Party Till the New Year

With holiday season upon us, that means the New Year is also upon us. 2013 is now ending, and 2014 is now starting. The start of the New Year means aiming for new goals, or resolutions, that are usually not met, but it is also like a new start. It is great time to have parties and some of the coolest celebrations take place around the world at this time.  

Reveillon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is one of the hottest New Year celebrations. Huge stages are set up on the beach front where visitors can enjoy music and dance. Two million or more people come and gather together, drinking champagne, and dancing the samba until midnight. AT this time, fireworks are set off above the ocean, and it is just beautiful. In Brazil, people where white to ensure good luck in the coming year.

Hogmany in Edinburgh, Scotland, has a four day celebration that is a street party. Fireworks shine bright over the Edinburgh Castle, candlelit concerts, dancing, and torchlight processions also occur during this four day period. In London, England, people gather around the Thames River to watch the fireworks, which are let off from the giant Ferris wheel, called the London Eye. Grand Ball in Vienna, Austria, unlike Edinburgh’s street parties, they party in a ballroom. A big ball is hosted at Hofburg palace, where classical music, dance performances, and an elegant four course dinner takes place. At midnight fireworks are set off and everyone participates in the traditional Blue Danube Waltz.

Down under also has a ton of cool festivities, though it starts much earlier, than us here in America. Yarra Park in Melbourne, Australia has some fun celebrations. The park hosts a lot of free activities, like gift exchanges, face painting, and art work, Children and parents can go around and spend the day here. At midnight, they head down to the Victoria Harbor and central Melbourne to view the fireworks. Sydney, Australia has the world’s biggest fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. It is actually the New Year’s Eve Capital of the World. It has traditional ceremonies, awesome light parades, and aerial acrobatics. They go all out, any way they are some of the first people entering the new year. A stunning firework display is let off, around seven tons go up and light the Sydney Harbor Bridge in beautiful colors.

And then there is also the amazing American traditions for New Year’s Eve. Time Square in New York City has light shows, music, and of course the ball drop that everyone waits for. The countdown takes place on the big clock so everyone can see. At midnight, confetti is let off and fireworks light up the sky. It is quite a magnificent tradition.

These are few of the many traditions. For more information, look here.

Unusual Traditions: Christmas Edition

Christmas is a holiday that is celebrated by many people throughout the world. Though the majority of those who celebrate Christmas are Christian, it has become a worldwide tradition. The idea of giving gifts, spending time with family, and having time off, has just grown to be celebrated by everyone, no matter what their religion. It has become commercialized, though its religious value still remains. This has created for some quite interesting traditions.

Christmas dinner, to us here in America, is like a small feast. Many baked goods are made and a nice main dish centered around a meat, like chicken, turkey, and ham are eaten. However, that is not the case for those in Japan. The Japanese enjoy a nice Christmas dinner with KFC fried chicken. Sometimes, the people in Japan have to order super early to actually make sure they can get some fried chicken from KFC. Sweden eats a rice pudding, but there is a special secret. If a person finds an almond in the rice pudding, they will get married within a year. In Greenland, they eat fermented birds, specifically auks, including the feathers, beaks, all in a seal skin with grease. That seems quite unappealing, but do what you have to, it doesn’t matter. Also, in Greenland, on Christmas night, the men take care of the women, by serving them and doing what they want. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Spain has this unusual tradition during Christmas time. This specifically occurs in Catalonia, where statues are famous people pooping are quite common. It is said to symbolize fertilization, prosperity, and hope, for the future. Ukraine does a different sort of decorating, as well. They put spider webs on their Christmas trees. Spider webs tend to be associated with Halloween, but Ukrainians decorate their trees with these fake spider webs in hopes of good luck for the coming year.

Santa, is a jolly old man with white hair, and a beard, that loves cookies, food, and is extremely fat. He rides a sleigh guided by reindeer and takes presents to the children on Christmas Eve. The Italians, have La Befana, a witch flying on her broom and delivering candies to all the children on the eve of Epiphany Day, typically January 6^th.

Church and religion is a big part of the holiday. In Caracas, Venezuela, they do not go to mass in the typical way of riding a bus. Instead the Venezuelans roller skate to mass. How cool is that?

Estonians enjoy a nice sauna bath on Christmas Eve. This country in particular shows the growth of Christmas in countries. The country’s pagan traditions were mixed with Christmas traditions, to create this sauna bath tradition.

These are some cool and unusual traditions that occur during Christmas time. For more information, click here. 

Christmas Vacation Hotspots

The snow is falling, the bells are ringing, the children are excited, the streets are lit up with lights, and homes are filled with decorations, because Christmas time is upon us. At this time of year, most people love to spend time with their family, obviously because the more family you see, the more presents you get. It is simple logic. But sometimes, Christmas is a great time to go on vacation. Breaks can be extremely long, especially if you have any older children in the family. Going on vacation not only allows you to see a new place, but also spending time with family. So, here are some of the Christmas break hotspot destinations.

If you want to spend Christmas in the States and want to experience the holiday spirit, big cities, like Chicago and New York City are the best bet for you. These places are filled to the top with holiday spirit. The whole city is lightened bright by the lights. Christmas trees are set up, store fronts look beautiful, and the streets are bustling with people who are all ready for the holiday time. These places are great for shopping, sight-seeing, eating, and spending time together with your loved ones.

For those who would love to leave the country, Quebec, Montreal, Amsterdam, Prague, New Zealand, Turks and Caicos, and many other places. The Canadian cities of Montreal and Quebec provide a family voyage to a modern, yet historical city, with gorgeous architecture and a plethora of places to visit. Also, if you want to have a white Christmas, these places are great for that too. Amsterdam is another amazing place to visit. It has such a rich history, where people get so immersed into the Christmas and holiday spirit. Prague is a place people do not tend to visit, but at this time of year its sweet Baroque and Gothic architecture covered in snow, makes for a perfect Christmas holiday. New Zealand, at this time of year, is nice and warm. Beach adventures and outside explorations can happen. It will be a break from all the cold weather, plus the country is just breathtakingly stunning. Turks and Caicos, having some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, will provide a calm and relaxing family vacation in the warm weather. All of these are great places to visit, plus there are many more great cities, especially in Europe or the southern hemisphere, to visit. 

For more information click here, here, here, and here.

The Travel Lover's Christmas Wish List

Every lover of travel would like to spend their holidays in a different country, exploring the depths of the sea, and having new adventures. No offense, they would love spending time at home with family drinking hot chocolate has it snowed, but a part of them would love to be somewhere new. For people like them, here is a list of great gifts, that will make them love you forever.

A great gift for a travel lover would be a travel diary. This diary would allow them to collect all their ticket stubs, extra money, and small memories of the places they have visited into one area. It would be an amazing way for them to look back and see all the fun times they had and all the places they wanted to go.

Another awesome gift would be a map of the world to mark off every place they have been to. This map would allow them to see where they have been, but also where they want to go in the future. It will help them plan trips and be of great use to them.

Lastly, the best gift you could get a traveler, are plane tickets to a new place. Let me tell you, they would love you forever. So, if you want to win a travel lover over, just buy them some plane tickets. They will be able to go on a trip, make memories, experience new things, have adventures, the things that they absolutely love in this world.

For more ideas click here. 

Oh No! Ah! Uh! Eeek! I Think I'm Gonna Die!!!

This week in my AP Lang. class, we read a wonderful story by P. J. O'Rourke, called “Third World Driving Hints and Tips.” Let me say, it was one of the most accurate and hilarious articles that I have ever read. Myself, having ridden in a car while I was visiting my family in India, I have personal knowledge of what it is like, and let me tell you, it is quite accurate. Though this article seems to be intended at people who live in a first world country, but have an experienced driving in a third world country, it can appeal to all. For those in third world countries it is offensive, while those in first world countries, it is over the top hilarious.

As the piece starts out, one must think that it is extremely informational and may actually be helpful to learn how to drive in a third world country, but that is not the case. Though there are official looking headings, the writing under each heading just makes fun of a lower class world. P. J. O’Rourke mentions the idea of road blocks of a third world in the piece. A person living here in the U.S. would assume it would mean construction road blocks or signs, but what he is actually talking about are animals, like cows, goats, and chickens, which are followed by children. He suggests that a goat is something to drive right through, which is quite accurate. From my experiences riding in a car in India where goats, cows, and chickens just roam around freely, I definitely understand where O’Rourke is coming from. To me, it seems that the car always has this goat force field, meaning whenever it drives through a group of goats, it manages to part them right in the middle, and not even touch a single one of them. The goats go away unharmed. Then there are the cows, which go wherever you go. Cows just like to chill and don’t seem to care about what is going on. They never move when a car is coming, and when you think it is safe, they somehow magically appear in front of the car, as O’Rourke claims. Chickens are a hazard; O’Rourke used a great metaphor saying chickens are like balls of the first world countries. They come onto the road; they are always followed by children. One time I was at my father’s parents’ house in a small village in India. There were chickens on the street, and I was scared that the driver would run over them. When they passed, the car started to move again, but suddenly a child ran across the street, it was quite scary. Occasionally, an obstacle may also be a parade of drunk people dancing and beating on your car, which may result in an angry driver who starts yelling, and the whole situation becomes tense.

O’Rourke is also accurate on the whole honking situation. He said in third world countries, honking is a necessity when it comes to driving. For some reason, they believe honking is needed to reverse, to park, to drive down an empty street, just all the time. Every time I step out of the airport when I reach India, I am overwhelmed with the amount of honking noises that are coming from cars, busses, trucks, and motorcycles, even though we usually reach around two in the morning. Here, honking is only used at particular times and is generally considered rude. I was a confused child, because in America I was never allowed to press the horn on the steering wheel, but when I went to India, all I heard were honks and horns.

Another particular thing I notice about driving in third world countries, particularly India, is that the majority of the population living and working there drive a motorcycle or moped. And on these motorcycles, mopeds, and even in the cars, trucks, busses, trains, auto rickshaws, and any sort of transportation, they are able to seat way more than the normal amount. A two-seater motorcycle may be able to fit ten people on it sometimes, it is quite astonishing. Also, they do not follow the rules; I never even understand how people can survive driving there. They don’t use lanes or follow the lights, I feel like there should be way more accidents.

This just goes to show that countries and places are different. What seems normal in one place, is quite absurd to others from a different place. Though we may joke about third world driving, that is what the people in third world have known their entire life, that is what they have grown up in, and if they came here, they would be a little confused too. 

Chocolate is Life

One of my most favorite things in this world would be chocolate. Just imagine a rich and deliciously smooth piece of savory goodness landing on your tongue, and as you bite into it, the soft inside just oozes into your mouth. Thinking about it is making me crazy. If I could live on chocolate I would. In my opinion, I believe America has a great variety of chocolate that contains a lot of enhancements with extra things, when chocolate is actually just magnificent by itself. Though its always great to have American chocolate, the best chocolate can from all around the world, from places you have never heard of. I have tried chocolate from Argentina, Germany, and Belgium; let me say, that it is just amazing.

The countries with some of the best chocolate can seem quite odd. Many European countries seem to have rich and delicious tasting chocolate. Few of these include Denmark, Italy, United Kingdom, and France. Denmark is one of the largest producer and consumer of chocolate in the world. It has provided the world some of the most beloved brands, like Snickers, Mars, and Twix. It is especially famous for coconut filled chocolate. Italy is another big producer that was the first place to manufacture solid chocolate bars. United Kingdom makes a ton of assorted chocolates, and is specifically known for their organic chocolates. French dark chocolates and chocolates filled with liquor are a major popularity and are known to have an everlasting taste because the best cocoa is used.

Other countries that are not European, like Mexico, create some amazing tasting chocolate. Mexico was the first place where cocoa was created into a spicy drink. They are known for adding cinnamon and chilies into the chocolate to and flavor and smell.

The rest of the countries that top the list, are once again European. These countries would be Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium. Germany is full of chocolate lovers and producers who are known particularly for the fine quality. Some of the best brands are Ritter Sport, Sarroti, Alpia, Kinder Schokolade, and the one I tried, Milka, which is just delicious. Spain is the first place where sugar was added to sweeten the bitter cocoa, so I must thank them right now. Without the Spanish, I could not survive. Though Switzerland does not seem like a place where cocoa would grow, it is a place that produces delicious chocolate. Many well-known chocolate brands originated in Switzerland, such as Toblerone, Swiss Army, Cailler Nestle, Lindt, and Glando. Lastly, is Belgium, and their chocolate tastes like god. They have some of the richest qualities of chocolates that use some of the best ingredients. Some of their famous brands are Nirvana, Godiva, Neuhaus, and Floranne. The thing is, when it is exported or is made here in America or certain chocolate types are made in countries that are not where they are originated from, the taste is changed and is not as good. If you ever get a chance and are a sweet/chocolate lover, tries these out.

For more information click here, here, or here. 

Eat Till You Explode

Last week was one of America’s greatest holidays, Thanksgiving. The holiday where everyone spends time with friends and family, eats so much food, says what their thankful for, and then more recently, follow it by trampling people at stores to get the cheap items they want. It is quite a wonderful holiday, allowing us to reflect on the people and things in our life that we most cherish. The three f’s are what I believe most people are always thankful for. This would be friends, family, and of course food. Who doesn’t love food? Food is one of the most important things in life and each culture has a different kind of taste, making them each unique and interesting.

Upon us is the holiday season. This means Christmas time and New Year’s, a time where everyone spends time with friends and family, gives gifts, and parties. Oh, and how could I forget the most important thing, EATING!

Holiday season is a time to put on some pounds, with the delicious foods. Typically, during Thanksgiving, people eat turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, bread, and cranberry sauce. For desert, there is usually an assortment of pies, such as pumpkin and pecan. Everyone eats till their pants can’t fit anymore, and that is how it should be. Just as you think, you cannot eat for another three months, the rest of the holidays soon follow.

Christmas, is a time to eat a lot of food and baked goods, once again. Though you vowed not to eat as much, you just can’t help it. For this holiday, people eat meat, like turkey, ham, chicken. Bread, cheese, vegetables, are also part of the meal. But the things that everyone loves are the baked goods and sweet stuff, like candy canes and sugar cookies. Cookies in general are made through the whole season, from shortbread, sugar, to chocolate chip. Cupcakes, chocolate, bark, brownies, eggnog, any item you can think of, can be made and will be made. Everything somehow has a Christmas twist to it, by either adding peppermint, or decorating it as if it is Santa, his reindeer, a Christmas tree, like bells, or stars. It is just a magnificent time of year, where everyone cooks plenty of food, and eats plenty of food. The holiday spirit is upon us and we have no excuse, we must eat till we explode. It is a requirement.

Make Some Memories

The future is an uncertain place. The world is constantly changing, people are constantly changing, culture is constantly changing, and in a moment, it can all be gone. As the world develops, aspects of it are being lost. With the addition of more harmful gasses into the atmosphere, the weather is changing. As we build more urbanized areas, natural areas are being lost. The rapid growth of the human population currently is leading to a decline in the amount of hidden beauties of this world. There are two things that can be done with this information. First, we can try to preserve it and start saving the environment, which seems like the right thing to do, but takes plenty of commitment from the whole world. Second, we could admit our defeat, though we still try to protect the planet, and try to travel and document these beautiful places in our minds, our memory, through experiences and images that can be shared with everyone. So, try to go out to a new place, not one that is a typical urban city, because you never know, when you actually discover it, it may be gone.

Being an Indian In an Airport

For people who have white skin color or an American background do not understand the troubles of being a colored person travelling in an airport, especially one in America. People who have talk in a different language than English, wear unique clothing, or have a different skin color, especially one that seems to be any shade of brown, have some of the hardest times at an airport. For some odd reason these people are magically chosen for special screening. Every time I am at an airport, I face these troubles. Just standing in line I observe the way that our country still remains prejudice, though we say we believe in equality for all.

I remember one time I was at the Chicago airport with my brother and mom. We were leaving for India and my mom was dressed up in traditional Indian clothing. As we waited in line at security, my mother was on the phone with her family in India to tell them we were leaving from America. Because our family in India does not speak English, my mom was talking in her native Indian language, Tamil. At this time, I was just bored and standing in line in observing what was happening. That is when I, as a young child, realized that people were not being treated equally. A few people in front of us had accents and were sent into the special screening line. However, other people who seemed like normal Americans, were let through with little notice. When it was my family’s turn, we were obviously sent to the special screening line. We checked every suspicion on the security guard’s list. Brown skin, check. Different clothing, check. Speaking a mysterious language, check. I was not pleased with our treatment because I was a young child who has lived in America for my whole life, with no intention of doing anything wrong. Yet, I was still forced to go through a special checking that screened the whole body and opened our bags. We had to wait extra time, and watched plenty of Americans just zoom through security. How unfair! I understand that it is the security’s intention to protect the country, the plane, and the citizens. However, that does not mean just screen people who fit the check list for a terrorist. I believe this type of treatment needs to stop. I mean, if I as a young child, could notice that they were being prejudice, there is something wrong. Nowadays, this special treatment of people who do not look the same as others or act the same as typical Americans, has improved, but it still occurs.

Another time, I was traveling for a school activity with two of my friends and a teacher. We were heading back from Washington D.C. I was an Indian who had brown skin color and my friend, Fatima, was a Muslim wearing a head scarf. My other friend, Lauren, and my teacher went through security in a breeze. My friend, Fatima, and I were sent to a special screening area. Though we were travelling as a group, the security guards wanted to make sure the Indian and Muslim were checked in more detail than the other Americans. This angered both my friend and I, but by now we have gotten used to it. I think this system must change still. If some people are specifically being targeted to have a special screening, then everyone should. America is built on the foundation of equality, and this treatment does not seem that equal to me. It seems as if they are being prejudice and racist. It is not fair, I am tired of it, and it must change. Oh, the struggles of being an Indian in an airport.