Hoi An

Sunset with the Farmers in Hoi An
Sunset with the Farmers in Hoi An
August 1, 2016 In Explore Hoi An Southeast Asia Vietnam No Comment

Hoi An, you were a dream. From my incredible homestay to the beautiful beaches, from your charming little Ancient Town district to the laterns lighting up the shops at night, from the amazing countryside scenery to the sweet, friendly locals, […]

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Cycling through Vibrant Vietnam
Cycling through Vibrant Vietnam
July 27, 2016 In Explore Hoi An Southeast Asia Vietnam No Comment

As my time in Hoi An comes to a close, I’m stopping to reflect on the last week and a half with a dizzy, lovestruck smile. This sleepy little beach town couldn’t have been a more pleasant introduction to this […]

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Sunrise at the Fish Market in Hoi An
Sunrise at the Fish Market in Hoi An
July 23, 2016 In Explore Hoi An Southeast Asia Vietnam 1 Comment

I’ll admit that I wasn’t particularly excited about the 4am wake-up call, but doing a photography tour in a Vietnamese fish market was hands down the best reason I’ve ever had to get up before sunrise. I’m not sure if the noise […]

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Lights, Colors and Magic in Hoi An
Lights, Colors and Magic in Hoi An
July 21, 2016 In Explore Hoi An Southeast Asia Vietnam No Comment

I can’t believe it’s been a week since I started the adventure that I spent the last year dreaming about. Even if I up and hopped on a plane home tomorrow, I could still safely say that this has been […]

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  • Let’s go on an adventure

    Hey, I’m Jules, a visual designer based in Denver, Colorado. When I’m not moshing at punk shows or playing the latest video games, you can find me getting lost in the great outdoors and working my way around the globe.

    This is my travel journal where I write about all things color, wilderness, and wanderlust. I hope it will give you the tools and inspiration you need to make your own travel dreams a reality. Let’s wander together!

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    • Friday thought: take all the time you need. ─ Take time to process emotions before acting on them. Take time to fully heal from hurt. Take time to care for yourself before focusing on others. Take time to create roadmaps that will lead you to the goals you've convinced yourself are impossible. Take time to do small things that you truly enjoy. ─ Productivity does not define your success. What's the point of raking up accomplishments if you're going through life on autopilot? Stop and smell the wildflowers, lose yourself among the trees and take time to embrace the wonder of the world. 🌿
    • After an exhausting weekend that consisted of visiting the most Western point in Europe (Cabo da Roca), surfing in an angry ocean and making every muscle in my body sore, weathering the first hurricane to hit Portugal in 150 years, getting a sinus infection, having my flight back to the States diverted to Maine, my layover in D.C. delayed, and finally getting to Denver only to find out it's 20°F and snowing in mid-October - I can safely say this is one of those weeks where I'm going to be counting the minutes until Friday night. 😴 ─ But in any case I'm just so ecstatic to be back among my mountains, the glittering fall colors and my glorious National Parks. The best feeling in the world is knowing that a home I adore will always be waiting for me at the end of the journey, no matter how far away I go. ─ How do you feel when you come home from a trip?
    • A mantra for the weekend: less talking, more doing. 👊 ─ The process of converting my big plans from daydreams to reality has consistently proven to be a anxiety-fueled, self-doubt-riddled roller coaster ride. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't completely exhausting, but I'd also be lying if I said that every outcome, even the gigantic failures, weren't completely worth it. I discovered more about myself after falling and getting back up than I ever did when I was just comfortably coasting along. ─ Don't wait to set your grand plans into motion. Tomorrow is not guaranteed.
    • Words can't really describe how amazing these past few weeks in Portugal have been, but I am so missing my mountains, the fall colors and doing spooky October activities. Soaking up the sun and surf for another 4 days, then home sweet autumn home. ─ Do you have any Halloween season traditions, or a favorite horror movie? In addition to my usual 5am hikes and being basic at pumpkin patches, my husband and I typically play scary video games throughout the month, then cap it off with a 6-movie horror marathon at the end. We're currently on year 9! ─ I'd also mention the absurd number of paranormal podcasts I listen to all day, but I do that year-round... ─ Hope everyone is enjoying October as much as I'm about to starting Monday! 🎃
    • When you look at this photo, what do you see? A happy smile, a picturesque backdrop, a girl without a care in the world? If so, you'd be half correct. There's something to be said about the safety and calm that I feel only when I am surrounded by nature. ─ But photos only show what is on the surface. These past few weeks in America have been a test of strength and bravery for many women; fresh wounds have reopened, existing scars have deepened and I have watched so many friends and strangers suffer immeasurably. For me personally, it's been a harrowing reminder that I am still not safe, not in my own country or anywhere else in the world. There have been a lot of tears, a lot of anger, and a lot of wondering if I will not only ever find the courage to speak about what happened to me, but to be truly heard and believed. ─ If you are suffering like I and so many others, I just want to say this: I see you. I hear you. I believe you. ─ We may have to scream, but our collective voices will make a difference. Don't let this crush your adventurous spirit. Don't let this make you more afraid. And most importantly, don't give up.
    • Lately I've been thinking a lot about which paths we walk, and how they converge into the people we become and continue to be. ─ I've always preferred to walk the quieter, less confrontational path in life. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, go out of my way to help and tend to forgive at the drop of a hat. But recently I've learned (the hard way) that there's a line between being forgiving and getting walked all over. And as someone who desperately wants to please everyone, that has been a tough pill to swallow. ─ I'm slowly recognizing that I can can close off my path to others, especially those who speak badly of me or want to take advantage of my kindness. I'm recognizing that's it's okay to slow down and walk at my own pace. And most importantly, I understand that I can always stray from the path I have already walked, and take an entirely new one. Nothing is set in stone. If I don't like where I'm going, I can change the direction. ─ Despite the roadblocks, I enjoy my little winding road. As long as I strive to leave a trail of love, I'll have no regrets; regardless of the bumps, twists and turns. ─ Are you happy with the path you're on?
    • You know what's great about the desert? The fact that even in somewhere so dry and barren, nature finds a way to thrive. 🌿 ─ This year I finally committed and bought an annual National Parks pass. Which means I'm now ridiculously motivated to visit as many parks as humanly possible between now and next September (after which I'll probably buy the pass again, and again, for the rest of my life!). ─ My huge goal/2019 resolution is to explore more of my own country next year. Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole and Joshua Tree are on my bucket shortlist, but I would love recommendations! Do you have a favorite U.S. National Park?
    • Today's lesson: don't settle for anything less than your best. ─ This is a small and trivial example, but on Wednesday I posted a photo that started off with a long caption. Though I spent a long time writing it, it felt so whiny and uninspired that I deleted all of it and replaced it with two words, which then felt even MORE uninspired. ─ I'm not saying every photo I post has to have something profound underneath it (this definitely isn't, haha), but it sucked to realize that I was forcing myself to post just for the sake of throwing out content, rather than sharing something I thought was genuinely worthwhile. ─ So I deleted it. As someone who thrives on using this platform to improve my writing and photography skills, I couldn't get over how lazy and fake I both sounded and looked. Why bother forcing something when it takes zero effort to be authentic from the start? ─ (And as a rambling side note, I chose this photo today because I'm going to be exploring the similarly lush and green Douro Valley, where port wine is made! Have you ever been?)
    • Have you ever experienced a moment that felt so genuine, your emotions became almost tangible? ─ Watching this radiant desert sunset was one such moment for me. It was so overwhelming that I wanted to reach into my heart, ball up the feelings of pure contentedness and joy, put them in my pocket and keep them forever. ─ During times when my mental health takes a nosedive, one technique that helps me is to focus on these moments and try to recall my feelings. I am able to do it much better when there is also a photo, which is probably why I take so many. 😅 ─ Cherish and treasure every happy memory you have. It can be easy to have tunnel vision and only focus on the negatives, but if you actively place the spotlight on what makes you feel joy, you'll not only feel it - you'll spread it, too.
    • Solo travel for me involves a process. Well, actually, more of a cycle: 1. Come back from a trip and immediately book another one in a euphoric haze 2. Immediately regret it as soon as I buy the plane tickets 3. Wallow in fear, crushing anxiety and self-doubt while looking up all the ways I could get murdered in my upcoming destination 4. Start getting excited as I read blogs, book accommodation and start planning activities 5. Become desperately afraid the minute I get to the airport, fighting all urges to just go home and crawl into the safety of bed 6. Somehow navigate my way successfully to my destination, dealing with any issues confidently 7. Sit in a cafe with my laptop, content & happy, counting all of my blessings while finally enjoying the payoff from working my ass off to save up money 8. Meet new friends, take photos, get intermittently homesick, do touristy junk and inevitably have an amazing time 9. Fly home and repeat 😬 ─ Every trip reminds me that no matter how crushing and irrational my anxiety may seem, I am much, much stronger than I give myself credit for. All it takes to get to where I want is a little push, a leap of faith and the courage to follow it through. With every new place I visit, I realize that the world is only as scary as I make it. ─ What are you pushing to overcome this week?