In August 2007, I boarded a flight for Bangkok, Thailand completely unaware of just how much the next 10 months would change my life.
Honestly, I was in a bad place before I left. A broken relationship, growing up, college graduation, worries about the future…it had all really gotten to me. I knew I needed to just get out and away from it all. And well, you can’t get much farther away than Bangkok, which is approximately 8,337 miles from my parents’ home.
Teaching English at a bilingual school was good, although I realized I lacked a certain thing called ‘patience,’ and teaching was not my calling. However, the traveling was AMAZING!
First, it was China and Laos over fall break…
spot the outsider at the local market in Old Kunming, China
posing with riding a tuk-tuk in Luang Prabang, Laos
…then the islands of Thailand over Christmas…
enjoying the warm waters of Koh Samui
…before my time abroad came to a close with a trip across the border to Cambodia.
the amazing Khmer temple of Angkor Wat by sunrise
just hanging out at the Suor Prat towers
Traveling not only helps you grow as a person, but it gives you an appreciation for what you have.
For the first time in my life, I saw with my own eyes serious, pervasive poverty. This is not to say the U.S. doesn’t have its own socioeconomic issues, but the poverty I saw in Southeast Asia was unlike any other. I really cannot explain just how little so many people have there. The very foundations of life – shelter, water and food – are practically obsolete to too many.
Why am I suddenly bringing this up?
Why, thank you for asking!
Last week, my boss asked us to write our Christmas lists so she could go shopping for the holidays. I opened my mini notepad, grabbed a pen and began to brainstorm. The only thing was, I couldn’t come up with much. My list looked something like this…
- couch
- French press
- tabletop bamboo compost bucket
- socks
- digital converter box (for my TV)
As I racked my brain for more ideas, I looked at the list and well, here is my truth,…
I don’t need any of it.
Would I like those things? Sure. Do I need any of it? No.
I have a full-time job, have some side projects that kick in a lil’ bit of dough and all-around have a good life. I get to enjoy my two favorite things – healthy, yummy food + traveling – and happen to have a pretty awesome circle of family + friends.
So, instead of presents this Christmas (and birthday!), I am asking for donations to help build a well in Cambodia. Did you know 2/3 of Cambodians don’t have access to clean drinking water? By building a well, not only are we giving a community that gift but also putting local Cambodians to work in the process.
With the help of Sustainable Cambodia and JustGive, I am going to try and raise $1000 by Christmas for the construction of a new well.
And if you are so inclined, I would be honored if you all would help me out.
I know money is tight for all of us, but the minimum donation is just $10. In our foodie world, that may mean cutting back on buying a new nut butter or two at the grocery store or perhaps skipping Greek yogurt for a week or two. In the grand scheme of things, that’s but a blip on the radar.
If you are feeling merry this holiday season,
please click here to help me build a well in Cambodia!
If you feel so inclined, please link back to this on your blog or encourage others to donate. Again, I am hoping for $1000 by Christmas so we can provide clean drinking water to rural Cambodians living without such basic necessities.
Thank you all so much – y’all are the best, and I promise regular posting shall resume tomorrow!
Love to all.
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What a great idea- we take so much for granted. Looks like an AMAZING trip- I’ve always wanted to go there…mostly because I think it will make me feel like a normal height (since I’m only 5’1″ haha). Hope you’re enjoying the weekend- I plan to link back tonight btw.
You have my donation my sweet – just completed it. Thank you for setting it up so that it’s easy for people to donate and thank you for being such a kind-hearted lady. I experienced the same thing traveling round South East Asia so I can’t think of a better idea than this.
Love you!
Wow that is awesome. I can probably scrape together 10 dollars ;)
This is a great idea, I’m the same when people ask what I want I really can’t think of anything I need. I normally say cash and tell them I normally donate to a different charity every year.
You’re amazing Holly. Simple as that :-)
Done and done. I say you are awesome.
Hey, Holly.
Wow, I was in Cambodia in summer of ’07 too!
:-)
I volunteered with RDIC, which makes water filters, provides medical care, and produces a Sesame Street type show to teach hygiene in a village outside the capital. So glad you are posting this on your blog!
Wasn’t Angkor unreal!? We biked to the temples and it was one of the most amazing days ever.
What an amazing trip. Those photos are gorgeous! My parents went to Thailand on their honeymoon.
Hope you reach your goal!
Oh my gosh! How amazing! I’m clicking, I’m clicking!
Wow how amazing! Such an eye opening and gorgeous trip. If you gotta get away that’s not a bad way to do it. What an experience! I am moving to another state soon I think it won’t be the break from family, but break for the monotony of the living in the same town you grew up in.
oh Holly, you are absolutely right.. do I really NEED a new pair of 90 dollar LuLulemon yoga pants? (had you asked me 20 mins ago I would of course have said yes.. but this post changed my mind) Thank you for this. Going to donate now :) Definitely worth sacrificing a few jars of PB! I never thought I would utter those words.
Love you!
I love seeing your traveling pictures but more importantly what a great cause you’re getting involved with!
YOU ARE PHENOMENAL.
You are so, so right. Traveling does change you as a person. I am so glad for the opportunity J and I have right now to be living in Japan. It is awesome! :D
I will link back to this post today on my blog! Good luck with raising your money. It’s a great idea.
Holly, this is awesome! What a great thing to do.
You are an amazing person. I will be linking tonight, I need to write myself a note to remember. And I will be tweeting about it in a minute.
Beautiful photos as well. :)
Awwww, Holly!
Your post is so right on. It really is remarkable how many basic resources a vast portion of the world significantly lacks. I’m touched by your charitable wish-list! Also, that picture of you in the temple is amazing! Love it! I’d be happy to contribute towards your well!
PS: Have you read “What is the What” by Dave Eggers? It’s a heavy read, but worth every tear-jerking page. It’ll also leave you with a remarkable amount of gratitude.
Boo, the links aren’t working for me. Any other way I can get to it? Just tweeted and off to give you some link love!
And can I just say that I love you’ve chosen to build a well? My sister is a water campaigner and engineer. She’s travelled around the world building clean water sources and washroom facilities for villages without them. Through her I’ve learned it is SO important. Just one well will make such a difference!
xoxo
That sounds like an incredible experience.
Holly, I am so glad to call you a friend. Traveling is one of the ultimate learning experiences, and people who love to travel I think love to learn. I think that’s so important. To keep an open-mind and seek something out. Anyway, your post is spot-on. Everytime I go to Colombia I am reminded of how blessed I am. But you know what’s really amazing? Despite the amount those people have, they have the biggest hearts and a more generous than most. I love you girl!
You are SO amazing. I already adored you, but this is just the coolest. I’ve been hoping to find something to help teach the girls about giving this season, and this might be just the thing.
SUCH a great post girl!
this is a wonderful cause and i’ll happily link to it on my blog!!
Holly!!! I LOVE this idea and am so happy to help! You are such a gem! xoxo
What an awesome post. I recently blogged about travel, too. Did you travel by yourself? Just wondering, as I know that sometimes traveling by yourself as a woman, or even in a group of woman, can be risky. I was recently talking to someone about traveling to India, and she strongly recommended going with a guy, and ideally just a girl and a guy so that people would think you’re together.
Anyway, total tangent. What I really want to say is that this is a wonderful idea, and I’d be happy to help! You’re beautiful inside and out, Holly!
OMG you’re so amazing.
As an aside on the whole matter of the charity which is lovely…
I almost went to Thailand to study yoga. Then, I changed my mind and said that’s soooo far. Then a year later I was pregnant and will probably never get to go. It’s not the type of thing you do as a mom :) Seeing these pics of yours is lovely. Thank you for sharing them!!!
Lady, you are freaking stellar. Seriously. A few friends of mine have been tossing around the idea of a bike ride through Thailand and your pictures may have helped seal the deal. Did I mention how awesome you are?
What a fabulous idea!! No wonder your name is Holly–you embody the true meaning of Christmas:) Sorry, I had to get that corny-ness in!
what a wonderful realization, miss holly. :) i had a similar epiphany of sorts after spending a couple weeks in cuba several years back. all of our material possessions are entirely not responsible for any sense of *true* happiness.
LOVE THIS!
Congrats Holl,
your blog is phenomenal, I am happy to give. Love you!
Yessica
What a great post, Holly! you are quite the insppiration around here :)
keep up the great work!!
Oh you are so awesome! I love! :D *nixes the nut butter this week*
I love this post. First of all thanks for posting on such a hugely important issue. It makes me realize everything I unknowingly take for granted in my everyday life. Second of all, I loved reading about your amazing travel adventures!
What a way to pull me into this! Starting off the those amazing pictures that bring me back to Asia…and ending with the sweetest encouragement to donate…I am gonna have to check out the sites for sure. You’re fabulous Holly!
those pictures are gorgeous. and what a grand idea!
wow it;s so wonderful to see someone from a land as far away as america to make a post about this! i actually went on a trip to cambodia with my school to build schools and homes for the kids there. my school always raises funds and hosts charities to support many orphanages in asia! this is such a wonderful psot holly and i can’t think of a better way to enjoy christmas then to know that someone elses christmas is a nicer one this year thanks to my help and donation.
and how amazing is ankor wat??
YOU ROCK!!
Thank you so much for having this! I just donated! You need to read Water Wars if you haven’t already! It talks about how the wars in the future will be over resources (if you didn’t think we were already fighting over them) particular water. Very interesting…
You are so amazing! And adorable. Donating all that present-money towards a great cause like this is SOOOO admirable, you have no idea!! GOOD KARMA BABY!! And Santa won’t forget about you!! You are too loved! :)
Again, this is an awesome cause. I just made my donation and will link back to your post tomorrow.
I’m going to Thailand in a just a few weeks and could not be more excited!
Holly ~ You are freakin’ amazing – you know that?! I LOVED reading your story and your cause and it just makes you that much more beautiful than you already are.
I donated – Hope it helps a bit and I am going to link back on my next post to help you out if I can at all :)
xoxo ~ Danica
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