Where Am I Headed in 2015?

Happy New Year!  With a new year comes the opportunity to visit new destinations.  I’m going all over the world and I can’t be more excited about the adventures 2015 has in store.  While some of my travel plans have been confirmed, my calendar is still open for wherever the universe takes me.  Here’s a rundown of where I’m heading this year and where I’d love to go:

Confirmed Travel

Haiti

I’ll be spending a few weeks in Haiti for work again, mostly in Port-au-Prince.  This time, however, I hope to explore Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city located on the Northern coast.  It’s about a 4 hour drive or 45-minute flight from Port-au-Prince to Cap Haitien.

The city has a rich cultural history, as it was once the country’s capital following Haiti’s independence from France in 1804.  It is also famous for its magnificent beaches (always a plus in my book).

Abu Dhabi 

Abu Dhabi is the capital and second most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  Thanks to a glitch by Etihad Airways on Christmas Day, I scored a $187 flight from New York to Abu Dhabi.  There was no possible way I was going to let this flight slip through my fingers!

While plans there aren’t yet certain, Ferrari World, the Sheikyh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Observation Deck at 300 are all tentatively on my schedule.

Dubai

Since I’ll already be in Abu Dhabi, it only makes sense to spend a few days in Dubai to maximize my time in the Middle East.  Etihad Airways has a free bus service to Dubai, which is only about an hour and a half from Abu Dhabi.

While the Burj Khalifa, Jumeirah Beach, sand duning, and riding camels are definitely on my ‘to-do’ list, I am looking forward to afternoon tea time at the Burj Al Arab the most.  It’s known as the only 7-star hotel in the world.  Tea time costs about $167 at the Skyview Restaurant and Bar; however, I believe in paying for once in a lifetime experiences.  When’s the next time I’ll have tea at a 7-star hotel?  Exactly!

London

During another ticket sale, I bought a $350 flight to London from Baltimore.  London has never been at the top of my ‘must see’ list and I’m not exactly sure why.  Maybe because the British pound hasn’t really been favorable to the U.S. Dollar in recent years or maybe since it serves a central European hub, I figured I’d eventually get to it one day.  Well luckily for me, that day has finally come.  I’m looking forward to doing all of the touristy things like seeing Big Ben, the Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye. And the dollar isn’t as unfavorable as used to be compared to the pound, so it’s a win/win!

Iceland

I bet you’re wondering how I ended up planning a trip to Iceland.  Well, when I was buying my ticket to London, I noticed that there was a layover in Iceland.  I thought it only made sense to extend my layover in Iceland, especially when the flight there was so cheap.  I’ve also heard the country is amazingly beautiful, especially it’s natural thermal spas.

If you’ve never heard of the Blue Lagoon, allow me to introduce you.  It’s Iceland’s most well-known geothermal spa that offers several massage and beauty treatment packages.  The waters contain minerals like silica and sulfur and are known help some people suffering from skin diseases like psoriasis.  I am so excited to luxuriate and relax in one of Mother Nature’s finest treasures.

Travel Wish List

Thailand

My travels haven’t taken me to Asia yet but I’m dying to go.  I hear that Thailand would be a great gateway country to the continent because it’s full of culture, it’s inexpensive and there’s plenty to do and see.  Thailand has become somewhat of a hotspot in recent years so I’m anxious to see what they hype is about.  I’d also love to go to the first ever Asia TBEX conference (a premier conference for travel bloggers) happening in Thailand in October.  We will see if I can get there!

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Remember last summer when I went to the Martha’s Vineyard Summer Music Festival and Conference?  That was my first time on the island and I loved its small town feel.  It was a great change of pace, and since the island isn’t huge, there was plenty of time for me to relax.  I would love to go again this year.

Barbados

I’d love to head to Barbados toward the end of 2015 when the weather begins to take a turn for the worse in DC.  I’ve never been and would love to attend the Barbados Food, Wine and Rum Festival in November.

Have you been to any of the places I’ve listed above?  Let me know if there’s something I must see while I’m there.  Where are you headed this year?  Sound off below!  If you haven’t started planning your travel this year, there’s no better time to start than today.  I look forward to sharing my experiences with you this year.  Happy and safe travels!

Personal Post: How Travel Has Made Me Grateful

The holidays are upon us!  While spending time with family and friends, gift exchanges and gaining five pounds from all the food and drinks consumed is typical for this time of year, people also tend to spend time reflecting on their lives…what went well, what didn’t and what changes will be made in the new year.  In my case, traveling more than ever this year has allowed me to reflect on a more consistent basis.

2014 Travel

This year I’ve been to Netherlands, Tanzania, Romania, Turkey, Haiti, Bahamas, and soon Curacao; not to mention other cities in the United States I’ve visited.  Some for work, all for pleasure.  I’ve had the opportunity to visit the wealthiest neighborhoods, and some of the poorest in most of the places visited.

During my most recent trip to Haiti, I spent most of my time in the capital city of Port-au-Prince. However, in order to maximize my time in-country, I planned a weekend to neighboring southern city, Jacmel.  A colleague who lives in Haiti referred a driver to me that would be able to take us on the 2-hour ride to Jacmel and back to Port-au-Prince.  I secured a hotel, set up city tours, and found local restaurants to try. Planning a weekend away was working out perfectly.  However, as the weekend approached, I tried calling the driver to confirm our plans but his phone was turned off.  I asked one of the Administrative Assistants in my office, who was Haitian, to call the driver just in case I wasn’t dialing the number correctly.  She confirmed that indeed his phone was turned off.

The next day, I asked the assistant to call the driver again.  And again, she told me his phone was still off.  “That’s so weird that his phone is still off,” I said.  “It’s not that weird,” she replied.  “The electricity could have gone off and he may not have had a way to charge his phone.  It happens a lot here.”  My heart sank.  While I’m not sure the reason he phone was turned off, I felt awful for assuming the driver was irresponsible instead of thinking it was a possibility that he had logistical problems due to less than stellar Haitian infrastructure.  Simple things like stable electricity is a luxury, and not a luxury afforded to many people across the world.

I’ve seen conditions that are a reality for some people that I couldn’t dare dream of living in.  In both Tanzania and Haiti, I experienced children as young as three running alongside my car, begging for any money I could spare.  But no matter how poor people are or the terrible conditions they’re living in, most people I’ve met have had the greatest attitudes toward life.  It puts life into perspective about what’s really important.

Travel Gives Perspective

I am a firm believer that travel broadens horizons and gives life perspective.  One of my favorite quotes is by Henry Miller: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”  As I reflect on my experiences abroad, I can’t help but to be reminded that many people experience hardship right in my own backyard.  Homelessness, poverty, lack of education, mental disease, racism among other issues are problems at home too.  To me, travel almost amplifies problems at home. Some parts of Baltimore look comparable to some of the poorest parts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.  It’s a constant reminder than no matter how far I travel, I’ll never be able to forget the realities of home.

Being Grateful

I may not be wealthy, traveled the most extensively, or have the largest blog following (smile!).  But I am grateful to live in a place where my electricity works, I have a warm place to sleep at night with a sturdy roof over my head, and the only reason I sometimes worry about where my next meal is coming from is because I don’t feel like cooking it.  And when I need a change in scenery, I have the means to take a weekend trip to a city close by, or book an international getaway.  Many people, even within my own city and community, do not have the same opportunities.  I do my best not take the slightest things for granted and always looking at the bright side of situations.  Travel has a way of changing your perspective.  I look forward to the adventures and perspective 2015’s travel will bring.

Photo Credit: Ashlee Tuck