Tfstrickler101's Blog

Blogging and Me

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:28:43 +0000

On the first day I thought it was going to be a regular old English composition class. However, when the word blog left the lips of the professor a feeling of frustration landed directly in my gut. Because I am one of the most computer illiterate people on the earth I was fearful of blogging. I thought blogs were filled with pointless paragraphs, by guys who still with their mom, about the religious significance in The Empire Strikes Back or how James T. Kirk is a better space navigator than Jean Luke Picard. However after I picked travel as my theme and I began to write about something I was passionate about I saw why people were attracted to the form of communication. I feel as though writing a blog is similar to writing in a journal and requires a good amount of attention and time. Despite the fact that I finally learned to enjoy blogging I unfortunately do not have the time or patience to be an avid blogger. However, because times are changing and the ways people communicate with one another are changing blogging may become a major medium. Perhaps one day I will find myself writing and educating people once more about travel and my adventures around the world.

New found passion

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:09:15 +0000

I may have been able to retain some new knowledge while writing a blog about traveling. However, despite using personal experiences for most of the prompts I did learn something extremely important. Before starting this blog I knew that I enjoyed traveling but what I didn’t know is how much I enjoyed it. Being able to explain things to others, share my experiences and knowledge helped to make me more passionate about the topic. Not only have these blog entries acted as a medium to express my enthusiasm about traveling but made me think about my future travels. By doing these blogs I have been thinking about the next journey I will take. Because of my research and my previous trip to China I have found that I am fascinated with the culture of Asian countries and I that my next goal will be to travel to countries like Tibet, Vietnam and Japan. These blogs have also encouraged me to continue to keep writing about my new found passion and sharing my traveling experiences.

I wish I were somehwere else

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:29:29 +0000

You’re sitting in Math, History, any arbitrary class and you find yourself not listening to “x equals this” or “Ghandi said this” but taking a little vacation in your mind. Everyone has been there before; wishing you were anywhere but where you are. What places do you imagine you are? Is it sitting on top of the great pyramids of Egypt, strolling along the great wall, diving on the great barrier reef, or is it a fantasy that’s much more simple? Before writing this open prompt I had absolutely no motivation to write and I found myself slipping into a “I wish I were somewhere else” moment. I saw myself sitting on a beach. The kind of beach you see in a Carona commercial: Light blue ocean with a dark blue sky washed out with sunlight wich merged with a pearl white beach. It was a paradise with no one around but my girlfriend, whom I havent seen in 2 months, and a cigar in my hand. We all have our own little paradise that we need to travel to when times get hard and stress gets high. It allows us to keep our sanity so we can finish that last paper or take that last test before we finally can go home for Thanksgiving.

tfstrickler101 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:41:06 +0000

This photograph depicts a clear argument or proposal that “Illeagals” are an essential part to the basic function of America. It is arguing that without the work of illegal immigrants, there would be no one to do the low paying jobs they are known to work: Mowing lawns, cleaning our homes and apparently making burritos. Whether this is true or not the photo is a perfect example of a proposal. One aspect of the photo is that it talks about a timely problem. The problem of illegal immigrants has been around for a long time and is something today’s society is concerned about. It also provides a consequence to this problem saying that Americans won’t get what they want by kicking immigrants out. Finally, The words on the bottom, “You better think twice America,” suggests a solution to the problem. An argument can not be a proposal without stating a problem, showing the effects of that problem and then offering a solution.

Point, Shoot, Remember.

tfstrickler101 — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:03:09 +0000

One day, you will start to travel all over the world. See new and exciting things, meet new people, and learn new customs. And then one day, when you’re old, your grandchildren will come to you and ask you about the things you’ve seen and you wont remember ! That is, unless of course, you are smart enough to take pictures on your adventures. For me, taking pictures and documenting what I have seen is very important to me. Not only will the photos help me remember my experience but some of the best souvenirs that can capture the essence of a culture. Another way to ensure that your travels stay with you is by keeping a travel journal. Write about your day, what you saw and experienced. I also enjoy taking pictures on my travels so that I can share with other people. Allow me to show you some of my fondest pictures and memories of my travels.

He knows His Way Around.

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:26:05 +0000

No one makes traveling easier than those who do it for a living. Travel agents, and the guys who write for Frommer’s are all helpful but there is one person every traveler should watch in order to be prepared, well done, for all the aspects of a culture. For many cultures, food plays a large part and Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain travels to countries and not only shows travelers the food of that specific culture and how to make it but examines the entire culture on a whole. Bourdain gained his knowledge from graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, from being head chef at numerous restaurants in New York, Washington D.C. and Tokyo, Japan. He gained further popularity by writing Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly which focused on the darker side of cooking around the world. Although his TV show, No Reservations, focuses on exotic dishes of exotic places and also gives the audience a glimpse of that culture’s way of life. Although his show may go unnoticed by the rest of TV watching America, to the travel and cooking enthusiasts, there is nothing more important than getting information and advice from a professional and from someone who knows his way around.

Put the Moon back in Honeymoon

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:49:21 +0000

Now a days, people are convinced that Paris, Venice and all of the Bahamas are reserved for people on their honeymoons. Those are the only places people seem to go for some reason. Granted, being an avid SCUBA diver, I think the Bahamas are gorgeous. However, I am also a good traveler and a helpless romantic and I think a honeymoon should feel like more than a summer vacation. There are three main factors that should come to mind when thinking about the perfect honeymoon: Destination, time, and activities. Take time to think about it. By doing so, you will find a place that is creative and isn’t as quaint as going to Paris where every other newlywed couple will be. Think outside the box. Your destination dosen’t have to be one destination and don’t be afraid see and experience as muh as you can. In order to do a lot, time may be a factor. Usually, people take five days to a week off for their honeymoons. If permissable, take off a month. Why not? You only get married once and after you have kids it may be 20 years before you’ll have another chance to get away. Fianlly, as with any trip, don’t go step by step from your Frommer’s travel guide. Some of the world’s most precious gems are those that are not known. So, go somewhere special for that special someone and shoot for the moon for your honeymoon.

How many stars?

tfstrickler101 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:51:16 +0000

When traveling, one of the most important things to do before you decide where you go is to do research. Where are the best placese to eat, what are the best things to see, what are things to be careful of and where are the best places to stay? Where you stay in a forign place is extremely important because it offers a secure place with food, shelter and a bed and In order for travelers to make a decision where the best place to stay is, they need to look at evaluations. Specifically, Quantitative Evaluations are important to travelers because, when dealing with hotels, scrutinize how good it is compared to others: How nice the rooms are, how expensive it is, how nice the location is and of course how the food is. For example, Hotel. com gives evaluations of hotels from all around the world. On an evaluation of the Sait James and Albany hotel in Paris, France, they begin by mentioning how close the hotel is to important things around the city like the airport and Notre Dame. They then continue with alking about the facilities and food. These evaluations are all about comparsion and tells the traveler what specific flaws or strengths a hotel has compared to another.

Viva Italia !

tfstrickler101 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:52:48 +0000

Of all the cultures I have experienced I think the Italians are the only ones who really appreciate life and live it the way they want to. Italians have a reputation and people think that all they do is sip coffee, eat pizza, and drink wine… And that’s mostly true! If you go to cities in the States, New York for example, people are loud, rude, uptight and in a rush. However, the Italians, Romans in particular, live by a different beat. First of all, people don’t get up and go to work until around 10 a.m. Sounds great already doesn’t it? After they wake up and walk to the local cafe the leisurely sip their espresso, hop on their vespa and scoot off to work. Then finally, after working a hard, 5 hour work day, with an hour lunch break, Romans go home and get ready for a night out. First, for Italians it’s time for happy hour. This is when family and friends gather at a bar or restaurant and eat little pizzas, olivs, other snacks and drink wine. In Italian this is called “un aperitivo”. At night is when Rome really comes alive. Even on week nights, the streets are loud and lit and people are in bars until two in the morning. However, unlike the States where people go to bars to get drunk, for Italians it is a social event. They go to enjoy one another, themselves and life.

Anxious Flyer?

tfstrickler101 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:28:33 +0000

WATCH THIS FIRST !

Luckily, I have been on a plane enough times to know what to expect. However, there are those unfortunate travelers who don’t fly as often and become nervous due to safety procedures, turbulence and all the bells and whistles of flight. It may seem as though the pilots and crew are trying to make you uneasy. The video clip attached is of the notoriously hysterical Monty Python and a skit called “How to Irritate People on an Airplane”. Throughout the sketch the crew of the airplane are so bored they decide to play pranks on the passengers to make them think there is something wrong. Everyone who has been on an airplane can relate to little feelings of panic that occur on a plane. This skit displays how easy it is to become anxious or nervous on a flight and how the people in charge don’t make it any easier. Monty Python is known for their satire and taking problems in society and making fun of them. This skit in particular makes fun of the fear of flying.