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Thursday, November 26, 2009

Forks, Washington - Twilight Obsession?

Did you know that Forks, Washington as seen through the eyes of Bella Swan and Edward Cullen is an actual place? Did you know that the series of books, that show Bella, Edward and Jacob's love triangle is based on reality, at least in the actual locations?

La Push beach is situated on the coast, about an hour away from Seattle. Forks is inland, and hidden amongst the large forests that Bella gets lost in. Port Angeles is a little seaside town that Seattle inhabitants flock to, in order to run away from the city life.

And of course, the little town of Forks, Washington must be loving all the attention given to them through the extreme popularity of the Twilight series of books. Who wouldn't? A little town that was probably going to be extinct as people start traveling to far away places rather than in their own backyard has now received a new lease on life as it becomes a tourist destination for people, not just from North America.

Which tours are the best? What destinations are the ones that shouldn't be missed? I will tell you all soon. So keep watching this space - the must sees and misses are coming next!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Book Announcement

GeminiTravels is proud to announce that we are currently putting together our first published book - "The Art of Traveling - How to get the best, without finding the worst".

In partnership with Wegotchaa Pty. Ltd., based out of Melbourne, Australia, our collection of tips and tricks discovered from our own experiences is set to be released in November 2010.

More information to follow shortly.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pike's Place Market - Seattle, Washington

When you think of Seattle, very rarely do people think or say "I really want to go there." More often than not, they tend to think about the fact that they don't need to go to yet another city that has a tall building as their claim to fame - the Space Needle. And while this unique structure deserves some attention, it is not Seattle's claim to fame, or it shouldn't be.

Seattle is a very unique, though not pretty from all angles, seaside city that has more hidden treasures than it is given credit for. One has to enjoy the fact that on their drive in and out of the downtown core, they are transported on a double decker freeway (not highways like they are in Canada) that give spectacular views of the old buildings that surround the newer high rises downtown.

But the real gem of Seattle is a little (well really not so little all things considered) Pike Place Market. Besides the fact that this is where a little company called Starbucks opened their first shoppe - to which it is still outfitted as it was to begin and will have the longest Starbucks line ever - there are numerous landmarks that make this an amazing stop.

Foodies will find gourmet delicacies for purchase and to sample, besides the little shoppes like the Market Shop that serve the most amazing Clam Chowder, and their prawns with blackened spice are to die for, that will all entice and make your taste-buds water. The Marketspice shop will allow you the chance to buy unique spices that are hard to find in many other places, as well as their cinnamon-orange tea that is one of my favorites.

For those people after entertainment, if watching fresh cheese being made at Beechers, or fish being thrown at the Fish Market, there are buskers, jugglers and many others waiting just for you. Antique bookstores with owners that are flabbergasted that you haven't read some of the oddest titles you swear you have ever heard, shoe museums, bead stores and more are all waiting to be discovered.

What are you waiting for?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

The Origins of Halloween

On this 'All Saint's Day' as the Catholic Church has dubbed November 1,09 (a day to celebrate all the Saint's that do not have a specific day of their own), I have thought that it is time to remember how All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween began, and why we celebrate the way we do.

While the United States and Canada use Halloween as a commercial excuse to spend money and make people dress in 'sexy' costumes, places like Ireland still celebrate Halloween in the true spirit of the day. Ireland is still considered the birthplace of Halloween, and it is still celebrated in the true feeling of the day. Instead of running around in skimpy costumes and asking everyone for candy, the Irish still light bonfires all throughout the countrysides, and celebrate the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter.

Halloween is typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain which is derived from old Irish to roughly mean "Summer's End". The Celts believed that the border between this world and the 'otherworld' became thin on Samhain which allowed both harmless and harmful spirits to pass through to the other side. Costumes and masks were worn to allow family spirits enter one's home, while warding off the harmful spirits.

Halloween is derived from All Hallows Even or e'en, which has evolved from old english. In the 800's when this was being celebrated and the tradition began, the Church measured the day as starting at Sunset, so in the past, All Hallows' Even and All Saint's Day were celebrated as one, not as two different and distinct days.

In traditional Celtic Halloween festivals, large turnips were hollowed out, carved with faces and placed in windows to ward off evil spirits. The carving of pumpkins began in North America was associated with harvest time for years, before it was finally associated with Halloween until the mid to late 1800's.

Keep reading and you will find out the main places to go to visit the best places to celebrate Halloween, All Hallows' Even and All Saint's Day.
I have never felt my feet firmly planted on the ground.  When I was a child, I would dream of far away places filled with jumping kangaroos and gladiators.  I took my first trip when I was 19, running away from my issues and neglecting to deal with skeletons in my closet.  

Since then I have returned to my first home, and have found that while it has a special place in my heart, it is no longer home.

So I roam the planet, looking for a place for me to plant my feet, and find a home.  Will I find it in this life time?  I'll never know until I find it.  But I will continue looking for it, until my last breath.

These are my journeys.