Archive for April, 2011

Video of the post:

It was then time to depart the jungle and begin our journey back to our resort.  But, our adventures were not over yet!  No, first we had to get back on the coolest mode of transportation ever.

After our hair was properly windswept and our hearts properly aflutter, we arrived at an unnamed roadside restaurant where we dined al fresco on some of the most delicious Mexican cuisine I have ever tasted.  I am this close to finally stating for the record that I believe Mexican food is the best in the world.

After our stomachs were properly nourished, we stopped at a plant farm that was run by a bunch of traditional women herbal pharmacists.  I would have loved to have played amongst the herbs all day long, since herbs are such a big part of my life being a Chinese Medicine Doctor, but we had other stops to make along the way home.

The next stop was a pueblo where a colorful Church caught my eye.  I think that is probably my favorite thing about Mexico: the colors.  The food, language, and culture are richly appealing, but the country is saturated with the most vibrant colors that no matter how many other countries you visit you can not get them out of your mind.

Our last stop for the day provided us with some humor.  I had spotted a sign cautioning for speed bumps that in my opinion looked a lot more like a female’s body!

While I thoroughly enjoyed our jungle excursion, I was eager to spend the next couple of days at the beach.

Who amongst us has not gotten into an awkward situation while traveling?  Have you been in this situation where. . .

You have just hopped onto a bus going to a remote area of Peru.  The trip will last 7 hours and after 5 minutes on the road you realize you really need to go to the bathroom.  Besides you, there are 30 strangers on this bus, happy and eager for this trip, who seem like they have never had the urge to go to the bathroom in their entire lives and the driver has a strikingly unfriendly face.  What do you do?  Most of us would try to resist, and resist, and resist until the tears would start to run down our faces and we feel so sick that we cannot even say anything anymore because we reached a state of shock that makes us unable to speak.  However, nobody can physically resist the urge to use the bathroom for 7 hours, thus unless you want to wet yourself sitting next to a complete stranger, just ask the bus driver to stop for a bathroom break.

You are on a plane, a transcontinental flight of 10 hours to be exact.  You have just gotten up to use the bathroom and when you return your seat fellow, who is a bit overweight, has fallen asleep.  It is fine on one hand as now you will not have to talk to him for 10 hours, but troublesome on the other hand as you cannot sit back down.  Do not stress though, as there is a solution; wake him up and ask him to let you pass.  Do not even try to climb over him in the hopes of not waking him up, as he will definitely wake up at probably the most inappropriate moment: when your breasts are right in his face.

You are simply having a bad day, as you did not exactly spend the night in the Madrid accommodation that you had booked, but rather have been traveling from airport to airport, going from a cab to a bus, for 30 straight hours.  You have every right to be a bit clumsy, even narcoleptic if you wish.  You are quietly drinking a soft drink at the airport, with a mother and child sitting next to you.  And of course, you accidentally spill your soda on this angelical little kid.  Well, do not start crying, that is the kid’s job,  just explain the situation to his mother, offer your help, and buy them both sodas.

You finally reach your destination.  You are not staying at a 5-star hotel, rather a youth hostel which will do just fine.  You have a nice bedroom that you will share with about 38 other people.  Everyone seems friendly and trustworthy.  And most of times, that is the case, although one day you might happen to encounter someone who is mentally unstable or a kleptomaniac.  Maybe they just want to play a mean trick on you?  Let us assume you wake up one day and all of your clothes are gone.  You only have what you are wearing.  Outraged you want to complain to the front desk only wearing a T-shirt and underwear.  Do not do this!  Take a deep breath and ask anyone around you to lend you something, so that you are not half-naked in the lobby.

Well, I hope enjoyed these foolish tips?  Remember that if you get one of the Madrid apartments no stranger will steal your luggage, although all the other things could still happen to you, sorry!

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.

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Our next adventure was the complete opposite of the adrenaline-pumping one we had just completed.  We were going to explore the jungle by foot now.

Of course this jungle was not the most popular one in the world, but it definitely had its charm.

Like all jungles though it definitely had a mysterious nature about it.  What would we find once we entered?

My favorite moment of the day was when we took a minute to simply enjoy the sounds of our surroundings.  It reminded me of the time I was floating down the Amazon underneath a sea of stars with a choir of animals serenading me.  As travelers our energy tends to be “up in the air” and we need experiences like this to ground us.

On our way out of the jungle we were given a parting gift, something that expressed exactly what I was feeling. . .

In search of cheaper travels, I had headed north through South Africa and found myself within the hot, dusty embrace of Zimbabwe, Africa — a country not exactly known for its 5-star hotels at every street corner.  I was craving something uniquely African, though I was not entirely sure what that meant.  What I discovered was that Zimbabwe was full of surprises.

The country has been through some hard times lately, hence the switch in currency to the American Dollar (though Euros and Pounds can be used as well).  When I first arrived I foolishly went into a bureau de change and asked to exchange something like a hundred Pounds into sixty thousand Zimbabwean Dollars.  I left feeling like a bank robber!  Mental note: always buy up-to-date travel guides.

Some things I did expect, however.  I had readied myself for the heat, dust, and mosquitoes by buying out a warehouse full of mosquito repellent, sun cream, and airy long-sleeved shirts, which made dragging my pale carcass through Zimbabwe’s various tourist attractions much more enjoyable.  Speaking of tourist attractions, Zimbabwe’s sub-Saharan wildlife is as stunning (though not as prevalent) as the Discovery Channel would have you think.  Watching the bold silhouette of elephants drinking from Lake Kariba from my houseboat at dusk was an experience I will truly never forget.

The best historical sight I got to feast my eyes on was without a doubt Great Zimbabwe, an ancient complex of stone ruins built between the 13^th and 14^th centuries.  The $20 entrance fee was well worth it to gaze at these three complexes of ruins, oddly similar to European castles.

I finished off my sight-seeing adventures with a panoramic view of Victoria Falls, considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.  This sight is not only for tourists, as the affordable nature of this trip means that you will get to mingle with plenty of curious locals too.  I was told of the ‘Devil’s pool’ from one, which is a “safe” swimming pool right at the edge of the falls.  I was curious, but took his warnings seriously — at least one person a year dies tumbling over the edge.

If there is one thing I learned on my travels, it is that Zimbabwe is unique in itself.  There is a tendency of us Westerners to label Africa as if it were a country, except from the ancient pyramids of Egypt to the bustling cities of South Africa, every African country has a unique identity.  To deny Zimbabwe its own identity would be an absolute insult.  Instead of finding something uniquely African, I found something unique within Africa: my destination, Zimbabwe.

Louis Jobin is an undergraduate studying English and Japanese Studies.  His passions are European literature, Asian cuisine, and Scandinavian music.

Recently, I was selected by Clever Girls Collective to blog about a “spring celebration announcement.”   This could not have come at a more opportune moment in my life, since I am getting married in 1 month!  That is a pretty big announcement if you ask me, right?  I was asked to make this announcement through choosing and designing an announcement card via the fabulous company, Shutterfly.  If this was not already exciting enough, I have been given the authority to randomly pick a reader to win 50 announcement cards as well!

I have decided that I will use my cards as thank you notes.  I purchased from Etsy the following handmade sign (however mine says “thanks & gracias” since my fiance is Argentinean).  I will have my wedding photographer capture the 2 of us holding the sign in a similar fashion.  I think it is the best way to express our gratitude to our friends and family!

The Shutterfly card that I will have the picture printed on will be this one:

Giveaway Information:

1. Leave me a comment telling me what spring celebration announcement you have to make.  Choices include: graduation announcements, birth announcements, save the date cards, or wedding announcements.
2. For an extra entry leave me a comment telling me that you have followed me on Twitter.
3. For another extra entry leave me a comment telling me that you have friended me on Facebook.

I will announce the winners on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011.

Are you a blogger, too?   Click here to register for a chance at 50 free announcements!

This post is part of a series sponsored by Shutterfly.  I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Remember that “cool mode of transportation” I mentioned?  Well, imagine driving through the Mexican jungle in this:

Kirsten and I loved the wind in our hair and the sunshine on our smiling faces as we were whisked by various landscapes.

To me, the jungle is the pulse beat of the heart of a country.  Every sense is heightened once you enter and this was certainly the case for us.

After we arrived at our destination, it was time to get ready for our second jungle adventure of the day (I consider riding in that vehicle an adventure in itself): zip lining.  The last time I had zip lined was in Cuba and I had loved every second of it!  It is exhilarating to feel, even if only for a brief second, like you are flying above the treetops.  The scenery was lusciously green; the perfect backdrop for our adrenaline pumping activity.

And of course I volunteered to go first!

Once we were all safely back on the ground, it was time for our third jungle adventure. . .

Tenerife is famous for its sandy beaches, lively nightlife, and modern resorts.  Many visitors will enjoy a pleasant holiday on the island without seeing beyond the bars of Playa de las Americas or the streets of Puerto de la Cruz. However, visitors who venture even slightly off the beaten path will find a whole host of treasures both natural and cultural just waiting to be discovered.

While the scenery of Tenerife may seem bleak and desolate at first, those venturing out into the volcanic landscape will find that this inhospitable exterior hides a spectacular view of green valleys, wooded hillsides, and fields thick with exotic flowers.  A great place to discover Tenerife’s fascinating and diverse landscape is the Mount Teide National Park, where you can enjoy walking, hiking, and cycling around the island’s highest peaks, as well as the Anaga Rural Park, an ecological park that is home to thousands of rare species of flora and fauna along with the best views on the island.  For a different but equally dramatic view of Tenerife, visitors should take a boat trip under the Los Gigantes Cliffs.  Believed to be sacred by generations of islanders, a journey under these imposing rock faces helps visitors to understand the influence they had on the people of Tenerife in years gone by.

Although Tenerife boasts some fantastic natural scenery, it also boasts many architectural and cultural sights that are worth taking time out to see.  Almost inaccessible until recently, the remote nature of the hamlet of Caserio de Masca has ensured its preservation as one of the finest examples of traditional architecture left in the Canaries.  Set within a deep ravine, the village is a great place to visit to experience what life on the island was like for centuries before tourism arrived.  Another good place to visit for a taste of authentic island life is picturesque Vilaflor, the highest village on the island.  Here visitors can shop for locally made crafts, visit the 17^th century church, or climb up to the viewpoint for amazing views across the island.

Another important stop on any scenic tour of Tenerife is the historic capital at San Cristobal de la Laguna. Founded in the 15^th century, the city’s distance from the coast has helped it to avoid over-development and much of its fascinating architecture remains intact.  A UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, the city was the first in the world to be built using the grid system and it contains enough historic landmarks, ancient buildings, and photo opportunities to keep even the least curious of visitors busy for days.

Alex Sebuliba is a travel enthusiast and likes to document the non-typical backpacker destinations.  Having visited many countries, but only as a holiday experience, he has decided to start his first solo travel in August 2011.  He plans to start from Tenerife and gradually make his way to Uganda to discover his family roots and culture.

Have you ever listened to a song and thought, “This is a great song to drive to?”  Well, maybe it only happens to me, but it sure does happen to me a lot.  Sometimes I even listen to a song and I can see myself immediately on the road, driving a car, with my best friend by my side, smoking cigarettes, and not even talking, just enjoying the music and the moment.  And this is exactly what happened to me last night, which gave me the idea for the post.  Thus, today I am writing a list of my top 5 five favorite songs for the road.  You may or may not agree with me, however I would love to hear other suggestions!

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here

This song does not even need an introduction.  It takes you to the most transcendental moment; it makes time stop.  It truly makes you feel like driving and driving away from whatever.

DeVotchka – How It Ends

This was a great discovery at the end of the “road trip movie” masterpiece Little Miss Sunshine.  Since watching it, I can go nowhere without listening to it, so I had to include this touching and penetrating song.  It makes me think of driving at night around the city, perhaps stopping at some Barcelona accommodation when sleepiness kicks in, only to get up at dawn again to get on the road with next song.

Devendra Banhart – Baby

This is a song to drive to right after you have woken up and the sun is rising.  It instantly makes you happy.  Although personally could have chosen any of this artist’s songs, as I like them all.

Ths Spinto Band – Oh Mandy

I always save this song for the moment when I arrive at my final destination; the place where I have been driving to for days and have finally reached.  Whether it is arriving at one of the apartments in Barcelona or at some lost village in Canada, I always play this song as some kind of a triumph, a reward, a high end of the first part of the trip.

Pixies – Where Is My Mind

This song is definitely for that moment after a couple of unforgettable days somewhere where you get into the car again, turn the engine on, roll down the windows, and press the play button.  It is the perfect background music to let yourself ponder about what this road experience has been all about.

Maria Climent is a 26-year-old Catalan lady.  After studying translation, she decided her life was odd enough to became a humor scriptwriter and by default, a blogger.  This is how she is now a mother of no one and a better person.  She also cooks her meals.

Song of the post:

While I am a beach person to the core, I have definitely fallen in love with rainforests over the years, especially after my solo-trip to the Amazon.  Thus, when Kirsten and I were deciding which tour package to choose from through Yucatan Holidays, my immediate choice was the “adventure tour.”  It included:

• Visiting an orchid nursery
• Zip-lining in the jungle
• Trekking through the jungle

Sadly, because of the time of year and due to some other unfortunate circumstances we were not able to participate in 2 other activities that are usually offered in this tour, which were:

• Kayaking in a floating forest
• Exploring a butterfly house

Early in the morning we were greeted by our tour guide and 2 gorgeous young girls with the biggest smiles on their faces.  During the long ride to the pueblo, Kirsten and I became acquainted with our new friends.  Our tour guide, a Spaniard, happened to be a passionate believer in NGO’s (as am I) and worked tirelessly to see that Yucatan Holidays succeed.  The girls happened to be students in his wife’s high school class and they were on a  field trip.  I have never met more intelligent and ambitious girls in my life.  Both had applied to Ivy League Universities throughout the United States and were eagerly awaiting their acceptance letters.  The energy in the car from these 3 amazing people was extremely palpable and inspiring to say the least.

Our first stop was the orchid nursery.

I have no doubt that visiting this place during the months the orchids are in full bloom would be a feast for the eyes, however as previously mentioned we were visiting during the wrong time of the year.

Although there were some incredibly old trees throughout the property that would amaze anyone no matter what time of the year it was due to their grand size!

Then it was time for the next part of our adventure, which required us to ride in probably the coolest mode of transportation I have ever been in.  Where we were going, we had no idea. . .