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What an awesome way to start 2019. After my busiest holiday season yet taking photo mini sessions for tons of families in the Ho Chi Minh City area, I was ready for a slightly slower pace! I also have been dog-sitting and housesitting since the beginning of November, and 
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Well, I'm back in America after seven months in Southeast Asia. I decided to take advantage and leave for a bit because of a few things happening in Saigon: it's still rainy season, and I'm over it; a mass amount of people leave for the summer, mostly expats, which means my client base dries up a bit and work is slower; and I  I have been in Vietnam for six months today. FYI, that sentence makes me so happy! It, of course, feels half like I've been here for much longer than that and half like I've just arrived. Six months is a  I've had a slight delay in writing this next post because life has felt settled and not as noteworthy, which is a fantastic feeling, yes, but I was waiting for more things to happen to write about. Then I remembered that my day-to-day may become regular to me,  Food vendor at the Ben Thanh market in downtown Saigon For me, half the fun of traveling somewhere new is the journey there. I love airports and people-watching and the hustle and bustle of transportation hubs. However, those times can also be stressful and give you anxiety at the start of your trip, which is such a horrible way to begin an adventure! So below are some tips to make your travel days a little easier so you start your journey on a better note! Bon voyage...  When planning a trip (whether overseas or even just a weekend get-away), you know there are certain things you're going to need. I have compiled the checklist below over years of traveling and trial-by-error when certain clutch items were left at home. It's unbelievably helpful to have when packing your suitcase (since even the most confident and seasoned traveler sometimes packs late at night after one-too-many glasses of wine or packing hungover is not the best of ideas...) NOTE: there are a few things to consider. Do you plan on checking your bag? If not, you need travel size toiletries. Are you going to a country where you will most likely be able to find specific items in order to save the space while packing? How long are you going for and you realllllly need a curling iron? Be pragmatic, be realistic, and realize you can get by with a lot less than you think. Also this is the Master List, not all bullet points are applicable for all kinds of travel.  On a train traveling down the west coast of Italy, I took some time to reflect on what I've learned so far on my adventures.  Ok so forget whatever you’ve heard about Sicily. I’m sure one of the first things that comes to mind is the Mafia. That’s one tiny facet of Sicilian life. Let me tell you about my first two days in-country where I was welcomed with open arms and had the time of my life.  |
AuthorDanielle Desnoyers is a traveling freelance photographer with a focus on humanitarian, travel, and family photography. She currently splits her time between the United States and Vietnam with travels to other countries as well. 
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