Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 357

Goa, India: Here HAPPINESS is the choice

Everybody must have heard of Goa’s beaches, its churches, its greenery, cleanliness but what you would have not heard about would be its inner beauty. Having beautiful beaches is not the only claim to fame for Goa. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of hectic lifestyle which clutches the rest of India, this sun drenched Goa not only offers exceptional outer beauty to the tourists in the form of its beaches but also reminds us the real meaning of life which we  city people have forgot as we become modern in terms of technology.

Only after being through with all the specialties of Goa, I started wondering what is here that give a refreshing feeling to my soul, is it only goa’s greenery, beaches and its pollution free breeze? After a month long vacation I finally unraveled the mystery of unknown serenity and beauty of the city. Its goa’s lifestyle, its culture and most importantly its people who make goa different from the rest of India. Goa is much more modern than any other state in India. WHY? It does not have metro, luxurious airports, sky touching buildings, then how could it be more developed and modern? It is modern due to the thoughts of people, here is no discrimination on the basis of one’s caste, religion, gender and unlike rest of Indian cities women are not bound by the rude fences of customs. My driver, a Goan who was lively and contented like his other fellow goans, never hesitated to give his inputs about his birthplace. ”90% of people are literate in Goa,” he told me with his head held high. Whether this proclamation is true or not I do not know, but what I can claim is that around 99% of people are nature loving as while walking down the streets of goa, hardly any scrap of paper or wrappers could be found.

Nowadays, in the world of social networking, when people all over the world are always glued to either their smart phones or PC screens and do not have time for their families, Goans are social in real life, spending valuable time with their families . They are easy going, happy, friendly, loving and slow paced people in this fast paced world, who love their culture, food and of course their birthplace-Goa . They are not running a never ending rat race. These people will tell you that that they work so that they can earn a decent livelihood and can feed their families. They do not aspire to be billionaires as for them life is a vacation which has to be enjoyed not competed.

These people do not live in big apartments or houses, in a well-developed society with water, LPG facilities; they live in small self-built European style huts in the lap of nature as their houses are surrounded with long wild shrubs and trees. This ensures that at the end of the day nobody here can suffer from headache problem as the sea breeze which comes through the lush greenery refreshes and revive everybody’s soul and give a much needed peace to mind after whole day’s work. Though goan houses are foreign influenced, their Indian roots are quite evident through their lifestyle as like in Indian villages, Goans travel long distances to fetch water and firewood, students either travel on foot or on bicycles to reach their schools rather than travelling in school buses. This exhibits perfect blend of modernism with countryside.

After living in Goa the rat race of whole world seemed in vain to me. Since being a Delhite, I never pondered on the motive of life as everybody around me lives the same hectic life as if we are facing the brunt of all the problems in the world. But Goa taught me the actual motive of life which is to be happy. These people teach that only people with money and fame are not given the gift of happiness, but it’s a right of everyone, provided we accept it.  A question which continuously plays on my mind after witnessing goa’s lifestyle is that If life could be lived in this simple way, then why we people are unnecessarily complicating it, and are just running every day in an unknown competition to earn money, why can’t we also attach ourselves to the nature, leave social networking sites and be social in real so that at the end of the day we can have a peaceful sleep with our family. After all when happiness is a choice, why can’t we choose it?

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Getting to know the locals in Thailand

Around the world, Thailand is known as, “The land of smiles” for good reason.  No matter where you go within the kingdom, the people that you will meet are more than likely to welcome you with open arms.  They are famous for their welcoming nature, curiousness and carefree attitude towards life.  A common way to be greeted by Thais is by the question, “Have you eaten yet?” If the answer is no, more than likely, the party or person will invite you to join them in sharing any plate that they are eating.  Even if you’re on a tour to Thailand, the locals will be more than likely to invite you in and have a bite to eat.

Apartments can be a great place to meet people.  Unfortunately, many apartment complexes around the world have a locked entry followed by a hallway lined with apartments on each side.  There is no personal connection or anyway to really meet your neighbors or get to know anybody in the building.  Many people can live years not knowing their next door neighbor.  Not the apartment complex I lived in.  My apartment complex in Chiang Mai had a double door entryway that was unlocked 24 hours a day with a big lobby that had two or three couches as you walked in, along with a television set.  There was also a front desk and mail boxes.  The amazing thing was; no matter what time of day, whether it be morning, noon or night, there was almost always someone downstairs eating.  It was the perfect setting to make friends.

The first day I lived there was one I will never forget.  My wife (whom is Thai) and I had just arrived in Thailand after living in the USA and did not have any furniture, television or anything of value.  We had a suitcase full of clothes and that was it.  After getting settled in on the third floor, we wanted to explore the area to see what was around.  We got as far as the apartment lobby and didn’t leave for the rest of the day.  “Have you eaten yet?” was the first statement we heard after coming down.  In front of us was a group of 7-10 people that we had never met before in our lives.  Every one of them were looking at us waiting for us to answer.  We had planned on going out to eat but figured that if we were going to live in the apartment, we might as well meet whom we will be living next to and get to know everyone.  “No!” was our response and within seconds, space was made for us.  I had visited Thailand a few times before but looking back retrospectively, this was this moment that I fell in love with the country.  It wasn’t the scenery or the history, it was the culture and the food that made me never want to leave.

My “brother and sister” in Thailand

We planned on staying for ten to fifteen minutes to get to know everyone.  Of course this is Thailand and we were on “Thai time”.  Before we knew it, an hour and a half had passed.  This whole time, it seemed like the planned fifteen minutes of getting to know a few people.  In that hour and a half, we had eaten 3 different kinds of rice, at least 7 different dishes and more vegetables than we could handle.  By the time we said our goodbyes to retire to our room,  we met over twenty people whom had come and gone;  all joining in for a few minutes here or there, bringing food and leaving when they had their fill.

Within a week, I knew almost everybody in the apartment complex and had eaten pretty much every kind of food northern Thailand had to offer.  Because I had my own company, I worked from my apartment.  After a month of living there, I had made the lobby of the complex my office.  Because I had so much free time, I had become the baby sitter of the owner if they had errands to do.  I was the tutor if somebody needed help with their English homework.  If nobody was at the front desk, I would sign for packages.

I lived in that apartment complex for over three years.  I became great friends with so many of the people that I lived next to.  I watched two children grow older and now consider them the brother and sister I never had.  I would take them to the zoo, swimming or wherever they wanted to go if their parents had to go out for the day.  I ate hundreds, if not a thousand meals with my neighbors.  I was invited and went to festivals with my neighbors to all around the country that are not in guidebooks and got to experience many activities many foreigners have never had the pleasure of experiencing.

At one point, my wife wanted to get United States citizenship and in order for that to happen, I had to return to the states to sponsor her.  The day I left Thailand to return to the USA to go back to school, fifteen people accompanied me to the airport.

Even though I have not seen any of the people I got to know since returning to the USA, I still keep in contact with them on a weekly or monthly basis.  I made more friends in those three years than I have made at any other period in my life.  A part of that time period in my life rubbed off on me and always stuck.  I used to greet people with a simple, “hello”.  Today, if I plan on meeting somebody, I normally bring food with me along with the question, “have you eaten yet?”

Getting to know the locals is one of the best ways to see or visit any country.  By spending time with them, tourists can see the heart and soul of a destination instead of just seeing the sites that attract them to that area.

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Travel the world to come home

Travel over the years has been teaching me a long, slow lesson. More than teaching me languages or about culture and food and diversity, it has taught me about myself. At 18 years old, I was desperate to break out of the mold that had been made for me: the good student, the good daughter.

But me. Who was I? I had to leave to find out.

To find out that I was stronger than I thought I was. That I was crazy-independent. That my introverted self could be friendly and charming. That I could be alone with myself and love it. That I didn’t need what the world told me I must have to be happy: a boyfriend, a secure job, my own house. That beneath that surface, polished and designed, there was me. A real me, waiting to get out.

That I could depend on myself and that I was dependable. That I could even make bad choices, and still be a good person. That I loved learning and seeking and exploring and being.

Among other things that I learned, amongst the many places I lived, these moved me the most:

Where I learned freedom and independence: southern Italy.

Where I learned passion and adventure: Brazil.

Where I learned that joy and suffering are born from the same spot in my heart: Uganda.

It all culminates where I live now.

This place is different. This is the place where I finally started learning to love and accept myself. The place where I am becoming more whole. Mexico.

It is easy to get distracted by all the places I don’t yet know. I don’t live in a really exotic place—here that is often flooded by retirees from colder climes. How amazing would it be if I was writing about life in Burkina Faso? Or doing research in Kandahar? Or exploring more of South America? Or living it up in Kuala Lumpur? But no, I live my quiet life in a rural part of Mexico. Here in my town, I constitute the ex-pat community all by myself since my kids were too small to remember Canada, and now hablan of their hopes to one day see snow.

At times I’m nostalgic for my homeland, but here the wind blows softly through the big trees outside of my house, just like they did in my native land, and I still like riding my bike and drinking coffee. But here in Mexico, the two street dogs that wandered in and adopted me lay at my feet, the birds chatter, and my kids spend 12 months of the year playing outside, mostly in bare feet.

Mexico is sweet and soft for us. She is hospitable and loves children and soul searchers. She embraces us. She works hard all week and on Sundays she lets us rest with friends, tacos, beer and sunshine, with laugher in the kitchen while we make salsa and rice. There are bright orange butterflies that smile over my garden and I can watch them while I wash the dishes by hand and hang up laundry in the hot, dry sun. My hens scratch around the yard, with occasional squawks and flaps.

Mexico’s flavours are colourful, enlivened with lime and salt and cilantro. Sweet fruits and textures: the orange papaya, the red and green and orange prickly pears. The yellow bananas.

Yes, Mexico is sweet to me.

She allows me to grow more and more into myself, giving me the time and space to write and create—things that are hard to come by in my homeland.

I couldn’t imagine a better place to be right now. I’m so grateful for these moments, for this space which makes me feel unbelievably wealthy because it lets me be free, and be who I am becoming.

About the author:

Canadian born Lisa López Smith has lived and worked in Italy, Ireland, China, the USA, Brazil, and Uganda, but she currently makes her home with her family in rural Mexico.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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At The End Of The World in Argentina

Having succumbed to the sweltering heat in Buenos Aires, I can assure you that arriving at Ushuaia “The End of the World” Argentina in 45 degree Fahrenheit weather, wearing a t-shirt, sweat pants and flip flops was not the most pleasant feeling. I scurried off the plane and paused to look around at the scenery that encompassed Ushuaia International Airport. The plane had touched down on a strip of land so narrow that if the pilot had landed a few feet off course, surely the aircraft would have plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. The craggy, snowcapped Martial Mountain range loomed in the distance, looking ominous as ever. Grabbing my luggage off of the belt, I walked outside to find several tour agencies by the exit, one of which had a Magellan Penguin as its logo. 
In 1520, under the Spanish King Charles V’s command, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew embarked on a journey around the world. Upon finding Ushuaia, then inhabited by the aboriginal peoples, Magellan was fascinated by the vast land and primitive lifestyle of the natives. He nicknamed Ushuaia “Tierra del Fuego”, otherwise known as “Land of Fire” or “End of the World.” Once Ferdinand had made this expedition, many Indians were quickly plagued by untreatable diseases brought by the European settlers, and it was just a matter of time before their race became extinct. By the late 1800s, the Argentinian government had claimed this territory and began investing in seafood exporting, cattle ranching, and gold mining.
Of all the things I learned on my trip, the most bizarre would have to be that Ushuaians eat nothing but King Crab. I recalled going into town to eat dinner at what was perhaps the most popular crab shack in all of Argentina: Freddy’s seafood. During the 20 minute wait, I noticed the colossal crab tank placed smack dab in the middle of the restaurant. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor creatures, completely oblivious of their near brutal fate as someone’s dinner. The menu was nothing but a variety of King crab dishes; crab legs, crab soup, fried crab stuffed with even more crab on top of crab salad – you name it, Freddy had it. Although not particularly a fan of crabmeat, I found the food so appetizing that having to voraciously rip apart an entire crustacean with my bare hands did not strike me as the slightest bit primitive.
At 5 a.m. the following morning, I lethargically dragged myself out of bed, slumped downstairs to the breakfast hall where I met two Alaskan backpackers. They told my dad about how they had driven from Anchorage all the way to Ushuaia, a whopping 10,000 mile journey, in 3 months. “But why?” I wondered. Was it really worth a quarter year expedition just to visit some supposed “End of the World”? Isn’t the “End of the World” really Antarctica, anyway? Suddenly, it had occurred to me that I had underestimated the significance of this vacation. My mom had been bubbling with excitement ever since she had made the bookings 2 months ago, but I had just assumed that this would be another one of our “family holidays”. I never realized the amount of effort that some people had put into making this trip possible for themselves. Maybe it was the fact that I was only thirteen, but at that moment I realized that there were so many things in this world that I took for granted. I mean, how many other people my age had access to clean water, a proper education, or even a roof over their heads, let alone the opportunity to travel to one of revered destinations. With this in mind, I kept a positive attitude and looked forward to the rest of my stay in Ushuaia, Argentina.
As I made my journey to Tierra del Fuego in an open-air motorboat, the sharp wind whipped my face, leaving my lips raw and stinging. The further into Ushuaia I ventured, the more perilous the weather had gotten, and the more I longed to be back inside, lounging by a warm fire. Uncomfortable as I was, I knew that reaching the island would be an experience like no other, and it was the satisfaction of being able to say that I made it to the “End of the World” that kept me going. The island was inhabited by different penguin species such as the Antarctic King, Rockhopper, and the most famous; Magellan Penguin. A placard on the beach read “Fin del Mundo, Ushuaia”. I couldn’t believe my eyes; the beauty of it all was astonishing, and I was walking in the footsteps of some great explorers. I did it – I had reached the end of the world.

My name is Serra Sozen, and I am fourteen years old. I enjoy traveling frequently and have visited over 50 countries worldwide. My Turkish-Singaporean heritage allows me to embrace many different cultures and I am looking forward to participating in this contest.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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LOST AND FOUND IN THAILAND

 

 LOST AND FOUND IN THAILAND
    
    One scenario in my not so old life has just happened this year that really made me lost. Losing a baby in the womb and having a miscarriage for a woman like me is really a terrible and painful experience life could bring…
     I was really devastated, having regrets, and felt lost and down for this catastrophe that came my way couple of months ago.  And one more thing that made me so helpless was the thought that my husband was away when this happened. Coping without each other is really the hardest — cause he works as a seafarer and he is most of the time away from me and our eldest son. We live in the Philippines but the marine cargo vessel of my husband usually travels from China to Brazil and back and forth.
      But God has been so good all the time that early this year, their vessel was assigned to discharge cargoes in one province here in the Philippines.
          Since it was a great news for me and my four year old son, we instantly booked a plane ticket going to Cagayan De Oro to be with his dad.
           And alas! after our almost two months stay in the vessel, I became pregnant for the second time.  And no words can explain how happy we are when we found that I’m expecting.  And my son and I are both happy going back to Manila with the great news.
             During my first trimester check ups, it was always a good news and findings.  The baby was pretty good and healthy and it was a very good heartbeat.. I would pick out names in the internet and baby books, and excited for the baby’s gender.
              But nobody said it would be very easy and life sometimes is like an awful roller coaster..  Upon reaching my second trimester, everything has changed.  It was the daybreak of July 18 of this year when it happened.  I’ve lost the baby in my womb — there was no heartbeat anymore– and the little one inside me automatically went out of me.  I was in total darkness, those bright red blood running in the floor made me realized that our little happiness is gone..
                                   But God is so good all the time.  With the help of families and friends’ sympathies, prayers, and help, I was able to feel fine.  But still in grief.  Two months after recovering from an emotional and physical pain, I was still completely lost after all.  But somebody in my mind was telling me to make an escape to be able to completely heal my wounds and start a fresh new life.. So I have decided to book a ticket going to a nearby country.   And I’ve chosen to visit the kingdom of Thailand.
                 They say that “Destiny is both a matter of chance and choice.”  And I believed that I was really destined to visit the beautiful kingdom.
                   Their state of the art international airport created a great feeling on me during my arrival.  People and airport staff were very courteous and helpful. The impeccable airport interior design is so breath taking!  And then my long lost friend picked me up! I easily recognized her because of hearing her shouting my name out loud.  She is working there as a pre-school teacher.
                    The Kingdom of Thailand is really a must-see destination.  The people were very religious and they respect the King, and Queen, and Buddha, their God.  In visiting The Golden Buddha place in Wat Traimit, it was totally a great experience.  We went up to the temple barefooted as a sign of respect to their God.
                      Thailand is also a good place for shopping and dining. Tourists from different walks of life are everywhere especially in Bangkok.
                        Other beautiful attractions in Thailand are Chang Mai, where you can enjoy n elephant ride,  Pattaya, where goods are sold while riding on a boat,  The calm and beautiful beaches in Phuket, the state of the art architectural designs of Wat Aron as well as the other temples, and many many more.  I would say that Thailand is one of the best places on earth!
                        My stay became worthwhile and I really enjoyed my short vacation there.  And in that way, I felt good and okay after of that so much things that I’ve gone through.  I would say that I have found myself again after my lost..

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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The Father of Adventure Travel: Richard Bangs

Richard Bangs is a judge for the We Said Go Travel Gratitude Writing Contest. Share your story in our sixth international contest. Enter now until Thanksgiving. This story about him is from Outside Magazine. Sponsored by Tudor.

The Father of Adventure Travel: Richard Bangs
For more than 40 years, no one has done more to shine a light on the globe’s most intriguing corners for workaday adventurers than Richard Bangs. Now 64, the father of American adventure travel is proof that old-school adventure is as alive as ever.





604SHARES

    Photo: Didrik Johnck

Every once in a while, in every industry, there comes along a game changer. One whose ideas, innovation, and, most important, courage take ordinary people into extraordinary new worlds, sending them home with epic tales of wonder and triumph. These true adventurers brave harsh and often hostile environments to pave the way for new frontiers. Their stories, told around campfires in the wilderness, inspire millions of others to pioneer their own paths. This legend, commonly referred to as the father of adventure travel, carries with him a certain admiration that rubs off on the many who follow him into the most remote regions of the world …

The Big Bangs Effect

The adventurer wore cutoff jeans, a T-shirt, and an old leather belt as he piloted the raft down one of Africa’s more treacherous rivers. Out there, the three best tools a man could carry dangled from around his waist. Pliers could tighten the boat’s stubborn valves and hoist a hot Dutch oven out of the coals. The Buck knife made quick work of rope, meat, and wood. A metal cup with a hook-shaped handle marked him as a genuine river man. It was as functional as it was iconic, a vessel for breakfast gruel and evening drinks. Get thirsty during the day and straight into the river it’d go.

 

This river, the Awash, was no place for soft men. It was 1973, Ethiopia, a country on the verge of civil war. You couldn’t just browse a catalog and buy a trip like this. You needed friends in embassies to hold your gear and muscles to load it onto the tops of rickety buses. No Western adventurer had ever been down the Awash, a 750-mile lick of big water muscling through the Horn of Africa. There were hippos and crocodiles and venomous snakes. The land was unforgiving and harsh.

This adventurer, Richard Bangs, felt at home in such a place, he was a curious man who would later become a lion in the adventure world. His passion for seeking out unknown rivers and magnificent cultures was outdone only by his desire to let others share in those authentic discoveries, too. If adventure travel has an American legend alive today, Bangs is it.

 

Read the full article on Outside Magazine. Sponsored by Tudor

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What America Means to Me

America is a tired farmer wiping sweat from his brow as he sits on a flatbed of hay that he’s baled in a central Indiana field.

America is the timeless beauty of the orange Texas sun glowing down on the ageless bricks of the Alamo at dusk.

America is a child with a red face full of Italian Ice swaying her heels as she looks at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York

America is a jazz procession following a casket in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

America is a proud old man thanking a soldier in an airport for fighting for all our freedoms.

America is high school kids with painted faces waiting for kickoff under the Friday night lights.

America is an under appreciated saxophone player wailing away on a street corner. He’s playing for a few dollars and the joy of sharing his talent with passers by.

America is a Mom giving her girl a kiss good bye as she walks into the same school mom attended years ago.

America is catching a whiff of smoked barbecue as you approach a street fair in Kansas City.

America is a determined mountain biker negotiating the rugged red rocks in Moab, Utah

America is a man with a straw hat and a freshly rolled cigar taking a puff as he strolls down the streets of Tampa.

America is a family sitting on Adirondack chairs in Maine peering at the Atlantic Ocean.

America is another family walking past dunes and willow weeds to a beach on Carolina’s Outer Banks.

America is the bells clacking on a cable car in San Francisco or a ferry boat horn blaring in Puget Sound Washington

America is a freshly painted church with a tall steeple standing in front of the shadows of a Wyoming mountain range

America is a flannel clad fisherman in Minnesota with an old fishing pole and two buckets. One bucket has bait in it, the other holds three rainbow trout.

America is a smiling teacher because she has a new smart board to show off.

America is a fountain on the town square in Savannah Georgia or two grand lions guarding the Chicago Art Institute.

America is lighthouses on each shore that have stood the test of time and guided sailors towards their destination.

America is Grandma sharing stories as she rocks on a wrap around porch in rural Virginia.

America is two twenty year olds in a coffee shop in Portland texting over lattes.

Americas is a corn hole game in Iowa and a pig Roast in Mississippi

America is a diner on Route 66 with miniature jukeboxes at every booth

America is seeing Buffalo roam free as you approach the mountains near Aspen, Colorado

America is a mechanic walking into a 50 year old hardware store in Idaho and coming out with a toolbox and a bottle of Coca-Cola.

America is an eagle soaring above the Alaskan wilderness.

America is a brother pulling his siblings in a wooden Radio Flyer wagon..

America is garage sale signs going up on Thursday night and coming down on Sunday

America is hundreds of tourists running up the steps of the Art Museum in Philadelphia just like Rocky did!

America is a surfer applying wax to his board as he prepares to catch waves on Waikiki Beach

America is coaches teaching kids in baggy baseball pants how to field grounders.

America is a red white and blue barber pole spinning around.

America is a chestnut colored horse running in front of a never ending white fence near Lexington Kentucky

America is moss hanging from trees in the low country of South Carolina.

America is scurrying through the arts district of Santa Fe as a lady hand paints pottery

America is a throng on the pier of Key West watching a reggae band and admiring the sunset

America is a Moose and her two baby moose wading in the water in Northern Montana

America is a Black Bear cub grabbing berries in the solitude of the Smokey Mountains

America is a little boy standing atop a hill in Ohio where the Wright Brothers tested their first glider imagining how it was way back when

America is a little girl reading a Laura Ingalls-Wilder book and telling her mom about life on the prairie as mom smiles back recalling memories of that same book

This is just a snippet of the America I know and love

It’s an imperfect collection of interesting places, inspiring monuments, beautiful scenery and fascinating towns.

Every day I am thankful that America is my home

As the saying goes “the best thing about a home is the people in it.”

That’s what makes America so great, the people that are in it!

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Living Beyond Breast Cancer: “We Can Survive” Concert Oct 24

STAR-STUDDED “WE CAN SURVIVE” CONCERT
AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL TO BENEFIT
LIVING BEYOND BREAST CANCER
OCTOBER 24. 2014 #WCS

Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Iggy Azalea, Alicia Keys, Sia, Paramore and Lady Antebellum

and Gwen Stefani to Headline

 

Join me at the We Can Survive Concert presented by 5-hour ENERGY and CBS Radio benefiting Living Beyond Breast Cancer at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

The concert has an incredible lineup of artists including Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Sia, Paramore, Lady Antebellum and will include a special performance by Gwen Stefani. A $25,000 donation will be made to LBBC to further their mission of connecting people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support.

In addition to funds, the We Can Survive concert will raise awareness of and involvement in LBBC’s mission of connecting people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. LBBC offers programs, materials, yoga events across the country and more to help women at all stages of diagnosis.

About Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. Founded in 1991, LBBC  addresses the current needs of people affected by breast cancer, whether they are newly diagnosed, in treatment, recovery or living with a history of or managing a metastatic form of the disease.

Resources are developed in collaboration with the nation’s leading oncologists, health professionals and ally organizations and are delivered by people who understand the physical and emotional complexities of breast cancer. LBBC offers its programs and services in a variety of formats, in person, and through its toll-free Breast Cancer Helpline. For more information, visit www.lbbc.org and on Twitter @LivingBeyondBC

 

We Can Survive 2014:
What Have the Performers BeenUp To?


Taylor Swift

 

The last few weeks for Taylor Swift have been her biggest in eons. We already have heard three songs at her new album 1989 — “Shake It Off”, “Out of the Woods” and “Welcome to New York” — in addition to various secret pizza parties and listening sessions for her fans. She already said she’d be playing new songs at We Can Survive. Will it be one we haven’t heard yet? Jack Antonoff told usin an interview that he worked on another song on her album 1989. Maybe that’ll be the one.

Pharrell Williams

 

Ever since storming back into the spotlight in a big way with “Happy,” all while wearing the most memorable hat of the year, Pharrell has become a more literal household name by manning a chair on The Voice. Live, he has made noteworthy appearances at the NFL’s opening game and willheadline the upcoming Odd Future Carnival in November. Where he finds the time to make music videos like the one for “It Girl” is anyone’s guess.

Ariana Grande

 

My Everything is only two months old, but it is safe to say that 2014 has been Ariana Grande‘s breakout year, and not just in music. From her SNL season premiere appearance and an upcoming role in the animated Underdogs to her hilarious spot on Ellen and her pitching of water, Grande has found countless ways to into our homes and hearts. But if you think that makes her massive winter tour an afterthought, you’d be dead wrong.

Lady Antebellum

 

Lady Antebellum have been busy since and leading up to the release of their new album 747 on Sept. 30, their sixth LP. But the lead-up to the album saw a bevy of promotion in terms of music videos (“I Did For You”) and advance songs (“Freestyle”). They even sat down to talk withRadio.com about leaving their comfort zone. And We Can Survive isn’t the only recent instance of the country stars giving back, as they recently set forth fulfilling seven fans wishes in seven days.

Iggy Azalea

 

We Can Survive isn’t the exploding Australian rap star Iggy Azalea‘s only high profile appearance in the coming days. The very next day, she will be premiering a new song on Saturday Night Live. And though she is making headlines with a different upcoming new song featuring Ellie Goulding and aco-starring music video with Jennifer Lopez, Azalea hasn’t lost sight of her fans, as demonstrated by her recent “Doing the Gopher” at the University of Minnesota. Did we mention she led all AMA nominees with six nods? Yeah, it’s Iggy’s world and we just live in it.

Paramore

 

It’s been a year and a half since the Hayley Williams-led band Paramore delivered their self-titled fourth LP, but that hasn’t kept the Tennessee natives from making headlines. There was Williams’ collaboration with Zedd on “Stay the Night,” videos for “Ain’t It Fun” and “Daydreaming,” and aheartfelt live tribute to Robin Williams at a Denver concert. Thought their WCS appearance will undoubtedly celebrate their past, it’s just about getting time that we can start talking about what’s next for Paramore.

Sia

 

While many WCS performers are celebrating career years, Sia‘s may have been the longest in the works. After years of steadily rising, the Australian pop star and songwriter finally landed her first No. 1 album with 1000 Forms of Fear in July. Since, she has collaborated with Eminem, seen Lena Dunham dance for her song and has been remixed by Blood Orange. A slot at WCS is just icing on the cake.

Gwen Stefani

 

No Doubt frontwoman and solo star in her own right, Gwen Stefani has returned to the spotlight of late, both with her latest solo material (recent single “Baby Don’t Lie”), a collaboration with Maroon 5 on “My Heart Is Open,” and joining the cast of The Voice. Between all of that, she has found time for fun, lip syncing with fellow Voice-er Blake Shelton on The Tonight Show. And though her next album has yet to be announced, it will likely be soon, and is expected to  feature work from fellow WCS performer Pharrell.

Alicia Keys

 

Of all the performers for We Can Survive, the most recent lineup addition, Alicia Keys is the quietest as far as making headlines at the moment. But that doesn’t mean Keys isn’t busy. Word is she is working on her next album, which she is aiming to use it to empower women. She has also recently contributed to Pharrell’s latest album, as well as the last Spiderman soundtrack, and released a music video for “We Are Here.”

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India: If Not Now, Then When

India: If Not Now, Then When

“Excuse me miss, are you travelling by yourself?” he asked.

“Yes”, she replied rather vehemently.

A tiny voice inside her head murmuring out aloud reminding her that this was such a contrast to the somewhat awkward self-conscious girl she once was. That was two years ago.

In an ‘if not now then when’ moment that occurred to her seemingly very randomly she decided she would give solo travelling a shot. She was all of 24. A woman. An Indian. In India.

A 24 year old Indian female travelling solo in India was not widely heard of. She knew no one in her close immediate or even wide open circle who’d gone down this path.

All she knew then is that she had travel on her mind.

So she put a plan in place. Her destination would be a quiet, quaint beach she recalled driving past as a child during their family road trips – Trasi in Karnataka, India unknown to most is on the west coast and is also known for its turtle nestlings (although there wouldn’t be turtle or turtle hatchlings in October).

In a week’s time she her map in place – her train tickets were booked and so were her stay arrangements; independently managed with the only recommendations coming in from the Internet. And with that she was off to be in her own company for five whole days in a new place; her first time ever.

And she did well.

She learnt to be comfortable in her own company; that ‘sitting by yourself doing nothing’ was an art, an art that demanded to be mastered.

In the course of this mastery, she learnt to tune out of herself and into the world around her – that of her fellow travellers, the staff at her B&B, the kids she met as she’s walk along the shore.

More importantly she learnt to be comfortable in the company of the unknown – be it places or people. And she learnt that she’d have to teach people to be comfortable around a solo traveller.

In turn she learned to trust – herself and her instincts.

The girl who never dared look anyone in the eye;

who seldom, if ever, spoke with any authority in her voice;

who was awkward and too self-conscious of the world around her to then simply be herself

who depended on a someone to tag along with to go anywhere, turned to parents to figure out and deal with vacation plans;

who struggled to find the time she craved so much for to just read, write, dream;

who thought that being and living in the moment were merely feel good phrases for self-help books to claim to be bestsellers

…began to find herself. And she has been pleasantly surprised since then.

She returned with new knowledge; knowledge that didn’t seem to exist in any book or newspaper she’d read: the world around her could be a good place filled with good intentioned people.

So today, two years later on another solo trip, when two men are looking around a bustling restaurant for a table to sit at to enjoy a couple of beers or a woman with her family of five is baffled over a singular entity occupying an entire table while they had no else to go, she is a solo female traveller comfortable in her own skin with her own pace. She looks back at that girl who returned a hero i.e. a truer version of herself and for that she is grateful to that nondescript beach.

 

Because she is me.

About the author:

Elita hasn’t looked back since that day she travelled solo for the first time. She has since travelled around India and to Bhutan by herself as well as with groups (making friends out of strangers) and has gotten better at making travel plans with friends (who were the sole reason for her going solo in the first place). For her, writing and blogging about her travels is not only a form of expression to be shared with everyone else but also an opportunity to relive her travels once more, albeit through words. Find her at nomadicthunker @NomadicThunker

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Revisiting Hong Kong and Its (Disappearing) Neon Signs

I still remember my first impressions of Hong Kong. Racing through Kowloon in the back seat of a red taxi at midnight in 1990, I saw the neon. Bright and colorful, flashing and still, the neon signs peered at me through the side streets as my taxi made its way to the quiet of the New Territories, Hong Kong’s countryside.

I wouldn’t live among the neon that year or the other four years I spent in Hong Kong that decade, but it didn’t take me long to journey to the densely-populated areas where neon signs defined both major avenues and smaller side streets. I loved Hong Kong’s neon signs so much that I even discussed them in the opening chapter of my memoir, Good Chinese Wife.

Before I made a recent trip back there with my husband, I had read about the dying art of neon signs there. The old neon signs are being replaced by newer LED lights. And the artists who work with neon are retiring and there just isn’t the interest among the newer generations.

So I set out to take a look for myself last week in Hong Kong.

What I found was troubling. Streets either looked like this, with LED lights and no neon in sight.

Or like this, with one neon sign per street.

As I looked around Hong Kong Island, I continued to see very little neon.

And even in Kowloon, it was difficult to find a lot of neon.

Neon signs have been a part of Hong Kong from before my mother first traveled there in 1962. In Good Chinese Wife, I write about walking around Hong Kong and imaging my mom and her family there thirty years earlier.

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 9: Honeymoon in Hong Kong:

As man and wife, Cai and I headed for an abbreviated honeymoon in Tsim Sha Tsui, the district that sits at the tip of the Kowloon Peninsula. We were staying at the Miramar Hotel on Nathan Road, only a mile up from the waterfront promenade that overlooks what I consider to be the most breathtaking skyline in the world. My mom and her family usually stayed in the same area. The Miramar was a popular hotel back then, but I had never heard any of my family members speak of it. Still, I pictured them walking down this street thirty years earlier, dressed in suits and shift dresses, and poking their heads into the tailors and jewelry shops that lined the road. 

Among the traffic congestion and crowds of students, pajama-clad grannies, and tough teenage boys with blond-tipped hair, Cai and I slowly inched our way from the Jordan train station south toward the hotel. I felt graceful and special holding Cai’s hand. We had not spent much time in this area together, although it was one of my favorite spots in Hong Kong. 

While I didn’t write about neon lights in this excerpt, they were everywhere in the district I describe above. At night, the Tsim Sha Tsui area came alive because of the colorful neon signs on Nathan Road–the main street–as well as the side streets that twisted around this densely-populated area.

Back then it was a given that this and other urban areas were adorned by neon signs. That’s not the case now. I now wonder how much neon will be left the next time I visit Hong Kong.

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