Grounded in Mumbai

I should be home right now. A couple of hours ago I was fuming about this fact. I was pacing back and fourth chanting, "I am stuck here, I am stuck here, I am stuck here." feeling very claustrophobic. "How could this happen!" I said a bit too loudly as a little boy holding a Handy Manny backpack looked up at me like I was crazy. Because of the......um...whats it called? Whatever...volcano in Iceland, I am grounded in Mumbai. The smoke/ash from the volcano has spread so far that it has caused planes all over Europe to not be able to fly. As the already crowded room filled with more and more angry people, I started to go crazy. I pushed, squeezed and slid through the crowd and finally made it to the exit. To my luck, there was a little goofy taxi right in front so I hopped in and said the only phrase in indian I knew: Maiṁ khānā kahām̐ mila sakatā hai?-Where can i get food? I didn't care where it took me, I just needed to leave the airport.
We only drove about 5 minutes when we slowed to a stop. I handed the man the money without looking, and slowly stepped out of the cab. It was amazing. There were loads of people everywhere, even though it was 11:30 at night, and tons of little carts and people selling food out of the backs of there cars. Although it was a bit intimidating and scary, I couldn't wait to join the natives in the fun. At first i was sort of shy as i walked through the streets, but when i remembered what a travel sight on the internet said when i was searching for things to do here in Mumbai I quickly realized my mistake. It stated "You must never be shy in India or the locals will get the best of you." I spotted a stall that looked interesting and i squeezed my way through, accidentally elbowing a woman's side. I looked up prepared to apologize for 5 minutes and get glared until i am gone like i have to do in California, but to my surprise, she didn't even look up. Apparently that happens a lot. When i found the end of the line a delicious smell wafted into my nose. It was the famous Tandoori Chicken backed in a Tandoor oven served with Naan. I ordered a small serving and almost immediately got handed it. It was mouthwatering! It had a red tint and it was made with lemon, yogurt, malt vinegar, garlic, and ginger. I wanted more but by then the line was twice as long as when i got there, I guess the crowds come at midnight! I all of a sudden became horribly thirsty. I picked out a stand that i saw people walking away from with cups in there hands. It turned out to be sweet Indian Lassies' made with yogurt, sugar, fruits such as strawberries, lemons, and fruit juices. It tasted almost like a milkshake! It was so delicious but all of a sudden i got extremely tired. I one again squeezed through the crowds and caught a taxi. The taxi driver was very friendly and speaks english. I told him the whole story of my day and he told me the reason i felt so tired is because Lassies' cause drowsiness! Once i got back into the hustle and bustle of the airport I realized that if my flight didn't get canceled, this amazing experience would have never happened. I should be home right now, but its ok.

The Philippines Day 1- by Lili De Voto

Most of our first day was filled with flying. We are all traveling together, Lili, Maddy, Julia, and Katie. When we finally did arrive, we found a hotel because we hadn't planned one. We were lucky enough to get a room at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Since it was already fairly late, we didn't do much. We went out to dinner and had amazing Chow Mien, except Julia, who had 'Crispy Noodle'. The dessert looked to good to not have! Everyone ordered an almond jelly lychee. It was so good. Lychee's basically taste like candy, except for the fact of how slimy they are in your mouth! After dinner, we browsed around on jewelry stands, where Katie got a bracelet with a very unique Philippine design on it, Julia got a necklace with blue and white checkered beads, which stood for something, but we didn't catch what for. Lili got small Buddha earrings, and Maddy was interested in a lot of things...so she bought various necklaces and anklets. We got back to our hotel, un-packed, and off to bed.

Money Exchange-Lebanon

$1.00=1500
$5.00=7500
$10.00=15000
$20.00=30050
$50.00=75050
$100.00=150150

Language/Translation-Lebanon

Hi! Salam!
Good morning! Sabah el kheer
Good evening! Masaa el kheer
Welcome! (to greet someone) Marhaban
How are you? Kaifa haloka/ haloki ( female)
I'm fine, thanks! Ana bekhair, shokran!
And you? Wa ant? / Wa anti? (female)
Good/ So-So. Jayed/ 'aadee
Thank you! Shokran (jazeelan)
You're welcome! (for "thank you") Al’afw
Hey! Friend! Ahlan sadiqi/ sadiqati! (female)
What's new? Maljadeed?
Nothing much Lashai jadeed
Good night! Tosbeho/ tosbeheena (female) ‘ala khair/
See you later! Araka/ Araki (female) fi ma ba'd
Good bye! Ma’a salama

Flight to Lebanon

The Middle East

Bahrain-the Royal Tombs at A'ali.

Egypt-The Great Pyramids at Giza.

Iran-Iranian tiled mosques.

Iraq-The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Israel- Jerusalem's Wailing Wall.

Jordan-The Ancient Ruins of Petra.

Kuwait-The Kuwait Towers in Kuwait City.

Lebanon- Pigeon Rocks and the Roman ruins at Baalbek.

Oman- Wadi Ghul.

Palestine-Jericho, the world's oldest town.

Qatar-The harbor of Al-Khor.

Saudi Arabia- The rock tombs of Medain Salah.

Syria-The ruins of Palmyra.

Turkey-Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean.

United Arab Emirates- bullfighting in Fujairah

Yemen- The limestone bridge of Shaharah

My visit to Italy day 1

I am soooo excited. Tomorrow will be my first full day in Italy!!!!!! We all should be asleep right now because my mom wants us to get on the right schedule but none of us are tired because it is 2:00 p.m. in Santa Barbara right now. We arrived in Rome about 7 hours ago. My sisters were really annoying and cranky because they were tired so we ate quickly at a small, family owned Italian restaurant down the street from our hotel. I ordered Spaghetti, of course, and they both shared a small pizza. Since everyone was tired we didn't talk much as we ate and slowly staggered to our hotel. Our hotel is VERY, VERY old!!! The window looks out to some old apartments with clothes lines hung with old lady underwear and baby shirts. We all took showers and at 7:00 we quickly fell asleep in one bed (even though there were three). When i woke up it was 12:00. I was really discombobulated because it felt like it was 2 in the morning but i wasn't even tired. Every one else was up also but they were just lying in bed so i told them how early it was so we just turned on the lights and began watching Italian t.v. (which sucks!!!!) I think we are going back to sleep now. I can't wait

Once we all woke up (my mom, my 2 sisters Alex and Gabi) we started walking down our street looking for a good breakfast place. We finally chose a restaurant with no one it in. I ordered an Italian hot chocolate, my first of soon to be many. After we were done we walked to Termini, the train station, to pick up Alison Katnic (my moms best friends) She was even more excited then we were!!! At Termini Station we bought tickets to go on a tour bus around Rome. We hopped on the almost empty bus just in time for it to leave and set of onto our first of many adventures together!!! While on the bus we saw Piazza Venezzia, Piazza Navona, Maria Maggiore, S Giovanni in Laterano, Piazza di Spagna and ended at Piazza del Popolo. We hopped of the bus and started walking along Via del Corso, a very long road ending at the piazza. It was the most crowded street i have ever seen!!! It was some holiday so the streets were full of people. As we wondered around the beautiful streets looking at shop windows and buildings we spotted a Pizzeria. We all were hungry so we entered. It was really crowded so we couldn't find a place to sit. Finally someone left so we sat down and ordered. We all got 2 slices of pizza and shared them. It was the best piece of pizza have ever had!!! After we were all done with our wonderful meal we began walking again. After we got to the end of Via del Corso I spotted the Trevi Fountain. I had seen it in the Lizzy Maguire Movie (hahah) so i kind of knew what it looked like but i had no idea how beautiful it actually was. As every one made a wish in the fountain my mom was thinking of where to go next. She remembered that there was a really good gelato place a block down so we decided to go there. It was like no other gelato, or even ice cream, store i have ever been to. Every flavor of gelato had its own special temperature that it was kept in and there was SUCH exotic flavors like mandarin, honey, and even rum!!! All of us loved our flavors and so we began walking again. We were a couple blocks away when Alison and I both realized we REALLY needed to go to the bathroom. A block away we saw a huge building so we started towards there. It turned out it was The Tomb Of The Unknown soldier museum. As we walked though the exhibits we found out a lot of interesting things. Finally we got to the roof of the huge, old building where the bathrooms were said to be when we looked out at the view. It was so spectacular! We could see ALL of Rome! This was one of my favorite experiences today and we just stumbled across it!!!
As we continued walking we came across a church with a red carpet leading up and around it with candles everywhere. There was a band out in front getting ready to play. We were interested on what was going on so my mom went and asked what was happening. It turned out that the Cardinal was inside. We quietly went in in the church and took some seats in the back. The Cardinal was walking with a young boy by his side holding a smoking chalice. We listened to him speak (which was really boring because i didn't understand any of it.) for a while when we realized it was gwtting dark so quietly, we tip-toed out the side entrance.
After taking a few pictures we decided to take a quick look at the ruins rite next to the church. I was quite happy about this because for some reason i really like history and old things so i knew i was going to like it. There was a little overhang along the street where you could look out at the ruins. They were the most entrancing thing i had and have ever seen!

We took a taxi to our hotel and had dinner in the little buffet there. Once we were all way past just "full" we decided to take a late night walk to the Parthenon. The Parthenon in Rome was originally built as a temple for all of the gods of Ancient Rome.
After I laid against the huge pillars, thinking about what it would be like to live back then, my mom said we had to go. All of us quickly fell asleep as soon as we got in bed...except me. I should probably go to sleep now. We are waking up early to begin new adventures!!!