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CURRENTLY VISITING HAWAII!!

Hawaii

Hawaii
Akaka Falls

See the World for Free

The idea here is to TRAVEL THE WORLD regardless of time or budget. It dawned on me one day that even if I had unlimited time and money (which I definitley do not), I still couldn't see everything in the world that I'd like to see--I'm simply not going to live long enough to do it.

But I had a bit of brain wave and soon after the travel envelope was born. This is an actual physical envelope. I typed the name of every country in the world, plus every state in the US on little slips of paper which I then put into the envelope. In the beginning we (myself, my husband, Dave and daugher Catherine) would draw out a slip at random at the beginning of the month and that's where we would go---at least in our minds. We grab some books about the country from the library and put them in our bathroom to look at. We also check out some videos about the country if any. We check it out on googleearth, listen to the music, try the food, maybe even attempt to learn a dance or celebrate a festival.

After the first two years we discovered that even virtual traveling can be tiring, so we travel now whenever I happen to be in the mood.

It's great fun. I especially love it when people I meet have been to the place I'm "visiting" in real life, or get excited and have some virtual adventures of their own. I hope that anyone who comes across this blog will feel welcome to come with us on the trip!



You have a standing reservation to see it all!

Feb 17, 2011

Mom

There are some guys from Saudi Arabia in my art class, and one of them got to talking.  The past few days have been beautiful here--in the 50's and 60's.  He says weather like that would be considered freezing back home.  He said that American's ideas of Saudi Arabia are completely wrong.  Also, his notions of America were way off.  He feels at home in Utah because family is valued and so is religion.  Though not religious himself he understands this sort of culture.

When I asked him what he missed the most he said his Mom.  Good guy! He says he literally grew up in the kitchen and maybe that's why he likes to cook.

Feb 15, 2011

Dry!


Wow.  I knew Saudi Arabia was in a desert, but I didn't know that there were NO lakes or permanent rivers in the whole country! The populated places have to keep vigilant about "desertification"--the desert sands drifting in and swallowing up the towns and cities.  Perversely, this makes me want to go camping.  I've never experienced anything like this.  I want to ride off on a camel (and some very good guides) to the middle of nowhere and see what that kind of heat looks and feels like.  I imagine the desert nights are spectacular with millions of stars just inches away.

No Valentines

Catherine just read that Valentine's day was banned in Saudi Arabia--it's pagan holiday and all.  I wonder how the people feel about that? It's never been my favorite holiday (we never seem to have the time or money to enjoy it on the 14th), but as a blue blooded American, this sort of thing would make me furious.  Do the Saudi's care? Do the majority, being good Islam's, approve? Or is this just one more very minor blip on a huge roster of restrictions?