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Travelloged: This Week’s Top Pics and Posts for Travel Addicts

Reannon Muth — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:32:41 +0000

Photo courtesy of Jsmoral

Okay, so doesn’t that photo make you wanna get married just so you can honeymoon at the St. Regis hotel in Bora Bora? I first saw the hotel in that awful Vince Vaughn film “Couples Retreat” and have been obsessed with going there ever since.

* Ryan air is going to offer child-free flights! What do you think? My thoughts on the subject can be summed up in the quote below.

From the article: “When it comes to children we all love our own but would clearly prefer to avoid other people’s little monsters when travelling,” Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said.

* Travel to Create Your Self - This article in Psychology Today answers the question: Why do we travel? Here’s an excerpt:

“Fear is part of what makes travel so enlivening and revelatory. You’re perpetually off-balance and on guard. After a while one yearns for the mindlessness of familiar routines. And when you do return home, old pleasures are much the sweeter for having been suspended.”

* I’ve always wanted to stay in an airplane hostel. Check out this HuffPo article about upcycled airplanes.

* How to Tap into the Right Side of Your Brain - A good read for anyone suffering from writers’ block or for anyone in need of a creativity boost. On a related note, this poster about the 12 1/2 writing rules is cute and would look awesome in my office. Anyone wanna buy it for me?

* Which way is the ballerina turning for you? I only see it turning clockwise, which means I’m more right-brained then left (no surprise there!).

* The Ted Talk “Three Things I learned Wh ile My Plane Crashed” is both funny and thought-provoking.

* Some dude has been collecting airplane barf bags since 1988 and now they’re on display in a museum. Interesting! I could totally see framing some of the more colorful ones.

* Tourist Stereotypes (according to the British). Huh. Canadians are boring? Really!? All the Canadians I know seem to be quite the opposite, actually. Are they confusing ‘boring’ with ‘nice’?

Decorating Idea for Travel Addicts: DIY Passport Stamp Art

Reannon Muth — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:41:51 +0000

Passport Stamps by Mondayne

I love this idea of turning old passport stamps into framed pieces of art. The blog, A Brooklyn Limestone in Progress, posted a ‘how-to’ guide which makes the whole project seem both easy for amateur artists like myself and cheap (supplies totaled just five bucks).

Here are the steps:

1. Scan a few of your favorite passport stamps into your computer

2. Enlarge them

3. Print onto card stock

4. Frame

The blogger also suggests gluing them onto blocks of wood, but I like the idea of simply keeping the enlarged passport stamp as is and framing it. I also want to do the same thing with my collection of plane ticket stubs (or I might just create a collage).

Here’s an example of a similar idea (a framed postcard):

I bought this at Marshal's for 10 bucks.

Personality Types and Blogging: How Personality May Affect Your Writing

Reannon Muth — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:52:18 +0000

Photo by Ed Yourdon

Side-stepping away from travel for a half-a-second, this post is about my second favorite activity: writing. I stumbled upon this girl’s blog a while back and found it fascinating. In it, she outlines the strengths and weaknesses of various personality types as they relate to people’s ability to write. If you don’t know your Myers-Briggs personality type, you’ll have to take the test first (a shortened version is available online for free). You can view a complete list of all 16 ‘writer’ personality types on her website, but I’ve included a few interesting ones below.

INFP Writing Personality

From the blog:

“Work best in a quiet environment where they won’t be interrupted. They like autonomy so they can perfect their writing according to their own high standards without having to follow someone else’s schedule.

Prefer writing about personal topics. You may lose your creative drive if the subject isn’t meaningful to you. If so, try taking an angle that allows you to write about your feelings on the topic. If you’re an INFP technical writer, look for ways to connect with readers by anticipating and meeting their needs.”

Famous INFP writers: Shakespeare, Yeats, Emily Bronte, JRR Tolkein, Amy Tan

ISFP Writing Personality

From the blog:

“ISFP writers are acutely aware of the sensations in their physical world. They are adept at conveying the feelings associated with texture, color, and sound. ISFPs want to connect with their audience on a personal level and can have difficulty writing if unsure of the audience’s expectations. Their focus on others is so strong that they may hesitate to express their own deeply held beliefs. But if they learn to trust their voice, they can communicate their gifts of quiet joy and keen perceptions to their readers.”

Famous ISFP writers: Eminem

ENFP Writing Personality

From the blog:

“ENFP writers are creative souls with an ear for language. They find abundant inspiration in the world around them. But they can lose steam quickly if the topic is dull, which can lead to procrastination and missed deadlines. If you’re an ENFP, you’ll likely find that talking about the topic with others can help you maintain your interest and discover new approaches. Too much isolation can make writing a chore.

Famous ENFP writers: Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Dr. Seuss

Christmas, Vegas-Style

Reannon Muth — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 07:29:16 +0000

Happy Holidays, everybody! I visited a cactus garden outside of a chocolate factory a few days ago and took a few photos. All of the cacti were decorated with Christmas lights! Sort of pretty, no?

No related posts.

Vaca in a Villa, Anyone? Flipkey is Giving ‘Em Away

Reannon Muth — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:52:44 +0000

Punto de Vista in Costa Rica

If I were to win the lottery tomorrow, the first thing I’d buy is a butler. I’ve always wanted one. Something about having breakfast served in bed every morning and never having to take out the trash or paint my toenails just sounds incredibly appealing.

Well, Flipkey is holding a contest now through January and the prize is a week-long stay in a mansion in Bali, Costa Rica or Tuscany, which includes, in addition to chauffeurs, saunas, cinemas and swimming pools, an honest-to-gosh butler. Pretty spiffy, no?

Here’s the Skinny:

Who: Open to all US residents over 18. The winner can chose to have up to 10 friends join him/her
What: The chance to win a 7-night stay in your choice of three luxury vacation homes in Bali, Costa Rica, or Tuscany.
When: Entry is open Nov. 15^th – Jan. 10^th
Where: Enter online at http://www.facebook.com/flipkey

Pics of the Digs:

Villa in Bali

Villa in Costa Rica

Villa in Tuscany

Which one would you like to stay in? I’m thinking the Costa Rican. Breakfast is included with the stay and the villa has a secluded beach and a roof-top movie theater. Then again, the one in Bali has two swimming pools and a private tennis court.

For details on all the villas and to fill out an entry form, visit Flipkey’s Facebook page.

Good luck! And if you win, make sure to tell the butler that I like my coffee with cream and two sugars, so that he can have it ready for me when I get there (yes, that means I expect to be invited). : ) Thanks in advance!

The Mini-Vaca