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.

















Travel.

"Long live the destination. May the place, the magic, the attention to detail, the love of all things beautiful, bring you great happiness on your journey. And when you do travel, may it remind you that there’s never been a better time to celebrate the good things in life. Salut!"

-Preferred Hotel Group

Live Free.

Marvel.

Learn.

Experience.

Enjoy the journey...Cheers!

Finding the Yogi in Me

I’ve always loved to exercise. I started playing soccer at the mere age of 6, and don’t think I’ve stopped being active since-[aside from a few sabbaticals in college, sleeping was much more appetizing than running after a few too many the night before]. Nonetheless, I genuinely thrive off physical activity and all of its goodness.

My exercising consisted mainly of cardio workouts- TurboKick, running, strength-training, CrossFit.. etc.  I could never quite understand the Yogi’s and Pilatian’s.  I had attempted classes a few times, but never left with that invigorating high that my cardio workouts provided.  

It wasn’t until about 8-months ago, that I was introduced to “hot yoga”. My best friend Vanessa brought me to a class at Corepower Yoga, and although I was reluctant, I decided to give it a go. 1-hour and a pile of sweat later…. and I was hooked. While I wasn’t as flexible or technical as I wanted to be, I got my booty kicked and couldn’t wait to get back.  I dedicated a good 2-months to Corepower, stopping in about 2-3 times a week- My favorite classes are easily Hot Power Fusion and Sculpt. With the room heated between 102-107 degrees, Hot Power Fusion challenged my balance and core while lengthening my muscles and increasing my body’s overall awareness. Sculpt mixes light weights in with traditional Vinyasa flow yoga, for a seriously tough and toning workout.  After very short two-months, I was not only a believer…but a full-blown Yogi. My body was toned, my mind was balanced & my flexibility was at an all time high. I finally understood what all the fuss was about…

Thanks to the wondrous deals of Groupon, I have been fortunate enough to test out a few other studios around the South Orange County area without breaking the bank.

Bikram Laguna Beach is a traditional Bikram studio that offers only Bikram style yoga, 90-minutes, 108 degrees, 24 poses with very strict and motivating instructors. Although there is a lack of variety, I found myself deepening my practice more quickly at this studio. Every week, it was the same poses, in the same order, given the same way—allowing my muscles memory to carry my practice to the next level--It also helps that the instructors show no mercy in  critiquing your poses in front of the entire studio… there is no room for slacking off at this place!

All in all, Yoga has been an extremely challenging, yet enlightening experience for me. I forced my body outside of her comfort zone, re-trained my mind and muscles and proved to myself that I could overcome my “cardio-only doctrine”.

This new found love for “mat workouts” has brought me to my next obsession- Pilates. I am into my second week at YogaWorks & Escape Reformer Pilates and can feel the difference in my body already.

Stay tuned for the results…..

Namaste, my friends!

Corepower Yoga

 http://www.corepoweryoga.com/

Bikram Laguna Beach

http://www.bikramyogalaguna.com/

Vision Board.

I’ve heard of “vision boards” before, but it wasn’t until I physically saw a girl making one that I was inspired to create my own…

Naturally, the first full year out of college is going to be incredibly intermediary, but 2010 was a strange year for me; it was a year of transition & learning. And as grateful as I am for all that it brought me, I was definitely ready to say adios to 2010, accept change and embrace what 2011 would bring…

But not without a clear vision…which brings me to vision boards.

A vision board is simply a visual representation or collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. It consists of a poster or foam board with cut-out pictures, drawings and/or writing on it of the things that you want in your life or the things that you want to become. The purpose of a vision board is to activate the law of attraction to begin to pull things from your external environment that will enable you to realize your dream. By selecting pictures and writing that charges your emotions with feelings of passion, you will begin to manifest those things into your life.

What exactly is the law of attraction?

The law of attraction states that we attract into our lives anything that we give attention to, regardless whether it be positive or negative.[2] From a psychological view, the law of attraction can be best explained by the information filtering system of the brain known as the reticular activating system (RAS). Vision boards serve the role of programming the RAS to tune into external stimuli that can help us move closer towards our intentions.

It might sound phony to some, but to me it sounded intriguing.

I dug up the piles of old magazines and got to work, and I must say…it came out wonderfully. From small tasks such as taking better care of my eyes, teeth & skin; to eating healthier, reading more & mastering yoga. I was on a roll, punctuality, praying & volunteering. My big visions were the most centered and prominent on my board—traveling & reporting. These are the two sparks inside me that haven’t been pursued enough, and something about this year just seemed right.

After I created my board, I felt proud and optimistic [it’s been 3 days and I’ve been wearing my contacts, getting to work on time & flossing at night].

To anyone who has dreams [which is most all humans] I would recommend creating a vision board and placing it somewhere in your room or house that reminds you each day what you want in life… you never know, it just might happen.

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”

Bye, Bye Sugar...

As I was browsing (and admiring) Gwenylth Paltrow's blog Goop, I came across this magnificent article about sugar and it's woes [pretty much everything]

I recommend you take a peek and become enlightened..
http://goop.com/newsletter/103/en/

"Today, over a third of the calories we consume come from sugar or white flour, which is highly refined and acts just like sugar in our system. Our bodies cannot cope with such an enormous load. Sugar gives you an initial high, then you crash, then you crave more, so you consume more sugar. It’s this series of highs and lows that provoke unnecessary stress on your adrenals. You get anxious, moody (sugar is a mood-altering drug) and eventually you feel exhausted."

I don’t know about you, but I certainly do not need anything adding to the moodiness of being a woman [thank you, hormones].. So, join me if you will, I am cutting out sugar!!

It’s a new year, time to get serious about what we put in our bodies…

The Girl World.

I recently attended an amazing documentary, Finding Kind, produced by an old middle school friend and creator of The Kind Campaign, “A movement and documentary, based upon the powerful belief in KINDness, that brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl "crime".”

I left the documentary feeling both sad and inspired. It was devastating to watch the testimonies of these young women who have been both the victim the antagonist of girl –against-girl crime; this need to fit-in or feel superior to others, at the expense of others. These two girls traveled throughout the United States, to small towns, big cities, private and public schools, coming out with the same results. Girls can be vicious, catty and mean.

I’ve never liked cliques, ever. Since I was a little girl, I’ve always had diverse groups of friends. My “public school” friends, my “private school” friends, my “neighborhood” friends.. I loved all of my friends equally and have never been a fan of exclusivity. It probably helped that I was a tomboy, and spent most of my time trying to race boys at recess. But nevertheless, I was never too involved in cliques. Does this mean I’ve never been part of a clique? Of course not, I’m human, and a girl.

I never felt this dying need to fit in with the popular crowd until about 7^th grade. I transferred from a small private school, to a much larger public middle school. It was very much a culture shock for me; all the girls seemed much more “mature” and well-versed in topics I knew nothing about-(boys, sex, fashion). There was very much a hierarchy in this environment- the queen bee(s), the followers, the enemies and everyone else. I left my small private school because as I so frankly put it to my parents “I needed more variety” in people. Well, my wish was my command--from 32 students per grade to about 332, I was immersed into the gossip, the banter, the rumors, and the drama on a much larger scale.

From 7^th grade all the way to sorority life, I have both witnessed and experienced the girl world. [I mustn’t complain, I am truly blessed with the best of friends from childhood, through today]-however, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with the girl drama, and have always found it extremely disheartening that women can’t just get along without the gossip, the judgment and the exclusivity.

With shows like, “The Real Housewives”, “Gossip Girl”, & “The Hills”…it’s no wonder women find it completely acceptable to treat each other like the enemy. These shows glorify the idea of the “queen bee” & makes people want to believe that being catty is cool. I watch these shows in pure amazement, analyzing the trends and similarities-- there are always two women that clash, one that medals between, one that “doesn’t want the drama” and the rest who flock to whomever is the most liked that day (heaven forbid somebody is left out of the group). Of course, these shows are created for just that, the drama, and with no blame but to ourselves these ratings are high and allow for season after season of the banter and callousness. 

I get it, women will be women. We will always overanalyze, we will always take it personal, and we will always want to be liked. But we don’t always have to be catty, talk negatively about our “friends”, purposively exclude somebody, “hate” a girl for no reason (ahum, jealousy). This behavior really won’t make us feel better; it will only increase the insecurity in which this all stems from.

[The bully in school is always the loneliest inside.]

My hope is that women can try to change they way they view other women, stop comparing and start caring. We don’t have to all be best friends, but we don’t have to all be bitches either.

Reach out to the girl who isn’t just like you; stop placing immediate judgment on the gorgeous girl with great style, smile at the coworker who always makes snide remarks.

Kindess really is contagious and women are strong and beautiful beings—if we could start thinking kind, I think this girl world could be a much happier, healthier place.

Tis the Season to Indulge...

It's that time of year again, the time when we gather around the table with family and friends to indulge in copious amounts of food, drink and laughter.

Although I am no chef, I definitely enjoy trying.

Without a doubt, my gorgonzola pear H' orderves are always a hit and never last more than 20 minutes at any given get-together.

Trust me, after you make these delicious delicacies, you’re credibility (and party invites) will increase!

Bon appetit!  

Honey, Pear and Gorgonzola Crostini

14-16 slices multi-grain French bread
1 large pear, thinly sliced
3 oz. gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
2 Tbl. honey
2 Tbl. olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Brush each side of the bread with olive oil and evenly space on a sheet pan.  Toast in the oven for 1 – 2 minutes.  Layer each slice with gorgonzola cheese and 1 – 2 pear slices.  Toast for an additional 2 – 3 minutes, or until the cheese has softened.  Drizzle each with honey and sprinkle with red pepper flakes before serving.