Tips on packing

The holidays are coming up and vacation time is upon us.  It goes without saying (even though I am saying it) that you probably have to pack a suitcase.  It doesn't matter who you are or where you are going, planning and being prepared starts with what you pack.  Whether you are an angel or a zombie you will need a bit of this and that.  Even the yeti needs to pack a thing or two (just ask Bob packing is his favorite topic).  You could be leaving for a week or month but it is important to remember these tips.

• When choosing your clothes, pick multipurpose items that can be used more than once.
• Plan to dress in layers because you never know what you will need.  The weather can change like the flip of a coin. 
• Roll your clothes rather than fold them.  They are least likely to wrinkle, crinkle or other annoying "inkles". 
• Bring toiletries but keep them to a minimum.  Take small, multipurpose items.  If you run out, you can usually replace these items at relatively inexpensive prices.  Also you will often find complementary toiletries in your hotel room. 
• Leave room for gifts and be sure to make them small.  Your friends/family will love you for an exotic present and its a good way to share your story. 
• Bring a small and simple first aid kit.  These are easy to find.  You can get them at the drug store but as I am into green living (I think that's what the humans call it),  I prefer to make my own with what I get at organic health food stores.  I feel it's always best to go as natural as you can, so I prefer to pack things like witch hazel extract, lavender essential oil, aloe vera gel, etc.  Don't forget the practical things as well like band aids, rubbing alcohol, scissor/tweezers, etc. 
• Accessorize but leave the bling at home.  A little jewel here and there is fine but when you wear something that has alot of rinestones or real stones, they can snag on your clothes and just otherwise annoy you.  Pack things like a scarf (multipurpose and classy), elastic bracelets (can be really nice hair ties), and a colorful necklace (one I never leave home without) that is more portable. 
• Have a swiss army knife with several functions in your suitcase.  You will find that this comes in handy so many times.  For example, If you have a spork on yours, you can eat out a little easier.  And a corkscrew may be essential.   
• The best of best packing advice comes from a very wise woman that I met at the "Prickly Apothecary" told me this.  Put everything (clothes, jewelry, toiletries, etc) in ziplock bags.  Mark the bags to record what is in them.  For example, I usually have one bag for panties, one bag for bras, one bag for socks, and several bags with t-shirts, dresses, and blouses.  I even put my shoes in ziplock bags.  Then you can rifle through your suitcase to find a specific item without messing everything up.  If you do this, your clothes will stay fresh, pressed and it will keep anything nasty from crawling in there.  You will still have to wash everything after your trip is over but life will be much easier with this piece of advice.

Those are some of the best tips I can give you when it comes to packing.  Being an avid traveller is fun but it isn't easy especially when it comes to wrangling suitcases.  That is why you will want to pack light and smart.  Happy packing friends and keep everything light!

PS:  Birthday suit is good but keep it in your room because humans go crazy at the sight of it (no matter who you are). 

Advice on Saving Money When Travelling

When it comes to traveling it seems like all you do is spend, spend and spend some more.  Well fear not, there is a way you can save your money and still get the most out of a vacation.  The answer is to go to the food markets instead of going to restaurants.  Don't get me wrong, you will want to go out and eat sometimes especially when you want to sample the cuisine of another place (or if you write about it for a living).  Just don't do it all the time.  Believe me this will save you from breaking the bank. 

Here on Vancouver Island, it's easy.  There are some markets that give you fresh organic food that can last for a little while.  I'm lucky because I have a refrigerator to put it in but many of you may not have that luxury.  And that's okay, you can still have fresh food without an icebox.  What you want to do is buy one of those cooler bags, fill it with ice and keep all of your most perishable foods in there.  You'll have to dump the water out everyday but that is a small price to pay.  Once you are finished with this bag, you can always pack it up in your suitcase, take it home with you and save it for next time.   

If you are on a road trip, it would be a good idea to invest in a cooler which is more of a box than a bag.   You can't take it on an airplane but on the upside,  it keeps the ice (and therefore your food) for longer, it's easy to store and lasts a long time.  The bags you may have to replace sooner.

So whether you are a were-creature who wants to keep a steak, a vampire who needs to store blood or a fairy who needs to keep your produce in tact, make sure you have an ice-bag, ice cooler and/or ice box to handle all your food storage needs.  Believe me you will need it because there is not enough magic in the world that will save your food or your money.  Luckily, practicality will. 
 

The Legend of the Blue Moon

Do you all remember that old saying, "once in a blue moon?"  Well we officially had one last night.  A blue moon is when there are two full moons in one month. For us (Mystics) it is a few hours where everything becomes entirely different, some would say insane.  I remember seeing a vampire put his pants on his head and his shirt on his legs.  It was freaking hilarious!

But that is what happens during this rare occurrence.  Our behaviour becomes erratic but it is not in a harmful way.  For one day our behaviour becomes a little uninhibited due to the changes in the moon and the tides.   I remember the last blue moon when I put on Angelica's (the angel) fancy gown and did a handstand.  I was trying to be a bellflower.

In the Earth Realm, it is more subtle than that. My behaviour didn't change but my circumstances did.  I had just arrived to Vancouver Island and I saw the moon was bright, beautiful and so blue. It was true proof that the mystical and magical can exist in this world. 

We stop at is this whimsical little place off the road called "Ice Cream Mountain".  It's not really a mountain made of ice cream (I checked) but it is a romantic little spot worthy of first dates and moon magic. 

I got a huge surprise when I saw that they have the same ice cream flavors in this place as they do in our favorite market town of Merkiva in the Nether Realm.  So, I decided to order a scoop of  "Moon Mist" and a scoop of "Rainbow Sherbert."  I had forgotten the flavor of Moon Mist but it was very yummy.  The Rainbow Sherbet was just as I remembered; bright and lively to the taste.  These ice creams are from a company called "Island Farms."  I am curious if they are from the Nether Realm because of the names of some of these ice cream flavors.  I'd like to meet them and find out.

So there I am, enjoying my delicious moon-a-licious ice cream, admiring the view and appreciating the blue moon in a beautiful calm spot.  Come to think of it, not being wild and being serene is very unusual for me.  I guess that was my blue moon oddity.  Everyone has a weird night where the unexpected happens on a blue moon.  What happened on your blue moon last night?

Dragon Riders

Did you know there are people the Nether Realm who make a living by riding dragons? Dragon riders provide a form of delivery service and transportation. Much like the pony express or an airplane in the Earth Realm. However, even well trained dragons are not as tame as horses and they certainly are not machines. Dragons are a little tougher to handle. Sometimes they get spooked or edgy or restless or even amorous. There are different types of dragons and some will shoot fire, some will shoot ice, and some will shoot lightening.  All will slash with their tails, claw with their feet, and bite with their gigantic teeth.


Dragon Potion from Free Minds

Dragon riders are well trained and wear protective equipment (the dragon amulet for example). Handling an agitated dragon can be challenging and sometimes dangerous. Now don’t get me wrong.  A dragon would never intentionally harm its rider. It is amazing to see how protective the dragon is of the rider. It strongly resembles a parent/child relationship. However, accidents do happen.



To protect themselves and their dragons, riders will sometimes prepare a special calming potion.  It is a mixture of snap dragon flowers, green dragon leaves, the peel of a kumquat, and the bark or flowers of the moringa tree, mixed with morning dew and stirred with a bamboo stalk. The potion is instantly effective when the dragon smells it.  So the potion does last for a long time. It is quite a lot of work to collect the ingredients and prepared the potion but it is much easier than dealing with an unhappy dragon.

Picture from http://hennamehndidesign.blogspot.ca/2011/10/hair-henna.html

When I was writing my thesis on the stresses of dragon handling I met Haroon, a very experienced rider, and his dragon, Nega. We developed a strong friendship and Haroon has allowed me to accompany him on several journeys. The best part of the trip is the flying. Flying is fun and thrilling and quite unlike anything I have experienced in the Earth Realm. It is not a carnival ride but more like parasailing or hang gliding.  You could try that to get a similar experience.

If you get agitated and there is a chance you could hurt yourself or others with your words or deeds, you may want to try a calming potion.  The best calming essential oils include: lavender, camomile, rose, sandalwood, and frankinscence.  A mint scent of any kind works well for me.  Have you tried aromatherapy yet?

Things to see and Places to go ... when you are Travelling

Hello future nomads.  After much travelling and planning for future travels, I wanted to share with you what I suggest for a fabulous holiday. 

1. Go to a Beach  - There is no better holiday than hanging by the beach and going for a swim in salt water.  Going for a swim in salt water not only refreshes you but cleanses you of all negativity and refreshes your soul.
2. Go to a Garden - Being around all those plants and flowers, watching the butterflies flutter, smelling the sweet and spicy smells that surround you.  Need I say more?
3. Do something Wild and Crazy - This is what brings you the most memories and helps you to step out of your comfort zone.  I suggest trying something like surfing, bungee-jumping, rollercoaster riding, etc.  It may seem scary at first but when you take that step you will never feel more alive than at that moment.  For me, its like flying again.
4. Explore all the old buildings - To see these structures up close and personal is very surreal.  It's like stepping back in time.  You can see what these buildings once were, what the people of that time were doing in them.  In fact, try one of these tours that take you into these interesting places and they will give you an insight of the history of them.  It'll help you visualize what once was.   
5. Try the Food - Exotic flavors especially in the form of food is a MUST.  When I went to Hawaii, I tried one of the best things that came from this beautiful island.  A pineapple.  Yes I have had pineapple before but not straight from the tree.  It was juicy, flavorful and oh so yummy!  I wish I had one right now.
6. Do a little Shopping - Some of the best gifts I have gotten were items from other countries.  I have this beautiful red kimono from Korea that a family member gave me for Christmas.  Red is lucky there and this robe has been very lucky for me.
7. Take in one of the Local Talents and/or Shows - A night of entertainment should be on everyone's list.  Seeing a show is apart of seeing their culture.  You get to see things in a different point of view, listen to music that you normally do not hear on the radio and it's just freaking awesome!

You can do all these things on your holiday. Who said this world isn't magical?   All you need are a few ideas and these magical ingredients.  Have lots of memories of things that are wonderous, throw in some whimsical experiences, a souvenier and you got a holiday.  Oh boy I sound like an enchanter.  Have a good day everyone and happy flying (however that maybe).

A Friendly Piece of Travel Advice

Now that I'm back in Calgary.  I find it rather difficult to step back into a routine again.  My friends whether you are traveling by plane or by portal, give yourself a little time to rest and recover from your travels.  It takes a lot out of you human or not.

New Orleans Post 4 - Tours

This is one of the great things about New Orleans.  A variety of tours that talk about its colorful history.  The best tour and the one that everyone should take (especially you mystics) is The Voodoo Bone Lady Ghost Tour.   It is an amazing adventure that takes you around the French Quarter.  You are going to learn about all kinds of spirits.  Ghosts of a wealthy heir and his mother, former slave owners who's cruelty still haunts a historic building, a curse that causes injury and a mass murder that seems to still go on today.  I don't want to give away too much of these stories as the lady who shared this with us made it so entertaining that I think she should be the one to share these stories with you.  I will tell you that these tales are dark, scary, freaky and fun.

 <---feeling ominous yet?

Well one thing for sure, you won't be bored and you will get some really good exercise.  You will also hear stories about zombies, how they may have come to be zombies and how some people are mistaken for zombies.  (pretty cool stuff).  Still I was really fascinated with the stories of the vampires and how they made their home in New Orleans.  I wouldn't mind hearing more about them  because it still seems like a mystery to me of how and why they came there.  Anyone know more about this?

<---This is where the vamps came to be.

 

Anyway, this fabulous evening we got to stop at many interesting and lovely places but the one that I remember most is our brief bathroom visit to the Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop.  This place I have to say is a very fascinating place.  It is as dark and mysterious as it sounds but it is also airy and very down to earth.  The only light you will find in this place are the candles that sit on the tables.  Very moody atmosphere.  In other words, a good place for ghosts, vampires, werewolves and other nightly creatures to have some fun.

 

A great time, an entertaining host that will give you two voodoo spells at the end of the tour and an experience you will never forget.  Now be sure you keep this in mind especially if you happen to be here for the first time: As this is a ghost tour this will take place in the evening because they often do and who knows?  You might catch a glimpse of the paranormal.  In fact, I think I might have caught an old friend of mine from the Netherworld.  Check it out.

<----The mist in the picture.  Ghost or photo error?

I took another tour earlier in my trip.  This was in the Garden District that I booked through in my hotel.  Here you will see the gorgeous houses of famous celebrities like Nicholas Cage, Sandra Bullock and John Goodman.  You get a little history and see the tombs of Lafayette Cemetery and why it's better to have tombs as opposed to coffins (New Orleans is below sea level so the coffins rise).  Where certain movies such as D'Jango Unchained and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button are filmed.  And I tell you, the architecture of these homes are just stunning.  So yes I would spend a day checking out this tour.  Our guide is very entertaining, educated and knew where some good places were to eat. 

 

 

Besides I could not resist seeing the house where famous novelist Anne Rice lives.  So if you are in New Orleans, check out these tours because they are amazing.  You will learn so much in so little time and lets face it my mystical friends. "Knowledge and Wisdom is power."  whether its the history or knowledge of ghostly residents, take the time to check them out.  You won't be sorry. 

New Orleans Post 3 - The Museums and Culture

This Journey takes us to New Orleans Museum of Art or NOMA for short.  This is the place to find amazing works of art from the medieval ages to our modern society.  From east to west, Native to European, the art here is varied and beautiful.  A fascinating piece of history sits right before you with an explanation and a story to fascinate even the most uninterested of people. 

My personal favorite was the portrait of Marie Antoinette by Vigee Le Brun.  Big, tall and majestic.  That is exactly how I would have pictured her.  And I also liked the Chinese Snuff Bottles that were made from various materials such as jade and brass.  As you all well know, we still use those in our world.  We often use them for medicines or small potions but the humans (both Chinese and Europeans) used them for containing powdered tobacco.  If you are feeling homesick, take a look at these lovelies and know that its not as far as you think.

My next visit is to the Botanical Gardens that are just next door of NOMA.  Now this is a place where the flora captures you in an art all of its own.  I don't know about the rest of you but the majesty of nature always inspires me.  There are not as many flowers at this time of year but there are some that are not around where I am from (especially this time of year).  Floral trees, beautiful fountains, trees that seem more alive than anything else and little wild flowers popping up where you would least expect them.  And I can not forget the statues that remind you of Ancient Greece.  Go there to meditate or catch a glimpse of the wonderful plants.  It's not expensive at all either ($4.00 USD) when you want to connect to nature.

When it comes to learning more about history, there is a museum that you must go to and that is the World War II Museum.  Real life WWII Veterans will be happy to share their stories with you.  They are very intense, tragic and make you appreciate what we have today due to these noble people who sacrificed so much.  Even the locals speak really high of it and you get a first hand education of what happened in those days.  You won't get a better one. 

Now for something really unique, visit the Sculpture Garden.  The oddest and coolest structural pieces are there including what looks like a giant spider.  Something's you have to use your imagination for but others you can not help but admire the effort that these artists put in the detail of all these pieces. 

If you want art, history or getting a first hand experience of the culture that New Orleans provides check these places out.  You will find the wondrous in each and every one of these places.

New Orleans Post 1: The Food

New Orleans:  Now this is one of the most talked about cities in North America especially when it comes to food.  Now as I am sure you all know I am a vegetarian who still eats eggs and dairy.  In New Orleans the food here will mainly consists of seafood.  Though I do not eat that, I still pay attention to what people like.  So yes in terms of food this is probably more of a Siren Clan place but the Undead Clan (See previous post) will argue that this city is their domain. 

Despite the love of fish that this place has it is not impossible for a vegetarian to eat here.  The problem is that this city is busy this time of year so good luck finding a place that's available.  But here is a guide that I hope you will all try when you go on your culinary adventure in New Orleans.

Breakfast

The Most important meal of the day starts at the restaurant in my hotel, the Astor Crown Plaza.  This restaurant is called : The Bourbon House.  The menu is small but varied.  I decided to order the two egg breakfast.

Now this is a seemingly typical breakfast with the eggs and fruit cup but it is fresh, delicious and unforgettable.  What is unique is you get a really good taste of Cajun and Creole cooking starting with those potatoes as you see in the picture to the left.  These potatoes are my dream potatoes with those awesome spices.  I have to admit that I kept asking for these every breakfast that I had here. And of course, breakfast just isn't breakfast without a cup of (green) tea and an orange juice (not pictured here).  

Highly recommend this place for breakfast and yes my meat eaters and fish lovers.  You can get meat with these.  For us Veggie people we just ask for no meat.  (It's just that easy  :P)  This meal will keep you from being hungry for a long time.  It's not too large of a meal as you can see but it's a perfect size.  There is a niceness in knowing that you can finish your meal instead of having to box it up every single time.

The staff is very good here too.  Very friendly and ready to give you any suggestions or answer your questions.  If they don't have something they will find it for you.  When it comes to breakfast, go to the Bourbon House.

Lunch

Do you want the best burger of your whole exsistance?  The Bayou Burger is the place to go for a burger like you have never had in your life.  At this place you can choose all of your ingredients you want on your special burger (my favorites included the beer mustard, avocados and sautéed mushrooms) and even get to choose which patty would like.  It can be a veggie patty, chicken, beef or even fish.  Oh how wonderful is it to have these kinds of choices?  Even just writing about it now makes my mouth water like crazy.  Have a burger here and you will not be sorry.


Desserts and Treats

 
 


 No matter where you go, some day you will just want something sweet and tasty.  Go to the Café Beignet because this sweet French inspired coffee shop has a selection of lovely little desserts, pastries and fruit to satisfy a persons need for sugar.  As you can see I ordered the key line tart and was not sorry at all.  It was a combination of sweet and sour that satisfied every crazing craving that a lady can get.












Next in our culinary adventure is a pastry that New Orleans is really famous for which is sold at the incredibly famous Café Du Monde.  Now this is where these deep fried pastries called Beignets are. It is a very popular spot and always very busy no matter what time you go.  I myself have spent a few hours there waiting for these pastries.  So to say its busy is an understatement but worth it to try something new.  These pastries are just covered in a small mountain of icing sugar so they can be very sweet.  I myself am not a fan of deep fried stuff but this was worth trying.  So if you like these kinds of foods try them out.  What have you got to lose?

 

 
Supper

 

Now for dinner you are always wanting something that is perhaps not too heavy but satisfying.  My suggestion is going one of these places on Jackson Square like the Chartres House.  This is an outdoor meets indoor kind of restaurant.  The food is good, flavorful and fast while the staff is friendly, helpful and informative.  They are very good with directions and places to see. 

 I decided to have an appetizer since I wasn't that hungry.  This is the Spinach and Artichoke dip with fried bow tie pasta.  This was a dish that is a bit on the salty side but the dip is to die for.  now you may find this dip in many places but a true foodie will tell you that no recipe is exactly the same.  It is yummy and if you eat here, you are dining in a piece of history.

 

The Chartres House had everything.  It is a grocery store in 1873 that later becomes a favorite café for bohemian artists and writers (Tennessee Williams is a prime example).  It is a good place to enjoy some local flavor.  So check it out.

 

  

 Now if you really want to go to a fancy place where they make their staple; the Banana Foster then you want to go to Brennan's .  This isn't one of those hoity-toity places.  The people here are wonderful and really take care of you.  Myself and my companions have a very strict diets and nothing on the menu really appealed to us.  So we asked our waiter what he recommended and he helped us out big time and made sure that our food was exceptional.  You can't get treatment like that anywhere.  And the way they make your dessert right in front of you.  It was like you had a pyro-themed show in front of you. There we felt like queens so go there to feel like royalty yourselves.

Fast Food

Tracey's in the Garden District is said to have the best poi-boys that could be enjoyed.  After a long albeit good tour (See later post), a friend and I stopped at this place and got a look at where many locals like to hang out and have a beer.

  This place has the answer.  It is like one of those old fashioned hotdog stands.  A fun place to be with a really lax atmosphere.



 Now I have to admit I wasn't very adventurous today (at least I thought)  I just ordered some fried mushrooms and a salad.  It was very satisfying and it certainly does the job of filling you up.  A companion of mine had one of those famous poi-boys.  This is like a sub sandwich with lots of meat and flavorings.  So as he is a total guy, it is a safe bet that he enjoyed his meal too.

Conclusion

New Orleans is a place of culinary delights.  Their unique culture is certainly shown in this food.  There really isn't one meal I can say anything bad about.  You get introduced to new yet homey flavors, everything is cooked well and there is a lot of attention to detail in everything you get.  However, as I have said previously that it is a busy time when I went so you have to expect that is going to be hard to get into certain restaurants.  It is also hard to find vegetarian dishes so you do have to look but luckily the people are good and will help you find a place or make a dish in which your needs are met.  So I have to say that just eating here is an adventure all in itself.  Definitely come for the food.  

 

 

A shout out to the undead clan!

 On my trip to New Orleans, one of the biggest supernatural centres of this realm and you guys are sure making a name for yourselves here.  Some of you are praised and some of you are feared but one thing you all have in common in this neck of the swamps is that you make things interesting.

  

Now as all you know, the undead clan consists of vampires, ghosts, zombies and the many more beings that fill that list.  This is the clan that very few understand and that most humans over exaggerate with their stories.  I have taken a tour that describes some of what happened in New Orleans. (Details will be described in a later blog).  And you guys gave these poor souls a really big scare especially if they are talking about it a couple centuries later.  

Most of us mystics know that this clan is the most mysterious and misunderstood clans of them all.  You'll bump into these people now again and often times they do not attack you.  They are people just like anybody else.  the vampire (for example) needs blood to live just like humans need food but often times, the blood is collected in a way that no one dies nor are they harmed.  Places like blood donations for example is one way they collect it.  Sometimes they will have animal blood or tomato juice (the later is usually a diet drink for them).  

Ghosts are humans who are just stuck in a certain surreal immortality that can leave them lost or confused.  Sometimes not though. Those that know they are ghosts and wish to stay that way can "live" very happy and productive existences as  we see in the nether realm.  They mean no harm or I'll will just let them be.  

So yes,  many are quick to judge them without really talking to them or getting to know them.  Granted some are @$$#0|€£ but just like humans and other Mystics that's not all of them.  Many of them are good kind souls that wish no one any harm.  But keep up the good ghost stories guys we need the entertainment.  And please keep it fictional.