = current age. (I’m only 2 shy!)

If you’re looking for an affordable place to visit that isn’t too far away from the states, I highly recommend looking into “the land of lakes and volcanoes.” Nicaragua is north of Costa Rica and just as full of natural beauty, but truly, it’s in a league of its own. The secret is out, and it’s becoming more and more popular, so get ahead while you still can!

Volcan Concepcion Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua

Here are 10 reasons to visit Nicaragua ASAP.

1. It’s affordable. I generally try to seek out countries that are less expensive than the US when I travel so I can maximize my time there. Maybe one day I’ll choose to spend 6 nights in Bora Bora instead of 16 in Nicaragua, but for now, I’ll take the extended trip with a bit more adventure. I bought a round trip ticket from LAX to Managua for $500. That’s cheaper than a trip to the east coast! The currency is the córdoba and the exchange rate is favorable at approx $1US = 30C. You can easily pay for things like tours and tips in American dollars. Nice hotels cost ~$100/night & there is always the hostel option around for $20 if you’re traveling solo.

It’s $1 to climb to the top of this tower in Granada, but the views are priceless.

Play time is always free.

2. It’s easily accessible. All you need is a flight, passport and a few vacation days. My flight home was direct & only took 5.5 hours. You can definitely see the highlights of Nicaragua in 1 week if that’s all the time you have. My trip lasted 2+ weeks and I was nearly in tears when it was time to leave. I went over Thanksgiving which is the end of rainy season and just before the pricier high season. My friends and I spent time in Granada, Ometepe, San Juan del Sur, and Little Corn Island. Leon and the north are also worth looking into, and I plan to visit those areas on my next trip. We had to prioritize.

Horse drawn carriage rides are a fun and easy way to tour Granada.

The most difficult place to get to was Little Corn Island, but it was my FAVORITE.

3. It isn’t TOO touristy…yet. People like to refer it to as “how Costa Rica was 10 years ago.” I went to Costa Rica 14 years ago, so I guess I’m a trendsetter. (Actually, that was my dad’s doing. I get my jetsetter vibes from him.) There were definitely more tourists there than I originally thought when I heard this, so there’s still the option of doing “touristy” things or going off the beaten path. The locals are quite respectful of tourists as well, and if you tell them you don’t want to buy something, they walk away with a smile and never hassle you. That was a serious breath of fresh air! Have you ever tried to say no to a vendor in India?

My tour guide and I were the only two on this “trail” at Volcan Concepcion.

4. You will experience good vibes. The people. The culture. That Nica lifestyle. All full of good vibes. Nicaraguans are some of the most relaxed and happy people I’ve ever met. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably start to wonder why you live the way you do, especially if you’re in a stereotypical corporate job, commute during rush hour, and spend $200 on jeans (ah hem.) I actually started to develop a list of reasons why I should stay in Nicaragua while I was there. It’s that good. (I decided not to stay so I can continue to support my traveling habit with my corporate job and see other countries before I settle down somewhere. It’s too hard to pick just one place!)

Yoga and meditation at Yemaya on Little Corn Island

Omega hanging on our porch at Xalli hotel (Ometepe)

5. You can get caught up in nature. Nicaragua is quite picturesque. Las Isletas in Granada. The volcanoes and hiking on Ometepe. The beaches, surfing, and neighboring beach towns of San Juan del Sur. The white sand and blue Caribbean sea at Little Corn Island. The cool air and coffee plantations in the north. The views of Costa Rica to the south. All of it BEAUTIFUL. Oh, and if you like monkeys, you will see a lot of those too!

San Ramon waterfall on Ometepe

Peering over the rim of an active volcano is indescribable.

6. You’ll never run out of things to do. I did A LOT while also leaving ample time for relaxation. Some things worth looking into: climbing volcanoes with varying degrees of difficulty, hiking to waterfalls and natural springs, coffee plantations with petroglyphs, horseback riding (check out Rancho Chilamate!), surfing, hammock snoozing, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, yoga, meditation, dancing, listening to live music at bars & cafes, eating local dishes & drinking coffee, watching sunrises and sunsets…or whatever your heart desires. The chances are, Nicaragua has what you are looking for in a vacation, particularly if you have a sense of wanderlust and adventure.

Ojo de Agua is a natural spring in Ometepe

Mombacho volcano just outside Granada

7. You’ll learn the meaning of “diakachimba.” This one is hard to explain, but it’s kind of like the Nicaraguans’ equivalent of “pura vida” in Costa Rica – only this one is way more slang & something you would never say to your parents (or so I’ve been told.) I bought a tank top from a local surf shop with the saying on it as a reminder to live in the moment. It basically means “f* yeah!” and both the locals and tourists embody this lively spirit.

Surfing at Playa Hermosa in San Juan del Sur

Welcome to the jungle

8. It’s safe. I traveled with 2 of my girlfriends and it was a breeze. We felt very comfortable walking alone and got around from city to city by hiring drivers through the hotel. Transportation costs can get high this way at around $50-$100 for a 1-3 hour trip, but you can also take public transportation (ex. 20 cents for the chicken bus) if you aren’t in a hurry or going too far. The only caveat is Managua because it’s like any big city with bad areas. It’s the only place we didn’t walk around on our own since it doesn’t have conventional street signs (image taking a right at the cafe, crossing a bridge, and then hanging a left at the yellow sign, etc.) and we only stayed there overnight in between flights. Everywhere else was very female traveler friendly and easy to navigate!

My travel buddies! That’s Ometepe Island behind us.

Granada

9. You will sample delicious local cuisine. I ate plantains every single day in one form or another and tostones were my favorite dish. Picture fried plantains topped with fried cheese! What’s not to like? The national dish is gallo pinto (a mixture of rice & beans) so I had a lot of that as well, usually for breakfast or dinner. It was pretty easy to eat vegetarian, and there was no shortage of fresh, juicy fruit and coconut drinks.

YUM

Yemaya’s juice & smoothie menu. This upscale resort also hosts yoga retreats.

10. You will make incredible memories. You will undoubtedly encounter new people and experiences that will leave a lasting impression. I was so grateful for each day spent in Nicaragua & I would go back in a heartbeat. It’s impossible to describe the feeling, but definitely worth experiencing for yourself. I promise you won’t regret it.

Have you been to Nicaragua? Is it on your list?

Staying Fit on the Road

March 25, 2011 by Asia

I love my job! As an Assistant Brand Manager, I get to travel a lot for work. This means trying to find balance in work, travel, fitness, and healthy eating. While this isn’t easy to do, it can be done. Read on for some tips I’ve picked up in the last couple months of business travel, and feel free to share your own. This is definitely a learning experience for me!

Workouts
1) Wake up early! If your business trips are anything like mine, you don’t have any free time. Even if you have a 730am meeting, try waking up at 5am to fit in a workout. You’ll be glad you did.
2) Spread the word! Tell your coworkers your plans to workout in the morning and encourage them to join you. Even if you’re in the gym solo, you can bet that your guilt stricken coworkers will ask how that workout went. Case in point – I was in Florida for a 4 day business trip and had 3 workouts buddies at 515am on day 2. When my alarm went off at 5am on day 3 (which felt like 2am PST) I really wanted to hit snooze and catch up on some sleep, but then I remembered that I had already told my coworkers that I’d be in the gym again and didn’t want them to think that I wasn’t dedicated to my workout plan. So, with this thought in mind, I made my way to the hotel gym and worked out solo. Apparently no one else had the same feelings as me that morning…
3) Workout immediately before and after your trip. Even if I have an 8am flight, I make a point of getting a 5am workout in before I hop on that plane. The same goes for when I get home; I will workout ASAP. If I get too comfortable and realize how exhausted I am after all that traveling, I will never get off the couch.
4) Be flexible! You never know what kind of gym you’ll have waiting for you in your hotel. Most likely your company isn’t choosing a place based on their free weight set or treadmill collection. On my FL business trip, I planned to run 5 miles one day and to do P90X Back and Biceps the other day. I soon discovered that our gym consisted of 4 treadmills and not much else, so I wasn’t able to do P90X full-out. I still wanted to workout, of course, so I fit in another day of treadmill running, and P90X was still waiting for me when I got to the comfort of my own home and pull-up bar.
5) Do your research! I haven’t done this yet, but after reading over this post it occurred to me that a lot of ambiguity could be avoided if I just called ahead and asked the hotel what kind of fitness equipment they have. I’ll have to try that next time!

Nutrition
1) Bring your own snacks! Some of my favorite healthy foods to travel with include apples, raw trail mix and/or almonds, and a lot of protein bars. You can never be too prepared. I never expect people to provide me with healthy, vegetarian food, so I always travel armed with nutritious options. Next time, I think I’ll bring individual servings of protein powder so I can mix it up with water when needed.
2) Keep bottled water on hand! Stay hydrated and full on water to prevent unnecessary snacking. A lot of people mindlessly munch when they think they’re hungry, when in fact they are just dehydrated.
3) When you find something healthy, stock up! During day two of my business trip, the hotel provided us with cookies as a nice, fattening snack. Luckily for me, there were 2 bunches of grapes and thinly sliced strawberries scattered across the cookie tray! To be fair, I only took 1 bunch of grapes and half the strawberries at first, but when they didn’t get eaten by anyone else, I went in for the rest. I couldn’t let that beautiful fruit go to waste!
4) Don’t skip breakfast. I know you’re heard this a million times, but I truly believe this is the most important meal of the day. Definitely take advantage if you can stock up on eggs and fruit. From what I’ve seen, the meal choices only get less healthy as the day progresses.
5) Share your plan with your coworkers. People rarely offer me cookies or cake at office gatherings anymore (unless they want to tease me) because they know I won’t budge. They’ve seen how I stick to my nutrition plan and how much I love to talk about P90X and the amazing things it has done for me.