Showing posts with label Destinations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Destinations. Show all posts

Monday, November 7, 2011

From the Editor: Namaste, Aap Kaise Hain?


Welcome To India!
India is the top country on my very long list of places to visit, which is why it is my Destination of the Week!. I have had such a deep spiritual respect for India for several years now, and the immense devotion of her people is breathtaking. There are nearly 1.2 billion people in India! India is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the south east. Not to mention, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west, the People's Republic of China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north east, as well as Bhutan to the north east and Burma and Bangladesh to the east. India's size, population, and evident geographical position in close proximity to several countries make up for her vast and ancient position in historical trade routes and vast empires.

Four of the world's major religions-- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism originated in India. Indian cultural history spans more than 4.500 years. During the Vedic Age, the foundations of Hindu philosophy, mythology, and literature were laid, and many beliefs and practices which still exist today, such as dharma, karma, yoga, and moksa were established.
THE TAJ MAHAL!

Much of Indian architecture, including the Taj Mahal, other works of Mughal and South Indian architecture, blends ancient local traditions with imported styles. Indian cuisine is best known for its delicate use of herbs and spices and for its tandoori grilling techniques (YUM!!!!) Many spices which have become known worldwide are actually native to India.

This week, I am going to be focusing on Indian cuisine, Indian music, Indian art, Indian religious practices and festivals, and of course Indian movies, known as Bollywood!



Monday, October 24, 2011

From the Editor: Ven Conmigo!


It has been a long while since I have done a new post. These past 2 weeks have been bananas in terms of homework, projects, and work!!! I was terribly bummed to not be able to post new stuff, but it didn't stop me from concocting lovely recipes, crafts, art, music, and much more for this week.

Which leads me to my next order of business, announcing this week's destination of the week will be to.....

Monday, October 3, 2011

From the Editor: "There are two types of people: Greeks, and everybody that wishes they were Greek!"


Yassou! Welcome to Greece!


It gives me great pleasure to announce our next destination of the week will be to Greece! I have a special attachment to this beautiful country due to my own bit of Greek heritage. My paternal grandmother, Olympia, is half Greek, and her mother was from Kalamata.

I wasn't raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, but my grandma taught me how to say my prayers in Greek. I'm sad to report, I barely remember how to say them. Nonetheless, my Greek today amounts to a keen understanding of the basic phrases. Hello. Goodbye. Good morning, how are you? Etc...


In many ways, we are all sons and daughters of Ancient Greece. Greece is really the cradle of Western Civilization. So much is owed to antiquity, and the rich foundation the Ancient Greeks built in terms of philosophy, literature, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, education, and Western drama (just to name a few).

Oh, just the home of the gods. No big deal.....
Greek cuisine is some of the finest dining in the world, and the classic example of the healthy Mediterranean diet. It incorporates fresh ingredients into a variety of dishes like moussaka, Greek Salad, souvlaki, and my absolute favorite, spanakopita. And you'd be crazy to turn down a nice, sweet, and sticky helping of baklava!


Greece is the birth place of the Olympic Games. The Panathenian stadium in Athens hosted the Olympic Games in 1896, 1870, 1875, 1906, and recently in 2004. Of course, you can't talk about Greece without mentioning the numerous gods of the ancient Greek mythology. They intersect with the world of literature's greatest epics ever written (uh, can you say The Odyssey and The Illiad?)

I absolutely love Greek culture, traditions, and customs. I am so thrilled and honor to share this piece of my own personal history with you all.

Stay tuned for all kinds of Greek-ness for your everyday life this week!

♥ Kherete ♥

Monday, September 26, 2011

From the Editor: "There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home, and in Paris"


Je t'aime, France!

Our second destination of the week was pretty much a no-brainer. All I had to do was look down at my key-chain, and quite literally "Voila!" there was my inspiration: WE WILL GO TO FRANCE!!!
I'll admit, I have a particular bias to France, and everything french, for beaucoup raisons (a lot of reasons)! Besides having French heritage, I speak french, and I even was minoring in the language for a while in college. Even though I dropped my French minor, I never dropped my love of French. Everyone knows that French is the MOST romantic language in the world, and it is incredibly beautiful to hear. French culture has definitely crêpe-d (haha, see what I did there?) it's way into the culture of the world. And countless french items have made their way states-side (and no, I don't mean French Fries).


 As Gertrude Stein said :
"America is my country, and Paris is my hometown".


 I'm kind of obsessed with all the fun facts, art, movies, music, crafts, decor, and recipes I have planned this week for you all! You may not know what l'esprit de l'escalier means in English, but after this week you will definitely know what is to make your daily life just a little more French!


Au Revoir

Sunday, September 18, 2011

From the Editor: When in Rome.....


Ciao Tutti! Benvenuti in Italia!!!

It gives me great pleasure to announce our first destination of the week will be to Italy! This past weekend, I spent time in Napa, CA with my family celebrating my grandparents 51st wedding anniversary! Woo! Amidst family and  friends, good music and food, I got to soak up some of the local culture in Napa. That means taking a trip to a local winery (or two).  That was my first time wine tasting, and I had such an incredible time.

But that night, I got to thinking "I want to learn about wine from the source!" That lead me to thinking about that old  I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and the gang take a trip to Italy, and Lucy ends up stomping grapes and making trouble in the vineyard, as only Lucy could do. A little light bulb went off in my head, and alas, this week we will be taking a little viaggio to Italy.
Italy is the mecca for decadent and indulgent food and culture. Not to mention, if you are a history buff (or a self proclaimed "history nerd," like myself) you will foam at mouth over the well preserved ancient art and architecture that decorate the cities. Che bello!

This week, we will dive into classic Italian food, art, history, and cultural customs to make your everyday life just a little more "Italian".   Godiamoci....





Addio!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Stay Tuned....


Tomorrow is the day that "Souvenirs for a Daydreaming Traveler" will go full steam ahead and live! I am soo excited to reveal our first weekly destination. A lot of research and love has gone into preparing wonderful and authentic tastes of world for you all coming up these next few weeks!

Stay tuned for tomorrow evening to find out where we're spending the week at! In the mean time, pack light, get ready to kick back, and enjoy the journey ahead!

Bon Voyage Dolls!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

What Topics Do I Blog About?


If you are a new reader, check this out!


These are weekly features you can look forward to!

1. Destination of the week



2. Destination-Inspired Playlist










3. Destination Photo Album










4. Destination Recipes












5. Destination-Inspired D.I.Y. projects