South Africa, for now.

It’s beautiful here. An aching and excruciating beauty I didn’t expect. Not because I didn’t think Africa would be beautiful but because even as I sit in this exquisite place, the realities of its plundered and pillaged people and landscapes are impossible to ignore. Diamonds, gold, land, success, the certain and brilliant success of one’s…

Black/White

Walking through parts of Croatia, Angela and I saw our fair share of confederate flags. The damn thing seemed like it was everywhere. On T-shirts. As giant wall murals. On booty shorts. Each time we saw one, Angela turned to me and said, “Do they even know what that thing represents?”I thought, despite the appearance…

The Day We Almost Got Left Floating in the Adriatic Sea

So, we’re on an 8-day Croatian island tour. How we even arrived here is an adventure in itself and a tale for another time. But today, just a few hours ago, the boat stops in a scenic grotto with crystal waters where it’s shallow and a deep jewel toned blue where it’s not. Sounds beautiful,…

Renewal – A Writing Retreat in Jamaica

Jamaica is where Bliss was born. I don’t mean just the character from my bestselling debut novel of the same name, but also the book itself. Although I wrote Bliss in the United States, the inspiration for its character and places, its emotion and its conflicts, all came from Jamaica. The book isn’t about an…

Who Knew: The Laid Back and Necessary — Renewal: A Retreat for Writers

Once I decided to let the vibe of Jamaica have its way , I found myself experiencing the authenticity of the country. Every sound, every taste reminded me that I was away from home, away from my every day. I loosened up and the simplicity of sky and water, bush and sand, created a connection…

Thailand White

The young German girl and I bonded over the lack of non-whitening body lotion in Thailand. Like me, she had run out of the allotted 100 ml for the flight and had gone into one of the ten thousand 7-11 stores to buy more. After the third store and nothing without whitening cream – including…

Jacuzzi related injuries and other not-quite disasters on the road

 Koh Samui has been incredible. Not just because the island is beautiful (which it is) or that the food is delicious (so much yum!) but because of the wonderful people who made me feel SO welcomed. Karen, Max and Kate (Aroonphad), goddesses on earth, made my time on the island absolutely magical. And I’m not…

Journal of a Bangkok Bus Trip

   When the sign at the front of the promised Deluxe bus with cool a/c, wifi, and “toiltel,” read “NO Wifi Now Repair,” it should have been my warning. But even if it had been my warning, how should one heed such a sign in the middle of Thailand with bus, plane, and hostel tickets…

Aruba, the first day.

  I’ve never been to a Dutch island before. The people don’t look how I’ve maybe subconsciously trained myself to think island people are supposed to look. Maybe that should be my next thing, visiting different islands around the world. Unsettle my expectations. The airport reminded me, oddly, of Naples, Italy, my visit there last…

Hola! Bonjour! Muchos Besos!

For no real reason, I’ve decided to start a travel blog. The plan is to have random photos of the places I visit. Sometimes I’ll be in these photos, most times I won’t. Right now I should be sleeping to get ready for my 3 am wake up call (in two and a half hours)…