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The Punishment and The Reward: How My Illegal Entry Into Cuba Changed Me
Yes, I did. I went to Cuba illegally. I had the urge to see it before things changed too much, before it got too modernized. And so it was, that my best friend, Ingrid, and I decided that we would make a little side trip from the Dominican Republic and go see this incredible place for ourselves. We had a little trepidation, but entered the country without too much of a glitch. I had read about how hard it was for Cubans to get basic necessities such as dental floss, so we came armed with an entire suitcase of floss, toys for the children, and medicine that I had…
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The Girl And The Island-One Girl’s View of Koh Lipe
(written by the girl while swinging in her hammock exactly 19 steps from the ocean) There once was a girl, and she loved many things, but Islands were probably at the top of the list. This girl spent many years always searching for the perfect one, and she managed to discover many beautiful islands, each one so different from the last. One day, she heard about an island. It’s name was Koh Lipe (Leepay) and she knew with all of her being that she had to go there. She thought about the place for many months and soon realized that it would not be an easy journey to arrive. She…
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Happy On A Local Beach In Phuket!
I had my fill of Phuket’s hectic energy, so I chartered a tuk tuk to take me to one of the more local beaches. (A great hint for traveling is always ask your cab or tuk tuk driver for the best beach and also the best food!) And, local it was, me being one of the few tourists (thank God!). I traveled up hills and through jungles, past elephant camps and finally arrived to the incredible beauty of a jade colored lagoon which spilled into the ocean, turquoise in color, warm waters, pounding waves…hardly a soul in sight. I was grateful for the lagoon as the waves seemed a little…
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Phuket-How I Created My Own Sanctuary Among The Crowds
Stepping onto the island of Phuket was a bit like stepping into a very beautiful house. But once you are in that house, you soon discover it is owned by a hoarder and there is not one bit of space for anything more, not even you. I have never seen more shops, restaurants, and bars packed into one space in my life, and anything else that you may want to enjoy. A spa where you can go stick your feet in the water and have the fish nibble the dead skin off of your feet? They’ve got it. A store that sells fake iPads for$100? That’s there, too. I was…
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You Must Speak Like Water
“You must speak like water,” were the words spoken to me by Rafa, my new friend from Spain. He and his girlfriend, Kristina, were trying to teach me Spanish. I was speaking too slowly for them and not flowing in my words. It was then that I realized this really should be a metaphor for our lives. We should live like water. Flowing gently, turning and twisting to form our own path but never losing that power that makes water so strong. So strong to even make rocks smooth. You must speak like water. Live like water. Shaping our own paths and influencing other peoples lives. We had met on…
