Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

A couple of decades ago, I prepared a travel bucket list of all the countries and continents that I wanted to visit. In fact, I purchased a book titled 1,000 Places to See Before You Die that I meticulously read and cross referenced with my bucket list.

As the years progressed, I’ve been so fortunate to have traveled to many of those places, but Asia remained on that list. So, I did what I have always done when I can’t stop thinking about something; I started planning an Asian adventure two years ago. My plan included Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Being a travel agent, I extended an invitation to everyone I knew and my husband, and I soon discovered that we had seven couples joining us for various parts of our amazing itinerary. There are too many wonderful places, sights and adventures to recount, so I’ve included my favourite experiences that I will share with you.

First Stop: Hong Kong

Our first stop was Hong Kong where we rang in the 2025 new year with the locals. The city is exceptionally large, geographically, and also remarkably busy, as one would expect. As such, we learned to use the MTR system in order to see as much as we could. We rode the subway to the Peak Tram where we observed stunning views of the 355 towering skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour.

Then we got off at a subway stop in Hong Kong Park and marvelled at the beautiful gardens and grounds of this massive park. We even rode the subway to the downtown area with government buildings, shopping malls, and witnessed a slew of residents camping out on the streets while sharing food and playing games during their holiday season.

After an exceedingly long day with lots of sight seeing and walking, we shared a bottle of wine and snacks with our tour companions, John and Diana, and we all agreed that we wished we had more time to spend in this incredible city.

Off to Vietnam

The next day we hopped on our Celebrity cruise ship and our first port was Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. We took a junk boat cruise to the magnificent Sung Sot Cave, enjoyed the most delicious 10 course lunch, and observed the most stunning sunset and night views of the Bay.

The big cities in Vietnam, such as Ho Chi Minh, are the scariest to walk and drive in, because there are no stop signs or traffic lights to direct pedestrians and vehicles. Pedestrians cross the street hoping and praying that cars or motor bikes drive around them (I prayed every time I crossed a street).

I have never seen so many motor bikes in my life as I have in Vietnam, many of the bikes transporting babies and children who aren’t even fastened in with seat belts. I was amazed at their lack of safety road rules.

Our most impressive attraction that we visited in Vietnam, was Sunworld Ba Na Hills in Danang. Cable cars transport visitors up the steep hills to a magical French village of breath-taking views, buildings, gardens, temples, amusement attractions and cuisine. We spent most of a day there and would have liked to spend even longer.

Next: Thailand

What I adored most about Thailand, was the warm people, their predominantly Buddhism faith and their respectful culture. The Thai people are some of the loveliest people that I’ve met from my travels around the world. They are polite, friendly, respectful, and value the most important things in life, such as faith, family, and graciousness.

I would also rate Thai food as the best in Asia and some of my choice dishes are Tom Yum Goong soup, any noodle dishes, and Khao Niao Mamuang (mango sticky rice). We enjoyed touring lovely Phuket and Palong Beach and magnificent Bangkok. Our most profound attraction in Thailand was visiting the spectacular Grand Palace in Bangkok.

The Palace is comprised of many stunning and unique buildings capped in gold, as well as beautiful temples and gardens, all backing onto a river. My husband still recounts to his friends his phenomenal experience visiting this opulent site.

Thailand is home to approximately 34,000 temples. There is an extremely strict dress code in place for tourists visiting temples throughout Asia, and we were called out on our attire just before visiting our very first temple in Thailand. Our exceedingly kind tour guide informed my husband and myself that we would be required to wear their infamous elephant pants to cover our knees as, apparently, our shorts were just a little too short. He was so accommodating that he even loaned us the pants.

Malaysia

My favourite port in Malysia was the beautiful island of Langkawi. I had organized a private tour for my husband and myself, that would take us to several known tourist spots. We lucked in when our guide, Zana picked us up, spoke particularly good English, and advised us she had lived in Langkawi her entire life and would take us anywhere we wanted to go and also had suggestions for us.

Zana was so kind and knowledgeable, sharing interesting information about Langkawi and the three of us bonded immediately. We visited the Sky Bridge which features astonishing views, Eagle Square, and she drove us to the most stunning beaches and neighbourhoods that we would never have seen on our own.

The best part of our day was stopping for a late lunch at a remote restaurant that was surrounded by breathtaking rice fields. The restaurant was packed with locals who selected their raw seafood (cooked on the spot), accompanied by large bowls of rice, and then delivered to their respective table. We selected large prawns that were cooked perfectly and sat on the second floor that offered us open sprawling views of the beautiful rice fields.

A local live band entertained everyone while we ate and drank local beer. We didn’t want to leave this enticing establishment, but Zana said we had much more to see. When Zana eventually dropped us off at our cruise ship at the end of the day, we took our last selfie photo together, hugged, and thanked Zana for providing us with the perfect tour day.

On to Singapore

I love it when I discover a new place that I can add to my top 10 list, and Singapore is now one of my top world destinations. I was fortunate to have three full days and nights to explore, and I enjoyed every minute of this clean and beautiful island country. Singapore is more expensive than other Asian countries but one of the cleanest and most beautiful places in the world.

My hotel was the size of a closet but it was located within walking distance to many of the major attractions and I averaged 15 to 20 km on my daily walking explorations. I walked through the most beautiful Botanical Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, the Sentosa Boardwalk and Harbourfront, many of the paths of Fort Canning Park, to Chinatown for lunch, and to Marina Bay and Clarke Quay for dinner.

Singapore buildings along the river light up beautifully at night. You can dine there el fresco and watch ferries cruise back and forth from Marina bay to Clarke Quay. Of course, the highlight attractions at night were the most stunning lit-up Singapore Flyer and Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Final Stop: Bali

I fell completely in love with the Nusa Dua community in southern Bali, Indonesia, from the lush greenery, loveliest locals, scrumptious cuisine to the most gorgeous beaches. I visited Bali near the end of the adventure and was ready for some R & R. My days were filled with walking the beautiful trails and beaches in the mornings, beach bumming on comfy lounge chairs in the afternoons, and eating with the locals in the evenings.

I learned a long time ago to ask where the locals eat as those are usually the restaurants that offer the best quality of food for an inexpensive price. I found several within walking distance of my hotel and even ate at my hotel one night where the kind server offered me a complimentary fruit platter for dessert.

The Bali locals are kind and gracious, much like the Thai locals. My hotel room steward made me a towel decoration and provided me with a handwritten note every day. I wrote him a note on my last day, telling him how much his gracious daily gesture had meant to me and how much I loved my time spent in beautiful Bali.

My Takeaways

It really is the people you meet along your journeys, the amazing cultures that you immerse yourself in, and the magnificent sites and attractions that you see, that are the best parts about traveling around the world.

My trip to Asia was no exception.

It was a trip of a lifetime for me, and one of the last items that I got to check off of my travel bucket list. I have gained so many phenomenal experiences and memories that will remain remarkably close to my heart and will last me a lifetime. After touring inspiring Asia, my traveling soul feels very fulfilled.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What was your once-in-a-lifetime trip? If you haven’t taken one yet, what’s on your bucket list? Where have you felt most inspired?

Back when I could stay up later than 9:30 p.m., I occasionally watched Late Night with David Letterman. The late-night talk show ran for 33 years, from 1982 to 2015.

Those familiar with the program may remember Letterman’s Top Ten Lists. The lists were regular segments on the show and revolved around a shared, humorous theme.

So, in homage to this show and late-night television, here are my Top 10 Reasons Hearing Aids Are a Good Idea for Me…

10. My Family Didn’t Argue with Me

One day, I suggested to my husband, sons, and daughters-in-law that I start researching hearing aids. To my disappointment – and surprise – none of them said, “Oh, I don’t think you need to do THAT.”

9. I Didn’t Want Our Milk to Sour

“What’s that beeping noise?” asked my husband one evening.

“What beeping noise?” I responded.

We discovered that the annoying sound – the one I couldn’t hear until I was on top of the source – was the refrigerator, warning us the door was ajar.

8. I Longed to Scroll Social Media Incognito

With today’s technological advances, hearing aids now double as headphones, allowing wearers to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, phone calls, and music. And that means you can watch Instagram stories and videos – with the volume turned up – and no one else will know what you’re doing.

7. I Wanted to Add One More Step to My Morning Maintenance Routine

Slather on moisturizer and sunscreen and eye cream. Wash and dry the hair, take medications, drink water, stretch, apply makeup, floss. Learning to insert and position hearing aids properly takes some time to master. They need an occasional cleaning and filter change. It’s one more thing…

6. I Didn’t Want the Neighbors to Hear Our Television

While watching Yellowstone or Shrinking or The Perfect Couple, I continually asked my husband to crank up the television volume. It could not be loud enough for me, even though we also utilized the closed-caption feature. “You can’t hear that?” he’d say.

5. I Needed Another Thing to Pack – and Keep Track of – While Traveling

Hearing aids no longer require teeny-tiny batteries that users must change. They recharge in a case at night, which is wonderful. However, that means one more item to remember to pack and one more thing to stuff into my carry-on bag.

4. I Love Doing New Things

Like the audiologist said, “The learning curve is steep.” She also told me it is easier to get hearing aids when you “still have finger dexterity and are tech-savvy.”

The total price of my hearing aids included unlimited consultations, and I have taken advantage of those tutorials! Like contact lenses or earrings, they get easier to insert into ears over time. The more you wear them, the easier they become! My audiologist showed me a foolproof technique that fits my unique ear – pull the ear up and back and push the device toward my nose. Everyone’s ears are different.

As for the app, I rarely use it. Mine work well without fiddling with the adjustments. I do connect them to Bluetooth while on airplanes. That allows me to listen to an audiobook or stream a show without headphones. The sound comes through the hearing aids. Some may prefer to take phone calls or watch television through the hearing aids, and that is easy to do, too. Once you learn…

3. I Needed One More Reason to Feel Old

As if I needed a reminder that I was getting older, the year I turned 65 was an eye-opening one – more wrinkles, some heart issues, a bit of hair loss. And now hearing aids.

After visiting two audiologists, both recommended – based on my needs, type of hearing loss, and vanity desires – the same make and model. A small component – matched to your hair color – fits behind your ear. Another tiny piece disappears into the ear canal. A wire, resembling dental floss, connects the two pieces. And nobody can tell I wear them!

2. My Husband Is Still Working and Has Insurance Coverage

It surprised me that Medicare, the insurance most of us utilize after we retire, does not cover hearing aids. Many other insurances do. Costco, hearing centers, and Amazon sell hearing aids, but they are not inexpensive. My package covers loss, breakage, and appointments for three years. By then, I suppose the technology will change – again! – and I may require replacements.

And the number 1 reason I have hearing aids …

1. My 4-Year-Old Granddaughter Motivated Me

There’s nothing like the dear children in our lives to nudge us toward doing what we’ve known we should do all along. One day, my precious granddaughter asked, “Cookie, what do you mean when you say Pardon Me?”

That’s all it took.

Evidently, I had been asking her to repeat herself. A lot. I’d noticed it, but I thought her adorable sing-song voice was simply hard to understand. I also realized I missed parts of conversations, but when a child called me out – because they call them as they see them – I faced reality. I moved into action. And I’m glad I did.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you think you need hearing aids? Do you have them? Did you have trouble getting used to them? Do you have advice for those who are nervous about trying them?

Following her bow at Paris Fashion Week, people were making guesses. Dario Vitale will step in.

And no, this is not a joke! But it could change the way you think about getting older.

Have you seen the movie Up in the Air? George (we’re on a first name basis; he just doesn’t know it yet), plays a traveling corporate downsizer who makes a living flying across the country firing people for employers who don’t want to do it themselves.

Crosby Stills & Nash’s song “Taken at All” is in the soundtrack of the movie, and I found that the two themes woven together create a beautiful and important image and message to remember.

In one scene of the movie George is about to fire someone and tells the man that he (George) is not a shrink, but a wakeup call. He then asks the man if his kids admire him and tells him that the reason kids love athletes is because they follow their dreams. George notices the man’s resume says he minored in French culinary arts. He asks him how much they paid him to give up his dreams, and when was he going to stop and go back to doing what made him happy?

Also read, Creating the Life You Dream of.

Pause the Movie on This Frame for a Moment

Now let’s go to our proverbial record player and look at the CSN song, Taken at All.

It begins with, “This is me; can you take another look.” It asks if the road we’re on is really the only way. Another lyric, “We lost it on the highway” refers to how often we forget and lose sight of our passions and desires due to the internal and external pressures of what we think (and others think) we should be doing. The song ends with the lyric, “Can this road be taken, taken at all.”

My Perspective

The Song

This song encourages us to look at our life in this moment to see how we feel and to ask ourselves if we are on the right path. And if we’re being honest and see that we’re not, it inspires us to consider whether we can still pivot. Is there a possibility of taking another path or perhaps revisiting one we chose not to travel down once before?

The Movie

Then there is the movie which has us contemplate our choices, encouraging us to realize that we can change course, and that it’s never too late to choose a different path.

Have you ever stopped along your highway to consider if the road you’re on is indeed the one you want to be on?

I know that I have found myself miles and miles down a path that was very bumpy, lonely (even though I wasn’t alone), and the scenery sucked! The problem was, I thought I was going in the direction I was supposed to, so I didn’t see that I was making excuses for the rough road and not enjoying the ride. I had blinders on so I couldn’t see the exit signs.

Jobs, careers, relationships, play, rewind, play, rewind… I kept listening more to the voice in my head, instead of the one coming from deep within that can often be easily ignored or not heard at all.

With some personal work I finally got off that loop of a highway and let some passengers out. I was able to see that there were other roads to choose that would be healthier and far more gratifying, and that my age didn’t have to stop me from exploring them.

When we’re young, to quote a lyric in a song from The Sound of Music, “We flit, we float we fleetly flee, we fly,” and don’t think twice about changing paths to do something fun, or creative that transports us to a different time zone where hours fly by unnoticed.

Note to Selves

We can still experience those feelings of curiosity, excitement, joy, creativity and fulfillment! And I dare say even more so than when we were younger because we have the life experience to deeply appreciate when we are on our authentic path!

Let’s make a pact that we won’t just clock in and clock out of our lives, numb to our desires and the possibilities that await us!

Pull off to the side of the road, look out the windshield and ask yourself if you are where you want to be, and if you are going in the direction you want to be going. If the answer is no, it is not too late!

This is our life; right now. This is not a rehearsal for our life. Every day is opening night. Every single day is a chance to walk down our own red carpet feeling so very proud of ourselves because we are living our best damn life, the way we choose to live it!

As I always say, live passionately, live vulnerably, and keep loving later life!

We all deserve to be living our authentic lives!

Let’s Support Each Other in Conversation:

Have you changed course, knowing the path you were on wasn’t right for you? Are you fearful to make a change? What scares you the most? We can talk about it! What thoughts/feelings did this bring up for you?

As I walked through the small conference of meeting planners and destination managers at the Denver Conference Center, I noticed the high quality of swag.

Not only were digital photos embossed on cookies, here was the kind of truly good takeaway that you don’t often see at larger conferences. After all, these folks were showing off their wares.

On one long table offering gourmet chocolates, I saw a small stack of slim pocket 20-year calendars. I picked up two and tossed them in my swag bag.

That day I got home early because a cyclone bomb blizzard threatened to make the short drive home dangerous. So, I returned to the quiet of my house, by then blanketed by several inches of snow. The storm swirled furiously around the tall trees in my yard, their bows lashed by 79-mph winds.

A Good Day for Introspection

I dumped the swag onto the counter. Out slid the slim 20-year calendar. While munching happily on a digitally-enhanced sugar cookie, I opened it.

In 1968, when 2001: A Space Odyssey debuted, I was just 15. I remember thinking that in the year 2001, I’d be 48. My god, I thought at the time, that is just SO OLD.

Fast forward. At 72, 20+ years past that particular deadline, I’m still not old, per se. Because that’s more a matter of how I feel and interact with the world, my energy and life choices around exercise and diet.

However, the inescapable reality is that in 20 years I will be 92.

At this age, as we can attest, time really does indeed fly. I don’t know about you, but for me, it was just Christmas a minute ago. Now the crocuses are starting to peep through the soil.

One of my favorite movie lines is from Gandalf, in Lord of the Rings. Frodo expresses great discomfort that he got stuck with the task of carrying the Ring back to Mordor. Gandalf says, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Learning from the Past

Several years ago, I had a relationship breakup that shattered me and forced me to question my value. Subsequent to that I got ill in a way that made it clear that emotions, rather than genuine sickness, was at work. As I enter my 72nd year, I have different choices to make, and different options open to me.

I can be angry and hurt about the past. Or I can fill the years ahead with as much work, wonder, and wildlife as I possibly can.

I don’t doubt there will be down times. But with perhaps two, maybe three decades left to me, I also have no time to waste feeling sorry for myself or angry at my circumstances.

Such times are perfect to question what habits can be challenged. What doors we might open to something new. While I continue doing the things I love, such as adventure travel, that door will eventually begin to shut as my body requires that I mind its wear and tear a bit differently.

That’s not a loss. That’s simply evolving. I won’t stop. I will modify.

Do the Best You Can for as Long as You Can

Meanwhile I do all I can to remain healthy. I’ve hired a coach to help me overhaul my work life. I have a lifelong passion for helping women and intend to turn that into work for the rest of my life.

We are designing what that looks like. This is as exciting and terrifying as my very first sky dive. Holy Crap, Batman. That’s a long way down.

If you consider where you are in life, the substantial gifts you have to give, and how badly you and I are needed today, it’s hard, for me at least, to justify not throwing myself into ways to continue to work. As well as play. That’s what makes the work even more fun.

When I get there, I may well feel like a very young 92-er, but I will still be 92. The endless ocean of time that was available to me at 15 has diminished – but I don’t have to. Neither do you.

Just because we will never be young again doesn’t mean we can’t be youthful, and in that energy, be able to do ever so much more.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What will you do with the time that is given you? Have you started an exciting new project? Are you making waves in brand new ways? What have you learned since you turned 60? Please share with our wonderful community!