Where in the World is Kirstin?

Traveling the far reaches of the world . . .


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Where in the World Am I ? One Year & 2 Weeks!

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”   “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” - Lao Tzu

Well that has held true for me this past year.  Before I started on this journey I had clear plans:

  • Learn to live in the moment,
  • learn Spanish, and
  • investigate functional traditional medicines around the world.

That being said, I also had  plans to start with a few weeks in the  Himalayas then embark on a spanish study and volunteer trip in Uruguay with a finale at the Mali Touareg Music Festival.   For those that have followed my journey you know that plan changed drastically and it continues to evolve.  I realized pretty quickly if I was open to new experiences it really was impossible to have concrete plans.  In the end I spent 4 months in India, then found a new passion in diving, when I met up with cousins in the Philippines, and pursued my advanced certification while on a search for novel sharks in Malapascua.  I’ve been to places I didn’t know existed and met so many tremendous people along the way, locals and fellow travelers and even a few that happen to live blocks from me in Seattle.

Today, one year and 2 weeks into my journey, I’ve landed in what could be home . . . lush, green, surrounded my mountains and intermittent downpours.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”  

“We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.”  – Martin Buber

Where am I?

I’ve left the history, heat & humidity of Cartagena . . . along with memories of lovely aqua beaches and volcanic mud baths  . . .

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. . . and entered  a land of fresh cut flowers, voluptuous statues and cooler days, I hope!

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Where am I?

Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia


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Where in the World Am I ? Day 365

After 3 weeks in Rabinal my heart & my spanish vocabulary grew three-fold . . . unfortunately so did my waistline.  I tasted multiple  new fruits and vegetables that I had never seen (or heard about) before arriving to Guatemala.  Some of my favorites were zapote (a luscious orange fruit with cafe’ colored skin, similar to papaya  but ‘mucho mas’ decadent) and the vegetables guiskuil (wees-kil) and perulero.  I liked them for the taste AND the great names.

My second to last day in Guatemala, while staying in Antigua, I decided it was time to just go home.  Perhaps the reason my waistline was growing is that I was now housing a few millions unwelcome guests.  It seemed I had contracted the infamous ‘Mayo Malo’ amoebas and for the first time in my life I considered going to the hospital; I was utterly miserable.  But . . . I have not become bilingual so I hesitate to return home before practicing more in a spanish speaking country.

Whether it was the 3 cloves of garlic / mint tea / lime combo my friend conjured up (which I wouldn’t recommend if you have important social engagements) or the flagyl I broke down and ingested, I am thankful that it was only one agonizing night.  Although still a bit tired, I am now enjoying the land a bit further south.

Where in the World Am I?  on Day 365 . . . 

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I am in Christopher Columbus’ namesake, COLOMBIA. . . more photos to come, click here!


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Where in the World Am I ? Day 338

Where am I?

In this village, deep in the hills, Spanish and Achi are the primary languages. Many locals are bilingual but only a few are fluent in English.
I spent the weekend in a town 5 hours away to celebrate Cuaresma (Lent) with colorful alfombras, made of dyed wood chips, and parades with the emotion of the Catholic Latin American people.

The people and the land are tremendously gorgeous!

A common saying here is, “Las personas de ??? hablando mal, pero entender mejor.”*

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Guatemala (the City, Antigua & Rabinal) . . . click here for more photos!


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Unique Museums

I’ve seen some kooky museums this year.

But yesterday I tracked down the Siriraj Forensic Museum in Bangkok which you find after winding your way through a busy hospital campus.

First of all I entered here . . . This is NOT the entrance!

I entered a room that looks like your typical DMV office . . . stark, cold room with lots of plastic chairs.  There were about 20 people seated and in the corner a few people were preparing a body on a gurney.  No way!  So I sit down, shocked, thinking we were going to witness a live autopsy.  Everyone looked local, not touristy.  That’s when a young woman entered, Crying!   I quickly got up and asked someone which way to the museum.  Still have no idea what was happening.  Probably a wake?  If anyone reading this knows what this would have been please inform me.

The museum is nearby, a cluster of 6 exhibits from parasitology to pathology to snakes to tsunamis.  It seems anything that connects directly to death is included here. This also seems to be a typical middle school field trip destination.  I cannot imagine seeing these things as a child but the kids seemed very curious.  The most peculiar of the exhibits:  the encased mummified bodies of executed murderers, including Si Ouey (who killed several male children in the 1940s/1950s and ate their hearts and livers).  Apparently his name has become the Thai version of the bogeyman.

The museums (which don’t allow photography) are filled with lots body parts, fetuses with a wide array of medical conditions and one massive testicle affected with elephantiasis.  In the parasitology section you can educate yourself on the etiology of an array of vector related diseases and the surprise artistic blown glass version of several bacteria.   It’s an eclectic museum to say the least and a diversion from the usual tourist circuit.


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Where in the World Am I ? Day 282

Where Am I on Day 282? 

Did  I have a lucky first day or is this the friendliest country I’ve visited?   The passport control officed smiled, that’s a first on this adventure!  He  also humored me to learn a few helpful words and told a few jokes.)

Many similarities with other Asian and Indian subcontinent countries I’ve visited but the thanakha is a constant reminder of where I am.

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Myanmar (photo gallery) - click here

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