DESTINATIONS | GRRRL TRAVELER

Fez, lost luggage and finding our way through one simple word

Filed under Morocco, Off-beat, Weird... Reality! by Christine Ka'aloa on June 2, 2009 at 7:17 am {no comments}

: Fez’s RCIF is busy during daylight hours. It’s the central spot for transportation and drop-offs.

If there is a word I would use to describe my first impressions to Morocco, it would be “Insha’Allah“.

Our luggage didn’t arrive with us?

In Arabic, it means, “God willing” or “If it is God’s will” (and spoken as if to imply the future as “hopefully“). This is a wonderful expression that I think every female traveler ought to have in their back pocket for moments, when one’s travel plans go awry. Why get frazzled when things don’t meet your pre-planned expectations? Take for instance, having your baggage not arrive with you on the flight over to Morocco!

After flying into the Mohammad V Airport in Casablanca, we discovered that EasyJet had lost our backpacks. Shit. In a foreign land with no clothes or toiletries…

We spent an hour in the office filling out a claims forms. As much as I’ve traveled before for work, this was the first time my baggage didn’t arrive with me. Camera batteries, memory cards, extra clothes and underwear… these are things you don’t quite think about packing a separate carry- (more…)

Memorial Day Lantern Floating in Hawaii

Filed under Festivals, Hawaii by Christine Ka'aloa on May 26, 2009 at 2:40 am {no comments}

by Christine Ka’aloa

Photo by Leslie Lang on HonoluluOnTheCheap.com

Biking with my sister- our route started from the Waikiki Yacht Club and made its way through Diamond Head and Kahala and then circled back around to Kapahulu and then Ala Moana Beach Park. It ended when we saw the beach park entrance baracaded and large streams of crowd walking in to participate in one of Hawaii’s largest cultural events…

This past Memorial Day over 40,000 people attended the 10th Annual Lantern Lighting celebration at Ala Moana Beach Park. BBQ grills, bento plate lunches and blue tarp family picnic tents were out in abundance in typical “local island style”. Some spectators brought towels or mats and found sitting real estate on the sand, where they could best view the giant video monitors and the entertainment stage . The program commenced at 6:30P with local entertainment and ceremonial stagings and climaxed with the release of more than 2,000 eco-friendly lanterns into the ocean. This year’s ceremony was scheduled to coincide with Memorial Day in order to honor soldiers who fought in the war; as well as, celebrate the ancient Japanese Buddhist tradition of Obon, a ceremonial season honoring departed loved ones. The floating paper lanterns (originally called “Toro Nagashi”) were available on a first come first serve basis and donations were voluntary. People were then free to inscribe handwritten messages and prayers for their loved ones on the lanterns; as it is customary belief that once released into the ocean, the prayers and wishes written on them will be recieved.

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Photo Essay: Paddling and Outrigger Canoe races in Hawaii

Filed under Hawaii, Photo Essays by Christine Ka'aloa on May 25, 2009 at 11:41 am {no comments}

A brief photo look at one of Hawaii’s culture through one of its popular past times and favorite ocean sports: Outrigger Canoe Races.

I Want to be a Bollywood Extra!

Filed under EPISODES, Glam Around the World by Christine Ka'aloa on April 28, 2009 at 1:30 pm {3 comments}

saif and kareena in new york filming Bollywood Stars: Saif Ali Khan & Karina Kapoor

My Bollywood addiction started about 3 years ago.

For me, nothing rivals the beauty and grandeur of Bollywood films- upbeat song and dance numbers, colorfully ornate costumes, flirtatious eyes, sweeping romantic aerial shots, exotic locations, gorgeous heroes/heroines and TONS of romance- tragedy-bale (aka “dance”)! bale! bale! I wish I could live in these films!

For me, it’s not about possessing grand dreams, just nearly impossible ones- the wish “to be an extra in a Bollywood film” was on my list of eccentric achievements to fulfill before I die… (being a backup bollywood dancer is the secondary wish).

Unless you’re willing to pay a $1000 plane fare to Mumbai and stand under the “Gateway of India” (one of the known pickup spots for tourists to go to if they want to experience the adventure of being an extra in a Bollywood film), your chances of finding Bollywood are pretty slim. So, being chosen to be in a Bollywood film without having to leave my New York City residence felt pretty extraordinary.

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Bollywood 101: My Top 13 Bollywood Films

Filed under Glam Around the World, India by Christine Ka'aloa on April 28, 2009 at 3:47 am {no comments}

Whenever I tell people that I love Bollywood films, I get a confused look. In fact, they’ve been my “Best Friday Night Date“, beating out dates with a banker and an actor. What is it about these films that keep me addicted to them?

The Bollywood Formula:

• A three hour-long epic drama
• The emotional roller-coasting plot of romance-tragedy-romance
• Bright and lavish costumes
• Exotic backdrops
• Upbeat song & dance numbers
• You may be eating popcorn, but you’ll find it occasionally tastes like cheese. Not to worry, this flavor is still fun and good, but a chuckle and a little suspended disbelief goes a long way.

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Review:”Bollywood Heats up at the Basement Bhangra in NYC”

Filed under Cool/Veg Restaurants & Bars, New York by Christine Ka'aloa on March 9, 2009 at 11:29 am {no comments}

Review: Basement Bhangra at S.O.B’s in New York City. Any Punjabis in the house?”…. An ocean of hands go up, but not because the entire crowd here is Punjabi but because tonight I’m at Basement Bhangra, a Bollywood disco event held the first Thursday of every month at SOB’s located North of Houston.

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