When I was younger, we didn’t have the means to travel.  I always felt that this was such a disadvantage, because the world is really much bigger than what we think it is.  Traveling and living abroad gives you a new point of view. It gives you insight into another world that you might not have otherwise known. It also lets you know – there is definitely so much to do in so little time.

I love watching the Travel Channel. I dream of going to these different places and just looking through these new sites, admiring both history and culture, and tasting different foods. I live vicariously through people like Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain. Alas, for various reasons, I will and can never be as adventurous as they are. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t tried – but I have my limitations. Despite this, at least I can say that my personal travel diary is not too shabby. I’ve been to some great places, but my top 5 favorite places are:

1. Japan
2. Italy
3. Mauritius 
4. Dubai
5. Hawaii

These 5 places are not only just beautiful to see, but they hold a special sentiment because I learned something valuable during that trip.  One of my fears is being and traveling alone, and surprisingly, experiencing new things. Going to these places really put me out of my comfort zone, made a stronger person, and a happier traveler. I’ll be discussing these 5 in random entries. Let’s start with:

Hawaii. Ok, I absolutely love Hawaii. I probably go every other year – it’s affordable because we have family there, which really cuts on cost. Hawaii, specifically Maui, is important because it was the destination of my very first business trip.

After working like a crazy person on a specific implementation, we got the green light to go a related conference set in Maui – specifically at the famous Grand Wailea Hotel. If you haven’t been here, I highly suggest it. Yes, it’s pricey, so pick the right time, but it’s beautiful!

(photo credit: http://www.grandwailea.com)

When I was a child, Hawaii was a distant, unreachable dream. Only people with money went there, and I wasn’t part of that club. It’s one of those places that you see in the movies and think about how happy and beautiful it must be there. The moment I realized I could go, I had to hold back tears. I really thought that I had made it. I was so young (24 or so), so it also meant that professionally, my company had enough confidence to send me as a representative.  It was icing on the cake. This trip taught me that hard work pays off. You do well, and things can go your way.  I felt extremely lucky and did not take the trip for granted.

We ended up staying there for quite awhile. The pools and the private beach are just as fun and beautiful as they appear, and Maui is as green and peaceful as they say. We did the typical tourist things (as much as work would allow): I went snorkling (with a life vest), saw amazing waterfalls, and viewed parts of Haleakala. It was difficult to work because you knew that outside those enclosed conference walls, were beautiful ocean skies. In the end, it was one of the most memorable and rewarding trips.

We are going to Hawaii sometime soon – hoping that Maui is on the agenda. It would be nice to revisit and think about how I’ve grown since!

What are your favorite places to visit?