News Flash: Ruins of Villages Found Where They're Not Meant To Be!

Good afternoon, S!
It's Friday, August 29th and this is my second post this week!

"What in Bob Hope's name is going on?!" You exclaim.
"Well," I reply in a stitch, "I am in love with the Internet. I also have a tendency to share."

Before I even start this post, I'd like to formally apologize for the atrocious spelling and grammatical errors of Tuesday's post. I was abhorred to re-read the post and find many unfinished sentences. I think it scared me for life.

... Done? Yes? Ok? Alright, let's move on!

I've already show this link to you S, but you understand that I have a giant need to over-research all information that comes into my gabby little hands. Mental Floss posted a short story about the recent discovery of indigenous village ruins in the Amazon Rain forest. My reply to this was to sit there and feel bad for all the possible historic sites that the giant corporations are destroying along with millions of acres of trees each year. Yours, however, was more simple:

S says: that's so cool!
S says: the amazon is such a big giant secret really?
S says: no one really goes there?

This got the cogs in my mind on a path they have gone to many times before. I like to call this hazardous path: 'the way to Questionvilleton.' It's a path filled with awesome but completely useless facts which latch on to you as you pass by, so that they won't be forgotten in with the dregs of history; It's a sad, strange little place.


My thought process went as such:

"Yeah, why does no one go into the Amazon?
Is it the snakes? It must be the snakes.
Who knew so many people are afraid of snakes?
Snakes. Snakes. Indiana Jones. Harrison Ford. Calista Flockhart. Ally
McBeal. Fox. Fox is a stupid channel. Who watches Fox anyways? NBC. ABC. Grey's Anatomy. Tumors. My fear of one day having a tumor..."

... then after a long, long time of thoughts like those, I started pondering the remote villages in the Amazon, the ruins and the cultures that used to live there. Here is a summary of what I found, plus some sites to visit:


It turns out that there are all kinds of ruins and villages placed all over the Amazonian Rain Forest and, thankfully, its not just the tree-killing cooperations that are visiting them. There are all kinds of tours and excursions that incooperate seeing the rain forest into their planned activities (see below).

Moreover, the 'lost villages' that Mental_Floss was talking about are a vast series of villages in a secluded region of Brazilian rain forest, known as the the Upper Xingu area, which were probably inhabited by the Kuikuro Indians. The exciting things about these villages are that they are comparable to those of Greek and Roman rural villages, complete will defense walls and roads connecting the villages in a kind of grid. Moreover, the settlements employed agricultural and food gathering tactics similar to those that nationalistic European colonies did. And all of this was found in a forest that everyone thought to be too young to hold any kind of cultural significance!

What happened to these poor villages, and why didn't we find them sooner? They've been over run with miles of green forestry for hundreds of years, of course! According to the BBC article on the subject: "the people who once lived in the settlements are thought to have been wiped out by European colonists and the diseases they brought with them."

Hope you enjoyed the (albeit, short) history lesson, S!
DFTBA this weekend!
Always remember: internet is the shiz.
Especially when you can post from home!

-xo

PS: Here are two lists. The first contains links to articles about the Brazilian village, and the second contains links about vacations to Amazonian areas and fun things to do there.

List one:
* BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7586860.stm
* The economist: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12001815#top
*Associated Press: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26440219/
* Reuters: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28350657.htm
* The guy who found the villages: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/mheckenb/
* The people who reside there: http://socioambiental.org/pib/epienglish/xingu/exped.shtm

List two:
* http://www.discoverbrazil.com/
* http://www.amazonvacation.com/amazon_cruise_map.cfm
* http://www.how2vacation.com/VacationPackages/location/Amazon.aspx
* http://www.travbuddy.com/Amazon-travel-guide-1320100

PPS: Upon doing a little after-post reading, I discovered that the government is considering what to do with land that rightfully belongs to the indigenous peoples of Brazil. Way back in 2005, the leader of Brazil, Luiz Inácio da Silva, decided to create settlements that would manage and house the native populations of their country, much like reservations do here in Canada and the United States. There has been a lot of uproar over the settlement, especially when the government tried to evict all non-indigenous peoples from the land. Some are blaming outside-forces for the interests in settlements. In the article I read (which you too should read), one man who was being evicted said: "History will show who is selling Brazil and who is defending the nation." The Supreme Court is currently ruling on whether the settlement should be reduced in size or not.

Personally, I just wish they wouldn't seclude the natives into one area. It honestly hasn't helped anyone here, as far as I am concerned, and has only induced a little bit more discrimination and stereotypes to a minority population.

Lets Bowl! Lets Bowl! Lets Rock And Roll! Hey Common Lets Get The Show On The Road!

Good Afternoon S!
It's Tuesday, August 26th - your sister's birthday!

This post combines my two favourite things which I wish I did more: seeing museums and traveling. It kind of makes my feelings hurt a bit, you see. Luckily, I obtained an interview for an animator postion at a museum downtown, so hopefully that will be remedied!

Therefore, in honour of some of my favourite things (but not the seven things I like about you.. which is a horrible song, seriously), I present to you the following link! These are all recently remodeled museums that turned out adorble, inspiring, and . Fittingly, these places that house some of the most gorgeous paintings and artifacts in the world have now become conversation pieces themselves. Also, this link is in slide show form, which is always fun!

This may seem like a short post and a little not worth it, but when digg gives me a link that I oogle over and re-read (or in this case, watch) over and over, I share!

Don't forget to be awesome, S.
I'll see you tonight for cake!
-xo

Oh! 'And what of the title,' I hear you asking. Well, it may seem random, but its not. Especially for T, on her birthday (but a little for me too):

Introducing Bruce

Good Afternoon S!

Its Friday, *August* 8th and I'm about an hour away from leaving for Watkins Glen, New York.

Today is a very, very special day - the 2008 Olympics officially started this morning at 8 am Ottawa time, and will continue on in Beijing for the next couple of weeks. I actually sometimes enjoy the Olympics; especially events that shouldn't even be considered as Olympic events. These events include power boating, croquet , tugofwar, etc. I am definitely not saying that the atheletes who chose to compete in these events are lame - or that playing them with friends or in competition is lame. I'm saying that maybe they should have reconsidered making them into an Olympic competition. The Olympics showcases the best in sports from all over the world, and, I believe that they should stick to the best of the best of sports. Next they'll be extending the length of the Olympics to include the Super Smash Bros on Wii event, or the GTA 3 event (both of which, the gold metals fall into the hands of the Japanese, while bronze goes to the Swiss.. which always seems to happen). I also want to point out what a shame it was for the IOC to choose Beijing. Yes. It is a highly populated city and the architechture there is exquisit... the air quality for the atheletes is sub par and the recent political occurances have made me less than impressed about their decision.

I digress.. The reason for this post is to talk about today, but not because of the Olympics. Nor is it to contemplate the possible 'luck' involved with 8.8.08. No, S, today is a day to celebrate - for I am introducing the Blogosphere to Bruce!

Bruce is a Batman plushy who was found for 20 bucks on Etsy (click here to get one). He has already become the best travel buddy I have ever had, and has taken quite well to my cousins and friends - as you well know. If ever I post any travel pictures on here, they will most likely have Bruce in them. The pictures you see here are from my apartment and on the way to the International Fireworks Competition at the Casino De Lac Leamy in Hull, Quebec, which began on Saturday evening.

I have learned that when returning from a trip and presenting photos of interesting architechture or scenery, your friends kind of get tired of empty pictures. Usually, while photographing, I try and find something funny to show, or something that I have a story to share about, so that not everything is: "Oh hai! Another column!" So, because I'm planning to travel a lot, I've decided to invest in something that will make my travel pictures infinitely more comedic and more amusing to take as well: Bruce. This is not to say that these photos will be more professional, or even more interesting - just that they will have a blurry Adam West style batman in them to enjoy. Almost like the where's Waldo of travel... wait. Where's Waldo is the Where's Waldo of travel. Crap. Well then Bruce is something else entirely. And you best get used to him, for you will be seeing quite a bit of him around here.

Don't forget to be awesome while I'm gone, S!

Happy Linking!

-xo

PS: In world news: Russia invades Georgia (the country, not the state). Its a long time coming, but whenever someone gets into war (coughrussiacough), someone else always steps in (coughtheunitedstatescough), and tries to bring "freedom" and "democracy" to the opposing side... Could this invasion bring the same trouble as times since past?

PPS: Here is a video from fireworks this week. Its not at all as pretty as the real thing, and Russia (that was who was the competitor for the night, and whose theme I found to more or less be the stages of war, ironically) finished very strong with one of the most pretty scenes I have ever scene in my life. Enjoy this slightly crappy, probably shakey video instead:

Non-Athletic Sport Created Around Rednecks

Good Morning S!
Its Friday, August 1st and I'm going on a camping trip next week!

Ok... So its a NASCAR event, what do I care?

I know what you're thinking right now S, "yes. when I think of C, the first thing that pops in my head is a hick racefan, hanging out in crocs, sweatpants and a 'mrs. kasey kahne' tee shirt." However country bumkin it might be, it has become somewhat of a family tradition, and I can't let go of a chance for a long weekend.



For four years, my dad and I, as well as other extended family, made our way down to the Finger Lakes in New York state for a 4 day “camping” trip. The purpose of this trip: to watch a bunch of cars go around a track, wasting gas for 4 hours on a Sunday, and then hightailing it back home. When we first went when I was 11, it was less about the racecars than it was about the seemingly endless partying crowd that congregated for the event, not to mention the chance to get out of Ottawa for a precious weekend.



For the past couple of years, we haven’t had a chance to go, due to family issues, and next week will be the first time we can return since I was 15. The entire weekend consists of us wandering aimlessly around downtown Watkins Glen, wandering aimlessly around the race track grounds, eating, and sleeping in tents (or, in my case, the back seat of cars because it has always rained every single time we go there).
Every year I get a sunburn, every year I get grossed out at the state of the toilets and showers, every year I get sick from eating so much junkfood everyday and every year I feel so sad to leave the stupid, muddy field on top of a mountain because I had so much fun with my family.



Although over the past few years I have lost interest in NASCAR – and feel morally obligated to protest the excessive use of fuel and energy it takes to not only power the cars, but to get people to the site, I still can’t wait to spend next weekend outside in the (probable) rain, with my family (who will complain about the weather.. again).

This year, I expect, will be different. There's also a go-cart track, Seneca lake, an ARBY'S (as well as several other restaurants, but I know what you're really interested in), a national park (with super pretty waterfalls!), and colonial houses everywhere (you know how much I love americana, S). Basically, my job for today is to figure out exactly what else there is to do in Watkins Glen besides going to see a national park and sitting in an Arby's for 4 days...


Sure, I want to hang around with my family and get the 'full nascar experience' for the first time as an "adult", but I also don't want to be bored out of my mind and texting you frequently about why the hell I came. Backup plans S, are the holy saviour of many a stupid vacation, and should be planned with great caution. For the immenant moment when I can no longer keep my mouth shut about the environmental and economic factors of the race will come... and I will be ready!


I'll see you this weekend for fireworks at the casino!
Don't forget to be awesome, S!
-xo

Souvenirs in Perspective Around the World

Good Afternoon S!

Its Thursday, July 24th, and I've found a new toy!

I've seen a lot of the "digg this" icons around news stories, blogs and websites I've been to over the past little while, so I thought I'd go see what all them crazy kids are yammering on about (and by crazy kids, I mean people my age...)

:)

It's so awesome! There is an entire section dedicated to travel and places, so you know I'm going to love it. One of the highest dug websites on the travel list is this flickr account. The guy goes all over the world, collecting various souvenirs and incoporates them into a picture hes taking of a location... so for instance, a miniature figuring of Don Quixote is placed among windmills in Spain. All you see of this guy throughout the pictures is his hand holding up various items. Super awesome and random. You'll like it I promise (click title of post for link to his account).

From the Photographer: "Souvenirs is an ongoing book project. Catch an interview with me at; www.youtube.com/user/koolinsky and then go to www.hughes-photography.eu get something to remind you of your visit!"

Check it out when you're bored (when are we ever not bored, I ask you)

Don't forget to be awesome, S!
-xo

No Particular Place To Go - A to E

Good afternoon S! It's Monday, July 14th! [I thought I'd get a head start...haha]

I have been spending every monday to friday (when I'm not throwing up) at CTrim this summer, lately, I've been getting bored. So bored, in fact, that I am really looking forward to the job hunt when my father moves, and I can't get rides into work anymore. I think I'm putting grunt work jobs on a pedestal because its something active, and something that, if I do a good, consistant job, I can get complimented on (like K... best lot associate ever). Also, I'm currently spending all my time on a computer, gaining weight, being bored and obtaining bad posture. Because of this dear S, I've decided that doing something is better than sitting at a computer all day. And although I'm currently stuck here, I can plan for where I eventually want to go! And thanks to my penchant for research, I found a lovely blog which had a "A to Z: Anywhere but here" post, which I decided to copy! Thanks Shoeism! [I warn you, this is quite long!]

EDIT: I narrowed down my list, and started to write it all out and decided that its much too long for one blog post! And so, my A-Z list will be posted 5 letters at a time instead :)

NOTE: All of these commentaries are copied from various travel websites and tourist organisations geared to reflect the wonderful qualities that each location. In no way am I trying to plagerize this information. Thanks!

A is for Antigua

Antigua is an island in the West Indies, Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is also known as Wadadli, which means approximately "our own". Most Antiguans are of African lineage, descendants of slaves brought to the island centuries ago to labor in the sugarcane fields. However, Antigua's history of habitation extends as far back as two and a half millenia before Christ. For many years now, Antigua's economy is reliant upon tourism, and it markets itself as a luxury Caribbean escape. Many hotels and resorts are located around the coastline, and the island's single airport is serviced by several major airlines.

Upon my search, I discovered: St. John's (the capital) is where all the cruisers dock so it's always a busy tourist place, and an easy place to be swindled. If you want a peaceful vacation: skip it.

B is for Bali

The reason I chose Bali is because of the book 'Eat, Pray, Love', which outlines a single woman's year long trip to Italy, India and Bali. Bali is one of over 13,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago and is located just over 2 kilometres from the eastern tip of the island of Java and west of the island of Lombok. The word paradise is used a lot in Bali, and not without reason. The combination of friendly, hospitable people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and (not least) spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali Indonesia's unparalleled number one tourist attraction. The friendly people and the absence of any serious criminal activities guarantee visitors a totally relaxing stay.Unlike any other island in largely Muslim Indonesia, Bali is a pocket of Hindu religion and culture, although Balinese Hinduism is so far removed from the original Indian variety that the casual eye will be hard put to spot any similarities.

Upon my search, I discovered: A lot of Bali happens to be seriously Westernized. Staying at the Hard Rock Hotel and gorging on big macs isn't a real Balinese experience. Rent a bike, go to a cultural performance and avoid all things Disney.

C is for Chicago, Illinois, USA

Chicago has been my favourite place in the United States since I visited it with my parents in 2004. It's a city that wears its American heart proudly on its sleeve. Chicago's diverse population has built a city with an unrivalled tradition of jazz and blues, an astonishing architecture, an appetite for hearty food, award-winning newspapers, universities full of Nobel laureates and some of the most die-hard sports fans you'll ever meet. Its super easy to get around as a tourist, people are very friendly and usually inclined to help you, and the museums are INCREDIBLE. Go down the Magnificent Mile, take a ride on the free trolley to Water Tower place and visit the Navy Pier to see spectacular fireworks in the summer.

Upon my search, I discovered: the ultimate pizza in Chicago, as chosen by citysearch.com, is Ed & Joe's Restaurant, on south Oak Park Avenue.

D is for Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and sits on the eastern coast, on the Irish sea, which separates Ireland from Great Britain. The Liffey is the main river running through the city, traditionally splitting it into the north and the southside. Famous for its literary tradition, Ireland's capital has been home to writers from Jonathan Swift to William Butler Yeats and James Joyce. A visit to Dublin allows you to explore both the historical and the hip, from castles and churches to cafés and clubs. Those in search of the perfect pint need look no further than one of Dublin's thousand pubs. The vibrant city life brims with traditional Irish culture and trendy European cool - all set against the backdrop of its stunning coastline. Dublin has undergone a complete metamorphosis since the 1980's and has truly been reborn with a new tram system and some very exciting development in the former derelict Docks area.

Upon my search, I discovered: 48% of Dublin ’s population is under thirty five years of age.

E is for Egypt

An enigmatic treasure trove of almost unimaginable archaeological and cultural riches, it's hard not to think of Egypt without imagining the Sphinx, the pyramids at Giza, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and the Nile. As well as being the world's largest open-air museum, Egypt also offers a slew of luxurious Red Sea resorts, many within reach of spectacular snorkeling, diving and windsurfing. Whether you see it by riverboat, from camelback or from just above the coral, Egypt's sights are unforgettable.

Upon my search, I discovered: Hello – "Ahlan wa sahlan"

Hope you liked my choices, S. I know you wanted Colorado on there, but I hope I made up for it with Egypt. It was seriously hard chosing places! Some were tough because nothing started with that letter, while others it was too hard to chose one place. Blah.

Don't forget to be awesome (feel better!)

-xo

For more information on the locations listed in this post, feel free to visit:

http://www.baliguide.com/

http://www.all-bali.com/
http://www.antigua-barbuda.org/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/antigua-and-barbuda

http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Tourism&entityNameEnumValue=41

http://www.choosechicago.com/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.visitdublin.com/

AND of course: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ and http://www.lonelyplanet.net/

Confusing stories 101

Today class, I'm going to get down to the reason why I made this blog in the first place!

To say it simply: my life is the exact opposite of everything when I was younger. I'm fine without a boyfriend for now, I'm also thankful that I'm not as socially irresponsible as television and movies told me I'd probably be, and its probably best I don't own a Lambougini and a mansion (insurance purposes) at this time in my life. At the same time,the intangible things I thought I'd have by 19 are missing too. I seriously wanted that sense of accomplishment and adventure - to be proud of all the things that I did. I used to travel with my parents all the time: Halifax, British Columbia, Chicago, Montreal, New York - and I even went to Edmonton all alone to visit a friend when I was 12. I was preparing myself to be something of a great traveller - knowledgeble, likeable, completely self-reliant and comfortable anywhere. Being awesome was pretty much my ultimate goal...

So all that I expected didn't quite happen really... which turns out is the way life is. Who would have thought? Aside from a few familial related bumps in the road, my life hasn't been the worst. I was sheltered- correction: I am sheltered in Ottawa - and its not exactly something I'm proud of. I live on my own in an apartment building full of students and elderly people with all the amenities around me, I live on a main bus route, I rarely go downtown by myself unless theres a reason, I don't sneak into clubs and drink or do drugs, I'm very trusting of people around me (I talk to everyone), I see my father every day (I work in his office) and if I really wanted to, I could probably get my parents to pay for everything that I pay for currently.

Although I am kind of afraid of change and unfamiliar situations, I want my future to be filled with amazingly fulfilling experiences - ones that are bright and shiny. Thats why this blog was made. It has become my own way to share the mini adventures I'll have, as well as the planning for larger adventures. Who knows? Maybe one day something big will happen, and I'll be posting from Italy, Ireland, Bali and Egypt. My mother recently asked me (in a concerned tone) if I thought I could REALLY do anything. "You could get a job at Heritage Canada and work in an office for the government - they'd love you there, and you'd have a good pension!" She said. I realized then that being a curator, and traveling (even by myself) is something I need to do. I don't want to end up like my mother - unhappy with her marriage, unhappy with her children, unhappy with her lifestyle. I'm sticking to my guns on this one.

To update all my readers (*waves to the empty seats*), I'm planning to take next summer off and go abroad for a work vacation. I'm currently in the what-the-hell-would-this-entail stages of this plan, and its not quite off the ground yet. I've found some lovely organisations that would help me with the visas I need and finding suitable employment and residence when I arrive, and I've bought a couple "so you want to travel" style books that will help me out. I'm thinking about returning to England and try to work in a museum or at a castle. We'll see where that goes...

Any and all comments are greatly appreciated - especially if you've done a work abroad program and you have some advice!

'Tune in tomorrow - same bat time, same bat channel!'

-C

ps: can you tell I like linking?

Pickles! Pickles here!

As this is my first ever blog post, I thought I would post something that has to do with travel/roadtrips which is what this blog is about!Recently, my cousin S and I took a road trip down to the medivale fair at Upper Canada Village, less than a couple of hours from Ottawa. We had quite the time actually getting there, but to our disappointment, it wasn't as festive and exciting as we thought it would be. There WAS jousting (we saw the second round that day) and a man dressed like Jack Sparrow, but other than that it was pretty much a big field with tents of jewlery and puppets everywhere.

After spending a couple of hours at the fair (half dying from lack of shade, half wondering whether we should go back and buy those pirate coins we saw before), we made a slight detour and went to visit the homies down at the Ogdensburg Wal*Mart. I, myself, am not a huge fan of the Wal*Mart corporation, nor of their treatment towards employees, but there are some awesome deals there (including poptarts that are unavaliable in Canada)!

The entire day after the Medivale fair was pretty much planned to be chalk full of events in order to waste time before picking my father up from the airport. It ended up being the best roadtriping day we've had in a while, and was dutifully added to our family memories (yes, we keep track of stupid inside jokes we have *see title*) as a huge success.

See you next time I feel up to blogging!

Don't forget to be awesome!

-xo

Ps: Heres a video of the final joust. sorry for the quality, it was taken on a cell phone :)