Vietnam is absolutely beautiful. I have enjoyed parts of it immensely. It is more expensive than the other SE Asian countries, but it is still about half U.S. prices, and there are much more luxurious options than in Laos or Cambodia for spas, dining, etc. Vietnam has a strange contrast. Its beautiful beaches and wonderfully quaint towns are mixed with gritty and crowded cities. I…
I remember the first time I truly understood what “war” meant. I was eight years old and went on a family trip to Washington, D.C. My mother was somewhat out of sorts and insisted that we visit the Vietnam War Memorial. I’m not sure what I was expecting of the memorial, but I was confused to find it was just row upon row of names…
Today was a brighter day as we spent it exploring temples. We left the hotel at 4:45 AM this morning to watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. It was absolutely beautiful. This afternoon we explored two additional temples – Bayon and Ta Prohm, which was made famous by Angelia Jolie and Tomb Raider. Ta Prohm was such an amazing…
Until the last two days, our trek through Southeast Asia has been full of water-gun fights, blessings from Buddhist Monks, and cruises down the Mekong (and of course: cockroaches and squat toilets). Presently, our trip has taken a darker turn down the tumultuous road of this region’s violent past. This is a journey I have very much wanted to take–a reminder of human atrocities and…
Call me silly, but I had this image in my mind that Bangkok would look very much like the opening scene of Anna and the King. Surprisingly, it has changed over the last several hundred years. Hahahaha! This weekend is the new year festival. The streets are full of house music, PEOPLE, and supersoakers. It is insanely fantastic. The old, the young and the very…
Shanghai has been my favorite city so far on the trip. The bright lights, high fashion, and metropolitan feel make this a wonderfully international city. In some ways it reminds me of Vegas with lots of neon lights illuminating the roadways and high-rises. The streets are full of sightseers and partygoers at night. It is vibrant and filled with energy. We went to a Chinese…
I remember my first solo international flight to Rome. I was meeting up with a tour group at a hotel just outside of the city. I was so nervous to navigate my way from the airport to the hotel all alone in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language. My dad gave me some extra cash so I could safely take a taxi,…
The last three and a half years have been the most challenging of my life – and I’m not talking about law school – I’m talking about learning how to live again. I try, but not a single day goes by that I don’t think about it. The month I spent in surgical ICU was my own personal hell. I read war stories, and I…
