Time. We seek it. We treasure it. We waste it. We never know where it went.
I find time always running away from me. I keep waiting for the perfect moment to catch it, a moment that never comes. Time stares at me from a distance. Laughing. Daring me to enjoy the sites, smell the flowers instead of constantly scheming about how to catch it. But I can't help it. It's like an addicting game. An addicting story. You couldn't stop playing if you tried.
There are moments where I forget about time. Those moments where I forget where I was going. Those moments of music. Those moments of beauty. Sometimes the world is so beautiful it stops you in your tracks. You can't help but forget about time. Butterflies. Cupcakes. Laughter among friends. A smile. A bird's song. Beautiful souls. Inspiring moments.
Sometimes I realize time is not in my present.
“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.” - Jeremy Irons
A quote about time that I had never read, but it fits the story of my life perfectly. I live by my memories and my dreams. I travel to create memories. I travel to dream. I dream to travel. I dream to escape. My life is a series of travel memories. I dream of so many more. Memories captured in pictures. Dreams captured in my mind. Some day I will be free.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Random Cruise Memory Part 1
Found this in my drafts and finally decided to finish it. Memories from NYE 2010 Cruise Pt 1. Dedicated to my PIC.
==================================================================
Things to do on a cruise ship - dodge EVERYBODY.
No vacation with Partner in Crime would be complete without us having to hide from people. What do we do to have to hide? You'd have to be there to tell me.
Cousin and I were both exhausted on Belize day. We overslept and ended up taking our time, getting off the ship late and just taking a city tour. Belize City tour - not that interesting. I advise going to the jungle. I also advise not missing your tour of the jungle by not waking up. It might be a good idea to sleep once in a while too. But I digress.
After getting back on the ship we were both starving and decided to go get food. One problem - food required going across the pool deck...the pool deck with people...people we were not trying to see at this moment.
We can handle this though - sunglasses, head down, walk fast. Never mind people almost falling over railings to say hi. We did not see them. Did you? Sunglasses, head down, walk fast. And clear.
Or...not so clear. We have food. But we can't pull the same trick twice. This calls for a covert operation. One floor down, walk across. Perfect. Almost perfect. Almost to our room. Me: 'PIC, I can't believe this, we are safe!' . PIC: 'Not so fast, we are not safe until we are in our room!'. Me: 'Don't be...' .
Queue the comedian. On our floor. Walking past our room. Right. This. Second. Darn, he is turning around...and....queue a conversation we do not want to have. Comedian: 'So did you catch my show?'. Yes we did. And we know we made the show thank you very much. We are happy we are so fascinating. We'll send you the bill. You're on the wrong floor? You normally stay one floor up? Right, honest mistake, goodbye.
Run into room. Lock the door. Queue laughing fit. Only with my PIC.
==================================================================
Things to do on a cruise ship - dodge EVERYBODY.
No vacation with Partner in Crime would be complete without us having to hide from people. What do we do to have to hide? You'd have to be there to tell me.
Cousin and I were both exhausted on Belize day. We overslept and ended up taking our time, getting off the ship late and just taking a city tour. Belize City tour - not that interesting. I advise going to the jungle. I also advise not missing your tour of the jungle by not waking up. It might be a good idea to sleep once in a while too. But I digress.
After getting back on the ship we were both starving and decided to go get food. One problem - food required going across the pool deck...the pool deck with people...people we were not trying to see at this moment.
We can handle this though - sunglasses, head down, walk fast. Never mind people almost falling over railings to say hi. We did not see them. Did you? Sunglasses, head down, walk fast. And clear.
Or...not so clear. We have food. But we can't pull the same trick twice. This calls for a covert operation. One floor down, walk across. Perfect. Almost perfect. Almost to our room. Me: 'PIC, I can't believe this, we are safe!' . PIC: 'Not so fast, we are not safe until we are in our room!'. Me: 'Don't be...' .
Queue the comedian. On our floor. Walking past our room. Right. This. Second. Darn, he is turning around...and....queue a conversation we do not want to have. Comedian: 'So did you catch my show?'. Yes we did. And we know we made the show thank you very much. We are happy we are so fascinating. We'll send you the bill. You're on the wrong floor? You normally stay one floor up? Right, honest mistake, goodbye.
Run into room. Lock the door. Queue laughing fit. Only with my PIC.
I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine. ~Caskie Stinnett
Happy 2010 everyone!
It's been a while. Even though it seems like I am stuck somewhere on a mountain in Lebanon, I'm really not...sadly. I meant to write a full fledged report on Lebanon, but I got to the view on the mountain and then life happened. So here I am in Indianapolis, 7 months later, living, working, and still spending all my money traveling. My scrapbook and my blog missed the bus and are behind on my adventures, but they're trying to catch up. It's the latest 2010 NY resolution I just made up....
I've gone on some more adventures since moving here - Chicago, Minnesota, Ann Arbor, Holland and most recently a Western Caribbean cruise with my partner in crime. I try to settle down sometimes, but I just can't seem to sit still. Result: I still feel like I moved to Indy only yesterday. My cost benefit analysis says that's okay.
I'd love to keep writing, but the sun went to sleep many hours ago and I think I should join it. I'm trying to train my body to be in the Eastern time zone. I'm not really sure what time zone it thinks it is in. New Year's resolution #2 - Sleep.
I'm motivated to write about cruise adventures, so hopefully you'll hear from me again soon.
Signing out,
Ms. Globetrotter.
It's been a while. Even though it seems like I am stuck somewhere on a mountain in Lebanon, I'm really not...sadly. I meant to write a full fledged report on Lebanon, but I got to the view on the mountain and then life happened. So here I am in Indianapolis, 7 months later, living, working, and still spending all my money traveling. My scrapbook and my blog missed the bus and are behind on my adventures, but they're trying to catch up. It's the latest 2010 NY resolution I just made up....
I've gone on some more adventures since moving here - Chicago, Minnesota, Ann Arbor, Holland and most recently a Western Caribbean cruise with my partner in crime. I try to settle down sometimes, but I just can't seem to sit still. Result: I still feel like I moved to Indy only yesterday. My cost benefit analysis says that's okay.
I'd love to keep writing, but the sun went to sleep many hours ago and I think I should join it. I'm trying to train my body to be in the Eastern time zone. I'm not really sure what time zone it thinks it is in. New Year's resolution #2 - Sleep.
I'm motivated to write about cruise adventures, so hopefully you'll hear from me again soon.
Signing out,
Ms. Globetrotter.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Lebanon Road Rules
1. Don't break - ever - why would you? Just honk, people will move over. How dare they get in your way?!
2. Red Light? What Red Light?
3. This is Lebanon, do what you want!
2. Red Light? What Red Light?
3. This is Lebanon, do what you want!
4. Rosary - check, religious stickers - check. Make a cross at every Maria Statue we pass - check. You will now survive the crazy streets.
5. Cars going to opposite way of you is totally normal. You actually blinked twice?
6. Car not working? No big deal.
7. If you'd like to drive a taxi, get an ID. Any ID. Who cares if it isn't yours. They never said it had to be yours.
8. Do not tell a cab driver they do not know where you want to go so you'd rather not get in the cab. They may follow you. And yell at you. And not be happy. Cab drivers always know where you want to go. You must be crazy for thinking otherwise.
9. Taxis are impromptu tour guides if you get lucky.
10. Don't drive.
5. Cars going to opposite way of you is totally normal. You actually blinked twice?
6. Car not working? No big deal.
7. If you'd like to drive a taxi, get an ID. Any ID. Who cares if it isn't yours. They never said it had to be yours.
8. Do not tell a cab driver they do not know where you want to go so you'd rather not get in the cab. They may follow you. And yell at you. And not be happy. Cab drivers always know where you want to go. You must be crazy for thinking otherwise.
9. Taxis are impromptu tour guides if you get lucky.
10. Don't drive.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Possession by A.S.Byatt
"What is it? My dear? "
"Ah, how can we bear it?"
"Bear what?"
"This. For so short a time. How can we sleep this time away?"
"We can be quiet together, and pretend - since it is only the beginning - that we have all the time in the world"
"And every day we shall have less. And then none."
"Would you rather, therefore, have had nothing at all?"
"No. This is where I have always been coming to. Since my time began. And when I go away from here, this will be the mid-point, to which everything ran, before, and from which everything will run. But now, my love, we are here, we are now, and those other times are running elsewhere."
"Ah, how can we bear it?"
"Bear what?"
"This. For so short a time. How can we sleep this time away?"
"We can be quiet together, and pretend - since it is only the beginning - that we have all the time in the world"
"And every day we shall have less. And then none."
"Would you rather, therefore, have had nothing at all?"
"No. This is where I have always been coming to. Since my time began. And when I go away from here, this will be the mid-point, to which everything ran, before, and from which everything will run. But now, my love, we are here, we are now, and those other times are running elsewhere."
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Breathtaking Views from our Backyard
Update 10/05/09
Since it seems like this piece will never get posted if I keep waiting until I get a chance to upload those 'breathtaking views' I was taking about, I'm just going to post it. Pics to come with some later post I suppose.
=====================
08/22/09
On Day 2 we left the congested streets of Beirut behind and were off to Bazhoun - the village in the mountains where our family is from. Driving up there bordered terrifying, but I have decided that Lebanon traffic is getting a post all to itself. So for now, lets pretend we just teleported up to Bazhoun and got there safe and sound.
Our destination was this amazing 3 bedroom/2 bath grotto style home belonging to one of my uncles. South Africa Aunt greeted us and had the house stocked and ready. There were even seperate rooms for me and Cousin but we refused. What good is a vacation if you cannot have a sleepover? Even when you are over 20, staying in the same room is required for all-night gossip!
Our backyard terrace had a breath taking view. I sat outside staring out over the valley every day and hardly wanted to move. It was the perfect reading/writing/meditating spot. In Lebanon, a lot of people have a house down below for the school year, and then they come up into the mountains, to their summer vacation home, when it gets too hot. All I can say is - this is the life! If you want to find yourself - go on a vacation to the mountains of Lebanon.
Another perk of being in the mountain - and hindrance at the same time - is that everyone knows everyone, and it will be known that you are not from around there. Which is fine, all we had to say was: bint (daughter of) Robby, bint Ralph, bint Moussi, and everyone knew who we were. In order to be somebody you need to have a long line of family aparently. Fine with me, that just means I belong. And you really don't have to explain very much after you have said those few words. It is known - you are Lebanese. And being Lebanese means you will be entertaining every day - whether you want to or not. The same way anyone you ask for directions or anything else will invite you in for coffee - you'd better invite anyone who walks past your house and greets you in as well. It is the neighborly thing to do. Tip: ALWAYS have coffee and sweets handy. You'll need them.
In the village, we quickly met shop owners, neighbors, and friends. We were there before summer started, so there wasn't that much nightlife when we first got there, but we amused ourselves walking around Hasroun (the next village over) and visiting all kinds of tourist attractions during the day. The thing to do around here, which is what we did in our last week mostly - is to go to Hasroun and join the women walking up and down while the men drive up and down in their cars. Our last three nights MiamiCousin, SurinameCousin and I would go sit on the terrace at Los Amigos, a bar/lounge in Hasroun, and just talk and people watch. And we would actually see the same 10 cars driving up and down 4 times. Too funny. We met some of them as well when there was a one man show in Los Amigos on the third night. My dad's reaction: 'O it is still the same!?' And mind you - he is talking about 30 years ago. It is comforting that some things will never change. Next time I visit Lebanon, I will go after summer has started, and I hope I can still go sit on the terrace at Los Amigos, and just watch the cars go by night after night while drinking my glass of wine and listening to the chatter of familiar voices. It's nice to know you instantly belong in a place where you have never even been.
Since it seems like this piece will never get posted if I keep waiting until I get a chance to upload those 'breathtaking views' I was taking about, I'm just going to post it. Pics to come with some later post I suppose.
=====================
08/22/09
On Day 2 we left the congested streets of Beirut behind and were off to Bazhoun - the village in the mountains where our family is from. Driving up there bordered terrifying, but I have decided that Lebanon traffic is getting a post all to itself. So for now, lets pretend we just teleported up to Bazhoun and got there safe and sound.
Our destination was this amazing 3 bedroom/2 bath grotto style home belonging to one of my uncles. South Africa Aunt greeted us and had the house stocked and ready. There were even seperate rooms for me and Cousin but we refused. What good is a vacation if you cannot have a sleepover? Even when you are over 20, staying in the same room is required for all-night gossip!
Our backyard terrace had a breath taking view. I sat outside staring out over the valley every day and hardly wanted to move. It was the perfect reading/writing/meditating spot. In Lebanon, a lot of people have a house down below for the school year, and then they come up into the mountains, to their summer vacation home, when it gets too hot. All I can say is - this is the life! If you want to find yourself - go on a vacation to the mountains of Lebanon.
Another perk of being in the mountain - and hindrance at the same time - is that everyone knows everyone, and it will be known that you are not from around there. Which is fine, all we had to say was: bint (daughter of) Robby, bint Ralph, bint Moussi, and everyone knew who we were. In order to be somebody you need to have a long line of family aparently. Fine with me, that just means I belong. And you really don't have to explain very much after you have said those few words. It is known - you are Lebanese. And being Lebanese means you will be entertaining every day - whether you want to or not. The same way anyone you ask for directions or anything else will invite you in for coffee - you'd better invite anyone who walks past your house and greets you in as well. It is the neighborly thing to do. Tip: ALWAYS have coffee and sweets handy. You'll need them.
In the village, we quickly met shop owners, neighbors, and friends. We were there before summer started, so there wasn't that much nightlife when we first got there, but we amused ourselves walking around Hasroun (the next village over) and visiting all kinds of tourist attractions during the day. The thing to do around here, which is what we did in our last week mostly - is to go to Hasroun and join the women walking up and down while the men drive up and down in their cars. Our last three nights MiamiCousin, SurinameCousin and I would go sit on the terrace at Los Amigos, a bar/lounge in Hasroun, and just talk and people watch. And we would actually see the same 10 cars driving up and down 4 times. Too funny. We met some of them as well when there was a one man show in Los Amigos on the third night. My dad's reaction: 'O it is still the same!?' And mind you - he is talking about 30 years ago. It is comforting that some things will never change. Next time I visit Lebanon, I will go after summer has started, and I hope I can still go sit on the terrace at Los Amigos, and just watch the cars go by night after night while drinking my glass of wine and listening to the chatter of familiar voices. It's nice to know you instantly belong in a place where you have never even been.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Can I be a student again please?!
Cousin and I visited the American University of Beirut before we left the city. All I have to say is – welcome
to a beautiful campus and CAN I GO HERE PLEASE?
The campus overlooks the ocean, has beautiful walking paths, amazing architecture, people I think I’d like as friends and it is in the middle of Beirut! Spoiled me could even have her McCafe cappuccino's across the street! The Business School recently got accredited and the new building sits right on the ocean.
Cousin and I are in LOVE.
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