The Year That Was

So, it's 2013 or shall I say, it has been for over a month.  Apologies for the long hiatus.  Life got in the way, blah blah blah.   No excuses.  The past couple of months have been focused on spending time with my fiancé, family and friends.  A much needed break if you will.  I couldn't have asked for a better experience.  Inevitably, it had to come to an end.  Thankfully for me, the end of this vacation marked a starting point to an exciting new life.

Before launching into the new year head first and arms wide open, allow me to share with you the highlights of the year that was.  It hosted countless moments of self discovery and reflections.  Surely, mistakes made were more than a few.  But, that only meant learning valuable lessons.  Though, I am nowhere near "living my dream", I am closer to it now than I was last year.

At the very least,  I hope you enjoy the photos.   Grab a cup of tea as there's plenty.

First visit to the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne.  My favorite park in the entire world.

Trips to Bangkok for some R&R.  Priceless.

Visiting the Grand Mosque for the first time.

My brief experience in Libya.

Dipping my toes in the sea.  Dead Sea that is. 

Spending time at the Movenpick hotel in Amman, Jordan overlooking Jerusalem.  Magical.  

Coming back to India.

Walking the streets of Madras.

Spring in New York

Falling in love with Nepal

Witnessed my first Sakura in Japan

Street food in Shanghai

Coming back to Nepal and falling in love all over again

Enjoyed the busy streets of Dublin

Had the best Gelato in the world.  Dublin.

Yup, my favorite coffee place opened last year in Abu Dhabi.

From the busy shopping district of Korea...

...to the serene and peaceful parks.  

White water rafting in Bali

Sunset in Boracay, Philippines

Standing right on the top of one of the world's smallest volcano.  Taal, Philippines

Traveling with my family.

Singing The Sound of Music each time we looked out the window.  Graz, Austria

This is by far the most amazing experience not only for me but my entire family.  If I had to choose one highlight of the year, it would be the day that my little sister got married.  

I hope you guys are off to great start.  Here's to a wonderful 2013 for all of us!

Simple Joys: Bangkok

I believe in the abundance of beautiful things that surround us.  We just need to tap into our inner child and allow ourselves to see meaning and humor in them.  After all, it is the little things that make life sweeter:  Walking the dog, taking long baths, holding hands with our loved one and conversations with our mom.  Ironically, these indulgence of such high value cost practically nothing.  As the song goes..."the best things in life are free."

Sure there are days when we ask ourselves, "What can I purchase today that will make me happy?" I certainly have those moments too.  But, it doesn't have to be like that all the time.  Not anymore.  When we take away the longing for material things, we learn to appreciate the happiness that comes in a form of a simple meal shared with a friend.  It is by being mindful and present in the moment that we truly get to savor life.

I thought I'd share with you these small, significant joys I experienced during my recent trip to Bangkok.

Lemongrass water

Sushi and rolls my bf and I shared for merienda.  (light meal)

We've been coming to this restaurant for years and have always ordered the same things.  This time we braved it out and tried something new.  To us, it was an exciting thing. 

Foot massage

Admiring the reflection of the chandelier through a glass table.

Ronald McDonald gestures:  Sawadika.  Funny, isn't it?

A cute little "tuk tuk" display.

"Don't hurry.  Dont worry.  And be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way." -Walter Hagen