Last Wednesday, my best friend, Brad, and I went to the happiest place on earth that is known as Disneyland. It was my first time there. He also introduced me to his sweet parents and their cat, as well as his nieces. (I’ve already met his older twin sisters before.) I’ve been waiting for this for so long, and we finally made it happen.
My BBF Brad
It wasn’t just about going to Disneyland; it was about meeting his family as well. I playfully ribbed Brad about bringing on the adoption paperwork.
Brad is like a brother to me. Our friendship confuses people, since we used to date. While it didn’t work out, what we had turned into something better. Now we are practically siblings.
Even introverts want to belong
The desire to belong is a universal human need. When I grew up in a traumatic environment, I had to learn to be independent as a survival mechanism. There was a sense that I didn’t need to belong to anyone in order to survive, which stemmed from some mistrust of others. Keeping others at an arm’s length felt like a safer option, at least on the surface. On the other side of the coin, there was a growing sense of emptiness from the same belief of not belonging to others. I don’t have much of a base family, which left me feeling untethered and disconnected in the past. But after meeting his family, I felt grounded in a way that has never existed before.
Laugh until you can’t breathe
We went on most of the rides, and it has been so long since I laughed so hard, the kind of laughing that moves you to your core until you can’t breathe. It’s like my inner child got to come out. As adults, we often forget to tend to that part of ourselves.
Howdy!
Dole Whip tastes like pineapple sorbet.
I even tried Dole Whip for the first time! It’s a favorite among vegans in Disneyland, and lately it has had a cult-like following. It was so good, that we had it twice.
From Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
There were times where the crowds made me hide in my own head like a turtle. Brad noticed and had a way of getting me back to earth. Being around crowds can be tough, and I’m still slowly working on that.
We can choose our family, too
While this was a two-day whirlwind trip, it has still impacted me in such a positive way. I’ve met Brad’s family, and it was such a lifting experience. I feel more grounded and connected with a sense of community. What was missing before was found in California, and now I get to keep it with me.
A whirlwind 40-hour trip to Vancouver, British Columbia is just what a girl needs sometimes. Granted, Vancouver is like Seattle’s Canadian cousin in every possible way. Every once in a while, there’s a desire to get lost.
Getting around, where to stay
I arrived to Vancouver via Bolt Bus. This trip was so last minute that most of the hostels were booked, except for St. Clair Hotel-Hostel. I was willing to spend a little extra this time, since the location was right in the city center.
When it comes to getting around the city, using a Compass card can make it easier. It’s a pass that gives you access to the public transit system, such as buses and the SkyTrain. As of today, it’s $10.25 CAD for a day pass.
The first night in Vancouver
Vegan food or bust!
Raw salad wrap with salad
One of my favorite things to do is eating my way through a new city. The first thing I did was go to Indigo Age Cafe and tried their delicious salad wrap with mixed greens. It gave me lots of energy for the rest of the night, as I walked through the city. The restaurant also offers vegan high tea, but it needs to be reserved in advance.
For dessert, I went to Vegan Pudding & Co right next door, where you can find coconut- and soy-based puddings. There are classic flavors such as chocolate and vanilla, and then there are Japanese-inspired flavors such as matcha and sesame. They provide complimentary whipped cream if you want to eat it immediately. It’s smooth and silky, as pudding should be.
The second day
I woke up early and had breakfast before running to Stanley Park, a lap around it, and back to the hostel. The 400-hectare public park features beaches, lush gardens and attractions throughout, as well as historic landmarks and a restaurant. I just stayed on the main walking path that morning, which is 10 km.
I went to the Vancouver Art Gallery, where there are multiple rotating exhibitions. My favorite current show there is Moving Still: Performative Photography in India, where photography is used to explore themes of gender, cultural identity, and migration.
For lunch, I went to Virtuous Pie, a vegan pizzeria that seems to be a favorite for both vegans and omnivores alike. The cheesiest pizza on the menu is called Grandma Pie, and it was such melty goodness. With pizza that good, it’s easy to see why people flock there.
When in Canada, eat poutine.
A hip diner for vegans and omnivores
Later for dinner, I stopped by Wallflower to eat vegan poutine smothered in vegetable-based gravy and cheese sauce. When in another country, you might as well try the dish it’s best known for. It hit the spot.
Meow, meow, meow
Let’s be friends!
Of course, the Vancouver visit wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Catfé. This cafe had 15 cats when I went in, and they were all so overwhelmingly cute. It’s recommended to reserve for a spot in advance, because those can fill up fast.
These were not vegan, but they’re still cute.
Catfé also sells coffee and pastries, such as these Hello Kitty-shaped macarons. They aren’t vegan, but they sure are adorable. I got a slice of vegan peppermint chocolate cake instead. We could take our food in, but we’d have to make sure the cats wouldn’t get to it.
Street art in Vancouver
I mostly walked around Commercial Drive and Mt. Pleasant, known to be two artsy areas in the city. Both have incredible street art that liven up the neighborhoods. Vancouver also has its own mural festival, which is one big street art party spanning over a week in August. The results are beautiful.
Pride weekend
Vancouver was also having a little Pride celebration in one of the parks along Commercial Drive. There were so many colorful people and I felt right at home! Then again, the city is just like Seattle.
Winding down with the city
I was on my way back to the hostel from Mt. Pleasant when I stopped by Aperture Coffee Bar, a trendy cafe with rustic touches. Sometimes you just need a pick-me-up after running and walking all day. They have a library, and it’s a little cozy, but the vibe is chill and friendly.
Places in Vancouver generally close a little early, say around 6:00 to 8:00. Some places might be open later. I’m not really the type of person who stays out late often anyway. It was such an amazing full day, and the health app on my iPhone said that I walked and ran a total of 19 miles!
One last walk around
The next morning, I walked through Gastown as the city was waking up. Gastown is a historic district dating from the 19th century, and it was known as Vancouver’s downtown. Today, the remnant Victorian buildings now feature art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants, and chic cocktail lounges. It’s akin to Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood.
For breakfast, I had a vegan Earl Grey doughnut from Cartems Donuts. They have several vegan flavors, such as chocolate, vanilla, and maple walnut.
I went back to Seattle later that morning. Even though I did the exact same things as I would in Seattle, sometimes there’s a desire to wander around in an unfamiliar city without knowing a soul. Getting lost and finding one’s way back again is what someone might need occasionally, if only to come back bright-eyed with pleasant experiences. I can’t wait to come back.
Santa Fe has much to offer when it comes to art, as described in my previous blog entry. The first attraction I visited was Meow Wolf, a surreal, immersive art collective, where nothing is as it seems. The installation currently present is the House of Eternal Return. It’s like the Twilight Zone meets Alice in Wonderland.
A beautiful house where nothing is as it seems
What is Meow Wolf & the House of Eternal Return?
The backstory indicates that it’s a 2-story Victorian house harboring a secret that led to the Selig family’s disappearance, perhaps into another dimension of the universe. While the house seems like any other from the outside, it is riddled with wormholes to an alternate universe. Many portals and paths loop back into the house and back again, hence the name. The same pattern also happens in the backstory, where information loops back onto itself, while at the same time, applies to other information as well.
There are clues that give insight onto what may have happened. The visitor can go through diaries, letters, photographs, and lab handbooks inside the house, while exploring hidden passageways, nooks and crannies, rainbow caves, and even treehouses–all while charter agents in white lab coats are watching you.
A lovely day for a dinner party
It’s very easy to miss passageways or details, so you’ll come back hours later to discover them. For example, this black-and-white dining room was right under my nose for hours, because the door blended in with the wall. Seeing a doorknob piqued my interest. I’m not sure what this dining room has to do with the backstory, but it sure is a neat place to sit. Also, they’re not shown here, but there are monsters inside those cabinets.
Unraveling the mysteries of the House
The hamster’s name is Nimsesku, and he’s a crucial part of the story.
Another time, I saw a safe and couldn’t open it because I didn’t have the code. A couple hours later, I flipped through someone’s planner and found the code purely by accident! It took another half an hour to find the safe again. The code worked, and the safe revealed another piece of the puzzle.
There’s also another safe in the office of the house, which seems to be the main one. The code seems to work on both safes.
Can I just stay here forever?
It’s so easy to spend literally all day piecing together information of what happened to that family in the house. If you want to decode all of the clues and codes, you will practically need to move to Santa Fe and get an annual pass. A mystery like this one could take days or weeks to solve, with overwhelming amounts of information to sort through. Even if you succeed, it’s your–and only yours–interpretation alone. Nobody is right or wrong about their interpretations, because there are so many. The House of Eternal Return is designed to be open-ended like that. There are no formal endings to the story or mystery; it is what you make of it.
But remember to take care of yourself…
I got pretty hungry and didn’t want to eat, because that meant I would have to leave. Admission is an all-day pass, and there are food trucks outside, but it’s hard to break out of that entranced zone. The best comparison is like playing a video game, except that you are physically immersed in the game. You hear of those gamers that don’t take care of themselves because they’re so wrapped up in it… That was me at Meow Wolf. Maybe someone else may not view it as a “trap” the same way I did. It surely left an impression.
The main stage where performances are held
As an aside, Meow Wolf also hosts shows and events regularly. I haven’t been to one, but it has become a performance venue as well.
Being inside your own mind
Welcome to my home planet.
At the same time, it felt like my home planet. I never wanted to leave. It felt like being inside my own mind. Maybe that’s why it was all intuitive.
Some good advice
Santa Fe has an art scene that caters more towards the upscale. And then there’s something like Meow Wolf. This has been the highlight of my visit, and I will definitely be back!
Santa Fe, NM is the first trip of 2019, where I got to see a dear friend and her family for the first time in seven years. It’s an artistic city, where artists like Georgia O’Keefe once lived. Native American influence is also prevalent. I went during the off-season, where it wasn’t crowded at all.
Snow in the high desert
There is something about snow that amplifies an eerie yet comforting silence.
Also known as the City Different, the small Southwestern city sits in the high desert at an elevation of 7,199 feet. For a sea-leveler like me, it can be a lot to adjust to. Altitude sickness varies for each person. It’s better to take at least a day or so to acclimate to the higher elevation than jump right into working out like I did.
The very first morning after landing in Santa Fe, I attempted to run 10 miles, which was an experience. I was so out of breath at mile 7. Pressure slowly built up in my head before turning into a full-blown headache. I slept the entire day afterwards.
Navajo influences are ubiquitous, as seen on this rug.
When thinking of the desert, images could be cacti, cow skulls, and adobe homes under the bright sun. Snow doesn’t always come to mind. It’s the first time I saw snow in the desert, and it was quite a beautiful setting.
It is also extremely dry, so it’s a good idea to pack lots of shea butter and sunscreen. The UV rays are stronger in higher elevation. I kept rubbing shea butter on my hands every half hour to keep them moisturized. You may also need tissues, since the dryness can make your nose drip. A humidifier also helps when sleeping.
Santa Fe is a small city, and while public transportation exists, it doesn’t cover the whole area. The main lines run mostly near the attractions around the city, but there isn’t service from the regional airport. Ride sharing services such as Lyft and Uber are rare late at night or in the wee hours in the morning, which can be an issue if your flight comes in during those times. Renting a car would have been too expensive. I was lucky and found a Lyft to get me to my friend’s house at midnight.
A treasure trove of art and history
For $30, the Culture Pass provides access to multiple publicly funded museums and monuments in Santa Fe as well as several other cities in New Mexico. I highly recommend using it, as you can save money that way. There is also a free shuttle that goes from Museum Hill to the Plaza and even Canyon Road, so that’s also worth looking into as well.
Santa Fe has a vibrant art community. Modern art legends such as Georgia O’Keeffe lived in the town, the landscape often used as a source of inspiration. There’s a museum featuring her work, and it’s worth a visit. It isn’t covered by the Culture Pass, since it’s a private museum, but it still helps give a better understanding of her work and process.
Another day, I visited Canyon Road, a half-mile stretch of high-end art galleries inside old-world adobe buildings. Canyon Road features inspiring artwork ranging in style from traditional, to whimsical and contemporary. There are over a hundred galleries, boutiques, and eateries to brows through. A magical place like this makes it clear why many artists have made it their home.
There is another side to it all. I talked to one of the artists, and he said that he only paints what he does so that anyone with that kind of money can buy his work. He would like to paint what he likes, but it wouldn’t sell. While it’s always nice to be able to express yourself, it’s not a bad thing to make work that sells, even if it’s not what the artist prefers to do. It is, after all, a business.
Speaking of art, tomorrow I will go over what my experiences at Meow Wolf were like. It’s an art installation that is reminiscent of the Twilight Zone meets Alice in Wonderland, kind of. It’s trippy, delightful, and full of mystery. It deserves its own entry.
The vegan lifestyle isn’t unheard of in the City Different, but not everyone is aware of what it is. There aren’t many exclusively vegan restaurants in Santa Fe, but there may be vegan options at a few places. Other than that, it’s easier to buy ingredients and prepare stuff at home. My friend graciously cooked dinner for us, since her husband is mostly vegan. She was a lifesaver.
Could I live here?
I visited Santa Fe to see and catch up with my friend… and also to see just how Ronnie-friendly is this city? The vibe is friendly enough. While I appreciated the art, the vibe caters towards people on the more upscale end. In fact, the only place where I truly felt like I belonged was at Meow Wolf, which will be a separate blog entry.
Santa Fe’s public transportation system doesn’t cover the whole city, but the bike trails might get you places as long as it’s not too icy. Finally, being vegan is possible, but options may be limited when it comes to finding a restaurant to eat.
Other than that, I very much enjoyed my stay. This is a city where I’d like to return again!
The final stop of this Eurotrip takes place in Prague, Czech Republic. Prague is a city I kept hearing about through friends and artists. It’s one that boasts a strong arts scene as well as its own long political and cultural history.
Felt like home
I stayed in the Old Town of Prague, right in the thick of the action. Tucked away on a quiet street is an unassuming hotel called Bed&Books Art Hotel. It’s where I spent my first night. The vintage-chic decor and the Czech books made me feel right at home, a good environment to get work done.
Murals are done by Catalina Estrada
The next place I stayed was at Art Hole Hostel. If you’re looking for a quirky, lively place to stay in Prague without it getting too crazy, then Art Hole is for you. The hostel is friendly and welcoming, plus the staff make you feel right at home. It caters to a younger crowd (age 35-ish and younger), but they seem to welcome anyone. This place is also introvert-friendly; the energy is mellow. The murals also make the space feel more like a home away from home, especially in the lounge.
The Wi-Fi is strong, and there’s free breakfast. Art Hole also hosts nightly dinners. There’s a kitchen that anyone can use, including an oven to bake vegan pizzas in! Free hot drinks are available all day, everyday. There’s a small bookstore/exchange library as well.
Exploring some of Old Town
Many times, I have to use Google Maps to help me navigate through a city or find my way back to a hostel. Prague is one of those cities where I barely did that. The city felt intuitive and easy to navigate, like I knew where I was going.
There was the Christmas market in Old Town Square, which features the Astronomical Clock.
There were also many alleyways with little shops and mini-museums around Old Town as well.
This barely fit into the frame of the camera.
Prague Castle (close enough to Old Town, but isn’t part of it) was one of those places I almost skipped, until someone insisted that seeing it is a must. The sheer size of the Gothic 9th-century castle was astonishing. I could stand there all day and survey all of the pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass windows, and mosaics. Calling this “incredible” or “amazing” doesn’t quite cut it. A castle this grand feels like time has stopped.
A good day for a run
Prague was a wonderful place to go running. It’s a great way to see the city, especially Letna Park. It was also snowing! Here is a beautiful restaurant I accidentally found during a run. That’s the beauty of running in a city; you never know what you might find.
Prague Vegan
Eating vegan is exceptionally easy in Prague. Like Amsterdam, many things are clearly labeled as such, and there are plenty of places to eat. Loving Hut, an international vegan restaurant chain, seems to be very popular in Prague. There are several locations in close proximity. Although much of this food is fried or seems to have loads of sugar, it felt oddly nourishing. Below the Loving Hut restaurant is a vegan health store called World Vegan. Can I stay in Prague forever?
Matcha cupcake from Loving Hut
Art with Czech Roots
In Old Town, there is the Gallery of Art Prague showing the Art Nouveau illustrator/designer, Alphonse Mucha and Andy Warhol’s work. This exhibition also dedicates an entire floor to Warhol’s Czechoslovak roots and family history. It’s the kind of stuff we don’t hear in art history classes.
Pushing reset
Honestly, it has been a tough year. Before I left for this Eurotrip, a friend quipped, “traveling isn’t going to solve your problems.”
On the surface, he had a point. I think what he meant was that you can’t just run away forever. However, what he seemed to miss was that traveling comes up with all sorts of problem-solving opportunities that can spur growth in one’s mental health. Leaving the country for a little bit also helps to clear up my fogged-up head, since I’m constantly making sense of new information and surroundings. Encountering new languages, people, sounds, smells, and settings makes me more alert, so it’s hard to stay on auto-pilot. To answer my friend’s point, in the short-term, traveling might not solve anyone’s problems immediately. But in the long run, the lasting changes in the mind are sustainable and beneficial to anyone traveling and to those around them as well.
Whereas France was a whirlwind tour, Amsterdam provided a chance to take it a little more slowly.
Amsterdam uses bikes to get around, just like how Southeast Asia uses motorbikes. I considered hiring a bike to get around the city. Usually how I get to know the area is by walking or running, and taking the environment through the senses. When riding a bike, it’s hard to take it all in, since the focus must be on the road.
What is also hilarious is that sometimes people will start singing on top of their lungs. No big deal. Some people text and ride. Some even have small children on their handlebars. No one wears helmets, but everyone is fine. It’s all an organized chaos. These are kinds of things you can get away with in Amsterdam, but they would never fly in Seattle. Maybe I should write another blog post about that. (Ha!)
On being vegan in Amsterdam
I first stayed at Firejuice, a queer-owned vegan bed-and-breakfast. It’s run by this very sweet queer couple, Ben and Sonia. I met Ben four years ago during my first visit here, and he was talking about it. Now I got to see it for myself! The vegan breakfasts they make are guaranteed to energize the body and mind. Firejuice isn’t exactly your grandma’s B&B, but the space is quaint, beautifully decorated, and emanates good energy. What’s not to love?
Being in Amsterdam was the cleanest I have eaten during this Eurotrip. It’s very easy to eat vegan here. Everything is clearly labeled. Pictured here are some spring rolls from the vegan store, Vegabond. This is some delicious, nutritious, beautiful vegan food.
After Firejuice, my friends, Kristina and Thomas, graciously hosted me in their apartment. They’re another sweet couple with a cat named Kelso.
That digital nomad life…
What I really do all day and night.
As was the case while seeing my friends in London and Nancy, work continued to keep me glued to my laptop in Amsterdam. Part of the reason why I’m doing this Eurotrip is seeing how I can handle being a digital nomad. Much of the anxiety comes from finding a reliable Wi-Fi connection. I mostly stayed home with Kelso and my laptop. But this kind of opportunity is one I’ve never had before. The whole world has become my office. It’s incredible.
And the best art galleries/museums
The last time I visited Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum had reopened after undergoing renovations. I spent well over five hours marveling over art history lessons coming to life. There wasn’t enough time to do that again, so here are some places worth mentioning.
Amsterdam has a museum called Katten Kabinet, and it’s a cat art museum. Yes, you read that correctly: a cat art museum. I’ve seen it once before, and a second visit was clearly needed. It’s a collection of paintings, posters, and illustrations that feature cats, and going there is a must if you love feline friends.
I also went to the Moco Museum, a boutique museum displaying contemporary art. Currently they have exhibits featuring the work of Banksy and Icy & Sot. It was the first time standing in front of a Banksy original. Although I can’t say that Banksy was ever high on my radar, the political and humorous messages in his work are still something to be appreciated.
“Dreamland” by Meryl Donoghue
Amsterdam’s pop surrealism gallery is KochXBos. This piece is by Meryl Donoghue, an artist who works on the theme of painful narratives with a surreal twist. This piece here is called “Dreamland.” The owner of KochxBos said that it’s about the age of social media, how we share only the highlights of our lives on this digital medium. We hide behind those parts while masking the darker parts of ourselves. My parallel interpretation was along the same lines, but without the social media. To me, it seemed like a child seemed to have it all, but is hiding a very dark secret deeply beneath this façade.
Turn on the bright lights
On the last night in Amsterdam, my friends and I walked under the twinkling Christmas lights. We went on a canal tour to see the Winter Light Festival, a collection of illuminated art installations throughout the city. The canal tour gives a different perspective, as the boat navigated under bridges and between streets.
Amsterdam is one of those cities I could live in. It’s progressive, bike-friendly, has a freakin’ cat art museum, loads of vegan food, and being queer is widely accepted. This is a city I’m coming back to again and again, for sure.
Bonjour! I went through France in four days. It was a two-day whirlwind in Paris, exploring Montemarte (including the Dalí Museum), Musée d’Orsay, and the area around Gare du Nord. I tried taking this trip more slowly and ended up zipping through France like a spinning top!
Musée d’Orsay
I tried picking up the basics of the French language. In high school, I took three years of Spanish, which seemed to help a little, since there are many words that look similar. Spanish is a little more forgiving, whereas French demands a certain precision on how words flow when spoken. At least, that has been my experience. (That’s also true with many languages.) My French pronunciation needs work. Thankfully, I met up with another friend in Nancy who is fluent, so he took me under his wing and quizzed me on the basics.
I’ve been working a lot, which leaves little to time to see much. It’s quite alright, because the world has become my office. I was already expecting this to be the case and wanted to take advantage of doing that. What a wonderful opportunity this is, to work on my laptop and watch the world go by.
Paris is one of those cities that leaves you in awe. It’s the architecture, the extensive history coming to life. It’s the way strangers called me “madame.” Every city has a personality, and Paris exudes a venerable elegance that commands respect.
Nancy
I took the bullet train in the morning to go to Nancy. Sometimes, little things like watching the sunrise is all you need.
Nancy is further east. What I loved the most about it was the Art Nouveau architecture throughout the city. Some of the buildings have such intricate details, inspired by botanical forms. Art Nouveau is an art genre from the 19th century, characterized by stylized, graceful forms of nature, such as plants and flowers. I could spend all day just admiring the shapes of doorways and façades. Sometimes, I’ll do a double-take, noticing a detail that was missed before. It’s the little things like that.
My friend, Owen, took us to a beautiful Art Nouveau gallery called Musée de l’École de Nancy. It’s a collection of art and furniture in that genre. It features lush gardens, beautiful furniture, utensils, vessels, and paintings. It’s a certain kind of excitement and inspiration that makes the brain tingle.
France is a country I would like to explore more of, especially Paris. Next time, I’m definitely hitting up the Louvre, which is apparently an all-day affair. I’ll be back one of these days!
Last Tuesday, I embarked on a trip to the U.K., France, Netherlands, and Czech Republic.
Sometimes, self-care involves running a full marathon and then going on a three-and-a-half-week Eurotrip two days later. It’s something I’ve wanted to do while I can keep this freelance job. It does, after all, let me work anywhere in the world. Here, I will break this trip down by country in a four-part series.
Instead of planning every detail out like I did in my around-the-world tour last year, I am taking a different approach and being more flexible this time. Why not slow down and take everything in more fully?
Where I Stayed
I started in London and, after being awake for over 24 hours, crashed in the Dictionary Hostel in Shoreditch, a quirky part of the city. It’s a hip, friendly hostel, and it’s chill. I wouldn’t exactly say that it caters to the partying type. Unless you have a private room, you will meet others. As an introverted traveler, this was fine; I wanted to do just that. This hostel has free continental breakfast and Wi-Fi, plus an exchange library, which I always love browsing through. I spent much of my time in the courtyard, working.
London has a lot of beautiful street art. Sometimes it’s worth it to just wander around, because you never know what you might find.
Shoreditch also has a cat cafe, but it’s highly recommended that you make reservations. It’s usually full otherwise. That’s a mistake I learned, but I’ll make sure to visit these cats next time. They probably meow in British accents. (Kidding about the accents part…maybe.)
There’s Something for Everyone
London also has some of the most beautiful cafes, such as Élan Cafe. I have never seen one like it. Every goth girl has a soft side; we like simple comforts like tea and vegan cake…even pastel colors from time to time.
My favorite art genre is pop surrealism, so a visit to the Dorothy Circus Gallery was worth a visit. This space just opened a few weeks ago, and they’re just about done setting up. They’ve done an excellent job with the space!
The Sweetest Friends in the World
I also had the pleasure of seeing two friends of mine. My friend Sarah and I used to work together at my previous job. We met up for tea in a cafe and caught up. And then Einar and I met in Iceland a couple years back. In Reykjavik, we shared stories and drew in our sketchbooks. As someone with PTSD and social anxiety, it can be hard to make friends. There is this wall that serves as a defense mechanism that I’ve been slowly chipping away for the past four years. But when I travel, much of that melts away; it gets easier. Now I have some of the sweetest friends in the world.
We had planned to do more stuff in London, but unfortunately, I suddenly got so caught up in work despite requesting the week off. I felt bad, since it was his birthday week. But he was so patient and stayed with me while I worked.
When there was time, we wandered around Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Crowds can stress me out sometimes, but after working hard to meet my work goals for the week, a good break was in order. Winter Wonderland is like a German Christmas market mixed in with a carnival. It’s big, and full of flashing lights and laughter. While I usually shy away from crowds, the energy was invigorating.
I’ll Return One Day
London is one of those cities that has something for everyone. It’s so big, that even a month isn’t enough to do everything. With being swamped with work, this is a city that definitely calls for a revisit. This is a city where I fit right in. I cannot wait to go back.
I’ve been home for nearly three weeks now. And lately, there is this insidious feeling I’ve been drifting in and out of.
From a friend:
Re-entry shock, or reverse culture shock, can sometimes be harder than the initial culture shock of traveling. You are different, but you have returned to your previous world and life; and everything else is the same.
That’s exactly it. I’m picking up where I’ve left off… Except, I am not the same.
If you Google “Post-Travel Depression,” many results come up, a reminder that this is apparently a common thing that travelers experience when returning home. It sounds like a part of the human condition. So, at least I’m not alone there.
There is no solid time period on how long it takes to decompress from post-travel depression. I thought it would be over with by now. I’ve learned that it’s more realistic to not give a time frame when it comes to processing emotions, because those have a mind of their own.
Sure, there are forums and meet-ups with other travelers that you could join to commiserate. Most likely, setting back out into the world isn’t feasible. There are more realistic ways to cope with the travel blues. Here’s what I’ve been doing:
Unpack everything and put it all away immediately. You may not feeling your best after coming back from being gone for so long, but I’ve found that less clutter means more productivity in the long run. Plus, it’s a relatively small thing to do.
Exercising and eating well. This is highly obvious, no matter where in the world you are. If you took cooking classes abroad, now is a perfect time to wow your friends with your worldly culinary prowess. There’s also nothing like being buzzed on your own endorphins from exercising.
Ease back into work/productivity. After you’ve tackled the little things (like #1), settling back in becomes a little more bearable. Don’t be like me and hit the ground running. Trying to take on a lot after returning sounds like a nice distraction from post-travel depression, but eventually you run out of fuel because you need to take care of yourself first.
Take a mini road trip or day trip to another town or city. I don’t know about you, but I can’t just stop going to places abruptly. This provided a little break from suddenly coming back. My best friend and I did a little day trip to Portland, OR–a three hour drive from Seattle.
Reflect on your travels. All those little ticket stubs and momentos can be arranged in a scrap book. It can help to write out these changes that take place within.
Keep in touch with friends you met abroad… With social media available at our fingertips, it keeps getting easier to keep in touch with new friends made from all over the world. Even better, send them candy or treats from your country along with a handwritten note. They’ll love that.
…While seeing all of your friends at home. Go to museums, art walks, take a hike, or even make dinner together (see #2). Your friends will be happy to see you and will want to hear all about your stories from abroad.
Make future plans. It can be pretty disorienting to suddenly come back. Free falling like this is scary at times, especially when you’ve come back to your old life and you’re in between jobs. Having plans at least gives structure.
Coming home wasn’t what I had expected. I’ve experienced post-vacation sadness before, but nothing ever like this. After facing the unknowns for three months and really living life in a way I never have before, it has been hard settling back into the familiar. There is no shortcut around these emotions either.
On Friday, my best friend Brad and I drove down to Portland for the day.
I tell people that Portland is pretty much Seattle’s more laid-back sister city. It was exciting to finally be able to show my best friend my favorite spots in this illustrious place! There was a list of places to go, and we had plans to eat our way through, meander around art galleries, and pet cats.
First, we arrived at Homegrown Smoker, which is a vegan BBQ restaurant.
Our GPS took us to a corner of Portland that I’ve never been before, and I was getting concerned because none of it looked familiar. It turns out the BBQ joint moved from being a food cart at the end of Mississippi Ave to a sit-in restaurant in the Northwest part of the city. I had the Buff Burrito and Brad had the combo plate. Homegrown Smoker does not mess around; the food was impressive, as always. Seriously, they do not mess around.
We next went to Blue Star donuts to get a couple vegan donuts to go. We were pretty full from having vegan barbeque food, but I kept telling Brad that Blue Star’s vegan donuts are just as delicious as Seattle’s counterpart, Mighty-O.
As a side note, we saw this on the wall, and I shamelessly took a photo. My friend rolled his eyes and told me to see the irony behind it. I rolled my eyes right back and bought him donuts.
From there, we went to Purringtons Cat Lounge, which is exactly what it sounds like. Admission to chill with the cats is $8 for an hour visit.
Brad and I have a tendency to meow at each other like a pair of odd best friends do, so we could not pass up a visit to Portland’s cat cafe. I swear, whenever I’m around cats, a warm tingly feeling starts in the back of my head and spreads down my spine. I can’t possibly be the only one who feels this way.
From Purringtons, we headed a little back north to the Alberta Arts District to visit Antler Gallery, an exhibition art space that features nature-themed drawings, paintings, sculptures, and jewelry. Currently artists Lisa Ericson, David Rice, and Danny Samuels are exhibiting work. Every time I’m always blown away by the skill of artists in this gallery.
I convinced Brad to drive us to the vegan mini-mall, which includes Herbivore, Food Fight Grocery, Sweet Pea Bakery, and Scapegoat Tattoo. No trip to Portland is complete without visiting those places! So, we saved the best for last. Granted, I’ve never actually stepped inside Scapegoat because I’m extremely picky about tattoos. The other three sell food, snacks, and non-edible vegan goods, such as soap, clothes, and cosmetics.
I thought of moving to Portland several times. It sure is fun to visit and I always feel right at home. But as much as Portland is amazing, it feels like Seattle has more to offer. There’s also the sense of quirkiness that Portland is known for, which I’ve been growing out of. That show Portlandia is supposed to be an exaggeration of what Portland is like. Except…a lot of it is pretty much true. From the fun personality of the city to the new hip bakery that people line up the block for, you get a glimpse into what it’s like in a way.
The day trip wasn’t even that long. We spent a little over six hours there. I have to say that six hours is nowhere nearly enough time to do all of your favorite things. I needed to decompress after traveling; stopping abruptly after going to so many places around the world can be disorienting. I was hoping that Portland could alleviate some of that.
Or maybe it’s better to dive right back into my Seattle life instead of escaping to Portland for a day. You know, pick up where things were left off. But things aren’t the same.
