 "Set an intention, begin the path, and watch miracles unfold." A note I wrote at the beginning of this year and one that has been manifesting since then. This year, 2023, has felt like a new beginning- a new beginning that I had been yearning for a very long time. I feel great! A lot lighter, positively different, and elevated to a higher level of consciousness. The healing work has been working, my inner being is being, and yes, I am still in Bali.
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 2022- a year of two contrasts, and it kicked off just as 2021 did! Once again, escaping Shanghai Winter and partying on a beach in Sanya with my dearest friends. Celebrating together on making it through another year of being stuck in China, thinking that the worst had passed.
 'Tabanca' is a Trinidadian creole expression that describes the sad feeling that one may have after a breakup or separation. We have also come to use this word to describe a sad feeling of longing for many other things. It is common to hear someone having a Carnival tabanca, which means that the person is missing Carnival celebrations, and yes judging from this blog post title, I am currently having a very bad case of Summer Tabanca.
 Life outside of China has taken off rapidly with travel, and since my departure, I have been making up for 'lost' time, happily unwinding, and visiting cities and places that I had planned on seeing since 2020. It feels great to finally be free to do so, especially since I embarked on my travels during the Summertime.
 It may be unknown to many of you, but this is my third attempt at leaving Shanghai. With the repercussions of COVID epidemic management on the city, there is not much left to bring me back here.
I guess the third time’s a charm...  I recently spent the afternoon strolling along the Former French Concession, buying flowers, cooling down with ice cream, and chatting about the future with my friend Annie. A modern nomad with a sense of self and style, that’s Annie- a woman on the go who does not compromise comfort for style. She has spent over 18 years living as an expat in Shanghai and is a lover of astrology, fashion design, travel, and nature.
It has been a rough past two months in Shanghai, but Annie has continued to radiate her positive energy and outlook on life…  We were not supposed to be there, but that’s the exciting thing about travel- flexibility is a must when rollin this lady!
 Yangshuo is located in Guangxi Province and is known for its breathtaking natural wonders. Its most notable attraction is its prominent karst mountains that are intertwined with the life of the locals living there. The Li River gracefully winds through their lands, adding to its magnificence and charm. Yangshou is a place for nature lovers. Hiking, biking, rafting, and rock climbing are some activities that one may find here. The small town itself is bustling with life- and tourists, but there are many ways to get lost on the outskirts in the vast nature and feel like you are the only one there.  Today marks the 46th day of the citywide lockdown in Shanghai as the government continues their impossible quest for 'Zero COVID-19' in China. Like many foreigners, I have lived in Shanghai for a considerable amount of time and life here has often felt like a wonderful dream. Over the past two years this dream has now turned into a nightmare. And because there seems to be no end in sight, many of us are leaving or have plans to leave our dream home.
As I impatiently and anxiously await my Exit, I have been reflecting on the many places that I have visited in this vast and diverse country. Many of these experiences have been documented in my blog, while others have yet to be shared. Now that I have more time on my hands, I have challenged myself to share all the places that I have visited in China- before my Exit. You can think of it as unfinished business.  2021 was another year of trying to be ok, but not really getting there. It went by fast, but in slow motion. It felt surreal, but I felt every part of it...
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