“Each flower is a soul opening out to nature.” -Gerard De Nerval
All photos were taken at The National Botanical Garden in Washington DC.
Tag: Inspiration
Sunset and Cerveza over the Honduran Sky
Author’s note: This post is part of my series on my recent trip to Honduras. To read more, click here.
“Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven”. -John Lubbock
My first afternoon in Roatan was rather rushed and not really relaxing. I tend to get overly excited when I arrive at a new place and run a hundred miles an hour trying to cram in as much as possible. Unfortunately that tends to be my personality. But there was one thing that I wasn’t going to miss: The famous sunsets along West Bay. I had read that West Bay is the best place on the island to catch sunset over an icy cold beer and Diane at West Bay B&B even told me the perfect place: The Bananarama Bar and Grill. “Make sure you snap a shot of the sun setting through the palm trees” Diane said with a brilliant smile. “It can’t be missed“.
Those words, Cerveza fria! were calling my name!
Into the Mystic of Iceland
“We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic” –Lyrics to one of my favorite Van Morrison songs, “Into the Mystic”
I just couldn’t resist including it with the post…listen along and view my photos into the mystic….
There is no place more mystical than Iceland. Come take a look for yourself and let me know if you agree that there is no place quite like it. The mystical land of fire and ice.
The green of Guatemala
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
-Pedro Calderon de la Barca
It is hard to visit Guatemala and not become completely entranced by her greenery. The color green can be found in every place you look- from the verdant terraced farmlands, to the lush fertile peaks of the volcanoes. After a long, cold colorless winter arriving in Green Guatemala almost hurts your eyes and reminds me of the constant rebirth and cycle of life.
Be the Change
I recently subscribed to the WordPress Daily Prompts to see what kind of inspiration I could find on expanding my writing. I briefly read the prompts but never wrote one until today when I saw one that struck a chord in my heart. I read it and I filled with joy and excitement. I felt like the words were talking exactly to me.
“What change, big or small, would you like your blog to make in the world”.
I read these words and thought, isn’t this why I am writing my blog in the first place? To use my voice to share my experiences of what I’ve seen in the world, what I’ve learned and most importantly of all, how we can all give back?
I have talked about my voice time and time again in my blog. But today I’d like to share with you what I’m hoping to change in the world with my blog.
A Picnic Lunch in Paradise
Author’s note: This post is a continuation on my travel series hiking the Tour de la Vanoise. Somehow or another I had started this post and forgot to finish it! How dare it! This post should have occurred the afternoon before we arrived at our last refuge, Refuge Peclet-Polset, and should have been placed after my post titled “Into the Mystic”.
Have you ever been in a place that felt like it was out of a fairytale? A place that brought back memories of being a child lost inside some fictitious fantasy land? Well that is how I felt when I climbed over the low-lying hill and descended upon our picnic place for the afternoon.
As I walked over this hill….
This is what I saw….
A pair of worn out shoes and a sensational view of Mount Blanc
When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the shoe leather has passed into the fiber of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
After a strenuous morning of hiking, we finally made it to the highest point of our week-long trek, the Col de Chaviere at 9,173 feet/2, 796 m. It was indeed a long hike up to the top but once we arrived, it was like no place on earth. A place that was so utterly fantastic, that it took my breath away and reminded me why I love to be up in the mountains on top of the world…
The zigzag trail heading up the mountain to the top.
SUNDAY SOCIAL GOOD: Inspired by the slums and people of Khon Kaen, Thailand
This post is part of my Social Good Sunday series. It is a guest post from Alicia Rice who is living in Thailand working on a documentary film about the people living in the slum communities of Khon Kaen. This is a post about her work.
A man from a slum community making baskets from recycled material. Photo credit: Author.
I came to Thailand as a study abroad student in 2008. For four months, we learned about globalization and development projects in Northeastern Thailand, the poorest region of the area. We read studies and got the chance to talk with government officials and company representatives. But the most important parts of our education were always getting the chance to talk with villagers. We got the chance to sleep in the houses and get to know the people who’s houses were being threatened, or who’s farm was being taken away.
There was one moment in particular that really stood out to me. As American students, we were often left with the question of what we could do, or more importantly, what we should do.
The more you learn about social justice work abroad, the more you learn the importance of people to be empowered and solve their issues themselves. It left me feeling helpless and puzzled.
Into the mystic
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away”. – Anonymous
We rose feeling well rested and well loved after our wonderful night’s stay in such a heavenly place. My stomach ached from eater and drinker’s remorse but I knew it was deserved after such an enormous, gourmet french meal. In a few hours after hiking, I’d be fine and hungry once again, as the calories I consumed magically burned off.
We set off into the fog, our first day that wasn’t perfect. Despite the lack of a decent view, the fog was a welcome surprise as it kept us cool as we climbed back up into the Alps.
The hike down into a heavenly place
Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.
“In the mountains there are only two grades: You can either do it, or you can’t.”— Rusty Baille
I have always liked the saying “What goes up, must come down”. As much as I enjoyed the long hike up to the stunning snow-capped 360 views of the Alps, I knew without a doubt that it would be a long, knee-breaking hike down.
Heading down through a rocky, steep and slippery trail.
Looking back to the top of where we were.
Views from on top of the world in the French Alps
Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.
After a strenuous morning of hiking, we finally made it to one of the highest points of our week-long trek. I was the first in the group to get to the top and what a sensational view we had. The reward was worth all the sweat and effort. It felt great to be on top of the world!
“Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.” — Greg Child
Fourteen-year-old Jonty, the youngest of our group, taking a break on top of the Alps.
The ultimate hike: Day 4 in Vanoise National Park
Author’s note: This is a continuation on my series of trekking La Vanoise National Park in the high Alps of France. To see all posts in this series, click here.
After a fabulous night’s sleep in our very own Chalet de grade (guards hut) I was ready to start day four of our week-long trek in Vanoise National Park. The Chalet proved charming, basic and serendipitously quiet for a peaceful night’s sleep of five.In the middle of the night, I had to use the loo and was awestruck by nature’s light show of dazzling stars shining brightly above my head. I knew tomorrow would be another perfect, cloudless day. And that it was.
Setting off in the morning on a long, six hour hike.