Persnickety Tutu

The cyclone that hit Myanmar, formerly Burma, has taken over 100,000 lives and they are saying well over one MILLION more have been affected. What I find reprehensible is that the people of Myanmar did not know about the cyclone heading towards them from their own government. The few that knew it was coming only heard reports far too close to the storm actually hitting and those reports were from foreign outlets only. The government of Myanmar let its people down and now the rest of the world is being called upon to help assist those who has been devastated by this natural disaster. To add insult to injury the government is not letting many of the relief workers in so relief efforts are going slowly. What a complete and utter travesty.

News sources are saying the damage is far greater than even that of the Tsunami that greatly affected Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India back in 2004. Something must be done. Much of the area is still under water. Can you imagine what it must be like to live through that? Unfathomable...

I will be donating to relief efforts and most likely give extra money to Doctors Without Borders, my staple source and where I go when I want to contribute to the greater good. They fight the good fight. And yes, they are there making a difference right now!

If you'd like to contribute to the relief efforts Network For Good has a really extensive list of reputable charities who are helping to make a difference.

If you can't give financially, well then perhaps give of yourself on some other level to help those in need right now. There are many ways to give, after all. Be creative.

And on a personal note may I just add that those involved in the relief efforts are the real heroes in this. They are risking their lives to help those in desperate need and are doing so without thought of personal gain or safety. They make the world a better place. To me this is what heroism actually means. We should all be more mindful about throwing the word HERO around. It should only be reserved for those who truly warrant the title.

It's our world, folks. We all have the choice to make a difference.

Continue reading "Myanmar/Burma needs our attention!" »

I know I write a lot about budget travel and how I am the Queen of the deal. ~Indeed I am.~

Well, I am also a lover of luxury and the occasional splurge and fully believe in living life with a sense of balance. I've been known to adore a swank hotel room and am happy to sink my happy little self into a deep delicious tub whilst sipping wine out of a crystal glass.

But of course.

So with that thought, I give you a few of my favorite splurge places in Antigua, Guatemala. I plan on staying in a couple of these oh so swank places myself and will happily let you know how those baths work out. Me, a tub and a sexy little bottle of red? Perfect...

Do I spend money on myself from time to time? Mai oui! Yes, I most certainly do! I don't believe in waiting around for anyone else to bring me the finer things or hand me a nice little dish of romance.

I romance myself whenever I can, thank you.

A smart man will know this and simply want to add to my joy (and how I do love a good man) and if he's really smart he'll surprise me with a little luxury from time to time. ~I do believe I'm worth it.~

And to all of my utterly Divine Goddess readers I say this:

My dear sweet and wonderfully spicy little chili peppers, you're worth it too!

I give you my luxury hotel choices for Antigua below

Continue reading "A little luxury, you say?" »

I've been to Santa Cruz la Laguna on Lake Atitlan twice now during my travels to Guatemala and there really is something so sweet and quiet about the place. You can only reach it by boat and there are only a few small hotels there. I have friends there now so I believe I'll always have a place to stay. Sometimes the friends you meet along the way just stick with you, you know?

There's this special little place I've grown fond of called Hotel Isla Verde to the left of the docks about a quarter mile down the coast. You feel as if you're walking up into the heavens and with each plateau you find these delicious little nooks and spaces like hanging canoes to swing in and a wonderful open stage that is utterly perfect for an outdoor yoga class. Yes, this is a place I'd like to hold retreats! The eco-conscious and totally simple cabin style rooms sort of hang over the hillside and as they are fairly open spaces even the bathrooms open you to the great outdoors. It's enticing, really. The simplicity and beauty of it all is rather intoxicating.

Continue reading "A special place in Santa Cruz la Laguna" »

My thoughts lie with Nicole Paultre-Bell today as the startling verdict in the Sean Bell case settles in. I am still puzzled and often outraged by fuzzy justice and I know that there is a serious inequality that still exists. Alas, I can only hope that with a new voice running this country of mine there will perhaps be some rays of light that appear over time. I am with Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, in his statement that there are no winners in this case.

May those involved search their souls and find a way to positively contribute to a more united community. And for those who now get to go back to their families and live out the rest of their lives as free men I can only hope that every single day they will feel somewhere deep in their bones how utterly and profoundly tragic it is that Sean Bell cannot be one of them.

Alas, just as I was about to hunker down and get into some nitty gritty about Guatemala, I awoke with, you guessed it, a bloody cold! Ah well, I know what to do when these things happen and I'm now old hat at cold comfort. Oh yes.

I just drove myself to the drug store, got two boxes of tissue with aloe lotion (a red nose just so doesn't suit me) and one MASSIVE BOTTLE of B&B Liqueur. What's B&B you ask? It's this little Tutu's friend, lover, bliss and medicine when she's under the weather.

And I don't care that I spent $32 to get it. I'm worth it!

Look, I don't fool around when it comes to my libations. And there simply must be perks in sickness.

Throw in hot baths and tea, some Emergen C, fabulous British telly series on DVD, trashy mindless magazines (OK, to be honest I'm reading the Economist, but who's checking), two cats and a new quilt from Guatemala (my last splurge) and I'm set. This too shall pass and I will make the most of it whilst it's here. I believe in savoring life, and damn it, the occasional sickness is part of it!

Stay tuned as there are more Guatemalan adventures yet to be told...

Here are some useful tips for those considering a trip down to Guatemala. This after three trips there in eight months and I'm going back for an extended period of time this summer!

With the euro out of control and the dollar so miserably weak, I say take advantage of exploring other parts of this world of ours where you can actually still get really great values and you leave feeling that you haven't been gauged or had to sacrifice to travel. Make your money bring you pleasure, not pain!

I hope some of you find these helpful:

- Airlines with good ticket prices to Guatemala City: Delta, Taca, Spirit, United. I've spent between $250 and $373 for non-stop roundtrip flights from L.A. If you happen to live in Florida Spirit has ridiculously cheap specials all the time from Fort Lauderdale to Guatemala City for as little as $19 plus taxes each way. I met a really cool gay couple from Florida on this last trip who go back and forth for this reason! And really, with those prices, how can you NOT go?

- When you get to Guatemala city airport walk outside and look for men holding signs that say Antigua shuttle (or the name of the place that you're going to). You should pay no more than $10 for a shuttle to Antigua or $20 for a private taxi.

- You can pay for your shuttle with American dollars. I always bring about 100 Quetzales (equals about $13 or so) just in case.

Continue reading "Teachick's Guatemala Trip Tips" »

A friend from Slow Travel proposed today that we write our travel memoirs using only six words to do so. What a great challenge! Without even putting too much thought into it these words came to me and I realize how much they resonate inside me.

I have been incredibly blessed on my journey's and have always been welcomed with open arms. My friend Deet said something that really made me think the other day when I was parting ways with her in Antigua, Guatemala. Just as we were saying goodbye she told me that no matter where I go, I always make friends. And I realized that she's right. I do.

And so, I bring you my travel memoir in six words:

~Wherever she goes, doors open wide~

Thank you, Deborah, for giving me the idea which then became my mirror and a means to really look at how far I've come and how so many have opened their doors, homes and hearts to me. I must be doing something right...