Tuesday, July 30, 2013

A NEW JOB AND THE CITI OPEN

I started a new job yesterday evening (yes, Sunday evening) as a short-term nanny for a family of two girls.
Therefore, my plans of constant posts quickly changed in order to adjust to my new schedule. I do have some exciting news though!
The mother of the girls I watch is a retired journalist and has worked for numerous well-known publications and offered to help me out in my path towards becoming a writer. In fact, tomorrow I am going as guest to the Citi. Open to watch her as she does press and what not. I also get to meet some handsome players.
Basically, it's a win-win situation :)

As my schedule opens up more, I will provide you with the promised posts and the Barcelona photo diary among the first to be posted!

With that all being said, it's time to cuddle up with a cup of tea, The Holiday (my favorite movie) and pass ouuuuuuut.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

'10 ULTIMATE TRIPS OF A LIFETIME'

Cue my cup of coffee and sitting in front of the TV...wait, I've done that everyday this summer already. Oops.

Upon my morning ritual of stalking Yahoo!, checking emails and reading various articles that catch my eye, I came across the '10 Ultimate Trips of a Lifetime'.

1. Great Wall of China (Beijing) to Gorky Park (Moscow) via Trans-Siberian Railroad.
2. Bhutan...also known as the happiest place on Earth.
3. India...tiger safaris and saris
4. Tokyo (Japan) to Jigokudani Valley.
5. California...road-trip style.
6. Antarctica.
7. Galapagos.
8. Jordan.
9. Seychelles.
10.  Guyan...also known as no-man's land.

I know I will definitely be going to these places, some before others but I will make it to all of them someday and hopefully can still tell all of you how they went!

Travel on wanderlusters!

Friday, July 26, 2013

OMMMMM

Lately I have been trying something called Transcendental Meditation.
I was always curious in practicing meditation or yoga but could never squeeze in the time to do it. Over the last year I attended two yoga classes but was soon stumped with uni work, actual work and my internship to continue going.

I came across an article for this type of meditation the other afternoon and I was interested so I did some research on it and tried it out.
This type of meditation is quite simple actually, you find yourself a comfortable place to sit, you close your eyes and just release everything inside of your mind. Some of us (including myself) have trouble doing this because we are the type of people who always have something to do or want to be doing something productive. However, for this to work, you have to really focus on well, nothing...I couldn't focus on absolutely nothing so I focused on my nose, then my eyes, then my mouth, then my arm and so on. Not focusing to the point you are thinking "Oh, I need to get a nose job" or "Oh, my arms are so fat." Just focusing on your arm, it's functions, what it looks like, etc. I also found myself thinking of places that relax me and make me happy. A place in particular was in Alaska, in nature and by the mountains. I imagined myself breathing in the fresh air and getting away from the daily hustle and bustle. I focused on this and mentally put myself in this place. Once I did this, I was sucked in and I could feel the beginning effects of this type of meditation. Once you find yourself slipping into a careless, relaxed, free, open and euphoric state of mind, continue for another 15 or 20 minutes (if you only have 5 or 10 you should still do it!). Towards the end, you feel extremely satisfied and well rested; it's almost like sleeping for 24 hours straight in the most comfortable, warm, soft bed in a dark, clean, fresh-smelling room.
After the 15 minute session today, I felt very relaxed, stress-free, cleansed in a mental and emotional sense and energized. I already can't wait for my second session later tonight! It is suggested that this type of meditation should be practiced twice a day for 15-20 minutes each time, meaning a total of 30-40 minutes each day.

Also, if you have an sort of chronic neck or back pain, this is perfect for releasing tension. I was relieved to find out this really relieved some of the tension in my neck and upper back. I was in two car accidents over the last 3 years that gave me the pleasure of experiencing whiplash and worsening the previous whiplash injury so I'm not stranger to tense neck and upper back muscles. I've been trying everything in the books, going for various massages and to numerous doctors for relieve, which turned out to only be short-term relieve. Frustrated and tired, literally, of feeling so drained, tight and getting tension headaches, I searched for different yoga and meditation techniques that would help me out.
I found my match, finally!
I don't want to jinx it and have it screw me over in the end, so knock on wood, but so far, so good.

Travel on wanderlusters!

Monday, July 22, 2013

GUAM

What's Guam? Where's Guam?
Guam? Huh?


This is the typical response from someone who has not idea that Guam even existed! This little island is considered a part of the United States of America but is a teeny tiny island in the middle, of well, the Pacific Ocean. Since it is technically a part of the USA, the currency is the U.S. dollar.

As said before, Guam is part of the United States, so the national language is English but the second national language, mainly of the natives, is called Chamorro.
The capital is Hagåtña (Agana), which is the island's second smallest village, and there are about 183,000 throughout Guam.

Before I tell you some things to do in the capital, I will first give you guys a several places known for attracting tourists: 
1. Cocos Island
2. Mount Lamlam
3. Ritidian Point
4. Chief Quipuha Park
5. Underwater World Guam
6. Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica 
7. Chamorro Village
8. Spend a few hours with the locals in small villages
9. Apra Harbor
10. Talofofo Falls

Here's what you can do all throughout the island: 
1. Learn the Chamorro language (or just a few phrases).
2. Save a horse and ride a caraboa.
3. Climb Mount Lamlam, also known as one of the world's tallest mountains. 
4. Explore hidden wonders by hiking.
5. Scuba dive back in time in an area where two ships have sunk during WWI and WWII. 
6. Get crabby with a coconut crab...do they taste like coconuts AND crab?!
7. Swim with the little fishies while scuba diving.
8. Learn how to do a dolphin call while you go dolphin watching.
9. Miss a hole while golfing because of the beautiful views.
10. Go on an 'eco tour'. 










Hagåtña (Agana)
1. Spend some dollars at the Agana Shopping Center (tax-free shopping my fellow shopaholics)
2. Celebrate Liberation Day in July by going to a week-long carnival (they have feasts as well!)
3. Visit the Guam Pacific War Museum
4. Take a stroll through South Pacific Memorial Park
5. Don't like that park? Take a stroll through Latte Stone Park
6. Get holy at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica
7. Go back in history at Fort Apugan. 
8. Take after the locals and fish at the Lost Pond
9. New to the whole Guam thing and want to learn more? Check out the Guam Museum. 
10. Take some great pictures at the Latte of Freedom. 

If you get bored, rent a car or take a bus over to Tumon (where the only Kmart on the island is) or Barrigada, the two other well-known cities on the island. 







I found this little blog about a woman who 'quit her job and moved to Guam', so if you want insight from someone who actually lives in Guam, go over and get lost in her posts!

The next post will be on: Algeria!

Travel on wanderlusters!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

TRYING OUT THE ULTRABOOK

I think from now on I may be more willing to sit down and write decent posts almost everyday of the week...why?
Because my new laptop just came in!

I ordered a Dell Inspiron 14-inch Ultrabook because I had a big, clunky, HEAVY pink Dell laptop for the past 5 years and it was time to finally upgrade.
Usually when students first go off to college they are gifted with MacBooks, Ultrabooks or iPads but since I was making a big move I figured I could keep the old laptop for another year before it was absolutely necessary to get a new one. My first year of college passed so that meant a new laptop.
I haven't really gone to the Apple side of electronics yet so I wasn't looking for a MacBook but I was definitely interested in a laptop that was light-weight, very travel-friendly/portable and QUIET.
I cannot tell you how many times I would be using my laptop in class or at a coffee shop and it would randomly start making loud noises or just shut off in the middle of my work. Even if I set it down to hard it would shut off.
That wasn't working for me, a college student always on the go and traveling between countries and continents.
So, I finally upgraded and so far, so good. I really like this laptop and hope it will serve me well over the next few years before I consider upgrading to a MacBook or whatever futuristic laptop/tablet type of thing they will have.
I would say that Dell laptops are a good quality and budget-friendly buy. A lot of these laptops have either Skullcandy or Beats speakers so the sound quality is fantastic and are very good for transporting. Dell also has a line of touch-screen laptops (they have a keyboard too, don't worry) that I was looking at but I figured since I already have an touch-screen phone and tablet, I would stick to a standard non-touch laptop. But, if you are all about the touch-screen, I would recommend buying a touch-screen Dell laptop- I've good and only good things about them.

So, there's that. I'm getting myself some tea ready and I'm going to start writing the Barcelona post and a few other posts I've been meaning to share with you all!

Have a lovely Saturday (or Sunday, wherever you are in the world) and as always, travel on wanderlusters!

Friday, July 19, 2013

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Hello wanderlusters!

So, this summer is panning out A LOT different than I thought it would. Initially, I thought that I would have TONS of time to write posts almost daily but now I'm lucky if I get a post up once a week...I'm slacking really hard, I know. I also thought that I would have a job...but I don't. I did apply to Urban Outfitters for the last month and a half I am here though with hopes of getting it and then being able to work there again over winter break.

Recently, I've been big into DIY and painting so sometimes when I come home from babysitting or being out with friends instead of writing a blog post I will sit down at my desk and just paint well into the night. I'm currently working on some fashion DIY so once I get those going I will post pictures and tutorials! Some of the projects I am about to get into include: studding Converse shoes, dip-dying/bleaching shorts, making a jean and leather jacket, jewelry and spiking a simple crew neck.

One of the most important things that I told myself I would do this summer is work on my book. I have done some work to it and will continue doing work to it but time just slips right through my fingertips now a days. I did send a summary of my book to a contest where Meg Cabot, a well known author, would read it and if she likes it, she will help me (or whoever wins) get it published. So, my fingers are double crossed because I really enjoy writing and would love to share with the world what I am writing that isn't just blog posts.

The Barcelona posts are going to take some time since we were there for 10 days and did quite a bit but I promise you they are coming and also the long-awaited Guam post will go live tomorrow morning. I'll most likely have more time to write and dedicate to the blog once again once my family leaves for the Czech Republic next week. Until then, most of my time will be spent with them and helping them get ready for their trip.

Just thought I would update everyone and wish you all a lovely Friday and upcoming weekend!