https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/tags/reflective/ Recent content in Reflective on Way of Wander Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/we-always-have-a-choice/ Wed, 08 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/we-always-have-a-choice/ I’ve been in 4 different countries within the past month, which is a break-neck pace for me. I am winding up my travels as I get closer to winding down within the coming weeks. I’ll be transitioning away from backpacking for a while. And one of the countries that I was saving “for last” and anticipating the most, has been New Caledonia. A French territory found at the western edge of the South Pacific Ocean, lying nearly as far as possible from mainland France. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/to-cherish-what-you-have-you-must-discard/ Mon, 27 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/to-cherish-what-you-have-you-must-discard/ As I prepare to depart for my next destination within Indonesia, I begin to lay down all of my belongings—the entirety of what I have been carrying on me during my travels. And there is something here that has been troubling me. This something is a pair of board shorts. Bali, Indonesia - April 2015 That’s because I had decided on this particular morning to throw out all that I didn’t love. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/saved-from-jadedness/ Wed, 01 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/saved-from-jadedness/ When my plane landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia, I knew I was better off flying in from Bangkok than taking a mini-bus this time around. A 1 hour hop, instead of 9 hours stuffed into a sweltering van. I swiftly pass my co-passengers to the front of the immigration queue, because I knew to have the proper paperwork and photo ready for my visa-on-arrival. I knew to keep a crisp 100 dollar bill on me in order to avoid the high ATM fees at the airport. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/a-traveling-introverts-story-of-drinking-and-socializing/ Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/a-traveling-introverts-story-of-drinking-and-socializing/ Since I began traveling through Thailand at the start of this year I have found friends and companions along the way. Recently it was by asking someone who was also sitting solo at a breakfast table, “what are you up to today?”, which then lead to sight seeing, biking, and boating around together until the sun went down. I seek out moments like these because I hold a deep desire to share my experiences with others, but since I’m an introvert, socializing is a concentrated effort for me. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/having-my-smartphone-stolen-was-a-godsend/ Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/having-my-smartphone-stolen-was-a-godsend/ A couple years ago I went to Northern Borneo, which aside from the tiny oil country of Brunei, is all part of Malaysia. I was heading for the minuscule island called Sipidan. A place where sea turtles and sharks are as common underwater as pigeons in New York City. But the whole area was plagued with issues. I was warned about muggings by a friend. And within the port town that I was catching my boat from, death was in the air. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-destruction-of-ton-sai-beach/ Wed, 28 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-destruction-of-ton-sai-beach/ It was my first week in Thailand and the beginning of January. It’s been close to 2 years since I’ve last been here. I had come full circle on my travels. Nostalgic and eager to return to some of the places that have supplied my greatest memories. Though I knew it would be dangerous to try to re-live the past, I was on my way to a small rock climbing community located in Southern Thailand, an area called Ton Sai. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/what-is-your-greatest-self-imaginable/ Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/what-is-your-greatest-self-imaginable/ It’s December, and that means its time for me to reflect on the past year as part of a larger process that I’ve put together over the years. This begins with reviewing the vision I’ve created for my own life. A vision that’s formed by answering this single question: What is the greatest self that I can possibly imaginable? The answer to this is only constrained by the imagination. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-opportunity-within-discomfort/ Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/the-opportunity-within-discomfort/ Travel acts as the great intensifier of all experiences. Instead of just having fun I can be in a state of bliss. More than a feeling of control, I often realize the total freedom we have in life. And on the other end of the spectrum—instead of getting sick, illness brings me to a halt. Loneliness elevates into a complete disconnect, and jadedness is overshadowed by simply not giving a shit. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/why-quitting-photography-felt-good/ Fri, 28 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/why-quitting-photography-felt-good/ I love photography. Ever since I discovered Diane Airbus, around the age of 18, I had a deep appreciation of it, as an art form. Back then photography seemed unreachable to me. My compositions were crap. I had no clue about color or lighting. What I once thought were great photos of mine, are now laughable. Things changed drastically over the past 2 years though. I took the time, to learn how to properly use my camera. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/places-i-love-and-hate/ Mon, 18 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/places-i-love-and-hate/ When I mention to others that I have been traveling for a while, I get the almost inevitable question, “what has been your favorite country?” As with food, I have no particular favorite, as there is just too much to love. I always managed to dodge this question, but I’ll at least present this for you—11 places that I love, and to make this fun, 3 others that I hate have yet to appreciate. https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/2-insights-from-1-year-of-world-travel/ Tue, 22 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/2-insights-from-1-year-of-world-travel/ A year ago, I set off on my world trip, with no idea what this experience would lead to. It’s impossible for me to capture in a single blog post, the multiple ways that this journey has transformed me—I can however, reflect on how I arrived here, and share the two most significant insights that my travels have led me to so far. Arriving in Sydney, Australia. November, 2012 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/wat-umong-thailand-meditation-retreat-experience/ Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000 https://wayofwander.aaronramirez.me/blog/wat-umong-thailand-meditation-retreat-experience/ Within a forest monastery, for four days and three nights, I plunged myself both physically and mentally into practicing meditation. I never once tried formal meditation before this. Maybe a few times a year I would close my eyes and try to “clear the mind”. I didn’t come back from this experience knowing how to bring about world peace, but I did come back with a new awareness, along with being incredibly relaxed.