Travel Monkey :-): California

Showing posts with label California. Show all posts

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Traveling to the World (Updated 7/23)

According to news sources,

The Public and Commercial Services(PCS) may have a strike the London Eve. Many visitors come from the Heathrow Airport. Now a days, the traffic jams also has become a problem, and some news reports inform it. You may need an easy plan if you get there.

BBC News: Home Office Staff to Strike on Eve of Games

Well, seeing the world at once, naturally summer events happen not only in London. Check some from the world.

Here is from Spain:

La Tomatina (Spain) 8/29

This is the very famous tomato fight in Bunyol, Spain. People throw tomatoes, and enjoy the summer time. Every year, world travelers join the event, and turn into red. Some people says, "swimming glasses are necessary to join," However, some tell, "it's dangerous to wear it because it may hurt you or other people." Like this, the information is a little vogue, check when you get there. (I before heard the seeds of tomatoes are obstacles... I'm not sure the condition. Please comment it if you get there.)

Here two from South and North Korea:

Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea (South Korea) (~8/12)
North Korea Arirang Festival (North Korea) (8/1~)

For EXPO 2012, it's the world EXPO this year, a lot of countries join the event. Now it's behind of the London olympics, nobody cares about the information. However, if you are interested in, you can check it out.

For North Korea's Arirang Festival, this is the last year for the event. I'm not sure how to get it, but if you are wondering, I think you can get from Russia or China. Naturally, we don't have any information about the country, please take care and don't be exceeding and enjoy.

I wanted to write about Comic-Con 2012 in San Diego, but the event was already done. In addition, still I'm reading the articles. :-)

In California, this August is a little special because festivals named "Old Spanish Days" happen in towns. They normally have small community parades, and some Spanish culture events. Anyway, seeing festivals are interesting because they are based on the community cultures.

People call about the United States "Salad Bowl." In some specific origin towns in the US like Danish, Swiss, French, Japanese etc, also have similar festivals. Now you can enjoy the culture, and also it's a chance to discover something about your own origins.

"Carnival" by the Cardigans (1994)

Originally, "Carnival" is the season before Easter. Rio's Carnival in Brazil is famous. However, the word becomes general, now people sometimes use for festive seasons.

The Cardigans is from Sweden. In 1996, their song "Lovefool" was selected for Leonardo DiCaprio's film "Lomeo + Juliet." This film was based on William Shakespeare's story.

If you are in London, there is a big theatre named "Globe Theatre" that you can visit. This theatre was well-known for the premiere of Shakespeare's plays, but closed in 1642. In 1997, the theatre was re-build, and is now open to public. It's one of the landmarks in London.

London Olympics happens around the centre of London. From every olympic places, you can get a lot of historical and newly landmarks. If you get there and have time, it's a good idea to walk around downtown.

[Additional Information(7/23)]

My words were a little short.

Is "Carnival" a little strange? Maybe you think so, but I didn't think so because now the harvest just comes soon. Every athlete tries to get a medals. Maybe you see the lyrics. Now every athlete is also doing the same thing. They hide their ways, and plan how to cheat each other.

Anyway, from next time, I should make it some more simple.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Video: Independence Day

Here is the video. In the United States, people celebrate the 4th of July like this. It's a day for freedom, and the end of the colonial.

I happened to be in downtown at a small city in California. This is very rare video because normally I don't take video and not put on the Internet. My phone is a kind of old one. Therefore, I used my HD camcorder.

(I tried to play on blogger, but it maybe converted to a small file. Also for the codec, the video came up with block noises. If I have a way, I'll replace in the future.)

After that, I went to some nightclubs. Especially, young guys and international students liked the atmosphere, and the tension of the nightclubs were super high.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Vacation

Here is one of the most famous vacation song. It's called "Vacation."

"Vacation" by Connie Francis (1962)

I know this song, but today, I for the first time read the lyrics. When the elder generation listens to the song, they excite when the letters "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N" comes. I asked about this song to my office friend years ago. Then the co-worker told me, "I don't need a vacation, but I need weekend clubbing." Is that the time?

I'm not sure how many people have already enjoyed this vacation. I think a lot of people use the Internet for planning.

I found an interesting article on Wall Street Journal.

On Orbitz, Mac Users Steered to Pricier Hotels

I think a lot of people read this article. It seems the system recognizes mac users, and indicates different result on their sites. It's a shocking thing for every travelers. I'm wondering how many the same problems happen on the Internet.

Many people imagine about "beaches" for summer vacation. Recently, media inform about tsunami debris from Japan. Beach people sometimes talk about it. In British Colombia(Canada), Alaska(US), and Washington(US), some bigger tsunami debris has already washed up the beaches. Professionals still can't grasp how much totally will come. The peak of the debris will be from this Fall.

This is a topic from Los Angeles area. There are a lot of bottles, cans, and plastics are on the beach sites. According to some surfers who clean beach, mostly the debris are from own lives now at least.

Some people live near beaches have hobbies to collect drifts and beach things. In California, Florida, and Hawaii, some retired people sweep beaches with detectors early morning. They try to find "coins" and traveler's things.

I found this video on Youtube. I'm wondering how many people can find these tiny stuff on the beaches. It's an interesting hobby, isn't it?

Some years ago, I bought a guidebook about Honolulu. I read about this topic. I have ever tried. Some years ago, when I visited to California, I encountered this kind of guys in Santa Monica.

Recently, especially, the gap year travels have changed very much. To add some activities such as town and beach cleaning and conservation of forests and nature, some colleges and schools in the world accept them as volunteer activities, and they give some points. Therefore, some companies have plans to help people in the world.

In addition, in Canada, Australia, and Germany, student travelers can try to work and learn their culture a lot. It's called "Working Holiday."You need to get a visa for it. When you are there, you can work, learn at schools, and try your favorite activities.

Here is a Kindle book for backpackers. In fact, I was looking for a book before I read. However, I can't find it. This is the substitute. It has some fundamental topics for backpackers.

I put "Kindle Fire" here, but maybe you have others like iPad, iPhone, nexus s or something. You can get Kindle apps here, find books yourself, bring on your travel.

Gap years are just a moment in your life, but it may be a good chance and experience for your long future.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Music: California

This is a test use. I'm trying some functions on Blogger now.

Summer vacation comes. If students try the gap year trips, they may visit California. California is one of the special place for people. Especially, Southern California is a mecca of world backpackers.

Now I just put some new and old songs having something words about California. Please check these out!!