Anger and Revenge

I am currently writing a piece on this topic for a contest which will then publish the piece in a magazine along with a cash prize. As I began thinking about what those words mean to me and trying to think of examples in my life I realized I have angry friends. One of my closest friends fits the definition of these two words like a glove. As I am writing this piece I am wondering why am I friends with her? Does this reflect my character in any way? Does this picture me weak or evil? 

The dictionary defines anger as: a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

Revenge is: action taken in return for an injury or offense

There are plenty of examples in history of this, plays like Shakespeare's Hamlet, videos on Youtube of a girl getting beat up because of rumors she spread, and even shows on TV. It seems these two words go hand in hand. However, is there an appropriate time and place for everything. So what do you think? Should people turn the other cheek or take matters into their own hands?

Creative Nonfiction

I feel horrible for not writing in my blog for months but writing a blog is basically a full-time job and since I am a full-time student and have a part-time job it doesn't leave much more time to devote to writing in here. However, since this blog started out as a school project on travel writing it restricted my creativity to post on other topics. Now that the sky's the limit I feel a sudden surge to write. I make no promises but I will try my hardest to post more often.


Just to clarify Travel Writing is a form of Creative Nonfiction so the previous posts were a good starting point but I won't be restricted any longer.

This is my White Canvas.

Americans= uneducated travelers

I recently found this on the internet and couldn't stop laughing. These are TRUE stories provided by travel agents. I feel this qualifies my job as a travel writer to educate people about the world. Please don't be like these people! Pick up a travel magazine or try Google before expanding your horizons. 

Why Americans should never be allowed to travel

Enjoy!

#1 Most Beautiful Beach in the World

The poll has been closed and the results were as follows: 1-Mexico, 2-Hawaii, 3-Brazil, 4- Tie between Philippines and Bermuda. However, public opinion was incorrect!

The correct answer is BRAZIL. 

Fernando De Noronha, is is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, around 220 miles offshore from the Brazilian coast.Probably the most beautiful beaches in the world where only a few people know about it. Fernando De Noronha is one of the Unesco World Heritage Site's described as “the most beautiful marine park in the World”. Now that you know about it you can visit this paradise in peace and quiet since not a lot of people know about it. 

Out of ten the Philippines is the fourth, Bermuda is the fifth, Hawaii is the seventh, and Mexico is the ninth in the world. 

Travel Writing for the 21st Century

Travel Writing Lives!

Many believe travel writing is dead. I may have a biased opinion on this topic but I think this article sums up how I feel about travel writing. 

"The ways our best writers have found to narrate the experience of journeying through our world have never been so alive" - JOSHUA JELLY-SCHAPIRO

 As a travel writer my job is to use surface color to explore deeper structure. I do more than just describe the "exotic" places this Earth has to offer. 

Stilettos or Nike 3.0

My mother recently took a girls trip to New York City for the first time. She was so excited she kept asking me which shows to go to, where to shop, and the names of good restaurants. The first time I went to NYC was in 2005 so I barely remembered the specifics of the city. 

After she got there I kept receiving pictures of her enjoying the vivaciousness of this intriguing city. If you have seen a movie set in NYC you pretty much get the sense of this beautiful city. People are always in a hurry to get somewhere. Women are wearing either stilettos or running shoes. Men carry briefcases or an instrument. 

If you have never been you are truly missing out not only on great entertainment but the essence of this city itself. There is nothing like it anywhere else although Las Vegas does give it some competition. Of the many place to visit the one that impacted me the most was Ellis Island. Being able to see all of faces of those immigrants really touched my heart and reminded me that we are all immigrants here. We are all different yet we come together to make up what we call America; the land of freedom.

My Hometown

Being from Texas I have sufficient pride in my state unlike other Texans I do not have an obsession. I do however like to boast about the great city of Houston. The downtown skyline is what most people are familiar with but I am here to tell you there's more to this city. A heterogeneous community full of color, life, and southern hospitality. Most Texans do have accents, cowboy boots and hats, some wear tight Levi jeans and we say "Y'all". That of course isn't the majority of the population. We don't ride horses to school and tumbling weeds don't go rolling down the street. However, cops do ride horses downtown (it's just easier to catch those drunken hooligans) and you can only find tumbling weeds a few hours outside of the city.    

Food is our specialty. A mix of Mexican, Soul Food, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Thai and other food types fill every street corner. Within each block you can find any type of restaurant to fill any insatiable craving. However, don't be afraid to go up to the Mexican stands on the corner because they are just as good as any restaurant. 

There is amazing shopping either downtown or pick one of the many outlets in the surrounding area. Houston is a big city and you can just about find anything you want either cheap or high priced...take your pick. I love the Katy Mills Outlet Mall and the Houston Premium Outlet. 

Yes, it is hot and humid down there because we are 45 minutes away from the gulf. On a hot day spend it by the pool, go to Galveston Beach, Kemah Boardwalk, or stay inside where it's air conditioned. During these hot summer days I like to go watch the Astros play. 

There's a lot more to a Metropolitan city like this one but you have to visit to know for yourself.

Healthy Travel

 

I realize most people don't associate health with travel because when you think vacation most think "fast food, junk, and little-or-no exercise. Still I think that it's possible to keep a healthy lifestyle while out on vacation. There are plenty of work out rooms available to guests at hotels as well as gyms around the area. If there isn't well here is a list of things you can pack to avoid sliding into a slump during your vacation:

1. Jump Rope

2. Exercise clothing

3. Athletic shoes

4. Swimsuit

5. Music and headphones

6. Tennis racket

7. Exercise DVD

Just because you are on vacation doesn't mean you can neglect your health. Take a quick swim in the ocean or pool. You could also jog for thirty minutes along the beach or boardwalk. Even walking to your destinations gives your body some physical stimulation which is better than nothing at all.

Driving the speed limit

Have you ever gotten a ticket during a road trip?

I get one just about every other road trip I take. Let me clear the air I am no speed demon. I just seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Take for instance my road trip to Houston, Texas this past summer. It was a 26 hour drive from Provo, Utah. I was excited to see my family and we were almost there. We entered Wichita Falls city limits and BOOM I see a cop on a motorcycle following me signaling me to pull over. We were on US-287 where previously the speed limit had been 75 but then dropped to 70 once we were in city limits. I had the luck of some huge truck blocking this ONE AND ONLY speed limit sign so I was going with the flow. Before I knew it I was being pulled over and trying to weasel my way out of this ticket. The cop was quite proper very polite and he seemed to sympathize with my plead BUT for whatever reason he gave me the ticket anyway. Oh he did let me slide because I didn't have one of my stickers (the car inspection sticker) since I had been in Provo for the last three years! 

So now here I am listening to this stupid song about how to stay out of big trucks "No Zones" to avoid collision. Its has taken me about a month to finish this online course on "Defensive Driving", as they call it in Texas, to dismiss this ticket and keep my insurance rates from going up (daddy pays for my insurance...lucky me). So the total cost of being unlucky comes to a grand total of $245 (that includes the ticket plus the course). I hope the city puts my hard earned money to good use. So here are some tips (I learned the hard way) to avoid getting a ticket when you are traveling:

1. Drive 70 mph on the highway no matter what

2. Take 15-minute rest stops between each two hours of driving

3. Wear your safety belt

4. Avoid distractions (music too loud, messy types of food, cell phone, etc).

5. If you're not familiar with the area take a GPS so as to not call attention to yourself

Etymology of Travel

According to Wikipedia (take this as a reliable source or not) travel is the movement of people between relatively distant geographical locations for any purpose and any duration, with or without any means of transport. Travel also includes relatively short stays between successive movements. 

Travel can be for recreational purposes, for tourism, to visit people, for business or for commuting, and may occur for numerous other reasons, such as to obtain health care, migration, fleeing war, etc. Travel may occur by human-powered transport such as walking or bicycling, or with vehicles, such as airplanes, private transport, public transport, automobiles and trains.

The word originates from the Middle English word travailen ("to toil"), which comes from the Old French word travailler ("travail"). A person who travels is called a traveler.

People have been traveling for centuries. It is a way to see the world and experience different cultures. For those who can't travel there are people like me who write about it. There are pictures to show the beauty of the landscape. One important part about travel writing, in my opinion, is to be able to convey the grandeur of the location or subject so that others will be persuaded to visit this place. I hope thus far I have done that. My inexperience reveals my faults as I try to make this point but that will not be the case after a few years of traveling the world.

Dream Job

In case I haven't mentioned this or you haven't noticed I love to travel thus my goal is to become a travel writer after I graduate (which is pretty soon and quite scary yet exciting). I came across a blog on travel that led me to this discovery of a perfect job. The blog is called Gran Tourismo   so the job description: travel the world and write about it. She even gets to have her husband come along for the ride. They are currently in Costa Rica (learning how to surf...how fun is that?). They have a year to visit 24 different destinations and countless memories together to appreciate when they are old looking out at the world from their front porch. It's more than just traveling and getting paid to do it. Lara and Terence are learning to live like the locals and enjoying living in these different countries while giving back to these places. Usually a vacation means self-indulgence "Me Time" but these two travel writers are volunteering at each destination to help give back rather than just taking. 

Have you done any volunteer work while on vacation? Leave some suggestions so that we may all give back instead of just taking during our vacations.
 

Just Cruise

I realize that my very first post was about my cruise to the Bahamas but I failed to mention the specifics of the cruise itself. This was my very first cruise and it was amazing. We had this promotional deal with Ramada Inn and their new cruise line Bahamas Celebration (which I highly recommend). It wasn't very long but by the end of the cruise I was pretty thankful for this matter; my reasons being that I had no cell phone reception (my BlackBerry has become an extension of my body, it goes wherever I go), there was way too much free food, lucky for us the waves were calm had they not been I'd put this as another reason, and our rooms looked like jail cells and that includes the bathroom (if you turned around in the shower you'd be on the toilet).  

The service however, was excellent we got free delectable chocolate covered strawberries from Jacque (he had a sweet spot for my friend), one night we came back to our room to change and to our amazement a pig made out of towels wearing my sunglasses was sitting on my bed, the list goes on and on; you get perks. The fun thing about cruises is you meet people from all around the world, there's different languages being spoken, you could even find people from your hometown. I think it's a wonderful experience and everyone should try it at least once unless you have a bad one and then you just have to keep going until you have a good experience.

The Winner: France

Thank you for voting but the poll has been closed now and most chose France. A romantic, cultural country I am not too surprised. I was hoping with a more exotic result such as India. I know most you might not think exotic and India belong in the same sentence but I beg to differ. But that's another post so I will get back to my original goal: showing you France as I see it. I have never been there but I can still hear my mother's voice smooth and intrigued by this country "I want to eat cheese sitting outside while looking at the Eiffel Tower". Someday I hope to make her wish a reality but for now I will just paint a picture with my words. 

I imagine bright lights but not like the ones you see in Vegas, no I see sparking diamonds lighting up the way as cars drive down the road like a well rehearsed ballet dance. Couples sitting outside delicately sipping tea as they discuss politics and theater. I find myself watching gorgeous women strutting down the sidewalk in stilettos pretending they are on the catwalk. The air is crisp and I can smell winter right around the corner. The warmth of each smile that passes by provides evidence of the tenderness of a stranger. Different colors, sizes, shapes yet they are all the same. Romantic words escape the lips of a man expressing his love for a woman. Although the words are incomprehensible his body language is clear; he is proposing a lifetime of shared memories. Beautiful colors make up this country they can be found at the Louvre, in the pastures of the country hillsides, on plates, and in the chapels. 

You can take my word for it or you can visit France and paint your own picture of this exquisite country.    

 

Honeymoon Perfected

Although I am no where near marriage I came across an interesting article in Conde Naste travel regarding remote hotels. My eyes obviously flashed towards the clear blue waters and the solitude of this hut sitting in the middle of no where. MALDIVES. That is where I would love to spend my week long honeymoon when I decide to finally get married. Going on a vacation these days defeats the purpose of "getting away" when your hotel room becomes an office away from the office. Technology gets in the way and by the end of our vacation we are in need of another one. The rate at this hotel is about $800 a night, quite expensive but worth every penny. 

The Beach House at Maldives, a Relais Châteaux resort, has recently rebranded itself as a Waldorf Astoria Collection hotel. The private beach house at Manafaru Maldives offers 68 luxury villas with pools in exquisite luxury. Guests enjoy private butler service, every modern technology convenience in a Maldives paradise. Now who wouldn't want that kind of vacation? 

To fly or not to fly

After high school graduation I felt obliged to move away as far as possible to experience life in the real world also known as my-life-my-rules-my-provocative world. So I got on a plane and moved 1200 miles away to Provo. Little did I know that I'd be back to Houston three times that year and a few side road trips to fill a void that seemed to have been created when I left home. Since then I have made several trips by land, by sea, and air. So I think it's safe to say I am what the airport calls an "expert flyer". By now I should have frequent flyer miles but I can't commit to a particular airline. 

The Miami international airport was full of rude, rushing joggers because they were late getting to their gate. Newark airport was empty when I arrived at 2 am. LAX airport is to say the very least addicting; there are slot machines at every gate. Bush International airport in Houston...well as they say in Texas "Everything is bigger in Texas". I could go on and on but you've seen one airport you've seen them all. 

Experience has taught me to always buy the window seat. I try to avoid eye contact and conversation if possible, you never know what you will find and I don't intend on waiting to find out. I have heard too many creepy stories regarding meeting people on planes. I usually take a book, magazine or my ipod to entertain myself while I'm not sleeping. 

I realize at this time in our economy it's a luxury to fly somewhere so I suggest buying your tickets early on, don't wait until the last minute if you can help it. Try to look on websites such as Expedia or Orbitz. There are alternatives to flying so decide ....to fly or not to fly?

Unplanned Road Trip Tips

On occasion I get this crazy idea to pack up some stuff and take off. It helps to have roommates who are willing to do the same on such short notice. Life gets hectic and you need a break from it all. Now these tips are in no particular order:

1. Take plenty of snacks (healthy or not) 

2. Go with a few friends, family, or a significant other

3. Choose a place that is relaxing and not too far away

4. Make a cool play list and always have it in your car

5. Take a nice outfit in case you go out with your friends

6. Pick a hotel with a pool and hot tub

7. Don't forget your camera and take pictures the entire time

8. Don't speed (I always manage to get a ticket on these road trips) there's no rush!

9. Stop along the way...rest stops, monuments, any excuse to stretch your legs take it

10. Enjoy yourself, let loose, relax because everything will be the same when you get back so don't worry about those things until you get back home

A World of Magic

I used to live in Florida when I was younger with my parents but because of high costs of living we moved. In some way a part of me has always yearned to go back. So when I got that opportunity this past summer I took advantage of it. I remember visiting Universal Studios on a family vacation about six or seven years ago but it was vague in my memory. Walking through the park I could smell the huge turkey which reminded me of that first visit.  For first-timers I would encourage you try the turkey leg but split it with a few friends or family. The park has some new rides but I was excited to ride all of them and share that experience with my friend Sara since this was her first time in Florida. My favorite ride was the Men in Black. Who can resist black shades, aliens, and a sci-fi looking gun? Plus I got the highest score, those aliens didn't have anything on me! 

A quick tip: Bring a poncho or umbrella. It always rains in Orlando but that doesn't shut the park down in fact its pretty refreshing in the hot weather. Take comfortable shoes because by the end of the day your feet will be worn out. Get on every ride if you have time. Pay the extra 20 bucks for preferred parking you will appreciate this at the end of the day. Make sure you have dinner at the CityWalk when it gets lively with music, lights, and a fun atmosphere. Most importantly just have fun!  

Fiji Seducing Me

I have never been to the island of Fiji but it's blue ocean waves call my name each night. I hear the palm trees whisper my name begging me to come take down one of its coconuts and drink the delicious milky juice. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my naked skin and a light breeze cooling me off as little droplets of perspiration trickle down my back. The soft sand underneath my feet promises not to burn my tender feet if only I will come walk upon its shore. Thoughts of my hair blowing in the wind as I envision myself riding on a horse without a saddle. "Freedom," is what it calls out to me. The air smells sweet as I breathe in pure air from the mountains. A colorful landscape pleads for me to memorize this quick instant as I begin to fade. 

Sadly it was all a dream BUT there is hope. I will look up flights to Fiji today and think of nothing more. It has been ingrained in my mind and refuses to leave. So there is only one solution. I must go to Fiji. Who wants to come?

Guatemala or Bust

My father is from El Salvador so when we went to visit our family for a month in the summer my mother decided to take us to Guatemala for a week. We took a bus there with some of our extended family. Six hours stuck in the same position smelling an acrid aroma was not my definition of a road trip. Nonetheless we made it and looking back I really enjoyed spending time with my family. We had to make a quick stop at a random person's house to use the bathroom because "someone" (this person will remain nameless for obvious reasons) had stomach issues. "Someone" used an outhouse before they realized there was no toilet paper and finally after some digging around in the suitcases we were able to find some. The view however was incredible with mountains and green pastures with grazing animals entertained our eyes for most of the trip.

We finally made it! The first thing we did was take a tour of a factory that was known for gemstones in particular Jade. I bought a beautiful silver necklace with a Jade gemstone on it which I absolutely love. The tour was given in Spanish with a few words in English which was pretty funny when Carlos, our tour guide, kept saying "Pleaz bee sawdy fur mai Ingles". No one had the heart to correct him, my sisters and I just giggled a little each time he said it. And then we finally hit the streets of Antigua which is a beautiful town with cobble streets and delicate, old houses. We were lucky and got to see a colorful parade celebrating "Senorita de Antigua" and an entourage of dancers along with a band.

We then took a boat ride to see the Castle of San Felipe (the tour was a little long and boring but the scenery was amazing). The castle was built around 1604 and consisted basically on a vigilance tower named The Tower of Bustamante. The construction continued so the Castle was completed and named San Felipe in honor to the king Felipe II. After the boat ride we got hungry and decided to go eat (my mom insisted on eating a traditional Guatemalan dish). So we sat at some cafe and ate Jocon. Doesn't sound tasty does it? Well it was DELICIOUS!!! Basically it is chicken simmered in a tasty sauce tinted a beautiful green by tomatillos (tomatoes) and cilantro and thickened with ground sesame and pumpkin seeds and corn tortillas. I highly recommend this dish to experience and take in the countries real essence. 

Seattle and a Wedding

I had never been to Seattle and after receiving a wedding invitation to be held in Portland, Oregon I figured I might as well take a detour to visit the Evergreen State. So we packed up the car and headed out to Seattle. The scenery on the way there is much more intriguing than say Utah; all through the mountains we could see lush greenery and beautiful dark blue water. We stayed with my friend Megan who happens to live right by Puget Sound. Growing up in a hot and humid place like Houston I couldn't fathom not having AC in the house; but here they just opened a window. Sight-seeing was quite an adventure. I had never taken the subway anywhere so Megan suggested we take a ride to downtown Seattle. Of course you can't visit Seattle without going to see the Space Needle. To be honest I didn't go up to the very top because as a college student, this trip was already taking a chunk out of my bank account.

 We drove down to Portland just in time for the rehearsal dinner at Rheinlander German Restaurant. I had never heard of it but was quite satisfied with the food and entertainment by the end of the night. We all joined in singing German folk songs about women and beer while banging on the tables. The food was quite delicious I especially enjoyed the sausages and dipping sauces. For dinner we had a juicy flank steak and scampi skewer (garlic marinated shrimp) accompanied by scalloped potatoes and seasoned vegetables. After a few "get to know you" games the night finally came to a close but not without eating an Apple Strudel desert first. Yum!

  Portland had never seen temperatures this high during the month of August but this day temperatures had reached well into the high nineties. There wasn't a breeze all day or a cloud in the sky. The wedding happened to be outside and it wasn't until the late evening that temperatures finally cooled down. The ceremony was beautiful despite all the sweaty guests but she looked more lovely than ever. I must confess I did shed a few tears as I watched my two friends begin their eternity together. The couple had this serene blissful look on their faces the entire evening. The trip back to Provo was very enjoyable that is if you are a fan of nature. There were tall, green pine trees all around us and as we inhaled the sweet smell of nature enveloped us.