IDEA175: Amanda Blakely's 5 Favorite Ways to Live Like You're Traveling with Kids! [Toronto]

To live like you're traveling everyday takes determination, planning and lots of inspiration. Having two kids, I know, requires double the planning and double the inspiration since you're thinking how to take the whole family on a 'tour'. Luckily kids happen to be naturals at this whole adventure thing and ANYTHING you do as a family is hysterically exciting even a supermarket run! Bless their little hearts. I however, am not so easily amused and so I'm always on the lookout for travel loving parents that instil a sense of wonder in their kids and live like they're traveling as a family! One such role model is Amanda Blakely of Petits Genoux. Amanda together with her handsome boys recently took us on a virtual weekend getaway to her town Toronto, Canada.  

Meet your Toronto Neighbor, Amanda! 

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As a seasoned traveler, my wanderlust runs deep (from backpacking to business travel, I have circled the globe numerous times). Now as a mother of two, I am passionate about cultivating and passing along this love of travel to my children by placing an importance on collecting experiences, not things. Our first son, Atticus, was conceived in Australia and when my husband and I found out we were expecting, we hatched a master plan to spend a paternity leave traveling Central and South America with our new babe. It was an unbelievable experience to have as new parents.

We had the opportunity to expose Atticus to new cultures, cuisines and customs, while we got to practice this whole parenting thing together as a team (in some foreign lands no less). Fast forward almost four years and we've added another little boy to our growing clan and have been on many more adventures together. Some of our most treasured memories have been made while on the road as a family. BUT, for obvious reasons a nomadic lifestyle is not realistic for most families. So we're excited to share with you some of our favourite ways to live like we're traveling { as a family } in our own city. 

Traveling does not mean you must stray far from home or spend a ton of cash. To me, living like I'm traveling is about celebrating each day (wherever I might be - home or abroad) and approaching it with an adventurous heart and an open mind.

To our family, it means trying out a different park on the weekend, visiting a new coffee shop or a pop-up market. Allow yourself to be awed, surprised or humbled by what you uncover. It only takes a shift in perspective to walk the same road we have already walked a thousand times to really look up and notice the beauty that lies before us. Like most families, we spend a ton of time at our local parks, but sometimes you just need to break out of the routine and do something else equally kid-friendly. Toronto has the friendliest firefighters who always welcome little visitors to the station if they aren't out on a rescue. Here we are on one of our recent visits with @babybrainorganics.

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1 - Get out of the city. -  A Toronto tradition every Fall is to visit a local farm.

Not only is it the perfect opportunity to take in the colourful vistas of autumn (red, yellow and burnt umber leaves as far as the eye can see) but Ontario has an abundance of agriculture and with the harvest comes a bounty of delicious fruit and vegetables. We picked up a pumpkin and a bunch of apples to bake a galette on our recent visit to Whittamores farm.

2 - Explore the many neighborhoods of Toronto

We like to visit all the ethnic Burroughs for authentic treats (from little India to little Italy). But this little storefront belongs to Mean Bao Queen West outpost and is the home of our favorite Pulled Pork Bao.

3 - Attending a book reading and supporting a local or visiting author is a great way to feel like a tourist in your own town. 

Check Now Toronto for listings of readings (or other such events) from week to week. Here we are at my friend Lindsay Mattick's launch of #FindingWinnie last weekend. On Instagram: @LindsayMattick and Photo by @textstyles

4 - Jump on the bandwagon and become a sports fan. 

For the first time in over 20 years our hometown baseball team Blue Jays are making us proud. Visit a pub or try and get your hands on a ticket to witness history in the making as the Jays attempt (again) to win the World Series.

5 - Visit a new coffee shop and watch the world go by... 

(for the 5 glorious minutes it takes your kid to eat his bribe muffin) while you feel like you're a backpacker again.

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Thanks Amanda and family for letting us hang out (virtually) for the weekend! And a special thank you to the handsome guys Archer and Atticus!! 

Get more everyday ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling 

IDEA170: Throw a Surprise to Renew your Sense of Wonder

When we travel, a big part of the experience is the discovery of something new, never before experienced, seen, tasted, felt. Through this, our perceptions change and our preconceived notions dismantle. We grow. But how can we continue to learn and see things in a new light, when our surroundings and the people are more or less familiar? Is a journey to faraway exotic land the only way to stretch our minds? How can we infuse the elements of surprise into nearby travels? We asked our global neighbor Laura of Travel by Surprise to reveal the essence of a great surprise. Elements that we can borrow to create a sense of wonder in our everyday lives. 

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If life is about the journey and not the destination, we give that concept new meaning at Travel By Surprise: we take the destination out of the picture entirely. We send our clients to surprise destinations; they don’t know where they’re headed until we send them off. We worry about the details so that they can be fully present on the journey.

Recently, I planned a surprise getaway for my girlfriends. Without batting an eye, they all took off from work, packed their bags, and patiently waited for me to tell them where we were going. Behind the scenes, I had an amazing time meticulously choosing what each of my friends would enjoy, the sorts of design elements that would inspire them, and the activities that would allow us to really savor our time together.

Planning a surprise getaway—even a short jaunt in your own backyard—
allows you to get outside of yourself, to see the world from a different perspective, and enhance your sense of wonder. 

The surprise was wonderful. We were all squeals and giggles and laughs and hugs. The best part, though, was that I got to live with that delicious sense of anticipation for weeks—months, even—while I planned our trip. Anticipating that excitement and sharing in that joy allows me to live like I’m traveling every day, and what I love best about planning surprise trips for others.

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What are the elements of a great surprise? 

Not all surprises are equally epic. I’m sure we’ve all been to a flop of a surprise party, or had a well-intentioned prank go horribly, horribly wrong. Fortunately, my surprise trip for my girlfriends went off without a hitch. We had the most delightful weekend together, exploring our backyard in Northern Michigan’s wine country. To ensure that we had a spectacular surprise, I kept a few things in mind when scheming and dreaming about how to sweep my friends off their feet. 

1 - Personalize

Personalization is so important to an excellent surprise. Don’t just think about fun things to do, or what you might enjoy: truly consider what brings your friends joy, what makes them come alive, and what will foster genuine connection. Draw inspiration from their hobbies, interests, and personalities. It ensures that they will feel cared for, and that they will love what you’ve planned for them.  

For instance, my friends care a lot about beautiful design. My friend, Lauren, is an aspiring interior designer, and Kelly dreams of living on a farm. I took a cue from my friends and rented a design-focused farmhouse, the Honor and Folly Cherry Orchard Farm, built in the early 1900s, sitting on 20 acres, and neighboring a cherry orchard. Everywhere we looked were inspiring, handcrafted details that captured our imagination from the start. We stayed up late into the night telling ghost stories, and we took a leisurely morning sipping coffee. 

2 - The Extra-Ordinary

One of the joys of planning surprises is the “wow” factor. Kick off something magical and really solidify that you’ve embarked on something special by doing something extraordinary. We kicked off our weekend with bubbly and a delicious farm-to-table dinner at Mission Table. 

Not everything needs to be extraordinary. The “ordinary” can sometimes be just as surprising. I also asked each woman to bring their favorite poem on our weekend away; I wanted to learn more about each of these creative, word-loving friends through the poetry that inspires them. We spent a leisurely morning on the porch, delighting in the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins, T.S. Eliot, e.e. cummings, and Mary Oliver.  

Our surprise getaway really celebrated our friendship, blending both the out-of-this-world and the day-to-day. My friends and I are in a wine club together, so it was only right that we should go wine tasting. But instead of sipping wine in our living rooms, we sampled Northern Michigan’s finest wines while looking out over the vineyards at Bry’s Estate. 

3 - A Little Magic

When you plan a surprise, you open yourself up to a world of possibilities: what if they don’t like it? What if something goes wrong? What if…? You just can’t plan for everything. You can’t foresee the things that will go wrong: the wrong turns, the not-quite-as-right. But you also can’t plan authenticity: you can’t possibly know what conversations will be sparked, what connections will be remade, or what ideas will be inspired, rekindled, imagined. And that’s the best part! The more you plan and schedule, the less space there is for the magic.

The best thing to do is to let the magic work: leave room for the unexpected and welcome it with open arms.

Thanks for having me! It was so fun to have you along for our surprise girls' getaway and to share our tip of the mitten with you! 

Your adventure-planning neighbor,
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Laura, Travel by Surprise
PHOTOS: RYAN PRINS PHOTOGRAPHY

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Get everyday ideas to create a sense of wonder @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

Saalhof Vineyard : Be A Bon Vivant Anywhere

Does one have to live in France to be a Bon Vivant? Or be present in Italy to experience La Dolce Vita? And why do we strongly associate certain delicious experiences with a particular place... Most importantly, how do we translate "living the good life" for ourselves and set out to create a lifestyle we want right where we live!

To me, being a Bon Vivant has a lot to do with enjoying what your local region has to offer. And I feel nothing inspires this appreciation more than eating and drinking of the land. Just like the mysterious concept of terroir suggests that the taste of wine embodies climate, terrain, soil and even traditions of a place, similarly why not we as people enjoy where we live by truly embracing all the elements.  

So the other week I went on a Bon Vivant excursion to experience the bounty of my adopted land, The Netherlands! Why not go wine tasting and see how the 'terroir' here affects the wine. We decided to go to Saalhof Vineyard in Wognum.

Vineyard!? In the cold and wet Netherlands? My surprise was big as yours, but apparently yes, there are more then 170 commercial vineyards according to Winehoek. 

The Saalhof Vineyard or, Wijngaard in Dutch, is in the region of West Friesland which is in the North West of The Netherlands. Historically fiercely independent and a bit stubborn people live there. I mean, how many floodings would you put up with before deciding that maybe you should not live in an area that's not meant to be above water? Well, none of that for West Frisians. They keep plugging away, sucking the land dry... for centuries! This resilient spirit is probably what's responsible for the success of Siem and Ada Loos, the creators of Saalhof Vineyard. 

To grow wine in such a cold wet climate is tricky to say the least. The vines must be planted further apart to give grapes a chance at catching those illusive rays of sun for a few minutes a day. The foliage must be trimmed often so that grapes are well ventilated and stay dry otherwise they can rott. Thus the position of grapes on the stalk is important... the list goes on. And even after all that, not just any ol' grape will grow in this climate. It takes a special kind of grape! For example the Souvignier Gris, a grape variety invented in Germany in 1983, and the Rondo, created in 1964, a grape very resistant to winter frost and mildew.

So what in the world possessed Siem and Ada to start a vineyard? Apparently one too many bottles of wine... literally. They were sitting around with neighbours, drinking wine and talking about France and the art of enjoying life. About the romantic atmosphere of the French vineyards, of reaping the fruits of your land and then gathering with family at the end of the day to enjoy a big meal all together. For Siem it wasn't just wine fueled talk, it sparked a realization of the kind of lifestyle he wanted, and inspired a mission to create it right here in his own country. 

My family immediately felt the joyful vibe as we pulled into the vineyard with its neat rows of vines, large tables set up outdoors for communal eating, and an inviting guest house. It was a gorgeous fall day with sun shining and with a glass of sparkling wine it did feel like we were somewhere in the French countryside. We came with my husband's cousin's family and their two kids for the open day and spontaneously decided to linger on for dinner.   

It was such a pleasure to walk through the vineyards, of course the kids ran around, exploring and playing hide and seek between the vines. I tried Secco "Het mirakol uit Westfriesland" (The miracle of West Friesland), a sparkling white wine. Made with Johanniter white grape, created in 1968 specifically to grow well in cold and moist regions. After falling in love at first sight with the place, I was worried the wine may not match the expectations. But those worries proved unfounded. From the first sip Secco is an absolue delight. True to the name, the wine is pleasantly dry, and fresh with a delicate aroma of green apples and melon. Light sparkle brought out further the citrus undertones of lemon and grapefruit. Yum!

We stayed to eat the most delicious burgers and home fries at the restaurant, Saalig. The sun was setting and we poured another glass of Rondo, a red wine made with Rondo and Pinot Noir grapes, to help "wash down" the satisfying dinner.  

It was a perfect afternoon! Also the family and staff are really welcoming and happy to chat with you about their work. Of course the best part is the feeling of joie de vivre that washes over you from spending a leisurely afternoon with your family without rushing and just giving each other attention. 

I grabbed a few bottles of wine to bring home and made a note to come back for one of theme dinners at Saalig. Oh and you bet I signed up to be on the list of volunteers to harvest the grapes! 

I challenge you to think about what does being a Bon Vivant mean to you? And how can you make it happen right where you live! Maybe a visit to a local vineyard can help with some inspiration...

Here is a video interview of the owner of Wijngaard Saalhof by Tasty Tales: 

IDEA168: Go Back to your Roots to Inspire Your Next Step Forward

Today, we can easily interact and learn from people from all corners of life. Through images or videos, their experiences inspire us. Interacting with other cultures like a local is something I definitely love, but there are times when connecting back to my origin, can nurture and inspire more than anything else in the world "out there" could. Finding your DNA manifested in the people and places you call home can often reactivate the juices of life.

Inspiration comes when I get away to an environment that allows me "be."  

It's the lush, green landscapes of a place I call home that activate my sense of simple living. It might mean eating with my hands, getting my feet dirty or ending up with salty messy hair. It's when the pressure of perfection falls away. Free of frills and complexity is part of my approach when it comes to designing with leather. Leather is meant to get scratched and collect “life.” A bag will go through stages much like a tree will go through many stages of growth and with each year collect beauty through its age and experiences. Through my connection to nature and family, I keep my roots alive and it's not a coincidence that I've continued my grandfather's craftsmanship of leather. 

Passion comes alive when the treasures of our heart are infused in the things we do, so I invite you to explore those elements that are inside you to transform them into inspired action.

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Recently, I planned a trip with my family far away from the city. We rented a small cottage in Uvita de Osa, Costa Rica and let the old rituals, stories and inside jokes re-surface. Even though the house was far away in the mountains, I’m sure those in back in San Jose could hear us laughing and dancing!

Inspiration blossoms from a sense of belonging. 

It is much more easy to be authentic when we are in the comfort zone of family. You don’t have to impress your siblings, so you can turn off the part of your mind that's always strategizing, striving or scheming. A space surrounded by love, allows you to forget about the outside world and to be in the moment.

I found mom doing her embroidery, dad telling the same old stories that would make us laugh...

Having the family together at the table brings me joy and the presence of the natural colors is something that manifests in my designs. 

It’s in the simple but cherished moments, where I find what moves me forward. Inside our hearts is where inspiration resides. 

So if you're ever feeling stuck, or need a little perspective...just go and dig in! Whether it's with your family, a place, a craft, music, food or talking to an old neighbor… put time towards something that can re-connect you with where you belong. Explore a favorite childhood activity or make that old recipe you inherited from your grandma. Visit an authentic spot in your city, out of the noise and away from touristy areas will also do.

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Sofia Protti, Costa Rica Designer - Contributor
Entreprenuer, blogger and owner of the Cueropapel&tijera brand since 2008, is dedicated to the development of leather products that are loaded with passion and cultural flavor, with a high demand on quality. She designs as a means of self-expression that stems from her beliefs. Her work is dedicated to the memory of her grandfather and to the beauty and sentimental value of personal belongings. (Photos provided by Sofia)

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Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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IDEA174: Be an Agent of Change with Jessica of The Brave Collection

Do you ever get the feeling that you just HAVE to go after something? Even if it might not be a popular route, and despite the challenges...you follow it whole heartedly? This "have-to" feeling is something New York based designer, Jessica Hendricks has embraced in her journey of creating The Brave Collection. Following a trip to Cambodia, she was fascinated by the paradoxical beauty set against the heartbreakingly violent past of this small Buddhist country. Determined to empower a unique community of women survivors, she was inspired to create Brave and to connect courageous women across the globe. 

So often when we travel, we see new perspectives of life and it stirs our inner fire. We are inspired to answer life's biggies like "why are we here?...how will I leave my imprint in this world?" Join us today as our global neighbor shares with us what it took for her to have the tenacity to forge her own path...

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Mu-Hsien: Tell us about your trip to cambodia. What drew you to the country?

Jessica: I was in school at NYC at Tisch School of the Arts. In these sacred four years of study and contemplation that were supposed to be widening my eyes and preparing me for the rest of my life, was I truly seeing all there was to see? I decided to travel east. I’d base myself in Thailand as an English teacher and travel until I found whatever it was I was searching for. I ended up in Cambodia.

Mu-Hsien: Cambodia proved to be a pivotal moment for you. Shocked to learn that Cambodian women today lack dignified job opportunities, or worse are falling victim to human trafficking...what gave you the courage to pursue change and awareness?  

Jessica: The visceral reaction that I felt at the sight of people dressed up as items for sale marked my first glimpse into the world of human trafficking. I was so deeply passionate about celebrating and supporting this very special community that I couldn’t focus on anything else until I really pursued this idea. I returned home to New York, I bought two books that would forever change the course of my life: The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam, a Cambodian survivor of slavery, and Half the Sky. More than four years of exceptional university level study, more than actually breathing the Cambodian air, reading about the journeys of survivors of sexual trafficking as told by Mam, Kristof and WuDunn sparked an unstoppable passion somewhere beneath my rib cage that has yet to wane.

I grew up in a very entrepreneurial family, so paving my own path was something I learned by example. 

Mu-Hsien: After returning home, what were the first 3 crutial steps you took to go from “passionate idea” towards Brave becoming reality?  

Jessica: Purchase a URL. Create a first bracelet prototype. Tell friends and family I respect that I am creating something new to hold myself accountable! ~ Three years after my trip to Cambodia, I returned to Southeast Asia on a solo journey, working with a team of talented, underprivileged Cambodian artisans to create The Brave Collection, a jewelry line to raise funds and awareness to fight the sexual trafficking of women in Cambodia and back home in New York (where I later learned that trafficking also exists).

{ Her jewelry line is handmade by Cambodian artisans who come from underprivileged backgrounds or suffer from disabilities. Many of the artists are mothers, who are provided a fair and safe work environment where they earn above average wages and receive benefits like health insurance and stipends for their children's education. }

Mu-Hsien: How are the connections you’re making with the artists in cambodia affecting you and how does it impact them? 

Designer Jessica Hendricks with Nimul, a Cambodian Artisan

Jessica: I have learned so much from these amazing women. They celebrate each day with gratitude and they are endlessly creative. For them, our priority is to provide them with dignified, sustainable work in the arts. More than that though, we are working to provide an opportunity for these women to re-connect with their own heritage, and to take pride in the beauty of their culture by celebrating it with our global community. (Below, an artist works on the metal detailing that says, “Brave” (Klaa-han) in Khmer.)

{ This sterling silver with gold vermeil necklace depicts the Buddhist Flag, representing Wisdom and Compassion} 

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Mu-Hsien: In moments of doubt, uncertainty or challenges...what keeps you on your path? 

Jessica: I have so many ideas, whims, doubts and inspirations all the time! Yet I have learned the value of deeply committing to one thing that truly matters. It takes time, patience and a whole lot of Bravery to stay strong through the ups and downs that come with building something from scratch. 

Mu-Hsien: How do you live like you’re traveling? 

Jessica: I bring elements of my travels into my life in Brooklyn. I have dream catchers from Tulum hanging on my walls, and tiny wooden elephants from Laos. In moments of anxiety I remember how incredibly vast this planet is and it helps me channel a bit of the groundedness and deep peace I feel while I am out in the world exploring.

 

In honor of mothers and the ever-courageous females in your life, use code "LIVELIKEYOURETRAVELING" and Brave Collection will make an additional donation through May 10, to Free To Shine Cambodia, an organization which fights human trafficking. 

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For more ways to connect with the people and world around you,
get everyday ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup - Share a Taste of Home with Friends

When traveling, few things unite people like a great meal prepared and shared together. Food is such a natural and direct way to learn about a culture, which is why I love to cook with friends, a tradition that started many years ago abroad. To me, the kitchen is a creative space. A place full of experimentation, chaos and laughter and our friend's kitchen over at Wilson Creek Pottery is no exception. Recently, we traded in the hustle of the city for a scenic weekend visiting them in Spring Green, Wisconsin.

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In their lovely kitchen, we were surrounded by the warmth of their hospitality and their pottery.
It was the perfect spot for trading secret ingredients and resources. 

Our friends love to travel out in the world and from their own kitchen. They can't help but bring back inspiration from their travel. Their last big trip in India, solidified their love for Indian cooking and Ayurveda. When we last visited, they treated us to Indian fare. From handmade chapatis to showing us how to make our own ghee! 

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This time their adventurous mood was set on asian noodles and a perfect chance for me to return the generosity. They knew of my love for noodles and asked if I could show them how to prepare a dish. There was no question. I had to share with them one of my favorite noodle dishes: Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. (Pictured above) What is delightful about this dish is the complexity of the broth. It's an iconic staple and something I grew up on. To understand my love for noodles is to know me and I was more than happy to share a piece of my home with them. I can have it morning, day or night and my husband couldn't really comprehend this until he saw for himself...the land, people and food of my first home. After a few days into our trip to Taiwan, my husband looked at me knowingly and said, "I get it now."  

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And so today we would all join in culinary adventure to experience the flavors of Taiwan from a cozy house in farm country, Wisconsin. Our plan was ambitious but we made sure to give ourselves ample time. The plan was to prep the broth, the most effort and time intensive part of the dish and we'd prepare it to a point, so that the flavors could be melding while we took a hike nearby.   

And when we tired ourselves of the snowy hills and neighboring animal friends...we would come back home to a simmering broth that would be ready for us. 

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I'm happy to report that our bellies and hearts were full...Now it's your turn! Try it in your own global kitchen!
--> Head over to The Dining Traveler where I shared with her the recipe.

What taste of home would you share? 
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Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

How to Live Like You're Traveling : Part 2 - What Makes Us Happy When We Travel?

Welcome to "How To Live Like You're Traveling" series, where we explore what is it that makes us happy when we travel and how to achieve this happiness in our everyday lives. Join us on this adventure, and write out your very own travel day that stands out in your memory using this template in part 1 of the series. 

In this Part 2, we are going to break down one of my favorite travel days to see what makes us happy when we travel and if these elements are transferable into our everyday life. 

Let's take a look at a favorite travel day together...

The Set-Up
Family vacation in France, staying at the lovely Les Mathes Camping in a delighful mobile home, as one does. 

The Characters
• Alla - that's me!
• Vito - my other half
• Mo - our delightful oldest son 
• Vin - our equally delightful youngest son
• Dan - my high-school sophomore brother visiting from NY
 

1 - Waking-up
How did you wake up? When? What did you do?

We were woken up by Vin who must have been treckking through the Sahara desert during the night judging by his thirst. Once the milk bottle was in hand we were able to continue waking up propensed by Mo who decided to contribute to the process by running into our room and joining us all in bed. Mother's joy is complete... when all children are within an arms reach!
 

2 - Breakfast
Think about your first meal, what did you eat, who did you eat with? How did you feel about the coming day spread out ahead of you? 

Breakfast would usually start with a walk to the little market together with Dan. We would talk about life and universe and so on and so forth. My brother is totally smarter than me... and better looking. At the market we picked up freshly baked croissants, with chocolate for me, plain for Mo and Vito, and a pecan pastry for Dan and a baguette for everyone. Back at the house we'd sit down at our little table to eat and plan our day. (Well, usually I would just tell the family what I wanted to do and expect complete and immediate agreement.) 

3 - First part of the day
Write down everything you did in the first part of the day. Did you sight see? List all the activities and think about how they made you feel. 

We (I) decided to drive over to La Tremblade, a little fishing village to just check it out. A quick google search revealed very little information about the town so we had absolutely no idea what to expect. Plus, it just so happened to be Bastille Day, and judging by other towns we drove by on the way, everything in La Tremblade would be closed. Lo and behold we arrived to a PARTY. To our amazement the tiny town was filled to the brim with people! There was a market happening in the central square and many shops lining the streets were opened. We strolled and promenaded and bought presents for family back home. 
 

4 - Lunch
One has to eat! What did you eat, where did you have lunch? Remember the tastes, aromas, views... 

For lunch we sat down at one of the sidewalk cafe's ordered cappuccinos, and juices. The cafe we were at did not serve food but we noticed a long line next door at the bakery. We thought it would be a good idea to get in line and buy whatever it is they were selling in there. My brother and I joined the line to continue our earlier conversation about the universe. Mo joined us, and since I'm priming him to become aerospace engineer it's good that we expose him to the relevant topics early on. At the bakery there were all kinds of delights! We ordered baguette sandwiches and got a few different little cakes and pastries to try. They were delicious! We then sat, chowed, people watched and took turns taking bites of the pastries. Ahhh...  On the way back to the car, we ducked into a very atmospheric indoor food market to get meat for a barbeque we decided to have for dinner. Mo was introduced to various sea creatures... 

5 - Second part of the day
What did you do after lunch? How did you feel? Who were you with? Who did you meet? Why did you enjoy it?

After lunch we happily drove back to the house for a nap. Then it was time to grab towels and head over to the pool, the pool is nice, but you know what else is nice? The bar right next to it. So after an hour or so of splish splash, Vin and I headed over to the lounge to polish off a 51. Well, a 51 for moi, and Vin got a drink and a banana. 

6 - Dinner
How did you decide what you will eat? Where did you have dinner? What did you eat, who were your dinner companions? What was your favorite part about this dinner? 

Dinner was a barbeque outside of our little home. The meat and the shrimp from the market were going to be our hero dishes. We tossed some salad together and cut-up amazingly sweet melon as side dishes. A couple of beers made the everything complete. Dan and Vito did the manly things like grilling and Mo, Vin and I did the rest, like chowing down on the sweet melon. It was sunny, we were eating al fresco, random things were hilarious for no reason, and everyone was happy! 
 

7 - Evening time
What evening activities did you do? Did you do some more sightseeing, did you relax? Did you go to a party?

Remember how you felt. Embarrassingly enough Vito and I went to bed quite early. Dan on the other hand went to hang out with the neighbors, a rowdy French family. 
 

8 - Night
Perhaps you stayed up all night? Or maybe just the opposite, you had the best night of sleep?

We did have a great night of sleep, with our little window open, hearing fireworks in the distance...

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THE 6 ELEMENTS

So what DID we do all day to be so happy and was it directly tied to the specifics of the location? Let's inspect...

I think it's pretty clear that we spent quality time with each other all day. We had nothing else on the agenda but to spend time together. What and where was pretty much secondary. 

The day started with us daring to discover something new and being pleasantly surprized stumbling in on a local town Bastille Day party. 

Something important to notice is that we did not have a schedule, we did not rush, we did everything at our own pace.  We took a nap, some of us read, having a drink.

We all got creative. I took photos, Dan wrote in his blog. Vito read a novel. We got creative in our own ways and took on activities that we immersed ourselves in.  

We spent most of the day outdoors. 

We frolicked at the pool, and walked a lot.

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Which elements were most abundant in YOUR travel day? 

These six elements were in abundance during my travel day. It turns out that all the elements had nothing to do with the actual geographic location.  In the next installment of How to Live Like You're Traveling, we are going to look at the science behind these elements and why they make us happy.

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Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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How to Live Like You're Traveling : Part 1 - Anatomy of a Travel Day

Have you ever stopped and wondered what is it that makes us so happy when we travel?

Why are we so engaged and interested in our surroundings? Is it really because we're visiting amazing places, or is it something within us responding differently? These are the questions we tirelessly try to answer here at Live Like You're Traveling headquarters. The question of why we are happiest when we travel and even more importantly, how to bring that high into our everyday lives so we can be just as excited and tuned-in. 

We are excited to introduce a new how-to series that will explore these very concepts by exploring the science behind it. We invite you on a journey to discover once and for all what it is that makes us feel happy when we travel and exactly how to bring those elements into our everyday. In other words we want to help answer the ultimate question...

How do you live like you're traveling?

PART 1. Anatomy of a Travel Day (Template) 

First, we are going to re-create one of your favorite days. A Travel Day...a day that brought you inspiration, a day that made you feel excited about life all over again. We will re-live this wonderful day and write down absolutely everything that made you feel amazingly happy. In doing this we will create the ultimate model day that we wish we can live daily. This is the first step to understanding what is it that makes us happy when we travel. After that we will look at each element separately to understand why it made us happy and of course how we can achieve this happiness when we're not traveling. 
 

• • •    LET'S REMINISCE    • • •

Start by thinking back to one of your holidays. Think about a favorite day you spent, copy and paste the questions below into a document or grab a notebook and describe everything that went on that day.

1. Waking-up: How did you wake up? When? What did you do?
    
2. Breakfast: Think about your first meal, what did you eat, who did you eat with? How did you feel about the coming day spread out ahead of you? 
    
3. First part of the day: Write down everything you did in the first part of the day. Did you sight see? List all the activities and think about how they made you feel. 
    
4. Lunch: One has to eat! What did you eat, where did you have lunch? Remember the tastes, aromas, views... 
    
5. Second part of the day: What did you do after lunch? How did you feel? Who were you with? Who did you meet? Why did you enjoy it?
    
6. Dinner: How did you decide what you will eat? Where did you have dinner? What did you eat, who were your dinner companions? What was your favorite part about this dinner? 
    
7. Evening time: What evening activities did you do? Did you do some more sightseeing, did you relax? Did you go to a party? Remember how you felt.
    
8. Night: Perhaps you stayed up all night? Or maybe just the opposite, you had the best night of sleep? 

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In the next post I will share one of my favorite travel days and together we will take apart our day to individually look at the elements that came together to form this amazing day. Stay tuned... 
 

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling  

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IDEA176: Get Lunchbox App and Connect with Lunchtime Travelers!

Here at LLYT Headquarters, we go on and on about being a "Lunchtime Traveler." It's about using your lunch hour whether it's in the middle of your work or school day as an opportunity to have an adventure.

Why not? When we travel, lunch is a chance to explore a new culture, see something new, taste something new or meet someone new. When we're home we tend to just fall into a routine of doing the same exact thing during lunch, eating the same thing, or... gasp... eating at our desk. Oh dear, call the intervention squad! Now, the Human Performance Institute has long ago established that we are more productive and perform better if we take breaks so there is no need to expound on that.

The bottom line is, how do we do something new during our one-hour lunch window?

To answer this question, Artyom Avanesov created the Lunchbox so we decided to meet for lunch, of course! and get all the details.

First of all, what is Lunchbox App and who is it for? 

Download the app and you can post a lunch status letting everyone (using the app) know where you're going for lunch, others can click to join you and meet up at the stated lunch place. Is it just for the office workers looking to break the routine? Travelers wanting to meet up with locals or other travelers? Mommies with babies getting together for a lunch date? For art aficionados looking for a partner in crime to check out a new gallery during lunch hour? Umm... I think it's pretty clear that Lunchbox App is for everyone! Hey, we all have to eat right? 

We headed to a great lunch place right in the center of Amsterdam, Cafe de Jaren. It's always full and hopping for lunch with a nice mix of students, entrepreneurs, bloggers and suit types. Despite it's central location, this place remains undiscovered by tourists. In the summer by the way it's nice to arrive by boat via the canal. Just saying. 

{ Pictured: serious discussion about entrepreneurship, the future of travel and social networking in progress... Artyom on the right } A little bit about Artyom. He speaks Russian, once lived in a favela in Rio, is no stranger to China and pretty much feels at home in the world. He got the idea for the Lunchbox one fine day when his co-workers seemed to be either skipping lunch or eating at their desks.

During my internship my colleagues would often be busy during lunchtime and I would go out for lunch on my own. Walking around the financial district I would see other people eating their sandwich by themselves. So I thought; wouldn't it be great if there were an easy way for all of us to get together and enjoy lunch in good company?

Artyom thought of the lunches he had during his travels, when it was an opportunity to discover the culture, taste new delicacies and connect with people. And so...Lunchbox was born! Now, we always have new friends to meet at lunch.  

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{ Exotic fruits on the beach in Paraty, Brazil  ~ Chinese fish market ~ Family style lunch in China } 

{ Sangria, paella and friends! Perfect lunch Barcelona style. }

Speaking of lunches in exotic locales with exotic friends...why can't we continue lunching like we do when we are traveling?

Why can't it be a discovery for our taste buds when our cities are brimming with ethnic cuisine and lovely lunch spots to discover covering just about any culture! A chance to meet someone perhaps completely different and discover things you actually have in common. This happens all the time when we travel and does not need to stop.

--> Download the Lunchbox, and seek out an opportunity to be a #lunchtimetraveler. 

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{ Artyom practicing calligraphy in China ~  View from Artyom's pad in Rio's favela }

For me personally it was absolutely incredible to meet Artyom.

A fellow travel lover, promoter of living an inspired life and always discovering. Not to mention a fellow lunch enthusiast, who is not afraid of snapping a photo of the said delicious lunch. Currently the Lunchbox is very active in Utrecht and Amsterdam but wherever you are in the world do not be afraid to be the first one who posts a Lunch Box. Invite friends and ask them to invite their friends and soon we'll all be lunching all together! Thanks Artyom for helping us Live Like We're Traveling!

Artyom's Lunch Spot Recommendation:

The location of the world's first stock exchange! The remodeled building now houses space for events, work sharing space for entrepreneurs and a couple of cozy cafes. 

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Join us @livelikeyouretraveling for more #LunchtimeTraveler ideas! 

IDEA161: Try the Powerful Practice of Eyegazing

These days, especially in the city... most people don't look at each other. In it's own quiet way, it can be one of the most aggressive ways to dismiss another person. Choosing not to see someone. If you have noticed a bit of a disconnect and or life moving at a pace where direct eye-contact seems to be non-existent, you may want to explore a practice called eye gazing, often referenced by the Sufi Poet, Rumi. 

According to Will Johnson, author of Spiritual Practices of Rumi, it's "like iron filings being drawn to a powerful magnetic source, we experience ourselves as being ineluctably drawn closer to a shared feeling of union, relatedness, and love. Where formerly we were two separate beings, we join together through the practice and become something that neither of us could quite be on our own. When hydrogen comes into the presence of oxygen, suddenly there's water..."

Likewise, through such a meeting, two people lose their sense of separateness and drown together in the waters of love and union.

I first tried eye gazing at the Sukhava Bodhe Yoga & Music Festival at the Stonehouse Farm Retreat over the summer. It was the near the end of one of the workshops and I was paired with a man next to me. Unsure about what to expect, we sat across from each other in crossed-leg, easy pose and gently began to gaze in each other's eyes for the next 5 min or so. I settled into my gaze, and as I began to focus less and less on any one particular aspect of his face or eyes, it's as though I began to melt into a space within his eyes.

Towards the end of the practice, I felt a letting go, and it was at this moment that I began to tear up.

I tried to hold it in. I mean this was a stranger, so why would I be crying? I was overcome by a feeling of connected-ness and a sense of compassion, knowing nothing about this person other than the experience of two human souls acknowledging each other. Initially I thought that trying this with a stranger would create a more closed experience, however the exact opposite was true. Because I had no preconcieved notions or back story with this man, I was able to maintain a neutral space of openess and curiosity.

It is said, that when eye gazing with someone that you have a past with, that many types of emotions can emerge. One can feel uncomfort or raw emotions, but the act of sitting with it and allowing it to pass is healing, so for some it can be an interesting check for a relationship to see if anything comes up. Naturally, I wanted to try this at home with my husband. We decided to try it once or twice a week for several weeks to see what would happen.

Now that it was going to be with someone that I knew deeply... what would I feel or experience? 

Our first time, we locked eyes and I felt a vulnerability from being so fully seen and acknowledged. I was giggly and remember the time going by so fast that we had to keep turning the timer back on. We held hands as we gazed and it just felt really nice, it was almost as if our eyes were smiling even though our faces were still. Trying it again, a second time...we couldn't stop laughing! I would see just a slight twitch in the corner of his mouth and we both would end up belly laughing. We've practiced it several times and each time seems to bring a new experience. The last time we gazed, I remember thinking my husband's face had such an innocence and sweetness as he looked at me. For us, it is a fun activity that connects us in a way that normal day-to-day life doesn't typically offer and we definitely plan to continue exploring it. 

{ Fun Fact: There are actually speed dating events that start off with a few minutes of eye gazing }  

So are you curious about trying it? Below are a few tips to help if it's your first time. 

Eye Gazing Exercise 

• Set a timer for 5-10 min. 
• Take a few deep breaths to center. 
• Begin by gently looking at your friend’s left eye only.
• Then move your gaze to the other eye.
• When that feels comfortable, gaze into both eyes.
• Breathe naturally and relax your gaze gently on your partner. No staring :) 
• Share your thoughts and reflect on the experience afterwards.
   

Get more ideas to feel more connected everyday...follow us @livelikeyouretraveling