Kristen

Lugu Lake in China: A Breathtaking Vision of Blue

Lugu Lake is a location I had never heard of and probably never would have seen if not for Ya Ting, my travel partner in Yunnan province. It spans the border of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, giving the perfect entryway to a province I hadn’t even intended to visit, but have been loving exploring ever since. We found ourselves at the gates of the lake after a very successful day of hitchhiking , then hopped into a 50 RMB minibus going for the lake. The driver was from the minority village group that lives surrounding Lake Lugu. He promised to

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Kristen

A Motorhome Adventure in South Tyrol, Italy

Good day from sunny and green South Tyrol in Italy, where you may have noticed I keep returning to. What I enjoy today is the same emotion I felt when I first arrived here and six months later with my mother – it’s so unexpected and not at all what I pictured when I saw Italy in my head. South Tyrol is lush with wildflowers in the early summer and changing foliage in the fall. If you enjoy the outdoors (as I do! ), there is a limitless number of treks, through Ferrara, climbing, winter skiing, and, of course, delicious

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Kristen

Tips for Overcoming Language Barriers While Travelling Alone

How do you travel alone in a place where you don’t speak the language? I am often asked about this issue by readers who are afraid of feeling lost on their trips if there is a language barrier. It’s a real fear and one that leads most tourists into tour groups (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or makes them decide not to travel altogether. I also had some anxieties before I started traveling. I envisioned walking to every street vendor, kiosk, and cab driver without being able to communicate. My excursions may finish in a tempest of uncertainty

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Kristen

Discover Asia’s 8 most tranquil destinations

Think of the most tranquil place you’ve ever visited. What do you remember? I love the places that make me feel relaxed and happy, whether it’s because of the laid-back atmosphere, the genuine peace, or the wonderful people around me (or all of the above). They give me goosebumps and make me want to stay forever. These are the places that I cherish the most. They are usually small communities that care deeply about preserving and enjoying nature, and the overall mood is serene. Here are some of the best ones I’ve discovered so far: Ella, Sri Lanka Ella is

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Kristen

10 questions about my two-year journey around the world

Occasionally my mind wanders back to the two Christmases I spent at Bottle Beach, where I met a man named Jason. A British man in his mid-50s, he had lived for nine years in a simple beach bungalow with no electricity. Jason had begun traveling the world in search of a new home after his brother died, leaving behind a large house, Italian sports cars, and an idle retirement fund. The experience was a wake-up call for Jason, who decided to stop chasing money and instead seek peace. He found it in Bottle Beach and decided to stay. Although I’m

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Kristen

Adventures in Swakopmund, Namibia: Sandboarding and Skydiving

Sand. Sweat. Sun. A cooling wind follows, to jump out of an aircraft. I was standing near the edge of the dune in Swakopmund, Namibia. That seemed terribly steep and I thought about my shoulder surgery. It’s been years, yet it lingers in my memory anytime I gaze at the edge of anything I’m about to slide or leap at full speed. “I’m not going to believe this coming from someone wearing a skydiving outfit,” quipped Chris, the instructor, when I admitted I felt a bit frightened standing on the dune face. The sand wasn’t like cold snow in the

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Kristen

Namibia’s Sossusvlei Dunes: a desert paradise

The sky changed from absolute dark to royal blue, speckled with a milky way of stars spanning from corner to corner in an arc. The sun was rising quicker than my feet could take me, and I was concerned that the peak might become inaccessible in time. I couldn’t stop since there was a continual stream of people behind me. It was too tight for anyone to pass through, and we were on the sand. Despite the fact that I was taking one step back for every two strides forward, an inner voice pushed me to persevere, just as it

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Kristen

East Africa: more than meets the eye

“When you leave Africa, as the jet starts off, you have the sensation that in addition to leaving a continent, you are abandoning a state of mind. What awaits you at the other end of your voyage will be of another order of reality.” — Francesca Marciano, “Rules of Nature” East Africa was a different ball game than Southern Africa. The relative abundance of comforts like Wi-Fi, hot water and ATMs that really functioned in South Africa, Namibia and Zambia gave way to dirt huts and brown water when it was functioning, that is. Something else also changed. Copper-colored Namibia,

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Kristen

My travel philosophy revisited

About a year ago, I posted an essay explaining how I can afford to travel. This was after I had finished my first year of continuous solo travel, and I have since done another ten months. I still receive a lot of letters wondering how I finance this, which made me realize that I wasn’t being explicit enough – even to myself – previously. There were many aspects I hadn’t considered, most notably how my attitude to spending is fundamentally different today than it was previously. I also haven’t completely detailed how I generate money from my blog, so I’ll

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Kristen

A Culinary Journey in Italy

My Culinary Quest in Italy I had one goal in mind when I boarded the plane to Bologna after a year of longing: to eat as much, as varied, and as local as I could in a week. Italy has many other attractions, of course: magnificent churches and monuments, breathtaking landscapes and beaches, and friendly people who I’m lucky to call friends. But none of that could compare to my passion for Italian food. Especially the food of Emilia-Romagna, my favorite region to feast on. The name alone makes my mouth water. Most of my Italian friends agree that this

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More About Me

Hi, I am Kristen, I have been living in Southeast Asia for over five years and I love to share my experiences on this blog. You will find stories about my daily life, as well as my travels around the world. From exotic tastes to stunning views and funny encounters from across the globe, join me on my amazing journey at www.theladyontheroad.com

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