Travel - Lili on the Loose

13 08, 2015

Cave Tubing in Belize

By Lili|August 13th, 2015|Categories: Activities, Travel|Tags: 2013, Belize, Cave, Cave Tubing, Caves, Caves Branch River, Caye Caulker, Central America, dark, Mayan Encounter 2013, Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve, San Ignacio, Travel Thursday, Tubing|0 Comments

Coming from Boulder, CO I’m no stranger to tubing down a river, but Belize offered a new twist on that activity: Cave Tubing! Belize is known for having the largest cave systems in all of Central America, but the most popular cave tubing is found at a small part of the Caves Branch River at Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve near Belmopan. Here you will goes through 5 different caves, weaving between sunlight and darkness for almost 5 miles! Coming to the end of a cave! Our plan was to stop for cave tubing while on the drive from

10 08, 2015

Review: The Power of Poison at Denver Museum of Nature & Science

By Lili|August 10th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel, Travel Review|Tags: Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, exhibit, Fantasy, museum, North America, Poison, The Power of Poison, USA|0 Comments

Last month The Power of Poison opened up at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. While I didn't like the recent Mythical Creatures (ongoing until September 7th), I absolutely loved the Power of Poison! I found the way the exhibit is laid out beautifully with clearly planned themes, each with a different but congruent feel. Colombia's Chocó forest model. I recommend to come in the early hours of the exhibit so you can have it mostly to yourself. There are many smaller artifacts that require attention to read the place cards. I also would suggest this only for

8 08, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: In fair Verona, where we lay our scene…

By Lili|August 8th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2005, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Europe, Italy, love letters, romeo and juliet, statue, Verona|0 Comments

Romeo and Juliet is one of the best known plays by Williams Shakespeare and takes place in Verona, Italy. In Verona you can visit "Juliet's Balcony" which is in a courtyard and use to have a statue of Juliet. It is said that those who touch her right breast you'll be lucky in love. So many people touched her breast that it destroyed the statue and was recently removed. People also leave pleas on notes or graffiti on the way into the courtyard also looking for Juliet's help. I found it a bit ironic due to how the story ends.

3 08, 2015

Travel Missteps: Negotiating a Discount

By Lili|August 3rd, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2006, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Barter, Discount, Europe, Haggle, Italy, Leaning Tower, Pisa, shopping, Sister, Trafalger, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

Follow my blog with Bloglovin The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a gauntlet of gaudy souvenir hawkers and littered with people taking that same vacation snapshot. Neither of which is necessarily a bad thing. As long as you are aware of that going in, you’ll be fine. So after enjoying the lesser known Pisa Church and Baptistry my sister and I made our way out of the area when one of the many souvenir sellers called out to us, and his wares caught our eye. The Leaning Tower of Pisa He had fashion watches, jewelry, and knock off

30 07, 2015

Follow Your Feet at Lan Su Garden Portland, OR

By Lili|July 30th, 2015|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2012, North America, North Pacific Coast 2012, Oregon, path, pathway, Portland, stone, stones, Travel Thursday, USA|Comments Off on Follow Your Feet at Lan Su Garden Portland, OR

Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden is a beautiful place to check out on your visit to the city. Beyond the beautiful pagodas and variety of plants I was also amazed by the intricate stone pathways. They said that these stones were hand selected for placement, and were designed to be able to walk barefoot in meditation. The juxtaposition of the smooth river rocks and flat stones would give you a different feeling as you walk. Each area of the garden has its own stone designs. And will have a different feeling depending on the time of year, lighting, and how

27 07, 2015

Museum Monday: Cartier Pearl Necklace

By Lili|July 27th, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century, cartier, Colorado, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, diamonds, museum, North America, pearls, platinum, USA|0 Comments

The Denver Art Museum had an exhibit called Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century which I was lucky enough to see in its last few days. I was mesmerized by some of the older designs, including this 1911 necklace that features platinum, diamonds, and pearls. Its hard to see but the connectors of the chain are a swirl around a 4 diamond floral pattern. Before cultured pearls, pearls were worth more than diamonds. 1911 Cartier Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

25 07, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Money Cat

By Lili|July 25th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 1997, Beckoning Cat, cat, Hawaii, International Marketplace, Japan, Lucky Cat, Maneki Neko, Money Cat, Neko, North America, Oahu, Sunburn, Sunburnt 1997, USA, Waikiki|0 Comments

It is a bit ironic that I was ripped off buying a Maneki Neko (Beckoning/Lucky/Money Cat) at the old International Marketplace in Waikiki. I was young, and didn't know you were supposed to barter in the open air tourist shopping bazaar. So when they gave me a price for this golden cat, I immediately agreed. I was just starting my obsession with Japanese culture and just had to have a Money Cat. But it was an expensive purchase...nearly all of my spending money...and at the start of the trip. My parents were shocked I spent so much on it. They

20 07, 2015

Travel Missteps: Ripped Off

By Lili|July 20th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2012, cabbie, cash, Central America, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Adventure 2012, delayed, Denver, DIA, exchange rate, flight, hotel, late night, money, robbed, San Jose, scam, taxi|0 Comments

Budget travel means that you are trying to stretch your money as far as you can. Which means in my case, I often choose the cheapest flights, even if they aren’t ideal. Which is why I found myself at DIA late at night getting ready to catch a late night flight. But what I hadn’t counted on was my flight to Costa Rica to be delayed. Which meant I arrived in San Jose after 1AM, and found that that my hotel was completely full for the night. They kept speaking Spanish, and it sounded like they wanted me just to

16 07, 2015

Gondola Ride at The Venetian Las Vegas

By Lili|July 16th, 2015|Categories: Activities, Travel|Tags: 2011, Girl’s Weekend, Gondola Ride, gondolier, Grand Canal, Las Vegas, Nevada, North America, ride, The Venetian, Travel Thursday, USA, Venice|0 Comments

Me and my friend Heather enjoying our Gondola Ride. Las Vegas gets a bad rap of being gaudy and fake. But that is actually part of its charm and you have to enjoy it for what it is. Take for instance the Gondola Ride at The Venetian hotel. You are serenaded while being ferried around the waters of The Venetian hotel. The start of the indoor route. The inside route is a facsimile for Venice's tight waterways, and you'll float below bridges, shops, and cafes while the fake sky looms overhead and tourists gawk and take

13 07, 2015

Museum Monday: Triceratops Skull

By Lili|July 13th, 2015|Categories: Dinosaurs, Museums, Travel|Tags: Boulder, Colorado, Museum of Natural History, North America, triceratops, University of Colorado, USA|0 Comments

There is a little and overlooked museum on the University of Colorado campus called the Museum of Natural History. It is quite small, but has a good section on dinosaurs. Its main piece is a large Triceratops Skull. It even has its own personality and facebook page. Come check it out at the Henderson Building. Triceratops Skull Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.