About Me
I was born in Montana, raised in the mountains of Colorado and found my true home in Lake Tahoe, California. Mountains are in my soul — a place where I’ll always feel at home.
My love of travel began on my first trip to Europe in 1997. My father and I went to Paris. We looked at the art, ate so many pastries and ran around in the winter weather in disbelief that we were in such a magnificent city.
In 1999, I took a road less traveled and went to Peru to trek to Machu Picchu. It was my first trip to a developing country. Returning to the U.S. after this trip resulted in a major epiphany about the random luck of being born in what’s often regarded as the richest, most powerful country in the world. I began to question my definition of happiness in the context of the world, rather than within the standards and measurements of the U.S. Had I not traveled outside the U.S., I would never have seen or evaluated my life from this new perspective so I regard this trip as a major turning point in my life. It lit the fire. It left me with a lot of curiosity and questions about the world. I haven’t stopped traveling since.
In 2012, I left the mountains and moved to Singapore with my husband, who had accepted a position with a world-renowned visual effects studio. This significant change in our lives presented me with a unique opportunity to transition my career as a creative director from full-time work in an office to remote work from anywhere in the world. This was life-changing for me and, with new freedom and lots of new places to explore, I started Compass & Camera.
More important than where I’ve been or what I’ve done is what I’ve learned while traveling. I’ve learned that I don’t need much to be happy; that beauty, happiness and good people are everywhere; that a smile is the greatest currency; and that a thank you or even just a look in the eye and a nod of the head can go a very long way. I see you.
I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures — from the discoveries of everyday walks through my neighborhood, to more elaborate journeys exploring culture, history and life around the world. My dream trips for 2023 include Egypt, Jordan, Mongolia, maybe a return to Bangkok or Sri Lanka, and hopefully a few other places I haven’t discovered yet. I hope you’ll keep reading and come along with me. There is so much to explore.
Cheers,
Kelly Kelly Heapy
***
Human Family
By Maya Angelou
I note the obvious differences
in the human family.
Some of us are serious,
some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
as true profundity,
and others claim they really live
the real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
can confuse, bemuse, delight,
brown and pink and beige and purple,
tan and blue and white.
I’ve sailed upon the seven seas
and stopped in every land,
I’ve seen the wonders of the world
not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
called Jane and Mary Jane,
but I’ve not seen any two
who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
although their features jibe,
and lovers think quite different thoughts
while lying side by side.
We love and lose in China,
we weep on England’s moors,
and laugh and moan in Guinea,
and thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
in major we’re the same.
I note the obvious differences
between each sort and type,
but we are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
than we are unalike.
Hi there, you are probably in Bhutan right about now. I just wanted to let you know I put a link to your blog on a post just now, and brought you in to the Ligo Circle of Appreciation. I really did want to share your wonderful blog.
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Thank you Angel! I just read your post and your link to my blog, and left you a comment. Thank you SO much for sharing Compass & Camera, and always being so supportive. Bhutan is a month away – leaving on November 29th so I’m here, eagerly counting the days! Thanks again.
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Kelly, I just received this and of course you and Jay were the first people I had to send it on to, for the dancing and the great editing.
Loved all the photos of door and windows, two of my favorite things to photograph. When Patti and I went to France I think that half of all my photos are of doors and windows.
Sandy,
Enjoy!
Hollywood’s Greatest Stars and The Bee Gee’s!!!!
Somebody had a lot of fun with this. Most of the people in the clips were deceased before the Bee Gee’s recorded “Stayin’ Alive.” The Bee Gee’s or Rita Hayworth fan or not…you are going to love this! Most people don’t know what a great dancer Rita Hayworth was. It shows one thing; music may change but the dance moves are timeless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=mz3CPzdCDws
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Love this video!! She is amazing. Effortless, timeless, and they look like they’re having so much fun! And the Bee Gees… well, who doesn’t love them? Thanks for sharing!! 🙂
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Don’t know why Patti’s name keeps showing as me, but I guess you figured out it was me and not her sending that to you. lol
Sandy
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Hi Sandy! Lovely to see you here on my blog! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays! K.
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I am in love with your blog title! Compass & Camera 🙂 I might steal it! 😛
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Thanks Sam! Hope you put it on a t-shirt and wear it around the world as you travel. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
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I LOVE the mountains. Although I’m from Oklahoma, I have been to Montana several times and can say with absolute certainty that it’s one of my favorite places in the world.
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I completely agree, David. The mountains have a magic all their own. More mountain stories to come! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
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u know what??? u are truly very lucky to have traveled so much at such a young age …………. I went through your blog and simply couldn’t stop myself from following it …………… God bless you ……… Happy traveling 🙂
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Thank you! Wow, what a wonderful comment. I’m amazed at all the goodwill that comes from blogging, and all the supportive people who are out there – like you! Yes, I am very lucky to have traveled so much, but I’ve made it a huge priority for the past 12 years. I’ve spent money I didn’t have, squeezed in trips between jobs, missed some holidays with family, etc. but I wouldn’t trade my memories, stories and photographs for anything. And I still have a million places to go! 🙂 Thanks for following me! More to come soon.
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And yes if you ain’t seen India ………. You ain’t seen anything ……
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Interesting… I am so looking forward to going! It’s such a big country in so many ways, but I may get there in 2013.
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I just stumbled upon your blog. What amazing adventures! Perhaps we will cross paths some day.
Happy holidays!
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Thank you so much! Happy holidays to you, too!
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I just wanted to let you know that you are one of my favorite ‘Freshly Pressed’ discoveries… If not THE fave 😉
Keep up this great work!
Best,
Hiba
http://www.cloudoflace.com
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Hiba,
That is so cool! What a wonderful comment to receive. Thank you so much! Days three to six in Bhutan are coming soon! I hope you’ll read along. Thank you for reading my blog. Cheers to 2013 and much more travel!
K.
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Happened to be on your blog just by chance. What a wonderful blog you have maintained.
As I read here, you are planning to visit India in 2013, have a great time in this beautiful country 🙂
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Thank you Hitesh! I can’t wait to see India. I suspect I may have to make several trips to see everything India has to offer. Thank you for reading my blog.
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just stumbled upon your blog..awe inspiring stuff here.. i am a newbie blogger writing about cinema which i am passionate about..great to know that you too live in singapore.. i am from india originally and moved here 6 months back..lets catch up!!and yes i hv made up my mind to go bhutan..its next door to india..
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Thank you so much! Great that you’ve decided to go to Bhutan! Very cool that you’re in Singapore, too! I return in January – can’t wait. I look forward to reading your blog about cinema. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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Kelly, I’m going to enjoy our journey together very much. And yes, I’m very jealous.
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Thanks for coming along on the journey! 🙂
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Hey, I love reading your blog and have nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Please check out my blog for details, post the award on your sidebar and spread the love to some of your favorite bloggers!
http://getsetandgo.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/a-big-thanks-for-the-blog-awards-part-1/#more-1462
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Hey! THANK YOU! What an honor! I’ll check out your blog and share the love. Thanks for reading Compass & Camera. More posts coming soon about Bhutan and Nepal. I look forward to seeing where you go this year! Happy traveling! ~Kelly
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Japan is a great place to visit! come during the summer or spring… winter might be slightly cold but i’m sure you will be amazed about the culture. India is always an adventure… especially with all those movies about india makes you want to visit the country too…
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Thanks! Happy New Year! 🙂
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I did the EBC trek last year. And all I can think about when looking at my photos, your photos, other photos of the Khumbu Valley, is that I have got to get back there…soon. Thank you for the nostalgia this afternoon.
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Nice! Thank YOU for reading! Yes, I’ve been twice – once was not enough. I hope you return soon!! It’s such a magical place. Thanks for reading and have a very Happy New Year!!
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Ah, once the travel bug bites, you’re addicted. Travel has been an integral part of my life. I can’t imagine not having seen the wonderful places in this world that I’ve been lucky to venture to, from the time I was a little girl.
I really enjoyed reading this. You hit the nail on the head about the simplicity of happiness – it really is all around us, and within us. I think most of us tend to look in all the wrong places for it, when it could be staring us right in the face. It’s just a matter of being open enough to let it come in. When you travel to different places and immerse yourself in different cultures, you enjoy such a vastly rich experience that it’s hard to imagine the world as how you have always known it. You suddenly realize just how dynamic it is, and how much of it is still left unexplored!
I see you live in Singapore now? I have lived there for a considerable part of my young-woman-hood. I have very fond memories of my time there. 🙂
I’m looking forward to reading your entries!
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Wow, what a thoughtful comment and I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. It is so nice to connect with people like you who share the same feelings and beliefs about travel. It is profoundly life-changing to get out and see the world, particularly if you can see the beauty and happiness in even the small, supposedly mundane parts of life.
Yes, I currently live in Singapore – it’s been almost one year and I love it. Where in Singapore did you live? Let me know if you ever return – we could meet for some kopi and kaya toast!
I look forward to reading your blog – love your entries about saying hello and thank you. These are such important gestures. So, thank you! ~Kelly
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I lived right across the Singapore Flyer, in the Kallang area. I would love some kopi and kaya toast whenever I come by there again! 🙂
Thanks for following my blog. I’m looking forward to following your adventures too!
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Cool! That’s an area I plan to explore soon, so probably the subject of a future post! 🙂
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We’ve nominated your blog for an award (or two, or three…), if you accept them. If not, just consider it a token of our esteem! 😉 See our post at http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/01/13/award-appreciation-we-thank-our-readers-for/
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Hi Vladimir! Thank you so much for nominating me and putting a link to Compass & Camera on your blog. I’m so flattered to receive this from YOU. I hold your blog in the highest regard — your writing and photography are top-notch, compelling and always enjoyable to read. Most of all, I just love vicariously journeying around New York by kayak with you and Johna — what unique adventures and perspectives you have. My husband and I think NYC could be a really fun place to land when we eventually return to the US, and your blog continues to reinforce this idea. Perhaps we’ll meet you someday! Thank you again for the award. Can’t wait to see where you go next. ~Kelly
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Thank you, Kelly!!—it’s wonderfully encouraging to hear all that! 🙂 We’ll continue to bring you New York, and maybe we will see you here some day. In the meantime, happy 2013 and keep blogging! 🙂
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Hi Kelly! What a great presentation -and you take really amazing pictures! Love the positive attitude and the passion for traveling -it’s one of mine as well! Great blog, keep up the great work 🙂
Love, Anna
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Hi Anna! Thanks for the really nice message! Great that you share a passion for traveling too. I look forward to reading more of your blog. Thanks again! 🙂 K.
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Namaste ~ I have nominated your fabulous blog for a Liebster Award. Please see http://lakshmilovestoshopalot.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/lovely-liebster-award/ for details of the nomination. Thank you for a wonderful blog that I love following…
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You got wonderful blog and I am following it.
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Awesome! Thank you! Sending you smiles. 🙂
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Well written! I also took my first overseas trip to Paris, and through dumb luck I was later able to move here for good. You’re right about the incredible good fortune to have been born in the US, and in my case, white and male to boot! And when you see people in other countries struggling but happy with what they have, it makes you wonder how so many Americans can have a house, a couple of cars, a decent job…and still whine about needing more.
Just one reason why traveling is so good for the soul! But it seems like you’re well aware of that. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Happy blogging to you.
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Thank you French Frye! I could not agree more. Happy blogging to you, too. Can’t wait to read more. K.
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Thanls for the follow ! I really appreciate it!
regards from East Timor
Pica
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You’re welcome Pica! I’m really curious about East Timor. I’m in Singapore and hope to go there in the next year or two. I look forward to following your adventure! ~Kelly
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Mountains are so comforting!
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I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
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Hi Kelly, nice to meet you. I’ve been travelling around your wonderful blog. Bhutan is a dream of ours. Sigh. One day. Meanwhile we’re off to South America for 6 months so no complaints 🙂
Thanks for visiting our blog and for the “likes”. I hope you enjoy the stories of our adventures.
Cheers
Alison
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Hi Alison! Thanks for stopping by! Nice to meet you too. I was introduced to your blog by James and Terri at Gallivance. You had me at Mexico, Burma and Nomadic Life — all of which I love. 🙂 I can’t wait to read more of your adventures, especially since you’re departing for S.A. for six months! That sounds fabulous! As for Bhutan, don’t let go of that dream. It’s amazing and there are ways to make it “affordable” compared to so many exorbitantly priced tours out there. Every now and then I really yearn for the quietness and simplicity of that country. It is a different world but changing fast. Thanks for introducing yourself! I can’t wait to read more. ~Kelly
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hi there! When I dropped in on your site, it seems like I’ve found a soulmate for my site! Your travels are riveting. Do update often!
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Hello! And thank you! What a nice compliment. Great to hear you enjoyed reading about my travels. I visited your site — great photos and travels too! I look forward to reading more, especially since we’re both in Singapore! Thanks for getting in touch. 🙂 Kelly
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Hey thats a very inspiring intro…
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Hey thanks! 🙂
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Smart to put a younger photo of you..young at heart now! Tailwinds in your journeys!
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Yes, young at heart! Thanks Jean!
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Love your blog Kelly! Especially the Emerson quote up there 🙂
I’m not from anywhere near any mountains, but I completely agree with what you wrote: “The mountains are in my soul — a place I feel at home.” They are my happy place!
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Thank you, Head Out West!! Great to hear from a fellow mountain lover. I have a few posts coming up about Nepal and the Himalayas. Hope you enjoy them! Thanks so much for following me. 🙂
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Your “about me” is inspirational, and I looove the name of your blog. Looking forward to reading more.
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Hello Mani! Thank you so much! It’s been a busy summer, but I’ll be getting back to writing and posting more in the coming weeks. I just did a great trip to Borneo. Thanks for your comment and for reading my blog! 🙂
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Hey Kelly! We have a lot in common, since I too was born in Montana! I see you are planning to get to Mongolia (or possibly already went). I have spent quite a bit of time there, so, if you have any questions, let me know! Alex
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Hey Alex! Yay for Montana! Yes, I would love to go to Mongolia while I’m living here in Asia. Possibly next summer, but not sure yet. I checked out your blog and it sounds like you’re living a real adventure. I will definitely get in touch if I start planning a trip. Would love some local, experienced advice on what to see and how to get around. Very nice to meet you! I look forward to reading more from you. 🙂
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You got a wonderful blog and I am following it.
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Thank you so much! It’s great to have you following along with all the adventures! Thanks for your comment. 🙂
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Your adventures inspire me! Thanks for such an amazing blog 🙂
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Awww, thanks Bernadette! That’s such a wonderful compliment! And thanks for following me! Very happy to have you along for all the upcoming adventures! 🙂
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You have a fantastic blog.. and, you were one good looking kid!
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Hey, thanks Rajiv! What a sweet comment! And thanks so much for following me! 🙂
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Hi there, I am organising a bloggers networking event for bloggers in Singapore to meet and share their ideas and tips and potentially grow our own readerships and networks by working with each other. Would you be interested in attending this kind of event? If so, let me know via email. Thanks, Lucy
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YES! Sending you an e-mail right now. 🙂
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No mountains in Singapore? What about Bukit Timah?! lol 😉 BTW, you have a great blog, I will learn some from reading your adventures. 🙂
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Ha, ha! Bukit Timah… funny joke! It’s tiny! 🙂 So you know your way around Singapore, eh? Thanks so much for reading! I appreciate your comment so much!
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I am looking forward to get inspired by your travel stories. And of course by your photography too 🙂
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Thanks, trablog! I just followed you! Lovely postcards from Kerala — I’m hoping to go there soon! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
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You are most welcome, to Kerala as well 😀 Thank you for checking out the post cards 🙂
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Thanks so much for following Oh, the Places We See. Your About page reveals a person who not only travels but soaks up the excitement at every turn. We wish we were younger and could see/do what you’ve seen/done. But now we can live vicariously through your eyes. Best wishes for safe travels and picture-perfect days ahead. http://ohtheplaceswesee.com Bert and Rusha
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Thank you! So nice to connect with you, Bert and Rusha! Happy to have you traveling along with me vicariously. Get your ski gear out — we’re going to Japan on the 18th, ha ha! 🙂 Can’t wait!
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Been to Japan as a chaperon for 4 girls selected by Panasonic to see their facilities and several tourist destinations. Fabulous. You will be amazed!
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I see you want to travel to Japan this year. I have done a whole series of posts about my trip there in November just gone if you wanted any inspiration, although I daresay you’ll have the whole thing planned out. It is an amazing country and such a varied and exciting place to visit. http://www.mytravelbugbite.wordpress.com
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Hi Emma! I actually just returned from Japan — a quick ski trip in Myoko outside of Nagano, plus a night in Tokyo. Yes, it’s an amazing country and I expect I’ll be going back many times, hopefully soon. Thanks for the link to your site. I look forward to reading about your travels, and getting some ideas from your trip to Japan. Thanks for your comment!
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Going skiing in Japan is a dream of mine. I’ve heard amazing things about the powder there. Thanks for visiting.
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Yes, we have so much here in the US, and travel certainly helps us not only to appreciate, but to realize that we don’t need much to be happy. Cheers to you, too!
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Hi Ron! You’re a like-minded traveler, I see. Nice to connect with you (and follow you). Thanks for your comment!
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Likewise! A pleasure.
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Hi Kelly,
I grew up in El Dorado County and earned money for college driving a laundry truck from Placerville to Lake Tahoe each day. Later I led backpack trips in the Sierra Nevada Mountains from Squaw Valley to Mt. Whitney. I understand your love of the area!
I’ve hit the follow button. –Curt
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Hey Curt! Nice to meet a fellow fan of the Sierra Nevada. Interesting job you had! That’s a beautiful drive between Placerville and Tahoe. I’m headed back in June for a few weeks. The lake is SO low this year already and it’s not even summer yet. Sad to see the effects of the drought on the region. Thanks for the follow! 🙂
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Your welcome. 🙂 Truly sad about the Lake and the Sierras. For a while I spent a lot of time near Donner Summit at Serene Lakes in the winter. I remember when the only way we could get into our cabin was through a second story door. Would be great to see those days again. –Curt
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Wow, deep snow!! Serene Lakes is beautiful. We were living in Truckee during the last HUGE winter of 2010/2011. So strange to see the patterns shift so drastically in such a short time. Agreed — would be great to see those big, fun snowstorms again!
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A bit of history: Serene Lakes were Ice Lakes before real estate agents showed up. 🙂 They used to cut ice out of the Lakes in the winter and transpire it to Sacramento via train. -Curt
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I knew that about Truckee, but not about Serene Lakes. Thanks Curt! 🙂
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The farther we allow ourselves to travel from our home, the less significant our ego becomes…
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I completely agree with you.
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hey is there a way to contact u?i wanna get some help.can u help me?
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Hey! What do you need help with?
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i have a instagram account too.related to travel sl.how i put it on my theme now im using?as u do.is it possible or do i have to use a different theme?
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Hey! Okay, I see you’re using the Cubic theme. Go to the Cubic Demo page (https://wordpress.com/themes/cubic/) and scroll down to “Social Menu”. There’s a link there that says “Learn how to set up your social links menu.” Click on that and it takes you to another page with more info (https://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/social-links-menu/). Basically, what it says is that in your Dashboard you need to go to Appearance > Menus and create a new menu with your social accounts (linked) that will show up on your main blog page. To see an example of what the menu will look like after you set it up, go here and look at the bottom right corner of the page: https://cubicdemo.wordpress.com/ Does that help? Let me know if you have any other questions. Good luck!! 🙂 What’s your Instagram name, by the way?
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yeh of course,,thank you very much for the help 😀
ah instagram is — travel_sri_lanka
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Lovely blog! You are very well travelled!
http://youtheworldwandering.com
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If Badfish will actually make a plan and take a trip based on your lead, I certainly must at least follow your blog! We’ve been some similar places and both seem to like a good trek, so I look forward to poking around your site.
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Hey lexklein! Thanks for the follow! Great to connect with a like-minded traveler, and we have Badfish in common! Yes, like you, I love a good trek. Any favorites you have?
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I think I love circuits the best! Paine Circuit in Chile, Mont Blanc through France, Italy, and Switzerland, etc. But the Everest trek was probably tops for me; I just adored the whole thing – the lodges, the scenery, the people, the mountains … How about you?
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Cool! I haven’t done the Paine Circuit, but hopefully someday! I did the Abel Tasman Coast Trail in New Zealand and it was so beautiful. But I agree — for culture, people and beauty, the Everest trek can’t be beat. 🙂
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Hello Kelly ~
I love your blog here on WordPress and so am nominating you for the Versatile Blogger Award!!
Congrats and Enjoy! You do have an exceptional site ~ and I so enjoy your work and insights!
Carla
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Thanks so much, Carla!
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Kelly, it’s so nice to find your blog. I enjoy reading your post about Singapore and I will catch up with the rest of your blog posts. Greetings from Minneapolis 🙂
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Hi, Indah! Thank you so much! I really enjoy following your blog. Hope life is good in Minneapolis, and you’re keeping warm through the winter! Thanks for getting in touch. 🙂
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Better add Mexico, Oaxaca in particular, to your list!
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Yes, Marilyn! I really want to go to Mexico City and Oaxaca. Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂
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Hi Kelly,
This is Saul at GPSmyCity. We are interested in sponsoring a giveaway on your blog for mutual benefits. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, please reply to my email at your earliest convenience. I suggest using the email in the signature. Thank you.
Kind regards,
Saul Tarasoff,
sault [at] gpsmycity [dot] com
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I just found your blog. I can’t wait to follow your adventures. Point the compass and camera to your next adventure.
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Thank you so much! Cuba is coming up soon at the end of July! Very excited for that adventure. Thank you for your comment and for reading my blog!
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Oh so exciting! That is a dream trip.
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I’m so glad that this blog exists. So excited to live vicariously through the photos and words. I love the title of the blog! What a lovely existential and literal meaning.
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Hey, Fatimah! Thank you so much for the thoughtful comment and for following me! 🙂
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I love your About Page and look forward to following your adventures.
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Hey LuAnn! Thank you so much! Happy to have you as a follower! I came across you/your blog while reading other blogs this morning, and (likewise) love your story and look forward to reading more. Cheers to travel, and the connections made on the road and the internet. 🙂
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I wish more people realize that we don’t need much to be happy 🙂 I am in Singapore and the number of malls and brands enticing consumers has quite shocked me 🙂
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Hey, asthaguptaa! Thanks for your comment. I lived in Singapore for a few years and I agree — there are so many malls, so many shoppers, so many options. It can be quite overwhelming! I hope you find other reasons to enjoy Singapore!
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Thank you for sharing all those wonderful stories with us, Kelly. I’m absolutely delighted to have found you and your outstanding blog.
Greetings from the North,
Dina
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Hi Dina! Greetings from the Canadian West! Thanks so much for getting in touch. I love connecting with people who are halfway around the world! Your photography is beautiful! I look forward to seeing more now that I’ve followed you. Thanks for reading! 🙂
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I have read a few of your posts and really enjoy your blog. It is nice now to go back and read the “behind the scenes” info of background and see that we have are rather like minded. Peru was also a “game changer” for us in terms of how much we learnt and experienced. We were supposed to be there for two weeks, but ended up staying for a month. Gosh, that feels like such a long time ago.
Look forward to reading more and so glad to connect with you through our blogs.
Peta
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Thanks so much, Peta. Yes, so great to connect with you over similar journeys and life experiences. What you’re doing now with Ben — building a home in SL (one of our favorite places) while also living in Vietnam — is such a dream. Very inspiring for me and my husband! Thanks for sharing the journey so we can learn with you and start taking steps in that direction. Hope to meet you both someday, somewhere out in the big beautiful world! ~Kelly
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Honoured to be in your company today Kelly on WordPress Discover’s Glimpse into 2017, particularly as Vancouver has been, or maybe is, common territory. Your two goals are great and I very much look forward to exploring your blog and to following Compass and Camera in the coming months. With congratulations and best wishes, and wishing you a very Happy New Year…Andrew 🙂
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Andrew! Thank you so much! Congratulations to you as well for being featured on Discover! Such an exciting way to end and start the changing years. Cheers! 🙂 Yes, Vancouver is common territory — hope our paths will cross at some point. We live in Yaletown. My husband and I have only been here about a year and a half so there’s lots more to explore, especially in the mountains. A very happy New Year to you as well and I look forward to reading your posts and seeing more of your exceptional artwork — especially during your trip to Italy! Thanks for getting in touch! ~Kelly
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Wonderful. Let’s keep in touch 🙂
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Agreed! 🙂
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Hi Kelly, your mother-in-law told me about Compass and Camera. Busy with travel bookings but I will look forward to your emails. Do you mind my using some quotes from your website, as long as I credit Compass and Camera.
Gary Clarke
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Hey Gary! Nice to meet you via Pattie! Yes, feel free to link, use quotes, etc. Whatever you need. I’d love to know which stories or quotes are of interest. 🙂 I look forward to exploring your website. My husband and I are heading out on vacation in April for a few weeks but haven’t decided where yet (typical for us). Looks like your site has lots of ideas to consider! Thanks for getting in touch. ~K.
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Hello Kelly, I saw your comment on Dave Ply’s blog and I’m happy I clicked over to yours! Two of my favorite subjects: travel and photography!
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Terri! Wonderful! So great that you traveled to me through Dave’s comments! Just in time. I have lots of new content coming up — just returned from Portugal, Spain and Morocco as well as a few stops in the U.S. I also have a series coming up about postcards from my grandmother when she traveled abroad in 1972. Hope you’ll read and enjoy. I just followed you — LOVE your focus on leisure. That’s exactly what my husband and I are doing now, rather than waiting someday for retirement. Your blog focus is an important one! Thanks for getting in touch! 🙂
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Thanks, Kelly, I will really look forward to reading!
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Hi Kelly! I’m a friend of Patti’s. She brought you to my house in LOP for July 4th festivities many years back. I’ve been blogging about our RV travels and my adjustment to life after the loss of Mike. I would like to raise my blogging to the next level, and wonder if you have any input on that subject? I’m not sure where to start, except to enjoy you blog!
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Denise! So great to hear from you. I’m very sorry to hear that Mike passed away, and sorry for the loss you’re experiencing as well. I was just reading some of your blog posts and I can feel the love you have for him. I admire your desire to keep traveling and exploring life. I see you’ve been blogging for quite some time! With regard to taking your blog to the next level, have you considered moving your blog to WordPress? That probably sounds like a monumental task (which it probably is) but I can’t say enough good things about the community I’ve found through the WordPress platform. It’s SO supportive and I’ve made quite a few friends who I keep in touch with and meet in person whenever possible. WordPress also has lots of ways to enhance your blogging (daily writing and weekly photo challenges) and grow your audience (all the tools they offer in the dashboard to monitor your stats, increase your exposure, etc.). Aside from moving over to WordPress, I would say to just continue writing from the heart and look for places to share your blog (i.e. BlogHer, etc.). Also, maybe focus on writing after experiencing loss, or life after losing a partner, or creating a new phase in your life. There are so many people who can relate to those topics and I find it’s better to dive deep into one category (travel, for me) than write generally about a lot of different things. Most importantly, write what YOU know. No one can do that better than you. Hope this helps? Please let me know if you have more questions! Thanks so much for getting in touch! xo, Kelly
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Hey, I really enjoy your blog, so I nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger award. You can see the nomination here: https://bellewether.me/2017/08/10/sunshine-blogger-award-nomination/
Congrats and keep doing what you’re doing 🙂
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Hey Niya! I really appreciate you nominating me for the Sunshine award! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy my blog so much! Thank you!!!! 🙂
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Hey just met your uncle Tim. He is awesome. We are going to check out your site
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Hello, Captain! Great that you met my uncle Tim! I love him. You’re right — he IS awesome. Thanks for checking out my blog! Hope you enjoy what you find. ~Kelly
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Thank you for subscribing to Lookoom, I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy following yours.
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Thank you! 🙂 That’s so nice to hear. Happy to follow you. Curious about the name of your blog…
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Legacy of my sweet tooth and it sounds exotic. :-O
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It does sound exotic, LOL, like a great destination. 🙂
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Thanks for visiting our blog. We are following you now. Why we were not before is beyond explanation.
Cheers!
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LOL, that made me laugh. 🙂 Thanks for the follow! Really nice to connect and learn more about Colombia — top three on our list of need-to-go places. 🙂
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You bet! Any questions about visiting here in Colombia let us know. We would be happy to meet you when you are here. What are the other 2 top places?
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We will DEFINITELY hit you up for some Colombia details when we eventually get there. It’s been on the list for a few years now. We were so close to visiting in April of 2017 but we heard the rains can be really heavy and make land travel difficult. (We went to Portugal instead.) The other two locations we’ve most talked about are Tibet and Egypt. Mongolia is up there, too. I have a major birthday coming up later this year … thought we’d get to Egypt and maybe Jordan, but we’re probably going to have to stay in the US. Possibly doing a rim-to-rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. I may post that idea soon and see what feedback I get! And I need to start training. Thanks so much for the offer to meet up in Colombia! We’d love to. 🙂
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Kelly, I have just found your blog. You have done some fabulous journeys and I will be having a good look around here, if that is ok? Loving your photography also. I will sign up to following you along, keep well 😄
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Hey, Gilda! Thank you! Wonderful to connect. Always happy to have more people join in my journeys around the world. Since no one is traveling during the pandemic, I’ve been sharing archived stories and photos every day since March 15th. Hope you enjoy having a look around at old and new content. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! ~Kelly
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Hi Kelly, We hope you’re having a great summer. We just published a post about “Blogs We Love” … and yours is one of them! We wanted to thank you for all the joy you bing to our blogging community. All the best, Terri & James @gallivance.net
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Wow, I’m so honored to be included! Thank you both so much! Our blogging community is a constant source of happiness for me. I have loved connecting with both of you and following your travels. Hopefully we’ll meet in person someday! Hope you’re having a great summer too, despite the challenges. Thank you again, Terri and James!!
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We can assure you that the feeling is mutual, Kelly! ❤ ~Terri
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