I have recently returned from a 19 day adventure in Southeast Asia. We visited Singapore, Cambodia and Thailand. The inspiration for this trip started with an invitation to participate in a house building project operated in Cambodia by the Tabitha Foundation, a not for profit Canadian charity whose focus is on helping the Cambodian people move forward after suffering under the murderous regime of Pol Pot where over 2,000,00 Cambodian people were killed.
Our project was in a small settlement about 1 1/2 hours from Phnom Penh. There were 12 people in our group and we had a commitment to build 12 "houses". In reality they are one room on stilts with a wooden plank floor, green tin walls and a tin roof. The idea is shelter and getting up off the ground in monsoon season. We completed 7 houses the first day and the rest on day 2. At the end of each work day there was a presentation by a Tabitha representative to each family who would move in that evening. As we worked throughout the hot, humid day (42 degrees!!) the community was gathered under a shady tree watching the action.
I don't know if we would have chosen this part of the world, or Cambodia in particular, as a vacation destination if not for Tabitha, but seeing first hand what benefits come when people have a safe place to live and clean water to drink and use for growing food was an experience that I am very thankful to have had.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Top 5 Destinations for Singles
The Single Life.. Being a single woman definitely has it's advantages.. I have the freedom to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. I don't have to "hide" my new shoes, and I never have to worry about someone leaving the toilet seat up! But with Valentine's Day right around the corner, it get's me thinking that sometimes all that alone time, is, frankly, pretty lonely. For all us singles out there.. sometimes a little getaway gives us the chance to practice our "mix and mingle" skills..
Not sure where to go? Check out some of these.. I'm adding a few to my list!
AMSTERDAM - I'm sure you've heard stories.. Boys will be boys, Girls gone wild. Although I do have knowledge of a friend dancing on a piano, and drinking champagne out of a shoe.. there is more to Amsterdam than wild parties and the red light district. The city is full of history, and begs to be explored. Who know's what you many find as you stroll the 1000 plus bridges, and 160 canals the city has to offer.
AT SEA - Long thought that cruising was always a couples sport, cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast lots of activities and variety that attracts the single crowd. Although single pricing has always been the one drawback to cruising, the new Norwegian Epic, set to sail this coming July, is the first in the industry to offer studios specifically designed, and priced for singles. With rates start at just $799 for a 7nt sailing, who can refuse? Can you say... "Bon Voyage"?
JUNEAU - Maybe this one's a little lower on my list since I'm more of a "sunshine and heat" kinda girl. But.. for all those single women who don't mind cooler temperatures.. there is something to be said for visiting a location that has a man woman ratio of 2 to 1. And I guess there's always the sport of snuggling if it gets too cold...
MIAMI - The reputation of bikini's, beaches and beautiful bodies has clung to Miami for years. But.. Miami is definitely more than just a sun and sand destination. If you're like me, and not quite ready to bare all in a two piece, Miami is a cosmopolitan city with plenty of options. Check out salsa lessons, literary reads, art galleries, or just hit the clubs and dance the night away with celebrities.
ROME - Ciao Bella! For those of you who don't know, my love of Italy came from working at an Italian agency my first 5 years in the business. Just think.. a little cafe with a glass of Chianti and some great Carbonara overlooking Piazza Navona. And if that's not enough.. be prepared. Italian men flirt just as naturally as.. well, they breathe!
Not sure where to go? Check out some of these.. I'm adding a few to my list!
AMSTERDAM - I'm sure you've heard stories.. Boys will be boys, Girls gone wild. Although I do have knowledge of a friend dancing on a piano, and drinking champagne out of a shoe.. there is more to Amsterdam than wild parties and the red light district. The city is full of history, and begs to be explored. Who know's what you many find as you stroll the 1000 plus bridges, and 160 canals the city has to offer.
AT SEA - Long thought that cruising was always a couples sport, cruise lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean boast lots of activities and variety that attracts the single crowd. Although single pricing has always been the one drawback to cruising, the new Norwegian Epic, set to sail this coming July, is the first in the industry to offer studios specifically designed, and priced for singles. With rates start at just $799 for a 7nt sailing, who can refuse? Can you say... "Bon Voyage"?
JUNEAU - Maybe this one's a little lower on my list since I'm more of a "sunshine and heat" kinda girl. But.. for all those single women who don't mind cooler temperatures.. there is something to be said for visiting a location that has a man woman ratio of 2 to 1. And I guess there's always the sport of snuggling if it gets too cold...
MIAMI - The reputation of bikini's, beaches and beautiful bodies has clung to Miami for years. But.. Miami is definitely more than just a sun and sand destination. If you're like me, and not quite ready to bare all in a two piece, Miami is a cosmopolitan city with plenty of options. Check out salsa lessons, literary reads, art galleries, or just hit the clubs and dance the night away with celebrities.
ROME - Ciao Bella! For those of you who don't know, my love of Italy came from working at an Italian agency my first 5 years in the business. Just think.. a little cafe with a glass of Chianti and some great Carbonara overlooking Piazza Navona. And if that's not enough.. be prepared. Italian men flirt just as naturally as.. well, they breathe!
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