Just had a super nice conversation with SAS Travel in Peru, my Inka trail hike organizers. It's just so easy to call, talk, ask questions, get advise. Sitting in New York City Cuzco seems so far away, different, somewhat scary and unknown, but then a quick call and I realize it's all gonna be fine, actually more than fine, FANTASTIC.
Following the same logic, I called my travel agent in Quito, Ecuador. Instead of emailing back and forth we just discussed a number of Galapagos Islands boats. Having spent hours on the internet, I know all the cruises and their routes. This website lists all of them with absolutely outdated pricing, but correct itineraries. In the end I am getting a pretty good deal for an 8-day cruise - $1,100.
I think my itinerary is working out! The first month in South America will be hectic, more hectic than I would have preferred, but I will slow down right after a hike to Machu Picchu.
28 February 2008
27 February 2008
saw. today
Saw a real paparazzi at work - he was hiding across the street from Mercer Hotel is Soho with a lens half of my arm (not kidding!). I wonder who he was after.
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Saw a number of adorable stilettos in shop windows. They could not be more irrelevant at this point of my life.
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Finally saw the re-installed The Wall by the Forrest Myers on SW Houston/Broadway corner. Love it.
24 February 2008
Improv in New York City
Found this video on Anothercompany blog. New York is so cool for doing something like this! I love it!
22 February 2008
Snow storm in NYC
I was overly optimistic about the upcoming spring in New York City. Right when I safely put my winter coat in storage, we are hit by the first real snow storm this season. Still fighting the flu, dressed in crappy sneakers and a light coat I braved the weather from 8 am on my to yellow fever shot in downtown Manhattan. I could not resist the beauty. I was taking pictures until the camera literally froze giving up on me with a weird error message. My chin and cheeks turned red and my feet were absolutely wet. I wonder if such determination to take pictures makes me a photographer or an idiot.
Results are not as impressive as the snow show in real life. But at least I tried.
My favorite shots are:
A couple more pictures on flickr here.
Results are not as impressive as the snow show in real life. But at least I tried.
My favorite shots are:
A couple more pictures on flickr here.
21 February 2008
Updated itinerary
I reserved a ticket to Bogota, Columbia for April 8th with a return on July 8th. Of course three months are not enough to see everything in South America, but it might be just enough to cover Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Not sure how I can fit Argentina and Brazil in there. Most probably "capital city hopping" is not the way to go.
19 February 2008
Vaccinations
Pre-departure preparation is in full force. Today I can hardly lift my arms from all vaccination shots I have received. And I am not done yet! Far from it.
Since my travel itinerary includes all contagious countries I am spending a fortune on vaccinations.
Yellow Fever $125
Diphtheria/Tetanus $45
Typhoid $70
Hepatitis A/B (twinrix) $175/dose - 3 doses ($150 at my primary physician)
Total $765
Luckily (lol!) I got my rabies shots in my stomach at the age of 10 after being bitten by a neighbor's cat. Rabies vaccination is good for life or at least if I need anything it will be after being bitten by an animal. Nice!
Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella are taken care of in the childhood. Thanks to my organizing skills, I have my immunization passport with all vaccinations since 80'ies.
A great resource for information on virus affected areas is on CDC website. After reading it though I got a bit scared :)
There are quite a few vaccination centers in New York City, however, they all charge a consultation fee ($100 average) plus a cost of vaccine. I found an exception in Financial District - very friendly stuff at Medical Associates of Wall Street (212-233-3040, 156 William Street) will make all the vaccinations necessary (incl. a rare yellow fever vaccine) at the cost of vaccine. Twinrix (Hep A/B) is cheaper at my primary physician, so I will try that next week.
Since my travel itinerary includes all contagious countries I am spending a fortune on vaccinations.
Yellow Fever $125
Diphtheria/Tetanus $45
Typhoid $70
Hepatitis A/B (twinrix) $175/dose - 3 doses ($150 at my primary physician)
Total $765
Luckily (lol!) I got my rabies shots in my stomach at the age of 10 after being bitten by a neighbor's cat. Rabies vaccination is good for life or at least if I need anything it will be after being bitten by an animal. Nice!
Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella are taken care of in the childhood. Thanks to my organizing skills, I have my immunization passport with all vaccinations since 80'ies.
A great resource for information on virus affected areas is on CDC website. After reading it though I got a bit scared :)
There are quite a few vaccination centers in New York City, however, they all charge a consultation fee ($100 average) plus a cost of vaccine. I found an exception in Financial District - very friendly stuff at Medical Associates of Wall Street (212-233-3040, 156 William Street) will make all the vaccinations necessary (incl. a rare yellow fever vaccine) at the cost of vaccine. Twinrix (Hep A/B) is cheaper at my primary physician, so I will try that next week.
14 February 2008
Moments of wow
I have a good idea for experiences I am looking for. I am searching for that “wow” effect – the moment that makes me stop speechless and overwhelmed, a moment that makes me life pause. It is popular to talk about appreciating the current state of life, not postponing life until whatever, but it is not always easy to do (just follow the words of a buzzed guy reading out loud “Power of Now” book in an oasis on playa of Burning Man 2007). Well, those “wow” moments while traveling definitely bring me to reality, right to the moment I am in, feeling tremendously blessed and happy.
I can always name my top three “wow” moments.
1. Greece – wondering around Santorini alone at siesta time – I believe I was playing with cats under these blue tables for at least an hour. Also in Oia at sunrise, before large cruise ships arrive, catching warm rays of sun was a blessing.
2. Finding Gold Point was the highlight of my ghost town hunting in Nevada a couple of years ago. Sunset in the desert literally in the middle of nowhere would have been enough, but I also got to talk to one of the seven residents remaining in that microscopic town.
3. Alaska – of course. Who did not have his “wow” moment in Alaska? My trip’s favorite picture is from the last morning on our adventure cruise. I actually slept through the sunrise, I guess recovering from my 180 degree flip in a kayak into ice cold water the day before.
However, my "wow" moment was when I rented a car and drove north from Anchorage. I got lost on a secondary road, turned off into a parking spot, walked down to the river and almost got my pants wet scared by a gigantic beaver and the looked to my right – wow. Shallow river at the backdrop of mountains covered in glaciers. It took my breath away.
And I can go on.
Traveling solo is my way to go. With fewer distractions I notice more, think more and go through greater emotions. Although I would lie if I have said I can survive more than a week without an interesting conversation with other human beings.
To get things rolling, I created a little map of my “hopeful” itinerary. Aggressive. Realistic? Airtrack website is a pretty cool resource for mapping out the travel route with approximate ticket costs.
I can always name my top three “wow” moments.
1. Greece – wondering around Santorini alone at siesta time – I believe I was playing with cats under these blue tables for at least an hour. Also in Oia at sunrise, before large cruise ships arrive, catching warm rays of sun was a blessing.
2. Finding Gold Point was the highlight of my ghost town hunting in Nevada a couple of years ago. Sunset in the desert literally in the middle of nowhere would have been enough, but I also got to talk to one of the seven residents remaining in that microscopic town.
3. Alaska – of course. Who did not have his “wow” moment in Alaska? My trip’s favorite picture is from the last morning on our adventure cruise. I actually slept through the sunrise, I guess recovering from my 180 degree flip in a kayak into ice cold water the day before.
However, my "wow" moment was when I rented a car and drove north from Anchorage. I got lost on a secondary road, turned off into a parking spot, walked down to the river and almost got my pants wet scared by a gigantic beaver and the looked to my right – wow. Shallow river at the backdrop of mountains covered in glaciers. It took my breath away.
And I can go on.
Traveling solo is my way to go. With fewer distractions I notice more, think more and go through greater emotions. Although I would lie if I have said I can survive more than a week without an interesting conversation with other human beings.
To get things rolling, I created a little map of my “hopeful” itinerary. Aggressive. Realistic? Airtrack website is a pretty cool resource for mapping out the travel route with approximate ticket costs.
Not minding the gap
Loved the phrase from a movie Notes on a Scandal – mind the gap. The main character’s father used to say to his daughter: “Mind the gap between life as you... dream it, and... life as it is. ”.
Great expression, however, luckily for me, I don’t need to mind the gap as there is currently none. Getting laid off was well timed - I choose not to look for a job now, but rather finally pack for that “around the world” trip I’ve longed for. I will explore the world and figure out what it is I want in life on my terms and schedule. Let’s hope there will be something in the end.
For now no second guessing – just living it!
Great expression, however, luckily for me, I don’t need to mind the gap as there is currently none. Getting laid off was well timed - I choose not to look for a job now, but rather finally pack for that “around the world” trip I’ve longed for. I will explore the world and figure out what it is I want in life on my terms and schedule. Let’s hope there will be something in the end.
For now no second guessing – just living it!
11 February 2008
cool Chinatown
This week I am couch surfing in Chinatown. It will be a week of cheap dumplings, fruits and diet cokes (deli next door sells a bottle for $1.00 vs. $1.59+tax at Duane Reade).
The longer I live in New York City, the more I love Chinatown. It is unpretentious, it is not trying to be cool like wannabe FiDi (Financial District) and it is not cool like Soho where nobody cool actually hangs after the stores are closed. It is just Chinatown - the real neighborhood in Manhattan with its distinct smell and residents, maybe even the last "real" neighborhood in the city for me.
The longer I live in New York City, the more I love Chinatown. It is unpretentious, it is not trying to be cool like wannabe FiDi (Financial District) and it is not cool like Soho where nobody cool actually hangs after the stores are closed. It is just Chinatown - the real neighborhood in Manhattan with its distinct smell and residents, maybe even the last "real" neighborhood in the city for me.
overheard on NYC subway
"Those sneakers are cooked!"
I've never heard the word "cooked" used before in that meaning - old, used, worn-out. Live and learn from 15 year old hipsters on subway.
I've never heard the word "cooked" used before in that meaning - old, used, worn-out. Live and learn from 15 year old hipsters on subway.
07 February 2008
Hip-Hop Dancing
Last light I randomly ended up at Spotlight by Times Square (I know!) for hip hop dance showcase. Kids from Sybarite Productions rocked the place and the wait until 11 pm was definitely worth it!
More info on the event can be found here.
Watch videos taken with my little camera!
Link to showcase 2, showcase 3, showcase 5.
More info on the event can be found here.
Watch videos taken with my little camera!
Link to showcase 2, showcase 3, showcase 5.
06 February 2008
Contemporary Architecture
images from phaidon.comThanks to Phaidon books on architecture I got hooked on contemporary architecture. Look inside at this World Atlas and get inspired, stunned and amazed.
My new project entails finding these buildings and taking photos of them. In New York City I've started with a relatively new building designed by Frank Gehry - IAC/InterActiveCorp Headquarters in West Chelsea. This urban ship with sails looks best at sunset and dusk. Some of my pictures:
Next buildings on my list are:
New Museum
Austrian Cultural Foundation
American Folk Art Museum
will post pictures!
05 February 2008
Otis fucking anyone?
People discuss cultural differences between Europeans and Americans But I've got empirical evidence of the Europe's freedom of thought. While in Paris, I picked up a pocket guide book about East Paris/East London, published by Favela chic with a big Eurostar ad on back side.
Activity #28 in Paris is labeled as "street fucking", I quote:
"Let be honest: East Paris's got a lot of quiet alley ways and backyards. Perfect for wild urban sex. If you do it in the Street, let's skip the romance and call it Street Fucking. But if you do it in an elevator, call it Otis Fucking."
I believe no comments are necessary.
Activity #28 in Paris is labeled as "street fucking", I quote:
"Let be honest: East Paris's got a lot of quiet alley ways and backyards. Perfect for wild urban sex. If you do it in the Street, let's skip the romance and call it Street Fucking. But if you do it in an elevator, call it Otis Fucking."
I believe no comments are necessary.
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