The Story Behind Mi Bella Mondo: Discovering My Beautiful World

A Lifelong Love of Travel!

My passion for travel began long before I boarded a plane for the first time and crossed the international date line to come to America. By then, my father’s travel stories as a merchant marine had sparked my lifelong curiosity about the beautiful world.

As I write about my story now, I reflect on how my life and travel experiences throughout these years have shaped me—not just as a person but also as a wife and mother.

I embarked on my first leisurely overseas trip with my brother Jojo to visit our brother Willy in the Air Force stationed in Udine, Italy. From the moment I arrived in Italy, it was love at first sight. My brother took some time off, and the three of us went on a road trip in his small, tiny Renault Le Car. We went through Venice, Verona, and Firenze, through the Dolomites (Italian Alps), Milan, the Ligurian coast, and finally Rome, where the car broke down in the middle of Rome’s rush hour! We made lunch stops at small cafés, each serving a single dish without a menu. I vividly remember dining at a tiny restaurant where an older woman had just made fresh pasta, served simply with two pieces of tomato, a drizzle of homemade olive oil, and parmigiana. This is where I discovered savoring:

La Dolce Vita—at its finest!

That first trip to Italy began a profound connection to the culture, which felt like I had lived there in a previous life. Traveling through Italy, meeting the warm and welcoming people, savoring the exquisite cuisines and homemade pastas, and immersing myself in its rich culture left an indelible mark on my heart. Although I have often returned to Italy, each visit reinforces that initial, powerful connection. Italy will always be my number one destination, and my love for the country grows stronger with each visit.

My desire to explore the world has consumed me since that trip to Italy. When I came home from that trip, I had to figure out how to turn my love for travel into something sustainable. I resigned from my first job and started a travel service company called Wings, dreaming of earning a living while traveling full-time. I was young and idealistic, believing I could build a life around my passions. But reality didn’t align with the dream, and running the business didn’t materialize as I had hoped. I could not travel due to the obligation of being present when running a business! Eventually, I had to find a job that could financially sustain my wanderlust while allowing me to travel when I wanted. I returned to IT, my first job, and started my consulting business. This setup provided the stability I needed while allowing me the flexibility to pursue my passion for travel.

I’ve traveled countless miles.

While recounting my story blurs the details of some destinations, the vivid memories and the connections I made with remarkable people I’ve encountered remain ever-present. I often don’t have photos of myself in many of these places—selfies weren’t popular back then, and I was typically preoccupied with carrying my photography gear. Despite this, the experiences and connections I’ve made continue to resonate deeply.

My first solo trip was to Chile, when solo female travel wasn’t as common as today. I didn’t have a detailed itinerary—just a two-night hotel reservation in Santiago. My plan was straightforward: I would take a bus heading north, make stops whenever the mood struck, and adapt to the situation as it unfolded. Armed with a Lonely Planet guidebook and guided by my curiosity, I set off. Once I flipped the adventure switch in my mind and let go of my insecurities and uncertainties, it felt like the universe conspired with me, offering a glimpse into what life is truly about. There are many stories on this trip, but one of the highlights was meeting a group of Inuit students wrapping up their summer program. I joined them at their camp, where they cooked horse meat over an open fire. And no, I couldn’t bring myself to try the horse meat!

Later, another solo trip took me to India for the first time. This wasn’t supposed to be solo—I had initially planned to travel with a friend. However, after our time in Nepal, we parted ways, and I found myself alone. When I arrived, I knew nothing about India—I hadn’t read a book or taken an interest in its culture then. Exhausted from trekking in Nepal, I decided to fly to Goa to relax at the beach and figure out my next steps. I picked up a Lonely Planet guidebook at the airport and let a travel agent book me a flight from Delhi to Bangalore, as there were no direct flights to Goa for two weeks. He mentioned I could take a bus or train from Bangalore to Goa. Read the story here. Every twist and turn was rough but incredible, and what happened in India was nothing short of a miracle—and I never made it to Goa!

And here is the full story of why I never made it to Goa!  

Family travel is a unique experience with its special significance.

Children mature quicker than you think, making the time you spend with them feel fleeting—before you know it, they’ve graduated from college. Watching them grow up, as it happens so quickly, as if moments have slipped away from us, feels ephemeral. That is why it’s essential to cherish every moment you have together. I always knew I wanted to show the world to my children. Seeing the world through their eyes and trying new things has been my most rewarding adventure. Our travels have shaped them; they’ve inherited my love of exploration. Travel has allowed them to grow into worldly young men who are compassionate, resilient, able to think on their feet, comfortable in their skin, and open to experiencing and accepting different people and cultures.

As newly minted empty nesters, we are both excited to savor this time together and continue the tradition. Our travel plans are shifting towards more impactful destinations. We’re not only looking to explore new countries but also to meaningfully give back to our beautiful world and contribute positively to the places we visit.

The path I chose as an independent IT consultant gave me the freedom I was searching for and provided the blueprint for how I want to live my life—a wonderful, balanced existence in this beautiful world. The flexibility of my work has allowed me to explore the world and live life on my terms, whether traveling solo, with my growing family, or with my husband.

My life and travel experiences were transformative every step of the way, shaping me into the person I am today. Travel taught me so much about myself as I ventured into the unknown. It wasn’t always a bed of roses. However, stepping out of my comfort zone opened up a world of possibilities as I discovered the beauty around me.

My vivid travel memories are a result of my interactions with people.

You can meticulously plan out the perfect itinerary—but in the end, what I remembered best were the moments shared with people I met in the margins of my itinerary: the mentors who guided me, a stranger who opened his home to me and gave me a place to sleep, the monks I had the pleasure of speaking with in Kathmandu, the Nepalese children I played tug-of-war with within the Himalayas, the strangers who cared for me when I was sick, an old man who I spent the afternoon gold panning, the guardian angel who helped me after a car accident, and the stranger who I saw again after saying goodbye, only to introduce me to the person I was meant to marry—

All became part of my story!

Every encounter deepened my story and demonstrated how interconnected our world is and how wonderful it is to lead a life filled with adventure and connection.

These unforgettable experiences were the inspiration behind Mi Bella Mondo.

“The world around us is brimming with beautiful experiences and exciting adventures, but we need to be actively observant and open to discovering them; if we pay attention and seek out opportunities, there is no limit to the amazing things we can encounter in life.” Jawaharlal Nehru

Author and photo credit: Cristy