Food(less) Journey

The hardest part about writing a Hawai'i trip blog is choosing which pictures to include. Being in Hawai'i is like living in a postcard. The Island constantly reminds you of its beauty. I went to Oahu for the first time in 2009 for the International Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses.  Hawaii is as beautiful as I remembered! Even the storms could best be described as picturesque.   Romans 1:20  ; For his  invisible qualities are clearly seen  from the world’s creation onward, because they are  perceived by the things made ,  even his eternal power  and Godship,  so that they are inexcusable. I stayed in two different apartments while I was there. Both were cute and just what I needed. The first was very close to the Kingdom Hall I was attending while there. I went to meetings in English and in the ministry with the Thai group which is hosted by the Palolo Congregation. This apartment was conveniently centrally located. I was u...

The Spanish Steps in Rome It astonishes me to observe that, in this day and age when travel is so common, people are less and less aware of the customs and cultures of people around the world. With a few keystrokes a person can find out a million things about a locality with respects to preferences, etiquette and behavioral and social quirks. But it seems that people misunderstand the term "When in Rome...". They take it to mean "follow the local customs", which it partially means, but they fail to grasp that it also implies the need to also follow local habit and attitude as they follow the customs. To understand the reason for the customs. Trevi Fountain I saw so many "ugly Americans" in Italy. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors. They want to travel the world, but they want the world to be exactly like their home. Every person must speak English, every restaurant must serve hotdogs or hamburgers, and manners are wasted on those un...

  While you are in Italy it is quite natural to develop an unnatural attraction to bread. The unfortunate consequence of the affinity is purchasing more bread than you can eat before it goes stale.   I abhor waste! When fruit is dangerously teetering on the brink on the wrong side of its ripeness peak, I freeze it. The same with vegetables.   Bread on the other hand is best frozen before it goes hard. And one simply does not waste bread in Italy. Economy is of course a factor, but the primary reason is fresh or hardened by age it is delicious   I was eating at a restaurant and a couple at a table across from me sent the bread back to the kitchen.   This offense was great.   It was very late in the evening so the bread was not soft as when it is freshly baked but there was not a thing wrong with the bread. (also you do not send food back to the kitchen by insulting it but that is another story for another post.)   ...

please ignore the smudge of excitement...   The last weekend in April I took a field trip to Warren Ohio for a good friends bridal shower. I was really happy to be able to make it to that, but sad to say I was even happier the day before when another friend took me to a General Store set in the heart of an Amish community! I have an affection for General Stores. Nostalgia in a modern setting is one of my favorite diversions. This one is called the End of the Commons General Store in Mesopotamia, Ohio. They have all kinds of amazing finds like classic candy, a wall of classic sodas, old timey toys (marbles and jacks y'all!!), flours by the pound, and Amish made meats, cheeses, jams and apothecary. presorted bulk candies and assorted treats... I had to purchase my items and leave the store so I didn't spend anymore money. Serious test to my willpower! I had to keep chanting to myself "You need money for the trip!" presents for the family ...

  So it was a really freezing morning last Saturday, but I got up and did some early morning witnessing. Got to talk to some groovy people. And check out the awesome sunrise.   In warmer news the brown rice rotini is back! Covered in Udo's oils and a healthy sprinkle of nutritional yeast. Oh yum baby! Perfect dinner on a cold wintry night. $9? Oh yeah! Especially when you have some cute new boots to keep your feet warm and your calves are looking tight with a healthy sized wedge.   Thanks Forever21!   These have great grip on the bottom. What? You know I cannot buy shoes that aren't practical...At least they can be cute too. :)       Ending on a random note...   A few weeks ago my family and I went to the Heinz History Center and yes I took more pictures, but I thought this one was super cool.   After we had walked through the whole center mum, bro and I too...

Last weekend (Saturday March 26,2011 to be precise) I went to the Farm to Table Conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. For $10 admission you get to wander around the ballroom and check out the exhibitors as well as special presentations and cooking demonstrations. At one booth I learned all about the many uses of Hemp. Did you know there is a concrete application for hemp? Crazy! Hanging at the Bar(re) Did I ever tell you I wanted to be a ballerina when i was a wee lass? Well, I did. The seeming glamour of the dance world and the beautiful impossibility of dancing en pointe really spoke to me. SO entranced was I by that aspect of it, I taught myself to stand en pointe. I do not suggest anyone try this since I could have broken something attempting it, but now I have a neat trick to show people at parties. Weird talents are ALWAYS a great conversation starter! Alas I never pursued that dream. Well, outside of Pilates and Barre work outs. I know you are asking yourself wh...

On the way back to Waikiki from the North Shore my party stopped at the Polynesian Cultural Center on the Windward Side of Oahu. It's only an hour from North Shore and definitely worth the stop. In one spot you travel to six villages. Each village is representative of a different polynesian island nations: Aotearoa (New Zealand), Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. Have you ever wondered how coconut milk is made? Step 1: Find a shirtless guy to climb a coconut tree for you. They are all over the place on the island of Oahu (shirtless guys and coconut trees): Step 2: Crack the coconut remove the meat and process using the husks and enormous arm muscles. I leave with you another fabulous "tour" guide from the cultural center. If you check out their official website his picture is all over it. http://www.polynesia.com/