Adventures - The Atlas Heart

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Things have been a bit quiet around here and that’ll probably last through most of the rest of the year. I’ve been taking a much needed break from social media to reconnect with my goals, my business, and mindset. After almost a month and a half of living in Puerto Vallarta, my time in Mexico is coming to an end for now. 2019 has been an interesting year, one where nothing quite went as planned but because of that it allowed me to grow in more ways and I’m grateful for that. It has also set me up to make big moves in 2020 that I probably wouldn’t be making if all those things hadn’t fallen apart. I’m really starting to believe the old saying that things fall apart so better things can come together. .
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I realize that I’ve spent the last month in Mexico and haven’t shared hardly anything about my time here. It’s been nice, actually, to just have this trip to myself, but I did want to share a few thoughts about life in Puerto Vallarta and Mexico in general. These are my takeaways after living in PV for a month and a half: .
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🇲🇽Mexican culture is incredibly vibrant and alive. It’s a culture I’ve always been surrounded by and lived adjacent to growing up in California, but I’ve been able to experience it in a new way this trip. The Mexicans I’ve met here live life fully and have a whole lot of fun while they do it. I love that about this culture. It has reminded me to stop taking life so seriously and to just enjoy this crazy journey while I can.
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🇲🇽The food is amazing. I already knew this would be the case before I arrived, but I’m glad it was confirmed as soon as I got here. I’ve had tacos almost every day and I’ve fallen in love with mole enchiladas and al pastor anything. .
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🇲🇽I haven’t had this much intense attention from local men since I was in India. However, it’s much more forward in Mexico. Mexican men in PV have this tendency to stop a few feet in front of you and literally watch you as you walk past, heads turned and eyes looking you up and down. Then, of course, there are the usual catcalls, the come from the windows of cars that slow down as they pass you by. — > CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS 👇

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Cheers to the freakin’ weekend from Mexico. 🇲🇽🏖 Girls trip to kick off my last weekend in Puerto Vallarta for a while. More thoughts on Mexico soon, but for now let’s just say I’m grateful for what this month and a half has given me. A Full heart, clear mind, new friends, and a belly full of tacos. 🌮
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#puertovallarta #puertovallartamexico #sanpanchonayarit #sanpancho #sanpanchobeach #rivieranayarit #nayarit #nayaritmexico #jaliscomexico #puertovallartajalisco #womenwhotravel

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The humid air enveloped me as I stood on the rooftop of my new apartment. It was a welcome respite after San Francisco’s cool chill that left me full of love but unprotected from the needlelike cold. There was a storm in the distance, rain falling in a place I hadn’t yet explored. I wondered what they might be doing over there. I imagined dancing in the street as the rain picked up so you could truly feel the omnipotence of nature fall down around you. That’s how I remember Laos, a parallel time and place. When kids danced in the torrential rain happy to be alive and free, while I looked on laughing with them and their sheer joy that infected me too.
Alone and full in my contented space. Already steadfast in my decision to walk away from a past that had no place in my present. The thunder came near my rooftop and I wondered if I would be struck down where I stood. I watched with glittering eyes as it danced around me, testing fate as I always have. When you go, you go. And when you know something isn’t right for you, you know. Is it possible to feel equally lost and at home in a place? Because that’s how I felt long before I left for Mexico. An attempt to create a life of stability on swampy ground. A shallow grave, everything floated to the surface with the first hint of the rain.
Without the feeling of breaking free from a cocoon that has suffocated you for so long, you would never know just how much further you could fly. I think I’ll stay a little while in this tropical place, where life is easy and palm trees sway to twinkling lights with the sound of jazz across the street. The world keeps spinning and grace is staring me right in the face.
I’m a runaway like so many others who have come here before, ready to build something that is completely my own.
Something that feels like dropping my keys in the bowl after a long trip away. Something that is home.
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. **excerpt from my latest post on the blog**

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#ad What is your favorite way of finding affordable flights?
I’ve picked up quite a few hacks over the years for finding affordable flights around the world. 
TIP 1: Figure out what the cheapest city is to fly into and out of in the region you want to travel to.
For example, if you want to go to Asia from North America - look at cities like Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Ho Chi Minh City as your gateway destination for cheaper flights.
Once you arrive, you can take a much cheaper regional flight to wherever you want to go. 
TIP 2: If possible, be flexible with your travel dates. If you’re willing to travel mid-week as opposed to the weekend, you can usually find cheaper flights.
In a similar vein, if you’re traveling in the low or shoulder season of your destination, flights are usually much cheaper. 
TIP 3: Research the most affordable airlines that fly to your destination.
I know if I’m flying to Asia from North America, the first airline I’ll look at is @EVAAirUS because I’ve found some of the best international flights with them in the past.
And they regularly fly to Taipei, which, as I mentioned above, is a super affordable gateway city to fly into in Asia. If you’re heading to Asia soon, I’d recommend first figuring out your perfect gateway city and travel dates, then checking out flights on EVA Air to start planning an affordable getaway. You can get started here: https://ooh.li/793d926 
#gatewaytoasia #EVAAirUS #theatlasheart

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#ad Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite country is for solo travel, Taiwan is one of the first countries out of my mouth. 
Not only is it an incredibly safe place, but Taiwanese people are some of the friendliest humans I’ve met in my life. It’s unlike any culture I’ve experienced. Taiwan was never a destination that was at the top of my travel list. But, when I found an affordable flight with @EVAAirUS from North America, it set off a trip through Asia and gave me the opportunity to explore the more off-the-beaten path spots that weren’t on my radar before, including spending over a month in Taiwan. 
My favorite experiences from my trip to Taiwan? Getting lost in the beautiful high altitude forests of Alishan, exploring the historical architecture in Tainan, and eating ALL the food at the many night markets in Taipei. 
If you’re looking for an affordable flight to Taipei from North America, take a look at @EVAAirUS for great fares and a comfortable way to get across the world. Seriously, it was one of the best deals I've found for any international flight I've taken. You can check out their flights here: https://ooh.li/793d926
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👉 Let me know - Have you been to Asia? If so, what’s your favorite country in the region? 
#gatewaytoasia #EVAAirUS #theatlasheart

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👉 Do you enjoy traveling alone? .
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One of the best lessons I’ve learned from years of living and traveling abroad, mostly by myself, is how beautiful it can be to be alone. .
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Interestingly enough, being comfortable and happy with just having myself to rely on has made it easier to build a stronger community around myself and to spot the bullshit of toxic people from a mile away. It has made it easier to say goodbye and to let go of the past so I can gladly say hello to the present and the people who lift me up and keep me striving to be a better person. .
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Traveling alone has taught me a lot of lessons over the years, but I think this is the most powerful lesson I’ve learned by far: How to not allow anyone else to dictate my happiness or mindset. That is 100% up to me. .
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Pic taken at my friend Bre’s beautiful wedding in California this past weekend. Still reveling in how lucky I am to have so many supportive people in my life. 💙

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© 2019 The Atlas Heart | made in collaboration with Ink & Honey Design Co. + Michelle Robins Creative