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Bungee jumping in Chiang Mai, Thailand
June 8, 2012
in Asia, Bad Decisions, Chiang Mai, relationships, Round the World, sex, Thailand, travel

On being rational…or irrational…or…whatever…

I am afraid of heights. No, that's not quite true. I am afraid of plummeting from heights. I held on for dear life and cried excessively every time a child bumped into me at the top of the Eiffel Tower for god's sake. So, how,...

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Reverse Culture Shock in Bangkok, Thailand.
June 7, 2012
in Asia, Bangkok, Round the World, Thailand, travel

How are you tomorrow? Reverse culture shock in Bangkok.

There's a particular phenomenon that travelers often allude to: "reverse culture shock." It happens when you return home from long term travel. You get so used to being immersed a different cultures that when you arrive back home it no longer feels right. It feels...

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Lunch on the house boat in Kerala, India.
June 5, 2012
in Alleppey, Anjuna, Asia, food, Goa, Hampi, India, Kannur, Kerala, Kochi, Kollam, Kovalam, Mumbai, Palolem, Panaji, Round the World, travel, Varkala

Thali me banana (lassis) – what I ate in India: Month 3

1. I seem to have a problem in India. Whenever i go to a restaurant and order something, they don't have it. Seriously. I'd say that, on average, once a day I will tell the waiter what I want and he will say "no." Sometimes...

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Mumbai Gate in Mumbai, India
June 4, 2012
in Asia, India, Mumbai, Round the World, travel

Bye bye Mumbai.

After three months in India, Jaime and I arrived in our final city: Mumbai. It was kind of bittersweet. India was finally starting to grow on me, but, at the same time, I was itching to get out and to be on my own again. While...

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Mumbai Wall Project Street Art
June 2, 2012
in Asia, India, Mumbai, Round the World, Street Art, travel

The Wall Project Mumbai – Street Art in India

Photos of The Wall Project in Mumbai, India....

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My experience being an extra in a Bollywood movie in Mumbai, India.
May 30, 2012
in Asia, India, Mumbai, Round the World, travel

The Next Bollywood Star.

I was already feeling famous in India. People were stopping all over, asking to get their photo taken with me. Men and children were staring at me constantly. Hotel owners were always asking for my autograph. I knew that it was only a matter of...

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Beach in Anjuna, Goa, India
May 29, 2012
in Anjuna, Asia, Goa, India, Palolem, Panaji, Round the World, travel

No Goa.

After Hampi, Jaime and I headed back to Goa. We parted ways with Dani, who went back to Palolem to be with Jess, and made our way to Panaji, the capital of Goa. We arrived ridiculously early in the morning, tired, and had to sit...

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Stray puppies in Hampi, India
May 27, 2012
in Asia, Hampi, India, Round the World, travel

The puppies of Hampi.

Outside of our hotel in Hampi there was a family of some of the cutest stray puppies ever. Yes, yes they do deserve their own blog post....

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Photos from the ruins of Hampi, India.
May 26, 2012
in Asia, Hampi, India, Round the World, travel

Hampi, India and the Complex of Temples

If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a celebrity, try being a blonde American girl traveling in Hampi, India. While I've had those feelings elsewhere in India, especially throughout the South of the country, no where were they as strong,...

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Palolem, Goa, India
May 21, 2012
in Asia, Goa, India, Palolem, Round the World, travel

Palolem, Goa in India.

And then, after two months of traveling around India, we finally made it to Goa: Palolem, Goa. Palolem Beach was a nice beach, calm and somewhat quiet. Quiet for India, at least. It was the off-season in Goa, though. And so, many of the beach-front hotels had shut...

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Hi, I’m Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the teal couch. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. I lived my life in limbo. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket to Europe. After 3 years on the road I’m back in Chicago, exploring the city, learning guitar, decorating my apartment in too much teal, cuddling my cats, and planning my next adventures.

            

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2006 –

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WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE?


Feeling stuck? Sick of living your life in limbo? Want to finally do all those things you always say you're going to do? Sign up for the Choosing Figs newsletter now to get a FREE e-book with tips on starting your own life list, inspiration for things to do in life, and worksheets to get your life goals out of your head and into action!


Your information will be used to send you our Life List e-book and subscribe you to our bi-monthly newsletter. View our full Privacy Policy.



            


MEOW | Is Val in Chicago?