question...

Are you my ideal travel partner?

I found this interesting article today. It sheds some valuable light on how to choose a proper travel companion. When it comes to travel a good companion is essential. Choose wisely my friends.

Linked to the bottom of the article are two really great reference-ish articles. One is http://ultimatepackinglist.com/ and http://travelresourcelist.com/. The first gives advice on what is and isn't essential to pack and the second is a comprehensive list of all the trustworthy resources you would need regarding travel. (air and ground travel, accommodations, financial, travel community, etc.) Both will come in handy when you and/or I start planning that next adventure. If you have the travel bug as I do check them out.

PROVO, UTAH USA

Provo Sweet Treat Special

So Provo Summer Twenty Ten is going to be all about the sweet treats. I have been discovering (with the help of friends) multiple delicious establishments that serve up some cheap and tempting items.

La Michocana Mexican Creameria: 1700 North State St, Provo, UT 84604
This place is divine. The lovely Mexican woman who owns this creameria makes delicious flavors like guava, mango, rose petal, and pinon (pine nut) fresh everyday. I am telling you it is superb. The smallest size is actually really large and costs a little over $3, which is a total steal for the quality and more importantly the quality of ice cream. They also have freshly made popsicles and delicious cinnamon horchata for less than $2. (Thanks Leland)
tempted?

The Jerk Shack: 162 W Center Street Orem, UT
This little shack off the side of the road in Orem sells pretty good Jamaican food, but I will tell you the frozen bananas they offer are where it's at. Big banana, freshly dipped in chocolate, tons of toppings. And it is only $1.89
tempted?

Sammy's: 27 N 100 W Provo, UT
50% off pie shakes during happy hour which is everyday except Saturday from 3 to 5. Also, 2 for 1 pie shakes everyday Tuesday all day. A normal $4 delicious pie shake for only $2? Yes please. Unfortunately you cannot do 2 for 1 during 50% off happy hour on Tuesdays. I have already tried this. My favorite shake is Oreo Cream Pie with Raspberry. sups delicious. Worth noting: Sammy's also has 75 cent grilled cheese sandwiches every Monday.
tempted?

Rowley's South Ridge Farm: 300 West 900 South Santaquin, Utah 84655
Though I have never actually been here, it has been confirmed from a friend that the fresh ice cream at this farm is very delicious. As you drive to Mona Lake from Provo there is a big red barn to your right. That is it. Stop and go there.
tempted?

Maverick: (Provo location) 307 S State St. Provo, Utah 84606
Ok this is more main stream. Maverick gas stations are all over the place and all of them might have this techno contraption, but I just don't know for sure. Anyway, I am talking about the milkshake maker. You get a cup of frozen solid ice cream, put it in this machine, choose your desired milkshake thickness, and press go. The ice cream cup goes up into the machine and seconds later you have a hand crafted milkshake. Impressed? I know I was too.

The Chocolate: 212 South State Street Orem, Utah
Cupcakes seem to be all the rage in Provo lately. It is funny to me that certain foods can be more popular than others as manifested in this cupcake craze. But let's face it cupcakes are the new "it" girl. Of all the cupcake establishments around town The Chocolate is hands down the most affordable and most delicious. Cupcakes are $2.25 each. The bakery also sells other sweet treats that are definitely worth tasting. I had this caramel turtle tart thing which was heavenly.
tempted?

I hope this list will satisfy your summer sweet tooth. enjoy!

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS USA

Welcome to Chicago! Here are some delicious deets.

First off if you want an expert’s opinion on the architectural landscape of Chicago please reference Meghan McGrath’s Tour of Chicago on facebook. Read the captions they are super informative. (I will get the url on here in two shakes) Never have I met someone with more love for her city then this lovely lady. Most of these tips have come from her so please kiss her feet next time you see her.

Here are two tips that both start at the Chicago Cultural Center debatably one of the most beautiful buildings in the city (make sure you go inside to see the mosaics. Enter from the Washington St. entrance. It is the back entrance, but far more epic).

Tip #1: The Poetry Foundation Walking Tour.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/gallery/walking-tours/chicago/index.html
This just sounds lovely to me. All you have to do is download the tour from the Poetry website at your leisure, walk right over to the Chicago Cultural Center and press play. Here is what the Poetry Foundation has to say about.

“if you’re in Chicago, let us take you on a guided tour: download the downtown portion, tour stops 1-6, hosted by NPR’s Scott Simon, into your MP3 player and take the walking tour beginning at the Chicago Cultural Center and ending at Harold Washington Library. You’ll hear poets Lisel Mueller, W.S. Di Piero, and Haki Madhubuti, and archival recordings of Gwendolyn Brooks, Vachel Lindsay, and Edgar Lee Masters, as you experience Chicago’s iconic architectural sights, including the Art Institute and the Fine Arts Building. You can also take a side trip to other neighborhoods and landmarks featured in stops 7-22: listen to poems by Quraysh Ali Lansana at the DuSable Museum, Srikanth Reddy at Danny’s Tavern, or Harriet Monroe at Graceland Cemetery.”

Charming that is all I have to say.
Tip #2: Free Night at the Chicago Institute of Art
Ok now if you are facing the Cultural Center turn around and cross the street and you will find the Chicago Institute of Art. If you want to save some money, entry to the institute is free every Thursday night. While you are there make sure you check out Pablo Picasso’s The Guitarist. Picasso often reused his canvases and in some of his works you can see the original painting underneath. The Guitarist is one of them. If you look closely you can see the profile of a young man underneath the old guitarist bending over.

Hungry? Check out Wow-Bao http://www.wowbao.com It is causal and cheap and according to Meghan they have the most delicious dumplings in all of the Windy City. Recommendation= Thai Curry Chicken Bao and the Homemade Ginger Ale. There are three locations throughout the city. The Theater District location on State and Lake is the best one because it is open Monday-Sunday (the other locations have weird hours), has sitting, and is pretty centrally located to several Chicago gems.

VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA

Dates, honey, and an Indian beach

I currently live in a city called Visakhapatnam on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh in South India. It is a coastal town but unfortunately no one gets in the water because they say it is “inhospitable”. In some cases this is true because a lot of the beaches are rocky and the rip tide is quite dangerous, but really any beach is inhospitable if you cant swim which is the case with most Indians. If you happen to be in Vizag and want to go for a safe dip in the big blue there is one beautiful beach I highly recommend. It doesn’t have a name so just follow these directions. Catch the 900K bus north bound to Thotla Konda. The bus system can be kind of inconsistent and tricky to manage so another option would be to grab an auto rickshaw there. Depending on the mood of the driver and where you are in the city it should cost anything from 50 to 100 rupees. Once you get to Thotla Konda gate (Thotla Konda is this old Buddhist site) turn so that the gate is to your back and walk straight through the brush, over the sand bank and to the water. The beach is beautiful, clean and safe to swim in. Just find the least rocky spot. Over by the grove of palm trees is nice. The sand bank hides you from leery-peery eyes on the street which is a definite bonus.

If you are looking for a delicious treat to cool you off after your day at the beach go to Jack Frost: Where happiness is served chilled near Sidiputam at Vuda Complex. The Date ‘n’ Honey ice cream is debatably the most delicious thing I have ever eaten.