posted by Bailee Davion @ 6:45 AM
0 Comments
Stopping in to wish you the happiest of holidays this year! I’ve been letting the blog (and my mind) rest for a bit, before the fresh start of the new year just around the corner. I’m so excited for what’s to come in 2016 and can’t wait to document this new journey 
Next week I’ll be sharing some important words in my final post of 2015. Make sure to check back then, and as always you can keep up with my daily life on instagram.
In the meantime, here’s some highlights from our holiday this year. Merry Christmas, from my family to yours:
posted by Bailee Davion @ 5:33 AM
0 Comments
posted by Bailee Davion @ 11:51 PM
0 Comments
posted by Bailee Davion @ 5:51 AM
0 Comments
A lot has happened since I’ve been home. Decisions have been made and re-made, and for those of you wondering what my next move is, I’m ready to share…
There will be more house projects on this blog. At least for a little while, until the house is ready to sell. Instead of rushing off to a new continent as originally planned, I’ve decided to take a few months to finish remodeling this house properly before putting it on the market. This includes a master bathroom remodel, converting the old laundry hallway into a utility/storage space, a light refresh downstairs and some curb appeal quick fixes. While these will still be done on a budget, there won’t be as much DIY involved—mostly due to time constraints and lack of desire, as my focus is now in other areas. Which also means I likely won’t be posting as much or as in depth. I’ve always said that I’ll never force this blogging thing. As soon as it becomes contrived or no longer fun, I’m done. To avoid that, I only write about what motivates me—what I’m passionate about… and right now, remodeling isn’t at the top of my list. Once I get started on the process I’ll probably be more excited about it, but as of now, there are other things on my mind.
I’ve been home for exactly two weeks which is hard to believe because it feels like months, yet some mornings I’ll wake up expecting to be in a hostel somewhere in Asia. I’m still in the travel time warp—a phenomenon that occurs when a week feels like a month, and months become years—in the best way possible.
When traveling, there are no mundane or forgettable days that drag on and blend into one another while you’re daydreaming and anticipating what you’d rather be doing in the future. Every day is filled with new places, people, adventures, experiences and emotions and most importantly, memories that will stay with you forever. The type of memories that are normally gained just once a month or quarter or even year—but no day is wasted while traveling. Time, our most valuable asset, is not lost. It’s the only way I know how to live a longer life within the same lifespan.
I was scared to come back to “reality”. Just like the low points I experienced on my trip after waves of riding highs, I was certain I’d come crashing down, hard. Mentally prepared, I arrived just in time for Thanksgiving and focused on appreciating the luxuries I’d been missing—like almond milk, ranch dressing, a curling iron and comfortable bed. Alone in my house still decorated for spring, I felt a little spoiled. Look at all this stuff I’ve never used, in this giant house with rooms I don’t use…
The transition wasn’t bad. I sorted through stacks of mail, reacquainted myself with the programs and systems in place to run my business, did some reorganizing, ran through inventory and hit the ground running, just in time for the holiday rush. So far, so good.
But then there was the million dollar question, the one that started to creep in the last few weeks of my trip and loomed over me the moment I arrived home—What now? What am I going to do with my life?
Every free moment was dedicated to solving this mystery. I read books and blogs and magazines for inspiration and listened to podcasts and watched videos and talked to people and journaled and wrote lists and spreadsheets and tossed and turned all night, trying to figure out my purpose in this world and what I really want to do for the next sixty years.
I started to worry that I wouldn’t ever decide. Maybe I’d settle on something that wasn’t quite right and waste my time on work I wasn’t completely passionate about. Maybe I’d continue doing exactly what I was doing now, and wander the globe without a real purpose. A full time nomad. But that didn’t sit well with me either.
Then, last week while sitting at my desk, it hit me. I had an epiphany. Suddenly it all made sense. I’ve found my calling… I know what I want to do with my life.
For a handful of reasons, I won’t be going into any more detail for now. It’s something that will take months to get started, and I haven’t had a chance to put together a real plan yet, but I feel this one in my gut. It was that same feeling I had when I made the best decision of my life by starting over. I just know that this is what I must do. Without realizing it, I’ve been carrying a weight around with me for years. It took traveling across the world to release it, but a much lighter version of myself returned on that plane. I’ve never felt more free and unbound by anything, and in this moment, I can honestly say I’m even happier than those “pinch-me-I’m-dreaming” moments in Asia—because this isn’t temporary, it’s real life now. I have real goals to work towards, and right now the world feels wide open… nothing can hold me back.
When I first announced my life changing news, I referenced this quote at the end of the post:
You are the designer of your destiny. You are the author. You write the story. The pen is in your hand, and the outcome is whatever you choose.
These words really spoke to me five months ago when I was agonizing over the most difficult decision of my life, and never are they more relevant than this moment. It’s easy to run away and escape it all, but now the real test begins. I’m so ready for this new challenge. Bring it on, life.
posted by Bailee Davion @ 11:15 AM
0 Comments
I’ve been slowly easing into my routine back home since returning from Asia one week ago, and want to take a moment to stop and reflect on this life changing journey.
There are endless stories, many written on this blog, some scribbled in a journal, others tucked away in secret or recorded only in my mind—many to share with the world, some reserved for family and friends, others that will never be told. But sometimes photographs tell an even better story and move us in way that words can’t.
I’m eternally grateful that I took the time to record so much of my journey, and now I’ll be able to look back on it forever, reliving the most amazing moments of my life and passing it on to future generations. Perhaps more than the writings, though, I value the collection of photos I’ve amassed over these past few months—to me, they’re worth more than any of my material possessions.
I’m not a professional photographer by any means, just someone with a passion and a love of visual communication. These certainly aren’t the most incredible travel photographs you’ll ever see, but they all hold a special meaning to me, and they represent a starting point. They’re the benchmark on which I will improve on over time, challenging myself to do better.
I didn’t plan most of these photos. They were vistas I stumbled upon, or spur of the moment captures that just happened to turn out decently well (though my goal is to be more intentional in the future).
It was tough narrowing down from such a huge selection as each one is tied to personal significance, but I tried to include shots from a wide range of scenes and subjects. For my fellow photos/aspiring photos out there, I’ve provided the equipment details along with a brief story behind each image.
10. Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/640 sec, f6.3, ISO 320 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
This was taken from an observation deck at Elephants World, a sanctuary for rescuing and rehabilitating elephants. We spent the day there volunteering and getting up close and personal with these gentle giants. The natural landscape of greenery and distant mountains provided a nice background, and I waited for a single elephant and his mahout to enter the frame before shooting. See more of that adventure here.
9. Halong Bay, Vietnam
iPhone 6+ / Editing: Afterlight
On my first night in Halong Bay just before sunset, I hopped into a kayak with my new friend Chelsie in the back. We paddled out to the bay and took advantage of the ‘golden hour’. I didn’t have my wide angle lens with me, so I handed her my phone and she snapped this shot. It’s simple, but I love the composition and mood. It’s hard to take a bad photo in one of the most enchanting places in the world—even a cell phone can convey how special this place is. See more shots of beautiful Halong Bay here.
8. Sapa, Vietnam
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/3200 sec, f2.5, ISO 125 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
The two days spent trekking through Sapa provided the most visually breathtaking moments I’ve ever experienced. Every step was a new photo op and without trying, I ended up with hundreds of shots. While walking along the outskirts of one village, a toddler ran up a dirt path and perched himself onto a boulder, waving and smiling at us. His mother stood by in the distance as he captured our attention and hearts. He cried when we began to walk away, hoping we’d come back. “I’m going to adopt a Vietnamese baby someday”, one girl in our group sighed.
7. Koh Tao, Thailand
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/400 sec, f4.5, ISO 200 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
It was the week after I left home. My second day on Koh Tao was spent wandering the streets alone, and I came across a bamboo & henna tattoo shop. Feeling inspired by my new sense of freedom, I requested a henna of Not all who wander are lost in Thai writing to commemorate the start of my journey. Before the ink had a chance to fade, I took a photo to immortalize this moment in time. It was a spur of the moment decision while lying on the beach, so I propped my camera on a towel, looked through the viewfinder to compose the shot, set the timer and situated myself in place as the shutter released. It took a few tries to get it right, but I ended up with my first solo travel self portrait. I look at this photo now and it’s so powerful. Part of me wants, more than anything, to go back to that moment so I could relive the next few months all over again. I had no idea how much my life was about to change.
6. Vang Vieng, Laos
Canon 6D, EF24mm f/2.8 lens, 1/100 sec, f4, ISO 800 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
Nestled between a winding river and limestone cliffs, the town of Vang Vieng was more than the notorious tubing party pitstop I had anticipated upon arrival. On my last evening before sunset, I caught a motorbike to a location along the river outside of the main tourist area and captured several photos of the stunning landscape. Take a look at the entire set in my Laos post and see for yourself why more Southeast Asia travelers should add it to their itinerary.
5. Sapa, Vietnam
Canon 6D, EF24mm f/2.8 lens, 1/2500 sec, f2.8, ISO 125 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
After claiming Sapa to be the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in person, it’s no surprise that it makes an appearance twice on the list. The rich and seemingly endless landscape of carefully carved terraces makes it impossible to take a bad photograph, and I could fill an entire post with images just from this day (and I actually did that, sharing over 60 of them here). The natural hazy air doesn’t make for the most ideal shooting conditions and I didn’t think to bring a UV filter on my trip, but post processing definitely helps.
4. Kayangan Lake, Palawan, Philippines
Canon 6D, EF24mm f/2.8 lens, 1/320 sec, f2.8, ISO 100 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
The dream-like quality of this photo was just as powerful in person, and I wanted to portray that emotion by placing the angle from my perspective. The islands surrounding Palawan contain so many hidden gems—Kayangan Lake being one of the most well-known. It wasn’t easy choosing just one image to represent this part of the world, and I shared many in my Philippines post in an effort to take you to these surreal places with me.
3. Koh Tao, Thailand
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/1250 sec, f5.0, ISO 160 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
It’s hard to compete with the unspoiled islands of the Philippines, but Shark Bay in Koh Tao was the first place in Thailand I fell in love with. It still remains my favorite beach in Thailand, and it’s easy to see why from this photo. After capturing this image from the top of a steep grade of steps leading to the sand, I spent the afternoon snorkeling, sunbathing and sipping coconut shakes. It was only my fifth day in Asia, and the first moment I truly felt at peace with my decision to leave.
2. Private island, Coron, Philippines
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/2500 sec, f2.8, ISO 100 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
The day before leaving Coron Island, a few friends and I chartered a boat to take us around the more remote locations without any tourists. A handful of new friends joined us and we found a secluded, private island and were served fresh grilled fish and veggies grilled up by the captain. After lunch, I pulled out my camera to take advantage of the dreamy surroundings and asked one of the girls’ to be my subject. I experimented with different scenes and she offered to switch me places, so I set up my composition, held the camera in place and gave her instructions on how to focus. We had a great time and got a few really fun shots—this one being my favorite.
1. Pai, Thailand
Canon 6D, EF50mm f/1.4 lens, 1/200 sec, f8, ISO 200 / Editing: RAW + Photoshop
Most people who travel Thailand place Pai at the top of their list, and for good reason. Between its cloud covered mountains, rolling fields, canyons and waterfalls and laid back hippie vibe, it’s a small slice of heaven. I spent a total of nine days in the area—longer than any other one place. On this day I made a new friend, we rented scooters and were riding through the countryside. A clearing opened up and revealed a rain shower passing through the mountains in the distance. I immediately pulled over and told her we couldn’t miss this opportunity. After capturing several images of the landscape, she told me to jump in one of the shots so I handed her my camera, gave her a quick debriefing and told her to snap away. In one of the frames I was turning around and the movement was perfectly captured in this shot. Post processing further enhanced the mood and months later, it’s still at the top of my list of favorite travel photographs.
And there you have it, friends. My best captured travel moments and the stories behind them. PS: If you love instagram as much as I do, I’m always updating and posting new images there, so make sure to follow me!
Did your favorite make it on the list? Do you dabble in photography as well, or want to see more posts like this? There’s a lot of changes on the way, and I’m in the process of narrowing down what I really want to focus on—but a big part of that depends on you.
I’ll clarify more in upcoming posts, but for now, I just need to know one thing: How can I help you? How can I add value to your day—your life? Apart from house related projects, what do you want to gain/learn/feel when you visit this blog? Don’t be a stranger. Please let me know in the comments—I’m all ears!
posted by Bailee Davion @ 8:33 AM
0 Comments
It’s been five days since I boarded a plane back to California, said goodbye to Asia and ended my 3.5 month long journey. Now back at home, sitting in the same chair on the same computer where I booked that one way ticket to Bangkok, it feels as if it was all just a dream—gone in the blink of an eye. But a dream that changed everything, because a new person flew home five days ago—one with a new life and future filled with possibility. It’s a very exciting time, and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you in the coming weeks.
For now, I’m ready to share the final days of my trip. I couldn’t think of a more serendipitous grand finale than The Philippines. From my time in Balanga to the most surreal scenery in the world—it was, in a word, perfect.
If you caught my last post, you may remember the story of the families who have been living without electricity due to not being able to afford their $60 bill. And my cousin who decided to bring awareness by starting a gofundme campaign.
Because of your generosity, we’ve managed to raise $2000 which will be used to help other local families in need. Incredible—so far beyond what we expected.
This is truly the most meaningful Thanksgiving in my life, and now it will be for many in the Philippines.
Austin posted an update with a video letting the families know of their supporters from around the world—be sure to check that out! He’ll also be updating to show everyone where the funds are going, and the donation page will stay active so it’s not too late to contribute if you are touched by this story as well. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Now… back to the most amazing place in the world: The Philippines.
From Manila I flew to Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. I made new friends at a hostel upon arrival and we took a tricycle down to a beach festival, where we danced the night away at a silent disco, watched fire performances and saw a live band.
The next morning I caught a van to El Nido, which is high on my list of Worst Travel Experiences. What was supposed to be a six hour drive turned into an all day mess of waiting and confusion, getting shuffled between vans, dropped off at waiting areas with no explanation, driving around town for three hours collecting passengers, starving and squished in the backseat with strangers alternating between sweating and freezing cold. This is why very few tourists make it to El Nido, apparently.
But…. it was worth it. It always is.
Pristine beaches almost all to myself, tropical air, incredible sunsets and food and friendly locals.
There are many island hopping tours available for incredibly cheap (~$15 for the day) so the second day was spent exploring off the coast. It was breathtaking.
We cruised through vibrant blue waters and warm winds, weaved between towering limestone cliffs, swam through hidden caves and snorkeled amongst tropical fish in colorful coral reefs.
The boats have grills on the back, and our captain cooked up some fresh caught fish and veggies as we pulled up to a private island.
There we refueled with a buffet of seafood, rice, veggies and fruit before moving on to the next destination.
On the way back into port, we were all on such a high—you could feel it in the air around us and see it on everyones faces. There’s something about this part of the world that grips you and transports you to a dream-like existence where negativity can’t survive. We all felt it, and little did I know I would remain in this state of bliss the entire time I was in the Philippines.
My time in El Nido was short, because we heard there was even more to discover on an island to the north by the name of Coron.
This was another interesting travel experience. Currently the only way to reach this island is via an expensive flight to the tiny airstrip on the island, or 7 hour ferry. Our hostel told us the ferry had comfortable reclining seats and wifi, and only cost around $15, so we booked it for the next morning.
This was on a Sunday, and it wasn’t until we boarded did we discover that the main ferry doesn’t run on Sundays, so we hitched a ride on an old wooden cargo boat that was heading that direction.
By the time everyone and all our luggage piled in, we could barely move. There were bags of rice and cloth and random plastic parts, and even a live chicken tied to a pole. We retreated to the roof to escape the chaos and passed out on the bamboo slatted deck while the boat meandered through the Philippine Sea at 10mph.
At one point we made a turn and ended up in a port. We were hot and hungry and had to use the restroom and thought they were going to let us off to explore… but sadly, that was not the case.
Instead, we watched while they exchanged groups of locals and bags of random supplies (like rusty metal gates) for 90 minutes. There was no use in asking them why we were there or for how long or when would we make it to Coron or if we were even going there anymore, because you’ll never get a clear answer. We’re all just bystanders in Asia, completely at their mercy. You’ve just gotta roll with it.
The now nine hour ferry ride ended up being quite calming, actually. You have to think of it as inexpensive, leisurely tour of the Philippines—all about perspective.
At sunset, we finally began to approach Coron, grateful to make it to our destination and fall in love with somewhere new.
Coron is a sleepy little island, and it’s not hard to see why considering the commitment it takes to get there.
There’s not much in the way of activities on the island itself, aside from hiking and the hot springs…
But just beyond this land lies the most amazing lakes, lagoons and islands you’ll ever see.
It didn’t even feel real. It was as if we were transported to a fantasy land, with each new location more magical than the next.
One of my favorite places was Kayangan Lake. We hiked between a cliff and dropped down into pristine blue waters surrounded by cavernous cliffs and lush forest. The sunlight illuminated the rocks in the distance and cast a neon glow on the lake, making us feel like we were in Avatar.
My favorite part of the day was floating in this lake in solitude, relaxed and moving with the water, following needlefish around as I aimlessly wandered. Time stopped for me here—my mind was clear of any thoughts and I simply existed in that moment.
As a chronic overthinker, it’s not easy getting to that clear place in my head. But here in the Philippines… it just happens. Every day.
One day we hired a private boat to take us out all day (still only $15/pp) and continued to explore the never ending wonders. Our captain cooked us lunch on a private island, we went cliff jumping in Barracuda Lake and snorkeled inside Twin Lagoon.
The coral and sea life is incredible here. So clear and pristine, I could be in the water for hours. Perhaps my favorite moment of the entire trip happened at Twin Lagoon. I was snorkeling on my own, slowly moving above the sea bed, completely lost in time. The water was so warm it felt like an extension of my body, and so clear that it seemed as if I were floating through space, suspended in air. Beams of sunlight rippled beneath the surface as I swam through them, staring up at the light in the silent vacuum of the sea. Without even trying, I was in a state of meditation—the most intense I’ve ever experienced, and felt as one with the universe. I realize this sounds a bit crazy, but it was my moment and mine alone, a memory I’ll never forget and so very healing. Exactly what I wanted and needed and hoped for during this trip.
The next day we said goodbye to Coron and made our way to Boracay. We had planned a long travel day which included another 9 hour ferry ride back to Palawan, a 7 hour van ride to Puerto Princesa, a flight to Manila with a 1.5 day layover, then another flight to Boracay. The APEC Summit was held in Manila that week and our flights got canceled, forcing us to find an option B.
By a random stroke of luck, someone in our group found a private jet directly from Coron island to Boracay, and after several confusing phone calls we were able to charter it for just $97/ea. Insane.
The “airport” was interesting… it was more or less an outdoor bus terminal and our check-in counter was an empty wooden platform. The one rep for the airline was MIA for hours and showed up just in time. There were no tickets, she recorded our info with her cell phone, only took cash and she pulled money out of her own purse to give us change.
My confidence level wasn’t very high going into this, but what I’ve learned is that sometimes the most unfamiliar and uncertain situations lead to the greatest memories.
And this flight? Hands down the best transportation experience on this trip. It easily made up for the Palawan Van Ride and Coron Ferry Stowaway misadventures.
Forty beautiful minutes later, I landed in Boracay, my last and final destination. And upon debarking I promptly noticed my Jenna Sue font. Glad to see it’s being put to good use around the world…
In an effort to focus purely on enjoying my last week in Asia, I put my camera away and chose to keep this time for myself, recorded only from memory.
It was a wonderful four days… filled with sunshine and swimming and dancing and amazing people.
I sat on the beach my last night, watching the sun as it fell below the horizon, staring out over the sea as the last sliver of light disappeared.
So many emotions ran through me but I’ve developed a new filter for them—a calm and deeper understanding. I acknowledged the weight of the present moment, observed the millions of thoughts and memories running through my mind, processed it all and felt an overwhelming sense of peace. This is what I’ve been searching for.
While waiting to board my last flight in Manila I posted this on Facebook:
“Three and a half months ago I caught a one way flight to Bangkok with nothing planned, leaving everything familiar behind to live in the moment and see where it took me. I’ve seen places that have left me breathless—from miles of rice terraces to thousands of limestone cliffs, ancient temples to hidden lagoons and everything in between. But I’ve learned it’s all meaningless without people to share it with. Only through forming relationships and connections with others can your soul be truly transformed and life enriched.
To everyone who crossed my path—some for weeks, others just a brief moment in time, some I’ll never see again, others whom I can’t imagine life without—you’ve changed me in ways you’ll never know.
With new friends all over the world, it’s now a much smaller place. My Facebook feed has been replaced with new languages and travel photos and confusing messages from old Vietnamese men. I’m fluent in German phrases and British humour and Thai bargaining. I can navigate my way through any airport and bus station and jungle like a pro.
Today I leave Asia with laugh lines, brown skin, scars, bruises and bites, dirty nails and unruly hair. My wallet is empty and backpack filled with souvenirs, mind filled with memories and heart full of love. My mental and physical limits have been pushed to new levels and I’ve grown in ways I never thought possible. But anything is possible when you have a hunger for new experiences and thirst for adventure that must be fed to feel alive. I’ll never lose that appetite for life—even if it means living off rice and bananas to see the world.
From eating snakes, worms and scorpions to sleeping with bed bugs to living with no water and electricity to full moon island parties to accidental karaoke performances to scooter crashes and helicopter rides and private jets and 10 hour bus rides to early morning ER visits and motorbike robberies and stabbings to war vet stories to dancing in the rain and swimming in waterfalls and snorkeling with sharks and feeling so alive that I must be dreaming… but I’m really just living my dreams.
Not deeply and madly in love with your life? Nothing will change until you release the grip of control you cling so tightly to, do what scares you most, take blind leap of faith and trust that life will unfold in a much richer and more beautiful way—the way it was designed to. Your life is worth risking it all for.
Goodbye, amazing Asia. Thank you for changing me forever. Until we meet again…”
I thought I’d be miserable returning home. How do you come back down after such an incredible high? How can life ever compare? Maybe it’s still too early for reality to set in, but something has stuck with me and kept me afloat these past five days. A feeling of excitement and possibility and a knowing that my future is entirely in my hands and anything is possible. It’s an incredible, indescribable state of mind and I don’t want to waste it. Bring it on, life.
Thank you to those who’ve been following along, witnessing this transformation while I’ve been doing my best to figure it all out. I have no idea what’s to come, but I hope you’ll stick with me as it unfolds. My journey is not over—it’s just beginning.
posted by Bailee Davion @ 10:39 AM
0 Comments
I'm a blogger, mother, fashionista and an interior designer. I love to renovate and redesign dull things transform them into a very lively and beautiful, painting, experimenting on different fashion trends and playing with my kids.
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]
