Let's Talk about....Diversity.

Diversity.
What would the world be like if we were all the same?  I know. I know what many of you are thinking.  "Well...if everyone was more like me, this world would be awesome!" Nice try.  :)
But seriously, don't you think it would be pretty boring?  Although if everyone was more like me, they would have all collected starburst wrappers when they were younger.  Now that would be cool. :)

But consider for example, your age.  If you're an "adult" reading this, then everyone in the world would be exactly like you....which would also mean they would be the same age. There wouldn't be any kids to play with to make us feel younger, and there wouldn't be any elderly people around to share their wisdom.  If everyone had the same thoughts and beliefs as you, who would you call for advice?

So why is it that diversity sometimes seems to scare people?  Maybe it's the unknown or maybe it's because we don't take the time to really reach out and get to know each other. We may not understand certain traditions, rituals, or beliefs about other cultures but that doesn't mean that we can't learn from them. Diversity is meant to enrich our lives and teach us new lessons every day.  Sometimes it can be a matter of getting out of your comfort zone and reaching out to someone new.

There are billions of people around the world, each with their own feelings, beliefs, and spirituality. Yourself included! No two people in this world are exactly alike. And if you think about that for a minute, that's pretty darn cool. We can either choose to distance ourselves from people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, or we can embrace this beautiful world we live in and acquire new perspectives which can ultimately transform our lives.

There are roughly between 6,500-7,000 different languages in the world.  Not one is better than the other.The diversity of languages is just another astonishing aspect about this world we live in. Not to mention, learning a foreign language is an excellent way to exercise different components of your brain.

Many of us have been extremely blessed to have been born in a place where we grew up having hot meals, a nice cozy bed to sleep in, and family and friends who know us and love us.Why were millions of other people born into extreme poverty, without food, clean water, or even a safe place to go to the bathroom? And how amazing is it that many of these people who were born into those circumstances believe that they are the ones who are truly blessed. We have much to learn from these individuals, who although they may be lacking in material wealth, they are abundantly rich in spirit. No matter how you look at it, we are all one. We all came from the same creator, and even with the diversity of our lives, whether we were born materially rich or rich in spirit, everyone wants to be happy.  And based on that human instinct alone, we can and SHOULD unite.

If God blessed us with an abundant amount of resources, gifts, I really believe those are meant to be shared. And in doing so, we will be helping each other. If you haven't already...embrace the diversity that is available to you, because in doing so, it could change many lives.... yours included!

The world's different cultures, beliefs, and traditions are what make this world so incredibly AWESOME! Let's encourage others to step out of their comfort zones, embrace diversity, reach out to those in need, and soak in all the awesome people our world has to offer.

Guatemala!

Prior to heading to Antigua, Guatemala, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't do as much research as I normally would have, so it made everything a little bit more of a surprise. :) But let me tell you, if you're looking for a quaint little town, towering volcanoes, cobblestone streets, and houses splashed with color, Antigua is the place to go. Guatemala is also known for it's coffee, and there are more than enough coffee shops where you can get your caffeine fix!

cruising the streets

typical view in Antigua

The architecture of the city is beautiful, especially that of the churches. Because of an earthquake that happened in the 70's, there are many ruins throughout the town, but that's exactly what makes this city so unique. I could have spent hours staring at the scene at the Saturday morning market.  With the sky, the ruins, and the colors, I really couldn't stop staring. :)

One of many of the city's churchs

Saturday morning market

They even had little horse buggies

love it :)

A twenty minute hike from the city and you can reach the top of a hill with a pretty awesome view.  Overlooking the city from one side is a massive cross; overlooking the city from the other side is a volcano.  Pretty sure I know what side I want to be on!  

Cerro de la cruz

Love this place

 The wedding we were there for was absolutely beautiful.  It was very unique for the couple who got married and was held in a 300 year old convent.  There was even a mariachi band.  :)

Mariachi Band!

On Sunday, we hiked to Pacaya Volcano which is one of seven active volcanoes in Guatemala. Without a doubt, it was one of the foggiest hikes I've ever been on. But with that being said, just as we arrived at the base of the volcano, the clouds cleared and gave us an absolutely perfect view.  Although it was short lived, the timing could not have been better. And since it's an active volcano, we were able to roast marshmallows directly over the volcanic rocks and make smores. Smore what? Not gonna lie, it was pretty sweet. :) 

Let's hope this thing doesn't erupt!

can u say fog?

too bad i don't really eat smores :)

Antigua is famous for it's Catholic celebration of Holy Week throughout the world.  Although we fell just short of Holy Week itself, we were still able to see one of the religious processions the city does in the weeks leading up to Holy Week.  There are hundreds of processional carriers responsible for carrying the floats; one being the first float with Jesus, shortly thereafter followed by the women carrying the float of Mary.  Thank God we literally stumbled upon this procession, it really was a wonderful sight to see.

Incense filled the air..which of course I loved.  :)

Float of Jesus

Float of Mary

If you're looking for a place in Central America to visit, hit up Antigua...it's a pretty cool city!

Nepal NEEDS Tourists... Here's why YOU should visit.

The rooftop of the world
What more could you ask for?  Mountain lover or not, it's pretty tough to beat the mighty Himalayas.  There's plenty of different treks to choose from, whether you're a novice or have heaps of trekking experience.  No matter what your level and trek that you decide on, you won't be disappointed.
 

Annapurna range- Poon Hill trek

 Adventure

If you want some adventure, take a bus ride in Nepal. It's as simple as that. Even if you think that the bus is packed and there's no room, fear not. There's always room! Hop on top or hang off the side like the locals do.  If this isn't risky enough for you, do it while driving through the mountains...I'm sure that'll get your heart racing!

can you see me?

Buff momos

One of the best ethnic dishes in the world that I believe is still under the radar.  A dumpling with buffalo meat and achar (a tomato based sauce) seems to be the local's favorite. A plate of ten momos will cost you a hefty $.60.  Which is why I ate these like they were going out of style.  :)

Pretty sure I ate these in less than ten seconds

Pokhara
Pokhara is a beautiful, lakeside town surrounded by the Himalayas.  Trek up to the World Peace Pagoda, watch the sunrise over the Annapurnas, or sit in kayak while the sun sets.  Or better yet, do it all.  It's a place to kick back and relax from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu.

Phewa Lake- Pokhara

World Peace Pagoda

Meditation

One of the best places in the world to do a meditation course is the Kopan Monastery.  Set in the hills of the Kathmandu Valley, it holds a variety of courses throughout the year.  Even if you're not Buddhist, the Introduction to Buddhism course is an excellent place to quiet your soul and meet people from all over the world.

cushions that got comfortable after day 7

Kopan Monastery

World Heritage Sites

Although some of Nepal's world heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed from the 2015 earthquake, there is still more than plenty to see.  From Bhaktapur, to Boudhanath, to Patan Durbar Square, the stupas and pagodas are definitely worthy of UNESCO world heritage status. 

Patan Durbar Square

The Nepalese people

We all know that the sites in a foreign country are always great to see, but it's the people that make this country such a magical place. Hospitable, humble, and full of life, the Nepalese people truly are one of a kind. You'll find yourself not wanting to leave these amazing people.

Birthplace of Buddha
Now a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site, the gardens of Lumbini make for a great day exploring the grounds where Buddha was born.  You'll witness monks reciting mantras and shrines and temples from around the world.  If you're looking for a unique place to stay, check out the Korean Monastery where for $3/night, you'll get a mat to lay on and three full meals.  That's my kind of place!  :)

Monks reciting mantras

 

Down by the River....On an Elephant

When people think of Thailand, they often times associate it with beautiful beaches, cheap drinks, and of course, riding an elephant.  Well, at least that's what crossed my mind when my friend and I decided to head to Thailand as part of our tour of SE Asia a few years ago.  Riding an elephant was on the bucket list and it was definitely something that we wanted to do.

After spending about three weeks exploring Thailand’s islands and southern beaches, we finally headed north to Chiang Mai where we enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the night markets and some spectacular zip-lining.  Our final destination in Thailand was a smaller town called Pai, which is where we were hoping to find some elephants to hang with.

My eyes were probably closed

I may or may not be afraid of heights

In order to get from Chiang Mai to Pai, you must take one of the curviest roads in the world.  In fact, it has 762 bends in the short distance of only eight-five miles.  Because the road is so windy, it can take anywhere between three-five hours. I did NOT know this before embarking on our journey.  When we got in our small, jam-packed mini bus, the bus driver casually mentioned that we should probably take some motion sickness pills. Perfect.  I instantly rushed to swallow down some Dramamine that I thankfully had with me. My friend on the other hand decided she didn't need any. Fast forward two hours later....she got sick and I didn't.  Luckily for her we had made a pit-stop and she was able to use the restroom. Needless to say, on a road with this many curves, it's easy to get sick...even if you usually don't suffer from motion sickness.  But that’s what makes it fun, right?!  :)

The next morning in Pai, we rented a motorbike and found a place where we arranged to do an elephant trek. I didn't really know what to expect, I just figured we would ride around for a bit and that would be that.  Little did I know what type of adventure lay ahead of us.

Within two minutes of our ride, I wasn't as thrilled as I thought I would be and was quite honestly ready to be finished.  We were riding bareback (without a chair) and I had nothing to hang onto except for a small rope. I soon realized that I could easily fall off this beast and get crushed! But on we went because I must have been too much of a chicken to ask to turn around.

Not sure how I'm feeling on this thing..

As we continued on, I noticed that we were coming up to a river that did not look clean by any means.  Before I even had time to think about what was happening, that's exactly where our elephant was taking us!  He stepped foot in the river, and decided he needed to go to the bathroom...number two mind you.  So there we were, sitting on this massive elephant, now watching it’s feces float down the river.  This is DEFINITELY not what I had in mind!

  

At the time, what seemed like the worst thing that could possibly happen did. The mahout (elephant keeper) started shouting things in Thai that we didn't understand, and all of a sudden the elephant started to shake us off (similar to what a wet dog would do to shake off water) and even went up on his hind legs!  I tried for a split second to hang on to my small lifeline of a rope but there was no hope.  My chicken arms didn't stand a chance and off we fell into the dirty river. My first thoughts were that the elephant was going to step on us...and I’m guessing that probably would have hurt! Thank God that wasn’t the case and when I finally surfaced I couldn't believe what had just happened.  Here I was in this dirty river with elephant feces, my clothes were now soaked, and I was wondering how I ended up in a situation like this.  The mahouts were of course laughing, so it was obvious they did this with all of the tourists.  Was this something that we had signed up for?  I couldn't remember.  I got back on the elephant again thinking we were finished and would head back. I couldn't have been more wrong.  Again, the elephant shook us off and tossed us into the river.  This happened three times before the mahouts finally had their fair share of laughs for the day and took us back.   

Ummmmmmmmmm

 

Really not sure why I was getting back on this thing

Upon arrival back in our guesthouse, I had the best shower EVER and was happy to be alive!  If you asked me if I would want to relive that day I would probably say yes.  I mean, I would of course never do it again, but you’ve got to try everything at least once, right?! So if you find yourself in Thailand one day looking for an adventure, I think you know what you need to do.

Viva Las Vegas!!!

 There are a few different things you can do while you're unemployed....you can cry about it (check), freak out about it (check)....OR take a trip.  And when you find a deal on Expedia for a ridiculously low price, including a 2 for 1 flight, I mean..... You only live once right?!  I call this....FUNemployed.  :)

Vegas just looks cool

When we decided to casually stroll down the strip to explore and check out the sites, I didn't realize we would be walking over 10 miles that day.   The strip is seriously SUPER long.....but at least we had a beer in hand.  :)

We eventually needed a break from all the exploring so of course we did what was natural for Vegas. We found the penny slots, put in $1, and looked for a cocktail waitress.  We may or may not have been pretending to gamble at times.  I mean, sorry but it's not like we could spend hours gambling! We just wanted the beer. :)  When we were sick of sitting at the slots, we grabbed a beer from one of the local shops on the strip for $.99 and strolled around with all the other crazies. 

Does this look like I'm gambling?

A happy hour that turned into a 3-hour happy hour :)

If you've been to Vegas before you've probably heard of the awesome buffets that the hotels have.  Some of them can be a bit pricier than others, but if you're there, check out the half price ticket stands that line the strip.  The lunch buffet at the Mirage was only $15 and included a huge array of  international dishes AND all you can drink wine and beer.  Let's just say we hung out there for awhile. :)

Half Price Tickets

Enough said

There's a bunch of entertainment in Vegas...many of which is free. The Bellagio light show is pretty hard to beat, especially at night when the fountains are in sync with Frank Sinatra. And let's not forget all the randoms that line the streets and make Vegas...well Vegas. 

Bellagio water show

Vegas artist from Trinidad

Mime guys

Until next time Vegas...

Back to Milwaukee!

 Although I've been home for awhile now, I do have to say that I may or may not still be experiencing reverse culture shock.  BUT, with that being said, I do LOVE being back in Milwaukee with my family, friends, hot showers, electricity, awesome food, and of course the brandy old fashioned.

I always knew that brandy old fashioneds were a Wisconsin thing, but it was made very clear to me once I arrived back home.  Everywhere that I went, I was offered a brandy old fashioned...and some were even with homemade bitters.  Absolutely delicious.
I'm pretty sure this will ALWAYS be my drink of choice....I mean technically, it is Wisconsin's (un)official drink.... so how could I not love it?  :)

Being a Packer fan AND enjoying an old fashioned

For those of you who live in Milwaukee, maybe you've heard of Bryant's cocktail lounge.  It was first opened in 1938 and is the oldest cocktail lounge in Milwaukee. It originally started out as a beer hall, but quickly turned to a cocktail lounge, making it the first in Milwaukee. The velvet walls, dark lighting, and swanky atmosphere make this a perfect place in Milwaukee to grab a cocktail.

Outside Bryants

super old school leather booths

Supper clubs... a classic Wisconsin tradition. I mean come on, who doesn't like these places?  Ok, well I feel like many people probably don't...but I'm sorry, I LOVE them!  What's not to like? Good food, local Wisconsinites, and traditional cocktails.  If you find yourself out in the back country roads of Wisconsin and see a supper club...be sure to stop.  You won't regret it.  :)

Supper club, McFarland, Wisconsin

For the New Year, we drove up to Minnesota and honestly it was one of the most beautiful drives I have been on in awhile.  The weather was absolutely perfect, and the trees were brilliantly frosted with snow.  The design of the clouds, mixed with the sun and fields full of snow made for an awesome drive that quite honestly I couldn't get enough of.  The pictures don't even do it justice.

Looks like there's a lot of exploring to be done in this freezing, but beautiful state.  :)