Today marks five years since my adventures around the world took flight. Still, it feels like yesterday. Sitting aboard a plane, tipsy from sake and high from anticipation, having just bid farewell to dear friends and family after several days of revelry at Miami’s Art Basel. I was about to embark on a journey of 13 months and countless experiences. First stop Buenos Aires. I often reflect upon those days, particularly when I’m not feeling inspired (even amidst the beauty of Paris), and find myself reliving these scenes… eternally grateful to call them my experiences.
Exploring Machu Picchu beneath a misty sky.
Bathing on the remote island of Fernando de Naronha in Brazil.
Sky-diving over the majestic landscape of Queenstown, New Zealand.
Driving along Great Ocean Road in Australia.
Admiring Jodhpur, the magnificent 'Blue City' of Rajasthan, India.
Catching a glimpse of the Taj Mahal.
A spiritual moment at the temple of Ta Prohm in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.
Becoming fashionable in the city of tailors, Hoi An, Vietnam.
Two days floating on a junk boat in Halong Bay.
Meditating upon the Mekong in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Exlporing the rice fields of Ubud, Indonesia by motor bike.
Inhaling the grand view of Hong Kong.
Driving through the landscape near Lhasa, Tibet.
Climbing the Great Wall of China.
Finding tranquility amidst The Golden Pavilion of the Rokuon-Ji Temple in Kyoto.
A sunrise hot-air ballon ride over Cappadocia, Turkey.
What are your most cherished experiences? (Have you lived them yet?)
What amazing places you have been to…breathtaking!
Stunning, Kasia! Thanks so much for these dream drops in the middle of a dreary afternoon.
My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed the ‘ride’.
What an amazing journey you had! Thank you for sharing these beautiful highlights of your travels.
I’ve always had grand dreams of returning to China to teach, and while there, would love to travel on to Bhutan, Tibet, and Nepal: places I have always felt drawn to see and be. I don’t know if it will ever happen or not — if it does, I will likely be doing it as an old lady! 🙂 But that’s cool. Maybe I will be a traveling grandma!
As for the already cherished travels? Living and working in China 20 years ago, and also visiting my dear friend in Japan — that’s one of the highlights so far. I know — I should write “living in Paris,” too, but that experience has had to grow on me. I know that one day it *will* absolutely be a cherished experience, for most often the cherishing comes in hindsight, no?
Cherished experiences in general are the usual: marriages, births, and believe it or not, deaths. I have never felt more intensely and learned more from the experience of letting go of friends and loved ones. Not easy, but cherished because I lived through those experiences and learned deeply from them.
Thank you for such a beautiful post and such a provocative question! I feel all thoughtful now. 🙂 Navel-gaze-y, lol. Introspective. (There we go — that’s a better adjective!)
Karin, you too have lived many lives already! And your journey is long still… happy to share one of the most insightful experiences of my life, and to provoke a little introspection. As for traveling, it’s never too late and for all places comes a time. Our time is now Paris.
Stunning photographs!
Thank you! I have thousands more…
Reeling from this photo journey!! You’ve seen some amazing things, I hope to reach some of these places at some point in my life!!
Life is long and you have many journeys ahead of you 🙂
Sounds wonderful! But, at least in my life, many wonderful experiences start with sake!
Glad you were able to do this at least once in your lifetime… I would wish this experience for everyone!
I often can’t believe all that I have seen and done, particularly during this journey. And always I feel lucky to have had the courage to explore the world. I recommend it!
What an incredible, beautiful journey!
2011 was a year of ‘staying put’… but, 2012…i am getting giddy for the next adventures. thanks for the inspiration, and the daydreaming. you know i’ll be seeing you soon… :).
Yahoo! You are back to your adventures in 2012!! See you soon…. in Paris!?
Who knew the young lady I had as a student would grow into the global entrepreneur and worldwide traveler you’ve become? Your pictures are fantastic. I’ve done a lot of traveling over the years but have never been to Asia. Your pictures have rekindled my desire to go there. And for that, Kasia, I thank you.
I’m flattered Mr Ornstein! Thank you! From now on this past student shall consider herself a world traveling entrepreneur.
As for your future travels, I’m happy to help you plan an adventure in Asia. So much still to experience….
Oh. My. God. Those photos are just incredible. After a couple years, feeling content to bounce between Paris and New York, my travel bug is definitely returning—and your photos just jacked up the itch!
My most cherished experiences include Sydney and New Zealand, hiking in Switzerland, vacationing with friends in Positano, hiking around Capri, going to ancient vineyards in Georgia, meeting my best friend Dublin, a family trip to Northern Italy, visiting my friend’s grandparent’s village in Greece and road tripping across the U.S.
With your photo inspiration, Cambodia is definitely at the top of my list. Buenos Aires and Hong Kong are up there. So are Vietnam, South Africa and Fiji.
Have you ever thought about putting together a water-themed photo show??
You, my dear, have had quite an adventure (or a dozen) yourself!! I’m impressed!! Though I knew you had it in you. I’m equally inspired by your travels (a road trip in the US is on my list)!
You would love Buenos Aires and Punta del Este ! Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam too….
A water inspired photo show, hmmmm…. I did put together a photo show of my travels upon returning to NYC. Ah the memories!
STUNNING pictures Kasia! I love to travel, and although I haven’t made it around the world yet I have been fortunate to visit some amazing places in Europe and the US. Many of my most cherished experiences are from the island of Ibiza – where I learned to love the art of “doing nothing” and realised I am most at home under the sun. Death Valley in the US was a breathtaking trip this year, hopefully next year I will do one more amazing holiday before I return to the UK shortly after…
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Thanks my dear! I always thought the art of doing nothing “dolce far niente” originated in Italy… will have to try the Ibiza version one of these days.
Continue to enjoy your US travels before returning to ‘sunny’ England 😉 (I too could easily live beneath the sun!)
Great photos Kasia. I can only hope that one day I am able to experience these wonders for myself. But in the meantime your photos are a wonderful escape!
Thanks Cailin! Much travel awaits for you I’m sure!
Thank you, Kasia for posting your lovely photos of beautiful, far-away places. As one who shares a sense of adventure and love of travel, there are countless places I have yet to tick off my bucket list. Losing my job a few years back has put a hold on things and it’s a challenge to find someone who would like to go to the same places and do the same things. How blessed are you to have both in your life, and I will contiune to live vicariously through your wonderful blog!