Packing for Asia

Getting organized is hard! I'm trying to clean, cook, go to the gym, all the while pack, heal, film and sort out a million things...Im the kind of person who writes lists (in case you didn't know already) and sometimes get stuck when there's a lot to do in a short amount of time. What I was hoping to do today, other than cook, clean and work out, was to start packing, but so much needs to be done to get started on that, I've got to create an area to do it, and find a way to store my things until then....but now I'm just rambling...let's just get started...

I figure there are 6 categories of necessities I will need for my trip:

Clothing

Footwear

Toiletries (Make-up, Toothbrush, Shampoo, etc.)

Medical stuff (Ointments, band-aids, etc.) *I separate this from toiletries because why carry it all to the bathroom just to brush your teeth?* 

Documents (Passport, photocopy of passport, visas, etc.)

Money stuff (Wallet, secret wallet, dummy wallet...)

xx

Asia, here I come!

I am about to go purchase my ticket to Singapore! 

So exciting, I can't believe this is coming together! xx

City Dreams

There is only a week or so left but I can't help myself from constantly day dreaming about road trips. The only problem is, that I don't have a car, or a proper license for that matter.

So I've been looking at bus and train schedules and my mind has been wandering.

So far I have two options that are more or less under 100$. They are...

Chicago:

I've only been the airport a hundred times, I'd like to actually see the city. There's a lot of personal history here as well. Plus I'll be 21 soon so hey!

and Boston:

Why not?

Despite Toronto's location it seems to be hard to get past Pittsburgh without spending a fortune, despite it ironically only costing less than 3 dollars to get there... Honestly though, I'm up for anything because in my books, the more the merrier. I'd really like to see one American city before I'm gone for the summer.

Going to an art gallery opening tonight and meeting a friend for late night brownie baking.
Have a wonderful weekend x

Rollin'

I've been rolling away at my luggage and basically done, just need to worry about toiletries, gifts, carry on, money and charging batteries. I've got preflight jitters so I'm eating a big plate of yummy pasta to hopefully make me feel better. I leave on Icelandair and it's five hours to Reykjavik.

I can't believe it's tomorrow....

xx

Quick Icelandic

Some useful phrases in Icelandic:

a = like a in father

e = like e in test

i, y = like i in little

u = like German ü in für or French u in tu

ö = like German ö in höher or French eu in neuf

æ sounds like eye

ð = like th in weather (voiced th)

þ = like th in thorn (unvoiced th)

Yes = Já
No = Nei
Thank you = Takk
You're welcome = þú ert velkominn/Gerðu svo vel
Please = Vinsamlegast/Takk


Excuse me = Fyrirgefðu
Hello = Halló/Góðan daginn
Goodbye = Bless


Where is ...? = Hvar er ...?
Airport = Flugvöllur
Departure = Brottför
Arrival = Koma


Help! = Hjálp!

I had no idea Icelandic was this difficult, I doubt there is any way can get past a 'Takk'!


Bon Voyage! Góða ferð! xx

How to Pack...

I was shown this article in the NYTimes that is exactly what I need right now....

A flight attendant demonstrates how to pack enough for 10 days into a standard rolling carry-on...
She tightly rolls everything up and is able to pack: three pairs of shorts, three pairs of dress pants, one skirt, three pairs of casual pants or jeans, three nightgowns, three bathing suits, one sarong, three lightweight sweaters, four dresses, 10 casual shirts, six dress shirts, a clutch, toiletries and two pairs of shoes....which I think is more than enough for 10 days!

She puts the shoes on the sides of the suitcase and then packs from heaviest (jeans, pants...) to lightest and then her toiletries and such on top. I'm going to give this a shot tonight, except my list will be a bit different, such as no nightgowns but more shoes...haha

xx

Back from Bracebridge!

Dahling Dahlings! I came back Sunday from an amazing weekend with my friends Sean and Kyle!

Sat on the edge of a rapid...

Attempted driving for the first time...

Went to a casino...

Went horseback riding...

xx

View from the Top

I had an amazing couple of days and now it's full throttle mode to get everything done before I leave. I keep forgetting how little time I have, basically just TWO weeks and I need to get so much done!!!!

Doctor's appointment
Blood Tests
CT Scan 

Seeing some friends

 University documents

A little shopping

Tax things

Money planning

PACKING!!

xx

I want to go to...

Brussels 

Belgium

___________________________________________________

• Perfectly sized. nestled between France and Netherlands.
• They speak French, Flemish and German. 
• It looks like a fairytale wonderland.

Famous for:

Godiva Chocolates

 Belgian Waffles 

Pommes Frites

and the seat of the European Union.

(I got so hungry after finding those photographs...mmm)

Things I want to see and do:

• The Grand-Place
• The Old Centre 
• The Comic Strip
• The Nouveau District
• Mont des Arts
• The Atomio
• The BELvue Museum
• The crypt in Notre-Dame de Laeken
• Royal Greenhouse of Laeken
• The Port du Livre Market, The Midi Market
• Willebroeck Canal
• Rue Antoine Dansaert - Place Saint Géry district.
• Eat food...food, and more food!!!
• Drink Belgian Beer!

xx

Clouds

Alone I wander a thousand miles and I ask my way from the white clouds. -Tibetan Buddhist Proverb

Reading Rebus

let's see if you can get this...

I don't think there is a rebus to show my excitement...well...maybe...

tell me if you got it and i'll arrange a prize! ;] xx

Trenchant Toilets

Why are bathrooms so appropriately philosophical?

the lovely and unforgettable Cafe Muse. Sf.

Bridges

how did we get here? to this point of living...

How I survived NYC...

Waste

I hid in the New York Public Library that Saturday, it's a complicated story, but I went to the bathroom and saw this tap, which had no purpose whatsoever, basically a waste of space. Wasting time is a fear of mine, yet sometimes I feel like I don't really do enough to prove myself wrong. Let's work on that...

Getting an MRI scan today, whilst watching 500 Days of Summer, and then a Neurocognitive assessment. I don't know what you're supposed to say to that...

xx

Mets and Ices

It was beautiful on Tuesday, the weather was really great and we strolled through Central Park. It's funny sometimes when you're in a place that you've heard so much about and seen so much about, sometimes you're in awe and sometimes you have no reaction, sometimes you feel as if you were supposed to be there or atleast are accepted by that place, like it's some secret society that you are a part of.

As we sat on the Met steps, with my kooky knee and his stubborn stomach, we discussed Ice Cream and how the Ice Cream from the Ice cream trucks are perhaps what Ice Cream is really about and really reminds me of summer. I admit I've been spoiled in the Ice cream department, my grandmother, whom I'd usually go to after school each day for a snack, upgraded from the still acceptable Neopolitan brown, white and pink variety to other kinds. I've also been spoiled with my Sicilian heritage and it's amazing ices...yet somehow, the generic Ice Cream truck chocolate or vanilla, or twist, dipped or not, will always be close to my heart and remind me of good memories. I was happy that afternoon, al beit in pain, eating the cones with Paul on the steps of the Met and maybe next time I hear the jingle and run down the street to get my cone, I'll remember the happiness I found in that perfect moment.

I love you. xx