BookTalk - TravelTalk - Summer 2013 Reading List

One of the things that I love to do is read.

On this summer trip, I've read 10 books. Surprisingly, 9 of which I would recommend, based on the type of books you like to read.

Here are the list of books.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

     If you have read any of Nicholas Sparks books or watched any of the movies in which the books were adapted from, I highly recommend this book and maybe the movie as well - I actually stopped watching the movie about halfway through (though of course the book is much better). The book is pretty straight forward and this definitely a good read for Advanced ESL students.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (Part 2 of Ender's Game)

Xenocide: Volume Three by Orson Scott Card - not recommended

     For those of you who love science fiction, Ender's Game is a great series, and now that there will be a movie adaptation - read it now. I prefer the first book out of all 4, the 3rd - Xenocide while interesting, is a bit too slow and I would not recommend it unless you truly enjoyed the first two.  This is not recommended for ESL students, unless you are advanced and really like science fiction.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent (Divergent) by Veronica Roth

     Have you read the Hunger Games Trilogy? If you have and you enjoyed it, this series is definitely for you. The story revolves a heroine who transcends categoristic structure which has been imposed on them.  Definitely a must read. The third book will be released in September and there is also movie series in development.  Recommended for ESL advanced students.

Actually, watching the trailer for the first time, I don't think Ill like the movie at all, but who knows.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

     If you haven't heard of Tina Fey, YouTube her. As the former lead writer of SNL (Saturday Night Live), the person behind  "Mean Girls", and 30 Rock.  This book is just funny, straight up funny. If you love light sarcasm, comedy and wit - get your hands on this book and read all about it.

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith a.k.a J.K. Rawlings

     Most of you may be familiar with J.K. Rawlings through her Harry Potter series, but this one is not for kids.  Originally published under the alias of Robert Galbraith, this is a mystery novel. Thoroughly enjoyable. If you're a fan of detective novels, this one is right up your alley. Also, for those of you know London very well, this will take you through the city.

Inferno: A Novel by Dan Brown

     Dan Brown - enough said. Did you read Angels and Demons? Da Vinci Code? This book continues with our friend Robert Langdon and saving the world from impending doom.

The Shadow Hunter by Michael Prescott

     I just finished reading this book today and it is a good mystery novel, there is one twist that I wasn't a fan of, but this is still on my recommend list. Modern day detective story, in which to prevent an obssessed fan from killing, the heroine goes undercover to be their friend. Great book.

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

TravelTalk - Summer 2013 Summary - Stats

I can't believe that my summer trip is over.

 

I am quite happy to be going back to Spain, but I am definitely going to miss my friends around the world and the new places and experiences I have been blessed to be a part of.

 

Number of flights taken - 16

Numbers of countries visited - 7

(Portugal, USA, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary)

Number of first time countries: 4

(Poland, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary)

Number of books read: 10

(I'll write a separate blog, with book recommendations)

Number of Couchsurfer hosts: 2 (Breda and Zagreb)

Number of different hostels: 9 

Number of nights in a hotel: 4 

Number of airbnb bookings: 2

Number of calories consumed: 1,000,000,000,000

 

I could write more statistics, but this trip, like most others are about the things that you cannot measure.  Running in a butterfly costume, seeing Hawaii from 30,000 feet in the air, having a laugh with your best friends over wine (and food), seeing your nephew for the first time, allowing yourself to experience the new world - without fear, making new friends along the way.

 

Thank you for taking this trip with me this past summer.

 

Now, look forward to getting to know more about Spain.

More pictures coming.

 

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

TravelTalk - Zagreb, Croatia to Révfülöp, Hungary

Hey.. You've heard something cool about Révfülöp?! and now you want to go!!

 

Why stop by Révfülöp? Well, if you have time (for example, I don't want to spend 1 week in Budapest)

 

So here are simple directions to go from Zagreb to Révfülöp.

From Zagreb there is only one daily train that will take you through Batalon (the name of the lake), which departs at 10:00 and arrives to Batalonboglar at 14:17 - it will cost 158Kuna (see below).

Once you get off at the train station, look for this sign along the train tracks and take a left down the street. (The sign with the 18).

 

 

Once you take a left - go straight all the way and you will see this building.  (DO NOT follow the 18 - it will take you to the right in another street).  This is where you can buy your ticket, this place does accept Euros and HUF.

 

The ticket is surprisingly cheap, for a 25 minute ride, its about 4 Euros.

 

 

The ferry is just right across ticket sales.

 

 

Welcome to Révfülöp!

 

 

 

CHECK OUT MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS HERE: http://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiinsomniac/videos Mahalo for reading. Until next time.

 , 

TechTalk - RIP NOKIA

I wasn't planning to write any technology blogs while I'm backpacking Europe, but the news of Microsoft purchasing Nokia, really needs a few words (there are tons of analysis out there, so just a blog from me).

Click here to read the news...
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/microsoft-rationale-for-buying-nokia/

Think about this. There will never be another Nokia phone again. Considering nearly all of you reading this (unless you own a Lumia series) have moved on to greener pastures, whether it's Android or iOS - you've probably owned a Nokia phone before.

I remember the days of the candy bar phone. Owning my first Nokia, super happy that I could sms with 1 hand while I am driving because of the T9 technology. Happy that I could play snake on my mobile phone and even take a picture, and send sms. Though paltry by today's standards Nokia was the Apple of yesterdecade, the innovator. Nokia still continues to innovate with their high quality Lumia line (for those of you who own one, you want what I mean, what is actually hurting Nokia sales is the the lack of Apps on Windows 8).

I even remember the E51, and the rotating gold Nokia phone, and the blue one with the round dial pad.

While Microsoft may keep the Nokia names on their new mobile devices, the fact that Nokia is so longer a single entity is a shame.

RIP Nokia.

Do you remember your first Nokia?

TravelTalk - Couchsurfing

Aloha everyone,

I am writing my first blog in Zagreb, I still have many pictures to post, but I am writing from my phone and I just wanted to write a little bit about couchsurfing and a little bit about my philosophy on life.

First,  about couchsurfing. Couchsurfing is an organization where people from around the world want to exchange cultural ideas and thoughts through meetings,  hosting and traveling. I've been very fortunate in my travels to have met wonderful people worldwide. People who have made me appreciate Hawaii and life even more. Living in Hawaii, sometimes we take for granted what is there and what we live with on a daily basis, sometimes it takes a visitor visiting Hawaii for the first time to reinvigorate our passion and desire and reignite the love we have for Hawaii - visiting sights we might not otherwise visit because we are too busy with work, family.... And life.

Couchsurfing has helped me experience cities, cultures and cultivate new friendships based on our passion for traveling and our faith that people are good. To invite a total stranger in one's home and to treat them as a guest takes exactly that - faith that humanity is good. Many may question (friends and family included) , how you can host total strangers or how you can go somewhere and meet someone that you have never met...  Then again...  Isn't that living?

You maybe surprised about my decisions to travel and stay with people, but to be honest some of my best experiences and friendships are based on the aforementioned principles that bring people together...

What am I surprised about? I am rather surprised that we teach our children not to talk to strangers. We close ourselves from people even within our own communities because we are afraid.

Please, don't be afraid. People have life, experiences, richness and culture that we can all learn from - even if we don't agree with their point of view. I have been blessed to have met so many wonderful people and make friends worldwide.

Live. Love. And travel.

Special thanks to everyone who I have hosted, who have inspired me to travel more and trust my instincts to experience life.

Special thanks to those who have hosted me, who have shown me that kindness and openness appears worldwide and allowing me to experience things that people only dream of.

Special thanks to family and friends, for your support. I miss all of you and I hope to see you all soon.

PS. Instead of teaching your kids to "not talk to strangers"... Teach them to say hi and hello.