Back from a 6.5 month trip in SE Asia. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, South Korea was my route. Had a lung infection, a stomach infection, scratched my cornea, a skin infection, sprained my ankle, and lived to tell the tale…hahha

Travel challenges you in unimaginable ways as Im sure most of you know…

The most memorable moments:

VIETNAM:  Biking scooter on the Ha Giang Loop and hiking Paradise cave in Phong Nha

LAOS: Riding an a Air Balloon and hiking the sketchy yet memorable trail to the iconic scooter on the hill

INDONESIA: Immersing myself in a 9 day breathwork training in Bali that rewired me in so many ways, making the lifelong dream of learning how to scuba dive a reality, and hiking Ijen at sunrise

PHILIPPINES:  Sitting in a 10 hour per day 10 day silent meditation (Vipassana) south of Manilla and boating from El Nido to Coron on an expedition of a lifetime

THAILAND: Living with the monks in the north of Thailand at Pa Pae Meditation Center and visiting the dragon temples where there dragons energetically entered my body and dissolved separation bringing me so deep into unity

CAMBODIA: Losing myself or rather finding myself in the Greater Angkor Archeological Site and visiting the killing fields and finding acceptance and peace within myself for the killer and killed and praying deeply for all the wars to end that are currently raging on the planet

So many tales, so many adventures, so much growth, and so much magic.

In the end, I learned how to regulate my nervous system with breath and meditation. The last three months were much easier than the first 3 – Once I figured our how to be okay with not being able to control much, I thrived. Eternally grateful for travel, the way it expands and teaches.

I am back home and people often ask what is next – the truth is, as the monk taught me, “Happiness is inside- when you realize this, you stop chasing.” So for now, I am letting those words seep in a little deeper, working my small business as a photographer in NYC as a means to share the joy I feel inside with others, volunteering and teaching meditation, breathwork, and yoga to whoever wants to learn via classes at local community centers and online, and happy just being in the present moment, observing my breathing and all the miracles in my now.  

I write this post to share, hoping it inspires you to live a life of joy, following your heart and learn to surf the waves…

With love always, Asiya Khaki

PS. Added some photos. At the end of any trip, I add to my screensaver rotating images so when I edit photos, I can relive the magic I have experienced and added these gems to remind me of all the beauty on this planet.