“Building your character” was my parents catch-all phrase for everything. Growing up, I hated practicing the piano, sharing a room, fixing fence, and picking ditches at our farm. This list could go on and on (I know, my life was so hard).
All posts by laura belle
Travel Luster Dimmed
WARNING: This article makes no attempt to leave out graphic details. It is not for the faint of heart.
I do not think it fair to write only about the amazing experiences and fun times. As much as it pains me to do this, I must even the scale and tell my sad, sorry tale of my experience with montezuma’s revenge, the traveler’s trot, the Toltec two-step, Delhi belly, the runs, traveler’s tummy or the commonly accepted TD (for traveler’s diarrhea), while recovering helplessly and pathetically.
Don’t Tell Me What To Do
Traveling provides ample opportunities for personalities to truly shine.
I am the middle child of five, growing up on a small farm in North Dakota, where it was survival of the fittest.
Staying with Strangers
On our last night in Koh Lipe, Thailand, we bought ferry tickets to Malaysia, leaving early the next morning. We were sorting out the details at the tour agency, when a family stopped in to purchase tickets as well.
Gunung Raya Langkawi
Gunung Raya is Langkawi’s highest point, sitting at 881 meters, offering a 360 degree view of Langkawi, the Andaman sea, and even the mainland of Thailand.
We parked our scooter near the entrance to the Lubok Semilung Recreational Park, and followed the paved pathway into the park for nearly ten minutes. We eventually reached a large blue board at the start of the hike saying ‘Tangga Helang Seribu Kenanganan’ meaning ‘Steps of a Thousand Memories’.
Prickly Heat and the Skin I Am In
I have found out, that unlike my heart, my skin is extremely sensitive. I have lived the majority of my life in North Dakota, where the extreme winter conditions seem to last the majority of the year. I happen to be very familiar with snow, ice, and cold.
In an effort to better tolerate, and to promote happiness in these conditions, my husband and I moved to Colorado. Now, I cannot get enough fresh powder to fall on the ski slopes of Vail. Even in the summer it is easy to escape the city heat and find cooler temperatures in the higher elevations while backpacking in the mountains.
Koh Phi Phi – the Beautiful and the Ugly
We are oceans away from anything familiar, roaming the world, yet still feel a sense of obligation to do or see certain things.
I am not sure if we view doing this thing as a rite of passage, or not doing it as a potential future regret. Either way, there is so much hype wrapped up in specific world-renowned places and a substantial amount of undefined pressure to visit.
Spicy Love
I need to write about my love for curry in Thailand. I will admit that I think about, plan out, and highly anticipate each meal. The authentic flavors and smells are so tantalizing.