Nobody Can Go Back and Start a New Beginning, But Anyone Can Start and Make a New Ending

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
2. Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
3. Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
6. Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
7. Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
9. Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
10. Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
12. Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
15. Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
16. Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
18. Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
23. Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
24. Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
26. Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
28. Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
30. Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

From the amazing:

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/?_ft_qid=5688450817493577094&_ft_mf_story_key=10150617780505200&_ft_filter=live&_ft_substories=3&_ft_fbid=156209437818021%2C133090500138334%2C324519764234316&_ft_c=m

Marble Swirl Gluten Free Cupcakes*

Vanilla Batter

You'll Need:

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

1/3 cup agave nectar

Chocolate Batter

You'll Need:

2 tablespoons coconut flour

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

1/4 cup agave nectar

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line 8 muffin cups with paper liners.

To make the vanilla batter, in a large bowl, combine the coconut flour and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, grapeseed oil, and agave nectar. Stir the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a large spoon until thoroughly combined.

To make the chocolate batter, in a large bowl, combine the coconut four, cocoa powder, and baking soda. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, grapeseed oil, and agave nectar. Stir the wet ingredients into the coconut flour mixture with a large spoon until thoroughly combined.

Fill each prepared muffin cup with 4 tablespoons of batter, alternating tablespoons of chocolate and vanilla, starting with chocolate batter and ending with vanilla. Use a toothpick to swirl the batter in figure eights.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 1 hour, then frost and serve!

Tano, The Elephant!

This is my new baby, Tano!

I am fostering her for the next year - helping with all costs related to medical, food & care needed.

My hope is to travel to Kenya to meet the little love bug.

Until then, I will viritually care for her.

check out more information at http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp

xx

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

"Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

-Steve Jobs

Super Powers to Seychelles.

I had an interesting question asked to me today, "If you could have one super power, what would it be?" Without much hesitation, I replied "Teleporting with the snap of my finger". It seemed simple, at any moment in time I could think of my desired destination and without more than a quick finger snap, I would appear there.

Not short after this conversation, I learned about the amazing Republic of Seychelles.

"Seychelles’ 115 granite and coral islands extend from between 4 and 10 degrees south of the equator and lie between the east coast of Africa in the western Indian Ocean.

The cosmopolitan Seychellois are a colourful blend of peoples of different races, cultures and religions.  At different times in its history, people of African, European and Asian origin have come to Seychelles, bringing with them their distinct traditions and customs and contributing to the way of life and to the vibrant Seychellois culture.

One can see these influences at work throughout the domains of local art, cuisine, music, dance and architecture."

 Of course, I pondered about how ideal it would be if I actually could transport to these islands at this moment.

Instead, I thought I'd write to this and let others know about the amazing gem that lies within the Indian Ocean. Ah, Seychelles-- I'll get to you someday.





This Time For Africa.

I have many plans in this life to see the world. All of it. I am a creature of movement & travel and my "bucket list" of places to experience is infinite. I am unsure of my exact plan of how, but I can assure that my passion is strong enough to take me through this globe one way or another. I am genuinely happiest when out of my element and in a new surrounding. I have an endless appreciation for the natural beauty and array of cultures that make-up this big round ball in which we reside.

Lately, my heart has been set on Africa- everything about that continent fascinates me. I would absolutely love to get myself down there to experience it's magnificence. 

See why…

Taken from the wonderful site:
http://www.adelto.co.uk/singita-luxury-african-game-reserve/

Life's Lessons-Listen Up.

Life Advice from Regina Brett, 90 years old.

• Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
• When in doubt, just take the next small step.
• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
• Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
• Pay off your credit cards every month.
• You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
• Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
• Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
• When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
• Make peace with your past, so it won't screw up the present.
• It's OK to let your children see you cry.
• Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
• If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
• Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
• Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
• Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
• Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
• It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
• When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
• Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
• Over prepare, then go with the flow.
• Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
• No one is in charge of your happiness, but you.
• Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
• Always choose life.
• Forgive everyone everything.
• What other people think of you is none of your business.
• Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
• Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
• Believe in miracles.
• God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
• Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
• Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
• Your children get only one childhood.
• All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
• Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
• If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
• The best is yet to come.
• No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
• Yield.
• Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Boots.

Today is a sad day, my dog, Boots has passed.

She lived a wonderful life & will surely be missed.

Love you Booties, you truly were the best pup.

The Little Things.

Every now and again I get into these “philosophical moods”- I spend a majority of my day pondering about life while browsing inspirational quotes and listening to stimulating songs. Although I begin to feel like a free-spirited hippy, I find these moods to be extremely beneficial.

Today, I spent my lunch break sitting on a park bench, overlooking the ocean- appreciating the beauty and simplicity of the moment. I watched two little girls squealing with excitement whilst searching for shells and jumping over the waves and couldn’t help but feel good. I remember spending days with my sister, exploring the beaches for treasures, not thinking about tomorrow or even the next hour- just the next seashell.  

Life can become redundant, but only if we let it. It is so important to take a little time to do something different- change your scenery, take an art class, volunteer at a senior center, talk to a stranger- eat lunch in a new spot. It can be small or big, but the difference can change your world...


If we appreciate the littlest of things, we will realize how truly blessed we are. Today, just marveling at the ocean  lessened my tiny worries, and created some extra space for gratitude.

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."

Thailand, my own paradise.

It was hot, humid, and dark. The moon was our only light as the boat raced across the black water, splashing warm drops onto my face. The wind and salt blew through my hair, and I squeezed my friend’s hand as we raced toward the small, unpopulated island.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” I said.

Thailand was proving to be more than I had ever expected. From the people to the parties, the culture to the cuisine, each day spent there was a new adventure and without a doubt the best way to spend my senior year spring break. 

Phuket

After four separate flights and 26 hours of travel, we finally arrived in magnificent Phuket, Thailand. I stepped off the plane, relieved to finally be in this marvelous country, where the air was thick and smelled of pad thai. My traveling companions were two of my best friends Taylor and Vanessa; we were meeting with my brother and his friend Anthony who had been traveling through Southeast Asia for the past six weeks. We were all excited to be there, wandering the airport trying to find baggage claim. Our crankiness from the flight was slowly wearing off and smiles were forming on our faces. My brother was propelling us with authority in the right direction; he had become quite the traveler in the last six weeks. After 20 minutes of negotiation and 100 baht out of my pocket, we hopped in our taxi in anticipation of the 10-day journey we were about to embark on.

The taxi took off at 80 mph, swerving in and out of lanes like there was no tomorrow. (Note to self: no road laws here.)  I looked out the window, where palm trees scattered throughout the green rolling hills. Huts made of recyclables acted as markets while little children ran through the dirt paths freely. I already had good feelings about this place. Even though I was across the world, it somehow felt safe and familiar. 

We finally arrived at the hotel safely. We chose the Marriot, which was very American of us. Two large glass and wood doors opened into the airy lobby. The interior was Asian-fusion, splashes of white and red with dark wood accents and bamboo plants. Our first task was checking five people into a two-person room, manageable but tricky. My brother was convinced it would be no problem and hatched a plan: He and I would check in while the others waited outside. We would sneak them into the room once we were in there. Well, my lovely friends decided it would be a good idea to “sneak” in through the fire escape, neglecting to realize that although it is a third-world country, there are still security cameras. There were two guards waiting for us at our room by the time we arrived at the door. After much conciliation, we had to purchase another room--which worked out for the better, more space and much better sleep. 

Next on our agenda was the nightlife. The city of Patong was just a few blocks over and we were excited to see what the town had to offer. I had heard stories, but my own personal experience far outweighed any stories I’d heard. We had dinner at a nice little restaurant near the beach. It was my first official authentic Thai meal, so naturally I ordered the pad thai. I could feel the pressure as I waited for the noodles to be brought to the table…if I happened to hate Thai food; I was in for an interesting vacation. Fortunately the meal was amazing. It embodied the perfect amount of spice and flavor to leave me more than satisfied.



Anthony & I, at the "Ping Pong" match.

 After dinner, we strolled along the streets. Patong reminded me of a Cancun spring break. It was a pedestrian-only street that was lined with an assortment of prostitutes (men, women and “Lady Boys,” common in Thailand). Open-roofed bars with loud techno music blared as go-go dancers hung over the railings, locals attempted to sell roses, blankets and even drugs, and screams of laughter echoed the streets. If you wanted to party (however you defined that word), it could be found here. During our stroll we stumbled into a “Ping-Pong” show. I had heard about these shows, but wasn’t prepared for what I was about to witness. The room was dark and smoky. Seating was offered along the walls and the stage was in the center of the room, four metal poles posted at each corner. Thai woman came swarming to the stage in red lingerie; each had their role in the show. I will spare you the details, but let me just say it was nothing like the American ping-pong match; I saw these women do more things with their girlie parts than I ever really needed to in my lifetime. I will leave it at that. 



After a fairly disturbing night’s sleep, we decided today was the day we would ride elephants. I was initially opposed to the idea because of the brutality I had heard these elephants experience. But after much convincing, I decided I didn’t want to miss the event and I would go for a ride. After a good minute on this elephant, I realized I was in for more than just a “ride.” My brother and I rode the elder male, Taylor and Vanessa rode the elder woman and Anthony was the “tester-ride” for the new baby elephant (which was quite humorous to watch). It was a bumpier ride than I expected. We went mostly uphill; the goal was to see the sunset over the cliffs of Phuket. My anxiety began to grow when the tour guide began yelling very loudly at the elephant, whacking him with a sharp metal tool after each of his commands. The elephant was literally a slave to this man, after each demand, the elephant would listen “Stop, go, right, left.” 



I survived. Poor Mr. Elephant.

We were trucking it up the hill for about 15 minutes when we finally arrived at the “scenic sunset cliff.” It was definitely a sight to see, green cliffs accented by a bright blue ocean and orange sky. The tour guide did his usual yell; I am assuming it was stop since we were coming to cliffs edge. However this 6,000-pound beast decided he wasn’t going to listen, he didn’t seem to care. My heart began to race faster than it ever has before. The elephant slowly inched his way to the edge, the tour guide yelled louder and louder, hitting him harder each time. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening; I thought it was all a joke. “Get ready to jump,” my brother said. “Are you kidding me,” I screamed, as I clenched my seat. I looked at what was before me and I saw nothing but a deep drop to a ditch of green brush. I would at the least break an ankle, which in retrospect was better than the alternative… being crushed by an enormous angry elephant. As I was watching my life flash before my eyes, my friends were laughing and snapping photos behind me, peacefully on the trail. My brother let out a nervous laugh, leaving me to panic even more; I immediately started whelping at brother to do something. The tour guide let out one last yell and a hard blow to the elephants’ head. Our little bundle of joy decided he wasn’t going to jump, at least not today. He slowly backed up and moseyed his way onto the path. After I wiped my tears, lowered my heart rate and realized I was not going to die, I burst out in laughter. I almost didn’t blame the poor animal. I probably would have wanted to jump too. 

Despite our shenanigans, I wouldn’t recommend riding the elephants. In my opinion it is animal cruelty and not worth the money spent. 



Sawadeeeeeee.

The next day we headed to North Phuket, we stayed at the lavish 5-star JW Marriot or as I like to call it “lovers-paradise.” It was romantic and exclusive--The décor was luxurious yet relaxing. This was the moment the “vacation” set in. We spent a majority of our time enjoying drinks by the pool, lounging on the beach and indulging in long, delicious dinners. One of best portions of our stay at the JW was the hour-long Thai massage I received at sunset. I was pretty positive this was the closest thing to my own personal heaven--it was divine. The massage came to an end just as the sun slivered behind the horizon, I had to pinch myself. This couldn’t be real.



JW Marriot- Phuket, Thailand.



After our skin-tones darkened and our bank accounts dwindled, we reluctantly left the gorgeous Phuket peninsula.

Our next destination, the Island of Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi



Happy in phi phi.

Koh Phi Phi is to date the most beautiful place I have been in my life. As the boat arrived to the dock, I was speechless. The island was tiny, surrounded by the most striking limestone cliffs. The water, a stunning see-through green with sand that was whiter than snow. Palm trees grew to the top of the hills, with tiny huts scattered throughout the landscape. It was a pedestrian only island, covered with knick-knack shops and bars that ruled the beaches. Every person that roamed the island was beautiful. Australians, Europeans, Canadians, every other person was a backpacker from out of town. The aura of the island was laid-back, no shoes, no shirt, absolutely no problem.

We stayed at a quaint bungalow about 15 ft from the beach. Stray cats wandered the island, looking for food & a friend.  We decided to post up at the beach and just relax and soak in this paradise. We met a group of foreigners who were staying in a local hostel. One of the guys had been there for 3 weeks, and had grown very familiar with Phi Phi. He wanted to take us to a “sunset spot” just up the road. That is the neat thing about traveling; a complete stranger can become a friend in just a few hours. Our crew decided we would join his for the sunset walk. Well, he failed mention the 20 minute incline we would be hiking—I thought about turning around since I was being attacked by horse flies and was drenched in my own sweat, but I stuck it out…and I was extremely happy that I did. We arrived at the top of the hill; it was an outlook of the whole island of Koh Phi Phi. I watched one of the most remarkable sunsets; the sky was almost completely pink with orange clouds dotting the horizon. People from every corner of the world sat, completely silent watching the sun vanish behind the island. Sunsets evoke an interesting emotion within me; I feel infinite—it reminds there is so much more of the world than the tiny bubble in which I typically reside in. It opens my mind to a place where the possibilities are endless.



The spiciest, most delicious meal.

 That night, we took the locals recommendations to eat at “a hole in the wall” restaurant called Papaya. It is safe to say, I fell in love…with the curry. It was spicier than I normally like to dig into, but the taste left you wanting more. This restaurant was my favorite spot of the whole trip and conveniently enough was the least expensive. We found a great Irish pub, packed with backpackers and loud music. Kind of a funny concept, Irish pub in Asia, but it was a fairly good replica! They have these drinks called “buckets” in Thailand. It is basically all the alcohol ever made, mixed in a plastic bucket with 4 straws. It tastes like juice but is very deceiving - one of those will knock you right out. My brother had one too many and was soon the king of the dance floor. I must say good moves run in the family, as he soon became the hit of the pub with foreigners high-fiving him as I dragged him out.

The next day was the greatest day of the trip. The 5 of us joined the backpackers we had met for a boat trip. We took a long-tail boat from 12 pm to sunset. There were a total of 12 people plus our amazing captain! Our first stop was a small cove on an adjacent island just off the coast. Words cannot describe the exquisiteness of this cove and pictures do not offer it justice. The water was clear and a perfect 70 degrees; 100 ft. limestone cliffs entrapped us. The captain docked the boat and all at once we jumped off into the water; I couldn’t believe there was a place so beautiful. It was quiet and undisturbed. We parted ways and swam throughout the cove for 45 minutes in complete awe. I was just floating through the water, staring at the cliffs, completely content. I could have stayed there forever. In fact, some people do; throughout the caves, locals build small huts as homes. They use boats as transportation and fish for their food. Talk about simplistic living! After some back dives and rope swinging, it was time to venture to our next spot. 



Phi Phi Cove aka "Paradise"

 We arrive to the cove best known for the snorkeling and cliff jumping. I of course talked the talk off how much I loved cliff jumping. That is until we arrive to the actual cliff, it was slightly bigger than I anticipated. The jump couldn’t be more than 20 ft I thought. There was no turning back after the confident talk I was spouting. The ladder to get up there was a little unsettling, it was bamboo sticks tide together with rope, straight up an uneven cliff. As I approached the top, I hear Taylor yell, “Jessie, we have a problem”. Apparently the jump was much larger when looking down. I was up there for an hour. Yes an hour. I thought I was going to be sick. 50 ft. is what I was looking at and frankly I didn’t like the reaction of all the people who went before me. I sat there and watched loads of people do the jump. Each person’s jump made it less appealing. Problem was, I was sort of stuck up on this cliff, and going back down that ladder was far more dangerous than just jumping. I even had a boat full of Europeans screaming, “Jump...Jump”. It was straight out of a movie. My brother had already gone three times before he finally convinced me to jump… on the smaller ledge, which still hurt terribly when I hit the water.

I was ashamed and in pain, so I decided I would stick to snorkeling! Which was incredible; Bright blue and yellow tropical fish swam in schools through the water. I saw eel, tiger fish, and snakes, even a humongous sea turtle! I was taken aback. It was so serene underwater; all I could hear was my own breathing as I was immersed into their colorful world. I envied all the creatures; they seemed so content with their little life in that reef.

Our next stop was the beach where “The Beach” was filmed. It was beautiful, but unfortunately it has been turned into a tourist spot where they charge 200 baht just to walk on the sand. We docked the boat about 100 ft. from the beach and did some more swimming and lounging.



Our final destination of the day was Long beach, known best for the sharks that swim near the reef; I definitely decided to stay out of the water for this stop. Our day ended with a nice dinner on the beach during sunset, it truly was the perfect ending to the perfect day.



Our crew, after the perfect day.



The rest of the trip consisted of marvelous beach days, long nights, kayaking, spicy food and bargain shopping. It was the perfect group of 5 people to spend those 10 magnificent days in such an amazing country; we all formed a special bond that we will appreciate forever.

I would recommend traveling to Thailand for any person that seeks adventure, relaxation and beauty all in one. The most costly portion of the trip is the airline ticket; you can get by with little money for your food and stay. This is a country that I will absolutely be returning to in the near future, hopefully with the same 5 people.






Ready for our venture.



Matt, tree swingin'



Kayaking.



The Good Life.



Back-diving into paradise.





Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.