2010 Wanderlust

New year, same infatuation with planning trips.

In 2009, I did so-so achieving my travel resolutions. I went on nine trips, four fewer than 2008, and I didn’t hit any new states. However: JAPAN. The Krispy Kreme Challenge and our March Madness trips were also really fun (and both were with Phil).

Bunches of you have been suggesting that I post more frequently -- not just when I go on trips -- so I’m going to work on that. Let me know what you’d like to read about…maybe your own trips and adventures? Lemme know! (And, if you'd like to guest post, drop me a line.)

Right now, I am scheming like crazy to get Phil to agree to a beach vacay for our third anniversary in April. (The pic above is from our honeymoon in Punta Cana.) I’m really digging Key West. If you’ve got any suggestions or hear of any travel deals, send them along!

I'm headed to Chicago in a couple weeks, a city I've been meaning to get back to since it's been five years. And, some friends from India have offered to let us tag along the next time they go home, so I will be ALL OVER that. Maybe this year, maybe next. I told Phil I will go with or without him (even though they are his friends from work).We'll see!

A view of Mumbai from the movie screen

Last night I saw Slumdog Millionaire, one of the best movies I've seen (if not the best). It spawned so much reflection on my part -- for me, the true test of a good movie -- but don't worry, I won't spill any themes related to the plot.

Here's a snapshot of the "safe" topics I started noodling over during the drive home:

1) what drives my passion for travel
2) when might I be ready to tackle India (uh, not soon)
3) how lucky I am to choose my adventures and then retreat to a safe, comfortable life

I thrive on traveling throughout the States and abroad because doing so offers perspective...an awareness of how my slice of life stacks up to my American peers and the rest of the world.

For example, when I went to Bangkok, I loved being able to compare its chaotic traffic to that of NYC and Rome because I had experienced each city personally. And, it was a blessing to appreciate the rarity of finding a megatroplis, jungle and temples thousands of years old within a three-hour drive span of central Bangkok.

Many Americans regard NYC as our champion city, our largest metropolis with a population hovering around 8.3 million (what's not to love?). But, we'd be remiss to acknowledge that its chaos sometimes pales to the rest of the world. For example, Mumbai boasts the largest urban population in the world at 13.7 million. I cannot imagine what it's like to navigate a city with that many people and that frantic of a pace...it's completely intimidating.

Plus, the poverty level I've read about is so unsettling -- today, slum dwellers make up 60% of Mumbai's population, which is approximately 7 million people. That's insane to process.

So for now, I'll keep my distance. You, however, need to go see the movie STAT.

Indie's, India...same thing, right?

As soon as I came home from Thailand last month, I started plotting my next international trip and immediately thought of India since I'm fascinated with the culture and obsessed with the food. Then the Bangkok airport snafu happened, followed by the Mumbai attacks. Now my fam is not so hot on me jaunting to Asia for a while. (I will persevere.)

Instead, I've been eating as much Indian, Thai and sushi as I can. Last night, my friend Michelle from clevelandfoodie posted about my favorite Indian spot in Cleveland, Indie's. She just had a baby last week, so she's accepting guest posts. Take a looksie and grab yourself some Indie's the next time you're downtown during the week and want a yummy, cheap lunch.