Cocktails in St Marten

Well cocktail style shotglass from St Maarten to resemble the lovely margaritas and daquiris we had on the beach.

 

St Maarten is an island in the Carribean and it was fortunately one of the lovely stops on our 7 day Cruise in february this year. This was a wonderfu day off the boat with bluebird skies, warm tropical weather and awesome tour guide and group of people.

We went to visit a hotel that had been devastated by the hurricane from years before but the area had never been restored and was quite a contrast from the rest of the tropical island.

 

We watched planes fly in to Princess Juliana International Airport and land right next to the beach- it’s amazing to stand in the water and have an aeroplane fly metres above you.

 

We ended our day on the French side of the island, sunbaking, drinking from coconuts, sipping on cocktails and swimmng in the sparkling ocean.

 

So many memories from this one little glass!

 

Thirsty Thursdays – SHOTGLASS MEMORIES

Houston…. we have a problem

A mathematical problem that is.

Apparently this isn’t Rocket Science…. haha pun intended!

I visited the Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral in February 2011. My brother had begged me to go when we were in Orlando in 2009 but I was so uninterested and really couln’t face the mission (pun intended again) to head out there. So when Dad and I were there again this year, I really felt I should see it. It’s a pretty important place in our Modern History and millions of people flock to experience it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the park and all the activities and exhibitions inside. There is an amazing simulation ride which let’s you feel what it’s like to go up in a shuttle and break off from the rocket. The host, former Aastronaut, really brought the experience to life and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

 

I don’t have the same admiration for space and other worlds that my father and brother do, but standing in front of rockets and ships which have actually orbited our earth is pretty incredible.

I couldn’t resist this shot glass as it really just encompassed my feelings towards the whole Space odyssey blah blah haha.

I do recommend visiting The Space Kennedy Centre if you are in the vicinity.

Thitsty Thursdays – SHOTGLASS MEMORIES

Yo Ho Ho and a shot of Rum!

Pirates and Rum, these are my main memories from the lovely little city of Key West, Florida, USA.

 

I’ve visited the beachy little holiday spot twice now and the key things coming to my mind are a flood of rum filled adventures and outings. My dad felt that this area, being the bottom point of America and near the Carribean was very much a pirate haven. He even got a skull and crossbone tattoo on his ankle. So when I saw this shot glass I had to get it.

Make sure you do visit Key West, it’s a fantastic place to get away from the world in an old fashioned beach setting.

 

When purchasing my one and only souvenir from each place I visit, I try to get something that reminds me of my time there. This one was an easy choice and I have a litle giggle every time I see it sitting on my dresser. I can guarantee you there will be no Rum drunk from this particular shot glass though- not only is it my rule to never drink out of my shotglasses, but I’ve also now had enough Rum to last me a lifetime!

 

Thirsty thursdays- Shotglass Memories

Send me a picture of your favourite shotglass souvenir and tell me why it means something to you.

New York, New York

NEW YORK

Arriving at midnight after a full day at a theme park, taking a flight and then trying to navigate one of the World’s busiest subways to get to your uptown hostel is not the best plan.

Arriving at 2am to think our hostel had closed, having NYPD find us standing on the street and help us to wake the hostel owners and assist us on our guided tour… sorry Eastside Rivera Hostel. It was actually a really good hostel and so cheap, just a shaky start.

 

I must start by saying though, I HEART NY! I always thought I would, I always hoped that one day I would move there and work there, and that plan remains! I love it!

 

From the M&M store

Jamesie and I had 2 full, and I mean full, days together exploring! Hop on hop off bus, a walk across Brooklyn bridge, Times sq, m&m store, Hersheys store, the bull statue and more. Then a quick drink with one of my friends through 85Broads at night near our hostel.

Day 2 was jam packed with a boat tour around near the statue of liberty and then back on the hop on hop off. A brief stop at Ground Zero, which is actually really difficult and saddening then off to the NY YANKEE BASEBALL GAME. Really exciting and fun actually and then back in time to see the Empire State building at the strike of midnight. What a day! And so happy it was with my big bruv!

My brother and I in Times Square

Day 3 was a lot quieter. I went to meet my friends from University in Mexico, Sam and Juan, near the Cloisters in Fort Tyron Park. Entering the park makes you feel like you are in a completely new city, it’s lovely up there. We took it easy and just went to the Museum of Modern Art before I went to meet another friend Claire from Tec. We all met up to go out in the Meat Packing district later, ever so trendy.

 

The last day I was joined by my lovely Italian friend who I met whilst travelling through Mexico. We went on the SEX and the CITY tour, which I have dreamed about doing for about 4 years. My firend, being one of only 2 boys on the tour, was ready to kill me by the end after hearing me rave about the show for 3 hours, but we had a great time! We saw all the famous spots got the best cupcake in NY and had a Cosmo!

So many delicious Cosmo

 

Later we had lunch at Famous Juniors, had NY Cheesecake and went on the Brooklyn loop, gosh NY is huge. That night we were off out to the SKY bar to view the empire state, then out to some more bars with Sam and Juan. Home at 4am and then straight to the Airport for me.

I truly loved New York and cannot wait to get back there again!

 

PHOTOS

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81200&id=511114236&l=407db1d019

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81694&id=511114236&l=59d37e69b8

The Best Airport in the World

Photo blog

By far the coolest airport I’ve ever been to! This was St Maarten, Carribean. I was here in February 2011 and could not believe the rumours were true… the planes practically land on the beach.

We’re not talking little bi-planes or sea planes people. We’re talking full blown jumbo jets.

And watch out!! Don’t stand too close, people have died here. I saw people get blown back tumbling into the water as they stood behind a planes jets when it took off just 50 metres in front of them.

I was lucky enough to be in the water and had a plane go just 10m over the top of me! An amazing experience! Definitely need an underwater camera next time!!

St Maartens Beach Airport! Get there

What A Wonderful World

What a Wonderful World. What a wonderful song and what a wonderful message!

Bali takes me away to a beautiful space

What a Wonderful World. What a wonderful song and what a wonderful message!

This may be a tad morbid, but I’ve chosen this as my funeral song and I want one and all to know it. This song so beautifully represents my approach to life, how I feel about the world and how I want to be remembered.

Tropical Jakarta

I remember my friend telling me years back that she and her sister had chosen their funeral songs and I thought that was sick. But now I understand. Why shouldn’t you choose a song for your friends and family that will make them remember you in the best way possible. This totally should be your decision and it’s nice for your loved ones to know this in advance.

The lyrics go:

Oooooooooooooooooh
Oooooooooooooooooh
Oooooooooooooooooh
oooooooooh oooooooh
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dream of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow 
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dream of
Dreams really do come true

Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemondrops
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
And the dreams that you dare to
Oh why oh why can’t I

Well I see trees of green and red roses too
I’ll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself 
What a wonderful world

Well I see skies of blue and
I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark
And I think to myself what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
and also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands saying
How do you do
They’re really saying I, I love you

I hear babies cry and I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more then we’ll know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
world…

Someday I wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemondrops 
High above the chimney top
That’s where you’ll find me

Oh somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dare to
Why oh why can’t I…

Ooooooooooooooooooh
Ooooooooooooooooooh
Oooooooh Oooooooooh

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW/WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Singer: Thomas Newman

Oaxaca, MEXICO

I first discovered this song in one of my favourite movies, 50 First Dates with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The film had such beautiful sentiments and the song was so upbeat and I feel you can’t help but smile when you hear it.

This song also takes me away to far away place. An easy going, free spirited and happy island Oasis. Chilling with friends and smiling about the best things in life. I’m instantly transported back to many of my travel destinations as well as I have it on my Ipod and I have so often listened to it whilst walking around a new city or along the beach.

I hope people will smile when they think of it and remember me and my attitude to life.

Why Smoke on a Cruise??

 

Caribbean cruises are exotic, exciting, relaxing and luxurious way to spend your holiday. Sneezing, rubbing itchy eyes and coughing up a lung should not be associated with cruising. Sadly, as Smoking is still permitted in a number of areas on the cruise, these are some of the things you may experience.

One of the first places that smoking was banned was an aircraft. Next were shops and restaurants. Bars came along soon after – even in major cities like New York, London and Sydney one must smoke outside. Places such as Paris have even gone to the extent of banning smoking anywhere within the vicinity of an eatery.

-

 

So why I ask you, do they still allow people to smoke on a cruise ship. A transportation device and vessel of mass proportion. Carrying 4000 people, would one not think that smoking would be somewhat of a , I don’t know, FIRE HAZARD.

-

 

I did mention my disappointment with the lack of restriction on smoking to the Cruise staff and also placed it on numerous feedback forms. On the Royal Carribean cruise ship, people can smoke:

 

• On the decks
• In the casino
• In the Night club
• In the rooftop bars
• Some areas of indoor bars

 

This to me is an outrageous list!

-

My friend and I went outside one night to get “fresh air” and were joined shortly after by a random smoker who stood in front of us and blew his smoke into the wind, incidentally which blew straight into our face. Why should I have to put up with this?

-

 

I woke up every morning with a blocked nose, a sore throat from breathing out of my mouth, a scratchy throat from talking through the smoke and an irritating cough. It made me feel lowsy. Now, one might say I could avoid the Casino and Night Club and therefore reduce my risk of such symptoms. Honestly though, it’s not going to happen.

-

 

Smoking should be banned on cruises. If people want to endanger their health, they can do it elsewhere. Give us all a break!

 

 

Images from:

http://www.clker.com/clipart-no-smoking-sign.html

 

http://www.jamiekeddie.com/teflclips/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/smoking-kills.jpg

The 5 big No-No’s on a Cruise!

Listed here are 5 things you must not do on a cruise. I call them my no no cruise etiquette! Please read and share with all future cruise goers!!!!

 

1. Smoke in any public area

Why on a plane, in a lot of city restaurants, shopping centres and other enclosed public spaces is smoking banned, but on an enormous cruise liner. Granted, no smoking in dining areas, but there are still some bars, clubs and the casino where people are permitted to smoke. And more annoyingly on the top decks. Hello people,. You are on a ship, the wind blows and the smoke goes with it. Last night my friend and I went to get some “fresh” air and a smoker soon joined us on the outer deck and started blowing smoke in our face.

 

Smoking should be banned on cruise ships except an open space at the very back of the cruise. No exceptions!!!

 

2. Act like  a tool

I aim this one at a particular individual that I unfortunately bumped into on a  number of occasions on my cruise! This douche bag was a loud mouth from day 1, during the security and safety talk. Making sure everyone heres and see s him at all time, he has to be the centre of attention. I had the misfortune of then seeing him 3 times within 24 hours. Occasion one was at the Casino bar where he was being loud, obnoxious and speaking aggressively to my favourite bartender which led me to leave the casino early. We walked into a game show and of course, he was down on the floor as one of the team captains. Dude – can I point out that you are not the cruise directior and you are not a celebrity- nobosy wants to see your face. And finally the next day in the Seciest man competition on the pool deck. Fortunately the sensible judges did not name him the winner and some sweet other guys got far more attention.

Have fun by all means but get out of everyone’s face. We didn’t come to see the douche bag show, we’re here to relax. End rant here!

3. Eat the fish that’s in the warmer at lunch

Fish that is sitting in a buffet warmer is never a good choice. Lying down for 2 hours afterwards, nursing a weak stomach is not an enjoyable cruise past time.

(Note: This is not the incriminating fish. This is a lobster tail which was nice, but again, not amazing on the old stomach)

 

4. Go In the hot tub when sunburnt

I was fortunate enough to keep my redness to a minimum, but an unfortunate individual who sat in the spa when I did was red raw and he was not having a happy time. Spas are great but they are hot- heat and heat don’t mix.

 

1. 5. Go to the Casino by yourself

Dad decided after he couldn’t find me and my friends on the main promenade that he would wait for us in the casino. WRONG! He lost $100 on Roulette in 15 minutes. With no friends to cheer you on or share the experience with, the casino can be a very lonely place.

If you take some of these suggestions, I do hope that your cruising experience will be that bit more enjoyable.

 

 

Bling Bling Watch

Citizen Ladies ECo Drive Watch – my ultimte bling bling! And first ever Real watch

 

 

I had seen this watch in the UK for a handsome sum and decided to save my pennies. I fell in love with the Citizen brand a year ago when I worked along side them at a show. The watches are stunning. After thinking about this watch for a while, I was delighted to see it on my cruise ship in February with a 40% discount. Real diamonds, stainless steel and mother of pearl face. But still! I was not ready for the commitment to a 15 year watch lifetime. I usuaally by $20 ones in Asia but this adds up fast!

So we stopped on our cruise in the wonderful port of St Thomas! Ladies, hide your credit cards, this ones gonna get you. We get dropped off by a driver right in the heart of the jewellery area and I’m bedazzled. We decide to make an effort to look at the watches whilst we are here and the prices are fantastic. I meet the lovely Andy in the House of Rajah and we hit it off right away. He comes out to Sydney a lot so chatted to us about that! He also knew a lot about the divine citizen watches!

I selected 2 to try on…. try before you buy, but know that you are not going to want to take them off. We um’d and ahhed for a good 10 minutes between 2 styles. finally we selected the smaller of the 2 due to my very feminine and delicate wrists- oh you guys flatter me!!

 

Due to the rapport I had now built with the lovely Andy, I urged him to give me a further discount and round the price up. He is a gem! He did just this, and to sweeten the shopping trip, Dad bought it for me for my birthday! Best day ever!

 

Andy is an awesome guy as well as an expert when it comes to jewllery, watches and precious stones. He’s often down in Sydney at Jewellery fares but otherwise you can catch him island hopping in the Carribean.

 

To contact the store:

 

Web Site:  www.HouseofRajah.com

House of Rajah Jewelers……Est.1973

5332 Raadets Gade

St.Thomas, VI  00802

Tel: 800-316-3616 or 340-776-7770

Fax: 340-777-8898

If you like the watches, check out the Citizen site:

http://www.citizenwatches.com.au/products/ecodrive

Red and Blue KU

I’m totally down with the KU Basketball team at the moment!!

 

After recently making a friend from Kansas I have been introduced to American College Basketball and have of course been swyaed to go for the Kansas Team. so Big Up KANSAS Jayhawks!!

 

Basketball is huge in America and once you got your team, you’re a fan for life!!

 

I predict that a trip to Kansas is on the cards this year…. how can I not when  my new fave team is there.

 

They have an awesome catchy song as well. How cool is that!!! Listen up

 

B DOUBLE E – Red and Blue KU (Official Music Video)

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwB3aUTUb34

Whats your favourite Basketball Team?

 

(In Australia, Sydney Kings dominate of course)