With Love From Paradise:

In Transit

An Improvised Adventure…

My flight from Edinburgh to London was at around 5am – a time when no human being should be awake without a good reason!  To add insult to injury, we sat on the tarmac for almost an hour due to air traffic delays! Not the best start to the trip. Less than an hour into flying, I discovered the airplane was not equipped with any real entertainment or snacks.  I was seated on the aisle seat next to an elderly woman who slept most of the time we were on the ground – not much for conversation – and on the other side of the aisle sat three lively women about my age. Out of the three, one was actually headed to Nice as well. Gabrielle, a journalist for a local French newspaper, was a delightful source of conversation. She was a fresh-faced, inexperienced, but adventurous traveler. The hour we spent on the ground flew by and I was slightly sorry that the plane did take off in the end. Nonetheless, the unfortunate consequence of the delay was that I ended up missing my flight from London to Nice.

We landed safely, just an hour and a half later than expected, meaning that I missed my connecting flight by 20 minutes – and, you guessed it, no refunds. I had to be in Nice the following day for a meeting, but the next flight wouldn’t get me there until after the meeting (there had been several other flight cancellations). So, my only option was to drive there… Oh joy. From London to Paris, I managed to grab a ticket for the underwater railroad (the “Eurostar” tunnel) that passes under the English Channel. It was a packed but pleasant ride that took about an hour. I didn’t manage to get much done, but I did enjoy the conversation of the lively British bunch on board.

Renting a car was an expense that had to be paid, but luckily I wasn’t alone: Gabrielle, my new friend from the airplane, also had to get down to Nice and was also trying to rent a car to get there. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but we decided to split the cost of the car and drive down to Nice together. With two potential drivers, we could alternate if one of us felt tired. I grabbed the keys to the Polo from the car rental guy, Gabby grabbed some snacks from the confectionery shop next door, and we hit the road. Fueled by friends, friendly locals, protein, and caffeine, Gabby and I drove for 15 hours (including rest-stops) to Nice. Let me tell you – it was a very “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” kind of ride because most of it took place during the night.

The French Riviera during one of our Petrol Pit-Stops

We had some good times, some great times, and some improvised adventures. I’ll sum up the best part of the trip – I like to refer to it as the “fuel maneuver”. With a little over four hours to go before Nice, Gabby and I had spent most of our money on snacks and didn’t really have much left to buy petrol. I offered to pay for gas on a credit card, but Gabby wanted to use the opportunity to flirt with a couple of men at the gas station. I was convinced that her actions wouldn’t lead to any free gas in the tank, so I started to dig through my purse to find my (rather bare) wallet. By the time I actually opened my wallet, Gabby had opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat again – I figured that this meant that she was unsuccessful, until I heard the car start to make a noise. I turned around to see a not unattractive (double negative = hot!) young man filling up the car with petrol. How did she do it? She handed him a piece of paper before telling me to drive away. This girl has talent. The rest of the trip’s highlights included listening to blaring music and singing along to it, rolling down the windows while on the freeway and having our hair blown around, playing road trip games, and even a few prank phone calls here and there. Definitely a day to remember!

So now we’ve come full circle: I arrived here (in Nice) about 30 minutes ago, where I parted ways with Gabby, and checked into an inn at the airport. Gabby is a great road trip partner and I hope to be able to do it again with her, but just for fun this time! The bottom line of this story, I suppose, is that no matter what life can throw at you to mess up your “plans”, don’t make a fuss about it. The more you resist change, the harder it will hit you – because it will hit you. It’s just a matter of when. I’m lucky because I didn’t react to the flight delays and such with anger or frustration, and I had alternative options – but that advice can be applied to other situations, not just concerning travels.

I’ll leave you, friends, as I usually do, with something that a new (and now better) friend of mine said to me when we went our separate ways in Nice: “never forget to bring snacks and just enjoy the ride.”

With love from paradise,

Amita

The next stop on Amita’s Adventure: Nice, France (seriously this time…)!

With Love, From Paradise:

Edinburgh, Scotland

Paradise, my friends, is a myth.  Its not a Caribbean beach, or a trek in Peru, or a journey across the Sahara desert, or scuba diving off the coast of Australia.  Its a state of mind.  A playground of mundane amusements can become a world to discover in proper sunlight

It’s a Sun-in-Your-Face, Wind-in-Your-Hair Life

I arrived three days ago, after spending a few days in sunny London visiting friends, and it was pouring down rain – oh great, I thought, more of that weather drifted over the border along with my plane. But all hope wasn’t lost! Scottish people are really nice – genuinely nice. Ok, maybe I’m generalizing a bit, but my first encounter with anyone Scottish came at the airport – and I think that these people are the indicators of a country’s attitude to foreigners. In my opinion, if you have a good airport experience, then you’re bound to have a good time in the country itself. I appreciated, upon my arrival, the instant acceptance of any cultural differences between me and the local people. Truth be told, I had some trouble understanding the taxi driver’s accent – but he was kind about it.

Now I’ll skip all the boring stuff of me getting to the hotel, getting cleaned up and getting my camera out for sightseeing, because all that was interrupted by a call from an old friend of mine who I haven’t seen in years. Mike, a fellow comedy lover and all-round solid guy, called me because he heard I was in town and offered to give me a private tour of the city. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance!

Oh. My. God.

We went everywhere from the Edinburgh castle, to the Royal Mile, to tiny side streets that led to open fields of emptiness and wholeness all the same. There was even a change in the weather to cloudless skies and bright sunshine, helping the beauty of the city to really strike you in the face (I mean that in the nicest way possible – like a slap in the face from someone you love to tell you to pay attention!) I’m not a terribly active, sporty person – while I do appreciate nature’s beauty – but you know you’re in some form of paradise when you hike to the top of a mountain in the middle of the city just because it’s there. More than that, I felt that it was almost a spiritual experience. I felt free, and close to nature that it brought me a sense of peace. Maybe this was a taste of that paradise-state-of-mind that I spoke of previously. The words that ran through my mind just as I was leaving the mountain was something my grandfather used to say to me, but really hit home in this moment: “never hesitate to take a first chance at something life-changing.” It was so clear to me. Right there. Right now. Stop worrying. What’s the point? You spend so much time and effort into worrying about the outcome of a decision instead of the possible opportunities that could come of saying yes. I vowed that I’d milk this adventure for all I could get… “why not?” would be my new mantra.

With this newfound mental clarity, we revisited the Royal Mile – definitely my favorite place in Edinburgh because it’s always bustling with activity in preparation for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, evident from the crazy number of advertisements stuck to a pillar in the middle of the street. This festival is a month-long theatre festival where actors come out onto the Royal Mile and promote their performance while in character. It was an incredible experience, and you haven’t lived until you’ve had someone in rags come up to you while crawling on the ground and hand you a flyer – and before you say anything, it is nothing like any encounter with beggars on the street. Since the festival doesn’t start until August, most of the shows at the moment are doing a test-run, so to speak. Best part… cheaper tickets! Mike and I ducked into two shows while we were there: an improv show, which was hilarious, and a drama, which honestly wasn’t anything to write home about – so I won’t. The only thing I will say about it is that, although it wasn’t my cup of tea, the hot blond male lead definitely caught my attention!

At night, the real party started. I realized that I had gone the whole day without seeing a man in a kilt – my personal goal while in Scotland! At 9.30pm, this goal was completed. Let’s rewind… I got back to my bed’n’breakfast at around 9pm, and I was starved! I had eaten bits and pieces here and there, but I hadn’t actually sat down to eat a meal all day. Before going on his way, Mike suggested I try some real Scottish pub food, and after a day like today, I had to give it a try.

The Greyfriars Bobby Bar was amazing. Named after a famous dog who guarded his owner’s grave for years until he passed on, this bar is host to great food, people and music. This place has typical Scottish cuisine in the restaurant section, as well as good ol’ draft beer in solid glass pints – one step into this joint and the friendly atmosphere overwhelms you into calmness and excitement. The meat dishes looked exquisite, but I went straight for the bar, which didn’t have a long line of people waiting for tables, and told the bartender to give me what he thought was the typical Scottish dinner… big mistake. He brought out two pints of beer, a massive plate of french fries, a leg of lamb, and I stopped him before he got to the haggis (I’ve already had that pleasure before!) I looked up at him and gave him one of those “are you kidding me?” looks, when a flock of men, and I mean manly men, strode over to me and started to talk to me. Now, I’m not one to be easily intimidated, but these guys looked like rugby players because they were all about 6’ in any direction you measured them – but these were the men I was waiting for: they were wearing kilts! I inadvertently broke the ice by mentioning that they were the first men I met in Scotland with kilts, which made them laugh so loud I swear the floor shook a little. Quite surprisingly, they kindly asked if they could join me. Usually I’d be weary to accept, but it was perfect timing to test out my new mantra! They sat down with me, we had a couple of beers, they finished off the rest of my food, it was a good night. The best part, however, was once these 6’ Scotsmen got some alcohol in their system and started to teach me some Scottish slang. Let’s see how much of it I remember: “Aye, I’m visiting a but and ben, but I dunnae ken. Yer haver s’gotta mean yer bluttered! Yer auxters are boughin’ an yer hair is a burach, an ye looks like an eedjit, but do what suits ye. Show me to the shunky and give me a tattie, else yer erse is oot the windae.” You can do the translating on all that – I’m not too sure what that all means, but those are the phrases that stuck in my head after that night. Oh what a night.

So with only one full day to really explore this beautiful city, I have yet to explore it’s cracks and crevices and find out what makes its people so happy. A second and third visit are definitely in store for the future! I don’t think I have the words or the ability to describe Edinburgh’s beauty. I can’t do it justice. Breathtaking during the day and at night, the city is filled with so much greenery and life that my eyes were constantly entertained.

I’ll leave you, my friends, with three words that seem to capture the city’s vibrance: “just say yes.” You never really know where life is going to take you, and you’ll never get anywhere if you block off new roads with skepticism or refusal. Take my word for it, you can always go back, but you may not always be able to go forward that same way again. Take the chance, any may yer lums reek lang and weil!

With love from paradise,

Amita

The next stop on Amita’s Adventure: Nice, France!

With Love, From Paradise:

Wolverhampton, England

Paradise, my friends, is a myth.  Its not a Caribbean beach, or a trek in Peru, or a journey across the Sahara desert, or scuba diving off the coast of Australia.  Its a state of mind.  A playground of mundane amusements can become a world to discover in proper sunlight

Black Coffee and Beef Jerky: The Breakfast of Champions

I woke up this morning to a gray and dreary day in a small city called Wolverhampton in the middle of England.  I won’t pretend that this is in any way, shape, or form a beautiful city.  To be perfectly honest, it’s a dump.  A pit stop on the way to a better place.  I arrived on the train earlier yesterday morning, and it seemed like any other English town – although I think this is mostly to do with the thick layer of fog that covered the city: the wind was cold, the streetlights weren’t functional, there was litter along the sidewalk, no one made eye contact with you… the usual.  However, only after I checked into my hotel for the night did the afternoon winds blow away the fog to reveal a city in desperate need of a new coat of paint – really more like 4 new coats of paint, but I’m trying to be optimistic.

A knock on my door prompted me to get out of bed.  I didn’t ask for a wakeup call, but I was told that someone would be meeting me to take me to the airport to catch my plane in the evening – but I had hours to go for that.  I opened the door.

Standing in front of me, dripping wet from the knees down, was a not unhandsome man of average height wearing dark jeans, a black shirt, a gray sweater, and a black cloth coat: “Well ‘ello there young miss, m’name’s Mitch.  I’ve come to take you to the airport.”

When he spoke, I was instantly calm.  I explained to him that my flight wasn’t for another half a day and that he wouldn’t need to take me until then, yet he insisted that he show me around the town before I leave.  Truthfully, I wasn’t at all up for spending more time than I needed here, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer.  Some start to my “adventure”, I thought to myself.

By the time we got into the main town, past the burned-down pubs and abandoned buildings, there was little of interest to see… Mitch pointed out some clothes shops, makeup shops, restaurants, pubs and the odd museum here and there.  Quaint atmosphere, but still not very pretty.  We traveled around for about a good 4 hours (surprising, I know, but the time passed quickly) until we retired to a coffee shop near where Mitch had parked his car.  By this time, we’d talked about simple details of each other – where do we work, where are we from, etc – and got into some more intricate arguments over which movie is better than the other, but we hadn’t really gotten to know each other.  There was one question I was dying to ask him, and when he got back to our table with the coffee and snacks, I blurted out: “Why here?”

I think I stunned him a bit because he took a moment to answer, but I didn’t need to explain myself – he knew what I meant.  Throughout the day he could see me make faces about the cleanliness and hygiene of the people and places we visited, and could obviously sense my urge to leave, but he never commented on it.  He responded to me in a cool and collected manner, simply stating that, “This is paradise.  Why would I ever leave?”

No doubt that with me and my strong opinions, I was quick to condemn what he said.  Nonetheless, this sparked a heated discussion of what paradise really is.  Mitch has been around.  He’s traveled a fair bit in his life, and has always come home to the same house, on the same street, in the same town, in the same country in which he was raised.  So I had respect for him; he knew what he was talking about.  Somehow, in the matter of 2 hours before we left for the airport, he managed to convince me that Wolverhampton was paradise.  Even now, as I retell these events to you, my friends, I can’t believe it.  There is hope in this town: a hope for the people to become better citizens, a hope for old, decrepit buildings to be restored to a new glory, a hope that travelers make lasting friendship with the locals and expand each’s horizons.  A world of opportunity in this small town.

And so, I finally get my point: even in this small, dreary town in the middle of nowhere, there is hope.  And that is his paradise! Hope.  The endless possibilities of finding a new adventure or meeting someone who can pave a new road in the journey we call life (cheesy, but true).  If Mitch, a self-professed hypochondriac and pessimist with little inspiration to change the world (let alone move to the neighboring town of Shrewsbury – which I’m told is beautiful in comparison), can say that this place is paradise, then what’s stopping the rest of us from appreciating what we have as if it were paradise.  Who knows, to those less fortunate, it just might be.

So I hope you’ll enjoy this path to paradise as much as I will – I’ll admit that that place wasn’t as un-incredible as I made it out to be.  Join me on this journey and you too might learn what it’s like in someone else’s paradise.

I’ll leave you with some wise words that really stuck in my mind after Mitch said it:

“This place looks like crap in the rain, but like shit in the sun.  It’s a right miss, but it’s my mess, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

With love from paradise,

Amita

The next stop on Amita’s Adventure: Edinburgh, Scotland!

Artist: Justin Bieber

Rating: B

My Thoughts:

Listen, haters: most of the time I’ll drink the Haterade with you (see: “Ke$ha”), but it’s hard for me to hate on Justin Bieber. First, he can actually sing, though his imminent voice change may affect this. Secondly, his songs, while not terribly original, are pleasant to listen to. It’s refreshing to hear someone his age not falling into the “I hate my parents so much and no one has ever experienced what I’m feeling right now” schlock. Thirdly, he seems like a nice kid, and I like to see nice kids succeed. For his sake, I just hope he ages like fine wine, and not like last week’s milk.

I will be honest – I could spend the better part of a day at Target, Old Navy and TJ Maxx and I am not ashamed. People who only buy things for “the name” make me sad – you could be doing so much more with your money…like searching for and buying awesome and affordable items from that new fashion blog you’ve started reading. News flash “Buckhead Betty”: I bought the same top at “La Targe” (my oh so posh name for Target) and saved the 200 dollars you wasted – sorry I’m not sorry!

Men & Women’s Fashion Trends
Spring 2011

Hello “Wrappers,” you lovely 20-somethings who will (fingers crossed) follow the bi-monthly fashion wraps, tied up by yours truly, Boe…(see what I did there?). With the dawn of the Spring Season arriving, here are some things you need to keep on your radar…you’re welcome in advance.

For the Ladies…

The Wide Leg Trouser

These 70’s inspired gems have never gone out of style – but are back with great vengeance for Spring 2011. Pair with a tighter top and you’re off!

Military Accents

Pause for reaction. Whether it is a cargo pocket, harnesses, or wide stripes – military accents are in this season! This twist in attire is a change from the more traditional military trends of the past.

Full Skirt

A shout out to the classic, feminine styles of the 1950’s – this trend is something that embodies all that is woman! Full, knee or just below the knee skirts are a must have this season!

Halter Necks

Oh dear – I have always been a fan of this cut and from the looks of things they will be all the rage this season. Not only do they provide an interesting shape to a top – they are also an extremely flattering cut that accentuates a woman’s collarbone and neckline.

Neutral Tones

Grays, khakis, blacks and creams – always staples and very in this season. Pair with a bright necklace, clutch or shoe and you’ve got yourself a killer ensemble!

Boxy Tops with Dolman Sleeves

A kick back to the classic “surfer hoodie” this trend will prove to be a comfy addition to any wardrobe this season. Pair with a skinny jean or legging and you will be sure to make a statement this season.

For the Gents…

Suit Yourself

The “Modern” Cut (what to look for):
1. Broad shoulders
2. A slim waist
3. Slim trouser

Wear it. Love it. The ladies will flock to you.

The Single Breasted Suit (what to look for):
1. Slim or medium sized notched lapels
2. Upper button should be positioned around the naval
3. Small breast pocket

The Single Breasted Suit – turning boys into men since 1950.

Well Helloooo Mr. Brawny Man!

Hell yes – flannel is in for men this season and I am personally pretty pumped about it! Flannel button down, pair of jeans, and some boots??? Rawr – yes please!

Tied Up

Plaid is in. Go out and buy one immediately. Focus on simple patterns – shades of reds, greens, blues and yellows. Preppy. Classy. Never out of style.

Woven Belts

In this season, a woven belt is a delightful way to “frost” your belt loops. Contrast the color of the belt with your pants (i.e: light color belt paired with a dark jean).

Welp – there you have it folks! Now go adorn yourself with this season’s favorites – you’re going to look fabulous! See you out there!

Boe

“You Can’t Always Get Whatcha Want”

Even though the referenced Rolling Stones song was written by Mick Jager and Keith Richards back in 1969 on “Let It Bleed,” (way before I was born) in 2010, I find it to be comforting. Indeed, for today, comfort is definitely the name of the game.  As I write, I’m sitting on my couch watching a Rolling Stones concert from what looks like the early 80’s.  Just relaxing.

I’m relaxing because I’m still sore from the emergency hike the other day.  The pain is just a remnant of an incredible afternoon of getting the Jeep stuck, hiking down a canyon, crossing a river, and a four and a half hour tow that included winching the tow truck out of a rut in the road. This adventure has definitely present its spectrum of emotions and testing my patience. From fear, joy, physical pain and downed spirits, I’ve trucked along.

So now, I’m taking it easy this weekend because I’ve realized that taking care of myself is something I neglected through most of my 20’s. (&  p.s. this realization of me not taking care of myself didn’t come to me after the aforementioned ordeal…that’s a story is for another time.)

The point is, I have seen firsthand the benefits of treating your body like a temple, even if you live in a tent! And my first step in mitigating this quarterlife crisis and learning to treat my body like a temple will be by enjoying a little escapism peppered with a few moments of productivity today. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll go back into the wild to appreciate even the smallest of tents.

A Very Dark Place:

It’s Going to be Okay…

Today I find myself in a very dark place.  I don’t know why I still go through days like this, but I just want to escape from life for a short while.  Throughout my life I have found little ways of “escaping reality” when things get too difficult or scary for me, and it’s how I survived the majority of my childhood while my parents were still together.

It’s funny…my cat Rey knows something’s wrong.  It seems Rey is connected to me in some unexplainable way, but when I just start feeling like giving up, he comes and sits on my lap and stares at me until I pet him.  I believe it’s his way of saying, “It’s going to be okay, it’s going to be okay.”

I needed to hear that today.  Apparently my closest friends have instincts similar to those of my cat, because if I’m listening, I get similar messages of comfort from them.  Whether it’s one of my guardian angels making sure the weather is with me as I travel from my former home to my mountainside campsite, or a random call from one of the rare friends I’ve made on one of my journeys, if I look for the signs I can always find solace when I need it most…

This is my story of a true Quarterlife Crisis. After an abrupt detour of my (what I thought was) successful entrepreneurial post-graduate life, I  made a decision to go live in a tent for awhile…travel along the Pacific Coast until I essentially ran out of money. So follow along with me as I lose my mind and find myself from Charleston, SC to the sticks of Colorado and beyond.

Part One: “Son, I really don’t think you’re
an entrepreneur at heart.”

The words seemed to echo in my head several times before I reacted to the statement.  I had just spent the last 30 minutes presenting my business model to a former Wall Street executive.  I was enjoying a meal that my friend had just prepared for me at one of the top 25 restaurants in the state of Colorado.

Black Cat is one of those places that you could walk into and meet anyone, and this afternoon my chance encounter was with a former Wall Street banker that had recently moved to Boulder to become a photographer.

That moment changed my life.  The rest of this story is what happened after that fateful night.  I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did…

Artist: Rolling Stones

Rating: A+

My Thoughts:

The Rolling Stones created this majestic love letter to their influences – and to themselves – at  a time that, in hindsight, was either the depths of their depravity (with heroin coming in everyday like the mail) or the heights of their genius. Hell, maybe it was both. “Rocks Off” kicks off the album with a single guitar riff and Mick howling “Awwww yeeeaaaa!” like a horny tomcat who will not be denied. It’s pretty much all groove after that, whether it’s the gospel of “Shine a Light” or the R & B of “Tumbling Dice.” If you care about music – and if you don’t, why the hell are you reading this? – you owe it to yourself to purchase this album and listen to it straight through at least once.

Know someone in Generation Y who is making a difference or a shining example of what it means to be part of the world’s largest global generation?

Then share it with us!

E-mail Quarterlife Magazine (contest@quarterlifemag.com) and tell us why your friend is an ideal Generation-Y individual and win them an iPhone – and if your nomination wins, you get an iPhone, too!

You can highlight the individual based on philanthropy, educational achievement, career notoriety, talent proclivity – just something that makes this individual standout amongst the wash of Generation-Y amazingness.

Your nominee has to be born between the years of 1980 and 1995. (I know, some of you feel really old right about now)…However to nominate, you just have to be alive!

All the Technical Stuff:

When should I nominate?
E-mail “Generation Nomination” CONTEST from 12:00:00 a.m. EST December 1, 2009 to 11:59:59 p.m. EST December 31, 2009.

What is EST ( Eastern Standard Time)?
Quarterlife Magazine is located in Atlanta, Georgia – we are going off of LOCAL “eastern” time. We are NOT the International Time Keepers, so ask Google for all time difference questions.

What exactly do we submit?
Submission are to be written nominations, (250-1000 words) highlighting the great things your Gen-Y friend is doing in life. You can add pictures or link a video if you care; just don’t write us a novel.

Can I nominate myself?
…seriously? No, you cannot – and split personalities do not count either.

When will you announce the winner?
The iPhone winners will be announced January 10, 2010 at 9 a.m. EST.

The Prize:

Am I winning an iPhone with Service?
No. You are entering to win an Apple Gift Card equivalent to the price of a new iPhone 3GS & 3G IF you were to enter into a 2-year-contract with AT&T.

• The person you nominate will win an iPhone 3GS gift card!
• You will win an iPhone 3G gift card!

We are not providing you with an iPhone or service ONLY a gift-card.

All services and eligibility for service is between you and your carrier you chose.

There’s no iPhone service where I live.
Wow – consider moving.

I don’t want to buy an iPhone.
You can do what you want to do with the gift card once we give it you. It’s your money – but seriously, why would you NOT want an iPhone?

Do I need to be a fan/follower?
Being a Facebook fan and Twitter follower isn’t necessary – but we’ll enjoy the company.

How about cash bribes?
You can try and bribe me – but I’ll just think less of you.

What if I’m affiliated with Quarterlife Magazine?
No, mother, I won’t give you the gift card, sorry…same goes for all Quarterlife Magazine contributors and henchmen (i.e. family members, interviewees, advertisers, guest posters and sanitation engineers).

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