lesleymurphy

Romance in Roatán: What to Do on This Honduran Island

February 3, 2018 by lesleymurphy 6 Comments

Ohhhh Roatán. Where to even begin? I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Honduras because not only did I fall in love with the locals, the coffee and the work of Humanity & Hope, but this was my first destination outside of the U.S. with Dean. I’m such a travel nerd, but I get this giddy, wide-eyed enthusiasm when it comes to all the fun things that go down abroad, especially in new destinations for both parties – plane rides, new cuisines, different languages, travel-related illnesses 😉 Gotta love it all.

Shop my look: For Love & Lemons La Lana Midi Skirt & similar White Crop Top & Mother of Pearl Horn Necklace

Sleep

Not all hotels are created equal, and Ibagari does it better than most. This hotel does an incredible job of riding the line of being really chic but also extremely down-to-earth. The best way I can put it? Ibagari is basically the kind of guy/girl you want to date – adventurous, fun, the life of the party…but can also clean up well for dinner and probably be the most interesting person at that dinner party. Well-rounded. An intriguing blend of simplicity and complexity. Eye candy on the outside and honey for the heart on the inside. It’s a tough balance, but someone’s gotta do it.

The room itself was super cozy with bright white interiors, high beamed ceilings and a patio that overlooked the ocean. Swooon. It’s the age old problem of staying in and enjoying the comfortability of the bedroom or basking in Roatán’s outdoor bliss. Oh island life. Take me prisoner and never let me leave.

Shop my look: For Love & Lemons La Lana Midi Skirt & similar White Crop Top & Mother of Pearl Horn Necklace

Eat

Mmmmm may I suggest eating and drinking the day away at the hotel? Everything is tasty from the salads to the Americanos to the cocktails. If you must get out, head to West End for Sundowners or The Beach House restaurant. West Bay has an establishment known as Paradise Beach with views and bottomless vodka drinks…but anything is considered bottomless if you drink enough of them, right?

Play

When was the last time you blobbed? Been awhile? For me, it was circa 1998 when I was going on year 7 at Kanakuk Kamps (Kiowa Princess, don’t worry about it). ANYWAY Palapa Papa (super fun to say aloud) has incorporated a blob into their two-story restaurant, and it’s pretty much the best thing ever. I can’t tell you much about the food, but Dean blobbed me about 5 stories high (probably a bit dramatic) and it was all caught on camera 🙂 Check out his fun YouTube video below.

Next up: SCUBA. We’ve done the romantic dinners and the getting down on one knee and the breakfast in bed (that last one should never go out of style), but I think what works for us is the adventure and playful attitudes we have towards one another. Like jumping out of airplanes, proposing with house keys and the like. Is there anything more affectionate than kissing under the sea?

We don’t think so either.

Roatán is known for its beaches, dive sites and marine life, including whale sharks (gasp!). I desperately wanted to venture over to the neighboring island of Utila where whale sharks are known to be spotted, but alas, timing wasn’t on our side. At least the convenience factor was there. The best thing about scuba diving in Roatán is that Ibagari has a dive center on-site. They like to make life really easy for everyone. If you’re not a certified diver, the dive masters offer a 2-3 hour course that allow for a day of scuba diving to Mandy’s Eel Garden near West Bay beach. Do it, and then use one of their on-site kayaks to make friends with people on boats for free cocktails.

If you’re still thirsty for more, try out Cayos Cochinos and Little French Key. We didn’t get to partake in the fun due to time constraints, but I’ve heard they’re worth the time and money and effort and sunburns.

Girls Getaway: Bachelorette Party in Scottsdale, Arizona

January 31, 2018 by lesleymurphy 26 Comments

As we turned down North Saddlebag Trail to strobe lights and country tunes coming out in full force, I knew my preconceived notions about this place were pretty far off. I couldn’t wait to get this party started.

Scottsdale makes party planning easy in many ways. First off, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a hot 15 minutes away. Rent a car or don’t – your Toyota Camry rental or Nissan Sentra Uber will be at your hotel or Airbnb in no time.

Stay

If you’re the hotel type, you should probably look into the W Scottsdale or The Saguaro in Old Town (chic with the best location for bars, restaurants, etc), The Phoenician or Sanctuary nestled in Camelback Mountain (easy access to trails!), or the Fairmont Princess (where the spa is life) in northern Scottsdale. As for our group of 13, we settled into a large Airbnb in south Scottsdale. It was quite the party house indeed with pool table, poker table, pool and many bedrooms – highly recommend for parties with many people in tow. Find the Airbnb link here (entitled Old Town Scottsdale Modern Desert Escape).

Eat

Friday afternoon: To start things off on Friday, the girls met at Olive & Ivy during mid-afternoon for some wine and small bites. You really can’t beat this cheery outside ambiance and happy-hour menu. I could’ve stayed here until the sun went down sipping on my malbec while basking by the fit pit, but alas, we had a party to throw and a bride to celebrate 🙂

Friday night: I can’t say enough good things about Fat Ox. From the service to the food to the attention to detail to the follow up/thank you the next day by the restaurant manager, I hiiighly recommend this eatery. I got the chicken dish, and it was MMMmmmMm.

Saturday AM: We had a big morning scheduled from hiking Camelback Mountain to heading north towards the Fairmont Princess hotel for our spa day. For a quick and healthy breakfast to make up for all the alcohol we put in our bodies the night before, we passed the Original Chop Shop for some juice and acai bowls. They have everything from avo toast to bagels to PB & J greek yogurt.

Saturday afternoon: Look no further than a girls lunch at the Fairmont hotel. More details below!

Saturday night: The bride’s parents surprised the group after we returned from the spa and cooked us the most amazing dinner. (Special thanks to Ira, Julie, Rick and Peter for EVERYTHING.) This is a great way to save money if there’s a chef in the group who doesn’t mind cooking a big meal, but if you want another boozy dinner out in town, maybe try The Mission for latin cuisine and a lively atmosphere or SumoMaya for Mexican-Asian fusion vibes.

Sunday AM: If you’re still thirsty and hungry for more, I obsessed over The Montauk on Sunday. I couldn’t stomach any more mimosas or vodka on this particular morning, so I opted for lots of coffee, egg whites and the parfait.

Do

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row – I think I speak for all 13 of us when I say Whiskey Row was a highlight of the weekend. We had bottle service (which is a straight STEAL in Scottsdale) and a giant table to ourselves as we danced the night away to country music, Backstreet Boys and Queen B. ‘Twas a night to remember…or, er, maybe not 😉

Hike Camelback Mountain – I hiked Camelback the day before the group arrived, and it wasn’t a walk in the park. Sunset was lit and I have photos to prove it, but I knew a group of 13 hungover women wouldn’t want to partake in such a strenuous activity come Saturday morning. There are many trails around the area to choose from, but if you really want to say you tried Camelback/post proof on Instagram, hike about 10 minutes from the trailhead to the big cactus for a group pic, turn around, and go to the spa. Oops. Secret’s out.

Spa’rty at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel – All day spa days are my favorite days. This Saturday was THE BEST day at the hotel’s Well & Being Spa where, if you book with a group, you get $20 off your spa treatment with access to all amenities AND lunch included. If the group isn’t into hiking beforehand like we did, may I suggest aerial yoga at the hotel’s fitness center? It really is a dreamworld inside these walls… 🙂

Weather

A word of caution to the party planners out there: Summers in Scottsdale get VERY hot, like 115 degrees hot. Unless your group is inside or inside a body of water the entire weekend, I might look into another location. Scottsdale is perfect during winter, spring and fall!

Trading Apartments for Suitcases: 6 Lessons from Quitting My Desk Job

January 26, 2018 by lesleymurphy 32 Comments

The day before I moved to Argentina was the day I bought my very first DSLR camera. It intimidated the shit out of me, but those nerves didn’t even compare to the minor panic attack I had when landing in Buenos Aires the next day with two bags and sub-par Spanish skills. Here’s my 2013 one-way ticket to prove it, an electronic memento I’ll always look fondly upon. It set me back $77.50 thanks to my American Airlines award ticket 🙂

Moving abroad is definitely up there on the Best Decisions I’ve Ever Made short list. I went south to work as a marketing manager for a company called Oasis Collections, a little sister of Airbnb, if you will. After a year of working behind a desk and traveling the continent (Argentina recognizes a very high number of public holidays in a year – heyyyy long weekends!), I did a risky thing. Come summer of 2014, I decided I wanted to create a website that would inspire people to get out more. To not allow the grass to grow under their feet so much. To throw caution to the wind. To meet more walks of life. To travel.

I quit my job, I logged a shit ton of hours on my Argentine couch, and by trial and error, I learned how to run a travel blog. By April of 2015, I’d moved out of my Buenos Aires apartment to live a nomadic lifestyle. Who am I and where did the old me go?? Dear travel, LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO.

Bear with me as I delve through self examination, family, culture, love lessons and realizations 🙂

Taking risks and throwing caution (and judgement) to the wind is beyond healthy.

I first learned this lesson when I took my talents to LA and filmed The Bachelor. Allow me to introduce you to giving less fucks which can be paralleled with throwing judgement to the wind. If you get offended by the language, don’t blame me. I didn’t write it, I just resonate with it. The past few years of my life can be summed up in the following page from The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck:

Ahh. Relatable AF, no? Bottom line, do what makes you happy and don’t let others opinions get in the way of that. In my case, that means living a nontraditional lifestyle out of a suitcase, not paying rent anywhere, and being a horrid cook…and being okay with all of that. Society, hold please.

Confidence and dedication go a long way.

I believe if you want something badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. That means working long into the night and on weekends, missing weddings and family celebrations because you need to work and gather content abroad, pitching yourself to anyone who will listen, etc, etc. I knew it was risky to quit my well-paying job at a consulting firm in DC for a life abroad. I knew it was even riskier to quit my desk job in Buenos Aires for a life of travel. We must keep pushing the boundaries and wear our confidence like it’s the most stunning ball gown at the freaking gala.

Les(s) is more.

I’ve loved this little saying ever since I used it as inspiration to write my college essays way back when. It holds truer than ever now. I don’t have many possessions and the little I do own are either in a storage unit in Fort Smith, Arkansas where NOBODY in my family even resides anymore…or at my lovely parents house in Little Rock. I don’t own a bed. I don’t have a couch. I keep hearing about these zoodle makers though, so I can’t wait to own one of those some day. Bottom line: learning to live with less is the most freeing feeling I’ve ever known.

A strong support system is more important than you think.

From a very early age, my dad has always told me to find something I love doing every day. Through broadcast journalism and psychology and wedding planning and politics and hospitality and marketing, I have finally found that passion…and feel like I’ve lived 20 lifetimes doing it, the greatest feeling of accomplishment on earth. I was raised by the kindest and hardest working people I know. I have been surrounded by genuine, loving friends for as long as I can remember. This support group of friends and family constantly keep me grounded and bring stabilization and balance to an otherwise crazy life so that I can go through the journey unscathed, knowing a place of serenity awaits. Get a glimpse here in my Ode to Free Ferry Road, my childhood summed up in a blog post. It’s one of my favorites!

If people didn’t allow the grass to grow underneath their feet, the world would be a better place.

This may be my favorite lesson of all. Travel is a great way to avoid misunderstandings, 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. It’s the greatest learning experience I’ve ever had, travel and its social studies. There are so many lessons we have yet to learn awaiting us on the other end of that flight. When you travel well, you broaden the mind. When you broaden the mind, you see in all colors, shapes, sizes and religions. Dear Mr. President, I’m talking directly to you. Travel will change you and always for the better

Finding love and discovering the world are not mutually exclusive events.

I’ve been wanting to write an entire post on this for a while because after going through a few relationships while on the road, some readers and followers have asked if it’s hard to 1) find love and 2) keep the love alive while living such a complex lifestyle…good questions indeed.

Some people find love in their hometowns. Others on planes. Some find it on a dating app and others in faraway lands. We never pinpoint or choose where we meet the love of our lives, it just happens one day. I don’t think anyone can say, “Well if you stayed in one place long enough, maybe you would have found him/her by now.” That’s the biggest load of shit I’ve ever heard in my life. I believe I have the same chance of finding love as anyone else, maybe even more because I frequently come across various walks of life and thus, have a larger pool to essentially meet. Ah, but who can really say? What I do know is that all relationships take work. Long distance relationships probably take more work. They suck and they’re hard and it’s a lonely existence sometimes…which is why you take your significant other with you as much as humanly possible 🙂 This can be harder said than done depending on his/her profession, but I’ve never known a relationship to blossom quite like it does in a foreign place where all you have are each other to rely on, left to navigate a country together with poor wifi and massive language barriers. It’s a beautiful thing.

And now I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book Eat, Pray, Love…

Traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby—I just don’t care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it’s mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to—I just don’t care.

Healing from Surgery with Embrace Scar Therapy

January 12, 2018 by lesleymurphy 26 Comments

After my double mastectomy earlier in the year followed by reconstructive surgery, I had two long scars staring me in the face every time I looked in the mirror. I don’t have any tattoos and this was my first batch of surgeries, so the marks were a very new addition to my body – a representation of my strength and will to live, possible cancer genes be warned.

The Treatment

To me, scars are like battle wounds. Beautiful, in a way. They represent what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out on the other side. I don’t wish them away, but I’d like them to heal in the best way possible. Enter Embrace Scar Therapy treatment.

I’d heard of this treatment previously, and my plastic surgeon is even well-versed on the product. I trust him wholeheartedly, so if he was into it, I was into it. I ultimately decided on the medium Embrace dressing for a 3-month treatment resulting in lighter, thinner, flatter scars. The ideal treatment window is 1-4 weeks after suture removal for a 8-week treatment plan. Since I was about 9 weeks out from my surgery date, Embrace recommended a 12-week treatment plan for me. I totally respect how they treat every patient as an individual instead of giving everyone the same plan.

The Process

I began my treatment on the evening of September 14th, peeling open my very first dressings that I’d leave on each breast for 10 days at a time. In the beginning, I was really nervous how the applications would affect my workouts (hot yoga, for example, can get very sweaty). Turns out, the medical grade adhesive allowed everything to stay in place. My yoga, Orange Theory, spinning, running and everything that came in between could carry on as usual! These little dressings fit into my crazy lifestyle so seamlessly. Even on a month long trip through India and Sri Lanka, they maybe took up 0.1 lbs in my suitcase. Score!

The first time I removed the dressings, I noticed some redness which is common. Since it was the first time I had changed the dressings, I left them off for about 72 hours to let my skin breathe. During the remainder of the treatment my skin adjusted really well, and I could reapply after only 24 hours. Note that for the first removal, it helped immensely to be in the shower, slowly moving the strip upwards and rolling it backwards on itself. I bought baby oil that aided in taking off the lint that usually creates a dark edge around the dressings. I also bought tree oil to help with skin irritation after I removed the strips. I found both of these practices super helpful.

The Results

I love a before/after side-by-side, and I obviously can’t end this post without showing one of my own. If you look closely, in a non-creepy way, you can see how rigid my scars were when I started the treatment and how smooth they are now. The color of the incision has also lightened significantly!

Lesley Murphy shows her before/after photos from Embrace Scar Therapy Treatment

So basically what I’m saying is my scars have come such a long way since September. The photos don’t do my results justice, but I’m really happy with the scars since they are much lighter and have healed faster. I definitely want to note that this treatment isn’t only for mastectomy patients though. Embrace has a few different products that can be used on anything from c-section scars to breast augmentations to cuts & lacerations and even have options depending on how new/old your scars are. I used Embrace Active Scar Defense, a preventative treatment for new scars less than 6 months old. For scars older than 6 months, Embrace Minimize helps to reduce the appearance of scarring. That being said, no matter where you are in the healing process, it’s great to know that there are options! This product really is for everyone who is in the healing process wishing to rid of their prominent scars.

If you’re interested in trying Embrace Scar Therapy, buy one & get one half off on all 30-day kits with code Lesley30! Expires January 31st.

Special thanks to Embrace Scar Therapy for sponsoring this post.

Looking Back at 2017: A Year in Review

December 29, 2017 by lesleymurphy 30 Comments

Reflection is a funny thing. It can be therapeutic. Comedic, even. A little depressing. Perhaps uplifting. Possibly motivating. And even downright terrifying. This is why it’s healthy to take a look back. By doing so, we can only then realize how far we’ve come, how much we’ve learned and what mistakes to avoid for the future – like letting your health insurance payments pass you by because you could’ve sworn you put them on AutoPay but then your bank closed the card you had on file because it somehow became part of fraud scheme at some undisclosed ATM, all during a year when you decided to have major surgery… Oh wait, that didn’t happen to you? Maybe that’s just me then. Ha.

ANYWHO. Let’s dive into the past 12 months of The Road Les Traveled, shall we? Yes we shall.

Puerto Rico

My first trip of the year was to one of my favorite Caribbean islands. This time, I wanted to see more than just Puerto Rico‘s beaches and its tourist attractions and luckily, a local did his best to show me its many different sides. I’m thankful he did because as many of you know, the island may never be the same after Hurricane Irma.

Aspen, CO

I was dealt a good hand in life, the hand that allowed me to be Alex Speed’s best friend and ultimately the sister she never had/travel buddy extraordinaire. We grew up tackling the slopes of Aspen together, so it was beyond fun to do it all over again this past March…tree trails, shopping, and the Ultimate Taxi included. Read my Aspen Guide here.

Wales, UK

A small package can pack a big punch. That’s how I think about Wales, a country in the United Kingdom with a population the size of my home state of Arkansas. For a country this size, I was taken aback to find that it encapsulated everything I hope for in a destination: coastline, mountains, culture, cuisine, and good people. Did I mention locations get bonus points for castles? Also, I fully realize this post is long-winded, but I’m going to take the liberty of telling a story really fast. On one particular day in Wales, I posted this IG photo:

The following day, I received a message that said, “Hi Lesley. The yellow house in Llanfairfechan is my family home. I live in Croydon presently, however the house is still my father’s. My sister and I will inherit the house one day (hopefully never of course). Perhaps I can put you down for first refusal? :)”

Out of all the people in the world, the man who grew up in the yellow house read my Instagram post. What are the odds?! He then went on to say how his dad was the first to paint his house a different color. They were all white and black or grey. All the neighbors hated it for the first year until one neighbor broke down and painted his blue. A pink house came next, and so on. Damn I love a good trendsetter. Way to go, Mr. Yellow House.

Helsinki, Finland

Anyone remember that time I did a polar bear plunge into the ice waters of Lake Louise on The Bachelor and said I’d never do it again… ahhhh, never say never. Helsinki sees about two months of summer each year, with the remaining 10 months seeing low temps, ice and snow…hence why sauna-ing is a way of life here. I was stunned to see locals go back and forth between the steamy sauna and the icy Baltic Sea only steps away. Apparently there are major health benefits from this hot-cold flip flop going on, but to an outsider it’s just painful AF. Read more my post on what to do in Finland here.

Yukon Territory, Canada

Snowmobiles, sea planes, dog sledding, arctic foxes, cozy fires, hot chocolate AND THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Am I selling it yet? Great, grand, wonderful, get on the plane. I should warn you that any Aurora trip you take will be exhausting if you’re actively hunting for them. Think setting your alarms for 5 different times throughout the night to only wake up early the next day for 7 hours of man-handling your very own dog sled team. But who’s complaining? Not I! More on my northern lights trip here.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Oh, yep. There it is. No, this one isn’t about another exciting destination or stamps in my passport. This year I underwent a double mastectomy to rid of my potential cancer genes. Back in February, I received a call from my geneticist that I was BRCA 2 positive, meaning I have a great risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer at some point in my life. I’m a firm believer that at the end of the day, our health is all we have. I ultimately knew I’d have to part ways with my boobs. No more potential cancer cells, no more worries. I couldn’t have done it without my family, and I want my readers/followers to know how much you helped me heal. To y’all, I owe you the world. So I’ll keep exploring and bring it to you digitally as best I can 🙂 I’ve written many posts from this crazy journey, but I’m most proud of this one. It’s raw, it’s funny, it’s sad, and the last paragraph brings me to tears every.single.time.

Banff, Canada

I’m just going to say it. A small (ok, medium sized) part of me really wants to be Canadian…so much so that I’ve been three times this year and had to hold myself back from going a 4th time. My love affair with Banff began on reality TV, and I knew I’d return some day. That some day was over Memorial Day weekend when I solo adventured around Alberta. T’was one of my favorite trips of 2017 and if you’ve never traveled by yourself, do it at least once in your lifetime. Do it for me, do it for you, do it for the love of freedom. And also for some guy named Tim Horton 🙂 More from my week in the Banff wilderness here.

Charleston, South Carolina

That one time I took a stranger to Charleston with me…and it was the best decision ever. Let’s back up for a second. Two years ago, I ran a campaign with Cathay Pacific Airways where the winner traveled with me for 14 days throughout Asia. This year, I switched #BucketListWithLesley up a bit and took a breast cancer survivor from Arkansas with me to Charleston. Lindsay, you’re a rockstar and I’m so lucky to call you an amazing friend.

Aruba

When you are given the gift of visiting a private island with flamingos, you get on a plane and go. This was my second year in partnership with Renaissance Hotels, and their Aruba property didn’t disappoint. Mingling with the mingos was one for the books!

Grand Cayman

I couldn’t think of a grander destination to send off my 20’s in style than Grand Cayman with my mama. Truth be told, I wasn’t exactly cleared to get in the water yet due to recent-ish surgery, but when stingrays are underneath smiling for your GoPro, you get in and take their photo. This is quite possibly my favorite picture ever taken. See more from my guide to Grand Cayman.

Iceland

I’ll be honest. Everyone was traveling to Iceland, and I felt a bit left out so I booked a plane ticket, too. I like Iceland. I’m not entirely sure it would fit into my Top 10 destinations around the world, but it was a fun adventure while it lasted. My favorite part was during my very last night in the country. I spent it in a really sweet bubble. Take a few more minutes off your life to watch my Iceland videos below.

Laguna Beach, California

I planned a bachelorette party for 14 people, and I’m going to go ahead and pat myself on the back for that. No one cried, no one died, and we married off the bride a few months later. It was a success with plenty of reality TV reruns via The OC to relive the adventure. If you’re up for a bachelorette in Laguna, look no further.

Miami, Florida

Miami sticks out as a big 2017 destination in my mind not only because I married off my best friend, but also because I stayed put for two weeks after the wedding in order to work in a warehouse collecting aid for hurricane disaster relief. It was a ton of hard work and dedication, but I met some of the finest humans on planet earth here. It’s crazy to see what happens when you put passionate people with big hearts in one room. They rebuild an island. Many thanks to Bethenny Frankel, Global Empowerment Mission, Third Wave Volunteers, We Do Better, and all the helpful private citizens like Juan Padro. Y’all are my heroes.

Puerto Rico, again

After Miami, I made it to Puerto Rico. This trip was vastly different than the first. This go around, the goal was to get on-the-ground and hand out aid to those in need. Dr. Alison Thompson along with myself and 4 others traveled to Puerto Rico on a small chartered plane to deliver solar lights, water filters and meals to anyone we came across. Many are still living in the dark and some are still without clean drinking water. I can’t adequately explain to you how it felt when an elderly woman looked me in the eyes with pure elation after she was handed a light source and water filter. She’d seen zero aid until we showed up. Children were ecstatic because they could see through the darkness again. When the most simplistic features and basic needs become luxuries, humanity is stripped of egos, of status, of prejudice. I’m ecstatic to be returning to Puerto Rico during the first week in January ’18.

Arga, Uttar Pradesh, India

India is a difficult place to put into words. It’s a place you simply have to visit in order to understand its complexities. That’s when my love affair officially commenced with the people, the food, the animals, the landscapes and the beautiful mess as a whole. And the Taj Mahal, ohhh the Taj Mahal. I live for moments during travel when my eyes widen, my jaw drops and my heart beats a little faster. Those keep me inside the adventure, and this was exactly what happened when I walked up to this landmark. India is sensory overload and its finest and it’s a place that requires every single fiber of your being at all times. Don’t forget to be incredibly present while in its presence 🙂 More on my highlights in India here.

Sri Lanka

My final international destination of 2017 was spent solo in Sri Lanka. I experienced the world’s most beautiful train ride, I check into a haunted hotel to only check out at midnight (I’ll get to that story in a separate post), I met some beautiful locals and basked in the southern coast’s sun. I believe it’s a country that retains so much of its authenticity, even with the ever-curious tourists lurking around its grounds. What a gem you are, Sri Lanka. Thanks for the memories!

For my 17th destination, you’ll have to have a little bit of patience. Coming to a screen near you soon.

Dear 2017. I’m not sad to see you go, but I kinda hate to watch you leave. You’ve been full of wonder and awe, pain and pure hell, love and laughter, break ups and make ups, devastation and reform, and lessons learned. I finally have my very own phone plan as of this year (thanks for the free roaming, T Mobile). I’ve made bigger business than I ever thought possible. I entered into a new decade. I feel somewhat prepared to birth a child now that I’ve had MAJOR surgery. I yoga’d with yoga_girl in Aruba #lifegoalz. I completed Iceland’s Ring Road so fast that it hurt. I learned what it takes to give back to an island that has given me so much. I’ve spent more time with family this year than maybe ever before. Life is good.

2018 Intentions: more off-the-grid travel, attend a yoga retreat, get my yoga teach training, explore lots more of Africa, make friends with the penguins in Antarctica, see Ireland and Scotland, swim with the whales, write a book, finally get to Alaska, and maybe…probably…definitely rent an apartment. #roots

Over to you! Where do you want to see The Road Les Traveled in 2018?

Incredible India: Top 6 Highlights from North to South

December 7, 2017 by lesleymurphy 4 Comments

Finding the best places to visit in a complex country like India can be a daunting task, so allow me to assist – no travel agent fees required 🙂 I was so excited to partner with Chase Sapphire to share my Sapphire Six travel guide with top highlights from north to south including landmarks, hotels, food and entertainment – all with some major Indian flare.

Keep in mind that if you’re traveling from anywhere but Asia, the journey will be long (but worth it). With my Chase Sapphire Reserve card, I was thrilled to be able to get into Priority Pass lounges throughout the journey – one of my favorite perks of the card, allowing for a quiet place to relax with quality food and drinks away from the airport chaos. I needed it for the sensory overload about to be bestowed onto me 🙂

Taj Lake Palace Hotel – Udaipur, Rajasthan

At a glance, this hotel in the middle of Lake Pichola mimics something like a floating White House, intriguing onlookers as to what it could possibly be. As we pulled up to a beautiful reception area, I handed over my passport for check-in as a boat pulled up to the elaborately decorated dock. A hotel that requires an arrival-by-boat is the type of hotel for me!

The Lake Palace Hotel is one of the most romantic hotels in the world, built in 1746 out of pure white marble. Swoon. It was, in every way, a fairytale. From the lavishly decorated rooms to the dome architecture to the decadent dining experiences, I can only hope to return again…this time with a significant other as a +1. Did someone say honeymoon??

Albeli Saree Shop – Udaipur, Rajasthan

Call me a tourist. Call me crazy. Saree I’m not saree, but I couldn’t help myself. After traveling nonstop for the past 4+ years, my international fashion collection has grown significantly. I knew a trip to India meant purchasing a saree, a traditional Indian way of dressing for women where up to 9 meters of beautiful fabric is wrapped and draped over the body. After surveying all the bright colors and designs at Albeli, I chose the brightest cloth in the room – a pink bejeweled saree that would be all mine until the end of time.

Dera Amer Wilderness Camp – Jaipur, Rajasthan

A half hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Jaipur led me to a remote bush jungle full of adopted and rescued animals. The elephants that reside here were rescued from the city where they had a torturous life taking tourists up and down the popular landmark of Amber Fort multiple times a day.

Apart from rescuing animals, the establishment also has high-end tented camps and also employ a majority of the rural village where it resides. I loved learning about all the good this establishment is doing. As you can imagine, it was tough to leave it behind! I’m a firm believer that, at certain occasions, isolation is the best kind of luxury.

Taj Mahal – Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Often times I find that landmarks are suddenly dwarfed when viewed in person after gazing at them for so long through photos. Walking up to the Taj Mahal on that fateful day we met was different. The architectural wonder stood as stately and bigger than ever before me as my jaw dropped and took my first steps towards it.

Its story is an interesting one. Some call it a love story. Some call it a power trip. Legend has it that Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj as a mausoleum for his favorite wife who died during childbirth, and that he wanted so desperately for it to be a unique masterpiece without an equal. To ensure it would be the one-and-only, the Emperor apparently severed the hands and gouged the eyes of the its craftsmen.

It’ll cost visitors 1,000 Indian rupees to gain entry, and I’d suggest going with a guide in order to cut the line. Keep that pro tip in your back pocket!

Cooking class with a local – Kochi, Kerala

Before stepping foot in India, I knew I really wanted to get a grasp on its cuisine. I had so many questions – are all meals made with scorching hot spices (please say no)? So you’re telling me there’s no beef anywhere because cows are sacred? What is curry anyway? AH. After traveling from north to south, I finally set up a cooking demo with a local in order to see a meal created from start to finish!

Read my post on Indian cuisine – Tastes of India: What to Eat from North to South

After traveling throughout the country for two weeks, I noticed that many restaurants would ask westerners about their level of spice intake. Mine was always mild (ugh, I know), and the cooking class was no different. I would see Francis, the cook and owner of the home, add spoonfuls of chili power into the various dishes and my eye would widen, but I trusted him. He knew exactly what he was doing because all dishes came out so incredibly tasty. The couple running the show also runs a guesthouse and yoga retreats out of their same home, a real local experience that I’d highly recommend at The Francis Residence, a perk for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers who can score 3x points on food and travel purchases.

Rent a Houseboat – Alleppey, Kerala

Life moves at a slower pace in Kerala, a state in south India. They call this dreamy place the Land of Coconuts where palm trees sway, where cocos are in abundance, and where locals are in no hurry. Many visitors to the area opt for renting a luxury houseboat for the day where they can experience life on the backwaters. The boat can be booked through Kumarakom Lake Resort, a retreat on the water that left me in a state of bliss after the crazy rush through northern India.

I loved this experience since it took us through the narrow channels of Alleppey, allowing us to see the everyday life of the locals. One man read a newspaper. A woman did laundry by the shore. Kids waved when they saw I had a camera in my hand, ready for their close-up. It was a great day to say the very least!

Over to you! If you’ve visited, what are some of your India highlights?

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Shop my look: For Love & Lemons La Lana Midi Skirt & similar White Crop Top & Mother of Pearl Horn Necklace

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Shop my look: For Love & Lemons La Lana Midi Skirt & similar White Crop Top & Mother of Pearl Horn Necklace

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Taking risks and throwing caution (and judgement) to the wind is beyond healthy.

Confidence and dedication go a long way.

Les(s) is more.

A strong support system is more important than you think.

If people didn’t allow the grass to grow underneath their feet, the world would be a better place.

Finding love and discovering the world are not mutually exclusive events.

The Treatment

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Special thanks to Embrace Scar Therapy for sponsoring this post.

Further reading:

Puerto Rico

Aspen, CO

Wales, UK

Helsinki, Finland

Yukon Territory, Canada

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Banff, Canada

Charleston, South Carolina

Aruba

Grand Cayman

Iceland

Laguna Beach, California

Miami, Florida

Puerto Rico, again

Arga, Uttar Pradesh, India

Sri Lanka

Taj Lake Palace Hotel – Udaipur, Rajasthan

Albeli Saree Shop – Udaipur, Rajasthan

Dera Amer Wilderness Camp – Jaipur, Rajasthan

Taj Mahal – Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Cooking class with a local – Kochi, Kerala

Rent a Houseboat – Alleppey, Kerala

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