Blogs from Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North America - page 20

After a great day yesterday we didn't have much planned until our 3pm flight and so I thought I'd try and push my luck and ask Lauren if we could go back to the TD Garden as I thought there was a sports museum there. We've seen plenty of shops and shows so a little sports museum wouldn't hurt! It was the New England (Boston) sports museum and it was fantastic. Heaps of memorabilia and great photos from over the years of the Celtics, Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox. We were also lucky because while we were there, the Boston Bruins Ice Hockey team were training on the rink that was a basketball court just the night before. I asked the lady how long it actually took to transform and she said their absolute minimum time ... read more

What do clovers, Guinness, Leprechauns, and Celtic crosses all have in common? They are all symbols of Ireland..Well, at least the cliches I know as an American growing up in the United States.Ireland's culture and reputation is one that has come to exceed the country's borders. Their traditions gone mainstream, now advertising makes great use of the folklore and their celebrations have turned into a great excuse to drink. It leaves one wondering; what does it truly mean to be Irish? This is the question Justin Bell poses in his documentary "Seven Shades... read more

One week until my first big world travel trip! After one full day stop-over in London, we'll be landing in Delhi, and then have 8 days to make it to Bodhgaya for meditation retreat. I was planning on taking a train from Delhi to Bodhgaya, however my friend just told me that its a very bad idea as trains on that route in India don't have prive sleeper cabins and he discouraging me from taking the train... so with one week left I need to come up with another plan. India travel is already proving to be as difficult as everyone has promised!... read more

How do I summarize a trip of a lifetime in a few minutes? Since I’ve been back, many people I’ve met have wanted to know exactly that. It can’t be done; the range of experience and sights was just too varied. In the end, I wrote up a bunch of lists. The second half is below, with post references where appropriate. See the previous blog for the first half. Most Unexpected Surprises: 1. The incredible diversity of the United States. This country has an unbelievable variety of cultures, people, cities, landscapes, and histories; all of which manage to coexist, however uneasily. 2. How friendly people are in most of the country. Parts of the US have a reputation of being intolerant of people obviously from elsewhere. I found the exact opposite, friendly people willing to engage ... read more

There aren't ten minutes that go by without the thought passing my mind. My heart speeds up, my palms get sweaty, and I float into the recesses of my imagination. Just the thought of the adventure that awaits seems to put everything else into perspective. I break free of the ephemeral troubles that haunt my life and forget all about student loans, girls, careers, and the pissed off guy at table 34. For a moment, I am lifted above the trivial concerns of daily life and see a bigger picture. I change lens and become hyperly existential. I think about how I can live a meaningful life. I review my plans and remind myself of how I must balance practicality with idealism if I'm to impact the world around me without ever losing sight of my ... read more