Road Trip Across America

October 5, 2016October 5, 2016 / shannonjok / Leave a comment

“I am drawn to this endeavor as I have never been drawn to anything in my life. I am sure that I am right to do this, though I cannot tell you precisely why.” -Michael Punke

It was February 2016 when I was reading The Revenant and contemplating a move across the country. Then I came across this quote and it captured the desire that pulled me west in ways I couldn’t yet vocalize. I decided to take the plunge a month later. I slowly started telling family and friends over the next few. Soon, the date arrived. I packed my belongs in a Uhaul and my Jeep and took the most epic road trip from Long Beach, New York, to Portland, Oregon, my new home.

The decision to move was not easy. The decision to road trip was. But unlike my other trips I barely had time to plan, so Kris took the wheel and together we visited more National Parks and Monuments over a nine-day camping adventure and had an unforgettable trip.

At some point I’ll highlight our favorite spots (Sioux Falls, SD; Badlands; Jackson Hole, WY) and tell you about the guy, but today, here are some of my favorite pictures.

*Click on the images to view as a slide show and read the descriptions.

Wyoming is so beautiful I had to capture this from the window.

You can’t take us anywhere.

Sioux Falls is awesome, and so are these statues we came across.

Idaho is way cooler than expected.

I was so sad we couldn’t fit the Uhaul through Needles Highway. We must return!

We found the world’s largest Jackalope at a gas station store in Wyoming, so of course Kris road it.

So much corn in Iowa.

The Wyoming Hot Springs were a nice treat.

We went mountain biking in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

This is where dreams come true.

Kris stemming his way along Needles Highway.

Coming up on the Grand Tetons. This picture barely does it justice.

Just hanging out in the Cave of the Winds.

No one has ever been so happy to see a mountain.

Smile, we’re at the Bean.

Getting weird, again.

Crazy Horse Memorial in the background.

Pushing my gimp out of the picture.

Looking good!

A missed turn lead to this happy accident — a visit to Brandywine Falls in Ohio.

The Badland are so cool!

The setting sun in Pennsylvania. It was beautiful, when not blinding.

We made it to Mount Rushmore just before dark.

A Look Back Before Moving Forward

August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 / shannonjok / 2 Comments

September 16, 2014 – Bled, Slovenia

It just occurred to me that I’ll be home in 10 days and the idea fills me with sadness—the kind of sadness one feels when parting from a dear friend when you don’t know the next time you’ll visit.

At any other location on earth I might not be quite as mournful, but sitting on this dock at Lake Bled, the water so calm and the air so still, finally warming with the day, anyone would feel as I do—so full of gratitude, peace, and tranquility.

Bled is the kind of place you dream about before you know it exists. A castle sitting on a ridged cliff, a church literally the center of life rests on its own lush island, the Slovenian Alps linger in the distance, and the people congregate at the base of the lake, a lake that begs for life, calling your name to its crest and drawing you to explore it fully.

I chose to roam by bike as others strolled along, camera in hand, only wishing to capture its beauty that’s always beyond the reach of your lens, the true beauty you simultaneously see and feel deep within if you let the silence fill your heart can never be capture on film. It’s too full, like the character of a person. You need to see firsthand or you will never really know its song that gently keeps the locals at bay and draws visitors from throughout the world.

August 4, 2016 – Long Beach, NY

I still think back on this day, a day so perfect, a moment I know was meant to be. I used to recall the serenity of Bled and wish to return to recreate such feelings, but today I look back on this moment for another reason. Today I remember how sad I was to return home, a desire for adventure so strong pulling me to new destinations and it’s this memory that comforts me for my upcoming move to Portland, OR.

Florida: More Than Just Disney

April 4, 2016April 4, 2016 / shannonjok / Leave a comment

Disney World. Epcot. Key West. These were once the only attractions that lured me to Florida. But, John Green fans, it’s more than just a paper town. In fact, the third most populous state is also a great place to get outdoors and enjoy nature.

While unseasonably warm 90-degree October temperatures might have derailed plans for a Sunshine State newbie, as an Arizona native visiting from the quickly cooling state of New York I welcomed the scorching rays.

The four-day getaway was a 30^th birthday present courtesy of my dad who, along with his wife Tracy, was already planning a long Halloween weekend in Ocala to visit family.

Given my movie-formed opinions I was initially reticent to accept when he mentioned we would be skipping the House of Mouse, but was also excited to bust my preconceived position.

“There are some excellent hiking trails,” my dad kept repeating.

“Where? Skirting the alligator-ridden swamps?” I sarcastically surmised. I later learned the answer is basically yes.

Ocala, dubbed the Horse Capital of the World, is a centrally located city where we stayed during our visit and is conveniently located an hour from all major attractions including the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and yes, Disney World. However, these destinations were not on the agenda.

Instead, on Halloween morning I boarded a non-stop plane at JFK and met my family in Tampa a few hours later where we quickly hopped in a rental and headed north. After brief hellos with our hosts, the Watson family, we prepared for the festivities and friends began to arrive.

A plane ride isn’t complete without a good book.

I was a fall fairy, inspired by my dad who was dressed as the tooth fairy.

After a fun-filled Cards Against Humanity Halloween night, the next morning we set out on our first adventure – kayaking at Weeki Wachee State Park.

Weeki Wachee Springs, best known for its mermaid show that’s been delighting audiences since 1947, also borders the Weeki Wachee River where we rented two-person kayaks and paddled downstream along the 74-degree, crystal clear waterway. The four-hour, five-mile ride was a treat! In addition to the cooling swim breaks and beautifully tree-lined coast, we spotted manatees – a favorite animal since childhood that I had yet to see in person.

Kayaking With Dad

Kayaking is a blast, but the intense Florida heat is draining. So after a good night’s sleep I awoke with the sun and decided to go on a short jog around the neighborhood before meeting the gang for provisions. The large, delicious portions of breakfast and lunch at The Lunchbox properly fueled us for our next excursion – an afternoon hike.

We decided to stay local and keep it simple, opting for the 2-3 mile Land Bridge Trail. This unpaved, moderately easy walking trail was beaming with life. The extensive plants ranged from prickly pear cactus to butterfly-attracting brush and pine trees claiming some of the largest cones I’ve ever seen. However, the main allure is the Land Bridge that jets out over I-75 connecting the numerous equestrian, bicycling, and hiking trails.

From nature to I-75

Beautiful butterflies marked the trail.

We’re following the leader, wherever she may go.

With just a few hours remaining in Florida on our last day, we again opted to head outdoors and took a short ride to Silver Springs State Park. The park has been a natural landmark since the 1870s and is most popular for its glass-bottom boat. We skipped this and traversed the grounds by foot instead, which did not limit our run-ins with nature.

Among turtle sightings and an extensive list of birds, we unknowingly came upon a venomous Florida Cottonmouth, or water moccasin. Resting near the river with its head out of view (which was probably best for all parties), I probably crept too close for a photo of what we later learned was a deadly Floridian snake.

Just taking a leisurely walk through Silver Springs State Park.

Ah! Stay away. This guy is poisonous.

Sadly, it was time to leave the great state of Florida shortly after our brief visit to Silver Springs. The trip was a welcomed respite reminding me how important it is to escape the bustling city and real life every once in a while, and that all places have more to offer than over-priced tourist attractions.

I went to Florida hoping we might pop over to Disney and am pleasantly surprised that the natural beauty now piques my travel bug more so than a desire to ride Splash Mountain – at least most days.

Hiking Into the New Year

January 22, 2016January 22, 2016 / shannonjok / 1 Comment

On New Year’s Day 2015 I participated in First Day Hikes and this year, in spite of a fierce cold, I followed through again.

Unlike the alcohol-fueled New Year’s Eve party at my brother’s house last year, this year I joined two friends for dinner, a Star Wars viewing (my second), and a champagne-toasting, ball-dropping night. I was home and in bed before 2 am and happy about it.

My cough tried to keep me down, but it was the perfect excuse to get a good rest before an early morning jaunt. So when my alarm went off at 8:03 am, I wasn’t as disgruntled as usual. Instead, I was looking forward to a day in the woods.

I packed up, put air in my tires as they were looking pretty sad, grabbed a bagel and coffee, and headed to New Jersey. “What? Why am I going to Jersey?” was my immediate reaction to the GPS request, but I quickly learned that sometimes it’s faster to leave New York to get to New York. Weird!

As I crossed the Throgs Neck and George Washington bridges and admired the iconic New York City skyline, a scene I sometimes take for granted, I soaked up the beauty and was happy.

In the next breath I was focused. With two hands on the wheel and an eye on the clock I acknowledge it was possible I might miss the 10 am hike at Sterling Forest State Park. “I never calculate extra time for stops and traffic,” I thought. “Maybe this should be my resolution?” (Spoiler Alert: It’s not, though maybe it should be.)

Thankfully, while I did arrive late the group hadn’t left. I made it just in time, slipping on my gloves and hat and zipping my jacket as the procession began.

The large group was made up of about 40 people of various ages and skills; mostly couples, some families, and a few, like me, on their own. While everyone was friendly, it was a solitary hike in a sea of people slowly putting one foot in front of the other.

As we meandered around fallen trees, skipped rocks to cross small streams and navigated up and down an easy hillside, the air was finger-biting cold and I was glad for layers of warmth, especially given our languid pace to the lake. Everyone was in high spirits at the start of the four-miles, but at less than halfway through the faster group became frustrated by constant stops as we waited for stragglers. Unless we wanted to take a four-hour hike, we would need to break away, and eventually someone spoke up.

“This hike is taking significantly longer than I anticipated,” one man suggested to the leader, who agreed. “Would you mind if my wife and I split off instead of resting at the two-mile mark?” The leader understood and a few others agreed this was best. I was one. The new brisk pace kept me warm and invigorated and brief photo stops let me linger in the stillness and appreciate the faint sounds of nature that surround us if we listen.

The solitude also allowed opportunity to reflect on the past year, as well as the one stretched before me where I was otherwise unavoidably eavesdropping. Sorry, but I don’t care that this hike is easy because you walk dogs when not working at a nearby grocery store. I’m trying to escape mundane, everyday life and delve into the amazing world around me, so shush. Like I said, it was time to break away.

And so I did. I broke away from the group. I broke away from day-to-day stressors. I broke away from expectations and to-do lists and cell service. I disconnected in every possible way and was more at ease in that moment than I had been all year, and I remembered why I love to hike, even if it’s just four miles around a lake on a crisp winter day.

I realized the only thing I want this year, in life, is to constantly evolve into a better version of myself. I don’t need a New Year’s resolution to change. I’m going
to be cognizant and appreciative of my time each day and, if I’m lucky, hopefully I’ll get to hike more often, too.

10 Best Packing Do & Don’ts

February 28, 2015February 28, 2015 / shannonjok / 2 Comments

Backpacking through Europe is literally the best thing ever, but it’s a challenge to pack for weeks on the road. These are the best do and don’t tips I’ve learned, some the hard way.

Do pack for all occasions. Without my dress I would have missed the orchestral concern in Vienna. Sans bathing suit I would have skipped a trip to the baths in Budapest. Minus a coat and scarf it would have been uncomfortably cold in Bled, Slovenia.
Without a dress I would have missed this moment.

Don’t over pack either. It’s a delicate balance, but my rule of thumb is pack enough clothes for two weeks and plan to do laundry every two to three.
Do limit your electronics, especially if you’re staying at a hostel. I only brought an Apple iPhone and Canon Camera.
I have the mophie juice pack air in white. By far one my best purchases ever.

Don’t forget your chargers and adaptors! I would also recommend a battery backup for your phone. I have a mophie juice pack and it was a lifesaver as I was often using wifi at local cafes, consulting maps I saved in my pictures, and listening to audiobooks on long bus rides.
Do bring a note pad and pens. It’s impossible to remember all the little moments when you’re busy traveling. Write it down so you remember the time you made friends at a beer garden in Austria, smoked hookah with an Italian in Bosnia, and stumbled upon a great hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant in Munich.
Sometimes you’ll have too much fun to write.

Don’t miss out on adventure because you’re too busy documenting it all. Sometimes you’ll go days without writing, but it probably means you’re having too much fun to sit still.
Do bring a purse with secure zippers and pockets for casual browsing and a backpack for day trips.
My purse was deceptively large with small zipper pockets inside, a large zipper on the top, and a flap that closed with a magnetic clasp. It was perfect!

Don’t get a money belt, but still be smart about where you store your cash and passport. Don’t put money in the most easy-to-reach pockets and don’t carry too much cash at once.
Do invest in a small, quality camera. I recommended the Canon I purchased that offers a manual mode and flash settings. After a lot of research I opted for the PowerShot G15 Compact Digital Camera with 21.1 Mega Pixels, 5x Optical Zoom.
This canon was the perfect size and produced quality photos.

Don’t rely solely on a large, fancy camera that screams tourist and doesn’t even fit in your purse.
Do purchase a small, on-the-go hair dryer if it’s an item you often use.
I wish I brought this along.

Don’t assume the hostel will have one. The hostels in England and Ireland did, but only one hostel of more than 10 was equipped with a hair dryer during my 5-week journey through Central and Eastern Europe.
Do buy a local sim card. This will provide you with a local number, which other travelers will be more inclined to use to meet up.
I picked up a LycaMobile sim on my first day in Germany.

Don’t buy too much time as you can add money online. I purchased a 10 euro card, which was more than enough for the few calls and texts sent during my trip.
Do bring a compact umbrella and rain jacket. Do carry the umbrella 24/7. You will thank me.
Walking the bob sled track in Bosnia would have been less delightful if I was getting rained on.

Don’t get an umbrella that won’t fit in your purse and backpack and skip the look-at-me-I’m-a-tourist poncho.
Do create an itinerary. If you make a list of a few hostels and want-to-see stops for each city, you will have a more productive and less stressful trip.
Beauty and adventure await around every corner, even in Bratislava.

Don’t stick to your plan. Sometimes it’s best to abandon your checklist for spur of the moment adventure.
Do pack cheap sunglasses. I picked up a chic purple pair at Target. I didn’t lose it, but wasn’t bummed when I had to toss them at the end because the frames were very scratched.
I wore my Target sunglasses almost every day.

Don’t bring expensive designer shades. No one cares if you’re wearing Chanel frames, but you will if they’re lost or broken.
Bonus Tip: Do bring on-the-go water bottles. I brought a smaller one that fit in my purchase and a large one that was great for bus rides and day trips.
I recommend a Camelbak water bottle or something similar. Make sure it’s BPA free and spill-proof.

Don’t buy water. Double check before you leave, but all nine countries I visited had potable water and I saved a lot of money by not purchasing bottled water.