Top 3 Favorite Places

I just tweeted to my 46K followers that I’m taking requests for a blog post today. I quickly received a variety of topics but the one that stood out was this one from  :

I’d love to know if you have a top say 3 places to visit in the world. For either work or pleasure Mistress. Xx”
That seems appropriate considering that I am traveling right now (in Phoenix).
Before listing 3 places I’ll give you a bit of background, for those who don’t know me very well (yet).
I love to travel. I caught the travel bug at 18 when I took my first trip to Cancun, Mexico from Nova Scotia. I’d never been out of the province & never been in an airplane. It was a huge adventure & I was hooked. I started traveling every chance I could. I have now been all over Canada & the US, including a few trips to Hawaii. India (twice), Toyko, Thailand (5 times), Vietnam, Cambodia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bali, Cuba, Belize, Mexico (4 times), England (8 times?), Paris (3 times), Amsterdam, Brussels, Italy, Berlin, Budapest, Greece…I think that’s all?
Most of the travel was on a shoestring budget/back packing. For example, I spent 3 weeks traveling around Cuba, staying in Cuban’s homes, not in a resort. I’ll give Cuba an honorable mention for the wonderful people & their sexy dancing: yum.
Cuba

Cuba

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Cuba

My #1 favorite place is Thailand. I like the warmth, I love the food, the people are friendly, the beaches are stunning, getting frequent Thai massages for around $10 agrees with me (everything is very affordable there) & it’s an easy/safe place to travel.
Thailand

Thailand

My #2 favorite place is Maui. Mostly because of Little Beach which is a gay-friendly, clothing-optional beach. Being naked in an open-minded setting is my happy place. The weather is also great in Maui. It is part of the US so it’s very civilized which for me is both a pro & a con. I enjoy experiencing different cultures so I find the familiarity both boring & a comfort. My only real complaint about beautiful Maui is that it tends to be a bit expensive.
Maui

Maui

My #3 favorite place is Paris. I find beaches more relaxing than cities but as far as cities go, it’s hard to beat Paris (although New York is pretty awesome too!). I love the architecture, the museums, the fashion…but most of all: the food! I dream of their fresh croissants, their cheese, their wine…it seems like everything tastes better in Paris. I also get a kick out of their surly & indifferent service. Servers in cafe’s & restaurants don’t work for tips so they don’t lay on syrupy sweet phony customer service. I enjoy the honesty of their indifference to me. It’s a refreshing change.
Paris_cafe

Paris

In writing this post I found myself remembering the positive things about all the places I’ve traveled. Sometimes it was the views, sometimes it was the architecture, the food, the people, the weather, the culture…sometimes the person I traveled with made the experience more or less enjoyable. Mostly though it was what I learned about myself through travel. For example, my own personal limits to discomfort, stress, unfamiliarity, etc. My ability (or inability) to maintain a positive attitude in challenging situations. I learned what I’m actually not that bothered by (I have a much higher tolerance for dirt when traveling, for example…I’ve slept on the floor of filthy trains in India, I’ve stayed in some pretty dodgy places all over the world, I am less bothered by my own personal hygiene when traveling & will wear cloths a lot more in between washing than I normally would…& I don’t care.)
I’ve learned to be more accepting of different people & different cultures. This is not an insignificant thing. It perhaps played into my being more accepting of people with a variety of fetishes & kinks.
I could go on & on about travel. A topic I am extremely passionate about. I’ve had amazing adventures & experiences. Feel free to ask questions in the comments section.