Know Just Enough to be Dangerous...

Friends, family, and followers,

I have decided it is time to focus on my travel writing. I aim to improve, seek, and learn in order to better entertain you and enable my dreams of having my own show on the Travel Channel.... Better watch out now!

To Travel, or Not To Travel...

On July 31st, I had my four year anniversary with my company. It seems almost amazing to me that I have been working and traveling for the same corporation, for such a significant chunk of time. These four years took me from a new, naive twenty something, or an experienced, later twenty something in the business world...

But in the last few months, work has become increasingly stressful. I find myself feeling hopeless and itchy inside the same blue walls without windows, with the same stupid laptop in front of me. My travel soulmate (Karissa) and I chat online all day (love technology) about how we are tired, miserable, want coffee, and want a nap. Our coworkers make us dizzy and confused, and we don't feel motivated to do anything.

My company offers a flexible leave program, where one can take three months off work, unpaid, and return to their job afterwards. The program is meant to compensate for long hours, stressful coworkers, and drain that comes with the job. But it is becoming more and more attractive every day.

I am considering taking this option in January or February 2011, pending some family arrangements. If I were to take it, here is what I would do:

1. Spend the first month sleeping, relaxing, drinking, and cuddling. I think I'd spend the first month traveling from beach to beach. Here are some photos of what I'm imagining:

Bora Bora

Florida Keys

Kauai, Hawaii

Mal Pais, Costa Rica

2. Spend the second month in Asia, visiting my favorite city in the world (Tokyo), and visit bustling new cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Hanoi.

3. Spend the last month in Europe, visiting Spain (sangria and art and dancing and tapas), wine tasting in Portugal, and prosecco tasting in Italy.

It's now a matter of saving all my money, convincing my Karissa, and staying alive for the next few stressful months...

It's Not How Long It Takes, It's Who's Taking You - Marilyn

There are several beautiful beaches and relaxing small towns to visit in California. My heart belongs to one, San Diego, and more importantly, to the Hotel Del Coronado.

A few years back, I spent a few days nursing a friend back to life after a very traumatic event that happened in her relationship, and as she is also a Marilyn fan, we spent those few days consuming several bottles of Marilyn Merlot while watching all of her old movies.

And so I fell in love with Some Like It Hot, where clever banter leads to an amusing romance in a beautiful hotel, the Hotel Del Coronado, located on San Diego's beach.

For my 26th birthday, I decided the only way for me to celebrate would be to visit this iconic hotel. As none of my friends had the time or money to visit with me, I invited a sweet gentleman who I was dating, and he was happy to escort me!


I felt like Marilyn, walking into the hotel, with its large wooden lobby and old fashioned elevators. I spent some time walking on the beach, looking out at where crowds of locals once stood to watch Marilyn film her scenes.

I thought about my parents, who had actually visited the hotel on multiple occassions, one of their favorite date spots. It was a beautiful hotel. We were hoping to watch the sun set while having dinner on the patio, but it was a bit chilly and I actually became ill from the dinner!

I look forward to going back again one day. I'd like to have dinner on the patio again and then enjoy drinks in the parlor. I'm going to start my own piggy bank dedicated to renting one of the private villas on the beach with my loved ones, perhaps watching Some Like It Hot on the beach where it began!