TravelStream™ news feed for member grrrl.traveler on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/grrrl.traveler en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:53:12 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252709483/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252709483/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252709483/tpod.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:53:12 -0400 NORTH AMERICA & BEYOND via REALITY SHOWS

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Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

This blog entry and video is located at www.grrrltraveler.com. Click here for a direct link to my blog

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252708896/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252708896/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252708896/tpod.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:49:53 -0400 Morocco 2005

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Fes, Morocco

by Christine Ka'aloa




If you can't see my video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du23pwh0qLI
When in a medieval city like Old Fez, one of my "must-dos" was to
take a tour of a Moroccan tannery. What are tanneries? A seven century
age-old way of making leather products from belts to bags, cushions,
etc...through the skinning, shearing, drying and dyeing of animal skins
with the help of much manpower and big vats of all-natural dyes.
Now guide books will be-cry the relationship between the tanneries
and "its smell" as a forewarning, such that a post-911 New York
resident and vegetarian like myself, immediately began drawing notions
of the deathly odor as being from rotting carcasses. I admit, I was a
bit reluctant to tourist this territory. Nevertheless, my curiosity is
stronger than fear or stench, and pinching my nostrils and breathing
through the side of my mouth held work-around solutions for opening
this bejeweled Fez-ian Pandora's prize.
Well, honestly,... the smell was nowhere near the scariness I had imagined. Yes, the first thing that hits you before you even step foot in the area of the tanneries is the whoof
of smell. But it's not what you think- not rotting meat... what
produces the funky smell is the ammonia produced from whalloping vats
of pigeon excrement. Yes, bird shit. And while fowl poo (in exponential
amounts) can surprisingly create an unpleasant stench- we were given
sprigs of mint leaves to put to our noses to make our viewing tolerable
and tourist-able. The tanneries in Fez are definitely worth checking
out- I wouldn't let the pigeons scare you away.
There is one curiosity I wished I had thought to ask about
however... How do they generate and collect such large quantities of
pigeon shit? If anyone knows the answer to this, please let me know.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252709125/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252709125/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/5/1252709125/tpod.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:49:01 -0400 Morocco 2005

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Fes, Morocco

by Christine Ka'aloa



Insha'Allah: "God willing" or "If it is God's will" (and spoken as if to imply the future as "hopefully")
If there is a word I would use to describe some certain first impressions of my trip to Morocco in Spring 2007, it would be "Insha'Allah".
This is a wonderful expression that I think every GRRRL traveler ought
to have in their back pocket for moments when one's travel plans go
awry. Ultimately, I feel, "it is God's will..." that things turn
out the way they should and do so perfectly when you don't struggle
with pre-planned expectations. Travel challenges us to keep open minds
and when you are forced to confront and leave your faith up to the unknown, you allow for events to flow naturally and often times, with greater success.
After having had our backpacks lost by EasyJet at the
Mohammad V Airport in Casablanca, purchasing Moroccan underwear and
toiletries at a local convenience shop and taking a 4 hour train ride
whereupon a friendly chat with a passenger imparted me with the (above
mentioned) all-too-perfect-local- colloquialism to sum up events (& those to come...), we arrived into Old Fes around... 9 or 10P! We were dropped off in the RCIF,
what seemed like a huge, deserted parking lot and entrance way into the
walled city. No shops were open and our only companions in the night
roam were men, shadows and cats.


Being 2 female travelers ( I was traveling with my friend,
Margaret), the latter was my first panic until I remembered we were in
a strict Muslim community where women, for the most part, are protected
by the community against sexual crimes. However, the next obstacle
immediately arrived - "How to find our guesthouse?" The city of Old Fes is like a medieval labyrinth with over 9,000 winding streets with dark and dusty alleyways which lack bold signage. We were staying at Dar Seffarine,
a traditional Moroccan riad (a house or palace whose rooms all open to
a central atrium or garden) which was snuggly tucked into the center of
the city. A young boy, around 13 years of age, emerged from the
shadows with
an offer to take us to our riad (at no charge). We were reluctant to
accept his offer- we had read traveler cautionary tales about young
boys posing illegally as guides and how they could be punished with 2
days imprisonment if caught. He led us to our riad and we were
fortunate he did- there were no signs or visible house numbers to
ensure we'd find it and it was tucked away in an alley.
Our guesthouse was palatial adorned with calligraphic Arabic design
and illustrious architecture but we didn't have the energy to explore
it. We had dinner (a traditional Moroccan dish, Tagine), went straight to our room, unpacked our newly bought bed clothes and went to bed.
YouTube video here

GrrrlTraveler's Postcard Diaries: "Prayer calls in Fez, Morocco"

(Video note- the first part of the audio in this video is a better
than the second; although the second is closer to what I initially
heard as I emerged from my stupor of sleep)
I was awoken around 3 AM by the adhan or "prayer calls" which occurs
five times a day. It was actually one of the most mystical and
meditative moments I've experienced with sound and one of my fondest
take-aways of Morocco. Haunting yet heavenly, the prayers are called
out by a muezzin (a chosen person who leads the calls) and amplified over the mosque loudspeakers as a community reminder of its religion.
Here are some of the phrases of the prayer:

* God is great.

* I witness that there is no god but God.

* I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

* Rise up for prayer.

* Rise up for salvation.

* God is great.

* There is no god but God.
My Riad:

DAR SEFFARINE

14 Derb Sbaa Louyate, Seffarine

30020 FES MEDINA

MOROCCO

Tel: 00212 (0) 671113528

Fax: 00212 (0) 535635205

mail: info@darseffarine.com
Other useful Fes links:

Fes Travel Guide **

NY Times Article "The Soul of Morocco"


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252708622/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252708622/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252708622/tpod.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:39:52 -0400 NORTH AMERICA & BEYOND via REALITY SHOWS

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New York City, New York, United States

by Christine Ka'aloa



As a continuation to the NYC Survival Guide (Part i), here are 10 Insider tips and tricks which will help anyone moving or already moved to NYC, survive the compact and harried lifestyle of the Big Bad Apple.
Looking back to when I first moved into the city 8 years ago, I
realize that nothing could have adequately prepared me for the New York
City mentality and lifestyle. New Yorkers are a unique breed of urban
warriors and survivalists with a career-focused, time-efficient and spatially-deprived
mental training which immediately sets them into that
"hardcore/hard-edged" category opposite of Los Angelenos, Chicagoans
and San Franciscans. As a community, however, the hard outer crust
melts away as NYers all realize one unifying fact- they're all in the
same boat of dealing with spatial limitations. As such, there is a lot
of "insider trading" that goes on and here are some basic starters:
1. Dietary Rule: End bulking habits.

Know your apartment's storage capacity and purchase household items on an “as needed” basis.
Manhattan apt/household habits favor “a lean diet” vs “stocking up”. Think of it this way:a) Whatever you buy, you will have to physically carry home on foot (or via taxi) in snow, torrential downpour or sweat-drenched heat.

b) You will require space to store your purchases and you can only fit "so much" into a cabinet before its door refuses to close.With groceries (and because I share the refrigerator with my roommate), I make my purchases with the mental limit of having enough meals for ONE week. As a pedetrian, this equates to two hand-carried grocery bags + a stuffed backpack.
2. BUNK BEDS ARE NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10. Six of the seven roommates I've had (ages 23-30) at some point, used
a bunk bed to maximize their room space, myself included. I will not go
into the dynamics of trying to have sex on a bunk bed...but bunks make
use of your vertical space. With your bed placed high and out of the
way, you have space underneath to court either a mini lounge space,
hanging closet or work/office space area. The “advanced adult” wanting
to invest in their space as more than just transitional living
quarters, however, might go with a Loft bed.
3. To get the leading edge…SYSTEMATIZE.
The two cliches -"Time is money” and “New Yorkers are impatient”
-actually do hold the weight of truth here. Observe the average NYC
pedestrian habits at crosswalks- people stand 3 feet OFF the curb (and
into the street), occasionally darting across the street before the
lights even change. This is called gaining a lead advantage
. Your “3 steps off the curb” can be as easy as refining your
organizational practices at home. One example- create an efficient
system for *quick access* to important items like keys, bags, ipod and
MetroCards.
Reason: Living in New York City ISN’T easy. Sometimes, it
can feel like boot camp survival. Each day, the city serves up its own
nuances of obstacle courses- from living an active pedestrian lifestyle
subject to extreme weather changes, playing hop-scotch over filthy
streets and blocking out the over-stimulus of concrete, noise and pushy
ladder-jumping crowds. Your organizational habits will either add or
detract from these navigational chores.
Minimizing obstacles at home, creates a life of time-saving sanity.
Organize and systematize your habits and keep things in accessible and
"specific" places. Label and color-code if you have to. Things DO get
lost in small spaces and when you’re in a rush, it creates unnecessary
stress and panic to have to hunt for things. Weave a system of ease and fluidity into your home regime and you will gain your leading edge over the competition.
4. Look for space-saving solutions.
There are many creative space-saving solutions which will help you organize and resculpt your apartment to maximize space. The Container Store, Bed, Bath & Beyond and IKEA
are great stores which offer cheap to fair prices for anything from
furniture, installable closet/shelf organizers, storage containers,
hanging shoe racks, etc…. IKEA (located in New Jersey), offers FREE weekend bus commutes to/from Port Authority (42nd Street) station in Manhattan. Also, websites like www.apartmenttherapy.com or www.furniture-for-small-spaces.com can offer some smart / simple ideas for design.
5. Downsize.
Invest in " compact magic genies" and have your household items handle multiple tasks vs. just one . "Three-in-One”, “Versatile” “Convertible” “Collapsible” and “Multi-purpose”
are your keysearch words. An old clothes trunk works as a coffee table,
sofa seat and storage device. What about a juicer/blender combo or a
steamer/iron?
Secondly, downsize and convert. I loved my CD-VHS-DVD box
collections with their pictures and summaries but that’s a LOT of bulk.
Today, I have DVDs stored in a zippered wallet-album case. My CDs are
all converted to my iTunes/iPod. This saves space and minimizes the dust collection!
6. Throw on a new coat of paint.
Paint color into your environment and enhance the mood and energy of
your abode. Color can also sculpt your perception of space. For
example, light colors- they tend to open, reflect light and uplift spaces, making them feel larger and brighter; meanwhile dark colors tend to absorb light and make for a more cozy, fetus feel. You decide...
7. Engage in karmic recycling.
Clean out your apartment and make periodic donations to your neighborhood Salvation Army or better yet, your neighbors themselves! In Manhattan, there's a fine line between freeganism and consumerism which I call karmic recycling.
Surprisingly common, NYCers openly partake in this activity of
rummaging through other peoples' rejects and the recycle is highly
appreciated. In our building, the second floor landing is our donation
center and one of my roommates furnished 75% of her room like this and
with classically refurbished chic! Donate with goodwill and it will
come back tenfold...just remain aware of tip #8.
8. Assess the WANTS vs. NEEDS.
Would you like to lose an arm or a leg? Compromise or a sacrifice- you HAVE to choose. Consumer life in NYC is about making choices which will inevitably either create space or add clutter
your apartment. NYC spaces offer limited storage capacity and closet
space, so if you’re a “collector”, you’ll have to choose...
A friend-of-a-friend recently moved into a cozy studio apartment
(approx $1700/mo) on the lower east side overlooking a popular park.
She brought a U-Haul van packed FULL with a queen-sized bed,
sofa, large bulky furniture and boxes to the ceiling. The space had a
medium-sized closet and a few kitchen cabinets; needless to say, much
of what she brought will end up going to the trash. Aiyi!
9. Get out of the apartment or out of the city.

New Yorkers don't like spending too much time in their apartments (go
figure...) but also acknowledged is the fact that it is occasionally
necessary to get out of the city. So get away from the craziness of the
city and explore a place where green grass grows in a non-man-made
environment or where you can see the rest of the 7/8ths of sky.
$50+ :Explore a weekend getaway to the Hamptons, Jersey shores, Martha’s Vineyard, Catskills, etc...
$20-$50: day trip to D.C., Boston, Maryland, etc… The infamous Chinatown bus and Bolt bus offers free Wi-Fi and cheap RT tickets at a bargain basement price of under $40!
0-$20 range: just get out of the apartment and explore the plethora of NYC options, from heading out to Jones Beach (via LIRR + bus $16.50) to Coney Island (Q line on the metro); visiting The Cloisters; find a free concert in Central Park or as my roommate has suggested, free kayaking up at the Downtown Boathouse. Be creative!
10. Get a good mattress.

This is recent advice from a friend on Facebook, Jim Taylor: Expect
that much of your time will be spent either at work or outside doing
things in the city. And as he puts it, "the one thing you REALLY need
for your peace of mind is a great bed - as long as you sleep well, the
space is irrelevant..."


Anyone else have any great tips or tricks that they use for surviving the New York space crunch? Feel free to add your ideas below!


Related article: NYC Survival Guide (Pt I): Big dreams in New York City meets with small spaces.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252705640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252705640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1252705640/tpod.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:35:51 -0400 NORTH AMERICA & BEYOND via REALITY SHOWS

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Connecticut, United States

by Christine Ka'aloa




click on image above to activate slideshow
When you've
been to Las Vegas oh, "umpteenth times" like I have, you don't really
think of slot machines and black jack tables existing beyond the
western border. But visiting casinos without the fun parks, roller coaster rides or headlining entertainment acts? Uh, you just have to really enjoy gambling for the sake of gambling,
which I do not. Nevertheless, Hawaii people have a strange addiction
to Las Vegas and my family is no exception to the lures of Sin City.
For me, Las Vegas stands for that half-way mark where I can spend time
with my visiting "gambler" family without having to cross the Pacific
Ocean. What keeps me from my casino yawn are the neon lights, big
screen displays of show previews and nightclub splash, celebrity
impersonators, Cirque du Soleil and the fact that every hotel casino I enter invites me into a Universal Studios'
version of simulated life (the ex-art director in me who used to design
for thematic parties- and some slot L.V. tournaments.- appreciates
this...).
But ask me
about casinos on the east coast, aside from the ashtray of Atlantic
City? Never knew they existed. With my sister and her Hawaii teammates
in town for a canoe regatta, the "islander gambling bugs" had their
curiosities peaked on Connecticut's Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. I went along for the entertaining ride...

We left
around noon in our Thrifty car rental for what we estimated to be a 3
hr drive. All was going smoothly until our Magellan GPS re-routed us
to New Jersey before reaching the Connecticut turnoff. The thing
about technology reliance these days is that 1) when you've got a GPS,
you don't think to take a map with you as a backup and 2) you get to
trusting your GPS technology even when all logic and instinct tells you
its been giving you bum directions. Two hours and one broken Magellan
GPS later, we realize that we're headed deeper and deeper into New
Jersey and our GPS has no intention on turning us around. Luckily, my
mobile phone had Google Maps (technology again, I know, but this app
has a proven record of coming in handy)
So it actually took us 5-6 hrs to get there, but finally...
Built upon Native American Indian reserve, the Mohegan Sun Casino
was a dazzling example of east coasters wanting their own money clinks
and not being afraid to be big and loud about it. Those who think they
might catch a glimpse of indigenous history in the form of an actual
reserve (which honestly, was my interest...) will be disappointed, as
the first thing you're greeted by is a stadium-sized parking lot full
of indigenous asphalt. The casino itself is Native American
Indian-themed designs on steriods, amped up to compete with the Vegas
strip's sadistically chic, splashy and stylish, while offering (thankfully)
diminutive "cheese". Intricately beaded fabrics and artwork, a
mechanical wolf on a simulated mountain peak and giant Native American
painting of a warrior reaching to the sun,...all powerful and
gorgeous. The casino is huge and we were all in captivated awe at the
spectacle of it.
One seriously
cool thing was a stylishly-designed bar, perched above the casino floor
on a glowing crystal mountain. The bar sported a simulated
constellation so that you could drink "under the stars" at any time of
the day (while also throwing your time clock off). Unfortunately, the
drink menu was pretty unimaginative but it offers you a cup of
breadstick pretzels. Now if you're going to have a theme design, then
the art director in me thinks you should carry the concept through.
Just spouting the endless creative possibilities of fun (not to be
offensive)...The Tomohawk, TeePee, Sitting Bear, Wolf pack, Eagles' Nest, etc... for signature drinks or restaurant names would have been pretty fun and cool. Nope.
The shopping
area was significantly smaller and less prominent than Caesar's Palace,
LV but the restaurant options allowed a greater dynamic of pricey to
semi-cheap eats. Perhaps my only disappointment with the casino was
the fact that it ironically held a strong preference for the east coast
version of Asian cuisine (aka "kind of bland and watery") and the only
Native American Indian cooking found on the premises was in a gift
shop recipe book. Also, no Michael Jackson or Madonna impersonators;
something of the campiness that I actually appreciate Vegas for.
However, the casino does hold huge concerts with top notch visiting
celebrity rockers or Vegas style entertainment like Sting or Howie
Mandel.
By the time
we left, it was roughly around 10P. The Mohegan Sun hotel was actually
booked up due to a concert, so an overnight stay wasn't possible. But
there was just enough time to squeeze in a peek at Foxwoods casino (10
min away) before driving back.
Foxwoods
Casino is heralded to be the biggest casino in the world and it quite
possibly is; however, after the display of chic and splash of the
Mohegan, Foxwoods in my book, can be overlooked. Foxwoods' parking lot
easily spanned the size of Disneyland's but the walk over from its
sister casino, the MGM,... thru the looong corridor of shops,
restaurants and space to the heart of the casino... convinced me that if there is a next time,
I'll bust out my aerobic pants and iPod and make it a workout. We
didn't spend much time here so unfortunately, I couldn't tell you what
the big draw to Foxwoods is but I will leave you with this. If I could
take 3 postcard photos of my highlighted impressions of Foxwoods
casino, they would be:
1) Of my walking shoes in blurred motion

2) The Mahjong room (or whatever that room was called that was filled with Chinese table games):

It was my first experience of feeling like I was an American tourist
visiting a casino abroad in Asia. Everyone in this room was old and
asian from the thick except for the dealers and everything was written
in chinese signs or symbols. (The chinese must be just as big gamblers as Hawaii people!)

3) The Poker room:

I never watched the World Series of Poker
but this is what I imagine I'd see if I did. The air was stiff and
quiet like a library with the intense factor times 10 (you could "feel
the money"). Rows and rows of green tables with men being boys and
taking their game very seriously.
The Mohegan Sun Hotel & Casino

Driving Time: 3 hrs NYC to Connecticut- if your GPS (Magellan) is correct and doesn't take you to New Jersey

Needed: 2 GPS's or 1 road map


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047823/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047823/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047823/tpod.html Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:22:16 -0400 India 2008: Part II (2nd time is the Charm!)

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Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India

View video "On the Ganges" (Varanasi, India)
Related Blog Articles:

Varanasi's Humorous Underbelly

Read blog "Varanasi's Stains"
Each year, there are thousands of pilgrimages to the holy city
of Varanasi. At sunrise taking a boat tour along the river is a great
way to see the ghats...a dip in the Ganges River is considered to be
both, holy and purifying. In the evening, Varanasi holds a glorious
puja ceremony- the Ganga aarti.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247046233/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247046233/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247046233/tpod.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:16:17 -0400 India 2008: Part II (2nd time is the Charm!)

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Benares, Uttar Pradesh, India



"The Ganga Aarti" (Varanasi, India) *video*

Grrrl Traveler's Postcard Diaries presents "The Ganga Aarti" (Varanasi, India). The evening Ganga Aarti is an hour long ritual performed daily at the bank of the main ghat.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047533/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047533/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/2/1247047533/tpod.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:09:03 -0400 India 2008: Part II (2nd time is the Charm!)

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Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

View video of Karni Mata ("Rat Temple") of Deshnok in Rajasthan

Many animals in India are considered sacred. At Deshnok’s Karni Marta Rat Temple, I had to walk barefoot over sacred rat pee and sacred rat poop which at the time was the only
option that allowed me to witness millions of rats take free reign over
an entire temple (I know what face Mom is making as you read this…).
The worshipers pay homage and take care of the rodents and luckily, the
term “rat” defines more “cute mouse” than the giant NYC sewer types.
Even the Indian tourists are taken aback with this temple and are here
for the spectacle more than the homage. Pointing fingers, jaws agape
they are in shock. Mothers attempt to calm their crying children who
are as frightened as any unsuspecting person would be surrounded by
scurrying rodents. The locals and devotees take this more seriously-
the rats here are well cared for, given milk and considered sacred.....
[From the entry "Touristing Rajasthan"-- Click here to read actual blog...]

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/1/1222575660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/1/1222575660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/1/1222575660/tpod.html Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:23:39 -0500 Nepal 2008: (Abandoned)...to Adopted

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Kathmandu, Nepal

Karina Kapoor & Pepsi

Sept 29,2008: Thamel

(still uploading pictures)

Touristing
Thamel today. Have been pickpocketed twice (but HAH! I have my money
hidden in a jogging bracelet around my wrist!). I met with Theo, the
manager of Le Chobhar Village Resort (wonderful
French expat man and good samaritan- kinda on the artsy side and most
artsy types tend to be that) who gave me free tix to the Garden of Dreams
in Thamel which I will try to see before I leave. AND I got caught in a
downpour with M&D. Here are some pictures of where my peasant feet
take me in Thamel.














]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1228729380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1228729380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/grrrl.traveler/4/1228729380/tpod.html Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:47:54 -0500 NORTH AMERICA & BEYOND via REALITY SHOWS

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Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States

Saturday, December 8, 2008:
USA: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

My day began at 5:30A when my XYZ Car service picked me up at my apt to shuttle me off to La Guardia airport to meet up with a DP I was shooting with and catch a flight to Cedar Falls, Iowa for a last minute 2-day shoot.

Rule #1- It is NEVER advised to schedule someone on a connecting flight with only 1/2 hr leeway to get to their gate.

a) you never know how far the airport terminal of your connecting flight will be &
b) have to allow for possible delays and weather
(*especially if you're traveling during winter!)

The connecting airport- Chicago O'Hare. CHI-O'Hare is an airport which I've frequented through several touchdowns and generally like. It won me over several years back with its self-cleaning plastic rotating toilet seat covers (to make me feel like they have my sanitation concerns at heart), but my one rant is that this is a big airport and the terminals can be a hike...even if your connecting flight is on the SAME airlines carrier. Hauling camera equipment on your back while running a mile to your gate with your overnight rolling duffle, because your plane got delayed in taxi due to "snow & ice" weather conditions, is not a cheerful start to getting to your shoot. Carriers these days, have gotten to touting haughty attitudes to customers and some will close their doors 10 minutes earlier than the ticketed departure (with the reprimand that you were supposed to have gotten there 2 hrs earlier!) Needless to say, we missed our flight and had to take the next one out.

Rule #2: It is NOT advised to schedule a shoot on a travel day.
This is not a rule that reality shows regularly adhere to however, and this kind of last-minute-notice or under-the-gun travel/shoot day is certainly not my first.

One of our greenlit characters was having a bridal shower party thrown for her at 1:30P and we had to be there to cover it. Due to more weather conditions and more taxi-ing, our flight arrived into Cedar Falls at exactly 2P! I made a quick call to re-notify our girl of the delay and to suggest holding off on the party fun and maybe start with lunch instead. But to extend the wave of roadblocks, there problems with our car rental reservation and then, NO GPS. While we had printed directions to our hotel and the girl's house, the office failed to give us directions from the airport direct to the party location.

Travel Tip #1: If you CAN, prepare backup directions for possible scenarios
...and if this isn't possible (as we GOT our travel instructions at the last minute also), then,

Travel Tip #2: Invest in a Pocket PC mobile phone device with built-in GPS tracking and an Unlimited Data plan.

I did. Between my Sprint Mogul and my DP's iPhone, both carrying a Google Maps app, we had our backup GPS! We arrived at our shoot location at 2:45P, just as our girl and her guests were finishing lunch.


Cedar falls, Iowa
...was blink of an eye, but not too hard to see. A lot of flat open farmland and plains covered in snow. While there is the convergence of strip malls and well-known stores & restaurants, there is an antiquated humor and farm-folk western charm to the area, as if it's still trying to figure out which it era it really wants to be in.


The Best Western Long Branch Hotel - no! YES! They booked us there and sometimes you have to find the humor in the situation. Overwhelmed with the day and that the office could furthermore station us in a Best Western hotel, we were rounding the corner when my DP joked "Hey, at least it won't be like some Atlantic City hotel!" when Bam! It wasn't an A.C. hotel... just its casino version with a faux wild west theme on its front facade! Overall, the hotel actually wasn't all bad at all and its quirky story more than makes up for its misgivings...

Built around 1968, the owner of our hotel was an avid fan of the old television series, Gunsmoke and was inspired to design the front (the restaurant area) to look like Miss Kitty's Long Branch Saloon.
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