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From the Velveteen Chair: A Chamber Music Review
The aftermath of the events at the Boston Marathon had me wanting to shut off my thoughts and the television and get lost in something mindless. Luckily I had the perfect escape and I went to the final performance of the Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society 2012-13 Season. The Ebène Quartet was playing last night at the Carnegie Music Hall connected to the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh in Oakland. I love going to museums at night. It brings out a giddy, imaginative, childish quality in me. There is something that feels really sneaky about being in a museum after dark, like you may live out your childhood dream of being locked…
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Easter in Italy: Spending Holy Week at the Vatican
Holy Week in Italy Easter had me reminiscing about one of my most memorable religious experiences, Palm Sunday at the Vatican. In 2011 three childhood friends and I set off to Italy and our vacation happened to fall around holy week, Settimana Santa. Our two-week trip started in Rome then went on to Cinque Terre, Florence and ended in Venice. In Rome we stayed in a small apartment (lovingly nicknamed The Rabbit Hole) in the Piazza della Rotonda, right next to the Pantheon. We had plans to go to the Vatican twice, once to take a tour of the city and then a second time just to attend Palm Sunday…
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Wats Going On?
The beaches of Phuket were nothing short of amazing but I was ready to explore another side of Thailand to get a better idea of the diverse culture and climate of the country. We headed up north for our last week to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is one of the oldest cities in Thailand and used to be the ancient capital. Only a few hours from the Myanmar (formerly Burma) border it is an amazing contrast from the white sand and blue waters. Surrounded by mountains and soaked in culture, Chiang Mai meaning “new city” was founded in 1296 so there is a constant mix of the ancient and the…
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Tongue Thai’d
I have had some of my more interesting and delicious meals here in Thailand. An exotic cuisine that is becoming increasingly popular in the US I thought I had an idea about what Thai food would be like when I came here. As a farang (westerner, or foreigner) I have learned far more than I had expected. I’d be wise to add a disclaimer to this list noting that I have what I like to call a “particular palate”. For me this means that I’m not averse to exploring something new on my plate but I would definitely fall into the category of a more “American” eater, sticking to things…
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Asian Vegas
Nai Thon has been a perfect place to relax and enjoy the beach. It has been a quiet week with little traffic and we have gotten a chance to get to know a lot of other vacationers that have been staying in and around our hotel. The residents of Nai Thon Beach Mansion or what we have dubbed “the mansion” all have congregated in a peaceful section of the beach not too far from our guesthouse. A group of us have become regulars at Peter’s Restaurant and Bar and it has been fun having a hang out for the week where you can sit and chat with our new-found friends…
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Phuket, It’s Valentine’s Day
So after 3 flights and 30 hours of travel I made it to Thailand. The long journey is completely worth it. The people are quiet and friendly, the beaches are serine and beautiful, and the food is exotic and delicious. If my first few days here were any indication of how the rest of my trip turns out, this will make for an amazing journey. I barely had any time in Bangkok and in a blink I was back on a flight again and headed south to Phuket. Phuket is an island located in southwest, resting in the Andaman Sea it boasts some of the most spectacular beaches. Snorkeling and…
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“So you packed, American…”
I leave for Thailand soon and I’ve decided to bravely face the suitcase that has been glaring at me from the corner of my room this week and pack. I don’t know if anyone else has the same issue as I do but I just can’t seem to go anywhere without feeling like I need to rent a U-Haul and bring my whole place with me! I’m always in fear that I’ll leave something behind that I just won’t be able to live without while I’m gone. Totally irrational, but true, and it seems like I’m not the only one out there feeling this way otherwise there wouldn’t be so…
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8 Great Photo Tips for Beginners (from a fellow neophyte)
Disclaimer: I am in no way a professional photographer but I have had my moments. A good camera makes it easy, but it doesn’t work miracles. I learned a lot from a college photojournalism class and I’ve always wanted to be that “artsy friend” that takes her Nikon out on a quick shoot and comes back capturing beautiful moments. Maybe someday, but for now, I’m more like the friend that has a good eye and by the grace of god sometimes gets lucky. In some ways getting some advice from a novice is just as important as getting pearls of wisdom from a professional. I feel your pain in wanting…