Happy Fluffy Kittens!

Aiight.

Well, this is going to be a much more positive post from my last bbygrl rant (I promise!). I don't know. I figured I'd make a list of the places I would most like to visit in the world before I bite the dust (partly for your literary pleasure, partly so I can keep track of them all). I'm so untraveled, it's almost embarrassing. I think that legitimately the farthest I've ever been from home was when I went to New Mexico in my mother's womb. SAD.

(in no particular order...)

Istanbul, Turkey

"The city of 100 names."

ALSO

Istanbul is the only city in the world that is geographically located in Europe and Asia. Hit two birds with one stone. WERD.

Copehagen, Denmark

"The city of spires" (as in churches... Pegasus would be so very proud).  Also one of the greenest cities in the world! YAY <3

Laramie, Wyoming

(Yes. I am serious.) I feel like of all of US states, I know the least about Wyoming. I don't know. Like, if you wanna get away from it all/are hiding from the law/hate people in general, this is definitely the place to go. There are only a handful of "big-box" companies here---the rest are mainly family owned businesses. It is definitely one of the more populous areas of Wyoming, with a population of a little over 30,000 according to the 2010 census.  Side note: should I decide to get married, I am most def honeymooning somewhere in Wyoming. <3

Dubai, India

AKA one of the fastest growing cities on the planet.  Home to the world's first underwater hotel (trippyyyy), an artificial collection of islands shaped like a palm tree that can be seen FROM THE MOON, Dubailand (the world's largest amusement park--TWICE the size of Disney World), the world's largest mall, the world's largest indoor skiing facility, the world's largest metro system, the world's largest airport, and more construction workers than there are actual citizens. I legit need to see this to believe it. Sooo crazy! (http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm)

Tel Aviv, Israel

"The City that Never Sleeps." (Yeah, it's the same for New York City too. You're not crazy, cutie pie <3) Also known as "The Mediterranean's new capital of cool" and the "Gay capital of the Middle East." Also home to Israel's first sex festival! WOOOO WOOOO. And the fact that I found this picture on a website entitled "Jewlicious.com" pleases me immensely.

Seoul, South Korea

Houses over half of the total population of South Korea (over 10,000,000 peeps), yet only makes up about 0.6% of the country's land. RIDICULOUS. Also contains over 100 museums, including the Kimchi Field Museum which documents Korean culinary history (om nom nom!)

I'll write more of these types of posts later on. So many places I wanna visit! :]

Free Things Ain't so Free

Aiiiiight.

So, if you decided to read my little "About Me" section, you'll know that I'm starting this blog to document my life leading up to (and hopefully during) my proposed visit to Colombia to volunteer. Yeah. You're probs not in the mood for a sob story, and I'm not in the mood to tell one. But pretty much, college is nomming up the contents of my wallet all too quickly (even with a scholarship... sigh...). What else is new? I get it that college is a necessary investment, and that it will all (hopefully) pay off in the end. But does this really mean that I should be forced to live like a church mouse, tethered to freaking middle-of-nowhere Massachusetts until I'm done paying off my mountain of debt to my local Fidelity Bank? I'd like to think otherwise.

Which is why it frustrates me to no end that my parents cringe at the mere mention of me applying for a passport. It's a valid form of identification. And yes, I would conceivably be able to leave the country at some point---but they have not been terribly supportive of the idea. Evidently filling out an application equates to a promise of an all expenses paid trip to Tahitian beach resort. This is not the case.

I've never been one to be interested in "trendy" travel destinations like tropical islands. I find it truly despicable that tourists feel the need to reside in luxurious five-star hotels while the local inhabitants struggle to make ends meet. Disagree with me if you wish. I am well aware that a number of countries dedicate the bulk of their GDP. Sri Lanka (on which I completed a series of six essays for a class) attributes over half of its GDP to goods and services which benefit international consumers (ref: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5249.htm). This includes, in large part, tourism. I get that. But what is the freaking point of traveling to a country if you're not going to mix with the local population?

AKA stay at a place these...

http://databaseonline.co.uk/mtlaviniahotel/

http://www.paradise-beach-hotel-negombo-sri-lanka.lakpura.lk/

http://www.drakeandcavendish.com/luxuryhotels/indian_subcontinent/sri_lanka/colombo/Casa_Colombo.html

...when much of the local population is living like this:

http://bandaragama.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/slum_street_after_rain_-_colombo.jpg






http://www.sangam.org/2008/09/images/852Sri_Lanka_Tamil_Fears.sff.embedded.prod_affiliate.56.jpg


Yeah. That's all in the same city (Colombo--the capital).

I invite you to disagree with me here, but if I'm going to pay good money to fly all the way across the world, I want to get acquainted with the local culture--and not live in Malibu Barbie's dream house, equipped with a pink pool (I did not make this up. Click the Drake and Cavendish link and read the description if you don't believe me). If I wanted to do that, I'd go to freaking Beverly Hills or whatever jajaja.

No. If I am to travel, I don't want to be treated like the queen of England. In fact, at this stage in my life, leisure travel has not really crossed my mind. I would prefer to work as a volunteer, or to study abroad later in my college career.

I think I've blown off enough steam for now JAJAJA! Sorry---this post was much more hostile than I initially intended.

Love,

- Ellyn :]

Ellyn in 250 Words or Less

Oh herroooo there

Wow. If anyone is actually reading this right now, this is pretty freaking chill. I don't know. I feel like the first post is meant to be a little socially awkward. I mean, I don't know you, and you don't know me. It's like a blind date, in a sense. Except, lucky for you, you can skidattle (totally just made up the spelling there---is there even a correct spelling for that?) whenever the mood strikes. You don't have to pretend to use the "Little Boy's Room" to "freshen up," while I wait aimlessly at the dinner table glancing nervously around for your return, sipping my Pinot Grigio, while you so cleverly make your escape through the kitchen, out the back door, and into your car that you "coincidentally" left running. You'll still owe me for your half of the bill, BITCH, and I'm not going to let it go. However, I'd like to think that you would give me the opportunity to be a little more than an involuntary click of your computer mouse; a horrifically off-base Google search; a greenhorn blogger in a sea of bigger fish. No. You're much too classy to write someone off that quickly. Don't even try to deny it. Aiiiight, well, that's that. Hopefully this awkward turtle of a post has set the foundation for our future relationship, mystery babe. And, if not, those pants DO make your ass look huge.

For those who were keeping track, this post is (well, will be) 263 words. Get over it, hootchie mama.

Love,
- Ellyn :]