The list is life.

Ok I know it's wrong to use Schindler's List as a title to a blog, but it's gonna be a good, blog! You'll see.

I wanted to start my bucket list off with a bang. Something that when people read this, their jaws would drop and nod silently, awestruck by the flooring discovery I had brought to them, something they too must visit before their end of days. It's a tall order if you think about it, I mean just writing about random thoughts is hard enough but this, this is some heavy hoo-ha. So the only place I can picture living up to such a grand challenge would have to be an oasis of awesome.

I found Emirates Palace Hotel when looking though some of my favorite sites for fascinating locations. It is so astounding that I am contemplating breaking off my love affair with the Augustine to devote all my love and attention to this magnificent desert rose. It's this completely self sustaining morsel of perfection. Allow me to explain.

It took three billion dollars to build this and that's not with a "mmm" it's with a "bah", billions! When you go to most resorts in the world, it's wonderful because you're at the beach, all your needs are met, you can just kick back and relax. Take that philosophy and multiply it by a bajillion and you have the Palace. Unlike most resorts with let's say ten (I'm being generous) places to chose from for your dinner, this place has one hundred and twenty-eight! Where most places when you lay out the staff is happy to get you a refreshing beverage from the bar, this place has a staff who will bring you a cool towel for your face and rotate your umbrella for you to protect you from the sun's devious rays. And it's gorgeous, really, I am happy just to stare at the pictures all day, heck I'm writing this blog so I have another reason to stare at it some more. I'm having a virtual vicarious relationship with this place, yes my very own VVR!

This place is like being taken to another world, a whole new world if you would. I understand that most don't consider Abu Dhabi when they first think of luxury resorts, but I assure you, it's leading in the way of luxury. But it's not just luxury, it's becoming a real hub for every sort of tourism you can think of. From some of the most fascinating ancient archaeological site dating back thousands of years to the world's largest indoor theme park Ferrari World. There isn't a narrow minded view when it comes to travel, if you can imagine it, they probably have it.

Awe Reflections.

It's been six months since I started this blog. It's easy to get lost in all my rantings and tongue in cheek comments, but sometimes you go back and look at where you started and you can't help but smile about it. On average it takes me about an hour and a half to decide and start a blog. About half an hour to write it, letting the words come with a natural flow that makes the piece cheeky and dripping with persona, but that usually leaves a huge amount of typos and run on sentences. Another thirty minutes are given so I can let Harold read it and listen to his brilliant comment and suggests (don't worry boss, that one was a free bee). And then another hour to go over it a few more time inserting images into the right places, ensuring that what I want to say has the image I pictured when I wrote it. 

The effort seems like a lot but it's merely a drop in the bucket compared to how satisfying it is when I finally publish. It's putting something out there, that came straight from my heart. I'm not writing these to work an angle for any company. Yes, I write about travel and there's a goal to make this about travel, that it's a vehicle to make me a better consultant. But I am free to write what I chose, so it's all me. The eleven hundred viewers are taking a deeper look into who I am and that's truly uplifting,

This blog has brought me inspiration and joy in more avenues than I ever anticipated. Of course, it made sure that I took some key interests in travel, helped me learn that I can pitch almost any destination I want without compromising my personality to do so. But it has also reminded me that I love to write, and being a travel consultant can do more than inspire my love for looking up exotic and creative destinations and experiences for people. It's a means of being a writer, fulfilling my dream to put something out there the masses will read and enjoy.

So in honor of the spark that lit the flame, I'm going to repost my first blog, as a thank you for making feel creative and helping me smile everyday.

"Today is my first official blog as a travel consultant. I'm new to the travel industry, but quickly learning the ropes with incredible enthusiasm.  I’m working for Epicopia Culinary Journeys (Epicopia.com) working for the great Harold Partain (he pays me $5 every time I tell people about how awesome he is). We book tours and create our own small group special programs all over the world. We make sure where ever you go it lives up to what you dreamed of and then some.

 

We have some wonderful associates one of which is Aliza Green (AlizaGreen.com). She is the Experience Director for our, Italian Maremma & Umbria: A Pasta Lover's Culinary Tour (we only have two spaces left).

 

I suppose I should explain my chosen name for  this blog. Ever since I started working with, Epicopia, every time I look up a new location for a tour, I’m awe-struck by either  the culture, food, or the beauty of the location. Everything seems like a fantasy. I started out only dreaming of sandy beaches with crystal clear water, but now I dream about the Red Square in Moscow, and seeing the breath taking Blue Mosque in Istanbul. So now, I do my research with wide adoring eyes feeling a rush of excitement that I never felt filing paperwork or doing massages… However there were a couple massages where stinky feet lead to me having watery eyes…

 

Join me for this new journey in my life."

Bucket List O'travel!

Hello my gnomes! I hope everyone had a fabulous New Year celebration and welcomed 2012 with happy open arms. This is my first blog of the year! Everyone throw some confetti and dance the jig. Alright now that's enough. I have been stewing over what to write in my blog  all week. Should I write about my goals as the newest most amazing travel blogger of all time? No. Should I speak my mind about the hardships mankind faces? No. Should I write about the Mayan's calendar stating that this is the end of time and we are all doomed?! No.

No!

Let's look to a happier subject.... These are the places I want to travel to before I die. I understand that the subject of death isn't sunshine and flowers but we're all going to come to a demise, so let's try and see as much of the world and explore our dream locations before we meet our makers. Let's face it, there are certain things and places you can visit at a certain age. Like I want to go snorkeling in Fiji, not something to do when I'm eighty. I'm not saying no one CAN go snorkeling at eighty in Fiji, but I think it's an act of kindness after seeing how.... fluffy my grandmothers were at that age to just go ahead and do it now. Remember folks, spandex is a privilege, not a right.

The list one makes about where they want to go can be a looking glass into their soul. I always dreamed of being a princess living in a beautiful castle when I was a child. So it would seem logical that on my list is... Well every castle ever in the world, and Red Square. I also dreamed of being a mermaid, hence my desire to go to all the most luxurious beaches in the world.

It's more important to have a desire to travel than it is to have a set list of places you want to trek to. We have this life, just the one, to see what out there in the world makes your heart soar, and brings sense of accomplishment to your life. I often find myself wondering what would have happened if my parents had put me in ballet, it's odd but I really reflect on that often. It's a vanished dream because I can't go back to being five and try it, the chance to be a ballerina has long passed me (I still think I can wear a tutu).

I don't want to be old and look back in... some years and wonder why didn't I take the chance to go see Red Square when I had the chance. I'm not going to let my ballerina let down also be my travel let down. Yeah I realize I was suppose to make a list but I got a little side tracked. Next time my gnomes you will have a list you can dream over.