#Indian Jewelry and Clothing Bay Area

[epadosi1]

Explore the Best Indian Clothing Stores in Bay Area with ePadosi

Discover the vibrant culture of Indian fashion with the best Indian Clothing Stores in Bay Area through ePadosi. Whether you’re looking for traditional sarees, intricate lehengas, or trendy Indo-Western outfits, the Bay Area has it all. These stores offer a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, ideal for weddings, festivals, and casual wear. ePadosi makes it easy to browse a curated list of the finest Indian clothing stores, complete with detailed profiles and client reviews, so you can elevate your style with the perfect attire. For more details and a complete list of Indian Clothing Stores in Bay Area, visit this link on ePadosi to find stores that offer both traditional and contemporary attire to elevate your style.

[vibhacollections]

ViBha, it’s been our vision to simplify access to the grace, charm and artistry of our Indian ethnic wear. As a premier Indian designer clothing store in USA, we bring together a comprehensive collection of exclusive handloom silk sarees, bridal lehengas, handloom kurtas, complete jewellery sets & accessories, kaftans & cardigans & more. All the products in our collection are specially designed, produced and curated to showcase the ethnic glamour and elegance of traditional Indian fashion.

[tripcabinet]

From the Charminar to the Merlion: Singapore Tour Package from Hyderabad

Introduction

Ready for an unforgettable trip to one of Asia’s hottest and most diverse destinations? Known as the City of Lions, Singapore is a delightful mix of cultures, stunning architecture, lush parks, and delicious food. From Little India's bustling streets to Marina Bay Sands's futuristic wonders, Singapore offers experiences to keep you entertained. In this blog, we will explore an exciting Singapore tour package from Hyderabad, which will make it easier for you to plan your dream trip.

Departure from Hyderabad

Your Singapore journey begins with a flight from Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD). With many airlines offering flexible connections, booking a flight that suits your schedule and budget will be easy. The duration of the flight is around 4 to 5 hours, making Singapore an ideal destination for a short but enjoyable getaway.

Accommodation in Singapore

When you arrive in Singapore, you will be greeted by a dynamic cityscape and an easy immigration process. Your itinerary also includes accommodation in a comfortable and conveniently located hotel. Singapore offers a variety of options ranging from luxury 5-star hotels to luxury villas, ensuring a stay that suits your taste and budget.

Day 1: Exploring Cultural Quarters

Your first day in Singapore will be dedicated to immersing yourself in the city's rich cultural heritage.

Chinatown: Start the day in Singapore’s bustling Chinatown. Explore vibrant streets filled with traditional shops, visit the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and taste authentic Chinese food at local restaurants

Little India: After Chinatown, head to Little India, where you can buy colorful makeup, perfumes, clothes, and jewelry, and enjoy delicious Indian food.

Marina Bay Sands: In the evening, explore the stunning Marina Bay Sands. Admire the stunning architecture, take in the panoramic views from the Skypark, and enjoy the light and water show at night at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza.

Day 2: Nature and Adventure

Gardens by the Bay: Explore Bay the Bay’s stunning park, with Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest, and Flower Dome. Witness the exotic flowers and plants on display in this futuristic garden.

Sentosa Island: In the afternoon, make your way to Sentosa Island. This resort island offers a wide range of activities from the exciting Universal Studios Singapore to relaxing on the beautiful beaches.

Day 3: Modern Marvels

Orchard Road: Do your morning shopping on Orchard Street, Singapore’s famous shopping strip lined with high-end boutiques and department stores.

Singapore Flyer: Ride the Singapore Flyer, a giant sightseeing wheel that offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas.

Merlion Park: Visit Merlion Park to snap a photo with Singapore's iconic symbol, the Merlion, a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.

Day 4: Departure

On the last day of your Singapore trip, you will have some free time for one last sightseeing or some souvenir shopping. You will later be transferred to the airport for your flight to Hyderabad taking with you unforgettable memories of your Singapore trip.

Conclusion

Trip Cabinet’s Singapore tour Package from Hyderabad offers a fascinating escape into a world of culture, nature, and modern wonder. Whether you are a foodie, history buff, or adventure seeker, Singapore has something for everyone. So, make your packing list and get ready for a trip filled with unforgettable experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Singapore is indeed a city of lions buzzing with joy and beauty.

[stocklivemarket]

Victoria, the capital and largest city of Seychelles, is located on the Seychelles' largest island, Mahe. Victoria, the smallest capital city in Africa, was first established by British colonists. Since the city was developed in terms of fishing, many canning factories were established in the city. When To Go To Victoria? (Mahe Island) Since the temperature is always at the same level, it can be visited in any period. Temperatures are around 24-29 degrees throughout the year. It can be said that the summer months are more ideal since the summer months are the least rainy period of the year. Places To Visit In Victoria? Victoria Botanic Gardens National Museum Clock tower Old England Courthouse Selwyn-Clarke Market Selwyn Bay And Its Beaches Old England Courthouse Victoria (Mahe Island) Food / Restaurant / What to Eat and Drink? The city is home to many restaurants as it is the capital city. It offers a wide variety of international cuisine, from Chinese cuisine to African cuisine, from French cuisine to Indian cuisine. The most important delicacies you can taste in the city are seafood. Especially the red snapper is one of the delicacies that must be tasted by the visitors. Shopping In Victoria (Mahe Island) In the city where there are no big shopping centers, local markets are where you can find everything. Tropical fruits are especially delicious. Also, local clothes, baskets, wicker products, jewelry and local handicrafts are the most important items you can find. Since water sports are the most important activity of the country, there are many places where you can buy the necessary materials. Victoria (Mahe Island) Nightlife Nightlife in the city is quite colorful. Nightclubs are very lively and crowded both on weekdays and on weekends. A few days a week, local dance shows of various African countries in large venues also make the nightlife quite lively. Lovenut Nightclub is shown as the most important nightclub in the city. Large hotel bars are also among the options. Victoria (Mahe Island) Festivals The country's most important festival, the Creole Festival, is celebrated most colorfully in the capital, Victoria. The festival is held in October. Victoria (Mahe Island) Important Information The city is quite safe. Since it is a small and touristic city, not many crimes are committed except petty thefts. However, rape rates have increased in recent years with the start of methamphetamine production. For this reason, it is beneficial not to enter the deserted side streets and not to wander alone in the coastal areas, especially at night. Victoria has an international airport. In addition, the national stadium and government institutions are in this city. Victoria's main exports are vanilla, coconut, coconut oil, tortoise shell and soap. Victoria (Mahe Island) Climate / Weather Although it is a country very close to the equator, trade winds soften its climate. From June to November, the warm climate prevails. On Mahe Island, temperatures range from 24-29 degrees throughout the year. The annual rainfall in and around the capital city Victoria is about 2,300 mm. This figure rises up to 3,550 mm as you go to higher regions. What To Do In Victoria? (Mahe Island) On Mahe Island, the country's largest island, on which Victoria is also located, you can catch the chance to swim with fish that you cannot see even in large aquariums on the incredibly beautiful beaches. The most important activities in the city are the water sports it offers. Fishing is also an activity preferred by visitors to the island to relax. You can also go on a city tour and shop at colorful public markets or visit museums and architectural structures.  

[mehndidesigner]

Reposted from @wellgroomedinc (@get_regrann) - LAST DAY TO RSVP! ONLY A FEW SPOTS LEFT! BAY AREA!! COME SEE OUR NEW COLLECTION! We are so excited to announce that we will be having a bridal expo at our Fremont California location on July 21st! Come meet some of your favorite vendors and see what the latest wedding trends are :) please rsvp if you plan to attend! Link is in the Bio of @wellgroomedinc page! _____________________________________________________________ Vendors: Clothing: @wellgroomedinc Photo/video: @realxlifee HMUA: @c_e_salon Jewelry: @thelostbangle Mehedi: @mehndidesigner Decor: @glamorousdesignanddecor Dessert: @sweetsiva_ Florals: @pallacraze Dj/producer: @kinghofficial Turban Service @apnavirsaturbanservice Photo booth: @signaturemphotobooth ______________________________________________ Email: california@wellgroomed.ca for any inquires for our Fremont, CA location! ____________________________ #allthingsbridal #indianfashion #wedding #bride #style #fashion #designer #glamour #makeup #beauty #picoftheday #happy #igers #me #love instagood #married #beautiful #indian #punjabi #sikh (at Fremont, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0KmWKZgcAr/?igshid=1lees8105pyqf

[tripthrillhomestay-blog]

December sojourn in Goa

It was in the month of December ’16 that I along with my extended family made a visit to Goa. Even though I’ve been to Goa many times before, this trip was special to me as we were a big group of 10 people this time around. December, being one of the most pleasant months of the year, called for a perfect holiday outing. Since new year was around the corner, we decided to welcome it in this wonderful land of beaches…Goa. Goa has got two districts, North Goa and South Goa. While North Goa is known to be a vibrant, “happening” place with a bustling nightlife, and is often visited by tourists, South Goa is a more serene and scenic destination which is now gaining popularity among travelers. North Goa is loved by those who enjoy the fast-paced party life buzzing through the night, whereas South Goa is quite the opposite. For those who enjoy quieter vacations, there is nothing like a serene beach san too many people. As we were on the lookout for a tranquil and quiet place to stay, choice of South Goa for stay was natural.

The Stay:

In my previous visits to Goa, I stayed at some of the prominent names in Hotel Industry, but this time we wanted something more custom made to our needs, and most importantly we wanted to experience the privileges of spending time together under one roof. The concept of homestay was not new to me, but I never stayed in a homestay before. I was often told by my friends about the superior, comfortable and customized services that several well managed homestays offer and how it gives us the feeling of closeness which we often miss out on in our daily life, hence this time, we chose a homestay. We booked a 3 BHK villa in Costa Holidays, Varca in South Goa through TripThrill. It was a massive duplex villa with all modern amenities indoors. There was a portico at the entrance, a beautiful lawn on one side and a car parking on the other side of the villa. A perfect holiday home indeed! We loved the place, on top of it, TripThrill as a perfect host, took care of all of our in-house requirements, overall, our stay was pleasant and comfortable. Find the best Homestay for you in Goa: Click Here Places to see: 

We all know that Goa is largely famous for its exquisite beaches and without doubt, is the most sought after tourist destination in India. There are more than 36 beaches in Goa, each one is known for its own distinctiveness. During our trip this season, we mostly covered the South Goa beaches and discovered that its circuit begins from Margao, the second most important city in Goa and connects Goa to all major cities in the coastline like Mumbai, Mangalore, and Kochi. After much thought and deliberation, we zeroed in on a few popular beaches to be visited in South Goa. 

So…Here’s my share! These are the 10 happening beaches in South Goa: 1) Palolem Beach 2) Colva Beach 3) Agonda Beach 4) Bogmalo Beach 5) Majorda Beach 6) Benaulim Beach 7) Polem Beach 8) Arossim Beach 9) Varca Beach 10) Mobor Beach Our excitement knew no bounds at the very mention of ‘Beach’! We carried the required beach stuff like towels, flip-flops, swim wear, cameras (much needed) and off we went! 1) Colva Beach- Colva is a small village in South Goa on the shores of the Arabian sea. Two kms further ahead from Colva is Benaulim. With 20 kms of virgin white sands, palm-fringed and sun-drenched beaches, Colva is the most loved beach of the Goans. Moreover, Colva beach is not only a perfect place for swimming (the sea waves are not so much high) but also a center for night parties which are organized right on the sandy beach. While we took a stroll on the Colva beach, we happened to see silver carpets of mackerels shimmering on the golden sands, put up for drying. What an amazing sight it was! Roger’s and Leda lounge are the popular beach shacks on the shores of Colva offering yummy seafood. Vegetarians need not panic as restaurants here serve a variety of veg.food too! This place will fit those who like to spend their days lying on the beach under the sunbeams and partying all night long. 2) Benaulim Beach- Less than 2 kms south of Colva lies the more tranquil beach of Benaulim. It is one of the few places in Goa where one can get a glimpse of handicrafts, typical to this area. The ladies in our group even bought some pretty looking hand made bracelets from the beach vendors. Benaulim brings lots of beach activities ranging from water sports (parasailing, snorkeling, and windsurfing ) to eateries and other shopping activities. During our 10 days stay in south Goa, we too enjoyed parasailing, motor boat ride and dolphin sighting to name a few. The shops on this beach also offer furniture, Indian & Kashmiri handicrafts and ornaments. There are a number of beachside restaurants where one can gorge on yummy seafood. Johncy’s and Pedro’s are the two popular food joints on Benaulim beach. Nightlife at Benaulim is quite happening. At night, the beach looks very pretty with twinkling stars in the sky and gentle moonlight bestowing the place, amazing sight! Music, dance and drinking chilled beer are the main attractions of nightlife in Benaulim. 3) Palolem Beach- With a 1.5 kilometer stretch of white powdery sand, palm groves, a picturesque bay, and a small green island, Palolem beach offers a breathtaking view of the Arabian sea. This beach is also called a fishing beach. Fishermen often venture into the sea to catch fish from this point. There are a few shacks on the shore, selling seafood, souvenirs and bright, colorful clothes. One can hire taxis and auto-rickshaws to reach Palolem beach from Margao. One can also rent a bicycle from a number of places in the village and set out to whichever way their inner compass is pointing. There are regular buses too from various nearby villages to Palolem. To the North of Palolem beach is Butterfly beach and to the South is Patnem, both exuding an ideal allure. For nature lovers, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary offers a visual treat. It is located at a short distance from Palolem. The sanctuary boasts an array of exotic towering trees and other tropical plants as well as protected wildlife. During our visit, we saw a lot of foreigners lingering here. Most of them can be seen sunbathing, listening to music or simply take a stroll on the sand. This place has a good nightlife. One can go to Neptune point for a silent noise party and enjoy music on their headphones and dance till the music ends. Draupadi, Magic Italy and Sea breeze are few popular restaurants in Palolem. It is a perfect place to watch the sunset! 4) Varca Beach- Amongst all the beautiful beaches in Goa, Varca beach is the one that holds a special place for every beach lover. This is because Varca beach is relatively quiet and peaceful. Situated in the south Goa, Varca beach simply adorns the entire Goa with its 10 km stretch of marvelous white sand and sparkling waves. Wake up early and go for a long walk on the beach, watch the seabirds and crabs and don’t miss to view the sunrise! Varca is a breath of fresh air to the soul and a wonderful place to refresh & recharge. While you are here, stay at Costa Holidays as it is very close to Varca beach. The Varca beach is not as commercialized and crowded as other major beaches of Goa. Instead, the quiet beach attracts visitors without fail since it is less crowded and cleaner than other big beaches. The Varca beach is ideal for lazing around and exploring local shacks. You can hire a boat and go out boating in the sea with an expert guide. You can also spot dolphins if you are lucky enough. There are numerous beach shacks offering a variety of Goan dishes and seafood at reasonable prices. One can also do some shopping therapy here. From a variety of funky jewelry made of seashells to colorful hats, clothes, bags, and other eye-catchy items are available in the hut shaped shops. 5) Arossim beach- Presents a long and white stretch of golden sand, lapped at by clear blue water and backed by a dense forest of palms. The beach is heaven not only for the party and leisure seekers but also for the adventure seekers. This beach offers various water sports activities viz: water surfing and sailing. There are plenty of eating options to choose from at and around the Arossim beach. To the hungry beach goer’s delight, there are quite a few beach shacks that offer fresh and delicious seafood. Just indulge! Know More about Goa: Read Here

[jijina921988]

India is a country which is called the land of 'unity in diversity', it is a country of various cultures, traditions, religions, castes, languages, races and ethnic groups. Therefore, the costumes of Indians vary depending on culture, traditions, religions, castes, languages. India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, for a total of 36 entities. 

1. Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh is a southern state in India. It shares its boundaries with Telangana, Chhatisgarh, and Odisha with the Bay of Bengal in the east. Called the “Rice Bowl of India” as they grow rice in plenty.

Andhra Pradesh is regarded as the Kohinoor of India for its famous weaving and dying industry. The traditional wear of Andhra Pradesh is much the same as other southern Indian states. Men usually wear kurta and dhoti, while lungis are also worn with a kurta. Muslim men wear pajamas with kurta in place of the dhoti.

The women of Andhra Pradesh wear saree and they are original handloom sarees, young women wear Langa Voni. For marriage ceremonies, the bride wears silk sarees which are red and decorated with gold plating, while the bridegroom wears kurta and full-length dhoti.

2. Arunachal Pradesh: Arunachal Pradesh is the north-eastern state of India bordering with Nagaland and Assam to the south, while Myanmar to the east, Bhutan in the west, and China to the north. Their dresses are very vibrant, bright and their myriad patterns vary with different tribes. The Attire of Arunachal Pradesh is remarkable and famous all over India.

The Monpas, Buddhist community are famous for their skull cap, women wear sleeveless chemise with a long jacket. There is a narrow strip of cloth that they tied around their waist to keep chemise tied in place.

Bamboo earring and silver earrings are very common. Females of tribes residing in lower Kamla valley have a very peculiar costume. They tie their hairs in a knot just above their forehead.

Men wear sleeveless material made of silk with two edges pinned to the shoulder area. The clothing is knee-long and its hallmark is the skull -cap smeared with hairs of yak.

Tang’s tribe people adorn costume which is the style of Burmese. Men wear sleeveless shirt and lungi of green color with white, red, and yellow yarn. Women wear a woven petticoat with a blouse. Miji women wear a long cloak and big earrings.

3. Assam: Assam is surrounded by seven northeastern states in India. The traditional dress for men is dhoti-kurta while for women they wear ‘Mekhela-Chador‘ or ‘Riha-Mekhela’.

This traditional dress is made from the prestigious ‘Muga Silk‘ which is the peculiarity, as well as the pride of Assam. They also wear ‘Dokhora’ and dresses like a salwar suit, sari, etc. Women feel proud to wear handloom products, especially Mekhela chador, during special occasions like weddings and festivals like Bihu and Saraswati puja.

The women of the Bodo Tribe wear Mekhela paired with a chadar while women of the Thai Phake Tribe wear a striped girdle called Chiarchin. The traditional dress worn by the menfolk of Assam is ‘Suria’ or ‘dhoti’ and ‘kameez’ or ‘shirt’ and over it, a chadar known as ‘Seleng’ is spread.

4. Bihar: The traditional dress of Bihari people includes the dhoti-mirjai or the kurta for men and Saree for women. The effects of western culture have also affected the lives of the people of Bihar where women prefer to wear saree or Kameez-Salwar.

The saree is worn in the “Seedha Aanchal” style traditionally. Western shirts and trousers are also becoming very popular in both rural and urban male population.

5. Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh is a central state of India. It’s rich in culture, legacy, and enormous diversity of various ethnic sets. Chhattisgarh tribes wear bright and colorful fabrics. They love to wear jewelry on their neck. Chhattisgarh traditional women clothing is Kuchhora style saree. Their saree are knee-length.

Men in tribal groups wear dhotis and headgears like cotton turbans. The fabrics used are linen, silk, and cotton and they are usually painted with molten wax. Their tie and dye technique used in fabrics is called Batik.

6. Goa: Goa the land of beaches is immensely popular among tourists. The women of goa wear Nav Vari which is a 9-yard saree studded with precious stones and worn with beautiful accessories.

Other women’s traditional costumes are ‘Pano Bhaju‘. The men in goa wear brightly colored shirts, half pants, and bamboo hats.

7. Gujarat: The traditional dress of Gujarat is unique in its own way. The women wear Chaniyo choli, Chaniyo is a colored petticoat embroidered with glass pieces while choli is a colored piece of coarse cloth covering the upper body.

Along with the colorful attire, women adorn themselves in sparkling ornaments. Men wear Chrono & Kediyu, but nowadays instead of wearing traditional outfits, people dress in modern apparel.

8. Haryana: Women love to wear colorful dresses. Their basic trousseau includes ‘Damaan’, ‘Kurti’ & ‘Chunder’. ‘Chunder’ is the long, colored piece of cloth, decorated with shiny laces, meant to cover the head and is drawn in the front like the ‘pallav’ of the saree. Kurti is a shirt like a blouse, usually white in color. The ‘Daaman’ is the flair ankle-long skirt, in striking colors.

The men generally wear ‘Dhoti’, the wrap-around cloth, tucked in between the legs with a white-colored kurta worn atop it. ‘Pagri’ is the traditional headgear for men, which is now worn mainly by the old villagers. All-white attire is a status symbol for men.

9. Himachal Pradesh: The people of Himachal Pradesh mostly wear woolens as its best suited to the climate. Scarves and shawls are ubiquitous with the women while the men can be found in various types of Kurtas and the typical Himachal cap.

The Rajput males comprise starch stiffened Kurtas and body-hugging ‘Churidaars’. The females of this group apparel themselves little conventionally costumes like kurtas (shirt-like oriental blouse), Salwars, Ghaghri (Indian long skirts), a choli (blouses or tops), and Rahide (headscarves decked with golden periphery).

10. Jammu and Kashmir: The Pheran is the prominent attire for Kashmiri women. The Pheran is worn by women usually has Zari, embroidery on the hemline, around pockets, and mostly on the collar area. Ladies prefer a suit and Burgha in summer and Pheran are preferred in autumn. The typical dress of a Kashmiris man both Hindu and Muslim is Pheran, a long loose gown hanging down below the knees. The men wear a skullcap, a close-fitting shalwar (Muslims), or churidar pajama (Pandits).

11. Jharkhand: On auspicious occasions in Jharkhand like Pooja Text or Wedding Vagera, people wear their local traditional clothes like kurta, pajamas, lehenga, saris, dhoti, sherwani, etc. Tussar silk sarees are made in Jharkhand, known for their elegance and unique look. Tribal women wear Parthan and Panchi.

But nowadays people have moved on from wearing traditional dresses to adopt western culture garments. People here started wearing jeans, t-shirts, shirts, lower, jackets, belly, blazer suits, etc.

12. Karnataka: The traditional clothing for women in Karnataka is a saree made of silk. Karnataka is known as the Silk hub of India as a wide variety of silk can be found here. Mysore and Banglore are mainly famous for their silk industries.

Kanchipuram or Kanjeevaram silks of Karnataka are very famous all over India. The traditional dress for men in Karnataka is Lungi, worn under the waist below a shirt. Mysore Peta is a conventional headdress for men.

13. Kerala: The traditional clothing of women in Kerala is the ‘Kerala Saree’ or the Mundum Neriyathum. This is in two pieces, one is draped on the lower part of the body and then the neriyathu is worn over a blouse.

The men of Kerala tend to be more conservative than women and stick to tradition. Mundu is worn on the lower part of the body and is a long garment tucked around the waist, it reaches their ankles. Many prefer to wear it above their waist and the higher caste drape a cloth over their shoulders.

14. Madhya Pradesh: Women of Madhya Pradesh wear Lehenga and Choli with an Orni or Lugra, which is additional cloth wrapped around their heads and shoulders. Whereas the male community wears dhoti along with Bandi, which is a kind of jacket and headgear.

15. Maharashtra: Traditional clothes for Maharashtrian males include the dhoti, also known as Dhotar, and pheta, while a choli and nine-yard saree locally known as Nauwari Saadi or Lugda are for women.

Traditional clothing is famous in rural areas while traditional people from cities also wear these clothes. These clothes are worn by Maharashtrians while performing various festivals.

16. Manipur: Innaphi and Phanek are the Manipuri traditional dress for women in Manipur. A shawl or dupatta called Innaphi and a skirt called a Phanek, which is wrapped around the chest. The dress is woven with a hand in horizontal lines.

Men wear dhotis which is four and a half meters long. These are wrapped around the waist and legs and knotted at the waist, and paired with smart jackets or bundis. Headgear is a white pagri or turban.

17. Meghalaya: Meghalaya has three main tribes Khasi, Jaintias, and Garos, and the traditional dress of each tribe is peculiar. The traditional Khasi female dress is called the Jainsem or Dhara, both of which are rather elaborate with several pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. The traditional Khasi male dress is a Jymphong, a longish sleeveless coat without collar, fastened by thongs in front. A Garo woman also wears a blouse and an unstitched ‘lungi’ like cloth which is known as ‘Dakmanda.’ It is fastened around the waist. Both Garo men and women enjoy adorning themselves with ornaments. The women of the Jaintia tribe wear a velvet blouse along with a sarong called ‘Thoh Khyrwang’ which is wrapped around the waist.

18. Mizoram: Mizo women love to wear Puran, which is the most favorite dress in Mizoram. The lively color and the exceptional designs and fittings made this outfit superb. Puanchei, the gorgeous dress of Mizo girls is a must during weddings and festivals such as ‘Chapchar Kut’ and ‘Pawl Kut ‘. The shades in the attire are black and white. The black portion of the textile is originated from some kind of synthetic fur. Kawrchei is a fabulous blouse for Mizo girls. That also is hand-woven and cotton material.

19. Nagaland: Naga has Red as the most primary color in costumes. The traditional dress material and costume of the Angami men are kilt and wrapper, while the women use a skirt, shawl, and apron. Most of the women, unlike men, wear traditional dresses. A kilt looping down to the knee is a man’s typical waist dress which is of light blue color.

A women’s skirt is a sheet of cloth that is used by rolling it along the waist and which loops down to cover legs. Neck ornaments are mainly strings of beads, shells, boar’s tusks, and horns.

20. Odisha: In Odisha western-style dress has gained greater acceptance in cities and towns among men, although the people prefer to wear traditional dresses like Dhoti, Kurtha, and Gamucha during festivals or other religious occasions. Women normally prefer to wear the Sari (Sambalpuri Sari) or the Shalwar kameez; western attire is becoming popular among younger women in cities and towns.

21. Punjab: The traditional dress for women is the salwar suit which replaced the traditional Punjabi ghagra. The Punjabi suit is made up of a kurta or kameez and a straight cut salwar. The Patiala salwar is also very popular in India.

The traditional dress for Punjabi men is the kurta and tehmat, which is being replaced by the kurta and pajama, especially the popular muktsari style in India. It is called muktsari style because it originates from Muktsar in Punjab.

22. Rajasthan: raditionally men wear dhotis, kurta, angarkha, and paggar or safa (kind of turban headgear). Traditional Chudidar payjama (puckered trousers) frequently replaces dhoti in different regions. Women wear ghagra (long skirt) and kanchli (top). However, dress style changes with lengths and breaths of vast Rajasthan. Dhoti is worn in different ways in Marwar (Jodhpur area) or Shekhawati (Jaipur area) or Hadoti (Bundi area).

23. Sikkim: The traditional costume of Lepcha women is called Dumvum or Dumdyam. It is an ankle long costume worn like a sari. Another costume worn is Nyamrek which is beautifully attached to the blouse. another community Bhutia wear Bakhu or Kho costumes. It is a loose, cloak-style garment that is fastened at the neck on one side and near the waist with a silk or cotton belt. Male members wear loose trousers under the Kho. The traditional outfit is complemented by embroidered leather boots by both men and women.

24. Tamil Nadu: In Tamil Nadu women wear sarees. The young girls wear full-length short blouse and shawl, this style of wearing is called Pavada, which also known as a half sari. Now, most of the women in cities are wearing Salwar Kameez, Jeans, and Pants.

The Tamil Nadu men are usually seen dressed in Lungi along with a shirt and Angavastra. The traditional Lungi originated in the South and it is simply a short length of material worn around the thighs like a Sarong. A Dhoti is a longer Lungi but with an additional length of material pulled up between the legs.

25. Telangana: Telangana is rich in cotton production and its innovative plant dye extraction history stands next to diamond mining. Traditional Women wear a sari in most parts of the state. Langa Voni, Shalwar kameez, and Churidaar are popular among the Unmarried Women. Some of the famous sarees made in Telangana are Pochampally Saree, Gadwal sari. Male Clothing includes the traditional Dhoti also known as Pancha.

26. Tripura: The dress for women for the lower half of the body is called Rigwnai in Tripuri and for the upper half of the body, the cloth has two parts Risa and Rikutu. Risa covers the chest part and the rikutu covers the whole of the upper half of the body. Nowadays risa is not worn, instead, a blouse is worn by most Tripuri women because of convenience.

The male counterpart used to wear ‘rikutu’ for the loin and ‘kamchwlwi borok’ for the upper part of the body. But in the modern age, very few people are wearing these dresses except in the rural Tripura and working class.

27. Uttar Pradesh: The costume of Uttar Pradesh is a very typical one where the women are clad in their saris adorned by the golden jewelry and Mangal Sutra (a chain with a pendulum gifted by the groom to his bride) worn by married women while the men look clad in dhoti kurta or kurta pajama. Toe rings are common all over the Uttar Pradesh among the married woman folks.

28. Uttarakhand: Dress for females is Ghagara, Aagari, Dhoti Kurta, Bhotu. While for males churidar pajama, Kurta, gol topi or Jawahar topi, Bhotu, Dhoti, Mirje are worn. Dhoti or Lungi is worn by men as a lower garment, with kurta as the upper garment. Men also like to wear headgear in Garhwal.

29. West Bengal: Bengali women traditionally wear the sari and shalwar kameez. The traditional dress for men like a dhoti, Panjabi, kurta, sherwani, pajama, and lungi are seen during weddings and major festivals.

[grad601-helainasealesford]

Interview | Jan Ford, My Grandmother

•               What is your earliest memory?

We lived next door to my grandmother until I was 15. I have very precious memories our time as neighbors and I remember them very well. I remember that house, and their 1920s furniture, very well. I remember going into my grandmother’s room whilst she was ill, I would have only been about 4 years old. She used to let me play with her jewelry, scarfs and hats. I would play dress ups and dance around her bedroom. I had so much fun playing in her wardrobe as I grew up, until I wasn’t allowed to see her for a while, I was later told that she had passed away. I think I inherited her love for beautiful accessories. I would wrap necklaces around my head and pretend I was an Indian princess.

•               Who are your parents? Where did they grow up?

I was born to Joan and Colin, who were both born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. Mum’s maiden name was Joan Venn and when she married my father her name became Joan Veart. She never had to change her initials and we thought that was funny as children. Mum was a dressmaker who used to sew sample clothing for a fashion house. She made me beautiful pleated skirts out of black wash tartan. She was a beautiful knitter. I had incredible outfits growing up. She made me the most beautiful outfits. Mum made them all for me.

•               Where were you born?

I was born in Auckland, growing up we lived on York Street in an old villa. It had an outside bathroom that was miles down the end of the garden. When I was 8 my dad altered one of the bedrooms into an internal bathroom. Before then, we had to use a bucket, filling it with of hot water before carrying it outside to the bath, going back and forth until there was enough water in there to bathe. On days we didn’t have a bath we would wash in the basin. We used to walk to school, past all of the shops, to Gladstone Road Primary School. If it was raining, we caught the bus. That area is so different now. We used to play out on the street with the whole neighborhood. Jump rope and hula-hoops. It was a beautiful area to grow up in. We used to go to town on the trams, it was 5 pence.

•               Did you like school?

Yes, I liked everything I learnt. We had the coolest teachers in the 50s. I will never forget Mrs Goldsmith. She was really good; fantastic at getting us to learn our times tables and comprehension. I liked English at arithmetic, they were my two favourite subjects. I also loved cooking.

•               What did you do for fun?

We played silly bugger. We would go swimming at the Parnell Baths. Play dress ups. Mum and dad would take us to the movies every Friday night, they called it the local bug house. They played cartoons. Gobstoppers we a penny and aniseed balls were 5 for a penny. There was always something to do. We would listen to the radio. Our favorite cereals would release a new episode every week. I remember my mum listening to Aunt Daisy every morning, and Portia Faces Life. They were the Shortland Street of our childhood.

•               How did you celebrate holidays?

We were very poor growing up. We didn’t have a car. My dad would borrow a friend’s car over the holidays and take us to visit out cousins in Whangarei. Dad would to take us on day trips, we’d get the tram or the bus to the domain, the museum, the zoo. Before the harbor bridge was built I would bus all the way to Browns Bay. I would stay for two weeks at a time because it took so long to get there. There used to be a big camping ground right where Countdown is. The city was suburbia and the north shore is where people went on holiday and had batches.

•               Did your family have some special holiday traditions?

We didn’t have any holiday traditions, but we would make paper chains and all our Christmas decorations were hand made. We always went to my grandmother’s house on Sundays. I remember when she got a fridge in the 60s and she would make us homemade ice cream. That was yummy and I looked forward to that. We ate fish and chips every Friday, before the movies. My mum and dad kept that tradition up until they died. It was a treat for the end of the working week.

•               What is a gift you received that you will never forget? What was special about it?

My wetting dolls. My mother made me a whole outfit and dressed the dolls the same. They were called wetting dolls because they did wees. I loved those dolls, I had them for years, and years, and years. I got one for Christmas one year, it would have cost mum and arm and a leg. I think they spent a long time saving their money for it. That was my favourite present of all time. I just loved those dolls. I remember clear as day, opening that doll on Christmas morning. I also really loved a dolls house that my dad made me, my mum furnished it with carpet samples. I had that for years as well. My parents would handmade a lot of our toys.

•               Can you think of any funny stories from your youth?

I was about 16 and had just started work in the CBD. The Radio and TV buildings were up the road from my office. There used to be a guy on TV named Reece Jones. One morning I was wearing a pink suit, white stilettos, and a white handbag. I was standing next to him at the crossing. I went to cross diagonally, trotting along thinking I was really cool, when the heel of my shoe got caught in the tram lines on the road. I fell over and my dress went way over my head. I was laying sprawled out on the road. He noticed I had fallen and helped me back up. It is so funny to look back on.

My girlfriends and I could not believe we had seen this. A lady was walking towards us and the elastic in her underwear had broken. They fell to her ankles, and she didn’t bat an eyelid. She just stepped out of them, picked them up, put them into her handbag, and kept walking. My friend and I had to sit down on the curb to stop ourselves from wetting ourselves laughing.

•               What is an object you still have from your childhood and what is the story behind it?

When I was little mum used to plait my long hair for me every morning. She had this pale blue glass dressing table set that I would stand in front of every morning whilst she did my hair. One day she gave it away to the church and I was really upset about it, I had hoped to keep it. After she had died, we were cleaning out the hot water cupboard and I found one of the little trays from the set. I have kept it and cherished it all my life.

[ladyofthepersonalart]

Vashaen Info: World and Architecture

In light of the 200 or so (sadly low-res) photos I just reblogged of architecture and seashores, I should probably discuss the appearance of Vashaena (Vas-Hye-EANA), Grievous's homeland. The capital city has notably Mediterranean and Persian influences--think cities like Santorini, Greece, with multiple tiers to them, sitting on the water's edge and getting higher. Syraene (See-RAY-nay) is built on a cliff on the ocean nestled in between the arms of two short, semi-mountainous capes, and was built directly into the existent stone and across the straits that divide the main city from the cape and up into the surrounding area. I realized belatedly that my original idea was too similar to the Sea of Saere from Abhorsen. Syraene has high seawalls with stairs like that of the Jaipur stepwell in India leading down to the wayer's edge, making it close to impossible for enemy armies to dock a ship--because there's nowhere to dock it. The river has a loch (lock?) system built into it that allows Vashaens to raise friendly ships up to the height of either the docks on the east side of the city, or the waterfall that comes off the higher land on the west side, allowing them to sail upriver. As this is the only seaport in Vashaena, Syraene has completely and utter control over the coming and goings of trade. Any army that wants to take on the rest of the Realm has to go through the city first, and it's not only heavily fortified, the Royal Family resides there and has the power to turn the tides of the ocean with special spells in moments of dire need. The walls are able to project a shield over the top of the city that forms a dome and meets at the uppermost towers of the castle, which allows Vashaens to fly out and come back in but is extremely hard for anything else to bypass. It extends over the live-on bridges that were carved to expand the city into the cape mountains, and eventually merges with the backmost walls, which stand where the mountainous arms of the capes start to plateau. The shield generators are tucked behind the massive wall, protected. The main part of the city is more or less circular, with seven tiers rising from the farmlands and fishing villages at the base of the wall to the second wall, which has three larger tiers and is most of the heavily trafficked parts of the city, such as stores and eateries and smiths and tech and jewelry and your general bazaar, as well as temples and libraries and communal pools. They pride themselves on their architecture, and the city has graceful columns, neatly arranged buildings that are similar but never identical, lapis lazuli, labradorite, turquoise, porphyry, and opal inlaid in the walls (they're decently abundant in Vashaena, but not in other realms, and their main purpose is to boost magic communally, as the stones tend to be inlaid with loose natural power placed their by a shaman to strengthen the city's defenses and its people) Doorways are often made only of cloth curtains in bright colors that can be removed and replaced with wood or metal should rains, sands or cold weather roll in, same with the windows. They like arches and large bay windows, and reds, oranges, maroons and browns and violets in their cloths and blues and aquas in their architecture, and they often have a myriad of plants growing everywhere, such as wisteria and other flowering vines, which are tended to so they don't undermine the structures. There's an irrigation system flowing through the city following the grid that stems from a spring under the palace, and there's a very large stepwell reservoir in the center of the city that's well protected and regularly purified. The palace sits on the topmost of the three planes, or districts, of the city. (Each plane/district is in between the walls. First one has seven tiers, second has three, final one has three.) The palace tier has two tiers for mostly government buildings, and the next tier up above them is a garden surrounding the palace. The purpose of it is for enemies who made it this far to get caught in, and likely die in, all the traps and various dangerous plants and animals. The palace itself was built more for fortification and defense than beauty, but it still has its own grandeur and elegance. The architecture of it is most similar to traditional Mediterranean architecture, specially French Revival in some places, and with a trace more columns and notable Mughal influences in the domed ceilings and laborious detail on the marble. It was incredibly sturdy, and due to enchantments survived the fall of Vashaena in better shape than anyone thought it would. Other coastal cities in Vashaena are built high on its seacliffs in the Mediterranean/Persian/Indian style, buildings in the mountain cities are built into the side of the cliffs are heavily Indian-inspired, and jungle cities have a mixture of Indian, early Aztecan, and Polynesian architecture. Plains cities are more simplistic and favor minimalist buildings, while the only Desert cities has strong Egyptian influence to its Persian architecture. The climate of Vashaena is largely tropical and coastal, though harsher than our tropics are, and degrades into harsh, arid desert weather from there. The mountains are chilly and sparse, as are the steppes, the plains are warm but windy, and everything south and east and west of the desert is stupidly hot and humid.

[ticketneed3-blog]

The Essential Camping Gear - Don't Leave Home Without It

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[mehndidesigner]

Reposted from @wellgroomedinc - BAY AREA!! COME SEE OUR NEW COLLECTION! We are so excited to announce that we will be having a bridal expo at our Fremont California location on July 21st! Come meet some of your favorite vendors and see what the latest wedding trends are :) please rsvp if you plan to attend! Link is in the Bio on @wellgroomedinc page _____________________________________________________________ Vendors: Clothing: @wellgroomedinc Photo/video: @realxlifee HMUA: @c_e_salon Jewelry: @thelostbangle Mehedi: @mehndidesigner Decor: @glamorousdesignanddecor Dessert: @sweetsiva_ Florals: @pallacraze Dj/producer: @kinghofficial Turban Service @apnavirsaturbanservice Photo booth: @signaturemphotobooth ______________________________________________ Email: california@wellgroomed.ca for any inquires for our Fremont, CA location! ____________________________ #allthingsbridal #indianfashion #wedding #bride #style #fashion #designer #glamour #makeup #beauty #picoftheday #happy #igers #me #love instagood #married #beautiful #indian #punjabi #sikh (at Fremont, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0HR9rCgNPi/?igshid=1mwvi1p08rpf1

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/december-st-petersburg-area-events-splashy/

December St Petersburg Area Events Splashy

december recurring events

Gulfport: First Friday Artwalk

St Pete: First Friday

St Pete: Second Saturday Artwalk

Gulfport: Third Saturday Artwalk

Gulfport: Tuesday Fresh Market

St Pete: Saturday Morning Market

St Pete Beach: Corey Avenue Sunday Market

Treasure Island: Open Air Market (Fridays)

Lighted Holiday Boat Parades

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the numerous lighted boat parades that take place along the waterways of Pinellas county.  

The exact dates vary from year to year, but they're generally coordinated and spread out so that they don't all convene on the same nights.

Following is a listing of the area lighted holiday boat parades.  You can visit the specific event's website for more details.

Gulfport & Boca Ciega Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade - December 8, 2018

Treasure Island's Lighted Boat Parade - December 14, 2018

Pass-A-Grille and Vina Del Mar Boat Parade

Indian Rocks Beach Holiday Lighted Boat Parade - December 15, 2018

Redington Beaches/Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade

Madeira Beach Festival of Lights Holiday Boat Parade - December 8, 2018

St Pete Beach Holiday Boat Parade and Winter Festival in the Park - December 7, 2018

St Petersburg Annual Rotary Club Illuminated Boat Parade - this event has been canceled for 2018 due to ongoing construction at the Pier.

If your explorations are taking you outside of the St Petersburg area during the month of December, Florida by Water publishes a very comprehensive list of boat parades around the state, complete with short descriptions and links to websites. (But ours is more helpful if you're in just the St Petersburg area.)

Florida By Water Boat Parade List

December Special Events

St Pete Boat Parade & Winter Festival in the Park

You can dress up for this one.  The Parade Viewing Party starts at 6 pm in Horan Park and includes music, hot chocolate, art projects for children and a visit from Santa.  Admission is free. 

Horan Park is next to the St Pete Beach Community Center at 7701 Boca Ciega Dr.  

Click here for the parade route.

Jingle Bell Kids' Fishing Tournament

In 2018 this event is being held on December 1 at John's Pass Village.  The entry fee is an unwrapped toy and non-perishable food item.  Donations benefit Santa's Angels and The Kind Mouse.

All fishing myst be done from the dock or beach only. No fishing from boats or kayaks.

See the Angler Amory website for more rules, pictures and details!

Snowfest

No fake snow here! Sixty-four tons of snow will fall on North Straub Park in early December. (Possibly December 1 in 2018)

Expect to find a toboggan slide, ice skating, cookie decorating and more. 

St Petersburg Annual Rotary Club Illuminated Boat Parade

This event is organized by the Rotary Club, this event moved back to downtown St Petersburg in 2017.  The boat parade starts at 401 Bayshore Dr, NE at 6 pm and the other festivities start at hour earlier, at 5pm. 

Gulfport & BCYC's Holiday Boat Parade

December 8, 2018.  The parade begins at Gulfport Municipal Marina, passing by the Boca Ciega Yacht Club clubhouse, then to Williams Pier, Town Shores, Pasadena Yacht Club, Pasadena Golf Estates and Dolphin Boulevard South, finally visiting Isla del Sol and returning to the BCYC clubhouse for the Post Parade party.

Visit the website to download a boat parade flyer, or to find out how to participate with your boat!  Entry "fees" are unwrapped toys for Operation Santa.

And see below for Gulfport's Holiday Hoopla, taking place on the same day!

Click here for a link in Paradise News about this event that is in its 33rd year.  Sponsors are needed!

sailbcyc.org/christmasboatparade

Gulfport's Annual Holiday Hoopla

Let's hope for better weather conditions for this event in 2018.  Last year was very cold and extremely windy - highly unusual conditions for Florida that time of year!  

Holiday Hoopla is a celebration of arts, crafts, foods, holiday music and roving holiday characters.

The festivities run from 10 am to 6 pm on Beach Boulevard in Gulfport's Waterfront District.  The event benefits Operation Santa and Gulfport families in need.  Come find one-of-a-kind gifts that cannot be found anywhere else!

Roving Rudolph at Gulfport's Holiday Hoopla

Historic Old Northeast Candlelight Tour of Homes

This event is being held December 9th in 2018.  

Check the HONNA (Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association) Facebook page for details as the event gets closer.

Christmas Market & Parade on St Pete Beach

The parade starts at St Pete Beach City Hall (155 Corey Ave) and heads west down Corey Ave, south on Blind Pass Road, east on 73rd to Bay Street and back to City Hall.  

The best parade viewing areas will be along Corey Avenue and parking is available at the Community Center. 

This event also includes a visit from Santa and an opportunity to meet with all the Whos in Whoville. Grinch themed crafts, face painting and light refreshments too. 

Pass-A-Grille and Vina Del Mar Boat Parade

This small event starts at Merry Pier in Pass-A-Grille. I've heard that Santa will make an appearance at The Seahorse, where St Pete firemen will cook burgers and hot dogs outside.  Santa is also available for pictures with the kids.  Luminaries along the sea wall and carolers at Merry Pier.  

Festivities start at 5 pm. 

Indian Rocks Beach Holiday Lighted Boat Parade

The parade starts at the Holiday Inn Harborside. then goes under the Walsingham Bridge and ending at Harbor Drive North.  

Redington Beaches/Indian Shores Holiday Boat Parade

This boat parade goes from the Tom Stuart Causeway to "The Pub" restaurant in Indian shores.  The event starts at 5:45 pm. 

New in 2018 is a lighted dock competition, but this would be hard to experience unless you're in the parade yourself.

Festival of Lights Madeira Beach Boat Parade

The Madeira Beach "Festival of Lights" boat parade begins at ROC Park and ehads down the Intracoastal Waterway to John's Pass Village and Boardwalk.  

The event starts at approximately 6:30 pm and goes until 9 pm. 

Check out the event flyer here.

Treasure Island's Lighted Boat Parade

Treasure Island says its lighted boat parade is like Las Vegas on the water - dazzingly decorated boats of all kinds.  There is a friendly competition for prizes.

The TI Causeway Bridge closes to vehicular traffic during the parade (usually around 7 pm) and stays closed for 30 - 45 minutes to allow the boat parade to pass through.  

The best public viewing areas for the Treasure Island Lighted Boat Parade are:

115th Avenue on the Isle of Palms

Treasure Island Causeway Bridge

Kingfish Drive at John's Pass (Gator's Cafe & Saloon)

Blind Pass Bridge (between Treasure Island & St Pete Beach)

Click here for a map of the parade route.  It's an old map but the route hasn't changed in years.

Brocante Vintage Market

December 1 and 2, 2018.

.St Pete's only monthly vintage market. 15,000 square feet of vintage goods sourced by 50+ vendors. The vendors are called Brocanteurs.

Corey Avenue Art Festival

December 1 and 2, 2018.  10 am to 5 pm both Saturday and Sunday. 595 Corey Ave in St Pete Beach Fl.

More than 100 talented artisans with jewelry, pottery ceramics, photography, painting, clothing.  There is also an expansive Green Market with plants, orchids, exotic flora, handmade soaps, gourmet spices and other goodies.

This is always a fun event with quality goods and great weather!

[gtfovacations-blog]

The Hottest Travel Destinations for Seniors Right Now

Unencumbered by work and kids, many retirees are upping their travel game. An analysis by Priceline found that boomers book the longest average length of stay on their vacations, relative to other age groups, and spend significantly more on flights and hotels than younger travelers. “Baby boomers are active travelers,” says Kevin O’Leary, senior analyst at Priceline, via email. So where are seniors headed? To find out, MONEY teamed up with Priceline to get information on travelers aged 60 and over; the company analyzed millions of bookings across all age groups, spanning thousands of destinations, hotels and flight routes from 2017 to 2018. The resulting list, below, identifies the most common travel destinations for adults 60 and older. We’ve also plugged in pricing info from MONEY’s Best in Travel database, and found a couple of activities at each location to fill your time. Read on for the 10 hottest vacation spots for retirees:

1. Chicago

Average hotel night: $174 Average 2017 airfare: $249 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $1,979 Chicago hits a traveler trifecta: cultural attractions, world-class food and plenty of natural beauty. Learn about the city’s iconic buildings aboard the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise. The 90-minute ride costs $47 during the day, and $52 to see the buildings light up at twilight (with a 7:30 p.m. departure). The city is also home to 25 Michelin-starred restaurants, plus a plethora of no-frills diners and joints that serve authentic (and delicious) fare. On the upscale side, book a reservation at Acadia for an eight-course tasting menu. For family style cuisine, try Mexican bites like tacos and mole at Mi Tocaya. At Navy Pier, the 200-foot Centennial Wheel on Chicago’s skyline offers views of Lake Michigan. If you’d rather stay at ground level, walk along the 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail, which passes Lincoln Park Zoo, Grant Park, and the South Shore Cultural Center.

2. Orlando

Average hotel night: $123 Average 2017 airfare: $254 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $1,509 Orlando is home to child-friendly favorites like Disney World, so some seniors may well be visiting with their grandkids. But the tourism hub can be just as enjoyable — if not more so — for retirees. For one thing, Disney World itself has plenty of adult-friendly entertainment right on site. Eat a bratwurst, drink sake, shop for Moroccan textiles, and watch Chinese acrobats all in the same day at the World Showcase exhibit at Disney’s Epcot park. Or eat an authentic French feast at the Beauty and the Beast-inspired restaurant, Be Our Guest. (Tickets don’t come cheap: two-day tickets cost $209 per person ages 10 and up, with no senior discounts.) Orlando is also a great jumping-off point for nearby attractions. Drive an hour east to New Smyrna Beach for 13 miles of sand, as well as smaller crowds than other east coast Florida beaches. Farther afield, you can visit the Kennedy Space Center to learn about our country’s space exploration history and current advancements. Single-day tickets cost $57 for adults, and $50 for seniors 55 and older.

3. Denver

Average hotel night: $130 Average 2017 airfare: $242 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $1,863 Traveling this fall? Immerse yourself in Denver pride with a Broncos game in Mile High Stadium. When you get hungry, check out the Denver Central Market food hall for local bites and sweets, including roasted meats from SK Provisions (owned by renowned chef Sean Kelly) and artisan cheese from Culture Meet & Cheese. Many people also choose Colorado for its natural beauty. Denver is just a bit more than an hour from one of the best national parks in the country, Rocky Mountain National Park. Take a hike on one of the 355 miles of trails, available for all skill levels. The Lily Mountain trail, for instance, offers panoramic views of Longs Peak during the 4-mile trek. Park entry costs $30 per vehicle, and seniors 62 or older are eligible for a $20 annual pass (or $80 lifetime pass) for access to all national parks and other federal recreation sites.

4. Las Vegas

Average hotel night: $110 Average 2017 airfare: $264 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $1,620 What’s a visit to Sin City without a little gambling? Known for its massive casinos and hotels, Las Vegas delivers different experiences at each location: You can play the slots among Roman gods and goddesses at Caesars Palace, or get the movie star experience at Planet Hollywood’s flashy casino. Away from the tables, watch risque dancers and acrobats at a Cirque du Soleil show. Or if you’re looking for a more chill experience, head over to the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay for a chance to see Komodo dragons, stingrays, zebra sharks, jellyfish and more. Tickets to the aquarium cost $23 for seniors 65 and older.

5. Phoenix

Average hotel night: $102 Average 2017 airfare: $310 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $1,692 Phoenix and its neighboring communities are home to a whopping 200 golf courses. For luxury amenities and guest service, visit the Raven Golf Club; for views of the Sonoran desert terrain, try your game at Lookout Mountain Golf Club. On non-golf days, learn about the area’s American Indian tribal community and artwork at the Heard Museum (tickets cost $13.50 for seniors 65+, and $18 for adults). Explore the area’s natural flora at the Desert Botanical Garden for $24.95. Walk the area’s numerous trails, or explore the work of local artist Frank Gonzales in an exhibit open from September 2018 to January 2019.

6. New York

Average hotel night: $245 Average 2017 airfare: $295 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $2,554 New York City’s dozens of landmarks, museums and attractions won’t leave you bored — and almost all of them have senior discounts. Stop by the Empire State Building ($35 for seniors) or Rockefeller Center‘s Top of the Rock ($34 for adults 62+) for stunning views of the city. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island give you a crash course on 20th century immigration to the U.S. Admire the work of Vincent Van Gogh and Jackson Pollock at the Museum of Modern Art, or get a broader sense of art history at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can get lost in Central Park on a warm day, but if it rains, head over to the historic Plaza Hotel for high tea at the Palm Court ($75 per person).

7. Seattle

Average hotel night: $163 Average 2017 airfare: $317 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $2,168 Glass takes a central role in two of Seattle’s popular landmarks. Get views of Seattle’s skyline from the city’s Space Needle, which features The Loupe — the world’s only rotating glass floor. Then visit the sculptural glass wonders at the Chihuly Garden and Glass. A two-in-one ticket is $41 for seniors 65+ ($49 for adults). Seattle also boasts some of the country’s best breweries. If you’re in Seattle during the fall, grab a pumpkin beer from Elysian brewery and beer hall. If alcohol isn’t your thing, try out the quirky, famous cream cheese-covered Seattle-style hot dog at Monster Dogs.

8. Philadelphia

Average hotel night: $150 Average 2017 airfare: $310 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $2,052 Known as the birthplace of American democracy, Philadelphia holds some iconic historic attractions: You can step inside Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed, or inspect the crack on the Liberty Bell from close range. (Admission to Independence Hall itself is by tour only; you can book online or by phone.) For more early American history, learn about the life of Benjamin Franklin at his namesake museum, or visit the Philadelphia History Museum ($8 for senior citizens). When you’re hungry, grab homemade pasta and chocolate at the 9th Street Italian Market, America’s oldest outdoor market. Guided tours of the market, which come with free food samples, cost $29 for adults.

9. Washington

Average hotel night: $183 Average 2017 airfare: $303 Cost for a 5-day trip (for two): $2,198 Immerse yourself in American culture by visiting D.C.’s many monuments and museums. For easy transport to the district’s many sites, take a Big Bus hop-on, hop-off tour. Single-day tickets cost $49 for adults, and buses arrive at each stop every 20-30 minutes. In the evening, catch a show at the iconic Kennedy Center, which hosts plays, comedy shows, jazz concerts, ballet performances, and more. There’s a free performance everyday at 6 p.m., and you can even take a free guided tour of the center.

10. Portland, Ore.

Average hotel night: $136 Average 2017 airfare: $416 Cost to spend 5 days for 2: $1,987 Foodie culture rules in Portland, and brunch is serious business. Grab vegan eats and probiotic-fueled smoothies at Harlow, or opt for Southern fried chicken and waffles for $16 at Screen Door. Alternately, grab breakfast fare and local coffee at the Saturday Market — and stay to shop for locally crafted jewelry, handbags, clothing and more. Afterward, head over to the Japanese Garden and sit beneath cherry trees and next to koi ponds. Learn more about Japanese traditions at the Culture Village, or grab tea and matcha rolls at the Umami Cafe. Adult tickets to the garden cost $16.95 in summer, $14.50 for seniors. (Winter prices are slightly lower.)

Methodology

To find the hottest vacation destinations for seniors, MONEY partnered with Priceline to find the cities where consumers age 60 and older booked the most hotel rooms and airfare through Priceline.com. Priceline used data for the 12 months ending July 2018, looking at millions of total bookings across more than 21,000 destinations. MONEY calculated the cost of airfare using data from KAYAK.com, and pulled the cost to spend five days (for two people) from our Best in Travel database. Read the full article

[joceyavenue-blog]

New Post has been published on http://joceyavenue.com/a-bucket-list-for-you/

A Bucket List for You

This is a bucket list for you and for me. Special thanks to Annette for her 1000+ bucket list ideas. This is not about ticking your done box but it’s all about how you experience life. What motivates you? How does it add value to your life? I would like to encourage you to create a bucket list for yourself. It’s worth to do so, it might change your life perspective and even get life transformed into a better you. Do not deny the possibility and ability in you! Because some of the list is not even came across my mind before.

ADVENTURE & NATURE

Beach Surfing

Zip Line Ride

Cave Exploration

Whitewater Rafting

Sky Diving

Paintball

Hot Air Balloon

Boat Sailing

Scuba Diving

Sandboard

Snowboard

Zorbing

Hiking

Koala Sanctuary

Crocodile Farm

Ostrich Farm

Make a snowman

Northern Lights

Watch the sunrise and sunset in one day

Witness a solar eclipse

Whale watching

Dolphin watching

Horse Riding

Stand under waterfall

Canoeing

Jeep Safari

Jungle Trekking

Discover waterfalls

Drink direct mountain water

CREATIVE

Write an article and get published

Start a blog

Design a website

Make homemade gift

Customized homemade cards

Origami Crafts

Re-design old shirts

Write a song

Re-decorate your own room

Record a song

Create own recipe

ENTERTAINMENT/FUN

Jazz Festival

Beach party

Attend a full moon party

Concert of your favorite singer

Attend wedding ceremony apart from your own culture

Attend a stand-up comedy show

Be a street performer

Watch movie in the cinema by yourself

Play basketball machines in the shopping mall gaming area

Post in Wax Museum

Post in 3D Illustration Museum

Join a flash mob

Perform a magic trick

Ride a mechanical bull

Take a new route to work

Complete a 1000 pieces puzzle

Play Sudoku

Go to a theme park

A day out in waterpark

Bowling

Ride from first to last and back to first station of subway without stops.

Test drive for new released car model

Songkran Festival

FOOD & DRINKS

Homemade dessert

Homemade dish

Have a drink in SkyBar

Eating at the restaurant by yourself

Bake a cake for someone special

Invite friends to your house for your home cook dishes

Cook something for your colleagues

Street Food Fiesta

Dining in Micheline Star Restaurant

Fine-dining Restaurant

Food festival

Beer festival

Wine tasting

Afternoon hi-tea with besties

Shuck and eat fresh oysters

Wine Collections

Free food challenge

MUST TRY ASIAN FOOD

Durian Buffet

Bak Kut Teh

Frog legs

Bird Nest Soup

Vietnam drip coffee

Vietnam spring rolls

Vietnamese noodles

Steamboat

Fish Noodle

Korean BBQ

Thai Tom Yum

Som Tam (Thai Salad)

Pad Thai

Indian Curry

Indian Roti/Naan/Chapati/Thosai

Japanese Ramen

Sashimi

Sushi

Penang White Laksa

Dim Sum

Chee Cheong Fun

Indonesian Ayam Penyet

Nasi Lemak Malaysia

Lemongrass Tea

Coconut Pudding

Coconut Shakes

Chinese desserts

Mango Shakes

Sizzling Plates

Bibimbap Korea

Ginseng chicken soup Korea

Teh Tarik

Yin Yong (Coffee + Milk Tea)

XXL Chicken Chop

Chow Tauhu

MeeSua (Oyster Mee Soup)

Green Tea Desserts/Ice-cream

Nyonya sweets

Pineapple Tarts

Curry fish balls

Taiwanese Milk Tea with Pearls

Peking Duck

Roast Goose

PERSONAL INTEREST/CHALLENGE

Cooking Class

Learn new language

Photography Skills

Pick up a new instrument

Learn a new dance

Join the gym

Zumba

Body Combat

Muy Thai

Drive a sport car

Be one day pilot

Be a mystery shopper

Plant herbs

5km Marathon

10km Marathon

Obstacles Run

RELAX & SELF-PAMPERED

Thai Massage

Pedicure & Medicure

Natural Hot Spring

New Hair Colour

Dress sexy lingerie

Eyeliner tattoo

Lips tattoo

Facial treatment

A complete makeover

Relaxing Spa Treatment

Have professional photo shoots

Henna tattoo

Fit into my skinny jeans

Reward yourself with nice watch/designer bags/shoes

Wear colored contact lens

Order room service

Upgrade flight to business class

Own luxury jewelry

Stay in 5 stars resort

A day do nothing

Coloring Book

Read a book

Hot Spring in Japan

SOCIAL

Be a bridesmaid

Be a maid of honor

Sing solo in wedding ceremony

Sing Kareoke in Public Lounge

Prank your boss

Surprise someone

Be a true listener of your friend in trouble

Fast from social medias for a week

Join a cell group in church

Meet someone from Tinder

TRAVEL

7 wonders of the world

Tuk-tuk ride

Try motor taxi

Cable car ride

Drive a buggy

Cruise ship

River cruise

Ride in SongTheaw

Hop on and hop off bus

TRAM

Beer Factory

Visit a castle

Solo Vacation

Bring parents to travel along

Visit a movie/drama shooting sites

Floating market

MUST SEE IN ASIA

Marina Sky Garden | Singapore

Angkor Wat | Cambodia

Twin Towers | Malaysia

Disney Land | Hong Kong

Legoland | Malaysia

Universal Theme Park | Malaysia

Genting Entertainment City | Malaysia

Mount Kinabalu | Malaysia

Tips of Borneo | Malaysia

Malibu Island | Malaysia

Mulu National Park | Malaysia

Halong Bay | Vietnam

Long Neck Village | Thailand

Jeju Island | Korea

Taj Mahal | India

Borobudur Temple | Indonesia

Taman Ayun Temple | Indonesia

Casino City | Macao

Fisherman Wharf | Macao

Tonle Sap Floating Village | Cambodia

Cu Chi Tunnel | Vietnam

Komodo National Park | Indonesia

Maldives

Great Wall | China

Window of the World | China

Alishan | Taiwan

ShiLin Night Market | Taiwan

101 Tower | Taiwan

Lan Kwai Fong | Hong Kong

Star Avenue | Hong Kong

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor | China

VOLUNTEER/ACTS OF KINDNESS

Save the coral

Join a charity bazaar

Volunteer in charity event

Donate clothes from your wardrobe

House-sitting for someone going on holidays

Blood donation

Join Soup Kitchen program

Cute your hair and donate to cancer institute

Visit old folks home

Paint new color for orphanage home

Pay the bill of the next table

Involve in a church ministry

Missionary Trip

Give Christmas Cards randomly to the strangers.

[laurenborrelli]

Lekkerrrr

When I moved to Boston 3 years ago, I got a text within my first 48 hours saying Kate and Daniel had booked a trip to visit the following weekend.  The weekend of their visit, I distinctly remember Dan telling me he was interested in applying to University of Pittsburgh because of their study abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa.  And then 3 years later he was attending that program through Pitt and I booked a flight to visit!

Dan is my childhood neighbor and 5 years younger.  So I had to mentally prepare to be around kids that were barely 21 years old...AND tackle it as my first semi-solo trip.  Not to mention I was able to use credit card points and fly for FREE!

Itinerary:

Wednesday, November 29th 2017:  My flight departed Boston in the evening and I arrived at my layover destination in the AM.  With a 9 hour layover in Munich, I ventured outside the airport to the Christkindlmarkt in the city center.  With a full belly of sausage, one (ok two) gluhwein, and new cashmere scarf to keep me warm during the snowfall, I headed back to the airport nice and tired.  Topping off with more hefeweizen (best type of beer to drink solo!) at the airport, I at least boarded verrrry sleepy for my 12 hour flight to Cape Town.

Friday: FINALLY arrived in South Africa around lunch time!  Since Dan’s semester had just ended, the school let us stay there for a crazy affordable price.  Would have been good to know that before we booked the airbnb in CBD...(theme with 21 y/o’s lol).  A couple dead cockroaches in the kitchen and no central wifi BUT I had an incredible view of table mountain from my bedroom window.  We spent most of this day booking tours / airbnb’s for the rest of the trip.

Saturday: We went to the Woodstock Market in the late morning.  Half is local food vendors and the other half is local artists selling jewelry, household goods, clothes, you name it!  Oh yeah and there was a DJ in the center right next to an aperol spritz station.  I mean...what could be more perfect?!? Started with an amazing pour over and some stuff avocado.  Then moved on to a spritz while I bought some awesome jewelry and a vegan leather clutch.  I could have stayed here alllll day!  And i probably spent less then $30 USD total.  Then we headed to the central business district (CBD) to check out the Company’s Gardens.  It is a beautiful public with a really awesome natural irrigation system for their vegetation.  AND super cool mega sized whicker baskets as swings and tree houses.  We grabbed fresh Juice on Long Street and ordered flights to try from brewery Beerhouse.  A quick freshen up and we grabbed dinner on the waterfront meet up with some of his friend’s.

Sunday: Dan was super sweet in arranging a day to hang to check out the newly finished Zeitz Contemporary Museum of Art!  It’s superrrr sick - a restored grain factory turned into museum.  Concrete was cast around the old silos, which created a traditional deceiving form on the exterior.  While the interior is just the reverse - a HUGE curvilinear entrance with a skeleton of a pterodactyl very Game of Thrones like in the center.  A guy who worked in Dan’s study abroad office was a recent architecture grade from the University of Cape Town - so he joined us on our day of touring architecture!  In fact, he is the one that told me there was a bit of an uproar of a British architect being selected for Africa’s first contemporary art museum.  The attention to detail and design was immaculate in the city - makes it hard to believe there were no African-based architecture offices that couldn’t have tackled the challenge... We then checked out the watershed project.  It’s an old industrial boat storage facility turned host for local artist vendors on the ground floor and communal “we work” style offices on teh second floor.  Once again, a SUPER cool space!!!  (BTW - this will be the theme of my architecture comments for this trip).  The enclosed food market next door was a perfect stop for lunch.  After walking around the waterfront some more, we made our way over to Camp’s Bay to watch the sunset.  This area reminded me a lot of Southern California w/o the prices plus mountains in the background.  Truly it was the most stunning sunsets I have ever enjoyed (and wth a spritz too!).  Quite possibly my favorite day in Cape Town of the trip!!

Monday: It was a big weekend of activities for Dan so he slept in while I wandered around a bit on my own!  Started with trying the world’s strongest cup of coffee at Haas Coffee (great I would only need one cup this morning!).  Then went to the District Six Museum - which is a museum dedicated to the district segregated and then bull-dozed down during apartheid.  Really heartbreaking but an excellent intro to how it has only been 50 years since this epidemic happened!  To put into perspective, my parents were born before this happened (sorry for the age exposure mom and dad)! I then grabbed lunch and took the scenic route from the V/A Waterfront allll the way down to Clifton Beach.  Stunning views, beautiful weather, and a good opportunity to see what South Africa’s non-working people are doing along the water at this time of day.  They consisted of surfers, mothers and sitters pushing kids in strollers, LOTS of people running or roller blading, and a handful of “lookers” that suddenly stop what they are doing when you walk by.  The beach is tucked between a bunch of wealthy homes in a pretty private location.  A great spot to water-color the ocean crashing into seals on the rocks beyond!  After much relaxing, I headed home for a quick change before Dan and I headed to hike Lion’s Head at sunset.  An easy hike but the views are stunninggggg.  Ended the evening with take-out of a Cape Town quintessential BFA (bacon feta avocado) pizza.

Tuesday: Walked to grab coffee in the nearby neighborhood of Rondebosch and then took a car to the beautiful, traditional Bo-Kaap neighborhood!  Vividly painted stucco buildings line the streets and are very well preserved amongst the expanding urbanism surrounds.  We took a cooking class with Cape Malay cuisine.  The culture descends from Southeast Asian, but brought to Cape Town through the Dutch Indian Trade Company.  So the cuisine has a interested blend of all three cultures - deep curry flavors with just enough spice for white people to tolerate LOL.  Great day learning more about the history and making amazing, brand-new dishes!  With very full bellies and a very strong sun overhead, we noodled to Camp’s Bay beach with a handful of Dan’s classmates.  They were a bit of a handful and we had to lay on every piece of clothing so it wouldn’t get swept up in the immense ocean wind, but the views were stunning!  We ended the night with trivia at a local bar.  Luckily we had a couple South Africans on our team, so they were able to help us answer “what is the most played African song in foreign films.”

Wednesday: Dan and I headed to CBD to pick up a rental car for our trip outside of the city!  We drove along swerve-y, cliffy edge road from Camps Bay, down through Hout Bay, down to the Cape of Good Hope!  It’s basically a national park with...wild baboons roaming around!  We went to the lighthouse at the Cape Peninsula and it was so windy I was scared to take my phone out in case it would fly away!  Awesome perspective of the peninsula if you had a strong enough grip of the railing surrounding you!!  I did a bit of hiking around the rocky cliffs while Dan and his friend Allie took lots of selfies around the water.  We then checked into out ocean-front apartment  in St. James that was so. freaking. BEAUTIFUL!  Unreal views, unreal price, unreal sunsets/sunrises.  Even got to see whales breaching form the balcony!!  We finished the day by grabbing dinner and drinks from the great restaurant Tiger’s Milk in Muizenberg.

Thursday: I started with a sunrise run along a beautiful ocean-front path that went right by all the morning surfers in Muizenberg and the super man-made formed but naturally resourced ocean pools in St. James.  We then hopped in the car for a morning snorkeling with seals, to only find the currents and wind were too strong. :(  Instead we headed to check out the legendary warm-weather penguins at Boulders Beach.  I grabbed some coffee, and a meat/cheese delicious hot-pocket style snack for lunch, and we headed the immaculate Noordhoek Beach.  Bright white sand, turquoise water with minimal waves - never seen a more beautiful beach!  So stunning and barren, for some very strange reason...maybe the large number of horse flies?  LOL despite getting swarmed it was so hard to not want to get swallowed up in the beautiful vista.  Even if I did leave with over twenty bites on my legs alone.  We headed home and while those two napped, I walked down to check out the shopping in Kalk Bay.  Also shops and the store owners were all super friendly - one woman’s husband photographs architecture professionally!  After stirring them awake we headed to Muizenberg to watch the surfers at sunset and check out the infamous painted beach shacks. We bounced around at a couple out door bars before ending up at the great Tiger’s Milk.

Friday: Another sunrise run and yoga on the deck.  I grabbed coffee at the super cute shop blonde + beard in Muizenberg, then we jumped in the car to head back to Cape Town.  We moved into a different university student housing buildling upon our return...and this is the point where I decided it was worth spending the money for a nice apartment not in the college area of the city.  We went to a natural watering hole only known to locals/students.  Amazing views of table mountain and the water was super clean and hella refreshing.  We grabbed dinner at an Indian restaurant close by then headed to drinks at Yours Truly on Kloof Street.  My. Favorite. Bar. HANDS DOWN!  Different DJ each level, awesome craft brews and cocktails, beautiful string lights and plants climbing up the terraces, super funky furniture, and people rocking all different trendy outfits.  Dan’s friends felt out of place but I freaking loved it!!  Finally I caved with how much they were itching to leave, and we grabbed Italian food down the block.  We then stopped at their favorite 21 y/o hangout sgt pepper on Long Street and I hung on the smoker’s deck with Dan while his friends had a couple items stolen from them on the sweaty dance floor.

Saturday: Time for our wine tour!  $60 for a round-trip bus to the infamous wine town of Stellenbosch. Tasting #1 included an array of cheese.  Tasting #2 was in a beautiful outdoor garden.  Tasting #3 tour of a cute farm where we tried wine from the syringe!  Plus a fullll traditional braai (barbeque).  Tasting #4 tiny little private winery.  Tasting #5 pairing with Chocolate!  Best part was bonding with everyone else on our tour!!  An american couple on grad school holiday, an older couple with one descendent of Upper Saint Clair, super cool British couple my age, older British couple who have travel to 80% of the world, and a British dad with his daughter about my age who works in an art gallery.  Great convos about how crazy Trump is but it humanized the U.S. to not be this great country anymore, to why haven’t I signed up to do bungee jumping yet, to you are crazy for staying with a bunch of 21 y/o’s up until now!  Left with lots of souvenirs and great memories!!  Brought my stuff to my new adorable apartment downtown and crashed during the sunset while watching elf on Netflix.

Sunday: Headed out solo to grab coffee/breakfast and then check out the Castle of Good Hope.  Strangely enough there was a cross fit competition taking place in the main courtyard, so that was a bit entertaining to peak at in between taking in all the history.  It was a dutch fort along the East India Trate Route to Indonesia - but more specifically acted as the home base during teh British invasions.  Free tours are given by of the military museum and the inter-workings of the castle which turned out to be very light and engaging!  I think picked Dan up and we went to the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens.  Amazing variety of wildlife here and a good chance to hang with Dan one-on-one.  We went to Moju Market and drove by a crowd letting out for the Springbok Rugby game.  Now those fans where some crazy costumes!  The market was superrrr lekker (va bene in Afrikaan).  There was a station for trendy oysters, a “salad bae” stand, local wines shop, curry shop - everything plus an elevated ocean view.  Awesome way to fuel up before Dan and I conquered a Table Mountain hike the next day.

Monday: I grabbed breakfast at the adorable Skinny Legs cafe and then coffee and beans at Origin Coffee Roastery.  Both make my mouth water thinking about them (and their beautiful interiors too!).  Then when to meet Dan at Kirstenbosch, where the beginning of our hike up Table Mountain began.  Started pretty steep, up wooden ladders in woodsy areas.  At the top we stumbled upon a completely barren water source.  It looked to be a collection spot for a small reservoir.  The water was unnaturally a rainbow gradient and was in a bit of a small canyon - making it seem like people were going to jump out at any moment like the hunger games.  We randomly heard a siren here too, making us jumping in our pants even more!  We then continued along the top of table which is mostly huge boulders - but it started to get windier.  We soon found that it was too windy at the top for the gondola to take us down!  So we had to bare the exposed edge by foot!  This was seriously soooo hard because any time we would hear a huge wind gust coming, we would have to duck and hold onto any possible branch around us.  Took a while it felt such a  rush of accomplishment as we ate at an Indian buffet afterwards!

Friday: Last day!  My flight was leaving in the evening, so i tried to squeeze in as much as I could!  Morning at Clifton Beach then lunch of mussels and a glass of chenin blanc at the waterfront with Dan.  Was able to do a little shopping at the artist in the waterfront too - most sold awesome sustainable home goods too!  Probably did the most shopping / consuming of good food/drink this trip - but thats because it was all my style, amazing flavors, accessible, and reallllly affordable!  I’m already counting this as one of my top 3 favorite cities and I can’t wait to go back and visit!!!

What brought me excitement:

Design Aesthetic: Yes the city is BUMPING with architecture, both new and old.  Now this may sound crazy, but when i walked into a basic enterprise office in the CBD, something struck me.  I followed the datum of the square floor tile, that then aligned with the line of small stair landing, that then aligned with the rectangular wall base, that then aligned wth the curtainwall mullion.  MY JOB IS TO ALIGN FINISHES FOR A MUSEUM!  How do these simple alignments just happen in the least design conscious interior spaces?! Still blows my mind the attention to detail and craft the culture just exudes.  And it is oh so clear in every interior of every store, restaurant, coffee shop, boutique, refurbished space.  Really inspiring as someone in the design field!!  Nothing boujee or over the top either, all very minimalist, modern, simple, earthy designs - amazing!

Cultural Blend: My first day at the beach, there were a bunch of middle school age kids that all playing soccer together.  A girl in a hijab kicking a ball to a blonde haired boy kicking to a black boy .  The integration of the future generation was so heart-warming to see it made my eyes ACTUALLY well up!  I’m not kidding too!!  It’s location is an ideal spot for not just europeans on holiday, but a great stretch of immigrants from the middle east and asian as well!  I can’t wait to come back in just 5 years and see how progressive it will be!!

What left me uneasy:

White Guilt: Learning how recent apartheid and many racist epidemics had occurred, it really left a sinking feeling in my stomach.  I felt guilt vacationing here because I didn’t want any locals (no matter their ethnicity) to feel like I was taken advantage of their home.  I didn’t want it to seem like I had some money to spend so I was creating a larger economic divide and taking anything away from the locals.  It was probably the biggest guilt I have ever felt, even though it wasn’t me personally who had done those hurtful injustices.  But it is up to me to stand up for those that are still getting hurt today.  It certainly empowered me to not bat an eye and turn a shoulder when something is happening you don’t believe in.

Water Crisis:  At first I was wondering why toilet’s in the student housing were never flushed!  Then i realized it was to preserve water.  They were in a serious crisis and I didn’t fully understand it still we were at our airbnb in St. James.  I remember standing at the sink washing my hands, looking straight ahead at the 180 degree ocean view.  After drying my hands, I stepped on the balcony to take in the view even more.  A line of people about 100′ away caught my eye and I realized they were waiting at a public water source.  The government has shut down water to certain neighborhoods - unfairly.  These people weren’t stumbling out of overcrowded buses - they were coming with buckets out of private cars in nice clothes.  I felt sooooo guilty that I had a water source right here yet these people are waiting for this small spigot down the street.  Would the airbnb host downstairs be pissed if set a couple of buckets of water outside for these people?  But also, how could the host bat an eyelash and not be wanting to do the same thing?  This tore at my gut throughout this entire trip.

Safety: Cape Town is a very walkable, and even bikable city!  Unfortunately i didn’t realize how much I had to worry about safety even during the day.  I do look like the native Afrikaan, as many people spoke it to me before I spoke English back.  However, I think the economic divide is still too much for there to not be some animosity between the various parties.  It made me feel a little limited, that I couldn’t safely take the public train to the beach or rent a bike along the coast - all things I take for granted in my day to day life.