Flip Flop Caravan

Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro (Alternately Titled: “The Time that Mango Juice Made Me Cry”)

Kelly Paras — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 17:01:11 +0000

Prologue: I’ve thought about Kilimanjaro everyday since I left it’s slopes, but haven’t been able to find my voice in telling its stories. It’s hard to put into words something so big and profound, especially when you feel paralyzed in the wake of it. Coming back from the mountain was almost as challenging as the […]

The post Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro (Alternately Titled: “The Time that Mango Juice Made Me Cry”) appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

What’s in My Bag: Kilimanjaro Edition

Kelly Paras — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 13:15:46 +0000

Packing. Ugh. For as much as I love to travel, I do not love to pack. And I have a confession to make, I’m a recovering over-packer. For ages I over-packed for every trip, a flaw that I blame on my years in Girls Scouts where the motto was, “Always Prepared.” My ass. “Always Prepared” means […]

The post What’s in My Bag: Kilimanjaro Edition appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

It was in the Stars: Climbing Africa’s Highest Peak

Kelly Paras — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:12:12 +0000

It was April 11, 2014, a Friday morning. I sent an email at 11:30a to a few friends and by 11:43a we had committed to a momentous and somewhat ridiculous undertaking together. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years and was one of first items on my Life List. But it always seemed like […]

The post It was in the Stars: Climbing Africa’s Highest Peak appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

Finding a Moment of Peace in Kazbegi, Georgia

Kelly Paras — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:30:42 +0000

I shouldn’t have had such an obscenely large breakfast. The toast and eggs and yogurt and sliced cheese and cucumbers bounced around in my stomach until the mere act of sitting still was uncomfortable. But then again, I wasn’t sitting still at all. Like the morning’s breakfast in my gut, I too was being bounced […]

The post Finding a Moment of Peace in Kazbegi, Georgia appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

DC’s Best Outdoor Drinking & Dining Spaces

Kelly Paras — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:40:52 +0000

Anyone who has known me for more than say, a day, knows that I am a sucker for a good rooftop. In fact, any outdoor patio situation brings a wide, child-like grin to my face. Thankfully, our Nation’s Capital and I are cosmically in sync when it comes to this topic; the city is littered […]

The post DC’s Best Outdoor Drinking & Dining Spaces appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

Photo Friday: Hunting Island State Park, SC

Kelly Paras — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:07:36 +0000

In honor of Valentine’s Day I thought I would share a special place with you all. (Y’all if you’re fancy). It’s a place that I love, or rather, that I am in love with! Like seriously, madly in love with. I have dreams about it. If this place were a person, I would skip the […]

The post Photo Friday: Hunting Island State Park, SC appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

Davit Gareja: A Place That Time Forgot

Kelly Paras — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:11:52 +0000

About two minutes into the hike I realized that I was ill prepared and horribly inadequately dressed for what lay ahead. The wind mercilessly whipped against my coat (a light “wind-breaker”, ha) and brought uncontrollable tears to my eyes. I couldn’t hear a thing besides thunderous billows of air stirring about me. I could barley […]

The post Davit Gareja: A Place That Time Forgot appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

The City That Loves You Back (Or, Christmas in Philly)

Kelly Paras — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 15:00:26 +0000

Ahhh, Philadelphia. The city loved me back alright! When I told people that I would be spending Christmas in Philly (a city in which I knew not a soul), they looked at me like I had just asked them to explain string theory. Confusion and slight uneasiness followed by the inevitable question, “why?” Anyone who […]

The post The City That Loves You Back (Or, Christmas in Philly) appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Holiday Season in DC

Kelly Paras — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:45:28 +0000

You may not immediately think of Washington, DC as a holiday destination, but the Nation’s Capitol actually has quite a lot to offer in the way of holiday merriment. Here’s a primer on what you should Do, See, Hear, Watch, Drink and Buy during your time in the District. Happy Holidays! Do It! Take to […]

The post A Beginner’s Guide to the Holiday Season in DC appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.

A Very Merry UnThanksgiving to You!

Kelly Paras — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 20:04:34 +0000

Newsflash! Last Thursday was kind-of a big deal in America. It was Thanksgiving, that oh-so-loved day in celebration of gluttony and gratitude A day when food is the centerpiece, we all proclaim what we’re thankful for and millions feel the need to shop at ridiculous hours of the day and night. It’s a holiday steeped […]

The post A Very Merry UnThanksgiving to You! appeared first on Flip Flop Caravan.