Check out the montage I created to highlight my adventure:
The trip to Amsterdam started off great. I arrived at the quiet and luxurious Generator Hostel on my first afternoon in the city and promptly met my three roommates in the four-bunk dorm: two girls from England and one guy from the U.S. The girls were traveling together, the guy was solo. The three of us hit it off immediately. All extroverts, all new to the city, and each of us happy to have a cool little group to hang out with in the evenings.
The first night was flawless. Everyone in the group was jet-lagged and exhausted, but the enticement of a new city beckoned us to explore the after-hours parts of Amsterdam you could only do safely in numbers. It was great. Lots of fun, lots of giggles, and lots of, “Oh my, did you see that!?” We made it back safely to the hostel with smiles on our faces and stories to tell.
On the second night, things got weird. The evening started off great – another night of food, fun, dancing, and friends – but then something happened on the way back to the hostel. Timmy started acting strangely. The happy, mild-mannered boy from Michigan turned angry and belligerent. He started yelling. First at strangers, then at the English girls, then at me. His blurted out words turned into incoherent sentences and incoherent sentences turned into loud, angry guttural noises. Clearly something was off.
Now, I hadn’t kept track of Timmy for most of the night. Yes, we went out as a group — we arrived together and left together, as we had agreed upon for safety — but as adults and individuals who had each traveled to a foreign country on their own, the assumption was that everyone could handle themselves. Everyone knew they were traveling to Amsterdam — where stories and stereotypes of pitfalls and temptations were well-known, but surely people would prepare, plan, and act accordingly … right?
As Timmy became increasingly volatile, my natural peacemaker reaction was to calm him down. After all, he was part of our group. He was 21. And most importantly, he was sleeping in the same room as us. I had no clue what substances he had or had not taken, but I’ve dealt with drunks before and I thought surely he’d sober up a bit and just fall asleep once he was back at the hostel. I was dangerously wrong.
As our group walked down the street to catch a cab, Timmy and I got separated from the two girls. He FREAKED OUT. He started screaming at the top of his lungs in the middle of the crowded alleyway. His face turned beet red. Veins started to protrude. His eyes glazed over like a crocodile ready to pounce. And then it happened. Like someone flipped a switch inside his head, Timmy lunged at me with lightening speed. He grabbed my forearm with the force of a wrestler, spun me around backwards with one arm and wrapped his other around my neck. I couldn’t believe what was happening! At first I thought it was a bad teenage joke … really, a chokehold? Is this the WWE? What’s next, a pillow fight!? But then he started to squeeze. Tightly. Like a boa constrictor going in for the kill. Slow and steady. You know how time stands still in the moment of a car accident? That’s what this felt like. I was in shock that it was actually happening, confused by why he was doing it, annoyed he wouldn’t get off me. And then my slow-motion moment caught up to real-time panic. I suddenly realized the frightening reality of what was happening. He squeezed tighter and tighter. I got mad. He started to lift my body off the ground with the force of his forearm. Then I got angry. My fight or flight kicked in and I got violent. I jabbed him as hard as I could with my free elbow. He barely loosened his grip around my neck but released my other arm which had been pinned behind my back. I stomped his foot, he squeezed tighter. I took both of my hands, reached up to his arm wrapped around my throat, and gouged my short little nails into his skin as hard as humanly possible. That did it! He squealed with the voice of a second-grade school girl, “Ooww! You hurt me!” I broke free. I jumped from his clutches, spun around and said, “WHAT THE F*@! ARE YOU DOING!?!? I’m out of here … you’re on your own now!” His response, he lunged at me again! Only this time he didn’t have the element of surprise. He barely got a hold of my wrist. I started yelling, “Get off me! GET AWAY FROM ME! F*@! YOU!” People started to take notice of what was happening as I yanked myself away and fled in the opposite direction. Shockingly … he came after me AGAIN! This time, flight was the best option. I quickly maneuvered away from him and immediately ducked into a crowd of people waiting outside at a nearby club. Timmy headed for the crowd. I yelled, “Please help, I don’t know that guy! He just attacked me!” The crowd jumped into action and shielded me. The bouncer at the door stepped in and grabbed Timmy. Finally, some help! Two other men stepped in and hauled Timmy off by force as he fought and yelled the whole way down the street.
I stood there shaking. Thankful to be alive. Dumbfounded by what just happened and utterly appreciative it hadn’t been worse. A string of “what ifs” started playing through my head … what if I had been drunk, what if he had been bigger, what if this had happened IN the hostel!? The reality of the situation sank in as my adrenaline burned off and the crowd around me subsided. Then I realized, I had to go back to the same shared room. All of my things were there. But surely he wouldn’t be. Surely he had been arrested or detained or something and wouldn’t be waiting for me in the room.
I collected my confidence and headed back to the hostel. Sure enough, Timmy was there. He hadn’t been arrested. He hadn’t been detained. But at least he had been stopped. Bloody and groggy, Timmy mumbled incoherently from his top bunk as I stealthily gathered up my things and moved out of the room.
I never saw Timmy again.
The experience left me a little shaken but a little wiser to the world. Things CAN happen out there, and they will, when you least expect it by the most unexpected. Luckily, I was able to draw upon a few basics lessons I learned growing up in Texas: remain vigilant, use your voice, fight like a girl, say your prayers, and retreat but never surrender. I don’t blame the city – Amsterdam was absolutely wonderful. It turned out to be my best adventure and favorite place in Europe. And in the end, at least I survived … and have one hell of a story to tell!
]]>WELLINGTON • North Island
It’s easy to see why Lonely Planet called Wellington the “Coolest Little Capital in the World,” in 2011. Hip and trendy pubs, bars, restaurants, and craft breweries line the serpentine streets, and every neighborhood seems to have a unique and colorful vibe of their own.
HAWKE’S BAY • North Island
The southeastern coastal region of Hawke’s Bay is a favorite holiday destination for Kiwis, and for good reason! The neighboring cities of Napier and Hastings welcome tourists with black sand beaches, delicious food, bountiful orchards, and exquisite vineyards. Plus, Napier is home to more than a dozen little blue penguins, found in the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
QUEENSTOWN • South Island
Ah, the beauty of Queenstown! Located between sculpted mountains and crystal clear waters, this resort town offers thrill-seeking adventure and jaw-dropping wonder for people of all ages. Skyline Gondola provides picturesque views of the city, Kiwi Birdlife Park allows visitors to get up and personal with the country’s national animal, and if you’re daring enough to try, Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge is the world’s first permanent commercial bungee site.
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My comfort zone. I’ve struggled with that phrase on this particular trip, especially in terms of my photography. Many of my photos are of beautiful landscapes. I’ve been lucky enough to traverse stunning islands and gorgeous parts of this planet, and it’s hard not to photograph things that move you to tears. But I sometimes get discouraged thinking, I’m not trying hard enough or I’m not branching out or stepping outside of my comfort zone with my photography … and then I remember, 58 days away. I did 36 on the road by myself across America. I flew to Scotland after quitting my job, packing up my apartment, and leaving my comfortable lifestyle (and salary) behind. So maybe the end of my comfort zone isn’t necessarily about photographing homeless people in the back alleys of Auckland … maybe for me, right now, it’s about pushing forward each day and living in the moment of this adventure. Of making it to day 67 and not coming home at day 35. Continuing on with a smile on my face as a white, American, 38-year-old female, exploring the world alone – hiking through cities, renting cars in different countries, driving on the left for thousands of kilometers, finding a new place to sleep and eat every one of those 58 days, and putting myself out there 8,000 miles away.
So, maybe this is more of a note of encouragement to myself … and a quick check in with my blog after 4 weeks … to say, keep going, you’re doing it! The great state of Texas, delicious mouthwatering Mexican food, and your adorable fuzzy pups are waiting for you whenever you’re ready. But for now … finish strong and keep going. Do it for those who can’t.
]]>The answer to all is, yes! I survived Christmas, found lodging, spent money (but also saved money by reaching out to friends of friends), and easily explored each island with the help of rental cars and flights with Hawaiian Airlines. There were some emotional ups and downs, of course, but it’s all part of the journey and I’m thankful and delighted I went through with the trip, tried something new, and made the most of my Hawaiian journey!
Here’s a look at the Hawaiian sights from my perspective — and don’t forget to check out my Instagram feed for daily photos from my travels! Mahalo!
THE ISLAND OF HAWAII
MAUI
KAUAI
OAHU
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It all started when a few of my family members told me they were heading to Hawaii for Christmas, and of course, I offered to tag along! I had a friend on the Big Island and had been wanting to visit her since she left Waco — so why not!? One week with her in Hilo and one week with my family in Honolulu for Christmas — what a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday with friends and family, plus, spend time in a new, beautiful place! Also, since I still had some money left and always wanted to travel to Australia and New Zealand, why not make this the third-leg of my year-long adventure!? Truly test myself and set sail half-way across the world to see what I could document and discover. So, I bought a one-way ticket to Hawaii for two weeks over Christmas and cashed-in my credit card miles for a second one-way ticket to Australia for New Year’s. What an adventure this would be!
And then I got the first text message. My family backed out. No one was going to Hawaii after all. Three days later, my friend texted. She was moving back to Texas. She would no longer be in Hawaii by the time I arrived. Well, crap. Best laid plans, right? With two tickets already purchased and paid-for with specific destinations, it didn’t feel right to back out. And then a wave of panic hit me … I’ll be ALL BY MYSELF FOR CHRISTMAS in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Granted, I’ll be in Hawaii, but still! By myself for Christmas! What in the hell just happened!?
But as any good solo traveler does — which, honestly, I never set out to become .. but life continues to steer me in that direction and I’ve chosen to embrace it — I dusted off my emotions, and with the help of my close friends, left my pity party and started formulating a plan. Where would I stay, what would I do to fill my time on the islands, how could I swing two extra weeks of finances? I always believe God has a purpose and a plan for our lives … and apparently He wants me to spend Christmas in Hawaii, alone.
So, here I am! I packed my international bags once again, stepped over the nearly-debilitating fear that creeps up every time I’m a week out from a solo adventure, kissed my dogs and parents goodbye, and got on a plane to Hawaii. Because, why not. You only live once and this is part of my journey. After all, I quit my job to give my dreams a chance and try to tackle more than what’s comfortable and easy and mundane. Who knows … it could be fantastic. I mean, after all — it is Hawaii .. for Christmas … all by myself.
My first trip started-off on a whim — I arrived home a little early from Ireland and had two weeks before my high school reunion, so I hopped in my trusty little Forester, opened the map, and said, “let’s just see where the road takes me!” The adventure took me to 10 states … up and out of Texas into the Midwest, across the beautiful open-spaces of Nebraska and Southern Wyoming, and into the gorgeous, prehistoric-looking lands of Utah and Colorado.
Click to view slideshow.My “fall foliage” trip was something I had wanted to do for years and was a big reason I didn’t take-off across the globe for months-on-end. Growing up in Texas, where Autumn consists of “brown and down,” I’d always dreamed of seeing the vibrant colors in New England — and my goodness, they did not disappoint! 36 days, 21 states, 7,845 miles, and endless landscapes of gorgeous color. From Austin to Albuquerque, across Route 66 to the Great Lakes, through fall colors of New England, down the rugged coastline of Maine to the crazy streets of NYC, across the Appalachian Mountains down the Blue Ridge Parkway, back to my home state of Texas! It was truly an epic road trip and my head is still swimming with visions of red, orange, and yellow leaves fluttering in the daylight.
And now, I’m in Austin for a few weeks—sorting through thousands of photos from the last few months, updating this blog (because I discovered it’s difficult to pull yourself away from the in-the-moment beauty to sit in front of a computer screen), and preparing for my next big adventure, which starts mid-December in Hawaii!
Also, a big thank you to everyone for following along on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to check out my photography site for the high-quality, sellable images — ready and uploaded by Thanksgiving — and stay tuned for more content right here on Workday Wanderlust!
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And now, I wake up every day — usually in a different city — thankful and amazed that I have the opportunity to live the life I always imagined. Each day is a completely different routine and there are definitely ups and downs along the way, but somehow it feels like the perfect fit. Many days I’m not sure where I’ll be sleeping that night, and most days my travel direction is based only on a gut feeling or desire to see something new — and while that may sound crazy to some people, it’s been absolutely liberating. So far, I’ve traveled to 4 countries, 21 American states, and driven more than 14 thousand miles by myself! Here’s a quick look at some of my favorite places and sights along the way.
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During my adventure to the UK and Ireland, I met a handful of people who undoubtedly increased the richness of my experience: The polite man on the plane ride over to Dublin who informed me that Brits are scared of American food portions. The French girl who, in broken English, offered to share an appetizer with me at a London café, and I, in turn, became Facebook friends with her. The sweet expat sitting next to me on an eleven-hour bus ride who graciously shared her favorite photo locations in Ireland. The kind man in Glasgow who alerted me to the fact that I’d left my credit card in the self-checkout machine! The Polish woman on a flight who mirrored my beliefs about love and life, and offered me a place to stay on my next adventure. And the lovely couple from California staying at one of the B&Bs, who invited me to dinner and we drank the night away in Ireland’s pubs. All of these people entered my travel adventure when least expected and provided me with lasting memories and fun times along the way.
But a few of my encounters turned out to be shockingly serendipitous and truly helped to inspire and validate my choice to embark on this great adventure!
Justin and Clare
As I departed from my group in Scotland, I had a minor freak out about what was to happen next. I reached out to a friend in Austin to see if his brother was still living in England, and to my surprise and great relief, Justin did live in England, and in fact, was only a few short hours away from Stonehenge! Justin and his girlfriend Clare welcomed me into their home and lives for four wonderful days. They generously shared with me delicious, home-cooked meals, a free and comfortable place to stay, use of their washing machine, and all of the comforts of home I desperately needed to give me the confidence to continue in my solo, international adventure. Thank you, guys, I’ll forever be grateful!
Katie and Rebekah
Talk about serendipity! On my last night in London, I sat down at the fabulous little Italian restaurant next to my hotel and immediately heard an American accent coming from the table next to me. Within seconds, I hear the word “gymnastics” and “bless her heart.” Both phrases were music to my ears and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to give a Texan, “hello!” Turns out, the two girls were from Kentucky and headed to Dublin the next day – just like me!! Our world views were similar, our travel plans were similar, and the extent of our serendipitous encounter elicited shock and awe on both sides! We wound up meeting in Dublin for dinner and drinks and catching up like old friends for hours! I was thrilled to find out they had quickly become fans of my blog, and it was fun to share the crazy, back-story details of the articles they found fascinating. Such a wonderful experience – the true epitome of being bold, talking to strangers, and making new friends in foreign countries. Thank you, ladies, you’re famous in my book!!
Lisa and Haley
As I was walking along the precarious trail of the Cliffs of Moher, selfies just weren’t cutting it to document my presence in such a grand place. I turned around to the two closest humans and asked if they could take a photo of me. As luck would have it, I was wearing my Food for Thought T-shirt, and both girls immediately recognized it and exclaimed that they were Baylor alumnae! How random and perfect – here I’m on the side of a cliff in Western Ireland and in the midst of hundreds of tourists and five kilometers of rugged trails, I strike up a conversation with fellow Baylor Bears! The synchronicity of it all amazes me.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned from these encounters and connections is to be bold and communicate — reach out, be polite, and sincerely engage with others. You never know when a new friend might appear!
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