lesleymurphy

12 of the Most Unusual Hotels I’ve Slept In Around the World

September 15, 2019 by lesleymurphy 23 Comments

A bubble in Iceland

The locals call this unusual hotel the ‘5 Million Star Hotel’ and after spending a night here, I know why. I was literally living inside my own bubble with only a thin, clear barrier separating me from the trees, wind, wildlife and Northern Lights. Ahhhh that’s my kind of luxury adventure if I’ve ever seen one. Before you ask, yes, a service house with toilets, showers and a kitchen was only a few yards away!

Transparent capsule on the side of a mountain in Peru

I was 1,200 ft. high in a transparent pod, dangling on the side of a rock face and yet, sleep came easy that night. The king bed was equipped with heavy down comforters and was honestly one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in. Just behind a zipped compartment lies a secret land of toilet, sink, fresh water, towels, and the best bathroom view one could ask for.

Big Sur Yurt

When the homepage of a hotel includes features like, “What’s a Yurt?” and “Human Nest,” you know you’re in for an adventure. Being my first foray into the world of “glamping”, I was very excited to see what was in store at Treebones Resort. Would my yurt have electricity? Would I have to utilize the great outdoors as a bathroom? (Answer: occasionally.) What is a human nest?!? So many questions. So much anticipation. So, what’s a yurt, you ask? It’s a portable Mongolian hut-like circular fabric structure with wood lattice frames raised on platforms. One of these babies could be all yours for a few days while in Big Sur, just 60 miles south of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Beer Tent in Argentina

I lived in Buenos Aires for two years and left a large piece of my heart there. That’s why when Anheuser-Busch asked me to join a beer tour through Argentina, I was completely taken over with pure elation…and then had to have a few beers to calm down. Sure, I had lived and worked in Argentina prior to this trip, but to return to my favorite place in the world for business and beer touring…SWOON. Spending the night in barley fields was something new and exciting, not to mention absolutely stunning during harvest.

Mendoza Vineyard Loft

If I talk about Argentine beer, I have to be fair and give Argentine wine a shout out, too. Set among the vines and away from the main building of the hotel, Entre Cielos’ Vineyard Loft/Pod comes complete with expansive deck and Jacuzzi where I spent most of my time, plus cozy indoor luxuries. Seeing the sunrise and sunset over the snowcapped Andes mountains and plucking grapes off the vine just steps away from this home-away-from-home is something everyone should experience.

Patagonia Yurt

YURTS! I love them, especially this one complete with luxury bathroom, terrace and heating. Eighteen yurts exist on the shores of enormous Lake Toro (facing the Paine Massif), but if you have a thing for views, go for yurt #17 closest to the water. If you have a thing for wifi, go for yurt #8 because I believe that’s the closest yurt to the dining area, the only area at Patagonia Camp with wifi. I’m guilty of always on my phone posting social media or writing blogs, but who really needs wifi when you have Torres del Paine out your window?

Maldives hut on the water

A private hut on the water? That’s what fairytales are made of. Sure, the deck and widow’s peak were impressive, but the outdoor shower and glass-bottom tub had me giddy like Christmas morning. They were the perfect Maldivian accessories complete with views of the deep blue sea. Have you ever seen anything like this tub?!

I didn’t think so. I had my eyes peeled for fish, sharks and manta rays, but it wasn’t until after the fact that I remembered the snorkelers… 😉

Four Seasons Tented Camp

One of the most unique place I’ve visited to date exists in an exotic bamboo jungle where elephants rule the land, a land that conjoins three countries into one mystical place – The Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. It’s a scene straight out of The Jungle Book, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that leaves you craving lush greenery, fresh air, and mind-blowing scenery – the bare necessities of life. I think this is what they call glamping. Perhaps this even takes glamping to the next level, mainly because this tent housed the bathtub of my dreams!

Overnight Train to Germany

From Hamburg I took an overnight train to Zurich which was a unique experience. I was in my very own deluxe sleeper car (with sleeping aid in hand) but as it turned out, I slept very well that night rocking back and forth with the gentle twists and turns of the train. There wasn’t any Wi-Fi on board, so I took a breather from my computer and phone while I watched the German sun set out my window before bed. I highly recommend overnight trains in order to save daylight hours for sightseeing!

Galapagos Yacht

A seven-night stay aboard the classic M/Y Grace yacht offers boutique hotel service while being outfitted for true expeditions. The ultimate luxury adventure can be found sailing from island to island in the name of royalty on the same boat where Princess Grace Kelly honeymooned. This 18-passenger iconic yacht has more history than meets the eye. Born in 1928, the yacht has seen varying times, names and owners over the past near century. She did a stint with the Royal Navy during WWII, was once in possession of Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, was the honeymoon destination for Prince Rainier and Princess Grace Kelly, and was finally acquired by Quasar in 2007 and rechristened the M/Y Grace: a name that would take her back into her history, her most elegant years.

Lodges during Peruvian trek

The 5 day/4 night trek would take me to some of the most amazing landscapes I’ve witnessed to-date. It’s important to note here that while Machu Picchu is an incredible sight to see, Peru has various out-of-this-world landscapes. I urge you to see more and do more in Peru, such as hiking the Ausangate Mountains (and Rainbow Mountains!).

Andean Lodges, in partnership with locals of the Community, incorporates four distinct lodges along the trek with homemade meals and comfy beds, but no heating system (or electricity in general) is in place. We slept in about 35 degree weather each night. Thankfully, the Community staff put hot water bottles inside our beds to help us fall asleep in the cold. Speaking of the cold, our electronics got just as cold as we did. They die faster in extreme temperatures, and no electricity means no charging. Interesting. So how did we overcome this obstacle? We brought multiple batteries and slept with all of them (and our phones!) in our pockets every night to keep them warm. Comfortable, right? Mmmhmmm. It’s a small price to pay for being able to capture the surroundings the next day.

Japan Ryokan

Ryokans are Japanese style inns found throughout the country ranging from no-frills lodging options to hotel-like establishments. This type of VERY authentic lodging option allows guests to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle and hospitality, incorporating elements such as futon-like beds, Japanese style baths and local foods. Keep in mind that the majority are pricey and their 5 star rating may not be equivalent to a Westerner’s idea of what 5-Star hotels consist of – instead, it’s the Japanese interpretation (so don’t forget that). Also, don’t be surprised when you walk in to find a minimalistic room with a bed that can fit in a closet for $500/night. This was my experience while checking into Sumiya in Kyoto, but that price includes a very lovely sushi dinner + breakfast!

What to do: The Best of Berlin, Germany

July 31, 2019 by lesleymurphy 7 Comments

It’s ALL that and much more. Underground nightlife scenes will blow your mind and ruin your entire next day (lol). Berlin is so many things wrapped up into one city, and the only way I can adequately describe it is this: it’s anything but mainstream. What’s “in” is actually “out” here. The WWII history and rise/fall of the Wall not only materializes museum after museum but complexities and pieces left for Berliners to pick up. Any attempt to put a label on the city becomes futile because it chooses to be defined by its complexities and contradictions – not by beauty, wealth, or industry. And I absolutely love that.

Population of Berlin: 3.5 million

Language: German

Currency: Euro

Climate: Cold winters, hot summers, mild autumn and spring

Getting Around

Jump Bikes – Highly recommend these electric bikes by Uber…even in a dress 😉

U-Bahn – The underground railway in Berlin is fast, cheap and pretty decent as far as pubic transportation systems go

Uber – Available all over Berlin!

Foodies

Silo Coffee – Ethically sourced specialty coffee house in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg with bomb poached eggs and avo toast (above)…however next time I’m ordering the oven baked pancake due to massive food envy from the table next door.

Roamers – Set in the Neukolln neighborhood, this cozy space has a DECADENT chai tea latte and avo toast offering

W-Der Imbiss – In the heavy foot-traffic neighborhood of Mitte lies an Indian food spot that’ll satisfy all of your taste-bud needs. Order the Tasters Menu full of alllll the winners and bask in the naan glory.

POTS – Hands down my favorite dining experience in Berlin because not only was everything in copper pots as seen in the open-concept kitchen but also the food inventions were delicious (think classics with a modern twist) and the staff was crazy memorable. Many thanks to Sommelier and host Mathias Brandweiner for somehow knowing my tastebuds better than, well, me.

Boxhagener Platz Market – On Sundays, go here hungry 🙂 Lots of food stalls and clothing stalls to indulge in! I ate my body weight in foreign foods.

Markthalle Neun (Market Hall Nine) – I ADORED this place. What’s not to love about cannoli, ice cream, pizza, empanadas and Trdelník (cinnamon/sugar pastry wrapped around a stick with creme inside) all being served under one roof?! Thursday in Berlin’s Kreuzberg neighborhood stuffing your face with street food. BE THERE. More markets throughout the week as well!

Biergartens

Cassiopeia – Nightclub by evening but an even better biergarten by day! Berlin is FULL of hidden gems around every corner – which is why lots of walking is required to find said gems (or just keep reading this post). With a rock climbing wall, biergarten and food stalls, I could spend many hours at this repurposed rail station.

Holzmarkt – SO nice we went here twice 🙂 This eclectic spot by the river is full of yummy coffee, beer (duh), lively crowds and delicious pizza. Learned here that customers pay a deposit, or Pfand surcharge, to the bar/food stall and can get it back when bottles are returned.

FUN FACT: The German Pfand system was brought into force to ensure that there was a responsible policy in place for the recycling of plastic bottles. It encourages drinks companies to supply their product in multi-use, refillable plastic or glass bottles. These can be refilled up to 25 times for the plastic variety and up to 50 times for glass which reduces the average CO2 emissions per bottle in circulation because fewer new bottles have to be manufactured. The process of washing and sterilizing these bottles is loads more environmentally friendly in terms of CO2 output than the production of single-use bottles.

Klunkerkranich – Sprawling open-air bar on top of a shopping mall garage…bringing new life to rooftop bars 🙂 Berlin, you’re so damn cool!

Urban Spree – Sometimes all you need in life is live music, German craft beer and some pretty art to enjoy. Love the vibe here in this multi-faceted, multi-leveled space!

Museums & Memorials

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe – Also known as the Holocaust Memorial, this space holds 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights and wavelike in form. There’s a somber mood over the area with a side of uncertainty as the observer wanders through the tall slabs. Don’t miss the underground Rooms for more information from families and victims.

Topography of Terror – It’s strange that this history museum, the former site of both the Gestapo and SS headquarters, was a highlight of Berlin for me. How something entitled “Topography of Terror” where terror is so tangible could possibly make its way to the top of my list is all a bit morbid, but the amount of history and information pouring out of this place in an organized fashion is truly mind-blowing and educational.

Book Burning Memorial – I’d go ahead and assume that many people pass right by this memorial not having a clue what it all means. That, or you come upon a big crowd standing around a glass plate in the ground. The public square of Bebelplatz holds a sunken library with empty white shelves to signify the 20,000 books that went up in flames here on 10 May, 1933 at the hands of the Nazis.

Museum Island (Museumsinsel)- 1 island, 5 museums. Enough said 🙂

To-Do

Brandenburg Gate – 18th century monument in the western part of the city and historically a site for major events

Reichstag – With a war-torn past and many restorations later, this stunning building now serves as the German Parliament building

Checkpoint Charlie – Also known as Checkpoint C, this was the best known Berlin Wall crossing point between east and west Berlin. Lots of people are here taking photos of the checkpoint, but if you don’t know what it is exactly, you’ll likely walk right through!

Berlin Fernsehturm – TV tower in the center of Mitte in Berlin allowing spectators to get a 360-view of the entire city

Gendarmenmarkt – A beautiful square in Berlin with rotating markets and concerts showcasing an architectural ensemble with German and French influences

Eastside Gallery – Serving as a massive piece of history, this 4,318 ft. section of the Berlin Wall painted with murals acts as an open-air art gallery

Potsdamer Platz – Modern-day entertainment, shopping and business district with a loaded past as the Berlin Wall went through this area. Easily reached via U-Bahn.

Berlin Cathedral – A main landmark of Berlin, you can’t mistake this stunning dome for anything else! After the division of Germany, the Cathedral was in East Berlin. After many damages in WWII, the full restoration was only completed in 1993, four years after the Berlin Wall fell.

Tiergarten – Berlin’s most popular park coming in at 520 acres. Great spot for a run, some shade or a little peace and quiet.

Mauerpark – If you like flea markets, karaoke and lounging in the park with your friends – look no further. Sundays here are lots of fun, especially if you’re brave enough to belt it out while singing karaoke in front of a few hundred people 🙂

Badeschiff – Floating public swimming pool in the Spree River with a bar and views for days. Be prepared for an entry fee and mediocre service.

Sleep

Ritz-Carlton Berlin – A grand marble staircase greeted us as we checked into the property. It’s hard to take your eyes off of it and pairs swimmingly with the recent remodel and art deco theme running throughout. Situated in Potsdamer Platz with a backyard of the Tiergarten, I hiiiighly recommend this gem!

15 Ways to Eliminate the Use of Plastic Every Day

July 29, 2019 by lesleymurphy 9 Comments

This can be a mind-blowing exercise.

For me, I woke up. I brushed my teeth, brushed my hair and made a cup of coffee. I watched a morning news show while eating yogurt and berries for breakfast. I sat down at my desk to get some work done. Basic? You bet ya.

During that morning routine, I used 3 different items that were made of – or packaged in – plastic material. It’s only mid-day, and I’ve got a whole laundry list of things to do today. I’m scared of what my count will be by the time I go to sleep tonight…….

We have a plastic problem, and no President, no member of Congress, no news report, no statistic can tell us otherwise. I’m writing this post in hopes that it makes us all more cognizant of what we’re using, wearing, and buying on a daily basis. The solution will derive from education, research, and putting into practice what we learn.

To kick things off, I held a Clean-Up party in Marina del Rey this month – brought to you by my weekly runs from my house. I feel SO lucky to live where I do, only a couple miles from the beach with immediate access to the Ballona Creek bike path. It provides a pretty view during a run…until you look closer and see that the neon pink straw doesn’t belong with the natural blue hues of the ocean. The styrofoam container from someone’s meal isn’t going to make a comfy home for the animals in the ecological reserve next door. I’ve always wanted to do a meet-up in LA, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to mix passion and purpose together: A Meet-Up with a Mission if you will 🙂 Now, I know what you’re thinking…did anyone actually show up on a Sunday afternoon to pick up trash in Los Angeles?! I’m insanely thrilled to say YES, they did. 16 beautiful humans came together on a summer day to fill 100 compostable trash bags with other people’s garbage. SAINTS, I tell you!

We found everything from styrofoam containers to old shoes to tattered purses to entirely too many single-use dental flossers to countless micro-plastics to syringes and needles. It was a sobering afternoon. We sat down at a nearby restaurant for drinks and apps afterwards, and I asked anyone if they had ever tried going 24 hours without plastic. Nobody spoke up but my boyfriend from when we tried to do it while in Budapest this summer. NEWSFLASH: IT’S HARD. But if you though we came here to mess around, you thought wrong. Plastic, beware!

I love coming in contact with like-minded people and big corporations who make me think and second guess my every action, a.k.a. my entire life. Last year, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health (parent company behind brands like Johnson’s®, Neutrogena® and Listerine®) joined forces with over 240 other organizations to be part of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Cut to present-day and now over 400 companies have joined the movement! This makes my heart so happy because big companies have a massive opportunity and responsibility to take action and make an impact on the planet. In short, this means Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health is pledging to use more recycled materials in packaging, reduce reliance on the single-use model and ensure that 100% of plastic packaging be reusable, recyclable or compostable through a combination of design, partnerships and investments by 2025. If you don’t think our planet is headed towards a disaster that we can’t come back from, read the following…

Only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling, and the estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans every year is expected to double by 2025…making it more plentiful than fish.

More commitments from big brand names and states include Starbucks’ plastic straw ban in 2018, McDonald’s sustainably sourcing 100% of its coffee worldwide by 2020, Maine’s ban on styrofoam this year, California and New York’s ban on plastic bags, and LA’s ban on plastic straws in restaurants unless specifically requested. We are moving in a good direction, but we can all do better.

Here are some examples of how we can do our part in our every day lives (because I need a lot of work, too):

Bring a reusable water bottle around town and when you travel.

BYOS(nacks), BYOU(tensils), BYOH(eadphones) around town, to work, during travel so you don’t waste!

Utilize reusable bags while you shop.

Hellooo, compostable garbage bags!

Rid of the plastic straws (unless needed in the case of a disability) for metal or glass straws.

Opt for the ice cream cone over the ice cream cup. It’s super yummy, anyway 🙂

Buy bars of soap over body wash in plastic containers.

Brush your teeth with a bamboo toothbrush (I have one and it’s reallyyyy cool).

Brush your hair with a wooden/bamboo hairbrush.

Buy reusable cloth sandwich bags and more reusable food bags over plastic baggies & cling wrap.

Utilize stainless steel or glass over plastic food storage containers.

Use pet bowls made of stainless steel or ceramic.

Buy sustainably-made clothing and avoid buying plastic clothing (made from synthetic materials with names like: polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, nylon… a.k.a plastic fabric).

Celebrate Christmas with sustainably-grown real trees as most artificial trees are made from toxic PVC.

If you have other ideas to eliminate plastic, please do tell in the comments below!

24 Hours in Bosnia and Herzegovina

July 23, 2019 by lesleymurphy 3 Comments

Capital: Sarajevo

Population: 3.5 million

Language: Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian

Currency: Convertible Mark (BAM) but Euros accepted in some places

Location: Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe

Climate: Hot summers and cold winters

Why does Bosnia and Herzegovina have two names?

It’s all a bit confusing, I know. Get ready for this geography and linguistics lesson all rolled into one! Still a single nation, Bosnia occupies most of the country while Herzegovina occupies the small triangle in the southern portion. The word Bosnia comes from a river while Herzegovina originated from Germany.

Formerly part of Yugoslavia, the country gained independence in 1992. B&H looks landlocked, but take a closer look at the map. Bosnia actually has a teeny tiny bit of Adriatic coast that you could walk across in a single afternoon. When Yugoslavia broke up in 1991, the twelve miles of Bosnia-Herzegovinian coastline separated the Dubrovnik region from the rest of Croatia to the north, and the Neum corridor gives Bosnia and Herzegovina a shorter coastline than any other nation on earth aside from Monaco. Craziness!

Crossing the Border

The event of crossing from Croatia into Bosnia and Herzegovina was so uneventful that I forgot it even happened…until someone from Instagram DM’d me to ask questions about it. Here I am, a day after publishing, adding this section in. Entry into Bosnia from Croatia literally looked like this: rolling my window down and showing the Customs guy a green slip of paper I received from the car rental company stating something along the lines of “let this girl through.” Exit from Bosnia into southern Croatia was just as easy…and actually SO uneventful that I don’t even remember it so I’m going to end this section here.

Where to Stay

Go with Neum or Mostar. Neum occupies a few miles of beachfront making for some epic sunsets….but the city of Mostar has more going for it. Whatever you do, don’t stay at the Grand Hotel Neum. What a dumpster fire of a hotel…(we booked at 4pm the day-of, so we were asking for it. Not my finest moment).

What to Do

Rent a car – you won’t get far unless you have your own vehicle. I rented with Sixt in Zagreb, Croatia, and made my way down the coast to Neum.
Drive to Pocitelj – This stop was a spur-of-the-moment, pull-over-on-the-side-of-the-road because it was such a pretty scene. The historic fortress village has come crazy picture-perfect architecture. Although damaged in the Bosnian War of ’93, lots has been restored including the stunning Hajji Alija Mosque from 1563. I reallyyy wanted to hike up to the Ottoman Clock Tower, but we didn’t have enough time.

Blagaj Tekija – You know when you’ve viewed a landmark so many times online or on Instagram and you wonder if you’ll ever get to see it in real life? Cue ALL THE FEELS when I laid eyes on this beauty for the first time last month. This 15th century monastery is situated at the base of a cliff next to the Buna river and waterfalls. Note that you’ll need to pay for parking and entry if you want to see the inside of the monastery. There’s also a boat that will take you into the cave for a short visit, but we opted to go across the river to see it from the other side. Lots of restaurant options here, too!

Mostar – I loved this town so much! We ate lunch here and wanted to do so much more that what we actually accomplished. Within an hour of arriving, a monsoon came over the city…a sign to get on to the next spot! We were able to see Stari Most, the 16th century Old Bridge destroyed by the Bosnian Coat Army on November 9th, 1993. It took about 5.5 million USD to reconstruct the bridge which is now an UNESCO world heritage site (that lots of daredevils jump off of and into the Neretva River below!) serving as a reminder of the rich history of the area and of a violent (recent) past.

Kravice Waterfalls (Studenci) – On the loop back towards the main highway/Croatia, our last stop was Kravice where the sun came out to play! You can get in the water here, but we chose a cute lil boat to get closer to the falls. Cafes are near the waterfront and note that there’s a small entrance fee of KM 10 ($5-6) to enter, and you may want to bring a swimsuit 🙂
Dubrovnik is 2.5-hour drive away from here, so get some coffee and a good podcast going!

A Quick Guide to Joshua Tree National Park

May 23, 2019 by lesleymurphy 5 Comments

Lucky for me, I love stargazing, hiking and music. Off to Joshua Tree I went to continue my California road trip from Yosemite National Park 🙂

If Yosemite is for the ‘ain’t no mountain high enough’ intrepid thrill seekers, then Joshua Tree is for the ‘ain’t no desert hot enough’ hipsters of heart. The sunny, friendly vibes this place gives off make me want to return for a lazy weekend spent reading tarot cards and living amongst the J Trees (which aren’t even trees at all but part of the agave family). Only 2 1/2 hours from LA, it’s the perfect respite from traffic…city life…but yeah, mostly traffic.

Inside Joshua Tree National Park

Let me be frank. I went inside the gates to the national park a few times, and it was one time too many. The purpose of these parks around the country is land conservation and preservation of natural beauty. This one in particular is just over the size of Rhode Island – so lots to explore (requiring lots of fuel in your tank!). I had just ventured south from Yosemite where I climbed mountains and saw meadows and lakes and canyons and wilderness and ah. Diversity, ya know? The actual National Park is a sight to see – maaybe like once every trip here. Lots of Joshua Trees and some boulders. End of list.

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely ADORE J Tree and can’t wait to return. Just know it’s not very varied landscape…but you can definitely fill an afternoon with photo opps. Upon my return, I’m going to take a rock climbing course and perform amongst the vertical playground 🙂

Other options inside the park: Hidden Valley one-mile hike trail, Keys View 360 degree lookout, Skull Rock and Cholla Cactus Garden.

Experience

Pioneertown – I totally thought this was a fake town until I drove in and realized it wasn’t actually a TV set. This is A REAL TOWN with a police station, a church, a restaurant, a bar and a post office, from which I actually mailed a wedding present! It’s worth the 10 minute walk-around as well as the lunch at Pappy and Harriet’s – so so delish.

Sound Bath Integratron – It is with a heavy heart that I cannot tell you about the Integratron (based off of experience) as it was booked solid upon my Joshua Tree dates. I wanted to mention it in case there’s an open date for you AND THEN YOU MUST MESSAGE ME AND TELL ME EVERYTHING. Basically, it’s a very quirky Joshua Tree thing and billed as “60 minutes of sonic healing.” I think you pretty much post up in a lawn chair situated inside a dome structure and bathe in sounds for an hour. The history of this place is far out, man.

Stargaze – Don’t forget to look up! The night sky in J Tree is jam packed with stars – perfect for a cozied up romantic evening or epic photog session.

Eat

Frontier Cafe – I could easily see myself working all day here among good drinks, coffee, beer, breakfast and lunch. Homemade granola bars and Joshua Tree coffee. NOM.

Natural Sisters Cafe – MmmmmASSIVE salads and wraps and vegetarian goodness <3

Pappy & Harriet’s – My mouth is watering thinking of the pork sandwich from here. Loved the vibe, loved the staff, loved the food. Solid place all around.

Gadi’s Bar – Eateries tend to close by around 9pm in Joshua Tree so if you’re like me and explore until way past dark, go here for pizza and really good playlists.

Shop

The End Vintage Shop

Route 62 Vintage Marketplace

Sleep

Lazy Sky – What a freaking gem this place is. I’m a fan of glamping, especially when it’s in a landscape like THIS with interiors like THESE. And yeah, the bathroom is lovely and only a few yards away alongside a kitchen and grill. The dream.

Pioneertown Motel – Situated in Pioneertown, this little motel is popular. As I was photographing the “lobby,” I heard the receptionist say they were booked for at least a few months out. A good problem to have.

Airstreams aplenty – I’m not sure where the airstream got its start again, but the silver bullet boom is upon us. Places like Joshua Tree Acres and the like have become a big lodging option here and for good reason. They’re so…instagrammable. Brb while I shoot myself for saying that.

Camping in Joshua Tree National Park

They say you never forget your first…and my first ever camping experience was right here in Joshua Tree National Park 🙂 Even with a wind advisory and a group of drunk men next door, I’ll say that trip #1 was a success. I’d give it a strong 7/10. We camped at Jumbo Rocks Campground where reservations are required ($15/site, $30/car) during the busy season from October – May. There’s zero cell reception, and definitely bring your own water + layers for cold nights. I’m a human that gets v cold v easily. Thank GOD for Alex and his body heat and his extra hoodies and his knowledge of pitching a tent. My camping expertise is obviously non-existent. I’m getting there.

The stars are UNREAL and worth the loss of sleep due noisy, alcohol-infused neighbors. I hope they enjoyed our music the following morning! I mean there’s gotta be such thing as Camping Etiquette, right? It probably doesn’t list being drunken fools until 3am OR blaring your music the next morning as you drive off…but what do I know? What I know for sure is that I’m finding an isolated spot next time!

If you’ve camped in J. Tree, sound off on your favorite campsite + other faves inside the U.S.!

9 Ways I Take Care of My Mental Health

May 22, 2019 by lesleymurphy 19 Comments

I remember how hard it was to get out of bed in the mornings. The sun would rise, and I’d lay there for hours…feeling empty on the inside, feeling hot tears on the outside. I haven’t felt this level of low in a few years, and I attribute that to a few practices I put into my life, outlined below.

Last month was Mental Health Awareness Month, but we need to focus on our state of well-being all throughout the year. Nearly 450 million people worldwide are currently living with a mental illness with only 2/3 of those people never seeking treatment. Think about you or someone you know having depression, anxiety, an eating disorder or schizophrenia which affects mood, thinking and behavior — never being treated. It’s so important that we face this head on in our daily lives – personal and work-related. I love my job, but if travel blogging disappeared, I know exactly where I’d apply…

Johnson & Johnson takes its employee benefits to the next level. They see your company’s health insurance policy and raise you resilience training, emergency backup family care, financial coaching and comprehensive on-site healthcare. WHOA. The wellness work doesn’t stop there. Because suicide is on the rise, researching treatments is drastically needed. Enter Spravato, the first new drug to treat depression since Prozac hit the scene in the late 80s. The nasal spray is FDA approved and is meant to treat those who haven’t found relief from other antidepressants. Talk about game-changing (and 100% life-changing!). Speaking of, here are the 9 activities that have changed my life for the better:

Exercise

Do whatever moves you…literally. Maybe that’s running, spinning, boxing, stretching, whatever. For me, I’ve been active from a young age. I watched my Dad get up around 4am every morning (okay, maybe I didn’t actually see this b/c I was still sleeping!), but I knew he’d be at his workout by 5am. Like clockwork, this was his routine (and still is to this day). It’s his drug, a must-have to get through his day of seeing ~100 patients in dental chairs, most under the age of 3. Working out gets the endorphins going as they act as a natural “drug,” making us more energetic, more awake and, yes, happier!

Yoga & Meditation

I started practicing yoga 8 years ago when a friend took me to a class. I hated it, but for some reason I went back again. And again. Third time was a charm and then I was hooked. I always tell people to keep trying different studios and teachers a few times before stopping and deciding it’s not for you. Recently, my practice has become so much more than fitness to me. Being on my mat is my place for presence and peace, two things that are super hard to come by every single day! Meditation came to me a lot later in life. Last year, I read 10% Happier by Dan Harris and completed my yoga teacher training, both opening my eyes to the benefits of meditation. Sometimes I’ll do a 15-20 minute meditation practice before yoga, and sometimes I’ll meditate without my mat. It looks different most days. When I find it hard to NOT concentrate on anything at all, I allow my mind to practice gratitude meditation where I think about all the people I love dearly and why and what I wish for them in this life.

Baths

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love a good tub. Enter #TubTalks here 😉 You can do just about anything inside this body of water – process your day, relax before bed, read a book, have a glass of wine, eat a pizza. Anything, and I mean anything, can compliment a bath if you let it.

Nature

I crave being by bodies of water and amongst the trees. It’s no secret that nature is cheaper than therapy. When I had my preventative double mastectomy surgery, one of the first trips I took was a solo trip to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Talking about healing powers. Being alone and surrounded by nature helps me process the wounds – physical, emotional, and mental.

Social Media

Social media is a blessing and a curse. Some days it reinstalls my faith in humanity and how beautiful it is. Some days it’s a total drag from Trolly McTollersons. Recently I’ve found that the more time I spend away, the more clarity I have because I’m not constantly comparing myself to others. I’ve also been finding more inspiration OFFline…but when used correctly, social media can be insanely beneficial. For me, my ah-ha moment with Instagram was healing from surgery. Complete strangers flooded my posts and DMs with love, and there’s nothing more powerful than that kind of support structure.

Positive People

Keep them. Love them. Cherish them. Surround yourself with them. They are good for the soul. Cultivating close relationships keep me grounded, upbeat and healthy. Attracting positive people into our orbit is essential. Be the energy you want to attract.

Sleep

I know my body very well. If I have 3 nights in a row of poor sleep, I get sick. It typically looks like this: anxiety the night before a long trip begins. Little to no sleep on the overnight flight. Jet lag on night 3. DUN DUN DUNNNN. I’ve been able to cut the anxiety that 1st night (packing early and taking a bath helps) and I’m prescribed sleeping aids for travel. Being proactive is everything!

Gratitude Practice

This is a big one, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first. Taking the time to notice and reflect upon the things I’m thankful for leaves me with more positive emotions and makes me feel more alive. I try and always go a step further and really dig deep. What is it about my friends that I’m grateful for? Why do I love this lifestyle of travel so much? Getting specific and opening my eyes to more of the world around me deeply enhances my gratitude practice.

Travel (Writing)

We all know how I feel about travel. Much like exercise, travel is my drug. It’s my therapy. It’s my medicine. I may have only been blogging about travel for a very little time, but I’ve been an active participant most of my life. Traveling expands my thinking, my relationships, my memories, and my livelihood. It’s a great way to avoid misunderstandings, even war and suffering. It’s simply a matter of not having a preconceived idea of what something or someone is, but rather going to see what something or someone is. Going a step further and processing these travels is icing on the mental health cake (…if there is one of those? Cake always makes me feel good so I’ll go with a YES). Writing down my thoughts and experiences, whether it be on The Road Les Traveled blog or in my journal, is a form of therapy for me. It’s the healthiest way to release emotions. Reflective writing allows me to gain mental and emotional clarity, validating my experiences and come to a deeper understanding of myself.

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Only 14% of plastic packaging is collected for recycling, and the estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic that ends up in the world’s oceans every year is expected to double by 2025…making it more plentiful than fish.

Here are some examples of how we can do our part in our every day lives (because I need a lot of work, too):

If you have other ideas to eliminate plastic, please do tell in the comments below!

Why does Bosnia and Herzegovina have two names?

Crossing the Border

Where to Stay

What to Do

Inside Joshua Tree National Park

Experience

Eat

Shop

Sleep

Camping in Joshua Tree National Park

If you’ve camped in J. Tree, sound off on your favorite campsite + other faves inside the U.S.!

Exercise

Yoga & Meditation

Baths

Nature

Social Media

Positive People

Sleep

Gratitude Practice

Travel (Writing)

Let me know if you have other ideas on improving your mental health! xoxo

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