Archive for travel

Interview with my dear Lola DiMarco of Lola’s Travels

August 13, 2012 interview, travel, USA 6 comments
Alex and Lola at Cape Cod enjoying the pool

Meeting up with this crazy and funny girl Lola was a destiny I believe! I went to visit Boston when I was in the US and just broke up with my boyfriend so spending time with Lola there was my Independence Day from my ex boyfriend.  We got along so well that then we spent some time in Cape Cod too. Until the end of this year we will reunite again, first in Spain in September and later in some more places. 🙂 I just love this girl!

Alex and Lola at Cape Cod enjoying the pool

Alex and Lola at Cape Cod enjoying the pool

 

Find out more about my lovely friend Lola via her answers:

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

I’m Lauren DiMarco but my travel persona is Lola.  The name of my travel blog is Lola’s Travels – where in the world is lola? I’m a gal from the United States – Texas to be specific, but I’m a wanderer at heart and love traveling the world. With my blog, Lola’s Travels, I relay “fun tips for quick trips” in a playful yet informative way. My stories are about what I see, do and learn to encourage people to travel even if only for a short trip and what to do to get the most out of your time away.

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (All three of them)

My favorite place I’ve found so far is St. Barts, a beautiful French island in the Caribbean. I love St. Barts because I’m an island girl, love the sun and especially love the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean sea.

My favorite city would have to be Paris. I love its architecture, food, fashion – everything about Paris is like eye candy for me. It’s been a while since I’ve visited but I’ll be returning in late November and I hope Paris doesn’t disappoint.
AND my favorite country I’ve visited would have to be France. Can you notice a theme?? French island, Paris & France! I just adore all things french and the french lifestyle. It suits me…I AM Lola after all!!

 

cute sassy Lola with boa as usual

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

I should probably say a far-flung destination that I’ve never been to but, if I’m being honest, it would be St. Barts. It is my happy place. If I had to pick where I would spend the rest of my life at this very moment, it would be here.

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

I love that I have the freedom to BE and DO anything!

 

5. How travel changes you?

Traveling makes me realize more clearly how similar we all are in our basic needs in the world. It blurs borders & religions for me. It has made me feel more like a citizen of humankind. I love seeing and doing new things but my passion is with people. We all have something special to offer and my wish would be to meet as many lovely people around the world as possible.

Thank you so much my dear friend for this interview! Cannot wait to see you again soon in Spain 🙂 Miss you lots!
Love,
Alex

Interview with Monette Fernandez of Flip Travels

August 9, 2012 interview, Philippines, tips, travel 2 comments
me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

I met this nice and beautiful girl Monette at Captain Morgan Party in Manila in November in 2011. It was sooo much fun! She is really sweet so I am sure next time when I am in SE Asia we will meet again 🙂

me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

me with Monette and Marky at Captain Morgan Party in Manila 2011

 

Find out more about Monette via her answers:

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

My name is Monette Fernandez. I work as a senior training manager for a third-party healthcare provider in the Philippines. I have been travelling for over five years and have been blogging with my travel partner, Ron Cruz, for over four years at Flip Travels. On regular days, I am a homebody. I enjoy ordinary bus rides to and from the office to save money for my trips. I am fuelled with caffeine, I devour books, and I breathe music. I do not know how to swim but love to go to beaches. As much as I enjoy traveling with Ron, my friends, and my significant other (together or separately), I am most blissful when traveling alone. Oh, and I hate frogs…

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (All three of them)

My favourite place is by the beach. I’m not sure why as I don’t know how to swim… I just know that it gives me so much peace to sit, stare, and imagine what is over the great beyond. Or it just might be the beer… lol!

I love to stay in so many cities, but my ultimate choice has got to be Luang Prabang. I love its people’s almost whisper-like footsteps in the morning. I crave for its baguettes and brewed coffee sold on streets. I miss how this city warps time to make the hours passing really slowly, or stretches time to make the hours last longer. This place could lift me in its arms and cradle me to sleep.
My favorite country is Indonesia. I’ve never felt so close to one culture as this place. I feel comfortable moving along its streets and mingling with its people. I love how its food imitates my craving for home. I can feel its art as I trace my hands along its amazing islands. I can’t wait to go back there!

Monette in Muine Vietnam

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

Switzerland for the Alps, chocolates, and cheese. Oh! And there is a guy who lives there who stole my heart and hid it somewhere in his basement… 

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

I especially like the fact that my family and friends, at least most of them, live in the Philippines. I don’t feel powerless. Also, I like how people get to squeeze in mall-ing, three-hour coffee breaks, and drinking during a work week!

 

5. How travel changes you?

Travel changed me profoundly in such a way that I always come out of every trip being better version of myself. There are always new things to discover, especially culture. I know now that people from different countries are no different from me. The more I meet people, the smaller my world becomes that I can practically wrap around my arms around the world.

 

Monette, you got me with Switzerland and their chocolate and cheese, I cannot get enough of them either 😀 Thanks for the interview!

 

Love,

Alex

 

Around the world – Sea Eye lake (Morske oko) in Slovakia

August 8, 2012 Europe, nature, photo, Slovakia, tips, travel No comments
Sea Eye lake in Vihorlat mountains in Slovakia
Sea Eye lake in Vihorlat mountains in Slovakia

Sea Eye lake in Vihorlat mountains in Slovakia

Around the world – Klastorisko ruins in Slovak Paradise mountains in Slovakia

August 7, 2012 architecture, Europe, photo, Slovakia, tips, travel No comments
Klastorisko ruins in Slovak Paradise in Slovakia
Klastorisko ruins in Slovak Paradise in Slovakia

Klastorisko ruins in Slovak Paradise in Slovakia

Interview with Dominic aka Dong Ho of Escape Islands

August 6, 2012 interview, nature, Philippines, photo, tips, travel No comments
me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

Dominic of Escape Islands is a person who loves nature. So when I visited North Luzon in the Philippines and found out he with some more supersweet Filipino adventurers were going to survive Batad rice terraces, I had to join them. It turned out to be a lot of sweat, but even more fun and I am sure I will never forget those green landscapes ofthe stunning  rice terraces. Nor I will top-loading jeepneys like at the photo below with Dom 🙂 My ass still hurts from that top-loading haha.

me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

me and Dong Ho on top of a jeepney in Batad rice terraces

 

Have a look at the interview with this funny Dom DA BEST 🙂

1. Who are you? Tell us something about you.

An islander. A mountaineer. A backpacker. A usual traveler from the Philippines who finds great things in going places. I love the beaches as much as I love the mountains.

 

2. What is your favorite place, city and country and why? (all three of them)

I love the Philippines but for this question allow me to answer the place aside from the Philippines.

My favorite place so far is Harbin in Heilongjiang China. I like its diversity of structures and culture having a mix of China, Russia, Japan and even remnants of a Jewish community. China is also my favorite country in terms of traditions and culture.

Dong Ho

Dong Ho outside St Sophia Church in Harbin, China

 

3. If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would it be and why?

The Silk Road. It would be a beautiful long journey of what is considered as one of the most significant trade route to the four great civilizations (China, India, Persia and Arabia). Something that i find really interesting.

 

4. What do you love the most about your home country?

Seeing the people being joyous even on the most challenging moments. People’s smile is genuine.

 

5. How travel changes you?

It made me realize that the real treasures of a place are its people. They build the culture. They shape the structures. It’s when you start conversing with them that you will find the best things on even the simplest things.

 

Dominic, I love what you said about people. They are what I remember the most about every place, too. Thanks again for the interview and all the laugh when trying to survive Batad rice terraces 😀

 

Love,

Alex

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