tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68223628198036799622024-03-04T21:45:49.669-08:00Near N' ThereNearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-13359198898557478432013-01-21T18:28:00.002-08:002013-01-21T18:30:00.750-08:00Barbados in PicsI'm really becoming a slacker at posting. Here are a few snapshots of the Barbados trip. As you can probably guess, we spent most of our time on the beach. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby turtles released into the night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rescued baby turtles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tour guide swimming with the turtles</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-80256030084567758182012-12-28T07:52:00.000-08:002012-12-28T07:52:04.461-08:00Imperfect Perfection?<br />
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Excess fat, wrinkles and sags that reveal the effects of time. C-section scars, pot bellies, sun-fried flesh. Yet, proudly they strut, in bikinis that hang on for dear life. Wait, she's nearly darn perfect! Toned arms, legs and wash-board abs. Strength exudes from her every muscle. She enters the sea while her husband and infant look on. But there is only one of her and so many of them. If this is representative of us - the human race - what does it say about our never-ending quest for perfection? Is it all futile? It seems that as a specie, we are more imperfect than we are perfect. If we are all destined to deteriorate, to fall apart, to get on the moving sidewalk of gradual but consistent decay, why is it so difficult to accept our joint destiny? We can rest assured that on this this journey, we will not feel isolated. After all, there will be countless fellow travelers with the same destination.<br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-34248963497145464732012-12-02T06:32:00.000-08:002012-12-02T06:53:38.168-08:00Barbados<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Water so intensely blue that you know it could never be replicated in a Crayola factory. The sun, uninhibited by clouds, stings your skin from roughly 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sand like I've seen nowhere else. So fine. Mixed in with crystals of pink, or maybe it's red. This is Barbados. From the moment you step onto the beach, you get the sense that you are stepping into a postcard. I'll say it again - the colors! Those astonishing colors. So unreal. But they must be real, because my eyes, as well as my other senses suggest that they are. What do we do first? We'll be here only for a few days. All of this beauty is a limited resource, then it's gone and I'm not sure when I'll experience it again. I sit under an umbrella chair and just take it all in. It's very early in the morning, and the beach is practically isolated. A few vendors setting up their stalls. A lone runner. A couple of heads in the water that bob up and down to the rhythm of the waves - sort of like the floating balls that help fishermen to locate their fish pots.<br />
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I sit back, almost uncomfortably. I fear that if I get too comfortable, I will take this for granted. I don't want to take it for granted. I grew up around great beauty. I grew up with the Caribbean Sea. I saw it everyday and after a while, I took it for granted. It was the reality of my life and I expected it to be there whenever I looked out my window. Then one day, it wasn't. I was in a new land and I felt like a part of me was absent. I wasn't sure what it was, since everything was so new. My family was far away. So were my friends and everything that was familiar. Then as I started to adjust, I dawned on me - the water. Where is it? I can't live without it. I don't want to. Actually, I can and I have, but it's been difficult. So here I sit, taking it in and realizing just how lucky I am to be in this moment. I'm not sure how much time passed. I sat and my son played in the sand. He built structures with his new sand bucket. I so want him to connect to all of this the way that I do. I want what I hope is his innate islander to emerge. I want him to feel right at home in this place. He gets my attention and I join his castle-building endeavors. Slowly, the beach gets more populated. I'm a little bit annoyed that I no longer have this all to myself. But then again, I understand. I just hope that they appreciate this as much as I do. Otherwise, they don't deserve to be here.<br />
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The shadows of the umbrella had shifted. I am now fully exposed to the stinging of the sun. I could just get up and move the chair, but I don't want to. I feel thirsty. There is only one thing that can satisfy my thirst. Coconut water. I'm not sure where I can get some. I coax my son into coming with me to look for it. Reluctantly, he follows, but only after I promise that we will return to his construction site soon. I walk over to the Rastaman sitting under the almond tree. I ask him where I can find some. He tells me that there is a guy who sells it right here on the beach. He rotates his head, cranes his neck. He tells me that the coconut man is not here yet. "How soon do you need it?", he asks. I want to tell him right now. It's an emergency. I've waited a while for this. Instead, I tell him that I can come back later. He is curious about me. He can tell that I'm a fellow islander, but he does not know which island. He knows I'm not from Barbados. Trinidad? St. Lucia maybe? I tell him Dominica. Well actually, I grew up there. I was born in Antigua. My grandfather was from Barbados. Or so I've heard. I don't know him. He died before I was born. But it does make sense. After all, my last name is common here in Barbados. Not Dominica, not Antigua, but Barbados. He's satisfied with my response. He smiles at me and welcomes me home.NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-8734148690107437222012-10-18T19:13:00.000-07:002012-10-18T19:14:00.193-07:00Gray Skies on Academic Lane <img src="webkit-fake-url://E2E65601-AFF4-4CE1-AA24-3E038568D822/image.tiff" /><br />
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Pursuing a PhD is sometimes not fun. Maybe I say this because I feel so drained after the mid-semester chaos. Two statistics midterms for me - one in class and closed book. Papers to grade. Class preps for the course that I teach, and a paper to defend in a few weeks. I am burnt out. I want to sleep. I wonder why I'm here. I'd like to be somewhere sunny, with beautiful beaches. Barbados maybe? The grayness of this town, the smallness, the blahness. This journey will continue. I know it will. I will make it continue. But right now, I want more than anything else to take a detour. Nothing extensive. Just a week or so. To see how real people live. To get the hell out of this bubble for a bit. Maybe Thanksgiving? Kayak.com, here I come.NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-81682525193627005282012-09-27T19:40:00.001-07:002012-09-27T19:40:26.458-07:00Summertime in the VineyardI meant to write this post a while back, but the semester started and took over my life. Last month, at the end of my <a href="http://nearnthere.blogspot.com/2012/08/boston-baby.html" target="_blank">conference in Boston</a>, my family drove up to meet me so we could take a mini vacation before classes started. My husband had a long-standing invitation from a friend to spend some time with them on their lightship in Martha's Vineyard. Let me tell you - you haven't lived until you've spent time on a <a href="http://www.nantucketlightship.com/" target="_blank">luxury lightship</a>! The owner of the ship bought it from ebay, in an effort to save it from being sold for parts. Then, he and his wife completely immersed themselves into converting it into the work of art that it is today.<br />
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We had spent time on the ship before, but not while it was docked in Martha's Vineyard. What an opportunity! To be on the water off the coast of an island - my dream life indeed, as those are two of my favorite things. It was everything we thought it would be. MAB was especially enthralled. After all, he likes all things red, and this has to be one of the largest red things ever. Plus, there were other kids to play with. Plus, the ship has countless rooms that make for the best game of hide and seek ever. Plus, he could roll in the sand, wade off into the water, and cruise around in a kayak. He thoroughly enjoyed the experience.<br />
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Me? I enjoyed it as well, but in my own special way. With lobsters and ice-cream and many naps in random locations on the ship. What can I say? I was exhausted from the conference! Thankfully, there is nothing better than sleeping to the rhythm of the waves, especially when it is on a luxury ship. Overall, it was a relaxing trip....until it was time to leave. We got in the wrong queue for the ferry, missed our ride to the mainland, got on another ferry that took us an hour away from where we were parked. Thankfully, our hosts arranged a ride for us with a coast guard officer who shared his stories of wild rescues during treacherous storms. It was like interviewing a cast member of <i>I Shouldn't Be Alive</i>! We are truly blessed to have people like him who are willing to risk their lives for others.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nantucket Lighthip</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views on the island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the beach</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our room - the photo does not do it justice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views on the island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views on the island</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-61259252910983647862012-09-14T09:57:00.003-07:002012-09-14T09:57:54.732-07:00Flashback Fridays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Dominica the Beautiful</div>
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Either 2005 or 2006</div>
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These photos do not do justice to the beauty of this island. I will be adding some more in the near future.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotts' Head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delices</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-29740271596951691102012-08-24T13:32:00.000-07:002012-08-24T13:32:04.878-07:00Flashback FridaysHoneymoon Island Beach - Tampa Fl<br />
Dec. 2010<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8HjCN1IDhtdzG73ZHik_qCFjRlmo_bMasYEl7o-E1saXNFmPYKPtOuugQnmjABluN37PzYBQ401M3ngY7gaGEHVQDj54r0MuYmbp7EKqGPDxjKPN9Tel3WAhhdBmSMlVuV7wE2d-Z24/s1600/IMG_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8HjCN1IDhtdzG73ZHik_qCFjRlmo_bMasYEl7o-E1saXNFmPYKPtOuugQnmjABluN37PzYBQ401M3ngY7gaGEHVQDj54r0MuYmbp7EKqGPDxjKPN9Tel3WAhhdBmSMlVuV7wE2d-Z24/s400/IMG_0172.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the beach, even when it's cold</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-32402770565651030902012-08-22T18:28:00.002-07:002012-08-22T18:29:42.502-07:00Boston, Baby!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNB_ZNHpp0_6cFeJIPlIH3LftShZhsIH4C4G7-XHu9PvV8twug5HKvAP68VrcndH2G3PrNByugsS-WFnowr-8wAjsjEnUqIdfCOZaii3O343je_NE7DjVkIJPWadhEJ8qzfM7su4rTcA/s1600/IMG_3448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNB_ZNHpp0_6cFeJIPlIH3LftShZhsIH4C4G7-XHu9PvV8twug5HKvAP68VrcndH2G3PrNByugsS-WFnowr-8wAjsjEnUqIdfCOZaii3O343je_NE7DjVkIJPWadhEJ8qzfM7su4rTcA/s400/IMG_3448.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Dancers on Newbury Street</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I love cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the energy of cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a certain something that is hard to
understand, unless you are a fellow urbanite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the street dancers, food stands, outdoor dining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nicely-dressed strangers in a hurry to get
somewhere important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sirens - it is
truly amazing how silent silence is without the assorted sounds that are the
soundtrack of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it’s not
for everyone and some things about city life can be downright unpleasant, but really,
the good trumps the bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And believe me
when I say that small, quaint towns have their hidden horrors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, I’m extremely biased and more
obviously, I really enjoyed my time in Boston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, this city could now be on my shortlist of potential places to
move to when I graduate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was in Boston for my field’s
annual conference, so I had to get figure out a way to balance the work with
the play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the heat and meat of San
Antonio last year (what is a non-meat eater to do in such a city?!), I was truly
excited about this location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boston did
not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my love for all
things old, I was in my element: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
gawked at the beauty of some of the oldest architecture in the US. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As luck would have it, I stayed at the
<a href="http://www.fairmont.com/copley-plaza-boston/" target="_blank">Fairmont Copley</a> – pure decadence, with it’s intricate tile mosaic floors and
generously gold ceilings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I mention
that this year is their 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I strolled along the Charles River
and absorbed the tranquility that comes whenever I am near water. I wandered
into public buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My all-time
favorite – <a href="http://www.bpl.org/" target="_blank">the public library</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally,
I love libraries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something about the works
of thousands of great minds, clustered together in a common space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The energy excites me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This library was even more special
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I will say is that if you
ever find yourself in Boston, the public library is a must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you love marble floors and painted
ceilings, visit the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if the
weather is nice, set aside time for relaxing in the courtyard – undeniably a
hidden gem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you get hungry, there is
<a href="http://www.thecateredaffair.com/bpl/maproom/" target="_blank">even a café</a>, with a décor as delicious as we would hope the food to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of food, I ate well and I ate lots
of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, Newbury Street for
giving me so many options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you,
Boston for being amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For restoring will
to return for another grueling semester.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMn1VOvhkDXjL7sQhcDSlqWwHHSS5QpNYM9aNyr8BAbLcUTgxII1QlSSPFA-l82JThD7TCFa_cNyDFrM995FgzwpaulL9a9YVElLaff9INm4mB5ncf6zSh57DuPFNeqH9lgGP3qy5xow/s1600/IMG_3454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMn1VOvhkDXjL7sQhcDSlqWwHHSS5QpNYM9aNyr8BAbLcUTgxII1QlSSPFA-l82JThD7TCFa_cNyDFrM995FgzwpaulL9a9YVElLaff9INm4mB5ncf6zSh57DuPFNeqH9lgGP3qy5xow/s400/IMG_3454.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gondolas in Boston?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN3kGzjQJwqhw3meOo4qzYbGLGs-9IfUmDiATYgGUzYIeaaFSaedHITCoCMUrKOxfxSR2Uw9SbPpJqkkCWLuBqpFoMrkBAGx185YmxQIqOJy303OPd_nrPZcX-WRvO96F2XuRHhMW880/s1600/IMG_3474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN3kGzjQJwqhw3meOo4qzYbGLGs-9IfUmDiATYgGUzYIeaaFSaedHITCoCMUrKOxfxSR2Uw9SbPpJqkkCWLuBqpFoMrkBAGx185YmxQIqOJy303OPd_nrPZcX-WRvO96F2XuRHhMW880/s400/IMG_3474.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby of the Fairmont Copley </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard at the Boston Public Library</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Entrance to the Boston Public Library</td></tr>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_ucMA91nOvLD34Yx5SsojZzQMrijm7kuEjBm09jyhEnzJbSgGl01ICFO6ad6PqMF3QlqGx373QlCZNGOHP8Vp48S41JR8y97BJQh6yLTa4vh-aIyk8nuuOU1jYSUHa2jjrxyjKTadg/s1600/IMG_3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj_ucMA91nOvLD34Yx5SsojZzQMrijm7kuEjBm09jyhEnzJbSgGl01ICFO6ad6PqMF3QlqGx373QlCZNGOHP8Vp48S41JR8y97BJQh6yLTa4vh-aIyk8nuuOU1jYSUHa2jjrxyjKTadg/s400/IMG_3494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A proper Jamaican meal!</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-59049040700400078852012-07-19T20:02:00.000-07:002012-07-19T20:02:52.411-07:00Flashback Fridays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Wiltshire County, UK</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>May 2012</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Best know for Stonehenge. Spectacularly beautiful countryside, with its bright yellow rolling hills of <a href="http://www.rapeseedoil.co.uk/">rapeseed oil</a>, unmistakeable from the sky, blindingly stunning from near. Perfect English weather, an apparent rarity, and appreciated all the more for this reason.</div>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-78591763016582780022012-07-15T06:57:00.001-07:002012-07-15T06:58:24.342-07:00Why Write a Travel Journal<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D82JpvdfXj-MEDQsIV8vTk5vfK2kxZeJ9KT7lQxX79sAuXc4a8ilAI3pmEIPOJe5z26WSfGyb6D4kwpUNd7FVapoBZcLNKwZzngtFvJDycrqco7tp_O6FmMF5WtkBkRgQ_OWRIbhYYY/s1600/DSC01867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_D82JpvdfXj-MEDQsIV8vTk5vfK2kxZeJ9KT7lQxX79sAuXc4a8ilAI3pmEIPOJe5z26WSfGyb6D4kwpUNd7FVapoBZcLNKwZzngtFvJDycrqco7tp_O6FmMF5WtkBkRgQ_OWRIbhYYY/s400/DSC01867.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journaling on Lake Titicaca Peru - 2007</td></tr>
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Usually, I keep a journal when I travel. Ole-school style - pen and paper. It is not the same as writing a blog, because there are things that I say in the book that I would never record in the public domain. I write whatever is on my mind. I write about what I see and what I eat. I write about what I enjoy and what frustrates me. I find that this helps me to reflect on my experiences in real time and to appreciate the tiny bits of beauty all around me. And as an additional bonus, it's always great to look back on those entries years later and see if and how my overall outlook has changed.NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-59242516424282283502012-07-06T13:05:00.000-07:002012-07-06T13:05:36.554-07:00Distractions on Academic LaneThe academic journey can be grueling...draining...mentally exhausting, and sometimes the only thing I want to do is something non-academic. Like refurbishing something old. The latest project is an antique school desk for my son. We found the perfect desk at a used furniture store and with a bit of research, found out that it is from the earlier part of the 20th century. My son wanted red, we thought all red would be too much. Here's what we came up with:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We forgot to take before pics, so this is the best that we have</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVjfJzhG8gx9Rljw02tdbMk9tZbDTaB0dDz8DGc27SYbl6Ox05s-XyDv34GaiuCIIjUaxM6F5hGB7gkkxfMyz2ntV36X-Es2HtD3suzZezzbvYuVc4rHR1s7hYlDAIlKngOnowk1LXIA/s1600/IMG_3405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVjfJzhG8gx9Rljw02tdbMk9tZbDTaB0dDz8DGc27SYbl6Ox05s-XyDv34GaiuCIIjUaxM6F5hGB7gkkxfMyz2ntV36X-Es2HtD3suzZezzbvYuVc4rHR1s7hYlDAIlKngOnowk1LXIA/s400/IMG_3405.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stripped!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgqVzZNSl9DtPqBMkInLpwn6d7q5Ol3W0DLi12ayXIhoekJf9H566a3JSAmil_8UFXYDFDTwcIqcPbj5NWpJG9RP3YByMAXUIoPIXVCscj5JhdBj8fyNiTnvbRW1ZXK61VeWh8TsOzfs/s1600/IMG_3422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgqVzZNSl9DtPqBMkInLpwn6d7q5Ol3W0DLi12ayXIhoekJf9H566a3JSAmil_8UFXYDFDTwcIqcPbj5NWpJG9RP3YByMAXUIoPIXVCscj5JhdBj8fyNiTnvbRW1ZXK61VeWh8TsOzfs/s400/IMG_3422.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the bolts got some tlc</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFnoiJIr4vZIczqupN2SS-3BmzyKvxN0UKx1SID7447w2VJBC6GdB3RoJq-wn45jw6gVNazVieECT-bkziNf_FJWKE84F59KKztSvTOzlerodkeH0MRKTlmVK_vRMk2Din6wbenCcSlM/s1600/IMG_3423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFnoiJIr4vZIczqupN2SS-3BmzyKvxN0UKx1SID7447w2VJBC6GdB3RoJq-wn45jw6gVNazVieECT-bkziNf_FJWKE84F59KKztSvTOzlerodkeH0MRKTlmVK_vRMk2Din6wbenCcSlM/s400/IMG_3423.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Refinished back rests</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>and finally....</b></span><br /><br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-68881590940585769972012-07-06T06:02:00.001-07:002012-07-06T06:09:41.813-07:00Flashback Fridays<b>Taquile Island - Peru</b><br />
2007<br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-83358579321245263762012-07-05T16:13:00.003-07:002012-07-05T16:24:34.329-07:00The Clocks of London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
On my recent trip to London, I couldn't help but notice that there are clocks everywhere! Old clocks, new clocks, ornate clocks, simple clocks. Ok, that was a bit corny, but I couldn't help it. It got me wondering - did all of these clocks provide some kind of insight in British culture and/or values? Growing up in a former British colony, I remember remarks about the their obsession with punctuality. With so many clocks, how can anyone ever justify being late? As you can tell from the photos below, I developed a bit of an obsession with taking pics of these clocks. The plan is to combine into a collage of some sort. Since I am pressed for time, it won't happen anytime soon, so in the meantime...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b>AND THE MOST FAMOUS OF THEM ALL.... BIG BEN!</b></span><br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-54605701609957769032012-07-03T08:33:00.002-07:002012-07-03T09:01:06.194-07:00The Art of Packing - Louis Vuitton Style<br />
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A few weeks back, I did<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://nearnthere.blogspot.com/2012/05/efficient-vacation-packing-for-fashion.html">a post on efficient (and I should also say, effective) packing for the fashion conscious </a></span>. Today, I came across a feature on the Louis Vuitton website, that is an interactive take on the art of packing. Please do not ask how I even found the site. Anyways, the website allows you to pick your LV bag of choice (or fantasy) and walks you through the ideal way to pack it. There are even tutorials on folding the clothes. Now, most of us do not own LV luggage and some of us never may, but sometimes, a bag is a bag is a bag (highly subjective statement, of course). For the non-LV-owners, what you can do is pick the luggage with the dimensions that are closest to yours, and make your way through the guide. Fun. I will say though, given the limited number of clothes that must go into the luggage, this guide must be for someone who (1) is traveling for no more than 2 days, or (2) has a full wardrobe in her mansion at the destination city, or (3) doesn't mind wearing the same clothes over and over again.<br />
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Check it out for yourself:<br />
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http://www.louisvuitton.com/front/#/eng_US/Collections/Women/Travel/stories/The-Art-of-packingNearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-57851265702898222792012-06-28T18:43:00.000-07:002012-06-28T18:43:05.033-07:00The Road to Muskoka<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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My family visits Toronto Canada at least once a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister and her family lives there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally, when we visit, we hang out in and
around the house, with few trips to the downtown area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get lazy, we lose track of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever our reasons, we don’t do a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, when we visit, we drive. The drive
feels like a necessary evil and we try to complete it with very few stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to convince the other people in the
car that we should savor the journey and make the best of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend had mentioned that Ellicottville
NY, directly on our way, was a charming town, so that’s where we stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the <a href="http://www.griffispark.org/">Griffis
Sculpture Park</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place is
literally in the middle of nowhere, but someone had a remarkable vision to scatter
over 250 large sculptures along trails on 450 acres of forestland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sculpture candy store of sorts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admission is on an honor system, with a
specified donation amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
instructed to place the cash in a metal box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh, and that the location is under camera surveillance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm. What do you do if you’re missing a
dollar or if you only have large bills, but there is no one to give you change?
What is the ethical thing to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just wondering.
I’ve also never quite understood the concept of asking for a donation but
specifying the amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems like a
contradiction, but I diverge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways,
the park is serenely beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
ideal place for the art enthusiast to commune with nature with minimal
interruptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also a stark
contrast from the crazy Toronto traffic that we dealt with shortly after we
left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This year’s visit with my sister’s
family was also different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got out of
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rented a cottage in Severn
Bridge, Muskoka – just under 2 hours and a world of difference from Toronto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cottage country, they call it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Muskoka is apparently where Torontonians
escape to during the summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
cottage, or “the lodge”, as my 6-year old niece insisted on calling it, had “a
view to die for” – also her words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was right on the water and had every amenity that we could ask for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hung out, we grilled, we hung out some
more, but we did break away to visit the <a href="http://discovergravenhurst.ca/muskoka-wharf-c23.php">Muskoka Wharf</a> in
Gravenhurst and the <a href="http://www.barrie.ca/Living/RecreationFacilities/Pages/Beaches.aspx">Centennial
Park Beach</a> in Barrie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had
fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all had fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think there was a general consensus
that this should become a family tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now for the long drive back to central Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, we’ve decided to stop at Niagara
Falls on the way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World's Largest Muskoka Chair</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View form the pier</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from back porch of Cabin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffis Sculpture Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Niagara Falls, Canada</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-60516104585710120812012-06-15T08:26:00.001-07:002012-06-28T18:43:34.638-07:00Flashback Fridays -<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
360 Restaurant - CN Tower, Toronto</div>
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May 2011</div>
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I had the pleasure of dining at the 360 Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. This is one of those things that you do more for the experience than the food. Don't get me wrong - the food was good, but it is nothing compared to rotating on the top of an 1800 ft tower, as the day transitions to night. This is just about as close to a sunset as you can get, while still being connected to solid ground. </div>
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Most photos were taken from our dinner table.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CN Tower at night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass-bottomed elevator. Not for the acrophobic.</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-6362697638587352822012-06-03T16:55:00.002-07:002012-06-28T18:44:00.962-07:002 days in Dubrovnik, Croatia<div class="MsoNormal">
I visit at least one new place every year and this year, it
is Dubrovnik, Croatia – Jewel of the Adriatic.
From London, Sangs and I got tickets on one of the discount airlines for
just about $160 round trip! We rented <a href="http://www.amendolahouse.it/eng/default.shtml">an adorable little 4<sup>th</sup>
floor apartment</a> in Old Town, with a <a href="mailto:http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295371-d2073905-Reviews-Sugar_Spice-Dubrovnik_Dubrovnik_Neretva_County_Dalmatia.html">pastry
shop</a> right downstairs. Whenever I
have a choice, I go for vacation rentals or bed and breakfasts over traditional
hotels any day and would eagerly give up the concierge and room service for more
space and a more homely feel.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the city wall - Dubrovnik</td></tr>
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Dubrovnik is like a postcard. Really.
You could point your camera in just about any direction and get a shot
that is postcard appropriate. Sangs and
I used this as an opportunity to engage in impromptu mini photo shoots all over
town. Celebrities, in our own minds, and
maybe that of the elderly tourists that seem to make up about 90% of all the
people we ran into. That would explain why there were random people from Turkey
following me around to have their photos taken with me. Either that or they’ve never seen a 5’10”
brown skin girl before. I’d like to
think it’s the former. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Day 1: Old Town is fairly small. In the morning, we hiked the wall that
surrounds the city. Ok, maybe hiking is
a bit of an exaggeration, but the leisurely walk did take us several hours,
again, mainly because we stopped at every corner to take photos. Then it was time for lunch. Now, there are stairs everywhere in
Dubrovnik. Seriously, everywhere! We climbed several hundreds or something like
that, just to get to lunch! It was worth
it. <a href="mailto:http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g295371-d1797401-Reviews-Lady_Pi_Pi-Dubrovnik_Dubrovnik_Neretva_County_Dalmatia.html">Lady
Pi Pi</a> had great food, great views and was by far the best food that we had
in Dubrovnik. Most other places had the
same uninspiring Italian food. Then came
the moment we had been waiting for – gelato!
Since we got in the night before, that was all we talked about. But we
thought it would taste even better if we delayed the pleasure. It was good, but definitely not as good as
the gelato that we had the following day.
My choice – extra dark chocolate and Whiskey cream. Divine. For days after, I talked about
Whiskey cream. Maybe because it reminded
me of Rum and Raisin ice cream that is so popular in the part of the world that
I come from? After lunch, we explored
Old Town, stopping in spectacular corners to just sit and take it all in. We hung out on the beach and watched the
sunbathers. That evening, we sat on the
steps of a church to listen to the most beautiful music that came seeped
through the cracks of the door. It was a
classical music performance that we were too cheap to pay the cover charge for,
but later realized that it would have been well worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Day 2 – We left the apartment as early as we possibly could,
which worked out to be around 10 a.m. We ate and headed to the harbor to catch
the ferry to Lokrum. We did not know
what to expect. One of the online
reviews spoke of a place with a rundown monastery and a poor excuse for a
botanical garden. What we saw instead,
was an island paradise inhabited by peacocks, surrounded by crystal clear water
and very few other people in sight. We
wandered around aimlessly. “Wandered
aimlessly” because we had no maps and the island had many forks in the road,
but no signs. We even wandered unto the nudist beach without realizing that
non-nudes were not allowed. In this case, there was a sign, we took a photo of
the sign, but fail to absorb what it was communicating to us. It worked out,
since we left before anyone could demand that we strip. We stumbled on to Mrtvo More (Dead Sea) Lake
and got lost in its beauty. Only the
growling of our stomachs jarred us back to reality, sending us on a quest for
food. Why were we not as organized as
those suntanned 20-something year old boys who had to foresight to pack a
picnic lunch? We found sustenance at the
island’s main restaurant and ate in almost complete silence as we were way too
hungry to attempt to formulate a sensible conversation. Then, once we were recharged, we were good to
go! 1-hour photo shoot at the old monastery. For a second, guilt set in as we realized
that we were reveling in one of the 7 deadly sins at a former place of
holiness. That feeling was
fleeting. After all, I’m not sure that
anyone appreciated the beauty of the place as much as we did. We were willing to climb over rubble to
explore rooms that I am sure were out of bounds to snoopers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After the monastery, we walked and walked and eventually
found our way to the fort at the very top of the island. Breathtaking views. Well worth trudging through rocks in our
inappropriate footwear. After Lokrum, we
made our way back to Dubrovnik, had more ice cream, took the cable car to the
most stunning vistas, basked in a sunset at the incredible <a href="http://www.cafebuza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=3">Buza
Cafe</a>, and had dinner at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g295371-d2042680-Reviews-Konoba_Penatur-Dubrovnik_Dubrovnik_Neretva_County_Dalmatia.html">an
awful restaurant</a> with bad food and a “cover charge”. By this time, it was late, we hung out for a
bit, then headed back to the apartment to get some rest before our early flight
the next day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead Sea Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Lokrum Monastary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buza Cafe nestled on the rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Roofs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Town from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banje Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbing the rocks at Dead Sea Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">peacock on Lokrum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lonely boat</td></tr>
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<br /></div>NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-71415515168097126642012-05-25T11:24:00.001-07:002012-07-06T06:02:49.787-07:00Flashback FridayAMSTERDAM FLOWER MARKET<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aug. 2011 - Amsterdam</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EXqYk43mCZlsSU_L6Ws8YIXW5oAEej2tZjnSdiK5B1EHF3S3AksvFgNJo5GE9g-6K92cKR5BdMmS0Q7o7Wct8dRte3OZmb9rnTrpj__SnXsHfpIPO6c8K5gkktMA0JkMx_D6vf7QUcQ/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EXqYk43mCZlsSU_L6Ws8YIXW5oAEej2tZjnSdiK5B1EHF3S3AksvFgNJo5GE9g-6K92cKR5BdMmS0Q7o7Wct8dRte3OZmb9rnTrpj__SnXsHfpIPO6c8K5gkktMA0JkMx_D6vf7QUcQ/s400/IMG_1185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was the view from an outdoor cafe at the <a href="http://www.amsterdamlogue.com/amsterdam-flower-market-and-what-to-expect.html">Amsterdam Flower Market</a>. Simple breakfast of glazed croissant and fresh squeezed orange juice. Beautiful flowers everywhere, more bulbs than I had ever seen in my life and people-watching perfection.<br />
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</div>NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-11359325021945156732012-05-22T17:57:00.000-07:002012-05-22T17:57:25.596-07:00London's Second Chance - The Aftermath<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihfBO0kKLPTSLT16Nmf2oWdOwDSxoHwPM3QFSni0uzIiT4URH2nEiZ9dzz5JqaGN9C1HAgnjuCVieeePP8hMgQKaea7xuvLTZDwkqpe672YalcHZgi_htQmQnP05MryoHKAq2odzOKgw/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihfBO0kKLPTSLT16Nmf2oWdOwDSxoHwPM3QFSni0uzIiT4URH2nEiZ9dzz5JqaGN9C1HAgnjuCVieeePP8hMgQKaea7xuvLTZDwkqpe672YalcHZgi_htQmQnP05MryoHKAq2odzOKgw/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London as dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gave London a second chance and I’m glad I did. In many
ways she was everything that I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was inhospitable – shutting out the sunlight and enveloping those who
dare thread her streets with wind and cold. She sent unwelcomed rain, damaging my
favorite leather boots and saddling me with a dripping wet umbrella for hours
on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the biggest affront is
her complete disregard for protocol; it is not supposed to be this frigid in
May. Furthermore, I should not have to borrow a winter jacket <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in May</b>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But hey, I firmly believe in making the most of my well-earned vacation,
so I clad myself as best as I could and resolved to use the power of my mind to
look past her obvious hostilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
figured, the millions of people who call this city home must find some pleasure
here, and so, I will search for her redeeming qualities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, my dear friend Sangs already had
about 7 months of insights into the London scene, so I mainly followed her
lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That, and with a bit of research,
we reached beyond her bitter rind to juicier interiors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That is
where the surprises began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we
explored, she began to reveal her secrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>London is a treasure trove of markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Markets of all kinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vintage
markets, flower markets, food markets, artisan markets. Take <a href="http://www.alfiesantiques.com/">Alfie’s Antique Market</a> – officially our
first stop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unassuming exterior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bland actually, and not exactly in the most
central of areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you enter the
doors and enter another world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This place
can and will keep you fascinated for countless hours with antique bling of all
kinds, one of a kind furniture, retro dresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You imagine it, and it’s probably here somewhere, in one of the many
stores. And when you need to refuel, the rooftop café is a welcomed oasis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, by the time we pried ourselves
from all the eye candy, the café was closing for the day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8nuLBSVZJkonBxgiXMb2plPIXJV8wvLW9cU6DdOgKKRZ7O7OKgRKJAxhdDt972r-WrydA6o6pPvX0AuJnCveq0CY14H1hcG1RzbQ6uOTpfzUD1fV2_EQLpI6RKHAivFtGMe_1_boMQA/s1600/IMG_2643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8nuLBSVZJkonBxgiXMb2plPIXJV8wvLW9cU6DdOgKKRZ7O7OKgRKJAxhdDt972r-WrydA6o6pPvX0AuJnCveq0CY14H1hcG1RzbQ6uOTpfzUD1fV2_EQLpI6RKHAivFtGMe_1_boMQA/s320/IMG_2643.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbia Street Flower Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Market hoping continued throughout
my almost 2-week stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Sangs and I,
guided by mutual love for shopping (or window shopping), seemed to always end
up at a market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was <a href="http://camdenlock.net/">Camden Market</a>, the Disney World of all
markets, and <a href="http://www.visitbricklane.org/">Brick Lane</a>, a
culinary delight for anyone with an appreciation for ethnic foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, <a href="http://columbiaroad.info/">Columbia
Road Flower Market</a>, <a href="http://www.portobellomarket.org/">Portobello
Market</a> and <a href="http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/">Spitalfields</a>
(Spitalfields is special, because that’s where I got my new red leather
oxfords!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point during these
market tours, it struck me – I did not feel the sting of the cold while
meandering through the crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it
wasn’t just me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we, all covered by
shared grey skies, were all gathered here with a mutual goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal of pooling our body heat to combat
the elements. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There, you forget what a
shitty day it is, as you absorb the sights, the sounds, the smells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But most importantly, you forget because of
the shared body heat. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2leu5eqJ1vy_qp9qvJl8h29DK7vb7678I6PTBOFwJuUyBCK5zHtlRmuGh0txYyDuX9jGxM3p2xuKKiMXbbEDfzlDKOW7SuTiL472M9f8e66xhfaQcgWvkVCSA6T6byKJcmDZRUUX3kE/s1600/IMG_3082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2leu5eqJ1vy_qp9qvJl8h29DK7vb7678I6PTBOFwJuUyBCK5zHtlRmuGh0txYyDuX9jGxM3p2xuKKiMXbbEDfzlDKOW7SuTiL472M9f8e66xhfaQcgWvkVCSA6T6byKJcmDZRUUX3kE/s320/IMG_3082.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower Bridge (look, blue in the sky!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When not at
markets, other places to get some high quality collective body heat, are the
ancient watering holes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You actually get
more ‘bang for your buck’, since there are crowds, alcohol + poor ventilation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say poor ventilation, because some of those places
are hundreds of years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older the
better. <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186338-d559646-Reviews-Ye_Olde_Cheshire_Cheese-London_England.html">Ye
Olde Cheshire Cheese</a> and <a href="http://www.gordonswinebar.com/default.php">Gordon’s
Wine Bar</a> were absolute favorites, as they offer both a drink, and a
historical experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it, a
drink is not just a drink when it is being drunk in a place where people have
gotten drunk for hundreds of years!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>London surprised
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the weather still leaves a lot
to be desired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter weather in May?
Not my cup of tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BUT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an umbrella, multiple layers of
clothing, and enough courage to venture out, London will charm the heck out of
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186338-d719237-Reviews-Golden_Hind-London_England.html">fish
and chips</a> ain’t too bad either! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeb_uk8ZvAJpy-1x8NZvYujZdLExY1KNbXtSBw9TccuMcIAj2DVP-is3QVH5nHUPtTXwwmJunmW9rO3d3kZt5Udu9vbXJIGz0c49-9qxUF1NS9C73LCnWo2Y07kPfDfQlglD5BYaW7vg/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeb_uk8ZvAJpy-1x8NZvYujZdLExY1KNbXtSBw9TccuMcIAj2DVP-is3QVH5nHUPtTXwwmJunmW9rO3d3kZt5Udu9vbXJIGz0c49-9qxUF1NS9C73LCnWo2Y07kPfDfQlglD5BYaW7vg/s320/IMG_2676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea at the Victoria and Albert Museum cafe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Innovation</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAA2EeulAZtPrW0ZIg9v9RWSFqfXm4awuzlZdhpAqZdHwzg1DyA01x6ZqE_8N1nmufPsEDhFKMYOqXOYyIHHSkIwtydvLJCVzIcR5YZBbwfxAqa8bQ-ava7bPUKK3zr3aueh-3kEI9xE/s1600/IMG_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAA2EeulAZtPrW0ZIg9v9RWSFqfXm4awuzlZdhpAqZdHwzg1DyA01x6ZqE_8N1nmufPsEDhFKMYOqXOYyIHHSkIwtydvLJCVzIcR5YZBbwfxAqa8bQ-ava7bPUKK3zr3aueh-3kEI9xE/s320/IMG_2462.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM4Vz4q0BZvNFMeFQdBN1H-j9wwpe3LzgnQ7UYyXi4S7MwjQIMXHU6fTfmVO0R2iYijx87JpGqpZbThY1U7tD9XEMc-d9NeO2XkYEsYcmSgo9FNssCp8ELrFOfsFhVUOdI7Sk9j6qFLQ/s1600/IMG_2606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM4Vz4q0BZvNFMeFQdBN1H-j9wwpe3LzgnQ7UYyXi4S7MwjQIMXHU6fTfmVO0R2iYijx87JpGqpZbThY1U7tD9XEMc-d9NeO2XkYEsYcmSgo9FNssCp8ELrFOfsFhVUOdI7Sk9j6qFLQ/s320/IMG_2606.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ye Old Cheshire Cheese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbHrC-MtQcDuKM1kWVoXIoM7NFSeIzldo1OavS9yMu7OFblTlVP8LPu6g58COEpdqURXFVE_boVtEtkQucyZMqydVivoIiaAXM8rHWWvr_panw3aCDRyZZM75kPbDikWYw0WalWDNd9Y/s1600/IMG_2612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbHrC-MtQcDuKM1kWVoXIoM7NFSeIzldo1OavS9yMu7OFblTlVP8LPu6g58COEpdqURXFVE_boVtEtkQucyZMqydVivoIiaAXM8rHWWvr_panw3aCDRyZZM75kPbDikWYw0WalWDNd9Y/s320/IMG_2612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underground, at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiS_pP_sSEdgu-ZZ7F5qdV9VGsLZI02o3uQkljIX-cn0mVKWlpkoF3ePApINu5rQQg71hJ6F5RnthyyvgTisB-EZiuLJTsBhyphenhyphen5W9DhK8F_FsVwjDM54Vbf1xYBaL-ulYgZ9fUHZkOmwI/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiS_pP_sSEdgu-ZZ7F5qdV9VGsLZI02o3uQkljIX-cn0mVKWlpkoF3ePApINu5rQQg71hJ6F5RnthyyvgTisB-EZiuLJTsBhyphenhyphen5W9DhK8F_FsVwjDM54Vbf1xYBaL-ulYgZ9fUHZkOmwI/s320/IMG_2635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon's Wine Bar - As ancient as it looks</td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment--><br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-18205262686533788292012-05-16T15:10:00.002-07:002012-05-16T15:10:29.710-07:00Efficient Vacation Packing for the Fashion ConsciousHere is a challenge: packing light for vacation, but packing enough so that you look great on your trip. For more than 5 years, I have managed to take trips to various parts of the world, for at least 2 weeks, with nothing more than my trusted carry-on luggage and a handbag. Why worry about packing light, you ask? Well, for one, efficient packing is a trademark of any travel aficionado. People who travel know that there is nothing more elegant than stepping right off the plane and out of the airport (baggage claim is for the birds). Second, airline travel is unpredictable; sometimes opportunities come up to get more direct flights at the last minute and it's easier on everyone if you have no checked bags. And finally, it looks ridiculous to log a massive piece of luggage through subways, cobblestoned streets and up flights of stairs. Now, if you're the type of girl who travels with an entourage and gets picked up by private car services, then this article is not for you. Otherwise, hopefully you can find my experiences helpful. <br />
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I just got back from a 2-week trip to London and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The main challenge here is to pack for 2 distinct climates - the cold and wet of London and the sunny gorgeousness of Dubrovnik. Cold weather packing eats up valuable real estate in carry on luggage, but I believe that the solution is layering. <br />
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Here is my packing list:<br />
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<ul>
<li>2 cardigans </li>
<li>2 dresses </li>
<li>2 pairs of slacks </li>
<li>4 pairs of jeans </li>
<li>12 tops </li>
<li>3 pairs of leggings </li>
<li>3 pairs of shoes </li>
<li>2 pairs of sandals </li>
<li>1 leather biker jacket </li>
<li>1 trench coat </li>
<li>2 handbags</li>
<li>tons of accessories (plus as a nice surprise, my girlfriend had tons more waiting for me from her latest trip to India)! </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62AToMdgGzfw-INI0TvnN9hDOA3B_ZTxX5w_00U37mbtsIPbPwDcdNCX08ftmzuqDpgL1RYtFdkmzTxbzk1AZgkgau3TMydrkFdZjAbYV6X6Lp7KXOPqtdXKIrtC5R0dWbRVOU-54UBg/s1600/IMG_2395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62AToMdgGzfw-INI0TvnN9hDOA3B_ZTxX5w_00U37mbtsIPbPwDcdNCX08ftmzuqDpgL1RYtFdkmzTxbzk1AZgkgau3TMydrkFdZjAbYV6X6Lp7KXOPqtdXKIrtC5R0dWbRVOU-54UBg/s320/IMG_2395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W0k0_IxYK6wJljAmWz4Jb30UPY9_2MBxei2aDt4qhDF0ie1VJbzNoyYPS4Ic5VM46kh7pSLA5jkb9uAwH-SJBhnXbJCezXakDsAFApvF-CT3Y380FlTXaAqPVB_32WJpI6R24KScivM/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W0k0_IxYK6wJljAmWz4Jb30UPY9_2MBxei2aDt4qhDF0ie1VJbzNoyYPS4Ic5VM46kh7pSLA5jkb9uAwH-SJBhnXbJCezXakDsAFApvF-CT3Y380FlTXaAqPVB_32WJpI6R24KScivM/s320/IMG_2398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Most airlines allow 1 carryon and 1 personal item. As my personal item, I use an oversized leather handbag. This comes in handy on day trips, but is also great if I do buy anything on my trip that I need to bring back to the US with me. When it comes to strategic packing, it's important to have a selection of basics that you can wear at least twice. For example, you can completely change the look of black skinny jeans by using either casual or dressy tops and by changing the shoes. The cardigans came in really handy in London, since I layered them under my jackets. The Chuck Taylors were my London rainy day shoes, while the ballet flats changed up the look on the few days that the sun peeked out. In Croatia, the tan sandals were all I needed. And the leather boots were a staple as they're both comfortable and cute. As for the black wedge sandals, I wore them once, and really could have edited them out of my packing. They were completely impractical (hey, you live and learn). I brought tons of tops and accessories, as those are easy to pack and can really spice up an outfit. In terms of getting everything to fit, I try to roll pieces up as tightly as possible, stuff what I can into shoes and hats, and make sure that I fill up all the little corners of the luggage. <br />
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Overall, the best advice for packing efficiently is to remember that there is a limit to how much you can wear on your vacation, so don't try to travel with your entire wardrobe. Plus, if you do forget something, that may be a great opportunity to experience the local shopping. <br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-645872870741447742012-04-21T14:55:00.000-07:002012-05-16T15:13:07.791-07:00London and Second Chances<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 11px;">Photo: Edyta Pawlowska/Shutterstock</span></div>
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I've been to London and did not like it. The weather sucked, the tube workers striked, and I incessantly compared everything to Paris. Paris, oh Paris. I imagined that I was instead in Paris. I had visited Paris a year before, and fell in love. Love. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Paris. Then and now. Enchanting.<br />
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Time passes. Time passed. And now, I'm ready to give London a second chance. Actually, I'm going to London because one of my favorite people in the world, moved there with her husband for a year. So this trip is a must. I would never pass up on free European lodging, especially if I also get a nearly free trip with my American Airlines skymiles. Plus, most importantly, I get to hang out with cool people. I travel in just over a week. <br />
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Before I travel, I must...write a paper, collect data for co-authors, finish statistics assignment, take statistics final, jump in the car right after aforementioned exam, drive 3 hours to the airport, get on a connecting flight, land, wait 3 hours, then catch an overnight flight to London.<br />
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Overwhelmed.<br />
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But the time will go by quickly. It often does when there is too much to do in not enough time. I cope by imagining my future self, relaxing at a London cafe, grubbing on fish n chips, chatting with my friends. I will be the non-tourist tourist. I want to feel what this city is all about. Feel it the way that the natives do. I will leave the flat without a plan and get lost. Hopefully, discover the unexpected. My friend is excited to show me her discoveries and I am excited to see them. I. am. excited.<br />
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-75235200184140359782012-03-03T13:09:00.003-08:002012-05-16T15:12:16.245-07:00Love for SunBy: Kish<br />
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I grew up in the sun - the kind of sun that lasts all year
round. Needless to say, I continually
crave the sun and the things that go with perpetual sun. What things, you ask? Well, beaches. Beaches and bikinis and coconut water. I am most definitely the happiest when on a beach,
enjoying a swim or a kayak ride, with a coconut to my lips.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This winter, my family and I took a trip to St. Croix, USVI to visit relatives. My son - Most Adorable Boy (MAB) got in some bonding time with the granny and his first real caribbean beach experience. He had been to the beach several times before, but hated it, so we'll just pretend that those times never happened. No son of mine's will hate the beach. Anyways, this time, he had a blast, by covering every inch of himself with sand. This was definitely not his school's sandbox! He did liked the sand more than the water and that, we must fix! Now that we’re back, he’s told me, “mommy, I lost the shells that I brought from the beach. We need to go back to the beach to get some more.” I agree son. I agree!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2IO3dtSMcRRlN93JuPEDasY73hVHNAyktWUl-oHeYMkj133b5ggHZpFUu1EIBPpYqHxPx0HQRRHhpZWh3REH7pVO-u1_f_aE_6nSN7tllGCHaYHX4bpvwMWTDMHvameAxrw0o5uY9XE/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2IO3dtSMcRRlN93JuPEDasY73hVHNAyktWUl-oHeYMkj133b5ggHZpFUu1EIBPpYqHxPx0HQRRHhpZWh3REH7pVO-u1_f_aE_6nSN7tllGCHaYHX4bpvwMWTDMHvameAxrw0o5uY9XE/s320/IMG_1849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9M157ZL8fFj8fvy-Fg1F7unmXaWTxCtF9rp0wKgvfBlxX14SN-hoRX2Kn7Jr8vLI5uLz0z0WsgsWYGTrs_CC9age_uUyr3Cp5XstVD2irHIArqFQz-HscaR-5oCRAkz4eRrqU0W8lgM/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9M157ZL8fFj8fvy-Fg1F7unmXaWTxCtF9rp0wKgvfBlxX14SN-hoRX2Kn7Jr8vLI5uLz0z0WsgsWYGTrs_CC9age_uUyr3Cp5XstVD2irHIArqFQz-HscaR-5oCRAkz4eRrqU0W8lgM/s320/IMG_1869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun in the Sand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwwa3w7qh7wp-IsSnb7432k53ndd60lXbr6_oBqUR3bTNpeGi_H6uVBM76liZH0qtkljIfRNMtVQXwyy2nfgRZiPC3eNltcGl13_oyG8BDZqtMagqRySBCPxgXtHq9fKg9xgW-nYRw9s/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwwa3w7qh7wp-IsSnb7432k53ndd60lXbr6_oBqUR3bTNpeGi_H6uVBM76liZH0qtkljIfRNMtVQXwyy2nfgRZiPC3eNltcGl13_oyG8BDZqtMagqRySBCPxgXtHq9fKg9xgW-nYRw9s/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach for miles - all for me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSKu8iLM_Dio0FpyuAafnKpCN0XX-aYFvynl5ne687gx8YtS6McEVs0t5Y4eRdXkEHX7emMm6fWnm4vPrkZ1uAkbXuDleGopVQ3DwNXb16oQouOZNu0Q0BrilA0J59VoTxACb0o7gS98/s1600/IMG_1912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSKu8iLM_Dio0FpyuAafnKpCN0XX-aYFvynl5ne687gx8YtS6McEVs0t5Y4eRdXkEHX7emMm6fWnm4vPrkZ1uAkbXuDleGopVQ3DwNXb16oQouOZNu0Q0BrilA0J59VoTxACb0o7gS98/s320/IMG_1912.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red is MAB's favorite color. He still talks about the red boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-WwjyEN4J1frdvFY-CoYlMAX2SW1daxOJqVqpLTmr7qK3OhAKwDnk4cBWzoxiHmlMjZUBCr212WImF6X9xEtIP-CTHaNM6igT9-np-Ft0f-OWzLpK6XOMljWCJZzHL_l8UrdwEjk80/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-WwjyEN4J1frdvFY-CoYlMAX2SW1daxOJqVqpLTmr7qK3OhAKwDnk4cBWzoxiHmlMjZUBCr212WImF6X9xEtIP-CTHaNM6igT9-np-Ft0f-OWzLpK6XOMljWCJZzHL_l8UrdwEjk80/s320/IMG_2012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Island Sunset</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLjo7lyeNZHziVzi5OweWnYzPkFqQ4oUY6GF6hOjlF6pEH9AH-8ZTYxCPfCWH07tDiYkNJuxpzsCyrpGdwkXI3bOmY8Tcp57uBz4_yNT76q5cGbJ8Cix5xZ-n5xbgeKtO_TAbkitQ-GI/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLjo7lyeNZHziVzi5OweWnYzPkFqQ4oUY6GF6hOjlF6pEH9AH-8ZTYxCPfCWH07tDiYkNJuxpzsCyrpGdwkXI3bOmY8Tcp57uBz4_yNT76q5cGbJ8Cix5xZ-n5xbgeKtO_TAbkitQ-GI/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6BpZFDL64DhDI66x1SB3CNRFhLm_sOI4QVCvkar9JDiPMR3vj_PueIBpS_4QaSZyKQOTo5aQhPXCy2aAX0VuToIZlWO_O9-rionIg9rRC4JEtrQhV7WpyiZLAW_3MLHUyFAZhVD5MPw/s1600/IMG_2040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6BpZFDL64DhDI66x1SB3CNRFhLm_sOI4QVCvkar9JDiPMR3vj_PueIBpS_4QaSZyKQOTo5aQhPXCy2aAX0VuToIZlWO_O9-rionIg9rRC4JEtrQhV7WpyiZLAW_3MLHUyFAZhVD5MPw/s320/IMG_2040.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned Lighthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIONmwbc8GvQoAQCO3tSscdAl-Bvw5zhKMVGRZkUdxrIz3cbY_yvO5Fyz3W2YNBSOoScUzZKEpgtUn2puPtuJwmrOqa_JrvIXdxVAVfp_ti9OHGIkFAKNy3PaY2XtU9kloibESpJnDyQo/s1600/IMG_2070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIONmwbc8GvQoAQCO3tSscdAl-Bvw5zhKMVGRZkUdxrIz3cbY_yvO5Fyz3W2YNBSOoScUzZKEpgtUn2puPtuJwmrOqa_JrvIXdxVAVfp_ti9OHGIkFAKNy3PaY2XtU9kloibESpJnDyQo/s320/IMG_2070.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Largest tree on island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_UdzwUpv87CfVanPDcS27Yl07Qi4y7ZnJhGI3W9gioFEvLc2vL4Wyl3OIdCS8qBNeH1TJbIgZrf6q5459klGbPJsPbPiwczHgIoabaHIOiUNlkz0qOZbkJ12x60YBd41baFyklQ2Vl0/s1600/IMG_2086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_UdzwUpv87CfVanPDcS27Yl07Qi4y7ZnJhGI3W9gioFEvLc2vL4Wyl3OIdCS8qBNeH1TJbIgZrf6q5459klGbPJsPbPiwczHgIoabaHIOiUNlkz0qOZbkJ12x60YBd41baFyklQ2Vl0/s320/IMG_2086.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:)</td></tr>
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<br />NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822362819803679962.post-70542043555936792272012-03-03T08:31:00.000-08:002012-09-27T19:47:33.477-07:00The First Post<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The introductory post, like any first meeting is usually awkward, so I will just jump right in. This is my humble blog that details my love for travel and life's journeys. Currently, I am a PhD student, a wife and a mother. I am a nomad. For over 8 years, it has been my goal to travel to at least one new country every year. I have done that. And when I am not traveling, I am fantasizing about traveling. I hope you will enjoy my blog. </div>
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NearNTherehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11151874815498907735noreply@blogger.com0