Updates on life coming soon! My first sunset of 2010.

Misty Rays

A wanting feeling bombards the senses
as sharp nails dig into sensitive flesh
and a sigh escapes through parted lips.

Quiero tu amor.

Fortunes may come true . . .

Boston Skyline as seen from a Duck Tour.

While General Lee Lost took his last stand of the day, bravely driving his purple duck through the packed streets, two soldiers at the front of his pack were creating a ruckus. His grim, serious exterior was slowly deteriorating as he realized that they were utterly lost within the narrow, winding alleyways of Boston. Circling the streets, the General finally decided to rely on the misinformation of his GPS, which he had found during one of his Californian adventures. In an effort to cheer up his group, General Lee resorted to his flawless comic timing and quick wit.

The General’s humor was contagious and the North End Norma was soon headed full speed toward Boston’s renowned Charles River. At an impressive 10 MPH, the battalion plunged nose-first into the river, and the crew then decided that it would be a fantastic idea to cruise down the river and see the sights of Boston while they were already lost. Having drifted downriver for a good portion of the evening, the General Lee and his crew began their epic journey back home. With the help of his trusty Californian GPS, they safely found their way home having completed an exciting adventure of their own.

Boston Duck Tours are known for their colorful tour guides, “duck trucks”, and constant quacking. Having already lived in Boston for two years, many would think that I’ve seen everything there is to see in the city. This, as many know, is a complete lie. I have seen my fair share of touristy attractions in Boston, but rarely do I take the time to venture off campus and really see the city. After living here for so long, I haven’t even managed to walk the Freedom Trail or go ice-skating at Frog Pond in the Boston Commons!

Last week I decided to finally take some time to actually get to know the city of Boston by taking a Duck Tour. The Duck is actually an amphibious WWII-esque landing vehicle. Each is painted its own special color and is named after a well-known Boston sight. The conductors are all hysterically trained in their craft and each has their own carefully constructed personality.

The eighty-minute tour is definitely not one to miss. I had the time of my life, and I’m living in Boston! I learned so many interesting, random facts about Boston that I never would have thought true. I can’t wait to continue my exploration of Boston, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll meet General Lee Lost driving disoriented around Boston once more.

Memorial Bridge, Boston MA

Meat Lovers Rejoice

Crunchy, refreshing goodness bombards my senses as I take the first bite. A hint of basil, a squeeze of lemon, and a drizzling of homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette completes the beautiful symphony of flavors. A salad, one of the simplest dishes to make, yet one of my favorites, and no, I don’t just eat them for health reasons, they are delicious. You might think I’m crazy, but I’m totally serious. It is the most refreshing way to start a meal and can even be a no-hassle feast on its own.

I love food. We all love food, and if you don’t, I’m sure I won’t be the first person to look at you strangely. How can we not? I mean, besides the fact that we need it to live; it’s just so damn good! Food can bridge even the most thorny differences. From a good beer to a mouth-watering meal, it is definitely a step in the right direction to many a persons’ heart (and stomach).

Every culture offers a unique and different cuisine, and every one has its own strange dishes that intrigue and entice. From Escargot in Paris to Bird’s Nest Soup in China to tea with Yak butter in India, each possesses its own group of admirers. As I dig into the final course, I stop quickly to complement the cook and finally realize that food IS the way to my heart.

A satisfied guest

A Beach Moonrise

The moon peeks through the clouds at the beach in Los Angeles, CA.

Salty seawater sprays my face as I glance out to the hazy horizon. Every evening I walk along the beach reveling in the smell of the salt water, the feeling of cool sand between my toes, and the frequent dolphin sightings. The beach somehow always feels like a second home. It’s a place where I can take refuge if I need some time alone, a place where I can meet friends and frolic in the surf, and a place where I feel comfortable being myself.

Walking along the shore after a storm yields the most interesting finds. A fishing hook here, a seashell there, a washed up jelly fish lying a few feet from the crashing waves, and every once in a while, a random toilet seat that seems to have been washed up from the depths.
The sea is a mysterious treasure in my eyes, one that is slowly succumbing to the human race, but still fighting strong in its uphill battle. Its vast expanses make even the largest landmasses seem unimportant. I have always found the mysterious nature of the ocean intriguing, I never know what surprises it has in store for me but each one gets more and more fascinating.

I am in awe that it bears so much life yet in fear of its destructive nature. It is a beautiful thing to behold, a life-support system for so many animals, a way of life for so many people, and a constant mystery for so many scientists.

Walking past the other couples lounging on the beach taking in the glorious night, I tear my eyes away from the ocean and begin to make my way home. As I get into my car and start to drive away, the moon finally makes an appearance, peeking through the clouds for a second before disappearing, as if winking at me and acknowledging my presence.

Pathway to Another Universe

The trail leading up to my Paradise.

I am definitely not one to share my emotions. I have a hard time expressing my feelings to other people, even my family, and when everything seems like too much to bear, sometimes I just want to run away from it all.  No, it may not be the best solution in the long run, but sometimes all it takes is a little bit of exercise and fresh air to clear my mind and find the ability to think straight.

On one of these occasions, I decided to take a hike on one of the many horse trails that wander lazily through my neighborhood. Each trail is unique in its’ greenery and wildlife. On one you might find a baby fox playing in the brush, while on another a turtle slowly making its way to the opposite side of the trail. What is most incredible about the greenery is that it didn’t exist before the city was built. When planning the city landscape, the organizers added a multitude of trees and bushes to the dry grasslands. Today, this greenery thrives and has become a home to many species that are native to the area.

Angrily stomping up the trail, I fume about home much my life sucks (. . . really not that much at all), and stop momentarily to snap photos and take in the view. I pass a father-son pair running down the trail and marvel at their speed, and suddenly I’m lost in the beauty of my surroundings. The whistle of the wind in the trees, the buzz of the insects going about a day’s work, the rustling of the animals in the brush, and the chirping of the birds flying above creates a tranquil, serene atmosphere that douses the flames of my anger.

With a clear head and peaceful demeanor, I begin to walk back down the trail. As the setting sun lights my journey back, I realize how incredibly lucky I am to have a place like this in my own backyard. Finally returning to reality, I look back toward the trail and find a shimmering tunnel in its place, my own special dreamland.

Cityscape

The view from Long Beach, CA.

Some people say that there’s no way that a city can be beautiful, and while I’m sure they can give some fairly convincing examples, I beg to differ. Cities are like glow-in-the-dark writing, you have to look at them in the proper lighting before you can actually see them. Each city that I’ve ever been to has its positive and negative aspects, but as far as I am concerned they are still picturesque at one point or another.

New York is a city where the night city tells a completely different story from the sun-lit city. On first arrival in New York, many visitors are put off by the crowds and general disarray (not my personal opinion but I’ve heard this said quite often), but as soon as night hits, the city comes to life. New York City nights are almost unparalleled throughout the world. They are the essence of New York, and they thrive with New York’s multitude of visitors.

Living in Los Angeles, I have to say that the city is gorgeous during the day, but the mornings and evenings at the beach are extraordinary. The beach sunsets are a sight to melt any heart. As the sun sinks into the ocean, the light reflects off of the few high-rises downtown and sears this stunning image in my mind.

I always love beach cities because their beauty seems to defy the lighting. Whether day, night, dawn, or dusk, they present an exquisite view. It also doesn’t hurt that I am officially obsessed with the beach (if you couldn’t already tell!).  From the gorgeous sunsets to the moon reflecting in the water off shore, they keep me questioning what resplendent view they have in store next.

Sunrise, Sunset

The Los Angeles sunrise at 5am, way too early to be awake!

“Climb up on some hill at sunrise. Everybody needs perspective once in a while, and you’ll find it there.”
~ Robb Sagendorph

Several loud beeps jerk me out of my peaceful slumber as my alarm begins to ring. Waking up at 5am to finish my schoolwork for the next day is never an enjoyable experience. I do not like being rudely awakened by my alarm clock, especially since I am most definitely not a morning person. Painfully aware that I have to actually get up to do work, I sluggishly drag my tired body out of bed. My vision slowly becomes less blurry, and my mind starts to turn back on after a good nights’ rest.

Making my way to the sink in my room, I begin to wash my face. As I look up into the mirror, a gorgeous sight crosses my vision. The bright, yellow-orange glow of the sun slowly creeps into view, bathing the city in a golden light. As the sun begins to rise, its light oozes down the streets and trickles into homes. Its warm, golden beams drench my desk in light and make my work seem so much more pleasant. Stopping to admire the view, I realize that these sunrises alone help me not dread getting up early.

“Softly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon Like a magician extended his golden want o’er the landscape; Trinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together.”
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I am a true night owl. A girl born to be up all hours of the night and to sleep all hours of the day. Tell me to sleep at 5am, and I’ll be happy to oblige, but tell me to wake up before 12pm and you probably won’t come out unscathed. Night is the most interesting time, and it evokes a quiet, dark, and wondrous world that I thrive in.

I love being a night owl because I get to watch and thoroughly enjoy the gorgeous California sunsets. I must have over 50 billion pictures of the sunsets here, but each and every one is unique in its own special ways. Whether the sun is a giant orange ball of fire dipping into the ocean, or masked behind a wall of clouds, the sight never ceases to amaze me.

The sunset from a family friend's house near the beach.

More of the adorable cubs.

As we rounded the bend in our open-top jeep we caught the first glimpse of them. Gorgeous, playful, strong, and full of life, they lazed in the sun staring at the group of foreigners on their territory. They were beautifully dangerous creatures who didn’t know the meaning of their own strength just yet. Their calm, marble-like eyes reflected our own timid ones as they rose, intrigued by our sudden appearance.

As the tigers began to make their way towards us, a clanging gate stopped everyone in their tracks. As soon as the tigers ran toward the figure, we recognized him as John Varty, the conservationist and big cats specialist come filmmaker. Varty had established Tiger Canyons, a tiger sanctuary in the Karoo of South Africa, close to a town called Philippolis in an attempt to combat the waning birth of tigers in the wild. The main ambition of Tiger Canyons is the release of self sufficient tigers in the wild outside of Asia.

Having volunteered in Philippolis my group was allowed the incredible opportunity of visiting Tiger Canyon and talking with John Varty himself. We were allowed the freedom to ask him any questions we possessed about the sanctuary, and we were lucky enough to spend the entire evening with him. Talking to John gave me insight into the mind of a conservationist and native South African who genuinely cared about the animals he raised. John’s passion and concern about the quickly diminishing tiger population of Asia is one ambition that I will always look up to. His faithfulness to these tigers is astounding, and he treats each and every one of them like his own children. If the one thing that I can take away from this trip is his enthusiasm and desire in his endeavor, so be it, at least I can live my life fighting for an important and meaningful cause.

Part of our group dances while John Varty plays the guitar.

Tiger sanctuary in South Africa

The tiger cubs at Tiger Canyon.

“A bold and dashing adventure is in your future.”

It would be so perfectly amazing if this came true. I can see it now … a trip to the wilderness of the Galapagos Islands or a visit to Barcelona where I can finally learn to speak fluent Spanish. I can feel the spray of water on my face as I sail the seas, I can smell the mouthwatering scent of foreign food, and I can taste the thrill of a coming adventure. Wish me luck!

Yippee!!