#livingnotestravel

[livingnotesfromnyc]

MUST-HAVE APPS TRAVEL! Save this, you’ll need it. . SKYSCANNER It’s a travel search engine that helps you find the cheapest flights to your destination. You can set up alerts to find cheapest destinations to travel to. I use it all the time to figure out the itineraries & travel schedules. . HOPPER An app that uses data and algorithms to predict when flight prices will be the lowest. You can set up alerts as well.. . HOSTELWORLD If you are single and/or have a very limited budget, try this one! This is a website that allows you to book hostels and budget accommodations around the world. You can read reviews from other travelers and compare prices to find the best deal. If you travel as a group, this is a GREAT solution if you need just something simple. . ROADTRIPPERS If you are a frequent road-tripper, download this! An app that helps you plan your trips by suggesting scenic routes, attractions and accommodations along the way. You can also use the app to estimate gas cost and find cheap hotels. Very handy! . GASBUDDY Helps you find the cheapest gas prices in your area. You can also use the app to plan your route based on gas prices along the way. And If you live in LA, just download this, period. Saves you at least 15 cents per gallon. . HOTELTONIGHT An app that offers last-minute deals at discounted prices. You can use the app to book a hot room for the same day and up to a week in advance. GREAT option for spontaneous travelers or if you need a last minute option. I used this one for years, domestically & abroad. Lifesaver! . SKIPLAGGED Travel world’s best kept secret! This is a website that helps you find “hidden city” flight deals. Basically, you book a ticket to a destination that has a layover in your desired location. And then you just don’t take the second leg of the flight. If checking bags, ask to pick them up at the layover point ( or just carry on!) This can help cut with some SIGNIFICANT savings on airfare!. Cool, right? . What else would you add? What do you use? . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . 📷: @theframed.photography . #travel #travelhacks #travelbug #livingnotes #traveltips #travellife #livingnotestravel #tahiti (at Tahiti, French Polynesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3n54EvYJn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

I thrive on positivity. But did you know there is such a thing as toxic positivity? I can’t tell you how many times well-meaning comments during some hardship actually… hurt. And then I learned about toxic positivity. Turns out, there is such a thing. And, believe it or not, we ALL are guilty of it. Have you ever said something like: “You are so strong, if anyone can deal with it, it is you”. “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. “Everything happens for a reason.” “There is a lesson you need to learn”, etc. Yes? I know I have. They are well intentioned, and yet… they feel invalidating and almost dismissive. . Sometimes you don’t need positivity. Sometimes you just need someone to side with you, so it doesn’t feel like you are fencing this battle all by yourself. A little “This sounds so hard. I can’t believe how well you are hanging this” can do wonders in a moment that feels too big to deal with. Sometimes not fixing things is the best fix there is. , By the raise of hands, how many of you didn’t know about toxic positivity and have been - unintentionally- guilty of it ? . 📷: @theframed.photography . #psychology #wellness #livingnotes #travel #livingnotestravel #greece #selfimprovement #mykonos (at Mykonos, Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkMEOPLvTpA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

I didn’t want to come back. I am not an island girl. But I didn’t want to leave Rangiroa. Crazy. And puzzling, because I need my fill of the city life. I suffocated every time I tried to leave it. Suburbia has never appealed to me, not even mentioning a remote island with barely anything on it. But there is something about Rangiroa that my heart & soul needed. Tremendously. Partially, it WAS the very fact that there was barely anything on the island. 300 total people living there made it feel like home. I loved that everyone knew everyone. And cared for each other too. I loved that there was no fluff: no trending fashions, no stupid rules. No carseats for babies, kids clinging to their parent’s backs while on bikes, babies running around clothe-less on the beach, and all survived without censoring nonsense. More than that, they were (and are) thriving. . Everyone looked the same. You could be the richest person on the block or the pauper who built his shack in the lagoon, you wouldn’t know from the first glance. Fluff we care SO much about in our western world didn’t matter in Rangiroa, and it was… beautiful. Soul-filling. Nourishing. Healing. . Coming back to cold & rainy LA was not something I wanted to do, which was a first. Usually, two weeks into the trip I miss my home, my kitchen and my bed. Getting on the plane in Tahiti was bitter-sweet. . Rangiroa felt like a dream. I didn’t want to leave. I wasn’t ready to wake up. I found my corner of paradise. Counting days until I dive into its crystal blue waters again. . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . #rangiroa #travel #travelbug #tahiti #frenchPolynesia #livingnotes #livingnotestravel #nikon #nikonphotography (at Rangiroa) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0s0fgvw3z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Fun facts about St Maarten. Did you know that: ~ St. Maarten holds the world record of beaches related to its compact surface. ~ St. Maarten / St. Martin is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. It has most restaurants per sq mile. ~ It is widely known that St. Maarten mixes Caribbean with French and Dutch cultures. However, an additional 100 Caribbean, American, European, Asian, Australian and (yes) Oceanian nationalities add to the unique population ( and flavors! ) of St. Maarten. ~ Smallest Landmass Shared by Two Nations. ~ A True Pirate Island. Like any other Caribbean island, St. Maarten / St. Martin had its share of piracy and rum production. ~ Airport Beach. Without a doubt, St Maarten has the most photographed airport runway in the world! . Swipe to take a peek into St Maarten! PS: I am already on a different location! Can you guess where now? Hint: an island too! . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . 📷: @theframed.photography . #celebritypartner #celebritycruises #JourneyWonderFULL #celebritybeyond #livingnotes #livingnotestravel (at St. Maarten) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co5gFWzS2-6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Dining highlights from @CelebrityCruises Beyond: bookmark! You will want to! . 🍴Raw On 5 Raw on 5, with its whimsically sophisticated ambiance, is an intimate eatery that features an amazing array of delicacies from the sea and views of the horizon make the dining experience here even more incredible. Went there on our second night - amazing! . 🍴Fine Cut Steakhouse From Japanese Wagyu Striploin to 45-day Dry-aged Prime Bone-in Rib Eye with a wide selection of premium sauces and toppings to choose from. Beyond the delicious entrées, you’ll find a variety of classic starters, so every meal offers endless combinations, so you’ll always find exactly what you’re craving. Celebrated our first night there with the team and didn’t want to leave! . 🍴Rooftop Garden Grill Nestled perfectly in its own delicious corner of the Rooftop Garden, this newly redesigned place will satisfy your craving for gourmet barbeque favorites, including hickory smoked, grilled Branzino and Seafood kabob—along with the most incredible ocean views around. It’s more casual than other places but still a fun one. . 🍴Eden Restaurant MOST incredible place! Eden Restaurant continues to offer uniquely personal culinary journeys designed to not only excite your taste buds, but every other sense as well. Simple. Natural. Delicious. The experience in Eden restaurant is inspired by the cuisines and regions of the world. It’s my absolute favorite of all ! Spent there our last night and I can’t wait to get back! . 🍴Le Voyage . World renowned chef Daniel Boulud, our Global Culinary Ambassador, has created his first signature restaurant at sea—Le VoyageSM by Daniel Boulud. Full disclosure: we only shot a commercial there and sampled some food, but everything was incredible and drinks were masterpieces of their ones. Wanted to come back but run out of time. 7 nights is far not enough on @CelebrityCruises! . More fun updates are coming up soon! Stay tuned! . 📷: @theframed.photography . #celebritypartner #celebritycruises #JourneyWonderFULL #celebritybeyond #livingnotes #livingnotestravel (at Caribbean Islands) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoYPGGovs6j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

A mini-tour of the stateroom of @celebritycruises Beyond ship! Meet the AquaClass stateroom. AquaClass®staterooms for a fully immersive, next-level wellness experience. All elements are thoughtfully infused throughout your stateroom: from verandas that allow you to walk right out to the water’s edge to a super comfortable mattress and pillows. Also, note an exclusive restaurant, Blue with great menu options. Plus, you’ll enjoy access to the SEA Thermal Suite, a spa concierge, a complimentary fitness pass, preferential rates on AquaClass spa packages, daily in-room bottled water service, healthy room-service. State of the art bathroom with a shower and a mirror that doesn’t fog up either. Ample storage space! I love the layout and small details that make the stay so enjoyable. Waking up to a view of an open sea is beyond words. Coming up next: highlights from the ship! . 📷: @theframed.photography . #celebritypartner #celebritycruises #JourneywonderFul #celebritybeyond #livingnotes #livingnotestravel (at Caribbean Islands) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn3H8e8uc21/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

My heart skips a beat every now and then as my eyes scan the endless plains of Serengeti. The cooling wind gently plays with my hair. My feet carefully maneuver in the knee-long grass. I feel so connected to the very center of this planet somehow. Feels a little almost strange, because I miss kids this time more than ever. There is healing in this moment. There is recharging of my “life” battery that got so, so depleted over the last year and a half. Or, maybe, even the entire life. My lips smile. On their own. Not because I “have to”. I don’t think I’ve even thought once about it. It’s just a natural reflection of my soul’s state at the moment. I wish I could bottle up and take this feeling with me. This place is my medicine. What if I could just open up my cupboard every morning and get my “Africa doze” to start the day? I bought half the gift shop at our first shop secretly hoping to bring some of this Tanzania feeling back with me. I want everyone to experience it. So much. It’s indescribable. A dream that will come true one day. For now, there is Instagram and pictures. Charging them with every vibe I can. Soak it in. Let them do their magic.💫💫💫 ���� ~ Olya . ПЕРЕВОД ниже . 📷: @theframed.photography . #africa #life #travel #livingnotestravel #tanzania #serengeti #nikon #nikonphotography #naturephotography #inspiration #photographersofinstagram (at Tanzania, Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/CljlkUEqa8k/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Barcelona wowed me. I didn’t know what to expect. Greece taught me a good lesson. With Barcelona, I didn’t want to research too much or tpaint some sort of a picture in my mind. That way I was sure not to be disappointed. But I didn’t expect to fall for Barcelona so much. The architectural beauty. The artistic culture. The people. The food. The sensual yet laid back, “cool” lifestyle. It felt like I’ve fallen out of a rat-race of life for a week and actually LIVED. . PS: So much to tell you. Will be back in a few. Enjoy the pictures for now, and definitely stick to stories! . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . 📷: @theframed.photography . #barcelona #spain #travel #livingnotestravel #life #travelinglife #gaudi (at Barcelona, Ramblas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjX53wYufaG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

continuing the #livingnotes_costaricastory ! “… My fingers keep fiddling with the phone. Eyes connect to Bobby’s. “I am going to book a different hotel. I don’t feel safe”. “We will book a different hotel then. Let’s go get some dinner first though. I’m hungry”, - a calming smile makes its way out of the corners of Bobby’s lips. My agitation is settling down. Fingers type in the passcode on the phone. Let’s see what’s available on booking.com … ...“I just spoke with the manager, and he says that you guys need to get back as soon as possible to get your things out of the casita. So please eat as fast as you guys possibly can and get back to Tamarindo ASAP. Or I can pick up your bags for you,” - WhatsApp flashes a message from Mike. “Now?” - Bobby is as surprised as I am. 10 minutes ago Mike assured us we had no time restraints whatsoever and suggested we go to get lunch before checking out from the AirBnB. “He says we need to get it before 3:30”, - my eyes are glued to the screen as mike is typing updates. Bobby glances at his watch. “We still have 1,5 hours. We are good”... … Another buzz from the phone lets me know that there is another message from Mike. 20th in the last 10 or so? “Bobby, we have to go now. He really wants to take our bags out of the house for whatever reason. It’s an emergency now, according to Mike”, - these are not the words I want to be saying, but it doesn’t look like there is much choice left. … A road to the hotel is scenic and simply beautiful. Looks so different with the sun out. The greens are glowing. “I am so glad Los Altos De Eros had availability! I love the place”, - my mind is rushing through memories of the first few days. A smile settles in on my face. it’s a lot easier to feel happy with the pain almost gone. The excitement of hanging out with Julia and Andre is increasing by the second. I love those dinner conversations. There is something very special about that small boutique hotel. It feels like… home, but better. And the view… {to be continued} . ПЕРЕВОД ниже . 📷: @theframed.photography . #mykonos #greece #travel #costarica #livingnotes #livingnotestravel #nikon #nikonD4s (at Mykonos, Greece) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiHfNc6uwi5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Here is our the crazy Costa Rica travel story you asked about! Snippets from a full version, but here you go! . ...5 second is all I need to understand that this place is not going to work. There is no logical explanation except for an overbearing heavy feeling and worry that’s escalating by the second. Every internal alarm is screaming “caution” on my internal “safety radar” It makes no sense. My mind is split between the two. On one hand, Mike seems nice. Except for the first day, he is more than pleasant to be around. On the other hand… is he too pleasant? Too nice? Overly eager to be workable? Thoughts are racing ahead of each other. Unsettled and confused, my brain is trying to refocus on a conversation. Mike is telling Bobby something. My ears tune in. “You can check out at any time Friday. There are guests that are coming, but you can leave your bags in the room downstairs, and then just drop off the key to that room after you pick up your bags. Or you can drop them off before we go diving in the morning”, - Mike’s smile right now doesn’t seem to be half as genuine somehow. The conscious part of my brain attempts to step in and reason. Can’t let emotions rule over logic. He is probably just tired. It’s nighttime after all. “Oh, hey. Let me introduce you to one of my partners”, - my head turns the direction where Mike is looking. A woman, probably in her early forties, is walking up the stairs. “Guess what. You have something in common. She has 6 kids”, - The attempt for enthusiasm from Mike doesn’t stick. Something is off. Very off. Two minutes later and a semi-failed polite conversation makes one thing crystal clear: there is undeniable tension and heaviness in the air. My lips mouth “let’s go” to Bobby. A few more seconds and we are in our car. . “Thoughts?”, - Bobby’s question is more of a formality than anything. We don’t need to talk to know he feels the same. “I don’t feel safe there. It has a weird vibe. That woman Mike introduced… something was very off about her. And her brother, too. I don’t want to stay there.” - both, my conscious and subconscious are in definite agreement. . {to be continued!} . #costarica #travel #livingnotestravel (at Tamarindo, Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch94xyrukvp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Hello from Mykonos! If described in one word: UNEXPECTED. There are lot of positives mixed with some dissolutions. So much to tell you! For now, sharing some snippets from the old town. Did you know that Mykonos has a strict color code that requires doors and windows to be painted blue, green or red? This dates back to a tradition where sailors used to paint their doors blue, farmers painted them green and everyone else used red. The houses, on the other hand, are all painted in white – a color that helps keep homes cool during the hot summer months. They so definitely need it! It’s September tomorrow and I’m almost boiling in my own skin! Can even imagine what the heat is like in the peak of the moment. . Anyway! Swipe for some cool shots and there are a lot more in stories! . PS: Have you been in Mykonos? What should I know? . PPS: Ask all you Mykonos questions below! I’ll get to all of them, promise! . ПЕРЕВОД : ниже . 📷: @theframed.photography & @livingnotes . #livingnotes #livingnotestravel #mykonos #greece #europe #travelphotography #nikon (at Mykonos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch7XrRsuMz2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Kenya Day 4 Morning air is crisp. My nose wrinkles on its own even under the mask. Behemoth pool as a backyard for the lodge is not the most genius idea ever. . A glance to double make sure that camera gear is ready. Quick breakfast and off to Maasai Mara. We’ve got plans. . Maasai Mara, you are beautiful. Driving through emerald green bushes brings back Tanzania memories. The reddish dirt roads, luscious grass, “safari trees”, my heart missed it. Feeling like I belong here. Don’t want to leave. I could do this everyday for the rest of my life and love it just the same. Jetlag is a vicious beast though. My eyelids seem to be on non-speaking terms with my brain. So. Heavy. Stay open! Come on! Don’t have time for this... . “Let’s find lions”, - an executive decision voice tone pulls me out of half-sleep. Bobby is definitely determined. Silas nods and pushes on gas. Sounds like someone on the ranger radio line said something exciting. . ...Why are there always a million of cars around? So missing Melau and his Taasa drives when it was just us and the wild. But I guess if we help each other find animals, it’s a good thing too. Drivers exchange a few words. Silas turns towards the back: “There is a big lion up there. Do you want to try and get closer?” How is that that he has to even ask this? OF COURSE we want to! The path seems a little rough but Silas is experienced. My fingers close tightly around two cameras that are not in the gear bag. . Don’t need to speak Swahili to understand that our jeep is not only stuck pretty good, but we are missing THE tool that makes the magic happen in situations like this. Apparently, between all four drivers, there is a large arsenal of tools and variety of all sizes, except for the number 17. At least there ARE four drivers. My brain sends a “thank you” note to the universe. We are not stuck here alone. {to be continued} . 📷: @theframed.photography @livingnotes . #africa #livingnotestravel #kenya #safari (at Masai Mara, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChdWgnPvEkw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

I hear “How do I become happy?” over and over again. Men and women, both, ask the same question. I asked it myself too. Many times. . The secret is very simple. Too simple, even. Just learn to enjoy life. . Learn to live to the fullest. Every day. Every moment. Every hour. Find beauty in everything, from a cup of morning tea to a pretty cloud when waiting at a stoplight. Yes, it sounds so generic, but is it? Is it generic to find beauty and satisfaction in simple and ordinary things? . My life changed when I traveled to Africa for the first time. Tanzania, especially farther away from the coast, is rural. There isn’t much of modern comfort or material things that we consider “important”. Yet, I’ve never experienced such pure and genuine happiness as I did when I was around Tanzanians. They know how to enjoy the moment, and they know how to value what matters. My favorite pass-time there? “African TV” (as one of our Tanzanian friends called it) : a bonfire with a bunch of chairs around, where everyone gathered at the end of the day to chat and connect with each other. Conversations held were simple, yet… so fulfilling. It took me a moment to realize that one of the biggest reasons these nights are so soul nourishing is simply the energy of the people around me. They emitted genuine happiness and joy. They saw beauty in everything. I, in the best way possible, envied them. And wanted to become like them, too. . Living in the moment is a skill. We all are born with it. Far not all are able to keep it throughout their lifetime. Did you? . Finding beauty and satisfaction in every minute of ordinary life is not generic. It’s a key to to genuine happiness. Yet, somehow, it’s the best kept secret, too. . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . 📷: @theframed.photography . 👗: @shop.jale . 🏢: @kisskisstattoo . #motivation #inspiration #life #selfimprovement #happiness #africa #photography #livingnotestravel (at Venice Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg2fi6Dv2c_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

With new Africa trip coming up, taking you back to Kenya adventures! So! Kenya: day 2. . “Don’t roll your windows all the way. Just about to here”. The driver pushes the button on his side and the back window goes up midway. “And keep your cameras down when I tell you” . The gate opens and the car leaves the protection of the hotel grounds. . Not quite the experience I am ready for. Itching to see the city though. . And the people. I can still feel the energy from the last trip to Tanzania: genuine, happy, welcoming. That alone makes the trip across the globe worth it… . …Colors! Oh, Africa! Your colors! Bright. Beautiful. Bold. Unique. City center looks like a beehive through. So many people! This is a street photography heaven. It takes all the willpower to not get out of the car. . “Keep your cameras very tight. And keep windows high. Snatchers can reach inside”, - the driver is not kidding. Everywhere the eye can see there are gates and bars on windows.Hotel’s description that stated “a very short walk to Kenya’s best museums and art galleries” seems like a mean joke right now. . {to be continued…} . ПЕРЕВОД : ниже . 📷: @livingnotes & @theframed.photography . #travel #kenya #livingnotestravel #livingnoteskenya #safari #nikon #nikonambassador #natgeowild (at Masai Mara, Kenya) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgxTdmZv2ZH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Summer in style and with fashion that doesn’t it doesn’t the break the bank means one thing: extra change for TRAVEL! Follow me as we take @shop.jale to different destinations every month! Guess, what destination we are taking JALE to first? . PS: rate these pictures and the swimsuits from 🍹 to 🍹🍹🍹🍹🍹! Which one do you like more: color or b&w? . ПЕРЕВОД НИЖЕ . 📷: @theframed.photography . #shopjale #livingnotes #livingnotestravel #travel #summertime #summerfun #fashion #style #ootd (at Venice Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd8-KGfPxac/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[livingnotesfromnyc]

Travel stories continue: Magnificent NYC! . “Tell me three things you liked about New York”, - my mind is sifting through a million thoughts and ideas, trying to find something to grab on to. My subconscious is hoping the answer will help. Bobby’s eyes pull away from the computer screen. Post production and editing start the moment the plane lands. “Architecture, the mix of old and new. Those old buildings merged with new, modern constructions. Actually, that goes for everything, including people. It’s a mix of old and new. The acceptance and unity. The vibe. So, the architecture, the people, the vibe.” Thoughts keep racing through my mind: “And three things you hated?” A pause lasts a few seconds and is followed by the answer I would never expect: “Nothing. There isn’t anything that I hate. Or even dislike. I mean, the trash out on the streets every night was annoying, but that’s what makes New York be New York. I wouldn’t want even that not to exist. I love New York. It’s different. It’s unique” A cloud of feelings and thoughts form into something more definite. New York IS unique. New York IS different. New York is a melting pot of cultures, lives, stories, religions, and views. My mind traces back to the moment I bought tickets to New York. It wasn’t a part of the original plan. May’s original trip got canceled. I was looking through all other different options when NY came up. “New York. A year later. Covid-19 edition.” My brain immediately kicked the shadow of the idea off before it could even become a real thought. {to be continued} . 🤍РУССКИЙ ⬇️ . #newyork #livingnotes #travel #nyc #livingnotestravel #stories #storytime #storytelling #storytimethreads (at Central Park, New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVefjtrLkJp/?utm_medium=tumblr