Thailand
My second home, known as the land of smiles. Thailand has a different reputation depending on whom you ask: budget backpacker paradise, calm Buddhist oasis, party central of South East Asia, or the site of very dedicated fandom cultures. Thailand means everything to me, I’ve spent more time here than anywhere else, and have learned to embrace everything the country has to offer, whether that is with or without smiles.
Vietnam
I have described Vietnam as the place I have visited that is the most different from the United States. That could simply come down to the fact that Google Translate doesn’t work great here, and it was the first time I was thrust into a place, rather than eased in. Vietnam has some of the friendliest people, most beautiful landscapes, and wildest roads I have ever seen. I can’t wait to go back.
Costa Rica
The site of some of my favorite lifelong memories, I have dreamed of Costa Rica since I saw Corcovado National Park featured on a Planet Earth DVD set. Costa Rica indeed feels straight out of a movie. The adventure here is endless, and I truly learned how to be a backpacker and made lifelong friends here.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua challenged me in ways I never imagined. The country is a mosaic of experiences and culture shaped by a unique and still ongoing tumultuous history. Beyond the stunning black rock volcanos, impossibly large lakes and cobblestone streets, there is so much to see and learn from this country.
México
The place of my people, and yet somehow I never got to experience el mágico de México until adulthood.The experiences in Mexico can be as colorful as the streets, punctuated by papel picado, murals, and the assortments of street vendors selling everything from fruit to clocks on the side of the road. No matter how small the pueblo, live music often fills the air. Mexico is a place that once you leave you will always want to go back.
Guatemala
Nearly half of the population of Guatemala are indigenous. This can be seen easily as you walk through the streets and see women dressed in their colorful traje típico, or traditional clothes that are usually intricate and handwoven. Every stop in Guatemala felt unique from first to last and I had barely scratched the surface
Elsewhere Letters 