For the Love of Africa: 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Bienvenue à Paris

I have always wanted to just take off and go somewhere on a whim. Recently I got the chance to do just that. I received a text from my Aunt one day around 10:30 AM and four hours later we were heading to the airport to catch a flight to Paris, France.

We nearly missed our flight, having to run through the airport to catch it on time. We, however were not the last people on the airplane. After a quick 9 hour flight and a 45 minute train ride we were in the heart of Paris, we found the studio apartment where we would stay with the help of two nice French men, dumped our bags and headed straight to the Eiffel Tower.

We were lucky enough to be able to see the Eiffel tower during the day as well as at night. When we went up to the top, it was day; while we were at the top the sun went down and we returned to the ground to see the tower completely lit up.

My awesome aunt Janet and me

The view from the top

La Tour Eiffel was constructed in 1889 and is 1,063 feet tall. It was originally built as the entrance to 1889 World's Fair and was never meant to be permanent. Today it is one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The next day we went to Notre Dame, Musee de Louvre, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge... We ate croissants, a crepe with Nutella and Macaroons. We flew home the next day. It was such a fun trip! I think I'll stay a little bit longer the next time I go to Europe. I am thinking Rome... After all I have been to London and Paris :)


Breakfast croissant

Notre Dame

Unfortunately the Louvre was closed... Just a reason to go back :)

Sacre Coeur

Lunch at a Parisian Cafe


Moulin Rouge

Flying home in style--business class

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Brownies

My mom and I decided to make brownies--I had been craving these yummy brownies with mint frosting and chocolate on the top. We gathered all the ingredients together and lined them up on the counter only to realize that we didn't have an electric mixer. We really wanted the brownies and decided to make the butter cream frosting by hand. It took a long time and made my hand hurt but it was WORTH it! Here is a picture of the final product :)

Making the frosting

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Mormon Miracle Pageant

This June, I went with my mom, dad, grandma, sister and brother (in law) to Manti, Utah to watch the Mormon Miracle Pageant in front of the Manti temple. The pageant tells the story of Joseph Smith and the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We played football at the park across the street before the pageant began

Living Planet Aquarium

Who doesn't like a good aquarium? I know I do. Since I live in the middle of a desert, my only option is the Living Planet Aquarium.

Me with my Grandma and Sister

The Aquarium has gotten bigger and better throughout the years. The first time I went, it was located inside a mall and was very small. They have since added a penguin section among other things with otters being the newest addition. This time we even got to touch a shark!


Being Lions

I'm touching a shark!

Me and Grandma

We each had our interpretation of "Be a fish"

Foot Picture

Unfortunately when we were there the otters were all asleep so we did not get to see them play :( Maybe next time...

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Adventures Close to Home

I learned that you don't necessarily have to go far away to have a fun adventure. Fun adventures can be found at home or close to home. It is fun playing tourist in your own town.

Adventure One
My grandma and I took the front runner up to Salt Lake City, ate at the Lion House and took tours of both the Beehive House and the Conference Center at temple square.

The organist was practicing for general conference the next day

On the rooftop of the Conference Center

Adventure Two
I Drove to Park City with my grandma, went shopping, ate at a local sandwich place an employee at the Volcom store suggested and went to Utah's Olympic Park. We didn't have time for the full tour but did walk through the ski museum and the 2002 Winter Olympics museum.

Grandma carrying the torch

Up Next
The Living Planet Aquarium

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Need to Travel

Pretty much since the second I landed in Salt Lake City from Hilo, Hawaii, my family has been asking me the same question... where are you going to go next?

The real question is where should I go first? I have a list a mile long of places that I want to visit, I don't think there is anywhere that I don't want to go. I have been home from Hawaii for a little bit more than a month and I am desperate to go traveling. Its a little bit ridiculous!

Another dilemma that I have is not having a travel buddy. So what to do? Should I travel by myself? Volunteer again? Work abroad? Study abroad? So many options. I have even thought about teaching ESL abroad, I would be good at that. I loved, loved, loved getting to live in Africa and experience the culture.

For now I will just have to settle on cutting my hair, visiting my best friend in Elko, Nevada and planning my next trip/adventure.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Hawaiian Adventure

I went to visit a my friend Tutu and her husband Jerome on the big island of Hawaii a few weeks ago. I had never met Jerome before but he might just be the nicest person I've met. From the very first day that I arrived in Hilo he was extremely accommodating and friendly, even telling me that I could use his boogie board whenever I would like.

And then there was Tutu who met me at the tiny Hilo International Airport with a Hawaiian Lei. I met Tutu while going to school at Utah Valley University and we became fast friends. Tutu grew up on an island called Kiribati and was constantly getting asked where she was from. Even though she is married and lives in Hawaii, we try to keep in touch.

Alright, alright back to my trip.

I arrived at the Hilo International Airport on January 8 at 8:57 pm which is midnight in Utah. I was exhausted and ready to go to bed. Tutu and Jerome had picked up some Chinese food for me because they knew I had been traveling all day and would probably be hungry (thoughtful thing number 1, but whose counting?). We got to their apartment which was not far from the airport, I ate some food, changed into pajamas and helped Tutu turn the futon into a bed. I fell asleep to the sound of the ocean right outside.

I woke up to a beautiful view of the ocean, ate a banana on the balcony and went for a walk.

The view from Tutu and Jeromes' balcony

Jerome had told me how to get to the beach the night before so I thought I would go hang out there.

After a while I started to get hungry so I headed back and out of nowhere came the rain. By the time I got back my jacket was soaking wet and my shorts were stuck to my legs.

On Thursday January 10, Tutu and I were going to go to the zoo and the Mauna Loa chocolate factory. We were all ready and in the car about to drive off when I decided we should go snorkeling instead. It was a really sunny day and with it being the rainy season I didn't know if there would be another good day for snorkeling.

Yellow Tang like the one I saw

I eventually got a little cold and decided to get out. I had scratches all over my legs! I had some pretty good ones that might even turn into a scar.

The next morning (Friday) I went to find some sea shells and came across several sea turtles. When I got back to the house we went to Akaka Falls and then the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

This waterfall is 448 ft.! Twice the height of Niagara Falls

Akaka Falls

Me, Jerome and Bella (in the blue jacket)

Saturday Tutu and I went on a helicopter tour. It was amazing and I would definitely do it again.

The trees really do look like broccoli

Lava!

Where the Lava meets the Pacific Ocean

Tutu and I went to church on Sunday and then to a Farmer's market. On Monday, we all got to go swimming with dolphins! We woke up at 5AM to make the two hour drive to Kona on the other side of the island. We checked in at the Marina and got on a boat in search of wild dolphins. We also saw several humpback whales who were on a heat run (basically three males going after one female), a manta ray and a sea turtle. Guess I get to check that off my list twice :)

Me and Tutu ready to see some dolphins

The next day I got to the beach early enough that I had it all to myself for awhile. I nearly walked straight into a sea turtle again, this time they were just hanging out in the water.

My last day, we toured around and got to see more of the island. Tutu woke up early with me and we collected some sea shells, then spent the rest of the day touring around at different beach parks, ending with Rainbow Falls. Tutu made some amazing salmon and pasta for dinner. I finished packing my bag, got all of Tutu's pictures and headed to the airport for my red eye flight to Los Angeles.