The Champagne Saloon: Inside My Head

Happy 2016!! It was a great NYE celebrating with my closest friends at a white out party. We had plenty of drinks, a golf tournament, a darts competition, and a very passionate guessing game...

Anyone who knows me knows that I love lists and goals. So it comes as no surprise that I have a bunch of New Year's resolutions ready to go.

Travel

Visit 5 countries

Pay cash for all trips! No getting into credit card debt to travel the world

Take Nikita to the beach

Health and Fitness

Workout 4 times a week
Hike Camelback
Cook healthy dinners 4 times a week

Bring lunch 4 times a week to work

Financial

Maintain $0 credit card balance
Payoff student loan

Soul Goals

Read one book per month
Foster and adopt out at least 5 dogs
Learn Spanish

Practice Rosetta Stone 4 times a week

What a wonderful weekend to kickoff my 29th year! I celebrated doing all my favorite things with all my favorite people.

Even though happy hour on Friday was not about me, but to celebrate my good friend's professional achievement, it was still a fun time with great people and great wine.

Saturday morning my family through me a gorgeous and thoughtful travel/Paris themed lunch.

Saturday night my friends took me out for a funky fun dinner.

Then we went out for drinks

Sunday I went to see the new Star Wars movie and it was marvelous!

On Monday, my actual birthday, Nikita and I went for a hike at South Mountain.

Then we went for a burger and Nikita rode in an elevator.

This past year further cemented the fact that I am a very lucky girl and I feel I have more than I deserve.

I have family that will celebrate my highs even if they don’t share the same passion (solo trip to Thailand over Thanksgiving nearly gave me mother a heart attack) and be supportive during my lows. How many mothers out there will swoop you up for In and Out Burger when you have had a rough day, or aunts that will check on your house because your dog is barking out of control at something, or cousins that will snuggle up with your very fluffy GSD in an AZ June just so you know she isn’t lonely because you’re gone? Ok maybe there are some, but mine are the best!

I have friends that provide unwavering support, endless laughter, courage and adventure. Friends that will ease the pain of heartbreak by bringing wine and pizza and watching girlie movies. Friends that will ferociously go after those who wrong me and friends that bring humor to things when it is needed most. These friends are always up for something new and have introduced me to so many adventures I would not have experienced if not for them. I admire each one of my friends and I am so very lucky they picked me to be one of theirs.

I have a job that I am passionate about and work for a company that appreciates me. I work with a lot of fun, ambitious and talented people that I enjoy collaborating with and motivate me to do better. I feel they truly root for my success and celebrate my accomplishments, just as I am proud of them for theirs.

Because of all the above support I was able to experience much more of the world in my 28th year. I have amazing memories from friendcations, family vacations and solo trips and I can’t wait to make more in my 29th year.

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears”

Nelson Mandela

People asked me why. People asked me how. People gave me high fives or expressions of concern. The truth is, I didn't need a reason or an explanation: I wanted to go to Thailand, and I was going.

Some of the benefits of traveling solo:

~ No compromises in what I wanted to do or when I wanted to do it.

~My budget was the only one that mattered and I didn't have to adjust for anyone else.

~An empowering adventure and test of independence. Some people say you "find yourself" but I am already pretty well acquainted, so it was more of a test of what I am capable of.

Of course this decision didn't come without fears and reservations. I made a list of things that could "realistically" go wrong that were preventing me from traveling solo, and I came up with ways to mitigate that risk. Many of the concerns are real no matter who you travel with, but when you are responsible for yourself they become a lot bigger.

1. What if I get lost? How can I avoid getting scammed?

I signed up for a lot of guided tours before taking off. This allowed me to search Trip Advisor reviews to feel comfortable. Of course I paid more than if I opted for some of the local tours, but this sense of security was worth it to me. I liked having an English speaking guide that could tell me places to visit and places to avoid. He described things like how taxi drives will try to charge you a flat rate (200 baht) rather than turn on the meter (53 baht) and where to see the best lady boy shows.

2. What if I miss my flight?

I looked up terminals before hand so I had a general idea, but going through the lines in security in between international flights still had me rushing through the airport. Luckily, travel insurance had me covered if I missed a flight!

3. What if I lose my luggage?

Lucky for me, Thailand is HOT and HUMID so the clothes I needed were fairly small. I took everything I needed in a carry on bag because I was so worried about losing my clothes and essentials. I had an outfit in my personal item bag just in case I had to check it, but I made it through. As a backup plan, my travel insurance covered lost luggage.

4. What if I get lonely?

This was never a problem on my first solo trip. I joined guided tours and left with several new Facebook friends. Traveling alone forces you to interact with people and it really wasn't hard. If you aren't outgoing, the most common things you can bring up are: Where are you from? What has been your favorite part of the trip so far? What are you looking forward to the most? Where else have you traveled to?

5. What about unwanted attention?

I personally feel that limiting your nightlife as a solo female traveler is a good idea, or at least your alcohol intake. I met lots of people on Thailand tours I felt comfortable with so I ended up going out a bit, but you need to be extremely cautious. Plus, who wants to be hungover when you are in such an exotic place? I didn't travel 30 hours to stay in the dark with a headache! I also didn't wear anything terribly scandalous that would draw attention to myself and it is a good idea to respect local dress codes. In Thailand there were many temples that did not allow females to show their shoulders or legs, so you need to be respectful.

6. What if I get robbed?

This was my biggest concern with traveling solo. I wanted to take my DSLR camera and laptop, but was worried about losing them. This was my biggest reason for getting travel insurance so that it would replace my gear in case the worst happened. I also bought a few TSA travel locks, read Trip Advisor reviews to confirm security of hotels, ensured they had safes in the rooms, and brought cross-body bags that would allow me to keep my camera tucked away so I didn't flash my expensive gear. Pick pockets are the biggest gamble in Thailand so I was sure to split my cash up so it wasn't all in one place and kept my bag in front of my body at all times.

7. What if I get sick?

The last thing I wanted was to be sick and all alone in a strange country. I made sure my travel insurance covered me for this situation, but prevention is the best plan. I took lots of vitamins, focused on a good diet before the trip and got all required vaccinations. I opted out of malaria pills but was sure to bring lots of bug spray to prevent the mosquitos. The best thing I packed was Pepto though, because I was victim to food poisoning. I was overly cautious and only drank bottled water, avoided fruits/veggies with the skin on and didn't eat raw foods, but on the third day I was feeling horrible. Half my group was also sick and we all went to different places, so it is just one of those things that happens. Best to prepare for it!

8. My family is so worried!

I typed up my full itinerary with addresses, phone numbers, confirmation numbers, flight numbers, travel insurance information, and copies of my passport just in case. This helped ease the fears of my family! FaceTime was also a blessing for worried family.

9. What if I run out of money?

I did a lot of research and got a real idea of how much things cost such as food, taxis, tips etc. You can take out the local currency from your bank, or you can usually get better exchange rates at the airport or hotel. Relying on credit cards and the ATMs are really the best way to go when traveling abroad. Just remember to split up your cash just in case something happens, you don't lose it all.

10. I love being in pictures... How am I going to get good ones?

Hello GoPro! Seriously the best invention ever. You can set it to take pictures every 5 seconds or so while it is filming, or you can take screenshots from the video footage you take. The wide angle lens makes it perfect for selfies. I always worry about asking someone else to take my photo because I am worried a) they won't know how to use my DSLR camera and the photos will be blurry or b) they will run away with my camera. Luckily there were other people on my tours that had DSLRs and knew how to use them.

Selfies with the GoPro:

Photos taken by my tour guide:

I thought it would be fun to document what my travel style is now {or what I think it is} and then update it as I make my way around the world. When I talk to other travel lovers, it is interesting to see how strongly they feel about their travel style, and what makes it a successful trip for them.

Length of Trip

At about 7 days, I start to get homesick, but I push through. I get tired, miss my bed and my dog, and my overall normal routine. I am not the type that will travel for months at a time, continuously calling a different country home. I like have a home base and a place to call my own, so I think 10 days is a good target for me. So far I have been a fan of experiencing several different places, so right now I feel 3-4 days in one spot is sufficient before moving to another area. Any less than that I feel adds to the exhaustion of travel and you don't get to absorb the area around you. Many people say 3-4 days is still not enough, so I reserve the right to change my mind. {Of course this is situational. I would never travel 12 hours to only be there 3 days}

Adventure vs. Relaxation

While there are different intentions for each trip, I think variety is the key to any trip for me. Overall, I am not a "lay out all day on the beach" kind of girl; however sometimes you need a little bit of a break. I would say I enjoy a 70/30 split between adventure and relaxation. Included in that 30% is a little bit a nap time during the day, because I definitely need to recharge. Note that adventure does not always mean adrenaline rush. Adrenaline travel is not my thing {no sky diving or bungee jumping for me}.

Priority of Hotels

On the bottom of the priority list for me is a nice hotel. I care about the location and safety, and it is a bonus if they have a free breakfast. If I am doing the trip right, I am spending my time out exploring and not sitting in a hotel room. If there are cool features of the hotel, like historic aspects or unique characteristics, I might splurge for a night or two. I am excited to try hostels because I think they would be great to meet new people and be a cost effective place to lay my head down at night. I am a little worried about security but I trust that with proper research this risk can be mitigated.

Priority of Time

My highest priority is my time. I will generally pay extra for a non-stop flight and try to group excursions based on convenience {which can result in exhaustion by trying to cram too much into one day}. I will choose flying over driving/ferries/trains most of the time, although I plan to experience some shorter train rides in Europe at some point.

Worth a Thousand Words

Behind the importance of my time and safety, photos are a top priority. I am the annoying person that wants to stop every 5 minutes to take a photo and I have to remind myself to actually experience the moment. I want to capture EVERYTHING and there is no greater regret than missing a great opportunity. Chances are I will take hundreds of photos but only share 20-30, but that's just what I do! I also want to be in the photos so I will hassle strangers and spend a great deal of time setting up an auto timer. If you travel with me, prepare to be patient because I am unapologetic about this - but you will thank me when you have awesome pics!

Shop 'Till You Drop

Torture. Most of the stuff is crap so I find shopping a waste of time and money. I have photos of my trip and don't need any souvenirs beyond that to remember it by.

Authenticity

I fully believe in visiting the "touristy" spots. There is a reason they are so popular and attract so many visitors, and more often than not I am happy to have the experience. However I also want to speak to locals and visit their restaurants - I will avoid restaurant chains at all costs. I like going off the beaten path and getting the true feel of the region I am in.

In planning my trip to Thailand, I learned a lot about what is means to make responsible travel choices. It has always been on my bucket list to ride an elephant through a tropical jungle, play in the water with them, and take dozens of pictures playing with a baby elephant. This was on top of my list when planning my trip to Southeast Asia – and lucky for me there are opportunities everywhere to experience this. Little did I know....

{ Photos from One Green Planet }

Where do I stand on the ethics scale?

Months ago as I was scanning through the tour groups eager for my business and trying to find where I wanted to go, I saw several links accusing these types of attractions to be unethical and cruel. At first I disregarded as typical PETA fanatics, after all, we visit zoos and ride horses right? But just to be safe I narrowed my search to groups that had information or reviews on the condition of the animals and how they were treated after the tours ended. I found a company that said the elephants were released to roam free on a preserve after hours. Now I can feel good about my choice – right?

Wrong. Even if you visit one of these places that you think are ethical, it is still supporting a deeper issue. I spent several days researching, trying to decide where I stand on the ethics scale. I am obviously passionate about animal rights since I volunteer with animal rescue, I don’t support Sea World or wear real fur. On the other hand I eat meat, visit zoos and don’t pay attention if products were tested on animals. I also fully believe in dog training tools such as e-collars (when they are used professionally) which are considered controversial by many.

What Goes On

In Thailand, elephants are considered an endangered species and protected from hunting and domestication under the Wildlife Protection Act. So how do the companies get these guys for our rides through the jungle? Since elephant tourism is in such high demand, they are smuggled from less regulated countries into Thailand and considered “domesticated” and therefore unprotected. The easiest to train are the babies. In order to get one from the protective heard, about five elephants are killed so that the baby can be captured. Then they are tied up, starved and beaten so that they associate disobedience with pain before being chained to an already domesticated female. As adults they provide rides to tourists and face blisters and spinal damage from the benches on their back, in addition to getting punished for moving too slow.

What I Decided for Me

So now I know that even if my tour company has the elephants roam free at night, what it took to get them there is NOT something I want to support. Furthermore, supporting any attractions like these just makes the industry more profitable and intriguing to “investors”. So I am adjusting the vision of my bucket list item. I am now researching wild life sanctuaries and volunteer opportunities. Many places have you walk, bathe and feed elephants so you still get that interaction, and some allow you to ride bareback, putting less stress on the spine. I may not be able to interact with the baby elephant as I had dreamed, but I know that if a place advertises interactions with babies, they probably didn’t obtain him in an ethical way. It is so important to do research and make up your own mind about issues, and also be responsible about what you are consciously or unconsciously supporting.

Making it Happen

Some of the places I researched that I really like were Elephant Nature Park and WFFT which have experiences where you can spend the day working with the elephants. The problem I ran into in researching places to volunteer is that they are mostly located 8 hours outside of Bangkok, making it impossible to fit in my travel plans. The second thing I ran into was that in order to make a reservation, multiple places demanded my hotel room number. Being a solo female traveler, this does not make me feel comfortable. I emailed the hotel and they said that it seemed odd to them as well. So in short, I am still trying to find an activity that I am comfortable with, while giving me the experience I crave. My point is:

Do your own research to find out what you are really supporting, and if that is something you are ok with.

There are lots of resources out there to help you determine if an elephant attraction is ethical or not. Here are some photos I found which represent the types of places to stay away from:

Elephants forced to perform tricks