A Very British Christmas in London

Another point of interest was the Marylebone area. I am so glad we stayed in this neighborhood. It has that new Brooklyn feel as it has such great spots to shop, dine and take in the sights. It hosted a large variety of restaurants and trendy shops. There is also an interesting shop that I found on another blog while gathering ideas for my trip. If you are a shopper and like finding great deals, you will want to check out the following link for more information.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cancer-research-uk-london-39

I did not find anything on my visit, but I could definitely see the potential for finding some great deals on bags, shoes and accessories. It is definitely worth stopping by for a look.

Plus, just a few doors down you can pop into Cox and Power to see some gorgeous jewelry designs. http://www.coxandpower.com/index.mobile.html There are great unique pieces set with stones in modern vibrant colors. If you like jewelry, you will love this little shop.

St Christopher’s Place was another appealing spot. I just happened to walk through this area on the way back from Oxford Street. It is a fun neighborhood with an artsy boutique feel. Here you will find more independent designers and less of the chain stores.

While we always hear about the London Bridges, Tower Bridge is actually the most impressive structure. Just around the corner from the London Bridge and next to Big Ben, you may cross these sites off your list together. It is truly a breathtaking view and again, if you enjoy getting great shots you cannot take a bad picture here.

Despite the rumors that London is gray and just a city it has quickly become one of my favorite places in the world. I will definitely return in the future as I loved everything about this cultural hot spot.

Gym time in Korea

Since my gym time is important to me, I thought I would share in case anyone else has relocated to Korea and has trouble fining a place to work out. Many areas do a good job of advertising their fitness clubs. My area is getting better as it is growing; few new places have been added, but last year it was very difficult to find a place to get a good run in. I searched for weeks, even ran in the rain which certainly raised a few eye brows, but then stumbled upon two places that house fitness centers.

The first gym I discovered is on the green line (line 2) exit 9. Walk about two blocks and it is on the fifth floor of the Chungmu Art Hall. The tricky part about this gym is figuring out how to join. There are not a lot of English speakers, but we lucked out that day as there happened to be one British gentleman in the weight area that explained that we could pay on the bottom floor. Sure enough there are locker rooms and a cashier area where you can sign up for the month for 60,000 or just pay 5,000 won for a day pass. This gym also offers a swimming pool, K pop dance classes, and serious badminton competitions. In addition, there is a workout area room with treadmills, elliptical machines, weight machines and free weights. Also, there is a side room completely padded for ab work . See a map and directions here http://www.stay.com/seoul/entertainment/19860/chungmu-art-hall/

Another local gym is located on line 2 green exit 2 walk about three blocs down and cross the street. Turn right on Toegye-ro 90 gil. On the corner of this street, you will see a T World cell phone shop. You will also pass the an Apple Box store. Finally, the building is just past the first small intersection on the left you will see the free standing building. Just go in and you will see the desk, towels and locker room keys. Here you will check in and pay either 5,000 won or a monthly fee. I believe it is 60,000 won.
This gym offers a pool, and general group classes. They do have a monthly schedule but this will have to be translated, as understandably it is in Korean. This cozy gym has all of the equipment that I really like to change up my workout. These items include medicine balls, kettle balls and free weights. Also, it is generally an uncrowded studio like space to get a great weight workout in. The owner is very friendly and is often seen getting his own workout in. He speaks English and offers personal training too.

Korean Gym

Cambodia July 2011

Cambodia- What an incredible place!

Siem Reap is a town with extreme charm and where you feel like you are on a movie set the entire time you are there. It is a great place to walk or bike ride through the town surrounded by temples and ancient ruins . You have this feeling that you are dreaming as you are wandering around because everything is so beautiful and exotic. We even spotted monkeys on the side of the road on the way to the temples one day.

                

This sleepy town known as Siem Reap becomes alive in this area. There is no shortage of restaurants, shops and uniquely designed bars.

The area they call Pub street has a large selection of shops and restaurants to chose from. When crossing over from the other side of town, this area is quite unexpected and of course caters to tourists, but in a welcoming way. In our case, it began to rain pretty heavily, so we passed the time relaxing with great food and drinks. Even in the rain, this area was nice to experience.

The heart warming experience of this village was more than I could have ever imagined!

In Siem Reap, the people are warm and there is a strong community of generous individuals. Everywhere you turn you find that you are helping by simply consuming. Most hotels and restaurants give a percentage of their proceeds to orphanages and other various organizations to help the children in this community.
Aside from sight seeing, we also had the pleasure of visiting two orphanages during our stay in Cambodia. They were clean, well organized and run flawlessly with a lot of heart. I was particularly impressed by The Green Gecko organization. We spoke with Doug, the gentleman that manages this project. He is an Australian Ex patriate who fell in love with this rustic town some years ago. He opened a restaurant which caters to tourists and donates all all proceeds to Green Gecko. It was inspiring to hear his story and hear about how this now education facility came to exist. I had never been to an orphanage and had no idea what to expect. Green Gecko was a magical place; The children seemed happy, polite and very grateful to be there. The children were well taken care of and had a home that was actually designed for them by an interior designer. There were many rules that the children had to follow, as they have a schedule to follow like at any school but these children were going to be bilingual and eventually each of them will have an interesting story to share with the world about how they grew up and how they were once part of the Green Gecko project. The  environment that helped to shape and mold them into the people they become. It was also nice to see that many of the local hotels employed individuals that were once Green Gecko kids, allowing them the opportunity to gain experience in the working world.

De La paix- Come on .. It doesn’t get better.

There are not words to describe the feeling of joy that you will encounter if you appreciate design. This designer hotel has an extremely modern feel. Yet has rustic undertones to prove that you are in a very foreign place. It manages to introduce you to the community, while simultaneously giving you a taste of extreme luxury. The excellent service does not let you forget that this hotel is perhaps one of the warmest, yet posh environments one can encounter. From the moment you step inside, you are greeted with scented warm towels to wipe your hands. The lobby is like an art museum. In fact, there is an entire section of the hotel used to display the works of local artists and to promote many NGO’s in the area.

The grounds are tranquil and provide many areas for you to choose from to dine and enjoy tea, a cocktail or glass of wine. The pool was a zero edge oasis of warm water surrounded by plush cabanas. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked amazing and certainly every meal I ingested was outrageous! The rooms are huge, designed like a dream and well equipt! Every detail has been thought of including ipods with music to fit your every mood. I can’t say enough of positive things about this place! Every inch of this hotel has been groomed, manicured and landscaped to create a feeling of comfort with use of high end design. Needless to say, I am a huge fan!

July Break in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi…. Hello Vietnam!

Vietnam was greater than I ever imagined it to be.  I envisioned a more rustic version of Thailand and expected very few tourists but many street vendors and unfinished streets. Well….I couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact, Ho Chi Minh City was quite modern. The hotels were very stylish and the architecture was quite refined. This modern city had all the perks of a major city without being overwhelming or unsightly. It had more charm and tradition sprinkled with a bit of chaos in the form of traffic. We found our way around very easily and experienced modern eateries and dessert spots to help us cool down. Both the temperature and humidity were about the highest I have ever experienced. It was a great excuse to visit Fanny’s a delicately designed dessert place that locals and quite a few foreigners flocked to in order to experience elaborate sorbets and ice cream treats paired with vodkas, liqueurs and cordials.

It was such a nice feeling to watch the patrons enjoying these well designed treats. While sitting in truly the most feminine room, I could see people’s eyes light up with delight as their trays arrived. There was absolutely something for everyone to enjoy. I have a pretty finicky palate and even managed to find something somewhat healthy, or as healthy as a sorbet can be. Another thing discovered on this trip to Vietnam was the fantastic coffee. Vietnam has hands down the best coffee I have ever ingested. EVER. They serve it with what I refer to as a bit of frosting on the side, so if you require your coffee to be lightened a bit like me, you will experience a milk/sugar that is a bit like frosting.

Above are some photos of the aforementioned “chaotic” traffic. In the heart of this refined, exotic asian destination we were both excited, yet terrified. Crossing the street was needless to say a challenge! There were several lanes (if you can call them lanes) with cars, busses and taxis and scooters all whizzing by. Men, women and children all buzzed by on these colorful scooters. While fascinating to watch, it was nearly impossible to cross the street.

On the list of to see’s  was the Cu chi Tunnels. we traveled for about and hour outside of Ho Chi Minh City and arrived at this very historical area. I really enjoyed this tour because it was extremely hands on. You could actually crawl through the tunnels and experience firsthand what close quarters the soldiers were in during battle. We also saw   the weapons and bobby traps displayed and received full instruction on how each booby trap worked and what it was designed to do. While scary, it was a fun and interactive experience. I even crawled through the tunnels and climbed into one of the hiding areas. Next, we chose our weapons and shot AK47’s. I would recommend this tour. While, it is difficult to see a place where such horrible things happened, it is and interesting and valuable experience.

Hanoi was more a more traditional area. We quickly noticed that it was not as developed as Ho Chi Minh City, but just as populated and the architecture remained interesting with a parisian influence. The fruit was plentiful and stood out with vibrant colors. The fruit was every bit as delicious as it looked. We toured this quaint city on an

Took a chance

I know that I left behind a traditional job and way of life that most people subscribe to. Yet, somehow I feel so much better for being “over here”. The world is changing so much and I believe when situations change, people must adapt. For me this exercise does not have a lot to do with the economy, but rather a need to feel like I have done something to enhance my life. One thing that I have always truly enjoyed is travel. From an early age, I developed this interest but never knew how to make it a permanent situation. So, I traveled when I could and kept myself entertained by moving around quite a bit. California held my attention for a little over ten years, but then it happened …the more work experience I gained, the more I realized that I was not content. I held some positions that were mildly interesting to me, I had some success and some happiness, but I still was left with this feeling of is this really my life? I will work very hard to have two  or three weeks of vacation and weekend trips here and there and I will earn a decent living and keep up with the Jones’s. So, I gained an MBA and then decided enough is enough. I wanted to be wildly excited about what I was doing and I was ready to roll the dice a bit. While, this lifestyle is not for everyone: for me it has been the most exciting time. The mystery of what will happen next year, next week, or even tomorrow.

I did it!  I accepted a position in Korea. I thought to myself, it will be a way for me to explore Asia, to gain a new skill (teaching), to meet some new people that have decided to move abroad as well. I  will the see where I really want to be. Upon arrival, I was blown away! Why is this place such a secret. In all honesty, it runs circles around most cities. The shopping, the design, the sophistication of this gorgeous city. I am still amazed on a daily basis. I have been here 10 months and haven’t even scratched the surface of things to do and see here. Month after month, I continue to find wonderful new areas. The people I work with are interesting, well traveled; some are even trilingual. I have been so happy with the environment that I renewed my contract to stay in Korea for another year. Part of me can’t believe we are staying and part of me is so excited to continue exploring this foreign territory. Everything is so completely different and I mean that in the best sense. I can’t name another country where the general population is so kind. People literally go out of their way to help you if they sense that you are lost. I even had a girl help me carry something very heavy that I bought once. I absolutely could have made it but I was struggling a bit. The girl went three blocks out of her way to help me carry my package. It was one of the kindest gestures I have ever experienced. This is only one example of instances that I have experienced where a complete stranger has offered to assist me.

My day to day life is also interesting. I am living in a society where from the age of four children begin to learn foreign languages. These little geniuses are the most adorable creatures I have ever laid my eyes on. The country instills education from an early age and raises children to see the importance of tolerance and communication. It has been such an eye opening experience. Also, simply the elegance that goes along with this population. Koreans are well dressed, well mannered and extremely well rounded. I though I would write this piece to express how very glad I am to be part of this society. Needless to say, I am glad I took a chance.

Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

Upon arrival one notices quickly that things are different in Malaysia. Taxis are lined up but you must purchase a ticket to be taken to your destination. It was as if we were going to purchase a ticket to an amusement park ride. It seemed strange at first, but the taxi companies are monitored heavily to avoid fare gouging.

The Kuala Lumpur airport is like a small local mall/ food court with shops  Starbucks and the body shop; All good things after an overnight flight. As we drove along to our hotel, I immediately noticed the sky. It had the most interesting blend of colors that I have ever seen. As the sun was rising there was a midnight and sky blue combination making the view quite nice as we drove along. The city has impressive architecture, it hosts the Petronas Towers and the, the third tallest telecommunications building in the world. The city is clean and very well planed. We stayed at Le Meridien. The hotel offers an impressive stylish lobby with Moroccan style doors and a colossal chandelier that quickly becomes the focal point of the lobby. The room was quite comfortable and offered a great nights rest. The tranquil pool area offered a well designed spa/massage quarter with a gorgeous water fall and lush landscaping. This rooftop hotspot had everything we needed. From great patio dining to an extensive wine list and amazing city views of the stunning Kuala Lumpur.

Our next destination was Singapore. I generally like to keep some portions of my trips open in case we feel like straying from “the plan” a bit. Lesson learned in this case; when traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, arrangements should be made beforehand. We were unable to hire a taxi to drive us across the border. We were also told that flights would be sold out because it was the  Lunar New Year holiday. So, we opted to take a express bus as we were determined to see Singapore. At first, we were excited that we finally found a bus company that had tickets left to take us to our destination. Except now reality set in and it was all highway for 6 hours. Despite the fact that we had to take the dreaded bus, the experience was not too terrible. The seats were quite comfortable and we had our own TV screen with options to listen to the radio, watch programs and play video games. This method of travel was quite eye opening, as I have never taken a bus into a different country. Much like the airport, you exit the bus, go through customs, have your bags scanned and passports stamped. Eventually, your bus meets you on the other side and takes you an additional 20 minutes into the central area of Singapore. The most humorous part of this story is that on the way back to Kuala Lumpur, we found a flight on air asia that was only about $5. more than the bus ticket. Our flight back was a seamless one hour flight. Lesson learned: Always double check out the transportation situation beforehand.

We stayed at The Moon Hotel in Singapore. It is in a good location in the middle of the three main areas. It was within walking distance to Haji lane and interesting local spots between little India and China town. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful. They offered Free internet and breakfast to all guests. The rooms are very well designed. It is the best use of spacial planning I have ever seen! This adorable hotel has a simple, yet stylish lobby and the rooms are quite tasteful and modern. The rooms are definitely on the smaller side, but truly charming. I can best compare the Moon Hotel to the Hudson in New York. Although, the space  is minimal, it is a designers delight. The designer used a platform bed, frosted glass and great lighting. The fabrics used were plush and in a slate grey palate to pull the room together using a minimalist approach. The beds were very comfortable, so we got that modern look without sacrificing comfort.

There were also many perks! Upon entering the room, we found a complimentary basket which went above and beyond the common amenities of toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo. It included a loofah, a sleeping mask, slippers and shaving cream.  I found the hotel to be quite aesthetically pleasing and at a great price for a boutique hotel. Agoda.com proved to once again be a great resource for booking this trip.

What an incredible time we had in Singapore! This country offers its own style; a spotless and well manicured city resemblant of West Palm Beach,yet in the same breath the country encompasses a fusion of Asian, Indian and European flair. You immediately notice the European style architecture, and the available flavors to please all palates. Singapore offers quite a variety of dining options. If you are looking for a high end dinner or a nice spot with a wine bar and some upper crust choices, head over to Dempsey Hill. We had wine flights at The Market and later a superb dinner at The White rabbit. It is about a ten minute taxi ride, but well worth going out of your way for a fine dining experience. Also, head over to The Raffles Hotel to have the Singapore Sling. The drink was concocted right there in 1915! To curb your appetite for Indian flavors go to little India. We ate there our first night in Singapore and the options are endless; row after row of appetizing eateries. For shopping, head over to Haji lane for independent designer owned boutiques. It has been deemed the best kept secret in singapore for fashion. We also had the most incredible time on this trip finding trendy bangles in little india and looking at yellow sapphire stones for new additions to Shiny-PrettyThings.com.

We also took in some more tourist sights. The Singapore Flyer stands at 165m and allowed us to get some gorgeous photos as the sun went down. While this activity seemed cheesy at first, we had the best city view from this glass capsule equipped with chocolate and champagne adding a bit of a romantic touch to our ride through the sky.  We also toured the Clarke Quay River a touristy little spot, but great for a riverside walk on a hot day. I highly recommend Singapore. In addition to being the cleanest city I have ever seen, it has a wonderful influence of so many different cultures. It would be hard to tire of the beauty and cultural offerings.

Next Stop Bangkok

My first trip to Thailand! I had no idea what to expect. I assumed it would be a tropical place with amazing food and a warm beach like vibe; this part was true. I also pictured a third world country with knock offs and pockets of hotels resembling compounds that only the exclusive would be invited to visit. This is the part where I become wrong and pleasantly surprised. Bangkok is very modern and has quite a bit of fashion forward glamour. The variety of this city was not like any thing I have ever seen before, as Bangkok offerers the full gamut from very high end experiences to inexpensive cafe’s and shopping. In addition, I was so grateful that the country seems to subscribe to a very healthy diet. Low fat options seem to be the norm in Thailand. I did not have to go through my general song and dance of begging for low fat milk or ask for the non-greasy/fried version of the menu.  Overall, the food was generally healthy.  Another thing that stood out is the availability of colorful, exotic fruit; from the moment you enter a grocery store, you spot the delicious pineapple, apples, mango, papaya, bananas and  coconut. It was truly the sweetest fruit that I have had.  In addition to truly amazing fruit the merchandising of these sweet treasures are so well placed to make the groceries look even more outstanding. Bangkok offers stylish grocery stores that make Whole Foods and Bristol Farms pale in comparison. This is saying a lot, as they were my favorite grocery shops in California.

Just to reiterate, everything about this place is modern, comfortable and friendly. The natives go out of their way to make conversation and point you in the right direction. Taking a tuk tuk ride in Bangkok is like driving in Los Angeles. It is so exciting when you hit the right lane and are able to move quickly to your destination. yet, everyone has that same idea, so weaving with caution is important for this process. It also seemed highly dangerous, yet so much fun that we were giggling as we gripped the bars of the tuk tuk for dear life.

The shopping is incredible in that the deals are not just about the knock offs. In fashion, we always seek the pieces with the best material. Soft to touch and great quality. There were a number of high quality independent designers showcased throughout the city either in a boutique setting or even just on the street in the main center of town. It was a pleasant surprise not to see just row after row of  junky sweat shirts, t-shirts and knock offs.

As for our accommodations, upon arrival, we checked into the Davis Hotel. stylish, modern and well designed. The Davis is conveniently located between the big three Siam Square, Sukhumvit, and Silom Road. It was within walking distance from a stylish boutique type outdoor mall with independent designers, healthy food choices and hip wine bars. oh… not to mention a restaurant where I had the best soft shelled crab that I have ever had to date. The pool at the Davis is charming, the grounds are lush and well manicured and again the location allows travelers to see it all. If you visit AsiaRooms.com or Agoda.com, you will get a great deal on rooms.

For sight seeing, we elected to visit a Tiger temple. Monks actually live and pray with these tigers. A unique thing about this experience is that I have never seen tattooed monks. They bare ink of tiger images and symbols. The only drawback about seeing the Tigers in this situation is that you cannot get very close to them. You can sort of hover and pet them, but tourists are not allowed to hold or side up to the animals. While, in retrospect this means that the animals were not drugged and the temple was exercising caution in order to protect its guests. Another thing about this temple is that women must not bare any skin. I had to buy a fairly hideous T shirt that said “I love tigers” on it  upon arrival.  While at this point, I love tigers I am laughing about it. I could have avoided looking so awkward if I had known the rules of the temple beforehand.

Another historical landmark is the River Kwai. It was hard to imagine this  serene, yet touristy site  as a point of friction in the past, as it was clam, scenic and now a place where visitors can view the bridge from a Thai restaurant. You can actually walk on the bridge and get some great photos as well.

The floating market was a definite must. I have never encountered such fun chaos in all of my time. A long narrow speed boat scoops you up and tours your party through the canals where Thai people live and work. There is fascinating architecture and glimpse into a quiet spot which although just a few hours north of Bangkok seems so very different from the Chic Bangkok. This rustic area offers a market which literally offers every household item one can ever imagine. Some of the best mango and coconut is offered here. The rest was an eclectic mixture of art, pottery and plenty of knockoffs. Once through the market place the driver races you back to the main boarding area. This ride might be the most fun. Imagine racing through a jungle like river through a narrow rustic passage.

We also opted to go on a guided bike tour in an area quite close to Bangkok where the land was protected. While there has been a lot of growth in Bangkok, this area can never be touched per the King according to our guide. We rode through some quiet neighborhoods, a park with a scenic pond. It was here that we were asked to feed the largest Koi fish I have ever seen. The final leg of our tour involved some pretty narrow and rickety bridges. The water beneath was resemblant of a Starbucks green tea latte. So as you can imagine, falling into this water would definitely not be my idea of a good time. I carefully balanced and took my time while on these patches of uncertainty. Fortunately, we made it to the end without wearing the frothy green liquid beneath us.  At the end of our two hour bike tour, I was so glad that we got a light workout in and enjoyed the warm day.

Speaking of the weather… it was fantastic to be in such a warm climate in December. While Korea has been a fantastic place to live, the weather has been less than cooperative this year. It has been noted as the coldest winter in years. As you can imagine this concept does not sit well with me, as I am a person who busts out the sweaters in 70 degree weather; needless to say the sunshine was a welcomed change. Bangkok is a fantastic place! I plan to visit many more areas in this gorgeous country in the future. Stay tuned for our visit to the islands in May.

Tips from Seoul, Korea

Happy Halloween! Random thoughts and tips from a newcomer.

I made it through my first two months in Korea. Time seems to really be flying! Everything is brand new; from teaching to environment, it is all drastically new and exciting. I am teaching children from ages 5 to 8. I am very lucky as these children are for the most part extremely well behaved and absolutely adorable! The school is strictly English immersion.  I have found a new appreciation for the teaching profession.  It is a 180 degree change for me, as I have always chosen to be in some form of sales as a profession. I truly enjoy being on the other side- giving not taking is the first analogy that pops into my mind.

This trip has also allowed me to build on my collection of Shiny-PrettyThings. It is so inspiring to be in a city three times the size of New York and still find a new high for aestheticism. It is truly mind blowing to witness this type of ineffable detail firsthand. I had no idea what type of environment I would be living in when I first researched living in Korea. I assumed Seoul would have the hustle and bustle of a city and some pockets of fashion forward elements. I was wrong…… Seoul has many more areas than not of modern design and people dressed elegantly from head to toe. Korean girls are not afraid to wear high heels. The higher the better and the heels are worn everywhere!

As for shopping Apgujeong leads the pack at the famous Hyundai mall. People fly in from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the coveted names this plaza hosts. This mall is much more glitzy than the Beverly Center or South Coast Plaza. (I never thought I would utter these words) Another great thing about the area of Apugujeong is the ultra charming cafes and  architecture of the buildings in the area; definitely a place to be creatively inspired. A second area to visit for less expensive fashion is Myeong-dong. It is an enormous district of clothing shops and vendor carts that sell everything from hats and belts to pet clothing.

Myeongdong on a rainy day!

I also wondered how I would remain blonde or un orange in a place where dark hair is the norm. Fortunately, I met a girl that was freshly blonded and asked her opinion. I mentioned a few places that I had heard of. She stopped me right there and said Hair and Joy is the place for you. With that I booked the appointment for the following week.  Hair and Joy is  in yet another great area. Getting off at the Hongik University stop from the subway, I entered into yet another aesthetically pleasing area. My stylist, also the owner spoke English and kept my highlights blonde and my hair cut nicely. The salon was modern and relaxing. They also had some imported hair products for purchase. My only grievance since I have arrived has been the hair spray. So for visitors ….Pack plenty because you will find either spray that might as well be non existent or spray that dries way too hard making your blonde look darker; and nobody wants that. (See www.hairandjoy.com for more details)

Another favorite place since my arrival not so long ago is the W hotel. One of my favorites for the design factor and fun bar environment generally in any city is the W hotel. The W in Seoul Walker Hill is must see. Woo bar is sleek, trendy and has a gazzillion vodkas. The wine and drink list is endless and the amazing with a motion censored  wall as you enter is all the reason I needed to gush over this fantastically stylish hotel lounge. The Sushi bar was amazing. As well as kitchen. What more can I say great food combined with great ambiance always lends to a great evening!

More tips to be continued …

The Kitchen at the W Hotel Seoul

Shiny Pretty Things returns to land and finds a new life abroad! Next stop Korea.

So the chapter ends of my living on the Gaff Rig schooner. It was an interesting year filled with travel, adventure, inspiration and ultimately has lent to a new beginning.

As a salty sea girl, I was a live aboard for one year. It was a good experience in that I learned a bit about boats, I was able to travel more and  had a relaxing place to literally get away from it all. This experiment was initially supposed to last for a few months. My  fiancee wanted to change things up a bit and live on his beloved boat, a life that he enjoyed for about a year prior to our moving in together. I though it sounded romantic and was up for a new adventure, so we put all of the contents of our home into a storage unit and moved aboard. My girlfriends were of course horrified. Questions like “where will you keep your  shoes” were asked. Others, simply raised an eyebrow but at the end of the day, despite the challenges and inconsistency that the live aboard life gave us, we did have good times. We drank great wine, listened to radio shows and pretended that we were living in times where technology was not available. Which is ironic because my fiancee is a technology guru. All of our energy came from the sun. We had a solar panel that worked surprisingly well, as we never lost power. In addition, we had an internet connection, a flat screen television, a small galley for cooking and a tiny wood burning fireplace.  I stayed away from the fireplace if I was alone, but on occasion I would cook. Miraculously, I did not burn the boat down while using the gas stove

I was completing my MBA program and really didn’t notice how quickly the time had passed. We traveled to the East Coast frequently to see friends and family. My other half was able to go even more frequently, as he owns his own company and can work from anywhere. I had to be a bit more reserved with travel time as I worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions for a college. I did however manage to take every long weekend and even short weekend trips as possible. Also, this past year, I saw China and Tibet for the first time. I volunteered and briefly taught English, which ultimately made me decide that I might try living abroad and teaching.

I also got to stay in hotels for extended periods. I have always had an affinity for hotel design and using new gyms and pools was always fun. Generally, about two to three times a week, we would stay in a hotel.  We would also check into a hotel if it rained. Although, sometimes there was nothing like being caught in a good rainstorm while aboard. Again, it gave us  an excuse for great wine, movies and board games. Not that we needed much of a push on that.

So, here I am on beautiful Long Beach Island taking a final vacation before I start my teaching contract in September. I am very much looking forward to a new career and exciting times on the other side of the world!

Diamonds – the four c's defined

This article  is for all of the brides to be… or those simply interested in learning more about diamonds. There is quite a bit to learn about the 4 c’s. In addition, one tip I can share from experience is the fact that you may think you know exactly what you want, but until you try on a variety of bands and cuts you will not know. There are so many different types of settings, so you really have to try them all on. Afterall, it only happens once right. 

http://www.4diamond.com/4Cs/