Tip Tuesday

Alex's journaling tips.
I have been writing a journal longhand since I was 17 years old. A lot of people tell me that they wish they could journal and they have tried but they don't keep it up. Journaling for me has become my most stress relieving experience and if you would like to try to journal too please read my tips.

1. Don't feel like you have to write everyday.
Write everyday if you want but don't get discouraged or defeated if you don't have the time, desire, or discipline to do that. Write once a week, once a month, any time you feel you have something to say.

2. Don't feel stupid about anything you are writing.
Your journal is yours and yours alone. It's the place for your voice. Write anything you want in here, in whatever form you choose. Write down song lyrics you liked, a quote that inspires you, your thoughts, your dreams, or even just your day to day occurrences. It's your life and it deserves to be documented.

3. Pick a time and place where you won't be distracted.
When you want to write be in a place where you can commit to your journal for as long as it takes to get your thoughts out. Try even listening to music when you journal.

4. Get something to keep all of your entries together.
I like to write longhand in a medium sized, hardback, spiral notebook. Each one takes me about 4-6 months to fill. Whatever it is you choose to write in make sure you keep everything together so you can go back and read it later if you want. Some people may even like typing out their journal entries.

5. Just let it all out.
The journal is something that will truly never judge anything that you do or say. It can be a place to speak frankly and uncensored.

Your journal may be about documenting your life to go back and read later or to relieve stress by getting all the thoughts bouncing around in your head out on paper. For me it's both. Sometimes I laugh when I go back and read entries from the past. I laugh at the things that upset or worried me. It shows me how much I've grown.

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Tinybuddha.com

Another website that I have been very fond of recently is tinybuddha.com. Whether you are Buddhist or not it is not tough to appreciate the wisdom, guidance, and advice that can be found here.

Browse the categories to read articles written by both the website's founder and user contributions.

You can let others' wisdom inspire you and maybe find some answers to some things you had been questioning.

Click on the link in the post or click on the icon of the Buddha on the right side bar to go to this site.

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In Peace I Find Love

My love flourishes in a peaceful moment.
A peaceful walk, a peaceful look.
My love for this place can thrive while in a peaceful time.
The beauty comes out even in the everyday disarray.
A woman and her baby.
A pretty girl smiles.
A small boy drives a horse carriage.
All beautiful with a peaceful spirit.
On my roof I see the city from a view of peace.
Safe from vulnerability.
Free from sounds that shake and startle.
A time goes by without words that annoy and sting.
Peace and love.
Love from peace.
Peace from beauty.

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A Beautiful Struggle

It's hot.
I'm tired.
My bag is heavy. My jeans are binding.
As I sit, I think.
As I look, I take it in.
My surroundings are hard on me.
My circumstances challenging.
My situation heightened.
My struggle is beautiful.

I am different.
My arms carry more than before.
My shoulders more stable.
My heart is open. My mind expanded.
My struggle is beautiful.

My bag goes on my back. I take it off. I pick it up again.
I communicate. I figure out. I understand.
I chose this. I am forced to do this.
My struggle is beautiful.

A set of proven theories and realized things.
A beautiful struggle where a human lives.
Of duty, of obligation, of choice.
Let my struggle endure.

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Tip Tuesday

For today's tip I am going to share with you an image from lifehacker.com of a chart outlining the best times of the year to buy various things. Take a look and see if anything of the things are on your list and find out the best time to buy them for the best deals.

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Day trip to the Scottish Highlands

Edinburgh is wonderful but I think I hit all the hot spots there in my first day of touring. I had two full days there so when I found information about day trips from Edinburgh it was a quick decision to go on one.

After looking at the Highland Explorer Tours' website I decided to book my trip. I had a complication with the website so I decided to visit their office which was not a far walk from my hostel.

I was glad I went in because I learned more about my choices of tours and picked the one that was less driving which meant more time off the bus and more time out in nature. At nine a.m. I headed off for a days long journey that would take me to several places.

Please click on the links throughout this post if you would like to learn more about the sites I visited. 

Our first stop was the William Wallace Monument in Stirling just about a hour or so drive from Edinburgh. We only got 20 minutes there so most people took this time to look at the monument from afar, use the restroom, and look in the gift shop. The Wallace Monument sits atop a pretty steep hill. Our tour guide said if we were fast we could walk up to get a closer look, but we would not have time to go inside. Having a can- do attitude this entire trip and figuring this was the only time I would ever be here (plus it helps that I'm young) I climbed myself up that hill. I'm really glad I did because I got a fantastic view of the city of Stirling below.

 Moving on we would be going to Loch Lomond next. We accessed the lake from a small town called Balloch. Here there was an option to take a boat cruise around the lake, but wanting to save £9.50 and explore on my own I chose to do just that. 

Having just over an hour here I stopped in the information center where I got a map and took off on the trail to the lake which was just five minutes away. 

 As I sat admiring Loch Lomond I wrote my parents two post cards. I had been sending them from all the places that I went on this trip

It was lunch time so we headed to a town called Aberfoyle to eat lunch there. There were plenty of places to grab some lunch but I had brought mine with me, again trying to save money.

After I ate my lunch I still had plenty of time for some exploring of the town.

Our next destination was the small city of Doune to visit Doune Castle. Which in addition to is historical importance was one of the filming locations for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A film that I have loved since age 16. To go in the castle cost £5 and since I love the movie and I am a new found lover of historic castles I saw the money as very well spent. With my £5 came a free audio tour. I have never gotten to see an attraction with an audio tour before because I usually never want to spend the extra money. But now that I have experienced an attraction with one I may never go back. I got to learn so much history that I never would have if I would have toured alone. Doune Castle was not busy at all. Only the few members of our tour group who wanted to pay to go in were present there. I only had 45 minutes to admire it but I had a really great time walking through this house of stone.

Between Doune Castle and returning to Edinburgh our tour guide/bus driver stopped at a viewing point for a photo opportunity. This is where I had the picture below taken. Being in a place like this filled me up after being so far away from green and nature for far too long.

I was so happy that I decided to take this day trip. I was glad to be able to see as much of Scotland as I could during my short time there. If you take notice in most of my pictures the sky seems to look somewhat dark and mysterious. It never rained that day (thank God) but there were always those clouds in the sky added to the wide open spaces that I journeyed through in Scotland.

Something that I always have wanted to see was wide open fields covered in dark shadows from the moving clouds above.Gazing out the window of our tour bus I saw just this.


Editors note: To all of you reading this wondering where Tip Tuesday is, I'm sorry. Please check back tomorrow for your Tip Tuesday (Wednesday). 

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Edinburgh Castle

I went to Edinburgh with the idea of spontaneity in mind. One of the things I did without prior plans was go to Edinburgh Castle. Which is indeed a must see of Edinburgh.

Situated at the top of the Royal Mile on Castle Rock in the old town of Edinburgh the castle is the focal point of the city and is a breathtaking center point for all to see.








It was first built around 1130 atop Castle Rock, a volcanic formation that had been there since about 340 million BC. It was home to many Scottish monarchs. Perhaps the most known to all of us is Mary Queen of Scots who there gave birth to her son James in 1566 who would later become King James I of England.

 The castle was a fortress to block out all that caused Edinburgh harm. Nor Loch which was a man made lake lined the front of the fortress as a defense mechanism.

 This painting shows Edinburgh Castle with Nor Loch in its foreground

But once the loch was no longer needed it was drained in the 18th century and became Princes Street Gardens. A long and beautiful park the lines the street that it is named for.

View of the park, pictured in back in the National Gallery, one of the many things built at the bottom of the drained loch. Google Images.

A view upwards at the Castle with Ross Fountain in the foreground. Google Images.

On my day trip to the Highlands (you'll read about tomorrow) the driver told us that when Nor Loch was drained hundreds of dead bodies were found there. Results of the Plague and the cruel witch trials that lie in Edinburgh's past.

I was forced to tour Edinburgh Castle on a chilly and rainy day, but I didn't let this slow me down. I didn't actually have proper rain gear but I enjoyed my visit none the less. There was an fog in the air that added to the castle's dark and mysterious allure.

It was my first journey into a historic castle, one thing that I was then able to cross off my life list. There were many buildings on the grounds to discover. Including St. Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh.  I had to walk in the rain from place to place excited to get to the next one not only to have shelter from the rain but to learn what there was to learn there.

The castle can be seen dominating the skyline from Arthur's Seat, which I climbed.

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Scottish journeys

When I knew I was going to London I wanted to try to see as much of the United Kingdom as I could while I was there. I would have loved to have seen more, but I decided not to stretch my limited budget too far which would just result in my stressing about money the entire trip. One few places that I did get to go was Scotland.

Due to the United Kingdom being quite small is it quite quick and easy to travel among places there. Edinburgh is connected with London by rail and is just a quick four hour journey. Unfortunately for me the trains in the UK are very expensive. I didn't see the train fitting into my budget. The good news is buses are just as easily linked to many cities of interest and are just a small fraction of the price of the train. However the bus would take 9.5 hours to get to Edinburgh from London. But being a poor Peace Corps volunteer and having lots of time to use up on this trip I boarded a bus at nine a.m. from London Victoria Coach Station.

My journey in Scotland was short, just Wednesday at six pm until Saturday at 11am, but it was a very full  one. I stayed at a great hostel and had a nice time there enjoying the comfy bed, free Internet use, and breakfast.

Check back tomorrow to continue to read about my journey in Scotland. But for now please take a look at these colorful images I took while in Edinburgh.

Time out for some tea at the Black Medicine Coffee Co.

One of the many cashmere and lambswool shops in Edinburgh

The Sir Walter Scott Monument built in 1844 on Princes St. for the Scottish author

Lots of theatre posters all over Edinburgh due to the Fringe Festival going on

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Review of Stomp

Yesterday (written just after the show but not published until several days after) I journeyed through the rain to find a small theatre in a London alleyway. The Ambassador's Theatre proved to be a little hard to find and after being five minutes late for the show I had to wait in the foyer.

Since the show was not sold out my row R ticket was easily moved up to a row B one. I was quite pleased, as I got a much more interesting and interactive seat as opposed to my far away one. One of the cast members even called me out by asking "you alright?" the common British "how are you?" when I sat down. I settled in for a experience that I had been hoping to have for years.

The show was explosive and lyrical at the same time. Stomp is all about finding beats in everyday items. A real drum was never used at all.

The eight cast members used plastic and metal trashcans, rubber tubing, brooms, newspapers, matchstick boxes, and even lighters to make intricate beats and rhythms.

The show incorporated lots of humor as the cast members interacted.  There was no talking just body language mostly. The cast was eclectic and interesting each with their own unspoken personality. There were two women and six men. Each toned and strong for all the drumming that was to take place.

Stomp was exciting and interactive. Lots of audience participation was encouraged. At times I was in awe of the physical ability and coordination of the performers. It was an hour and 40 minutes of stomping beats and relaxed rhythms that can impress and excite almost anyone. It can teach you the power of everyday objects to make music and that the whole world can be a stage. After this experience it is easy to walk the streets and take notice of its sounds and rhythms.

To read a little more about Stomp and watch videos of parts of the performance follow this link here.

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The V&A

Nope not the Audio and Visual Department but rather the Victoria and Albert Museum. One thing I loved about London was all its free museums. This did aid to the museums being quite crowded but who can beat the price of free to see so much wonderful art and culture.

My favorite museum in London, and quite possibly my favorite ever, was the V&A. I came across it in my research of London to-do but let it leave my mind without writing it down.

While in London I saw a sign advertising it so I decided to add it to my docket of things to do in my extensive visit. As the world's largest museum of art and design this place offered me lots of things to discover and enjoy.

Founded in 1852 and named for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert it is home to 145 galleries stretching to cover 12.5 acres.  I didn't visit all the galleries but the ones that stuck out in my mind are ones I'd like to share with you.

First of all I was intrigued and amazed by the size of some of the pieces in this museum. I was in awe of just how these gigantic pieces of history would get into this building. One thing that impressed me was a man I had been waiting a very long time to see.

It is a dream of mine to see Michelangelo's David, in Florence. As I was walking around I came upon a room that I was looking down upon from above. There like it was just another old statue was the statue of David. Now I knew it wasn't the real David of course because I know his proper location, the way it was displayed, and the lack of people around him made it clear. But I just stood there looking down at him trying to have the feelings that I had hoped to feel when I saw him. Part of me felt a little bit cheated that I was seeing a fake for the first time. But I also felt happy that I could stand in this little fantasy and try to believe it was real.

The most interesting allure of the V&A was the fact that it featured so many different art forms. It had galleries dedicated to:

• Architecture
• Asia
• British art
• Ceramics
• Childhood
• Contemporary art
• Fashion & Jewelery
• Furniture
• Glass
• Metalwork
• Paintings & Drawings
• Periods and styles
• Photography
• Prints & Books
• Sculpture
• Textiles
• Theatre and performance

My favorite gallery was the theatre and performance.The way is was set up to walk through took you on a journey from start (writing a play) to finish (performance) of the entire theatrical process. It had interactive stations for you to pick a cast of characters, design a poster, try on costumes, etc. In glass cases there was a variety of colorful and elaborate costumes used in plays from the past. Even a short film playing illustrating the costume designers inspiration for the Lion King.

I had a very educational experience at the V&A due to it's many interactive stations. It actually felt like a hands on experience for an adult. One station was next to a a gigantic bed. The Great Bed of Ware to be exact. Pictured below. Take notice of the layers.

The station showed you the materials and layers that go into making an old bed like this comfortable. I think there were something like seven layers to make a good nights sleep for a person of means.

In other stations you could try on a hoop skirt, make a family crest on a computer, play dress up on a Tudor man or woman, etc. In a place to beautiful and orderly as this is was surprised to see so many fun things to do.

Another piece that intrigued me was the Burges Washstand. Which was of course extremely beautiful but was also interesting to see how people made running water for themselves before a time of indoor plumbing.

 

While I was looking at this piece there was a short video playing beside it telling its history. A father and his young daughter came beside me to watch it too. I noticed the two were speaking Spanish to each other. As the video played the father both translated for his daughter and pointed out the different elements from the video to the actual piece. I enjoyed watching this moment of discovery between a father and daughter. 

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Camden

On a night before a day that I had no particular plans in mind Davin suggested I go to Camden, an area of London. He told me that there were loads of boutiques that I might enjoy looking through.

I road the train up to King's Cross St. Pancreas and changed to the Northern Line on the Underground to get off one stop later at Camden Town. When I came out from station I immediately saw what Davin was talking about. On the main street I quickly saw many places that caught my eye. I found a store that sold things from India very cheaply. I could have dropped lots of money there, if I would have had the space to carry it all back.

I thought that the stores on the main street that I saw were all that I was meant to see. But as I walked further down the street I discovered an entrance to a maze of winding alleys full of unique shops. This market quickly reminded me of the tight and crowded streets of an old medina in Morocco. Minus the scooters zipping by.

As I explored I found many more shops selling Indian things and quickly decided I wanted to get myself something from one as I love Hindu art.

I ended up buying this small tapestry that I put up on my wall. 

There were also several stores selling vintage clothing which also caught my eye. Most stores had their own music blaring from them. Music that fit the mood the store was trying to set. One store in particular that drew me in by its music was Cyberdog.

From far away I thought it might be a big arcade or electronic store. But as I got closer the rhythmic techno music (my favorite) pulled me in for a closer look. Outside the store there were two robots standing about 15 feet tall seemingly guarding either side of the door.

Going in it felt like a museum. One to give you a full experience. There were neon lights and people dressed up in eclectic, futuristic clothing walking around.

As it turned out Cyberdog does not sell electronics but rather futuristic clothing, cool gadgets, and accessories. Pretty much a haven for anyone who likes to rave. This isn't exactly me but I felt like for even a few minutes I could step into a fantasy world that Cyberdog created.

This quite possibly was the coolest store I had ever been in. I left it a changed person.

I continued to walk through the interesting maze this market had. Inside here there were several places to eat international food including several Moroccan places. I did enjoy the little taste of home when I saw the first Moroccan restaurant called Marrakesh. I didn't eat in there but I did like seeing the traditional Moroccan decorations.

After I had my fun in Camden I took the Underground over to Hyde park where a spend a few more hours getting lost walking the paths of the very large park.

 I was so glad the Davin had suggested me going to Camden and it was actually one of my favorite experiences in London. It was just what I needed to get off the path of a tourist and get to see a interesting, eclectic side of London. I would recommend a trip there to anyone traveling in London.

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London: An intro

On July 28th I left on a journey that would take me though London, England and also to Edinburgh, Scotland. My journey was set for 18 days and the only way I was able to do this was due to the hospitality of my good friend Davin Gall and his family.

I met Davin in January of 2009 when he was studying abroad at Michigan State University. Our first encounter was me (who was the front desk receptionist at the time) helping Davin use the ATM machine in the lobby of McDonel Hall.

 Us in 2009, Club Rush, East Lansing

From then on for the rest of his four month stay in the USA the two of us were good friends. Much later that year when I found out I would be going to Morocco for my Peace Corps service we made tentative plans for me to come stay with him in London because I would be so close.

Plans from nearly two years before had been followed through and at three o'clock in the morning I found myself reunited with Davin once again in London Victoria Station. After making our way to his home he told me that I would be sharing his bed. Lying oppositely of course.

Now I'm not normally one who likes to share a bed. But Davin's bed was big enough and so comfortable that I slept like a baby every night and barely noticed I was sharing anything.

Davin's parents were very welcoming to me and encouraged me to feel at home. On the first morning I ate a big bowl of Cheerio's while talking to Davin's dad Cecil. I inhaled the Cheerio's like it was a $500 meal. Let's just say it had been a long while since I had had a large bowl of cereal with ice cold skim milk.

I spent my entire first day in London going in and out of sleep alone in Davin's bed. After my long day of travel and being up until four a.m. I needed the rest to power me up for the touring ahead. Davin is working in a full time marketing internship so he was occupied from nine to five everyday.

Whether he was working or not I never dreamed of dragging Davin to all the tourist hot spots around his own hometown. He admitted that there were many places on my list that he in fact had never been, but I was fine enough doing most of the exploring on my own. I headed out each day with my map of London and my notebook full of places to go.

At the end of each day I was exhausted ready for a recuperative night's sleep to prepare me to head out the next morning. I was happy to be there for such a long time because I knew I didn't have to squeeze everything into a few days but rather take London in little by little. That being said I still had so much to do to fill up every single day and my relaxing trip turned into a very busy one.

However, I didn't mind at all. I couldn't see myself sitting around when there was so much out there to be seen and experienced. Even if it just meant walking around taking in London's history or eating a bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwich, one of many foods I have surely missed.

I enjoyed being on my own and taking on the challenges that London wanted to throw at me. I got the public transport system down in just the first day and the ease of using my map proved to me that maybe I'm not as directionally challenged as I think. I enjoyed having my independence and feeling safe and comforted on the London streets. I enjoyed peoples' politeness and the order there was to things.

Davin and I spent the evenings and weekends together. Laughing and joking, usually coming back to the topic of conversation we seem to love the most, the difference between American and British English. We both love to laugh at each other when we try to do the others' accent. To Davin I sound so "posh" and Davin kind of sounds like a cowboy to me. We're better off sticking to our own accents.

 Us in 2011, Trafalgar Square, London

I ate breakfast and dinner at Davin's house, saving me money. Since London is so expensive I would have never have been able to afford accommodations for that long. But staying with Davin's family also kept me grounded. It was nice to feel like I was on vacation during the day while touring, but at night I could come back to a real house and a real family. I ate more than one home cooked meal with them.

In the coming days I'm happy to share more in depth details of my journey from the places I went to the things I loved. Please be sure to keep reading.

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