 The year 2020 has just began and it already gifted me with the wonderful,magical, turquoise filled week in Zanzibar. Turned out celebrating New year in Moscow had many benefits besides spending time with my family, 9 hour direct flight to Zanzibar - new and off the beaten path location with white sand beaches and palm trees, what can be better? So when choosing where to start New Year it seemed like a no brainer. Quick researched showed that we would not need any shots to visit Zanzibar. Now if you are traveling to or from mainland Tanzania, or crossing border to Tanzania from say Kenya you would be required to provide yellow fever vaccination certificate, but if you are going straight to Zanzibar, there won’t be any questions, also the last registered case for malaria was years ago, so most of the people opt out of taking malaria pills, since they can have side effects and overall take a toll on your health. With this sorted I grabbed my organic anti mosquito stick, ton of sunblock and started packing for the trip. Besides your usual swimwear, floppy hat and sunglasses, swimming shoes would make a valuable addition, since sea urchins are common and you wouldn’t want to step on one and ruin your trip. An important note for packing, on June 1st 2019 Tanzania banned plastic bags, more specifically it banned it's use, production, import and export, violators would face a fine of up to $ 2,000 or up to 2 years in prison, so no plastic bags while packing to Zanzibar.  Swinging on a Bwejuu beach The day has come and 9 hours later we swapped cold and somewhat grey Moscow skies to hot and bright Zanzibar. The adventure begins with crossing the border and I gotta tell you this was the first time when the plane I just stepped out of turned out to be bigger then the airport building… Immigration is relatively easy, you pay 50$ visa fee at the border and get a 90 day tourist visa, all seams pretty straight forward, but somehow crossing the border was kinda of a mayhem… People from the plane all rushing in at the same time, not knowing where to go and what to do and who to give forms too … The whole process seamed to be poorly organized, coupled with long trip, lack of AC and lingering dehydration it made the experience a little lacking… The good news is that this is the most stress you will ever face in Zanzibar, because after this it is all smiles, sun, palm trees and ocean so gentle, you think you are being hugged by your mother.  Paje beach We opted out for staying in a small village of Bwejuu on a east coast of an island, quiet and somewhat secluded it was ideal option for us. There are plenty of hotels on a east coast and plenty of beautiful beaches, however the most popular beach is Nungwi, which located on a north of the island and is said to be least affected by tides. Keeping an eye on tides is really important, I have never seen anything like this in my life, the difference between low and high tides is drastic, water will go back for miles and miles, as fas as the eye can see, almost to the horizon - creating tide pools what you can explore, many people see colorful starfish and other marine life, sadly I wasn’t one of those people. High tide will give you the most beautiful scenery - shades of blue, turquoise and indigo, sky resting on a wide shoulders of the ocean, gentle waters embracing you, letting you know that you are where you need to be. Then the same exact spot during the low tide would be completely different, no more blue… no more water. You will see new landscape, boats are no longer floating but haphazardly “sitting" on a sand and even though the change is graduate it is so complete, that you would feel like you were moved to a different planet. Tides are controlled by the moon and would happen at the different time of the day, so the your best bet is to download the tides app on your phone, so you are always in the know, we arranged our whole schedule around tides, to make sure we get the best out of our vacation.  Low tide, Jambiani beach We didn’t want to be tired up to our hotel so we rented a scooter to explore beaches around us and venture out on a big road to get a taste of real deal, not just hotel grounds. Renting one out was relatively easy, once you show up on a beach you would be greeted by smiling locals, who would always ask you where are you from and then will say few things in your native language. These guys serve as tour guides, car rental dealers, fruit sellers, basically anything you can possibly need, they are there for you. They come by every day and always offer their services but never in an invasive way, which is really nice. You will need to bargain, it is almost expected of you. After some negotiation we settled on a 15$ a day for a scooter. To rent in Zanzibar you would need international drivers license and a special permit, that coast 10-15$, the last one is really important. The very first day we went to the neighboring Paje beach, which is much livelier than ours, it is know for kite surfing and is home to lots of kiting schools and laid-back beachfront cafes, perfect for lazy lunch. Few days later we decided to drive further away, hit the road and ventured out and hour and half away up north for a lunch at the small restaurant in Uroa. We drove by famous Jozani forest home to a Columbus monkeys and saw some real Zanzibar flair, some local shops, which are basically stalls by the side of a road, full of character. While in New York it’s not unusual to see a bodega cat leisurely stretch it’s body over the loath of bread, in Zanzibar the local shop clerk will play the role of said cat, curling up next to a pile of bananas and mangos. Driving around, peeking into day to day lives of people was an adventure in itself, but we also got a bit of excitement on a way back, we were stopped by local policemen, who got real upset once he saw, that we have all the paperwork straight, remember the special permit I told you about before, and had our helmets on, so he had no choice but to welcome us to Zanzibar and let us go on our merry way, so remember - helmet and permit and you’ll be fine.  Easy rider Most of the people speak english, at least in the touristy places, but you will undoubtedly hear few Swahili words. First of all “Jambo!” - a friendly greeting always followed by a big smile. Which I gather roughly means hello and how are you all at once. The other greeting you might hear is “Habari”, I only heard is once or twice tho … you could also hear a traditional muslim “Salaam Alaikum”, which is obviously not a swahili word,but is used as a greeting widely in Stone Town or city of Zanzibar. Circling back to swahili - the next important one - “Pole pole”, which means “slowly-slowly” it is principle that rules life in Zanzibar and celebrates slow passed life, savoring the moment, enjoying the now. “Pole - pole” means you should leave your jittery New Yorker behind, it means that a cup of coffee could take a half an hour to make, it means letting go. Next up is one of my favorites “Hakuna Matata” which we all know from Timon and Pumba “means no worries, for the rest of your life, it’s a problem free philosophy”. This is basically what was happening in my head every time I heard that phrase, nearly breaking into the Lion King dance/singalong. The word that I used most often - “Asante” and “Asante Sana” which means "thank you” and “thank you very much”. It is the littlest thing, but every time people heard it, their faces would light up and I would hear back a beautiful melody of “Ka-Ri-Bu” - “you are welcome” back. So take it from me “Asante Sana” is your ticket.  I found that people in Zanzibar are filled with kindness, at least the once I have met, nowhere else in a world I smiled so much and so intensely to everyone around me, because when you are greeted with smile, you can’t help but smile back. People, who work in our hotel were the nicest ever, it felt like they genuinely wanted to make you feel welcome and comfortable, it felt like you are being greeted by distant family members, who haven’t seen you in a while, but so happy you finally made it. So even the power outages, spotty wi-fi, none existent water pressure - nothing tarnished our mood,we never called to complain about these things, well even if we wanted to, we couldn’t call, because the phone wasn’t working as well, but really we never wanted to, would you really complain to your family about slow wi-fi? I guess the hardest part was water shortage. In Africa you start to feel that the running water in fact is a miracle and you learn to treat it as such. I have been an ambassador for Georgie Badiel foundation for many years and know a lot about clean water access in african countries (Georgie is working on providing clean drinking water for people of Burkina Faso and you can lear more about her work here - https://www.georgiebadielfoundation.org/about-gbf/.  Approaching the Prison island While there are many activities you can do in Zanzibar like visiting the Stone Town, which is listed as a UNESCO heritage site, going on a "Blue Safari” to explore the marine life, seeing dolphins, visiting spice farms (spices are one of the main exports of Zanzibar) we decided that we want to have a relaxing slow passed vacation so we only got around to taking one tour - the Prison Island, romantic, right? Now despite what the name suggests the Prison Island or Changuu Island - never held any prisoners on it, even tho it was built as such and the main reason to visit it is to see new inhabitants - giant tortoises from Seychelles, that were gifted years ago and been living on that island ever since. The oldest one I saw was 134 years old, but I have heard that there are 190+ years old ones somewhere out there. Meeting these giants was an incredible experience and for someone who is over hundred years old those guys moved pretty fast, especially when they wanted to munch on greens you get when you enter the tortoise part of the island. To get to the Changuu Island you would need to take a boat from Stone Town. The thing to remember here is that Zanzibar is predominantly muslim and while hotel areas and beaches are not restricted or censored in what tourist would wear it is advisable to keep certain dress code in mind of you find yourself walking around in Stone Town, if you say decided to visit former flat of Freddy Mercury, before he was Freddy. Of course no one would cast a stone at you if you show up in booty shorts and tank top, but I think it is important to be respectful to people who’s home you are visiting and it wouldn’t kill you to cover up for a few hours, general idea is no open back, crop tops, tank tops, basically make sure that your knees, shoulders and belly are covered and you are good to go. We paid total of 70$ for 2 people for a private tour, which included the transfer from our hotel to Stone town and back (about hour and half by car one way), boat ride to and from the island, a tour guide and admission. All in all well worth the money.  Making friends One more touristy thing we did out there was getting lunch at the famous “The Rock” restaurant, perched atop of a rock on a Pingwe beach. During the low tide you can simply walk up to it, but during the high tide it becomes an island of its own and you will need to use a boat to get to it. The scenery changes with tide and guarantees a unique experience every time. The place is beautiful and otherworldly, but this is the only restaurant in Zanzibar, where “pole-pole” principle seemed to be missing, the food came out with lightning speed and unless you ordered lobster you were not guaranteed a smile. You could really feel that you were just a number at the table, the “noon” sitting, soon to be replaced by the "2 pm’ sitting. Food is what you would expect it to be at the "restaurant with the view” and the price tag comparable to New York restaurants, all priced listed in USD, having said all of that - the place itself is worth seeing and it is definitely an experience.  "The Rock" with tide coming in Last few things about our trip. There are many concerns surrounding trips to new, unknown locations, safety being the main. Here I would say the good rule would be - “Don’t be stupid” aka don’t flash your money around, don’t leave your stuff unattended, don’t walk around alone after dark ( the sun sets around 6.30 p.m and its pitch-black soon after), pretty much the same rules I listed for visiting Cape Town - here is the link if you want to read more about my trip there - http://www.dinarachetyrova.com/blog/exploring-cape-town Hygiene - water in your faucet is not suitable for drinking, even after boiling so always drink bottled water. Wash your hands often and carry around a sanitizer for those instances there is no running water, also bring along the tissues, because toilet paper is scares some places, bring along the mosquito repellant, there might be lots of them in the evening, I used an all natural, organic, herbal stick for kids and it seemed to do the trick. Cash - change money at the airport, before your transfer to the hotel. Currency is Tanzanian shilling but often enough locals would list prices in USD and would gladly take them as well. Sunblock - use sunblock, even though temperatures are really high the breeze from the ocean makes sure you are never uncomfortable or sweaty, my main concern, because I despise being hot to be honest. But even if you don’t feel like you are hot, the sun is really strong, so use sunblock, wear hat, seek shade and stay hydrated. Keep and eye on tides, while water comes in gradually it comes in strong, so you might all of a sudden find yourself far out in sea. Last advise - smile! You will get so much further ahead if you embrace the experience and smile.  Paje beach Despite the fact that after I came back from Zanzibar my mum said to me the same thing she said, when she found out I went skydiving - “Okay, so you did that. It is done, you don’t have to do it again, right ?” Despited the long way home, which included basically being 20 hours on a road, long delays and sweaty mess of an airport unable to fit in all the passengers Zanzibar was amazing! The most unexpected and thrilling adventure of 2020 (so far) with colors so vibrant - even I am still not sure they were real. Zanzibar was a dream! and I hope you will get to live it. Happy "Hakuna Matata". <3 Dinara  "The Rock"  "The Rock" during low tide  Prison Island  Prison Island  Paje beach  Jambiani beach  Bwejuu beach  Kite surfers at Paje  Low tide at Bwejuu  Local cow  More cows  Jambiani
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 Playa Domes January came around and filled my Instagram feed with vacation photos, it looked like everyone I know is by the sea somewhere,cue the serious case of beach envy. However an impromptu vacation seamed like such an unreachable goal, so I made myself agree with the thought that place don’t matter and I do not need a beach or sea or sun to feel good. The long bargaining process with myself was complete and by the time I have convinced myself that the bathtub with the sea salt is just as good as an actual sea my bf wrecked the game with he astonishing news aka $200 tickets for roundtrip to PR and back.  Playa Domes Now, I don’t know how this happened exactly, but Puerto Rico been slipping my mind this whole time, despite the fact that it has everything you need for a great vacation and I mean everything - it’s close (I live in NYC) it has palm trees, there’s Caribbean sea and practically unlimited amounts of rum and great, hospitable people. Still somehow I never made it there. Later on I realized that I have all these miles on my Delta account so I could get tickets for the trip practically free. The decision has been made - my bathtub can wait, we are going to Puerto Rico!  Rainbow in Isabela Neither me nor my boyfriend has ever been there, so we had no idea what to expect, where to go and where to stay, all we knew is that we wanted to stay as far as possible from San Juan, because it seamed like the most touristy part and we didn’t want anything along the lines of big resort where all you get is a very groomed up and distilled picture. We each picked a spot we wanted to visit - I chose Rincon, because I read that it is known for it’s sunsets and I am a sucker for a good sunset, my man chose Isabela because “it looked good on a map” (still not sure what it means btw) and we found a nice hotel we wanted to try out there.  Sunset in Rincon Rincon. It truly turned out to be a really beautiful place, rightfully known for sunsets. It is located on a edge of the western point of the island, so the sun sets right in front of you. I was a bit of a mad sunset collector, arranging activities in such a way, so to see sunset in a great spot every night, turned out the best place was our hotel all along. It also could be called a surfer’s town with the younger crowd hanging out on the beach and at the little dive bars around. The whole atmosphere reminded me of Bally in a way. There’s a cute lighthouse close by - Faro Punta Higüeras with the nice outdoor bar where you grab a drink or a bite and enjoy the surroundings. Keep in mind that the bar is cash only.  Lighthouse bar Bar is overlooking Playa Domes known for it’s competition level waves that attract countless surfers. It is worth stressing that this beach is strictly for surfing purposes, the waters are really choppy and there are riffs all around, so no matter how confident you are in your swimming the undertow is so strong, you really wouldn’t want to take any chances. Curiously enough this beach used to house nuclear reactor and you can still see the dome, that gave the beach it’s name, peeking out.  Flamenco Beach Flamenco Beach. Okay, so I didn’t know much about Puerto Rico prior to my visit, but one of the things I did know was Flamenco Beach, also known as one of the most beautiful beaches in a world. Naturally visiting it was high on the agenda, we booked a day trip and eagerly waited for the day to come. It indeed turned out to be the Trip. You see the Flamenco beach is located on a near by island of Culebra, where you can get by boat, leaving from Fajardo - charming place on a eastern edge aka exact opposite of Rincon, where we decided to stay. So in order to make it on time for our boat we would need to wake up at 4 a.m. and drive for 3 hours straight, if that seems like a lot add into the mix the sleepless night and some kind of stomach bug, that of course had to happen the night before big outing, multiply this by a 45 minute ride on a speedboat and you will get one of the most memorable rides in my life.  Flamenco Beach Still there are no worlds to describe how beautiful that place is and no matter how uncomfortable getting there part was - it was well worth it. I think it was one of the most magical experiences - the powdery white sands, making you feel like you are walking on a cloud, crystal clear, calm, warm water, all the shades of blue and turquoise, sky dipping into the sea - Heaven on Earth, no less.  There are two tanks left behind on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, bizarre image and a very popular IG op Our trip also included the snorkeling part - but sadly I spotted very few fish, practically nothing compared to say Hawaii, which I think says a lot about the state of coral reef and serves as a very clear message of a responsibility we need to take to be conscious of our environment. Speaking of which, i brought a bag of reusable straws with me on this trip and was annoying every bartender with my non-straw requests, but it starts with baby steps, I guess …  Enjoying the beach and making sure I don't get sunburned Even though the trip turned out to be and amazing experience - waking up at the crack of a down and driving well before sunrise have proven to be really challenging, so on our way back we decided not to do the planed El Yunque National Forest excursion.  Lounging in Isabela We spend the rest of the vacation indulging in a truly vacation behavior - lounging around on a beach and drinking pinã coladas and it was the most perfect end to the spontaneous and much needed get away. I did tipped into the adventurous part of me and rode a bicycle, which may seem like a nothing to you, but I haven’t ridden a bike, since I was 11 years old, so i felt, like quiet a risk taker, when I suggested we ride some bicycles around.  Yet another sunset There are many reasons to come back to Puerto Rico or visit for the first time:
 Golden hour by the beach People are very kind and welcoming, even though most of the road signs, advertising banners, grocery store labels are in Spanish, most of the people speak english and it is easy to get around and even if they don’t speak english, they would do anything they can to help you, like a really nice lady, who rescued us at the gas station, when we had trouble with making the damn pump work. The general mood of the people we met around was happy and relaxed. When you are greeted with the smile wherever you go, you can’t help but smile back. Now, I understand that I only visited couple of places and I have heard different stories about cars being broken in and so on, but I haven’t met someone with malicious intent… and I think that if you follow simple “don’t be stupid” rule you will be fine, same can be said about NYC btw.  Horsing around The food is great, really fresh and flavorful. Try the local dish called mofongo which is some sort of plantain mash usually served with some meat and sauce. Pop in Cafeteria Progresso,if you are in Isabella, where everything is equally deep fried and delicious. Ask for a relines de papa, crunchy shell reveals mashed potatoes mixed with corn and some other veggies with the minced meat center, kinda like a meat raffaello. Average dish is $2.50 with the most expensive item $4.50 - it is a steal. To be honest that was the cheapest place we found around, because usual prices are similar to the once in NYC, drinks are cheeper tho.  Rincon dusk The Reef in Isabella is also a really nice place with yummy, fresh sea food and a mean sangria. Rincon is full of small dive bars and grills. Mahi mahi tacos were delicious in Calypso. In general you can rely on a google when looking for a place to eat, since now they include every spot, that’s how we found literal grill stand on a side of a road, humble surroundings - great food.  Vitamin Sea If you are planing a visit (and I think you should) keep in mind that most of the activities/attractions such as Flamenco Beach, El Yunque, Bioluminescent Bays etc all located closer to the east side of the big island, so you might want to find accommodations closer to that part. All in all Puerto Rico turned out to be unexpectedly amazing and I would definitely love to come back again and explore more. Happy getaways. <3 Dinara  Playa Domes  Faro Punta Higüeras  Catching Rincon Sunset  Bikini bus  Morning shadows  Flamenco  Second Flamenco Beach tank  Hello February!The time when most of the people will be giving up on there New Year resolutions. Who didn’t join the gym in January, only to shove away that workout clothes in a deep dark corner of the closet in February. Most of us make this promise, get fit in a New Year, start exercising on Monday etc. etc, self motivation is a slippery slope and this post is all about that fit life.  Hiking in Los Angeles If you follow me on Instagram you can see that I try my best to exercise regularly, but this was not always the case with me. In fact for years I was more of a lie down and get a bagel then do some squats kinda girl. So I am writing this hoping that it will help you stay on track or may be even motivate you to start up. I, by no means, am an expert in the field, but I think this might be a good thing, if I can do it, so can you.  Bending in Bali First step would be to make a decision, do it because that’s something you want, not because everybody is doing it, not because it is in trend, not because someone else told you so, but because it’s a choice you make. This would be the hardest step… starting something is not easy, but it’s worth it.  Hiking up Lion's Head in Cape Town I started after a bad break up. Funny expression “bad break up” like there’s ever such thing as a “good break up”. Luckily for me, it was not a first heartbreak, so I was able to manage that feeling of heart dispersing into atoms and turn in into something positive. All this energy and time I had on my hands, I decided to put it into a good use and turn my heartbreak into a six-pack ( well it’s still more like a four-pack but who’s counting). I was not doing it alone, which brings us to the next important point, get a good support system, because it will be hard at the beginning, it will be new, you will have no idea what you doing and you will need a lot of guidance, so you won’t hurt yourself or others. I was very lucky two of my friends are great trainers, so they took me under there wing and helped me, pushed me, motivated me.  Lounging on a flex ball is my favorite exercise My very first session was hard, all I wanted to do was lie down on a giant rubber ball and roll around like a baby seal, but I was told, that it didn't count as exercising, apparently ... The hardest part was the day after… Once I finally got the courage to roll out of bed, literally roll, because getting up was not an option at all, I realize that this day would be really long, its very hard to eat, drink or even put on your pants when every part of your body hurts… I would of send my trainers a hate mail, but even typing hurt… When I asked them how do I stop this pain, they said - exercise some more, I hated them a little more for such an answer, but then I did exercise more and it did help and well, I was hooked.  Chasing waterfalls in Hawaii Next step. Set goals, but realistic goals and be patient and persistent. This is where trainers will be helpful as well. They can teach you what kind of exercises you need to do, how often and when, all of this based on what you want to achieve. Be patient and stick with things. I wanted a flat stomach, to hell with flat, I wanted a six-pack. So I would do 10 sit ups and lift up my shirt up- no? no six pack… what a scam… I would get so disappointed … Nevertheless I kept going and for the record it took around 4 month of intense abs oriented routine to get my four pack … Now if I get lazy from time to time and let it go, it takes me much less to get them back, muscles are great this way, they have a great “memory”  Stretching in Cape Town Choose something that you love to do, what works for you. If you are not having a good time, you won’t stick with it and if you won’t stick with it, you won’t get the results you want. Honestly there are so many options right now, you can pick and choose and try until you find something that works for you. For example I hate running. Like really I am not a runner. I even read that “Born to run” book - it did not help. The only reason I would have to run is a zombie apocalypses - but zombies are, from what I’ve seen in movies, really slow, so I should be alright just NYC walking; or a bear, but they say you are not suppose to run from a bear, so there’s really no reason for me to run, at least not voluntarily. Spin classes - not a fan as well… all of these competitive team cycling and don’t let your team down spin faster mentality, does not work for me. I mean, I just met those guys, I really don’t care if the blue team wins or a red one, I am not even sure what team is my bike in. Don’t know, don’t care, don’t want to know. Having said that - there are many people who find that this kind of exercise help them build there stamina and being a part of a team really motivates them. There’s something for everyone out there, you just need to find it.  Planking upstate NY I tried so many different things from hip hop dance classes - I looked like one of those inflatable guys attracting customers to a tire shop, to a pilates, where you needed to balance on a moving plate the whole time… It was a fun journey discovering what I like, what I need and whats most effective. Now I have my routine set up and I can do it wherever I go - in my apartment, in a gym, in a park, you name it.  Occupying friend's rooftops It is okay to slip up every once in a while… We are all human and life gets in a way of things, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Start again and again and again, and then you will realize that you are doing this for yourself and you feel good and you won’t have to stop anymore.  More hiking If you want to make sure that I am not just saying things and that I am actually doing it you can see my little fitness videos on IG under this hashtag #fitandslimwithdindin - cheesy I know. Din din is me btw, its an old nickname that comes and goes. The good thing about the hashtag is that you can see all of the videos together - so you will see the ones shot at the beginning when I wasn’t really sure what am I doing. You’ll also see some where I am failing, which is fine, everybody does, sometimes. You will also see some transformations and dare I say progress. Subscribe to hashtag if you wish to see what I am doing, maybe get ideas, inspiration, motivation, what have you.  Up and up I hope that this little post will help you keep going or start your journey. Let me know if you have questions suggestions. Happy workout <3 Dinara  On top of the World aka Lion's Head, ZA  01.01.2018. The dust of 2017 just settled down and 2018 is just starting, so this seams like a good time to glance back on what this year has been. I am not super consistent with my blog and to be honest, I am not even sure if people want to see/read it, but writing things down helps me put my thoughts in order, solidify experiences and reflect on things. It is the way not to miss anything, when I write something down I get to relive all these moments one more time. So here we go.  Roaming around in empty Met Like any other year in anyone’s life it was a mix of up and downs, but I guess that’s what life is, it’s a wave and waves don’t die … People surprised me times a million and there were a good and bad surprises all together, some times I was left simply puzzled, not knowing what happened, how did it end this way, it’s like you want to ask all these questions, only there’s no one to ask. So i decided to just let things be and accept that it just the way it is, no chasing, no questions, no demands of explanations. Lessons hopefully learned and I choose to keep focus on all the great moments of 2017 and there were plenty.  January 1st 2017. Brighton Beach Last year January 1st i spend on a beach, the Brighton Beach - so no bikini necessary. I joked that I am like everyone else in my FB/IG feed and “blessed” because I am living this beach life, I was a little jealous of those who got to spend winter in sunny, warm places, ok, not little, let’s just say it - I was jealous, we all are… Little did I know that at the end of January I get to visit Bali! Looking back at 2017 now I am realizing that there’s sort of the theme to it. It is a year when many of mine long forgotten dreams came true. You know there’s a list of places you wanna visit, things you want to do and some of them you are wishing for for so long, that it moves to the back of your mind, because you think that it may not even happen, so you don’t think of it all the time, not to upset yourself. Bali was one of those thing and I still can’t believe how lucky I got… You can read more about my trip to Bali here - bit.ly/2zZZnMJ  Bali happy Another awesome thing that happened last year happened in Los Angeles. I got to visit the Universal Studios and Six Flags. Growing up in Russia I wasn’t exposed to huge theme parks, I lived in a teeny tiny town after all. The only thing I knew about was Disney Land and only because they played the commercials before "Chip and Dale" would come on or "Duck Tales”, the commercials were always along the lines of - collect 10 yogurt cups for a chance to win a trip, etc,etc. I loved yogurt, I loved Disney cartoons but I never won… So as far as Universal Studious goes, I couldn’t even want to go there, because I didn’t know that “there” existed. When I came to America, I learned about it, but I thought that I am too old to be bothered. I was wrong, a lot, like really wrong. Universal was a blast and a splash and a hoot and a half. I loved all the rides and the studio tour, you are never too old for that,since it is simply magical and I got to be a child, who smiles so much his cheeks are hurting! Six Flags was a first too, but I was hot and scared and then hot again too many times to get the thrill of it. Still so happy I finally get to check it out.  Making friends at Universal Studios I got to fly to Hawaii and even though I only spend a little over then 24 hours there, I still count it a huge win, because I just love it there…  Golden hour in Honolulu My friends got married this summer and it was all together so special to me, because I introduced them to each other, what followed was totally there magic, but it makes me so happy that I, in my small way, helped them find each other, seeing them is seeing love in action and it always fills my heart. Moreover I got to be the flower girl at there wedding. Here is another dream, I didn’t know I had, come true. Again in Russia (I say that a lot) we don’t have a flower girl as a concept and later on I learned that usually it’s a role little girls from the family play, I was a 5 foot 10'' flower girl, not your ordinary wedding, huh? but considering that the groom wanter to ride in on a camel, anything goes. That’t one of the many reasons I love those guys, they live there truth and do what makes them happy. The camel didn’t happen though, the very tall, asian, twirling flower girl did :)  Doing my flower girl thing I got to ride in a fire department car and blow a horn! One more long time wish come true. The fact that it topped the end of amazingly fun and warm bachelorette weekend, was an icing on a cake!  New addition to Fire Department I saw a super bloom at Antelope Valley, California. I grew up in a very remote town in Far East Russia, where winters are long and trees are skinny… Blooming anything was never a thing, so I am getting super excited every time I see a flower on a tree, or Good god an apple growing on a tree, to me it’s like a miracle, so seeing the whole valley of flowers, that was like magic.  Photo by Mark Squires I received Presidential Service Award and Letter of appreciation from President Barack Obama for my volunteering with New York Cares. I write about volunteering a lot. You can find other blogs under volunteering tag or read more here - bit.ly/2qKblGo  Japanese tea ceremony I got to practice art of Japanese Tea Ceremony and share my love and passion for it with my friends and family. bit.ly/2C63Lf8  For the love of tea I got to see The Metropolitan Museum before it opens to public. Walking through empty halls, chasing morning light is a wonderful feeling… I reconnected with my homeland and discovered Moscow in a new light -bit.ly/2lDbFFG I went to Spain at last. Barcelona… a dream,that I had since I was a teenage girl finally came true … - bit.ly/2C6i17N I peeked at Vienna - a six hour layover, but still managed to find the absolute best beer and stuffed pita place, that was explained to me as a pizza with a hat on …  The Met Even writing this list down I am overwhelmed by how good this year was and I owe many of these moment to my wonderful partner and I am thankful for him being in my life. Don’t get me wrong, there were a lot of hard moment, a lot of sadness and uncertainty and some times doubt and fear, but I want to remember last year by all the glorious moments and I hope you would do the same in your life… Put a magnifying glass to all good that happen to you, relive it, feel it, multiply it. I wish that 2018 will be a year full of amazing travel, adventure, new experiences for all of us, I wish it would be full of life, great worth living life. Happy living <3 Dinara  California Superbloom  Honolulu sunset  Florida living  Bachelorette crew  Team Bride  Universal Studios  Universal studios  Here to rescue you  Salvador Dalí house in Portlligat Barcelona is without doubt the city living and breathing with Gaudí but when you think of Spain you can’t miss another great artist - Salvador Dalí and a trip to Spain won’t feel complete without paying a tribute to that man. www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/- this website is really helpful if you are planing to visit the Dalí museums in Spain, it gives you general overview and you can book tickets all in one place, which trust me you would want to do in advance when it comes to this museums. Even in September which is considered off season, you had to book tickets at least 3 days prior. There are few museums, each located in a different city, so it is up to you how many and which you would prefer to visit. We decided to do two.  Dalí Theatre-Museum. Yes, these are eggs, you will be seeing a lot of eggs ... Dalí Theatre-Museum. This one is located in Figueres, located about hour and half away from Barcelona when traveling by car, be advised that there will be few tolls on a road and even tho most of the booths have a card reader it is a good idea to have some cash on you, one of the booths did not want take a card, for the life of us … If you don’t have a car or don’t know how to drive (like me for example) do not fear - there are plenty of other ways of getting to Figueres - busses and trains … more info you can find here - www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/dali-theatre-museum-in-figueres/info-practica/com-arribar/  The Stage Figueres is actually Dalí’s hometown and the museum is located on a square across the church where he was baptized. As the name suggest the Theater-Museum was in fact a theater at one point and was bought by Dalí when it went out of business. It still has a stage and this theater feel, although you are not really sure who is on display here objects around you or you. Rooms are numbered, but you are encouraged not to pay attention to numbers and just get lost in a maze, which can be fun, but it took us forever to finally find an exit when we had enough exploring, so keeping track of things might be a good idea.  Courtyard Some people invest in having a tour guide, but they are such a gamble - you can have a great one, animated and entertaining or you can get stack with someone who is just going through the motions. I just kind of eavesdropped on Russian and English speaking guides - this way I found out that Dalí was actually buried in the Museum and I was standing right on top of the his grave, rather unsettling feeling. There are different attractions throughout the Theater where you can drop a coin in and you will be rewarded with a little entertainment. The main one is located in a courtyard - it’s a Cadillac and when you drop the coin it starts raining inside the car. There’s a little anecdote according to which Dalí was walking along the streets of Paris one evening when it started raining, it wasn’t long before he got soaked, but he had no money for a cab fare, so he just had to keep walking and he saw all these people passing him in there cars, laughing and smiling in the warmth and comfort of there shelter, that’s when he decided to create a car where it would rain inside…  Cadaques Second on the agenda was Salvador Dalí house in Portlligat. Port Lligat located right next door to Cadaques and that’t where we decided to camp out, the two are somewhat 15 minute walk from each other, so it really dosen’t matter that much where you stay. Figueres is 45 minute drive from Cadaques, so if you are planning on visiting both museums you can hit Museum Theater on a way to Cadaques, spend a night and then move onto the House. Again if you don’t have a car there’s a train, bus option www.salvador-dali.org/en/museums/house-salvador-dali-in-portlligat/info-practica/com-arribar/  More eggs ... With this one we tried to book in advance, but there were not tickets available on line, nevertheless the car was rented already and the hotel rooms are booked, so we decided to roll the dice and go anyways. Upon arrival to the hotel we asked the front dest woman to make a call to the museum for us and she was told that the next available tickets are only in 3 days, which would be too late. So the next morning we decided to just swing by - and we got tickets on a spot without problem, we were there at around 10.30 a.m. and the museum opens at 9.30 (opening time varies by season). You can always try your luck, but remember that, the visit is restricted to 8 people at the time in the house, which is nice, because you never feel crammed.  Inside the house There are two parts to visit - the house itself and the outside areas, olive garden, various viewing spots and pool. Your visit inside the house is somewhat timed, I think its about 10 minutes or so per area, you also have a guide who tells you a little bit about the house and can answer any questions you have, our guy was saying everything in 3 languages - Spanish, French and English. I was really impressed. Once you moved onto the outside areas you were left to your own devices - no guide, but also no timing you.  Dalí's studio. Most of his pieces were created here. As you can imagine the House is worth visiting, there’s so much to see and notice with your hungry eyes, you don’t know how to hold everything, the stuffed bear, greeting you at the front door, decorated with many little trinkets, the bird cages and tiny cricket cages (who has cricket cages, besides Chinese cab drivers ?), the Mirror on a wall, located at the exact spot so he could see the sunrise right in his bed, Gala’s private room with incredible acoustic - the list goes one and on. It is a funny thing describing a Museum, describing a surreal museum is twice as funny and describing the house of Salvador Dalí, well it is something else all together, so I would just post more pictures for you and leave it at that.  Greeter Bear The place is definitely worth seeing, I was so happy we actually managed to get in and the whole experience was just so overwhelmingly magical, I couldn’t stop twirling around and jumping up and down, which ended up with me dropping and smashing my phone mercilessly, so some of the photos you’ll see are shot on a smashed up phone - hope you still enjoy :)  Pool area Few thoughts about Cadaques. Even if your main purpose is seeing the Dalí museum you still might wanna spend a night or two in here. The place is small and charming with all the ships in the marina and lots of cute restaurants, tiny roads and flowers adorned walls. There is not much going on at this place, but this was exactly a change of pace needed after the non stop moving and walking and all-around hopping we did in Barcelona. There was nowhere to rush, nowhere to run to and it was nice, so Cadaques makes a great relax after Barcelona spot. Perfect for a vacation in Spain combination... Happy venturing into surrealism <3 Dinara  Entrence to the Theater Museum. Carbs everywhere, people on a facade are holding baguettes  Overlooking courtyard  Inside the Museum Theater  Inside the Museum  You can see these rocks in olive garden by the House in Portlligat   Outside the house at Portlligat  Eggs...  More eggs ...  and some more eggs  View from the house. Almost every room had a window, the whole place had a very light, airy feel to it  Courtyard view  Top of the garden  Pool area  Cadaques vibes  Blending in with the surroundings  Sunbathing, because there's no beach ...  Slight doors obsession  Happy Dalí  Sleepy Dalí  Talking to the sea Spain. In the long list of places I dreamed of visiting Spain was one of the firsts. I remember being in school and seeing Sagrada Familia in one of the traveling shows, back then in my tiny hometown in a far, remote and snow covered part of Russia, Spain and Barcelona and Gaudí creations seemed so impossible and unreachable, so the desire to see it all with my own eyes existed inside of me, but in a very faint way… like the thing that might never happen, something you are hoping for, but never truly allow yourself to give into. Later on, when I was already living in NYC and after traveling for a while, world no longer felt like a stranger to me, many things that seemed impossible before were now a reality to me, yet Spain, although no longer an unattainable dream, still would not come thru, even tho most of my model friends ended up traveling there for work, it just never happened to me that way and it still was a tiny dream, carefully tacked away in my heart. Years passed by “Vicky, Christina, Barcelona” came on the big screen and this might be cheesy, but it gave me a new wave of desire to visit the city that was always there on a back of my mind. I could feel the warm breeze of a lazy evening on my skin, I could practically hear the Spanish guitar, I already loved the city I have never been too. Few more years passed by and finally I made it to Spain.  Perfect day in Barcelona Now in a frenzy of excitement I totally ignored doing my research before going to Barcelona and just assumed that Uber or Lyft or some kind of similar service would be available there, years of living in NYC spoiled me into believing that everything will be accessible everywhere 24/7. So upon arrival I was greeted with the unpleasant surprise, none of the car services I am trained to relay on were at my disposal. So I scattered and downloaded myTaxi app, which was a challenge in itself, with the unreliable airport wifi, some 30 min later, I finally managed to call a car, only to realize when it finally arrived, that it was from the same taxi company, cars from which were lining outside of Arrivals exit this whole time … Big mistake, don’t be like me. Later I learned about buses that run from airport to Plaça Espanya and Plaça Catalunya, which provide much cheaper alternative - https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/airport/transport/barcelona-airport-bus-aerobus.html  Catching wind in my pants on Plaça Catalunya The thing about Barcelona is that there’s so much to see and do that you find yourself constantly on a run, walking and walking around and then walking some more, so comfortable shoes are a must. My phone was alerting me with “new steps record” notifications nearly every day, which came in handy considering tones of carbs I consumed that week. May be I was doing something wrong, but somehow I found it that in Barcelona you are constantly surrounded by one or other form of carbs, weather freshly backed bread paired with amazing olive oil, or toasted bread with some kind of topping, which makes tapas for 5 euros a pop, or bread sticks or pasta or pizza or rice in paella … Somehow I couldn’t escape the festival of cabs and cured meats … and well, I guess I didn’t mind it … but the 25 000 + steps a day gave me comfort and eased my guilt. I don’t want to say that all the restaurants are carb oriented, I’ve heard of a popular health restaurant “Flax and Kale” for example, I just never made it there. And there was one more place that stood out to me, the sea food place - La Paradeta http://www.laparadeta.com/en/. It is simply amazing, the freshest sea food possible, it’s arranged in a market style, you chose the sea food you like, choose the way you want it to be prepared and pay for the weight of things. Everything is heavenly delicious… everything is grilled, sautéed, steamed to perfection to crisp, bold, flavors… One of the best meals I had in Spain and one of the best sea food experiences ever, the place is quite popular and line start forming half an hour before opening and although it moves pretty quickly, line never stops, theres always people outside, so I would suggest coming early, also check the website or google for opening times, it works only certain hours a day and it is usually closed on Mondays - FYI.  Speaking of things being closed - all the grocery shops are closed on Sunday, that’s the way Europe is and its something to keep in mind, although worst comes to worst there’s lots of small bodega shops with bare essentials open late and 7 days a week. Many museums are closed on Mondays as well, something to pay attention to. Another thing to watch out when considering visit to a museum - lines, standing in line turned out to be inevitable - weather in line for a popular tapas place on a saturday eve, or hip restaurant or a museum, somehow you always find yourself standing in line. If you want to cut down line standing to a minimum I would suggest booking a ticket on line. Most of the activities you can book a ticket to with designated time, which makes visit pleasant and hassle free.  Park Güell In high demand things like: Park Güell - https://www.parkguell.cat/en/. Ticket 7 euro I walked for oven an hour, most of the time uphill, only to find out that tickets were sold out for that day, pretty disappointed I was happy to learn that there was a free of charge part of the park, where you can roam around freely, which I ended up doing and enjoying thoroughly. So consider getting tickets on line, to avoid disappointment, it is worth noting that at the moment Nature Square in park is under construction, so there’s a big hole right in a middle of admission covered part of the park.  Sagrada Familia Sagrada Familia - http://www.sagradafamilia.org/en/. Ticket 15 euro Do book tickets on line for this one, you would not regret it. It is the same price, as if you were doing it on a spot, but you won’t have to stay in line, tickets are timed, so you will know exactly when to come there plus, I think they monitor the amount of people allowed inside so do not worry about feeling crammed. Now I know that many people, tourists and visitors have Sagrada as a kind of staple thing, run pass it, take a quick shot outside, cross it of the list and be done with that. I urge you to go inside. It is simply magnificent … I didn’t look at any pictures from inside the cathedral, so the impression was that much stronger when I walked in. Tickets we got were for 5 p.m. and I think it was the perfect time of the day to see it. The sun was at the angle that let the light in through red and orange side of the glass wall (vitrage), it looked like the whole place was bathed in this golden honey light, making you feel warm and comforted… Snow white beams, shooting up, joining at the celling in a intricate pattern, light pods, that looked like something out of space ship, the whole place is amazing and it is overwhelming to think that it was designed all this years ago and to think of a mind who conceived it… I even shed a secret tear of joy, luckily everyone was too busy taking pictures and staring at the phone, so none noticed it… I stood in bewilderment - I am finally here and it is better then I could ever imagine it to be.  Under the sea feelings at Casa Batllo Casa Batllo. - https://www.casabatllo.es/en/online-tickets/. Ticket 28 euro This is an another must see. Granted the tickets are pricey, but if you book them on line you pay 23.50 euro plus you get an audio guide and a portable screen where you can see how each room looked like back in a day when Batllo family used to live there. The whole tour takes about an hour and it absolutely worth it both time and money, this house not only amazing to look at from the outside ( like many of Gaudí’s) buildings, it is also absolutely amazing to discover inside, and you get access to everything, every floor, outside patio and rooftop, the place is incerible … attention to details is immaculate, every little thing is in place and for a reason and If you want to feel what Gaudí creations are about - you should visit this house.  Casa Milà rooftop Casa Milà (La Pedrera) - https://www.lapedrera.com/en/home. Ticket 22 euro The most stunning feature of this place is the rooftop it gives you a fairy tail feeling, and as far as I know they hold concerts on the rooftop sometimes and I can imagine this being a transporting experience. Other then that - most of the building is not accessible, there is a bid with exposition at the mezzanine level, that tells you that Gaudí found his inspiration in nature, but honestly by your second day in Barcelona you know all that and you do not need a sea shell or honey comb in a glass box to convince you. There’s another level - Apartment where you can see how people used to live. You get an audio guide with your tickets and courtyard is really nice, but you should decide for yourself if this worth 22 euro… There’s a bit of confusion on a way in and I feel like most of the visit is you waiting in line for an elevator, if you want to skip the line, just ask where the stairs are - it is 8th floor and people will try to talk you out of it, but it is really easy and much faster then they make it out to be.  La Barceloneta The beach. La Barceloneta. - https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/attractions/barcelona-spain-beaches.html One more nice thing about Barcelona is a close proximity to a number of beaches, Barceloneta, might be the most famous(read touristy) one, but really there’s a whole strip of beaches located along the coast. To my disappointment this September was unusually cold, according to locals, so I couldn’t swim … those 4 bikinis I packed never made it out of suitcase, and even if I would put them on all at once one on top of another one, still wouldn’t be warm enough to take a dip … nevertheless the sea is always beautiful and it is impossibly blue in Barcelona … Joining the blue sky - what a sign for a tired heart …  Back of my head is my best feature at Park Güell Final thoughts: Be prepared to walk a lot. Walking in Barcelona is not a chore, it is in adventure in itself - you get to discover small streets and passage ways, beautiful buildings and cute lunch spots, do wear sensible shoes tho.I stayed at L'Eixample neighborhood, so I walked to every sight. It might make sense to invest into centered location, so everything is close by. El Born is popular, Gothic quarter is touristy, but you will be right in a heart of everything. If you do end up staying further away, I would probably recommend investing in Barcelona Pass - gives you an opportunity to use all types of public transport, which is really easy and reliable. Book tickets on line, this way you will safe yourself lots of hassle, standing in line and disappointment of seeing a “sold out” sign. You might also save some money, since some places are cheeper to buy on line. Only use the official web sites while buying tickets, like the one I linked to in this post, other places often charge you ungodly commission. Try to have an earlier dinner, most of the locals have dinner after 9 p.m. so thats when restaurants are busy and it is hard to get a seat at a popular place. Most of the places people speak english, so it is easy to get around, but make effort of saying few things in Spanish, things like “hello" and "thank you", it is not much, but at least you tried. Most of the places have free wi fi, they don’t always advertise it, but if you ask, you will get a password. Cava is a kind sparkling wine and unlike champaign it would not upset your stomach ( or is it just me who have thing problem) Cava is great. Drink cava and be happy. Be ready to eat good food, drink good 4 euro a bottle wine, be ready to smile a lot, keep your eyes wide open, on a lookout for the next gorgeous building, be ready to be floored by Gaudí’s masterpieces and magnitude of one persons creative ability, be ready not too see everything at once, to have the feeling that you are missing something, be ready to make a promise to come back. Happy exploring <3 Dinara  Casa Batllo rooftop  Casa Batllo rooftop  Inside the Sagrada Familia  Inside the Sagrada Familia  Inside the Sagrada Familia  Inside the Sagrada Familia  Sagrada Familia  Being an absolute tourist  Park Güell  Park Güell  Park Güell  On the way to the beach  Casa Milà rooftop  Casa Milà  Arc de Triomf  Disseny Hub  Mercat del Born  Taganskaya Metro Station by David Burdeny First time I visited Moscow I was just a baby. Big City overwhelmed me, I remember insane amount of people and trying to keep up with my mum, she had this plastic bag with her (very fancy at that time, trust me) with “baton” (something like a fat Russian baguette) in it, so I kept my focus on it, because I was really scared to get lost. We only spend half a day in Moscow, since we were transferring from one train to another. Needless to say I didn’t like Moscow back then, it didn’t help that from my point of you I could only see legs and butts of passing by people, which is not that exciting, the amount of people was also overwhelming and they covered up all of the pretty stuff that you might see around, also train stations are not the best places in particular, so that’s that.  Baby bear me with my Mum, first time in Moscow many moons ago, spot the infamous plastic bag Last time I came to Moscow was about 10 year ago, although no longer a baby, but rather a formed adult, I was still overwhelmed, everyone seemed to be always in a rush, aggravated and downright rude, I took care of my business, rolled my eyes and got the hell out.  Hello again Moscow! With my cousin and grandma. My long love for cropped tops is pretty real, also what's up with that face expression... So this time around when I took my recent trip to Moscow, I was not expecting anything, having lived in NYC for the past 7 + years I knew that crowds won’t overwhelm me, people rushing somewhere is my jam now, and I can personally speed walked past anyone on a sidewalk any time a day, sarcastic is a new black, so I was prepared to handle any type of rudeness that way. But when I got to Moscow this time, I was pleasantly surprised, I have discovered that it is in fact - beautiful, something I managed to missed during my “baton” chasing before  Muzeon Moscow met me with the sea of green, I never knew how many parks it has and everything was blooming, so truly a great time of the year to visit (late May) although I got lucky, because just a week before my visit it snowed, because Russia… If you want to visit parks you might want to start with Muzeon Park of Arts (http://park-gorkogo.com/en/muzeon) located outside of Krymsky Val building and shared by the modern art division of Tretyakov Gallery and Central House of Artist, it is an open space scuplture garden where you can stroll down look around and enjoy the view of Moscow river, Kremlin etc…  By the Moscow River There’s plenty of things to do and you can take one of the designated lanes for bicycles and rollerblades and zip down to Gorky Central Park which moves onto Neskuchny Garden ( http://park-gorkogo.com/en/ns) which according to the web site is advertised as a home of romantic lanes and friendly squirrels, “Neskuchny” literally means not boring, so I am guessing the squirrels are also fun… And if you feel like you still have some energy to explore, you can follow down the Moscow River and go to Vorobyovy gory (http://park-gorkogo.com/en/vg) where you can find an observation deck with the view of Moscow, it is also a hot spot for the biker community, so you can walk around and look at variety of custom made and not so much motorcycles. Take a moment to appreciate Main Building of Moscow State University - it is indeed monumental.  Mesmerized by the Red Square. May 2017 Monumental is the world that was on my mind pretty much the whole time I was in Moscow. I have gotten so used to narrow streets of Manhattan and that everything is growing only vertically here, that I was shocked by the amount of space Moscow have, forget narrow streets, it is all about width, size does matter. I think it hit me most of all when I returned to the Red Square (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/545) an adult now, standing in a middle of it, you couldn't help but feel the magnitude of where you are at, you feel the power and strength, you also feel suddenly very small and insignificant, but I guess that was one of the points of it too… Unique is the other world that comes to mind, because this architecture reflects authentic Russian style… Fun fact the name “Red Square” does not reflect colour (Kremlin used to be white at some point) but rather reflects old Russian world “krasniy” meaning beautiful, which it is.  Kiyevsskaya Station by David Burdeny Another thing worth mentioning is Moscow Subway (Metro). I have travelled around a world a bit and I can honestly say that Moscow subway is one of the most beautiful in the world. It is also truly reliable, unlike NYC subway, trains in Moscow do not suffer from identity crises, you know when B suddenly decides it wants to run like Q today, or express train last minute start making local stops, but always manages to skip yours… and while usual past time when waiting on your train in NYC includes deciding the level of cuteness among subway rats, you won’t have this opportunity in Moscow, lack of rats is one of the reasons and also trains are coming every 2 minutes (2 minutes people!) and you can see a little countdown clock, so you know exactly when the next train is coming, pretty neat, huh.  Komsomolskaya Metro Station by David Burdeny Now regarding the rudeness, I might have been extremely lucky this time around but everything I met was extremely polite, I had a number of random pleasant encounters in different places, this might have something to do with the fact that tips are not mandatory in here (again hello NYC), so servers in a restaurants are interested in providing you with the nice experience, but I also had pleasant encounters with people where tips were not involved whatsoever, I tried to get my nails done at one of the salons, but they didn’t have an opening, nevertheless they helped me remove my chipped up nail polish and insisted on me staying over for tea/coffee, who does that??  Botanical Garden Couple of other things that stood out to me: the amount of flower shops, everywhere you look you will find one, or two, it seems like the entire nation is concerned with getting/giving flowers, to understand how important flowers are in this culture you need to know that at some point the was a service that would provide giant flower bouquets for rent, so the girls could take pic with it and post on social media, for some extra money you could also get a luxury brands shopping bags, I mean … the amount of foreign currency exchange places and amount of foreigners (two might be somehow connected) Uber is super active and so it Gett, Gett was especially surprising… the construction - seems like the whole centre is under construction, which leads to infamous traffic … also it might take some time to realize where the hell you can cross the street if you are walking or taking subway church’s and mosque’s domes are insanely shinny regardless of there sizes even small ones are all dressed up. feminism is not as widely promoted, so man still think you need there help and not afraid to offer it, which I gladly accepted, because my bags were heavy and I am a delicate flower, but if I am being serious it was curious to see gender roles in action in Russia, which is still very really traditional in many ways.  Park by Novodevichy Convent I guess what I am trying to say here is that it took me some years and traveling all over the world to finally appreciate Moscow, to see it in another light and I am quite happy I was able to. Sometimes beautiful, exciting, unique things are right there and you are missing it, because you are starring at the “baton” picking out of plastic bag… If you would like to see more images of Moscow Metro please go here - dailym.ai/1WjFPNb Happy returning to Motherland. <3 Dinara  Concerned it might be raining at Clean Ponds  Clean Ponds  Novodevichy Convent  Artplay. Reminded me of 798 Art District in Beijing  Close up of mosaic work at Novoslobodskaya station  More in Botanical garden. Every weekend they hold open air concerts    Bali flexible This one is about my recent trip to Bali, Indonesia which was in many ways a very unusual and spontaneous one. You see, most of the traveling I do are work related, meaning it goes one of two ways: either 24 to 72 hours of airport-hotel-studio-airport or 2 to 3 month of living in a new place/country where I try to blend in and do as locals do, so this was first time in I don’t even reminder how long, when I went somewhere, for the sheer purpose of going somewhere, this was also first vacation in a really really really long time and damn, vacations are awesome, like duh … Now, if you are traveling from NYC like me, you need to brace yourself for a long long flight of 24 hours, connections and a 13 hours time difference, so anything less then a week trip is really not worth the trouble… Besides almost everyone I know find themselves looking at there flight info, contemplating extending there trip within first 2 days, there must be something in a water… My six or so days flew by so quickly, definitely keeping me wishing for more. More time, more adventure, more exploring, more living… but this is what I managed to see so far.  Balangan Beach Day 1. Started with the immediate desire to find a beach. It is January, it is somewhat 27 C ( 80s F) so you must go to the beach. I found that beaches are tricky in Bali, they are great for surfing, and if you are a surfer, you will be in heaven, but if you are a hopeless creature like me and not only do you not surf, but you are also a very poor swimmer, you may have to stick to the swimming in a hotel pools… Waves and currents are strong, so you might have to think twice before getting in a water… Getting in a water is made tricky by one more reason - trash. I have to be honest, never have I ever seen so much trash covering beach side and casually floating around the ocean, that made me incredibly sad and also served as a strong reminder of a personal accountability for plastic waste and recycling … Oceans and beaches are really not meant to be a trash can … There is hope however, I was happy to learn about young activist sisters, who started a campaign for a plastic ban in Bali, you can learn more about them here - www.byebyeplasticbags.org Now after lots of searching and driving around we stopped at Balangan Beach, which was small and less crowded, but again plastic … Sure you can stick to numerous beach clubs and enjoy there amenities but It was important for me to see an un manicured reality and I am glad I did.  Getting lost in Nook's rice fields Day 2. Grab a lunch at Nook - www.facebook.com/Nookbali/ it is as cozy as the name would suggest, white interior, open space and view of a rice field, great atmosphere and yummy food what else would you want?  Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ubud - www.monkeyforestubud.com This one I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about, my only previous interaction with monkeys was back in Russia in a kindergarten when we all took a picture with one of them and I got to tell you we both were equally terrified… I was really happy I did visit it in the end, the place is beautiful and in fact looks like a huge park/forest where monkeys roaming around freely, they would even try to boss you around, one of the little jokers was determent to pull my skirt off, unsuccessfully I am happy to report. There’s a temple on a grounds of this sanctuary and you will find beautiful sculptures throughout.  Monkey having an existential crisis There are few rules when it comes to monkey encounters and they are pretty much similar to what you would hear in a NYC subway, do not display valuables, don’t leave items unattended, do not eat or drink. Monkeys are quick, like really quick and sneaky, they will still your phone, earrings, glasses what have you. I personally witnessed glasses being snatched away from someone’s head and a flip flop being used as a chew toy. Other then that, it is really fun walking around,watching monkeys go on about there monkey business, they are a really cute creatures after all! Ubud is a home to vast number of yoga studios and many many temples, so if you have time, you should stick around for a while.  Cafe Bali Day 3. Have a bite in cafe Bali. Cute spot with homey atmosphere so much so that plastic covers on a tables kinda make you wanna go - awww… feels like you are at someone’s grandma house. Menu features local dishes and safe pasta, sandwich, salad options. Fresh juices in fact are fresh, but this is true of any places in Bali…  Pura Uluwatu Pura Uluwatu - www.bali.com/temple_Uluwatu_Pura-Luhur-Uluwatu_82.html This Temple is pure magic! Perched on a side of a cliff, surrounded by endless ocean, stunning views guaranteed. I think my heart literally skipped the beat out there and I truly understood what beholding something is … It gets pretty windy on top, but you feel that it is a good kind of wind, blowing all the troubles away, leaving you renewed …  Cliff hanger Pura Uluwatu or Pura Luhur also a home to a kecak dance, which you can see on a temple grounds but I think you need to buy separate ticket for that. As per usual - monkey alert. Important thing to keep in mind while visiting any temple is proper attire, you will need to wear a long sarong, this goes both for men and women, if you didn’t bring your own you could borrow one at the entrance, but I would suggest bringing your own, because you know … Also keep in mind that all of the temples are functional and are meant for worship so act accordingly.  Drinks ar Single Fin Get a drink and catch sunset at Single Fin - singlefinbali.com Plenty of outdoor seating, great drinks, nice music and breathtaking views, grab a seat and let the nature do the rest.  Sunset at Single Fin Day 4. Get a food poisoning. While this day might not be on your agenda it is something to be aware of, since many (myself included) have fallen a pray to Bali belly … Lie down, pray to God, contemplate life and just wait for this to be over and accept the fact that you won’t be getting out that one day. Come prepared and bring some remedies for stomach trouble, drink lots of water, hot black tea with sugar does the trick for me. However if you find yourself without needed medicine you can find charcoal pills in 7/11 and such, we use them in Russia all the time, they are completely natural and great absorbent, your best friend at the moment.  Deus ex Machina Day 5. For someone who doesn’t know how to drive, I have a weird fondness for all things cars and bikes like watching “Top Gear” (or “Grand Tour” now) so naturally I wanted to stop by Deus Ex Machina cafe - deuscustoms.com/cafes/canggu/#about Food is not of spectacular kind, but your eyes could feast on all the custom made bikes you could find in a adjacent store or simply parked out front.  View of Tanah Lot Tanah Lot - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanah_Lot Another picturesque site. This small temple is located on a offshore rock. You will get wet crossing over to the temple side where you can drink from a holly spring and get “blessings” but the temple itself is closed for worship only, so it is completely your call if you want to do that or not. This temple is heavily surrounded by various markets and gift shops, which I have successfully avoided, so can’t tell you much about those, but I imagine it is busy, loud and colourful …  Tanah Lot Grab dinner at Echo Beach Club - www.echobeachhouse.com Ocean side views and a great BBQ that gives you a choice of various fresh fish and seafood, which can be grilled to order your way, relaxed atmosphere and beach vibes all around.  Tanah Lot Day 6. Take Shelter - www.sheltercafebali.com/#home Bring your appetite and patience. Healthy food spot where interior and food are equally Instagram worthy… Great Acai Bowls, beautiful presentation, but stuff is extremely slow and inattentive, get ready to wait for your food/utensils/bill for a while. Despite the slow service, I would come back again.  People waiting in line for a purification ritual at Pura Tirtha Empul Pura Tirtha Empul - www.bali-indonesia.com/attractions/tirta-empul-temple.htm Perhaps on of the largest and busiest. This water temple is knows for it’s holly spring and serves as an important pilgrimage site for many devotees. “Holy water spring” feeds purification baths found in a main courtyard and the rest of ponds and pools.. Purification ritual is a main goal for many visitors, it is a spiritual experience so if you do choose to take part it in be aware and respectful, don’t just jump in a water and wonder about. There are man outside the pool who can help guid you through the process, they will explain the procedure, the meaning behind it and even give you an “offering’ ( small dish made out of leaf with flowers, rice and incense stick ) necessary for the ritual, all you need to do in exchange is tip the man, they don’t really ask for it, there’s not “fixed price” but it feels like a right thing to do. I would recommend finding on of these guys ( or rather they find you) because there is a lot to keep in mind and it could get really confusing, besides you want to make sure you are doing it in a proper way. So if you are planing on doing this cleansing ritual, please bring a change of clothes, and extra sarong because you can not wear a wet one on a temple grounds.  Taking part in Purification Ritual There’s also an inner courtyard, that is quiet and beautiful, worth taking a stroll through to gather your thoughts after the ritual… be sure to pass by koi pound on your way out, these were the biggest koi fish I have ever seen in my life.  Take advantage of close proximity to Ubud and dine at Sari Organik - www.ubudorganicmarket.com/Market-members/sari-organik It is somewhat tricky to find, but the location is worth it. This health oriented restaurant is overlooking rice fields and located on a farm grounds, everything is truly farm to table and you can actually see the farm right in front of you. Cute sitting areas in a garden and in the open space restaurant. Peaceful atmosphere and beautiful sunsets …  Sari Organik Day 7. Last day. Catch up on shopping, souvenir or otherwise. I simply roamed around Seminyak, checking small boutiques out in search of local designers and unique finds. Bali is famously known for its batik, so you will definitely wanna get something made of it, options are endless… Seminyak is full of cute cafe and restaurants, so finding a lunch spot won’t be hard. Check out Char Char -www.balinesia.co.id/charchar.php It’s out door staircase setting is perfect for people watching :) Lunch specials and Happy hour is also a plus. Head down to the airport and hold back tears, you will be sad to leave this place but you will be hopeful to come back.  Bracing waters Final thoughts: Get a bike rental, or someone with the bike. Traffic is rather harsh and roads aren’t that wide, so you risk being trapped in a car more, then necessary. Uber’s are available, but not really welcomed by local taxi drivers, so in many areas they won’t be available. If you choose taxi service make sure they turn the meter on, trickery and bargain are usual, Blue Bird taxi seams to be the most reliable one, but if you are staying for a bit, do get a bike and don't forget to get a helmet. There is a penalty for riding without, plus it is necessary, huge coconut fell on a road right in front of our bike and I was really grateful I had my helmet on. If you are coming during the wet season (October-April) get a raincoat and keep it handy, it rains on and off throughout the day. Use the sunscreen, even if it is cloudy outside, close proximity to equator means really high UV index, so it is best to be protected. Count your cash twice when using a money exchange, it never hurts to double check things. Stray dogs are roaming around, so you might wanna make sure your tetanus shot is up to date. Do yourself a favor and get a massage or 5. Massage parlors are plenty and price is somewhat 8 to 25 $ ( they are equally good, just the ambience is different)  PuraTirtha Empul Balinese people are very spiritual and every morning starts with prayers and placing offerings, you can find them scattered everywhere, even sidewalks and in front of shops, stores and other establishments, so watch your step, kicking it to the side would be offensive. I had an incredible time in Bali, it felt like that place is exciting in a other dimension, where time flows in different pace and you are completely at peace and worry free… Whatever you are seeking - you will find it there. Weather you want to go chasing waterfalls, play hide n seek in rice fields, dive into any possible kind of yoga, explore endless temples, surf, relax in a swanky beach clubs or dance through the night, you can find it all there. So come visit! Soak up the sun, soak up the happy, soak up the free. Happy exploring! <3 Dinara  View from Pura Uluwatu  PuraTirtha Empul  Sunset at Sari Organik  With 2016 wrapping itself up, I can’t help but think back to what it brought. While for me as well as many others it has been tough and in many ways surprising and challenging, I choose to focus on bright sides and be thankful for the opportunities I have been given this year. I was able to finally visit city that has been on my wish list for nearly 4 years, beautiful Cape Town, SA. If you are smarter then me, which there’s a big chance you are, you will zip over there now, since it is summer time that side of the world and will take advantage of hot African sun. I on the other hand left NYC heat and made my move in July, evidently ending up in winter but that didn’t spoil Cape Town for me one bit. Since I was traveling for work, I was able to stay for 2 month mixing pleasure with business whenever I could. I realize that most people don't have such luxury, so I tried to pin point the most important/can’t miss spots.  View of Table Mountain from Lion's Head Day1. Start with Table mountain (www.tablemountain.net) I was personally obsessed with it. I think I literally took a pix of it every time I saw it, which is basically every day, because it is hard to get outside without spotting this beauty. There are few ways of getting to the top: easiest would be using a cableway car, there will be a bit of a line on a ground, but nothing to be too worried about, cable car moves really fast and spins round so everyone get a chance to look around and possibly take some awesome photos, the trip itself is short but exciting; you could also opt for taking a hike up the mountain, I’ve heard different versions on how hard it is, from “it is super easy and takes bit over an hour", to “what was I thinking, took over 3hours to climb” so you be the judge of your adventure levels.  On top of Table Mountain Pack a little picnic and have a bite while enjoying the most spectacular view… The mountain is flat on top and it is really easy to walk around and explore the view from each side, it is hard to describe what you see, because you need to be there and trust me, you do need to be there. It doesn’t get to be one of the 7 Nature’s World Wonders for nothing.  On top of Table Mountain Head down to Camps Bay after. It is a beautiful area and often get compared with Malibu, CA, white beach houses and gorgeous ocean views, one can see why. Stroll down the beach and grab a bite at one of many restaurants with the view on Victoria Rd. Endless ocean with Lions head and Table Mountain as a backdrop will make your heart skip a bit. Stay for the sunset, you won’t regret it. If you are feeling extra fancy get a room at The Bay Hotel (thebayhotel.com) Outdoor pool, stunning views and clean design.  Camps Bay sunset Day2. Continue next day with Old Biscuit Mill Market (theoldbiscuitmill.co.za) in Woodstock, usually opens at 10 a.m. and it is better to make it there before noon. It really reminded me of London markets, like Brick Lane one or Camden Market. There you will find various artisans offering there product from handmade jewelry to natural cosmetics to local honey all of it in a industrial setting of former Biscuit Mill hence the name. Come hungry! Food options are endless and rather exciting, you will want to try it all and most likely you will eat too much.  Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Roll your food coma body to the next spot and feast your eyes on nature (Cape Town is really all about magnificent nature). Kirstenbosch (sanbi.org) is an absolute must. This botanical garden will make you feel like you are in a middle of exotic (um, hello Africa) and magical land. It’s rather big, so plan on spending several hours here exploring, roaming around or simply lying down and relaxing.  Taking a nap in a garden Check out the upcoming events (www.sanbi.org/events) you might get lucky and get to a summer concert or experience an open air cinema. Food wise there’s 2 options Kirstenbosch Tea room restaurant - which is more of your usual botanical garden cold sandwich cafe or Moyo that is a full on restaurant with lots of seating space. Try bunny chow - lamb ragu served in a bread bowl.  Vibrant Kirstenbosch  The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway Day3. Learn that "top is better then the bottom” and hike up the Lion’s Head mountain. It was really the most beautiful hike I have ever done.  Lion's Head Mountain from Signal Hill The hike itself is relatively easy except the small bit closer to the top, that made me mentally thank myself for those 2 times I went to Brooklyn Boulders, but once you make it to the top you can truly say “ I am all the way up” enjoy 360’ breathtaking views of Cape Town and meditate watching clouds slowly rolling off the nearby Table Mountain. Take a moment. Breath. Be still. Remember.  On top of Lion's Head  Sitting on a edge of Lion's Head Treat yourself to an afternoon tea at Cape Grace (www.capegrace.com/#/en/Dining/AfternoonTea) if you get lucky you will grab a seat outside and enjoy scenic waterfront views. Explore Victoria and Albert Waterfront (www.waterfront.co.za). Beautiful and busy area full of shops, restaurants and small local designer markets. Take your time end explore the harbor.  High tea at Cape Grace Robben Island ferries (robben-island.org.za) are leaving from this point as well and if you want to get in touch with the history of SA and Nelson Mandela’s legacy you will want to visit it, but plan ahead as tickets sell out quickly and the whole trip and tour take about 4 hours. Victoria Wharf Centre at the Waterfront is a great spot to top up your phone and change some cash, since there’s lots of exchange centers. Also if you are in a mood for sushi, one of the best sushi places is actually inside of this shopping mall - Willoughby & Co (willoughbyandco.co.za). I should mention that these are not traditional japanese sushi, but rather “creative” once which means complicated roll combinations, that still worth trying. There often times a line to be seated, but fear not you will be offered complementary wine tasting, which will make it all better.  Bo-Kaap Day 4. Shop till you drop. Start with the colorful Bo-Kaap (www.google.com/maps/place/Bo-Kaap,+Schotsche+Kloof,+Cape+Town,+South+Africa/@-33.9210611,18.4095455,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x1dcc676855f62c2d:0xecb3d386b6f6fa6!8m2!3d-33.9182226!4d18.4142522!6m1!1e1) Small and rather poor neighborhood that attracts tourists with it’s bright colours and juicy colour combinations.  Colourful Bo-Kaap Make a pit stop at Honest Chocolate cafe (honestchocolate.co.za) offering artisan chocolates and vegan desserts, relax in a cozy courtyard. Get your souvenirs fix at Green Market Square. (Burg St & Longmarket Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa) Everyone has pretty much the same stuff, so take your time and look around, compare prices and bargain, its the market after all, bring cash. If you are interested in local designers check out Merchants on a Long (merchantsonlong.com) this store showcases clothing and accessories made in Africa, even if you won’t find anything the store itself is in a beautiful historic building. Stop by MEMEME (mememe.co.za) that features up and coming as well as established designers. Long street in general is full of little shops and vintage markets.Take your pick.  Kloof Street House garden Have lunch at Kloof Street House (kloofstreethouse.co.za) great food in a beautiful setting with a lovely garden. Grub a drink at Yours truly (yourstrulycafe.co.za) on Kloof. There are 2 locations, Kloof one is bigger and has a nice outdoor area, opt out for an evening and you will get pizza or walk over to The Power and The Glory and get a drink and pretzel hot dog… or go all in and try Bombay Bicycle (thebombay.co.za)  At Yours Truly Day 5. Take a day tour of Cape Peninsula.  Chapman's Peak drive Here is where I left it to professionals and booked a day tour to explore everything Cape Peninsula has to offer. I personally booked with Cape Convoy (www.capeconvoy.co.za/capepoint.html) and was very happy with my experience. Rob was an excellent guide with the great sense of humor and we had a lovely group of people traveling with us, all around win win win situation, but of course it is up to you to decide, since most of the companies have more or less same routes.  Boulder's Beach Here you will get to see Muizenberg with its colourfull beach houses, Simon’s Town and Boulder’s Beach with African Penguins (I was most excited about) we also got to see the ostrich farm and the main attraction Cape Point, where you get to be on a very tip of a African continent and see Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, that is if you are lucky, I only saw fog that day, since weather Gods were unkind, but nevertheless I enjoyed that experience, hope you will be more lucky then I was.  Chapman's Peak Drive  Chapman's Peak Drive Also you get to feel like an explorer gazing at the Cape of Good Hope, wrapping everything up with the most beautiful drive of your life Champan's Peak Drive. I know I have been throwing around words like the most beautiful, gorgeous and stunning a lot, but trust me if you get to see it all you will know, that it was all totally justified.  Cape of Good Hope Day 6. Find time to visit wine country either Stellenbosch or Franschhoek. Unfortunately I don't have much to say about it, since I haven’t had a chance to go there myself, but If you can you should, because firstly it is completely different nature then the rest of Cape Town, people often compared this part with France and secondly - wine, duh. Something extra. If you love raw adrenaline you might want to do a shark cage diving and Cape Town being the shakiest of them all is a perfect place for you to do it, this you will have to research on your own, since I find the idea of being a fish appetizer less then entertaining. There are also crazies who want to fly and this is me all the way, so I tried paragliding in Cape Town and it was ahhhhmazing…. You get to fly off (in tandem of cause) Signal hill and enjoy the view of the Lion’s Head and the Ocean … I booked with fly cape town (flycapetown.co.za) but there are many options and everyone seem to be asking same price. I was happy with my experience, booking was easy, so was rescheduling, that I had to do few times, since weather was not on my side and couple of times, there were no fly conditions, something to keep in mind, since you might have to plan ahead, was totally worth it tho!  Final thoughts. Be aware of Sunday, Old Biscuit Mill is closed and so are most of the shops on Long, Sunday as I come to understand is for Church and Braai (bbq/Sunday roast) with the family. Uber everywhere. It is really easy, fast and cheap. Sometimes your uber driver might ask you to seat in front with him, since they are getting lots of heat from taxi drivers, who are really unhappy with the whole uber deal. Cash is King, sure but try not to use ATM. Most of the stories of robberies or fraud I’ve heard involved ATM and some sort of “let me help you” situation. I used my card most of the time, but since my only no foreign transaction fee card is Amex I had some difficulties, Amex is not as widely accepted as VISA or MasterCard. If I needed cash, I usually just changed it at the V&A waterfront mall. Safety wise, don’t be careless and walk around night time, take uber, ask him to wait if anything, it is totally normal here. Don’t show off your cash and just be aware and you will be fine. Despite many gorgeous beaches you will probably not swim, because sharks, many many snarks and also icy cold water won’t let you. Prepare to hear “hectic” a lot and it will mean wide range of things, prepare not to hear “Oh my God” because you are not supposed to mention Lords name in vain. “Vest” is any kind of top. “Blesser” is a sugar daddy, which I found hilarious and charming at the same time. Prepare to drink lots of rooibos tea and “five roses” which I am still not sure what kind of tea it was, prepare to eat lots of wonderful food, papayas and dates that will make you weep. Prepare to smile, because this people genuine kindness will most definitely make you. Prepare to have a time of your life. Happy exploring! <3 Dinara  Boulder's Beach  Table Mountain  Table Mountain  African Safari  Sea Point  Lion's Head hike |
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