Ali Round The World

Journey of the 30th year and beyond. Join a free spirit on her adventures around the world.

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Diving into Ko Phi Phi Don

Diving into Ko Phi Phi Don.

Search the world – this view. Fancy a dip? Diving in. Lush island blessings.

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Ayutthaya, Bangkok: What Remains

Ayutthaya, Bangkok: What Remains

    I love temple hopping. It probably comes second only to my love of beach days and boat trips. If you are able to do all at once (see Tulum) then you are LIVING. THE. DREAM. The Historic City of Ayutthaya is a short bus ride north of Bangkok. Once the largest and most powerful city in the world, Ayutthaya now stands as a fractured testament of time. Armed with backpacks and water bottles we…

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Waking up in Bangkok

Waking up in Bangkok

After 8,761 miles, 20 hours of flying and three months of anticipation the day had finally come for me to wake up in Bangkok. The smell of burning incense filled the air, while the sound of firecrackers popped along the banks echoing back and forth as morning rituals got underway. With half a plan we caught a boat north along the winding Chao Phraya River to moon over temples and marvel…

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A Rocking Birthday in Gibraltar

A Rocking Birthday in Gibraltar

Turning 31 in Gibraltar rocked (literally)! Beautiful beaches, stunning backdrops and wonderful food. Since turning 30 I successfully pulled off what I set out to do: quit my job, travel the world, play amateur photographer, and live to tell about it. I learned that it is possible to change everything and come out ok, to lose everything and bounce back, to be safely millions of miles away from…

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Chefchaouen: Funky Blue Medina

Chefchaouen: Funky Blue Medina

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Merzouga, Morocco: a noiseless oasis

Merzouga, Morocco: a noiseless oasis

Sitting quietly among 9 million miles of desert is surreal, tranquil and soothing. I could lay by the sandy pool overlooking dunes indefinitely. If you want a lazy escape as a traveler away from any artificial distractions this is it. An immeasurable space with a deafening silence. Our schedules were full: short searing walks – then back in the pool; chicken tajine – then back in the pool; cat…

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Tangier...

Tangier…

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Let's go to Morocco!

Let’s go to Morocco!

Where to begin?

Morocco was my favorite. Hands down. No question.

From textiles to tajine, it was love at first site. Everything was foreign, everything was new, and everything was exactly what I knew I wanted for my post-30th adventure.

I remember standing on the shores of Spain looking out across the water at Africa and wondering if things would be dramatically different upon arrival, or if…

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Faro in Photos

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Lagos, Portugal - Earth's Magnum Opus!

Lagos, Portugal – Earth’s Magnum Opus!

Lagos, Portugal is Earth’s masterpiece. Its Mona Lisa. Its Birth of Venus. Its Starry Night. Its Maryland crabcake.

Sunbeams shimmer off sparkling turquoise water surrounded by rock islands and meandering tunnels that connect one beach to the next, to the next, to the next and so on.

Picturesque caves allow lover style seclusion from the tides. For a beach devotee, I fell deep. Smitten.…

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World Music Festival: Bombino Plays Lisbon!

World Music Festival: Bombino Plays Lisbon!

Abrigada Lisboa!

My favorite  guitar player played a FREE  unbeknownst to me show my first night in Lisbon.

Que mouth-to-floor-face-melting-action!

If you haven’t heard Bombino, his album Nomad was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and is a definite must hear! But really, all of his albums are amazing!

Bombino is a powerful self taught singer-songwriter from Niger.  With a smile on his…

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Street Art - Lisboa Edition!

Street Art – Lisboa Edition!

There are few things I love more than hunting for street art – eyes combing back and forth wandering medinas and squares looking for that personal touch of local artistic expression. Fortunately, in Lisbon you do not have to look far.

From the rubble of decaying buildings sprout political triumphs. Winding alleyways recount tales of Fado’s woeful past. Religious figures, along with roosters and…

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Segovia: If These Walls/Mountains Could Talk

Segovia: If These Walls/Mountains Could Talk

I was told that the city of Segovia and the Roman Aqueduct it encapsulated  was a must see, so on a rainy day – with no umbrella in hand – I set out to storm the castle. Segovia is a mountain town dating back to the 1st century AD and lies about an hour north of Madrid. From beyond the city the Guadarrama Mountain Range appears to gallantly stand watch. It is amazing to think of all that these…

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And Madrid I Did.

And Madrid I Did.

Travel blogging while traveling is proving to be very difficult as there is so much to do, see, taste… drink.  And personally I’d rather be anywhere when the sun is out but next to a computer (see: why I quit my job). So here is Madrid in mainly photos. I wish I had more to say and eloquently put forth for you, but I am way too stuffed on tapas and in need of a siesta, or fiesta as some confused…

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Copen, Copen Cabana!

Hej Jer Alle! That’s “Hey Y’all!” in Danish.

With a 24 hour layover in Denmark en-route to Madrid we ventured out of the airport/that night’s fabulous Bed & Breakfast and took to the streets…er canals!

Just leaving the airport proved exceptionally hard as my Danish is horrible. Just kidding – who studies Danish? After lots of hand gestures and map pointing we secured tram tickets and set off.

Cop…

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What's Next?

This Friday I head to Miami for a week of sunshine, swimming and soaking up some early American summer. The following Thursday begins the 3 month European tour starting with a brief stint in Copenhagen, then making our way to Madrid.

Tentative plans to visit Portugal, Morocco, Italy, Israel, Jordan, Greece and Turkey are all in the works, and I could not be more excited!! I am open to wherever…

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Costa Rica (in one post)!

Costa Rica (In one post)!

Quepos Beach.

Ubiquitous Palm Tree Shot.

Arenal Volcano Laguna.

Flores.

Baby Coffee!

Oxen.

Ox Cart Wheel.

Evolutionary Timeline.

Mariposa.

Bed and Breakfast Bats.

Tres Caballos.

Howler Monkey/Party Animal.

Slothi, Mother and Baby.

Capuchin Monkey.

Which Way To the Beach?

Superfluous Beach Shot.

Low Tide.

John and Ali Sitting in a Tree.

Graffiti Art.

Tapestry Tent Town.

La…

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