• Asia,  Cambodia,  Thailand

    Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary & My Week in the Forest

    I lay still in the darkness, my eyes sleepy, my ears still awake listening to the unfamiliar sounds of the forest around me.  Chirping, creaking and the rustling of leaves around the stilts of the hut.  Occasionally the echoed sound of a lizard, “ggggecko” reverberated in my ear, the noise so close it could have been resting on my shoulder.  The humming of the generator stopped and all had gone black so I knew it was after 10pm.  In the corner of my little hut, enveloped by a pink mosquito net that encircled my bed, the night so quiet and black that it was almost too peaceful to sleep.  Unable…

  • Colombia,  Greece,  Indonesia,  Malaysia,  Malta,  Thailand

    My Favorite Moments of 2014

    2014, what a whirlwind!  I had several one of a kind experiences this year and I think I spent a lot of time pinching myself making sure I wasn’t dreaming, exploring new places, meeting new friends and enjoying life has a way of seeming unreal.  It has been a treat to go through TONS of photos of the past year and I’ve collected a few to share some of the stand outs. My day as a Maltese falconer By far and away one of my more favorite memories of this year.  While in Malta I decided to take the Maltese Falcon story to the next level and go to the…

  • Asia,  Thailand

    Elephant Nature Park: Pachyderm Paradise

    She gracefully swings her trunk over along the thick, gray, wrinkled ear of another elephant.  They stand next to each other in the field, tapping gently with their trunks, communicating through noises they send through their long noses.  The elephant is talking to her friend in a way she can understand since she is unable to see.  They lightly trumpet to one another, the calls are low pitched squeaks.  Our group stands and quietly watches them as they chat over their lunch, like a couple of ladies at a cafe for brunch.  It is such a treat to see elephant behaviors in a space that is more like their natural…

  • Asia,  Thailand

    Best of both worlds: Vacationing and Volunteering

    Love the satisfaction and helpfulness you feel when you have completed a volunteer project? Craving some vacation time away from the office?  Voluntourism, or volunteer travel, combines your need for a break away from the mundane to an exciting place while simultaneously filling that humanitarian instinct. Champion a Cause Do you have something that’s important to you?  Show you care and find a group, a travel company or non profit that offers a program for you to be able to help build a house, help a sick or endangered animal or rebuild a community after a natural disaster.  If nothing comes to mind right away, no problem!  This may be…