#travelogging

[qureshigmustafa-blog]

AMSTERDAM

[sharynpaige-blog-blog]

How the “YES Philosophy” got me to Slovenia

Before I left for my trip, my professor gave me one piece of advice: “Say yes to everything.” 

This was the same professor who wore pink skull socks under his suit and delighted in thumbing his nose at bureaucracy; obviously I trusted his judgement above all else. 

But I so dearly loved making plans that I couldn’t become spontaneous overnight. I had a list of things I wanted to see, city maps, and addresses of embassies always tucked into my pants pocket. But by the time I was more than a month into my journey, I was slowly pulling the planning stick from my bum. I had only a few nights booked in one place at a time, then I would decide to stay or hop on a train going somewhere. 

While in Austria, I met girls from the UK who persuaded me to meet them in Lake Bled, Slovenia. I had to get a map out to find the spot--a minute country squashed between Croatia and Austria. It was often overlooked as people rushed to the coasts no doubt. But I had a few weeks before my rendezvous with my aunt, so I said “yes” and booked the next train to Lake Bled.

When I got to my new pad, Castle Hostel, I flipped through the welcome brochure. Paraglinding, skydiving, canyoning, white water rafting, and all other recreational forms of falling was on the menu. Immediately, I felt the supreme urge to hurl myself off the top of something high. I contributed my thoughts not to suicidal impulses, but at at the prospect of controlled risk. At least that’s what I kept telling myself when I stood at the top of a ravine, dressed in a wet suit, and the first in our group to jump through the narrow slip canyon into the glacial water beneath. I was more excited than my mother would have thought reasonably appropriate. ‘Definitely reckless,’ I remember thinking, before adjusting my helmet and gleefully leaping into the small pool below.

If you ever receive an offer to go canyoning, just say yes.  It’s not like cliff jumping in your swim suit with a bunch of half-sober teenagers in the middle of bumblefluff nowhere. This is the real deal. The video is not of me, obviously, but gives you a general idea of canyoning.

For those of you who prefer a more laid-back experience, Lake Bled was also a supreme place for relaxing. Along the edges of the lake, there are secluded areas to leave your stuff and dive into the warm green waters. A small island sits in the middle, and atop it sits a lovely church. Legend has it that a prince, fell in love with a commoner. She too loved him, but feared they would never marry and would be put aside for a more noble match. The prince commissioned a church on the island and a beautiful bell that tolled across the waters and mountains each time it rang. It was a sign of his promise to marry her and love her forever. The bell is rumored to grant wishes and can be rang for small fee. 

Traveler’s Tip: How to get to the island. There are many ways to get to the island (paddleboard, rowboard, and ferry), but the free/fun way is to swim. By a friend’s calculations (because you all know I’m terrible at math) it’s 40 lengths of a lap pool. But the waters are still and delightfully warm in the summers. If you are planning on swimming out to the church, you won’t be allowed to ring the bell (because you are in an obvious state of undress), but you ARE allowed to buy ice cream! And that island is known to have the BEST cream cake flavored scoops. Stow some coins away in whatever manner you can (use your imagination for this one, or get a man friend to pocket it for you) and sit on the bank eating your well-earned treat.

Spend the rest of your days getting to know the mountains and the trails. Most of them lead to spectacular views or soft meadows. I found a fabulous local pizza place by following a random trail. There’s even a special path that hugs the same mountain that holds the castle and allows for the most perfect view by night. 

Traveler’s Tip: You cannot leave without a trip to Lake Bohinj (pronounced Bow-heen). Unlike it’s warm romantic cousin, Lake Bohinj is the true pride of the Slovenians nestled in the heart of Triglav National Park. Bohinj harbors chilly waters from the glaciers, dwarfs Lake Bled in size, and boasts a wild beauty that has endeared it to campers and locals for many years. Skip the overpriced adventure tours and just pay for the bus fare to take yourself. Mosey at your own pace, hike the trails you want, and swim where you want for free.

I love Slovenia with all my heart. Remember how I came here on a whim? I was only going to stay 1 or 2 nights. I stayed for 5. Anytime someone asks me about my some of my favorite places, I say Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled without hesitation. In a nutshell, here are the main reasons: 

This country is #1 in having the nicest, happiest, most extroverted people in Europe.

It was cheaper even than the Czech Republic. 

It’s peaceful despite the tourism crush on the rest of the continent. 

There’s so much more than castles and churches. 

All the outdoor activities make everyone want to stay for at least a week. 

On my way out of Europe, I convinced no less than 8 people to make a stop by the Slovenian lakes. I received tons of messages and photos in the following weeks about their adventures and trip extensions. My point? If you EVER find yourself remotely near Slovenia, just say yes. 

[frobishounen]

Goodbye friends I'm gone

[shoeboxing]

there is one particular thing that i'll always adore about china: how absolutely interesting the streets are. there is no visible urban sprawl, so there is city and there is country, and there's no transition in between. the lull of surburbia is nonexistent. every street is chock full of stores of all assortments, restaurants tucked into unremarkable nooks, vendors abound with wares of shoes and phone charms and chicken necks on skewers, fresh off the grill. it's exciting and it calls for a little dare; there are almost always honking cars and jutting newspaper stands to sidestep. it keeps you on your toes, and it keeps you looking.

there's always something new around the corner, is what i'm trying to say. i'm gonna miss the variety.

[commentyourcode]

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco

Unknown ("the coolest thing Mark Twain never said")

[shoeboxing]

augh i love you guys for your kind comments i miss you people...... help

but i am finally with my oodles of relatives so I MIGHT SPAM YOU ALL WITH PICS SOON?? like it or not that's a tentative promise while i continue my adventures away from civilization in chinaland

[shoeboxing]

Today in China:

my aunt haggled something to 1/7 of its original price

had the best lotus dish ever like seriously i could drown in that syrup they doused the slices in and die happy

secondhand-inhaled a half dozen cigarettes' worth of smoke through dinner alone

and now i retreat back into my sphere of no interwebs good night