Since I will be a first-timer in Europe and Africa, I am almost toppling over with excitement plus a major dose of the jitters. Anyways, these were my recently accomplished tasks on what had to be done AFTER flights, accommodation, program arrangements are already settled. I guess I will share it in the form of tips and suggestions for anyone interested.

To start off, I would recommend taking these precautions to cover your bases when unpredictable events take place on your wonderful voyage abroad.

1. Get travel medical insurance. Shop around http://www.squaremouth.com/ for comparisons on travel insurance plans and don't forget to check with your credit card company on what they offer. I decided to skimp on extras and just go for the essential emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, and 24 hour assistance line. I don't care much for insuring my baggage of toiletries, underwear, and extra clothing. Bring absolute necessities in a carry-on bag and don't let it leave your sight.

2. See your doctor or visit a travel clinic for appropriate consultation and vaccinations. This is especially important if you will be in rural areas of developing countries or spending a ton of time outdoors.

3. Register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Register your contact information and trip plans so that your government/embassy can assist you in the event of an emergency.

4. Make photocopies of your passport and store it separately from your essential documents. Make a memo of emergency contacts, bank customer service numbers, etc.

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This post is archived under Random thoughts, Travel

For the past year and a half, I have been planning, saving, and determined to make this trip a reality. I was  honestly afraid that with everything that tends to pop up in life, I would squander this year away and somehow miss out on this opportunity. However, this is an adventure I have been craving and dreaming about for so long, I know I would not feel right if I started grad school and the next stage of my life without pursuing this experience.

At Barnie's - working out itinerary specifics and reading travel blogs

Hence, you can imagine my exhilaration now that my flights are booked and accommodation has been decided for the most part - I've purposely left some flexibility with these! I am participating in a volunteer program abroad in Marrakech, where we will be working on projects with schools, camps, orphanages, and/or street children. The program provides a riad (traditional house with garden and courtyard) in the medina for our stay and leaves weekends open for excursions to neighbouring villages and cities. Coastal Essaouira is first up on my list! I have scribbled out a few must-sees in Marrakech such as the Koutoubia Mosque, souks (markets), various hammams (traditional steam bath houses with vigorous massages), etc. The entire afternoon after I had booked my flights, I was walking around shaking with excitement. I will be leaving in just under 2 weeks, making a stopover in London, UK for 1 day. You can bet that I will be cramming as much wandering and exploring (hello, Big Ben!) as humanly possible in those 24 hours there.
Here is the current travel book I am reading to immerse myself in the appropriate setting and mindset. The author has an intense ability to capture images, smells, and people and bring the events to life for you. Magical! As with all books that I love, I am reluctant to finish reading it because I grow attached to the characters and stories.

Stay posted on my next three missions to acquire and organize the items on my packing list, prepare an iPod playlist for the occasion, and review my rusty French.

This post is archived under Random thoughts, Travel

Asian cuisine transformed into flavorful tacos and spicy burritos? Well, of-course I could not possibly resist. The exterior of this small restaurant is pretty nondescript but once you step inside, you are greeted with cheerful colors and a buoyant atmosphere.

Here is a glimpse at the unusual menu that they boast:
A couple of other items that caught my eye were the Korean Beef Takos and the Japanese Hot Dogs. The condiments featured on the menu (not captured in photo) included Avocado Wasabi and Ginger Guava Salsa.

Indian Butter Chicken Burrito






























The burrito and tako was more than enough to fill me up so I'll have to wait until next time to try out the other items. Fortunately for me, this little gem is just a short drive away from home :)

This post is archived under Florida, Food, Orlando

Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival (March 7 - May 20) is a great place to stop by and celebrate the beginning of the spring season. Although I have never been fantastic with plants, nature, or gardening (every plant in my possession suffers an early death, even a cactus), it was still amazing to be surrounded by all the intricate gardens and colourful flowers.

As a tea obsessor, these were my favourite:

Mixed Berry

Orange, Cinnamon & Spice

Camomile, Honey & Vanilla

Pomegranate Delight

China Oolong

Hope everyone else is enjoying beautiful spring weather as well!

♥

This post is archived under Florida, Orlando

Kitchen Cobb Sandwich, Barnie's Winter Park, FL

You might think the weather is always beach perfect in Central Florida, but I'm told that this lovely shorts and sandals weather throughout Jan. and Feb. is actually rather unusual ...albeit a happy surprise. At any rate, it's a nice contrast from Toronto and I could definitely get used to it!

This post is archived under Florida, Orlando

The past couple months have been quite an adventure. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to document them as much as I would have liked. (Quite the understatement, I know.) The quick summary is that I've moved myself into a fresh environment 1300 miles away from the familiar and I am still in the process of settling in while working on my new post-undergrad goals. (Grad school applications and interviews, teaching certification exams, field related volunteer work, being 7 years late to the game of getting a driver's license, all that fun stuff). It's definitely been a learning experience the whole way through and I am incredibly grateful for the friends, both new and old, who have provided guidance, encouragement, and companionship during this time. I am very fortunate to have you all and I am excited for these coming months which I expect will be just as interesting and unpredictable!


I do plan on returning here more often and posting periodic updates on new discoveries. I've been looking through some past photos from my trips and I would still like to tell you guys about it in upcoming posts. It's a perfect opportunity for me to sit back and reminisce!


Hope you are all happy, healthy, and well!

This post is archived under Random thoughts

Since I flew back to Toronto, the amount of work to be done snuck up incredibly quickly. It also didn't help that I spent my first week back sleeping the days away with an awful case of jetlag. Nonetheless, I do have a few posts started about my last couple weeks in Taiwan that I am eager to share. So, on with the main point...!

There are enough night markets in Taipei that you could visit a different one every night for 2 weeks if you had the energy. The one nearest our apartment is Le Hua Night Market. (Easily accessible from Dingxi Station on the Orange Line.)

Shaved ice with plenty of sweet toppings to try out and keep you cool.

This post is archived under Food, Taipei, Taiwan, Travel

Here's a lovely garden in a hot spring villa.

We tried out a few different hot springs and this was my favourite. I must say though, some places look cleaner and better-kept than others so it's worth driving around a little bit and stopping by a couple of them to take a look before deciding where you'd like to stay. Style, good customer service, well-lit and comfortable atmosphere are all important considerations. Most of the places allowed us to take a tour and walk around the facilities before making a decision.


All the options are quite affordable - around NT400 or $10 USD per night for Tatami rooms (traditional Japanese style rooms with soft-woven straw mats and sleeping cots). Fully furnished private rooms which resemble typical hotel rooms are around NT1800. Personally, I would not mind staying in the basic Tatami rooms - quite cozy. This site has some pretty accurate photos incase you're unsure how they look. Instead of staying overnight, you also have the option of simply paying hourly to use the hot springs and bath facility.


Below is another villa that I enjoyed. My poor photography and camera quality doesn't do it justice as it's actually quite well-lit and modern inside.

They've got a nice cafe area for you to relax and have a beverage after your steamy hot bath session. The furniture/decor in the lobby/cafe area was colourful and cheerful.

Both private hot spring baths (max 2 people) and a community bath are available at this villa. Unforunately, I didn't capture any pictures of those because I was afraid to expose my camera excessively to all the steam or better yet, risk plopping it accidentally into the bath. At any rate, these hot spring villas are such affordable getaways for a weekend of unwinding!

This post is archived under Ruei Suei, Taiwan

Ruei Suei Township: beautiful mountainous landscape and fresh unpolluted air

This post is archived under Food, Ruei Suei, Taiwan

Here was my music of choice for that 3 hour ride to Hualian.


I had an absolutely amazing time seeing my dad's family in Hualian and RueiSuei.
Expect a post on sightseeing and hotsprings in that area!

This post is archived under Music

Here's the view on the train ride from Taipei to Hualian.

Sorry about the little glare/reflection. It was quite dreary outside at one point but fortunately the weather improved when we arrived. We also managed to avoid the nasty typhoon that flooded parts of Hualian earlier that week.
Mountains, rivers, ocean, and farm fields.

This post is archived under Taipei, Taiwan