T.I.A.

South Africa is probably my favorite place I've visited yet! We were able to spend 5 whole days, and filled them with every possible thing we could! South Africa is a lot like the U.S. in that they speak English, there are similar stores and services, and there are a lot of rich people, but there is a lot bigger gap between the rich and the poor. If you stay in Cape Town it's pretty much the equivalent to an east coast beach town, but just outside is miles of townships and slums.
My favorite experience was when a friend and I went for a day to help an organization called Operation Hunger. Operation Hunger is designed to help the people who live in the townships around Cape Town, which are basically shanty towns that cover miles and miles and govern themselves. We spent a day playing with the kids because most of them don't have a school to go to, and feeding hungry people with things we'd bought. The kids looked a lot younger than they were, we actually met girls that were our age who had kids and nothing to do all day long. It was really interesting to see. Everyone was so friendly, and they said that they accept donations of anything because they need everything. So if you have anything extra send it to...... The picture above is one of the little girls I made friends with through my neon orange nail polish, I wish I had brought a lot to give away because all of the girls I've run into want me to paint their nails!
The countryside was filled with vineyards and wild animal reserves. A couple of friends and I went on a cycling in the winelands tour where you ride bikes and go from vineyard to vineyard tasting wine. It was a blast, but by the end we couldn't really ride the bikes too well. We also climbed a mountain that overlooks the Southern Cape called Table Mountain. One of the hardest hikes I have EVEr done in my life. It was straight up for 3 hours!!! It was worth it when we reached the top though, we could see all of Cape Town and the coast. We also went Great White shark diving and saw HUGE sharks, but we didn't get to go in the cage because the weather got bad. SO I have a free Shark Dive in S.A. for next time, which will be soon!!!!(if I move there like I plan to) The nightlife was awesome fun, and if I ever need models for my collections, I'm going to South Africa to find them. Full of Beautiful People, dont know how that happens.
OK! I think that's it, but I'll add if I remember anything Cool!

T.I.A.

South Africa is probably my favorite place I've visited yet! We were able to spend 5 whole days, and filled them with every possible thing we could! South Africa is a lot like the U.S. in that they speak English, there are similar stores and services, and there are a lot of rich people, but there is a lot bigger gap between the rich and the poor. If you stay in Cape Town it's pretty much the equivalent to an east coast beach town, but just outside is miles of townships and slums.
       My favorite experience was when a friend and I went for a day to help an organization called Operation Hunger. Operation Hunger is designed to help the people who live in the townships around Cape Town, which are basically shanty towns that cover miles and miles and govern themselves. We spent a day playing with the kids because most of them don't have a school to go to, and feeding hungry people with things we'd bought. The kids looked a lot younger than they were, we actually met girls that were our age who had kids and nothing to do all day long. It was really interesting to see. Everyone was so friendly, and they said that they accept donations of anything because they need everything. So if you have anything extra send it to...... The picture above is one of the little girls I made friends with through my neon orange nail polish, I wish I had brought a lot to give away because all of the girls I've run into want me to paint their nails!
       The countryside was filled with vineyards and wild animal reserves. A couple of friends and I went on a cycling in the winelands tour where you ride bikes and go from vineyard to vineyard tasting wine. It was a blast, but by the end we couldn't really ride the bikes too well. We also climbed a mountain that overlooks the Southern Cape called Table Mountain. One of the hardest hikes I have EVEr done in my life. It was straight up for 3 hours!!! It was worth it when we reached the top though, we could see all of Cape Town and the coast. We also went Great White shark diving and saw HUGE sharks, but we didn't get to go in the cage because the weather got bad. SO I have a free Shark Dive in S.A. for next time, which will be soon!!!!(if I move there like I plan to) The nightlife was awesome fun, and if I ever need models for my collections, I'm going to South Africa to find them. Full of Beautiful People, dont know how that happens.
       OK! I think that's it, but I'll add if I remember anything Cool!
       

AraBian NighTS

  Oh Morocco! What to Say... Okay so I'll start with what I didn't know about Morocco. It's an Arab Country and the native languages are French and Arabic, and it has both modern civilization like Casablanca and Merrakech, but the countryside is filled with Berber Villages with people that still don't have running water. Pretty Crazy. 
   Our ship docked in Casablanca, and then some friends and I went to Merrakech, it's like 3 hours by train. On the last day I came back to Casablanca and toured the city.
   Well first, It doesn't really feel like AFrICA, but it's like NOTHING I've ever Experienced Before! Merrakech really looks like Aladdin(even though Aladdin was in Agra) Most of the buildings are Brand new...we stayed in a 5 star hotel for $50 a night!! It was amazing. We went to the Souks, which are outdoor markets, similar to China town in NY, except for the shops are set up in tents instead of buildings. There were snake charmers, acrobats, flame throwers, and Henna gypsies. Outrageous I tell you!!! I was in heaven with all the jewelry and beads. And the Fresh Orange juice was unreal, there's orange trees all over the city, and they serve oranges and fresh orange juice everywhere.
   Before we went home, we rode camels through a Berber Village. It took a little longer than planned, and my roommate had to get back to Casablanca so she ended up catching the train before me. I rode home on the train squished between like 4 men from Morocco. None of them spoke English either, I tried to use a little of my french but I only know so much. So nobody was speaking to me, not to mention I stuck out like a soar thumb because I wasn't wearing a head scarf. Anyways I fell asleep, and woke up with my mouth wide open and drool all over my face and neck. AHHHHHH!!! so imbarassing, I could have died, they were probably staring at me thinking what a rude American Girl I was.
    In Casablanca we toured the second biggest Mosque in the world. It was one of the most beautiful pieces of Architecture I've ever seen in my life. The colors and the different materials were Amazing, and I'm taking a religion and politics in Islam class so I understood a little bit about why certain things were there and what things were used for.
  ANyways, We are now on our way to Namibia where I plan to go on a Safari. Keep you posted!

Espana!

HOLA! I just got back on the SHip from Spain... A few girls and I flew from Cadiz to Barcelona for a couple of nights stay. The hostel was nice enough, and the flights went smoothly. We probably got about 9 hours of sleep for the 56 hours that we were there, partly due to the INSANE lifestyle of the Spanish people and partly because of this guy that was in our same room in the hostel. After dark, there was a noise that came out of his face that I believed beyond humanly possible , until now of course. MIxture between a dying weasel, gargling sink, and a grizzly bear giving birth....ya, i'd say that's about accurate. BUt after a long weekend in Barcelona that was the biggest of our problems.
Our first meal in Spain was recommended to us by the employee of the hostel. We arrived outside to find that the restaurants' power had been cut off, so if we wanted to eat there we had to eat in the dark. Not to mention there was all different kinds of animal parts hanging in the front window of the restaurant which was called "EL POLLO rICO". We were willing to take a chance, and we're also on a tight budget so we decided to give it a go. We walked in and it was set up like a diner a little bit, but without any tables, there was only a bar counter with stools. The floor was covered in dirty napkins and food, pretty gross, but something told us to stay and eat, I cant explain what. As you sit there you get to watch the chefs make your food. It turned out to be the BEST food we had the entire time we were there, Paella, Tapas, and Sangria for 4 girls and the check was only like 40 euros! After that our food experiences weren't nearly as pleasant/horrifying. Spanish food... often confused with MExican food, is very bland to say the most. VIVA LA COMIDA DE MEXICO! Self explanitory.
Before we went to Barcelona we spent the day in Cadiz where I was able to see my long lost soccer friend Kirsten, it was really awesome to see her. Talk about a place that I could spend some serious time!!! Beaches, siesta from 3-6, fun bars, hot boys, bull fighting, and good shopping...what more could one ask for?
Anyways, the video that I've posted is my friend Taylor and I late at night taking our siesta and trying unsuccessfully to convert our american lifestyle to live like the Spaniards in 2 short days...comical.

MV Explorer

Well, now I've started my voyage from the Bahamas to Spain, then to Morocco, down to Namibia, South Africa, then Mauritius, up to India and Thailand, then to Vietnam, China and Japan, and back to Hawaii, over to Guatemala and through the Panama canal to Florida! I've met some really awesome people so far because we've been living on the ship for like 8 days now, and everyone is just so happy. There's like a really happy fun excited vibe which is awesome, it feels a little bit like summer camp to be honest.
The internet and phone are really expensive so my connection with the rest of the world and everyone at home is limited, but I find myself keeping busy in different ways. I hang out with friends a lot and just chill. I've been drawing and writing in my journal because I cant really just call someone and chat about the day and everything that made me happy or sad. Anyways, it's really consuming and freakin AWESOME!
I'm starving... so I'm going to go eat dinner!!!!