The Beautiful View: Travel & Lifestyle Design

Lifestyle Design, Travel, and a little bit of everything in between. I believe there is another way to live. 

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Bali Travel: Why You Shouldn't Go to Kuta

June 18, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel"

A few weeks back I wrote about my experiences in Ubud on the isle of Bali, Indonesia. Long story short? I loved it there. It was a peaceful respite after all our various misadventures in Vietnam.

I did not however love it in my next destination: Kuta. While I did get some good pictures (it's hard to mess up the sunset), overall I found Kuta, Bali to be wholly underwhelming.

The reality is that I got lazy. 

I knew of Kuta. I knew it was convenient and easy to get to, and I figured since it was the last few days of our trip we would just  be beach bumming anyways. Now having been there I can definitely see why people were warning me against it, and I'd like to add my own voice to that chorus.

If you're going to Bali, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by going to Kuta. Bali has so much more to offer.

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June 18, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel"
4 Comments

9 Compelling Reasons Why Travel is a Legitimate Life Choice

May 20, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel", "opinions"

What exactly does it mean to be a "responsible adult"? As long as I can remember, people have always told me it looks something like this... Go to school. Get good grades. Get job. Pay dues in entry level job. Work way up ladder. Get married. Buy house. Have 2.5 children. Build picket fence. Paint fence white. Oh, and don't forget the dog!

I do understand the allure of that path, it is what I was raised on and I can see it's upsides. I have no problem with anyone who decides that that is what they want. No, my issue is with people who see that path as the only definition of a successful life. Worse than even that, are the people who belittle my choices because I chose to go a different way. 

The more I travel, read, and consider my options for the future - the more my own opinion sways away from the so-called "normal" life. Why is a sedentary life so much more acceptable? And why is travel not part of the "real world"?

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May 20, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel", "opinions"
10 Comments

Unwinding in Ubud, Bali

May 15, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel"

Ubud, Bali is one of the places I have heard about a lot in the last few years. With most travellers, and backpackers especially it seems to be right up there with Hoi An, Vietnam in terms of beauty and enchanting appeal. 

Having now experienced it myself, I can definitely understand the hype. Like our short sojourn in Singapore, the calm serenity of Bali was a nice shift from the wildness of Vietnam. 

3 days unwinding in Ubud, Bali and some brilliant photos to ignite your wanderlust.

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May 15, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel"
9 Comments

An Introverts Guide to Social Travel

April 27, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel", "opinions"

I am not really one for socializing with strangers. In fact, it's kind of the bane of my existence. It's not that I don't like them per say, it's just that I don't really want to talk to them. As you might imagine, this is not an ideal situation for a traveler. 

Entering a room full of people I don't know, with the intention of starting a conversation is pretty much my worst nightmare. Maybe not my worst nightmare, but on the list of things I would rather not do ever - it's pretty much at the top. 

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April 27, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel", "opinions"
14 Comments

Traveler vs. Tourist: A Debate I Hate

March 24, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel", "opinions"

Travel should be about breaking down arbitrary divides, not creating them.

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March 24, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel", "opinions"
16 Comments

What the Pho?!?! The Insider's Guide to the Greatest Food on Earth

March 10, 2015 by Morgan Sullivan in "travel"

The essential ingredients, history, and everything else you've ever wanted to know about pho.

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March 10, 2015 /Morgan Sullivan
"travel"
5 Comments
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