Seasons Greetings from the Caribbean!

For the second year in a row, I decided to venture out to a tropical island in December. As most may observe, common winter travelers usually come from where it is considerably colder. Since I am traveling from San Diego, it is not rare to receive replies from fellow travelers like "What on earth are you doing leaving such a beautiful city!" Yes, I know, San Diego is beautiful, and the weather is almost impeccably perfect. But, what person would I be if I never left? Boring.

So, as I was saying, I ventured out to the Caribbean. This destination I have to say did not originally top my list of places I'd like to go, but being that my friend's brother lived on the island of St. Thomas, instantly I had my traveling partner! Once we booked our flights and hotel reservations, word spread amongst our friends and our original group of two quickly doubled to four within weeks!

Our flight in was on Spirit Airlines from LAX, through Ft. Lauderdale, and into St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. For those who like to travel but are light on cash, I highly suggest this airline. The flights are cheap when you book early (we booked ours 3 months in advance and paid only $360 total!). The only catch for Spirit Airlines is that EVERYTHING costs extra! You pay $5 each way online for one checked luggage, all food and drinks on the flight must be purchased, and there are no pillows or blankets to use at your leisure.

Once arriving into St. Thomas airport, you exit the plane onto the tarmack, which reminded me of the times I traveled to the islands of Thailand. Island life is so much simpler. St. Thomas is a U.S. Territory and thus you aren't required to use a passport, but I HIGHLY suggest bringing yours if you have one. The flight back requires going through customs, filling out foreign travel papers, etc. It is just a lot less hassle if you already have your passport to simply bring it along.

All of the Virgin Islands roadways are opposite of the U.S. The drivers use the left side of the road just as if you were to be in London, Australia or anywhere in Europe. The obscure difference however is that because all the cars are shipped from the U.S. the wheel is still positioned on the left unlike the European cars. The locals will say that instead of changing the roads to U.S. standards when the islands changed over ownership, they remained the same due to the donkeys on the island who were accustomed to walking on the left side of the hills.

I may never be able to give up my employee benefits of the Marriott after this trip. We stayed at the Marriott Frenchman's Reef & Morningstar Beach Resort in St. Thomas, and boy was that a treat. When asking cab drivers their opinion on the best resort on thfour girls was surreal!
e island, all of them said the Marriott (that includes comparisons such at the Ritz Carlton, Wyndham Sugar Bay, and the Bolongo Bay Resort!). The Marriott is situated on a cliff overlooking Frenchman's bay and offers pools, a day spa, restaurants, workout facilities, shops, shuttles, and much more! The only negative comment I would have to say that I have is that the service was not top notch as I would have expected. The staff definitely does not work for good tips! The information desk seemed to know less about the island than I did!

If you plan on visiting any of the Virgin islands I highly suggest doing all the boat excursions you can. We were lucky to have my friend's brother who worked for a charter sailboat to show us around. During our stay we went out on the Fury sailboat's sunset cruise and the morning snorkeling trip to Buck island. Both trips were extremely different but also both were very memorable. We also went across St. Thomas to Red Hook and chartered the Breakaway motor boat four island excursion. This trip takes you to four of the Brittish Virgin Islands (Tortola's Frenchman's Cay, Virgin Gorda's Baths, Jost Van Dyke's White Bay, Marina Cay's Diamond Reef). We took so many pictures, I'm still going through them all to decide which one's to use in my scrapbook... or should I call it a scrap-cyclopedia!

Six days was entirely too short of a trip. I suggest that if you are planning on taking a trip to the Caribbean to take around ten days. There is just so much to see and do, and if you are trying to squeeze in those relaxing pool-lounging days as well, you will be much happier if you have ten, rather than six days to do it all in.

Ten things you should know before going to St. Thomas...

1. bring lots of extra cash for cab fairs (it's pretty much about $10 per person everywhere you go!)
2. put on your clothes when you are in town (prancing around in your bathing suit will only cause local woman to banter at you like a bunch of old sea-gulls!)
3. order anything with local rum in it at it's bound to be cheaper than a normal cocktail!
4. wear sunscreen!
5. bring your passport
6. remember, it's another time zone away from Florida (or as we say, it's 5 o'clock somewhere!)
7. tip only if you got great service (good luck with that!)
8. make friends with your hotel bartenders (and don't tell the cocktail waitresses you are from San Diego, they won't ever serve you again!)
9. hit up the new Hooter's Restaurant in St. Thomas (help out our friends, they are investors ;)
10. watch out for the iguanas (they won't hurt you if you don't bother them, but we did hear of someone who had to get stitches...)

Hawaiian Heaven

Oahu~
For those who have never been, you must first be prepared to get laid... oops, I mean lei-ed! Hopping off the Hawaiian Airlines flight after dozing on and off for about 5 hours from San Diego, you are greeted by the lovely Hawaiian culture of petunia leis and Hawaiian shirts (not to mention feeling the humidity the minute you step of the plane!) Honolulu is full of many sights... from the great U of O Rainbows, or Warriors, whatever, to the Pearl Harbor memorial. Just jaunt up north a bit (about 35-40 minutes) to pass by the Dole Pineapple factory and grab a "Dole-Whip" and find yourself amongst the surfer crowd in Weileia or the North Shore... If you are lucky, there might be a good concert in town (I got to see U2!). For those who like to shop, Honolulu is known for it's many designer boutiques as well.
While I was there, the Pipeline Masters Surf Competition was also going on... Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Andy Irons and the like were a just touch away from me! Off the beach at the North Shore you'd find everyone in the surf industry gawking at the massive 20+ foot waves all wishing they could be just a hair as good as these guys are. Transworld SURF, Fuel TV, Billabong, Quiksilver all had houses rented all along the beach to capture every moment on camera. So, if you are planning a trip to Hawaii and are weary still on what time of year to go, pick any time between December 9th and 20th and you're sure to sight a pro surfer somewhere along the North Shore!

In Oahu, you can't leave until you've eaten at Duke's. I like to order the calamari and a Lava flow! This tourist attraction has the best food and ambiance around. I just happened to start a now tradition of getting a tattoo first and then head over to Duke's for some much deserved food. The tradition has been honored by myself, my best friend, my mother, her best friend and I'm sure many more!

Seattle Sightings

Getting There~
Who would have thought only a mere two and a half hour plane ride away was one of the most amazing cities I've ever experienced thus far.
Like an itch you can't reach in the middle of your back, I was ready for another Mid-20's Travel trip. I rounded up two of my closest girlfriends
and off we went to meander through the sky scrapers of downtown Seattle.

April Showers?~
So whoever said April showers brings May flowers must have been a tad bit off on this April weekend, because I don't think we ever saw rain! When meeting up with old co-workers who currently resided in Seattle, they too exclaimed the wonder of our luck to see Seattle on such a beautiful weekend. After checking into the Renaissance Marriott in the heart of downtown, we ventured out to my most favorite American past time--- a baseball game!!! Now this was the life! A cup of cold draft beer, a hot dog with all the trimmings and some of my most prized friends accompanying me to bask in the entertainment of a Seattle Mariners game.

Top of the Space Needle~
As most might feel the necessity to partake in such a touristy endeavor, we joined the bandwagon and booked a lunch at the top of the Space Needle. Little did I know the fear of heights my friend experienced would be a little more intense than anticipated. Sweaty palms, queasy stomach, all the signs of the easily diagnosed phobia of high places. Once inside the restaurant, she was more at ease as long as she didn't get the window seat. Crab cakes, fish, and anything fried was listed top on the menu. Everything was delicious, the view was to die for and the photos, priceless.

The Red Door~
What's a vacation without a night out on the town? Local friends took us out to a local hot spot, the Red Door, at 34th St. in the Freemont area. This place was spilling over with plenty of 20-somethings and ale. I'd have to say it was definitely a hit.

Seattle's Best or Starbuck's~

Seattle not only housing my favorite pastime, but also my favorite beverage indulgence-- coffee! Not only do they claim the name of Seattle's Best Coffee, but they also claim the birthplace of the world's largest coffee shop ever, Starbuck's. We couldn't miss this opportunity to head to Pike's Marketplace and straight into the FIRST Starbuck's for a quick caffeine fix!

Australia: A Bed in Bondi

Dream of Sydney~
Few of my friends can say that they have traveled across the globe to one of the happiest countries in the world, Australia, second only behind Iceland. I would have to say that I agree, and I say that with a smile. When you first fly into Sydney, Australia, you can't help but notice the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and think how such a romantic city can be so far away from your everyday reality of Southern California life. I have to admit that as a single twenty-something I fantasized about meeting a hunky Aussie man with his thick accent swooning me as I linger over every word he says and dream about how our kids will all have blue eyes and thick Aussie accents themselves. Snap out of it. No, I did not meet my prince charming, only a handful of Mr. Wrongs, Mr. Just Todays, and Mr. You Looked Cuter Before You Started Talkings! I did find myself on one of the most romantic dates of my life in Darling Harbour with a French man from Paris, whom I met while waitressing in Bondi Beach. Who can say they've done that?

Bondi Beach Bonding~
So where do you go when you need a place to live that's affordable? I highly suggest finding a house where you have "flat-mates". It helps to meet friends quickly, save money and allow for loads of interesting experiences. In the three months I lived in this house on Curlewis St., I shared quarters with a perverted, 40 year-old English man who was recently divorced and going through a true-to-form mid-life crisis, a total of 7 Irish, 2 of which I still keep in regular contact with, and 2 others who were twins and almost burnt the house down! My work was a few block down the street on the beach off of Campbell Parade. Belgian food and Belgian Beer. Finding a job was much easier than I had expected. My suggestion to you girls who tend to turn the heads of most men, get a job waitressing. You will not only make great tips, but you will meet TONS of people doing so.

Public Transportation Rocks~
So the difference between Southern California and Sydney, Australia is that public transportation system actually works! As a matter of fact, we rented a car for the first two weeks of our trip and ended up turning it in early due to the inconvenience of having a car, paying for parking, gas, lack of spaces and the sheer convenience of having the bus stop on our street that picked up every five minutes and took you virtually anywhere you needed to go! Not to mention almost everything we needed was walking distance anyway.

Going Back Someday~

Yes, I am going back to my home away from home someday. If anyone wants to send me a free one-way ticket, by all means I won't turn it down! I lived there from August to November, and it was a life changing experience that I will never forget and long to re-create. Some other must-see places that I didn't get the opportunity to visit before would be the Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

The Kingdom of Thailand: Or as I may like to refer to it, The Cure for the Materialistic-Minded.

Materialism~
If you know of anyone who has a shoe-fetish, can't resist the mall, or thrives on the newest, hottest fashion of the week, take them on a much needed "De-Materializing" trip to Thailand. Here they worship tiny spirit houses rather than designer sunglasses, and they opt for "shoes-off" instead of "shoe-collections." In the sweltering humidity, the last thing you can even think of doing is adding another layer of powder to your face, or touching up your hair with a curling iron. It's all about simplicity. A bathing suit, sunscreen, flip-flops, and a water bottle are among the top necessities (I almost forgot the most important thing, Mosquito repellant!). For those who cringe at spending top dollars, it might take a little getting used to the currency exchange when $1USD = 32 Baht! A dollar does go a long way here...

Full Moon Party~
Most know of Thailand by the movies that portray it, like The Beach, where full moon parties turn the modern traveler into a moonstruck zombie. On the South-East side of the island of Koh Panghan, some 10 to 20 thousand tourists voyage across the Gulf of Thailand on a small ferry from Koh Samui with the view of Big Buddha fading in the background and high hopes of letting loose in the moonlight to the sounds of techno, house and trance well into the night and morning hours. What most don't realize is that all the multi-straw bucket drinks and the blue-white pills that everyone around you is consuming can all too often create an environment that most might deem as unsafe. My full moon party experience was cut short when two brothers traveling from Iran decided that the possibility of having two American girls to take home sounded enticing... We bee-lined through the next crowded club and lost them without looking back. (*Tip for girls: if you don't want to offend some guy who buys you a drink, pretend to sip through the straw, comment on how delicious the drink is and then offer a taste to the guy who bought it!)

Elephant Trekking & Kayaking~
Ever see a materialistic diva get dirty? Take them elephant trekking through the jungle forrest north of Ao Nang near Krabi. Then sit in the back of an old pick-up bed to the next river for a kayaking excursion where wild monkeys snip at the local Thai tour guide's back and force the group to kayak faster than Team Germany did in the olympics!
(*Tip: Make sure your double Kayak has the diva in the front so you can keep an eye on her rowing!) Take a much needed lunch break in between trekking and kayaking and fill up on the endless supplies of rice and pineapples. If you get sick of eating all the pineapples yourself, there's always plenty of hungry monkeys, elephants and locals to feed them to. How do you get to Krabi from Koh Samui? Well, we took a van with four other travelers, lasting about 3 hours without any air-conditioning, and wondering where the driver was really taking us! Oh, and I almost forgot, the pick-up bed turned out to be the home to many wandering critters, spiders and scorpions were the two most noticeable to me!

Shopping~
Yes, there is shopping, and lot's of it! Back to the urban metropolis of Bangkok, you will find many things to buy with your Baht. Be prepared to bust out your bargaining skills to get the deals you want for the things you think you need. Everything from electronics to jewelry can be found at the street markets, but the question I always wondered was, "Is that really a Von Dutch?" Getting your hair braided was also a wise investment on these streets, as the humidity doesn't always fair well with your hair, and it's relatively inexpensive! Don't forget to save a little extra Baht for the trip home, as there is an airport fee to get back on the plain that we weren't expecting. Not to mention, make sure your back-pack is fully zippered closed, as you may lose some important personal belongings to those walking behind you... (such as your new digital camera you just bought at a great deal!)

Food not for the Picky People~
For those of you who have experienced your fare share of materialistic girls, you probably might guess that when it comes to food, one word stands out -picky-. So, when you pass by the McDonald's, (which by the way, I swear there are more McDonald's on this planet than there are trees!) she will demand to stop and eat for fear of having to try some rice concoction on the side of the road in a cart. What you might not expect is that in Thailand, they have some of the most amazing foods. I personally have a love of spicy foods, thus finding the streets of Thailand a haven of mouth-watering, nose-running delights!

Best Time of Year~
So most wonder when is the best time to visit this simple-minded paradise. We went in November, which is considered the end of the rainy season. I'd have to say our choice in dates was rather rewarding. The sites we experienced were one of a kind, from Temples, to bridges, all were exquisite and memorable. Not to mention if we had decided to make our Thailand Trek one month later, we would have been amidst one of the largest natural disasters to date, the Tsunami, which hit the coast of Krabi where we resided for 4 days just three weeks after we left.

+Hertravels+