My trip to Bali was such a mentally and physically revitalizing experience. One major highlight of this trip was how affordable it was. I spent 4 full days exploring different areas in Bali, had a private driver, stayed in a lovely villa, and ate amazing food for about $600!
What I love most about my travel experiences are the friendships I developed and the interactions I have with people. Sometimes my friends laugh at me because I tend to make buddies in the most random places. But fear not, you do not need to be a social butterfly to meet people. Whether you are traveling solo or just interested in making friends while you travel abroad, here are 5 of my most prized tips that I guarantee will lead you to making a new friend or two.
After spending a wonderful activity-packed week exploring Morocco, I was looking forward to slowing things down on the next leg of my trip, Lisbon. While most of our week in Portugal was spent taking day trips from Lisbon, we spent three days venturing off into the colorful neighborhoods of the city. Here’s a guide to spending 3 days in Lisbon.
This past June, my friend Fi and I spent a week exploring the picturesque country, Portugal. Lively cities, medieval castles, pristine beaches, and delectable food– Portugal has a lot to offer. We were based in Lisbon, but ventured out to explore a few surrounding areas. Here are 4 day trips to take from Lisbon:
If you are considering visiting Morocco and want to visit a city that truly captures the spirit and culture of the country, visit Fes. The city of Fes, Morocco’s third largest city, is home to over one million people. It was founded in the 8th century, and still has a distinct traditional charm to it. Here are seven things to do in Fes
Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, where modesty in all aspects of life is key. I was in Morocco, during Ramadan (a holy month of fasting), which was even more reason to be mindful of my attire. While exploring the medina in Marrakech there were several tourists who wore shorts and crop tops. Our guide told us it was extremely disrespectful towards the culture, especially given it was the holy month. In general, it is advised to cover your shoulders, knees, mid-drift, and avoid low-cut tops particularly while in the medina and rural areas.
After months of sitting on my Pinterest board, in June my dream of going on a camel trek in the Sahara Desert finally came true! The entire experience was blissful and surreal. The days leading up to our trek were incredibly busy, making riding a camel through the Sahara the meditative retreat I needed. In that moment, everything slowed down. I soaked up the beauty of the orange sand dunes that surrounded us, sung Lion King songs with my friend, and took time to express gratitude and be in the moment. If you are looking for items to add to your bucket list, this is it! It’s the perfect mix of adventure and tranquility.
We were constantly amazed by the exquisite architectural and decorative details, whether at a riad (a traditional Moroccan house with an interior courtyard), a hostel, or a hotel. I will never forget the peace and joy I felt while staying in our accommodations.
Four friends, 1,708 miles driven, lots of snacks, and great stories. My girls road trip from Durham, North Carolina to New Orleans, Louisiana was EVERYTHING! At first a 12.5 hour drive seems overwhelming (especially if you are like me and hate to drive), but spilt among 4 drivers who are good co-pilots, the drive was totally doable.
It’s my one year blogiversary! Every year, during special occasions like my birthday and the new year, I take time to reflect on my growth and lessons learned over the past year. travelJewels was born from my frustration of graduating from a top public health graduate school program, going through 9 months of applying to over 50 jobs, having numerous informational interviews and a lot of close calls, and still not getting an offer!