3D Archives - The Sandy Papers

🛞 Notes from the road, Dharmashala, India, 23 March 23, 7:23 a.m.

🏔️ What is an adventurous traveler anyway? An adventurous traveler is someone who actively searches for experiences outside of his or her comfort zone. Adventure travelers are risk-takers and boundary-shakers. We crave transformative experiences which will lead to personal growth not achievable any other way and is an amazing byproduct of our quest for fun and thrills. These life-changing experiences leave lasting impressions in our hearts and minds. In other words, adventurous travelers are not content with simply being in the presence of a new culture. We want to gain a deeper understanding of it, which, in turn, provides broadened perspectives and expanded horizons.

🏔️ That’s deep, huh? Well, I’m deep. And not just philosophically but geographically. At the time of this writing, I’m sitting in the shadows of the Himalayan mountains.

🏔️ Within the past 48 hours, I’ve survived a hard landing (21 Mar 23 @ 1:24 p.m.), a 5.5-magnitude earthquake (21 Mar 23 @ 10:19 p.m.) and a freak, rando, monster 30-minute hailstorm, which coated the single road wrapping around the mountain in a thick blanket of ice (22 Mar 23 @ 3:03 p.m.). In fact, the hailstorm was so severe that I was stranded on the side of the mountain for nearly two hours. Ultimately, I had to abandon my car and hike the remaining distance back up to my stunning mountainside resort under the constant surveillance of this cheeky monkey the size of a kindergartner.

🏔️ So, what’s a girl to do after surviving three near-death experiences and a would-be monkey assassin? Curl up by the fire pit in the lounge with a grilled cheese sandwich, a glass of Prosecco and begin planning her travels to Everest Base Camp, of course. Think I’m kidding? Think again. Namaste, Sandy 👊🏻
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#adventure #himalayas #dharamshala #travelblogger #travelgram #traveler #travelawesome #travelblog #traveldiaries #traveldiaries #womenwhoexplore #traveladdict #adventurer #adventuretime #india #travel #travelindia #traveldeeper #travelasia #moments #momentsofmine #wanderlust #wanderfolk #indiadiaries #travelingram #wander #wanderer #travelgirl

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🛞 Notes from the road, Dharmashala, India, 23 March 23, 7:23 a.m.

🏔️ What is an adventurous traveler anyway? An adventurous traveler is someone who actively searches for experiences outside of his or her comfort zone. Adventure travelers are risk-takers and boundary-shakers. We crave transformative experiences which will lead to personal growth not achievable any other way and is an amazing byproduct of our quest for fun and thrills. These life-changing experiences leave lasting impressions in our hearts and minds. In other words, adventurous travelers are not content with simply being in the presence of a new culture. We want to gain a deeper understanding of it, which, in turn, provides broadened perspectives and expanded horizons.

🏔️ That’s deep, huh? Well, I’m deep. And not just philosophically but geographically. At the time of this writing, I’m sitting in the shadows of the Himalayan mountains.

🏔️ Within the past 48 hours, I’ve survived a hard landing (21 Mar 23 @ 1:24 p.m.), a 5.5-magnitude earthquake (21 Mar 23 @ 10:19 p.m.) and a freak, rando, monster 30-minute hailstorm, which coated the single road wrapping around the mountain in a thick blanket of ice (22 Mar 23 @ 3:03 p.m.). In fact, the hailstorm was so severe that I was stranded on the side of the mountain for nearly two hours. Ultimately, I had to abandon my car and hike the remaining distance back up to my stunning mountainside resort under the constant surveillance of this cheeky monkey the size of a kindergartner.

🏔️ So, what’s a girl to do after surviving three near-death experiences and a would-be monkey assassin? Curl up by the fire pit in the lounge with a grilled cheese sandwich, a glass of Prosecco and begin planning her travels to Everest Base Camp, of course. Think I’m kidding? Think again. Namaste, Sandy 👊🏻
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#adventure #himalayas #dharamshala #travelblogger #travelgram #traveler #travelawesome #travelblog #traveldiaries #traveldiaries #womenwhoexplore #traveladdict #adventurer #adventuretime #india #travel #travelindia #traveldeeper #travelasia #moments #momentsofmine #wanderlust #wanderfolk #indiadiaries #travelingram #wander #wanderer #travelgirl

🐉 Your attention please🐉 I am now entering the Kingdom of Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon 🐉

🐉 Instead of flying into Paro, I thought it would be super extra to do a land border crossing at the newly-reopened Jaigon-Phuentsholing gate via private off-road vehicle. I was not wrong 🐉

🐉 If you’re interested in attempting this yourself, I’ll post more on that later on the blog. Suffice it to say there was never a dull moment. From here, I’ll be road-tripping around the country 🐉

🐉 Furthermore, Imma use the hell outta this dragon emoji on all of my Bhutan posts. 🐉 You’re welcome 🐉.
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#bhutan #bhutantravel #bhutandiaries #bhutantourism #travelblogger #travelblog #travelersnotebook #thesandypapers #traveler #travelingram #roadtrip #womenwhoexplore #womenwhotravel #bordercrossing #travelphotography #travelasia #asia #wanderlust #wander #wanderfolk #wanderout #wandermore #wanderer #traveladdict #womenwhowrite #travelpics #travellife #momentsofmine

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🐉 Your attention please🐉 I am now entering the Kingdom of Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon 🐉

🐉 Instead of flying into Paro, I thought it would be super extra to do a land border crossing at the newly-reopened Jaigon-Phuentsholing gate via private off-road vehicle. I was not wrong 🐉

🐉 If you’re interested in attempting this yourself, I’ll post more on that later on the blog. Suffice it to say there was never a dull moment. From here, I’ll be road-tripping around the country 🐉

🐉 Furthermore, Imma use the hell outta this dragon emoji on all of my Bhutan posts. 🐉 You’re welcome 🐉.
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#bhutan #bhutantravel #bhutandiaries #bhutantourism #travelblogger #travelblog #travelersnotebook #thesandypapers #traveler #travelingram #roadtrip #womenwhoexplore #womenwhotravel #bordercrossing #travelphotography #travelasia #asia #wanderlust #wander #wanderfolk #wanderout #wandermore #wanderer #traveladdict #womenwhowrite #travelpics #travellife #momentsofmine

🛞 Notes from the road, West Bengal, India, 10 March 23, 9:01 p.m.

🚂 Straddling a west-facing ridge and surrounded by tea plantations, Darjeeling town spills down jagged cliffs in a complicated series of skinny roads and steep flights of stairs. Like many places in the Himalayas, half the fun is getting there and Darjeeling is no exception.

🚂 Famous for its mini railway, Darjeeling’s Toy Train isn’t the quickest way to get here, but it is a must. Built between 1879 and 1881, the DHR covers 50 miles, including five switchbacks and four complete loops, and takes nine hours to complete. If nine hours sounds extra, try traveling only the last stretch of the journey from Ghoom to Darjeeling. That’s what I did today. Fair warning: The steam locomotives are notoriously unreliable. Mercifully, my train was only delayed a half hour; and, once underway, the entire journey only took 60 minutes.

🚂 When the steam engine did arrive, I was assigned to the first carriage in seat 18, a window seat. Yay! Until we rounded the last bend. The sparks generated by the coal being shoveled into the engine started flying through the windows and burned a tiny hole in my very new, very beautiful pashmina purchased only two days before while in Jaipur for Holi.

🚂 Breaking news: Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Sometimes, trains are late. Sometimes, clothing gets banged up. Sometimes, the street food lady sold the last samosa to the customer right before you! Still, there’s no need to lose your head. Take a deep breath, acknowledge what’s happened and make a new plan.

🚂 Yes, getting here was half the fun. The other half was finding a tailor to repair my pashmina. Guess what? It turned out splendidly! Of course, it’s not exactly the way it was before, but I believe there is beauty in broken things. Like my scarf. Each time I wear it, it’ll remind me of the memories I‘ve made here. All aboard, y’all! Next stop, Bhutan!
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#darjeeling #toytrain #train #india #travelblogger #travelersnotebook #travelawesome #travelpics #thesandypapers #travelindia #womenwhoexplore #traveldiaries #traveldiary #traveladdict #travelbug #wanderer #traveler #travellife

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🛞 Notes from the road, West Bengal, India, 10 March 23, 9:01 p.m.

🚂 Straddling a west-facing ridge and surrounded by tea plantations, Darjeeling town spills down jagged cliffs in a complicated series of skinny roads and steep flights of stairs. Like many places in the Himalayas, half the fun is getting there and Darjeeling is no exception.

🚂 Famous for its mini railway, Darjeeling’s Toy Train isn’t the quickest way to get here, but it is a must. Built between 1879 and 1881, the DHR covers 50 miles, including five switchbacks and four complete loops, and takes nine hours to complete. If nine hours sounds extra, try traveling only the last stretch of the journey from Ghoom to Darjeeling. That’s what I did today. Fair warning: The steam locomotives are notoriously unreliable. Mercifully, my train was only delayed a half hour; and, once underway, the entire journey only took 60 minutes.

🚂 When the steam engine did arrive, I was assigned to the first carriage in seat 18, a window seat. Yay! Until we rounded the last bend. The sparks generated by the coal being shoveled into the engine started flying through the windows and burned a tiny hole in my very new, very beautiful pashmina purchased only two days before while in Jaipur for Holi.

🚂 Breaking news: Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Sometimes, trains are late. Sometimes, clothing gets banged up. Sometimes, the street food lady sold the last samosa to the customer right before you! Still, there’s no need to lose your head. Take a deep breath, acknowledge what’s happened and make a new plan.

🚂 Yes, getting here was half the fun. The other half was finding a tailor to repair my pashmina. Guess what? It turned out splendidly! Of course, it’s not exactly the way it was before, but I believe there is beauty in broken things. Like my scarf. Each time I wear it, it’ll remind me of the memories I‘ve made here. All aboard, y’all! Next stop, Bhutan!
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#darjeeling #toytrain #train #india #travelblogger #travelersnotebook #travelawesome #travelpics #thesandypapers #travelindia #womenwhoexplore #traveldiaries #traveldiary #traveladdict #travelbug #wanderer #traveler #travellife

🪬 Spiritual, enlightening and fabulously photogenic, Varanasi is a city full of life — and death. Pilgrims flock here to worship, to take a holy dip in Mother Ganges, to cremate their loved ones and to die themselves. So, take a deep breath and allow yourself to be swept up in its dizzying spiritual whirlwind. Welcome to Varanasi, y’all, the oldest living city on Earth 🪬.
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#varanasi #varanasidiaries #varanasiindia #india #travelblogger #travelblog #travelphotography #travelgram #travelersnotebook #traveler #travelawesome #travelholic #traveladdict #travellife #womenwhoexplore #womenwhotravel #thesandypapers #ghatsofvaranasi #traveldiaries #travelguide #traveltheworld #travelcommunity #explorepage #explore @greaves_tours @imdeevya @forbestravelguide #forbesindia @natgeotravel @natgeoyourshot #travelbloggerlife #travelmore #wanderlust #wander #wanderer

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🪬 Spiritual, enlightening and fabulously photogenic, Varanasi is a city full of life — and death. Pilgrims flock here to worship, to take a holy dip in Mother Ganges, to cremate their loved ones and to die themselves. So, take a deep breath and allow yourself to be swept up in its dizzying spiritual whirlwind. Welcome to Varanasi, y’all, the oldest living city on Earth 🪬.
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#varanasi #varanasidiaries #varanasiindia #india #travelblogger #travelblog #travelphotography #travelgram #travelersnotebook #traveler #travelawesome #travelholic #traveladdict #travellife #womenwhoexplore #womenwhotravel #thesandypapers #ghatsofvaranasi #traveldiaries #travelguide #traveltheworld #travelcommunity #explorepage #explore @greaves_tours @imdeevya @forbestravelguide #forbesindia @natgeotravel @natgeoyourshot #travelbloggerlife #travelmore #wanderlust #wander #wanderer

🧐 Questions, questions, questions. For the most part, I don’t mind people asking me questions, but I do wish some of those people would get a life or, in many cases, a firm grip. Most every day of my life, someone asks me if I’m traveling alone. YES, I AM TRAVELING ALONE.

💪🏻 Friday, 13 January 23, I woke up in Saigon. I grabbed some coffee. I grabbed some books on Book Street. I grabbed some lunch. I grabbed my stuff. At 3:30, I grabbed a cab. By nightfall, I had grabbed Delhi, India by the balls.

💪🏻 I did all of these things — you guessed it — alone. Actually, I have questions of my own. Like… why is this news? Traveling alone is deeply empowering. You gain confidence. You learn patience. You gain physical and mental strength. You become super-adaptive. Traveling solo builds a skill set you can’t possibly get any other way. That’s one of the things I love about it, the constant challenge.

💪🏻 Once you realize you can do it alone, you become a very powerful person. Read that twice. Namaste, y’all. x Sandy.
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#travelphotography #travelgram #travelblogger #travelersnotebook #traveling #traveler #travelawesome #travelblog #momentsofmine #traveldiaries #traveldiary #deepthoughts #solotravel #delhi #delhidiaries #delhigram @greaves_tours #redfort #thesandypapers #traveltheworld #exploreindia #india #womenwhoexplore #womenwhotravel

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