Flight of the Deaf Travelbee

Cheer Up Sleepy Jean

2012-01-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

“Wherehave I seen him before?” I thought to myself as I made my way down theaisle of the small airplane resting on the tarmac of the small Long Beachairport. “Sorry, so sorry” I mumbled out loud with each whack my large backpackmade with each person’s face and arms as I fumbled past each row. Out of a seaof faces, his was the one I saw. An elderly man, with his rimless framed glasseson reading a newspaper; he wore a thin striped bluish/white shirt, with his grayishhair brushed back, slightly long for a man his age. Yet- it still bothered me. Why did he look so familiar?

“Seat B30… aha, found my seat!” I sat between the blonde businessmen somewherearound his thirties, despite the late hour he wore a tan colored business suitfor a five hour red-eye flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Thatcan’t be comfortable. Next to me was my best friend Terrill, who was goingto Semester at Sea with me as my interpreter. Still I was wracking my brain, tryingto figure out who the mystery man was. Iwas consumed with the thought, thinking of every possible scenario; perhaps Ihad seen him earlier at the airport? Was it someone from my hometown? It wasn’tuntil halfway through my flight that it finally hit me; it was DAVY JONES, thelead singer of the Monkees.

“YES!” I signed out to my friendTerrill, “OMG, it’s him!” to which she looked at me with a slightly concernedyet puzzled look on her face.

“What are you talking aboutCherie?” she signed back to me.

I told her who it was; “Davy Jones!” she stared at meblankly and said “Who?”

“WHO?! You did not just say that,are you kidding me?! It is DAVY JONES! For crying out loud, you know the famoussong right?”

“No…”

“Oh Come on! You know, it goes likethis..Oh Cheer up sleepy Jean, you don’t know what it means to be a daydreambeliever..”

No response, she looked at me as ifI was crazy. Frantically trying to think of something that she might recognize,and then I mentioned that he was in the Brady Bunch. “Remember when he was onthe Brady Bunch? He was singing, and then Marcia had this huge crush on him?”remember? “Nope” she told me. It was nouse trying to make her remember who he was- after all the height of his famewas more than twenty years before her and I was born. The only reason I evenknew of the man was watching the reruns of The Brady Bunch on Nick at Nite whenI was a kid. Then at high school I had an interpreter, Mr. Bill, who wouldrecount wild stories from when he toured with the Monkees as a guest drummerback in the 70’s. After trying to explain to her the story of the Monkees, andtheir songs I gave up telling her “Never mind” Exasperated and slightly disappointed,I then realized that I was the only one who cared that the former singer of theMonkees was on my flight. The Monkeeswere a thing of the past.

Wedged between two heavy sleepers,the man beside me was sprawled out in his seat, with his leg out in the aisle.His arm took up both of the armrests, leaving hardly any room for me to rest inmy seat. I was tired and uncomfortablebut couldn’t sleep because I kept my eye out for another glimpse of the singertowards the front of the plane. But all Icould see were the flicker of the TV screen on the seats in front of me andseveral lights shining over head in some of the seats ahead. After severalhours of tossing and turning in my seat, I finally fell asleep. Hunched over on the fold out tablefrom the seat in front of me with my head resting on the impromptu pillow thatwas my jacket, I woke up two hours later with a painful crick in my neck. Onthe route map in the TV screen in front of me showed little airplane icon itchingtowards Orlando, not Ft. Lauderdale…. “Whatthe blergh?” I thought to myself asI slowly came to the realization that we were being rerouted.

“Oh Cheer up sleepy jean”… indeed...no truer words have ever been said.

(To be continued...)

Out With The Old And In With The New..

2011-12-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

As 2011 comes to a close...looking back it was full of highs and lows, it was a year that I will never forget. Traveling around the world has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl, and now I get to say that I actually accomplished that dream. Checked that off my EpicQuest list- done.
Last year I complied a list of "resolutions" with every intent to keep them. Did I fulfill them? Or did I break them all by January 2nd? Well... here's a recap:
~~2011 resolutions:~~
~~1. "An apple a day keeps the doctors away"- Walk more, Bike more, Fruits and Veggies(Apples?)~~
~~2. "Sightseeing"- Visit Amazon Rainforest, the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, See the Hong Kong Light show at the Harbor.~~
~~3. "Marco.." Circumnavigate the globe(Semester at Sea!)~~
~~4. "Bold and Bolder" Do something daring- maybe Skydiving?~~
~~5. Spend more time with my family~~

Well...I am glad to say that I have upheld each one of those (a new record for me as far as resolutions goes!..) Now it is time for a new list... but this time with a challenge

2012 Resolutions:
1. Blog more and upload the mountain of posts from my Spring Semester at Sea voyage- finally!
2.Go back on Semester at Sea for a Summer Voyage (touching Europe and Morocco)
3.Take the Fall semester off and go to Thailand to volunteer at the Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai, and partake in the Loi Krathong festival in November with a stop in Bali.
4. Start an Business, a online store perhaps?
5. Italia in April for the #TBU(travel bloggers unite) conference!
6. Volunteer more, at home and abroad, and to visit more Deaf schools and help any way I can.
7. Take my mom and sister on a vacation to France- a place they've always wanted to go..
8. Learn French(or French Sign Language for that matter)
9. Read one book each month (any suggestions would be great!)
10.Learn how to make a variety of international cuisine/cook more..(any recipes you are willing to share?)

There you go. My new years resolution for 2012.. And keep an eye out for upcoming posts about my #RTW trip around the world..
Happy Holidays!

Would You Like Fries With That? : Coping with Reverse Culture Shock

2011-08-13T19:14:00.000-07:00

“Hello, how can I help you?” the woman behind the counter said in a perky voice, she was a tall woman in her twenties with her long blond hair pulled back, tucked underneath her visor hat. I ordered Chicken Nuggets, and she asked me “do you want the four pieces, six pieces or eight pieces, or were you referring to the chicken selects?”

“What is the difference?” I asked her, and I was told that the chicken selects were made of a different type meat, crispier and a bit bigger than the regular chicken nuggets, and they came in selections of three or six.

“I just only want a four piece chicken nuggets please”

“Ma’am, what dipping sauce would you like with your chicken nuggets?

“Uh…. What do you have?” I answered back to the lady behind the counter. Without skipping a beat she quickly replied “Oh we have five choices, Honey Mustard, Chipotle, Ranch, Sweet and Sour, and Barbeque, which one would you like? We also have Ketchup, if you want...”

Flustered, and dazed with all the choices offered, I stuttered “Uhh…Ranch, no Barbeque, no Honey Mustard.. noo.. (sigh)… just give me the Barbeque”

“Okay, what would you like to drink Ma’am?”

“Coke”, finally something simple, I confidently replied back to the lady behind the counter. “Oh do you want Diet Coke, Coke, or Coke Zero?” Then she continued on, “and will that be a small, medium or large?”

“Medium, uhh.. Coke Zero?” I was flustered again, and frustrated with the complexity of this order had become. It was McDonalds for crying out loud, when did it become this difficult to make a single decision?

In Beijing, China you could only make out what was on the menu by looking at the pictures on the large overhead screen behind the counter. Pointing to the burger as you order, there are no dipping sauces other than Ketchup. None of the “Healthy” choices were offered as they do back in the States, no five dipping sauce choices. As for drinks, it was Coke, Water, and something else. But back in the states, you have the option of Vitamin water, Lemonade, Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Cherry Coke, Arnold Palmer, Dr. Pepper, or Root Beer. I never knew that the Golden Arches would be so incredibly overwhelming when I got home.

I was dealing with a huge “Reverse Culture Shock”, a syndrome coined by travelers for those that find transitioning back to real life difficult. I couldn’t understand why I felt so disconnected from home more than ever, I felt as if I was a foreigner in my own country. After awhile I became isolated, and lonely- no one seemed to understand what I had been through and my friends were miles away. “Why am I feeling this way?” I constantly thought to myself, telling myself to knock it off and just be happy. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to be home, to be with my family, my dogs, to be in my own bed, in my own room after so many months away. However, days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months and I still couldn’t get myself to snap out of it. Post Semester at Sea (SAS) depression took over; I was completely and irrevocably lost.

Last fall, I moved to a completely new town to start my first college semester at Boise State and spent it focusing solely on school, Semester at Sea prep and helping my mother recover from her battle with cancer. Then I left in my second semester of college to participate in Semester at Sea for three and half months to study on a ship around the world. Onboard the ship everything had a purpose, a routine, and I belonged.

Yet, home felt strange. The chance to familiarize myself with my new home in Idaho never presented itself. For the first time in months I stayed in one place; and I didn’t like it one bit. I have had my share of unfamiliar places and but it was quite unnerving to be back in the states. It is easy to say that I was dealing with a heck of a lot in the months leading up the disembarkation date. For months on end I was entirely consumed with thoughts of what I had to get done in order to go, that I barely had a second to think about what would happen AFTER.
What now? I quickly realized my mistake of not coming up with a game plan post Semester at Sea; no summer classes, or any work; nothing was lined up for me for when I returned. To go from an extremely fast paced lifestyle to a complete standstill had a crippling effect on my life, to the point where I just stopped working altogether. I was completely overwhelmed with the culture shock, that even grocery shopping proved to be stressful and unpacking would mean that it was really over.

I missed my friends that I made on the trip more than ever; the tight shipboard community during those three months had become my second family. I loved teaching Sign Language to everyone who wanted to learn, I missed the spontaneous “unofficial ASL Club” that was created after a group of friends asked to learn several signs. It sparked a weekly meeting, whereas my friend Tee and I would teach signs to a large number of people. I even miss the challenging, exciting thought provoking classes on board. Especially Travel writing class in which was taught by Professor Kluge, a critically acclaimed novelist and world traveler- I always thought of him as a snarky cooler version of Anthony Bourdain. I always found myself improving on my works, being challenged on articles, and I loved hearing the feedback from my peers on my works- good or bad…

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner were ready on schedule, the beds were always made every day after class, everything ran like clockwork. I hold the utmost respect and admiration for the crew that ran the ship- they deserve recognition and praise. I would head back in to my room and just revel in the marvelous lifestyle that we were all living in. I would shake my head incredulously with the thought that I was actually on a SHIP traveling around the world, with amazing peers and respected professors that I couldn’t believe that any of it was real. I still have moments thinking if it was all a dream. It was hard not to be spoiled, or to get used to that lifestyle but I loved every minute of it. The world was truly my oyster. Every day after class, I would walk outside in the fresh sea air and bask in the sunshine; that was my campus for a semester.

Now that I am home I now have to make breakfast, lunch, dinner, and my bed is always unmade, I don’t get to walk down the halls to chat to all of my friends right outside of my doorstep. I have to do my own laundry, my own dishes, pay my bills, and I will have to bike over the course of 10 miles to get to class rather than walking upstairs to classroom two. My first load of laundry upon coming home, I managed to turn a load of whites into pinks. The most cliché thing that could ever happen did. I forgot how to do the simplest of chores, and struggled with it for the first few weeks of being home. Even watching “Saturday Night Live” with my family turned a bit of a chore itself, I was constantly lost watching reruns of episodes that I’ve missed. I never got any of the pop culture jokes, and constantly had to ask my family to explain, to which after a while, their normal response became “It happened while you were gone, long story”

“Reality Bites”, the term ever so apparent stuck in my head.

Then I had an epiphany because of an article titled “What Goes Around Goes Around” by Lisa Lubin. The article spoke of how you are more mentally prepared for countries such as India, Ghana, South Africa, China, and so on but you never really think of how big of an impact it really is once you are home. Upon reading the article, I finally understood why I was acting the way I was. That it was normal to feel this way, and that I really needed to snap out of my post SAS depression. Somehow the floodgates started to open, all these thoughts and words started to pour out of me and onto the computer screen. I was writing- something I had not done in months, I had not posted a single thing on my website until now. Lubin helped me realize the fact that I was not ALONE in feeling this way.

I realize now that time heals all wounds, all frustrations and anxiety that I may feel will disappear eventually. While I miss shipboard life, the constant traveling, and my amazing friends I realize that all things come to an end and in this case a three and half month journey around the world has been over for a while now. But the memories stay fresh in my mind, I am so incredibly thankful to have been a part of an experience of a lifetime. To travel the way I did, to be in incredible company, and to see all the things I have seen in my time abroad.

My advice to the upcoming voyage of Semester at Sea, no matter how overwhelming it may seem DO think of a game plan for when you return home. Enroll in Summer school, maybe even a family vacation, work, anything that keeps you involved and preoccupied. You will feel pangs of nostalgia, homesickness for the MV Explorer, you will miss your friends, but as I have learned, there are reunions constantly, near and far. Trust me. To future voyagers, and to current alumni, always keep in mind that you are part of a very exclusive club that maybe less than one percent of world has participated in. Feel lucky and blessed that you have been a part of an amazing experience. I mean after all who gets to live on a ship and sail around the world, and call it studying abroad?

I write this article in the hopes of helping those to cope with the simple phrase such as “Would you like Fries with that?”

New Years Resolutions: 2011

2011-01-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Another year has flown by- what have we all accomplished this year? Well I know one thing, I broke every single one of my last New Years resolutions for 2010. Now, it's 2011. Everyone says "Maybe I should make a resolution to not have a new years resolution" But, I think they have their own secret resolutions, their own personal goals for next year. To be healthy, to kick the habit, to learn more, to love more. However- this year I was tempted not to make one, but I will be leaving for my #RTW trip with Semester at Sea in a couple of days. I will be gone for 3-4 months.. Why not make a resolutions list of things I hope to accomplish on this trip, or for when I return to the states.. So here it is, my top 5 resolutions for 2011..

1. "An apple a day keeps the doctors away"- Walk more, Bike more, Fruits and Veggies(Apples?)

2. "Sightseeing"- Visit Amazon Rainforest, the Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal, See the Hong Kong Light show at the Harbor.

3. "Marco.." Circumnavigate the globe(Semester at Sea!)

4. "Bold and Bolder" Do something daring- maybe Skydiving?

5. Spend more time with my family

Sail Away With Me..

2010-12-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

In a couple of weeks, I will embark on a life-changing #RTW trip with the Semester at Sea study abroad program and I couldn't be any more excited. When I first heard about it, the idea stuck in my travel obsessed brain. I started college, worked incredibly hard towards a good GPA in order to get accepted for Semester at Sea. Once I did, I was ecstatic, my dream was finally coming true. The months that followed, the preparation for a long trip was tough, and to be honest overwhelming. I had to endure doctor appointments, endure shots for the Yellow Fever Vaccine, Polio Boosters, Tetanus shots, as well as get the Typhoid, and Malaria pills.. I felt like a human science project. I was incredibly nervous about the side effects and the warnings given by my doctors on what to do and not to do in each country. But it is all worth it.. I will be traveling around the world!

Semester at Sea is a college study abroad program. Think of it this way; a floating campus, where the classroom is the world. During the days at sea, we go to regular classroom, taught by professors. I also love how the classes relates to travel, Global perspectives, History of the 21st Century, Oceanography, Global Studies, and Travel writings are just some of the classes that they offer. Now, this is my kind of school..

As of January 12th, I will begin a three month journey around the world..
my itinerary is:
* Nassau, Bahamas
* Roseau, Dominica
* Manaus, Brazil
* Takoradi, Ghana
* Cape Town, South Africa
* Port Louis, Mauritius
* Chennai, India
* Singapore
* Ho Chi Minh, City, Vietnam
* Hong Kong/Shanghai, China
* Kobe/Yokohama, Japan
* Hilo, Hawaii
* San Diego, CA USA

As far as what I will do in these countries- I have no idea. I have only planned two trips in Dominica, and Brazil. I signed up for an snorkeling adventure in the Champagne Reef in Dominica, and a night-time jungle exploration in the Amazon, in Brazil. I do have many ideas for what to do in several the ports, but at the moment it seems to be I will be "winging" it..

Now, since I am Deaf, many of you may be wondering how the heck am I going to be able to the classes? What most people don't realize is that many study abroad programs do not have professional Interpreters on hand, there simply isn't much of a demand for them. I hope to change that. Luckily, I convinced one of my best friends to apply for the program. She also got accepted and she will be also be my interpreter for my classes. How lucky am I? To have a friend willing to travel around the world with me, and to help me out with my classes.

I know most people say traveling with others can put a strain on friendships, I fully understand the risk. But if we were able to survive a fire evacuation of our hometown and be stranded on houseboat for three weeks with her family. I think we'll be fine..

If anyone has any recommendations, or advice on traveling with Semester at Sea, or about some of the ports we will be in. It would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

T.S Elliot once said "Turn things you've always wanted to do, into things you've done" and I have to say I am looking forward to crossing off #RTW trip off the EpicQuest list(or in other words the Bucket List)

Happy Travels

Bittersweet Lowdown

2010-12-17T19:30:00.001-08:00

My life has never been normal- in fact, what is normal? It is jam packed with adventure, drama, love, and did I mention more drama? I have gone through things that would make you cringe, and make you scream. If I told you the stories from my life so far, your jaws would drop.

My step-dad went into coma because of a doctors mistake, and then passed away within days of my high school graduation. I decided to postpone college to spend time with my family, to cope with this sudden grief and the tragic passing in our lives. After a couple of years my family and I decided to move to a new state, and I ultimately decided that it was time to go back to school. However, a few months into my first semester at college, my mother got diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

I have been AWOL from twitter, blogging and social media in general. With school and taking care of my mom after surgery that quite possibly saved her life- thanks to a fantastic doctor in California, to which I cannot thank enough; as well as the support of my amazing friends and family. It became quite difficult to focus on blogging, or my career in general. I sort of disappeared from the blogging world, and I am slowly making my way back in.

No. My Life is not normal, but it makes me stronger than ever. I learned not to take things for granted. I learned to be loyal to my family and friends. I make an effort to say I love you to my family and friends. I also learned that my mother is amazing and so strong willed. The fact that she showed cancer who's boss is just awe inspiring. Through all the trials and tribulations, all the curve-balls and the roller coaster rides I have endured, I am incredibly lucky to have the support of my amazing friends and family, without them I would not be who I am today. Thank you everyone :)

I am excited to start the next chapter in my life- in which I will be Sailing around the world with Semester at Sea! Stay tuned for more details, as well as where in the world I will be going next! :)

On the Town: in New York City

2010-07-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was little girl, I loved watching musicals so it comes to no surprise that "On the Town" with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra would be one of my favorite films. In the beginning three sailors are on leave, however they only have 24 hours to see the city... In a way I can relate- seeing that I only had 48 hours to see New York City (with the exception of travel days). The movie always stuck with me, I just HAD to see all the places that were in the film, Rockefeller Plaza, the Empire State Building, and so on. A weekend in New York is not a long time, but I was determined to see it and boy what a time it was..

Everywhere you go you instantly recognize iconic spots from film, the news, even in books. You see the Empire state building, and you are instantly reminded of Sleepless in Seattle where Tom Hanks character finally meets Meg Ryans character on the top of the Empire state building. Even I thought that, I looked around secretly hoping I will bump into Tom Hanks. Alas, I didn't. We decided to go at night, after the #TBEX conference. I thought it would be easy to get there, I was wrong. After navigating the complicated subway system, we realized we were lost and had gotten off the wrong station. Despite a new yorkers directions- even though she was kind and helpful we still got lost. She said, when you get out of the station the Empire State Building should be right there. It wasn't. We walked for what seemed to be about an hour before we finally found a place to eat for dinner, and then to the actual building. The view was breathtaking. A man played the saxophone with a bowl next to him for change. I felt lucky to be here, and lucky for the fact that I had a Hearing Aid to help me hear this beautiful music on the top of the Empire State Building.

I woke up at 8 in the morning, got ready for another day at the #TBEX conference. The heat was sweltering, hot and humid. Entering the sauna that was the subway station. We bought our tickets at the kiosk, the single ride which was about $2.50. I didn't get the week long card, seeing that I was only there for the weekend and the metro card was about 20 something. But the downside was every time you wanted to go to the subway, you had to pay $2.50 all over again whether you were heading uptown or downtown. Thank goodness the trains had air conditioning! I finally made it to the conference, mingled, learned quite a bit. While everyone was hanging out, I decided to meet @JasonTravels at the Rockefeller center at the end of the day. It would be my last night in New York- I was leaving in the morning. I wanted to get as much sightseeing in. I thought taking the taxi would be better, and easier than navigating the system. We had gotten lost, and I didn't want to get lost yet again in the city on my last night in New York. I have to say I loved seeing the Plaza, the skating rink transformed into a restaurant for the summer. I can't wait to go back in the Winter and actually skate on the rink. I couldn't help but imagine Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in the beginning of the movie singing

New York, New York, a helluva town.
The Bronx is up, but the Battery's down.
The people ride in a hole in the groun'.
New York, New York, it's a helluva town!-(On the Town, 1949)

I got lost again. @JasonTravels texted me saying he was in the building and told me that a bus of 100+ tourist was making their way to the line. So I walked in the front of the building, I looked around and no Jason. I walked and walked, even went down the stairs where they said "Top of the Rock" here. Confusion ensued, turns out I was supposed to go to the SIDE of the building rather than the front. I finally found Jason and then we got in line using our Citi Pass tickets that were given to us at #TBEX. I absolutely loved the Citi Passes, I was able to visit the Empire State Building, and "Top of the Rock" quicker, without the frustration of ticket lines. We just breezed through the building, got in the elevator and rode to the top of the building. One cool feature I liked was the fact that the top of the elevator was plexiglass, and it showed a video about Rockefeller Center via projector! So as you looked up you saw the video, but it was clear so you could see the elevator shaft heading up to the top of the building. It was nifty, and it certainly beats elevator music. There were several levels, you got to an area with plexiglass as you look out to the city below you. The sun was setting, the neon lights were flashing as you look down and see a sea of taxi cars whiz by. We made through hordes of tourists on the stairs to the second viewing level which I preferred because it was cooler, and there wasn't the restriction of the plexiglass which allowed you to take pictures of the city with ease. I loved looking straight across the Empire State Building which I was at the night before. Afterwards, we met up with @Solofriendly and walked around the city some more, we even saw the St. Patricks Cathedral which was amazing. A cathedral smack dab in the middle of a concrete jungle is pretty amazing I have to say. We even stopped by a food cart selling Hot Dogs, Kabobs and Pretzels. I opted for the Pretzel, even though it was a bit dry and the fact that I spilled Mustard all over my skirt. Pretty embarrassing but I didn't mind because I felt like I was with friends that I had known for a long time. Even though we only spoke through twitter, I felt like I had met them before. They even cracked jokes about me spilling the mustard, we all laughed and then we headed our separate ways by the end of the night. If you are not following them on twitter or haven't checked out their blogs, DO.

By now I have walked a fair amount in the city- wearing flats. I decided to bring a pair of flats, they were the only one I had in my closet and thought they were cute to bring. Oh, how wrong I was to bring them. By the end of the first day, my feet was throbbing,the pain was blinding but I walked through it. At the end of the trip, I wanted to burn those shoes, and never wear them again! I haven't since then. So the lesson here is that a good pair of shoes is crucial! BRING GOOD SHOES!

I know- No Seinfeld quotes in this article is shocking(for those that know me well), but believe me when I go back to New York city I am checking out the Sites mentioned in the famed TV show- and that includes the diner! Until then "no soup for you!".. I simply couldn't resist..

The reason I was in town was for #TBEX, where hundreds of travel bloggers flocked to New York City to meet fellow travel bloggers and to listen to professionals on panels to learn more about how to get the best out of travel blogging. Check out their website Travelblogexchange.com and keep an eye out for my next post which is all about #TBEX and the wonderful people I met there..

Deaf Travelbee takes flight- Pre #TBEX

2010-06-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

Airports are daunting places- chaotic, crowded and frankly quite insane. Being Deaf, it can be overwhelming, frustrating just to get to the gate. I always traveled with a friend or a family member; they always helped me get through the security lines, let me know what was being said over the speakers, or when it was time to board the plane. I grew quite dependent on that fact. I didn't have to worry about anything. I have traveled intensively, I will say that I do not have the efficiency or the grace of George Clooney's character in Up in the Air. I knew what to expect, however from time to time I still find myself bumbling through the airport, and through the security lines.

A few weeks ago I flew back from Boise to Los Angeles airport- alone. I was nervous, "what if I miss my flight, what if I can't understand what is being said" kept running through my head. Luckily Boise Airport is small, and the staff is incredibly helpful. My nervousness was immediately put to ease, the fountain nearby the gates helped too. One thing helped me immensely was to speak up- let them know you are Deaf.

For an example; I flew to New York from Los Angeles alone just last week. However, two big airports, JFK and LAX along with two different layovers on each flight. I was nervous. Yeah, sure I have been on layovers before, but that was when I was with People to People Student Ambassador program. Surely- I had no idea what to expect nor what to do when I got there. I woke up early, the kind of early where the early bird gets the worm. It was dark, but the Los Angeles airport was teeming with people, from all walks of life. I found my gate, my sister watched me as I checked through the security line. I waved back, and signed "goodbye!, of course I will text you when I land!". On my way to the gate, for the first flight of many. Which would be Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a 3 hour layover before leaving for New York. I was surprisingly early for my flight- hardly anyone was there. It wouldn't leave until 6 am and it was only 5am.

But here is what you need to do- let the people at the counter(at your gate) know that you are Deaf, and that you wouldn't be able to hear when they are announcing the zones, or boarding the plane. Often they will let you know first and sometimes let you board the plane first.

When it came time to board the plane, they forgot to tell me. This happens often, you have to be alert, and watch the gate/counter. If you see anybody boarding, go ahead. They will understand if it is not even your "zone" on the ticket. Sometimes they remember, and go "Oh gosh! I'm sorry!". I finally got through the long line, and headed for the plane. I always tell the flight attendants before I take my seat. Letting them know I was deaf,and if there was any announcements I needed to know if they could kindly relay it to me. They are always helpful, and have always helped me during my flights.
I arrived to Las Vegas for my long layover- I headed to my gate(don't forget to check the airport monitors). Closer to the time my plane departs- I got up and stood in line at the counter. Sometimes I wait until half hour before my plane leaves. Reason being, sometimes the employees leave for lunch, or the shift changes and there is someone new behind the counter. If that happens, then what I told the previous person would be for nothing, and I would have to repeat it all over again. Half hour prior is the ideal time to let them know, and it is still fresh in their minds. As I mentioned earlier they can forget. Stand nearby, or sit close to the counter. So when they see you,they remember. When I was in the Vegas airport, I was pleasantly surprised when they let me board first, before anyone. Then they told me they upgraded me to first class, so I would be nearer to the flight attendants if I needed any help. This was a first- being upgraded to first class?! I was stoked, and I will never forget the kind lady that sat next to me during the flight. Once she learned I was deaf, she helped me throughout the flight. "oh the captain just said we are going to land soon" or " the flight attendant is asking what you want for lunch?" etc.

#TBEX came and gone, my time in New York was over(sadly). I headed to the airport, and did the same ordeal all over again, but this time I would be flying to Charlotte, North Carolina for another 3 hour layover before heading home. Now, JFK is a big airport, it can be easy to get lost. I downloaded a great app called Gateguru(from the itunes store). It has a map of the airports, as well as what is nearby in your terminal. You can rate, check out what restaurants are nearby, or just want to see how far your gate is to the next one. This is the app for you.

However- I did not expect the Charlotte airport to be huge. Here I was thinking it was a small airport, like Boise. I found out I was clearly wrong when I landed in Gate C. I looked on my ticket for the next flight, and it said gate B9. I looked up, and all I saw was C gates. I felt lost, and slightly worried when I looked on the airport monitors and my flight was not listed. "Oh no, am I at the wrong airport? Is there a flight delay I am not aware of?", I was panicking. I asked the US airlines desk, and they simply said that they haven't posted my flight yet. It hit me- they are not even ready to post my flight on the monitors? Just how long is this layover going to be? It turned out to be a long one.
I walked to what seemed like a few miles to my gate- and waited for three hours with the additional 45 minutes in delays before my flight actually departed for Los Angeles. It was a long way back home, I arrived at the LAX airport in the dark, smoggy night and I was glad to see my family along with my dog Cosmo waiting for me outside of the terminal. They shouted welcome home! with the occasional barks from the dogs. Yes, welcome home indeed.

A New York State of Mind- getting ready for #TBEX

2010-06-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

Someone on Twitter once said #Tbex10 was the Travel Bloggers Woodstock- in a way it is. Travelers all around the world are taking a break from their travels, and are heading to New York City for a travel blogger conference on June 26-27th. TBEX'10 stands for Travel Blog Exchange 2010 and this is their second year of hosting the conference. Last year their first annual conference was in Chicago. I found out about the conference two days after it ended, I was wildly disappointed to have missed it.

Once I found out it was hosting in a city I have never been in- I was elated. To meet all of my amazing travel blogger friends and visit a new city? It was too good to be true.

Now of course the road to getting to #Tbex was a tough one. In no time all the tickets were snatched up before I could order one. So I registered for the waitlist knowing that the chance of getting a ticket was slim. An opportunity came up to get tickets via twitter- I immediately ordered the tickets. Now, I got the tickets, what next? The following weeks were busy, I was traveling back and forth between Boise and California. I barely had time to sit down and actually research flights and hotels. Originally my sister was going to come along, and help interpret the seminars at TBEX. She had gotten a new puppy, and now had to drop out of the trip. Leaving me with no interpreter. Now I was in frantic rush to figure things out fast- the event was merely a week away. I had no flight, no hotel reservations, and no interpreter. Finally, fate intervened my aunt generously stepped in and decided to take time out of her busy schedule and come along with me to the event and help translate. Then I found a great deal on a flight, despite the long layovers via CheapOair.com. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they had the option of putting down "Deaf Passenger" on the order page- which notifies the airlines that there would be a Deaf person flying. I am interested to see how that pans out when I fly out this Friday.
Now I had to tackle the last piece of the puzzle- Hotels. It is no secret that Hotels in New York are insanely expensive, it is hard to find a bargain. I searched all over the Internet, Priceline, Orbitz, Tripadvisor, Kayak, Hotels.com, etc to find a reasonably priced hotel. No such luck, even if I did find a place it would be entirely booked for the weekend I would be NYC. I was incredibly frustrated, I had no place to stay. In a moment of frustration I turned to twitter- which was a lifesaver. Radisson Lexington offered me a room at a reasonable price, they were incredibly helpful. Amazing how things fall into place- and once again Twitter proved to be helpful in trip planning.

TBEX is in a couple of days- I am excited to meet everyone, to network, to sightsee and I cannot tell you how nervous and anxious I am!

See you at #Tbex!!

For more information about #Tbex- check out their website! http://www.travelblogexchange.com/

The World Cup and Me

2010-06-20T18:01:00.000-07:00

6 am, bright eyed and I am ready to go to the airport. It just so happens, it is the opening games of the World Cup series. South Africa would be playing against Mexico; first match out of many. I knew I had to get ready to leave, but I couldn't pry myself from the screen. It was riveting, and of course emotional. South Africa to be hosting the games this year, and it was a big deal. Anthems were played, you saw a glimpse of Archbishop Desmond Tutu in the stands adorned in South Africa's team colors rooting for his team. You couldn't help but watch, you had to root, had to cheer at a goal, groan at a foul, or a missed goal. "They had the shot! How could they miss?!" I felt like a sports fanatic cheering on the team, shouting to the television set. I don't follow sports, I have tried. Believe me I have tried. But the world cup was not to be missed, it happens every four years. It's huge in the sports world, and as well as the travel bloggers world. They go well together.

If you were wondering it was a tie for South Africa and Mexico; they each scored a goal.

It hit me- this is my second time watching the World Cup and I am traveling yet again. Back in 2006, I was traveling Europe during the last World Cup. It was an exciting time to be traveling Europe then. I caught my first glimpse of the Tour De France, and then the World Cup. At the end of the day, I would retreat to my hotel room, and watch the games. I will never forget it, when the finals came along it was France versus Italy. I traveled to France first, everyone worn their French shirts, full of pride that their country's team is playing in the finals. Then, I went to Italy when the final game was played. The streets were almost empty, everyone was off watching their team play, faces glued to the screen, wearing their teams colors, and face paint. Then, all of a sudden- thunderous cheers roamed the halls. Even I could hear and feel it. Italy won. Simple as that, everyone cheered, some cried, and then cheered some more.

So naturally, I had to watch the games this year. I have a history in a sense with the World Cup. On my flight to Boise, I couldn't help but smile and wonder where would I be in four years, when the next world cup plays..

P.S- To keep up on the scores, download the ESPN iPhone app. I was able to catch up on what I missed during my travels.

Hearing Troubles

2010-05-22T10:05:00.001-07:00

Nobody is whistling it is just my ear. A tell tale sign that it is time to upgrade my hearing aid. Normally every couple of years, I have to either upgrade my hearing aid mold, or replace the entire hearing aid itself. Every now and then, people are puzzled as they wonder where the HECK is that whistling noise is coming from. All I can say is that it is my hearing aid. Sure, it is embarrassing when everyone is looking at you weirdly because your ear is whistling. Literally. In the upcoming weeks, I will have to go back in and get a checkup and get a new one. But what I am about to tell you is the long arduous process that it takes to get one and a pricey one at that.

Ever since I was a child I have had to endure long doctor appointments to determine just how Deaf I am. I am no stranger to hospitals, to sound checks and audiologist. Usually, I go in the room and they check my ear, with that long weirdly shaped magnifying glass. It’s cold; my ear is pulled and prodded to check for any signs of trouble. “Hmm, all good” they tell me. Next, I speak to the audiologist about my progress and mention any problems with my hearing aid. “All good” they tell me again. Sure, it is routine to me now. But as a child it can be confusing and frustrating. Especially when they put me in a sound proof room, have me sit down in a chair. “Cherie, take out your hearing aid, and put this headphone on”, “What? How can they expect me to hear anything without my hearing aid?” Basically what they do is measure how well you’re hearing and by doing so they are able to determine what type of hearing aid device I need. All I have to do is listen intently to the headphone, and push the buzzer if I hear any sound, even if I think I hear something I have to press the button. Often it is a beeping sound, ranging from low volume to high pitch volumes. It can be tricky, I constantly think to myself, “Was that a sound? Should I push the buzzer? What if I am wrong?” Well, there is no wrong answer. I feel as though I am on jeopardy, only isolated in a room with weird noises emitting from the headphone. Occasionally, they have the audiologist sound out a word in the other room, sometimes laughter, dogs barking and so on. Ah, I’m free! The door opens and I head out into a brightly lit room for some more testing. Not quite so free yet.

Almost in the home stretch now, now they tested my “hearing” which is at 60 percent WITH the hearing aid. Without it, I hear 0 percent. They can now fit me for a hearing aid. They fill up a tube of cold goopy stuff, and inject it in my ear. After 20 minutes, the goopy stuff is hardened and voila a hearing aid mold is created. It’s weird, but I always looked forward to it because I knew the appointment was nearing to an end and that I would see daylight again. All that ordeal just to wait couple of weeks for a new pricey hearing aid, but sometimes I go through all of that just to get a new hearing aid mold. Quite an ordeal but, that is the life I have always known. I always grew up thinking that this was normal, in a way it is normal but for the Deaf population.

Another thing- the hearing aid itself can be a couple thousand dollars depending on the model. The hearing aid mold itself can range from 60 to 80 dollars. Not to mention the doctor, and audiologist appointments. The grand total can be a pricey one, but the frustrating thing is that some insurance companies do not cover hearing aid costs. Hopefully that changes soon.

Am I looking forward to my next audiologist appointment? My answer is a simple “not really”. But, it needs to be done, and I do need a new hearing aid soon. Now, Speech therapy is a different story. Keep an eye out for a post on my frustrating experience in speech therapy.

"Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer

2010-05-12T22:31:00.001-07:00

Tossing and turning in my bed, I couldn't sleep. I turned on the Television and there it was, a movie called "Everything is Illuminated". It featured Elijah Wood, and a singer from Gogol Bordello; a polish band. Apparently this film was about a Jewish American man named Jonathan(of the same name as the author) who travels to Ukraine for a heritage tour. His sole reason was to find out about his great great grandfather and the woman who saved him during WWII. During his tour, he encounters interesting character, such as a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. and a grandfather who apparently thinks he is blind. He also befriends the young grandson, Alex. Directed by Liev Schrieber, it is a stunning film, the cinamatography is mesmerizing throughout the whole movie. After watching this film, I fell in love with it. It was so well written, the cast performed splendidly. So naturally I wanted to read the book that started it all.

I finally got the book around Christmas time. I don't think I had been as excited about a book since the Harry Potter series ended. Excited, I immediately started reading. But I was somewhat disapointed. It was vastly different from the movie. What I had noticed, that it was more about the characters of a city called Trachimbrod throughout the years. The chapters were confusing, and oftentimes went back and forth between present time and the past(which was in the 1800's). It also featured chapters where Alex-the tour guide is writing to the author himself. It was hard to keep up, I was frustrated. The way the chapters alternated in such a confusing manner made for a difficult read. I only got a glimpse of what was actually in the film which was what made me interested in the book in the first place.

In my opinion- I prefered the movie than the actual book. I don't normally advise people to watch the film adaptation before reading the actual book. But sadly, in this case I have to say rent the movie.

You say Potatos, I say Sweet Potatos

2010-05-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Tomboy's is known for their "World Famous Chili Hamburgers" - and I have to say they are pretty good! I used to go to Tomboy's often when I lived in Manhattan Beach, it's like the funkier version of Carl's Junior with their Fried Zucchini, Burgers, and Curly Fries. To be honest, I actually prefer Tomboy's version.

Yesterday, I decided to waltz in and order the usual. I spotted a bird stuck in the building, one of the employees decided to try and usher it out the doors. The little bird kept flying in the windows, I felt bad. After 10 minutes of watching the bird, and waiting to take my order- it flew out. But, then I caught my eye on something else.. A new special they were offering. The advertisement was for Sweet Potato Fries, I just had to get it. I'm a big fan of Sweet Potato, and of course one of my weakness is Fries. Here it was, sweet potato fries. I have always heard of them but never got the chance to order one.

It was fantastic, although the only negative was that there wasn't a special sauce to go with it. I tried it with the Ranch, it was surprisingly good but it didn't mesh well. Sweet potato fries are really rich in flavor and it can be a meal in itself. I ordered it without a cheeseburger, and I am glad I did. Within minutes I was full. I heard it was a limited time special, but I hope they really do stick around. The Chili Cheeseburger is another meal you have to try when you head to Tomboy's after all it is what they are famous for. The Fried Zucchini and their Breakfast Burrito, are also great to try. Manhattan Beach is filled with hidden gems, and their more well known restaurants. But Tomboy's will always be a place to go. Check it out!

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles": My CheapOair Article..

2010-05-07T13:55:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

Not to long ago I was asked to write a guest post for CheapOair You can imagine how excited I was. My article was based on traveling in England as a Deaf person. Traveling with a disability can be tough, so I thought I would write an article on what to expect when visiting England. So, without further ado, I am proud to present my latest article for Cheapoair! Feel free to comment and browse around CheapOair.com and perhaps it will inspire you to travel onwards to England.

"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"

http://cheapoair.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/planes-trains-and-automobiles/

Happy Travels :)

My first LA Travel Tweetup

2010-04-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

Whether you are traveling in a exotic foreign place, somewhere far from home you are bound to meet new people along the way. But what of the travelers in your own hometown? Thanks to twitter, I was fortunate to meet up with some lovely travelers in Los Angeles on couple nights ago. Organized by @Magicant, we were to meet up at the Whisper Lounge Bar and Restaurant at the Grove in Los Angeles. Needless to say, I was nervous. Here I am a newcomer in the travel blogger world, I've only been to Europe. And I will be talking to a group of people who have traveled the world over. What would I say? Will I be able to understand what is being said and be able to join in the conversation? Luckily, I had my sister translate for me, and everyone I met was fantastic and so welcoming. All of my nervousness and worries melted away, I had the time of my life meeting them.

To be honest, to meet up with everyone just made me even more excited to travel abroad this fall. I heard tales about New Zealand, Russia, Europe, Australia. My mother who came along for the tweetup even quipped "Okay, lets go to New Zealand tomorrow, I'm packing my bags when I get home!" after hearing rave reviews on New Zealand.

When I am in my hometown, which is a mere two hours away from Los Angeles. A small town, where everyone knows your name(literally). It is hard to find friends that are just as travel obsessed as I am. There are a lot of talks about politics, work, and of course small town gossip. Rarely, Travel is the topic of the conversation. It is like being a big fish in a small pond. I even wondered to myself, "is this normal to be this travel obsessed?" I talk about travel, I live and breathe travel, I constantly have to be on the move to find some unknown destination. Eyes roll when I mention a new crazy travel plan for the future. And here I am in this Travel tweet up where travel WAS the topic of the conversation. I fit right in, and I thought to myself "it is normal to be travel obsessed!". The whole time, we spoke of crazy travel stories, where I told my story about my England/Ireland trip. A trip where anything that could go wrong did. I told them of my bike accident in austria, the robbery in Ireland, and the story of being stuck on a plane for a mere 20 hours when the flight was only supposed to be 5 hours. I heard of crazy stories that make you go "oh man, I can relate!".

All in all, I got to meet up with @magicant @travelswithtwo @cgtravels @abbytegnelia @miataylor @vagabond3 @purplekat99 & @travelvivant, check them out on twitter. They are amazing people. Keep an eye out for them, for they are world travelers with a zest for life!

You never know who you will meet on the road, or in your hometown. But get out there, connect via twitter, or even facebook and you will make lasting friends with the same interest as you do. I will say this, it is OKAY to be travel obsessed.

Happy Travels!

Passion Board Project

2010-02-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

There is a life list which lists all your goals, but what about a board that lists all of your passions in life. Thankfully my wonderful friends,@gotpassport and @GuyNGirlTravels created one and kept the trend alive. What you are supposed to do is create a collage of what you are most passionate about. It can be cute and quirky, or serious as can be. Whatever it may be, just make sure it lists what you LOVE. With that said, I created one. Granted, it was easy to put down traveling, but as time wore on I tried to think what else I was passionate about, and what I would put down in this collage. It really made me think, and inspired me to live out my goals, and be happy just by simply doing what I love. Do this, it is fun, and you won't regret it! It really puts things in perspective. Apart from the obvious family, friends and my dog Cosmo which are first and foremost in my life. I will explain to you what I have put down on my board.

Deaf/Sign language picture- I am Deaf, and I put down a picture of the word I love you in sign language. Sign Language is a beautiful language, and the history behind it is fascinating. I can go on and on about my deaf culture, but what I am passionate about is trying to make traveling easier for Deaf people. I want to share the world what it is like to be Deaf, and the struggles that comes with it.

England- an Anglophile is someone that is addicted to all things English. I am one of them. When I visited the country in 2008, I just fell in love with it. It was so beautiful; the cities were romantic and fun all the same. From London to Canterbury, I loved their charm, big town to small town in the country side. Sitting on the train going from one English city to the next was something I absolutely adored. One day, I hope to move there but until then, I cannot wait to plan my next trip back.

Bee- This one is pretty obvious, I put the picture of a BEE to showcase my blog, and it is something I am passionate about. Writing tips and advice for other Deaf travelers. I remember taking a picture of a bee which is posted on the top page of my blog and thinking of the name Travelbee, and along with it my blog began. That was the turning point in my life, and ignited my passion for traveling all over again.

Luggage/Passport/Globe/Photography picture- Traveling! No brainier when it comes to this gal. Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with traveling. Notably absent from this list is the People to People Program, going on that program made me realize how much I loved traveling. Yes, I have always loved traveling but I never knew just how much until this trip. I will never know who nominated me to go on that trip, but as I see now it was fate. Cheesy I know, but it simply cannot be a coincidence. To get a letter in the mail saying I was nominated for the program, it just can't be a coincidence. As for the Globe, I hope to do a Round the World sort of trip, China, Thailand, Australia, and so on all on one big trip. Photography is easy, traveling and photography goes hand in hand. I love it, to be able to capture a picture, and go back home and show your friends. THIS is what I saw on my journey, you are able to capture a picture, but at the same time a memory. A memory captured in a photo can take you back on a rainy day sitting by the photo album; you are suddenly transported back to a whirlwind trip, feeling, seeing, and even the smells of the place.

Elizabethtown movie poster/Film reel- I love film, I used to want to be actress, then it was to be a director, then it was to being a screenwriter but that all changed. However my love for movies hasn't. On lazy Sundays I rent a film or two, pop in some popcorn (kettle corn of course)and I'm good. Indie films, Action films, Comedy, Foreign films, anything is good by me. Which brings me to the next one; it's an indie film that really left a mark in my life. "Elizabethtown", I love this movie so much it is actually one of my all time favorites apart from "Singing in the Rain", and "The Usual Suspects"(and many more). Why is this movie important? well, for a lot of reasons, it is cute, quirky, set in a small town and of course the hero is going through some life changes.The movie is moving, as the hero comes to terms with things and gets the girl in the end after an epic soul searching road trip. Yes, I want to take a soul searching road trip across the united states one day, just driving on the open road. Another thing a quote from the movie really stuck with me. It goes like this "You wanna be really great? Then have the courage to fail big and stick around. Make them wonder why you're still smiling". Yes. This movie is awesome, and not to be missed.

and lastly...

The Beatles song quote- Since I have a Hearing aid that supports my hearing, I am fortunate enough to be able to hear songs. I consider that incredibly lucky. to be able to feel and hear a beat at the same time to me is just great. I often find that people take their hearing for granted, they hear a song and it's like eh.. But for me, I find it amazing, it is moving, and something I find myself so blessed to be able to hear. I love the classics, and it makes me sad when the greats like Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, The Doors, and so on are not appreciated. So, turn on that Ipod, and listen to your favorite song. It can make me happy any day, and brighten up any morning. Especially "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles.

So to keep this going- Please tag at least five people, whoever it may be and tell them about this fun project. The people I am tagging are @miataylor @richardescobar @bobbiebebop @20sTravel and @ARoadRetraveled

For references do check out other #passionboards posted by others.

They started it all- @GotPassport http://gotpassport.wordpress.com/passion-board-round-up/
Theirs are just simply great! @GuyNGirlTravels http://guyandgirltravels.com/?p=1683

Looking forward to seeing your #passionboard!

Universal Studios Hollywood

2010-02-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, there is an amusement park dedicated solely to film, and television; located in Los Angeles, California. Being a film fanatic, it’s hard not to love this amusement park. I have being coming here ever since I was a child, yes I went on the old E.T ride before they tore it down and added the Mummy Ride. I admit I miss the E.T ride, with the majestic waiting room in the form of a forest, with scenes from the movie. Then you are whisked away on the bike ride, through the stars and eventually spotting E.T throughout the ride. It is the equivalent to the "It's a Small World" boat ride at Disneyland in the sense that it is a classic. However the replacement is just as thrilling fast paced and I love it. A mini roller coaster indoors, it starts out slow taking you through several eerie room filled with mummies, scarabs and of course as you hear the spooky, raspy voice of Imotep(from the mummy series)- you are automatically zoomed forward at a incredibly fast pace that is the indoor roller coasters. Just when you think its done. It isn't. Another favorite ride of mine, that's equally as scary with a 90 foot drop is the Jurassic Park boat ride. You are transported to a abandoned island, with some ahem monsters lurking about. Be careful as you cruise through the island, maybe you will have a run in with Ingen's self created monsters that will give you a fright!
Other than scary rides there are a lot of fun features that people of all ages will enjoy. First off, Universal Studios added a new ride that is quite frankly genius. The Simpsons ride- the long running show has been transformed into a amusement park ride. How genius is that? Its kid friendly, but also something everybody will enjoy. You will see a replica of the Kwik-E-Mart that boasts Simpson souvenirs. Unfortunately you will not see Abu there, but you might run into characters from the Simpson's cast, perhaps Sideshow Bob? ..
Let's not forget the most famous ride of Universal Studios, the Universal Studios Tour. What is it? It is a tram ride that takes you through the back-lot of Universal studios where movies are made. You might run into stars, see some scenes being filmed and famous sets from your favorite movies. On this tour you will see the set from Phantom of the Opera (the original one), Jaws, Psycho (Norman Bates hotel), The Truman Show, Desperate Housewives and War of the Worlds. Along the way there are mini rides that are just as fun; however a fire broke out several years ago and burned the set of Back to the Future (the clock tower) and King Kong. If you have never visited, don't worry they are rebuilding the King Kong Skull Island set only bigger, better and from what I hear it will be 3-D this time around. The new feature will be open this coming summer, from what I saw of the construction during my time there it looks amazing. Be sure not to miss it.
When I was there for my birthday, it’s easy not to feel like a child again, slurping on a big soda cup in the shape of Homer Simpsons, Shouting on roller coaster rides, and the occasional churro treat from the food carts. Everything here is about the magic of movies, the old and new Hollywood. I just simply love it and you will too.
I know there is one out in Orlando, I haven't visited there yet, but keep an eye out for my post for when I do visit(How can I miss the new feature they are adding, Harry Potter!). From Citywalk, which is filled with shoppes and restaurants to the Studio back lot, its easy to have fun no matter what age you are.

On a side note: They do cater to the Deaf, if you do go on the Studio Tour, be sure to ask the employees there they will help you get a tram car with video playing with Captions. Be sure to ask. Also, if you need an interpreter, you need to contact Universal Studios for one two weeks prior to visiting.
If you have your pet with you, they have dog kennels at the front of the park. Again, be sure to ask the employees and they will help you out there. Bring a blanket or towel, toys and they will be fine in the kennels. Be sure to come back before 5 is when the park closes to get your pet. I put my dogs there once; they were fine they had water, toys, and blankets. By the time I came to pick them up they were great. Arrive early; I learned this lesson the hard way. I had a hard time finding someone nearby at 5, the park was closing up, and the employees were scarce. But it all turned out okay in the end, I got my dogs, went home after a fun filled day and my dogs were happy.

Pros and Cons of Going to the Movie Theatre as a Deaf Person

2009-12-28T23:40:00.000-08:00

"The games afoot" Robert Downey Jr. characters remarked in the new Sherlock Holmes flick; Directed by the ingenious Guy Ritchie (Snatch, RocknRolla). I would have never known what exactly were being said if it weren’t for the Rear Window Captioning. To explain, it is a text display bar that spells the captions in reverse, it is mounted at the back of the theater. However, there is a transparent reflector that inserts into a cup holder. It is flexible so one can adjust it to see the captions that are displayed at the back of the theatre. It is the same as if one wrote on a piece of paper backwards, and put it up towards the mirror. In the mirror the word would be spelled out correctly because of the reflection. It is portable, easy to use. However, it can be a bit pesky seeing that you have to adjust it every time someone walks by and moves the reflector. Make sure when purchasing the ticket to ask for showing that is playing with Rear Window Captioning, and pick up at the device at the front counter. To get a better understanding, refer to the picture below.

It is an ingenious invention that helps out so many Deaf people who want to experience the movie-going experience. However, there are some cons that I thought I would point out. In hopes that it will raise awareness as to the movie- going experience isn’t quite as accessible to the Deaf population as one would think. I have only seen this device at AMC theatres. AMC theatre is quite popular, however for me to see a movie I have to drive 30 to 40 minutes as opposed to driving to the local theatre which is a mere 10 minutes away. It is frustrating. There are only 160 theatres in the US that actually has the device, which is good however I think more should be installed in theatres OTHER than only AMC. It should be installed in local theatres, Edwards Cinema, and the list goes on. Another problem that I constantly run into is. Only ONE movie plays at each theatre with Rear-Window Captioning. I do not have the choice to say, I think I will watch this movie instead of the other. I have to search out for an AMC theatre hoping they are playing the movie I want to see with Captions. And they only allot a certain time period in which they would play the captions, which is usually one week. I found out that they were playing the New Moon: Twilight movie with Captions a little too late, I had to be out of town for several days, and would not have the time when I got back to watch it. They continued playing the movie for several weeks, but only one week was with Captions. Needless to say, I was bummed and frustrated that I missed my chance to go to the theatre and watch it WITH captions.
Don’t think that Rear Window is the only option for the Deaf; they also have Open Captions which are like subtitles only on the big screen in the theatre. But those are hard to find. Usually it is out of the ways for me, so if there is a movie playing with Open Captions, I have to find a certain theatre that actually plays it, and drive considerably far just to see a movie.
While I am glad they are actually progressing forward with new technology, I have high hopes that more theatres will be more accessible for the Deaf. I also hope to see more of the Rear-Window Captioning in the future, and in other theatres besides AMC. The movie was quite brilliant and fast paced. I loved every minute of it, and I understood every minute with the Captioning Device. Without it I would have never been able to understand a word that they were saying. Ten years ago, I always had to have my family members or friends translate what is being said and because of that I missed so much. Technology has come a long way, and I look forward to the next big thing in the Deaf world.

New Years Resolution's

2009-12-27T22:35:00.000-08:00

Everyone has them, yet no one sticks by them. That was the case of this past year, although to be honest I didn't quite really create a list. I didn't believe in them, why make them when I KNOW that I would not see them through. However, at the risk of sounding like Bridget Jones, I have decided to create a New Year’s resolution list and try to see them throughout by the year's end.

2009 was a doozy of a year. A roller coaster ride to be sure; one that I am glad is over. So many twists and turns and loops. I have met wonderful new friends and lost some. I even started a Twitter account, something I was apprehensive of doing. Yet, I love it; I’ve met so many wonderful fellow travelers. They are an awesome bunch of people. I also experienced new things this year, such as White Water Rafting, Sailing; I even visited Pike's Place in Seattle, Washington. However, I am sensing that 2010 will be a better year. Yes. It is even easier to say. Twenty Ten. So, I have compiled a short list (five resolutions) but with a twist. I will attach a particular goal alongside it. Hope this inspires you to create a list for yourself.

1.Stay Fit: Train for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for January 2011. Yes, I know it’s not really for 2010, but the training part is. However, I have chosen January 2011 because it will happen to fall on my birthday.

2.Education: Study abroad at some point in 2010.

3.Immerse myself in Culture: Perhaps a trip to China? Thailand? Not yet decided. Any recommendations will do.

4.Learn Something New: Pardon my French. I think I want to get back into my roots, and learn the language of my ancestors. Perhaps start off small, by picking up the book “French in 10 minutes a day”.

5.Help Others: Volunteer, help other underprivileged deaf children in a foreign country.

I will keep you updated on my progress throughout the year,‘til then HAPPY NEW YEARS! May the New Year bring abundance of happiness and of course a lot of new exciting travel experiences.

Making A List, Checking It Twice -Last Minute Gifts

2009-12-23T17:33:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays!

To quote a classic Christmas song, "May your days be Merry and Bright”- Not Rushed and Dazed. Which is common for those that decided to postpone their Christmas shopping list until the last minute. Usually I try to get all my Christmas Shopping done in November, so I can enjoy the holiday season. But this year, Christmas crept up and before I knew it November was over. December had begun, and so did my Christmas shopping. Frantic, I ran around, trying to find gifts for family and friends. Up until today, I finally accomplished what was not an easy task. Stores were overcrowded, a lot of cars honking and cutting people off. Needless to say it was quite stressful. So, I thought I would compile a list of last minute gifts that you can pick up on your way back home, or a guide for next year!

All of which I have tried, love, and would recommend!

For the Weary Traveler:
1.Iphone- Handy travel apps, unlimited data, Reading app(Kindle), Games, and so on makes for a great travel gadget. Perfect for those pesky layovers in the airport.
2.Digital Camera- Nikon Coolpix(Yes, the Ashton Kutcher ones) – The one I am speaking of is light weight, has good features, video and so on. I got mine on Black Friday for 88 dollars, so keep an eye out for those deals! A great camera for an great price.
3.MoleSkin Travel Notebook – great for jotting down your favorite bistro so you can recommend to friends, writing notes on long train rides and so forth.
4.Ebags- Weekender Etech Convertible Backpack- Perfect for a carry-on bag- Lightweight, versatile and lots of pockets. Did I mention lightweight? Even with all of your stuff filled to the brim.
5.Travel Adapter- a necessity for travelers, if someone you know doesn’t have one and they are planning on a trip abroad. They would definitely need one of these.
6.Travel Adapters- For the IPHONE- I stumbled across these on a website called Dealextreme.com. I haven't tried these yet, but you can be sure I will soon! Included are adapters for US,EU, and UK. They can be used for the Ipod, any generation of Iphones, and so on. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.29190
7.Travel Books- For an example Where To Go When (Eyewitness Travel Guides, for those who can’t decide what their next adventure will be.
8.You can’t go wrong with gift cards- Pick one up for Jetblue, target, Magellan, and so on. They will be glad they can stock up travel supplies for their upcoming trips.
9. Zoom Attachment for the IPhone- Again, I haven't tried these yet, but you can be sure it is on my Christmas list! Attach them to your Iphone, and zoom in to get a good snapshot on your trip abroad!
Merry Christmas Everyone! Safe Travels

Confessions of a Deaf Traveler: Packing

2009-12-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Being a Deaf traveler isn’t always easy. There are bound to be obstacles, but that is expected in traveling. I know I have encountered a fair share of difficult situations abroad. Far from home, I was traveling with strangers that would soon become my best friends. I was homesick, wishing I knew these tips then. Over time I will share some tips that I learned that I wish I knew that would have helped me out of certain situations.

This week's article is about Packing:

If you have Hearing aids. Here is a checklist of what you definitely should bring with you on your next trip.

· Hearing aid Batteries: Get several of them, and put them in different bags for easy accessibility. I always make sure that I have extras just in case I lose a suitcase, or a purse. Another thing, if you are traveling with someone, ask if they would carry one for you. There is no harm in asking, it is a small tiny box of hearing aid batteries. There have been times where, I have forgotten to pack one in my carry-on bag, but luckily the person I was traveling with had a spare.

· Extra Hearing aid hardware: Anything that is attached to the Hearing aid device, such as the tubing that links from the mold to the device. I learned this the hard way. I was traveling abroad with my people to people student ambassador peers and the hardware was damaged. It had rained, and I needed to dry it out. So I decided to use the hairdryer that came with the hotel room. Now, mind you, this is a foreign hair dryer with voltage that I am not aware off. So, after I used it on the hearing aid device, I discovered that the tube was melted and damaged beyond repair. Dismayed and frantic I went to my organization leader/ interpreter and asked what we can do to fix it. This was the day that we would be visiting the Council of Europe, however I couldn’t enjoy it without being able to hear. She had asked some of the employees there if there was a place nearby that could fix it. Sure enough, we were directed to a little hearing aid shop in the middle of Austria. We went there, and the employee there was kind enough to replace the tube, not only that fixes it for free of charge.

- A Water resistant box: To put your hearing aid into- for seaside excursions. Similar to the clear case for your I-phone, cameras, you can easily find these at any adventure/gear store such as REI.

Gadgets: These nifty travel gadgets will surely make you wish you had these on your travels.

· Hatis Headset: They are noise canceling headphones, with a cool sleek design. They go BEHIND the hearing aid. No more bulky headphones that press down the hearing aid into your skin, which makes it uncomfortable to listen to music or to talk on the phone. The sleek design makes it much more enjoyable to listen to the latest tunes. All you have to do is turn your hearing aid to the T(Telephone mode) position. Yes, it is that simple, and slim to carry around even in your purse. Another case that it has proven to be helpful is when I attend to theatres, museums where there are hearing devices, I ask for hearing devices. Plug the headphone into the device and explore the latest work of art whilst listening to the audio. Sometimes they can be out of headphones, so it’s always handy to have in your purse.

· I-phone: With so many features, it is hard not to resist. Texting, Instant messaging, Mail, Internet, Facebook, and Twitter applications, it is easy to keep in touch with your friends. A feature I have yet tried is the AOL application- from what I am told one can talk to friends by TTY via AOL. But they have yet added the i711 relay program, which should be added to the ITunes store sometimes soon. I will keep my eye on it.

Stay tuned for more tips!

Happy Travels.

It's a Monster Mash!- Halloween in Southern California

2009-11-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

Halloween has come and gone. Now that it has, let me give you the lowdown of what goes on in Southern California on the spookiest night of the year. What can you do in California? No worries I will show you the best places to go for Halloween, including my favorite haunts.

Knott's Scary Farm- Or as it usually known as Knott's Berry Farm. One of my personal favorite amusement parks in Southern California. With an abundance of scary rides, including the GhostRider, The Xcelerator, and my favorite one The Silver Bullet. All of these name seem to come out of a horror film, and all are equally as scary. During the month of October, the amusement park changes it's theme to Knott's SCARY farm, adorning the entire park with fake cobwebs, fog machines and of course monsters. It is at it's best at night. In the darkness all the rides are lit up, fog machines are on, and in the mist you see a shadow. A truly frightening shadow lurches in the darkness waiting to give you a fright. Anything that goes bump in the night terrifies me. Truth be told, I am a true "scaredy cat" at heart. However each year as a tradition, I muster up the courage to come back to Knott's scariest night of the year. Enter if you dare- this is not for the faint of heart.

FrightFest- Six Flags- Venture up north for a truly terrifying night. I came here one Halloween, with some friends and I was scared out of my wits. The rides are scary enough, but with the "monsters" it ranks up to one of spookiest places to go for Halloween. Somehow they target me, I guess my face says it all. All night long, I am tormented by the employees dressed up as these bloody, zombish creatures who seems to jump out from every corner imaginable. Quite frustrating, but all together fun in some odd way. I guess you can chalk it up to the adrenaline, the fear that keeps you going, plus knowing that it is all fake is a bit comforting. So, check out this FRIGHT FEST.

Universal Studios Hollywood- A fan of the films? Come here for Halloween, most are dressed as some of films truly frightening characters, such as Frankenstein, Dracula, Creature of the Black Lagoon, and so on. Fans of the classic horror films will take delight here. Stroll on the City walk for fantastic cuisine, and candy shoppes. Once inside the amusement park, do go on the Jurassic Park ride, The Revenge of the Mummy, also for fun go on the Simpsons ride (their latest addition). Another fun thing to do here is to go on the Universal Studios Tram Tour, which takes you through the studios backlot, where you can hope to catch a glimpse of movie stars. It will also take you through famous filming locations, such as the Bates hotel in Psycho, Jurassic Park, Jaws, and of course the newest addition War of the Worlds. Universal Studios is another favorite of mine, so do make a trip here at any time of the year, and especially Halloween.

Disneyland/California Adventure- For some PG-13 scare, go to Disneyland. Even the Happiest place on Earth gets ready for Halloween, and it is frighteningly cute. This is the place to bring children to for Halloween, they will have a blast and might even spot Mickey Mouse. Do go on the Indiana Jones ride, and Space Mountain. Right next door of Disneyland is California adventure, a slightly new amusement park. Their bragging rights? The Hollywood Tower of Terror is here! The ride is set around the Twilight Zone episode where several people disappear on the elevator on one fateful night and no one knows what happened to them. Now, this ride is not for the faint of heart.

Each town has some type of event for Halloween, so do some research before you come to California and you are guaranteed to find some haunts out here. If you find one that I am not aware of, please do let me know. I hope this gives you some ideas for next Halloween, and hope you had a great Halloween this year!

Happy Halloween!

Somewhere Beyond the Sea...Dana Point, CA

2009-10-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

I've always loved the sea, whether it was sailing, swimming in it, or just driving alongside it. The view is always breathtaking on any given day. So it would come as no surprise that I would frequent this seaside town during my high school days. I would leave town on the weekends, pack up my suitcase and head down to my friend's boat. I have traveled quite a bit, and Dana Point has always remained one of my favorite places to visit. There is a lot to do here, and most of it is within walking distance from the harbor.
Sleeping on a boat is like a lullaby to me, it sways alongside with the waves. You can hear the foghorn in the distance, blaring through the darkness. The lights peering through the fog on a dark night can be spectacular. A walk by the beach day or night always has something to show the weary traveler. Every morning I wake up, peering out through the sailboats little windows, it is overcast and the occasional seagulls flies overhead. I love this. Alas, I do not have my own boat, but if I did, this would be the place to put it.
After relaxing in the morning, I head over to my favorite coffee place not to far from the docks. Coffee Importer Deli & Juice Bar is my personal favorite place, in fact I frequented there so much that all of the employees knew me by name. I would come here, and be delighted by the fact that they had all took up sign language classes. They were so sweet, and lovely that they wanted to be able to communicate, and learn more about the Deaf Culture. With that said, I would have to mention my favorite snacks at the deli- or as I call it the "Bagel Place". Do try the California Bagel which consists of tomato, cream cheese, lemon pepper, and avocado. Another one to try would be the Greek bagel, it has balsamic vinaigrette dressing, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. However, they have a whole menu full of different meals, including Soup, Panini Sandwiches, Salads and so on.
Shopping and Seaside excursion is to be had here, ranging from bike rentals, shopping centers on Golden Lantern drive, renting kayaks to Whale watching excursions. However, this past weekend I tried a new hobby. Sailing. When the opportunity came up, I couldn't resist turning it down. I love boats, but I have never sailed in my life. I went to go on my friends boat, we sailed around Dana Point. I simply fell in love with it. I loved the sailing along the waves with the sun on my face as I cruise past seals. Clear blue skies, loads of sailboats cruising along the glistening waters. Two hours was up, we headed back to the docks for dinner. I wanted more, but I was getting hungrier by the hour. So we made way for a local Seafood place, the fresh salmon was scrumptious. All in all, the food here is scrumptious, the seaside activities are always boatloads of fun, and you have a stunning view of the oceanside. Who can ask for more?

My time spent in Dana point is always memorable, it is easy to see how much I love it here. I cannot wait for my next adventure here. No matter how much I travel; Dana Point will always remain to be one of my favorite places to visit.

On a side note, if you do own a boat, and have a dock key- they give you a discount at select shoppes in the shopping center.

Check out my Guest Post - Under the Tuscan Sun

2009-09-07T23:14:00.001-07:00

Recently, my article on Tuscany was published on an Italian website. My article features the city of Volterra, Italy. I would love to direct you to this fantastic website, it's all about Italy. Wondering about your next vacation? Look no further, Italy's it.

Link to my guest article: http://casadolcetto.blogspot.com/2009/08/under-tuscan-sun.html

Check it out! :)

Happy Travels

The Emerald City

2009-07-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

What do we really know about Seattle?

Starring Tom Hanks, and Meg Ryan the movie Sleepless in Seattle became an iconic film for Seattle. When we think of Seattle, we immediately think of the movie. That, and Coffee. Starbucks originated here, you will find the original tiny shop that boasts the famous Starbucks sign in Pikes Place Market. The market is also another tourist attraction that brings a lot of visitors to Seattle. Red, bold neon sign with the scenic ocean in the background, its hard not to think why visitors love this place. Usually, you will see a large crowd in one section of the market. Why? To witness the famous fish throwing behind the counters. How this came to be popular, no one really knows. Fishermen, in the rain boots, and the yellow pantsuit stand in front of the fish counter. Once an order is shouted out, the person behind the counter will pick up the fish, and throw it to the fishermen. So, the fishermen catches the fish, and wrap it up in a brown paper wrap, and hands it to the customer. It's quite the spectacle.

Since we know all of these famous tourists attractions, what do we really know about Seattle?
I came here thinking I knew everything about the Emerald City, I knew of the famous Market, I knew of the movie, I knew of Starbucks. However, I was surprised to find that I discovered a different Seattle. A bustling city, that is for sure. Shops line up across the street, old factory buildings and endless views of the glistening ocean. However, I had no idea that they take pride in their University, and the football team; The Huskies. During my time here, I visited the University of Washington. Reminiscent of old world flair, and modern intrigue. University of Washington is a extremely large campus, that seems to be growing every year. New with the Old is quite evident here. Modern campus buildings are meshed with the Old majestic campus buildings. It's something to be seen, with the breathtaking view of Mt. Rainer. However, they have several Libraries, One that reminds of you of Harry potter with its large majestic stairwell, as well as Modern Libraries with glass windows. Another place to take note of is the Museum within Campus. With artifacts from the old Gold Rush days, along with many other things is something you must check out during your time here. Don't forget the huge football stadium that resides next to the ocean. GO HUSKIES!

Another thing I loved about Seattle was the Artistic Flair. In Pikes Place Market, I found an fantastic Artist stand. I was surprised to find that the artist was in fact Deaf. Elated, I found a Deaf person to talk to in Seattle?! I chatted to him in Sign Language, he was a kind man with love of the Arts. His arts featured Sign Language Symbols, Classic Pikes Place Market Scene, and of course Starbucks. I quickly snatched up the Starbucks Picture, it was a painting of the outside of Starbucks(the original one). I was so excited to meet a Deaf Artist in the midst of the Seattle Scene. Along with the painting, I read the paper that he typed up. I read his story, it was quite touching how he was trying to make a living with just his paintings. My fellow travelers, once you make the journey to Seattle, please do stop by this little Deaf artist stand, and check out the paintings. They are truly fantastic, and gorgeous. It will take some searching before you find the stand, in the bustling market. They change spots every now and then, the last place I remember the stand was by the flowers.
My time in Seattle was over, alas the day went by quickly. I wished I had more time to explore Seattle, but I had to make the 8 hour journey back to Boise. Wishing that I would have more time to check out the other iconic attractions Seattle had to offer, the Space needle, the museums, the ocean side and so much more. The Emerald city shone, a rare gem that I came to love. I hope to come back sometimes soon, and really embrace the Seattle life.

Row, Row Your Boat Merrily Down The Stream...

2009-07-13T21:40:00.000-07:00

"ROW!, ROW, TRY TO STAY IN THE RAFT!!!" the guide shouted as we tumbled down the rapids with great speed. Bobbing up and down like a bobble head doll, water spraying everywhere. I was white water rafting, and it was my first time. I couldn't be any more stoked, figuratively of course.

The trip alone to the Cascade White Water Rafting, and Kayak was gorgeous in itself. Pine trees towering over the highway, as you wind through the mountains. Every now and then you will spot the occasional deer darting across the road. Beware, they dart across the roads more towards Dusk. Making it hard to see on the trip back home, so slow down and enjoy the ride. Arriving to the place, a rustic small cabin with majestic mountain views, and the river rushing alongside it. I was in awe, not because of the scenery, but because this would be my first time down the rapids. I was nervous.

Rafting down the river at first was calming, the majestic blue skies with the mountains as a backdrop was stunning and serene to look at. Up ahead, I saw the first rapid we were coming into, my heart was racing " What if I fall out of the boat and get swept underneath the currents? What do I do? " I thought to myself as we were fast approaching the tumultuous waters. The boat dipped into the water, sending bucket loads of water into the orange raft, rowing as fast as we could into the harsh churning waters. I was told to put my feet underneath the straps, they provide safety and kept one from falling out of the raft. My fears after the first rapids dissolved, I was now anticipating and wishing for more rapids. I was loving it. In between the rapids, the group and I chatted about where we were from, the rapids, and the scenery. The guide even told us, that Kenny Chesney was going to raft with us, but opted out at the last second because he heard that it was supposed to rain. Bummer, the skies were clear now, the clouds floated away. My hopes of meeting the Country star vanished.
Turns out there is a fun thing to do whilst rafting, it's known as "Ride the Bull". Apparently, one sits on the front of the raft, on top of the rim of the boat, feet dangling over the sides all the while holding onto a thin rope. Sounds scary, holding on to a thin rope as you pummel through the rapids, swinging from side to side, hoping that you don't fall over. A little girl, about the age of 7 decided to do so. I thought she was really brave, even I was scared to attempt this feat. "If a little girl can do it, so can I" I thought to myself. I got up to the front of the boat, held on to the rope and held on for dear life. I didn't hold on as long as I thought I would, I merely fell backwards into the boat after five seconds. After some laughs from my friends, I was glad that I went through it. Glad that I didn't cower in fear, if I hadn't done it I would have regretted it.

Adrenaline takes over, you are hollering and whooping as you glide over the rapids with ease. Rowing as fast as you possibly can, while the cool mist of water splashes your face on a hot day, it cant get any better than that. When you get a chance, conquer the rapids, and maybe you will enjoy it as much as I did.

"All's Well that Ends Well " -Shakespeare festival(Boise,Idaho)

2009-07-12T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well, more like who dunnit?
Walking up the pathway, through the gardens and there it was, the outdoor theatre. The Shakespeare festival in Idaho is actually a outdoors theatre. Each month they play several different plays from Shakespeare, but they also have a variety of plays penned by different authors. "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" by Charles Dickens was playing that night. Dark clouds were rolling in, with a hint of thunder and lightning. Perfect evening for a ghost story campfires, that one knows too well from their childhood . Where you would shout out "BOO!!" after moments of silence with the flashlight shining in your face. Spooky, indeed.

Charles Dickens died before he could finish the novel. Thus, never revealing what happened to Edwin Drood. The character disappears halfway through the play, there are twists and turns. But we never know if he disappears, or if he was murdered by one of the characters. Which makes it all the more mysterious, and the perfect story for a dark cloudy night.

You may be wondering, how can they do a play with no actual ending? Do they just cut off the play where Dickens penned his last words? Instead of leaving the play where it left off in the novel, they let the audience choose the ending. During Intermission, the audience gets to vote as to who they think the murderer was. Each night it's a different ending, a different villain which makes it all the more interesting. The night I was there My audience, choose the most obvious person in the play John Jasper. Interestingly enough, there was a character introduced towards the end of the novel, the butler. Perhaps, there was some use for him, just maybe he would soon reveal a clue as to what happened to Edwin. But, I guess for now, it is up to our Imagination...

Note: They have hearing devices that amplifies the sound, the voices of the actors. Sometimes on a busy night, they run out of headphones, so my advice is to bring one just in case. However, Select nights they are interpreters available.
The best part of this theatre is that they really make it accessible for the Deaf, and Hard of Hearing. Anything you need, if you need a closer spot up close to the actors, where you can hear better, ask, they will help you with that. I did, and they put me in a seat closer to the actors, and I was really able to understand the play. What more could you ask from a theatre??

Plus, the Shakespeare cafe is really scrumptious, good food!! Overall, Shakespeare Idaho Festival is truly one of my favorite places to go in Idaho. On another note, I have to give a shout out to the actors at the theatre, they are so wonderful, endearing, and they truly make the Shakespeare Festival what it is today. BRAVO!

http://www.idahoshakespeare.org/

BODO Farmers Market.

2009-07-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the crowds, white tents are set up alongside the sidewalk. Buildings towering over me, and the coolness of summer is swiftly coming and going. People are shouting out their products to passerbys. Remarks such as "Fresh fruits and vegetables, you won't find this anywhere else!" Or "Fantastic Wine from the local Winery, it's delicious and fresh! give it a try folks!". What I noticed, and loved about this market was that everyone promised FRESH produce. Everything was hand picked that morning from their local farms, or the wine recently went out of the barrel and into the wine bottles;perfected over time. Each tent had something amazing to offer, something new, and exciting, and most were old fashioned. Old fashioned in the way, their products were made, Cheese, Bread, Wine. Family traditions held over the ages, and into the new generation.
Walking down the street, something caught my eye. Red, plump raspberries in their wooden baskets. Immediately, I sought out to buy myself a box. The sign read, "fresh, handpicked raspberries! 5 dollars per box!" In the handwritten sentiment, I grabbed a box and walked away happy. Their promise was intact, I had gobbled up the entire box. It was delicious, sweet, and savory.
Streets were blocked off, the market stretched out for about a mile. Over crowded, the hot sun is hanging in the sky. The coolness of the morning is long gone. However, it is all worth it when you walk down the street. All these vendors, the people, their kindness and passion for food makes it all the worthwhile. It beats the supermarket, the grumpy cashier, and not so fresh fruits. So check out a local one in your town today! However, if you are in Boise, Idaho. You will love this market! Music vendors, Arts and Crafts, Food, Wine, and so much more. It has something for everyone. Come on up and try the freshest delicacy that Idaho has to offer!

Happy Travels

To bike or not to bike?

2009-07-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but in my case you never forget a accident. Ever since my infamous Bike accident in Austria, I was hesitant to get on a bike from that point on. Whenever a chance to ride a bike came up, I always joked about my accident and opted not do it again. Sure, my accident was pretty funny, crashing into a metal fence in Vienna, Austria. Luckily, if it hadn't been for that fence, I would have flown into the river along with the bike. However, I was convinced to join my family on a 10 mile bike ride into the City. Their bargain being that we would dine at Goldy's for breakfast. I had be inching to go back again. I looked at my fear in the eye, there it was. The bike standing upright on the pavement. Inch by inch I walked towards it, adjusted the seats and swung my legs over. I was now on the bike. The all too familiar fear, and anxiety came back as I peddled. As much as I joked about my accident, I was shocked to realize how scared I was of something so small, and of something so simple. Nonetheless, we wound up on a bike trail, that would take us to the city. The path was set beside a large river, winding through the forest, it was absolutely gorgeous and peaceful. Of course, I kept my eyes out for metal fences and hoped that I would not have a repeat of my Austria incident. The bike path ran through the metropolitan city of Boise, it also went past the Boise State University, and even a nature walk exhibit. What I loved about this trail was that it had a little bit of everything, nature, and the city. Soon, I became adjusted to the bike. " It's not so bad" I thought to myself, the thought of being scared of a bike seemed so silly. The accident had become a far distant memory now, and I had cured my fear of bikes. We had arrived into the city, and to Goldy's. I was excited, this restaurant is one of the most popular breakfast place in Boise. On most days, the line is out the door and a table is hard to get by. But today, we only had to wait five minutes to get a table. Pretty lucky, if you ask me. I ordered my meal, the Spinach and Spaghetti frittata with a creamy cheese sauce that smothered the entire sauce. Spinach,Spaghetti, and Eggs sounds really weird? you may ask. But in reality, it is scrumptious and it is easily one dish that you would want over and over again. Overall, a bike ride is one of the best and healthiest ways to really get the feel of the city. Especially when you just had a Spinach and Spaghetti frittata. The wind rushing through your hair, as you scan the scenery with your eyes as you peddle on a sunny day. It can't get better than that. So get out there, grab a bike and tour the city that you are in. Whether it be your hometown, a city you're visiting. You will be surprised as to what you will find.

On the Road..

2009-07-08T14:53:00.000-07:00

The road was calling us, and we were late. Originally, our plans were to leave at 6 in the morning and arrive around 7pm - due to the one hour ahead time difference. So it would actually be around 6pm, California time. We got up around 7, in a panic rush we packed up the car, and left the house. However, our efforts to get on the road as early as possible went to waste. The car was out of gas, so we had to scramble around and find a gas station. Once that was done, we were stuck in LA traffic for about two hours. All in all, we had officially left LA around 9 am. Which would mean that we would get to Boise at about 9 or 10 pm. Not really safe to be driving in the dark where deers roam. We were on the road again, the scenery changed from bustling cities to more scarce small towns, and it became drier as we drove on. California, Nevada, Oregon would be states we would have to cross to get into Idaho. A long drive was ahead of us, unsure of what would happen. After a travel hiatus, I was anxious to get on the road again. In some ways, I am a nomad in the sense that I have to keep traveling or I won't be happy. But, I was happy. Hours after Hours of dry dessert gets a bit boring after a while. It's hard for me to understand, how is it that there are so much land and no city to occupy it? I support natural preservation. However, when you see about 8 hours of dry, barren land with the occasional run down gas station. A gas station with rust, broken junkyard pieces in the yard. Why isn't there another metropolitan city? Los Angeles is over crowded, why not make the pilgrimage to Nevada? It is the same temperament as California. Brilliant sunshine, beautiful scenery, and it is warm. There are big cities, that is known in the United States. Such as, Seattle, LA, Chicago, New York, and so on. Although, I must say Boise is on its way to joining the ranks. This thought occupied my mind for a while now, it was 6 hours into the trip. I was a bit weary, looking for some sign of city life. Thank goodness, in the Summer the days are longer. If it hadn't been for that it would have made the trip much more difficult. Dusk was approaching and we were still in Nevada. The GPS system said that we would be approaching Oregon soon, it also had said that we would arrive in Boise around 10pm. Not too bad, We had lost several hours but 10pm was still making good time. But that would soon change, as we had come up to a roadblock. The police had blocked off the road, and told everyone to pull over into the Gas Station on the right. We had done so, it turns out a car had caught fire and caused fire to run amok in the desert. But the good news was, that they should be nearly done. It wasn't until a hour later we were told that we could finally go ahead. Finally, we were all escorted through the highway by the Sheriff. It was amazing, our car was the third car behind the Cop car. It was lucky, because behind us was literally two miles of cars backed up bumper to bumper waiting to pass. The land was black, scorched, little flames of embers on the ground in the dessert as the firemen tried to put them out. It was odd to think that a hour ago this was all aflame. Made me think about home, how many times my hometown has suffered evacuation from forest fires. Just thinking about it made me uneasy. I was remembered of the ash and the smoke several years back, as the fire made its way up the mountain. We had finally passed, and were able to get back on the road again and make up for lost time. The next town we encountered didn't help at all. The GPS kept taking us to every roadblock, every construction site. One street after the other, we would be stopped and told to take the detour until we finally found the highway. That was another half hour lost, and we were no nearer to Idaho. Dusk had come and gone, and the moon was stunning, and surprisingly orange. No, it wasn't the Harvest moon as I had originally thought it was. But, it was a strange little phenomenon and I was so glad to have witnessed it. Perhaps, all this detours, all this lost time was a way for me to see this rare beauty. As time wore on, the darkness made it harder. It was as if we were in another world. It is strange, how the night makes everything different,in a way scarier. We kept our eyes out for the deers, animals that would run across the road in a panic frenzy. Dangerous to be driving in the dessert at night, where deers run amok. We were in Oregon, making our way to Idaho. It was the last leg of the trip, and it was almost over. 1am had approached, we had finally arrived. A whole day of driving can wear on you easily, it is safe to say I slept like a baby that night. Our adventure had begun, and I was excited to face the coming week. What would happen, I would not know but it made it all the more fun.

The Big Bang: Fourth of July 09

2009-07-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Soft ripples across the water, the waves lapping over one another. Several red dots lining up across the lake, they were actually boat lights bobbing along; they were like me waiting for the fireworks to start. Sitting on the flatbed of the truck, overlooking the lake high up in the hills, it was a sight to be seen. The fireworks would start in 20 minutes, I had set my tripod with the camera ready, the settings were set. The sky was red and orange due to the tired sun setting along with a hint of blueish tint which would give way that darkness would fall soon. Bats fluttered overhead, by the luminescent moon. It was the Fourth of July, in about five minutes the show would begin. It was a five minute well spent, I recalled my day. The day began with the traditional parade which was watched from my very own driveway. My dog, Cosmo was sitting alongside with me. He was happy as he could be, the parade? He loved it, in fact a small part of me thinks he wishes he could have been in the parade or perhaps chasing the cars. Jamboree days up here is a big deal, it's a day where vendors set up their booths on one section of the road. Meaning that the roads would be blocked off, and a frenzy of cars would go mad alongside the back roads. Hundreds of cars were backed up, parked or shouting at other drivers for the right of way. It was truly chaotic. If you ever come up here for Jamboree days, be prepared to park your car a mile away as I had to do, and a lot of sunscreen to shield yourselves from the hot sun. Since we are high up in the mountaintops, it's easy to burn quickly, despite what you may think. I had volunteered to work at the Snow Cone and Cotton Candy booth in the bowling alley parking lot in my town. Whipping up pink and blue Cotton Candy, filling the cups with snow cones drizzling them with flavor for candy starved kids. Sunburned kids would beg their parents for a cold treat, soon a smile gleamed across their face as they held a freshly made snow cone. Seeing that made me smile, I remembered what it was like to be a kid. To be sunburned, enjoying the wonders of the holiday, running around with a snow cone in my hand. Oh, to be a kid again. "Two more snow cones" were shouted out, and instantly I was brought back to present day and back to work. The day went by, the band played, I danced as I worked but my shift would soon come to a end. I grabbed a Blue cotton candy, and made my way back through the frenzy of the crowds and back to the car. After dinner, and a little R&R; we would head back out again to face crowds yet again. But this time for the fireworks and I was in the flatbed truck as soon as the fireworks started. I started snapping away photos, hoping to capture a glimmer of the moment, the neon lights filled the sky along with a big BANG that followed. Each spark were stunning, they took many forms, colors, and shapes. The sky was filled with streaks of colorful lighting, unlike the cotton candy, the fireworks were like candy to my eyes. Flash after flash, light after light, the grand finale played out and the show was over; I was sad. I thank our Fore Fathers for bring us Americans this wonderful holiday to celebrate by shooting fireworks, hanging out with loved ones on the parking lot looking over the spectacle. I got to spend time with my family, got to make kids happy, as well as my dog Cosmo who was thrilled to be able to watch the parade. From Fireworks, to Parades, to Candy, how can something so simple bring a huge grin on my face? Perhaps it's a reminder of why I am proud to be an American.
Happy Birthday America.

Niko Niko Sushi - Japanese Flair

2009-06-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

Top Dish: Popcorn Lobster. Lower Dish: Crunchy Dragon Roll

A Sushi restaurant in the Inland Empire is hard to get by, more likely; a good one. I must admit, when I first heard of this place I was apprehensive to try it. As much as I love Sushi, I just wasn’t sure. Fish, and the desert in southern California is risky business. However, the restaurant itself was lovely, with a open section where you can see the employees creating Sushi through a glass panel. White chef hats and Traditional chef's garb, chopping away the salmon. You can opt for a seat on a long bar table to see all the action, or choose a secluded spot in the corner. I ordered to go, I went with a safe bet, which was the California Roll. Now, the roll consists of Crab meat, Avocado, and Cucumbers. Pretty simple, safe and a good reliable choice. Once my order was brought to me in a box, I left and to be honest I wasn’t impressed. Several months later, the opportunity arose to go here again. I went with my family and friends. I came back again, opted for a seat by the window. I realize it was a mistake to just come here all these months ago and order, and to leave in the way I had. I was told to be daring, to select something other than the regular crab meat roll. Which was considered boring among my peers. I had to be adventurous, so I opted for the Philadelphia roll which was Salmon, Cream cheese and avocado. Interesting, and daring I would say. Truth be told, I was a bit scared to try it. Cream cheese in sushi? Not a traditional sushi dish. Everyone at the table got other dishes, the Popcorn Lobster, and the Crunchy Dragon Roll. Now, the Popcorn Lobster is deep fried lobster smothered in creamy delicious sauce to give it flavor, it also comes with Salmon Sushi roll. The Crunchy Dragon roll is Salmon, avocado, shrimp, creamy sauce, and roe. Soon enough, the table filled with huge platters of Sushi, soy sauce, salads, it was a feast to be experienced, enjoyed and savored. I picked up my chopstick, and tried the Philadelphia roll, to my surprise it was fantastic! It tasted like a Bagel with Lox as a topping. Then, my chopstick picked up the Popcorn lobster, flavor explosion would be the term to describe the dish. I fell in love with this delicacy, it was savory, sensual and beyond fantastic. It was now my favorite. But there were more sushi to be had, and that was the crunchy dragon roll. Seasoned with a crunchy topping, it was huge. One bite alone was too much to take in, it was like chowing down a hamburger only much healthier and fishier. Again, more flavor explosion, and no wasabi was added. So scrumptious, I now had another contender vying for my favorite sushi. The list was growing, with each second I was glad that I decided to be daring. The California roll is drab and boring to me now. If you are ever in the area, and fish is on your mind, stop by this place. However, if you cannot come out here. My word of advice to you would be to be daring, be bold, and that goes for any sushi place you go. Who knows, you might like it. You may stick with a favorite, traditional dish and I don't blame you. All these years, I have done the same, until someone told me to break the tradition. I hope this article does the same for you. Some may love it, some may hate it. But this I know, there are a lot of sushi lovers out there, and I am one of them.

Domo Arigato

Who says you can't rot your brain abroad?

2009-06-18T23:20:00.000-07:00

Why not rot your brain abroad? After a day of cultural immersions, you probably want to zone right? Bored on a red-eye flight to Paris, but no movies on your I-pod or the I-phone? No worries, in this blog post I will address several programs, websites, and give you tips on what to do.

Netflix:
If you are a Netflix member, and you will be away for a certain period of time. Here is what you can do. Go to my account, and click on the link entitled "Put my Membership on hold". The membership hold will be activated immediately, then you will have to select the reactivation date, which will allow you up to 7 -90 days until it is reactivated. Once the date passes it will automatically reactivate your account. Putting your membership on hold means, no DVD will be delivered to your house, and you will not have to worry about paying the monthly bills. So, that's extra money towards your trip, great huh? But, you will not be able to watch the instantly on the PC or the TV. On another note, they will start adding Closed Captions to the "Watch Instantly" section on Netflix soon!

SlingPlayer:
You can opt for the more expensive route and that is the Slingplayer. The IPhone has Slingplayer App soon available through the Itunes store. Approximately $200 plus in price. But, you are able to watch all your favorite shows abroad via laptop. Don't worries, you will not miss the latest American Idol episode with this. As for captioning, its a brand new feature they added.

Hulu:
Because they're Aliens, and that's how they roll. They plan to turn your brain into goo by streaming the latest Television series, including Bones, Saturday Night Live and so on. Hulu plans to add more television series, and some already have Closed Captioning included. Simply click CC, and enjoy the show. They announced that more television series, movies will come with the option of Closed Captioning, so be patient if your shows do not have CC yet. Trust me, they are working on it. They want to reach a broader audience, seeing that they are aliens and all...

ABC.com, and other Television networks have added CC to their programs, check out their sites, and find the show you want to watch, select CC and voila, you are watching your favorite shows whilst being in Prague, impressive..

Itunes: You are able to buy movies, and shows from Itunes directly, but few are captioned. To find those that are captioned, click POWER SEARCH on the right of the screen, and then select Movies or Tv. Make sure you check the box, that says "search only for movies that contain Closed Captioning" download, and then upload onto your device.

Iphone: One of the many great features of the 3.0 is that once you download a movie, it is automatically uploaded directly to your Iphone.

And lastly, my favorite program that has served me well.

PQDVD( DVD to I-phone or Ipod converter): This program allows you to download a movie or your favorite shows WITH subtitles and convert it into Ipod or IPhone compatible files. Rent a movie from Netflix, or use from your personal movie library, then burn it, and download it on your device. It is like recording a show, once the program starts, go to the DVD menu, select the subtitles, and then click the start button. The movie will play on your screen in a fast forward pace, it will be mute, so don't avert the sound on your screen. Once the program finished recording the movie, or television episode you have chosen, save the file. Now, step by step here's how to add it to I-tunes. 1) Open Itunes 2) Click File, Scroll down and select add file to library 3) Find the folder where the recently downloaded movie is in, select it, and then click open. 4) 't forget to update your device before you go.
Congratulations, you are done, and now you can watch your favorite movie on the plane!

The I-pod Download page:
http://www.pqdvd.com/articles/dvd-to-ipod-conversion.html

I-Phone Download page:
http://www.pqdvd.com/dvd-to-iphone-movie-video-converter.html

Now you are one step towards being tech savvy, Impressive! Show your skills to other travelers, they will be envious that you have your favorite episode of Seinfeld programed onto your phone, and with captions.

Happy Travels!

Great Travel Books

2009-06-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

My eyes were glued to the book, my fingers turned each page willingly - I was addicted. Each page was as enthralling as the next. It was as if I was transported to the city of Italy, racing through the town in the mystery/thriller novel, entitled " Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. Before I knew it my flight was over, I was disappointed at how time flew! The bookmark was put in place, so I could continue my adventure. Picked up the bag and deplaned but I couldn't get the book out of my head. Pondering about the fate of the protagonists, Robert Langdon and his associate Victoria Vetra. Rushing through the airport, through the hallways, even though I was in Boston. I wished I was in Rome, Italy; where the novel took place. It is books like these that provoke the inspiration to travel, dreaming of the next destination thus adding to the long list of must-hit destinations to explore. I have created a list of books I have personally read, and a list recommended by others.

My Picks:
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle- A beautiful novel about a man and his wife new life in Provence. I am falling in love with France all over again with each page I read, Provence is on my must visit destination list.

Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare- My absolute favorite Shakespeare play, it is set in Messina, Sicily. It has everything, Love, Betrayal, Family, War, and it is a Comedy. What more do you want in a play?

The Long Way Around and the Long Way Down: The journey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman traveling around the world on their motorcycle. The Long way around records their journey from England to New York by passing through Italy, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan etc. The Long Way Down records the journey from Scotland to Cape Town, South Africa. Perfect read for motorcycle fanatics, fans of Ewan and Charley, and of course Traveling. This book made me open my eyes to the other countries, and the stories are unbelievable.

Great Expectation by Charles Dickens: Classic, no explanation is needed here!

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown- Robert Langdon and Victoria race through Rome, Italy in order to find the anti-matter by using clues around Rome. Explosive, intense, it makes the readers heart pound with each page and my personal favorite book.

The Da Vinci Code- Robert Langdon returns in this critically acclaimed novel, about the Holy Grail. He and Sophie Neveu try to find clues left by her grandfather as they roam through Paris, and England.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck- Another classic worth reading. Touching, and heartfelt. Bring a tissue.

Harry Potter- Delve into the magical world of wizardry. Set in England, and 9 3/4 platform is actually a tourist attraction at the King Cross Station in London, England. Be sure to check out the Harry Potter tour!

Next on my reading list:

Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer.
(will update my reviews after I've read them, so stay tuned)

Flicksappeal Picks:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: " Loved it but a lot of tragedy"

Between the Bridge and River by Craig Ferguson: "B&R is a very funny book about two childhood friends separate journeys and how they mystically connect together, it takes place in America, Scotland, London, and France. "

Other Critically acclaimed novels about travel:
Gulliver Travels by Jonathan Swift
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Around the world in Eighty days by Jules Verne
Homer's Odyssey by Homer
Beowulf
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer( a must read for one of my beloved cities, Canterbury is so beautiful, I adore it so)
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo(be sure to stop by the Shakespeare & Co bookstore by the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Perhaps, get a copy of the novel there, it would be a fantastic souvenir and a great read for the flight back home.

More books to be added soon, stay tuned for best travel guides!

Did I FALL for it?

2009-06-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Looming in without a care, the greyish fog rolls in to my sleepy little town. The sunshine disappeared for the last two weeks, this is sure to be a sign for the beginning of Fall. Walking up the winded path that is my house, the smoky chimneys are appearing in the neighborhood. It is cold, but perfect weather for reading by the fireplace with a hot cocoa in hand. The mug decorated with cinnamon sprinkles, and whipped cream frothing at the top of the cup. Surreptitiously leering over the edge,careful not to spill but does. Cinnamon and spice wafting through the air and into our noses. I peer out the windows, looking for signs of color on the trees, squirrels preparing for the harsh winter to come. All that I see is greenery, dark wooden trees with fresh leaves sprouting and the occasional purple wildflowers. " Is it fall?" I asked myself. Nope, it isn't. I am duped into thinking it is. I have several months to wait for my favorite season. Alas, the month is June.

Just a girl in Fresno.

2009-05-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

The roaring of the crowds boasted a amicable atmosphere. My mind trying to catch a glimpse of each song, my hips swaying from side to side. My eyes absorbing the bright lights radiating from the stage. I was at the No Doubt concert, in Fresno California. The start of their comeback tour. Elated, I shouted and cheered them on as the curtain dropped and as the band began to play. The music filled up the amphitheatre, and I danced. Yes, I danced. It was hard to believe that a couple days ago, I would receive the invitation that would surely kick start my week. It was a Sunday afternoon, I was contemplating on the week to come. "What to do?" I pondered. Chime, Chime. I glanced over to my computer screen, on the screen was a invitation to the No Doubt concert. "Oh my god", one of my favorite bands? A concert? And I get to see a friend whom I haven't seen in ages? Before I knew it, I was hitting the send button-I had said YES. With a cool calm, I chatted about the details, pick up time, and inside I was bubbling. My friend, whom I haven't seen in years said, "see you then :) " It was done, I was going to a real live rock concert. Tuesday had come by quickly, waking up in the morning in a chipper mood, grabbed my things and waited outside for my friend. She arrived not to long afterwards, after our greetings we were well on our way to Fresno from Los Angeles. Four hours in the car we caught up on our lives, and recapped memories from our European trip several years back. So good to catch up, so good to see my friend again, it had simply been too long. Several stops, and one vans graffiti announced their plans to head to Fresno for the tour. Small world. We were only halfway, when we saw the bizarre oddity. The green beat up van was covered in what seemed to be pink, green and blue paint markings on the windows. Labeled "No Doubt- Fresno here we come!". I was tempted to belt out their songs, right then and there. But I refrained, think I will save it for the show. As most concerts do, they always run late so we arrived late with no worries. But as luck would have it, this time. It started early. I had missed the headlining bands, The Sounds and Paramore. They started way earlier than planned, exasperated we hoped we had not missed the entire thing. The lights dimmed and the announcers boomed "Now presenting NO DOUBT!!". A white sheet was propped on the stage covering from the floor up to the ceiling. The shadows of each band members stretched across the stage as they stood behind the sheet with the lights behind them. After the introductions, the white curtain dropped immediately and the band began playing. I couldn't believe my eyes, Gwen Stefani was singing pop-electro songs that she is so famously known for. I was here, actually seeing one of my favorite bands on the stage. I shouted, hollered at the end of each song, I even shouted the cliche lines "ENCORE!". High up in the bleeder seats, rocking out trying to retain my balance. I did not want to be the one that tripped, and fall into a bunch of fans. Not really the ideal concert moment I wanted to experience. Thankfully, my balance was restored and I continued to dance, sing, sign the lyrics to the songs, and cheer. I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to be there, the energy was unbelievable. It is one of those you have to be there to believe it moments. Rightfully so, moments like those are not easily forgotten. As I recall my experience, I can still hear the crowds roaring via hearing aid. My poor little hearing aid was starting to wear out by the end of the show, after a quick battery change, it was recharged. Brilliant screens with the band plastered all over, fantastic video stood behind the band. I was in awe. So much energy radiated from the lead singer herself, vibrant and full of life. She loved this, you can tell by the way she ran into the crowds and chatted with them between songs. 'Running' back to the stage with 3 heavy duty bodyguards, she was back on the stage and signs of adoration from the audience ensued. One funny moment, that certainly had me impressed was when a towel was thrown to her face mid song. She simply smiled as she sang, and kept her posture. Not forgetting one line. Now THAT was impressive. A bee, or a towel flies in my face I loose all train of thought. The show was nearing to a end, I didn't want it to. Honestly I was having the time of my life just being there. High up in the amphitheatre, belting out songs, just letting loose. The montage on the screen replaying home movies of the band during their years of touring was heartfelt and touching as Gwen sang "Running". Bittersweet, and simply awesome in itself. For a brief moment in time, I wished I was in a band belting out sweet tunes. Cliche, I know. You always hear stories on how just by attending a concert changed a persons life, where they discovered their calling to be a singer. Even though I know my calling lies in writing, and traveling. I still secretly wish, I was her up that stage. As the last song played, elated, tired, oh so many emotions at once, it's indescribable. Quickly, I rushed to the late night shoppe, and grabbed a No Doubt T-shirt as a souvenir. Perfect, my first rock concert is complete and perfect. We made way for the hotel, around 1 in the morning that included being stuck behind all the cars leaving the parking lot. One of the signs of a good concert is hearing shouts, and hoots as people leave the lot. As I hit my head on the pillow, exhausted and yet in bliss of the remarkable experience I witnessed earlier that day. I will mention this, when we booked the hotel we expected a continental breakfast in the morning. They had said they would have a open buffet in the morning, from 6 to 10 am. So we woke up around 8, headed out to the lobby only to find fresh squeezed orange juice, and muffins. So much for a buffet, they had given us a false hope. I was really looking forward to bagels and cream cheese with a side of apple juice. But alas, I was stuck with Orange juice and Muffins. Oh well, I am just a girl in Fresno heading my way back home.

Veggie Tales

2009-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I stumbled upon this little farmers market right up the street. As often as I frequent to Manhattan Beach, I was surprised that I had no idea about this place. Believe it or not, it was right up the street! How could I have been so oblivious to this little bustling market? Every Tuesday, they close down the street and host a mini farmers market. Walking past all these little tents, the smell of sweet delights wafting in the air won me over, so I decided to check it out. There were many different stations, selling bread, fruits, veggies, delicatessens from all over the world. Eye candy would be used to describe all the food in the stands. They were so fresh and unbelievably vibrant with color. As I took in the sights of this market, my stomach would growl every time I walked past a food stand. Being the foodie that I am, I said to my sister " I'm starving!". We passed this Greek stand, it looked fantastic. The food was on the grill, cooking, charcoal smoke wafting up in to the air. Perfect, Greek food never looked this good. I just had to try it. After scanning the menu, I eventually decided on a Gyro (pronounced as hero), a delicacy in Greece. Basically a Gyro is your choice of meat, Lamb, Beef, or Chicken, wrapped up in Pita bread, with toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and of course cucumber yogurt sauce. I was surprised to find out this dish was remarkably similar to my favorite dish. The turkey meatball pita bread sandwich, a dish I grew up with. I had always wondered where in the world would this dish be a part of the local cuisine. At last, my question was answered just by visiting the farmers market, not far from where I am currently at. The Gyro was scrumptious, juicy and plump, it was just right. Who knew, a short walk would take me to a fun filled farmers market. No farmers market experiences are complete without buying something, so of course, I came home with a huge box of fresh strawberries. They were huge fat strawberries, and such a bargain too! Five bucks for each box of strawberries, later on I went to the local grocery store and found that the strawberries were costly and hardly fresh. There is bound to be a farmers market in every city, if you know where to look, perhaps even stumble upon them. How can you go wrong with fresh, delicious fruits, and veggies? Start working on the food pyramid, stay healthy, and of course happy travels!

East, West, South, no it's the North End Cafe

2009-04-22T17:20:00.000-07:00

I found this little gem the other day, North End Cafe in Manhattan Beach, California. Yelp is a application for the Iphone, that allows you to rate, review, comment on a certain locations, and businesses. I stumbled upon a page for North End Cafe, and it was highly recommended by customers, great reviews and currently holds 4 and 1/2 stars. It sounded too good to be true, so I went out to find this little place right by the beach, and fell in love immediately. It's large windows, modern design, made for a great bistro. This place is known for their panini's, and rightly so. After scanning the menu that hangs in the window(pictured above) I settled upon the Vespa panini, it was a Grecian style panini. As I sat at the tables, over looking the ocean, it reminded me of those little French or Italian cafes alongside the beach. I took one bite of the panini, it was scrumptious, hearty. It was as if it was an solid version of french onion soup. The Vespa panini consisted of caramelized onions, goat cheese, tomatoes and a savory delicious sauce. The North End cafe is a fantastic place to get a good meal, sit by the beach and to chat with friends. Be sure to stop by this place if you are ever in town.

The link to the restaurant for directions, numbers, etc (below)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/north-end-cafe-manhattan-beach

Travel Lessons Learned.

2009-04-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

Laughing hysterically, tears in my eyes as I am recalling my travel experiences, mistakes I have made and lessons learned. Chatting away on the most wackiest chaotic stories, I thought to myself today, why not make a list of things I have learned. As a traveler, you are always evolving. You always think to yourself at the end of each vacation "On our next vacation, I am going to do this! or I will avoid doing this". We live and learn, and strive to make our next vacation the best it can be, stress free, and relaxing. So, I thought I would jot down a couple lessons that I have learned over the years.

*Pack Light*:Perhaps the most important lesson of all, no matter the situation, the best thing you can do for yourself is to pack light. Think to yourself at the end of each packing trial, "Do I really need this?". It is probably the most important question you can ask yourself before you go on a vacation. Do yourself a favor and pack as light as you can. It takes time and effort, to pack light and somehow manage to bring enough clothing, items for your journey. Start about a month before, pack, and repack. The trick is to keep the things you think you will need first on top, rather on the bottom of the luggage. So you are not rummaging through the luggage, making a huge mess.

Try to get a hotel closest to the sights, attraction you are visiting: Believe it or not, just because you think its cheaper to go a little out of the way. You will wind up paying transportation fees, maps can be confusing, especially when you are in a foreign country. Transportation can be quite stressful, if its all new to you. Better to shell out the extra bucks in a nice hotel within walking distance of the attractions rather on transportation.
Note: The upside of staying off the beaten track is serenity, cute charming towns. Stay for a day or two, don't expect to go to the next city and see the sights and come right back. Which brings me to my next lesson learned.

Don't underestimate Travel Times: Just as important as the first lesson. No matter what you what destination, don't assume the travel times. There could be traffic, map confusion, long travel times. Maybe the hotel isn't that close to the airport as you originally thought it would be. You can't think " They say it's about half an hour to the airport from the hotel, so we have the whole day to sight see!" That is not how it works. Usually count the travel days as one day, solely focused on traveling. Travel days take up the entire day, you have to pack, check out from the hotel, then find means of transportation whether it be trains, planes, or automobiles to the next destination. They are time consuming days, be prepared to take up the whole day traveling, checking in and out, managing the new city. You wont have time to sight see, even you managed to fit it in, it will be stressful because you have to make it to the next flight or destination at a certain time. Not fun.

Always have a Plan B(ee): You never know if the reservation for your hotel room/apartment rentals fell through. Best thing is to check out other possible hotels, or apartment rentals(craigslist). Jot them down on a piece of paper, or even email the list to yourself. That way you always have it. Make sure no matter what the situation is, have a plan B. It makes it so much less stressful, and easier.

OUCH! Never underestimate the power of the First Aid kit: This I learned when I was in Austria, I was involved in a bike accident that banged up my knee pretty bad. But I hardly brought band-aids or neosporin(which is the best thing you can possibly bring). It's always a good idea to bring along some travel aids, such as band-aids, neosporin, and other first aid supplies. Don't over do it though, unless you are taking a serious trek through the country, camping, backpacking, or taking a long trip even.

Be aware of your surroundings: It is always a must, whether you are at home or far away in some foreign exotic destination. On my previous trips, I have been mugged, and stalked, it is so critically important to be aware of your surroundings. Always be cautious, and of course, go with your gut instinct. If you get a funny feeling about a place or a person, best thing is to get out and get out as fast as you can.

Mugging Lessons: In the event of being mugged, what I have learned is to make copies of all of your important documents, visas, credit cards(front and back of the cards), Passports, Passport photos(make sure they are on a photo paper for the photos). Once this happens, call your credit card company, and cancel your cards right away. Having your bank numbers on your contacts in your phone is really handy as well. Keep your money in several different locations, In your purse, money belt(if you have one, if you do put your passport there too if you are seriously worried). That way, you have some cash with you, in case you do get robbed.

Laptop bugaboo: Laptops, (Only for the serious businessman) is something you can consider leaving home. If you do decide to bring it(I hope you don't need to) make sure the Internet works, make sure there are no bugs, or viruses that can wreak havoc on your computer. It is bulky, heavy, takes a lot of room in your carry-on/suitcase, and higher risk of theft or damages. we brought a laptop on one of our trips, and it didn't work, the Internet connection would not do anything. Turns out, we had to download a software specifically for that computer to work abroad. It was an old type of computer, that we erased the memory, wiped it clean except for the internet. Which is all we needed, the internet, and if it got lost, we wouldn't be all up in arms about it. No big deal. But, we wiped out the software that makes the computer actually work, connect to the internet etc. It was a big ordeal, and we had to lug a huge bulky old laptop that didn't even work the entire trip! So, the computer is best left to the Iphone. The Iphone is the the hardcore travelers best travel gadget. It has travel application, money converters, tip calculator, language translation, etc and of course it works abroad! Check At&t for their latest rates, and get your own Iphone. Believe me, it does what the laptop can do.

Each of these lessons, I learned the hard way. Believe me. I lost my apartment reservation, had no plan B, was in a bike accident, missed a flight because I underestimated the travel times. Whatever the situation was, I wished I had known all of these tips beforehand. It would have made a huge difference in my travel experiences! Nonetheless, I am glad that I got to experience them first hand, they made for great travel stories. I wouldn't have changed them for the world! Get out there, be prepared, and have fun!

The Organic Energy snack that is the BumbleBar.

2009-04-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Bumble Bar.. What is it? It is a, vegan snack packed with organic energy. It composes of sesame seeds, nuts, and depending on which bar you get, fruits, etc. It is big and also light, perfect for those long flights, nature hikes, or even a simple morning snack before you head off for work/school. Because it is light and vegan, doesn't mean it's not filling and scrumptious. It comes in a variety of 12 flavors. My personal favorite is Tropical, jubilant with vibrant flavors such as pineapple, and coconut making for one tasty snack! I grab this on the go, on red eye flights, or even for a snack. It fills me up, energizes me for the day. Most vegan snack bars, are not so tasty, take a bite out of this one and you will agree this is the tastiest of them all! You can purchase them at the local health food market, such as Whole foods, Rainbow Acres, Trader Joes (those markets are in So. California) So make sure you know your local supermarket. Head on over there,or if you rather order them online. Check out the website link below.
Happy Travels!

http://www.bumblebar.com

St. Bee's Island... is it a real place??

2009-04-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

Much to my surprise, I was reading an adorable article about a lost puppy that had been found after four months. Apparently the dog fell overboard in Australia, and swam 5 miles away to a local island. Where it began to live in survival mode, living on what she could find. Four months after being declared lost, someone found the dog and returned her back to her family! Awwww.

The link to the article is as prompted below:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090406/ts_afp/australiaanimaldogoffbeat_20090406082210

BUT what we were surprised to find was that there is a island off the Australian Coast named St. Bees. I was thrilled to find that there is a actual place in the world that has the Travelbee's name written all over it!
The Travelbee, I, must visit this island!!
Here is the info below, its true!

http://www.about-australia.com/queensland/mackay/destinations/st-bees-island/

Lake Arrowhead, California

2009-04-06T16:09:00.001-07:00

View of Lake Arrowhead

The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the mountains couldn't be any more beautiful. Lake Arrowhead is the known for is cold winters and for it's easy access to Big Bear ski resorts. Nestled smack dab in the middle of San Bernadino Mountains, in Southern California. Most come up here for a little R&R, skiing and what else, it's picturesque location. Once you arrive, the first stop is the Village. "The Village" which is reminiscent of a Swiss town with it's European style buildings. It is the place to go for festivals, little shopping, and of course taking a spin on the lake with your boats. In the fall, you will encounter our own version of Oktoberfest, in the winter there are Singing Carols, and of course boatloads of concerts in the Summertime. There are three beautiful lakes in the San Bernadino Mountains, Lake Gregory, Lake Arrowhead, and Lake Silverwood all of which are in close vicinity of each other. There are a range of outside sports you can do here, Hang Gliding, Boating, Water Skiing, Swimming, and of course Skiing/Snowboarding. Big Bear ski resorts is actually about half hour to a hour away from Lake Arrowhead. The mountains is at is peak during the winter and during the summer. Come on up! visit my hometown!

So, the next time you drink the Lake Arrowhead bottle, think about arranging a trip to the actual place.

Keep in mind: the winters are harsh, driving up the mountain is a bit risky. Make sure you have chains, warm clothes, and drive with caution. The fog makes the driving really hazardous, be careful and drive slow.

Happy Travels!

Tip of the Day

2009-04-05T17:56:00.001-07:00

Imagine this scenario. You open your suitcase after a long flight into Paris, and you discover that your shampoo is a bit rebellious. It had spilled all over the suitcase, sticking to clothes, to the bag, nearly everything. Dismayed, it had been a long flight! But nonetheless, you are stuck cleaning your bag before you finally you get some shuteye. Well, it is every traveler's nightmare. It happens to the best of us, yes even I have encountered this dilemma many times myself. I discovered that the great way to solve this problem is to use baby wipes, or even hand wipes. Use that to clear up the shampooy mess, its quick and the best part is you can throw it away. Rather than using up all your towels in the hotel room. Let the bag or suitcase dry, put your stuff back in and then you are on your merry way to your next destination. It is great for cleaning makeup bags, suitcases, etc. So simple, quick and so easy to do. To prevent the shampoo from rebelling again, simply put them in a Ziploc bag and then put it in your case. Ziploc bags and baby wipes can usually be found in the travel section in your local supermarket and they come in handy travel sizes. Perfect right? It has so many convenient uses, so make sure before you go on a trip, pick these items up. You won't regret it!

Happy Travels!

"The Great Escape" : the art of traveling in the cinema.

2009-04-05T00:46:00.000-07:00

Being the movie and travel fanatic that I am, it is no surprise that this article would come along. Film and Traveling, two great things to have been created in the planet that we call Earth. Well, besides us of course! When those two, what you would get is the Big Bang and no I am not talking about the Universe. When you watch a movie, you are automatically transformed into another world, another time and place. In fact, in the Great Depression Era, film transformed many into another world, and it was appropriately referred as " The Great Escape". Penniless, somehow they scrounged up enough change to go watch the latest film to hit theatres. What makes a movie so compelling that they were willing to spend their last nickel and dimes? One might argue what makes a great film, well here is my two cents. However, not all movies are just solely about traveling. Mainly, its the location that has the ability to make the audience think in awe "Wow, its so beautiful, I want to go there!" The cinematography is so critically important for a screenplay. Of course, there are other elements that makes a great movie, the plot, the actors, etc. The location, the director responsibility is to capture the moment on film, and the location is important. It also creates an atmosphere for a lot of romantic comedies. Like for instance, in the film When Harry met Sally there is a beautiful scene where Harry and Sally are walking in Central Park in New York in the Fall. The vibrant colors in the background added to the scene, it created an enviroment, a serene setting. Now of course, New York is very common in films, especially when it comes to romantic comedies. But, you also have to keep in mind of other locations such as Seattle, Paris, London, Rome, and countless of other locations. Have I convinced you, the reader that the location is just as important to a film just like the screenplay, the actors are? I hope so, and I hope you will check these films out. you wont be disapointed. So, I thought I would compile a list of films that will in turn, inspire you to travel. Enjoy.

California:
Clueless
Sideways
Singing in the Rain

Great Britain:
Pride and Prejudice
Snatch
Sliding Doors
Snatch
Death at a Funeral (Only because it is a fantastic British Film not to be missed!)
Four Weddings and Funeral
Penelope
Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Paris, France and other regions:
Amelie
Love me if you Dare
Funny Face
Marie Antoinette
French Kiss
Chocolat
An American in Paris
Breakfast at Tiffany's

New York:
When Harry Met Sally
You've Got Mail
Moonstruck
On the Town
Devil Wears Prada

Ireland:
Matchmaker
P.S I love you (half the film is in Ireland, so pretty!)
Made of Honor

Australia:
Australia
Crocodile Dundee

Germany:
Run Lola Run
The Downfall
Goodbye Lenin!

Poland:
Everything is Illuminated
Schindler's List

Greece:
Mamma Mia
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Seattle, Washington:
Sleepless in Seattle

Rome, Italy and other regions:
Roman Holiday
Only You
Much Ado About Nothing
Gladiator
Under the Tuscan Sun

India;
Darjeeling Limited

Africa:
The Ghost and the Darkness
Out of Africa
The Mummy 1 and 2

China:
Lost in Translation
Mr. Nice Guy (any Jackie Chan movies dubbed in English)
Memoirs of Geisha

Other:
Two for the Road
Before Sunset, and Before Sunrise
The Notebook (East Coast)
John Adams; HBO Mini Series *Boston, Massachusetts*
ElizabethTown(Top Favorite, Must watch!)
National Lampoons Family Vacation(with Clark Griswalds, European one is so funny)
Catch me if you can

NOTE:
All movies should have Closed Captioning or Subtitles on the DVD's or VHS.

There are many more films I cannot think of them all right now. But, any suggestions please do not hesitate to comment, and let me know! I will add them right away. Thanks :)

Top Ten Adventure Tours, as posted by Modcloth.com

2009-03-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow Travelers!

Thanks to modcloth.com, I was reading their blog and was led to a page discussing the top ten travel adventures. My interest was piqued, so I read on and suddenly I felt like packing my bags and jetting off into the unknown. Whether it was traveling to Cairo to see the Great Pyramids, or to Uganda to track wild Gorillas in the wilderness. Nonetheless, I wanted to see it all...

So therefore, I wanted to share this great blog created by Modcloth. Modcloth right? A clothing store? Write about Travel? Well, To answer.. Yes, Yes, and Yes. The answer is simple indeed. Read on and Pack your bags and say Hasta La Vista, Baby!

1. Egyptian Discovery. No surprise here!
2. Halloween in Transylvania - The Dracula Tour. Sure, it’d be a little creepy…but that’s the point! Adventure Transylvania describes this tour as a “pleasant, enjoyable walk through the bloody times of Dracula.” Ha ha.
3. The Hippie Trail. Made famous in the 1960s and 1970s, this trek from Western Europe to Nepal would be a life-changing experience for anyone that’s up for it.
4. The California 1 Road Trip is often described as being the best road trip in America. Hopefully this Pittsburgh girl will make it there someday.
5. Gorilla Tracking in Uganda. Nine days of tracking wild gorillas. Wow.
6. iExplore Antartica. Yes, you would be cold. But you would also get to visit penguin rookeries!
7. Galapagos Island NatureCruise with GreenTracks. GreenTracks is known for eco-adventures that are fun and educational. Many of their tours sound appealing, but the Galapagos Islands NatureCruise really piqued my interest. Perhaps it’s my love of turtles.
8. Sail Greece. Beauty and adventure - what more could you ask for in a vacation?
9. Ballooning over Stockholm. I’ve heard that Stockholm is the only capital city in the world where it is legal to explore by hot air balloon. What a unique and magical way to see this beautiful city!
10. Tour of Japan The Tokyo National Museum, the Ryoanji Temple, and fresh sushi are just a few reasons that a visit to Japan would be amazing.

Here are the links to the following above

The original blog as posted above can be seen at this site, posted below.

http://blog.modcloth.com/2009-03-23-top-ten-awesome-trips-we-want-to-take

1. http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/DPED

2.http://www.adventuretransylvania.com/halloween-dracula.htm

3.http://www.hansroodenburg.nl/trail/

4.http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-documentid=249488

5.http://www.africansafarihome.com/uganda-gorillatracking.htm

6.http://www.iexplore.co.uk/tour/62849

7.http://www.greentracks.com/Galapagos-Programs/Galap-Program-EGIC16.htm

8.http://www.sailgreece.gr/

9.http://away.com/top_picks/ballooning_2.html

10.http://www.frommers.com/destinations/japan/0229020795.html

HAPPY TRAVELS! :D

Great Travel Quotes

2009-03-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow. ~Lin Yutang

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

And that's the wonderful thing about family travel: it provides you with experiences that will remain locked forever in the scar tissue of your mind. ~Dave Barry

Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~Mason Cooley

Now I know why they tell you to put your head between your knees on crash landings. You think you're going to kiss your ass good-bye. ~Terry Hanson

A passport, as I'm sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between countries, so the officials can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly. ~Lemony Snicket

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain

"If you look like your passport photo, you're too ill to travel." -- Will Kommen

"He who would travel happily must travel light." -- Antoine de St. Exupery

"Never take a cross country trip with a kid who has just learned to whistle."
- Jean Deuel

"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."
- Martin Buber

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early."
- Yogi Berra

"I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything."
- Bill Bryson

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world. "
Ghandi

And of course.... My personal favorite :)

"Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by." — Robert Frost

Deaflympics, Taipei, Taiwan

2009-03-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

Hello, Fellow Travelers!
I just discovered this really cool event! Apparently, a contestant from my hometown will be participating in the Deaflympics (yes, that's how its really spelled) in Taipei, Taiwan. Set in September 2009, contestants from all around the world will compete in the 21st Summer Olympics. However, this one is pretty special in particular. Why? It will be the first Deaflympics held in Asia!
What are the Deaflmpics? Originally named Silent Games, their first event was organized in 1924 in Paris, France. Only 148 athletes participated that year. Since then, the Deaflympics have come along way! Recruiting more than 2,000 athletes from all over the world to compete in the 2005 Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia. Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Cycling Road, Football, Karate, Handball, Judo, Orienteering, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tae kwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling Freestyle, Wrestling Greco-Roman, Judo, Karate, and Tae kwondo will be the sports affiliated with the Deaflympics in Taiwan.

The first ever Deaflympics held in Asia will open on September 5th to the 15th of 2009

Hope to see you there supporting the Deaf Athletes as they take on the Olympics in Taiwan!

Happy Travels! :D

For more information, check out the following link:

http://www.deaflympics.com/

The Potatoland that is Idaho.....

2009-02-23T15:11:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! I am finally back home in California, and in my cold house lol. I am surprised what a lone house can do without its inhabitants can do. I came home, and found everything to be frozen!! Like literally so frozen! My trip to Idaho was an fun one, chaotic but a lot of fun! I finally got to see my wonderful family in Idaho!! I miss them so much already!! I'm counting the days when I can see them again! Boise, is such a really cool city!
Boise Downtown, or as it so aptly is known as BODO, oozes charm, personality, and some of the old world charm as well as trendy. When you drive around, you see the ornate Capital it will leave you in awe. Its so beautiful. There are pubs, trendy shoppes, cute little antique shoppes, and fabulous restaurants. There is one in particular, that is my favorite! It is known for being the best breakfast hangout in town, and it even received an award for "the best hangover breakfast in Boise"... When you walk in, you are walking into a trendy, mod place with delicious dishes! My personal favorite is the Spinach Frittata, which is smothered in creamy cheesy sauce. Just thinking about it wants me to hop on the next flight to Boise, and go to Goldy's for the best frittata ever! I mean, It is that good. Boise has that east coast vibe to it, it is reminiscent of Boston. On the way to Eagle, which is becoming the new hot spot for Idaho, beautiful gorgeous homes, new shopping centers are formed. Speaking of shopping, there is this beautiful antique shoppe in Eagle, " The Shabby House". "The Shabby House" vibe is an 1940's flair, with a boho twist. I love antiques, and cute funky trinket, so it should be no surprise as to how I fell in love with this place immediately. Its bright and cheerful interior decorated with a bunch of 1940's furniture, posters and even clothing, can make any antique hunters go gaga! And the price is perfect, cheap, reasonable and just great for the those who are a bit strapped for cash. Boise, is a place to go for an relaxed, comfortable lifestyle, its scenery, the people, the town should be enough to win you over.

Ciao,

Hoped you liked this latest installment of Cherie's travels :P

Happy Travels!

The Latest Buzz!

2009-02-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

Hello guys! I apologize for the delay! I will update my blogs, and add more articles soon.. Things have been so hectic here lately! Stay tuned, for my newest travel experience in the dubbed Potato-land, Idaho. I have also applied for a internship, the link is as prompted above. Hope you like it, any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Ciao

Happy Travels! :D

Marukai : The Japanese Walmart?

2009-02-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

Craving sushi? Japanese trinkets? Well, you are in luck, you don't have to frequent to Japan for Japanese goodies..The solution? Simply find the nearest Marukai superstore and shop until you drop! For all things Japanese, this is the place to be. Its similar to Walmart in a way, because of the variety of products they hold here. It ranges from Japanese food products, to furniture, to clothing. Japan is known for its extreme lifestyle, their products are very forward thinking and most of them bizarre. Marukai, is colorful, huge, and full of Japanese products. It will take getting used to, all the color, the products are lively, and bright and extreme! It is strange to walk in, and feel like you are actually in Japan. That is the effect that you get from shopping at Marukai! Many Japanese tourist, citizens come here to be reminded of Home. Just like McDonald is to us in another country, it is familiar. Just be aware it is crowded, but it is the norm in both Marukai and Japan. So, if you are craving Sushi for lunch, why not make it? Try something new. So, head on over to the superstore, get all of the ingredients and then get rolling! :D

Happy Travels! :)

Best Backpacking BACKPACK ever!

2008-11-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Ebags.com carry a line of beautiful and efficient and not to mention cheap bags. Tired of carrying clunky bags that had hardly any storage, heavy and just all around annoying?
Well, I have a solution for all you fellow travelers! This weekender convertible is only 3lbs in weight, and its size is reasonable. You can pretty much pack anything and everything you need, and it will still feel light. I bought this not to long ago, and I have to tell you its an lifesaver for me! So much storage space! I could live on this bag for a month or two just by packing it full, and I have done so in the past! So do yourself a favor, and check out this site and purchase this bag. Its unbelievable!

Here is the direct link to the Weekender convertible bag.
http://www.ebags.com/ebags/weekender_convertible/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=15026

Happy Travels!

Tip of the day

2008-10-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow travelers! Thought I would buzz in and add a new tip.

If you are researching for hotels abroad and you run across an hotel site not spoken in English. Don't be so quick to dismiss it, because it could mean that it is not aimed for tourist but to the locals. Which means that the rates could be fairly cheaper than the usual rates. Email them, it is highly likely they will have an English speaking staff member to answer your questions, and answer your quotes for hotel fees.

Happy Traveling!

Locals Know Best

2008-10-27T18:45:00.001-07:00

Rim Bowling and Entertainment Center; Crestline, California.

3 strikes and you're out, however that is not the case with the family owned Bowling Alley in Crestline. The establishment was reopened in 2008 after an unexpected shutdown in early 2003. The new owners of Rim Bowling also own two other Subway shops located in Lake arrowhead and Blue Jay. The establishment was a piece of history to Crestline, after its closure many locals were disappointed. This was an local hangout spot for many community members. Growing up in a small town community, they would often frequent the bowling alley formerly known as "Tiki's Paradise Bowling Alley". The alley was restored, a complete interior makeover which included new carpeting, new tiling, furnishing, state of the art equipment and an new arcade center. A new venue was also added, Perky's Pizza Parlor; which serves an assortment of Pizza, Chicken and a variety of drinks. It is rumored that a third subway will be opened sometimes in the future. Yum! From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with charismatic staff members. Like I said, Locals know best; the establishment quickly became an new hot spot for Crestline. Rim Bowling Center quickly received accolades of recognition from the press, and the community as well. Families often frequent this wonderful establishment because it is an warm inviting atmosphere where families can spend time with each other, restore their family values after a hard days work. Rim Bowling and Entertainment center brought back fun to a small town in the mountains.

Business Hours:
Sun- Thurs 10 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 12 am

Extra: Stop by for Glow Bowling which runs every Friday night from 9 pm to Midnight. Birthday parties are also featured at this establishment for a nominal fee. Bowling Leagues are also hosted. For more information contact (909) 338-5550 or check out their website! www.rimbowling.com

Happy Bowling and Happy Travels!

~The Travelbee~

Posted with LifeCast

2008-10-26T18:27:00.001-07:00

Hi guys! Sorry for the delay, everythings topsy turvy here! I will buzz in with new updates :)

Ciao
~ The Travelbee~

Posted with LifeCast

Locals know best

2008-08-10T14:40:00.000-07:00

Paula's Place, Crestline, California

When you walk in you get the sense of a country feel, the baked apple pies, you see the locals that always frequent the diner. You are invited to sit down by an waitress named Dawn, and she brings you your cup of Joe and gives you the menu. After a while of debating from a list of Delicious menu choices, you hesitatingly order your food while thinking among yourself, "what if I want the other one?". The wait is a bit long, but it is worth it once the smell of a typical breakfast wafts right in front of your noses. The first bite is just absolutely grand, all the savory tastes meld in together as you take another bite. Paula's Place is actually quite new, when its owner decided to leave her previous job in search for a place to call her own. Living down the street, I never knew the place existed, never knew what I was missing out on. After finding out about this place, I decided to give it a try, and just raved about my overall experience. When the owner personally greets you goodbye, and tells you to "Come on down for lunch if you get hungry". It reminds you of an country feel, a place that is familiar as you step out to the fresh mountain air, you will be glad you went.

If you are ever in the area, do stop by this quaint little restaurant and try either the Blueberry pancakes, or their omelette's made to order.

Happy Traveling!

Off the Beaten Track

2008-08-03T09:13:00.000-07:00

SEASIDE RETREAT: Manhattan Beach, California

Truly envision yourself, alongside the beach with the salty sea breeze whiffing through your hair. Envision the surfers catching their swells, see the horizon in the distance knowing that out there could very well be the shores of Tripoli, or maybe even China. Once, you have envisioned all of that you will find yourself smack dab in the middle of the bustling beach side retreat of Manhattan Beach. Planes drone by, on its way to an exotic location somewhere in the world. LAX is actually not far from here, so once you land visitors do not have far to go for a wonderful day at the beach.
It is here where you will find a true typical L.A lifestyle with its bustling streets reminiscent to an 1940 Coney Island vibe. The possibilities are endless, you can sit down an a small cafe, go shopping at an nearby outdoors mall, and even go to a baseball field and imitate the greats like Babe Ruth. Pub crawls, and trendy restaurants line up and down this street. Coffeeholics don't fret, there is a local Starbucks nearby. For the weary traveler, you will be faced with lots of choices, so I am going to recommend several restaurants to make your life a little bit easier. Just so you can enjoy the beach, and have an nice cup of joe and just hang loose.

Pomodoro's - Italian style restaurant, with delicious Italian Cream Sodas.
Noah's Bagel - reccomended for quick bites, the bagels range from $1.49 and come with an variety of Schmears(Cream Cheese)
- Get the Pumpernickel Bagel, with the Honey Almond Schmear. Trust me.....
- Paninis are scrumptious as well, the veggie is my personal favorite. There are more Panini choices to choose from.
Jamba Juice- Smoothie world basically, they offer free boost(such as Protein, Energy, etc) It just simply the best for a hot day at the beach or just for an breakfast snack.
Starbucks - It speaks for itself.....
The Kettle - Perfect for a late night midnight snack, since its a 24 hour run restaurant.

Okay, all thats left to do is get your flip flops and your cool shades, head to the beach! What are you waiting for?!

P.S don't forget your sunscreen!

Happy Traveling!

The Old Man and Canterbury

2008-06-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

An old man sitting in the chair at the local café, with his grey five o’clock shadow and black beanie hat, looking disheveled but oddly put together in the weird way that he was. His thick glasses resting on the bridge of his nose, it gave way to his age. He couldn’t have been more than 70, but there was something about him. He sat there content as he watched the world happen before his eyes. He simply took a sip of his coffee every now and then and let out a sigh. Looking at this man, thinking to myself, could I be like that? Just be at so peace with myself and my surroundings, to just sit there drinking a cup of Joe? I was in Canterbury, England.

London was a blur to be quite honest; the vibrant and lively city was starting to wear on me. As much as I adored and loved this town, I still needed to get away. “Some peace and quiet would be nice”, I thought to myself. I wanted to see the real down to earth England, to witness the small town life. I set out on my own pilgrimage to Canterbury, where Chaucer’s famous tales took place. Sitting on the train, watching the trees whiz by, it really allows you to embrace your journey. There is no other feeling in the world than discovering the unknown. Pondering on my new adventure, what would happen? What would I find? Buried in my thoughts, after an hour or two it dawned on me that the train would separate in half! Several cabins would be rerouted to another city, and the rest of cabins would be directed to Canterbury. “ My god, am I in the right cabin?” I panicked my pulse racing. Asking everyone around me, “Is this the cabin that takes us to Canterbury?” after a while I finally got a response. And the answer was “No”. Panicking, I grabbed my bags, and rushed through 3 cabins before the train split in the next five minutes. Frantic and hurried was I, eventually I made it to the right cabin. A sigh of relief expelled as I sat down on the seats, pondering once more. I had all the time in the world now, one little bump on the railroad track wouldn’t stop me from taking in the experience. Before I knew it the train came to a screeching halt, I had arrived.
From the moment, I hit the pavement on the cobblestone streets of Canterbury; I just knew that I would fall in love with this town. Strolling through the alleyways, its old world charm won me over. All the buildings oozed English charm, pubs on street corner with such flair. Its winding cobblestone streets led me to the real attraction of the city. Canterbury Cathedral, in all its glory sitting idly by all these years. In the pathway that lead up to this grand cathedral, I was in awe. Towering over Canterbury, and of course little ole me, suddenly I felt so small. Entering the huge arch that is the door, the ceiling seemed to go for miles so ornate in nature. Its rustic walls, worn over the years yet somehow the room lit up. The atmosphere pales in comparison to the Notre Dame in Paris, France. For such a dark history, the Cathedral lit up, rays of light shining in through the windows. Rows of pews all lined up in the room leading up to the altar, it was so beautiful and so roomy. The history behind the church is amazing. Archbishop Thomas Beckett was brutally murdered at the hands of the Kings knights. One night drunken stupor the King yelled out for his rival, Beckett to be “eliminated”. From my understanding, Beckett was regaining control of the church, and the King was displeased with the situation. Listening to the story, in awe of what had originated here so long ago. “At that exact spot, Thomas Beckett was beheaded!” the tour guide shouted, pointing to the spot where I was standing. All eyes were on me; there I was, standing in the exact spot where Beckett was murdered. I moved left.

Believe it or not, the sun was actually leering out through the soft puffy clouds. For those that think England is a bit drab, well think again. From the fresh flowers in the garden to the little creek winding through Canterbury, it is a stunning contrast to the old stony buildings. As far as the eye can see, it’s charismatic, medieval, quaint, and just simply lovely. Cathedrals, Tea and Scones, traveling, ah movement is wonderful. Robert Louis Stevenson once uttered “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move”. With these words, I hope I convinced you to get out there, and experience movement.

Canterbury Tales

2008-05-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: CANTERBURY, ENGLAND

Approximately two hours south of London lies a sleepy, quaint, and charming town. The town was made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer in his legendary story entitled " The Canterbury Tales". Walking down the cobblestone streets, narrow passageways leading to another part of the town. One street after the other, you will see picturesque rivers, grassy knolls, building with a lot of character and charm. You would not think it but when you stumble upon this wonderful charismatic town, it has an dark past. Centered in the town lies an gorgeous tourists attraction, appropriately named "Canterbury Cathedral". Ornate and baroque in nature, but it is not why tourist flock to this Cathedral in particiular. In 1170, Archbishop Thomas Beckett was assassinated by the Knights of Canterbury. The legend has it, that the Archbishop and the King had an ongoing dispute, due to the fact that the King resented that Beckett was gaining more power and control over the Church. One night in a drunken disorderly manner, he shouted out "Who here, will get rid of Thomas Beckett?!" Several Knights nearby overheard the king, and decided to assassinate Thomas Beckett in order to gain publicity and recognition from the King. The Knights marched over to Canterbury Cathedral, in the search for Thomas Beckett. Once he was found, he was beheaded. Several other monks fell victims to this gruesome attack. And the rest is history. When visiting this Cathedral, you can visit the very exact same spot where the archbishop Thomas Beckett was killed. You may ask, "What happened to the Knights? ".. It is said that the knights traveled to this cottage, a local pub, not far from the Cathedral. Apparently, a big fight broke out at this local pub, and some of the knights were killed. The river besides the cottage ran red with blood. To this day, this quaint little cottage is known simply as the "Little Red Cottage". Canterbury will always be picturesque, charming and surprising. Walking around, I was surprised to find out how quickly I fell in love with this place. There is a old historic hospital, the Royal Museum and Free Library and there is an restaurant called Marlowe's that is just simply divine! Simply, to sum it all up do not miss this sleepy quaint town. So follow in Chauncers Characters footsteps, and make an pilgrimage to Canterbury!

London Calling

2008-05-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

When you think of London, what comes to mind?
The Black Taxi Cabs, Big Ben Tower, The London Eye, Double Decker buses,Teas and Scones, Fish and Chips, or dare I say Marmite? A spread loved and hated by many... Of course, a lot comes to mind when London is mentioned in a conversation. It is easy to say that London is a city that has seen it all, and continues to evolve into something bigger and better. Old Historic buildings are meshed with trendy shoppes, museums with breathtaking masterpieces, and lively pubs. The bustle of the streets with people on their ways to work, visiting tourist attractions, or just merely visiting their friends at a local pub.
Of course, in this economy most are stretched on a budget and London being one of the priciest cities certainly doesn't help much. Just because you are on a budget, that shouldn't get in the way of enjoying what London has to offer! There a lot of free venues, museums, and yes, places where a couple of pounds goes along way. One can visit King Cross station and visit the famous 9 3/4 platform from the Harry Potter series. Keep in mind, there is the Oyster Card for the Tube, basically you put some cash on the card, and top it up every now and then, to ensure you have money for the ride back to the hotel! The Oyster Card is basically sold at all the stations, at the ticket counter. At every station, there is a little gate, with a little round yellow button on a stand, that stand is for the tickets. So if you get a ticket instead, just merely insert the ticket in the slot, and the gate opens. But if you have a Oyster card, what do you do? Now, my friend here is the cool part.. All you do, is wave the magic card over the yellow button and voila! You are on your way to whatever destination of your choosing. Be sure to have cash to refill the card Or as they call it, top it up.
The British Museum, The National Gallery, Tate Modern, a lot of these world famous museums are in fact FREE. Just walk in, and just fall completely in love with Renaissance, Impressionist, Dadaism, Surrealist and yes even Modern paintings created by wonderful artists of their time. As you walk through the halls, its not hard to be in awe of all the beautiful masterpieces that are hung upon the wall. Representing an certain era, its like you are watching a moment captured in time through the ages.
When you think of her Majesty, you also think of the Changing of the Guards at the Buckingham Palace. Now, of course there are pros and cons to this famous tourist attraction. The pros are that its free, there is an beautiful park right across from the palace, you get to see the changing of the guards, and you are at the Buckingham Palace! However, there are Cons... In the frenzy of the crowds, people are pushing and shoving to catch an glimpse of the guards in action. You have to make sure you catch an good spot earlier in the morning, for it starts at 11 am. From January to March, there are several days that they do the ritual, but from April to July, it takes place daily. So prior to visiting, make sure that the Changing of the Guards actually takes place on the day that you are visiting. And do try to get there a bit early. Another thing, from the Buckingham Palace you can easily walk to other great London sights including; Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, St James' Palace, 10 Downing Street, The Thames, Trafalgar Square and even Hard Rock Cafe, just to name a few.

As I mentioned earlier, not everything in life, especially in London is free. The Double Decker Buses are a bit pricey, but worth every penny! The top deck is the best, it is there that you are truly able to see London close up, while cruising.. How cool is that?! Just imagine this, you are in a tiny glass capsule, rising above the little quaint rooftops, seeing beyond the city.. The image that you have just created in your mind, is actually The London Eye. It is actually one of the worlds largest Ferris wheels! Basically, the ride are glass capsules, that rotates allowing you to truly see London from the top of the world! Restaurants are pretty pricey here, but you really have to try the local fish and chips,with an side of Malt Vinegar. Forget your diet for the day, and take an bite out of this scrumptious deep fried fish, sometimes it is served with tartar sauce, you will be glad you broke your dieting rules! What is Chips? Well, they are french fries, but with an different name and they are served with malt vinegar as an dip. Ketchup is considered an no no as a accessory to Chip, but Malt Vinegar is. So, forget about the ketchup,and focus on the meal in its true British form. When you are visiting London, you will be a bit confused when it comes to food. Now admit it, when I mentioned Fish and Chips, you were left scratching your head wondering what Chips were. Now, let the Chips fall where they may, and remember these differences between the US vs UK according to these food terms.

American - British
French Fries - Chips
Potato Chips- Crisps
Soda- Fizzy
Lemonade- Sprite

Now, since we are on the topic of Food, I think its about time for me to explain the traditional British breakfast. Typically, we eat eggs, toast, bacon, and hash browns in America. However in England, they added several more to their dish. Sometimes you will see roasted tomatoes, and but you will definitely see Black pudding on the plate. Black pudding is what? It is an type of sausage but it is cooked with Blood, it is also called Blood Sausage. Try it, its actually really good! I, myself was really surprised as to much I liked it!

Has there ever been a city, where riding the transport is truly an tourist attraction? The Double Decker Buses, The Taxis, The Tube, Ferris Wheels, and that is just to name a few. And rightly so, every person should experience all that London has to offer even the transport system. When it comes to the Tube, It can be a bit confusing, but keep in mind there are maps everywhere, even on the side of the train, and usually they announce the next stops. For Deaf Travelers, need not to worry they have an screen that announces the next stops, but sometimes it doesn't work. So do what I did, look out side of the windows, and you will see the signs outside, and look on the side of the train for the Map. Its easy to get used to, so do not worry!

Shopping in London is pricey, but there are ways you can enjoy it. Every shopper is familiar with the phrase, "Window Shopping". What it is, as you walk around you peer in the windows of shops, browse around the shops without having to buy anything! Those on a budget can do this, even at Harrods. If you feel you must buy something, get an trinket, teas(at Harrods, its the cheapest thing you can get here). Browsing around the shops are amazing, especially at Harrods. It is the most famous store in the world, and rightly the most expensive! But it is worth the visit, as you browse around you will see fine dining, clothing, majestic furnitures, and much more! You will not be disappointed at Harrods, trust me!

The city of London is a melting pot, many come here to experience what the city has to offer. England is truly an treat, I was surprised at how much I grew to love it. I hope to return one day and to explore more. Honestly, whatever you have planned for London, make sure you double your time on your trip, because it is an city not to be missed. Explore every nook and cranny, and you will too fall in love with this city. You will leave wanting for more, because in all fairness you cannot view everything at once in England, it takes years to truly see everything that England has to offer to the rest of the world. There is a lot more to be written about London, I could go on and on about this city. But I think I will leave it up to you to discover them..

Cheerio!

Happy Travels!

Click on this Link, if you want an guide on Free things to do in London! :)

http://golondon.about.com/od/thingstodoinlondon/tp/free_London.htm

The London Eye
c Westminster Abbey
The Big Ben Tower

Top of the Morning to ya!

2008-05-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Shannon, Ireland

I wish I could say it was Top of the Morning when I arrived in Shannon Ireland. I was grumpy, tired, and frustrated. Our flight from Boston destined to arrive in London was detoured to Shannon, Ireland. One of the passenger had an fatal medical emergency, in other words if we didn't land the plane immediately the passenger medical emergency could take a turn for the worst. Upon landing in Shannon, the ill passenger deplaned safely and was en route to the hospital via ambulance. Hours went by, we were still on the tarmac. No announcement from the pilot, nothing from any of the flight attendants. By hour four, we finally got an announcement that the airlines did not have an tow for the plane so we can get back on track. The pilot also announced that we had to deplane and go to a local hotel nearby. Walking around this tiny airport in the middle of Ireland, in the rain was actually quite lovely. All the frustration and drama I had endured before was made up by the beautiful scenery in Ireland. All I could see were green, green and sheep for miles. Arriving to the hotel, the Irish are so hospitable. We were served fresh dinner, consisting of delicious Butternut Squash Soup and Bread. The hotel was on top of a small hill, so you could actually see for miles. It was gorgeous, and made up for the disastrous morning that I had. However, about 8 pm in the evening we got word that we could go ahead and fly to London as we originally planned to! The flight actually landed in Heathrow airport in half an hour rather than 22 hours that it actually took in reality. But all in all, Shannon Ireland was an small seaport town, If you do decide to visit off the beaten track and decide to stop by this small town. Do not be surprised how small it is, if you are a heavy duty shopper then this town is not for you. Shannon, is a town for those who like the outdoors, who want to see nothing for miles and miles and look out to sea.

Happy Travels!

Don't Tread On Me

2008-05-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Boston, Massachusetts

Forget everything you think you know about Boston, the Colonial Times, and the American Revolution. The truth is, what you have learned in High School pales nothing in comparison of what really happened during that time. Now, the after you have cleared your mind; I suggest you pick up a copy of David McCullough's novel John Adams or if your pressing for time just simply watch the HBO miniseries John Adams. Both gives you the real in depth look of what really happened during that time, I was amazed to learn that I KNEW NOTHING! Everything that I assumed, thought was all completely different than what actually happened! Did you know, for instance John Adams was a lawyer and he actually defended the British Soldier in the Boston Massacre incident. I also discovered that John Adams was actually part of the founders of the constitution, he worked diligently on it and eventually became the second President of the United States. Things like that surprised me, how did I not know any of this?! What I was taught in High school was minimal to my new found knowledge. Boston is also the town where you will find a lot of familiar sights, such as the Old North Church. "One if by land and Two if by sea.."the quote from the poem by Henry W. Longfellow marked the historic event, and that event was the "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere". You will also find the Freedom Trail, Bunker Hill, and the famous Cheers Bar (made famous by Sam Malone from the television series Cheers). Tours are provided of course, if you chose to wander around aimlessly you will not be disappointed, nor you will be if you decide to go on a tour. There are two types of tours in Boston; The Walking Tour and The Duck Tour. The Duck tour? you may ask. What it actually is, a tour by a old fashioned W.W II Amphibious Landing Vehicle, it takes you to all the memorable sights and the cool thing is it actually turns into a boat! Where you float along the river in Boston, taking in the magnitude of the city. Yes you did hear me right, the vehicle TURNS into a boat... If you ask, they give discounts for the Deaf! Be sure to ask for available discounts!

http://www.bostonducktours.com/Default.aspx

Points of Interest:

Newberry street is the place to go for all things fashion. Shoppes ranging from Betsy Johnson to Target. There you will find Skyscraper malls, trendy boutiques, modern shoppes in old historic buildings.
Mikes Pastries, made famous by their Cannolis and delicious pastries. Located in Little Italy Boston.
The Freedom Trail, walk along this scenic trail and you will hit all the historic sights such as the Old North Church, Paul Reveres House and an old historic Pub where Revere used to frequent.
One other thing you must do while in Boston, go to a local restaurant and order an Clam Chowdah(as they pronounce it).

Boston is truly a place not to be missed!

Happy Travels!

Paul Revere Statue and The Old North Church

The Ultimate Travel Packlist..

2007-05-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

Okay guys.....

I know you struggle with this as much as I do... I always find myself packing everything I possibly can into one suitcase. In fact, I am KNOWN for this. The trick is finding the right amount, for the period of time that you are on holiday. My tip of the day, Pack small, light... I mean, who wants to cart around stuff that you dont use all over, and have no room for new fun souvneirs, or even dare I say the results of an awesome shopping trip?

I am going to go through this with you in steps.

Step 1. Pack everything you think you will need on the journey

Step 2. Go through everything, Revise, Edit(majorly).

Step 3. Make sure you have everything you NEED(need is the keyword here, take stuff that u KNOW for sure you will use.)

Step 4. Create a checklist, and check it twice before departure.

Step 5. Have an awesome trip!!!!

I am going to attach an awesome checklist I use. so click on it, download and get busy packing! Ciao!

Best Travel Poem

2007-02-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I-I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost-

The Canals of Venice

2006-07-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

On my way to Venice, our port of call was Jesolo, Italy. The small city, is thriving with nightlife and in my opinion the Miami Beach of Italy. The beaches are pristine, no trash nothing, I cannot tell you how much of a relief it was walking on a beach without having to yell out "ouch!" every five seconds. Seriously, it was that lovely, and on the way to the beach I spotted Palm Trees.. Yes, Palm Trees. after a swim in the Adriatic sea, it was refreshing, looking over into the sea. I was swimming in the ocean in Italy. How cool was this? I wondered to myself. Walking through this city at night, you see neon lights, there is one long street strewn with bathing suit shoppes, ice cream parlors, tourist shoppes. Go figure, palm trees in Italy, you must be thinking this is too good to be true. Go visit and find out- its the Miami beach of Italy.

Venice was just simply lovely, the gondola rides, the gondoliers alas didn't sing. As much as my group tried to bribe him with a simple glass of beer(the leaders, of course) The fifty year old man, with blond wavy hair wearing red and white striped tee shirt along with black pair of pants, and of course sunscreen on his nose. Simply replied in a musky Italian accent, "No, No, it's not beer weather!" . I guess there is a time and place for everything, even beer?. I simply laughed.
It is indescribable being here, the feeling, the atmosphere is amazing. Winding through the canals of Venice, was the highlight of the trip. I swear, I could hear music. Maybe the other gondoliers were singing, or maybe it was in my head. I will never know, but it was magical. The water reflected off the windows, the buildings, bright shimmery waves throughout the city. You can feel quite small, when the buildings are towering over you. The locals walking across the bridges, as you cruise under.

Murrano Glass Factory is another place to visit while you are here. A little sign will read Murrano glass factory, black with white lettering. Worn over the ages, hanging over the door. Rustic, but with a modern twist once you walk in. White walls, modern design everywhere. Such a huge contrast to the outside of the building. Looks can be deceiving. The white walls really brought out the color in their products. Every color, shapes and sizes you can imagine was here. It felt like a candy store for Glass. I never felt so nervous to be in a store, everything was expensive and delicate. Nervous that I would break something, I made my way through the building carefully. The tour was interesting, we were able to see the glass being made by a professional, then to the shoppe, and then to the museum. White lights, and glass cases covering the products. Definitely made me nervous, but at the same time I was in awe. everything was so Shiny, I couldn't keep my eyes off the vases, the beautiful sculptures. The glass factory prided themselves on one thing.They were proud of their Packaging, they said that they pack the product so tight that for the trip home it would not break. I tested this theory, I bought a small vase for my mother as a gift. A blue tinted(Which was more expensive because they used a specific dye for the tint) etched with gold leaves. It was breathtaking, they packed it up and gave it to me. I was told not to worry. I didn't until I actually dropped it on the way back from Venice on the boat. Frantic, I peered in, and not a crack was made. They were right, I need not to worry.

St. Marks Square is a must visit. After winding through small narrow alleyway, you will find it surprising to find a huge open space right in front of you. Beware, thousands of tourists flock to this area in Venice, as well as pigeons but that's no biggie. Venice is a city so magical and beautiful its not to be missed. Especially when there's a rumor that its in fact really sinking. Every year, Venice does have a flood. So be sure you don't visit when during that time of the year. If you do, perhaps bring a pair of boots would be wise. Near here, you will see the Bridge of Sighs. The legend has it that, when prisoners would be taken to be executed in marks square. They would look over, out to sea and sigh as they looked out the window as they passed the bridge. It is a small, bridge, but easily recognizable.

There are so many treasures in Venice, its hard to see them all. I know, I have only begun to scratch the surface here.

Under the Tuscan Sun: Volterra, Italy

2006-07-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

Twilight is approaching, as I steadily climb the winding roads leading up to Volterra, Italy. Perched high up on a hill, in the Tuscan countryside lies a medieval fortress, a sleepy little town. Winding roads, tall pear shaped trees lining up to the city, the smell of summer wafting in. Once at the top, you can peer over the cobblestone fences, and scan the entire Tuscan countryside through your eyes. The sight is astonishingly beautiful, rustic, timeless, and simply breathtaking. Volterra, is known for their Alabaster Stones, they turn out the most beautiful Alabaster statues and rightly so, they are famous for it. Making my way to the De Rossi Alabaster Stone factory, where I was to take a tour with my People to People group. My foot hit the cobblestone pavements, walking through the inner city, small alleyways, and shoppes that will make you wish you had all the time in the world to wander in. Away from the bustling streets of Florence, and Pisa I was glad to be in a small town, the small towns really show the real down to earth Italy. Italians, walking around the streets engaging in their everyday chores makes for a real small town experience. Being here is almost being in a dreamlike state, but it is very much real.
The factory itself was surprising, you wouldn't notice it until you see the De Rossi sign carved by the door. Just like any other buildings in Volterra, this happens to be the towns staple, the towns pride and glory. I set inside, and alabaster dust everywhere. On the floors, windows, tables, it is easy not to get dusty in here. Halfway in, I was marked with alabaster dust on my shirt, my pants, "Oh great" I thought to myself as I walked. However the statues were remarkable, precise, and of course, pure white. I soon learned that not all Alabaster stones are white, they implement special dyes, the stone easily absorbs the dye. As a short, stocky man entered the large room, he muttered something in Italian, the owner of the factory stood by, luckily for us, he knew English, and translated for us. Apparently, the short stocky man would demonstrate how they work at the factory, by carving a stone. A whining sound pierced the silence, as we looked on eagerly, the machine was turned on, and he began the demonstration. What was a small block of Alabaster stone, slowly turned into a work of art. Amazed, intrigued we stared, "what is he making?" we all wondered. It was a secret, only to be revealed at the end of the demonstration. He took the carving, polished it in a towel, then dipped it in a small bucket full of dye, making sure that we didn't see the finished product. Lo and behold! He held out the product, and it was a small hot pink vase. It took us by surprise, oohs and ahhs filled the room followed by a round of applause. I was not expecting a miniature vase, perhaps a mini statue, or a trinket box, or something of that sort. But I must admit, making a vase out of a small alabaster stone block using only a metal machine is pretty remarkable. All in the short time of 20 minutes, the finished product was proudly on display. The group headed on into another room, it was the factory's shoppe. Beautiful alabaster statues, small trinkets, mini vases were for sale. I found the one that the man had made not 20 minutes before, and purchased it. All in all, I grabbed a one of a kind trinket, and I was pretty proud of myself for grabbing it before anyone else could.
My trip to Volterra was coming to an end, I didn't want to leave, it was so beautiful here. Alas, I couldn't stay behind and tell the group, "I'll catch up with you.... eventually". Unwillingly, I climbed aboard the bus, seated in my chair and vowed myself that I would come back to this small town. Now, Stephanie Meyer made Volterra wildly popular by making Volterra one of the settings in the popular Twilight Series. For you twilight fans, Volterra is real, beautiful, and a must see for any twilight, and travel addicts.

La Dolce Vita....

2006-07-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Easily translated as "The Sweet Life", And it its indeed. I have to say, I admire their casual lifestyle, they work hard and play hard. The Italians really hit home with me, because I look at them and they are loyal, they value family and love, and of course they take pride in their cuisine. Everywhere I looked, beautiful majestic landscape, with quaint old buildings and the occasional elderly lady gazing out the window and the gentleman's sitting nearby the cafe chatting with their buddies. It is casual, serene, and lovely, I simply just fell in love with Italy right then. But not to be mistaken, lots of young people such as I flock to Italy, mainly for the arts, the history, and I'd be lying to say it wasn't the food that attracts us to Italy.

Florence(Firenze), Pisa, Rome(Roma), Jesolo, Venice(Venezia) and Volterra are among the places I visited during my time in Italy. Now, I will say this the Art is just amazing, beautiful, there are no words to describe it. Really, when you are there, you are in another world entirely and I assure you you would love this world. Roma as they call it in Italy, was one of my favorite places to visit, the Colosseum just blew me away. Of course, right away I began my search for Russel Crowe, but to no avail couldn't find him. However, when I was there I began imagining the old days, the gladiator fights, the crowds roaring and of course the Emperor gallantly sitting on the throne, quietly watching the fight.. The gladiator that lost the fight, it was up to the emperor to spare their life and how? With a simple thumbs down signal. Another source says that the signal was dropping the white handkerchief. The thumbs down is the most known signal regarding this issue. I have an inkling that Ebert and Roper would have done well in this era.. Why yes, simply thumbs up! but this scrawny gladiator, no life, no enthusiasm, I simply lost my interest in his fight.. Thumbs down....

A majority of the cities in Italy are known for something, whether it be their wine, food, art, sculptures, location, just about anything. They take pride in what they are known for, and want to share it with the world. When you are there, take up on their offer. Go ahead go for that piece of pizza, second glass of wine. Just simply Indulge and Relax.

Florence was grand because of the Statue of David located in the Academia Gallery. Michelangelo works are just pure divine, and I am honestly in awe of his works, to work so diligently for years and create such beautiful pieces of art. I'm floored in Florence.
Note: Don't be fooled by the replica of David outside Palazzo Vecchio

I have gone into great lengths about Italy, what can I say? I just simply fell in love with this rustic, lovely country. I hope to go back some day, and trek even further, into the unknown and perhaps Naples :)

Happy Traveling!
Venice, View from the Gondola :)

Austria, an undiscovered gem

2006-07-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

Its very hard to go into Austria without breaking into a song from the infamous movie, "The Sound of Music" or even hum the intro to one of Mozart's masterpieces. Austria is a city that prides themselves in music, they are very famous for it. Vienna, Music capital of the world. While you are there, make sure you visit an Opera. I guarantee you its brilliant, stunning, and just quite an fantastic work of art.
Austria is a country, with beautiful scenery, tall mountains, rolling hills, and even the locals are so genuinely nice, you will not forget them, ever. I know I wont.. My time in Austria was really interesting and amazing, I spent more time there than I did any other country. I do have to admit, I didn't really know much about this place other than Arnold Schwarzenegger was from here.. Sad as it is, but I was determined to find other things about this place that I can love, discover, and I accomplished that.. Austria is a place for everyone, its for those who love movies, music, history, and scenery.
I made an visit to Mautheusen Concentration Camp. It was unbearable just walking through these halls, I couldn't stand it, I was just so sad, angry and just so emotional. I couldn't believe this, this had actually happened. All the things that I read about, learned in high school pales nothing in comparison to the real thing. What I saw there, I will never forget as much as I try to. I was also fortunate to meet with an survivor, his story chilled me to the bone. It really made me have an renewed perspective on life, and It really made me realize that I took things for granted, and after that experience I missed home incredibly much, wanted to see my family and tell them that I loved them.

Sirnitz, it is! Austria

2006-07-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ever have a song stuck in your head that transport you to a time and place. To where you originally heard the song. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Free Falling" would be one of the songs that transport me to my fondest memories in Austria. Sitting around the campfire, singing along with the local Austrian belting out classics. "Free Falling", Oasis "Wonderwall" and the classic "American Pie" tunes were sung around the campfire. Here I was in the outskirts of Austria with my friends, the austrian locals, sitting around the campfire belting out tunes. It was like camp all over again, without the smores. Suddenly the hills became alive with music, only to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Sirnitz, Austria is a beautiful place, greenery all around, with the occasional rustic church in the distance. Frolicking is a must, running through the knee high grass is a experience all on its own. After our late night hike, dusk is settling in we walked back to the local bar/bowling alley. Snacking on our Appelstrudels that we had made in the Innsbruck culinary college. Smuggling milka chocolate bars, after buying a whole stack of chocolate bars. Well up into the night, giggling, gossiping, and snacking on those delicious chocolate bars. By the time I woke up, looking out the window the tangerine sky was rapidly approaching, the fog was soon clearing out. The mountains all aglow from the morning sun, it was a sight to be seen. As my friends walked down the spiral staircase from the loft, morning greetings were exchanged and we stared out in awe of the beautiful scenery.

Sitting around with the locals, singing Wonderwall by Oasis was by far one of my favorite moments of my trip. Wrapping up my time in Austria, I was surprised to see how much I have grown to love this town. I was easily drawn to this place, its vast rolling hills, quaint buildings perched upon the hills. It certainly feels alive, the atmosphere is unforgettable.
Looking out the window from my (awesome)hotel room. Pondering the trip so far, I was blissfully happy to be here. Lets say this, Austria, who knows much about this place? I am fortunate that I have gotten the chance to know it better, to visit the town of Sirnitz. A sleepy little town, with charming, hospitable locals. The sun was setting behind the hills, I got top notch views from my bedroom window. The mountains in all their glory, I decided to set out for a walk with my friends. Hearing my feet hit the pavement, kicking up gravel and frolicking the fields of Austria. Just walking along the country side was a relaxing break from a whirlwind trip. Chatting about what is to come, and recalling our fondest memories. Afterward, we made our way back to the local bar/restaurant. I played pool with my closest friend, and of course drank soda and ate more applestrudels that we had made ourselves earlier. It was our first day in Sirnitz, we had just come from Innsbruck. In Innsbruck, we made Applestrudels in the local culinary college, the chef was quirky indeed. Right when we walked into the school, on the big flat screen in the lobby was the Tour De France competition, it was halfway over. I had been in France the week before, seeing them prepare for the big race, but I was in Austria when it actually happened. Rolling up in the big bus into Sirnitz, with our strudels stored in a cooler for a after dinner snack made for a pretty memorable experience.

16 going on 17, Salzburg, Austria

2006-07-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

"When the bee stings, When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things" The song simply makes you want to bust out "The Sound of Music" DVD and sing along to each song. Salzburg, one of locations where they filmed the movie. It was a charming town, after arriving here. I recognized several scenes from the movie. In the main square, you will find the fountain, where Julie Andrews sings to the Von Trapp kids. There was a studio where they filmed several scenes, but when I was there they weren't open. In fact, everyone was preparing for the Salzburg music festival, honoring Mozart. The town was pristine, gorgeous, and everything was so fresh, including the freshly painted walls!
I was there during an wonderful time, it was the 500th anniversary of Mozart.. The composer was everywhere, on the walls, the window displays, chocolate covered with Mozart wrappings. Bach, would have said "Mozart, Mozart, Mozart!" in the likes of Jan Brady. But I will never know. But, I loved Mozart. His music is breathtaking, and gorgeous. Another thing you must do while you are here. Visit Mozart's birthplace, his actual home. It's unmistakeably yellow, with a huge print labeling the building in red MOZART. Most of the town was closed, renovating their buildings for the music festival to come. I was severely disappointed to find out that I couldn't go into the museum. Someday, I will come back here.
Another thing you will find here, Christmas Shoppes. You will see them almost on every corner, they are open year round. Christmas here is supposed to be lovely, so I am told. The guide told me, that they have huge Christmas trees sprawled across town all aglow with lights and ornaments. They also hosts Christmas markets or Christkindlmarkt, as they are called. Mostly they host them at Germany, but Austria hosts their own in several different towns. Rows and rows of stalls with Christmas delicacy, hot cocoa, warm cookies especially gingerbread is sure to be found on each corner. Be sure to look them up if you are ever here during Christmas.

Movie magic was made here with the Sound of Music, an instant classic. However, several locals have never seen the film itself! But no worries, there are still the Sound of Music tours.
It was a musical city, and I adore it. I had hoped to stay for the festival, but alas it was time to go.
In my time here, I was able to experience Austria at its best, and I was there during an wonderful time, it was the 500th anniversary of Mozart..
The Hills are alive with music indeed.

Cuckoo for Cuckoo Clocks :P

2006-07-12T14:11:00.000-07:00

Well, Switzerland was quite interesting, expensive but my time there was short.. Can you guys figure out the reason why?

The country definitely lives up to its name, shoppes are filled with cuckoo clocks, and you guessed it, the Swiss army knives. After a while, I felt like I was seeing red! Luckily I was able to escape the touristy spots, and delve into a hidden location in Lucerne. There lied an beautiful monument etched in stone, appropriately named the Lion Monument. Grandeur in size, with beautiful engravings below as well as Pond. I advise you to not swim in the pond, its an natural pond and tourist have infiltrated it with trash.
However, I DO advise you to do what I did, Seek out for an nice sandwich in the local shoppe, bread, meat, and whatever toppings you prefer, u can get all that for 20 Swiss Francs.. And head out to the park, and sit on those lovely park benches and just take in the beautiful serene park. And sometimes they have local singers, singing for change so it actually provides such an memorable experience in Switzerland.
You will be amazed how far 50 francs can do for you in Switzerland for one day. Which was the amount of time spent in Switzerland. You should visit Lucerne just to see the park, it makes the extra step worth it. It is a expensive country, you can spend a longer time here, if you have some serious cash to spend. Not quite ideal for travelers on a budget.

Bonjour Paree!

2006-07-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

Audrey Hepburn once said Bonjour Paree! in the acclaimed film "Funny Face". She arrives in Paris with Fred Astaire, do a song and dance about Paris with such enthusiasm. Having arrived in the City of light, love and art. I now know what they were talking about, the feel, the atmosphere of Paris just was breathtaking.. I was in awe...

On the flight over, I was so ecstatic, I barely could sit still. This was my first time being abroad, flying into a foreign country with a wonderful group of people. Right away we headed to the Eiffel tower, there was no time to rest despite the time difference. I looked out side my window, and my first view of Paris was the grey mist rolling in, and the green patches of grass besides the cold tarmac. We deplaned, and got on the tarmac, and boarded a bus with no seats. We had to stand whilst the driver was winding through the airport tarmac, holding onto a little bar for support. Needless to say, it was a interesting start to the day. We boarded our Official Tour Bus, one that we would be taking through Europe. After a 13 hour flight, we headed over to Eiffel tower in Paris, it was only 9 am. We had a long day ahead of us.
Tour De' Eiffel, was amazing considering that it had rained at the top. Oh, the weather was fickle when I was there. One minute it was clear as day, sun shining bright and the next it was treacherous downpour. The view was to die for, seeing all of Paris the new and the old was absolutely amazing. My fear of heights was quickly forgotten for a moment, taking in the sights of Paris. Our group went our separate ways, we explored the Tower, shopped at the small souvenir shoppe at the second level. Once me and my friends had realized that we had 15 minutes to meet up with the rest of the group at the bottom. We bolted, and ran to the Elevator. Only to get there when everyone is just getting on, filling up the entire elevator. Leaving us with No room to board. My friend looked at me, and went "Lets take the stairs!". WHAT?! Take the stairs from the second level to the ground level? NO WAY. But somehow, I was persuade as we had 10 minutes left. Great. I headed down stealthily,and shakily. The stairs were see through, metal, and rickety. I was a nervous wreck. Reminding myself to breathe every once and a while. My fear of heights was evident here.
After meeting up with the rest of the group, we made our way to the boat tour of the Seine river. Within the first 15 minutes everyone in my group passed out(except me and two other people), and missed the entire tour. Not moi, sneakingly I went to the side of the boats where I could see the sights better, and clearer. If it were not for the dang plastic overhead on the boat. Not very clever is it? A sightseeing boat tour, where a plastic overhead is obstructing your view of Paris?? It was interesting, I will say that for sure!!
Towards the end of the day, we made our way to the Hard Rock cafe for something familiar. Something that reminded us of home, that something familiar turned out to be burnt American burgers. How ironic? I had come to Paris, for burnt American burgers. In Paris, the buses have designated parking spots, they cannot park right out of the restaurants or anywhere else for that matter. So you will have to walk a bit to your place of visit. Upon eating our quite interesting Americanized dinner, we made our way back to the bus for the last location of the day, our hotels. It suddenly started to drizzle slightly, it was quite clear that we had about a mile to walk to get to our bus and that we were in trouble...As we headed to the bus, it had gone from a mild drizzle to a heavy downpour. Fickle weather eh?
At this point, we all ran towards the bus, but unfortunately for me I was stuck behind because of all the cars waiting for a quick getaway. Standing on the curb, drenched to the spine. All of my stuff including my sneakers became drenched in the Parisian rain. I truly felt like Gene Kelly in the film "Singing in the Rain". I didn't care, that it was pouring, I didn't care for the fact that my stuff was getting ruined. At that moment, My friend shouted out "WELCOME TO PARIS!"... and that's exactly what it was, it was an wonderful way to the end the day. Visiting Paris, is quite magical, memorable, and lovable. You wont regret visiting Paris, you will just fall in love all over again...

Therefore making Paris the one place a must visit! When you walk along the lovely streets of Paris, trying to understand the French language with a baguette in hand.. You are the typical tourist, Stopping every now and then to take a photo of the majestic buildings, structures and art adored in the streets. When you are in Paris, the list is endless. I suggest that you write a list of all the must sees in Paris, plan your time well. The top Five places you must see in Paris are,
*Eiffel Tower-For the view
*The Louvre- For the arts
*Champs Elysee- For the Fashion
*The Notre Dame - For the peace and serenity
*Chateau De Versailles- For the Royalty

All these places, your going to want a significant amount of time to visit, I guarantee you...
Plus, There's a restaurant hidden in the Versailles Garden!! Get the Ice cream while you are there, I kid you not it is the best in the world!

Bonjour everyone! Merci for reading my blog :D

The Eiffel Tower

Notre Dame! Do you see the hutchback?? :P

Self explanatory :D

Happy Travels!

People To People Student Ambassador Program 2006

2006-06-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

A letter came in the mail addressed to me on the envelope it had read my name and the logo with Blue thick letters that read People to People Organization. I had no knowledge of this organization, where did they come from, and how did they find me? Skeptically I opened the envelope, it had read "Congratulations, you have been nominated for the People to People Student Ambassador Program. In the Summer of 2006, you will visit the following countries France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy". It also read the introduction by Mary Eisenhower, the Grand Daughter of Dwight. D Eisenhower. Eisenhower created a academic program for young students to join, and to be culturally aware of the world. After I read this letter, I squealed. The sun was setting in through the window, it was a long day indeed. My spirits was lifted up as soon I read a little glimpse of my upcoming adventure.
However, I was still a little skeptical and so were my parents. But that was all changed as soon as we left for the Orientation meeting in a local school gym. The leaders, and the organization leaders told us everything about the program. Slide shows and recent People to People ambassador students recalling their trip. I was ecstatic, I could barely hold still in my seat. Afterward, I was serious about this trip. It was all I could think about. My family had started some fundrasing. Several different methods were used to raise approx five thousand dollars. The program fees usually varies on certain trips. Mine was "Discover Europe", there are several different trips to various parts of the world, such as China, Australia, and several others countries in Europe.
Method one was to create Jars, and set them in different store locations. Which read
"Please help a student reach her dream of being a Student Ambassadors". We mentioned our situation, so people would understand what the program was about. Method two was Garage sales, which helped quite a bit. We sold a lot of items, large tables, anything that would garnish a higher sales number. Method three, was to buy our Local Stores gift cards. Believe it or not, this was our number one way of raising money for People to People fees. A group of students would sell two types of gift cards; $50-100 dollar cards. The way it worked was this, the local store gave us a discount prices on the cards, and you would sell them to local customers, friends, families. It was easier for people to buy a gift card, and use it for the store only. It gave them a way to budget their food shopping money, they didn't have to worry about Credit Card fees, or if they have money in their ATM. This way, swipe the card and you walked away with your grocery. Hassle free. I was amazed at how many people rather have gift cards for their grocery shopping than to use their own cards. Which made sense, needless to say most locals purchased the cards, and wish me good luck for my upcoming trip.
Throughout the school year, the Group meets up on the weekend. The reason for this, was to get acquainted with your peers, to prepare for the trip, and learn about the country that we are visiting. Normally a big project follows, you are assigned a country, and on a particular subject. My project was Italy's flora and fauna. Flora which is Italian for flower, and plant life. Fauna meant the wildlife in Italy. Not to worry, this project was fun and easy to do. Overall the meetings were fantastic, I was able to make friends before the trip. Which made me feel at ease, I wouldn't be traveling alone, now I would be traveling with friends.

The school year couldn't have gone any faster, anticipating my trip. All was done, the fees were paid off, the necessities were picked up. All that was left was to wake up at 3am in the morning and jet off to the airport for my whirlwind adventure. Before I knew it, it was July 5th, and I was on my way. I couldn't have been happier. My first trip abroad.

If you have the chance to send your niece, nephews, your kids on this distinguished program. DO. They will make long lasting friendships, they will have an enriching cultural experience, they will also create memories that will last them a lifetime. I cannot think of a reason NOT to go, I can go on and on about reasons WHY you MUST. Another important reason, the student that goes gets 12 credits for school, which can be applied for High school, or for College Credits. Which helped me significantly in High School, I was ahead of my class!
Plus, once a Student Ambassador, you are eligible for other trips abroad. There is even an Alumni trip, that takes you to various locations such as South America, Russia, and so on. Do this for them. I went, and I do not regret a single thing.

http://www.peopletopeople.com/Pages/default.aspx

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to help you with the Student Ambassador process.
Happy Travels