One girl. One backpack. One world. I was born in Mexico, grew up on a farm in Washington state, studied English Literature at Columbia University in NY and Oxford University in England and currently work as a model, host and writer. And in between it all, I travel the world. This blog is an insight into my own personal journey. A journey that will take me across the world in search of adventure, new friends and... well, myself.
“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche Body and soul, I love music. I'm that girl that's not afraid to bust a move in the grocery store if my favorite tune comes on.
So when I started taping footage for MyDestination.com's Biggest Baddest Bucket List it quickly became apparent that it wouldn't really be MY New York--or me--if there wasn't some booty shaking involved. I'm Latin after all, it's in my blood.
But dancing alone is not as enjoyable, and why should I be the only one having the fun? So I enlisted the help of total strangers--who quickly became old friends--to join me in my NYC dance party.
A special thanks to all those that took a risk and danced with a complete stranger, completely sober in broad daylight, all over this wonderful city they call New York.
"A good Traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving." -Lao Tzu
How do you decide where you are going to go? It's a common question I get asked. Well.....(my mind wonders if I should tell them the truth or if I will just sound crazy....) Years ago, my initial trip destinations were primarily me accepting invites from others, or following the recommendations of other seasoned travelers. Now that I have become a frequent traveler, my destination choices and style have changed somewhat. I tend to trust my own judgement and intuition and therefore will often land in a country or city, knowing no-one and with few plans. I also tend to travel to a place, "just because." For example, my last big trip--2 weeks in South America in November--came about after I met a massage therapist in Chicago and an hour after knowing her she casually mentioned she was planning on visiting Bolivia and Peru for 11.11.11. I thought that sounded great. After getting all her info, I booked all my tickets two weeks later. Shortly after doing so, she informed me she would no longer be going on the trip. So I ended up alone in two foreign countries with no idea of why I was going or what to do. But it all worked out. I believe it always does. After all, I don't think the Universe has taken me this far (on so many random adventures) to just drop me. So I travel in trust and faith and with enough travel reference to know that I can get through anything. As much as possible I prefer to do what I refer to as traveling intuitively. For me this means: making as few set plans as possible, allowing myself to be open to meeting new people, and doing whatever interests me. The benefit of traveling this way has allowed me to have amazing adventures: going abseiling with a German-hiker I randomly met and later taking a private plane ride over-looking the Blue Mountains in Australia; meeting a young girl, Hannah, whose family care-takes for an elephant farm in Chilla, India--feeding the baby elephants; teaching Tibetan Monks English while waiting to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Mcloud Gonj.... the adventures I have had are ENDLESS, and largely because I traveled alone and did not have "the next destination" I had to get to, or time constraint I had to follow. As wonderful as those experiences have been, there is also a down-side to the 'easy-breezy go where the wind (or my interests) take me' kind of traveling; one of the major ones being cost. Waiting last minute to book hotels, flights, event tickets, etc can get incredibly expensive. One also runs the risk of being unable to do something because it gets sold out, becomes unavailable, or just ends up costing more than your budget allows. A few suggestions for achieving what I find is a fairly healthy balance of planning your trip enough to be "responsible," but still allowing for freedom and the opportunity to change your mind last minute: 1. Purchase all Big-Item Tickets: Buy the "main tickets" in advance. Whether these be tickets for an event or for a plane or train. Purchase the tickets that have the most chance of being sold-out or drastically increasing in price. For example, buying the tickets out of your original country but then waiting until you get to the foreign country to purchase more internal travel. Often the internal travel tickets are much cheaper and do not go up in price as much if not purchased way in advance. 2. Remember: First & Last. As an extension of #1, I always book my hotel for the first night (and sometimes the last night) before I jet off. The last thing you want to do when exhausted from a long flight is to have to worry about where you will sleep that evening. On that same note, in some countries you MUST have a return (round-trip) ticket out of there and to your next destination, so purchase those and allow the in-between leg of your journey to abound with spontaneity. 3. Know before you go: Do your research! This will at least give you a general idea of possibilities and also help you to determine which "big tickets" must be purchased in advance and which can be delayed last-minute. For example, for my November South America trip I wanted to hike to Machu Pichu. Because I waited last-minute, the Inca Trail was booked out for the dates I wanted to travel and I was forced to do an alternative, much more strenuous hike (which I am sure was good for me even if I wasmiserable half the time). 4. Book if after Dark: For women travelers especially, if landing to an unknown destination after hours or when the light is no longer in the sky, book the transportation and/ or accommodation in advance. I got myself in a few scary situations not having observed this rule. 5. Be Open and Have Fun!!. Nothing ruins travel like a bad attitude. So you missed your bus and can't get to your destination until tomorrow. Ok, so instead of wasting energy stressing over what cannot be changed and make the most out of wherever you happen to end up. After all, "It's the Journey, not the Destination," right? ;) I hope this has been helpful. Trust that your own knowing is strong and that the Universe is looking after you, and you might just end up in a place or situation other than planned, that turns out to be more exciting than any adventure you could have imagined.
"Keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you."-Martha Graham
"Don't short-change the opportunities the world has for you!" --me
Feeding chips to a baby elephant in Chilla, India
Salkantay Trek to Machu Pichu
My "Private Plane" over-looking the Blue Mountains, Australia
Although interesting, One of the scarier places I have traveled to solo: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
I have learned to be open to life, to: "Not limit the opportunities the Universe has for me." So I try to just show up and see where the Universe takes me. Apparently it is taking me cross-country, in a way I have never been before!
Bungey-jumping, Sky-diving, Private Plane, Propeller plane, Cruise Ship; The ways I have traveled have been endless. But this is a first for me--travelling cross-country on the side of a bus!
For a model traveler, what else could be more fitting? I am aiming for my image on an airplane next (or perhaps a yacht named after me). ;)
Hello world, It has been awhile since I last posted but rest assured it is not because I have not been traveling. Alas, I have not been posting because I have been exploring the world. Non-stop. In the past 3 months I have visited 5 countries and over 15 cities. I have been so busy traveling (and then coming back to NY for work in-between) that I have had little to time to update this blog; that is coming. I have also noticed a theme: my trips have become divided into those I have taken with, or to, visit family and friends (Washington State, California, Miami, Canada), and those taken alone and with a more spiritual intention behind them (Peru, Bolivia, England). As I believe in one of the most basic laws of Physics--that what you put into the Universe expands (or comes back to you), so too have my two travel paths begun to converge. In October I went back to England to attend the Samhain ceremony (the Celtic Pagan New Year) at the Goddess Temple in Glastonbury, but I was also able to see dear friends from my Oxford days. On my 2-week South America trip in November I went knowing no one but made many new friends I am sure I will see again. My next big trip (in 2 weeks) is in a small city 40-miles outside of Dallas, Texas. I will be attending a 10-day silent Vipassana Meditation event. So do not worry, the travel bug has not left me. I actually don't believe it ever could. Once infected, it takes over, perhaps lying dormant for years but residing within your heart and soul. Exploration and adventure are my only reprieve. Until my next post (soon, I promise!), here are a few of pics from my latest journeys.
Relaxing at the parent's lakehouse: Stanwood, WA
Enjoying the architecture (not the freezing winter weather): Montreal, Canada
Doing a "hat exchange" with the gate-keeper to the South Island: Isla Del Sol, Lake Titicaca
Making new friends. 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Pichu
It has been awhile since I last posted but have a few upcoming trips that I am very excited about--including Puma Punku and Lake Titicaca Bolivia (for 11.11.11) and from there I will hike the 5-day Trek to Machu Pichu and then head down to the Lima, Peru. I will be posting all about it here (as well as adding updates about recent trips in the U.S.).
In the interim, I have to share my latest must-have find. As many of you know, I work as a fit model for dozens of designers (essentially I am a live-mannequin and all clothes get fit on me prior to being sold in the stores). As a result I am exra-picky when it comes to comfort and the fit and feel of garments. I am so obsessed with these leggings that I have to share!
The Under Armour Heat Gear Compression capri leggings are AMAZING!! The fabric feels cool on your skin, holds you in without being too tight, AND they are great for travel because they can double as leggings and/or can be even worn out at night under a dress or longer-length tunic top (to hide the logo which hits on the right upper-thigh) (they come in capri and full length). I highly recommend them!!
Fit: I purchased a size small. They fit well and are pretty true to size but are a tad tight at the waist band (if you are fuller in the high hip/waist, they can create that unsightly muffin-top look). If you are fuller in those areas and want to avoid this, I would suggest rolling down the waist-band OR ordering a size-up.
I am 5'7 and the length hits approx 4 inches below the knee (although I prefer them slightly scrunched up to just under the knee).
Again, these pants are so comfortable and versatile they are a Must-Have for every active woman or traveler!
These tights were Perfect for all my South America hiking!!
Naturally somewhat claustrophobic, the idea of being stuck in a tiny cabin, on a boat (albeit a very large one) full of strangers in the middle of the ocean for a week, meant that going on a cruise never made the top of my vacation destination list. So, when my sister Alice offered to fund a 7-day Carnival Conquest Cruise for her family after the wedding, I initially pondered the trip with trepidation and an onslaught of questions: Would the cabins have windows? Have you been on a cruise before and did you like it? Why? What ports are we stopping at? What would the weather be like? Her answers began to melt my fear and transform it into excitement at the opportunity to spend a week with my family on a free vacation. The cheapest cabins do not have windows and are priced at four to a room (rates very greatly depending on the season). Our cabin could be upgraded at an additional cost (We chose to get the Premium Balcony Stateroom, Verandah 8448: smaller than a suite but with a quarter of the rear ship balcony for an additional cost of aprox $1000). We liked the room and loved watching the sunset from our own (semi-)private balcony. Being first-time cruisers, my roommate and I did not realize that one of the effects of having a room at the back of the ship, is that more swaying is felt. After taking a Dramamine the first day and passing out in my room from the drowsiness it produced, I tried wearing a pair of anti-seasick sweatbands purchased in the cruise gift shop. I cannot conclude if they assisted or not but I woke up after 5 hours of sleep with very uncomfortable band marks on my wrist from the tightness of the elastic (I would advise that if you try these, make sure that the inside of the band or bracelet is as comfortable as possible to avoid friction marks on your skin). After these two failed sea-sickness remedies, I fould that Bonine seemed to work best for me. After two days I began to become accustomed to the gentle rocking of the ship and felt no further nausea for the remainder of the trip.
Tips to prevent motion sickness: http://www.marinemedical.com/articles/seasick.htm
Both my brother and sister had been on cruises before and enjoyed them most for the ease of offering a vacation with little necessary planning (the biggest decisions being what excursions to partake in at the ports-of-call). The options for how to spend the days and nights are endless. For day entertainment: the spa or gym, bingo games, (limited) shopping in the two shops), gambling in the casino, basketball, volleyball, miniature golf, the water-slide, a “quiet” sundeck where peaceful sunbathing or reading can be enjoyed, or a more “lively” sun deck where top-40 hits are spun by a live dj and on-board drinking games such as “hairiest chest” contest and “mixology” cocktail making contests can be viewed. For nighttime: there are two theater options, karaoke, more gambling, three clubs, live music, and comedy shows (the CMT comedian on-board was hilarious).
Food is available on-board 24 hours with more limited options after 10pm. The buffet offered a variety of choices with decent food. The dining rooms offered a hit-or-miss menu of choices with a higher likelihood of improved fare on the days where mandatory dining room attire upgraded from “cruise casual” to “captain’s elegant.” On the two evenings where more formal attire was requested, the female guests’ preferred sparkles and sequins in every color and form. For a more pleasant food experience, I would highly encourage paying the $30 extra per person to dine in The Point Steakhouse. This involved an upgrade from overcooked chicken or fish in the designated dining rooms, to choices of lobster and steak for dinner and excellent dessert options. Overall I would say that my (our) experience was pleasant but the overall food offerings could have been improved, and I would have preferred the limited amount of time spend at each port of call to be increased (approx 7 hours in total to get off, explore and get back on).
Guests of the Carnival cruise that became stranded in Mexico last week may have a different opinion (see fox news link below). It will be interesting to see if THEY take up Carnival’s offer for “a free future cruise of equal value.” As for me, I enjoyed the experience with my family and think for a group excursion it made a lot of since, allowing each guest to spend their free time as they pleased, coming together as a family for the theater and dinner at night. I am grateful for the experience but will stay on land (or plane) for my next trip. In the far future, I may once again aboard a cruise but if so, it would likely be with a more luxurious line (with better different destinations and better food).
Nearest airports: Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Hobby and George Bush airports in Houston
Cost: (reduced rates are offered for: over 55’s, return guests, when booked in advance, in a group and during the hurricane season (when our group of 15 went). The gamble with the hurricane season is that there is a possibility of not stopping at all ports of call. The cruise the week prior to ours only embarked at one of three ports due to inclement weather.
The weekly schedule: Day 1:, Days 2 and 6: “Fun Day at Sea” , Day 3 Embark: Montego Bay, Jamaica, Day 4 Embark: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Day 5 Embark: Cozumel, Mexico, Day: 7 Depart: Galveston (8am-10:30am).
