Someone asked me the other day, “Are you a fire survivor?” Before I could answer yes, my mother
interjected with “Well, she was seven
at the time!” I was immediately hurt. It felt as if she was saying that a seven year
old is less of a survivor. Maybe she
thought I didn’t remember that day or what happened in the months and years
after, as if my seven year old mind was too young to comprehend such a
catastrophe. And maybe it’s partially
accurate. At seven, you are still naive
enough to think that the world revolves around you and nothing could go wrong. Though, many of us walk around with the same ‘It’ll
never happen to me’ mentality. Until it
does. That’s what the fire was for me; a
startling wake-up call that something so tragic could happen not only to me,
but to many others as well. It
fast-forwarded an emotional growth spurt to see outside myself. Yet, at
the same time I became hardened, even bitter about other’s lack of empathy. In the years after the fire, as everything
crept back to normalcy, people slowly forgot about it. Other disasters happened around the world,
even other fires. It is then that I
learned how cruel people can be when your issue isn’t the hot topic anymore. I became resentful enough to say to my mother
who went to help victims of 1993 Malibu fires, “Good. Now, they’ll know how it
feels.” My bitterness continued for a
few years, and I used to speak of the fire with almost no emotion. I wore it like a badge of honor, as if to say
‘Look what I’ve endured!’ After several
years, when the pride from that scar didn’t seem to impress people as much, I
just stopped talking about it altogether. A good friend in high school was shocked to
find out that my grandmother was one of the 25 victims, but by then I felt
jaded. I, too, had become busy with
regular life, forgetting the trauma, ignoring other’s disasters. I felt that way until a few years ago, when
my family was slapped with another tragedy – my older sister killed
herself. This time, no longer a kid,
there was no one to pick up the pieces and tell me what to do. As an adult, it is quite threatening and
lonely to suddenly feel so lost. But, I
did what my parents did after the fire; I looked at the shattered remnants of
my life and started piecing them back together. As hard as you try, you learn that it is
impossible for it to be the same life.
But you get used to the new one and do the best you can, just like my
parents did 20 years ago. So, I can say
that the most important thing the fire taught me was resiliency. My mom later explained to me that she hadn’t
meant my seven year old self was any less of a survivor, but more of one.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Ode to Mom 2
The first was written, perhaps too harshly in 2003: Ode to Mama. I'll make this one short.
My mother loses things: her keys, her phone, her ID, (her mind), etc. There is always a panic that sets in immediately and she yells at us to STOP whatever we are doing while she searches. Each time, she's REALLY lost it. "It's not funny," she screams at me as I roll my eyes. So, we all wait in silence as she empties her wallet/purse in desperate search of the missing item. Anywhere from 10-120 seconds later, she announces with great pride: FOUND IT! Although, I have no idea what she is proud of. Surely, she must know as well as we do how often this happens to her.
You know those annoying people who use their cell phone in public places to hold very loud, private conversations? That's my mom.
I was sitting at a table the other day in a restaurant, noticing how many other tables were giving my mom dirty looks. When she clanked the glasses and yelled, "OK, time to make a toast!" I could almost make out them say to each other "Oh great, not her again!" with rolled eyes. When I walk up to another table later to describe our family ties, they know exactly who I mean when I refer to "The Loud One".
My mother loses things: her keys, her phone, her ID, (her mind), etc. There is always a panic that sets in immediately and she yells at us to STOP whatever we are doing while she searches. Each time, she's REALLY lost it. "It's not funny," she screams at me as I roll my eyes. So, we all wait in silence as she empties her wallet/purse in desperate search of the missing item. Anywhere from 10-120 seconds later, she announces with great pride: FOUND IT! Although, I have no idea what she is proud of. Surely, she must know as well as we do how often this happens to her.
You know those annoying people who use their cell phone in public places to hold very loud, private conversations? That's my mom.
I was sitting at a table the other day in a restaurant, noticing how many other tables were giving my mom dirty looks. When she clanked the glasses and yelled, "OK, time to make a toast!" I could almost make out them say to each other "Oh great, not her again!" with rolled eyes. When I walk up to another table later to describe our family ties, they know exactly who I mean when I refer to "The Loud One".
Friday, October 08, 2010
2 years
How can my world be the same without you? It seems so different. Nothing in my life resembles what it was, so how can I be the same person? I cling to the few things that remind me of you. Is that silly or sentimental? I long for your unwavering love, your insanity, and your feverish laughter. I would do anything to hear your voice again. And my laments are shared by many; each of us idolizes your effigy. And still, it is not enough. Our love could not bear your self-deprecation. Often, I feel guilt over not being able to understand the expanse of your suffering. How can someone hurt enough to give up? And even more guilt for not wanting to understand that level of insecurity. How can a mind so beautiful and intelligent be so backwards?
Will I always have unwanted visions that border on PTSD symptoms??
Will I always have unwanted visions that border on PTSD symptoms??
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
English as a Second Language
Australians speak english, but sometimes I can't understand my own language! Over the past month of living here, we have discovered quite a few differences. For instance, an Iced Coffee here has ice cream in it and a milkshake doesn't! Tomato Sauce is Ketchup, Marinara Sauce is Seafood Sauce and Napoli Sauce is a Tomato-Marinara. I'm still trying to figure out how to say Lemonade without getting a Sprite. Here are a few stories about the confusion behind some words or phrases:
Rooting for the Correct Team (I'll attempt to tell it like Jillian, because her version is the funniest):
We were sitting in a coffee shop and looking at the photos of local rugby/footie teams on the walls, discussing which team we should be rooting for now that we live in Australia. The more we talked about this, the more we got odd glances and snickers from families sitting around us. Finally, we asked the waiter if he would tell us who to root for. Jillian asked, "I mean should we root for the Maroons or the Wallabies? Or maybe the Broncos?!" He seemed a little disoriented by the question. It wasn't until later that I found out that "to root" in Australia, is a somewhat milder form of saying "to f**k". Which makes it all the funnier that Jillian told the waiter, "Well, I guess we should just root for them all!"
Shouting in Noisy Bars:
Michael told us that the custom here in bars is that typically one person will shout a round for his friends, and then his friends will shout back. So, I'm thinking these bars ought to be pretty noisy for all this yelling back and forth. But Michael explained to us that shouting in an Aussie bar means you are going to pay. I guess if you're going to shout a lot, you better be willing to put your money where your mouth is. Literally.
Laws of Attraction:
Today I asked the guy in 7-11 if they had any magnets. He said, "What you asking for? Magnums?!"
Lost in Translation:
My classmate from Barcelona asked me how to say that you want to skip class. I told her that sometimes people call it "playing hooky". She said, "Well, I want to do some hooking today!" I had to tell her that activity is illegal and not quite what she wanted to say.
But What?!
We've noticed that some Australians like to say but at the end of their sentence. For instance, "We could walk to town, but." or "I reckon he liked her a lot, but." We keep waiting for the next part of the sentence, except that's it!
Scientifical
At a theme park, my classmates were discussing the best place to sit on a roller coaster. Willy from Madrid argued that the front is best, but the back is also good because of "centrific" force. I corrected him and said, "centripetal". He excused himself, "Well, I don't know physical. I'm not good at math." I laughed and said that being physical doesn't require much math, but would probably be the best ride in the park. He didn't get the joke.
Rooting for the Correct Team (I'll attempt to tell it like Jillian, because her version is the funniest):
We were sitting in a coffee shop and looking at the photos of local rugby/footie teams on the walls, discussing which team we should be rooting for now that we live in Australia. The more we talked about this, the more we got odd glances and snickers from families sitting around us. Finally, we asked the waiter if he would tell us who to root for. Jillian asked, "I mean should we root for the Maroons or the Wallabies? Or maybe the Broncos?!" He seemed a little disoriented by the question. It wasn't until later that I found out that "to root" in Australia, is a somewhat milder form of saying "to f**k". Which makes it all the funnier that Jillian told the waiter, "Well, I guess we should just root for them all!"
Shouting in Noisy Bars:
Michael told us that the custom here in bars is that typically one person will shout a round for his friends, and then his friends will shout back. So, I'm thinking these bars ought to be pretty noisy for all this yelling back and forth. But Michael explained to us that shouting in an Aussie bar means you are going to pay. I guess if you're going to shout a lot, you better be willing to put your money where your mouth is. Literally.
Laws of Attraction:
Today I asked the guy in 7-11 if they had any magnets. He said, "What you asking for? Magnums?!"
Lost in Translation:
My classmate from Barcelona asked me how to say that you want to skip class. I told her that sometimes people call it "playing hooky". She said, "Well, I want to do some hooking today!" I had to tell her that activity is illegal and not quite what she wanted to say.
But What?!
We've noticed that some Australians like to say but at the end of their sentence. For instance, "We could walk to town, but." or "I reckon he liked her a lot, but." We keep waiting for the next part of the sentence, except that's it!
Scientifical
At a theme park, my classmates were discussing the best place to sit on a roller coaster. Willy from Madrid argued that the front is best, but the back is also good because of "centrific" force. I corrected him and said, "centripetal". He excused himself, "Well, I don't know physical. I'm not good at math." I laughed and said that being physical doesn't require much math, but would probably be the best ride in the park. He didn't get the joke.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Some people don't understand that once you have grief, it is part of your life. It's not something to resent (although you do sometimes). You just accept it and keep moving. For instance, I cry because I miss her sometimes and that's OK. But it seems unacceptable to people who don't get it. They want you to stop crying or do something to fix or prevent it. But you can't. There is no more shame in crying for me. Unavoidable and justified, I have learned to let it happen as opposed to trying to stop it. The sadness will never go away so it is futile to fight. Strength does not come from protection, armoring yourself to avoid wounds. Strength comes from enduring the battle and all of the inflictions it brings.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
For daily updates while I am in Australia, please see my new blog: http://on-the-yellow-brick-road.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Belgium & Paris
This Spring, I decided to move to Australia for a year and a half to earn my Masters degree. After I accepted the offer from the University of Queensland, I had a couple months to relax (no job searching, just plan and pack). It seems that people always want to travel, but never seem to have both the money and the time. Either you are working and have money, but can't take off much time, or you have lots of time and are broke. I couldn't let this opportunity of time go to waste, so I decided to plan a trip. Of course I set my sights high and looked into an Around the World Ticket, finally ending my journey in Australia, but the cost and extent of traveling right before a big move seemed a little much, so I backed off and just planned to see family on the east coast, my best friend in Belgium, and Paris! As it turned out, a 3 week trip was enough to exhaust my wanderlust and make me homesick.
Click Here for PHOTOS
After spending a week on the east coast, saying goodbye to family, I headed to Brussels:
Mon. June 14, 2010
I arrived in Brussels at 8:30am on Monday, and breezed through customs. I didn't even have to fill out a declaration form, no one checked my bags nor did they ask any questions. Very weird. I followed signs to the train (in the basement). To make a long story short, even though I showed the guy in the ticket booth my itinerary with the exact train and destination that I want (Liege), he sold me a ticket to Gent! Maybe he thought it would be funny to dupe the young American (I don't know what else he would've gained)... I figured out halfway to Gent that I'm headed in the opposite direction and there's no way to transfer back until I reach Gent. $15 and an hour lost to correct the error (plus phone charges to tell my friend that I would be late), but at least I got to see some of the Belgian countryside! I'm sure many people would've been more than a little upset with all that traveling takes out of you, and being tired/hungry, but I didn't let it ruin my day. On vacations, especially in foreign countries, you will more than likely make mistakes, get lost, and veer off schedule. It is inevitable and all part of the experience/adventure. As my favorite high school teacher, Mr Tyler, would say, "Expect the unexpected!" C'est la vie, right? Emily told me that she lived in a renovated barn... So, I expected some cheesy little place with lots of land. Boy, was I wrong. The old farm house is 4 stories - 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and very modern. 2 story glass windows overlook the property and exposed stonework/wood beams create a nice mix of the old and new...
Tues. June 15, 2010
Emily and I went to Maastrict, Netherlands, a quaint town very close to her house in Aubel, Belgium. We had lunch at a cafe, tried not to breath second-hand smoke, and shopped mostly for shoes for her wedding. Then came back and made dinner with her fiance, drank some Belgian beer that is brewed in an old church nearby (I actually liked it!!), and played some ping-pong. Usually, I only get to spend 1 day with Emily and the entire time is spend catching up on each others lives. It is really nice to be able to spend more time with her so we can get past that and just hang out as friends the way we used to. I miss her so much when I'm back home, but at least now I know I can come visit her easily.
Wed. June 16, 2010
On Wednesday, Emily and I took the train to Brussels to explore the city. The first chocolate shop I ran into happened to be my favorite chocolate - Valrhona (French Chocolate). The chocolate shop I worked at during college used Valrhona chocolate to make our specialty flavor-infused delicacies. Apparently the Brussels location is their first and only store in the entire world, and it had just opened! So it was lucky that I stumbled upon it. We ate Belgian Fries near the Grand'Place/Grote Markt and then went in search of two famous fountains. Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis (Little Boy pissing and Little Girl pissing, respectively). The latter is lesser known and was harder to find as it is down an alley of restaurants lined with disgusting men who shouted various over-the-top compliments at us. I was told that the little boy fountain is smaller than expected, but I was more disappointed to see that he was wearing a little costume. I guess they are featuring traditional Belgian costumes this month on the little "mannequin". We walked to the BELvue Museum, which has the history of Belgium. Although the content was not the most interesting, the museum was very well done which made it entertaining and enlightening. I'd say it was worth no more than the 3 Euro that we were charged for telling them we were under age 25. From there, we walked to the Palace of Justice and then the Porte de Hal. We really wanted to see the Royal Greenhouse at Laeken, so we took a subway out to the park, but learned that just like the Royal Palace Grounds, the Greenhouse is only open for a few weeks out of the year (not this week). Disappointed and tired, we sat on the grass and ate some chocolate, while staring at the Atomium (read: Giant Silver Balls built for the world fair in 1958). Then we headed back to the historical downtown for some Greek food before taking the train back home.
Thur. June 17, 2010
The three of us (Emily, Rene and me) went to a local cafe/bakery for some brunch, then Emily and I hit up one more store in town for wedding shoes and found the perfect pair!! I was so excited to feel involved in the process to get her ready for her wedding. We took the Autoban to Cologne, Germany. There, I got to meet Rene's brother for about 10 minutes before he headed off to a meeting. We spent the rest of the day with his brother's boyfriend... I was very glad to meet both of them, and even more excited that they were very nice! We walked along the Rhine River, and went to the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) which was Gothic, dark and beautiful. Then we had some coffee before heading back. In the evening, we had a BBQ with Rene's parents and took a nice sunset stroll through the field.
Fri. June 18, 2010
I said my goodbyes to Emily and Rene, then took the train from Liege to Paris. Found my way through the train station to the subway without any problem and hopped on the #4 for Raspail. My hotel is only a block from the subway stop and despite having NO signage, I found it easily. 26 years ago, my mom traveled to Paris alone and stayed at this very same hotel. She returned with my dad and sister on my sister's 9 year old Europe trip. So, I guess I am completing the circle, in a way. Once I was settled into my hotel (about 4pm), I looked through my tour book and decided to head up to Montmartre area for the early evening. I hiked up the steps of the gleaming white Sacré-Cœur church. Quite interesting that they chose to build it with white stone as a reminder of purity to all the sinful Montmartre residents. I sat in a pew to read about the history of the area when suddenly the space was filled with heavenly voices as the nuns began to sing! Amazing. I took my guidebook's recommended walk around the area that goes through the neighborhood where Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec lived/painted/played. I ate dinner and remembered that my guidebook is fantastic for sights, but not so great on the eateries. I walked past the Moulin de la Galette and the more famous Moulin Rouge (the only two dance hall wind mills that are still standing in the area). I headed down Pigalle (Pig Alley) and visited the Erotic Art Museum, full of erotic and disgusting "art" pieces. Ooh La La!! The area gets progressively seedier as the sun goes down, so I headed back to my hotel. Although, the sun does not go down until about 9:30pm, so it's awesome to be able to do things until pretty late!
Sat. June 19, 2010
I woke up and decided to explore the area around my hotel for the morning, knowing that Matt would probably call around lunchtime. I walked over to Montparnasse and got some breakfast and coffee. Right as I was finishing up, Matt called, so I headed over to his friend, Stephanie's place. She lives with her boyfriend and cat in a small apartment with a enviable view of the Eiffel Tower. I did not expect when I left my hotel that I wouldn't be back until late, but what better way to view the city than from a local's perspective, walking all over the city from cafe to cafe. We walked from her apartment to the school that Matt will be attending in the fall, ended up over by Notre Dame, where Matt and I ditched his friends. Then, we walked over into the Marais district and went to the Carnavalet Museum (History of Paris) which was highly disappointing. We walked toward the Place de la Republique and walked along the Canal Saint Martin. Matt's cousin (who is getting married) was having a party at his house which was nearby, so we headed over to the party and met the other guests our age. After a slight toilet mishap, the party moved to a park nearby. We ordered Pizza from this place called Pink Flamingo and they give you a pink balloon so they know where to deliver! Amazing! We watched dinner cruises full of sight-seers head up the locks of the canal. They looked at us and must have thought, "This is how the Parisians party - they drink wine in a park!" Matt and I ditched the crowd and headed to a wine bar to top off the night. Before we knew it, the bar was closing and it was 2am! Then became the arduous task to find our way home. Subways had stopped working, so we walked to the Bastille and then decided to hail a cab back home. In total, I think I walked 12km!
Sun. June 20, 2010
I slept in a bit and then tried to do a little sight-seeing before the rehearsal dinner. I took the metro to the Opera House, went to a perfume museum, and walked along a tres chic shopping area that was all closed because it was Sunday. I ate breakfast at a little cafe and met an older gentleman who is from Byron Bay (near where I will be living in Brisbane). He runs Safaris in Africa and gave me his card. Exciting! I love meeting new people! Then I walked over on Champs Elysees and tried to go to the Grand and Petite Palace, but the Grand Palace was closed for set-up of the Fete de la Musique and the Petite Palace had a 2 hour line, in the rain! It was cold and rainy and I was not in a very good mood, so I decided to head to the Army Museum. I saw Napoleon's Tomb, which was prettier than I expected it to be, then walked back to my hotel for an afternoon nap before getting ready for dinner. I took the subway to dinner which was an intimidating experience in my cocktail dress and heels. The difference between American Men and French Men is that American Men try not to look, while French Men have no shame about staring. I made sure no one followed me when I got off the subway. Dinner was at Le Meurice, which is a 3 Michelin Star restaurant! Being a foodie, I was excited for the dinner. 1st Course - Crab, 2nd Course - Lobster, 3rd Course - Turbot (white fish). I don't eat fish - at all!! Luckily, two other ladies at my table did not either, so we got the attention of the waiter and asked for an alternate entree. I expected to get chicken or pasta and secretly hoped for steak. The chef must've been insulted, because instead the three of us received steamed vegetables! Mmmm.. =( Oh well. Dessert was good. Then we went to Buddha Bar for an expensive drink and I shared a cab ride home with the best man.
Mon. June 21, 2010
On the summer solstice, I went inside Notre Dame, but not up in the tower (yet). The line was too long. I tried to go to the Deportation Memorial, but it was closed, so I just ate a late lunch, did a little shopping, and went up the Montparnasse Tower to see a nice view. I went back to my hotel for a nap and to get ready for the wedding. Matt picked me up from my hotel and we subwayed over together. The wedding was pretty spectacular - the bride arrived with her father on a smaller boat (What an entrance!) and Matt played classical guitar during the processional. We rode down the Seine (or up?), to the Eiffel tower and back passing crowds of drum circles and fire-breathers for the Fete (Adubs, you would love it!). The dinner was amazing and I realized that my wedding is just going to suck in comparison... The sun finally set a little after 11pm. And we partied on the yacht until 1:30 orso, then a bus drove the young people over to a bar... That was pretty much the end of the night.
Tues. June 22, 2010
I went over to Notre Dame and this time decided to wait in the long line to climb the bell tower. The view from the top of the gargoyles was worth the wait. Walking into the legendary wood belfry was through a 1/2 door - are they trying to make everyone a hunchback?? One girl was very light-headed at the top, and I thought she might have vertigo from the dizzying spiral staircase, but I don't really know. After, I went to the Deportation Museum, which is a memorial to the 200,000 French citizens that were interned in the Nazi concentration camps. It was nice, but not as moving as the memorial in Boston, MA (Ok, I lied, it still made me tear up). I walked back over to Saint Chapelle, but unfortunately the altar and many of the main stained-glass windows were covered due to restorations. Oh well, it was still beautiful to see the vibrantly painted ceilings and colorful light reflected on the floors like a kaleidoscope. I walked over to the Latin Quarter for some dinner and souvenir shopping down a fun little alley I'd been to with Matt and Stephanie on the first day.
Wed. June 23, 2010
I hit up the major museums, but accidentally did them in backwards order of art history. =( I walked through Tuileries Garden and visited the Orangerie Museum first to see Monet's famed water lilies and some classic Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, etc. I didn't know Picasso did so much classical art before his cubism. I also now have clear ideas of artists that I like and dislike: For instance, I don't like Rousseau, Modigliani, Manet and Matisse. I really like Derain, Utrillo, Degas and Soutine. Cezzane, Renoir, Sisely, and Pissaro are alright. The verdict is still out on Picasso (unfortunately, the Picasso Museum is undergoing renovation, so I won't be able to see more of his stuff). Next, I went back in time to Impressionism and Realism at the Musee D'Orsay, which is built in an old train station and is very pretty inside. You were not supposed to take photos at all inside the D'Orsay, but much like the Statue of David in Florence, many people snuck them anyway. I think that's annoying because I want photos, but ultimately I end up abiding by the rules. It has a great collection of sculpture (my favorite form of art!) and many famous works by Van Gogh, Manet, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, etc. My guide book failed because the entire upstairs was being remodeled, so all of the famous pieces were crammed into downstairs hallways, and mixed up! I found it to be very confusing to mix styles and artists and made me appreciate how difficult it is to place art well. I headed over to the Louvre and entered through the glass pyramid with almost no line! For one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, I happened to bump into two of the wedding guests!! Quite impossible, but they found me taking a photo of the Winged Victory. Together, we went through the statues to Venus de Milo and then they headed off to the Musee D'Orsay while I went in search of the Mona Lisa. Because I had gone backwards in time, most of the Louvre's older and less famous paintings were a bit boring, so I made my way back to the sculptures section. I headed out toward the metro and inverse glass pyramid, stopped in the apple store for some free WiFi and headed home. I met Matt and Stef later for the end of the Germany World Cup game, a very late, delicious dinner, and to say goodbye to Matt.
Thur. June 24, 2010
Hands down, Auguste Rodin is my favorite artist, so I was excited to start the day by going to the Rodin Museum at his estate and gardens. I learned quite a bit about his life and saw many of the famous sculptures, as well as ones that I'd never seen before. However, I was disappointed that my favorite piece was not there (The Fallen Caryatid Carrying her Stone). Oh well, I've seen it in other places like Stanford and Japan. Then, I went over to the Petite Palais again, this time it had no line, but it wasn't worth the trip. It was filled with mediocre vases, furniture and paintings. The Grand Palais is still closed because they are setting up something big in there. I don't know what it is, but I really wanted to see the glass ceiling from the inside. I took the subway over to the edge of town to see the Marmottan Museum which has mostly works by Monet. Until today, I thought that Monet and his water lilies were a little over-hyped and over-the-top paradisiacal, but I realized that he really did master the use of splotchy color. They had some modern art, like Jackson Pollock pieces next to his and I thought it went together surprisingly well - a nice conversation, as opposed to yesterday in the D'Orsay which was just frustrating. I tried to go to the Hotel Concorde-LaFayette for a drink at the Panoramic Bar at the top, but it wasn't opening for another 40 minutes, so instead I walked to the Arc de Triomphe. Then I ate dinner on the Champs Elysees before going back to my hotel.
Fri. June 25, 2010
Went to the Ile St. Louis for a Crepe brunch and some delicious Berthillon ice cream (thanks R. Schilling for the recommendation). I had Green Apple and it was delicious. Then I went into a few stores and walked across to the Holocaust Museum, which was so much better than expected/advertised. They had a wall of names sorted by the year each person died (4 walls were devoted to 1942, while only 2 for 1943 and 1944). The commemoration nearby says it all: "This wall gives an identity to the children, women and men that the Nazis tried to eradicate from the face of the earth. Their names, engraved in stone, will perpetuate their memory." Downstairs was an extensive museum about the history of French Jews before the war, the acts that led to their deportation, internment and of course the majority of their deaths. There were tons of photos, actual documents and deportation orders, letter testimonies from escapees, etc. The museum has only been around since 2005, when the French President decided it was right for the French government to accept their role in what went down. Fabulous museum, one of my top 5 historical museums of all time. And it's free, although I donated what I thought it was worth. Then I walked through the Marais Neighborhood, which used to be the Jewish Ghetto, but is now ironically one of the openly gay districts... Got distracted by a hat store, of course. Nonetheless, I made it to the Pompidou Center for some Modern Art! I have a new respect for Picasso and Braque's cubism styles, but didn't think much of the rest of the modern art that was showcased. Maybe I am naive, but I like my classic greek sculptures, as idealistic as they are... Went over to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery and wandered around the graves of Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, Fredric Chopin, etc, etc. For as crowded as it was, I was pleased to find so many trees so that I could rest on some grass in the waning afternoon sun. Then, I went back to Ile St. Louis for some yummy dinner and wine.
Sat. June 26, 2010
Traveled out to Versailles on the train and now I know why it's a must-see! Wow. So decadent and fancy for Louis XIV.. The gardens were much bigger and better than I expected. I mean there are the manicured gardens, but it also extends to each side with grassy fields and shady trees, etc. I was also surprised how vibrant the painted ceilings were despite letting guests use flash photography. I guess they restore it well and often. Met an older Scotsman at lunch, who had to have been about 70 and told me he was 23 1/2! He lives in Versailles but spends 5 months in India, his other favorite country. Anyway, apparently Saturday was the Gay Pride Parade in downtown Paris, which I missed because I was in Versailles, but oh well! Maybe next time. I made it back to Paris in time for the USA World Cup game. I met up with Stef and Josh (Matt's friends) at an Irish Pub in their neighborhood. It was great fun to watch with a bunch of fans, but I still prefer my hockey to anything else. I was craving a good ole American Cheeseburger, so we went to a restaurant called Indiana for a late dinner.
Sun. June 27, 2010
I walked to the Catacombs (to make more room for the city, they dug up all the church graveyards and placed the bones in a large crypt beneath the city). The walk was long and I'm not sure I would recommend it. Just when you think you'll never see any bones, you see millions of them stacked up for miles! And, after walking through these hallways of skeletons, you start to wonder if these bones are just tourists that get trapped in this underground maze. It's all very dark and there's no flash photography allowed, not to mention it is damp and there are drips and puddles. I splashed in a puddle with my flip flops and it felt like stepping in death. =( Also, they tell you that you are below the subways and the sewer system, so whatever is dripping has to be pretty nasty. Then I went over to Saint Germain des Pres and Saint Sulpice churches. I was a little disappointed when I learned that Saint Sulpice has a gnomon that I did go on the Summer Solstice, but I think the hole was covered since they were doing restorations to the exterior anyway. Walked back to my hotel through the Luxembourg Garden which was bustling with families. I wondered why there aren't more parks in the states, but then I remembered that they'd probably just be full of drug dealers and gang members (hell, maybe this one was too). I went to the Eiffel Tower for dinner and to ascend near dusk. It was beautiful to see the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower, and watch the city light up as the sky darkened. The moon rose in the east and was bright red, and I saw a couple get engaged!! I descended and sat on the grass of the Champ de Mars, gazing up at the lit tower. Every hour, on the hour, it sparkles with tons of lights for 5 minutes. I watched that and thought what a perfect ending to a wonderful time in Paris!!
Click Here for PHOTOS
After spending a week on the east coast, saying goodbye to family, I headed to Brussels:
Mon. June 14, 2010
I arrived in Brussels at 8:30am on Monday, and breezed through customs. I didn't even have to fill out a declaration form, no one checked my bags nor did they ask any questions. Very weird. I followed signs to the train (in the basement). To make a long story short, even though I showed the guy in the ticket booth my itinerary with the exact train and destination that I want (Liege), he sold me a ticket to Gent! Maybe he thought it would be funny to dupe the young American (I don't know what else he would've gained)... I figured out halfway to Gent that I'm headed in the opposite direction and there's no way to transfer back until I reach Gent. $15 and an hour lost to correct the error (plus phone charges to tell my friend that I would be late), but at least I got to see some of the Belgian countryside! I'm sure many people would've been more than a little upset with all that traveling takes out of you, and being tired/hungry, but I didn't let it ruin my day. On vacations, especially in foreign countries, you will more than likely make mistakes, get lost, and veer off schedule. It is inevitable and all part of the experience/adventure. As my favorite high school teacher, Mr Tyler, would say, "Expect the unexpected!" C'est la vie, right? Emily told me that she lived in a renovated barn... So, I expected some cheesy little place with lots of land. Boy, was I wrong. The old farm house is 4 stories - 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and very modern. 2 story glass windows overlook the property and exposed stonework/wood beams create a nice mix of the old and new...
Tues. June 15, 2010
Emily and I went to Maastrict, Netherlands, a quaint town very close to her house in Aubel, Belgium. We had lunch at a cafe, tried not to breath second-hand smoke, and shopped mostly for shoes for her wedding. Then came back and made dinner with her fiance, drank some Belgian beer that is brewed in an old church nearby (I actually liked it!!), and played some ping-pong. Usually, I only get to spend 1 day with Emily and the entire time is spend catching up on each others lives. It is really nice to be able to spend more time with her so we can get past that and just hang out as friends the way we used to. I miss her so much when I'm back home, but at least now I know I can come visit her easily.
Wed. June 16, 2010
On Wednesday, Emily and I took the train to Brussels to explore the city. The first chocolate shop I ran into happened to be my favorite chocolate - Valrhona (French Chocolate). The chocolate shop I worked at during college used Valrhona chocolate to make our specialty flavor-infused delicacies. Apparently the Brussels location is their first and only store in the entire world, and it had just opened! So it was lucky that I stumbled upon it. We ate Belgian Fries near the Grand'Place/Grote Markt and then went in search of two famous fountains. Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis (Little Boy pissing and Little Girl pissing, respectively). The latter is lesser known and was harder to find as it is down an alley of restaurants lined with disgusting men who shouted various over-the-top compliments at us. I was told that the little boy fountain is smaller than expected, but I was more disappointed to see that he was wearing a little costume. I guess they are featuring traditional Belgian costumes this month on the little "mannequin". We walked to the BELvue Museum, which has the history of Belgium. Although the content was not the most interesting, the museum was very well done which made it entertaining and enlightening. I'd say it was worth no more than the 3 Euro that we were charged for telling them we were under age 25. From there, we walked to the Palace of Justice and then the Porte de Hal. We really wanted to see the Royal Greenhouse at Laeken, so we took a subway out to the park, but learned that just like the Royal Palace Grounds, the Greenhouse is only open for a few weeks out of the year (not this week). Disappointed and tired, we sat on the grass and ate some chocolate, while staring at the Atomium (read: Giant Silver Balls built for the world fair in 1958). Then we headed back to the historical downtown for some Greek food before taking the train back home.
Thur. June 17, 2010
The three of us (Emily, Rene and me) went to a local cafe/bakery for some brunch, then Emily and I hit up one more store in town for wedding shoes and found the perfect pair!! I was so excited to feel involved in the process to get her ready for her wedding. We took the Autoban to Cologne, Germany. There, I got to meet Rene's brother for about 10 minutes before he headed off to a meeting. We spent the rest of the day with his brother's boyfriend... I was very glad to meet both of them, and even more excited that they were very nice! We walked along the Rhine River, and went to the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) which was Gothic, dark and beautiful. Then we had some coffee before heading back. In the evening, we had a BBQ with Rene's parents and took a nice sunset stroll through the field.
Fri. June 18, 2010
I said my goodbyes to Emily and Rene, then took the train from Liege to Paris. Found my way through the train station to the subway without any problem and hopped on the #4 for Raspail. My hotel is only a block from the subway stop and despite having NO signage, I found it easily. 26 years ago, my mom traveled to Paris alone and stayed at this very same hotel. She returned with my dad and sister on my sister's 9 year old Europe trip. So, I guess I am completing the circle, in a way. Once I was settled into my hotel (about 4pm), I looked through my tour book and decided to head up to Montmartre area for the early evening. I hiked up the steps of the gleaming white Sacré-Cœur church. Quite interesting that they chose to build it with white stone as a reminder of purity to all the sinful Montmartre residents. I sat in a pew to read about the history of the area when suddenly the space was filled with heavenly voices as the nuns began to sing! Amazing. I took my guidebook's recommended walk around the area that goes through the neighborhood where Renoir, Van Gogh, Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec lived/painted/played. I ate dinner and remembered that my guidebook is fantastic for sights, but not so great on the eateries. I walked past the Moulin de la Galette and the more famous Moulin Rouge (the only two dance hall wind mills that are still standing in the area). I headed down Pigalle (Pig Alley) and visited the Erotic Art Museum, full of erotic and disgusting "art" pieces. Ooh La La!! The area gets progressively seedier as the sun goes down, so I headed back to my hotel. Although, the sun does not go down until about 9:30pm, so it's awesome to be able to do things until pretty late!
Sat. June 19, 2010
I woke up and decided to explore the area around my hotel for the morning, knowing that Matt would probably call around lunchtime. I walked over to Montparnasse and got some breakfast and coffee. Right as I was finishing up, Matt called, so I headed over to his friend, Stephanie's place. She lives with her boyfriend and cat in a small apartment with a enviable view of the Eiffel Tower. I did not expect when I left my hotel that I wouldn't be back until late, but what better way to view the city than from a local's perspective, walking all over the city from cafe to cafe. We walked from her apartment to the school that Matt will be attending in the fall, ended up over by Notre Dame, where Matt and I ditched his friends. Then, we walked over into the Marais district and went to the Carnavalet Museum (History of Paris) which was highly disappointing. We walked toward the Place de la Republique and walked along the Canal Saint Martin. Matt's cousin (who is getting married) was having a party at his house which was nearby, so we headed over to the party and met the other guests our age. After a slight toilet mishap, the party moved to a park nearby. We ordered Pizza from this place called Pink Flamingo and they give you a pink balloon so they know where to deliver! Amazing! We watched dinner cruises full of sight-seers head up the locks of the canal. They looked at us and must have thought, "This is how the Parisians party - they drink wine in a park!" Matt and I ditched the crowd and headed to a wine bar to top off the night. Before we knew it, the bar was closing and it was 2am! Then became the arduous task to find our way home. Subways had stopped working, so we walked to the Bastille and then decided to hail a cab back home. In total, I think I walked 12km!
Sun. June 20, 2010
I slept in a bit and then tried to do a little sight-seeing before the rehearsal dinner. I took the metro to the Opera House, went to a perfume museum, and walked along a tres chic shopping area that was all closed because it was Sunday. I ate breakfast at a little cafe and met an older gentleman who is from Byron Bay (near where I will be living in Brisbane). He runs Safaris in Africa and gave me his card. Exciting! I love meeting new people! Then I walked over on Champs Elysees and tried to go to the Grand and Petite Palace, but the Grand Palace was closed for set-up of the Fete de la Musique and the Petite Palace had a 2 hour line, in the rain! It was cold and rainy and I was not in a very good mood, so I decided to head to the Army Museum. I saw Napoleon's Tomb, which was prettier than I expected it to be, then walked back to my hotel for an afternoon nap before getting ready for dinner. I took the subway to dinner which was an intimidating experience in my cocktail dress and heels. The difference between American Men and French Men is that American Men try not to look, while French Men have no shame about staring. I made sure no one followed me when I got off the subway. Dinner was at Le Meurice, which is a 3 Michelin Star restaurant! Being a foodie, I was excited for the dinner. 1st Course - Crab, 2nd Course - Lobster, 3rd Course - Turbot (white fish). I don't eat fish - at all!! Luckily, two other ladies at my table did not either, so we got the attention of the waiter and asked for an alternate entree. I expected to get chicken or pasta and secretly hoped for steak. The chef must've been insulted, because instead the three of us received steamed vegetables! Mmmm.. =( Oh well. Dessert was good. Then we went to Buddha Bar for an expensive drink and I shared a cab ride home with the best man.
Mon. June 21, 2010
On the summer solstice, I went inside Notre Dame, but not up in the tower (yet). The line was too long. I tried to go to the Deportation Memorial, but it was closed, so I just ate a late lunch, did a little shopping, and went up the Montparnasse Tower to see a nice view. I went back to my hotel for a nap and to get ready for the wedding. Matt picked me up from my hotel and we subwayed over together. The wedding was pretty spectacular - the bride arrived with her father on a smaller boat (What an entrance!) and Matt played classical guitar during the processional. We rode down the Seine (or up?), to the Eiffel tower and back passing crowds of drum circles and fire-breathers for the Fete (Adubs, you would love it!). The dinner was amazing and I realized that my wedding is just going to suck in comparison... The sun finally set a little after 11pm. And we partied on the yacht until 1:30 orso, then a bus drove the young people over to a bar... That was pretty much the end of the night.
Tues. June 22, 2010
I went over to Notre Dame and this time decided to wait in the long line to climb the bell tower. The view from the top of the gargoyles was worth the wait. Walking into the legendary wood belfry was through a 1/2 door - are they trying to make everyone a hunchback?? One girl was very light-headed at the top, and I thought she might have vertigo from the dizzying spiral staircase, but I don't really know. After, I went to the Deportation Museum, which is a memorial to the 200,000 French citizens that were interned in the Nazi concentration camps. It was nice, but not as moving as the memorial in Boston, MA (Ok, I lied, it still made me tear up). I walked back over to Saint Chapelle, but unfortunately the altar and many of the main stained-glass windows were covered due to restorations. Oh well, it was still beautiful to see the vibrantly painted ceilings and colorful light reflected on the floors like a kaleidoscope. I walked over to the Latin Quarter for some dinner and souvenir shopping down a fun little alley I'd been to with Matt and Stephanie on the first day.
Wed. June 23, 2010
I hit up the major museums, but accidentally did them in backwards order of art history. =( I walked through Tuileries Garden and visited the Orangerie Museum first to see Monet's famed water lilies and some classic Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, etc. I didn't know Picasso did so much classical art before his cubism. I also now have clear ideas of artists that I like and dislike: For instance, I don't like Rousseau, Modigliani, Manet and Matisse. I really like Derain, Utrillo, Degas and Soutine. Cezzane, Renoir, Sisely, and Pissaro are alright. The verdict is still out on Picasso (unfortunately, the Picasso Museum is undergoing renovation, so I won't be able to see more of his stuff). Next, I went back in time to Impressionism and Realism at the Musee D'Orsay, which is built in an old train station and is very pretty inside. You were not supposed to take photos at all inside the D'Orsay, but much like the Statue of David in Florence, many people snuck them anyway. I think that's annoying because I want photos, but ultimately I end up abiding by the rules. It has a great collection of sculpture (my favorite form of art!) and many famous works by Van Gogh, Manet, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, etc. My guide book failed because the entire upstairs was being remodeled, so all of the famous pieces were crammed into downstairs hallways, and mixed up! I found it to be very confusing to mix styles and artists and made me appreciate how difficult it is to place art well. I headed over to the Louvre and entered through the glass pyramid with almost no line! For one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, I happened to bump into two of the wedding guests!! Quite impossible, but they found me taking a photo of the Winged Victory. Together, we went through the statues to Venus de Milo and then they headed off to the Musee D'Orsay while I went in search of the Mona Lisa. Because I had gone backwards in time, most of the Louvre's older and less famous paintings were a bit boring, so I made my way back to the sculptures section. I headed out toward the metro and inverse glass pyramid, stopped in the apple store for some free WiFi and headed home. I met Matt and Stef later for the end of the Germany World Cup game, a very late, delicious dinner, and to say goodbye to Matt.
Thur. June 24, 2010
Hands down, Auguste Rodin is my favorite artist, so I was excited to start the day by going to the Rodin Museum at his estate and gardens. I learned quite a bit about his life and saw many of the famous sculptures, as well as ones that I'd never seen before. However, I was disappointed that my favorite piece was not there (The Fallen Caryatid Carrying her Stone). Oh well, I've seen it in other places like Stanford and Japan. Then, I went over to the Petite Palais again, this time it had no line, but it wasn't worth the trip. It was filled with mediocre vases, furniture and paintings. The Grand Palais is still closed because they are setting up something big in there. I don't know what it is, but I really wanted to see the glass ceiling from the inside. I took the subway over to the edge of town to see the Marmottan Museum which has mostly works by Monet. Until today, I thought that Monet and his water lilies were a little over-hyped and over-the-top paradisiacal, but I realized that he really did master the use of splotchy color. They had some modern art, like Jackson Pollock pieces next to his and I thought it went together surprisingly well - a nice conversation, as opposed to yesterday in the D'Orsay which was just frustrating. I tried to go to the Hotel Concorde-LaFayette for a drink at the Panoramic Bar at the top, but it wasn't opening for another 40 minutes, so instead I walked to the Arc de Triomphe. Then I ate dinner on the Champs Elysees before going back to my hotel.
Fri. June 25, 2010
Went to the Ile St. Louis for a Crepe brunch and some delicious Berthillon ice cream (thanks R. Schilling for the recommendation). I had Green Apple and it was delicious. Then I went into a few stores and walked across to the Holocaust Museum, which was so much better than expected/advertised. They had a wall of names sorted by the year each person died (4 walls were devoted to 1942, while only 2 for 1943 and 1944). The commemoration nearby says it all: "This wall gives an identity to the children, women and men that the Nazis tried to eradicate from the face of the earth. Their names, engraved in stone, will perpetuate their memory." Downstairs was an extensive museum about the history of French Jews before the war, the acts that led to their deportation, internment and of course the majority of their deaths. There were tons of photos, actual documents and deportation orders, letter testimonies from escapees, etc. The museum has only been around since 2005, when the French President decided it was right for the French government to accept their role in what went down. Fabulous museum, one of my top 5 historical museums of all time. And it's free, although I donated what I thought it was worth. Then I walked through the Marais Neighborhood, which used to be the Jewish Ghetto, but is now ironically one of the openly gay districts... Got distracted by a hat store, of course. Nonetheless, I made it to the Pompidou Center for some Modern Art! I have a new respect for Picasso and Braque's cubism styles, but didn't think much of the rest of the modern art that was showcased. Maybe I am naive, but I like my classic greek sculptures, as idealistic as they are... Went over to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery and wandered around the graves of Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Jim Morrison, Fredric Chopin, etc, etc. For as crowded as it was, I was pleased to find so many trees so that I could rest on some grass in the waning afternoon sun. Then, I went back to Ile St. Louis for some yummy dinner and wine.
Sat. June 26, 2010
Traveled out to Versailles on the train and now I know why it's a must-see! Wow. So decadent and fancy for Louis XIV.. The gardens were much bigger and better than I expected. I mean there are the manicured gardens, but it also extends to each side with grassy fields and shady trees, etc. I was also surprised how vibrant the painted ceilings were despite letting guests use flash photography. I guess they restore it well and often. Met an older Scotsman at lunch, who had to have been about 70 and told me he was 23 1/2! He lives in Versailles but spends 5 months in India, his other favorite country. Anyway, apparently Saturday was the Gay Pride Parade in downtown Paris, which I missed because I was in Versailles, but oh well! Maybe next time. I made it back to Paris in time for the USA World Cup game. I met up with Stef and Josh (Matt's friends) at an Irish Pub in their neighborhood. It was great fun to watch with a bunch of fans, but I still prefer my hockey to anything else. I was craving a good ole American Cheeseburger, so we went to a restaurant called Indiana for a late dinner.
Sun. June 27, 2010
I walked to the Catacombs (to make more room for the city, they dug up all the church graveyards and placed the bones in a large crypt beneath the city). The walk was long and I'm not sure I would recommend it. Just when you think you'll never see any bones, you see millions of them stacked up for miles! And, after walking through these hallways of skeletons, you start to wonder if these bones are just tourists that get trapped in this underground maze. It's all very dark and there's no flash photography allowed, not to mention it is damp and there are drips and puddles. I splashed in a puddle with my flip flops and it felt like stepping in death. =( Also, they tell you that you are below the subways and the sewer system, so whatever is dripping has to be pretty nasty. Then I went over to Saint Germain des Pres and Saint Sulpice churches. I was a little disappointed when I learned that Saint Sulpice has a gnomon that I did go on the Summer Solstice, but I think the hole was covered since they were doing restorations to the exterior anyway. Walked back to my hotel through the Luxembourg Garden which was bustling with families. I wondered why there aren't more parks in the states, but then I remembered that they'd probably just be full of drug dealers and gang members (hell, maybe this one was too). I went to the Eiffel Tower for dinner and to ascend near dusk. It was beautiful to see the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower, and watch the city light up as the sky darkened. The moon rose in the east and was bright red, and I saw a couple get engaged!! I descended and sat on the grass of the Champ de Mars, gazing up at the lit tower. Every hour, on the hour, it sparkles with tons of lights for 5 minutes. I watched that and thought what a perfect ending to a wonderful time in Paris!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Top 5 Museums
Keep in mind that these are only so far in my life. I am young and I'm sure these will change as I visit other cities/museums...
Top 5 Historical/Memorial Museums:
1. National Civil Rights Museum - Memphis, TN
2. Holocaust Memorial - Boston, MA
3. Memorial de la SHOAH - Paris, FR
4. JFK Library & Museum - Boston, MA
5. The 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Book Depository) - Dallas, TX
Top 5 Art Museums
1. Villa Borghese - Rome, Italy
2. Uffizi Gallery - Florence, Italy
3. Musee D'Orsay - Paris, France
4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - San Francisco, CA
5. Getty Villa - Malibu, CA
Top 4 Science Museums
1. Exploratorium - San Francisco, CA
2. Hong Kong Space Museum - Hong Kong, China
3. Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago, IL
4. Chabot Space & Science Center - Oakland, CA
5. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, CA
Top 5 Historical/Memorial Museums:
1. National Civil Rights Museum - Memphis, TN
2. Holocaust Memorial - Boston, MA
3. Memorial de la SHOAH - Paris, FR
4. JFK Library & Museum - Boston, MA
5. The 6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Book Depository) - Dallas, TX
Top 5 Art Museums
1. Villa Borghese - Rome, Italy
2. Uffizi Gallery - Florence, Italy
3. Musee D'Orsay - Paris, France
4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - San Francisco, CA
5. Getty Villa - Malibu, CA
Top 4 Science Museums
1. Exploratorium - San Francisco, CA
2. Hong Kong Space Museum - Hong Kong, China
3. Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago, IL
4. Chabot Space & Science Center - Oakland, CA
5. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific - Long Beach, CA
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
If I dislike starting over so much, why am I always doing it?
I am packing stuff to store for the next couple of years. Last weekend, I was home and saw boxes from my last big move, crammed into a closet. I remember when I packed them thinking that they wouldn't be in boxes for long. And yet, four years have gone by and I haven't seemed to miss them much. I wonder if I'm saying goodbye to the things I pack now. In two years, will I look at the boxes covered in dust and just want to start over? I say that I hate change and I'm always looking to settle. I collect things as if to prove my intent to stay. But my track record is otherwise. Life seems to interrupt my plans. Or maybe that's just my excuse. Maybe I would hit the reset button anyway. Am I destined to be a flighty Sagittarius?
I am packing stuff to store for the next couple of years. Last weekend, I was home and saw boxes from my last big move, crammed into a closet. I remember when I packed them thinking that they wouldn't be in boxes for long. And yet, four years have gone by and I haven't seemed to miss them much. I wonder if I'm saying goodbye to the things I pack now. In two years, will I look at the boxes covered in dust and just want to start over? I say that I hate change and I'm always looking to settle. I collect things as if to prove my intent to stay. But my track record is otherwise. Life seems to interrupt my plans. Or maybe that's just my excuse. Maybe I would hit the reset button anyway. Am I destined to be a flighty Sagittarius?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Southern Skies
For a stargazer such as I
Peering into an unfamiliar sky,
Looking for a light to bring me home
And finding darkness, all alone.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Met my mom at LAX close to midnight and boarded Qantas for Brisbane.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Arrived in Brisbane (14 hour flight plus time change) and got a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. Arrived at our hotel, settled in. Walked along Queen Street Mall in search of coffee (it's sad when you search for a Starbucks in a foreign country). We settled in to our familiar flavors and it felt a little like home... until we saw a roach the size of my index finger crawling down the mall! UGH! We waited for Borders and local banks to open so we could get a city map and open a bank account. At 12:30pm, we went back to our hotel to meet a potential new landlord, Michael. He gave us the grand tour in his car of the University of Queensland Campus, neighborhoods, and his house. Then he dropped us off at a local bar and headed off to a wedding. He was very nice and hopefully it will all work out. We got a bite to eat, then took the ferry back into downtown. Here are some photos of the University Campus, which reminds my mom across between Stanford and UC Berkeley:
Then we went back to the hotel and took it easy for the rest of the afternoon/evening because we were jet-lagged.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
When we booked the flight, we did not know it was a holiday weekend. Apparently April 25th marks the day that the Australia/New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) started in the World War. They commemorate this day by holding a solemn ceremony at dawn (4:28am, when troops arrived in Gallipoli) to honor those than died and veterans of the war. I have as much right to this ceremony as anyone else because my grandfather, who was born in Sydney, served as a digger (what Aussie's call soldiers). Anyway, the ceremony was quiet and dark, but nice to attend and hear everyone sing the Australian National Anthem around me.
Then, we checked out bus routes and decided to make our way into Paddington for 'brekkie'. Paddington is a hip little bohemian neighborhood, and we ate at a place called Sassafras Cafe. It reminded me a lot of a Venice or Berkeley, so of course I loved it. From there, we walked through the neighborhood and got to the stop that I would take from my potential house. We took the bus along the route to school to see how it would be. Then walked around campus again. We took the ferry back to downtown, but thought better of it, and decided to avoid the ANZAC day march. We found our way to a cafe for lunch in Toowong, and then somehow figured out how to take the bus to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. After waiting around for them to open (late schedule for the holiday), I got my token photo with the Koala! I thought Koalas would be very soft, like a chinchilla, but instead he was very heavy, and felt like an itchy wool sweater! I was highly disappointed. Also, the Koala freaked out before he was put into my arms, so I was a little bit afraid that he would claw me. They got him calm enough to take a photo, but you can see how he dug his claws into my arm:
Then we went to the Kangaroos and much to our surprise, you could walk right up to them. They are used to being fed by visitors so they are all overly friendly. They happened to be a bit softer than the Koala:
We didn't stay long and headed back into town, but our bus passed by the South Bank Museums, and we decided last minute to stop by the Museum of Modern Art. We liked the building a lot more than the art inside. Then we went to the Gallery of Art, which was also very beautiful inside and saw an awesome exhibit on hats (my favorite)!!!
Then we ate dinner with a friend of a friend and walked around the park on the South Bank.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Most people thought we were nuts for going across the world for just a couple days, but we felt like we had already gotten to see and experience a lot of Brisbane! We didn't know what else we wanted to do, so we took a leisurely train ride down to the Gold Coast. We went up the tall Q1 building to get a view of the surrounding Surfers Paradise (that's the actual name of the town, not my creativity), walked on the beach, ate lunch, and then took the train back to our hotel.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Woke up to take a shuttle back to the airport. Left Brisbane at 11am, arrived LAX at 7am. Here's one last photo of me on a brass kangaroo in King George Square (I now have a thing for taking photos on brass animals):
Peering into an unfamiliar sky,
Looking for a light to bring me home
And finding darkness, all alone.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Met my mom at LAX close to midnight and boarded Qantas for Brisbane.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Arrived in Brisbane (14 hour flight plus time change) and got a shuttle from the airport to our hotel. Arrived at our hotel, settled in. Walked along Queen Street Mall in search of coffee (it's sad when you search for a Starbucks in a foreign country). We settled in to our familiar flavors and it felt a little like home... until we saw a roach the size of my index finger crawling down the mall! UGH! We waited for Borders and local banks to open so we could get a city map and open a bank account. At 12:30pm, we went back to our hotel to meet a potential new landlord, Michael. He gave us the grand tour in his car of the University of Queensland Campus, neighborhoods, and his house. Then he dropped us off at a local bar and headed off to a wedding. He was very nice and hopefully it will all work out. We got a bite to eat, then took the ferry back into downtown. Here are some photos of the University Campus, which reminds my mom across between Stanford and UC Berkeley:
Then we went back to the hotel and took it easy for the rest of the afternoon/evening because we were jet-lagged.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
When we booked the flight, we did not know it was a holiday weekend. Apparently April 25th marks the day that the Australia/New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) started in the World War. They commemorate this day by holding a solemn ceremony at dawn (4:28am, when troops arrived in Gallipoli) to honor those than died and veterans of the war. I have as much right to this ceremony as anyone else because my grandfather, who was born in Sydney, served as a digger (what Aussie's call soldiers). Anyway, the ceremony was quiet and dark, but nice to attend and hear everyone sing the Australian National Anthem around me.
Then, we checked out bus routes and decided to make our way into Paddington for 'brekkie'. Paddington is a hip little bohemian neighborhood, and we ate at a place called Sassafras Cafe. It reminded me a lot of a Venice or Berkeley, so of course I loved it. From there, we walked through the neighborhood and got to the stop that I would take from my potential house. We took the bus along the route to school to see how it would be. Then walked around campus again. We took the ferry back to downtown, but thought better of it, and decided to avoid the ANZAC day march. We found our way to a cafe for lunch in Toowong, and then somehow figured out how to take the bus to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. After waiting around for them to open (late schedule for the holiday), I got my token photo with the Koala! I thought Koalas would be very soft, like a chinchilla, but instead he was very heavy, and felt like an itchy wool sweater! I was highly disappointed. Also, the Koala freaked out before he was put into my arms, so I was a little bit afraid that he would claw me. They got him calm enough to take a photo, but you can see how he dug his claws into my arm:
Then we went to the Kangaroos and much to our surprise, you could walk right up to them. They are used to being fed by visitors so they are all overly friendly. They happened to be a bit softer than the Koala:
We didn't stay long and headed back into town, but our bus passed by the South Bank Museums, and we decided last minute to stop by the Museum of Modern Art. We liked the building a lot more than the art inside. Then we went to the Gallery of Art, which was also very beautiful inside and saw an awesome exhibit on hats (my favorite)!!!
Then we ate dinner with a friend of a friend and walked around the park on the South Bank.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Most people thought we were nuts for going across the world for just a couple days, but we felt like we had already gotten to see and experience a lot of Brisbane! We didn't know what else we wanted to do, so we took a leisurely train ride down to the Gold Coast. We went up the tall Q1 building to get a view of the surrounding Surfers Paradise (that's the actual name of the town, not my creativity), walked on the beach, ate lunch, and then took the train back to our hotel.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Woke up to take a shuttle back to the airport. Left Brisbane at 11am, arrived LAX at 7am. Here's one last photo of me on a brass kangaroo in King George Square (I now have a thing for taking photos on brass animals):
Friday, April 02, 2010
Explore. Dream. Discover.*
A year and a half ago, feeling lost, I wrote about shaking things up in a major way. See original post here: http://nvisibility.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-world-has-been-turned-upside-down.html
I threw out several options to complete a life-altering transformation:
- Motor-cycle across the country
- Travel to Paris and learn how to love
- Trek to Tibet and study Buddhism
- Move to Australia for a year
I am satisfied to report that these seemingly preposterous ideas are becoming reality. Ok, so I didn't travel across the country (I went around Iceland) and it was a scooter not a real motorcycle... But close enough. In July, I will be moving to Australia for a year and a half. So, 2 down, and 2 to go! Paris, anyone? ;-)
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney
* The title comes from another one of my favorite quotes, written by Mark Twain
I threw out several options to complete a life-altering transformation:
- Motor-cycle across the country
- Travel to Paris and learn how to love
- Trek to Tibet and study Buddhism
- Move to Australia for a year
I am satisfied to report that these seemingly preposterous ideas are becoming reality. Ok, so I didn't travel across the country (I went around Iceland) and it was a scooter not a real motorcycle... But close enough. In July, I will be moving to Australia for a year and a half. So, 2 down, and 2 to go! Paris, anyone? ;-)
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney
* The title comes from another one of my favorite quotes, written by Mark Twain
Thursday, March 11, 2010
On the 10th anniversary, my mom wrote an article about the lasting psychological effects of the fire and in it she said of me:
“Her stoicism is elegantly spare but it is borne of a deep-rooted fear that something unimaginably worse is still out there. She braces for it and she insists on smelling the roses, not for the joy of it but as a consolation for the inevitability of having them suddenly taken from her.”
It's as true today as when it was written almost 10 years ago. Since then, my existential philosophy has been reinforced by proof that things can get worse. And that compulsion to live life at its fullest has made it almost impossible to set limits. The necessity for continued exhilaration is both insatiable and exhausting, making nine of the first 10 weeks of this year nothing short of epic, but this success is paired with sadness that these moments are only temporary.
“Her stoicism is elegantly spare but it is borne of a deep-rooted fear that something unimaginably worse is still out there. She braces for it and she insists on smelling the roses, not for the joy of it but as a consolation for the inevitability of having them suddenly taken from her.”
It's as true today as when it was written almost 10 years ago. Since then, my existential philosophy has been reinforced by proof that things can get worse. And that compulsion to live life at its fullest has made it almost impossible to set limits. The necessity for continued exhilaration is both insatiable and exhausting, making nine of the first 10 weeks of this year nothing short of epic, but this success is paired with sadness that these moments are only temporary.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
25 Random Facts about Me
1. I once showed porn to my college class as a visual aid for a project.
2. I used to play Barbies with the mechanics at Sears Point Raceway.
3. I ditched naptime in preschool to go to the library with the older kids. The adults never knew I was unaccounted for.
4. I’ve had Chicken Pox twice.
5. When I was a baby, I cried all the time out of one eye. I had surgery at age 3 to fix the tear duct, but now the same eye rarely tears up.
6. I was born at home, not in a hospital.
7. I name all of my cars, but keep their names secret.
8. I gag after 3 bites of any seafood.
9. I have always lived by the ocean, but I hate the beach. Sand makes me feel dirty and I’ve gotten caught in the undertow of a wave 3 times in my life, so I refuse to go in the water.
10. I have strange phobias. I’m scared of ants, silverfish and getting my fingers sliced off when ice skating.
11. I know the floor plans of all of my neighbor’s houses within a 4 block radius because I used to play in them as construction sites. It’s weird if they think it’s the first time I’ve been in their house and I know where the bathroom is.
12. In high school, I used to sneak out of the house with my friend, but the only thing we ever did was drive all over the bay area with the top down and get Krispy Kreme donuts.
13. I’ve been to more high school dances than anyone else I know (literally hundreds), and I was an adult for 98% of them.
14. I was stood up for my own Senior Prom.
15. My mom sold my teddy bear at a garage sale when I was 5. She also slammed my hand in a car door and locked the keys in the car when I was a toddler. I like to think she was just getting me back for ripping an earring out of her ear when I was a baby.
16. I once broke into my old elementary school by hoisting myself through the window like I used to do at recess if the teacher locked us out. The alarms went off and I bolted.
17. My parents never enforced bedtime, so I used to stay up late watching Elvis movie marathons or take a 2 mile walk under the stars.
18. The most challenging thing I’ve ever done is hike 10 miles into the Grand Canyon with 35 lbs on my back and camp for 2 nights, alone. It’s also one of my favorite memories.
19. I’m horrible for starting books and not finishing them. In the last 5 years, I have started 15 books and only finished 3.
20. My dream is to travel into space. I used to want to be an astronaut and I regret not following that dream more. I am also obsessed with flying.
21. The most spontaneous trip I’ve ever taken was to Scotland. I completed the SAT at 11am, my mom asked if I wanted to go alone to see my sister, I went home to pack and left SFO at 1pm. It was also the shortest trip I’ve ever taken – 13 hour flights there and back and I only spent 36 hours in Glasgow. It was a month after Sept 11th happened. People thought I was nuts.
22. I got my tattoo when I was 18. My mom found out on Mother’s Day and cried. Then she tried to scratch it off. Because it was still healing, she messed it up and I had to get it re-done.
23. When I was 8, I was tested for Diabetes. Over the course of 7 hours, I had to do 7 urine samples and 7 blood tests. The results were negative.
24. I am not baptized.
25. In high school, I had to take summer school for Spanish because the teacher messed up my grade and left for a trip to Spain before he could fix it.
2. I used to play Barbies with the mechanics at Sears Point Raceway.
3. I ditched naptime in preschool to go to the library with the older kids. The adults never knew I was unaccounted for.
4. I’ve had Chicken Pox twice.
5. When I was a baby, I cried all the time out of one eye. I had surgery at age 3 to fix the tear duct, but now the same eye rarely tears up.
6. I was born at home, not in a hospital.
7. I name all of my cars, but keep their names secret.
8. I gag after 3 bites of any seafood.
9. I have always lived by the ocean, but I hate the beach. Sand makes me feel dirty and I’ve gotten caught in the undertow of a wave 3 times in my life, so I refuse to go in the water.
10. I have strange phobias. I’m scared of ants, silverfish and getting my fingers sliced off when ice skating.
11. I know the floor plans of all of my neighbor’s houses within a 4 block radius because I used to play in them as construction sites. It’s weird if they think it’s the first time I’ve been in their house and I know where the bathroom is.
12. In high school, I used to sneak out of the house with my friend, but the only thing we ever did was drive all over the bay area with the top down and get Krispy Kreme donuts.
13. I’ve been to more high school dances than anyone else I know (literally hundreds), and I was an adult for 98% of them.
14. I was stood up for my own Senior Prom.
15. My mom sold my teddy bear at a garage sale when I was 5. She also slammed my hand in a car door and locked the keys in the car when I was a toddler. I like to think she was just getting me back for ripping an earring out of her ear when I was a baby.
16. I once broke into my old elementary school by hoisting myself through the window like I used to do at recess if the teacher locked us out. The alarms went off and I bolted.
17. My parents never enforced bedtime, so I used to stay up late watching Elvis movie marathons or take a 2 mile walk under the stars.
18. The most challenging thing I’ve ever done is hike 10 miles into the Grand Canyon with 35 lbs on my back and camp for 2 nights, alone. It’s also one of my favorite memories.
19. I’m horrible for starting books and not finishing them. In the last 5 years, I have started 15 books and only finished 3.
20. My dream is to travel into space. I used to want to be an astronaut and I regret not following that dream more. I am also obsessed with flying.
21. The most spontaneous trip I’ve ever taken was to Scotland. I completed the SAT at 11am, my mom asked if I wanted to go alone to see my sister, I went home to pack and left SFO at 1pm. It was also the shortest trip I’ve ever taken – 13 hour flights there and back and I only spent 36 hours in Glasgow. It was a month after Sept 11th happened. People thought I was nuts.
22. I got my tattoo when I was 18. My mom found out on Mother’s Day and cried. Then she tried to scratch it off. Because it was still healing, she messed it up and I had to get it re-done.
23. When I was 8, I was tested for Diabetes. Over the course of 7 hours, I had to do 7 urine samples and 7 blood tests. The results were negative.
24. I am not baptized.
25. In high school, I had to take summer school for Spanish because the teacher messed up my grade and left for a trip to Spain before he could fix it.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Timeline
Time is a funny thing. Sometimes moments seem to last forever and other times, you look back and years have passed without significance. I spent the last chapter of my life happily stagnant, and yet the past 15 months have been intensely opposite. I can only explain by saying that for me, 2008 was a lifetime ago. 2008 started in what seemed like a fairytale beginning; my sister was engaged to be married and I was settling into a happy 5 years with my boyfriend. I never would’ve guessed that in six short weeks, our lives would come undone:
August 30th, 2008 – My boyfriend suddenly asked for a break and my sister moved out of her fiancé’s house.
The month of September was unbearable for both of us. We were left with all of the questioning and anger and desperation that one feels when their relationship hangs in peril. We spoke often about what would happen, if either of us would be happy again, and how we could. I saw her for the last time on September 8th, 2008 when we spent the weekend together in turmoil.
October 1st, 2008 – We met with our significant others on the same night and received the same answer. It was over for both of us. I spent the night on the phone with my sister, as she got drunk and spoke of killing herself. I waited on the phone until our mother went to pick her up.
October 8th, 2008 – I met my boyfriend for one last time to do the ritual exchange of items. It was quick and left me feeling awkward and unsatisfied. At the same time, my sister called her ex to say goodbye and hung herself to end the pain.
Same circumstances, same timeframe. One chose life, the other death. I struggle with this fact regularly and know it will forever haunt me. As I move on with my life, trying to rediscover happiness, she could be doing the same. I want to believe that someone of a healthy mind would never choose death over life, which is why I am positive that with the right help, she could’ve taken a different path. Yet she saw no other option. There are some wounds that time cannot heal and maybe this is what she knew. For her, every pain cut too deep and the scars never healed. She saw the rest of us as calloused by the cruelty we created. And though she tried desperately to see love in the world, it became clouded by every hurt she suffered. I never thought endurance was such a unique quality until it was forced upon me. Looking back at my life and the tragedies I have overcome is daunting. Of course there are days when it seems overwhelming, but for me there is no other choice. Just as my sister’s options felt limited, mine too are confined to one – and I choose to live.
August 30th, 2008 – My boyfriend suddenly asked for a break and my sister moved out of her fiancé’s house.
The month of September was unbearable for both of us. We were left with all of the questioning and anger and desperation that one feels when their relationship hangs in peril. We spoke often about what would happen, if either of us would be happy again, and how we could. I saw her for the last time on September 8th, 2008 when we spent the weekend together in turmoil.
October 1st, 2008 – We met with our significant others on the same night and received the same answer. It was over for both of us. I spent the night on the phone with my sister, as she got drunk and spoke of killing herself. I waited on the phone until our mother went to pick her up.
October 8th, 2008 – I met my boyfriend for one last time to do the ritual exchange of items. It was quick and left me feeling awkward and unsatisfied. At the same time, my sister called her ex to say goodbye and hung herself to end the pain.
Same circumstances, same timeframe. One chose life, the other death. I struggle with this fact regularly and know it will forever haunt me. As I move on with my life, trying to rediscover happiness, she could be doing the same. I want to believe that someone of a healthy mind would never choose death over life, which is why I am positive that with the right help, she could’ve taken a different path. Yet she saw no other option. There are some wounds that time cannot heal and maybe this is what she knew. For her, every pain cut too deep and the scars never healed. She saw the rest of us as calloused by the cruelty we created. And though she tried desperately to see love in the world, it became clouded by every hurt she suffered. I never thought endurance was such a unique quality until it was forced upon me. Looking back at my life and the tragedies I have overcome is daunting. Of course there are days when it seems overwhelming, but for me there is no other choice. Just as my sister’s options felt limited, mine too are confined to one – and I choose to live.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Her inability to create a life has forced me into an impossible life. What might have been optional before is unacceptable, now. It's possible that I would choose the same path regardless, but sometimes I feel that she took away my decision. And maybe that's what I hate the most; feeling that I don't have control over my own destiny anymore because the past has paved the future.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
FINISH READING
When I was a kid, I used to read nonstop and I would read up to 5 books at a time. Then, in Middle School, I stopped reading altogether. Since, I haven't been able to re-discover the desire. In fact, lately I have developed a bad habit of picking up a book and not finishing it. Once I put a book down, I rarely pick it back up. One book I was even <20 pages from finishing! Here is a summary of the books I have started reading in the past 5 years:
Lord of the Rings - began in 2002, on page 715 (last read 2005)
A Man without a Country - on page 19 (last read 2006)
The Case for a Creator - on page 63 (last read 2007)
A River Runs Through It - on page 44 (last read 2007)
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands - FINISHED (Sept 2008)
Getting to 'I Do' - on page 105 (last read Sept 2008)
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - on page 54 (last read 2008)
Sophie's World - began in 1997, FINISHED 2008
Broken Open - on page 240 (last read Jan '09)
The Time Traveler's Wife - on page 337 (last read June '09)
Profiles in Courage - FINISHED (July 2009)
Faust - FINISHED (August 2009)
Boundaries - on page 117 (last read Dec '09)
True Compass - on page 374 (last read 12/29/09)
Eat, Pray, Love - on page 1 (started TODAY)
My New Year's Resolution is to finish some of them.
Lord of the Rings - began in 2002, on page 715 (last read 2005)
A Man without a Country - on page 19 (last read 2006)
The Case for a Creator - on page 63 (last read 2007)
A River Runs Through It - on page 44 (last read 2007)
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands - FINISHED (Sept 2008)
Getting to 'I Do' - on page 105 (last read Sept 2008)
Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus - on page 54 (last read 2008)
Sophie's World - began in 1997, FINISHED 2008
Broken Open - on page 240 (last read Jan '09)
The Time Traveler's Wife - on page 337 (last read June '09)
Profiles in Courage - FINISHED (July 2009)
Faust - FINISHED (August 2009)
Boundaries - on page 117 (last read Dec '09)
True Compass - on page 374 (last read 12/29/09)
Eat, Pray, Love - on page 1 (started TODAY)
My New Year's Resolution is to finish some of them.
Summary of Christmas Gifts
Will use the most: diamond studs
Most excited reaction: non-tinted swim goggles
Couldn't hide my disgust: earrings (sorry, mom)
Biggest Nerd Gift: sphere that projects stars on my ceiling (so cool!)
New "Theme" Ornaments: Silver "K", Iron Angel, Yarn Zebra
Wanted but didn't get: Portable DVD player
Almost got, but didn't (and now pissed): Wii and Kings Season tickets (Next time, don't tell me what I missed out on, Mom!)
Most excited reaction: non-tinted swim goggles
Couldn't hide my disgust: earrings (sorry, mom)
Biggest Nerd Gift: sphere that projects stars on my ceiling (so cool!)
New "Theme" Ornaments: Silver "K", Iron Angel, Yarn Zebra
Wanted but didn't get: Portable DVD player
Almost got, but didn't (and now pissed): Wii and Kings Season tickets (Next time, don't tell me what I missed out on, Mom!)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Why are some days harder than others? Is it because you are close to me today? I wish it weren't so painful and yet, I would bear this pain for you so that you won't have to. I will gladly accept the burden of missing you in exchange for the end of your suffering.
I miss having a sister to do sisterly things with. I regret not spending more time with just you.
Mom says that tears are just our love for you leaking out a bit and I agree. But why does it sometimes seem like a weather patter? Why can I go for months with sunshine, and some days just a mist while others are a downpour?
I miss having a sister to do sisterly things with. I regret not spending more time with just you.
Mom says that tears are just our love for you leaking out a bit and I agree. But why does it sometimes seem like a weather patter? Why can I go for months with sunshine, and some days just a mist while others are a downpour?
Friday, November 20, 2009
It's difficult not to feel bitter about everything that has happened this past year. Sometimes I feel like the things that happened screwed up my entire life. I'm no longer set on the path that I was on. And yes, some of that is good because it has woken me up in some good ways. But for instance, losing my job in this economy has made it almost impossible to find another job in the career that I want. I am now forced to look at other career alternatives. People think that now I can figure out what I've always wanted to do... But I was pursuing that with my last career! Changing that feels like walking away from a dream. I can't blame it all on losing my job, I guess in the end they are all intertwined with each other.
So, there are still days when I feel completely lost and left with questions like "Why me?", still times when I'm angry, wishing it all away and begging for an easier life sentence.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Worst Year of my Life
I am coming up on the anniversary of when things started to go wrong in my life. My sister once told me that she knew of someone who engraved a bracelet with a year on it. When asked what the year was, she said it was the worst year of her life and she wears it to remind her that everything since has to be better, because nothing can be worse than that year. I want to do this bracelet. And I thought well, it's more 2008-2009... My year started going awry almost exactly a year ago. But I suddenly got scared. I am hoping that my bad luck is restricted to a year, but what if it continues?
Then I remember there are so many things about this past year that have been good. Things I would never take back. Places I've gone, people I've met, etc. I guess that's what life is. You gotta take the bad with the good and sometimes one outweighs the other.
So, this upcoming anniversary (in a few days) is more of a New Years for me than Jan 1st was. I'm hoping for a healing of the past, and start of a new beginning. I know that's impossible to ask because it's not always so cut and dry, but with a deep breath, I still hope...
Then I remember there are so many things about this past year that have been good. Things I would never take back. Places I've gone, people I've met, etc. I guess that's what life is. You gotta take the bad with the good and sometimes one outweighs the other.
So, this upcoming anniversary (in a few days) is more of a New Years for me than Jan 1st was. I'm hoping for a healing of the past, and start of a new beginning. I know that's impossible to ask because it's not always so cut and dry, but with a deep breath, I still hope...
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Lost in Iceland
In our journey around the Ring Road, we lost many things.
My mother, weighed down by the ring that hung around her neck, chose herself to be the bearer of such a burden. She thought it was her duty, her task to carry this so no one else would have to. She argued with my sister that her ring should be thrown into the waterfall. She insisted that it was not right, not the right time. Somewhere along the journey, it's hard to say when, she lost the ring. It no longer hung from her neck, or weighed in her suitcase. But relief from its loss did not come. Her turmoil lasts.
Did we ever actually lose our way? Not literally, but we lost other things. We were rid of preconceptions about the land, our breath was taken as we gazed at diverse landscapes, sometimes we forgot past transgressions of mother and daughter and got to know each other as adults. We were forced to lay aside fear on especially trying days. I guess you could say we found much more than we lost. Though, the ring remains unfound...
My mother, weighed down by the ring that hung around her neck, chose herself to be the bearer of such a burden. She thought it was her duty, her task to carry this so no one else would have to. She argued with my sister that her ring should be thrown into the waterfall. She insisted that it was not right, not the right time. Somewhere along the journey, it's hard to say when, she lost the ring. It no longer hung from her neck, or weighed in her suitcase. But relief from its loss did not come. Her turmoil lasts.
Did we ever actually lose our way? Not literally, but we lost other things. We were rid of preconceptions about the land, our breath was taken as we gazed at diverse landscapes, sometimes we forgot past transgressions of mother and daughter and got to know each other as adults. We were forced to lay aside fear on especially trying days. I guess you could say we found much more than we lost. Though, the ring remains unfound...
Friday, August 07, 2009
I think the worst pain in life is to have your baby die. It doesn't matter the age. Weeks or decades, I'm sure it breaks the heart permanently. I think I will now fear that most of all if I should ever have a child. Maybe that's natural of being a mother, but I will worry more than others. I never wish to feel the suffering my mother has.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Vacation 2009
Boston, Iceland, Santa Fe!
How to pack for a trip that includes such diverse climates? Well, I had one duffel bag full of shorts and tank tops for Boston that I shipped to Santa Fe, and then a hiking backpack for our two cold weeks in Iceland! It was an awesome trip planned - a few days in Boston (my mom and I had never been there) to ease us into travel mode, then a grueling 10 days on motor scooters around Iceland, followed by a girl's Spa weekend in Santa Fe to relax.
The driveway was uphill and gravel. My mom fell over with her scooter, and it fell on her bad ankle. Vik is known for the basalt sea stacks at the black sand beach, but we didn't go see them close up, because it was down another gravel road.
Luckily there wasn't much driving planned, just 40 km to the next hotel, so we drove to Skogar and relaxed in the small town at the Cultural Museum and Skogafoss. The cultural museum
had examples of Viking huts from the 1800's with grass roofs:
The other end of town had a gorgeous waterfall, Skogafoss. I climbed up the side of the waterfall as my mom soaked her foot in the icy water.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
We were supposed to drive to the Golden Circle and then our Hotel in Hvergarði, which was a pretty moderate day of driving, but instead we decided just to ride to our hotel take a tour to the Golden Circle, so we wouldn't have to drive on roads that were possibly more bad.
Here's is Gullfoss and the Geyser:
The town we stayed in, Hvergarði, is on a geothermic hot spot and our hotel had some steam vents that had recently arisen after the 6.5 earthquake last year.
Here's some right off our hotel balcony:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How to pack for a trip that includes such diverse climates? Well, I had one duffel bag full of shorts and tank tops for Boston that I shipped to Santa Fe, and then a hiking backpack for our two cold weeks in Iceland! It was an awesome trip planned - a few days in Boston (my mom and I had never been there) to ease us into travel mode, then a grueling 10 days on motor scooters around Iceland, followed by a girl's Spa weekend in Santa Fe to relax.
Friday July 10, 2009 & Saturday July 11, 2009
We left on a red-eye to Boston and got there at 8am, Saturday. We went to breakfast, then checked in to our hotel and walked the Freedom Trail. So, we toured all the historical sites (Paul Revere´s house, grave, Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall, etc.) Apparently the 'Tall Ships' fleet were in town, which is the first time they've been to Boston since the centennial celebration in 1976. We walked to the North End for a great Italian dinner. We love Boston because it is so clean and has parks and great public transportation.
Here is a photo of Boston Common, the beautiful Park in the center of downtown.
Paul Revere's Grave, the honored hero of Boston (Half of the Freedom Trail is about Paul Revere)
Here is the cemetery/resting place of Paul Revere and John Hancock
More old gravestones in another cemetery
One of the "Tall Ships" - The USS Eagle, docked next to the USS Constitution
Sunday July 12, 2009
We went to the JFK Library and loved it. We couldn't understand why so many people who have been to Boston and never been to this museum. It's just outside of Boston, but the subway and a shuttle take you right to it.
We also went to the Contemporary Art Museum, which had an exhibit on Shephard Fairey. Then, we took the subway to the Hancock Tower and Trinity Church, then walked back to our hotel and another Italian dinner in the North End.
Here's our reflection in Hancock Tower.
Monday, July 13, 2009
We left on a red-eye to Boston and got there at 8am, Saturday. We went to breakfast, then checked in to our hotel and walked the Freedom Trail. So, we toured all the historical sites (Paul Revere´s house, grave, Bunker Hill, Faneuil Hall, etc.) Apparently the 'Tall Ships' fleet were in town, which is the first time they've been to Boston since the centennial celebration in 1976. We walked to the North End for a great Italian dinner. We love Boston because it is so clean and has parks and great public transportation.
Here is a photo of Boston Common, the beautiful Park in the center of downtown.
Paul Revere's Grave, the honored hero of Boston (Half of the Freedom Trail is about Paul Revere)
Here is the cemetery/resting place of Paul Revere and John Hancock
More old gravestones in another cemetery
One of the "Tall Ships" - The USS Eagle, docked next to the USS Constitution
Sunday July 12, 2009
We went to the JFK Library and loved it. We couldn't understand why so many people who have been to Boston and never been to this museum. It's just outside of Boston, but the subway and a shuttle take you right to it.
We also went to the Contemporary Art Museum, which had an exhibit on Shephard Fairey. Then, we took the subway to the Hancock Tower and Trinity Church, then walked back to our hotel and another Italian dinner in the North End.
Here's our reflection in Hancock Tower.
Monday, July 13, 2009
We shipped our Boston clothes to Santa Fe, and with backpacks, headed to the airport for Reykjavik. We arrived at almost midnight, right as the sun was setting, got to our hotel at 2am and went to sleep.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
This morning, we walked to Puffin Scooters rental place and then tried to navigate on the Icelandic streets around town. Everything is so much smaller than it seems on the map, so we keep passing the places we want to go.
Here's the Scooter Rental place:
Then up to the 'Pearl Station', which is a big silver dome (water storage facility) atop a hill. There, we saw 360 degree views of the city and the Saga Museum.
We saw a couple of sculpture museums with more sculptures. Here's a photo me at one that had scenic views.
We went to a film about volcanoes, which was pretty boring, then tried to sleep with the light creeping in through the curtains.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Our 2nd day in Reykjavik, we ended up taking the scooters down to Grindavik, where the Blue Lagoon is. We went in the Blue Lagoon, which was amazing, but my hair has been dry and brittle ever since, no matter how many times I put conditioner in it!!! It was our first day dealing with the high winds along the Iceland highways. Little did we know that this wasn't the worst of it.
Here's a couple photos at the Blue Lagoon:
Thursday, July 16, 2009
We checked out of our hotel in Reykjavik, but as we were packing up our scooters, my mom locked her keys in the boot (read: trunk)! We had to wait a couple hours for the scooter person to track down the owner to bring us the key. How embarrassing! But luckily, we were still in Reykjavik, so it wasn't as big of a problem as it could've been if we were halfway across the country. After noon, we headed to Þingvellir, which is the place between the continents. The road there was pretty nice and the lake (Þingvallavatn) is gorgeous.
From there, we traveled up the Ring Road to Borgarnes, along the sea. The water here is so blue, I couldn't stop staring at it!
Friday, July 17, 2009
We had a very long day on the road to Akureyri, in the North. The morning took us through the mountains and it was overcast, so it was bitter cold!! Very painful. But in the afternoon, we rode through the valley and it was sunny and beautiful. We passed so many white farmhouses with red roofs, surrounded by lush green grass, and rocky mountains with waterfalls and bright blue streams. I kept thinking, why isn't this place more popular, but remembered that it's dark and frozen for half the year. I wised up later in my trip and carried my camera on my hand so I could stop for quick pictures on the side of the road, but I really regret not doing so in the North, because it was so beautiful. Suffice to say, it looked similar to the photo above.
We made it to Akureyri and checked into our little guesthouse and walked around town. We thought that we were done with our longest day on the bikes, but everyday we thought that we were on the downhill, we were wrong. Each day was a challenge.
Here's a view from Akureyri:
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The maps showed that some of the road from Akureyri to Egilsstaðir was gravel, but we asked some bikers and the tourist office who confirmed that it was all paved. Phew! It was a still a long journey through desolate lava landscapes, but the mountains in the distance were quite pretty. We thought briefly about heading North for a detour through Husavik, but we found out that road was all gravel, so we decided not to travel there. So, we missed the Icelandic Phallological Museum, but it ended up being for the best because it took all day to get to the East.
Here is Godafoss, the waterfall of the Gods:
We drove around Lake Myvatn, which was not as pretty as I expected and FULL of midges. I guess that's why it's called 'Midges Lake'! There were black clouds of swarms that I had to drive through. My mom´s scooter had a windshield, but mine did not, so they all came straight at my helmet. I shudder thinking about having to spit a few out! As we drove away from the lake, we saw Hverir, which is a geothermic hot spot with mud pots. The ground is scorched and discolored and steam comes up out of the ground. In some places, acidic water bubbles up from the ground in disgusting gray gulps. And the whole place reeked of sulfur.
We continued on across moonscapes and stopped for gas off the Ring Road, along a gravel area to a small rest-stop and cafe in the middle of nowhere.
We made it to Egilsstaðir fairly late, and were very tired from the long day, and again (wrongly) thought that our hardest days were behind us.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
We drove to Hofn along the fjords in the east. I had never seen fjords, and this was some of the prettiest landscape we saw around Iceland. We went around each fjord, hoping for a town in the next, but right when we hoped for gas or food, or any kind of town, suddenly there was nothing. After 4 straight hours of hard driving in very strong winds, I had finally reached my limit and pulled over to give my back a rest and so we could refill our tanks with our emergency gas supply. The hardest part by far was the strong winds that alomost knocked our bikes over several times. At least the views were worth it:
This is hour 3, out of the fjords, so we thought we were home free.
We finally made it to our hotel in Hofn and looked forward to some shorter driving days in the South. By this time, I was getting used to taking hot showers as a relaxation before dinner.
Monday, July 20, 2009
We rode from Hofn to Vik and hoped that there would be less wind. We lucked out and it was indeed a bit less windy, but totally overcast all day, so it was cold and not very pretty.
Here's a glacier from our hotel in Hofn:
We stopped by Jokulsarlon, an iceberg lagoon:
The rest of the drive was pretty boring, past coutless wild horses, sheep, lupin, and waterfalls.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
We left our hotel in Vik and decided to stop at a church on the hill of Vik.Tuesday, July 14, 2009
This morning, we walked to Puffin Scooters rental place and then tried to navigate on the Icelandic streets around town. Everything is so much smaller than it seems on the map, so we keep passing the places we want to go.
Here's the Scooter Rental place:
Then up to the 'Pearl Station', which is a big silver dome (water storage facility) atop a hill. There, we saw 360 degree views of the city and the Saga Museum.
We saw a couple of sculpture museums with more sculptures. Here's a photo me at one that had scenic views.
We went to a film about volcanoes, which was pretty boring, then tried to sleep with the light creeping in through the curtains.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Our 2nd day in Reykjavik, we ended up taking the scooters down to Grindavik, where the Blue Lagoon is. We went in the Blue Lagoon, which was amazing, but my hair has been dry and brittle ever since, no matter how many times I put conditioner in it!!! It was our first day dealing with the high winds along the Iceland highways. Little did we know that this wasn't the worst of it.
Here's a couple photos at the Blue Lagoon:
Thursday, July 16, 2009
We checked out of our hotel in Reykjavik, but as we were packing up our scooters, my mom locked her keys in the boot (read: trunk)! We had to wait a couple hours for the scooter person to track down the owner to bring us the key. How embarrassing! But luckily, we were still in Reykjavik, so it wasn't as big of a problem as it could've been if we were halfway across the country. After noon, we headed to Þingvellir, which is the place between the continents. The road there was pretty nice and the lake (Þingvallavatn) is gorgeous.
From there, we traveled up the Ring Road to Borgarnes, along the sea. The water here is so blue, I couldn't stop staring at it!
Friday, July 17, 2009
We had a very long day on the road to Akureyri, in the North. The morning took us through the mountains and it was overcast, so it was bitter cold!! Very painful. But in the afternoon, we rode through the valley and it was sunny and beautiful. We passed so many white farmhouses with red roofs, surrounded by lush green grass, and rocky mountains with waterfalls and bright blue streams. I kept thinking, why isn't this place more popular, but remembered that it's dark and frozen for half the year. I wised up later in my trip and carried my camera on my hand so I could stop for quick pictures on the side of the road, but I really regret not doing so in the North, because it was so beautiful. Suffice to say, it looked similar to the photo above.
We made it to Akureyri and checked into our little guesthouse and walked around town. We thought that we were done with our longest day on the bikes, but everyday we thought that we were on the downhill, we were wrong. Each day was a challenge.
Here's a view from Akureyri:
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The maps showed that some of the road from Akureyri to Egilsstaðir was gravel, but we asked some bikers and the tourist office who confirmed that it was all paved. Phew! It was a still a long journey through desolate lava landscapes, but the mountains in the distance were quite pretty. We thought briefly about heading North for a detour through Husavik, but we found out that road was all gravel, so we decided not to travel there. So, we missed the Icelandic Phallological Museum, but it ended up being for the best because it took all day to get to the East.
Here is Godafoss, the waterfall of the Gods:
We drove around Lake Myvatn, which was not as pretty as I expected and FULL of midges. I guess that's why it's called 'Midges Lake'! There were black clouds of swarms that I had to drive through. My mom´s scooter had a windshield, but mine did not, so they all came straight at my helmet. I shudder thinking about having to spit a few out! As we drove away from the lake, we saw Hverir, which is a geothermic hot spot with mud pots. The ground is scorched and discolored and steam comes up out of the ground. In some places, acidic water bubbles up from the ground in disgusting gray gulps. And the whole place reeked of sulfur.
We continued on across moonscapes and stopped for gas off the Ring Road, along a gravel area to a small rest-stop and cafe in the middle of nowhere.
We made it to Egilsstaðir fairly late, and were very tired from the long day, and again (wrongly) thought that our hardest days were behind us.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
We drove to Hofn along the fjords in the east. I had never seen fjords, and this was some of the prettiest landscape we saw around Iceland. We went around each fjord, hoping for a town in the next, but right when we hoped for gas or food, or any kind of town, suddenly there was nothing. After 4 straight hours of hard driving in very strong winds, I had finally reached my limit and pulled over to give my back a rest and so we could refill our tanks with our emergency gas supply. The hardest part by far was the strong winds that alomost knocked our bikes over several times. At least the views were worth it:
This is hour 3, out of the fjords, so we thought we were home free.
We finally made it to our hotel in Hofn and looked forward to some shorter driving days in the South. By this time, I was getting used to taking hot showers as a relaxation before dinner.
Monday, July 20, 2009
We rode from Hofn to Vik and hoped that there would be less wind. We lucked out and it was indeed a bit less windy, but totally overcast all day, so it was cold and not very pretty.
Here's a glacier from our hotel in Hofn:
We stopped by Jokulsarlon, an iceberg lagoon:
The rest of the drive was pretty boring, past coutless wild horses, sheep, lupin, and waterfalls.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The driveway was uphill and gravel. My mom fell over with her scooter, and it fell on her bad ankle. Vik is known for the basalt sea stacks at the black sand beach, but we didn't go see them close up, because it was down another gravel road.
Luckily there wasn't much driving planned, just 40 km to the next hotel, so we drove to Skogar and relaxed in the small town at the Cultural Museum and Skogafoss. The cultural museum
had examples of Viking huts from the 1800's with grass roofs:
The other end of town had a gorgeous waterfall, Skogafoss. I climbed up the side of the waterfall as my mom soaked her foot in the icy water.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
We were supposed to drive to the Golden Circle and then our Hotel in Hvergarði, which was a pretty moderate day of driving, but instead we decided just to ride to our hotel take a tour to the Golden Circle, so we wouldn't have to drive on roads that were possibly more bad.
Here's is Gullfoss and the Geyser:
The town we stayed in, Hvergarði, is on a geothermic hot spot and our hotel had some steam vents that had recently arisen after the 6.5 earthquake last year.Here's some right off our hotel balcony:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
We woke up to rain, but luckily it stopped by the time we had to leave for Reykjavik. The 45 km ride was one of the coldest and windiest. There were again times when I looked in my rear view mirror and thought that my mom or I would fall over from the wind. It was difficult to even stay on the road much less share it with the traffic heading into the city. We finally made it into town and turned in our scooters that we had washed that morning. They didn't make a big deal about my mom's broken mirror, so I guess it was OK. We ate lunch, then took the shuttle back to the airport. On our flight to Boston, the young woman who was sharing our row of seats had a seizure and so we yelled for emergency. The flight attendants knew what to do and put her down on the floor to lay flat. She stopped seizing after a while, but her nose was bleeding and she started turning blue. They sent a passenger to get a doctor from the front of the plane and knew just where he was sitting. When she came to, she was very embarrassed and they took her to the front of the plane. It was quite a scary experience for my mom and me. We arrived in Boston and then made it out to Manchester, so we could be close to the airport for our flight to Albuquerque the next morning.
Friday, July 24, 2009 - Monday July 27, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009 - Monday July 27, 2009
We flew to Albuquerque and used our friend, Karen's house as a base as we trekked back and forth from the airport with my girl cousins. We had a wonderful dinner at Karen's house and then drove up to Santa Fe. On Saturday, we had our massages and spa treatments, so relaxing, and went into Santa Fe for their Cultural festival both days. Here's a photo of all of us (My cousins Rachel and Chandra, me, my mom, and my aunt Debi). It was relaxing, but definately good to get home on Monday night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
