Camping with my Cabin Zero Backpack

August 7, 2017 by WorldWideVegetarian 1 Comment

Recently, I went camping with my CabinZero backpack.

Haven’t seen CabinZero yet? Well they design a pretty cute, pretty innovative carry-on size backpack which is the shape of a suitcase.

For awhile now, I had been looking for a new backpack around 35-45L so I could have the possibility to carry it on board most planes, and I kept seeing this amusing square backpack around the blogosphere.

So after receiving the CabinZero backpack, I had to test it out!

Luckily, I planned to attend Shensara Yoga festival, an intimate gathering of local yogis, in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, on a camp site just next to the river.

A perfect opportunity to try out my CabinZero backpack!

This year I was giving Thai massage treatments, and of course swimming, practicing yoga, and meditation, enjoying the company of many good friends, and dancing to music in the evenings.

Because this was outdoors, I didn’t need to bring many clothes, but at the same time, I wanted to stay relatively clean while giving treatments, so I did bring more clothes than I normally would have.

And since I packed for a week or so instead of just the three I was there, I wanted to see how far the CabinZero could take me.

Camping with this backpack was great!

I was packing a bit last minute (as usual?), and I was able to shove all of my clothes in there, plus toiletries and a few extras, with room to spare. The backpack has one main compartment, which I would separate with organizers in the future, plus three separate zip compartments, two inside, and one outside, as well as a laptop sleeve.

I figured the true test would be the weather. It rained almost everyday, and though the bag was mostly inside my tent, it still got a bit wet on the outside, and my clothes were just fine. I wouldn’t say the bag is water proof, nor does it advertise to be, but for general, usual outdoor use, this bag was wonderful.

So, you are looking for a new backpack for yourself? Want to have the possibility to carry on, and still have maximal space? I like the CabinZero bag, and I’d recommend it!

Why this backpack?

What I liked about this bag is that it is the square space of a carry-on suitcase, but it is first and foremost a backpack. When I travel, I usually like to carry my bags on my body, for hands free convenience, so for me, a backpack is essential. I wanted a smaller bag for backpacking, but still big enough to hold all the junk I seem to carry around. So, this is just perfect! It’s super light weight, roomy, and square, so things fit well into compression sacks or packing cubes, or by just shoving it all in there.

I also plain and simple love the look!!

A post shared by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Jul 18, 2017 at 3:09pm PDT

Is it perfect?

Well, what is perfect? What was missing for me is a waist strap. I like to have a strap around the waist to relieve the pressure from the shoulders, and carry my bags in a more natural way. This version of CabinZero backpack doesn’t have a waist closure, but I will mention the military version does.
Should you get one?
Why not? It’s lightweight, convenient, cute, and affordable, especially if you like to save time, money, and hassle with airlines by carrying your bag on board.

Want one for yourself? Use my promo code: CZWWVEGETARIAN NOW, and for one month only, for 10% off!

Staying in an Indian Ashram

October 12, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 9 Comments

Many people often dream of staying in an Indian Ashram, but what exactly is an ashram, and what can you expect when staying in an ashram?

The thing is, there are people who will tell you an ashram is this, or it’s that, but during my time in India, I came to find out, that ashrams can take many forms. There are so many ashrams in India, most running independent of the others, but some larger and branching. Some you will find commercially advertised, some you can only find if someone brings you there, some near or in major cities, some deep in nature with no internet or cell connection. Some ashrams have strict structured schedules, while others have no structure at all.

While traveling in India I stayed in 3 ashrams, each one revealing a different expression of yogic practice.

Officially, Ashrams are monastic communities, or religious retreat centers generally for the practice of Hinduism, in India and Southeast Asia.

With this definition in mind, I noticed a few similarities between the ashrams:

Vegetarian Food

Monks/Monastic Lifestyle

Religious Ceremony

Precepts, like no alcohol, no tobacco, no meat, etc.

Yoga, lifestyle and physical asana practice

Meditation

Modest dress code for men and women

Sivananda Ashram, Neyyar Dam, Kerala

This ashram was my first home in India, where I did my yoga teacher training. At Sivananda, we followed a strict schedule that began at 6:00 and concluded around 21:30. We meditated together, did yoga, volunteered around the ashram, attended lectures, and meditated some more. Ashram activities are mandatory here and there is not much chance to leave the ashram for personal activities. It is a great place to refresh, detox, and have a structured experience.

There are a few Sivananda Ashrams in various locations around the world, and each one follows the same daily structure and yoga series as taught by Swami Sivananda and passed down through Swami Vishnudevananda.

This is a large, and well known ashram which can host a few hundred people. It is well established and well funded.

Ma Sharanam Ashram, Narmada River

I learned about this ashram thanks to my yoga teacher from home in USA. Her Swami resides here, so we came here for a few weeks to learn from him. To get to this place, we had to travel an hour by car from the nearest airport, and take a boat across to the island.

This ashram is also a gurukul, which is a place where children are trained in the traditional monastic and priestly traditions of the Hindu faith. The children that lived in the ashram were kind, helpful, generous, and very talented musicians. It was a blessing to be around children raised in such a structured, yet compassionate environment.

This is a much smaller ashram, where the schedule is flexible. This place felt like a family, if there was work to be done, we all helped, and otherwise we were left to enjoy the space and work on personal practice in whatever way we pleased, or to join in with the ceremonies and activities at the ashram. And by the way, the food here is awesome. Staying at the ashram is donation based.

Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Apr 6, 2015 at 4:56am PDT

This is one of the bigger, if not biggest ashram in Rishikesh. To me, this ashram was more of a guesthouse in many senses. There was a schedule, but it was not mandatory, about there were so many people staying at this ashram, you could come and go as you pleased.

Every evening, Parmarth does a Ganges river puja, ceremony, which is nice to see while you are there. When I stayed at Parmarth, meals were included in the price of the stay, but I have heard this changes. Also, there are two yoga classes included in the stay, but I was already attending other classes around Rishikesh, and found the classes at Parmarth very basic, which would be great for those who have never done any yoga.

Parmarth is well known, and host to the yearly international yoga festival in March. Book ahead if you plan to stay here around February-March because it gets full. I came after the festival, and I couldn’t get into Parmarth for 3 weeks! Prices vary based on room type and occupancy.

Have you ever stayed in an ashram? Which one? How was your experience?

What I Saw in Lisbon, Portugal

July 21, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 4 Comments

It’s been a long time! The last time I posted, I was just ending my time in the beautiful country of Jordan and heading to Spain and Portugal. And since then, I have visited Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and have made my way back home to Washington, D.C., for a few months of work, yoga, and cooking, before more travels in the fall.

After Spain, and after missing my flight and spending an extra day in Barcelona, I finally made it to Lisbon, a city in a country that has been topping my travel list for several years now.

I’d been hearing from other travelers (where I get all my best tips!) that Portugal was the somehow “better” version of Spain, and that it was a destination that can’t be missed in Europe.

Anyway, I don’t know if Portugal is “better” than Spain, but Portugal itself is a beautiful country, and Lisbon a beautiful capitol. And luckily for me, a friend of mine recently relocated to Lisbon, so I had a nice little base to see the sights of Lisbon.

So here’s what I saw:

Viewpoint Parks:

They say you can’t have pleasure without pain, or something like that right? Lisbon that this kind of city; it’s very very hilly, so be prepared for steep, sweaty uphill walks and endless staircases under the hot sun, but be rewarded with breathtaking city views once reaching the peaks of these hills. And, often at the top of these hills, there are little, or big, view point parks. I stumbled upon these view points accidentally while strolling around, so surely you will find them too (or you could use a map…)

Did you catch the replica of the Christ from Rio and something that looks like the California Golden Gate Bridge here? Interesting.

Beaches:

Carcavelos:

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Jul 18, 2016 at 9:10am PDT

This was my favorite beach near Lisbon, just 20-30 minutes from downtown Lisbon. Fun fact, on International Yoga Day we (attempted) 108 sun salutations on this beach, and I didn’t wear a bathing suit that day so I swam in underwear. Note to self, always bring a bathing suit if there’s water nearby.

Estoril-Cascais:

There’s a castle in Estoril!

From Estoril to Cascias there is a strip of beaches about 40 mins to an hour from downtown Lisbon depending on where you stop. If you continue on the same train past Carcavelos you will reach these beaches. Estoril was small, but quiet and seemed more local. Plus, in the town of Estoril, there is a famous old style European market running all summer to enjoy after a long beach day.

Costa de Caparica:

This beach is on the other side of Lisbon, across the river. It takes some time to get here, it took me close to two hours, so plan a day on this side, or even stay over here. You can get here from downtown Lisbon by ferry and then by bus. This is a really long strip of beach, broken up by natural rock formations. If you are a surfer, the waves are long and strong.

Alfama:

Ride the famous Tram 28 up to Alfama, but beware, there is a long cue for this tram sometimes. The ride is nice; the tram meanders up the classic Lisbon streets lined with pastel colored row houses. Get off at the top, and walk down through the old Moorish district back to the city center.

I visited Alfama on my last night in Lisbon, actually, I almost skipped it, but it was absolutely the highlight of my time in the city. Beautiful views, lively cafes, and charming architecture make this part of Lisbon a must see.

Barrio Alto

Barrio Alto means old neighborhood, so this is where you find the classic narrow European streets and and alleyways to get lost. This is a lively neighborhood for going out night, and there is a view point at the top!

Downtown

Remember when Portugal was an empire? I don’t, but the modern Portuguese seem to. 😉 Anyway, you will find proof of this empire downtown through the old squares, statues, and architecture. There is lot’s of typical shopping, food, and other tourists down here.

Pretty stuff no?

The photo above reminds me of Vienna!

My favorite experience in this part of the city was sitting on these steps, putting my feet in the water. There were some even brave enough to swim here with the boats and ferries if you can believe it.

Have you ever visited Lisbon? What was your favorite part? Is this a city you would like to visit in the future? Why?

What I saw in Jordan

May 26, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 10 Comments

Hey everyone, I am currently posting from Amman, Jordan! AND TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!!! For those of you who don’t know, yes, Jordan is next to Syria. But that being said, Jordan is 100% safe right now, and it is an absolutely beautiful place to visit.

I have been in Jordan, mostly in Amman, for a few weeks now. There were a few things about Jordan that really surprised me:

It’s expensive! Besides falafel and hummus, prices for tourism, cafes, and food, are on par, or exceed many of the most expensive Western cites I have visited.

There is almost no public transit. There are some buses and service cars (mini buses), but mostly, people take cabs and private cars. Because of this, cabs and private cars are reasonably priced. It is common to hire a driver for the day to take you around to tourist locations, and I take cabs to travel around Amman for a few dollars a ride.

Jordan is beautiful. Jordan really is a natural beauty, with desert landscapes, ancient archaeological sites, and historical cities.

So with all this beauty around me, what did I see in Jordan?

Amman, Jordan:

Amman is Jordan’s capital, and the home base for most travelers in the country. I spent lots of time wandering the streets, eating hummus, and frequenting trendy cafes.

History: The Roman Amphitheater and Citadel are found here in Amman. I really enjoyed my visit to these historic sites.

Food: There is a lot of naturally vegan food in the region, so I won’t talk too much about where to eat on this post. But, I feel that there is one hummus and falafel place in Amman worth a mention. If you have been following my snap stories, you will know that place is called Hashem, it’s located downtown, and it’s famous around the region. Supposedly, the King and Queen of Jordan eat here. Plus, it’s cheap! We got all of this and a 4 rounds of tea for $8.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on May 19, 2016 at 10:07am PDT

Neighborhoods:

Rainbow Street: Rainbow street begins at the first circle. There are many restaurants, bars, and cafe’s here, as well as good quality second hand shops.

Luwebdeh: Luwebdeh is where I stayed in Amman. I think it’s the nicest area to stay in the city. There are many trendy bars, and cafes here. Besides this, there is a well known Arabic language school in the area, so you can find a multi-cultural community in Luwebdeh.

Petra: I was lucky enough to get a trip to Petra thanks to the Jordan Tourist Board, otherwise, I think I would have skipped Petra because it costs 50JD ($70) for the day to get in. For me, this is way too expensive, and I think they just get away with this price because Petra is one of the main reasons people visit Jordan. But this being said, I think Petra is worth seeing if you come to Jordan, and there is the option to buy the Jordan pass at the airport which makes this site (and many other sites) more affordable.

Petra is an ancient archaeological city, also known as the Rose City, due to the color of the stones the city has been carved out of. You can spend a whole day here, and I know people who have spent two. For me, one was sufficient to explore this beautiful city.

Jerash: Jerash is little less than an hour north of Amman. You can take a service from the north bus station in Amman for 1JD. Jerash is an ancient city, and has been very well preserved. I really enjoyed spending the day here, seeing the beautiful views, and imagining how life must have been for the people once living in this place.

The Dead Sea: I visited the Dead Sea twice in Israel/Palestine but we did it the cheap way; just walking down to the sea where there was no fence. So in Jordan, I tried a fancy day hotel which provided towels, lockers, showers, and beautiful infinity pools. The name of this place is “O Beach Hotel” and it costs 25 JD for the day. The place was nice, and quite quiet, and I think for the luxury and comfort it was worth it, just for a day.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on May 24, 2016 at 4:38am PDT

Have you ever visited Jordan? What were your impressions?

I am using snapchat now! Follow my live travel stories. Currently I am still posting from Jordan, but up next I will be in Barcelona and around Portugal so don’t miss out!

What I Saw in Athens, Greece

May 15, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 9 Comments

I first arrived in Athens last May, after spending four long months in India. I remember thinking Athens was shockingly clean, so clean and well kept, surrounded by the pristine sea; I thought it seemed like a fairy tale city. Still in awe, I spent the next few days walking around, and getting re accustomed to “Western life.” It’s surprising what four months of life in a completely different reality will do to someone!

My first impression of Athens was that it was a big city in a country filled with meat eaters. I knew I wanted to see more of Greece, and spend some time by the sea, but my stomach was growling after a few days of eating sides of fava or salad without feta.

But soon, I discovered the fresh, light, veggie side of Greece, and was able to navigate and enjoy on subsequent visits.

Like New Delhi which was a main transit hub for Northern India, Athens served the same purpose in my journey in Greece as Delhi did in India. And like Delhi, I visited Athens three times during the three months I spent in Greece.

Athens became my little home away from home in Greece and I still think happy thoughts when I reminisce on my time there.

So what did I see in Athens? Let me give you some ideas:

Check out some trendy neighborhoods. Athens is a walkable city, you can see most of the sites on foot, or hop on the local metro to get around.

Syntagma – Home of the Parliament square, where political demonstrations often take place. This is also the entrance to the main shopping street. You can find lots of cafe’s and restaurants along this strip, but beware they are usually touristy prices.

Monastiraki – If you continue walking on the Syntagma shopping street, you will reach Monastiraki. This is a nice square with views of the Parthenon above. I like to sit in the rooftop bars here and shop in some of the more unique shops and the flea market nearby.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Sep 30, 2015 at 1:00pm PDT

Exarchia – The is the “coolest” area of Athens in my opinion. It is very hipster you could say; vegan food, eclectic cafes, and street art.

Plaka – The place to be seen at outdoor hillside bars and cafes.

Historical Sites:

Parthenon

Even if you don’t go in the Parthenon, walking up the hill gives you a lovely lay of the land. But I think it is worth it to check out the Parthenon if your heart desires; in my opinion the views were exceptional, and it was cool to see some ancient architecture close up.

Parliament and Gardens

The Parliament building is right behind the infamous Syntagma Square where many protests have occurred. At certain times of the day, there is a changing of the guard in front of Parliament. Behind Parliament is a large park with walking paths and some attractions inside.

Visit Beaches:

I am not totally sure which beach this is, but I do know the farther you get from Athens, the nicer the beaches become. It was a windy day, so this beach was about a 20 minute drive from Athens. You can find Athens beaches by public bus, but I would probably opt to rent a car or look for a ride.

Rooftop Bar with City View:

360 Cocktail Bar and A for Athens are two well know bars, and though they are a little pricey, it’s a nice treat to have a coffee on one of these rooftops to enjoy this view.

Island Hop: There are several islands nearby Athens suitable for day trips.

Hydra – This island has no cars, making it a peaceful day trip from busy Athens.

Aegina – I spent the night here, and it was also a nice get away from the city, plus my friend took this fun photo of me as the sun set on the beach.

Did you enjoy Athens? What was your favorite thing to do in this historical city?

And guess what guys, I finally started using snapchat! If you want to see live travel updates and vegan cooking (and eating) follow me! @worldwideveggie

Meteora, Greece through Photos

April 5, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 4 Comments

While traveling in Greece, I was lucky that my friend’s hometown of Trikala happened to be right next to the historical monastic complex known as Meteora. Meteora means meteor, and as you can see, the impressive protruding cliffs look like something out of this world.

The cliffs extend up and around a mountain. My friend and I drove up, but if you don’t have a car, there are tour buses taking visitors up, and the brave hikers taking day trips. There are still functioning monasteries scattered throughout the area open to tourists, but for me, viewing the cliffs by day and on a clear night was enough of a spiritual experience for me.

Have you traveled to Meteora? Did you visit any of the monasteries?

What I Ate in New York City

February 24, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 4 Comments

Typically I can’t get enough of cities with eclectic culture, nightlife, and artistic expression, but I have always had mixed feelings about New York City. However, after spending this entire past weekend filling up on amazing vegan goodness, I think I like the city a little more, and actually look forward to going back sometime.

Actually, NYC is officially one of my new favorite vegan spots in North America, and I am drooling just thinking about the food I ate this weekend – and the food I didn’t get to try! Good thing NYC is only 5 hours from Washington, D.C.!

I arrived in NYC on Friday afternoon. After a long bus ride, I was starving, so my friend, Tara and I headed directly to a relatively new vegan spot called By Chloe.

But, as we were walking, we passed by Two Boots Pizza shop and had to stop in for a vegan pizza appetizer. I can’t tell you when the last time I ate a real cheesy, New York style pizza, so this really hit the spot.

By Chloe is a cute little fast casual vegan place with a spot on menu. We tried the Quinoa Taco Salad and the Pesto Meatball Sub. Both dishes were suburb, I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Oh, and how could I forget the Raspberry Tiramisu Cupcake!! These cupcakes were fun because they had a little raspberry chocolate surprise inside once we broke into the center.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Feb 20, 2016 at 8:13am PST

But besides eating and visiting some friends, I went to NYC to help out Dustin Harder of The Vegan Roadie. If you watch the Food Network as much as I do, you may have seen Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives; well Dustin is the vegan Guy! Dustin has been traveling around the country checking out some amazing vegan eateries in his first season of The Vegan Roadie and is just about ready to launch season 2 of his web series.

Helping Dustin of @theveganroadie promote season 2 of his vegan web series! Dustin travels around the country looking for the tastiest #vegan eats and sweets! Check out season 1 on youtube. #vegansofig #veganshare #fun #nyc #vegannyc #vegetarian #kaledit #travelinggram #instalike #friends #instagood #watch #instalike #plantbased #photobooth
A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Feb 20, 2016 at 1:12pm PST

This past weekend, Dustin partnered with Field Roast and hosted an event to kick off his kickstarter campaign, to get some funding for the second season. I usually don’t eat fake meat products, but the Field Roast burgers were awesome, and the hot dogs weren’t bad either.

Not bad right?

But most importantly, the event was a great success! Thank you Dustin for bringing us the tastiest vegan eats from around the USA, often from very unexpected locations. I can’t wait to watch the next season!

If you haven’t yet seen season one of The Vegan Roadie, you can find the link here.

And if you enjoyed the show, show your support – even $5 helps! Vegans unite! Here is the kickstarter link.

What’s your favorite vegan place in New York City? Have you ever watched The Vegan Roadie? What do you think of the show?

What I Saw in Cappadocia, Turkey

February 1, 2016 by WorldWideVegetarian 14 Comments

Visiting Cappadocia completely changed my perspective on Turkey. I traveled to Istanbul a few years prior, and found myself in a bit of a love/hate relationship with the city the place, and the people.

But I guess it was just in the cards for me to return to Turkey. My cousin and her husband just moved to Istanbul, and my family decided to meet me there, since they had never been. Not thrilled about Istanbul, my cousin invited me to Cappadocia with them. Interested, yet anxious to see more of Turkey, and to see the world famous hot air balloons, I decided to spend a week in Cappadocia.

Plus, I remembered reading this post from a friend named Andrew who I met in my Vipassana meditation course in India. He recommended it highly, so I figured it must be worth the trip.

And it was! Cappadocia was one of the highlights of my year long adventure. After arriving in the main tourist town, Göreme, I realized we were far from Istanbul in every sense. The hills, cliffs, and valleys of Cappadocia present unlimited exploration, and breathtaking views.

But, what I really adored about Cappadocia was the people. Since we traveled to Cappadocia in mid-October, it was the off season, and there were only a limited number of tourists in town. So, my friends and I got to know many of the locals who owned restaurants and guest houses there. It was a small, tight knit community, as I quickly found out, everyone knew each other, and everyone was so friendly, open minded and welcoming to us.

Traveling to Cappadocia restored my faith in Turkey as a whole, and after hours of tavla (backgammon), endless cups of chay (turkish black tea), and intriguing, often spiritual conversation, I fell in love with the Turkish people, their culture, and their way of life.

So what should you do in Cappadocia?

Hike

I spent 6 days there, out of about 2 weeks in Turkey, and even though I’m not really fond of hiking, the energy in this town could have enticed me to stay more, and even hike more.

When you arrive you will likely be greeted with several maps of the area, offering a layout of the various hiking trails and valleys.

We hiked through red/rose valley on one of the first days. This is a well-marked trail with cafes and shops along the way. You can do a long or short hike. My friends, who are in my opinion, big hikers, went for the ambitious long hike. Luckily along the way, we met a solo Canadian traveler who was like me, less motivated to continue, and he and I stopped for a chay with the sunset instead, while my group carried on.

Good thing, because half of the hike was long enough for me! So if you are not so into hiking, I’d say go for the short walk, and make sure you go early if you want to add on any additional trails.

Besides this path, we invented many of our own trails, by wandering around the town and it’s surrounding areas. There are so many valleys to explore, and you can spend a full day in each one.

Visit

Avanos is a little town known for it’s clay pottery, and large Friday market. It’s nice to spend an afternoon here to see something different, and maybe take a pottery course.

Open Air Museum’s feature cities built into caves. There are many churches, some with paintings still intact. I am generally tired of viewing churches, as I have seen so many in Europe, but churches inside a cave was a new thing for me, and it was actually pretty amazing to imagine people living their lives inside these caves.

Zelve Open Air Museum is more off the beaten path, and it’s churches have fewer paintings, but general group consensus was that this museum was more interesting, and happens to be cheaper, than the more popular Göreme Open Air Museum. Zelve is bigger, and feels almost like a mini hike with gorgeous landscapes. Plus there were less tourists, which is always a plus.

Göreme Open Air Museum is located in the town of Göreme. You can easily walk here from your accommodation in Göreme, but get here early in the morning, or around sunset to beat the crowds. The churches here are well maintained, and there are many to view. But, if you have to choose between Zelve Museum and Göreme, I say skip Göreme and go only for Zelve.

Kaymakli Underground City is exactly what it sounds like, an underground network of caves and tunnels, allowing people to safely live during times of unrest. I had fun checking out this underground city and I would recommend paying it a visit.

I found my cousin tunneling below!

Ride

Should I take the world famous Hot Air Balloon Ride?!?! Whether or not to do the hot air balloon was my biggest debate, and seems to be a difficult decision for many travelers. Going on a ride will cost you a minimum of $150 but I heard it can be much more during the season.

After much debate, I decided to do it!

And it was incredible. I can’t believe how well they can control the balloons; we rode into the valleys, narrowly passing by the ancient rock structures. I could have reached out and touched the rocks on several occasions. At first we went up quite high, which gives a great aerial lay of the land, and at some points we were floating just above the ground.

I flew with a company called Voyager Balloons which was recommended to me by some friends in town. The company picked me up at my hostel early in the am, and dropped me off at their headquarters for a light breakfast. Sadly, breakfast was not vegan, but ok I wasn’t hungry at 5am anyway. But I grabbed a coffee and waited for the other flyers to arrive. The ride itself was great; the pilot, Osman, was a skilled pilot, and an entertaining tour guide. I enjoyed by trip with Voyager.

Due to my indecisiveness, I rode the hot air balloon on my second to last day. Be aware, it’s better to schedule your ride early, so you have the option to reschedule in case of bad weather. Also the ride provides you with a good mental picture of the area, which would have been helpful the many times we got lost looking for some of the valleys.

If you don’t end up riding the balloon, do wake up around dawn one morning and head to the sunset point above Göreme. Here you will have a panoramic view of the balloons floating above the incredible landscape. This is also an incredibly beautiful experience.

Stay and Shop:

Normally I rather dislike reading, seeing, or engaging in posts about where to stay in a location, but I met so many kind hosts in this town, they deserve some good reviews!

Hasan Cave Apartments: We stayed in a cave apartment first, with a really nice guy named Hasan. The apartment was clean, had a gorgeous bathroom and shower, and a modest kitchen where we could prepare food. Sleeping in a cave is a cool experience, you really sleep like a rock! You can find Hasan’s property on Air BnB.

Göreme Guest House: A nice property with a great view. Shahin, who’s name means Falcon, is a wonderful guy with a nice, well priced, guest house. He is currently building some tree house bungalows, and a pool! How exciting.

Köse Pension: I stayed at this hostel for a few days, and met many interesting travelers there. This pension is a family business, and I had the pleasure to befriend the daughter of the owners. It is really “cozy” here and they have a variety of well-priced rooms, and a cool rooftop down.

Turquoise Rugs and Bags: If you need to buy a rug, or a bag handmade from a rug, do it at this shop! Here you will find Mustafa, the shop owner, and probably a group of foreigners hanging out. We used his shop as our daily meeting point, and he even made a bonfire outside after the shop was closed a few evenings. His rugs all tell a story, and are collected from different areas around Turkey. Cool shop – even cooler guy.

And don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten the most important thing -food, but that will come in a later post.

All in all, I loved Cappadocia, and I have vowed to one day return!

Have you visited Cappadocia? What was the highlight of your trip?

2015 Travel Recap: Lessons From a Year of Travel

December 31, 2015 by WorldWideVegetarian 13 Comments

Happy New Year! The New Year is one of my very favorite times because it feels like a fresh start. Of course, you can make changes and resolutions throughout the year, but there’s something about the passage of time from year to year that make the New Year an excellent time for personal reflection. A time for cleaning out the closets, figuratively and literally.

In the past, I’ve made specific and firm resolutions for the New Year, which sometimes work out, and sometimes don’t. But my resolution for 2016 is to take what I have learned in 2015, and prior, and to do better, for myself and others in 2016 with this knowledge.

As many of you know, I spent 2015 traveling, which has brought me many little, and big lessons. Here is a recap of the big picture ideas I have learned while traveling, and some of the things I want to keep working on and to remember to make my 2016 a little brighter!

In January, I headed off to Kerala, India for a yoga teacher training course. Before arriving, I had visions of myself meditating in the tranquility of South India, maybe on a mountain, or next to a gorgeous lake. I expected “bliss absolute” and what I got was a strenuous schedule, moments of complete frustration, and days spent trying to stay awake sitting on the floor listening to lectures on the Bhagavad Gita.

But, I learned that letting go of expectations prevents disappointment, and every experience is a good experience. By February, I had new energy, new knowledge, and most importantly, new friends, interested in the same lifestyle as me. I found friends who travel, friends who don’t eat meat, friends who meditate; friends full of understanding and compassion, and a joy for life.

I cried when I left my friends at Sivananda, but I smiled when I moved on to Kolkata to meet my yoga teacher and visit the girls she supports. In February, I spent time with incredible women, who have devoted their life to service. When you give to others what you have, you will be taken care of, and you will be happy. When given the opportunity, I decided to give back more of my time and my money, or anything that I have to others, because, even though I didn’t have a source of income, I have been blessed with more than enough.

In March I found myself in Rishikesh, reunited with a friend of mine from the Sivananda ashram. I spent all of my waking hours meditating, reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with inspiring people, and oh, eating delicious vegan food! Here, I learned that genuine human interaction is one of the keys to happiness. I spent my time learning from others, making connections, and sharing.

In April I headed off to Vipassana mediation, a 10 day silent meditation retreat. On the way, I had my IPod and some cash (the equivalent of $7) stolen by some teenage boys. Luckily for me they left my phone and my credit cards. When I finally realized what had happened, I laughed – they were sneaky -they got me. But, more importantly I wasn’t angry! Even a year ago, I would have been angry at the boys, angry at myself, angry at the situation.

But why wasn’t I? Because I knew I could buy another music player, and I finally realized material possessions don’t matter. There is more to life than material goods. Even though they are comfortable and desirable, I can live without.

May reminded me that I shouldn’t take the actions, feelings, and emotions of others personally. I tend to get caught up in emotional situations, like most of us, but everyone individual is complex; dealing with their own emotions, and thoughts. If someone hurts, rejects, or offends you, don’t take it personally, there is probably a lot more to the story, and it’s probably not even about you.

I am beautiful and whole as I am, and so are you; don’t forget it!

In June, I spent my days swimming in the Greek sea, laughing with friends, and finally cooking again in my friend’s kitchen. I spent a lot of time in awe of the power of nature, to cleanse, refresh, and renew. Sometimes, when the weather is not so nice I forget to go outside. But beauty and peace is all around us, if we choose to see it.

July brought me my first taste of Thai Massage. I was at the Berlin Yoga Festival, and my friends were really interested in the Thai Massage workshop, and I was really not into the idea of massage. But I went anyway to see what it was about, and fell in love with Thai Massage! You never know if you don’t try; push yourself out of your comfort zone once in awhile.

I spent August in Vienna, almost wondering why. I had a bit of a life crisis, and a bit of a “relapse” into bad habits. I didn’t know what I was doing and why. What would come after travels, where would I work, what would I do with my life. But, I lived through it, and things solved themselves, and I remembered to trust myself and what I am doing, and enjoy the time that I have in the present moment.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Oct 15, 2015 at 4:13am PDT

In September I surrendered to my feelings instead of insisting on holding on to ideas and concepts that I had previously created. I had ideas about the direction of my life, my values, and what was important. But I met someone that changed my ideas, and instead of holding on to my own ideas, I accepted what had changed, surrendered, and embraced the situation.

A photo posted by Katie Baxter (@worldwidevegetarian) on Jun 25, 2015 at 1:35pm PDT

I headed back to Greece in October to attend the Thai Massage course that I found out about in July. Here I learned that it is not only important to give, but to be able to receive what others are offering. In the past, I have often been frustrated, and disappointed giving to people who don’t give back. I have been stuck in one sided friendships and relationships. Though I have removed those people long ago, something became clear to me.

I am afraid to accept what others offer me. But, if you give, you will get what you need in return, not necessarily from the same person, but you will get what you need. The universe will provide for you. When something is offered, accept graciously and be thankful, but don’t be afraid to accept what is offered from the kindness of someone’s heart.

We are here to support each other.

In November I revisited Turkey, even though I had a questionable first experience. I gave Turkey a second chance, when I visited Cappadocia, a new place, and had an amazing time. Sometimes it’s good to give something or someone another chance.

Finally in December, I returned home, and picked up life where it left off. Every time I leave, it feels like I may be missing something at home, but when I come back, I realize everything is more or less the same. If you have the chance, it’s ok to leave. If leaving for travel is something you want to do, and can do, I encourage you to take the leap and go for it!

*And a special thanks to all those who gave me a place to stay, fed me, taught me, supported me, and took care of me along the way. I hope we have a chance to meet again in 2016!

A Christmas Market in Vienna, Austria

With all this being said, in 2016, I resolve to give more, to let go of preconceived ideas and expectations, and to be present.

What do you hope for this year? What were some of the lessons you learned in 2015?

Travel through Photos: The Taj Mahal

September 24, 2015 by WorldWideVegetarian 5 Comments

I can’t believe it’s already been 7 months since my visit to the Taj Mahal last February! As I prepare to leave Europe in about a month and a half, and head back to India, I have been revisiting my last trip in India, and making plans to visit many of the beautiful places I missed last time.

On the list this time around are Mumbai, Goa, more of Kerala, Chennai, and hopefully down to Sri Lanka this time. But, Rishikesh is always on my mind, so maybe I will spend a few weeks there before heading south. Let’s see!

It’s funny, when I made the decision to visit India last year, I also made the decision not to visit the Taj Mahal. I was going to India not for sightseeing and touristy situations, but for yoga, nature, and culture.

But as you can see, I ended up going to the Taj Mahal with my family, and it was absolutely, 110% worth the visit.

With a tour group, we arrived in Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, in the evening, and planned on visiting the Taj the next morning.

But we got a little surprise sneak visit that evening despite the impending rain: