Istanbul

I am not updatıng daıly lıke I promısed because I am currently travelıng ın Istanbul. It ıs freezıng and I feel dırty from talkıng to Turkısh men. Wıll update wıth travel journal entry soon!

THE. CUTEST. EVER.

This is my cousin. She is too cute.

Since I can't "do Earth"...

My friend has just begun an around-the-world trip with friends, I am jealous so I will do the same but in photos...(not the same). What is remarkable about these photos is that I took them.
This is in Abu Dhabi. It is a view of the Arabian Sea from Emirates Palace, the hotel that cost $3 Billion to build. All that glitters is, in fact, 24k gold.

A view of the ocean at the Cape of Good Hope, Capetown, South Africa.

Some giraffes. This is not the Animal Kingdom at Disney. Safari, SA.


Cape Point, South Africa

Florence, Italy

Hamburg at night, Germany

Burj al Arab at dusk, Dubai, UAE

Fjords in Oslo, Norway

Prague, Czech Republic

Bund, Shanghai, China

Mendoza, Argentina

From the Met, NYC, USA, USA, USA

Where in the World...?

I was searching through my Europhotos and came upon this panorama that I stitched together! Enjoy! Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød, Denmark. Summer 2005.

Wanderlustin'...

Is being unemployed in this recession so bad? On the one hand, of course, because who doesn't want to get paid? On the other, who necessarily wants to be bound to a soulless institution that you don't believe in? (Either way, I can’t find a job, so obvi I’m picking the latter and BELIEVING IN IT. If you know someone that is hiring – feel free to email me for my résumé.)

Think I'm using hobo logic here? Think I should pack a knapsack and hobocross the world? If I did, would you be jealous?

Maybe it's my bourgeoisie, liberal-arts-cultural-loving mindset speaking but I think that I should enjoy my life in whatever endeavors that I do. I'm young. I don't want a career. Academic excellence is one thing, but what about something new?

Every three months or so I get bitten by the travel bug. Travel articles become my only form of entertainment as I try to imagine myself in each locale. I even entertained the idea of travel writing until I went to a seminar at the American Press Club two years ago and realized what a terrible job it was. [You get paid by the word, you aren’t paid for your expenses, and many times people are willing to turn their experiences in for free.]

I’ve been lucky enough to travel to a lot of places, but I still feel like I haven’t seen enough of the world. Why see it? Why bother when you can watch a video and look at other people’s photos on facebook? If you have to ask, then you don’t know. If you think you know what I'm talking about because you've studied abroad in England, you don't. I'm not being a snob, I'm just being a bitch.

Long story short, this is a call-to-arms for ideas of places to go. Where is somewhere that you’ve been/dreamed of going/are going/will go in the near future that is beautiful/exhilarating/someplace you wouldn't hesitate to return again and again? If you’re planning on going, I should probably go with you.

Alternately, there are quite a few places that I am unwilling to go unless you have a proper hook up, like.. have relations there/free place to stay/can speak the language/know how to not get kidnapped. Currently, I am not interested in going to Central America, South America, North Amer..errrrrr anywhere in the Americas. I would pass on any major city in Europe with the exception of Athens and the Greek Isles and maybe Portugal. MAYBE. No to Sydney. No to Japan with the Yen being so strong. I can’t swim. I don’t necessarily enjoy beaches. Freezing my ass off isn’t fun unless warmth is only a hop, skip, and shiver away.

This pretty much leaves all of SE Asia, bits of Africa, unfriendly Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg only), and whatever you think I’m missing. Embrace your youth and travel with me!

If Sincerely isn't okay, I'm screwed.

Okay, I don't normally read Craigslist for jobs in New York, but today, when I was reading the Daily Intel from New York Mag - a link led me to this:

Professional intern for private Print/Web publishing company (Manhattan)

Highlights from the requirements from this job include: "... A reasonable understanding of correspondence. Do you end e-mails with "Sincerely" or frequently use the term "LOL"? Not here you don't." *uh oh. Is this unacceptable? Are possible employers laughing at my gauche country ways?

this: "Don't talk to us about *The Hills*. Ever." I didn't want to before because I didn't think it was professional but GOD did you see what Whitney Port was wearing last night? FABU.

and this, "...experience with French - *Parisian* French." uh - WTF?

Topped off with this.. "Pay for this position is a $10 daily stipend, invaluable expe..." FORGET ABOUT IT. $10 bux a day to live in Manhattan for my knowledge of Parisian French and my not mentioning the Hills? NO WAY.

BUT WAIT, let's go back to the first. Do I end e-mails with "Sincerely"? Why - YES, I DO. I end cover letters with Sincerely. I end letters to Professors with Sincerely. Sometimes to switch it up, I put "Yours Sincerely." Is this unacceptable and I just don't know it. Comments needed.

*thoughts in my head
I hope this is a joke!

What McDonalds and Britney have in Common

Neither are socially acceptable.

But if you find someone else that likes either, you’ve found a friend. No one likes to admit it. If anything, McDonald’s or Britney is something you indulge in when in the company of others. You didn’t have a choice, really.

Furthermore, both are admittedly unhealthy and keep coming back.

One thing alone can illustrate why McDonald’s is bad.

A calorie count.

Big Mac. 540. McChicken. 360. Hamburger. 250. Medium French fries. 380. Sweet and Sour Sauce. 50. Sausage McMuffin. 450. Hot fudge Sundae. 330.

+ the sewage aftertaste that you cannot help immediately post consumption is overwhelming.

Why is Britney bad? Well… She married Kevin Federline. She’s Louisiana white trash. She has two children.

Oh, and she can’t sing.

Sure, each of these things have legitimate strikes against them. Yet… no one beats McDonald’s fries at their price point – I mean.. yes garlic fries, duck fat fries, cheese fries – all beat McDonald’s fries, but you’re paying $10 bux! And, no one makes catchier songs than Britney. NO ONE. (READ: I’m a slave for you)

After careful consideration and analysis, I believe the correct way to go about these two admittedly delicious vices is pursue each one in private or with the closest of bosom buddies.

For the record, if you need someone to accompany in experiencing either one, I’m in.

P.S. Have you been to a McCafe? Those places are swank!

In Defense of Romance Novels

I take a lot of heat from my friends because I read romance novels. Many of these friends are avid watchers of romantic comedies or Sony Classic Movies such as Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, or any other period piece that features Keira Knightley’s disfigurement (she is HEINOUS). These movies are no better.

First of all, romance novels can be checked at the library – my preferred method, or bought at the bookstore for $6.99 and read multiple times. Movies are $10 and can be watched once.

Romance novels bear no hidden snobberies. They are meant for pleasure and are perfect for superficial occasions, such as lying out on the beach, passing time at the doctor’s office, and working out at the gym. Many people who like movies such as Brideshead Revisited have no idea that the movie is a bastardization of a book that only mentions ½ of the complete plot line.

Romance novels have helped me read faster and promote large vocabularies. They are not porn books. They also provide a topic of conversation that allows friends to join together to rib on me in public.

As fiction confection, romance novels are divided into many different genres. CHICK LIT books are ROMANCE NOVELS. The only difference is that they are $15 and slightly more socially acceptable for women in the 20s to read. These books are entertainment, not literature. There are no pretensions harbored here!

Here are a few with authors that I recommend:

Chick Lit: Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green

Contemporary: Elizabeth Lowell

Contemporary, erotica - ok, this stuff is porn: Susan Johnson

Contemporary supernatural: Nora Roberts

Historical, Regency: Judith McNaught, Julia Quinn, Christina Dodd, Sherri Thomas, Lisa Kleypas, Mary Balogh, Samantha James, Joanna Lindsey

Western: I can’t read these. Cowboys don’t do it for me.

Try one! Contact me if you want to borrow one from me. I have plenty.

ASIAN BABIES ARE THE CUTEST!

As I once was one myself, I profess that I have a strong bias toward the Asian babies of the world. Please watch this with palpable delight and joy like I felt.

I think this girl might tie with the Welch's Grape Juice baby as cutest commercial Asian baby I've seen and can remember!

Sweet Tooth Spanned Around the World

Although I prefer savory to sweet, I have eaten a ton of delicious treats in the past year! This is the largest display of sugar you will ever see craved by me on this blog. Enjoy!

Summer 2008. Tres Leches Cake@ Eclipse di Luna, Atlanta, Georgia.

September 2008. Fruit Breakfast drizzled with Hazelnut Chocolate @ the Brighton Hotel, Vina del Mar, Chile.

Summer 2008. Rich vanilla scoop on top of papaya half, Kokura, Japan.

March 2008. Penis cupcakes in vanilla and chocolate icing @ Bachelorette party in Kendra's, Athens, Georgia.

Summer 2008. Jelly creamy delight, Taipei, Taiwan.

May 2008. Flan with dulce de leche, Mendoza, Argentina.

Summer 2008. Key Lime Pie @ Anna's Wedding, Athens, Georgia.

Summer 2008. Green tea icecream, kiwi, two grapes @ Matsui Cuisine, Taipei, Taiwan.

March 2008. Gelateria in North Beach, San Francisco, California.

Summer 2008. Tiramisu @ Eclipse di Luna, Atlanta, Georgia.

Summer 2007. Best Flan Ever with dulce de leche @ La Chacre, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

October 2007. Apple Crumble with Breyer's vanilla bean icecream @ Alex's House, Kittery, Maine.

Sweet Inter-course Gastronomy in N.Y.C.

Since I don't feel like writing, I wish to show people a few of the treats that I've had the privilege of ingesting in New York City.

January 2009.From Sundaes & Cones in NYC on 10th and 3rd Ave. Two scoops: mango and sesame - like the kinds that you find in mochi balls and in the fried sesame ones in Taiwan and China. Obvi this place was owned by some Chinese people! Yay! Price: Less than $5 bux.

These tasty bits are from Butter (you know, where Blair gets stood up by friend in Gossip Girl). A cream-filled Carrot cake with Dulce de Leche icecream on a bed of candied walnuts topped with caramel and condensed milk. Thank God for Restaurant week!




July 2008. Red velvet & German chocolate cupcakes in the Upper West Side. Hit. the. spot.













Summer 2007. From Tisserie in Union Square. Chocolate pie with carrot cake in the foreground.







Tiramisu from some random Italian restaurant.

READ ME

This blog showcases a taste of my eccentricities, obsessions, and notions of who I am and what interests me. Read: FOOD and TRAVEL with a generous splash of pop culture. This blog also ensures that my brain doesn’t rot and allows me to write in complete sentences with proper punctuation. I'm not sure what this is yet, but this is no diary.

Warning: Yes, there will be lots of stream of consciousness. Get ready for some tasty delights!