Destination Weddings

 I am currently out of my home state helping a good friend of mine get ready for her quickly approaching wedding. (A quick word of advice: never be a bridesmaid. It is exhausting). In lieu of her east coast nuptials, I decided to peruse some exotic, unknown, or just unique places for destination weddings. Many suggestions abound for beautiful distant lands, but I attempt to take it just a step further with these five less than likely choices.

1. Vera Cruz

This very tropical lush region Is a very prominent city in Central Mexico due to its exports and influx of tourists.  Another perk that sets this city apart is the rich culture. For those couples interested in knowledge of different ways of life, many archaeological remains have been located in surrounding areas, and couples can spend time with their guests learning about the abundance of folklore that still permeates our own culture to this day (Mechling, 1999). Not to mention the fast-paced every day life and even spicier nightlife that your party-loving guests may be seeking.
Best times to go: February (for Carnival celebrations) to June
Best places to stay: NH Vera Cruz or Gran Hotel Diligencias (if you're willing to splurge).
Events and attractions: Plaza De Armas for night life or Boca Del Rio for a quiet respite from city life and delightful restaurants specializing in fresh fish dishes.

2. Castle Chateau D'Esclimont

Contrary to many couple's ideas of what is available and affordable, castles are not too difficult to acquire for ceremonies.  (And no I'm not talking about Disney World).  This castle located between Paris and Versailles features 150 wooded acres' stone bridges and romantic balconies and a perfectly French ambiance.
Best times to go: Spring or Fall
Best places to stay: If not at the castle itself, The Ibis hotel - 7 miles away or the Mecure hotel -9 miles away.
Events and attractions: The Charles Cathedral, Touring the Riviera, Shopping on the Champs

3. Burning Man

Way out of left field, and certainly non-traditional, theses festivals echo a 60' and 70's hippie-esque vibe. Dedicated to community,art and self expression, the yearly festivals are much more than your typical art fair. These music festivals have couples flocking to get married amongst off beat music and like-minded crowds of people getting married at the same time. Black Rock City in the desert in Nevada is the most obvious of choices for these events. Your guests are sure to have an exciting concert experience all while seeing you get hitched and mingle with old and new friends to sounds known and unknown.  "Its organized chaos" (Levin, 2013).
Best times to go: Usually just a week from late August to early September.
Best places to stay: Hotels: Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Best Western Inn. RV Campgrounds: Big Bend RV Park or River's Edge RV Park.
Events and attractions: The festival of course! From live low-key bands to intricate art installations and absurd people watching, it's bound to be invigorating to say the least. Don't forget to look up the 10 principles that represent this project's philosophical beliefs. blog.burningman.com/10principles/

4. St. Vincent and the Grenadine

An Eastern Caribbean hot-spot, this place is perfect for the walking along the beach, margaritas-sipping, laying in the sun couple.  Wedding packages here include spa treatments and even glass bottom boat rides entirely exclusive for those. VIP residents.

Best times to go: December to April
Best places to stay: Buccament Bay Resort, Paradise Beach Hotel
Events and attractions: The spectacular botanical gardens, an awesome bat cave for diving and Mesopotamia Valley for those tough hiker

5 ,  Alaska

While it's not exactly international travel., I've never seen the northern lights, and how perfect would it be to have your closest friends and family witness your vows to each other under such an enchanting night sky.  That would save on decorations since mother nature decided to throw the most beautiful light show that one could imagine.
Best times to go: early May or late September through October,(Olsen, 2013).
Best places to stay: the south central region.. great for wilderness, wildlife and fantastic restaurants and dancing.
Events and attractions: glacier gardens, cruises, whale sightings.

And destination weddings aren't the only extravagance to be taken. Have a great Honeymoon in Fiji, Cesar and Andrea!

World Cup 2014 Opener

Just a quick post about my favorite pastime... Soccer!  Good job to the Netherland team for besting Spain.  What a great victory for beating the 2010 champions!  I wish I was in Brazil right now, but I'm so glad I got to see these teams in South Africa at the last World Cup.  I can't wait to see what happens in the next round. 

And boy, that Van Persie is a looker.

Traveling through film

Recently I have been itching to travel somewhere different, unique, somewhere unknown.  Since starting this blog, I have gone from traveling only the states to abroad from the Caribbean Islands to Africa and Europe.  It never gets old. That travel bug is certainly addictive!  Lately I have been traveling through music, books and especially movies.  Here is a list of what movies have been inspiring me at the moment.

1.  The Motorcycle Diaries

An inspiring journey of medical student turned revolutionary, Che Guevara, and his trek through 14,000 kilometers of the South American landscape over 8 months. 

2.  Tommy Boy

Not a far journey, but for a purpose: to save a company and a Midwestern city's livelihood.  The deer scene is hilarious and vies the song medleys for the movies best moments (besides "Fat guy in a little coat"). 

3. The Terminal

Tom Hanks at his finest, as he always is (Cast Away, anyone).  His journey from an Eastern country, Krakozhia, to New York, in this film was for the best cause - family.

 

4.   Planes, Trains  and Automobiles

 

I love how they were forced to go off the beaten path.  Crap happens, but it builds character and apparently lasting friendships. Been there, done that... and I love it.

 

 

 

5.  Up

 

A beautiful story of a journey to fulfill a promise for love.  And it's animated! Pixar got this one right.

 

 

6.  Noah

 

I just saw this one a few days ago. I think "Epic" describes the ultimate voyage here. Creating a new world with a handful of people and animals is no small feat. 

 

 



 

 

So, no I won't be building and Ark or attaching balloons to my house, but I hope to get caught up in all that travel offers very soon. Brazil here I come!

 

Thrive!

Happy New Year to all!

2013 was, for many, filled with victories and losses, moments of growth and periods of reflection.  I experienced my fair share and have learned some valuable lessons that are providing my inspiration for this year ahead.  Rather than making resolutions such as reading 100 books, jogging more often or learning a trade, I've resolved to simply adopt one word and express that word to its fullest.

Thrive (v): To make steady progress; prosper. To grow vigorously; flourish.

Wherever my interpretation will take me is an exciting journey I can't wait to embark on.  The ideas are endless: from expanding my creative side by writing more poetry and taking a photography tour across Canada, to earning my green thumb by growing a rose garden, or furthering my wildlife conservation efforts by saving a whale, or even finally picking up my efforts to learn Japanese or take a mission trip to Haiti.

The best feeling about the word thrive and the inspiration it provides, is that to really grow, to really flourish, all we have to do is stick to what we are passionate about and make that steady progress towards a greater sense of self and a greater appreciation for each year we are given.

"To live is the rarest thing in the world.  Most people exist, that is all" - Oscar Wilde

Quebec City, Canada

While looking through a Budget travel magazine I happened upon a small advertisement for Canadian travel. The city profiled was Quebec City, a 500 year old city where the locals speak French just an hour flight from New York City. I’ve always wanted to go to France and to think, this little town seemed much more accessible right outside my home state instead of thousands of miles across the Atlantic.

Quebec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in the province.
Quebec City is internationally known for its Summer Festival,Winter Carnival, the Chateau Frontenac Hotel which stands out across the sky line and the street famous for its shops - Rue Du Petit-Champlain.

The Festival d'été, or Summer Festival which originated in 1968 is organised by groups of businesspersons and artists of Quebec City in order to show the artistic, economic, and touristic potential of the area. The Festival lasts 11 days and takes place over the first week of July. The Festival presents hundreds of genres in musical shows in various indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city.

The Carnaval de Quebec or Winter Carnival is an annual festival that takes place in Quebec City. The festival typically starts on the first Friday of January and continues for 17 days and ends when other areas in the world begin to celebrate Mardi Gras. Its activities include sleigh races, snow slides, skiing, snow rafting, snow sculpture contests and more. The winter festival is the largest winter celebration in the world with close to one million attendees.






The Château Frontenac hotel is another popular attraction here. It is not the tallest building in Quebec City, but overlooking the Saint Lawrence River, it is the most prominent feature of the city’s skyline, thus a symbol of the city.





Old Quebec City offers a variety of shopping opportunities on rue du petit-Champlain. One of the oldest commercial districts in North America, the Quarter petit-Champlain is also one of the most scenic areas. The stores and bistros are made of cobblestone and wood and have an old world charm and offer the best souvenirs and authentic cuisine to be found in Old Quebec.

World's Prisons

There are now over 8.5 million men, women and children in prison. Some are just being held; others have been convicted and sentenced. Half of this number is in three countries: the US,Russia and China. The conditions of each prison vary from country to country, with some no different than hotels with locked doors to those no better than a hole in the ground.

www.restorativejustice.org/resources/docs Daniel W. Van Ness 24 May 2001

Bang Kwang, Bangkok
Most corrupt

In Bang Kwang prison in Bangkok, Thailand, there are no facilities such as a proper exercise yard or sporting facilities, or anything else except bare cells. Brutal beatings are common. Corruption is endemic and the only way to survive without going crazy or ending it all is to stay on heroin, which can be bought from the guards, if you are lucky enough to have money.

Perpignan, France
Harshest Treatment

Perpignan prison in France is where Frank W. Abagnale, an American con artist who specialised in phoney checks, spent six months in the late 1960s. Abagnale was thrown, naked, into a cell in which he could not lie down or stand up and was kept in total darkness. He was not let out of that cell until he was released. He had no means of grooming or cleaning himself, and was fed food that had been thrown through his cell door onto the floor at irregular intervals. The sole amenity was a bucket which was not emptied very often.

Mark S. Lawson - posted Friday, 11 June 2004
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2281

San Pedro Prison, Bolivia
Most Backward

Convicts at San Pedro in Bolivia have to pay rent for a cell and they all have jobs within the prison. A large number have partners and children staying with them and tourists/backpackers are allowed to enter the prison but must be accompanied by a tour guide (a prisoner) for “safety reasons”. Tourists can even stay the night in a cell for a small fee and a large number of them frequent the jail in order to buy cocaine from inmates as it’s apparently the purest and cheapest in Bolivia. It’s also been suggested that local police only enter the facility to collect bribes.




Kresty Prison, St. Petersburg, Russia
Most Overcrowded

Russia’s prisons have a reputation for being the most overcrowded on earth, especially Kresty Prison in St. Petersburg. The official capacity is set at 3,000, but the actual population is always at least 10,000. Each prisoner is also said to only be allowed 4 square meters of space each and 15 minutes a week (a week!) to shower.




ADX Supermax, Florence, Colorado
Most Secure

This ‘high-tech alcatraz’ was opened in 1994 and is home to only the most violent and dangerous criminals in the country who have absolutely no contact with each other at any time and spend 22 hours per day in solitary confinement (cell size 7ft x 8ft). Any prisoner here has been convicted to no less than a 25 year sentence, pretty much ensuring that security be a top priority.




Leoben Justice Centre, Steiermark – Austria
Best-looking

This prison, located in Steiermark, Austria, has been rated as a five-star prison, if such a thing exists. Created by hohensinn architektur, Leoben Justice Centre is perhaps one of the most attractive and most comfortable prisons in the world. Alluding to the level of comfort are the two inscriptions on the prison’s perimeter: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” which is taken from The United States Declaration of Independence, and “Each of the persons deprived of their liberty must be humanely and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human being treated.







http://www.uphaa.com/blog/index.php/strangest-prisons/

Disgusting Insects/Random Fact #3

Recently I watched a television show called I was Bitten. It featured a variety of horrifying footage of brown recluse spider bites, rattlesnake bites, and even bear and shark attacks. Viewers were not spared from pictures and video of pus filled wounds, rotted tissue and bone-deep, teeth-made gashes. This gave me the idea for not only my next travel blog post, but also my third random fact: I actually enjoy watching crazy, disgusting, f**d up television shows. Beyond my morbid fascination though, I think it of the utmost necessity that while I research places I would like to visit, I may want to brush up on what deadly, hideous creatures I am very likely to encounter. As fascinating as it is to watch suffering and torture from afar, I am very reluctant to be the victim.

So everyone knows about disease carrying tsetse flies, mosquitoes harboring malaria, and vicious Africanized honey bees, and we’ve all seen that picture of a soldier holding an enormous Iraqi Camel Spider (they do only grow to six inches though…only six inches?!), but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Following are various bizarre, out-of-this world insects that most people don’t even know exist, much less right in their own backyards (or bed sheets).


Japanese Giant Hornet


This hornet located in Japan is just the size of the average persons thumb, (the entire thumb) but their sting can be fatal. Not only can the poison they inject disintegrate the flesh around the sting site, they can also shoot it over a few feet! In addition, they can fly 50 feet in a day and the pheromones they give off attract every other hornet from that hive to chase you 50 feet and shoot acidic poison in your eyes!! Apparently about 40 people a year die like this.


Bullet Ant

These inch-long ants live in the rainforests in Central and South America from Nicaragua to Paraguay. They live in trees and, get this, they shriek at you before they attack you! So that noise coming at you from the canopy of trees above is not a howler monkey, but an ant. AN ANT! And its about to attack you with an “unusually severe” sting that has been described as being similar to getting shot.

Bot Fly

So this one takes the cake for me. There are many species of Bot Fly, from the Horse Stomach Bot Fly to the Human Bot Fly, with most species found, once again, in Central and South America and other species in various corners of the world. This little dandy lays its eggs in grass, which animals eat (hence the origin of the name Horse Stomach Bot Fly) or on horseflies or mosquitoes which then land on humans (hence the origin of the name Human Bot Fly). What happens next is a scene from a B movie on the Sci-Fi channel. The eggs hatch on or in the animal or human and the larvae proceed to feed on the flesh or tissue of the victim.



Huge Spider

No-one seems to know what this is, but I thought I’d just throw it in, because it is absolutely HUGE. Imagine if you turned a corner in your house and this was sitting eye-level on your wall ready to attack and eat your face!!!


Bugs on Hand

Now apparently these bugs, whatever they are, aren’t poisonous, but I think it’s mighty ambitious of this person to have them crawling all over their arm.

I guess the bottom line is that yes most bugs get a bad rap, they’re not that threatening and obviously here for a reason. Their presence also won’t deter me from visiting any country, but I will definitely be more cautious when I rest up against a tree as I’m hiking through a rainforest in South America, or even just lounging in a house in Vanuatu (see Getting Stoned with Savages). I don’t mind sharing the planet with these creatures, I’d just rather I wasn’t aware of their brain-burrowing capabilities…

Antarctica and Switzerland

In keeping with my proposed commitment to expand my own and my readers’ knowledge of the geography of the planet, I figured I could profile Antarctica, one of my top most interesting get-to-know places.

As far as vacations go, Antarctica is not necessarily the “go to” spot, but it is becoming increasingly popular. There are now cruises and even walking expeditions where you can actually explore parts of the continent on foot. Previously I had thought setting foot on the continent was only possible if you had a reason to be there, i.e. work/research or something similar, but definitely not just for fun. Apparently I was mistaken. I continue to meet people who have visited Antarctica for their annual vacations. Here are some interesting facts about the continent.

It almost never gets above 32° F (0° C) in Antarctica and the highest recorded temperature at the South Pole is 7° F (-13.8° C).

There are 28 airport landing facilities in Antarctica.

Fewer than 200,000 people have ever been to Antarctica (however, that number is steadily climbing).
Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.

Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, i.e.), Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

Hmm… not that interesting is it? So while I really want to go to Antarctica one day, I think the real experience is seeing it and being in awe of its reality. Since I haven’t been there, I don’t really think I can relate its appeal. I’ll get back to you all after I’ve gone.

Anyway, another place I’m dying to try is Switzerland; one of the most beautiful and picturesque countries in the world. This could possibly be more relatable because, after all, who doesn’t want to go to Switzerland??? Even just for the Swiss chocolate, mountains, clogs, and lederhosen… they do still wear clogs and lederhosen don’t they? I mean, they’ve got to give tourists something to feed off of.

But realistically, Switzerland has a rich culture both in historical and present-day context. Here, then, are some interesting facts about Switzerland.

There are 4 official languages in Switzerland : Swiss German (64%, many dialects), French (20.4%), Italian (6.5%), and Romansh (<1%)
A 2006 survey found that Zürich and Geneva had respectively the first and second highest quality of living in the world.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland, and is still based there. The flag of the Red Cross is the flag of Switzerland with the colors inverted (who knew?)

The Swiss have a long tradition of watch-making, and are the uncontested leader in luxury watches, with brands like Audemars Piguet, Baume et Mercier, Breitling, Chopard, Franck Muller, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Patek Philippe, Piaget, Rado, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tissot, Vacheron Constantin.

Switzerland knows a great variety of climates. From a polar climate in the high mountains above the snow line, to an almost subtropical climate in the southern Alp valleys.

Visiting Switzerland is not complete without seeing the Alps. The Bernese Oberland, or the highlands, is an area that offers one of the best views of the range in the country. The Swiss train system seems to be a popular way of navigating through the mountains and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Jungfraujoch is another mountain peak that I’d like to visit. At 3454m, the top of this mountain is the highest point in Switzerland. It boasts an indoor ice palace where everything is made completely of ice, even the floors and walls! Sounds cold, but beautiful. Between the never-ending waterfall in Wengen-Murren and the renowned chocolate and cheese fondue in Interlaken, and even the abundant wildlife in the Swiss national park, Switzerland seems like a country with a lot to offer the novice traveler like me.

International Development

The time is fast approaching for me to get on with my life and commit to getting my Master’s degree, so I think I’ll revisit the topic of what exactly I am going for. I think I’m set on the idea of international development, although I really have no idea what that entails. I know I love anthropology, which is what I received my bachelors in, but international development sounds like a focused next step. How did I come to that conclusion, you may (or may not) be asking yourself. Well… (deep breath), in the past I’ve focused on cultural anthropology; sustainable development, educational systems, means of production, etc. I didn’t know exactly how to channel these different issues though. Believe me I’ve definitely been over and over this. In undergrad I even tried to narrow my focus down and come up with a unique focus by concentrating on the way art around the world depicts religion and what this means in terms of societal regulation and interaction. I know, I know, I was really reaching.

I found a few job postings that show what kind of positions are out there for people schooled in international development. A few are:

Senior Programme Design Officer, African Wildlife Foundation
Programme Manager, Rainforest Foundation
Program Director Foundation for Sustainable Development, Tola, Nicaragua
Orphans and Vulnerable Children Technical Advisor, Global Health Fellows Program, Washington DC, USA
International Consultant, Best Practises in Public-Private Partnership
Human Development Specialist, World Bank

I know these postings fall under the heading of international development, but it seems that they all require some sub-focus of education, health, agriculture, economics, etc. That is where my problem lies: what within international development could I possibly narrow my focus down to??? I wonder if I go for business or management or something, if I would learn enough skills to fit into a particular niche. I think that might put me in the running for jobs such as the offered position in the following job posting:

Program Assistant (Africa Programs)

Job Level: Executive-Level

Founded in 1941, Freedom House is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes an engaged U.S. foreign policy; evaluates human rights conditions; sponsors public education campaigns; facilitates training and other assistance to promote democracy and free market reforms; and provides support for the rule of law, free media and effective local governance.

Freedom House is currently seeking a full-time Program Assistant for Africa Programs. Under the direction of the Senior Program Manager/Deputy Director of Programs, the Program Assistant will assist in logistical, research, and administrative support for Freedom House programs. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assist Program Officers and the Senior Program Manager/Deputy Director of Programs in compliance with Freedom House, USG, and other grant regulations.
• Assist in the preparation of proposals, press releases, and speeches.
• Assist in financial management responsibilities, including preparation of draft budgets and requests for funds.
• Assist in updating the website concerning the programs as necessary.
• Help maintain expert database.
• Help develop and produce promotional material on the programs.
• Make travel arrangements and organize logistics for international staff visits and meetings.
• Organize events/meetings in DC and abroad related to Freedom House programs.
• Assist with other administrative duties as assigned.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree. The ideal candidate will possess a demonstrated interest in, and knowledge of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Southern Africa and the Horn; strong research and writing skills; excellent organizational and communications skills; experience performing basic administrative tasks in an office environment; an ability to work collaboratively with a program team; and proficiency in Microsoft Office software. Knowledge of international human rights, democracy, and rule of law issues is highly desired. Fluency in oral and written English is required; proficiency in French is preferred. Position is based in Washington, DC with projects are located in new democracies and developing countries.



Okay, so I can handle grants, press releases, speeches, administrative duties, computer and database concerns, and promotional material. I have strong writing skills and excellent organizational and communication skills. The knowledge of international human rights, democracy, and rule of law are subjects that I may have to become familiar with in grad school. As far as the language and interests in that particular part of the world are concerned, I would just look for positions in China, where my focus has been and hopefully will continue to be.
So we’ll see. So far I’m in the preliminary stages of compiling my definition of what it is I want to do and searching for schools that teach it or something like it. Then when I’ve found a few, I can talk to an adviser to see if they have any idea of what I am talking about and if they’d be willing to take me in and hold my hand through a master’s program. Wish me luck!

Landscape Photographers

Part of my passion for travel pertains also to a love of photography. I am a sucker for exceptional landscape photography, and although I’m not a professional photographer yet, I do aim to be one day. In the meantime I am working at a portrait studio trying to learn the ins and outs of basic camera techniques. It is not outdoor photography, but it is a start. When the time for that comes, classes will be in order.

I’ve been surfing the internet trying to get posing ideas from different portrait photography websites. Unfortunately, I usually get sidetracked by landscape and nature photos and after several hours looking at photos, I realize I’m no closer to finishing my “homework”. While getting caught in my usual unproductive cycle the other day, I stumbled across the works of two freelance photographers with some pretty eye-catching photographs: Jeremy Turner and Tony Howell.

Jeremy Turner has an interesting background. Only after completing a BS (with honors) in biochemistry and a PhD in molecular biology, did he become completely interested in photography. It’s pretty amazing that he found the time between his studies, odd jobs as a painter and decorator, in the retail industry, and in a commercial photo-processing lab, and playing classical piano and long-distance cycle touring. Impressive. He has since won various awards for his photography, held exhibitions, and contributed to magazines such as Smart Photography. Way to start out on one path and end up so successful in another. For me, that’s very encouraging.

Jeremy mainly uses a Pentax 645 medium format (MF) camera, combined with the following Pentax SMC-A lenses: 35mm f/3.5, 45mm f/2.8, 75mm f/2.8, 120mm f/4 macro and 200mm, f/4.

Tony Howell is one of England’s best-known landscape photographers. His images have been used everywhere from books and greeting cards to billboards and even movies (The Number 23). The amazing thing about this photographer is that he is completely self-taught. He acknowledges that he has no qualifications, but credits practice, dedication, and a love for the craft. He also notes the difficulties of freelance photography and that it is less photographic skills than marketing skills and patience that have helped him become successful.

Tony uses a Phase One P45 Digital Back with Mamiya 645AFD and a Canon 1DS MkII Professional Full-frame Digital Camera.