#2013epic

[singlewomantravels]

How to find Normalcy while Traveling!

Sifting through my receipts and ticket stubs from my 2013 Epic Journey, I came across my movie ticket for "Life of Pi". This little piece of paper triggered a landslide of memories and emotions...

The day had started off "normal" - travel normal.

My bus arrived at Terminal Valdivia on time and the helpful staff at the Information center provided me with maps and information I needed to walk to my nearby hostel. The staff at the hostel gave me the directions to the famous Fish market and the supermarket, Unimarc. All the stars were lining up for me. I was on my way to find a late lunch (early dinner) and explore Valdivia!

Seafood for sale at Valdivia Fish market

The exchange rate is about $1 CAD = $500 CLP.  Chile can be a very, very affordable country to visit!

Fresh produce at Valdivia Fish market

Seals, cormorant, vultures and seagulls feast at Valdivia Fish market

Catch of the Day - Sea urchin at Fish market of Valdivia, Chile

My friends who LOVE to order Uni in Japanese restaurants would call this place Heaven right about now! I don't think Uni (sea urchin in Japanese) gets anymore fresher than this.

Fresh sea urchin at Fish market in Valdivia, Chile

I settled myself at a nearby restaurant and enjoyed a seafood lunch-dinner!

My seafood meal at La Perla del Sur in Valdivia

After the meal, I checked out the Municipal market and found a wide range of goods, handicrafts and souvenirs for sale.

Entrance to Mercado Municipal of Valdivia, Chile

Inside Mercado Municipal of Valdivia

It was surprising how fast and efficient they cleared out of the market by about 5 pm.

End of day at Valdivia Fish market

End of day at fish market in Valdivia, Chile

Then I tried a famous traditional Chilean summer time non-alcoholic drink - Mote con huesillos, made from peaches and wheat. It is delicious and I became an instant fan! I even became friends with the vendors, Carlie and Daniela.

Mote con huesillos vendor in Valdivia, Chile

Mote con huesillos - traditional Chilean non-alcoholic summer time drink

What I wasn't prepared for was the sight of the "Golden Arches". This marks a shift in my "travel normal" day, which was the new normal until the sighting...

First glorious sight of the Golden Arches - McDonald's in Valdivia, Chile

I am aware of the fact that McDonald's offers unhealthy fast food. However, no one can deny it that it is many children's homing beacon. I grew up with McDonald's in Hong Kong and Winnipeg - it is ingrained in every cell of my body. When I saw the Golden arches, waves of unknown, unforeseen homesickness overwhelmed me. The familiarity. My comfort food.

The Golden arches reminded me of home, of my family, of my friends, of the life I left behind in Toronto.

It has only been 6 weeks, how will I survive traveling on my own for another 6.5 months!?!

***

Have I been on the road for this long before?  Yes, I traveled for 6 weeks straight in Australia back in 2009, in lieu with 1 month stay in Hong Kong.

Did I miss my life and my friends back in Toronto, Canada?  Heck yeah! I missed everything that's close to normalcy.

Was I homesick at this point?!  I did not realize it until I saw the famous "Golden arches"...

***

I did not make a mad dash to McDonald's and feed my emotions. Instead, I kept walking and exploring Valdivia. The Universe decided to reward me alternatively. I found Mall Plaza de Los Ríos!! I struck GOLD!! Well that's what it felt like to me. In contrast to the hot summer sun, I found air conditioning and McDonald's ice cream cone and movies!

The familiarity - walking mindlessly in a mall, non-descript stores offering familiar international and local brands. What have I become!? How warped is it a mindset that walking inside shopping mall gives me comfort?!

I gave myself what I needed at the time - normalcy.

Inside Mall Plaza de Los Ríos, Valdivia, Chile

Fireworks exploded in my mind when I saw Cineplanet! I love, love watching movies on the big screen! This was the first movie theatre I've seen in 6 weeks time. I hoped for a movie with English subtitles but timing did not work out with any movie. So I watched "Life of Pi" in Spanish. It is a movie with amazing images and it did not matter to me that I couldn't understand most of the dialogue in the movie. I was just floating on cloud 9 that it cost me less than $4 CAD to watch a movie and lessen my homesickness.

3D Movie - Life of Pi poster in Spanish

After the movie, all the stores in the mall were closed except for a few vendors in the food court.

Food court inside Mall Plaza de Los Ríos at night after a movie

To further conquer homesickness, I resorted to eating fast food at the food court of Mall Plaza de Los Ríos.

KFC meal in Mall Plaza de Los Ríos, Valdivia, Chile

Homesickness can be frequent and painful to deal with while traveling solo for an extended period of time. With the advent of modern technologies, it has alleviated many bouts of homesickness for me. A quick text message on Viber or WhatsApp. A quick phone call on Skype or Viber. Human connections with those I love and care for help lessen homesickness and lets them know I am safe and sound. Win-Win.

While traveling in nature can make human connections a bit more difficult, carrying photos or mementos of loved ones has helped me greatly.

How have you handled homesickness? Share with me so we can learn from each other :-)

[singlewomantravels]

Day trip to Jogjakarta, Indonesia : Part 2 Lunch break!

Passengers in public transit bus in Jogja, Indonesia

After my visit to Prambanan, I walked back to the Trans Jogja bus station and people watched. Life in this part of Indonesia is much different than the tourist saturated Bali. I mean there were plenty of tourists at Prambanan, but they were no where to be found at the local bus station which is only a short walk away. Perhaps, not too many foreigners venture to Prambanan on their own - like myself.

As my dehydration headache subsided, I caught the next bus and headed into the city of Jogjakarta, lovingly know as Jogja. I also took the chance for a quick nap while on the bus. I know I know - I must be crazy to close my eyes on a strange bus, in a strange city, in a strange country. But a girl has gotta do what a girl has got to do, I rested my head on my daypack (with the zipper side facing me). When I need a nap, even just a 5 minutes shut-eye does wonders.

When I woke up from my nap, I remembered what the information desk lady told me back at the airport, get off at Jalan Malioboro and I will find lots of great food and souvenirs. So I chatted with a fellow passenger and he assured me that I am headed in the correct direction and there are 2 bus stops I can choose from on that street. I still remember how crowded the bus became as we got closer and closer to the heart of the city. Then literally we ALL got off at the first stop on Jalan Malioboro.

The elevated bus stops is something uncommon for me, I kept fearing someone will get pushed off from the platform when we pulled up. For some strange reason, the bus door is at least 2 feet off the ground and instead of having steps, all the bus stops are elevated platforms. I haven't seen this in all the cities I have traveled to at this point in time - so I naturally had to take a photo.

Public bus stop close to Prambanan in Jogja, Indonesia

Once I stepped off the bus onto the elevated platform, I was surrounded by people trying to get on the bus. Talk about "Wake me up!" I thought it would be less crowded once I stepped onto the sidewalk but it did not get better. Don't get me wrong, the street is very wide and accommodates multi-lane traffic with very wide sidewalks, but people were just everywhere. It felt like a weekend, instead of a Monday, perhaps it was a public holiday.

As I walked alone the sidewalk, a man approached me and ask if I need help. My mind starts churning 1000 miles an hour, the skepticism, the frightful solo traveler became alert. My mind decided to think negative thoughts instead of positive thoughts - "Is he trying to sell me something?" "Do I look lost??" "Do I look THAT out of place? Guess my daypack is a bit out of the ordinary." Lo and behold, he was just simply a kind man, wanting to advertise the Jogjakarta Art Festival. Now I remember the lady at the info desk mentioning this event and this man is simply directing me to the closing ceremony. I thanked him for the information and kept walking forward, which also is the direction he wanted me to walk towards. However, I had to focus on the most important task at hand - Fill my tummy with delicious food!

There was plenty of street food available but I wanted some air conditioning to cool my body. Luckily I found THE mall of Jogjakarta - Mal Malioboro. I found everything I needed at that moment in time - clean bathroom facilities, air conditioning and plenty of restaurants!

Street food on Jalan Malioboro in Jogja, Indonesia

Parking attendant guarding hundreds of scooters in Jogja, Indonesia

Balloon vendor at entrance to Malioboro shopping mall

Indonesian cuisine with China made chopsticks

When all my physical body needs were met, I ventured back outside to check out the Art festival and find my bus stop to catch the bus to Borobudur.

Jogyakarta Art Festival on Jalan Malioboro 2013 in Indonesia

Artwork showcased at Jogja art festival 2013 on Jalan Malioboro

Jogja art festival 2013 in Jogyakarta, Indonesia

Kampung ketandan - Gate of Chinatown in Jogjakarta, Indonesia

On my  way to the bus stop, I even found the local post office so I could send postcards back to Canada! What a bonus!

Now stay tuned for Part 3 of my Day trip to Jogjakarta to find out what happened at Borobudur and my thoughts of this crazy long day trip.

[singlewomantravels]

Why visit Antarctica?! Reason No.3

Typically when someone mentions Polar expeditions, the word COLD / FREEZING COLD would pop up in conversation. As recent as August 2010, the temperature in Antarctica hit am all time low of -94.7C (-135.8F). However, with the recent Polar vortex dipping South along the Eastern seaboard in North America, Antarctica seems like a winter escape!

As those in the Southern Hemisphere enjoy Summer, expedition tours to Antarctica are in full swing - sometimes visiting Falkland islands and South Georgia islands along the way. The travel season to this region starts in early November and continue until March with departures typically from Ushuaia, Argentina and Invercargill, New Zealand.

Amongst the many tour companies, I chose to ring in 2013 aboard the Ocean Diamond which is operated by Quark Expedition. We departed from Ushuaia, Argentina and traveled through the Beagle Channel towards Isla Malvinas (Falkland Islands), South Georgia islands and the Antarctica peninsula. The voyage took 18 days and I enjoyed every minute of it.

It was a very special experience to welcome a new year in the middle of the ocean (between the Falklands and South Georgia) with a bunch of like-minded travelers, headed towards the 7th continent, as a single woman. Sometimes it can be tough to celebrate a special day, alone while traveling solo. However, this time around, I was surrounded by new friends and was part of the fun and celebration.

The views from the ship and from land made my jaw drop, repeatedly. On many occasion, I wish I had better photographic skills to do better justice. I did my best to capture the moment and atmosphere and hope you enjoy the view.

Sun rises at 4am in the Antarctic in early January.

Deception island has pockets of geothermal activity, an abandoned whaling station and cute penguins.

Deception island has pockets of geothermal activity, and an abandoned whaling station with giant storage tanks.

A stunning landscape of Antarctica and iceberg as reflected on the water surface.

Waving farewell to Antarctica.

The beginning of sunset, close to midnight as we head back to South America.

Sunset at midnight in Antarctica.

[singlewomantravels]

It's cold outside...

To commemorate the coldest day I've experienced while living in Toronto (Jan 3 2013 @ 7:19am -23C, feeling like -39C with windchill) - let's check out my recent journey to Antarctica!

Antarctica is the last continent for me to visit on this great planet of ours. I had decided to go big or stay home and chose the 18 day journey with Ocean Diamond, a ship that carries about 190 passengers, operated by Quark expedition. On this journey we visited the Falklands and South Georgia Islands.Prior to the departure, one activity I wasn't sure if I was going to participate was the Polar plunge. Well, to say the least, when the time came, I went for it! (I'm the one at bottom left corner with the green & white bikini) This is definitely something to remember for the rest of my life!

The water did not feel all that cold. It was the exiting that felt the coldest, especially when my skin is still damp and a cool breeze blows by.

On Jan 8 2013, I froze a bit to participate in the polar plunge off Deception Island

For a person who grew up in Winnipeg, Canada - I knew I could handle the cold. At the same rate, I was there during their Summer season, so the weather was very pleasant. The days that we took the zodiac onto the Antarctic peninsula, we typically would walk around and hike up the hill for a better view. Whenever we did a hike, I would be cooking hot inside the bright yellow parka provided by the tour company. A few times when I took off the jacket, steam could be seen rising from the jacket.

Hiking up to the ridge at Orne Harbour, Antarctica

The view from the ridge (Orne Harbour, Antarctica)

Decending from the ridge...

Taking a break after making a snow angel

The landscapes I came across was truly a feast for the eyes. I try to do justice with my photos, so I hope I have conveyed 10% of the stunning beauty that the Antarctic has to offer. I think I'll have to just keep posting more photos to convey the message. Stay warm - if you live in the Northern Hemisphere!

[ebonyjofficial]

Had a #Lunchdate with #punchingBob today #Toning #Stayingfit # healthylifestyle #Strength #Everydayroutine #Beststressreliever #DontbegoodBEGREAT #Bethebestyou #workhard #staydisciplined #Stayfocused #Shareyourtestimony #KeepGOD1st making #2013epic

[ebonyjofficial]

Happy #fashionfriday #Gems & #Gents! #faithhopelove #FaithwithoutworksisDEAD #Presidential #AdifferentBreed #withGODnothingisimpossible #Noturningback #Fashion #Green #Success #Boss making my #2013epic

[singlewomantravels]

Looking forward - Exactly 1 month today, I'll be in #NYC, one of my favourite places to visit! Looking forward to good times with familiar faces and hopefully meeting some new ones. Looking back - Exactly 10 months ago, I landed in Ushuaia and was looking forward to board #Quark Expedition's Ocean Diamond to step foot on my 7th continent - Antarctic and start my 8 months #Epic #Journey. #Change is scary. #ChangeisaGoodThing.

[ebonyjofficial]

#Tbt #2006 #EBONYJ #ebonyjofficial LOVING THE WOMAN THAT I HAVE BECOME & THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART IS⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨⇨#IM NO WHERE NEAR DONE #29DAYSLEFT #countdowntime #scorpioseasoninapproaching #DivaShowdown #GODfearingWOMAN #NOMERCY MAKING #2013Epic #fashion #model #TV #FILM #CEO #trendsetter #HOLDSHEROWN #Priceless