Lili on the Loose - Lili on the Loose: On Life and Getting Lost

14 08, 2017

Travel Missteps: Ojo Rosa (Pink Eye)

By Lili|August 14th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2017, Beach Hopping 2017, Bocas del Toro, Bocas Town, Boquete, Caldera, canyon, Chiriquí, contacts, eyes, G Adventures, horse, horseback riding, Los Cangilones de Gualaca, ojo rosa, Panama, pink eye, sick|0 Comments

I was already pretty miserable at this point in my Costa Rica/Panama trip. A few days before I had popped my eardrums badly, and was having hard with balance and hearing. The day after that I caught a nasty cold from keeping my room's AC down too low. So between the popping of my ears, the runny nose, and the drainage in my throat causing me to cough a lot, I didn't notice that my eyes are giving up on me too. To be fair, I wasn't using them all that much that day. The 5+ hour travel day from

11 08, 2017

Offering of Maui Gold

By Lili|August 11th, 2017|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2007, Black Rock, golden, Hawaii, Ka'anapali Beach, Maui, Old Friends 2007, Pacific, Pacific Ocean, Photo Friday, sunset, USA|0 Comments

At Black Rock in Maui, at sunset you can watch a show where locals climb the black rocks, present an offering and then jump off the cliff into the ocean. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

10 08, 2017

Natural Destinations Shaped by Water

By Lili|August 10th, 2017|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Travel|Tags: Infographic, Travel Thursday, water|0 Comments

I'm always so interested in how our landscapes have changed over time. How you can see the the strata in layers of sedimentary rocks. But I often forget the force of water behind the creation of so many amazing travel destinations. This infographic by HighTide Technologies helps show some of the most amazing ones!

7 08, 2017

Museum Monday: Numismatic Museum of Costa Rica

By Lili|August 7th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2017, Banco Central de Costa Rica, banknotes, Beach Hopping 2017, bills, Casa de Moneda, Central America, Coin Museum, coins, Costa Rica, gold, Museo Numismático, Numismatic Museum, Plaza de la Cultura, San Jose, silver|0 Comments

The Banco Central de Costa Rica has multiple museums in its subterranean location underneath the Plaza de la Cultura in San Jose, Costa Rica. On the ground level is the pair "museums" of Museo Numismático and Casa de Moneda (while deeper down is the Museo del Oro Precolombino). These top two museums features the historical use of currency in Costa Rica and its oldest pieces are from 1516. You'll see coins, banknotes, and tokens from private companies as well as proofs, dies, and a printing press. Here are a few from the collection: This interesting set with the die used to make them

5 08, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Resplendent Quetzal

By Lili|August 5th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2013, art, Central America, Flores, Guatemala, Mayan Encounter 2013, painting, Resplendent Quetzal|0 Comments

While exploring the small island of Flores, Guatemala I spied this large wooden painting featuring Guatemala's state bird, the Resplendent Quetzal. As I had a smaller wooden painting from Costa Rica, I thought this would be a good addition to my collection! Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

4 08, 2017

National Treasure

By Lili|August 4th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Pop Culture, Travel|Tags: 2013, columns, DC, declaration of independence, Movie, Museum Madness, National Archives, National Treasure, Nic Cage, North America, Photo Friday, USA, Washington DC|0 Comments

I don't know how many times I heard the joke about Nic Cage trying to steal the Declaration of Independence while touring the National Archives. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

31 07, 2017

Travel Missteps: Creepy Taxi Ride

By Lili|July 31st, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2015, Africa, airport, Cairo, creepy, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, Giza, Middle East, taxi|0 Comments

I was glad when one of my other group members said they had scheduled a taxi to the airport for 150 EGP, because I too only had 150 EGP left! And I didn't want to have to pull out more EGP on my last afternoon. But to my dismay no one at the hotel would schedule me a taxi for that price. They wanted around 350-400 EGP. I tried to plead my case, that my "friend" just got a taxi for 150 EGP! They just pointed outside and said, "Try your luck outside then if you don't have the money!"

28 07, 2017

Fishing on the Mediterranean Sea

By Lili|July 28th, 2017|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Alexandria, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, fishing, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Mediterranean, Mediterranean Sea, Middle East, Photo Friday, Sea|0 Comments

I was lucky to have a gorgeous morning in Alexandria before storm clouds came in. While seeing the Citadel of Qaitbay I spotted this loan fisherman, who was so still and clam despite the waves breaking on the stones in front of him. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

27 07, 2017

Hieroglyphs of Philae Temple

By Lili|July 27th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Agilika Island, Aswan, cartouche, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, G Adventures, hieroglyphs, Horus, Isis, Middle East, Osiris, Philae, Philae Temple, Travel Thursday, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I took many photos in Egypt. Each tomb and temple fascinated me. Especially the hieroglyphs that adorn the walls. Here are some of my favorites from Philae Temple near Aswan, Egypt. A cartouche. A depiction of Isis, who the temple is dedicated to. A pharaoh giving offerings to Osiris. Horus surrounded by lotus flowers. Isis giving the sign of life to the pharaoh. Many of the faces were defaced by early christians, it was pleasing to see these three still with such good detail. A lion and flowers on one of the smaller side temples.

24 07, 2017

Museum Monday: Standing Ramses II Statues at Memphis

By Lili|July 24th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Colossus of Ramses II, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Great Temple of Ptah, Hieroglyphics, Memphis, Middle East, mit rahina museum, Pharaoh, Photo Essay, Rameses II|0 Comments

While the open-air museum at Memphis is known for the colossal statue of Ramses II there are two great deception of the Pharaoh wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt on the grounds. The first is found next to the garden area. The second is found among the rows of broken statues. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.