2019 Q4 Business Update
January 12, 2020
After the existential exploration of my writer identity in Q3, I decided to focus on writing in Q4, and worry about everything else (how to make money, career, etc.) next year. While I dove into writing, the universe presented new plans on how I should spend time in 2020. #NaNoWriMo Writing Challenge In the world of blogging, it’s easy to…
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2019 Year-in-Review: Be Uncomfortable
December 30, 2019
Year-in-Review post is always my favorite post to write each year. It allows me to reflect on the year, identify all of the marvelous changes, and prepare for the year ahead. Usually, I lament at how quickly time has passed. But for 2019, I marvel at the way January feels like a lifetime ago. This year, I gave myself a…
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Cruise Vacation Review: 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise with Royal Caribbean
December 23, 2019
In my household, I’m not the only globetrotter in the family. My sister leads an equally unique life. She had met her husband while working on the Royal Caribbean cruise line. My brother-in-law still works on board as a navigation officer. They had a new baby, and we accompanied our six-month-old nephew on his first cruise adventure! I’m not typically…
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Chile’s Atacama Desert: Road Trip Across the Driest Place on Earth
December 15, 2019
At the end of our whirlwind Workaway adventure, we treated ourselves to an epic trip up North in the Atacama Desert. We had decided against Patagonia since we didn’t have sufficient time to do proper hiking and had already spent ample time on the Argentina side. As fate would have it, the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth, was…
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City Guide: Wander in the Artsy Hills of Valparaiso, Chile
December 10, 2019
A Workaway experience that turned awry unexpectedly took us to Valparaiso for three weeks, where we worked on a different Workaway project. This hilly seaside town surprised and delighted me in the best way. Our three-week stay here allowed us so much time to expand beyond the usual tourist bubble, and see this unique city for all that it has…
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City Guide: Discover Cosmopolitan Santiago, Chile
December 7, 2019
We traveled in and out of Santiago numerous times during our month-long stay in Chile. I loved the artsy cosmopolitan vibe that the city exudes. If you get a chance to visit Santiago, here are my recommendations! Accommodation In total, we were in Santiago 3 different times, and we stayed in three different AirBnBs that were all near Lastarria/Bellas Artes…
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Explore Montevideo and Coastal Uruguay
December 5, 2019
Journey from Buenos Aires to Montevideo via Colonia Express After three whirlwind weeks in Amazing Argentina, we headed to Uruguay. Xav’s brother has lived near Montevideo for over a decade and visiting his family for Christmas shaped our winter plans in South America. I had booked tickets only a few days in advance via Direct Ferries. The most economical option…
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Argentina 3-Week Itinerary Summary
November 30, 2019
Argentina is an incredible country, and we packed in as much to see as possible during our time here. I was never much drawn to wildlife sightings. Experiences like safari or whale watching were never of interest. Argentina changed all of that for me. My world has been opened, and our encounters with wildlife have granted me a newfound appreciation…
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Saigon Chronicle Month 5: Building a Community Abroad
November 29, 2019
Last month, before a trip back to Shanghai, I struggled to find my place in Saigon. Unlike previous moves abroad, the integration this time around feels slow. Partly, because I’ve adopted to living slower, but also I’m in a different stage of life – married and in my 30s. In month five, things seem to begin to click. Perhaps it’s…
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Argentina Patagonia Part III: 5-Day Road Trip from Trelew to Puerto Madryn
November 22, 2019
Day 1: Rental Pick-up & Overnight in Trelew From El Calafate, where we sighted the impressive glacier and the infamous Patagonia mountain range, we headed East to Trelew, where we begin another road trip to see penguins and other beautiful wildlife. Learn Manual Shift Driving Before Arrival We picked up our rental car at Trelew airport. An Asian-American couple ahead…
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