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Welcome to this self-indulgent space.
I'm Montsi Valdes de Bones and honestly, this is a section I have struggled and resisted since the creation of this site. I'm sure anyone with an introspection practice will understand.Anyhow, here we are, so let's go!
First of, I was born and raised in Panama. For those who don’t know it’s a small country in Central America with the best coconut water in the planet and so much more than the Panama Papers and Noriega.
I started a path to enlightenment since 1984. I have one sister from my mom and dad and 13 other brothers and sisters from my dad's side. Both my parents are Panamanian.
My dad was a distinguished journalist, who excelled in all areas of mass communication. He passed away at 94 years old. Unfortunately, all his greatest work was way before internet era so you won't find any of it online.
My dear Mama, was born in a small valley called Boquete in the Chiriquí Highlands. She's been called a true stoic by my in laws and is a living proof of unconditional love.
I spent my "summer holidays" while in school with my grandma in Boquete. Summer in Panama is really at the start of the yr and that’s when most schools are off but I went to an American one therefore my vacations were in June/July.
She was a strong character woman, with a never-ending passion for gardening and who hated cooking. Unlike her sister, my second mom, who guided me into my passion for the kitchen and relentlessly tried to teach me how to be gentle and humble.
My grandma and I spent our days harvesting her produce for our own indulgence and visiting remote areas of the valley. My favorite from her garden were the sour grapefruits and the occasional berry. My least favorite was chayote and lemongrass made into tea.
It’s possible that those solemn summers paved the way for my love for nature. I’m a flower enthusiast, a sucker for getting lost in hilly outdoors and incredibly passionate in finding local produce anywhere I go.
Fast forward 20 odd years, Reviewed kicked off as a way to channel my journalism thirst since moving abroad. Back home I worked in radio for over 10 yrs and created a gastronomic food festival called Panama Sushi Fest.
The idea behind this passion project is obviously to document my travels in the most 'unbiased' way that my profession has taught me, whilst sharing with you my path of self discovery and reprogramming with no holding back.
When I am not meditating or doing journalistic endeavors, I'll be working on the promotion and customer service side of edit.click. The tool used to create this website.
I live a full nomadic life with my husband. Aiming to convince him of visiting every corner of the world. Including the expensive so called first world's, the magical underdeveloped, the most and least traveled, including the dangerous our parents wished I didn't even mention.
Eating my way through them and making new friends along the way.
If you want to know where I'm at check out the section Creator's Journal, where I regularly post an open letter to you guys. I also regularly update my Instagram if you're into that. Feel free to shoot me a message regarding all or anything.
Yours truely,
Montsi Valdes de Bones