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Personal & Professional: 2016 Summed Up in 16 Photos

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Sundance Film Festival, Big Bear, Lake Tahoe, Whistler, Antigua, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barths, St. Martin, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Hong Kong, Thailand, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Paris, Vancouver, Victoria, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Napa, Sonoma, Seattle, Walla Walla, Hawaii, Greece, Charlotte, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon, Aruba, Bali, Costa Rica, Argentina, LA, Chicago, NYC.

Even through all of my professional travels, I’m a huge family girl. I do what I do because I highly enjoy it, because it’s how I make a living, and because I firmly believe that meeting all walks of life propels us forward in the best way possible. I also firmly believe that spending time with family and friends is a necessity. I’m happy to report that I was able to make it to multiple weddings, my 10 year high school reunion and home for the holidays, amongst other personal victories. Score!

Here are my Top 16 moments in no particular order, both edited and unedited but 100% happy moments.

Sleeping on the side of a mountain in the Sacred Valley of Peru

Visiting Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via Helicopter

Walking the road Les traveled in El Chalten, Argentina

Actually Making it to my High School Reunion

Sleeping in the clouds in Hong Kong

Dogsledding in Whistler, British Columbia

Visiting the Jodie O’Shea Orphanage in Ubud, Bali

Hiking in Zion National Park

Twirling in Santorini, Greece

The Birth of My Nephew

Washing elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Being in awe of Tokyo, Japan

Eating my way through Paris, France

Wedding dress shopping with my BFF

Flying to Da Nang, Vietnam on a whim

Being home for Christmas with the fam

In an effort to be more transparent, I must admit that unfortunately the highs don’t come without the lows. My four year relationship ended in 2016, we lost a lot of great people (RIP Prince, Snape, Miss Cleo, Carrie Fisher, Willy Wonka, etc) and Trump won the election (this is simply my opinion and never did I ever say you had to agree with it). Shit happens. You deal with it, you move on, and you learn from the life lessons…praying like hell that the next year is bigger, better and without regrets!

2017 Travel Wishlist

Sri Lanka, Iceland, Ireland, Scotland, Antarctica, South Africa, India, Nepal, Mexico City, Kenya, Alaska, Russia, Germany

Cheers to all of you for following along the past year. Thank you for your comments, questions, concerns, and support. You make this adventure so incredibly worthwhile!

Where would you like to see The Road Les Traveled in 2017?!

Travel Tag: Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali

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Getting In

I made it back to Bali for the second time in my life and knew Ubud had to be placed on the itinerary. Again. Located about an hour and a half drive from the Denpasar airport, Mandapa is secluded from the hustle and bustle that surrounds Ubud these days. The city engulfed me as I drove into its lush greenery, miles away from any coastline. Street markets, narrow roads and traffic jams are common here, making me antsy as I inched towards my destination, scooters and bikes flying past. Then the shopaholic in me emerged. Galleries of handcrafted wooden chairs, distressed doors, Buddha heads and metal sculptures materialized along the roadside and I thought to myself, “Now where could that go in my house?” To the plethora of House Hunters and Property Brothers episodes I’ve seen, this is your fault.

Upon Arrival

It’s all about first impressions. Driving up to Mandapa, I felt like I’d just entered a secret Balinese compound. The turn-off for the property was right off the main road where we had to weave through quiet, narrow lanes until arriving at a gate. We were greeted by the most welcoming staff and ushered towards the lobby. ‘Lobby’ was code for a dreamworld full of day beds and local drinks infused with indigenous herbs, all overlooking a plunging valley below. The Ayung River lay 325 feet beneath us where the intimate Balinese village (24 acres) begged to be discovered by me and my camera.

The Villa

Buggys are a necessity at Mandapa due to the steep terrain, and friendly butlers always make themselves available to drive guests from Point A to Point B. They’ll even take you on an impromptu tour of the grounds if you ask them, as I did. Between the tropical pool area, rice terraces, and a century-old Hindu mandapa (Sanskrit for temple), there’s much to explore.

Where were we again? Ohhhh that’s right, the villa. Pardon my detour.

Our one-bedroom river front pool villa had me at hello..hi..nice to meet you. Can I stay forever? Coming in at 4,630 sq. ft., my palatial home-away-from-home was hard to leave. Really, I never had to. Massive bedroom, check. Huge bathtub, check. Japanese-style toilet that had so many buttons and commands, it could probably cook a turkey if you asked it to, check. Separate living area/home office, check. Swimming pool for a cool workout during a hot day, check. Room service for food, check. Yep, that’s just about all I needed in life.

But an active traveler doesn’t ever sit still…

The Activities

  • Spa – First order of business after traveling for many hours to Mandapa: the spa. One of the most beneficial aspects of the hotel spa besides its stunning interiors is the fact that it rests on the banks of the Ayung River, lulling guests into a peaceful relaxation. Zzzzzzzzzzz.

  • Rafting – A river equals rafting, so for the adventurous at heart, add it to the itinerary.

  • Volkswagon Vintage Tour – A joyride in a classic VW 181 convertible in the country side? Sign.Me.Up.

  • Tirtha Empul Temple – This was my second time visiting the Tirtha temple, but a major difference was that I was able to get inside the pools and visit the fountains. Mind, body and soul purification. Score!

  • Tegallalang Rice Terrace – The most visited terrace in the city, Tegallalang is located right off the road. It’s a scene you just have to capture, no matter how many tourists are present (and there will be lots).

  • Monkey Forest – Beware! These guys make for an amazing photo opp, but they will take your food, your gold, your anything. It makes for a very entertaining morning, although heed my advice: wear next to nothing. It’s hotter than hell.

  • Luwak Coffee Plantation – Even in 90 degree heat, this coffee is everything. Coffee afficionados, take note.

  • Dinner – The list of activities wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Kubu, the #1 restaurant on TripAdvisor in Ubud that just so happens to be on Mandapa grounds. Nine private cocoons overlooking the Ayung river ohhhhh and ahhh guests as they dine on Mediterranean-European cuisine.

The best part about adventuring off-property? The wonderful staff at Mandapa will drive you free of charge in the company car to and from town. They obviously appreciate their guests getting in on the Balinese culture, and I appreciate that more than they know.

Explore more of Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve by clicking through the photos below!

More Ritz-Carlton Reserves

The two remaining extraordinary properties that complete the exclusive triangle of Ritz-Carlton Reserves include Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach and Thailand’s Phulay Bay. I was lucky to experience their greatness all within six months of each other and highly recommend a visit, as they all embody something unique and special in their respective environments around the world.

17 Photos That will Make You Want to Visit NYC Over the Holidays

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I’d certainly never visited NYC over the holidays, and I decided that 2016 was my year. I was in Chicago for work, so I thought I’d pop over to see what all the fuss was about. I was anticipating a city that looked like Christmas had thrown up on all its inhabitants, landmarks and bustling city streets. In reality, it was freezing cold, crowded as hell and WHOA is it hard to get a taxi in a city where over 8 million people reside…but damn it was worth everything.

Grand Central Station, Part I

Grand Central Station, Part II

9/11 Memorial. It started raining the minute we walked up to view this incredible sight. I got goosebumps immediately and couldn’t bare to leave just because of a little rain. If you make a visit, I highly suggest also going into the museum nearby.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Don’t forget to look up!

Saks Fifth Avenue, where pocket books go to die.

Proof is in the street signs 😉

Empire State and friends taken from the Top of the Rock

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Right before this photo was taken, we all witnessed a proposal on the ice!

Out and about, trying not to think about how cold it is 😉

NBC shout out

A horse and carriage in Central Park, as ya do.

Bow Bridge, Central Park

Christmas market

Street scenes of NYC

Times Square, aka Touristville. 🙂

Airbnb shout out. Chelsea, you were so good to us! Until next time!

Over to you! Ever been to NYC during the holidays? What are you favorite spots?

Here for the Beer: A Unique Drinking Tour Through Argentina

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“You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline — it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.””

— Frank Zappa

I lived in Buenos Aires for two years and left a large piece of my heart there. Argentina is where I started my travel blog, where I learned a foreign language, where I started over in a new continent and where travel changed me. To visit other countries during vacations and work trips is completely different than to actually live in another country. I was able to completely immerse myself for 24 months in new cultures, new living situations, new cuisines and new beer.

Quilmes is an Argentine beer brewed in Buenos Aires since the 1800s. The brew and I became very well acquainted throughout our two years together, especially since it pairs well with parks, my apartment fridge, bife de lomo and football. I’d be hard pressed to find something that didn’t go swimmingly with a cold Quilmes cerveza. 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 have 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. That’s all I have to say. Wait, no. I’ve got loads more…

Day 1: From Buenos Aires to Tres Arroyos Barley Fields

Ever since I moved to Argentina and began traveling around the continent of South America, I learned that to arrive in paradise meant long journeys. I don’t mean a 6 hour car ride from point A to point B, either. I mean planes, trains and automobiles lasting most of the day. Greatness takes time, y’all. This adventure was no different.

We traveled 45 minutes outside of Buenos Aires by bus to catch a two hour flight to Bahia Blanca via chartered aircraft. If you follow me on Snapchat, you caught sight of our eventful prop plane! We then drove 2 1/2 hours to Tres Arroyos barley fields. This was especially fascinating to me because I wasn’t aware that natural ingredients like barley and hops played such a huge role in creating the drink. I can now appreciate the origin and the production process of the main raw material for beer produced by the Quilmes Brewery. I’ve visited many Argentine vineyards in Mendoza to witness the vine, grape, stainless steel barrels, French oak vs. American oak discussions, etc etc. Barley fields were something new and exciting, not to mention absolutely stunning during harvest.

The highlight of Day 1 was being able to farm my very own barley. Operating a tractor and mowing fields of gold is something you don’t do everyday. I had an entire patch with my name on it and was even able to take it home with me. If travel blogging doesn’t work out, maybe beer making will. I learned more about beer here on Day 1 than I learned in 4 years at college. That’s saying a lot since I probably saw the inside of more bars than classrooms. Kidding, sort of. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. It’s glamping time.

I’m still not done with Day 1. There were a lot of moving parts one this crazy day, and dinner deserves a standing ovation, as do our sleeping quarters. Dinner was set under the stars, smack dab in the middle of the barley fields and plated by Argentina celeb chef Narda Lepes. Sin palabras. Without words. Talk about a romantic evening with 35 of your best beer friends. A Quilmes beer station was on offer alongside a picada station, vegetable station, meat station and desert table. I was fat and happy as we made our way back to our glamping grounds where my tent and real bed awaited. There is nothing that these lovely people can’t do in the middle of nowhere Argentina. <3 <3 <3

Day 2: Discover El Bolson Hops Farms

On this glorious day, the group woke up to breakfast being served outside our tents in a beautiful setting where many medialunas (Argentine croissants) found their way into my mouth. We then boarded our bus and embarked on a 2 1/2 hour drive to the Bahia Blanca airport where we flew our teeny tiny prop plane to El Bolson, Patagonia. A frequently asked question I receive is “Where is your favorite place to travel?” Patagonia is always the answer. Always. Siempre.

What was so fascinating about El Bolson was that only a tarmac emerged upon landing. No airport. No building. No nothing. Only a landing strip wedged between the mountains materialized before us as we descended into a Patagonia paradise, and that was alright with me. I’m not above utilizing a bush as a bathroom. Life isn’t always going to supply paper and porcelain polished toilets. You do what you gotta do, and our hops farms were waiting.

The beer tour arrived in hops heaven, AKA El Bolson, where Stella Artois, lamb (a Patagonia staple) and bikes were waiting. I couldn’t dream up a more perfect afternoon if I tried. If you’re sitting there reading and thinking “now what on earth is a hops? I feel like I’ve heard of it once or twice in a bar…” then that is completely okay. I’m here to educate, inspire and make you crave lots of beer. Hops were introduced after the 11 century, so they’ve been around the block before. Many people associate hops with bitterness, and if hops are absent in beer, that means no foam, no bitterness, and no aroma. Where is the fun in that? Hops are an essential part to this elixir of life, and the amount of hops depends on the style of the brewer. Beer is big business in Patagonia simply due to the rich plant life and abundant supply of fresh water.

Day 3: Llao Llao Hotel and Patagonia Brewery Exploration

Fairytales really do exist. I tore a page out of one when I checked into the Llao Llao Hotel in Bariloche, Patagonia. If you’re ever on the fence about where to take your next vacay, just come here. Don’t hesitate and don’t ask questions. Just go.

An end to any beer tour brings such sorrow, but a final visit to the Patagonia Brewery set on the banks of Lago Moreno provided smiles and giddy drunken cheer as the group was able to get a beer making lesson from Diego Bruno, the brewery’s beer master. The popular drinking hole put on a concert while serving fine cheese and sausage NOM.

And there you have it: How beer is made from ground to glass in Argentina, and I lucky enough to be a participant!

Beer Fun Facts

Barely is a good source of fiber and energy as it’s packed with vitamins and minerals.

Hops are only utilized in beer – no other drink or food item incorporates them.

Beer necessities: yeast, water, malt, barley, hops and magic.

Beer has only natural components.

To be considered beer in Argentina, 60% malt must be present.

The transformation process from malt to barley takes 6 days.

Beer is one of the oldest beverages humans have produced, dating back to cereal and bread production via barley.

The greatest runners in the world (like Kenenisa Bekele, Tirunesh Dibaba, Derartu Tulu and Fatuma Roba) all eat barley. That’s their secret.

In 2015, Americans spent $33.6 billion and bought 1.5 Billion cases of beer.

Tina Fey is the celebrity Americans would most like to have a beer with, narrowly beating out Jimmy Fallon.

Women account for 25 percent of beer consumption in the USA – the sale of beer to women is a growing market.

America Loves Lager – it’s the nation’s most popular beer style.

Nationwide, there’s a lot of love for lagers, making lager the most popular beer style in America. Most Midwestern and Southern states overwhelming choose lager as their beer of choice.

New York: European Lager

New York shows off its cosmopolitan heritage with a fondness for European lagers, which are extraordinarily popular in The Empire State.

Colorado: Wheat

Coloradans are sweet on wheat beers.  With Colorado’s proud heritage of wheat production, it should come as no surprise locals pour “prairie gold.” Wheat beer is remarkably more popular in Colorado than the rest of the country.

Southwest Border States (CA, NV, NM): Mexican Lagers

On the Southwest border, they serve up the cerveza! Not surprisingly, Mexican lagers are extremely popular in this part of the country, bordering Mexico.

Alaska: Dark Beer

Alaskans won’t see sun in winter and enjoy midnight sun all summer, but like their beer dark year-round. Dark beers are unusually popular in the last frontier.

Facts provided courtesy of IRI/2015. Statistics provided by Wakefield Research in a custom online survey to 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 21+

El fin! The end! Many thanks to AB InBev, Quilmes and all other partners who were a huge help in putting this event together. Salud!

How to Live Well in Maui, Hawaii

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Fortunately, I was invited on a different kind of wellness weekend. A weekend full of rejuvenating workouts, no almond diet, and spa treatments that would make even the most pampered human jealous. The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua wellness itinerary was packed full of endurance classes, yoga sessions, snorkeling excursions, Hawaiian spa rituals and health discussions by registered dietitians such as ‘How to rid of sugar cravings.’ As you can imagine, that was a popular one.

The Experience

Since I live out of an overweight suitcase full-time, I’ve been able to somewhat create a routine around exercise and eating healthy while on the road. That “routine” basically consists of doing something active every day while trying to keep the sugar and carbs I stuff in and around my mouth to a bare minimum. For the record, I did say “try…” This was the first time where I didn’t have to really think about it. A routine, that is. The schedule was already done for me, and I could participate in whatever I chose. A sunrise yoga class on the beach lawn? Twist my arm.

The Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is about a 45 minute drive from the airport, supposedly along a beautiful coastal drive. We were the unfortunate souls to land around 9pm, so no views for us until the next morning.

With a three-tired pool, beach access and Club Lounge refreshments, my five days in Maui were spent eating, sun worshiping, exercising or under the sea. It was a rough getaway but somebody’s gotta do it. If you’re looking for peace, quiet and privacy, then Kapalua is your spot. Spring breakers and bar hoppers, come back when you’re engaged/married/with children.

Highlights included the melt-in-your-mouth sushi at the on-property restaurant Kai Sushi and oceanside lunch at the Burger Shack. I had the pleasure of ordering the Bikini Burger (created by talented Chef April Matsumoto) while sitting down with local resident and Ritz-Carlton Kapalua extraordinaire, Clifford Na’eole. Clifford knows everything there is to know about Hawaii and this property, so it seemed fitting to sit down with him for some one-on-one tropical discussions.

After driving through Maui during my five days on the island, I noticed some hostility in signage, placards, conversation and yes – movies. Gotta love Hollywood, but I wanted an explanation from a local about Hawaii’s past, present and future. Insert Clifford Na’eole.

“We are proud to be American, but we want our heritage back.”

— Clifford Na’eole

Way back when during the 1800s, Hawaii was doing just fine on its own. Cut to 1898 when Hawaii became a U.S. territory. Locals say that’s when their monarchy was overthrown, their language was banned, their land had been seized, and it was the end of their culture as they knew it. Since then, tourism has made it nearly impossible for average people to live in Hawaii. Tourism dollars spent on hotels, cuisine and activities push the cost of living so high that the people who actually live in Hawaii can’t afford to live in Hawaii. Many locals are being driven out of their homes to the mainland where it’s more affordable to live.

I asked Clifford how he felt about this. He said, “I’m optimistic, and I don’t get angry. I always tell people, you weren’t here in 1898. If you were, congrats! You look pretty good. Now that you see this and we’ve talked, I expect you to be responsible for what happens. Help us in terms of education or legislation reform.”

So, this is me trying to educate. I fully realize I’m aiding in those tourism dollars by visiting an island that is not my home, but this is why I travel. To meet new people, to experience different cultures, to gain a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of others and then do the most important part – to share it. Knowing these things on a higher level will ultimately make society stronger, better and at peace.

I don’t think I stand alone with this curiosity, and if you’d like to shed any more light on the situation, type away in the comment section below.

Many thanks to you, Clifford, for the explanation. I believe you possess very strong mana. Hawaii’s past and present state make a bit more sense to an outsider.

Off-Property Activities

Air Maui: I love a good heli ride, and there’s no better place to get stunning aerial views than Hawaii where the waterfalls and jagged cliffs are more prevalent than the weddings and honeymoons happening on the ground. May I suggest the West Maui and Molokai ride? Great. You’re welcome. Afterwards, the super popular Mama’s Fish House is nearby alongside the cute town of Pai.

Lahaina: This quaint area of Maui offers nice beaches, clear waters, tempting boutiques and great restaurants. For breakfast/brunch/lunch, hit up Longhi’s and order the eggs Benedict or pancakes with coconut syrup.

Dinner at Merriman’s – Close to Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, this eatery is where you want to be at sunset.

Snorkeling – Kapalua Bay is a very short walk from the Ritz-Carlton property (resort offers free shuttle rides throughout the day) and you’ll see loads of turtles!

Hiking – Hike Maui has some great options with their East Maui Waterfalls and Rainforest Hike being their most popular. Some photos have accidentally surfaced below from our family Maui hike back in ’07. Talk about Christmas card gold…

Road to Hana – I did not partake in this drive. Yet. Hopefully on my subsequent adventure I can carve out a (very) long day for this activity. Everyone seems to have the same sentiment towards it: they are glad they did it, but they are also glad it’s over. It’s a long, winding road!

If none of that was hard-core enough for you, there’s always surfing and the Maui marathon, which was happening the weekend we were visiting. Please remember to eat more than 5 almonds if you partake.

How to Live Well in Maui, Hawaii

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Travel Education 101: How to Travel with Jewelry

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Travel Education 101: NEVER pack your jewelry in your checked luggage. There’s always a chance that the airline could lose your bag, or worse – it gets stolen out of your bag. This has never happened to me before (knock on some serious wood), but I have accidentally packed it in my suitcase and remained an anxious mess until I was reunited with my bag at the conveyor belt.

Travel Education 102: HOW you pack your jewels is important. I’ve arrived to a destination where every single one of my necklaces was in a massive tangle. After spending hours trying to separate them, I finally just grabbed a beer and decided it was a lost cause. If you’re a DIY-er, placing one side of your necklace into a straw alleviates the tangle problem. I’ve also rolled mine inside small towels before tying both end with a rubber band. And then there’s always the pill box for earrings, rings, etc. If you need more structure, see below for some of my favorite compartments, pouches and boxes!

Travel Education 103: WHAT you pack is even more important. That diamond statement piece you got for Christmas last year? It’s probably best to leave it at home unless you’re appearing on a red carpet somewhere in say, I don’t know, Paris? Milan? If you simply cannot part ways with it, then either wear it on your person during travel day or stow it in a safe compartment in your carry-on. I have a few pieces I’ve been gifted over the years (dad brag) that I simply haven’t been able to wear much due to all of my travels. One day I will wear all the bling…or so I keep telling myself. Speaking of bling, depending on the destination, it may be smart to leave your wedding ring at home and wear your subdued wedding band. If you do travel with fine jewelry, it may be a good idea to look into insurance!

My Travel Jewels

 What: Arkansas State Necklace

The Story: I have major state pride, what can I say? No matter where I go in the world, I always carry a little piece of home with me. I walked into Romance Diamonds in Fayetteville, Arkansas, back in 2010 to inquire about designing this necklace for my college graduation present. We discussed the sizing, the placement of the diamond (over my hometown of Fort Smith), the metal, etc. Last time I checked, Romance Diamonds sold these in-store. You can always give them a call to inquire about designing your own!

What: Diamond stud earrings

The Story: Well, there’s not one really. My mom took me to a relatively cheap jewelry store many years ago to pick out replacement diamond studs because I’m pretty sure I lost the first pair. They have accompanied me all over the world and have even made their way back to my ears after being left in Mendoza, Argentina. Unless I’m feeling fancy, I don’t take them out for anything!

What: Gold bracelet with diamond plate

The Story: My father doesn’t know this, but he’s the best damn jewelry picker-outer on the planet. He bought this one for me, my two sisters and mother a few years ago for a Christmas gift. This is my favorite bracelet because it’s simple and classy with some bling. I can wear it with yoga clothes or to a 7-course dinner! Nom.

What: Gold coordinate cuff

The Story: Romance Diamonds strikes again. Two years ago I walked back in the store to have them create a coordinates bracelet for me and my two sisters. I wasn’t impressed with the coordinate bracelets I found online, so I knew just the place to go. My parents were selling my childhood home that I knew and loved for 20something years, and I wanted to have that memory with me always…and it just so happens to be around my wrist!

What: Giles & Brother Railroad Spiked Cuff

The Story: Like the other pieces above, I hardly ever take this gold cuff of of my wrist. Out of everything I own, this is the most sentimental piece to me because it’s engraved with a special person’s name at the top: WIN. Win was a good friend of mine who passed away on June 23rd, 2010 and accomplished so much during his short 20 years on earth. Seeing his name every day is a reminder to live like him, to ‘win’ every day, and to always bring the funk. Shout out to my sister for this incredible piece!

More

These five staples make travel jewelry simple. Elegance and effortless sophistication is the name of the game. If I’m feeling oh so crazy, I’ll head over to H&M or Forever 21 to grab some different looks. The silver choker in this photo is from the Old Navy clearance section. Score! In the end, if I lose the jewelry or it happens to break during the rough go-around that is international travel, I’m not incredibly disappointed because it didn’t cost an arm and a leg!

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