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| Page Views: 1,080 | Miss P. on Travel'n by Phalaenopsis03 - last update: Jun 6, 2008 |
| @ the Spanish Steps, Italy (5.08) |
Traveling is the ultimate experience for me. I thoroughly enjoy it and everything about it - from packing up the suitcase or backpack, to checking in at the airport counter, to boarding the plane, and even airplane food delights me (yup, it’s true). I can hardly sleep the night before a departure, and once I'm on my way, I get that giddy feeling inside. It's just so exhilarating to be able to experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of places unfamiliar. Additionally, if in a foreign land, I'm able to learn about other peoples, their customs, and traditions. Traveling is truly the greatest professor!
My site does not contain a lengthy list of foreign travels, but I hope it someday will, not for the purpose of building up my list, but for the pure enjoyment of experiencing the world. I especially appreciate the histories of the places I visit. So thank goodness for VT because here, I can share with loved ones, with friends, and folks like you my personal adventures in "virtual" style. But more importantly, I have the opportunity to reminisce about all the fun and exciting memories I've acquired throughout the years. Good times, good times indeed!
In regards to my travel philosophy, well, it's pretty simple: Do what's most enjoyable for you, whether it be touristy or off the beaten. While some may scoff at the thought of visiting the touristy spots and others may be apprehensive in venturing to off the beaten paths, I say do whatever makes you feel comfortable and will allow you to have a worthwhile experience. Personally, I like a good dose of each. Yeah, I'll admit it, I'll visit the well beaten paths. I mean, would you ever consider a trip to New York City and not even step foot onto Times Square, just even once? How 'bout a visit to Egypt without seeing the pyramids? Or maybe to Paris and bypassing the Eiffel Tower? Absurd, I say! Though some folks may consider these places touristy or even tourist traps, I feel that they have nonetheless given character to and helped shape their respective locales, thus, warranting a visit.
But please, don't get me wrong. As much as I can appreciate the beaten, I equally and even more-so value the lesser known and/or hidden sights and little hole-in-the-walls. If you were to come to my beloved LOS ANGELES, I’d be remiss not to suggest visiting We-Ho, Downtown LA, Pasadena, Long Beach, the San Gabriel Valley, and any of our many ethnic enclaves (you just have to rent a car though). You see, these places too, in addition to the typical haunts like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, etc. have created their own culture, character, and charm to produce a multicolored / multifaceted vibrant L.A. and California. Wow, what a plug for my hometown! Anyway, you get my point about balancing touristy and non-touristy, which is perfectly fine. Now go on, travel, and have a fantastic time!Travel Wish List
(in descending order)
Greece - DONE '03
Thailand - DONE '05
Tunisia
Russia (maybe do the Trans-Siberian Railway)
Vietnam
Japan
Dubai
Peru
China
Argentina
Brazil
South Africa
Netherlands
Egypt (revisit my place of birth)
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2006: Here's to Another Year!With each passing year, seems like my travels have become more and more infrequent. Having finished my studies in May '05, I figured I'd have more opportunities to travel, but reality set in once I started making payments on my new car and began repaying my student loans. Major bummer! However, there was a momentary light at the end of my tunnel when in Oct. '05, I put down a deposit for a trip to Latin America that would take place in April '06 - was gonna visit Argentina and Brazil with some girlfriends. Actually, I was the one who coordinated the whole thing, but then “stuff” ended up happening to cause me to back out and lose my deposit. So, having become embittered by my loss and my continued lack of travels, I resigned myself to taking weekend road trips to San Diego. Don't get me wrong, I love San Diego and had put down 1,400 miles on my car as a result of my back and forth drives, but nothing beats a nice long vacation somewhere far far away. I'm sure you know what I mean.
Well, today's Dec. 23, and it's only a matter of days 'til '07. While I didn't get the "long vacation somewhere far far away" I had hoped for, I was able to manage a nice little trip to Seattle, Washington and Victoria, BC back in September. This was my second solo vacation (the first being Thailand in '05), but my first hostelling experience, which was way cool! Seattle HI rocked!
And well, on the non-traveling side of life, work was mad busy; quite bureaucratic and hectic. But the development of friendships was abundant. Colleagues make for great friends, while good friendships in general make for richer lives. I count my blessings daily for the fantastic team I was assigned to and for the lovely people that make up my network of friends, including two of my VT recruits (ognini and poupeeaztec).
Hmmm, what to expect in '07? Really, I have no clue. Life (more specifically), my life is very unpredictable. Each year holds something unexpected and unique. I'm still contemplating on going back to school, but who knows. If not that, it's ok because I'm already on my way towards a licensure in social work. But you know what? To fall in love again would certainly be nice. So here's to whatever the new year may bring. Hoping for something beautiful, but never expecting it.
|  | | Seattle, Washtington, U.S.A. |
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| | 2005: Defining Moments!
Nope, no list of international travels to speak of this year, only my Thailand vaca (but boy, was that an amazing trip!). Nor were there any road trips of significance, just some drives here and there to the usual spots (i.e., to Santa Barbara, San Diego, Anza Borrego, Rosarito, MX, and Puerto Nuevo, MX). Unlike in years past, this one is highlighted (and marred) by things not involving any flying or sightseeing whatsoever. In 2005, I acquired a graduate degree and a new career, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, I gained some priceless experiences and learned some valuable life lessons, albeit some being very painful ones. Truly some of life's defining moments.
Now with graduate school all behind me, I should probably feel happy and relieved that it's all over. Well, I am. Sorta. Just that..... Although I have aspirations of fulfilling the "American dream" of owning a home surrounded by a white picket fence, having 1.5 kids (???), a dog, cat, hamster, goldfish, turtle, blah, blah, blah, I know in my heart that there's more for me to do - to accomplish. Problem is, can't quite exactly figure that out yet, but I know that much is true. So in the meantime, I'm just gonna have to do things to distract me until I figure myself out. I mean, who knows. Shoot, might even end up going back to school again. I just love the environment that academia provides, but those darn loans. What a pain!
So, what could possibly be in store for 2006? Well, I stumbled upon this adage by Henry Thoreau that I'm so enamored with, that I'd love to incorporate it into my own life somehow. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." Although I don't really know what my "dreams" are per se (at least not yet), I'm just gonna keep it pretty simple for now and beginning in the new year, attempt to live a life that exudes better karma. That's all I'm really hoping for. Well, along with this, that, and the other stuff. =) |
2004: Trip Out!My oh my, how the year flew by! Certainly much different from 2003 and with much less international travels undertaken, but equally as exciting and perhaps more "notorious" than the last. Some great accomplishments, other things I couldn't really be proud of, and some events I'd just rather soon forget. But no matter what, 2004 goes down in my record book as a "big trip", especially the latter part of the year.
Started off '04 with a road-trip down to Rosarito, Mexico with my gal pal and our "friend" for a post New Year's weekend of partying and "adventure". Then the following weekend, did a solo drive up the California Coast (PCH) with an overnight stay in Morro Bay. Then for Spring Break, decided on another road trip, solo again to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. This was when I stayed in a dingy motel in Tulare where the room's major wall art was pretty phallic. In May, some colleagues and I were bussed up to the state capital, Sacramento for Mental Health Advocacy Day. In June, a schoolmate and I took a day trip out to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where we went "off-roading" in the PT Cruiser I rented. July 4th was spent with the family, i.e., mom, bro, and Tita Cynthia (auntie from Holland) on Catalina Island. In mid-August, that same schoolmate and I drove to the Grand Canyon and also visited Montezuma's Castle. For September, took the Greyhound to Vegas on a last minute's notice to attend the Usher/Kanye West concert. In October, went back to Vegas for a weekender to help out with the Kerry/Edwards campaign. And finally, in December, on my birthday to be exact, departed Los Angeles for Bangkok to begin my Thailand trip.
So, what can we expect for 2005? Well, hopefully not as much drama as '04 fo' sho'! God willing, it'll be a mellow year comprised of the more important stuff, i.e., happiness, good health, safety, and more travels. But oh yeah baby, looking forward to getting my MSW this academic year (May, '05). Woop woop! | | | Morro Bay, California, U.S.A. |
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| | 2003: Sad Endings and New Beginnings! Wowza, 2003! What an eventful year for me that was. Full of sad endings, new beginnings, and plenty of surprises along the way, this past, two-double-zero-three is one that I will never forget.
Still living in New York City, started off the year with a week of fun 'n sun in gorgeous Hawaii as we visited the islands of Maui and Oahu. In Feb, drove down to Washington, D.C. to watch UCLA's b-ball team beat Georgetown. A week later, found myself watching the Falls of Niagara not so falling. It was below zero and we got caught in the "blizzard of the century." On the same trip, also visited the ethnically diverse Canadian city of Toronto, eh. In March, flew to Miami for biz and tan people-watching. Then in April. April 27th to be exact, became a member of VT, and we all know what happens next, right? And May? Well, in celebration of PG graduating from b-school, his sis and mom, and my mom flew over from Cali. Decided we'd all go to Boston, Massachusetts for the weekend (longest of my life). A week later, PG and I took a road trip to Pennsylvania. Saw the Rocky steps, chilled at the sweetest place on earth, and raced against Amish folk. In the same month, flew back up to Canada to visit the charming French influenced cities of Montreal and Quebec. Then in June, we were off on our Mediterranean adventure (composing of Dubrovnik, Croatia; Greece: Athens, Corfu Island, Corinth, Delphi, Epidaurus, Katakolon, Mycenae, Mykonos, Nafplio, Olympia, Piraeus, and Santorini; Venice, Italy; and Istanbul, Turkey). All the while this was happening, I was applying to grad schools and working for Vera. And as quick as you could say "fa shizzle dizzle," I was back in Los Angeles. By this point, I had already lost my taller and furrier Iranian half, but as one chapter of my life closed, another one began. I was starting my first year of grad school at USC, but you know me, a diehard BRUIN always!
So now the question is, "What's next?" Well, beats me man. I can only pray and hope that 2004 will bring plenty of blessings my way, i.e., success, good health, happiness, and plenty o' travels. Well, we'll just see now won't we? |
The Journey
STAGES
by Madelyn Yanchyshyn
Many are the stages from the cradle to the grave -
Diversities in journey to each of us God gave.
Within each stage of journey lies paths that one can choose -
Depending on the chosen path, we either gain or lose.
Confusion and perplexity may sometimes come our way -
Despondency and sadness may sometimes waste our day.
Among each stage of journey, there's One we cannot see -
Our guide and our companion near He'll always be.
Giving rest when we are weary, giving joy when we are sad,
Comforting and consoling, each broken heart made glad.
Along this present journey looms chance for eternal wealth -
Along this present journey is choice of immortal health.
Deceptions and distractions along this journey lie -
Illusions of elation, beckon you and I.
Depending on the choice one makes determines what will be -
In the stage that's soon to follow, for all eternity.
* * * * | | | Elephant riding in Chiang Mai (1/05) |
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 Comments for Phalaenopsis03 about World | | | | |
WorldMeet2008 Fri Jul 25, 2008 13:19 UTC
Your next trip? Make it really unique! It's not too late to attend WM08 - Jerusalem, Tel Aviv & Dead- Sea on 25- 28th Sept (+Petra 29-30th). We want to double the num of attendees to 100! Click to learn where, when, what, how, how much! Avi [FruitLover]. | nickandchris Sun Jul 13, 2008 13:00 UTC
Hi, many thanks for visiting my Greece and Koroni pages. I just wish we had more time to holiday..... | Waalewiener Fri Jun 13, 2008 18:11 UTC
Hi Fatimah That shirt says Holland The Europa Cup Football is on at this moment Holland is playing France in half an hour All the best to you Fatima | Goner Mon Jun 2, 2008 20:30 UTC
Hi Girl, thanks for the birthday wish, I too am returning to VT after a long respite! |
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