Category Archives: International

Blog, International, Valley Moments

Top 5 Travel Destinations to Explore in 2023

Are you looking for some new and exciting travel destinations? Look no further! Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach vacation, an adventurous mountain hike, or a cultural city experience, there is a perfect destination for you. From the sunny beaches of California to the towering peaks of the Alps, and the vibrant streets of Tokyo to the ancient ruins of Rome, there are countless incredible places to explore. With so many amazing places to visit, it can be hard to narrow down your choices. But no matter where you decide to go, you’ll be sure to have an unforgettable experience.

  1. Rome, Italy – Stunning architecture, ancient ruins, and delicious Italian food are just some of the reasons why Rome is a must-visit destination. 
  2. Prague, Czech Republic – This city is full of culture, history and art making it a great place to explore.
  3. Barcelona, Spain – Not only does Barcelona have some of the best beaches in Europe, but it also has incredible architecture, art, and delicious food.
  4. Paris, France – From the iconic Eiffel Tower to the wonderful cuisine, Paris is a great destination for couples and solo travelers alike. 
  5. Amsterdam, Netherlands – Amsterdam is full of colorful canals, world-class museums, and great nightlife.

If you are looking for the perfect travel destination, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Everyone has different preferences and it can be difficult to decide which destination is right for you. However, there are a few things to consider that may help you narrow down your choices. Consider the climate, activities and attractions that interest you, the cost of travel and lodging, as well as any unique cultural experiences you may wish to experience. By taking all of these factors into account, you should be able to make a well-informed decision about where to go on your next vacation.

Activities, Blog, Curacao, Lifestyle, Travel

Activities: Day Passes at an All-Inclusive

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WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO – Since this trip to Curacao was extra special as I was celebrating my 30th birthday and as a solo traveler I also had to budget my time and money. I wanted the ‘unlimited’ drinks experience you can get at an all-inclusive. So Sunday afternoon, I went to the Acoya Hotel where I purchased a $65 dollar night-pass where you can have unlimited food and drinks. I had several drinks, a late lunch at the bar and a dinner at the Lakeside Grill restaurant. I really enjoyed my time at Acoya and definitely would’ve booked my stay there if I had a little bit more money. 

Saturday was my actual birthday and Avila Beach Hotel kindly gave me a beach day pass for that day. I explored the property and spent about 4 hours there before making my way to my dinner reservation.

Acoya Curacao Resort

Greeted by breezy island palms, ACOYA CURACAO Resort, Villas and Spa is an upscale resort nestled in the heart of Curaçao. The apartment styled suites and spacious villas are tranquil, family-friendly retreats with a wide array of amenities and services. Centrally located to Curacao’s most beautiful beaches, famous dive spots and exciting tourist attractions.

 

 

Avila Beach Hotel

The Avila Beach Hotel is a centrally located luxury beachfront resort in Willemstad on Curacao with an authentic soul, two private Beaches and Cultural & Culinary events. It is the oldest operational hotel in Curacao and has received many awards from notorious international travel platforms such as TripAdvisor, Fodor’s Travel and New York Times.

Blog, Curacao, Lifestyle, Realize, Travel

Realize: Colegio Nechi Pieterz

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WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO – After my snorkeling tour since it was a one-on-one session I had gotten to know the tour guide who told me a bit about his charity work he was doing for a local school after learning that I work in grocery and at a community grocery store in social media. I do not think it’s a coincidence that I met him and my boss loved his story. After raising the initial money for the school to restore it and rebuild the kitchen he is doing a heritage/cultural challenge by kayaking from Amsterdam to Curacao since that is how his family came over to the island. This school is for children from broken, abusive, and toxic families and is working on turning it also into an oasis for them to escape. He wants me to help with the social media promotion part on his challenge so it could lead to a paid gig. But this story/experience certainly fits under the ‘realize’ category of my blog! Below are the pics from a brief tour of the school and meeting the principle. 

Kolegio Nechi Pieters is a Roman Catholic school and comes under the Central Roman Catholic School Board Foundation (RKCS). The school was founded in 1977 and is located in the Buena Vista district. The school was first called “Santa Martha School”. In February 1977 the Roman Catholic School Board changed the name to “Jozef Cornelius Nechi Pieters” or Nechi Pieters. The name chosen for a school is that of a talented teacher who has worked in education for more than 40 years. Besides being a teacher, Nechi is also a gifted painter. The choice of the Roman Catholic School Board to rename the Santa Martha school in Kolegio Nechi Pieters is related to the fact that Nechi Pieters was a good example for children and to keep remembering him as a a good teacher and painter.

 

 

Blog, Curacao, Inquiry, International, Travel, World

Inquiry: Landhuis Chobolobo – Blue Curacao Cocktail Workshop

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WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO – Friday, I went to the Landhuis Chobolobo Cocktail Workshop and learned how to make a cocktail with the Blue Curacao Liquor. I highly recommend this workshop for any foodie as it was very informative and entertaining. The workshop started with a tour of an exhibit of how the liquor was made, then a tasting and a workshop to make two cocktails. After the workshop I had dinner at the Cabana beach club near my hotel. A taxi ride got me to the tour and back to the hotel and I was able to reserve and book through the website – Viator.com.

Here is some info about Landhuis Chobolobo (Landhuis is the word for plantation).

  • Landhuis Chobolobo is one of Curacao’s most renown 19th-century country mansions
  • Visit the Curacao Liqueur Distillery
  • Learn everything about the Genuine Curacao Liqueur and the island of Curaçao
  • Taste a sample of our fine craft Genuine Curacao Liqueurs
  • Have a unique cocktail experience in our Chobolobo’s Cocktail Workshop
  • Grab a bite or try our locally made ice cream
  • Find original Curacao souvenirs and gifts

 

 

Blog, Curacao, International, Residencies, Travel, World

Residency: The Pier Beach Inn and Suites

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WILLIAMSTAD, CURAÇAO – For my 30th birthday trip, I recently went to Curacao. It was a relatively easy destination to navigate, however, a rather long flight. It was closer to 9-10 hours rather than my usual 6-8 hours. I hadn’t gone anywhere since Greenland so I wanted this trip to be a little extra special. I must say trying to book Curacao on a budget was a little challenging. I ended up changing and canceling hotels a couple of times since the taxi rides from the airport were super expensive at night since that was when I was arriving.

Through my planning, I came upon The Pier Beach Inn and Suites and was a short walk away from the beach clubs that I was planning to go to. I ended up splitting my time with an activity in the morning and then beach time midday to sunset than with dinner

The Pier Beach Inn and Suites was exceptional for an economic option in Curacao. It was extremely clean, close to the desired location, had satisfying breakfast options, accommodating and friendly staff who were super helpful with travel hiccups. Though there was a rooster outside of my window most mornings that’s beyond their control.

 

 

Experiments, Greenland, Projects

Brassicaceae textile patern

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I have been really liking the idea of making impressions from the ground or of some plant material source as a way to make an image. While this technique does not have any cultural or scientific significance and it’s purely artistic — yet, I am enjoying the versatility of this.

Before I left, I had a vision of taking the impression project all the way to something more completed and more final and that was doing some sort of textile project. I decided on a t-shirt or pillowcase as a final project.

Below is an impression of a plant from the Brassicaceae family or the mustard family, most likely brought over from the Danish explorers. During my planning, I had looked up potential PR stories and one of the subjects was the ‘old and the new’ co-exist here. The contrast of these two plants Mustard and Labrador Tea visually depicts this.

While there’s been significant developments with this project, it’s no where near to the point of an exhibition or some bigger final piece.

Project: Textile Pattern with Impressions
Year: 2019

Blog, Exploration, Greenland, Iceland, Lifestyle, Luxury, Travel, Wellness

Exploration: GeoHotel and Blue Lagoon

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GRINDAVIK, IS – On my stop over on the way home in Iceland from Nuuk, Greenland I stayed at Geo Hotel in Grindavik. I ended up being super thankful for the transportation services offered at Geo Hotel as my flight from Nuuk was delayed half an hour and I missed my car rental pick up. 

If you are on your way or visiting Iceland Geo Hotel makes it super easy to travel to Blue Lagoon or to the airport via Blue Lagoon. It was easy to call them to schedule a pick up and then a ride to the Blue Lagoon transfer station. 

Due to miscommunication at Blue Lagoon I had missed my transfer bus to the airport but it ended fine as I had two hours at the airport to go and checkin and go through security. 

Geo Hotel offers a comfortable room at an affordable price within a quint town in Iceland. They also offer free breakfast starting at 6 am which allows enough time for a 7 am Blue Lagoon reservation. 

GeoHotel graciously extended a double room for my stay and I am happy to include them on this blog however I haven’t had the time to take pics of the room while I was there or explore the town as much as I would’ve liked so the pics posted to this blog are owned by GeoHotel.

Experiments, Greenland, Projects, Realize

Labrador Tea textile pattern

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I have been really liking the idea of making impressions from the ground or of some plant material source as a way to make an image. While this technique does not have any cultural or scientific significance and it’s purely artistic — yet, I am enjoying the versatility of this. 

In Greenland I was introduced to Labrador tea, a favorite of the Inuit with its cultural significance and interesting shape, I made an impression from a flower, as well as did microscopy and Kirlian photography. The digital pics I got of the flower unfortunately did not turn out well. But Labrador tea was one of the plants I decided to ‘study’ and make images of. 

Before I left, I had a vision of taking the impression project all the way to something more completed and more final and that was doing some sort of textile project. I decided on a t-shirt or pillowcase as a final project. 

While there’s been significant developments with this project, it’s no where near to the point of an exhibition or some bigger final piece. 

I was also able to take this technique way out into the countryside of Kapisillit and make an impression on the spot on the tour. Doing this gave me a better idea of how to conduct my artwork in this setting. If I could, I would’ve gone to the countryside myself but clearly much safer with a tour guide in Greenland. I only had to wait a half an hour for the putty to cure to get the impression.

Project: Textile Pattern with Impressions
Year: 2019