Pingxi lantern festival

It's that time to witness the lantern festival first hand. I had been looking forward to it for ages! 

After Chinese New Years there is a week where the sky lanterns in taiwan become a full fledge event. Of course you can send off your own lantern all year round in 十分 (shifen). 

From Taipei on the actual day they had shuttle buses running from Taipei zoo station to Pingxi for $50NT and a free return trip. They separated the lines into standing and sitting, neither one was shorter than the other.

The local Taiwanese people go there very early, all in all the rush of crowd never really ceases throughout the day. We waited just over an hour to get on the bus and the ride out there was about 90 minutes. You could take the train out to Raifung and then catch the Pingxi line out to the last stop but it would cost more and take just as long if not a bit longer. (That would have been a standing line for sure) 

I actually got sick from the swarms of people! There were so many people! Upon arrival there was a band playing, I was told that on the first day of the event djs made their appearances at about 1pm-7pm.

Between 6-9pm in 15 minute intervals masses of sky lanterns were released. If you were close enough they were astonishing. From afar they looked like a swarm of fireflies. 

Out return trip was intense, the line up was the longest/largest one I have been in. I've lived in some crowded places but this overshot any of my past experiences. The line took about two hours and when we got on the bus a lady got sick and we had to stop in the middle of nowhere to wait for an ambulance. It took about 4 hours to return. I can safely say I slept for a long long time after this evening. 

Suggestion, hitchhike. Walk down to the road and skip the line. You can't take a taxi because their banned from coming into the area but it doesn't mean that locals can't drive you to another destination nearby. :P

Youth Hostels (Insider Story)

Most long term travelers know or at least have heard working for accommodations, if not...now you do. This post isn't dedicated to any place in particular but as an overall compilation of thoughts with an undertone of the title.

My time spent traveling has always been in and out of hostels, meeting people in the bunks that surround me and most of all making life long friends in places we all called home temporarily. Moving around has given me the opportunities that many people would just out right say 'fortunate'. I worked hard and played my cards right or better yet 'carefully', I don't think it was chalked up to luck in any way. Like a game of chess it is necessary to think ahead from time to time, not everything can just be 'winged'.  

As I sit back and think to myself om one of my walks in the empty streets of the dawn or climbing to hostel rooftops to watch the stars... (btw the ones in Korea are the most accessible) I just ponder life and what I shall do in the upcoming days, most of all my whole outlook of life gets reanalyzed on a quarterly basis. (actually more) 

Now that I have started working for accommodations at a hostel (this is my second time), I meet people faster than ever and in an abundance. I had forgotten that every Hello is a Goodbye and to make life long friends in a short amount of time isn't impossible but takes a toll on your heart.

I have met so many wonderful people these past months and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life right now. Maybe I will jump back and forth from Taiwan and other countries until I can finally find another place that has won my heart like Taipei has.

Global Degree After thoughts.

How have I never heard of this before? If it wasn't for my friend Brett I would have never found out.

I know now more than ever that there are brave travelers that want to see the entire world!

I hope that I can be one of the females that has been to every single country in the world.  Doing it on my own it will be very hard for me to accomplish this but it is an epic task I am willing to take on.

I have made my application and now it is all about voting. I am sure whoever gets picked will enjoy their journey. Most of all I will be there on the very same journey.

After thoughts, so after watching the most motivational video compilation of amazing-ness, on the verge of illness with anticipation waiting for the guys to announce the winner. I realized that I wanted this. A lot.

I am willing to take the pledge and do it. The world is big but in the end there isn't a place in the world that I cannot go. Blown away with the fact that I got 100 votes in less than 12 hours (right before the deadline, thanks everyone) I even got over 280 views on my YouTube video, I can how many people who are willing to support me. <3

Travel is my life, it makes me laugh, smile, grow, count my blessings everyday and most of makes me stronger. I can't see myself doing anything else.

I am a girl who travels alone but I am never alone as long I have my friends cheering me on. Now I have this community of beautiful confident and most of all passionate women who want to do exactly what I have been doing the past five years.

We will find a way.

A quick and nimble way to write a blog post in 30 minutes!

By Jenny Tam

Short on time? Here are 9 easy tips on how to write a blog post in just 30 minutes or less! Consider your blog post ready to go!

Are you short on time? Do you need write a blog post worthy of being published before you head out the door today or prepared for your timed publish date?

The following 9 tips will help you accomplish just that, ensuring that you will be satisfied with what you have produced. This way you can step out the door knowing that you have hit your deadline or better yet, given yourself some extra free time.

1. Have a wonderful attention stealing headline.

Grasp the reader right from the beginning; hold them there. You have something to tell them and you want them to stay and read right through to the end.

2. Include a tantalizing opener. BE BOLD!

You can come back at the end to write this so it doesn’t end up eating too much of your time.

3. Be clear and concise about your topic.

Don’t use any of that fluff; it will waste your time and energy. You can do some research and brain storm beforehand, for example I read this blog post first before writing mine. You want to tell people what you want them to know now and your readers will make it to the end of your post.

Blogging samurai. ha ha. (I just like this pix)

4. Add a photo, something eye catching and relatable.

Everyone enjoys a direct and relevant image. If you have your own that is even better. Everyone appreciates the personal touch.

5. No distractions.

Turn off your Wi-Fi, (Yes, I’m serious) set your phone to silent and set a timer of any kind. This will push you into writing at a pace that will help you finish what you need to, on time no less.

6. Speed type.

This method has proven to work for me a plethora of times. From essays to work emails, I go back and do all the editing at the end. Save all the spell check, grammar updates, word changes, hyperlinks, references and all those minor details for the finale.

7. Don’t forget to add your own personal flare.

This is where you get to shine! Write a blog post with passion, share a piece of yourself and your love. I always try to drop a little something here to inspire others in one way or another.

8. Always double check your work.

Speed read it over, do it twice or thrice for good measure. This will get rid of those small pesky mistakes that have been overlooked.

9. Remember to share on social media sites.

Don’t forget to reach your viewers! Hit that share button. They can’t love your words if they don’t know how to find them.

Alright, you are now ready to write a blog post of your own in a matter of minutes.