Tag: travel

Welcome Screen Pins: Chittorgarh Fort

After a pretty long hiatus, was I hoping to get one of these posted last week? Yes, but none my Welcome Pins spoke to me…no matter though. I am happy to say I’m getting back in the groove! And where better to start than the magnificent Chittorgarh Fort!

Country: India

State: Rajasthan

District: Chittorgarh

City: Chittorgarh

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Visiting Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Ticket Price: ₹100 INR ≈ $1.21 USD

When to Visit: October to July

Things to See

Temples

  • Kumbha Shyam Temple: Hindu, private place of worship for Meera Bai
  • Samadhishvara Temple: Hindu, dedicated to Shiva
  • Satbis Deori Temple: Jain, dedicated to the Tirthankaras

Other

  • Gaumukh Kund: an ancient reservoir where you can feed the fishes
  • Kirti Stambha: a tower, Jain, dedicated to Rishabhanatha
  • Ratan Singh Palace

Places to Eat

Places to Stay

  • Rang Mahal: In Chittorgarh Fort Village, Rajput architecture, only two rooms, rooftop courtyard, terrace garden

Photo by sanket patel on Unsplash

Welcome Screen Pins: Glacier Bay

As an avid watcher of The Great North I knew once a location in Alaska popped up- I was going to make a post on it and here we are! I now present Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve!

Country: United States of America

State: Alaska

Region: Southeast

Nearest Town: Gustavus

UNESCO World Heritage Site

3.3 million acres

Things to Do

Bartlett Cove

  • Tlingit Trail: 1 mile, leads to Xunaa Shuká Hít
  • Xunaa Shuká Hít: a permanent clan house where you can learn about Huna Tlingit history and culture [Summer]
  • Interpretive Activities: learn about various topics from a tribal or park interpreter [Summer]
  • The Bartlett River Trail: 4 miles, intertidal lagoon/forest/estuary [Summer]
  • Glacier Bay Day Boat: a full day boat tour with lunch included [Summer]
  • Sea Kayaking: guided day kayaking

Gustavus

Places to Stay

  • Bear Track Inn: 100 acres, ground transportation & meals (packed lunch provided)included
  • Chinook Lodge: lodge feel, ground transportation & meals included

Photo by Rich Manalang on Unsplash

Welcome Screen Pins: Kamishihoro

You know how when you boot up your pc there’ll be an image with little prompts before you log in? Well, yesterday when I was logging in at work I had a thought of: why not click the prompts and learn something new each day? (Aside from just thumbing up or down for similar images.)

Then I figured I could do a little deep dive, jot down some facts and things I’d like to do there, so I can start keeping a list of travel ideas/a bucket list.

Now it won’t be everyday of course, just the places that catch my eye (which will probably be most of them). Anyway, first up is the town of Kamishihoro, Japan!

Region: Hokkaido

Prefecture: Hokkaido

Subprefecture: Tokachi

District: Katō

Mascot: Horon-chan

A shy fairy of the sky and earth who pilots hot air balloons and loves to eat agricultural/livestock products of the town.

Things to Do

Places to Eat

Places to Stay

  • Mountain Inn Sankoso: Underground bath, bandit dinner served at hearth, specialty tofu, yukata
  • Nakamuraya: Lovely accommodation, open air bath, souvenirs

Photo by shawnanggg on Unsplash

Road Tripping to the Wedding

You know when you decide to do something which doesn’t seem all that significant, yet somehow turns into a milestone towards adulthood? Probably not with the vague description I gave.

Let me explain.

A cousin of mine is having a wedding in Virginia on Saturday and in a stroke of luck I managed to finagle things so I won’t start training until Tuesday. Since I haven’t had a chance to visit my family in a long while I thought I’d use the week to stop in the two main cities where they live on the way to Virginia.

Seems like a pretty sweet and grand idea, right?

Well, right now I’m still in the second city and let’s just say I’ve learned quite a bit about myself.

Now the drive to the first city is one I’ve done before and wasn’t particularly fazed by. It was the night I spent in first city that did it thanks to a couple things happening. The first was a call from the guy I’m talking to. Was the call very long or in depth? No. On the contrary, the guy I’m involved with is quite dry, but it was the first time he’s ever called and even though it was a bit awkward…it meant a lot to me (mainly because I’d given up hope it would ever happen). The second thing to happen was a nightmare involving an ex.

You see, a while ago I was in a relationship that went off the rails to say the least. It became emotionally abusive, there were threats, and in the end a bit of a stalking situation. Before things officially ceased; however, he moved to a city not far from the first I was visiting. This was the first time I’d driven to the area on my own and the anxiety seemed to manifest itself in my dreams. All I remember of the dream was hearing his voice…replaying things he’d said in the past…some were even harmless things the guy I’m talking to now also happens to say…Regardless I woke with a bad taste in my mouth.

I’m the type who believes we shouldn’t let another person impact our life in such a way and while I was proud I made the drive fully at ease…to have those negative feelings sneak up in my sleep was a stark reminder of just how much he’d affected me. I even had a moment of doubt towards the current guy I’m talking to when his good morning text was too similar to my ex’s the following day. Thankfully, I moved past that rather quickly.

The drive to the second city was an entirely different beast all together. I’d never done the drive on my own before and in a split second I decided to start the seven-hour drive around 9 p.m. Seven hours on the same road with absolutely nothing going on around me. It was a rough ride. I was falling asleep; my butt hurt…I ended up calling my father to harass him and after the guy I’m talking to finished hanging out with his friends- he even called me too. In the end, I managed to make it without having to stop and take a nap because I don’t even know why. The best part?

I get to make the 8 hour drive to Virginia tonight.  

O.P. 18 August 2017

A Moment in Time

Prompt: What was the last picture you took? Tell us the story behind it. (No story behind the photo? Make one up, or choose the last picture you took that had one.)

The last picture I took is actually a video from outside a local hot spring. It was the second day of my mini honeymoon, clouds hadn’t rolled in yet, the water was clear, and it was just peak tranquility.

Right after this was taken we went into the caves where I experienced the hottest water I’ve ever tried to sit in (I barely made it up to my knees).

Video by Yours Truly

P.S. This immediately reminded me of Slice of Life anime.

In Transit

Prompt: Train stations, airport terminals, subway stops: soulless spaces full of distracted, stressed zombies, or magical sets for fleeting, interlocking human stories?

This one really depends.

For instance, I see airport terminals as the soulless spaces full of distracted, stressed zombies. People are either rushing, standing impatiently, or sitting in somewhat comfortable seats. Everyone has some place to be, but they are nowhere near their destination and it shows.

Now subway stops are a different animal. In my eyes this is where you can get a glimpse of fleeting, interlocking human stories. I think it’s because people are moving about their day and only stopping for relatively short bursts of time (e.g. the minutes it takes for the subway to arrive and get them to their next stop). It’s also daily transit used in countless people’s lives. Everyone has a destination in mind in the same city limits and could share the same route five days a week without ever noticing who they share it with.

I wouldn’t be surprised if these weren’t the “popular” takes, but it’s all in how you view it I suppose.

artist: @artoshtu

How to Get from Dublin to Miami (like the pro you are)

a) arrive at the terminal around 4:30 a.m. to retrieve your passport

b) find out you can’t retrieve your passport until 8:15ish since your flight isn’t until 11:40

c) sit in the airport questioning your every decision

d) take a nap

e) wake up to find none of your stuff has been stolen and you really have to pee

f) go back to sleep, so you don’t have to worry about needing to pee

g) wake up around 8:00 (without the alarm) and call immigration

h) retrieve your passport from the friendly lady in immigration who let’s you know, “You could come back next week if you wanted”

i) go to the other terminal to check in for your flight and find a large line

j) wait in said line for an hour watching Bob’s Burgers

k) find out one of your bags is overweight and throw stuff into your carry on which still puts you 2.7 kg over

l) dance inwardly when the check in lady only charges you for 2 kg

m) reorganize your carry on so your laptop is padded for the gods and queue for the security check

n) breeze through security and FINALLY go to the bathroom around 10

o) buy a salmon bagel since you haven’t eaten yet

p) wait for the plane to board and pass out almost immediately after take off

q) wake up in Iceland!!!

r) go to the cleanest bathroom you’ve ever been graced to use in your life

s) kill four hours via Netflix, Board Kings, emails, messaging friends

t) wait in line to board

u) take a bus to the plane and then board via stairs like an old school movie star

v) survive an eight hour flight with mild motion sickness on the landing

w) book it to immigration and declare a ham and cheese baguette you bought on the flight

x) get led to a separate area from the rest of the passengers to get your luggage and wait ages for your luggage to come through

y) go through the secondary agricultural baggage check to review the baguette situation

z) meet your aunt outside and go home

**did you know ham from Ireland is not allowed into the U.S., but ham from Iceland is? no. i bet you didn’t. 

O.P. 5 August 2017