“It’s time for you to move, realizing that the thing you are seeking is also seeking you.” – Iyanla Vanzant

Ever since I got rid of my apartment back in 2011, you could say I’ve been a bit of a nomad, wandering from place to place, home to home. From DC to northern Virginia to Honolulu to Baltimore to Charlottesville to Europe to Richmond, back to northern Virginia with a recent trip to Thailand, this HBW has gotten around over the past two years! Underlying the urge to explore different cities and budget living arrangements was also a big question I had yet to answer.

Did I still want to call the DMV area home?

I went to college in Richmond and have built the majority of my personal and professional relationships here. But I’d been here since 2000. Now pushing 13 years, was my wanderlust a sign that it was time for me to go live somewhere else?

In  my Life Mapping Workbook (which you can get for free here), one of the areas I ask you to explore is your lifestyle – where you want to live location-wise, your ideal living situation, etc. Those of you who are on the HBW newsletter (and actually READ it LOL), already know the decision I’ve made for myself in re-doing my own Life Map.

Today, I wanted to share the official announcement with everyone else who hasn’t yet seen the news via my emails or my personal blog…

When I left my job in 2010, I simultaneously started Happy Black Woman as a personal blog to document my journey of going natural and becoming self-employed. Today, it has grown into a supportive online community that encourages women to live their ideal lives. Here, we have positive, affirming conversations about personal development, self-care, relationships, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, travel and what it means to be free. I’ve been surprised and delighted to see how our HBW community has evolved from a teeny tiny blog to a large readership, then expanding to live events and training for women all over the country who are on the same path.

While I was on retreat in Thailand, what I realized is that I want to work with and for YOU on a bigger scale in service to my Personal Mission Statement (you can get this exercise in my full 31 Days to Reset Your Life program or the Kindle ebook version). In the space of just one month, I became present to the truth that I would have to step up once again to become the CEO of me – this time in a new capacity.

First, Decide Where You Really Want to Live

It took living on a tropical island in Asia 10,000 miles from home in a villa with 20 other entrepreneurs to realize that…

I love living on an island. I love being able to take my laptop to the beach. I love that I can write and connect and teach from anywhere in the world. 

After I’d been in Koh Tao just a few days, I had a very casual, but life-changing conversation with one of the guys in our Project Getaway group. The concept of the program was to bring together a group of location-independent, tech-savvy business owners to mastermind and learn from each other in a beautiful tropical setting. So we were talking about our travels and homebases and where we wanted to go next. I found myself repeating a familiar refrain:

I have a great life in DC, but I would really love to live in Hawaii. That’s my dream! I lived there as a military brat from 1994-2000 and it’s always been my favorite place in the world. 

That’s when it hit me. The little voice of adventure that got me on the plane from DC to Bangkok started asking: well, why the hell CAN’T you go live in Hawaii? Instead of clinging to all the excuses I usually give about it being so expensive (so is the entire DC area) and so far (that’s what airplanes are for), I just allowed myself to imagine the experience of doing something deliciously different with my life.

In that moment of brief conversation, I felt something shift inside me. My heart jumped a small jump of hope that one of my longtime dreams could actually come true this year. Suddenly, I had decided.

I will move to Oahu, Hawaii before the end of 2013. 

This year, I will spend my 31st birthday (New Year’s Eve!) on Waikiki Beach, embracing my new life with joy and excitement. My focus will now primarily be on building Happy Black Woman as a supportive online community and training company that empowers women around the world to create their ideal lives through personal development and entrepreneurship.

Then, Figure Out How to Get There

No matter where you might want to move to, you can only get there by taking action, one step at a time. I have a rough six-nine month relocation plan that involves completing my remaining client work here in DC, finding a place to live in Honolulu and securing more business under my desired areas of focus. It’s incredible how being around like-minded, adventurous people helped me open to the possibility of leaving the DC-MD-VA area I’ve called home for the last 13 years to start a new chapter in another part of the country.

I share this part of my plan even as it’s still being scratched out on the proverbial napkin, knowing that right now, you may also be struggling with fear and making the decision to try something new. Maybe what you really needed to hear today is that your dreams are NOT crazy and you deserve to see them come true. This is the year of choosing, after all. This is the year to say yes to your deepest desires.

I believe this is what it means to create your ideal life. To declare exactly what you want to do and figure out how to make it happen. As Seth Godin (one of my favorite writers) wrote recently, it’s easy to work for someone else’s agenda, but it’s much, much harder to prioritize your own.

The problem isn’t that it’s impossible to pick yourself. The problem is that it’s frightening to pick yourself. It’s far easier to put your future into someone else’s hands than it is to slog your way forward, owning the results as you go.

Perhaps it’s time for all of us to stop saying “I can’t because…” and start fully owning the results of the choices we make. For me, that journey begins now.

Have you ever made the decision to start over in a new city/state/country? How did you know it was time for you to take the leap and make the move? 

I’d love to hear your experience! Leave a comment below and join the conversation – our HBW Community is becoming a great place to connect with like-minded ladies, ask questions and get support

***

Rosetta Thurman is the Founder of Happy Black Woman. Follow Rosetta on Twitter.

Join thousands of women who have completed the only online course that gives you all the tools you need to get unstuck, set clear goals and rediscover who you truly are. Learn more about the 31 Days to Reset Your Life program here.

Given the challenges we all face in pursuing our goals and dreams, it’s common to find ourselves in need of motivation to keep moving forward. But there are also those times when you come to an even more difficult point in your journey, when what you really need is an affirmation to let go of your current life and begin a new one.

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, then you know how much I love sharing quotes and affirmations that uplift and support others in their personal growth. Here are some of my favorites that have taught me to stay true to who I am and let go of the fear that comes with embarking on a new path. Please click the sharing links above this post to inspire your friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook!

“It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Eliot

This quote always reassures me that no matter how old you are, or how many mistakes you’ve made along the way, you can always take the steps necessary to rediscover your true purpose in life.

“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.” — Paulo Coelho

This is a beautiful reminder that you have the capacity to do whatever you want with your life. Right now, actually. No need to wait for the “right time.”

“It is not wrong to go back to that which you have forgotten.”— West African proverb

Some people feel like once they’ve chosen a particular path, that they can never turn back. Not true! Once you realize that you’re not where you’re supposed to be, you can go back to that homeplace, that starting point that feels right to you.

“We attain freedom as we let go of whatever does not reflect our magnificence. A bird cannot fly high or far with a stone tied to its back. But release the impediment, and we are free to soar to unprecedented heights.” – Alan Cohen

This quote is an affirmation that nothing can hold you back unless YOU let it. The sky is the limit when you release what’s keeping you from moving forward.

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” — John Pierpont Morgan

It doesn’t take this big, grand display of courage to make a change in your life. Sometimes, all you need to do is make the decision that you WILL begin exploring a new path.

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.” – Joseph Campbell

One of the biggest challenges to making progress with something new is not being able to LET GO of the old. This quote is a great reminder that when you try to keep one foot in the familiar as a Plan B, you never give yourself a chance to really succeed at Plan A.

“If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.” — Mary Pickford

Sometimes life gives us a second chance, but we’re too ashamed to take it. Instead of holding on to your past mistakes, accept the truth that there’s something better waiting for you when you let go.

“Every one of us is called upon, probably many times, to start a new life. A frightening diagnosis, a marriage, a move, loss of a job. And onward full tilt we go, pitched and wrecked and absurdly resolute, driven in spite of everything to make good on a new shore. To be hopeful, to embrace one possibility after another – that is surely the basic instinct . . . Crying out: High tide! Time to move out into the glorious debris. Time to take this life for what it is.” – Barbara Kingslover

At some point, we all need to take a moment to step back and consider whether the highway we’ve been driving on for years still leads to the ultimate destination we want for our lives. If it doesn’t, it might be time to get off at the next exit and start doing something else!

What are YOUR favorite quotes that help you let go of fear and move toward the life you really want?

This is the announcement post for the May 2013 edition of the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge. Purchase your copy of the program here to get started.

For May 2013, I am putting out the invitation – a challenge, if you will – for those who want to benefit from my month-long personal development program, 31 Days to Reset Your Life. Each day of the program requires you to complete an exercise that will help you get back on track and become a better, happier, healthier more successful person in the future.

Note: Please read everything on this page if you want to start your 31 Day Reset journey in May. Of course, you can begin the program at any time, on any day because you receive your 31 Day Reset materials immediately (as soon as you purchase!). Many participants, however, prefer to begin their Reset journey on the first day of the month, so they can start “fresh.” (If you’ve already completed previous challenges, there is no need to do this one – unless you just want to repeat it, which is fine! – as the exercises are identical from month by month.)

You’ll get exercises to help you:

• Get out of an unsatisfying rut
• Rediscover who you truly are
• Develop a personal mission statement
• Create a map for your ideal life
• Envision and pursue your passion and purpose
• Get clear about your goals for the future
• Eliminate behaviors that are holding you back from being happy
• Experiment with new strategies for living a healthy life
• Build new relationships
• Cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit within
• …and much more!

Who is this challenge for?

Anyone who wants to manifest a change in their life, design a more fulfilling existence, make room for new possibilities or simply gain more clarity about their path to happiness and success. This program will especially be of benefit to you if you’ve felt stuck or in a rut during the last year. (Click here to read reviews and testimonials from previous 31 Day Reset participants.)

How to take the challenge:

All you need to do to get started with my 31 Days to Reset Your Life program is:

1. Purchase the materials.
2. Commit to completing each daily exercise.
3. Journal your reflections throughout the process!

The program comes in two formats: a PDF workbook with multimedia bonuses OR the Kindle version (ebook only). (And yes, you can get both if you want!) Of course, you can begin the program at any time, on any day because you receive your 31 Day Reset materials immediately (as soon as you purchase!). Many participants, however, prefer to begin their Reset journey on the first day of the month, so they can start “fresh.”

Get the PDF Workbook, Plus Multimedia Bonuses

Click here to buy the PDF workbook: The PDF version has bonus features in a multimedia format, including printable worksheets to accompany each of the 31 exercises and a training video to walk you through the Life Mapping Workbook. Also, if you buy the PDF version, you will automatically receive each of the daily exercises by EMAIL, sent straight to your inbox!

Get the Kindle Version (Ebook Only)

Click here to buy the Kindle version (ebook only): The Kindle ebook version can be downloaded directly to your Kindle, iPad, iPhone or even your PC.

At MOOV Restaurant, Club and Art Garden in Koh Tao, Thailand enjoying $3 mojitos and deep house tunes from DJ Simmo

Time is definitely flying by for me in Thailand – I’ve already been here three weeks! If I had to choose one word for my experience so far, it would be EXPANSIVE. My mind is being stretched in such good ways from living in community with so many entrepreneurs who are running cool businesses, creating their dream lives and traveling all over the world. There’s so much I can tell you about how this trip is seriously changing my life!

If you didn’t catch the announcement on the HBW newsletter a little while ago, I now have an account on Soundcloud so I can share audio posts with you that go deeper than some of the articles I post here on the blog.

My first audio post is a brief, unedited reflection about my experience being in Koh Tao, Thailand. I’ve been feeling expansive and hopeful, as this trip has been an incredible opportunity to think about what’s really possible for me right now. At the end of the audio, I also encourage you to take some time to consider the possibilities for your own life.

Click here to listen to my first audio post on Soundcloud.

As I alluded to in the audio, this trip has definitely been calling me to consider the question:

When am I at my happiest?

For me, the answer has gotten so much simpler over the years.

I am at my happiest when…

• Enjoying warm weather, especially in summer – my favorite season
• Eating good food that was prepared with love by me or someone else
• Listening to music that uplifts me and makes me want to dance
• Connecting with like-minded people, especially those who are committed to a path of personal growth and enlightenment
• Experiencing art in any form, especially live music
• Being creative through my writing and teaching
• Using my unique gifts, skills and experiences to help people and impact the world
• Getting to know intelligent, compassionate men who have interests and values similar to mine
• Spending quality time with my family, especially in Florida on our annual holiday trip

I’ve noticed that when I focus on maximizing the conditions that cause me the most happiness, the happier I am. It’s a simple concept for sure, but a lesson that many of us still haven’t fully learned.

I’ve also found that it helps to remind yourself periodically of all the things that make you happy so you can be intentional about doing MORE of what does bring you joy and LESS of what doesn’t.

When are YOU at your happiest? Are there any conditions, places, activities or people that naturally bring out the best in you?

Body paint was the thing to do

I first heard about the Full Moon Party from Nomadic Matt’s travel blog when I was planning for my trip to Thailand. I’d already had it on my list of things I wanted to do, so when one of the guys here at Project Getaway suggested we go to the party as a group, I was all in! The Full Moon Party is a huge monthly beach party held on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand that happens on the night of every full moon. From sundown to sunrise, there are 10,000-30,000 people on the beach in the town of Haad Rin enjoying music, dancing, food, fire dancers and cheap alcohol by the bucket.

What’s a Full Moon Party without a full moon???

It costs 100 baht to enter the party grounds and you get a wristband to wear for the night

On April 25, 2013, I attended the famous Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, Thailand. We rented a speedboat to get from Koh Tao to the party location in Ko Pha Ngan, about an hour away.

Now I’m not really a big party girl when I’m at home in DC so I’m surprised I survived the experience of being in that environment for 12 hours straight. I had SO much fun on the beach with 10,000 half-naked drunk people from all over the world dancing nonstop to techno, house and reggae.As if the all-night party didn’t provide enough excitement to my life, I got another shot of adrenaline when my group got STRANDED in the middle of the ocean on our way home! I was sleeping when I felt a hard jolt. Our boat stopped suddenly and everything got quiet as the motor died out. Apparently, our speedboat had crashed into a rock and ran aground when we were about halfway back to our villa in Koh Tao. I’m NOT a good swimmer, so I was thisclose to having a panic attack when the boat hit the rock. I thought we were gonna drown! Thankfully we got help from a nearby ship.

I put together all my iPhone video snippets to share what the vibe was like at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. At the end, you’ll also see some footage from how we made it home after our little boating accident. What a crazy, crazy night! Definitely an experience to remember…

(If you’re reading this post via email or in a reader, click here to see the video.)

For a comprehensive guide to attending Thailand’s famous Full Moon Party, check out Nomadic Matt’s post here: The Ultimate Guide to the Full Moon Party

Read My Previous Travel Diaries from Thailand:

• Travel Diary: One Week in Koh Tao, Thailand
• Travel Diary: One Day in Bangkok – Jet Lag, Street Food and a $4 Foot Massage
• Travel Diary: My 24-Hour Trip to Bangkok and Sushi in Japan

Lately, I’ve been adding a few songs to my Happy Black Woman Playlist to motivate me in the mornings, especially if I have a heavy personal issue weighing on my mind when I wake up. I’ve loved gospel music since I was a teenager – maybe even before that when I used to happily sing “This Little Light of Mine” in Sunday school as a little girl in my Grama’s church.

Although I no longer identify with any particular religious denomination, I still feel incredibly encouraged when I listen to music that focuses on the power of God’s love to help us overcome adversity and achieve great things in life. The beautiful thing about good music is that it transcends boundaries and speaks to so many people who need it at that time. And each of these songs remind us that no matter what obstacles come our way, we have the capacity to keep moving forward.

One of my Twitter followers recently asked me which gospel songs I listen to, so I thought I’d share my HBW Gospel Playlist on Spotify. I’ve been listening to it as I begin my day, ready to tackle any challenges that arise. I also found all these songs on Youtube so you can listen to them that way, too!

The Happy Black Woman Gospel Playlist

Hallejuah Anyway by Candi Staton

Go Get It by Mary Mary

Declaration (This Is It) by Kirk Franklin

In the Middle by Isaac Carree

The Best is Yet to Come by Donald Lawrence

Before I Die by Kirk Franklin

Get Up by Mary Mary

I Told the Storm by Greg O’Quin n’ Joyful Noyze

Blessings by John P. Kee

Miracle by The Clark Sisters (both versions)

Are any of these on your morning motivation playlist? Which gospel songs do YOU listen to that help you keep moving forward? 

Excited to be in Koh Tao, Thailand for Project Getaway!

I’ve been in Koh Tao, Thailand for about a week now, having a great time with a group of about 20 entrepreneurs through Project Getaway. There’s been a lot going on as we explore the island and get settled into our own individual projects we came here to work on.

Here’s some photos of where I’m staying and a bit of we’ve been doing here so far.

Photo Gallery: Welcome to Koh Tao

View from the boat coming into Koh Tao

Our beautiful villa in the Mae Haad neighborhood of Koh Tao

We have an amazing view from our porch!

The main living area in our villa! I live in this one with two other women with cool businesses, one from Germany and one from the UK

Our bathroom – water is scarce here and sometimes cuts off, so we conserve by taking short showers!

Our kitchen – I’ve been able to cook a few meals here when I need a break from Thai food

My bedroom is shared with one of the women, we sleep in a bunk but beds are pretty comfy

We love sitting out on our porch!

This is the best “office” ever

We have a local restaurant called Yang’s Kitchen that caters our meals daily. This was lunch one day: mango salad, rice, pad thai with shrimp and a pork stir fry.

The pool at our villa!

Happy hour at Sunset View Restaurant! I had a Cuba Libre

Watching the day fade out at Sunset View Restaurant – we had a nice group BBQ dinner here

On Sairee Beach at night, music and fire dancers are out in full effect!

I’ve also been sharing more photos on Instagram and Facebook, so I hope you’ll follow along with my travel experience there as well. And…if you want to know more about the group I’m in Thailand with, check out the Project Getaway Facebook page, which has a TON of beautiful, professional photos from our media team! Let me know if you spot me or my afro in any of them

Read My Previous Travel Diaries from Thailand:

• Travel Diary: One Day in Bangkok – Jet Lag, Street Food and a $4 Foot Massage
• Travel Diary: My 24-Hour Trip to Bangkok and Sushi in Japan

This is a guest post by LaDonna Green, a communication and relationship coach. Please welcome LaDonna to the HBW Community!

I’ve always been that person everyone bounces ideas off of. The advisor, the editor and often the shoulder to cry on. At times, my shoulders have been drenched from the tears of the burdens of others. Other times, I have been there to share in their moments of elation and success. I have accepted my intuitive, empathetic nature, as well as the phone calls and conversations that go along with being a trusted confidant. Most of the conversations deal with love and relationships so I have had my fair share of pep-talks and advice sessions with friends and family experiencing difficulties with love.

Yet, a few years ago when I separated from my husband (now ex-husband), I found myself in a quagmire of being the advice-giver needing advice. My head was spinning! I had so many doubts and questions. My emotions ran the gamut, from sadness to anger to despair and back to anger again! Out of all the questions I had, the one that resonated most was:

“Now, what am I supposed to do?”

If you have ever experienced a breakup, I’m sure you can relate. Breakups are never easy, but there IS life and love afterwards. I won’t profess that I have found the “holy grail” of how to deal with breakups. But what I can say is that a breakup is an opportunity for you to experience  breakthroughs! You can do this through what I call the the “Triple A” process: Acknowledge, Accept, Advance.

Acknowledge

Acknowledgement of the end of a relationship sound like a no brainer, right? If your partner came to you (or you to them) and said it’s over, then it’s over! How could someone not acknowledge that? In some cases though, it’s not that simple. As individuals, our perspectives change when we couple up; during that time our individual experiences and desires continue to evolve. In some instances, the evolution draws us away from our partner. At the end of the relationship, you may not have a clear understanding of the how, when, why, and where the shift happened. That’s OK! The important thing is to acknowledge the end. You can’t move forward without acknowledging that the relationship is officially over.

Accept

It’s over. You could now be living in separate parts of the house or one of you may have moved out. Whether you’ve unfriended and blocked them on Facebook or vowed to maintain civil communication with your ex; it’s over. Acceptance is a conduit for change. Playing the shoulda, woulda, coulda game with your relationship is counterproductive to acceptance and can breed doubt. Doubt can quench motivation and in turn, interrupt constructive thought processes. But when you accept that you are now no longer a part of a couple, you must focus on self. For some, this is the hardest aspect of the “Triple A” process. Once your partner is gone, there are no more distractions, no more pointing out the wrongs of the other person. During this stage, it’s important to minimize distractions (like going to get a new puppy, another car, or a new relationship). Instead, consider seeking a local support group, counseling session or therapy to navigate through dealing with your loss. Although I had already had a therapist prior to my breakup, my therapist was a tremendous help through my divorce. She assisted me in finding the tools that I needed for the next step in the process.

Advance

Advance means to move forward. Identifying and evolving self is important in advancing your life. Here are some ideas for how to do this:

1. Take this time after your breakup to advance through education, networking and building relationships within your community. Go back to school to finish that degree or get a certification that you have been putting off. Join a local community group or volunteer organization. I started volunteering at a domestic violence shelter and it changed my life! After that experience, I changed my college major and hope to one day open my own nonprofit rehabilitation center for survivors of domestic violence. Volunteering is what opened eyes to a devastating social issue and birthed my talent to help others in need.
2. Explore your spirituality. Take that mission trip that you have always wanted to take. Practice daily meditation and prayer. Heck, I don’t care if you sit on the beach to watch the sunset rise and marvel at the wonders of the universe. Just make sure you find the connection between spirit, being and self to continue your journey to self-actualization.
3. Practice holistic living. Exercise, eat well, remove stress and get adequate rest. Eliminate everything in excess: food, wine, negativity, social media, and anything else that you can think of that has the ability to stop you from reaching your maximum potential.

The key is to get in the habit of finding value in yourself and the activities that you participate in. Loving self is the door to reciprocated love from others, when that time comes. But right now, your job is to focus on you!

I have experienced love four times in my life. Each of my partners offered me something special that forged the bonds of love between us. During these relationships, I experienced memorable moments that will last a lifetime. Some moments were filled with tears and some with laughter. The gaining and then subsequent loss of their love, helped me reach a level of self-love that I will forever be thankful to them for. Their gifts of introspection at different stages in my life have helped me acknowledge, accept and advance to the place where I am now. And today, I am happier, healthier and more determined than ever to continue on the journey of becoming the best me that I can be!

What strategies have you used to bounce back from a painful breakup? Which aspect of the “Triple A” process resonates with you the most?

***

LaDonna Green is a communication and relationship coach based in Orlando, Florida. After working for years in a corporate setting as an analyst, facilitator and coach, LaDonna has balanced her passion of helping others with her talent to teach others to maximize their full potential. Learn more about LaDonna’s work on her website, Communication for Life.

I had grand plans for a day and a half in Bangkok, but what I got was jet-lagged sleep, incredible Thai food and an amazing foot massage for just $4. When I got in, I checked in with my family to let them know I was OK, wrote a bit on the blog, snacked a little and tried to wind down. Ended up going to bed at about 7:00am Thailand time, which was about 8:00pm eastern time. I was already up, so I ate breakfast near the pool in the hotel, which was included with my room at the Adelphi Grande.

Photo Gallery: Breakfast at Adelphi Grande

When I woke up around 2:00pm Thailand time, I checked out of my room and asked the staff to help me book my transfer from Bangkok. I needed to either fly or bus to Chumporn, then ferry to the island of Koh Tao to meet my Project Getaway group. The staff were very friendly and accommodating – they called the travel agency for me, drove me to the nearest ATM machine and secured a taxi to take me across town to the tourist/backpacker area of Khao San Road so I could buy the ticket. (For some reason, I was not able to book online or over the phone using my credit card.) Although I know I paid too much for the taxi (200 baht, about $7) because it would have been cheaper with the meter, I was OK with paying a bit more just for convenience and to avoid the haggling – we were only talking a few bucks here, so no big deal.

Riding around and getting it…in a tuk tuk! They use golf carts in Thailand to get around short distances, called tuk tuks.

The taxi took me to Lomprayah, the travel agency recommended by the folks at Project Getaway. They had great prices and I bought a combo bus and ferry ticket for 1200 baht, about $40. The bus would take five-six hours, then a two hour boat ride to Koh Tao. I was to meet the bus at Lomprayah at 5:30am the next morning, which drastically shortened my time to explore Bangkok, but at least the mission at hand was accomplished. Then it was time for lunch! I wanted to experience the famous street food of Thailand, so I went straight for a plate of pad thai, prepared by one of the vendors lined up along Khao San Road. People literally just set up their cooking stations on the street and make all kinds of yummy Thai food to order – popular dishes include pad thai, grilled fish, spring rolls, chicken satay and ahem, fried insects. Kind of like the hot dog carts and food trucks we have in DC!

Photo Gallery: Street Food for Lunch on Khao San Road

After lunch, I wandered around the streets for a bit, taking in the sights.

Starbucks is everywhere, even in Bangkok

Taxis in Bangkok

The streets around Khao San Road

Clothing vendors are everywhere – you can get cute dresses for $6

I stopped at one of the many shops advertising foot massages for 120 baht for half an hour, about $4.

The woman who did my foot massage took me upstairs to an air-conditioned room to give me a much-needed break from the heat! The massage felt so good, I fell asleep toward the end. “Full hour?” she asked. Nah, I was ready for a nap! I wish I had gone for an hour full-body massage, but I knew I would get a chance for that once I got to Koh Tao. I was so sleepy but it was about 5:30pm at this point and I still had to find a room close to Lomprayah so I wouldn’t miss my bus in the morning. I decided on a room at the Viengtai Hotel right on Khao San Road for $40, about 10 doors down from the travel agency. I took a nap for a few hours after I checked in, then went out to find some dinner.

I had read so many great reviews of May Kaidee’s Vegetarian Restaurant, so I decided to go there since it was also right around the corner from my hotel.

I got to meet May Kaidee herself! No, this is not a gang sign, y’all – it means “yummy” according to May

Photo Gallery: Dinner at May Kaidee’s Vegetarian Restaurant in Bangkok

My entire dinner only cost 200 baht or about $7. I’d NEVER get a delicious Thai dinner this cheap in the U.S.! I got a tuk tuk to take me there, but it was a short walk back to Khao San Road. It felt safe to walk around there at night, with everything lit up, music playing outside the restaurants and tourists everywhere.

Khao San Road is lively at night – next time I’m partying with all the tourists!

The shops and street food vendors stay open late

I had a rough time getting to sleep when I got back as my room faced the street, with the noise of people partying late into the night. I SO wanted to join them – but my body was NOT havin’ it! And anyway, I had to get up around 4:00am to get ready to go to Koh Tao to meet my Project Getaway Group!

I took this ferry and was in Koh Tao by 3:00pm the next day…and I received such a warm welcome. Will share more in my next post with some lovely pictures of our villa and the view of the island!

Read My Previous Travel Diaries from Thailand:

• Travel Diary: My 24-Hour Trip to Bangkok and Sushi in Japan

Note: This post continues my series to document my travels and inspire other women to plan their own adventures. Travel is a huge part of my ideal life and I know it’s a value that many HBW readers hold as well. Stay tuned for more diaries from my trip to Thailand!

I made it to Bangkok, Thailand! After a 24-hour trip plus a few flight delays, I’m finally getting settled into my room. I decided to spend a few days in Thailand’s capital city by myself before I meet up with my Project Getaway group in Koh Tao. First impressions on the way to the hotel: Thailand is HOT, y’all. It was about 1:30am when the hotel’s driver picked me up from the airport and it was 85 degrees outside. Even at that time of night, I felt the immediate whoosh of heat and humidity engulf me as soon as I stepped outside of the air-conditioned airport. I’m reminded now that it’s summer in Thailand during April, the hottest month of the year here. Tomorrow, it’s supposed to be 100 degrees!

Operation “Pack a Month’s Worth of Stuff in One Backpack” in process a few days ago. I did it!

It’s hard to believe that just a few days ago, I was still trying to figure out how to fit a month’s worth of clothes and toiletries, plus my big laptop into one backpack. I bought The North Face Overhaul 40 Daypack at REI and it had an extra compartment just for my HP with a 15 inch screen. Worked like a charm! Of course, it helps that I packed actual summer outfits, unlike my clothing snafu last year in Europe when I brought jeans and light sweaters to wear in the summertime. This time, I rolled up t-shirts, shorts, light pants and capris into my bag along with my underthings, bathing suit and a few pair of sandals. (I’ll do a separate post on everything I packed for my trip – I’ve got enough for at least 16 different outfits!) Anything else I need I can buy here. I’ve heard that clothing is super cheap in Thailand and there are a ton of shopping centers that cater to tourists.

Vegetarian struggles

On the 13-hour flight from DC to Tokyo, I forgot to specify that I needed a vegetarian option for my meals. I don’t think “pescatarian” was an option, which I would have chosen had I remembered, because I do eat fish. I was painfully reminded of this when the flight attendant came by asking, “beef or chicken?” Ugh. Lesson learned. I had eaten before boarding the plane and brought a few snacks from home, but nothing that would last me 13 hours. I ate the salad and bread, then went to sleep to avoid the hunger pangs. I was tired as hell, anyway. I wasn’t able to sleep the previous two nights out of excitement and worry – but mostly excitement!

A few hours later, I wake up and the flight attendant brings me a vegetable wrap from first class. She feels bad for this starving vegetarian back in coach. It’s such a nice gesture that I don’t want to tell her I really don’t like vegetable sandwiches. (Clearly, I’m way too picky to be relying on airplane food!) Maybe she sees it on my face though, because she also offers to bring me some fruit. Then, the woman sitting next to me pulls out a little gold box and presses it into my hand, saying it’s the best pineapple cake from her country, Taiwan. I take it gratefully and eat the cake (which is yummy, by the way) along with the fruit salad for as proper a meal as I’m gonna get.

On that long flight to Tokyo, I remembered that no matter where you go, there is always someone who will be willing to help you out!

Eating sushi in Japan

My vegetarian struggles have a silver lining though – next up is a fantastic sushi lunch during my layover in Tokyo. Eating sushi in Japan has long been on my bucket list, but little did I know I’d find some at Sushi Kyotatsu in the Narita Airport on my way to Bangkok!

Sushi Kyotatsu – best sushi I’ve ever had was found in the Narita Airport in Tokyo!

I order a selection of nigiri at the counter and watch as the sushi chefs prepare each piece with care and precision. They look so serious about their sushi. Clearly, this is not a game! As I taste the first bite of unagi (eel), I think, so THIS is what real sushi tastes like! I also eat tuna, tomago (sweet egg omelet) and shrimp, finishing almost everything on the plate. I don’t get up quite enough nerve to try the salmon roe. Just thinking about little fish eggs popping in my mouth makes me gag, even though I’ve been eating sushi since I was a teenager living in Hawaii.

The second leg of the trip is seven hours from Tokyo to Bangkok. I feel like I’ve gotten at least 12 hours of sleep on the plane already, so I plan to catch up on my movie-watching instead. I watched three films in a row: Sliding Doors, Broken and Life of Pi. I love a good drama and all of these were excellent!

Now I’m getting settled in my room at the Adelphi Grande, which is pretty nice for what amounts to about $80 a night including free breakfast, wi-fi and late checkout. It’s really more like a little studio apartment, with a full kitchen and washer-dryer combo in here.

Time for me to take a bath and try to get some rest, even though it’s a 13 hour time difference. It’s so wild that it’s 4:30am here in Bangkok and 5:30pm on the east coast right now. My body is so confused LOL.

Good night!