I don’t normally do posts like these but I just really wanted to give some ❤️ to a few Instagram accounts that I love. Every one of these accounts either inspires me, educates me and sometimes they do both for me. I’m even pretty lucky that because of the internet, I can call a few of these babes IRL friends.

Have you ever had a meal that was so good that when you close your eyes you can almost taste it?

Now imagine having that type of meal every single time. That is New Orleans and as a thank you I’ve deiced to write a love letter because a city that treated me and my tastebuds so well deserves a little love letter and just in time for Valentine’s Day too!

New Orleans Love Letter Time

My Dearest New Orleans,

It has been months since I have seen you last but you are constantly on my mind. From the powdered kisses of fried dough in the form of not one but two visits to the iconic Cafe Du Monde to the late nights of music.

This is something that in recent years has exploded as people have become more aware of the conditions and the impacts of animal tourism is having on the well-being of the animals. When I was younger I had the picture with the boa constrictor snake in Thailand, visited crocodile farms and swam with dolphins. I’ve ridden animals in the dessert from the roads of India to even at local Virginia State Fairs as a child. I look back fondly at those memories but some of them are tainted with this knowledge.

Last year, Sean and I found ourselves confronted a few times with animal interaction experiences. Some of them left me feeling gross and others had me feeling conflicted. So the short answer to is there such a thing as ethical animal tourism is in fact no. There is no such thing as ethical animal tourism but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Confused? Keep reading.

Whether you are a vegan, meat lover or looking for traditional food or something a little different, these 9 places are a must when in Ubud to eat at. When Sean and I first landed in Ubud, we were there for a long weekend where I gave the best answer in my life (read about it here cause I know you want to know) but the second time around we had a lot more time to eat at a bunch of different places.  And wow, was the food good!  Plus, if you read until the end I talk about a truly unique experience to do while in Ubud and was a highlight of my time there.

bridges