Candy Gaucho's humorous travel writing adventures - laughing a lot » General

#BeatCancer

Candy Gaucho — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:10:08 +0000

Doing my bit for the world record and fundraising attempts. Details here http://beatcancereverywhere.com/.

#BEATCANCER!!!

Jumping Kaleidoscopic Lemon Moons: a Yaiku Shortlisted* for Chris Guillebeau’s Unconventional Writing Contest

Candy Gaucho — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:02:21 +0000

In June 2009, Chris Guillebeau – world traveller and blogger extraordinaire – issued a challenge to his readers to create a guest post for his blog, The Art of Nonconformity. I leapt at the chance and google doc’ed to the esteemed jury my submission below.

Although I didn’t win – yaiku’s are perennially the underdogs of literary contests – I reasonably interpret the shortlisted “Amy” as moi-meme. (Unfortunately a brief Twitter DM exchange with Chris himself was unable to shed further light, but he did bless my posting of my efforts.)

I hope you enjoy, feel inspired, and are maybe just a little impressed.

* * *

Name:      Amy Mennot
Title:        Jumping Kaleidoscopic Lemon Moons
Site:        candygaucho.com
Bio:         1970′s-born Torontonian travel writer who attracts adventure and loves to tell about it. A female Bill Bryson wannabe.
Twitter:    http://twitter.com/candygaucho

*Disclaimer*

In the spirit of nonconformity and authority defiance, my entry is neither an essay nor >500 words.

Instead, I have used the ancient form of Japanese verse known as yaiku. A yaiku is a poem constructed by using words in alphabetical sequence which can only be used once per yaiku. For example, English language yaikus are 26-words long, starting with an “A” word and ending with a word beginning with “Z”.

Practitioners argue that to create a pure yaiku one cannot go back to change a word once it has been written down. As in life, one must commit to and work with the decisions one has made. They believe that true creativity is unleashed only when faced with adversity. True masters will labor days – if not months – to find the right words, such as those which begin with “x”. I, however, exercise my right to poetic license and take a short cut.

Thanks for your consideration, Supreme Court (& Chris).

Warm regards,
Amy

Jumping kaleidoscopic lemon moons

Stumped

Amy belabors creating defining eucharist for Guillebeau.
Hashes indeterminate jotting, kneading limply-manifested nothings.
Oh, pity; quite rightly stupefied.
The unconventional?
Very watery ‘xcess, yearnings zapped.

Epiphany

Almost buoyed…. Can define ether?
Feeling good. Have inspiration!
Just kill lameness.
Move now on poetry!
Quit routine.
Seize the unusual.
Victory where ‘xcentricity yields zeniths.

Action

Arise, Babylon!
Celebrate differences,
Each following gleeful hearts.
If jobs keep love, money nearly overflows pockets.
Quantifiable richness, staying true unto vindication.
Whither ‘xplode your zealousness?

Reach

Assimilation?
Bollocks.
Consciously defy everyone’s forecasts.
Grab hold independence: jump kaleidoscopic lemon moons!
Negate others’ pretentious quarrels.
Realize self through uplifting vicissitudes while ‘xposing your zeitgeist.

The best travel bookstore in the world

Candy Gaucho — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:15:30 +0000

Open Air Books: If there’s anywhere else in the world that has a bookstore so completely dedicated to the love of travel, I challenge you to find it. Come here to lose yourself.

It’s a little hard to find – go down the stairs on the southeast corner of Adelaide and Toronto St.

25 Toronto Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2R1, Canada‎ – (416) 363-0719‎

Open Air Books - Travel Reference section

The phenomenal India/Himalayan section. The pile of books on the floor fell on my head while I was perusing.

World’s weirdest hotel guest complaints… and a few of my own to add

Candy Gaucho — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:30:05 +0000

Many thanks to Meg Nestorov for tweeting about the world’s weirdest hotel guest complaints. As the article is from 2008, I thought I’d add my own stories here. These are true.

1. To celebrate the special occasion of her parent’s joint 80th birthday, a guest ordered a customised cake from the hotel. She was horrified when the message was revealed: Happy Birthday, Mom and Dead!

Ramen microwaveable noodles

2. A guest called front desk complaining that the in-room microwave wasn’t working. “Microwave?” wondered the staff as they ascended to the room. They discovered that the guest had put Ramen noodles in the in-room safe.

Turkey done right

3. In a far-off land where English was not a staff strength but trying one’s best was, an American ex-pat called a hotel to order a turkey for the Thanksgiving dinner she was hosting the next day. Unfortunately, the gentleman who took the order had trouble understanding her. After some back and forth, he finally understood, thanked her and merrily went about prepping the order. The next day he proudly personally delivered the order: four turkey sandwiches. Oh, to have seen the look on her face. (The hotel did come through with the correct order later that day.)

Jazz up those travel photos

Candy Gaucho — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:04:15 +0000

Here are some fun sites to add special effects to photos.

BeFunky.com

Like Photoshop layers, you can convert images into cartoons, sketches, stencils, etc.

Warholizer

Sunburst

Stencil

ObamaconMe

Get that Obama feeling for any photo.

Hope

http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

Makes new photos look ancient. This site is ADDICTIVE. Kudos also to Mongkol for finding Photofunia.

Shanghai, circa 1901