Archive for December, 2010

Song of the post:

In case you missed my 1st stop on the island, click here.  The next stop on Alicia’s tour was of course more Moai and more views of the ocean.  I have never in all of my travels seen waves as big as I saw that day.  I did not know whether to focus my attention on the ancient statues or the incredible surf!

As previously mentioned, I am not going to provide a lot of commentary, as words fail miserably in describing the treasure that is Easter Island.

Next we were on to the most famous part of the island. . .

Home to Canada’s capital Ottawa, the metropolitan city of Toronto, and the iconic natural phenomenon that is Niagara Falls, Ontario is one Canadian province that certainly packs a punch.  Visitors here will find no end of things to pass the time from heading up Toronto’s CN Tower to counting the clock faces in Ottawa to riding the Maid of the Mist in Niagara.

One thing not to be ignored, however, is the abundance of culture in Ontario.  Museums are always a good place to gen up on your knowledge and there is certainly an abundance in this part of Canada.  They include place like the Canada Agricultural Museum, Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum — where different events, workshops and exhibitions are regularly held.

Another good way to soak up the history is to step back in time at the Black Creek Pioneer Village where you will get to experience what it was like for a typical Toronto community in the 1800’s.

Another important part of understanding the country’s culture is with the food and drink.  Ontario wine is famed for its quality and if you like learning about your grapes, or just enjoy a tipple, there are lots of great wineries to add a touch of flavor to you trip.  Many offer tours where you get to see the vineyards and the wine making process, as well as tastings (yum!).  There is also the chance to purchase your favorites to take back home, so you can keep that Ontario feeling going long after you have left.

Kirsty Brown is an enthusiastic English travel writer.  She is an avid explorer and linguist and as such travels the world in search of new finds to share with others.

My Dearest Blog Readers,

I hope this letter finds you in excellent health and with a joyful spirit!

What an unforgettable year 2010 has been for me.  I should have known it was going to be as I stood on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janiero, Brasil and ushered in the new decade with 3 million others all dressed in white under a sky of fireworks.  In that moment I wished with all of my heart for my best year yet and my wish certainly came true.

After my time in Rio, I continued on to the Amazon Rainforest where I trekked through one of the most magical places in the world.  To say it was life changing is an understatement.  This was my first solo trip in a country where I did not speak the language.   Several months later I completed a lifelong dream of visiting India.  Ever since I was a little girl I had dreamed of visiting the country and when I finally found myself standing in front of the Taj Mahal it was one of the most surreal moments of my life.  Another incredible experience I had while I was there was riding an elephant through an ancient fort.  Soon after returning from India, I made a last minute decision to return to Brasil to see my then-boyfriend, Lucas.  We stayed in the seaside village of Buzios, which is not only one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, but is also where we got engaged!   Then I completed another lifelong dream of traveling with my brother.  I told him for his High School graduation present I would take him anywhere in the world and he chose the Netherlands and Spain.  This was such a special experience to share with him before he left for College and I will always cherish the memories we created there together.

Planning an international wedding has been one of the most challenging projects I have ever undertaken.  Thankfully, I have a lot of help and I am confident that it will be a spectacular affair.  It will take place May 14^th, 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the city where Lucas and I met and fell in love in almost 6 years ago.  I just returned from a visit there (my 8^th time) and I was able to spend 10 lovely days with Lucas wedding planning, as well as enjoy a quick escape to Uruguay for a relaxing couple of days in between.  Before I arrived in Argentina, I took another solo trip, this time to Chile.  A highlight was surfing and diving in the most remote island in the world, Easter Island.

My Chinese Medicine clinic underwent big changes; I am now the sole-owner and switched locations into the amazing East West Center of Wellness.  While these changes were unexpected at first, they ended up being for the best, as my clinic has become quite successful and continues to steadily grow.  It is such an empowering feeling to love my job and to provide people help with their health and wellness.

Another exciting thing is that I have grown My Beautiful Adventures into a labor of love that I am very proud of.  I am averaging around 60,000 page views a month!  I have many exciting plans for the future of the website that I will be unveiling in the new year.

As you are reading this, I am in the midst of celebrating Christmas at home with my precious family and then a trip to the Bahamas for New Year’s with my brother and father.  I will be celebrating New Year’s Eve on the beach in Paradise Island, which is like a 2nd home to me, and I will of course be thinking about all of you.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking time to read my blog.  It truly means the world to me!

Happy Holidays!!!  May 2011 be a year of PEACE for you and for all around the world.

With love,

Song of the post:

Oh, to be back in the South Pacific again and swaddled in nostalgia’s rosy glow! It had been 3 years since I had been in this part of the world and I definitely felt like I had left a little piece of my heart there on my last trip.  What is it about the South Pacific?  It is like happiness, tranquility, and peace exist in the air molecules and the second you take in your very 1^st breath it is impossible to not have a permanent smile across your face.

I have blogged about “these kinds of days” before, these days where you have to keep pinching yourself to make sure that you are not really dreaming.  This was definitely one of those days.

The morning began with one of the best breakfasts of my life.  There were countless homemade, gourmet options to choose from.  I probably consumed enough calories to last me a week!  Just as I was finishing my 3^rd round (thank goodness I took the boudoir photos before this part of the trip), one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen approached me.  She introduced herself as Alicia and said that she was my tour guide.  As we exited the hotel I asked her where the tour bus was.  She looked at me as if I had just spoken in Russian.  She responded by saying that there was no tour bus; it was just me, her, and her jeep.  I could not believe my luck!

Alicia and I were instant besties and before we even made it to the main road she decided that she was going to show me her version of the tour.  She turned the jeep around and took me back to the hotel so that I could change in my bikini.  She did not tell me why I needed my bikini, because she wanted that to be a surprise.  Then we stopped at her house in order for her to get her CD’s.  You see, Alicia is a professional singer when she is not playing tour guide and she wanted to share her music with me while we drove around the island.

The problem with insatiable curiosity, is that if you have it, you are rarely satisfied and you must constantly continue to move forward toward new horizons and find new lands to inhabit.  And that is exactly why I was visiting the world’s most remote island.  I tend to use a lot of superlatives when I write, because I am genuinely delighted by pretty much everything I encounter while traveling.   However, I feel that it would be useless to use superlatives to describe my time on Easter Island, since there are simply no words that could come close to describing my experiences.   All I can say is that I hope with all of my heart every single person reading this is able to visit one day.

My next several posts will mostly be photos from the 8 hours I spent touring the island.  The weather could not have been more perfect, making for some of the best photos I have ever taken.  The 1st stop of the day included beaches with waves 30 feet high and Moai that had yet to be restored to their original state.  I was shocked that I was able to get as close as I wanted to the statues, though the Rapa Nui believe it is bad luck to touch them.

Thus, please join me on a photographic journey of Easter Island:

And then it was on to the next stop. . .

Hawaii is one of those places that conjures up images of sun, sea, sand, and of course surf!  Anyone from pro-surfers to those who have never been on a board before is tempted by the allure of the waves, tropical sandy beaches, and gorgeous weather.

Surf in Hawaii and you are riding the waves at one of the world’s most iconic surf destinations, as well as being in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet.  If, like me, you are a surf virgin, getting yourself a couple of lessons is well worth the investment.  It not only gives you some excellent tips on how to get started, but an hour or two being taught to jump on a board by a hot surfer dude is not exactly the worst money ever spent.

It is, however, as I discovered when I got the chance to give it a go, hard work.  Watching the pro’s you think it looks fairly easy. All they are doing is standing on a board and looking cool, right?  Yes, but they are also having to balance on moving water and that is where the tricky bit comes in!

Practising on the beach I was nimbly dancing around my board, jumping up, laying down, and feeling pretty smug.  Introduce the sea (a rather important element to the sport) and I was somewhat less graceful.  I didmanage to stand for approximately 3 seconds — a record of which I worked embarrassingly hard to achieve.

While I am pretty useless on a surfboard, I am rather good at laying on a beach and after a morning spent splashing, falling, and precariously balancing on a thin piece of plastic I was pleased to lay my surfboard down and make the most of the tropical Hawaiian climate.

The Mokulua Islands off Lanikai Beach, Oahu.

Kirsty Brown is an enthusiastic English travel writer.  She is an avid explorer and linguist and as such travels the world in search of new finds to share with others.

Song of the post:

Before my evening flight to Easter Island, Kyle and Emily took me on a quick tour of downtown Santiago.  After brunch, we set off to visit most of the major sites and at some of them I was able to witness the recent earthquake damage. Emily wrote an in depth post about this day, in case you are interested you can find it here.  The following photos are from our walk together:

Las tres amigas bonitas!

Mercado Central

Plaza de Armas

Old vs New in Plaza de Armas

Cultural Center

We were not able to see everything, but Kyle and Emily told me that was their “secret plan” in order to lure me back to Santiago.  They sure know how to make a girl feel loved!  I refused to say goodbye to them, rather I said see you later, since I would be briefly returning to Santiago after my trip to Easter Island.

Words of advice when booking a trip to Easter Island; if you desire to go do not procrastinate in booking your tickets, as flights are very limited and tend to sellout quickly.  I highly recommend booking your flight at least 3-6 months in advance.  I was extremely lucky that there were 1^st class seats still available, otherwise I would have not been able to go.  I also suggest not making this one of your budget holidays and flying 1^st class.  The fair difference is not considerably different and it is one of those times in your life where a splurge is in order!  LAN Chile is an excellent airline, but their 1^st class seats are pure luxury.  They give you a comforter to keep warm, enough said right?

The flight from Santiago to Easter Island was almost 6 hours long, which felt like an eternity since I was so eager to be there.  Not only was I excited to be on the island, I was also excited to see my hotel.  Erina, my travel agent, had discovered a brand new hotel that had recently opened named Hotel Altiplanico.  She did not know much about it, however from everything we could find online it seemed perfect.

I was picked up by the hotel at the airport and immediately I was donned with a floral lei around my neck.  As we pulled up to the hotel the sun had just disappeared over the horizon and I could see the silhouette of a Moai off in the distance with the ocean as a backdrop.  If it sounds surreal, it was!  I was then given a welcome pisco and led to my room.  It was a little cabin that I would best describe as understated elegance.  I simply could not ask for more.

I fell asleep that night to the sound of the Polynesian waves.

Song of the post:

My time in Santiago seemed like it went by faster than a blink of an eye.  I did not want to say chau to Kyle and Emily the following day, however I was also counting the seconds until I stepped foot on Easter Island, a place I had been dreaming about ever since traveling became a central part of my life.  Before I met the girls for dinner and drinks, I decided to pay another visit to the W’s rooftop to take pictures of the glorious Andes.

Me on my way to the rooftop.

My 1st time seeing the Andes was 2 years ago when I visited Peru and while I was driving through them I became completely enchanted.  There is just something about the longest mountain chain in the world that absolutely delights me (and no it is not due to me being named Andi).  As the sun set and I watched the snow capped mountains in the distance turn pink in front of my eyes, I realized that I was experiencing one of my most favorite travel moments to date.

To celebrate my last night in Santiago, the 3 of us started off with cocktails at the W’s rooftop bar.  If you find yourself in Santiago I highly suggest you head there for a drink, as the views are dazzling!  Then we dined at the restaurant Tiramisu, which was across the street from the hotel.  Thankfully, we did not have to wait for a table even though it was packed.  I would have graciously waited an hour if needed though, as the pizzas were that good.  I am sure it also helped that the company I was with could not have been better.

Song of the post:

For the 3^rd look, I ditched the lingerie for a gown and I am to appear as though I am on my way to the “event” (in case you missed the 1st and 2nd looks, click here and here).

By the time we made it to the rooftop, it was already mid-day and not only did our stomachs need nourishment, but my face could not stand one more smile.  After this experience I now have an enormous amount of respect for models.  Playing one for the day was enough for this lifetime.  I think I will stick to healing people instead!

Once the last shot was taken, I quickly threw on some street clothes and the 3 of us headed to a restaurant around the corner from the hotel.  I must have been some sight with my dramatic makeup and hair.

I am so grateful that I found the courage to face my fears and go through with the photo shoot.  I highly recommend all women having at least 1 boudoir session in their life.  Whether it is to celebrate an occasion or just to say you did it, trust me, you will treasure the pictures forever.

So, what is your favorite picture?

Editors note:

*Hair and makeup was done by the extraordinary Rodrigo Farah.  If you are in Santiago and are in need of these services, do not go to anyone else.

*Fashion info: dress (BCBG), engagement ring (Le Vian), shoes (Zara Espana), sunglasses (Chanel), earrings (Alex Bittar)

The travel market in 2010 has been slowly recovering.  Despite economic woes and hardship, fundamentally people still want to go on holiday.  And why not?  They work hard for it, in fact they are probably working even harder for it in 2010 than they were in 2007.  However, 2010 has been a year for the ‘staycation’ — vacationing at home — and has been a time where value for money has been pushed to new limits.

Although value for money has always and will always be important, in 2011, it looks as though people want to travel more.  For Britons, the instability of the Eurozone is pushing people further afield.  Old favourites such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece are not looking so appealing anymore.  For Americans, Latin America and Australia are looking more appealing.  Flight connections are improving and they too worry about Euro-using countries.

But the biggest change is in the types of holidays people will be choosing.  For the past few years there has been a growing demand for cultural and adventure-filled holidays.  It seems travellers want to learn something new, having fun, keeping active, and experiencing a new culture.  Lying on a beach still has its appeal, although it is not the only reason for a vacation any longer.

This means some new destinations will be transformed into holiday hot spots, no longer reserved for backpackers, hard-core travelers, or the jet set.  So, where should you be heading in 2011?

It is not exactly the cheapest country in Europe and Pounds and Dollars do not stretch for miles, but Sweden is an oft forgotten part of Europe.  It does not use the Euro and its economy is stable, having not suffered too harshly from the recession.  The country by landmass is huge, about 5X the size of the UK, but there are only 9 million inhabitants; in fact there are more reindeer than people.  Stockholm is the stunning capital and it is spread across a sprawling archipelago.  Gothenburg, the country’ second city, is a little more understated, though lot more affordable and still highly appealing.  The surrounding coastline is breathtaking too and a city break can easily be turned into a weeklong escape.

Outside of Europe, the new destination on the horizon is New Zealand.  Everywhere you look in this small, wind-swept country is a postcard worthy vista.  In 2011, it will host the Rugby World Cup and filming for “The Hobbit.”  It is also the adventure capital of the world, so come here if you have nerves of steel and are looking for an adrenaline rush.

Flight Centre offers a huge range and variety of cheap flights across the globe to both near and far-flung destinations.  Do not just sit there, get moving!

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I love presents.  While receiving them is always fun, I definitely prefer to give them.  I take such delight in everything from shopping for the perfect gift to choosing how best to wrap it to watching the expression on the face of the person when they open it.  Personally, since I put a lot of thought into the presents I give, I think they are all pretty special, however there is definitely one in particular that sticks out in my mind (if it seems familiar, it is because I already blogged about it).

I must admit a get a tiny feeling of jealousy when I read other traveler’s blogs and I see that they come from a family of travelers or at least a family that supports their traveling.  A lucky few even have family members that travel with them!  While I have an extraordinary family, they have absolutely no zest for exploration.  My Mother is deathly afraid to fly.  It is so bad that she updates her will before forcing herself to get on a 1-2 hour flight (that is the longest flight she will take).  My Father is 6’6″ and unless he is sitting 1st class, he has absolutely no desire to torture himself in a tiny airplane seat.  People who know me and my family just do not get where my insatiable need to constantly travel comes from.  And to further complicate things, not only do my parents not want to travel, they do not understand my traveling.  They are very curious people and love learning, but they both think that everything you need to know about life and the world can be found at Barnes & Noble.

4 years ago, my baby brother (there is a decade of age difference between us), began high school.  He had been previously studying Spanish and was now allowed to take a 2nd language.  My maternal grandparents and my Mother encouraged him to take German, since they are from Germany.  I had just graduated from College with a major in Asian Studies and part of that major learning an Asian language.  Since I knew that I was going into Chinese Medicine School, I chose Chinese (Mandarin).  When I graduated, many doors opened up to me due to my newly acquired language skill.  Thus, instead of German, I encouraged my brother to take Chinese.  At 1st my family resisted this idea, but after much convincing they acquiesced and my brother enrolled in Chinese.  By his Junior year he loved the language and was so good at it, that he won a scholarship to spend a month in China studying it.  I kept my fingers crossed the whole time he was there that the travel bug would bite him, as I had been infected myself on a trip to China.  He returned having had the time of his life, though with no passion to keep on exploring, or so I thought.

As the time to apply for College approached, he surprisingly announced that he wanted to study International Business with a focus on both the Chinese and Latin markets.  He also wanted to study abroad, in fact he wanted to spend the majority of his college education abroad.  My parents were shocked and I, on the other hand, became the proudest sister in the world! He thanked me from the bottom of his heart for being an inspiration and for opening up his eyes to a different way of thinking and viewing life.  I wanted to celebrate and encourage this brave decision he was taking, thus for his Christmas/Birthday/graduation present I told him that,

I would take him anywhere in the world for 2 weeks; he got to choose the destination and I would plan the trip.

We ended up going to the Netherlands and Spain and it was 2 of the most special weeks in both of our lives.  Not only did the trip strengthen our already incredibly tight bond, but I now have a new favorite travel partner (thus it ended up being a gift for me as well)!  For this New Year’s we are traveling again together to the Bahamas, in May we will be traveling to Argetina for my wedding where he will be my Man of Honor, and then in September I will go to visit him in Hong Kong.

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