The TravelnLass Looks Back on 2012: The Movie
Goodness, but this past year has been QUITE the ride! Indeed, back when I first boarded that one-way flight from Seattle to Hanoi – little did I dream of the many wondrous sights and challenging experiences that awaited me in my crazy plan to move halfway ’round the globe to teach EFL in some g-forsaken rice paddy.
Settling into a strange new country, where I didn’t know a soul, amid a sea of Vietnamese gibberish. Hunkering down to take the CELTA, and beginning a whole new chapter of my life as an EFL Teach. And oh my, the many spectacular corners of Asia that I’ve been lucky enough to see!
In short, even I can’t quite grasp the bounty that I’ve been blessed with these past 12+ months. So I’ve whittled a little video that skips swiftly through all the highlights, to serve as a quick visual memoir of this most extraordinary year in my life.
Thanks to all who’ve come along with me on this amazing ride. And I hope you’ll continue to follow along to see what 2013 will bring for the TravelnLass.
Thanks again for your comments and support – you’d be surprised how much it has meant to me.
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About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
This was so good I had to watch it twice and I really liked that the pics didn’t flash by so fast you can’t get a good look at them, this was done very well, I soooo enjoyed it! What totally beautiful places you got to see and people you got to meet!
Yes, 2012 proved QUITE a remarkable year, Sue – my first full year as an expat. 2013 proved pretty amazing too (more teaching, but in Dalat, the Elephant festival in Laos, lots more corners in Vietnam plus Nepal, Borneo, Brunei and Myanmar) and I’m hoping to likewise make a video to remember it all – so stay tuned…
Welcome to the Boomer Travel Bloggers FB group, Dyanne. This was a great first link to share—a good “get to know me” piece—-and artfully done, I might add. I’m looking forward to the sequel—2013. We’re heading to SE Asia on January 7th. Hopefully, our paths will cross.
Thanks for the welcome Suzanne, and yes – though the 2012 TL review video took a good bit of digital whittle, it’s a fine way for me too, to remember those many dizzying new experiences in my first year as an expat.
2013 was likewise pretty jam-packed (the Elephant Festival in Laos, more teaching in Dalat, Nepal, Borneo, Brunei, Myanmar, and my new home here in Chiang Mai, Thailand). Clearly I’ll be hunkered down again soon cobbling together a sequel. 😉
And yes, yes – I got your private note. I’ll definitely be here in CM for most of January – I look forward to meeting you and hubby Steve in person!
What a great spirit you have and what a year! I too hopped on a plane to Hanoi Vietnam solo around 10 years ago. It was my first trip outside of Canada alone and was totally unprepared for culture shock. In fact as soon as I got to my hotel on Coffee Street I tried to book a return flight home as I was shaking in fear from everything from cockroaches to traffic. But since I couldn’t figure out how to use the phone or communicate with the hotel staff I decided to stick it out a day and then find a travel agent. Once I spent time walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, exploring the Old Quarter and slurping up Pho, I was in love with the country and travel. I spent a month that first trip and haven’t looked back. I’m still not sure what possessed me to pick Vietnam as my first destination but there’s definitely something life-altering about stepping outside your comfort zone. Good for you!
Such amazingly similar histories, Michele! And such a GOOD THING you didn’t know how to use that phone in Hanoi, yes? 😉
Indeed, stepping out of one’s comfort zone is definitely what travel is all about. And the rewards are – both deliciously unpredictable and priceless!
What a time of it you’ve had! Thanks for Rewinding.
Indeed allison – it was QUITE the stellar year, and I’m grateful for every blessed moment of it. Just goes ta show – you’re never too old to slap on a backpack and move to the other side of the globe.
And thanks to YOU for your brilliant “Weekend Rewind”. g-knows there’s many gems out there to be dusted off and I’ve been enjoying many from your linky list.
Thanks for stopping by.
What a wonderful video! You’ve had an amazing year. Thanks for sharing.
–Ronni B.
Thanks Ronni, glad you enjoyed it. And likewise big thanks for “being there” on fb through it all!
Not sure how I found your blog but loved this video. It just screams “Life is short, get after it!!”
You’ve got THAT right Adrienne – an furthermore, it ain’t no DRESS REHEARSAL!
Thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed my little video. Do follow along (via email subscription or RSS feed, see “Follow Me” above) and see what adventures 2013 has for the TravelnLass (hint: for starters, it involves a whole mess of ELEPHANTS!) 😉
Stellar! I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching it over and over again.
Yup, you got THAT right, girlfriend! It truly was a remarkable year, and cobbling together the video was a most lovely reminder of the many, many adventures I had, and people I met (and that includes YOU, my dear!) 😉
You Go Girl! Your smile seems to transcend borders and your experiences have been rich. Happy traveling!
Thanks Nora, I owe the inspiration for whittling this little visual diary of 2012 – all to you!
That was great fun…
Sitting in Ah-Tah-Wah here in a hot tub surrounded by mountains of snow…
Glad you enjoyed it john. And LOL, spelling it “Ah-Tah-Wah” makes it seem a LOT warmer. 😉
I second that, Gail. This is fabulous and what a great reminder (as if you needed it) of how much you’ve done in the past year. You are the poster child of “Live Your Life Now”:-)
I know that I wouldn’t have moved to some g-forsaken rice paddy were it not for your blog. Count me as convert!
Thanks Mary, and trust that I’m just THRILLED that YOU (you my dear, for it was you, and you alone that bought that one-way ticket and got on that plane) have likewise followed in my footsteps. Good luck on starting the CELTA next Monday!
Terrific summary, well done – pics are really so interesting and colorful — a fab experience.
Thanks Sis – yep, it’s most definitely been QUITE a year!