Travel - Lili on the Loose

23 03, 2015

Review: Mythic Creatures at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

By Lili|March 23rd, 2015|Categories: Museums, Travel, Travel Review|Tags: ancient coins, coins, Colorado, Denver, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, DMNS, dragon, exhibit, Fantasy, Kraken, Mayan, Mermaid, museum, Mythical Creatures, Myths, North America, Pegasus, Quetzalcoatl, Review, Unicorn, USA|0 Comments

A Unicorn at Mythic Creatures at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. I had the opportunity to see the new Mythic Creatures exhibit at Denver Museum of Nature & Science last week at a preview night. As a child my grandmother gave me a book on fairy tales that captured my imagination. And as I grew up my interest in fantasy books and movies only grew. So I had high hopes for this exhibit! A modern take of a Pegasus as if it was a Carousel Horse. The exhibit is laid out into 3 sections:

21 03, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Irish Peat Turf Incense Burner

By Lili|March 21st, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Europe, Incense, Ireland, peat, turf|0 Comments

A quirky souvenir to bring back from Ireland is a Peat (or as its often called Turf) incense burner as its said there is no other smell that will certainly bring back memories like a Turf fire! Peat is the most common fuel that the Irish burn due to the countries many bogs which produce it. It comes from the accumulation of decaying plant and organic matter over thousands of years in natural wet/acidic bogs and mires. To harvest the peat by hand it is cut out of the earth with sharp hoes, then compressed, and then dried out as

16 03, 2015

Travel Missteps: Quit Your Bitchin

By Lili|March 16th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, CIE, Europe, Ireland, Old People|0 Comments

My first indication that my trip to Ireland would be unusual was at customs. My sister and I waited together and when we stepped up we answered the usual questions. When the younger custom agent asked us what we were doing we explained we were going on a tour. Curious he asked us which tour company and we said CIE. He then just started laughing at us. “You certainly are screwing with their demographics aren’t you?” He said still laughing. Confused we tried to find out what he meant, but he only replied “You’ll find out soon enough!” And boy

8 03, 2015

The Sounds that Travel with Us

By Lili|March 8th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Memories|Tags: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, All in the family Italy 2005/2006, Asia, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Backpacking it in England and Scotland, Belize, BuzzFeed, California, Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Christmas in Germany, christmas music, Costa Rica, drinking song, England, Europe, Germany, Good Food in San Francisco, Guatemala, House of Cards, Ireland, Italy, Japan, ke$ha, kesha, Las Vegas, Linkin Park, Mattafix, Mayan Encounter 2013, memories, Mexico, Nevada, North America, paradise, Robert Post, Sailor Moon, San Diego, San Francisco, Scotland, Sister Cities Japan 2004, song, songs, sound, sounds, St. John, St. John 2010, Toronto, USA, USVI, wild rover, Yea! Sports|0 Comments

BuzzFeed recently had an article about the sounds from Italy that will fill you with Wanderlust. And it reminded me of all the sounds I associate with certain trips. Here are some of my top highlights that will instantly take me back in time: Toronto: Theme from House of Cards Google Play and Amazon had the first episode of House of Cars for free. I figured, sure why not, lets see what the hype is all about. I watched the first episode on my flights out...and got hooked. At night I'd watch House of Card before falling asleep. San Diego:

2 03, 2015

Currently Traveling: Toronto

By Lili|March 2nd, 2015|Categories: Currently Traveling, Travel|Tags: 2015, aquarium, Canada, Hockey, jellyfish, NHL, North America, purple, Toronto, work, Yea! Sports|0 Comments

Hello! Sorry Travel Missteps is cancelled this week. I'm actually traveling last minute to Toronto Canada for work. I was able to visit the wonderful aquarium last night! Jellyfish #nofilter @ Ripley's Aquarium

21 02, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Bismuth

By Lili|February 21st, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Bismuth, collection, DC, fossil, mineral, Museum Madness, North America, rock, USA, Washington DC|0 Comments

When I was little I had a rock and fossil collection. I was obsessed with dinosaurs that my mother would hide rocks, small fossils, and minerals in the dirt and then allow me to dig and find them. At some point I lost the collection in a move. So when I went to the National Museum of Natural History I decided to add to that lost collection. It took me ages to decide what type of rock or fossil was I going to get in the gift shop. I had seen photos of Bismuth on reddit and found its geometric

16 02, 2015

Travel Missteps: The Little White Lie

By Lili|February 16th, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: bunny, cocker spaniel, Disney World, Florida, holy, lie, Michigan, North America, Orlando, pet, rabbit, retro, snow, Toontown, USA, Where Dreams Come True|0 Comments

Random Cute Bunny When I was 4 I remember going to a county fair. It seemed huge and circus like. And I remember having the knowledge that it was not my first county fair. So I made a beeline to the tent that would have the rabbits for sale. I fell in love with a white rabbit with red eyes and a little black around the ears. I don’t remember how much whining and bargaining I did but somehow we came home with a rabbit, cage, and food. I was so excited for my first real pet! (I

7 02, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Sukiyaki

By Lili|February 7th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2004, Asia, Japan, music, music box, Sister Cities Japan 2004, song, souvenir, sukiyaki, Tokyo|0 Comments

Sometimes the best part of the souvenir is the memory about buying it. In high school I was studying Japanese and our teacher assigned us a project to go to a local university's Asian culture week. I was obsessed with all things Japan, and so had a great time. One of the panel sessions that I went to was on the history of the song Sukiyaki. In 1963 this song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and is the only Japanese language song to do so. It is also one of the best selling singles

2 02, 2015

Travel Missteps: 1 Thing Not To Do In Washington DC

By Lili|February 2nd, 2015|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2013, DC, feet, metro, museum, Museum Madness, North America, pain, USA, walking, Washington DC|0 Comments

When I travel I do a lot of research. I particularly enjoy articles like “10 Things Not To Do In...” as they can provide a nice overview of common traveler mistakes. But on my short trip to Washington DC, I ignored one of common pieces of advice: Don’t Over Do It! But I only had 4 days in DC, and I wanted to see all the free museums! Protesters in front of the Jefferson Memorial at night. So I pushed myself hard. On the first day I went on a guided tour of to the National Archives, then

24 01, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Guatemalan Jade

By Lili|January 24th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, Antigua, Aztec, buying guide, Central America, Guatemala, Jade, jadeite, Mayan, Mayan Encounter 2013, necklace, nephrite, Olmec, shopping|0 Comments

When traveling to Guatemala, I knew I wanted to get a piece of Jade jewelry. There are two stones that are considered “Jade”: nephrite and jadeite. Nephrite is more common and is often used for carvings, while jadeite is harder and denser and so is often used for jewelry. Guatemalan jade is of the jadeite variety and comes in a variety of green colors as well as more unique finds like lavender or black. Jade was precious to the ancient Mayan, Olmec, and Aztec civilizations as it was a status symbol of wealth, power, and life itself. Thus, jade makes