Stuffing The World In My Suitcase

laurenemiko — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:03:50 +0000

applied to BoH specialist position on 7/26/11 Darcy should email for interview.

i got letters!!!

laurenemiko — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:02:39 +0000

I was so happy to get letters from my vicarious voyage kids today! Some of them even drew me pictures and typed out letters

I even got a letter from theta last week too! I really wish I could be in two places at once but I will be back soon!
<3

Cape Town, South Africa

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:54:11 +0000

City Sights

Desmond Tutu’s church

Yup i do miss Chapman

So, we decided to climb table mountain. It was a long and hard hike, almost 2 hours long.

The lady at the tour bus station said this was the trail to take! …it’s supposed to be the easiest…

5 Min in…

1 hour in… The view of the ocean and cape town

Still half way to go…

There has to be over a million steps up this mountain

View from the top feels so much better when you’ve hiked it.

The most beautiful place on earth

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:18:31 +0000

“you gather the idea that Mauritius was created first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius” – Mark Twain

Mauritius really is beautiful

We stayed in a Villa overnight and went out on a boat to go undersea walking the next morning. Two days was not long enough to enjoy what Mauritius had to offer. They spoke amazing french, english, and had their own creole.

(i put together two couches to make a little bed for myself at the villa)

Click to view slideshow.

Mauritius

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:00:27 +0000

First day Volcanic Island tour…

Ganga Talao – Hindu Temple

Largest Shiva Statue in the world (i think)

Black Gorges National Park and Chamarel Waterfall

Some tortoises and the beautiful beach

Click to view slideshow.

Neptune Day

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:50:45 +0000

Crossing the equator for the first time! Thus we must go through a ridiculous ceremony and cancel class.

Budding young adverturers get ready to part with their lovely locks

some even get it all shaved off

the rest of us crowd around and watch. Altogether a great day

Last Day in India – Cochin

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:29:04 +0000

Cochin was fun. We got to ride in our own Ferrari all day. Had a few stops along the way at a fabric and spice shop and saw some goats on the sidewalk. Lunch at Dal Roti was delicious! Lonely Planet Guide book was completely right…it is cochin’s best restaurant.

Delhi

laurenemiko — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:15:29 +0000

The Taj was great and Delhi was also full of nice surprises. We started the day by visiting a mosque and had to get dressed up in a bright flower patterned dress to enter into the mosque. We paid to climb to the top of one of the minarets and saw the whole city. A lot of people live in Delhi: apartment buildings went on and on into the distance until the fog covered them up on the horizon and i couldn’t see any further.

Gandhi’s Memorial.

I thought it interesting they were using a Japanese drum instrument… in India

Mommy and baby monkey

These buildings were ornately decorated with verses from the Quran

Mogul architecture at its finest

The minaret, a stunning piece of history. The King was going to build a bigger one, but was assassinated before he was able to complete the project.

A lot of the surrounding buildings were falling apart, roofs had collapsed, pillars were knocked over, and looked much like the ruins of an ancient civilization.

It was also quite tall

The lady in the red saree had such a beautiful outfit that sparkled in the sun as she walked out of the complex. She also had beautiful, long dark hair…I think my hair is almost that long, just needs to grow a few more inches.

Agra, India – the Taj and so much more

laurenemiko — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:54:55 +0000

The Taj Mahal. It’s even better close up.

Standing on the taj with my booties

caligraphy designs on the entrance.

Agra Fort

Mogul Architecture

Making marble tables by hand

Chennai, India

laurenemiko — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:37:14 +0000

Hello Chennai! They rolled out the red carpet for us.

Yup still in the same boat. It got a lot dirtier after india. Chennai was really dusty, dirt loved collecting all over my face.

welcome reception dancers wore elaborate jewelry and clothes that were so pretty

Tamil Nadu Hindu Temple

Tamil script

The temple gate was so tall, colorful, and elaborately carved.

They even had some holy cows

Indian tuk tuks … always a great ride

Second Day in Chennai, we flew out to Delhi that night. Jet Airways has to be the most efficient airline ever. We had such a quick take off and nice landing. The food was wonderful too … I really liked the dessert and the rice.