My trip to Saudi Arabia will forever stick out on my travel roster. I gravitate towards unfamiliar routes as opposed to the more predictable travel circuits. This is The Road Les Traveled after all, and on-brand I will stay with the whole idea of two roads diverging in a wood and taking the one les(s) traveled by. It really has made all the difference. Shout out Robert Frost for helping me out here.
It’s no secret that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a massive transformation. The Middle Eastern country is on the brink of opening the gates of tourism (and thus visas), and I’m not going to sugar coat it. KSA has some internal work to do before this happens, of which I’ll categorize in my subsequent blog post because this one is already a short novel 😉 As a country that’s been closed for so many years to foreign visitors, there’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be developed – whether that’s structural, technical or social. In the interim, here’s a recap of my time in one of the most beautiful, untouched areas of Planet Earth.
Photo by Chris Priestley
Riyadh
Flying into King Khalid International Airport, I was exhausted yet extremely curious. With eyes wide open and zombie-like, I was like a sponge ready to soak up the knowledge from every single question I could get out of my mouth. I was invited by Gateway KSA to enter into the Kingdom, and I have to admit I was hesitant to accept for many reasons – violation of human rights, killing of journalists, denial of freedom of expression, and the list goes on. It’s not a country that’s been at the top of my bucket list, but I’m innately curious and have an infinite longing to see faraway lands. I have a lot of questions, and I’m not afraid to ask them. 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. I always advocate for learning through experience rather than adhering to the status quo. Breaking stereotypes is imperative today as division separates us more than ever.
So, I went.
Photo by Tristan Kermode
Jet lag woke me up around 5:30am on Day 1 in myMövenpick hotel room, an occurrence I welcomed since it did present an early feast full of Saudi, western and other international fare. Dates for breakfast? You bet. It was good fuel for the old fortress of Masmak where I had my first cup of arabic coffee in Saudi. I’m sure I tried it in Dubai, right? But the minute the liquid hit my lips, no hint of it tasted familiar. It’s bitter with a heavy dose of cardamom and orange-brown in color with the strength of a strong-ish tea. Hey, caffeine is caffeine so I grabbed for the cup with my right hand as is polite in Arabic culture.
Next, we lunched at the home of Prince Turki al-Faisal. While lunch was beautiful, what sticks out in my mind was our Q&A session afterwards with the Prince. “Ask me anything, we have no guns here!” he jokingly said. Everyone let out a (nervous) laugh while my heart started pounding. I had so many questions for this man and had to address the elephant in the room first. Nobody spoke. I could only hear the sound of my of heart when one of the founders of Gateway KSA suddenly lit up, announcing that I had a question. Welp, this was happening.
For myself and for my readers and followers, I’d like to know your take on what happened with Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul a few months ago. -Me
You could hear a pin drop.
Crickets.
Tumbleweeds.
I wondered if the whole room could hear the thuds pumping through my chest.
After a few seconds of silence, the question seemed to be well-received by Prince Turki, as if he’d heard it a before…and I knew he had based on prior conversations with Gateway KSA. I didn’t go in completely blind, y’all. Prince Turki and journalist Jamal Khashoggi were friends and even engaged in business matters once upon a time. The Prince answered in a very PC manner about how the journalist’s killing was indeed a heinous crime, how they are investigating the matter and the right people will be brought to justice. He then asked me about the USA’s voting system and the significance of the Electoral College (thanks, Constitution). I then asked him what he sees in the progression of women’s rights for Saudi Arabia (it’s a slow progression, but it’s happening). Looking back on my time with him at his home, I respect Prince Turki for welcoming us and providing responses to my burning questions, however forthright they may have been. I felt an obligation to delve deeper on these subjects, and it felt empowering to be allowed to do so.
Photo by Tristan Kermode
We watched the sunset that evening on top of The Globe, an orb that tops Al Faisaliah Tower where we got a unique perspective of the Kingdom’s capital. I’m not sure what I pictured when thinking about Riyadh before this trip…but it wasn’t the architectural diversity I saw from above. From gleaming glass skyscrapers to ancient castles, there’s no shortage of architectural marvels like Masmak Fortress below.
We stumbled into a night market afterwards where I noticed I was one of very few women around. Turns out Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s largest importers of incense, and there was A LOT of it. Stall after stall produced dreamy scents, inviting me in to get lost in the old world artwork and antiques. A lively auction was going down here, and 5 or 6 of our photographers and videographers were having a field day with the scene. Even though I couldn’t understand the Arabic being shouted as a man tried his damndest to sell a foot stool, I was intrigued. The moment I grabbed a camera from one of the guys, I was reprimanded in Arabic by a Saudi male on the sidelines. I can only assume it was because I was a female. While this was a one-off occurrence, I immediately felt put in my place and sunk into the shadows of the market, a far cry from my confident, outgoing self in the western world. I proceeded with caution in as foreign of a country as they come to me. The group of us immediately departed after that.
Photo by Tristan Kermode
The next day we off-roaded about two hours outside of Riyadh into a region called The Edge of the World. It’s exactly as it sounds where giant cliffs give way to endless plains below. Cameras were going off and drones were being launched. Content creation didn’t stop here, but we made sure to take it all in. With screens down, my own two eyes can picture it best even now as I write this in California. I can see the massive cliffs and remember the fierce wind blowing through my hair. Immediately, I feel small (that’s me at the top of the rock!)
Photo by Chris Priestley
The following day was all about Diriyah, the first ever Saudi State established in 1745. Having undergone a huge restorative project for many years, we were one of the very first groups to see the ruins as it’s not open to visitors yet. Here, I was able to get a feel of how people lived in old Riyadh.
Photo by NJ Visions
All of this historical talk is making me hungry. Insert food paragraph here. Saudi cuisine is seriously delicious. After receiving a lot of messages about what people eat in Saudi, I did some digging (read: eating…it’s the best kind of research). Food in Saudi is so diverse and based on specialties in different regions of the country. The north region has similarities to Jordan…lots of grape leaves with stuffed rice and magloba. Food in southern Saudi is similar to Yemen with a lot of stews and breads. The western coast is a melting pot of cultures…so lots of mantu dumplings, seafood, Lebanese food, and the list goes on. Riyadh has a lot of camel. My favorite treats included SO many things but mostly go back to dates, tamis bread from Afghanistan, and little cream cheese puff pastries called Khaliat nahla. For the love of god if you ever get a chance to eat nahla, DO IT. They are like little pastry pillows of yummy cheese ready to put you in a coma for the remainder of the day until you will yourself to the gym. I had to take a picture to make the effect in my mouth and belly last longer. They’re the balls of magic in the back left.
There is an abundance of tea and arabic coffee to always accompany 🙂 This was lunch at Najdi Village. We were told that just three months ago, each table area was covered as is typical in restaurants throughout Saudi. In such a small time frame, even the restaurant culture is changing as coverings come down and everyone can eat together.
Photo by Chris Priestley
Jeddah
When I think of Saudi Arabia, crystal clear waters don’t typically come to mind…until now! An hour and a half flight from Riyadh allowed us to be on the coast with a chill seaside vibe versus the cosmopolitan capital. I’ve never seen clearer water while scuba diving than in the Red Sea. Are even the seas unscathed and unspoiled?! What a place. Special thanks to Saati for taking us out for a day full of salt and vitamin D.
Photo by Alex Kavanagh
I don’t think I’ve ever met friendlier locals willing to serve delicious food to strangers inside their homes than here. A man by the name of Sami Angawi is a new legend in my book. We were a group of photographers and videographers, yet when this man opened his mouth, everyone forgot about content. He spoke of unity and diversity. How we need more bridges, not walls. If everyone was the same, life would be boring. Then, he left us with these parting words which had everyone drooling over the man with the cane:
Photo by Tristan Kermode
To have justice we need mercy, to have mercy we need understanding of others, and without understanding of others, we have fear.
Let that settle for a hot minute.
Never ever change, Mr. Angawi. I’ll be looking forward to reading your book soon!
Al-ʿUla
From the brand-new Jeddah International Airport which is currently only running on a soft launch, we boarded 1 of the 2 flights that operate per week to a place that can only be described as otherworldly. The remainder of the trip materialized sand…and a lot of it. Al-ʿUla was my favorite part of KSA because it constantly felt like an adult playground full of unchartered territory. Daily discoveries happen all the time by on-site archeologists working to uncover tombs and map out the region which is yet to be fully excavated. I felt incredibly lucky to get to see these ancient ruins from below and above by Royal heli fleet as the area continues to get ready for future tourism.
Photo by NJ Visions
If you look closely, you can see the outline of the gentle giant here at a region aptly named Elephant Rock. I’m the little speck playing in its light soaking up all the unspoiled rays.
Photo by Alex Kavanagh
The region that stole the Al-ʿUla show, however, is known as Mada’in Saleh, the second largest Nabatean city after Petra. It’s interesting to note that Muslims wouldn’t ever visit the site because they believed it to be cursed when the Nabateans refused to renounce their gods in favor of Islam. We, however, couldn’t wait until our 5am wake-up call. We drove up in four Toyotas just as the sun was beginning to rise, eyes fixated at what we’ve all seen on social media in recent weeks. Qasr al Farid seems to be carved straight out of a boulder as it stands alone commanding complete attention. Dating back to the 1st Century CE (so a really long time ago), the tomb maintains one door with a small space inside where bodies would have been laid in shelves along the walls. Cut to present-day and only footprints in the sand remain inside. While everyone else stood outside to capture its exterior, I’ll never forget standing in the small room surrounded by cool air and the test of time this outcrop has lasted. If walls could talk…
Photo by Tristan Kermode
We took in Mada’in Saleh at sunrise and at sunset, both magical in their own light. We wandered the deserted lands, touched the cold inscriptions on the walls and lost track of time. As the sun began to fall, the colors of the tomb began to fire. Bright orange turned to soft yellow hues, and it was time to leave.
Photo by Tristan Kermode
Some people refer to Al-ʿUla as the next Petra, but the Saudis are committed to preservation and protection for the long-haul. What a time to see this place exactly as is with limited access, in reverent silence, and only a few camps to stay in at the moment. Special thanks to Sahary Camp for having us. After 5 years of constant travel under my belt, this felt like one of the few places on earth that’s still a complete untapped reserve of magic and beauty. No other photographers. No selfie sticks. No camel rides. No souvenir stands.
Please note that the sites of Mada’in Saleh are currently closed to the public whilst the Royal Commission develops the area to allow for future tourism. I received an official invitation allowing me to film and document these sites to share it with you.
Photo by Saad Tahaitah
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is deeply religious, culturally conservative and geographically challenging. An imbalance of the sexes is alive and (unfortunately) well. Because of these reasons, it’s easy for a place to be misunderstood. I adore the friendly people I met and could bask in the natural surroundings forever. Time and effort are required to get to know a destination, and that’s why I can only tell you about my short 9 days in KSA…and if you’ve made it this far, THANK YOU!
Next Up: An Open Letter to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
I’ve heard the question many times since Alex and I met last year. I love telling the story and usually begin to answer with:
Well, I needed my drone fixed…
to which I typically get a confused look in return. What? Women can’t fly drones? Anyway, I go on with the story 😉
Once upon a time, I met a guy while on a press trip for Ritz-Carlton Dorado Beach. We dated for a while, and in order to make a long story much shorter, he ended up crashing my drone into a Caribbean palm tree many moons ago. (I promise, this is pertinent information.) He had it “fixed” and returned it to me a few months later. You break my drone and I break (up with) you. Haha, kidding. Sort of. The drone sat in Arkansas for a long time while I was galavanting all over the world, and it wasn’t until a collision of a few different events that led me back to it. Around the beginning of last June, I got a sponsorship with BMW. My mom’s birthday fell on the 10th of June, so I traveled back home for a birthday visit and scheduled the BMW shoot for the following week in LA. While in Arkansas, I saw my “fixed” DJI Phantom 3 sitting in my old closet and immediately knew it was perfect for the car shoot. I decided to turn it on…
It powered on, made some beeping noises, calibrated beautifully with thriving propellers and then……nothing. No lift, no thrust, no action. Talk about the biggest tease ever. It’s like the universe wanted toplay a little game called ‘just the thrust.’ Just for a second, just to see how it feels. Well I’ll tell you how it felt. It was nothing but a big gust of wind that sent a message loud and clear: this electronic device was closed for business.
I took the Phantom back to LA with me and texted Adam Goldberg, a good friend of mine who I’d met a few years prior while in Hawaii during a Ritz-Carlton Kapalua press trip. (Wow, the Ritz is really making quite the appearance in this blog huh?) I knew he was very well-versed in drone technology, so I asked him to help me troubleshoot. Because he was across the United States living in Atlanta, he promptly told me to message a guy named Alex Kavanagh – the expert of drones who lived in LA. Okay, perfect. So I did just that. I slide into Alex’s DMs 🙂 Pretty damn proud of it, too.
I think Alex tried giving me some pointers, to which I’d already put in place and exhausted. I met him the following day at his place (we lived approx. 7 mins from one another), and I distinctly remember a few occurrences that took place on June 11th, 2018. The door to the house was open, so as I stepped over the threshold, I saw him for the first time, legitimately felt a spark of electricity and thought to myself, “Shit. I should’ve done more research. This guy is hot.” And another thing. I was probably the most nauseous I’d ever been that day leading up to this lil meet and greet, and I cannot place why. I never feel nauseous. I got my hair done that afternoon (it took FIVE hours, y’all) and almost cancelled on the meeting because I felt so ill, but DRONES OR DIE. J/k, that was intense. I knew I wanted the drone for the BMW shoot, so, I went.
Right after the “shit he’s hot” thought came into my mind, it quickly left because then I started salivating HEAVILY…and not for good reason like drool or something. Allow me to explain. The man was whipping up some homemade pesto in his beautiful kitchen. Casual. But that’s not why I was salivating either. So let’s get a few things straight. He’s hot, he’s cooking, he has a beautiful home. That’s a triple threat in my book. So why was I salivating? You know when you’re super nauseous and your body is about to go into convulsions and throw up and the pre-requisite to that is basically uncontrollable saliva? Yeah, this was that. I don’t even remember meeting Alex because I was in the middle of trying to overcome a mental game of “Is Lesley going to vomit on this hot guy’s hardwood floor or not?” Did I extend my hand? Did I go in for the hug? Was his Australian accent cute? All I know is that I was DETERMINED to NOT vomit on the hot guy’s floor, so much so that I was about to lie and say I forgot something in my car (bed pan?) and throw up in the street, but then this Uruguayan man appeared from the back room (who also snapped the creepy photo below where you can clearly see me heaving over in pain – which isn’t so creepy anymore because I love Maxi from Uruguay) so I had to be nice and meet the hot guy’s friends which basically left no time to vomit in the street.
After about 5 minutes, the nausea (read: smell of pesto) somehow subsided, and I could focus on drones. And Alex. And drones…
This is when I tell you that Alex couldn’t fix the Phantom 3 in the end, but he ended up giving me his Phantom to borrow for my shoot the following day. Not all heroes wear capes. Some make pesto and have spare drones lying all over the house as founders of drone production companies typically do…? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ We did a little flying lesson since I’m not sure he ever actually believed I could fly…so I proved it to him in his front yard that day. This was our first photo together (unedited and exactly as we are), and how appropriate that it’s from a freaking drone?! NERDS.
I’m not sure how we got to the point when he said he could get me a brand new drone – but we got there. Before I left, I had a fully charged Phantom 3 packaged up very nicely in a drone backpack that did not belong to me…as well as a promise of a DJI Mavic Air.
And just like that in a miraculous turn of events, the sickness left my body. Ooh, heaven is a place on earth. And it resides with him 🙂
Our first date was when Alex took me out to fly my new Mavic Air during sunset. We ate fish tacos afterwards and talked the night away. Hours passed. It’s not every day that I have a conversation like we had – forgetting to place food orders and having so much to say to the person sitting across from me that the rest of the world fades away. I found so much kindness and familiarity in him which stuck with me as I went off to Aruba the following day for a month of yoga teacher training. It’s a wonder how Norway was our…9th date?
Funny when I think about it…that every single moment in this story had to happen in order to meet Alex Kav. From the Ritz Carlton(s) to ex boyfriends not properly fixing said drone to meeting matchmaker Adam Goldberg in Hawaii to going home for mom’s birthday to pick up an old, broken drone to the BMW shoot to the stars freaking aligning. Ahhh. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
One thing’s for sure: 2018 summer lovin’ had me a blast.
Questions? Comments? Concerns? Let me know in the comments below!
This post is sponsored by Chase Sapphire. All opinions are my own.
I was beyond excited to head back to Park City for the third year in a row! It’s known as one of the country’s most sought after ski towns, and I’m starting to feel right at home here every January. The beauty of landing in a familiar place is that while it’s well-known, destinations within the city are constantly changing. There’s always something new to discover each and every time the landing gear goes down. This year, I went in open-minded and came out with the following theme:
No, I wasn’t getting married but hear me out. I always love going back to my favorite stomping grounds, but it’s fun to experience it as if it’s the first time all over again.
Something Old (or rather, familiar 😉 )
Seeing as this was my third time in Park City and second Sundance Film Festival with Chase Sapphire, my favorite hangout during my five days in Utah was Chase Sapphire on Main, a hub for cardmembers and non-cardmembers to get warm, rest their feet, charge phones, eat scrumptious bites from local restaurants, and get a chance to listen in on film panels with cast and directors from insanely good films. (As an added perk, you can flash your Chase Sapphire card to get into the cardmember lounge for even more goodies and access to cardmember parties at night!) Even from the streets of Main, the Chase Sapphire house is a big vibrant building drawing in crowds who, at first, may be vastly different from one another, but Sundance always presents a common bond during these precious days.
Something New
If you went to Sundance and didn’t see a film, did you really experience Sundance? After the Wedding is a brilliant film starring Julianne Moore and Michelle Williams. If/when you have the chance to see it, SEE IT. And thank me later! I won’t spoil it now, end of discussion.
New restaurants (to me) this year included High West Distillery, the first legally licensed distillery in Utah since the end of Prohibition, for some quality charcuterie & whiskey combo.
Chimayo, a Chase Sapphire Six restaurant, was another beautiful spot on Main Street (great salmon and amazingly fun atmosphere) while Veuve Clicquot’s Après Lounge (read: YURT) at the Montage Deer Valley hosted Chase Sapphire Cardmembers to wine and food pairing and tasting with Chef Brad Leone from Bon Appetite and looooots of bubbly. Champagne in a yurt always makes for a good night.
Festivals can be a bit hectic with back to back events and jam-packed schedules, and I love that Chase created a space that promoted a sense of wellness in the midst of the craziness. This year, I was able to teach a yoga class with the help of University of Utah Health and Land Juicery who provided fresh refreshments afterwards. Special thanks to everyone who came out in the cold on that early Sunday morning!
Last but not least, I skied a new mountain! I’ve grown up in the Skier’s Circle (whatever that is), so I’ve known about Deer Valley Resort for a minute or two. While I was able to experience Park City Mountain last year, I knew 2019 was Deer Valley‘s time to shine and WHAT A MOUNTAIN. I needed more than one day to properly hurdle myself down groomed black diamonds and glade through (read: narrowly miss) the beautiful aspens and everglades but let it be known: I’ll be back!
Something Borrowed
I’ll start out by saying jet lag is not my friend. Ever. Due to this life disturbance, we had about 22ish hours to turn around our suitcases and body temperatures between summer in Australia and winter in Park City. Because our entire brains weren’t in working order, we completely spaced and left our camera backpack at home leaving nothing to wear for ski day equipment. Luckily a friend saved the day by letting us borrow his brand new backpack.
Something Blue
I came, I saw and I conquered with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card. They say third time’s a charm, and when I look back on my time here in Park City…I think it’s safe to say that this card is just that: my lucky charm 🙂
Travel
Getting into Park City requires about a 40-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. An Uber will run you anywhere from $45 – $100 depending on peak times, but that’s 3x points on travel with my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, so it could be up to 300 points. Score!
Special thanks to Chase Sapphire for bringing me out to Utah to celebrate independent storytelling and the best credit card perks around! Until next time 🙂
More questions about the perks? Leave a question below in the comments if you’ve ever wondered, “How do travel credit cards work?” Stay tuned for another tub talk on how to redeem all your points soon!
I’m still in awe of my time in Johannesburg with Johnson & Johnson. The world’s largest healthcare company brought together some of the most inspiring, kind, hard-working women from all around the world…and I never want to forget the feeling I felt when it was time to go. I felt alive, intelligent, confident, and energized. We were fierce females from Kenya, France, Great Britain, India, Nigeria, Liberia, South Africa and the USA ready to create change.
I’ve had South Africa way up there on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. It was a week chock full of inspiring discussions, diversity, medical breakthroughs, women empowerment, drum circles, insanely cool wildlife and Beyoncé alongside her counterpart Jay Z. Tell me how that can get ANY better?! Short answer: it can’t.
I want to highlight some crazy cool females I encountered in Johannesburg because they deserve it… because hopefully it’ll inspire you, the reader…and in the words of Danai Gurira,
Women should know about women. We should know that we are our own heroes.
Cradle of Humankind
Declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999, this museum and excavation site is known as the place where humankind originated. It’s RIGHT.HERE. that the first hominid, Australopithecus, was found in 1924. Think about that for a second. The very first humans started HERE. Experiencing such a place was truly amazing, educational, and filled with historical facts and fossils tracing (wo)mankind back 7 million years. I don’t there’s a single better classroom is the entire world.
Lindsay Hunter is an Archaeologist and Program Manager for the National Geographic “Umsuka” Public Palaeoanthropology Project. She was also part of the Rising Star Exhibition at the Cradle of Humankind excavation site and a damn good public speaker. Her speech had me hanging on her every word…
Women are the drivers of communities. Very often we’ve been asked to take a backseat and do that work from behind. It’s women who rock the cradle. We need your support in the various programs around the world and in your communities that help to bring diverse voices to the human story. To rewrite things so that it is not always heard only in one person’s voice, someone coming from the global north, that it is all of our story with all of our different backgrounds, our struggles with wealth, with mental health, with physical health with things that we’ve been told are disabilities. All of these are part of the human story and you are the ones sharing it with the world. Listen with a kind heart and an open mind.
African Pride Hotel
One afternoon we had the opportunity to have “lunch” with Danai Gurira, a total female boss babe who has starred in The Walking Dead, Black Panther, Avengers and so on. I say “lunch” with quotations because nobody really ate. It was a room full of jaw-dropped women gazing at Danai as some powerful words flowed so eloquently out of her mouth. She touched on the art of storytelling, authenticity, her life’s work but most importantly, women empowerment.
Danai Gurira: Actress, Activist, Female Badass
There is so much courage that comes from women when they are willing to speak out about things that need to be addressed. I believe in looking to women for the answers because they have taken the time to know their communities, and they have the courage to speak out once handed the mic.
AMEN girl, amen. You can find me binge watching Danai’s movies all weekend long…
Johnson & Johnson Partners
Johnson & Johnson has placed so much importance on initiatives that have helped women progress since its founding. The future of global health is female, they say 🙂 And I like that. Glenda Gray, CEO and President of the South African Medical Research Council and chair of the Imbokodo study, spoke on the company’s biggest undertaking yet: making the world free of HIV with a global vaccine. The study will be ongoing for another two years, and we’re all hopeful this will create AIDS free generations for years to come! Johnson & Johnson is constantly creating and innovating and seeking answers on how best to empower women around the globe, making sure they have access to health wellness. They achieve this with the help of their partners…
MomConnect
MomConnect – This technology solution aims to register every pregnant woman in the country through her phone so she can receive up to 3 years of weekly messaging timed to her stage in pregnancy and age of child. With the resources and expertise at Johnson & Johnson, moms can now have a 2-way conversation with access to a help desk as well!
Nozi Samela
This woman made me who I am today. (speaking about Babalwa Mbono, another Mentor Mother.) I LOVE seeing and hearing women supporting other women.
1 out of 3 moms have HIV in South Africa. MomConnect uses Whatsapp and is done in 11 official South African languages. More than 2 million mothers have been registered in 4 years!
Mothers2Mothers
Mothers2mothers and MomConnect work in conjunction with each other. It’s where tech solutions meets deep, personal face-to-face engagements with moms in communities. The program recruits, trains and employs HIV+ mothers to serve as mentors. An HIV+ mother has a 45% chance of transmitting the virus to her baby but with the right medication and support, that chance can be eliminated. The program is currently in 8 African countries with 2.3 million new clients and almost 3,000 mentor mothers being lifted out of poverty by being employed in the program!
Evelyn from Dark City
I found out I was HIV+, I was so scared and shocked so I met some Mentor Mothers. They helped me a lot, and taught me how to use the treatment. After birth, my baby tested HIV- and now she is 9 months old.
Unjani Clinic
This initiative seeks to improve access to private healthcare for people in low income areas. Unjani professional nurses own and operate their own healthcare business providing them with a health center, ongoing training and education. Unjani Clinics are in 6 out of the 9 South African provinces and totaling 55 throughout. There are 58 empowered nurses with 30,000 patient engagements per month! This statistic only proves that people can and will prioritize their spending for quality affordable healthcare.
Nurse Patricia
Having my own center is my dream, and I’m working with Unjani Clinic because it’s a family healthcare model.
Global Citizen Concert
The week ended with a bang at the Global Citizen Concert where Beyoncé and Jay Z nailed some major entertainment. Her message is always on point and intentional. I am so Crazy in Love with this woman and basically used my Video Phone all night so I could rewatch and rewatch that concert forever. (And because of that – I have ZERO photos of Queen B, only her in action). And If I Were A Boy…actually, ya know what? Thankfully I’m not because Who Run the World?
GIRLS.
Beyoncé 2020.
We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible.
Tough and lacking emotional development towards the beginning, the year was just getting started. It’s hard to judge it on the premature nature it exuded so early on, but as days turned into months, roses were shed and development was had. I grew older and wiser and out of bad habits. New lands were explored and familiar places were rediscovered. I manifested a change in direction and became a teacher of yoga. I took my first group abroad to Bali. I spread awareness about breast cancer. I gave back to the world, to Mother Nature, which has given me so much in return.
Here are my 18 highlights from 2018!
Puerto Rico
If you’ve been following me for a couple of years now, you know a big piece of my heart lives in Puerto Rico. My first trip of the year (just like 2017!) was here with The Points Guy for more hurricane Irma clean up!
Winter Games
Hmmmmmm. I suppose I can’t exactly skirt over that time I went back on reality television huh? And I wouldn’t want to – I LOVED being back in the land of roses tbh. I remember filming in Vermont and everyone was hanging around the breakfast bar. In that moment I thought to myself, “I am having the time of my life!” And it was…until it wasn’t. Break ups suck. Public break ups suck even more. I never regret a relationship, though. They all serve as lessons. Like Ariana Grande said, I’m so fuckin’ grateful for my ex. Thank you, NEXT.
I traveled to rural Honduras not once but twice with Humanity & Hope. Purposeful travel fills my soul, and if I can do that AND support good friends, that’s a win/win. I wrote all about our time in Honduras here.
BFF Wedding
My best friend from UGA (not even pictured in the above photo but go dawgs!) got married back where it all started – in Athens, GA! Being back in the Classic City with my best friends was EPIC. As we grow older (but not up), it gets harder and harder to find quality time to get together. Acting like young 20somethings again while seeing one of my faves marry the love of her life was good for the soul.
Guatemala
I booked a ticket to Guatemala on a complete whim. I’d never been but Lake Atitlán was calling my name for a solo adventure where I met up with an old friend, and damn did it not disappoint. Right before Guate, I was in Oaxaca, Mexico which was equally as cool. I added Guatemala instead of Oaxaca because I can only have a limited number of highlights (18 duh) and I traveled to Mexico THREE times this year. Other countries need their moment in the spotlight, too 🙂
First Apartment in THREE Years!
The last apartment I rented was in Buenos Aires, Argentina in May of 2015. I didn’t rent another one until May of 2018 in Los Angeles, CA. What a hell of a three years it was living out of a suitcase, but I was SO happy to learn what unpacking was like. And taking trash cans to curbs on trash pick-ups days. And french pressing coffee. And meeting neighbors. #roots Read more about my domestic life here.
Yosemite
Every time I think about Yosemite, my blood pumps a little harder. Maybe it’s because this place is full of undeniable beauty. Maybe because Upper Yosemite Falls hike was THAT hard. Phew. Whatever the case, I can’t wait to return for more soon. Read more in my Yosemite National Park for First Timers blog.
Half Moon Bay
I went on a California road trip this summer from LA all the way up to Lake Tahoe. Half Moon Bay and Tahoe are tied for favorite stops… may have to return to both in 2019 for a tie breaker.
Aruba
What can I even say about this island paradise that totally transformed my bodily make-up? My 25 days in Aruba taught me far more than how to become a yoga teacher. I am more understanding. I am a better listener. I am more intentional. With action, with words. I am compassionate, generous, grateful. I’ll forever look fondly upon the Luna Shala and remember the many hours I spent on my mat or in a cushiony chair as I listened intently to Rachel’s lectures. July was one of the best months of my life, and YTT at Island Yoga was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Telluride
I’ve always wanted to hike a 14er in Colorado (mountain with an elevation of at least 14,000 ft). When I was invited to climb Wilson Peak in Telluride with Coors, I knew it was the perfect time! I went into the whole thing a bit nervous – I’d just spent a month at sea level on an island doing yoga and now I was going to 14,017 ft in the Rockies. HA. Was I strong enough? Would the other participants be way faster than me? I shut that inner critic up real fast and quickly accepted. Of course I could do it! And I did. See more photos from the climb here.
Birthday Weekend
You only turn 31 once…so I got my family and 14 best friends together for a beach weekend in sunny Florida. On August 19th, there was no other place I’d rather be. I remember feeling so utterly grateful for amazing people surrounding me and another year of life on this beautiful planet!
Norway
From Florida, I travel straight to Norway! I had spent a little time here a few years prior, but the norther islands were calling my name. I couldn’t wait to see, touch, smell and taste this Nordic country. It remains one of my absolute favorites!
Lululemon
On October 7th, I taught my third ever yoga class to a group of beautiful people at Lululemon on 5th Avenue in New York City….and I wanted to pee myself. I was SO nervous and truly felt like I wasn’t worthy of teaching there to anyone. But that’s human nature, right? We constantly tell ourselves that we can’t do it, can’t amount to that, can’t accomplish this….when we absolutely CAN. And I did. I was so thankful for that insanely cool opportunity and even more thankful for the gems that showed up at 8am on a Sunday. Y’all are the real MVPs.
#LimitLesInBali
In October, I hosted my first ever Intentional Escape #LimitLesInBali. We were a total of 14 women exploring, eating, sharing stories, connecting, giving back and yogaing together. In partnership with non-profits Bali Pink Ribbon and The Breasties, we participated in the Bali Pink Ribbon annual 5K, donated mastectomy bras to Balinese women in need, and made a contribution to both organizations. We’re doing LimitLes in Bali all over again in 2019 so be on the look-out for the application soon!
Portugal
Lisbon and Porto, never let me goooo. From the lemon custard tarts (pasteis de nata) and Port wine to views straight out of a storybook, I loved every second and calorie of this country! Read all of my to-dos in Portugal here!
South Africa
From the moment I stepped off the plane, South Africa had a scent. I noticed it from the beginning – natural, earthy, wild. I immediately liked this place. Smell is the most evocative of the 5 senses. The olfactory pathways where scent travels are connected directly to the limbic system, the area of the brain responsible for emotions, memories and stimulation. Mood and behavior can therefore be directly influenced by smells, and the African bush has no shortage of them. My favorite place to be is the middle of nowhere. The scent reminded me of far away lands, stillness, peace, happiness. Now I can tack elephants onto the list!
Turtles in Mexico
Life is fleeting. The life of a human. The life of a turtle. Any life. My last international trip of the year was to Zihuatanejo in Mexico to build turtle sanctuaries for these little guys in hopes that more will get to grow into adulthood. It was a trip for the books – daily yoga, meeting amazing humans, eating bomb authentic Mexican food, and caring for animals because in the end, all life is interconnected. More on how you can help in your every day life to help save turtles: Don’t use single-use plastic, stop with the straws, look into education programs or documentaries, donate money to deserving non-profits, support any pro-environment legislation.
HOME for Christmas
Traveling is cool, but going home to see my family is even cooler. What a privilege is was to do that…to be able to go back to Arkansas and spend time with the seven people I love most. I’ll never take that for granted.
2019 Intentions: Pitch a travel show, grow my YouTube, execute yoga pop-ups around the county, redesign my website, lead with love, plan more LimitLes trips, be of service in whatever ways I can, say ‘no’ to more of what doesn’t serve me, read more, write more, travel more with old friends, be happy, stay healthy.
Location Wish List: Antarctica, Germany, Russia, Alaska, Croatia, Italy, Mongolia, Philippines, South Korea
Over to you! What are your 2019 intentions – WRITE them down and SPEAK them out loud. Where do you want to see The Road Les Traveled in 2019?
Thank you to Chase Sapphire for sponsoring this post.
You can’t really beat city life and mountain life living harmoniously together. It’s the best of both worlds, plus, there’s certainly a reason they call it MENver. And I’ll just leave that there…
I try and make it to Colorado at least once a year, but 2018 has made me a lucky lady. Last month, I flew into the Mile High City for the third time this year for a very special event – I hosted a Sapphire Six Insta meet with Chase Sapphire!
One of the hardest things about my crazy lifestyle is not having a solid community in any one place around the world. Seeing old friends and meeting new ones in Denver was too fun, reminding me to take time for connecting with loved ones as much as I possibly can. We did a bit of event hopping all weekend to celebrate the Sapphire Six Guide, a round up of Chase Sapphire cardmembers’ (like me!) favorite places to grab a bite, have some fun, and enjoy a few drinks. Here’s a quick guide to the city + my highlights!
Stay
The Maven – unique and trendy with circle bathtubs(!) and an amazing bar scene. Located in the new micro-district of Denver, the Dairy Block is the place to be. I remember walking into the hotel for check-in, and it was really late at night. The nice man behind the counter upgraded my room, and the bar was so lively that I got a second wind and ordered some craft cocktails.
The next morning, I wandered down to the “lobby” which is actually a common area full of communal tables, the coolest airstream serving breakfast, small shops and a market that had a yoga class going on – this is what vacation dreams are made of!
Eat
How much time do you have? The food scene of Denver is crazy good, but my favorites are Mercantile Dining & Provisions (a Sapphire Six location!), Avanti, Bar Dough, Poka Lola, Snooze and Wynkoop Brewery – another Sapphire Six location and a highlight of the Instameet since we took part in a brewery tour, which is basically learning about beer while drinking beer. Win/win.
Do
Larimer Square is perfect for shopping and historic photography shots, beautifully resorted Union Station in the heart of downtown for food, drink or transport, Red Rocks for a concert…or just because it’s stunning, City Park for the zoo, museums, or picnic, Center for Performing Arts for all things theater and music, Coors Field for a Rockies baseball game, and lastly, may I also suggest getting out of town for a day trip to either Golden (yay, more Coors!), Boulder, or Winter Park. Of course, the mountain towns keep going for hundreds of miles, but there are only 24 hours in a day 🙂Maybe I should just move to Menver, oops I mean Denver. See you this ski season!
Make the most of your trip to Denver by booking with your Chase Sapphire card to earn points on your travel, and check out the full Sapphire Six Guide to Denver to help plan your trip!
