i’m on the plane to yvr. i hate this fricken flight. westjet doesnt give you a free meal on a 9.5 hour flight. there are no screens, only ipads for rent. i feel like SUCH a rookie for not downloading the westjet app when i had wifi so i could watch shows on my phone. i just finished my book. the old man beside me smells and is illegally drinking his duty free alcohol. i dont have a window seat. i just want to sleep but i cant sleep without a window to lean on.
lol have you guys ever heard me so bitter? THE HONEYMOON’S OVER PEOPLE.
i definitely cried when we were taking off. i’m not ready for my adventure to end. i thought i was a couple weeks ago but i’m not.
i’m just feeling allll the feelings. i know when i get back i will have to face reality. i dont want to. i know this trip is going to feel like a dream in just a couple days.
i sound like a brat but trust me i am aware how lucky i am to have had the best 6 months humanly possible.
really the #1 thing i feel is gratitude. how did everything happen so so so perfectly on this trip? it wasn’t without some very very expensive/unpleasant hiccups, but i guess overall those things are really what made it perfect. how cliche of me is it to say everything happened for a reason… the challenges are what made me feel the strongest. but really i just had the best trip.
i am going to go home and just absorb it. go through photos, read my blog posts, soak it in. i think my 3 fave places were Cape Town, Bali and Paris. peace play pash. honourable mention to Rwanda for having such a special place in my heart, Komodo for being so off-the-beaten-path-endearing, and Positano for being heart-stoppingly gorgeous.
but who knows, maybe once i am home and reflecting i will have different faves.
know what’s been really fun this trip? feeling INSPIRED. dreaming of writing a book, or travelling more, or living in a faraway land, or something magical happening. i feel like the universe has done some interesting things to me on this trip. like i feel like i’m cheesier than i was before i left. i used to get sewww annoyed when people say things like “everything happens for a reason”, and NOW LISTEN TO ME. there are some songs i listen to from my trip that make be feel like my heart is going to explode. they mean so much. it’s fun to dream. it’s been so fun to have conversations with people about this through my whole trip, people who feel the same.
my favourite quote is “i don’t know where i’m going from here, but i promise it won’t be boring.”
going to leave this with a copy and paste this from my insta post:
—
6 months. 15 countries. a gazillion emotions. most of all, i am so so grateful.
🥂
⟡ to my family for being the best ever. obv it was especially tough for my mom, Keira & Barney. thank you for getting me out of several sticky sitches & having my back unconditionally.
⟡ to my bestest friends who joined me for some ppp fun: @carmenang_ x2 @tombalakshin @christiejeks & who welcomed me into their homes: @tommygossland @thegreatgoss @danielcolangelo1990. i think i am the luckiest girl in the world to have shared this experience with you guys.
⟡ to the friends i was able to cross paths with along the way, @courtneybowman14 @lauren_abennett @mslindanguyen the #borchelorette girls & #borchelor boys @brittaneya @kittypawtterson @rbrianne3 @sai_onara6.
⟡ to the new friends who inspired me, looked out for me, danced with me. just a couple shout outs to @jenstuart.xo @erickuzabakiriho @evanlesh @robbielevin @gesjo738 @princerelevi @andrewdxo @derektia @felipealv24 @beingbeccaaa @mikkel.aragon @apollolara @mmfgonzalez @mark.w009 @tkarlsson_.
⟡ to my friends & long lost acquaintances who sent me the sweetest messages from home & who loyally liked my excessive instas. i swear i was holding back guys.
⟡ to those who had doubts about me travelling some of these places as a solo girl, for letting me prove you wrong.
⟡ to the boys (& a couple girls) who bought me drinks which i shamelessly accepted due to my dwindling budget.
⟡ to my liver, the real ppp mvp. sorry about that.
⟡ to the wild animals in what turned into my global safari. 🦍🐘🦒🐢🦈🐉🐠🐨🦁🦗
⟡ to @camila_cabello for my ppp anthem & @macklemore for making 2 guest appearances. ps why havent you opened your dms.
⟡ to my Parisian Nick Miller @plmrvn_ondms for letting me live in a dream.
⟡ to all the locals in this crazy, fascinating, beautiful world. from Africa to SE Asia to Australia, back to SE Asia, Hawaii & Europe, thank you for showing me life outside of my lil Vancouver bubble.
i am so so so excited to keep #peaceplaypassion-ing my way through life. i just love everyone & everywhere.
in Paris i started the month with a life of insane luxury at the Ritz with Court, bonding over good vibes and a love for all things french.
then i had Paris hostel life, where my new gay best friend Levi and i frolicked around Paris dancing and talking about boys (more him than me, lol) and having photoshoots.
then there was the Paris nightlife version, where my shimmy sister Carmy and i walked all over the city, drank vodka in our airbnb for midgets, and went speakeasy hopping and dancing into the wee hours of the night.
my final home stretch in Paris was a Parisian fairytale. i got to experience what it’s like to be one of the starry-eyed Parisian lovebirds, floating around the city and going on dates filled with wine, jazz, new English/French words, Eiffel Tower views, rendezvous with local musicians, and the kind of conversations about life that you never want to end but also can’t wait till the next topic.
i don’t know what will happen with that but i am writing about it because even if everything goes to shit and we never speak again, i will always be grateful for that Parisian fairytale that i somehow got to live. this trip is all about me which has been PERFECT, but i never dreamed of ending it with that kind of cherry on top. if it weren’t for my Parisian fairytale i’m sure i would have been a ball of anxiety for a week while my trip came to an end. i felt so much respect for me and my trip. it was a dream while i was in it anyway so if that’s all it was meant to be, i’m totally okay with that.
may feel differently in a week lol but that’s where i’ve been and that’s where i’m at!
here’s a summary of my last week:
– amazing dancers “les autres” at Palais de Chaillot with Eiffel Tower backdrop
– getting wine tipsy by myself with the French Jimmy Fallon as my server, and using the free snacks as a free dinner hack
– Parc de Sceaux – omg EVERYONE GO HERE it is a pink cherry blossom PARADISE!!!
– stayed at CV Hostel near Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe and explored that luxurious neighbourhood, Carrie Bradshaw’s Parisian crib Plaza Athenée, the beautiful Parc Monceau where i dreamed of going for runs in my local neighbourhood park
– the most delicious 5 euro pizza and 1 hour line at Popolare. this is the best, everyone go here.
– jazz at 38 Riv, caveau des oubliettes and Quartier Rouge
– wine along the Seine. it sounds crazy but that was really all that was left on my Paris bucket list.
– cutest French bar Pamela Popo
– Le Rooftop bar – amazing Eiffel Tower view
– Irish sports bar Cork and Cavan for the game. dont ask me who played.
– golden hour at Tuileries Garden
– a wee bit of shopping in Le Marais – perfume and lingerie because Paris and retail therapy
– crepes, croissants, french onion soup, and did i mention wine
– my last night, i was in bed a bit sick. until i got a text and met with Timothee and Hugo who i met in nyc for many drinks at midnight at Mary Celeste. because YOLO PEACE PLAY PASSION YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD. ppp bookends.
finished off the passion leg by myself with my favourite activity, strolling around the city for hours. Paris. you are all i ever dreamed of and more. i’m so glad i don’t have to get rid of literally all my home decor.
okay it’s my third day back in Paris and i just wanted to share some thoughts lol. i think these are inside jokes with myself so people, feel free to skip this one 😉
i LOVEOVELOVE when people talk to me in French cause THEY THINK I’M FRENCH. LIKE THAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT
last night after i had only free appies for dinner with my wine, i obviously got a drunken cheeseburger (2 euros so it’s fine) and the guy said he didnt think i was a tourist. so flattered burger guy, merci
i am just strolling down the Champs Elysees and went into Cartier to browse at the life i will never afford. when i was leaving the doorman said something to me in French (no idea what it was) and i was like YES I HAVE MADE IT.
was also looollling at what Levi said to me when i was first in Paris and he was making my Tinder profile. (he has lots of experience, but the Grindr version lol) i wanted a chill adventurous pic like my gorilla pic, to weed out the pretentious douche bags. Levi was like “you dont have any classy photos” and i was like “no i dont want a classy guy” and he was like “NO YOU NEED MONEY GIRL” looolll
i turned on Tinder while i’m here to like make some friends and it has been VERY entertaining. Parisian men. v forward. i did meet a jazz musician (drummer) for some wine, and then some more wine. he was the non douchey type of Parisian and it was fun 🙂
also another thing Levi and i chatted abput – to sound Parisian you just have to mumble the words to master the accent. i love walking around saying “bonsoir bonsoir” pretending i’m french.
okay this post is already backlogged so just gonna publish now, bye!!! love from paree!!!
i’ve been in Paris for just over a week now. it’s such a trip that this is my last month of travelling!! like where has the time gone, but also it feels like a million years since i’ve been home?? peeps always say you come home from a trip and it’s like nothing’s changed, but actually i feel like a lot has changed for me. what bums me out is the things that haven’t changed and they should, like if people are unhappy or in a dead end relationship or job. i wasn’t in either of those things – i actually loved my life – but this trip has just made me such a strong believer that if you aren’t genuinely happy with your life, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. you only have yourself to blame if you’re not livin a 10/10. my trip has been so incredible and it feels so good to be independently happy. i just want everyone to pick their passion (or their peace, or their play) and do that. NO SETTLING. OKAY??? okay.
i’ve been to Paris 3x before but only for like 3 days each time. this leg is about soaking in these butterflies in the city that i love (as evidenced by my Eiffel Tower cheese grater, soap dispenser x2, pillows, etc) and learning it inside out. past the Eiffel Tower and Tuileries Garden (although still some classic faves) i want to explore every arrondissement, get to know the locals, eat a croissant every day (so far, success), brush up on my francais. i want to take my time and have cafés on terraces, and read my book in the park. when i first came in 2012 i saw a girl reading on those Parisian green chairs in the Tuileries Garden and i thought, i want her life.
this was me yesterday – dreams do come true guys:
so far my Parisian life has been in 3 parts.
1. the Ritz
Courtney and i met at Tara’s stagette a few years ago (which i randonly crashed in Vegas) and we’ve only hung out a couple times but we both love Paris and positivity. good vibes. i am so happy she reached out and was able to meet me in Paris. for various reasons lol but i can’t wait to reunite when i’m back in Van!!
by some insane stroke of platonic luck we were treated to staying at the most gorgeous hotel in the freaking world. the Ritz Paris. i arrived after 24 hours (or 48, however you wanna look at it) at 1am, down $800, flight delayed, bag lost in Moscow, tears streaming down my face. walk into the Ritz like this. somehow i am in the Ritz, the Eiffel Tower is effing SPARKLING FROM OUR BALCONY and i put on the coziest peach robe because i have no clothes, and all will be okay.
that was a lot.
the Ritz has gold swans for faucets, a heated towel rack, everything is fluffy and peach (it was used to compliment their pale skin back in the day), a dreamy Parisian terrace, a bed that was fit for Marie Antoinette. THE STAFF IS INSANELY NICE. shout out to Greta for being an absolute doll on the phone and Johan for calling Air France every 15 mins to get my bag, and rolling his eyes and saying “The French”. i think we are bff but for some reason he didn’t invite me to stay longer.
The history here is insane. Coco Chanel lived there for 33 years, as she started up Chanel just down the street. Hemingway lived here and frequented the bar at the back of the hotel. (if those walls could talk..) Emma Watson stays here, David Beckham.. as we were there so was the King of Morocco. casual. same.
Court and i got coffee and croissants, had some good life talks (reminds me of my time with Christine in Rwanda), strolled through the Tuileries Garden and down the Seine, to Pont Alexandre iii, reemed out Air France lol, stopped at the Champs Elysses. had a nap because jet lag was killing me and the bed is essentially a cloud.
woke up and drank wine and frolicked on the bed. that place is a fairytale. stopped by Hemingway Bar for a 30 euro cocktail (thats approx $47 cad. NOT in budge. not even close. but treat yoself, yolo, hemingway, free appies, the experience, etc etc.). pranced over to Place de la Concorde for the most magical sunset with the Eiffel Tower as backdrop. living in a dream.
2. hostel life
i literally almost shed a tear when i checked out of the Ritz and transitioned back to hostel life.
but then i met my new gay best friend Levi from Indonesia/Colombia/Africa and our room was cute and we frolicked all over Paris together.
bought 3 euro wine, dodged a bar owner whose wife is due in 2 days but apparently he loves me (Parisians i tell ya), met new friends in Montmartre and then went dancing at Corocan’s Irish Pub. were not let into Silencio – “you are not invited here” LOL – and topped the night off with a crepe obv.
next day we had a gorg photoshoot with Levi’s gorg iphone (rip) lol was so fun/extra. croissant for breaky, crepe for din. banana drink at Dirty Dick, then to meet Steph and our new friend Matt at Harry’s. Steph Matt and i love life and love to yolo and we then went for a drink at Jefreys and Experimental Cocktail Bar. LOVE both those bars!!! here i discovered Love by Kendrick Lamar which may be my song of this leg.
just really happy to be in Paris.
3. reunion with Carmy!!
Carmen kicked off ppp with me in New York and we had the best time frolicking and dancing and are replicating exactly that here in Paree.
we are staying in a cute lil airbnb in Belleville (just up from Le Marais) and by lil i mean the ceiling is 3 inches above our heads and we have bonked our heads multiple times on the bathroom “doorway” (which is a curtain). “what is this an airbnb for ants?!” still cute though!!
i have flagged about 200 places i want to visit on my google maps so we have been flying through them!! to sum up:
– open mic jazz bar, hanging out with the band, Carmy plays the sax. then off to Baiser Salé which is the BEST jazz club, so fun!!
– brunch at Passeger – bagel sandwiches yummm. “is this dressing made of water?!” 😀
– strolling through St Germain, my fave cafe is Mabillion. cutest mint chairs
– Jardin du Luxembourg, Eiffel Tower
– French onion soup on a terrace
– Le Mauri 7, le Syndicat (speakeasy) and Chez Jeanette for drinks. then over to Hotel Bourbon to dance with some weirdos. weird vibes lol
– went to the ballet at Palais Garnier which is STUNNINGGG. if you go to the box office 1 hr before showtime you can get tix for 10 euros. view wasnt great but neither are our bank accounts. we paid a fraction of the price so got to view a fraction of the stage. so worth it just to see the venue.
– dancing at O’Sullivans Irish Bar – good vibes!!! chill people, fun bartenders, amaze dj who actually plays your requests :):)
– on our sunny day we strolled and read our books in the Tuileries Gardens (my fave place in Paris), got hot chocolate and macarons at Angelina’s (very rich but cute)
– went to a Parisian rave at Rex Club but it just so happens we werent tripping out on ecstacy so not sure i could fully appreciate the experience lol. everyone arrives at like 2-3 and the party ends at 7. cant really make friends cause everyone is bouncing to the beat like zombies. defs an experience though!! lol
– currently writing this in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont which is soooo lovely and reminds me of Central Park. it’s big and hilly and everyone is out running and playing.
… couple days later, Carmy just left today and here’s the rest of the recap!!
– a very French evening: Seine-side wine with some trendy Parisians, sparkling Eiffel from the bridge, escargot in St German.
– Chez Georges for an interesting playlist including the Beatles, Hebrew anthems, old school Britney, then some Ed Sheeran (.. ED?!) a wee bit more dancing at Frog & Princess
– Sacre Coeur, strolling/eclair in Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, Aperol Spritzes on a terrace with an excessive waiter from Barbados. he likes to party.
– our fave night: speakeasy hopping and new friends!!! met Robbie and Evan at Little Red Door, who didnt not not meet on Grinder, then to Candelaria. then off to our fave O’Sullivans for dancing till 4am, on the stairs, all the best moves. a HILARIOUS night. we are all doppelgangers: i am Molly, Robbie is Conor, Evan is Nick Jonas, Carmen is Marisa Tomei or maybe the Mona Lisa
– brunch at Benedict, shopping and lattes in Le Marais. meet our Content Crew at another speakeasy Ballroom, then to Experimental Cocktail Club and Braiser Sale for more jazz. another amazing night, friends are fun!! Carmen heads straight to her flight at 4:30am because you can sleep when you’re dead.
Paris really is a dream. the entire city is a work of art. like you have the Arc de Triomph and then directly down the Champs Elysses is the mini arc. in the Place de la Concorde there are mirrored buildings with identical pillars from actoss the bridge. like thought and artistry was put into every single part of this city.
the history is crazy here – like name me a square in Vancouver where kings and queens were guillotined and is now a beautiful oasis – i’ll wait. the architecture is SO grand and the little balconies are SO cute. i love it all. also the people are so classic Parisian. you see them dressed to the nines just strolling down the sidewalk and you’re like, yep this is Paris.
French girls are broody and chic. everyone should read this book i’m reading called How to be Parisienne Wherever You Are. it makes me want to embody everything that the mysterious yet passionate Parisian women are.
French guys are either super stand offish or super forward. (“can i get your number?” “i dont have a number” “whatsapp?” “nope dont have that either”) the clubs dont get busy till 2am and will close at like 6 even on a Sunday. before 2 Carmy and i are uuusually the only girls on the dance floor. i dont think they’re super used to people having fun?? lol. like one security guard at the ballet was like “you’re not from here. do you know how i can tell?” i was expecting him to say something pretentious like “your accent sucks” or “you’re not dressed up enough”. what he said was, “because you’re smiling”.
fave things to do: speakeasy hop. stroll through St Germain or Le Marais, pop into stores to sample perfume or hand lotion, to smell candles. go into books and read the backs of Parisian novels. eat a croissant for breakfast. soak in the Tuileries Garden and see the Eiffel Tower sparkle.
popping out for a bit but will be back to finish passion.
peace play passion 