Travel Archives — Kayla M Douglas

12Nov 2021 by Kayla No Comments

5 Things I Love About Germany

Mindset, Travel

When it comes to adapting to a new country, I have a lot of experience. However, this time I have not had the easiest time adapting to my new environment. While I do not believe in using toxic positivity to cover up our real feelings about anything, I do believe there is value in focusing on the positive. That's why I am challenging myself to write 5 things I love about Germany. Focus on the environment One of the first things I had to adjust to when it came to daily life here, was how garbage is disposed of in Germany. It's not as simple as it was in India, or Myanmar where, unfortunately, everything was going to the same place. Germany has a great system where you pay a…

27Jul 2021 by Kayla No Comments

My Life During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Personal Story, Travel

I never pictured myself living in India, much less living in India during a lockdown situation. Let's face it, 18 months ago the term "lockdown" meant nothing to me except for inside a building, or a campus. In those places, the term was familiar for security situations. I had heard it used to describe what happens when there is an active shooter at a school. But never imagined it was something that could be enacted on a city, much less a state, or a country. But that is the reality as I write this. (more…)

27Oct 2020 by Kayla No Comments

Exploring Golden Rock on Thadingyut

Travel

Two years ago this week, I was with friends exploring Kyaiktiyo Pagoda also called Golden Rock, on Thadingyut. Thadingyut is a famous festival but I don't think anyone will be able to travel to celebrate it in 2020. Since this hasn't exactly been a year of travel, I've been enjoying my Google Photos sharing with me where I was on this same day in the past. So let's take a trip down memory lane. How We Got to Golden Rock Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) is up on the summit of Mount Kyayktiyo, about 15 km from a town called Kinpun and around 200km from Yangon, in Mon State. We rented a car from Yoma Fleet and headed out of Yangon to explore. I am not big on driving in Myanmar,…

28Jun 2019 by Kayla No Comments

Striking a Balance

Mindset, Travel

If I don't have a picture of it, did it really happen? Monkeys swing from the trees to the corrugated metal protecting the steep stairs from the burning sun. They are looking for food or drinks they can steal. My phone is tucked away as I ascend 777 stairs to Mount Popa. I have heard these aggressive monkeys have a tendency to snatch anything they see from people’s hands. However, I’m itching to pull it out so I can take pictures of their cute little faces. What is this desire to capture everything in photos? My first camera used film. I remember lining up every shot to make good use of the 36 frames before I would have to beg my mom for another roll. Then I would wait weeks…

07Jun 2019 by Kayla No Comments

Meeting a Princess Burmese Python

Personal Story, Travel

I was expecting just another Burmese Python Sweat drips from my brow as I dismount the motorbike that has carried me from one side of Bago, Myanmar to the other. There are no expectations of meeting a princess because, to be honest, I haven’t done any research for this trip. Bago is just about an hour and a half away from Yangon, where I live. My partner had to go for work and I tagged along. When I saw a place on the map labeled Snake Pagoda, I looked at the images and decided to go. It's easy to feel the greatness of the place the moment my feet are on steady ground. In Southeast Asia, a pagoda is a cone-shaped monumental structure constructed in memory of Buddha. In Myanmar, one…

12Mar 2019 by Kayla 6 Comments

Observations About Myanmar from an Expat

Travel

It has been one year now since I came to Myanmar! What I planned as a three-week adventure has evolved into so much more! So I thought it was time to update this post on my observations about Myanmar. I have gone from being a tourist to an expat. (Expat is short for expatriate, a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than their native country. I can't remember if I knew or used this word before coming here.) (more…)

13Nov 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Cataplexy in a Cathedral

Narcolepsy, Personal Story, Travel

Sharing a plate of fried watercress, a heaping dish of tea leaf salad, and a bowl of eggplant curry, I found myself saying more about my chronic illness than I ever expected to disclose on a first encounter. I heard myself explaining things my body does in words I had never strung together verbally before. Maybe it was the second glass of wine, or maybe it was the humid air, the colorful Myanmar decor, and the attentive listener on the other side of the able. He seemed genuinely interested in how a person with narcolepsy had come to travel as a lifestyle choice. (more…)

26Jun 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Tips for Riding a Sleeper Bus in Vietnam

Personal Story, Travel

Before my sleeper bus experience, I had never imagined being asked to take my shoes off as I entered a public bus. But when you get on an overnight sleeper bus, it makes a lot of sense. An attendant held out a black plastic bag for me to place my shoes in. I continued barefoot down the aisle to my very own reclined sleeper seat. (more…)

22Jun 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Healthcare in Auxiliar Program Spain

Narcolepsy, Personal Story, Travel

In 2014 I applied for the Ministries of Spain Auxiliares program on a whim. I didn't know the healthcare in the auxiliar program in Spain would be so great! I was also considering teaching in Asia for programs like EPIK and HESS. I had promised myself I was going wherever I got an offer first because I had to get out of the USA. The day the email came telling me I had a position in Spain I couldn’t believe it. I was going to be living in Ibiza! Everything happened pretty quickly since I got my carta mid-summer. I had to quit my full-time job, sell all my furniture, get the Spanish student visa in Chicago, and physically move to Spain! But of course, there were some worries. I…

22Jun 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Low Carb Snacks On the Go

Diet, Travel

We all know we work hard to maintain our ketogenic lifestyles while we are at home. So why not continue that habit when we travel? Sure it takes a little extra effort, but we do keto for the amazing health benefits, and we want to feel good and enjoy the trip whether it’s for work or pleasure. So here are some quick and dirty tips for keto travel if you are feeling uninspired! Remember not everyone has the same restrictions or macro goals so check the label before you pack!Low carb road trip snacksLow carb road trip snacks with a coolerKeto airplane snacksLow carb non refrigerated snacksLow carb snacks to buy at the grocery storeLow carb snacks that require preparationKeto product recommendationsKeto travel tips Low Carb Road Trip Snacks Beef JerkyNut…

03Apr 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Tips for Traveling With Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy, Travel

Don't Travel Tired Do you worry about traveling with narcolepsy? Traveling tired can be dangerous. I feel like I am a smart traveler and pay attention to my surroundings. But once the sleep starts creeping in its easy to start letting my guard down and focus on staying upright. (more…)

02Apr 2018 by Kayla No Comments

Dong Xuan Night Market, Hanoi

Personal Story, Travel

Dong Xuan Night Market was high on my list since visiting markets is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. Of course I also like to browse grocery stores looking for new and interesting keto friendly foods, but nothing has the same ambiance as a local market. Hanoi didn’t disappoint! The Dong Xuan Night Market opens at 19:00 (7:00 PM) on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and is frequented by both locals and tourists alike. Cultural Experience at the Dong Xuan Night Market The Dong Xuan night market runs all along Hang Dao Street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and ends near the entrance of the Dong Xuan Market building. Near the front of the building, there was a stage with performances of local music. Both tourists…