Lisa Cheah

America!

Wednesday, 17. December 2008, 09:15:37

Title says it all doesn´t it.

Currently waiting for Magnar to come and get me, so we can head off to the airport.
On the mean time, contemplating my decision on going alone at least for a while.

Also, thinking how the heck am I supposed to carry a total of 19.8 KG on my back in mid town Manhattan. And not get robbed and what not.
All while trying to not look too much like a tourist.
*I hear the laughter in the background, of course no one would think I am a tourist right, with a backpack and maps and all that, I mean, every person in NY does that, dont they?*

Also, wondering how do I get myself to the Hostel for today.
Also, contemplating what sort of safety precautions I should always keep in mind.
Also, going through my checklist over and over and over again.
Also, thinking how much trouble will the Custom Officers give me when in America, and can I really get into it.
Also, bah!... way too many also´s.
Figured, I should stop thinking too much and just do it right.
Practice my street smart abilities.

Lastly, I wonder..
If I would get my cup of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts today. And where...
And how many cups can I get before I fall ill...

Oh well!
Really nice mix of feelings really.
Utter strangeness.

Wish me luck kiddies!

While I have the time right, since my iPhoto is now fixed... here are some random pictures from all sorts of times.

Lastly.

3 comments

Post Number 111

Saturday, 6. December 2008, 13:12:08

USA

How exciting!

Finally got my tickets to NY from the 17th to the 8/9th.

Really doubt NY looks like that. But oh well.

Halfway elated

Got loads to rant about Icelandair, but we can do that later. Marius seem to think NYC is not ready for me.I am more afraid I´ll get mobbed along the way, considering there are days where I will have to travel solo.

So exciting

No comments

Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Sunday, 23. November 2008, 15:52:30

Random

Anyone interested in going to Nobel Peace Prize concert? General question from Marius.

The cheapest available tickets are still on sale if anyone are interested.

They costs, 325 NOK per person, and the next level of tickets is for 525 NOK.

It would be held on the 11th of December at 20.00.

Though I highly doubt I will be going. Not exactly something within my budget to waste this time. Could be interesting to see the Nobel Peace Prize concert right. Something people should do in one lifetime I think. This years laureate was the Finnish ex-President(?), Martti Ahtisaari. Well, at least this years Nobel Peace Prize recipient didn´t get as much critics as Al Gore.

Although so, he is less publicized, at least I would like to believe. I didn´t know that he won the Nobel Peace Prize till quite recently actually. This could also be due to my ignorance I suppose.

Anyways, back to the Nobel Concert. (Even though, its possible to find out all of the information yourself, with our best friend, Google)

It would be hosted my Scarlett Johansen and Sir Micheal Cain. Scarlett you probably know her from various places, my favorite would be her role in the film The Girl with the Pearl Earrings. While Sir Micheal Cain, you probably know from Italian Job.

Either way, sounds like fun!

Now comes the fun part. Though in all honestly, the concert´s artist´s seem to be more... lame if i can put it that way. I remember back in 2006 or something, they had an amazing list of artist, but this years is sorta all-right, ok-ish. In my opinion at least.

This years artist would be, Diana Ross.

Il Divo. Could be nice to see them after their release of the new album.

Jason Mraz.

Would be really nice to see him!

Robyn.

She made a really nice video for her song, Handle me, but I cannot seem to find it! Anyways, she is pretty cool anyways.

Dierks Bentley. Country musician. Perhaps, Johanne would like this one ;D

Julieta Venegas. Seems to be a ... Spanish singer? Songs you cannot comprehend is always interesting, she is not too bad though.

Seun Kuti. Interesting. African music!

Marit Larsen. Those who didnt catch her in concert can see her now?

Anyways, that just sounded like an advertorial for the Nobel Peace Prize concert. Curiously speaking, anyone interested in going? Or is everyone too busy with school and military things

P.s : Embassy appointment tomorrow!, exciting. So much procedures just to get into the American Embassy mind you, so.. not some tourist attraction thing if I must say.

Lastly, I despise HTML things!

2 comments

One amongst many to come

Thursday, 20. November 2008, 22:14:30

USA

You know what is annoying?
Besides me? and .... (decides not to say out loud) *wink*

Planning a trip on a "budget". Though if anything, a significantly large one too. Yet all the effort and trouble.
Pfft.

Yeah.
Thats whats annoying.

And whoever said it was easy to backpack across even a small fraction of America. (In this case, we are talking NYC and NY State), maybe Pennsylvania and Washington DC.

Well, people who manage stuff like this, one thing I can say, they must have super-powers.
Because its impossible.
Or really just simply, annoying.

Trains, busses and planes are so uncoordinated.
They cost ALOT.
You land in JFK, Trains are from some far off station.
Busses leave from the other 2 or so airports in NYC.
Either that, or some stupid things that unless your observant, you wont realize your screwed till you are there at that very moment.
Things are all so far apart, that unless you drive... Your basically screwed.
I mean, really.
People like me, who just want to see things in America, can just almost forget it.
(And hey, its not like I was the one who was spreading the greatness of it all in the first place!)
If your wondering, I am absolutely indiferent towards America, but due to its profound "greatness", figured a trip there should be fun.
(I blame, Hollywood and MTV)

Double You Tee Eff!
(Not pointing fingers to anyone, I mean how can one control geographical positions of the world right *coughgodneedstoplanbettercough*)

Unlike when we were backpacking in the UK, things are actually reachable one way or another.
Or I had some good planners and helpers
Transportations are actually reliable and rather affordable (if booked early)

For example, train from London to Edinburgh cost a mere... 150 NOK? thats, what I pay to go to Oslo from Bodung.
Edinburgh to Glasgow was a mere.... 45 minutes away on bus (?), and trains that take 15 minutes (?) runs every 15 minutes.

Try getting that prices in USA!
(Now I know the downside of the capitalistic lifestyle)

Say, I want to visit Brooklyn, NY.
Yeah right (dream on Lisa) , the only place that is within the same budget range of what I paid for the trip to UK, at Hostel/Hotel/Motel/Apartment/B&B, for the same price range, it the PUUUURRRFECT place to go if you want to get mobbed and robbed. So yeah.
Meaning, raising the budget again.

Want a hostel/motel/hotel/B&B near a attraction?, due to logistics issue. (Dont start with the whole "walk, you got legs talk). Its not an option.
(Not mentioning the attractions are all miles apart, try paying double)

I mean realllllly.
Have they not though what about food for that time we are in America?
Nessecities?
SHOPPING?
If all my budget goes to hostels and all, where the heck would I get money for Saks?, GAP!, Forever 21!, Victoria Secret, STARBUCKS!
There goes my dream of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts daily.
There goes my dream of many many pretty nice dresses
There goes my dream of loadsa GAP and AE and A&F shirts/t-shirts
There goes all of it.

(Well, I am now excluding the fact that I would be given a credit card to America, which uncle has agreed to not put a budget on... STILL!)

Oh, here is more.
Unlike in Europe where we have things such as the Interrail cards and such
(Meaning, good for backpackers and budget travelers), like myself...
Yeah, as far as I know...
NONE.

Then, even within the States itself, I was hoping to get some sort of Day Passes or whatever...
So, I can get to museums and stuff for perhaps free, if not cheaper.
Yeah... right
*sarcastic laughter*

One more...
Because the attraction centers are so far apart, when I was browsing through my travel guides looking for places to go....
You´ll probably end up reading so much more places then you can actually really visit in the allocated amount of time.

I was planning a 3 week trip to America.
Started out with the hopes of backpacking and all.
Seeing at least 5 states.
Going to at least 10 cities.
Including the very "loved" neighbour´s capital... Ottawa.
Again, dream on.

I barely will have 3 days in Utica, where my sister is currently studying.
And, half of the time for all this. Is used to get on trains and busses.

I can just imagine my travel itinerary being so packed with plans that it would have resembled my Physics homework.

I am starting to think...
Maybe one city will do for now.
Afterall, uncle said we can go again in Febuary/May.

Other then last, one last rant I have amongst the KAZILLION more that I would have coming since I am planning this all by myself...

Why does a tourist visa to US cost alot?
Like really?

900 NOK? excluding whatever else that they might want to charge for "certain countries with the (insert non-pronounceable word here)
131 USD?

I was sorta elated when I found some tickets to the US from Oslo to NYC for about, 5500 NOK on BA.
So thats sorta affordable-ish...
*do the happy dance and all since that was within the allocated birthday gift present*

Then I checked the VISA thing to the US.
*staressss* *glaressss*
And there goes another 900 (if not more)
So really, my happiness was really short lived.

I was really looking forward to the whole trip to America.
Land of Starbucks and A&F, Victoria Secret, Saks 5th Avanue, Agent Provocateur and all the shopping my heart desires.
(Wow, all I mainly know about America is Starbucks)
YEAH RIGHT.

Half of my time will be spent...
Looking for bus stations and train stations, and getting to and from airports.
Blah.

This whole trip is getting... non worthwhile.
Starting to doubt I really want to go afterall

Hopefully that changes soon!

That was long.
But there are more!

So really, unless you reallly reallly really am dying to see the land of the great...
And your not Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Victoria Beckham, and some other random posh posh celebrity.
I say you stick to traveling in Europe!
I mean, you have ALOT to see anyways. I mean I should start a blogs on traveling in Europe.
;D

xoxo

No comments

Of nothingness!

Saturday, 8. November 2008, 11:37:29

life

I suppose the blogger bug has been biting me a bit lately. But sadly enough, its not like I have been doing very much extraordinary things that is worthwhile to keep blogging about, so I cant really do it anyways.

Anyhow, I´ll update anyway.

Well, on a daily basis... I spend my days, first getting up and TRYING to get myself to school on time.
Its harder than usual this year. Wonder why. Pfft anyways.
So, if that is achieved. I then go to school for fractions of hours each day.
Albeit, a more restless Lisa and one who throws random tantrums quite regularly.

In conclusion, regularly unproductive days.

Oh well, my after school isnt too bad.
Most days are usually spent with Magnar-boy doing utterly random things.
Every now and then, we take trips to various malls and IKEA!
Every Friday-ish, we take a trip over to Oslo.
Lets see, we have been to almost every mall within the vicinity of 30 minutes?

Putting it in perspective as well, I came to realization how we both bake...

ALOT. More than I ever had at least...
I suppose all this could be centered upon my weird and MANY cravings.
Ey, can´t blame me right. One has cravings too you know.
And Magnar is simply just too nice.

Yesterday we baked one of THE YUMMIEST carrot cakes I have eaten EVER.
Last week it was Skøleboller?, which mind you was friggin yummy as well.
Scratch that, everything we make always turn out to be uberly YUMMY!

Lisa wonders : Whats next on the menu... Perhaps I could make some Briyani Rice!
I could ALMOST hear Magnar going "Oh, no... not again"

Right, other than that, I can perhaps say I can sorta-ish-perhaps play the piano a bit.
"Play" (used very loosely here)
Well, I can play half of one song.

So, in conclusion....
After school days are more worthwhile than during school days.
Infact, its pretty awesome as a whole.

Though, the Mocks (Yes, you IB graduates... laugh on)
Its soon, so life is going to get increasingly stressful the next few weeks. And that just means, not that frequent, doing nothing after school moments.

Ugh.

On a more serious note.
It has being brought to my attention a new "lifestyle" and way of living that I still find... impressive?
The Freegan way of living and "Living off the grid"

The Freegan way of living, is pretty much

Freeganism is an anti-consumerist lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources

-Source from Wikipedia.
Basically in other words, or at least in the episode from Oprah that I watched a few weeks back.
"Freegans" live off the dumpster, finding food and stuff from bins. Reducing consumerism and such.
Its an interesting way of living I suppose, and I reckon I could say that the whole idea of it is absolutely praiseworthy.

Then there is the other way of life. The whole, "Living off the grid"
Basically, is just

The term off the grid or off-grid refers to living in a self-sufficient manner without reliance on one or more public utilities.

-Quote from Wikipedia

Its something very much like what this people is doing.
http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/286338/walking-into-a-new-world.jhtml#id=1596326

Now that is an interesting way of life.
I can never imagine myself living without electricity, showering on a daily basis.
Or wear unclean undies

Let alone, no computer, no phone. Nothing!

But, I suppose it is allright if someone could actually do that.
Its just a bit, interesting to me.
Definitely not my thing. But this two ways of life have become increasingly popular.

Anyways, got to get back to helping paint the little coat room.
More ramblings soon.
And I would see you guys later today as well!

Ps. Did you hear how Twilight, even before the release has sold more tickets then James Bond did.
How interesting.
Source : www.perezhilton.com

Oh lastly, This is something utterly cool that one could mess around with as well. It was on Opera´s home page
http://my.opera.com/community/blog/2008/10/30/avatar-mania

No comments

« Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »

Showing posts 16 - 20 of 32.