[MM]: Do you know where Kazakhstan is?
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Hello Reader, Welcome back to your Monday Momentum, my Fit Travel Tribe! I have something on my mind to share with you... I'm a part of a travel community (called Location Indie) and in their various newsletters, they spotlight different articles. One of them stood out to me this morning 🌞 THIS ARTICLE >>> Kazakhstan launches year-long “Neo Nomad Visa” for digital nomadsWhy??? Not because of the various countries jumping on the "digital nomad visa" bandwagon... But the country itself....KAZAKHSTAN I remember him telling me that Kazakhstan had some of the NICEST people he has ever met! So WHY did I pause when considering Kazakhstan again? I think because perhaps it might be a country that, from an American perspective, might be on the "no-fly" list, so to speak. Maybe because it's a "-STAN" country (there might be a stereotype for a country's lack of stability), but I think geographically where it's located and the general lack of familiarity...I would venture a guess that many folks might assume this country is "dangerous." I looked it up just now and Kazakhstan is actually one of the safest countries in Central Asia. As I've traveled around, especially in the Balkans (where there have been various wars in our lifetime, Communism, etc.), I'm more aware now just how UNFAMILIAR I am with so many places in the world! So...with my random musings of the day....I encourage you to think outside the normal where-do-Americans-always-travel box and, if you see a country you perceive as "dangerous" for some reason....ask yourself WHY you think that way 🤔 You'll see this theme continued in my final quote below 🤗 Greetings from Sofia! I finished my housesit with 2 cats in Southampton, UK and am now back in the Balkans for a couple weeks. It's my last couple weeks here before I fly to the States. I'll be in NJ for a week (home for a late Thanksgiving, as is usual for my family so we can accommodate the Thursday for significant others) and then I'll be in Chicago (visiting one of my sorority sisters/former maid of honor) just for a couple days and then.....get ready for it.... Southeast Asia here I come!!! I've been looking at what to do for December/January for awhile now and I figure while I have a larger chunk of time before returning to Sofia that I'd travel way out....west.....east.....well, it depends on the direction of your flight.....the other side of the world! I'll be spending 3 weeks in Vietnam and then heading to Bali on New Year's Day! In Bali, I'm signed up to do a 200-hour yoga instructor training which is exciting for me on a few different fronts: Firstly, I have enjoyed doing yoga for awhile now (though to be honest sometimes it's still quite frustrating for me) and I really feel strongly about how mobility training is a not-so-secret-but-widely-important KEY in unlocking new fitness goals and long-term planning for aging. I'm also thrilled at the idea of expanding this practice, deepening some fitness knowledge, and offering yoga classes (virtually). I just decided and finalized today that I'll be finishing that SE Asia trip with 2 weeks in Bangkok! I'm super excited to volunteer at a hostel and teach rooftop yoga for an hour each morning (that's all I do in order to get a free bed at the hostel and a yummy breakfast each morning). Hot off the press!!! Ever wondered what it's like to drift between two continents in crystal-clear glacial water? Let's talk about Iceland! Check out the full adventure to see why Iceland is a bucket-list favorite!
Sure, you've heard of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (I mean, who hasn't?) But... Have you ever looked up the SECOND largest barrier reef system in the world....? Well, I have! Let me bring your attention to HONDURAS and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. I found out this underwater fact when casually glancing at cheapest places for scuba diving (Thailand is also on that list). Specifically, here's this cool island diving school at Utila in Honduras. Interested in getting your scuba diving certification or perhaps some advanced training? This is a really great spot!! My new(er) philosophy on life is: Personal note:
Always on my mind: More money for more travel! If you've found this travel fitness content helpful, please consider some (or all!) of the following:
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