Empowered and Unlonely: My Solo Journey Through Southeast Asia and the Middle East

 

September is my birthday month, and this year, I decided to embark on a solo travel adventure that spanned almost the entire month. It was a first for me to venture out on my own for such an extended period, and I can't emphasize enough how nervously exciting the experience turned out to be. By the end of my journey through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Dubai, I felt more empowered than ever. 

This 27-day solo expedition was a personal challenge I set for myself. Ideally, I'd love to have a travel companion to share and build memories with but finding someone willing to commit to such an extended journey proved quite elusive. So, I summoned the courage to go it alone.

I initially anticipated moments of loneliness, the absence of someone to share a meal with, capture scenic views in photographs, or provide that reassuring sense of safety. However, I must say that Asian countries, in my experience, felt considerably safe compared to my home in the USA. I certainly took precautions, as is ingrained in many Americans, but looking back, I probably went a tad overboard.

Throughout my stays in seven different hotels, I carried an alarm door stopper, pepper spray in my bag, and a discreet money belt for my passport and cash. These measures, although comforting, may not have been as necessary as I initially thought.

Now, onto the question of loneliness. Yes, there were moments when I wished a specific family member or friend could have shared certain experiences with me, but I wouldn't necessarily classify these moments as loneliness. My days were a whirlwind of activity, filled with guided tours, meeting people from around the world, and forging connections with tour guides who felt like new friends eager to showcase their home country.

I was constantly in awe, with each day presenting a new adventure. Whether it was lighting a lantern in Hoi An, Vietnam, gazing at the stunning limestone formations of Halong Bay, cruising the Mekong Delta, exploring one of the world's largest caves, visiting grand temples, or seeing a rice field for the first time, my days were packed with wonder. After wrapping up one city, I'd hop on a plane to another part of Vietnam, eager to explore more. Then I was hopping on the plane again off to the next country. so, Loneliness had little room in my busy, sleep-filled nights.

As for capturing these memorable moments, I was equipped with a tripod, perfect for those times when I wanted to snap a photo against a breathtaking backdrop. I'm quite particular about how my pictures turn out, so setting up the tripod with a clicker to step into the frame allowed me to get shots just the way I wanted. I also did some video vlogging, sharing most of it on TikTok and my YouTube channel. (you can click the links to check some of it out)

Youtube Shorts: Golden bridge Vietnam. #goldenbridge #banahills #vacationmode - YouTube

YoutubeShorts: Four things you can do in a day in Hoi an Vietnam - YouTube

Youtube Shorts: walking around the street of vietnam : My Epic Journey Through Asia #travel #hoian #goldenbridge - YouTube

My biggest concerns when embarking on this journey were safety and loneliness. Looking back, I can confidently say that I felt safe in all four countries I visited: Dubai, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

I wholeheartedly recommend taking the leap and stepping out of your comfort zone to embark on a solo adventure. The sense of empowerment I gained from this trip is truly indescribable. If I can navigate this journey, I feel like I can conquer anything.

Please share with me if you have ever had such an adventure or is it something you have on your list to do?

How to Make Turmeric Tea - A staple in My Anti inflammatory diet

Have you ever heard of scarring alopecia? It's a condition that causes hair loss and scarring on the scalp. I've been battling with it for three years now, and it's been a tough emotional journey. Recently, my inflammation levels have been skyrocketing, my doctor prescribed me antibiotic. It was working wonders until I started experiencing some side effects like losing my sense of taste and twitching in my face.  That a hold other topic it was wild. 

But, I'm not giving up. I've decided to try an anti-inflammatory diet to see if it can alleviate some of my symptoms. Research shows that an anti-inflammatory diet can be beneficial for people with autoimmune diseases like scarring alopecia.

So, I'm on this new food journey, and I want to share it with you. One of my go-to anti-inflammatory foods is turmeric, and I have an amazing recipe for turmeric tea that you have to try. Check out my YouTube video to see how I make it and let me know your thoughts in the comments. Let's connect and support each other on this journey towards healing.

My Alopecia Vacation Hairstyle

This blog is turning out to be my personal digital sanctuary, a place where I can unleash my thoughts and be truly authentic without fear of judgment. It's like being invisible in a crowded room, except I secretly love it. If you're part of the select few who have stumbled upon my blog, welcome! Let's connect and chat about life. Connect with me on my youtube channel HERE 

I had an amazing trip to Mexico and shared my experience on YouTube about my travels, I always braid my hair to avoid irritating my scalp due to my alopecia. But, after suffering from burning scalp and brittle hair, I decided to shave it all off again. Thanks to a 30-day antibiotic prescription and a hair product from Carol's Daughter, I'm finally having some positive changes with moisture retention.

So, make sure you connect with me on my digital oasis and on youtube and let’s talk hair loss, travel, and life. Who knows what other adventures we might discover together?  J

 Carols daughter's honey mimosa. you can check the link out HERE

 

My Alopecia Hair Loss Journey Update Part 1

Now, that I am on this journey to get my hair growing again having the right attitude and staying positive is key.  Honestly, even though I think my attitude is positive, I still struggle a little with accepting it. I am not as tearful like I was in the beginning. My brain keeps wandering off on very doubting thoughts.  Will my hair really grow back to its normal state, how will it be when my hair is completely bald, how people will react to me, will I get stared at when I go out in public, will people wonder about what my illness is, will they think I have cancer? this goes on and on in my head. This is a new battle that I am struggling with and I hope it's a normal reaction and eventually, I will stop these lines of thinking. I am on week three of me shaving my head. I had planned on keeping it a private journey but, I decided to share it with the world. I thought it would be very liberating and freeing. I don't think I have accomplished the liberating experience I was looking for. I guess it's because of the alopecia diagnosis. If I had no issues with my hair maybe  I would have had the type of liberating feelings I was looking for. Anyway, the response from my friends and family and even strangers was so encouraging and very positive.  I uploaded a video on my youtube channel talking about my hair and I received lots of encouraging words. (check out the video HERE ) I have a very small youtube channel and I think it's the most engagements I have had on any topic on my channel. And of course, my family and my friends have been so encouraging. all of the positive outpourings of love and encouragement are very uplifting and I needed it and I thank everyone for it.

It seems that whenever you shave your head completely bald your hair grows faster. I am experiencing a lot of new hair growth but the hair is growing around all the balding spots on my head.

3 weeks of hair growth

My hair itches a lot and I experienced a lot of burning on my scalp. The burning sensation is a part of the alopecia diagnosis. Burning sensation on your scalp is very common in scarring alopecia. I am unable to make a regular doctor appointment, especially with a dermatologist due to what's going on in the world right now. ( I am still in disbelief that the world is in a pandemic due to the coronavirus)  Most doctors are working from home and most appointments with your doctor are being done over the phone. Dermatologists' treatment is a hands-on approach  So, this leaves me with figuring out how I am going to treat my hair to subside the burning.

 I have been using Selsun blue and tea tree shampoo and it helps for a couple of hours after I wash my hair. I am trying this shampoo because it supposes to treat psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. I don't know if this is doing my scalp harm ( I hope not) I  just wanted to try something that is supposed to treat some types of scalp condition. when I use this shampoo it feels medicated and tingling and the burning does subside for a couple of hours after washing. 




The itching and burning are worse whenever I put a hat or a scarf on my head and also when I lay down to sleep at night. I am not sure if this is from the new growth. whatever it is. it's unbearable.

I found a video on youtube talking about using Listerine to help with the burning of the scalp. I tried this and it actually works. I rinse my scalp with Listerine then wash my hair with tea tree shampoo and conditioner and I notice the burning of the scalp subside for at least two days. so this is my new routine to assist with the burning of the scalp.






I am happy about having the burning of the scalp under control for now. the next step is to find a method to stimulate some hair growth in the balding spot. I will share update on my next post.

check out my youtube video by clicking this link

My Alopecia Hair Loss Journey

I bought a golden clipper and shave all my hair off on Sunday, March 21, 2020. I would love to say the reason why I did it was because I was bored from being stuck in the house due to the coronavirus pandemic, that we are now having in the USA.  I was diagnosed with scarring alopecia in 2016.  My dermatologist's solution was to get steroid shots in my head. I refused to get the steroid treatment.

After my diagnosis, looking back it's hard to believe that I wasn't too concern about it. The dermatologist told me at the time that the small patches I had in the crown of my head should not get any bigger. I thought it wasn't so bad, I thought to myself then, that I could live with the small patch in my head. ( eventually, my hair loss got worse) My hair texture is 4C and it was beautiful, lush and very thick. I never used any type of relaxer in my hair I always wore my hair in its natural form.

However, throughout my years in college, I used to have dreadlocks. My dreadlocks were beautiful, I never use to wear it too long, I used to groom it so the length was always right at my shoulders. After I cut my dreads I wore braids constantly. I think this probably played a big factor in why I have scarring Alopecia. I am also deficient in Iron vitamins and Vitamin D.

The balding and thinning of my hair was getting so bad I had to shave it all off. The small patches turned into multiple patches all over my head and my scalp constantly itches uncontrollably and I get all kinds of burning sensation on my scalp.  After I took the clippers and shave my head I cried. I was in poor spirits the entire day. I did not know I would have so much attachment to my hair. When I looked in the mirror I see a brand new me and it's taking me some time to get used to it. I decided to document my hair journey here. I will be sharing all my research findings and everything that I do to get my hair to grow back. From what I have read so far it's not looking good it seems that the verdict is I will eventually be completely bald.

First I must say this, if scarring alopecia is going to be the only affliction I will ever have in my life, I will consider myself lucky and I will be grateful. Because out of all the diseases and sickness I could have been diagnosed with and if scarring alopecia is my affliction I will consider myself blessed and highly favored. 

However, before I accept that all is lost I planned on fighting it. So, I hope my journey helps others who may be diagnosed with the same condition. I hope you join me in my journey or share it with others who might be going through the same. If you have any suggestions I am open to it.

So here are the steps that I am going to start to take moving forward. Click on this link for a more detail 
Definition of Scarring Alopecia 

1.  I planned on getting a full physical with blood work to see if I have any underline condition that might be causing the hair loss. Often time we have a certain illness and it goes unnoticed. for example, a lot of other types of Autoimmune diseases fall under these categories. I need to rule out if  I have any other kind autoimmune diseases besides alopecia. 

2. Start taking iron supplements and vitamin D supplements.

3. Change my diet. Research on having a more balanced diet, because my eating pattern is very poor.

4. Research and experiment with

 various alternative hair remedies.

My Golden Clipper I used to cut my hair.

5. Believe that my hair will grow back.

I will be posting weekly updates, here and I also will be doing some YouTube videos.

Click this  link to Check out my video on Youtube

My Trip To Thailand

I have been neglecting this blog for an entire year. My reasons or possible excuses LOL, I strongly held this belief that people don't read anymore. Social media have taken over the way how people consume information. Everything has to be fast pasted with memes, preferably some types of drama and entertainment. These are some of the main reasons why I have not been posting anything on this blog anymore. I have now changed my views because I enjoy reading blogs and I still enjoy reading articles on things that I have interest in.  So, I am sure there are people out there who are just like me. LOL.

I will be posting again on a weekly basis and hopefully, it will find people who will find my contents of interest. Please follow my channel on Youtube I post weekly videos every Sunday. My contents are mostly about Travel, fashion, Lifestyle.

I went on a trip to Thailand in December of 2019. It was my first time in Thailand. I booked my trip with a travel group call (Affordable world). It was for 9 days and I would say that they are worth taking a look at.

It was a jam pack daily excursions and we visited four different islands in Thailand One of the highlights was visiting an elephant sanctuary. Here are some pictures of other activities that were offered.

It turns out I love elephants I enjoyed feeding them and I felt like I could have watched them play in the water and eat all day. It was like I was hypnotized.

Coral Island

                                                          Visits to 7 different temples

                                                         Traditional Thailand show.

More Temple visits

                                                                        Floating Market

My latest Youtube upload Click HERE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!! GUYS :) 
Hi, guys, I wish everyone love Peace and happiness. 2018 was a great year for me. I am grateful that I was happy and healthy. I give thanks for my family and all my wonderful friends. I am truly blessed and highly favored. Goodbye 2018, Hello 2019 I am ready for all the wonderful adventures. 

CHECK OUT MY FINAL UPLOAD FOR 2018 ON YOUTUBE.:

 CLICK THIS LINK

                           

What I Wore On My Cruise Vacation

Hi Guys, I went on a fabulous cruise on December 1, to December 5.  It was a theme cruise call Welcome to Jamrock. It's hosted by the Marley brothers. There was a stage show with lots of Reggae and dancehall artists. It was jam pack around the clock entertainment. They have this cruise every year. If you are a fan of reggae music you are sure to have a great time. These are some of the outfits I wore on the cruise. I vlog about the experiences check it out on YOUTUBE 

My new sunnies. 

                                         One of the DJ that played music throughout the cruise.

Click this link to check out vlog on Youtube