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I know. It’s been two weeks since my last post and you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting for my next update. You can stop holding your breath now. It’s been a busy few weeks and that’s why I’ve been working hard this weekend to serve up a few fresh entries that I hope you come back to devour in their piping hot glory.

At the moment, I’m home for Thanksgiving. I think most of us can agree that no matter how badly we want to leave by the end of a long weekend, the first few days bring a familiar sensation of nostalgia: home-cooking, my favorite fuzzy slippers, my old bed and this monstrosity:

Monster thermos

Not just the typical hot water thermos, but one with a panoramic view of the hot water gauge.

People have asked me about my worst experiences while traveling. My answer has always revolved around the few times I’ve been cold. First, because I am a climatically-challenged bowl of weak sauce and I freeze easily. Second, because the moments I’ve been cold have been the times that I’ve felt completely vulnerable and stripped of warmth, a basic necessity.

And where you do you find warmth? Home. Especially one with hot water and good views.

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A Thing A Day | Traveling the World from Above

Maybe it’s the fact that I got ample sleep this weekend or that I checked off a few things on my to-do list, but today  feels like an especially fresh start to a productive week. My friend sent me this video and I thought I’d share my sickeningly positive sentiments of traveling a little higher, aspiring a little further and seeing things from a fresh angle.

earth from above

Time lapse video of photos taken the crew on International Space Station

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A Thing A Day | Here’s A Thought

Today’s Thing A day is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard in a while. It’s from a presentation I saw recently when one of the speakers interjected and said: “the thing that you do in your spare time… that’s what you should do as a career.”

Yes, m’am.

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A Thing A Day | Soups Across the Globe

Borrowed from Lonely Planet, today’s Thing A Day is a toast to the soup slurping foodies around the world: yum.

I’m forever a pho girl but I also need to add Salmorejo Cordobes on the list. Like gazpacho, but better ;)

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Road to the Oldest Desert in the World, Pt 2

Tucked somewhere between the endless dunes of the southern Namib Desert is Sossussvlei, a clay pan where water collects the few times flash floods take over. That’s where we were headed when we left our blessed rental car to trek this:

Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

People, not bugs.

sand in Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

A photo worthy of a caption like "through the sands of time" or "as the hourglass turns." I might have borrowed that from Days of our Lives.

Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

Taking a break on Dune 45, so called because it's 45 meters from the entrance at Sesriem Gate.

Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

Mysterious trail

Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib deser

Thirsty

sand in Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

Finally... Sosussusvlei!

Namibia desert sosussvlei africa

Interpretative tree dance

Sosussusvlei, Namibia, africa Namib desert

World's strongest man and groupie back-up dancers.

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Road to the Oldest Desert in the World, Pt 1

I’m behind on my posts. Last week’s work/sans-sleep/work schedule did me in but this week promises to be a fresh start. So here it is, part one of my trip from southern Namibia to beginnings of the Namib Desert: a little patch of sand also known as the oldest desert in the world.

Driving to Sosousveil, Namib desert

Oryx crossing.

Driving to Sosousveil, Namib desert

The worst part about having no cops, no lights, no speed limits? Dirt roads that keep you flying at 40 mph.

Driving to Sosousveil, Namib desert

I'm somewhere between a guitar and a bongo drum. I'm serious about the bongo drum.

Driving to Sosousveil, Namib desert

Driving in darkness, ditches, dirt roads and cows.

Driving to Sosousveil, Namib desert dinner campingDinner. I think it got a four star Michelin rating.
camping by Sosousveil, Namib desert

The fun part about pitching a tent in the dark is the morning after.

camping by Sosousveil, Namib desert

Ah. So this is where we pitched our tent.

Tune in folks for tomorrow’s episode of the journey north.

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A Thing A Day | Looking down from way up high

My flight from Tanzania to Ethopia

Flight from Tanzania to Ethiopia

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A Thing A Day | Art K-47

It’s been an exceptionally jam-packed day so apologies for the late post. But thanks to daylight savings, I still made it in time for A Thing A Day.

I met Fiel Fiel Dos Santos while I was in Mozambique, one of the original artists who makes art from decommissioned weapons from the country’s 16-year civil war.

Check out the video here:

http://littlefiel.com/video.php

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A Thing A Day | More People, More Halloween

I have two things for you today. If you’ve been up to date with world stats, you’ll know that on Friday, we hit the seven billion people population mark.

And if you’re a sucker for commercialized holidays, you’ll be glad to know that Halloween is becoming increasingly popular around the world. More people plus more Halloween equals more of this.

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A Thing A Day | Friday Photo

Every once in a while, I look back at pictures from Tanzania and I’m reminded how amazingadorablefunny the kids are.

africa kids orphanage school

Nicole and Christina discussing politics, environmental law and the state of the economy during coffee break at the office.

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