Tibetan Travels

I included this post in my portfolio because I think it shows that I am able to effectively utilize a conversational and engaging tone while still accomplishing my literary goal (in this case to explain why I want to visit Tibet).

On Tuesday we looked at the portfolio of a Penn Student who spent a gap year traveling in Tibet.  Needless to say, I am so incredibly jealous it hurts.  I can only imagine spending a whole year exploring the corners of the world and discovering myself during that critical transition time between high school and college.  If anyone wants to fund a slightly delayed gap year then hit me up pretty please.

Aside from awakening the full fury of my envy, the student’s description of her gap year incited a new curiosity in me.  I have never really had much interest in visiting Asia, but the pictures that the student posted of her travels were exquisite.  Obviously, I went home and proceeded to google pictures of Tibet.  All I can say is I will be one unhappy camper if I never have the chance to visit Tibet.  The images I came across depicted scenery completely different from anything I have ever witnessed in person.  Sharp mountain peaks and sprawling palaces blew me away.  For instance, the Potala Palace is awe-inspiring and Mt. Everest pretty much speaks for itself.  Lake Manasarova is another must-see, as well as the Tashilumpo Monastery.  I hope I have the chance to visit all of these places!

The Lake

 

The Highest Lakes in China-Lake Manasarovar, Nagri


 

 

The Palace

The culture is utterly different from American culture as well.  Visiting Belgian last summer, I didn’t experience culture shock even though I only spoke English.  However, I believe that traveling to an Asian region such as Tibet would completely throw me for a loop.  It would be exhilarating to be thrust into a culture where I had no familiarity with the customs, people, or mannerisms.  For example, it is considered impolite in Tibet to spit in front of others or clap your hands behind someone’s back.  Imagine if we thought it was rude for Major League Baseball Players to spit while playing?  Tibet sounds very quirky, and I think I would fit in pretty well.

Taking on the Big Apple

I incorporated this post because I enjoyed utilizing a conversational tone to write it and I believe it expresses my enthusiasm to spend time in NYC quite well.

The big apple; it’s the city that defines the image of America.  I’ve lived two hours north of New York City my whole life, yet I still feel like an outsider every time I visit.  This summer, I am hoping to change that.

When I was making my summer plans for this year, I had grandiose ideas of playing soccer in California or Canada.  However, when it came down to it I realized that I didn’t want to be away from my family for another quarter of the year.  They may be obnoxious and overwhelming, but in my eyes they are the most incredible people on this planet.  This put me in a pickle.  I wanted to stay close to home, but I wanted to play great soccer and enjoy new experiences as well.  Luckily, the perfect solution arose when my mom mentioned a soccer team based out of Brooklyn.  I contacted the team and now the plan is for me to spend half of my week at home and half in Brooklyn each week of the summer!

To be honest, cities freak me out a little bit.  I feel claustrophobic and incredibly stranded in big crowds at times, but cities also have a sense of hustle and bustle that fascinates me.  Therefore, my goal this summer is to become one with the city.  This country girl is going to become a city girl and she is going to like it.  I’m pretty excited to be an insider in the city; I can’t wait to know the favorite local restaurants, where to go for a relaxing jog, and to simply become comfortable in such a hectic world.  I have visions of subway rides resulting in eye-opening conversations, late nights in crowded diners, and so much more.  New York City is truly an incredible melting pot of culture, people, places, and events; I am so lucky to live so close to it.  This summer I hope to take advantage of all the big apple has to offer.  Who knows, maybe I’ll decide that NYC is where I truly belong.  It’s going to be a great adventure and I hope all of you get to experience the adventure that is New York City one day if you haven’t done so already!

Summer Nights in Belgium

I received some awesome news today; my good friend from Belgium is going to be visiting over the summer!  In honor of this great development, I’ve decided to devote this week’s passion blog to memories of my adventures in Belgium last summer.

It was the end of June, a week after graduation, and I had no idea what to expect.  What to pack? What was the weather even like in Belgium?  Unfortunately the one downside of the trip happened to be my lack of warm clothes (although that turned out to be a good excuse to buy new clothes).   I had never been outside of the country before and I couldn’t have been more excited.  To tell the truth, I had never really expected to travel to Belgium.  In my eyes, the best places in Europe were countries like Ireland and France; I had never really considered Belgium to be a vacation destination.  However, it just so happened that I became best friends with a foreign exchange student from Belgium my senior year of high school.   Plans were made and the next thing I knew I was on an eight-hour flight across the ocean with two of my closest friends.

 

All I can say is that you are missing out if you never get to experience Belgium.  The country is so culturally rich and scenic; there is so much to see and do.  Half of the trip was spent in Brussels, which is now my favorite city in the world.  There is something special about a European city like Brussels that makes you feel utterly content.  There was just enough hectic city activity to keep me feeling engaged and excited, there was astounding architecture at every turn, the streets were airy enough to fend off the feeling of suffocation, there was an incredible lack of pollution, the people were beyond friendly, and there was none of the loneliness that one often encounters in overcrowded places.  Sitting here writing this, I can’t stop smiling just thinking about walking around that city on breezy summer nights.

It’s actually upsetting that I have to keep this blog short.  I could rave about Belgium for pages on pages.  I haven’t even mentioned the rolling country hills, ancient towering forests, romantic hillside castles, cities built on canals, and so much more.  And the people!  The towns had gatherings every Friday night for all ages, the cities were bursting with people anxious to share their background, and they were all so incredibly welcoming.  Needless to say, I’m desperate to get back there.  I highly recommend taking some time to visit Belgium in your busy lives

Turkish Delight

When I go to the Hub I go with a mission; I need my coffee or someone is going to suffer my wrath.  Head down, speed walking toward Starbucks, I pass by the booths and bright posters focused solely on my destination.  However, one of the booths caught my eye as I started my trek through the lobby yesterday afternoon.  Beautiful landscapes covered a poster board, and a plate of food caught my eye (who can resist free food?).  As I walked toward the board, a member of the Penn State Turkish Student Association offered me some Turkish Delight.  Whoa, was that stuff good.  Next, he patiently sat by while I gawked at the pictures of beautiful Turkish locations.

Who knew Turkey was such a cool place?  For no reason known to me, I have always pictured Turkey as a country consisting solely of little villages and pastures.  Apparently the Turkey in my head never caught up to modern society.  Luckily, the real Turkey has (although it manages to retain elements of its picturesque peasant-like culture).  After my trip to the Hub, as I was looking for a means of procrastination, I started looking at more pictures of Turkey on the Internet.  I was even more blown away.

Beautiful seaside cities, architecturally astounding ancient buildings, tranquil beaches, and desert-like rolling hills were among just a few of the images I came across.  I never associated Turkey with the Mediterranean Sea, so I had no idea Turkey was home to such exotic shores.  In fact, I thought I was looking at Greece for many of the pictures.  However, the next image would capture mountains or hillside ruins that looked more like they belonged in Eastern Europe.  I think it is fair to say that I now plan on spending some time in Turkey during my travels later on in life.  Lesson learned; if I keep my head down as I walk through the Hub lobby I might miss some pretty cool stuff.

I Think I’ll Honeymoon in Ireland

I chose this passion post because it provided the interesting challenge of using a term that is normally considered to be negative (melancholy) in a positive manner in my description of Ireland.

It’s been pretty dreary around Penn State these days.  I mean come on; it’s spring yet our campus looks like it was recently hit by a mid-December blizzard.  Walking to class is not appealing whatsoever when I am immediately impacted by such dreariness upon leaving my dorm.  However, I don’t think that dreariness is always a bad thing.  For instance, when I think of Ireland I picture dreary, bleak, and desolate rolling plains under the gaze of a looming castle.  Yet, this vision of dreariness and melancholy somehow seems romantic in my mind.  I would much rather be walking along a dreary country road in Ireland than trudging to class at Penn State these days.

While Ireland appeals to me with its romantic melancholy, it has many other more uplifting appeals as well.   For instance, there is a sense of community and camaraderie in small Irish towns that I find endearing.  Who wouldn’t love spending Friday nights at the local pub with all your closest friends and family?  I’ve heard they even celebrate christenings at pubs.  Just picture rosy-cheeked little Irish children running through masses of rowdy drunken Irishmen in a crowded old pub.  That’s not something you see in America these days.  Another aspect of Ireland that I would love to see in person is the shoreline.  Along the coast, great drops into a sea roaring against the stones below stop rolling hills short.  To top it off, stone castles often grace these cliff sides with their presence.  I can just imagine women in long dresses and men in armor walking along the buttresses of these breathtaking formations.

To be honest, I’m not usually the most romantic person.  Yet, something about Ireland brings out the romantic in me.  I would love honeymooning there; I dream about taking picturesque bike rides through the countryside and picnics next to grand castles.  If the romantic in me is deprived of someone to share this honeymoon with, then I guess I’ll just have to go alone.  I don’t think I’ll mind it at all.

Spontaneous Trip to Paradise

I incorporated this post in my blog portfolio because it provided a great opportunity to reminisce in a nostalgic yet enthusiastic manner about an incredible experience.

Well it’s time to get back on that college grind.  Unfortunately, the Pennsylvania weather isn’t making the transition from spring break back to college life any easier as it continues to show bipolar tendencies.  Luckily, I have memories of tropical adventures to keep me warm as I huddle up in my winter coat on each trek to class.  These memories are of my travels to the Bahamas with my adventurous and apparently spontaneous mother over break.  Let me assure you, they are some pretty awesome memories.

Originally, I planned on spending my spring break with my butt planted firmly in the seat cushion of my couch.  To be honest, I was pretty excited about just sleeping and spending quality time with my cat, Oliver.  However, the Thursday before I left for home I received the best text message I have ever received from my mom.  After reading “I need a vacation, wanna go to the Bahamas with me next Wednesday to Saturday?,” I proceeded to jump around like a hyperactive kangaroo for five minutes.  I had never taken a spontaneous trip before, and I really needed a chance to relax so my mom’s text put me in an incredible mood.

I had been to the Bahamas once before with my family when I was 11, but I knew this would be a very different type of vacation.  On my last trip down there, my family had stayed on the least populated island, Andros, at an isolated lodge where we could scuba dive and basically do our thing.  On this latest spontaneous adventure, my mom and I stayed at an all-inclusive resort in Nassau, a highly populated area of the Bahamas.  While I’m not a big fan of commercial resorts, I really couldn’t complain.  Early morning runs along the oceanfront were some of the most scenic runs I have ever been on.  I spent my days on the beach reading The Power of One (which was very uplifting and I highly recommend you read).  Nights were spent eating good food and conversing with my mom.  I absolutely loved this opportunity to get even closer to my mom and learn a little more about her.  While the beach was incredible, my favorite part of the trip occurred when we got on the wrong bus and went through the area where the native Bahamians lived.  It was compelling to see the relaxed yet run-down lifestyle of the natives compared to the flashy façade put on by the tourism industry.  Overall, my spring break was fantastic due to this trip, but unfortunately it seemed way too short.  I hope everyone else had a great break and encountered new experiences!

A Little Closer to Home

I’m going to change things up a little bit this week.  All of my previous posts have concerned foreign locations, but this time I’m going to be talking about places closer to home.  You might ask why I’ve made this choice?  Well, I received some great news yesterday.  My family is possibly visiting Colorado or Montana this summer and I couldn’t be more excited.  When I was younger I thought that all those states between New York and California weren’t worth my time, but that perception was blown away when I visited Wyoming a few years ago.  I discovered a landscape that took my breath at every turn and I am dying to go back.

I think western states such as Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado are so appealing to me because they are so open and free.  I remember taking a horseback ride in Wyoming that opened up onto a mountain ridge overlooking rolling hills for miles.  Not only was it incredibly beautiful, there were no other human beings in sight (aside from family and the guide).  I had never felt so alone in my entire life, yet it was such a liberating feeling.  I felt completely centered; I wish I could have that feeling every day of my life.  The second best experience I had in Wyoming was simple as can be, yet absolutely perfect.  One morning, I woke up early and walked out onto the front porch of the cabin we were staying at.  The cabin was on the side of a mountain that overlooked a valley and faced another mountain on the other side.  I curled up in my comforter, stared across the open space, and took breath after breath of fresh mountain air.  There was absolute silence; even the birds seemed to be respecting my moment of solitude.  I sat there for an hour or two, and I felt utterly at peace.  I really hope this vacation works out so I get the chance to go out west again and experience the sense of freedom that comes with all that wide-open space.

 

Home to the Hobbits

Call it dorky, but I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan.  Which is why I know that the movies take place in New Zealand.   That makes one reason why New Zealand is awesome in my eyes.   There is even a Shire (where hobbits live) set in New Zealand!  I think it would be so cool to live in a Hobbit house under a hill with a big round front door.  However, there are countless other reasons why New Zealand is one of my top destinations.  For one, the scenery is breathtaking.  As you can probably tell from reading my other passion travel blogs, I am captivated by scenery and nature.  Seeing views of green mountains spreading out in front of me for miles, crisscrossed by cascading rivers and rocky pinnacles is a feeling that I wish I could experience every second of every day.  Whenever I see pictures of New Zealand, I get a glimpse of this feeling; I experience a tease urging me to drop everything and fly to that incredible island right away.

New Zealand is kind of like the warmer version of Iceland.  It has a vast array of natural wonders, from volcanoes to rolling plains to towering mountains to serene beaches.   No wonder New Zealand is such a popular location for movie settings; it has everything you could want from nature all within a country the size of Colorado.  Think about it, you could spend one day on the beach, the next in the mountains, and the next on a glacier.  That’s pretty cool if you ask me.

Not only does New Zealand have some awe-inspiring places to visit, it has some fascinating cultural aspects as well.  The Maori are the indigenous people of the island with their own language and tribal traditions.  Supposedly their food isn’t half bad either.  So the scenery is unbelievable, the culture is rich, and the hobbits made their home in this island country.  Sounds pretty close to Heaven to me. anewzea003p4

I’d so Much Rather be in Austria Right Now

austria1 

My parents never let me watch TV on school nights when I was younger, but that didn’t stop them from turning the tv on to catch up on a little mindless entertainment themselves.  In order to avoid doing my work, I would find ways to get in on their TV time without getting caught.  One way I would get my dad to let me watch his shows with him would be to get him explaining the story or history behind the show.  One show in particular, Band of Brothers, was drowning in historical information.  The show aired on the history channel as one would expect and portrayed the journey of American troops in World War II.  To be honest, I found the show quite dull.  However, there was one aspect of the historical reenactment that fascinated me.  This aspect was the setting.  I remember sitting on the couch with half-finished homework in my hand asking my dad where in the world the show was taking place.  I couldn’t tear my eyes from the screen; the lush green mountains towering above a dark lake and scenic village took my breath away.  That was how my fascination with Austria began.

                I feel like the world takes Austria for granted; it is so incredibly beautiful but it hardly ever comes up in conversation.  While Austria might have had a tumultuous past (including playing a major role in the start of World War 1 when Austria was still Austria-Hungary), the country is a kaleidoscope of nature, culture, and festivity.  This perfect blend makes Austria an ideal place to visit in my eyes.  I dream of traveling through the Alps and camping lakeside, or experiencing the rich culture of music festivals or walks through the architecturally impressive cities.  The more I read about Austria, the more obsessed I become.  The country offers any sort of hotel you could imagine, making it hard to believe that one place can be home to so much variety.  There is a heated pool in the middle of a mountain valley lake, a museum that consists of an entire village, a palace or two, and so much more.  If only there was enough time in this life to visit them all.  It’s starting to look like I’m going to be spending a large amount of time in Eastern Europe when I get older, because I just can’t resist experiencing everything that countries like Austria have to offer.lakepool

Take me to Turks and Caicos

beach2 

Sometimes you just need to get away; life is throwing too much at you and you need an escape.  When I have weeks that simply wear me down, I picture myself sitting on white sand listening to a symphony of crashing waves.  For instance, as I am sitting here writing this, I am imagining myself enjoying the perfect vacation in the perfect tropical location.  More specifically, I am imagining myself in Turks and Caicos. 

            This destination consists of eight islands 500 miles southeast of Miami.  Despite its proximity to the U.S., it is a British Overseas Territory.  In my eyes though, all that matters about the geographic and political location of Turks and Caicos is that it is in the Caribbean.  I associate anything located in the Caribbean with sun, sand, and relaxation.  Right now, I could use a whole lot of all of that.  Who wouldn’t want to forget all their troubles, soak in rays of glorious sunshine all day, and enjoy some insane adventures?  For instance, Turks and Caicos offers an activity called SNUBA that is a mix of snorkeling and shallow scuba diving for people who don’t want to invest in the whole scuba diving licensing shindig.   I personally think this would be such a cool experience.  On a family trip to the Bahamas, I got the chance to go scuba diving, and it completely blew my mind.  It’s like being in another world; there is nothing but you, wild-looking fish, and water (lots and lots of water obviously).   If you go through life without ever scuba diving, you are missing out I can assure you.

            If you have a fear of being eaten by sharks or stung by a poisonous jellyfish (but really what are the odds of that), then you could always go for a nice and a safe horseback ride along the beach.  Basically, if you desire an activity that involves perfect beaches to die for, Turks and Caicos is the place to go.  I think the real question here is why am I still in Pennsylvania instead of Turks and Caicos?  Well I’m working on it, and when I find a way there I will be sure to upload lots of pictures.  Try not to get jealous.  I’d invite you but quite frankly I’d rather sit on the beach and relax by myself, no offense. 

 beach2

WHY AM I NOT ON THAT BEACH RIGHT NOW?